Whetstone

Rogue was deeply disappointed by Wang Bert’s refusal, but she did not dare make a scene. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "In that case, Iron Man, please inject me with Leech. I want to become an ordinary person again and have a normal relationship with Bobby for a while."

"Is that so?"

After giving it some thought, Wang Bert said, "Rogue, you have two options. First, inject Leech, but its effects are not permanent, so you’ll need regular injections in the future.

"Second, I can buy your ability. When that happens, you’ll permanently lose your Mutant Gene and completely become an ordinary person again."

Rogue was stunned. "Buy my ability?"

"Yes, I can strip mutants of their abilities."

Wang Bert nodded and said, "Your ability is very powerful, so I’ll offer fifty million US dollars. With that money, you can keep Bobby, after all, everyone knows the X-Men are a bunch of poor bastards."

"Fifty million US dollars?"

Rogue cried out in shock. Forget fifty million US dollars—even one million was beyond anything she had ever dared imagine. She immediately said, "I agree. Once I have money, I can buy lots of fun things and lots of delicious food."

"Only thinking about eating and having fun? What about your boyfriend?"

Wang Bert grumbled to himself, though he understood that for a teenage girl like Rogue, romance was merely a passing breeze.

"If you agree, I’ll strip away your ability right now."

Wang Bert said, "As for the fifty million US dollars, I’ll write you a check immediately after I remove your ability."

Rogue said impatiently, "No problem. Let’s start right away."

"Alright."

Wang Bert did not waste any more words. He used his power to strip the Mutant Gene from Rogue’s body. The process left Rogue weakened, and Wang Bert had someone send her away to rest.

"Rogue can absorb other people’s powers and use them for herself. Yuriko is perfectly suited to this ability."

Wang Bert thought to himself, That works out nicely. Rogue’s ability will go to Yuriko, while all of Romulus’s abilities will go to Wolverine.

To Wang Bert, buying Rogue’s ability for fifty million US dollars was an absolute bargain.

Not long after Rogue left, two more people came to see him: Cyclops and Storm.

Still badly injured and pale-faced, Cyclops got straight to the point. "Iron Man, I hope to join your team and save Jean together."

"The purpose of this team is not merely to save Jean. It is also to fight the Celestial Group."

Wang Bert said, "The Celestial Group is even more powerful than Apocalypse. If you join us, you could very well die."

"I’m not afraid. I have to save Jean from Black Phoenix."

Cyclops’s gaze was resolute. His love for Jean surpassed everyone else’s, including that scumbag Wolverine.

"Fine, I’ll grant your wish."

Wang Bert rather admired Cyclops. He took out a stack of Banknotes and said, "Heal him."

The Banknotes vanished, and Cyclops’s injuries immediately healed. He let out a breath, straightened up, and said, "Thank you."

Wang Bert said, "No need to thank me. I’ll help you fuse with Sunspot’s genes. When that happens, you’ll become the Avatar of Flame."

Cyclops did not refuse. "Alright. I’ll follow your arrangements. I need greater strength."

After settling Cyclops’s matter, Wang Bert asked Storm, "Are you joining this team too?"

"I want to, but someone has to watch over the academy."

Storm shook her head. "I only brought Scott here. Iron Man, Jean is innocent. I hope you won’t sacrifice her."

"Even if I wanted to sacrifice her, the professor and Wolverine would never agree."

Wang Bert laughed. "Don’t worry. Jean will be safe. I can guarantee you that."

"That’s good."

Storm and Cyclops were both delighted. Then, they went to find the professor together and report a piece of wonderful news—a filthy rich tycoon wanted to join the academy.

"Cyclops really is a good man. Unfortunately, women often prefer bad men."

Wang Bert shook his head. After thinking for a moment, he sank his consciousness into his heart. The Mutant Gene tree had already grown vast enough to blot out the sky, and nearly the entire tree had become solid. Only the final tiny bit remained.

"How do I complete this last one percent?"

Wang Bert narrowed his eyes slightly. He had already obtained and analyzed the genes of most high-level mutants. Even if he acquired the remaining ones, they would not allow him to break through that final one percent.

That one percent should be the core of the Mutant Gene. As for what it specifically was, Wang Bert had a vague guess.

"It may be related to the Celestial Group. After all, they created mutants. The problem is, Wanda wants me to become the Mutant God before the Celestial Group descends."

Wang Bert frowned, then decided to leave it for later. Perhaps a turning point would appear.

Next, Wang Bert headed to the Training Ground. The professor was talking with Cyclops and Storm, while Wolverine and the others stood on the field, talking, fighting, roaring, and even crying as though they were performing one-man plays.

They were acting this way because Wang Bert had used Mind Power to make them fight within a consciousness space. It had the same training effect.

It was worth mentioning that everyone was in an independent small space. No matter how they used their abilities, they did not need to worry about hurting anyone else.

At that moment, the professor controlled his wheelchair and came over with Cyclops and Storm. Looking at the people in the Training Ground, he said, "Bert, your training method is quite good, though it is a little strange. Once they wake up, they’ll definitely feel embarrassed. By the way, there aren’t any cameras here, are there?"

"Of course there are. How could something this entertaining possibly go unrecorded?"

Wang Bert laughed. "When Christmas comes this year, I’ll play it for everyone so we can have some fun together."

The professor laughed helplessly. "Has anyone ever told you that you’re a lot like the devil? It seems having strong mental power has its benefits. At the very least, you won’t fall into an illusion."

With the professor’s Mind Power, Wang Bert’s illusions could not fool him at all, so this training method was unsuitable for him.

Storm said, "The X-Men have a Holographic Combat Simulation System. If you need it, we can lend it to you."

"The Holographic Combat Simulation System is indeed good, but in the end, it is fake. Everything they face in the illusion is real—at least, they believe it is real."

Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Without my power protecting them, if they die in the illusion, they might die in reality as well."

Storm’s expression changed slightly. She hurriedly said, "Isn’t that too dangerous? Shadowcat and Leech are still children."

"Better for it to be dangerous now than dangerous later. What they have to face is the Celestial Group."

Wang Bert did not say more. He asked the professor, "Professor, did you need something?"

"Bert, I want to join forces with you and enter Jean’s consciousness world."

The professor said, "With the combined strength of the two of us, perhaps we can seal Black Phoenix again."

Cyclops looked hopefully at Wang Bert, but Wang Bert shook his head. "Leaving aside whether we can seal her, even if we can, what would be the point? Black Phoenix will emerge again sooner or later.

"When Black Phoenix fled to Hell, I spent five hundred million dollars to amplify Jean’s strength, hoping Jean could merge with Black Phoenix. Unfortunately, Jean’s will was not strong enough, and she has yet to succeed."

Cyclops shouted, "Merge completely? Black Phoenix isn’t Jean."

"Black Phoenix is Jean’s negative personality. She is still Jean."

Wang Bert said, "Professor, I will not join forces with you to seal Black Phoenix, but I can help you enter Jean’s mind. What you choose to do then will be up to you."

The professor said, "That will do as well. Bert, I understand what you mean, but Jean is too kind. She cannot possibly merge with Black Phoenix."

"Perhaps."

Wang Bert did not say more. He turned to Cyclops and asked, "Scott, are you ready? If you are, we’ll begin training immediately."

Cyclops nodded. "I’m ready."

"Alright."

Wang Bert snapped his fingers and pulled Cyclops’s consciousness into an illusion.

Within the illusion, Cyclops stood on a New York street, looking somewhat dazed and unsure why he was there.

"I remember now. I was planning to buy Jean a gift. Wolverine has been pestering her, and she’s been in a bad mood."

Cyclops shook his head, bought a harmonica and a bouquet of flowers, then returned to Mutant Academy. To his surprise, the moment he entered the academy, he saw corpses everywhere—some belonged to staff, while others belonged to students.

"How could this happen? Oh no, Jean!"

Cyclops was horrified. He threw away the flowers and rushed toward Jean’s office. However, the moment he reached the door, he saw Jean, her eyes glowing red, using the Phoenix Force to disintegrate the professor.

Cyclops screamed, "No!"

Jean suddenly turned around. The ground and walls disintegrated and vanished one after another. Cyclops’s face changed drastically, and he hurriedly fled outside. A deadly game of pursuit had officially begun.

Though Jean’s strength had been weakened many times over, her level was simply too high. Every time, Cyclops had to give everything he had just to escape alive.

In such desperate circumstances, Cyclops’s strength rose rapidly. By the end, he no longer even needed his glasses—he could freely control his optic blast ability.

"Professor, you protected them too well. Their potential has not been developed at all."

Wang Bert snapped his fingers, and Cyclops’s glasses suddenly vanished. Storm was startled and was about to say something, only to discover that Cyclops had not fired any lasers. There was not even a trace of red light; he was no different from an ordinary person.

"They are not only my students. They are also my children."

The professor looked at Cyclops’s pained expression and asked, "Bert, what exactly did you design for this scenario? Why is Scott in so much pain?"

Wang Bert smiled. "A scenario where Jean hunts him down. I also added some romantic elements, such as Jean liking Wolverine more."

The professor was stunned. "Was that necessary? Having someone else chase him could also awaken his potential, couldn’t it?"

Wang Bert said, "That wouldn’t be as fun… ahem, it wouldn’t be as profound. A mutant’s greatest power comes from emotion."

The professor gave Wang Bert a speechless look. This man was good in every way except that his sense of mischief was far too strong. Fortunately, he did not need to enter an illusion for training.

At that moment, Wade broke free from the illusion. Rubbing his neck, he cursed loudly, "Wolverine, Sabretooth, what the hell did I ever do to you? Why were you chasing me down to kill me? Huh?"

Wade suddenly came to his senses. He looked around, then fixed his gaze on Wang Bert and the professor before asking in astonishment, "Was that an illusion just now?"

Wang Bert asked with a smile, "Yes. Memorable, wasn’t it?"

"Very memorable. The kind I’ll never forget for the rest of my life."

Wade curled his lip unhappily. Remembering something, he turned to glance at Wolverine and asked expectantly, "BOSS, is Wolverine being chased down by me right now?"

"You’re overthinking it."

Wang Bert said, "Wolverine’s opponent is one of Black Phoenix, Original Sin, or Apocalypse. He needs to evolve enough resistance."

"That makes sense."

Wade was somewhat disappointed, but then said, "BOSS, I’ll rest for a while, then go back into the illusion. I refuse to believe I can’t kill those two brothers."

"Admirable spirit."

Wang Bert nodded in satisfaction. Although Wade was not particularly serious, he never slacked off when it came to improving his strength. As a mercenary, he understood very well how important strength was.

Wang Bert thought to himself, I wonder when the Celestial Group will arrive. I hope there’s enough time.

In the blink of an eye, more than a month passed. After days of grueling training, the professor and the others had undergone drastic transformations. Wang Bert therefore decided to take them to Hell for real combat.

Outside Hell, Wang Bert asked Franklin, "Have you set up the Time Loop?"

Looking as though he had not woken up yet, Franklin replied, "Don’t worry, it’s set up. But it will only work for twelve hours. They’re ancient gods, so I had to use the highest-level Time Loop."

"Looking at you like this, I’m not reassured at all."

Wang Bert rolled his eyes and asked everyone, "Are you ready?"

Wade said arrogantly, "I’ve been ready for ages. After this period of special training, I feel like I’m invincible."

"That’s an illusion, thank you."

Wang Bert could not be bothered with Wade. He closed his eyes and focused on sensing Hell. A moment later, he raised his hand, and black flames blazed in his palm.

Everyone’s expressions changed slightly. The flames in Wang Bert’s palm were filled with destruction. They should be Black Phoenix’s Phoenix Force.

"Go!"

At Wang Bert’s command, the black flames swelled madly and transformed into a lifelike black phoenix. Then, the black phoenix beat its wings fiercely and crashed rapidly toward Hell.

Silently, the fire phoenix disintegrated a huge opening in the black energy. Wang Bert swept his hand, and a spatial gate appeared at the opening.

Wang Bert said to everyone, "All of you, go in."

"Yes, BOSS!"

Everyone nodded and passed through the spatial gate into Hell.

Apocalypse, Black Phoenix, and Original Sin sensed the disturbance in Hell’s energy and hurriedly looked into the void. However, before they could see clearly, the professor and the others appeared out of thin air before them.

"Jean!"

The professor and Cyclops immediately called out when they saw Black Phoenix. Jean was first overjoyed, then horrified. She hurriedly suppressed Black Phoenix and shouted, "Get out of here! You’re no match for Black Phoenix!"

The next second, Black Phoenix regained control of the body. She said coldly, "Leave? Dream on. All of you will die today. Jean, no one connected to you will ever come to a good end."

Compared to the crazed Black Phoenix, Apocalypse thought further ahead. With a livid expression, he shouted into the void, "Iron Man, how dare you look down on us like this?"

Black Phoenix was stunned. "Look down on us?"

"Of course he’s looking down on us. Iron Man probably could have entered Hell long ago, but he never acted."

Original Sin said with a dark expression, "Because he intends to use us as whetstones to sharpen the people in front of us."