Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 145: The Alchemist Association (Part-2)

Her tone carried no anger, no mockery, only utter disinterest. As though Morgana Frost were nothing more than a buzzing insect.

Morgana Frost’s face flushed crimson, her chest heaving. Every word she threw out was effortlessly blocked, brushed aside, made meaningless.

She had never encountered someone like this.

"Do you know the consequences of offending me?" she hissed.

Zora finally turned her head.

Her eyes lifted slowly, calm and bright. A faint, provocative smile curved her lips, delicate yet sharp, like a blade catching the light. "Do you want a beating?"

The moment those words fell, Morgana Frost froze.

She had been threatening Zora just seconds ago, yet in the blink of an eye, the threat had been turned back on her. Clean. Sharp. Merciless.

The onlookers around them paused, then their expressions shifted into barely concealed amusement.

On ordinary days, it was always Morgana Frost trampling others underfoot. Watching her stumble like this was a rare spectacle.

"I think you’re asking for it."

Zora’s calm words were the spark that detonated everything.

Morgana Frost’s face flushed scarlet, fury boiling over. Without hesitation, she swung her hand, a slap arcing straight toward Zora’s face.

Too slow.

Before Morgana Frost’s palm could land, Zora’s right hand flashed like lightning.

"Slap!"

The sound rang out crisply through the normally solemn hall of the Alchemists Association.

Silence.

Utter silence.

Time seemed to pause as everyone stared, eyes wide, mouths slightly open.

"She... she actually hit Morgana Frost?"

"Who is this girl? She dares to slap Morgana Frost in public?"

"I’ve never seen her before... but that bearing isn’t ordinary."

"She’s wearing white... wait, could she be that Zora? The one with Elixir of Tranquility?"

As the name spread in hushed whispers, recognition dawned on more faces.

The Alchemists Association didn’t care much for cultivation rankings, but Elixir of Tranquility was another matter entirely. Anyone connected to that name had already carved their place into the association’s awareness. After all, the Elixir was something that not even the Association has a formula to make it.

What no one expected was that Zora was this young.

"If it really is her," someone murmured with excitement, "then today won’t end quietly."

Morgana Frost stood rigid, her cheek burning as if set on fire.

The pain was sharp. The humiliation was even sharper.

All her life, she had been the one slapping others down. Never had she imagined being struck like this, in front of so many eyes.

Rage swallowed her reason whole.

"I’ll kill you!"

Her composure was shattered. Pride forgotten, Morgana Frost lunged forward in a frenzy.

But the moment she moved, Zora saw through her completely.

Morgana Frost had poured all her talent into alchemy. Her cultivation was shallow, her combat experience laughable.

"Boom!"

In a single motion, Zora twisted Morgana Frost’s arm and slammed her forward, pinning both of her hands flat against the counter.

The movement was swift, precise, ruthless.

Zora leaned in slightly, her exquisite face lit with a faint smile. Yet her eyes were cold, sharp as blades, carrying an oppressive chill.

"Don’t provoke me again, you arrogant trash of whatever background you are," she said softly, her voice low and dangerous. "Otherwise, I’ll teach you exactly how to write the word ’regret.’"

Fear flooded Morgana Frost’s eyes.

From the soles of her feet to the crown of her head, a bone-deep chill spread uncontrollably. For the first time in her life, she understood what true intimidation felt like.

Zora released her without another word and stepped back, her posture relaxed, as if nothing worth noting had happened.

She had never enjoyed causing trouble.

But she had never feared it either.

Morgana Frost cradled her wrist, pain biting deep into the bone. Where Zora had grabbed her, the skin was already bruised blue and purple. That grip had been anything but light.

Hatred surged in her chest like venom.

She had never been humiliated like this. Never in front of so many people.

Her eyes darkened, resentment pooling in their depths. If not for Zora’s terrifying strength, she would have already exploded on the spot. But reason, sharp and bitter, stopped her.

If she provoked her again, she might truly be crippled.

Just wait, Morgana Frost snarled inwardly. This debt, I will repay a thousandfold!

At that moment, the receptionist hurried over, her professional smile unbroken though she had clearly sensed the tension in the air.

"I’ve already notified the appraisers," she said smoothly. "Both ladies may proceed to the second floor."

Zora turned and walked upstairs without a backward glance.

As the two figures ascended together, the crowd instantly understood. Realization flashed through countless eyes, followed by rising excitement.

So Zora really came to the Alchemists Association...

In all of Heavenly City, only Morgana Frost had repeatedly attempted the alchemist assessment among the younger generation. Now, Zora had become the third.

Interest ignited like sparks in dry grass.

On the second floor, a large plaque hung prominently ahead, bearing three solemn characters:

Assessment Hall

Morgana Frost deliberately walked ahead, posture relaxed, movements familiar, as if to silently declare her status here. She wanted Zora to understand that she was no outsider in this place.

Unfortunately, Zora did not spare her a single glance.

Inside the hall, a middle-aged man was already waiting.

He wore the black robes of an alchemist, and on his chest gleamed two bright stars, clearly marking his rank.

A Rank-2 alchemist.

"Mr. Rurik," Morgana Frost greeted sweetly, her earlier fury carefully concealed behind a practiced smile.

Rurik nodded mildly. "Miss Frost. This is your third time attempting the assessment, isn’t it?"

"Yes." Morgana Frost’s eyes shone with determination. "I’ll definitely succeed this time."

Rurik smiled faintly. "Is your master not accompanying you today?"

"He’ll arrive later."

Only then did Rurik shift his gaze to Zora. His brows knit slightly. "And this young lady... are you also here for the Rank-1 alchemist assessment?"

"No."

Zora shook her head calmly.

Morgana Frost froze.

Rurik was equally puzzled. If she wasn’t here for the assessment, then why was she standing in the assessment hall?

For a brief moment, Morgana Frost’s thoughts stalled.

Did I misunderstand earlier?

Before either of them could voice the question, Zora spoke again, her tone unhurried, her words crisp.

"I’m here to take the assessment for Rank-2."

The hall fell silent.

Rurik’s gentle expression shattered into pure astonishment. This girl looked no more than fifteen or sixteen. Yet she was declaring an attempt at Rank-2 assessment?

Morgana Frost stared, stunned for half a heartbeat.

Then she burst out laughing. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Hahaha!" Her voice rang with mockery. "You? A Rank-2 alchemist assessment?"

Her laughter was sharp and scornful, as though she had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

"Don’t tell me you think this place is some playground," Morgana Frost sneered. "Do you even understand what a Rank-2 Alchemist represents?"

Her ridicule echoed in the hall.

Zora, however, remained perfectly composed.

She simply stood there, eyes calm and clear, as if Morgana Frost’s laughter were nothing more than the buzzing of an insect.

Morgana Frost stared at Zora in utter disbelief.

She herself had been discovered to possess refining talent at a very young age.

Since childhood, she had immersed herself in alchemy day and night. Her aptitude was praised wherever she went, yet even so, she was only now attempting the assessment for a first-grade alchemist.

In her eyes, aside from the freakish existence that was Sylvandria, there was absolutely no second person among their peers who could be called a true alchemical genius.

This girl in front of her? Impossible.

"Little girl," Rurik asked calmly, his tone neither mocking nor dismissive, "have you already passed the assessment for a Rank-1 alchemist?"

Geniuses were rare, but not unheard of. At the very least, the Alchemists Association of Heavenly City had already produced one living example.

Zora shook her head lightly. "No."

The moment those words fell, Morgana Frost’s sharp laughter rang out.

"Hah! I knew it!" She sneered openly. "If you’re going to brag, at least make it sound believable. A Rank-2 alchemist? You might as well say you’re dreaming!"

With Rurik present, Morgana Frost’s courage visibly swelled. She was certain Zora would not dare to act recklessly in front of a senior alchemist.

Zora gave her a faint, indifferent glance. "Just because you lack the ability," she said calmly, "doesn’t mean I do."

The words were arrogant.

Yet the tone was natural, almost casual, as though she were merely stating an obvious fact.

Rurik’s gaze sharpened slightly. That sentence carried far more weight than simple provocation between juniors. It was outright contempt, the kind that came from looking down on someone from a higher vantage point.

Morgana Frost, who had always been proud to the bone, felt as though she had been slapped again, this time without a hand being raised.

"You’re saying my disciple is incompetent?"

A deep, aged voice suddenly thundered from behind Zora, carrying suppressed anger and authority.

Morgana Frost’s eyes lit up instantly.