Abel couldn’t help but bite his thumb, contemplating. ’This is not good. How in the world does the Lightning Emperor know this?’

The Lightning Emperor had made his move quicker than he had expected. In addition, he had thought the Lightning Emperor would have clashed with Auric and Maya. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

He didn’t expect that the Lightning Emperor would hit his father’s company instead.

’There shouldn’t be a strong enough link between me and Simon...’ Abel panicked. If he didn’t do anything about this, the situation might just get even worse. He had to handle it, but he couldn’t openly show his weakness.

The moment other students realized it was he who manipulated Simon, everything he had built so far would crumble to pieces.

Abel had gathered the club members once more. There was no other choice but to handle it in his own way.

He slammed the table and said, "This is ridiculous. The Lightning Emperor is too weak. The conflict between him and Maya should have been resolved by now, but why is the Lightning Emperor attacking me?"

It looked like Abel was guilty at first, but he continued, shifting the narrative in his favor. "Look at this situation, and you will realize that the Lightning Emperor is scared of Vice Dean Maya.

"That’s why he is picking on me. However, I can assure you that it’s not going to end with me. Just think about it, Simon entered our club not long ago, so the Lightning Emperor must think we’re responsible for Simon’s failure.

"He wants to punish us, starting with me, the president of this club. If I fall, you guys will be next."

When they heard they would be the next targets, the members turned grim. They couldn’t let it continue that way.

This wasn’t just Abel’s problem. As long as no one could find out the connection between Abel and Simon, people would think this was an attack on the club.

"Can you believe it? We have to unite right now. If we let the Lightning Emperor do whatever he wants, people will think we’re weak.

"Our reputation is currently in shambles, so this is where we have to stand up and show the world what we can do.

"I need everyone to contact their own people to support us. Together, we must resist the Lightning Emperor. Let’s take down this giant, as he is as shameless as Simon.

"The Phoenix and Dragon Society won’t fall. Follow my lead. I will show you victory, even against the Lightning Emperor!"

"Oohh!" Several people cheered. They might have to challenge the Lightning Emperor. They believed the Lightning Emperor was shameless for targeting them simply because he was scared of Maya.

William contacted his father as well, but he was snickering inwardly. Of course, he didn’t tell his father to support him, as he planned to explain everything to him after returning home.

In addition, this clash would create divisions in the club. As long as he could gain supporters and build up power while letting these people weaken themselves, he could bring down Abel and become the next president of the club.

The clash between the Phoenix and Dragon Society and the Lightning Emperor was just the beginning. There were plenty of people waiting to make a move.

However, it didn’t matter to Auric.

He had just received another offer that he could hardly believe.

"Bringing me to the conference? Are you sure? I’m still a first-year student."

"It’s fine." Maya smirked. "They’re going to show off their most brilliant students, but every year, the students will be replaced by new ones. Most teachers will bring their second-year students. They have more than enough strength to prove themselves."

"I can’t defeat someone who has evolved unless I use everything I have. And the chance is quite low, especially against elite students." Auric shook his head helplessly, thinking he lacked the ability to compete with them.

Maya, on the other hand, raised her finger. "No, I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about something else."

"Something else?" Auric tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah. We will use this visit to gain another unique element." Maya grinned.

"!!!" Auric didn’t expect this suggestion.

Now that he thought about it, it was indeed a good opportunity. "What is the plan?"

Maya raised one finger. "I’m going to bring someone rich enough to go to another city, but not powerful enough to figure out your identity. Don’t worry.

"Since this person comes from another city, and we’re the same, they won’t know we’re actually from Grand Magica College.

"Still, I have to ask something. How long do you need to upgrade your unique element?"

"Do you mean evolution? Well, after acquiring the element, if I focus entirely on it, I may be able to reach 100% in one week if I focus on this particular element."

"Great. This will make you safer." Maya nodded, satisfied. "Still, I prefer if you actually have an element that is close to the higher rank, one that can push you straight to 100%. Once you reach the higher rank, you can take the test to become a silver-grade evolution master."

Auric thought for a moment. "Won’t that cause a problem for me? I’m already making a mess as a bronze-grade evolution master... silver-grade?"

Auric shook his head helplessly, not knowing what kind of mess he would cause at that time.

"I know your concern." Maya raised two fingers. "That’s why we will do these two things. First, the test will be private. This way, people won’t know about your talent.

"We’ll ask the president of that association to lead it and maybe one trustworthy person for the assessment. Well, we can even bring the president of this city’s association there.

"Of course, a recording will be necessary so that there will be enough proof for your advancement. You can hide this badge for the time being and threaten people once you get it.

"Second, this is a test from another city, so it won’t make it into the news. Even so, you’ll only be famous in that city, at least for a while."

Auric contemplated. Lindwurm surprisingly agreed, "I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Aside from her intentions, becoming a silver-grade evolution master will benefit you a lot. First, this will show your talent. Even if you hide it, the record will show that you became a silver-grade evolution master in just one and a half months after your awakening.

"This will show your talent, which you can use to shut people up. It can also be a justification for your other stores. If people think you’re this big of a genius, it’s normal for you to be able to come up with the gathering techniques and the artificial hearts.

"Besides, you may perceive things differently once you evolve one of your elements. People’s sensitivity increases as they evolve after all."

Auric couldn’t ignore the benefits Lindwurm mentioned.

So, he carefully considered the situation before saying, "Surely, you don’t want me to become a silver-grade evolution master so that you can slap those people in the conference, do you?"

Maya gave a smile as her answer.

"I knew it." Auric sighed. Maya’s intention aside, the benefits piqued his interest. He was wondering how his senses would transform after his evolution.

Unlike the unique element, he definitely had the chance to evolve other elements. After all, he had plenty of artifacts that could boost his progress.

The last fight against the thugs was quite dangerous as well. If he hadn’t been careful, he would have been the one to die.

In fact, if the terrain hadn’t been advantageous to him, he wouldn’t have won.

If Auric evolved elements he didn’t plan to reveal for the time being, it could be a very deadly trump card. After all, people expected him to be someone with a baby-form avatar. However, he could use this one element at the level of a juvenile-form avatar.

The problem would be which element he should focus on.

Auric thought for a moment before raising his finger. "How about pushing my lightning element? From my calculations, at maximum, I can reach around 90%. So, if I get another lightning element, combined with an artifact that matches its rating, I can reach 100% in a few days."

After obtaining the Lightning Emperor’s element, he could definitely reach it.

"Lightning element, is it? Okay, I will help you. Do you need anything else?"

"I need artifacts. Unfortunately, the artifacts I currently have aren’t suitable for my current elements. If not artifacts, materials will be fine."

"Sure. It’s not that hard to prepare an artifact." Maya nodded. "Anything else?"

Lindwurm suddenly raised one finger. "One more thing—you may want to have a lightning element with a low rating."

’Why?’ Auric was startled by this suggestion.

"While it’s good that you have multiple powerful elements, you will use one or two at most. Hence, it’s better to get one with a low rating. For example, if you channel the White Lightning into the plant, the lightning can shatter your plant due to its overbearing power.

"On the other hand, if you have a lightning element with a lower rating than your plant element’s, the lightning element won’t be enough to destroy your plant element. It will make fusion easier. I’m thinking about asking you to get one element variant for all the elements you have with a rating of around 2.0."

Auric understood the benefits. He had four lightning element variants: White Lightning, Purple Lightning, Speedy Lightning, and Golden Thunder. Other than Speedy Lightning, all of them had a rating above 4.0.

They were overbearing, but if he made a variation, he could change his fighting style. There was also the matter of fusion.

So, Auric considered this request carefully.

He might have been so focused on searching for powerful element variants that he didn’t realize the disadvantages. Of course, he could also add other elements once he evolved since he had to raise his elements to 100% again, but he could only gain that element at the juvenile-form avatar level.

He couldn’t use it at the baby-form avatar level.

Since the baby-form avatar was at the lowest level, it served as his foundation for the future.

Having a much more versatile repertoire might be more useful for him.

So, Auric explained, "In that case, may I ask you to find someone whose lightning element has a rating of 2.0?"

"Oh? Why?"

"For my growth."

Maya narrowed her eyes but didn’t ask further. "All right then."

Auric nodded. "In that case, I will make preparations. I have to tell my mother about the conference too."

"Yeah. I’ll give you the formal letter about it, so for now, you can just inform her about it. We’ll depart tomorrow at 9 a.m."

"Understood." Auric smiled. "By the way, since I only need an element with this rating, I may already have the artifacts that can boost it. So, I only need an artifact that has an element with a rating of 4.0."

"Sure. It’s not a problem." Maya nodded. "My family should have one. The artifacts are rare, but artifacts for baby-form avatars and juvenile-form avatars are fairly common. The rarity spikes after the adult form."

Auric nodded. "I understand. Let’s go with this plan."

"Sure. Any preference for your unique element?"

"I don’t have one, but if I can choose, I’d like to look at them first."

"Sure. I’ll see if I can find multiple candidates. Don’t blame me if I can’t."

"I know." Auric waved his hand.

Maya nodded and walked away while Lindwurm smirked. Lindwurm cheered, "Evolution! Silver-grade evolution master!"

’Why are you so happy? Rather than my evolution or my grade, I’m more curious about the changes I will undergo later. I don’t have an avatar, so I’m not sure about my evolution or anything else. Evolution changes the avatar, so what about me?’

Lindwurm chuckled. "Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine."

Auric narrowed his eyes. "You sound like you know what’s going to happen. So, you know my current condition? Spit it out."

Lindwurm closed his mouth. "You are imagining it. I know nothing. I can’t say anything."

Auric’s eyebrows twitched, but he couldn’t press Lindwurm. He could only wait for him to slip up.