Chapter 415: The Shame of the Thunder Witch

The idea of recruiting Gule was indeed a spur-of-the-moment decision, but it wasn’t impulsive. First and foremost, Wang Feng genuinely needed a plausible excuse to enter Heaven's Ascent.

The Vis Clan had been eyeing the Thunder Orbs on Mount Marklu for ages. Even when Thunder Dragon came to request one, he had to pay a hefty price just for a chance to try his luck. If they found out Wang Feng had obtained a Thunder Orb from Heaven's Ascent, there’d be hell to pay! Of course, he needed a shield—someone to pin it on later if the Vis Clan ever questioned him. "Look, I gave it to your Gule!"

Of course, these were just external factors. The main reason was that Old Wang genuinely respected Gule as a person. From their very first meeting, Gule had offered well-intentioned warnings and even dealt with the Sakuman vice-captain who tried to pull some underhanded tricks. At his core, Gule wasn’t a bad guy—he and Rose were birds of a feather. Moreover, he was truly formidable—a Thunder Wizard on the verge of breaking through to the Ghost-rank, one of the Holy Sanctuary Top Ten. With some proper guidance, he might even rival Longmoer. Rose was missing a top-tier wizard, and with Gule’s affiliation with the neutral Vis Clan, recruiting him would be like landing Rose a second lucky charm—just as Winnie had brought the Li Family’s support to Rose.

With the backing of the Thunder Family, the Li Family, and the Vis Clan, Rose would be as solid as a rock.

......

On the mountainside, everyone was on edge until, at last, lightning streaked down the mountainside.

"He’s back! He’s back!" A Holy Sanctuary disciple from Sakuman cheered. "Look at the way the lightning is being guided—that’s the work of a Thunder Wizard!"

"Holy crap, Senior Gule spent so much time up there—he must have actually reached Thunderclap Peak this time! Haha, Sakuman is about to have a Ghost-rank Holy Sanctuary disciple!"

"Senior Gule is amazing!"

"That Wang Feng must be toast by now, right?"

"Hah, isn’t that obvious?"

"Bullshit! The one coming down is definitely our Old Wang!" Winnie roared angrily.

"He’ll be fine!" Mapeier shook her head firmly.

Ah Xi, Kela, and Wu Di clenched their fists tightly, their eyes glued to the approaching lightning. Truth be told, everyone was genuinely worried. Winnie and the others had seen Wang Feng’s method of avoiding lightning, which was nothing like this lightning-channeling move. This clearly wasn’t him.

As they spoke, the lightning descended at an astonishing speed, as if flying down the mountain, completely ignoring the surrounding thunderclouds.

KABOOM!

Sure enough, it was Gule who emerged, holding a purple orb in his hand, his entire body enveloped in a shield of crackling lightning—like a thunder god descending, radiating power!

That was a Thunder Orb!

Reik Miller was both shocked and overjoyed. Gule truly was the Vis Clan’s chosen one! But then—wait, what?!

Before he could finish that thought, he froze. Standing right beside Gule, with an arm slung over his shoulder and yammering away, was none other than—Wang Feng?!

Everyone’s jaws dropped. There was Wang Feng, grinning like an idiot and running his mouth, his hand casually resting on Gule’s shoulder, while Gule looked slightly uncomfortable but didn’t shake him off.

What kind of bizarre scene was this?

The entire mountainside fell into stunned silence.

People had imagined Gule descending in glorious triumph. They had imagined Wang Feng crawling back in disgrace. Some had even pictured Gule dragging Wang Feng’s charred corpse. But no one had ever expected… this.

Seeing everyone’s dumbfounded expressions, Old Wang cheerfully waved and greeted them. "We’re back!"

…Seriously, was this really the time for greetings? No one cared whether he came back or not—what they couldn’t wrap their heads around was this buddy-buddy act!

Reik Miller was the first to snap out of it. His gaze at Gule was complicated. While it was inevitable that Gule would win by obtaining the Thunder Orb, getting so chummy with Rose’s people was way out of line. This guy… truly coddled by the clan elders, always prioritizing personal preferences over principles. He’d never be more than a glorified bruiser—how could he ever handle the Vis Clan’s business?

Clearing his throat, Reik broke the silence and asked flatly, "Did you win?"

"I lost."

…The hell?

Reik Miller was stunned and quickly pricked up his ears—did he just say Wang Feng lost?

"I lost," Gule replied with a slightly helpless expression, but his tone was firm and even rather composed. "The winner is Wang Feng."

"Too kind, too kind!" Old Wang patted Gule’s shoulder magnanimously. "Between brothers like us, who cares about winning or losing? Just luck, just a bit better luck!"

Brothers?! What the hell is this?!

Reik Miller gaped at the two of them, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of him.

And it wasn’t just him—the Holy Sanctuary disciples of Sakuman were equally dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Winnie, Kela, and the rest of the Old Wang Squad broke into grins. The reporters nearby feverishly jotted down notes while staring intently at Gule’s mouth.

Gule didn’t hold back, straightforwardly recounting the bet he had made with Wang Feng earlier. He wasn’t one for flowery speech, and since the matter was straightforward, he explained it clearly in just a few sentences.

"...And in the end, he actually got the Thunder Pearl." Gule showed the Thunder Pearl in his hand with a wry smile. "I concede defeat!"

The story had been slightly embellished. Gule didn’t mention Wang Feng’s performance on the Path to Heaven—after all, he hadn’t witnessed it himself—so, at Old Wang’s suggestion, he deliberately skipped over it. To the listeners, it sounded like Wang Feng had obtained the Thunder Pearl somewhere along the Fivefold Thunder Path.

Of course, no one would imagine that Wang Feng had actually ventured onto the Path to Heaven. The boundary between ghost level and Tiger Peak was still starkly defined on Mount Makru. No one would believe that a non-Thunder Witch at Tiger Peak could set foot in such a domain—that wouldn’t be a miracle, it would be an insult to all Thunder Witches of Hegvis!

But still… what kind of dumb luck was this?!

The Holy Sanctuary disciples of Sakuman were burning with envy. This Thunder Path—every Thunder Witch disciple from Sakuman walked it at least seven or eight times a year. Thousands of disciples, walking it seven or eight times annually, and in decades, not a single Thunder Pearl had ever been found. Yet this guy from Rose, on his very first try, just happened to pick one up? Was he the reincarnation of the Supreme Sage, Wang Meng or something?!

The Sakuman disciples were practically green with jealousy. Winnie and the others were about to cheer, but before they could, Gule’s next words ignited an explosion of reactions.

"I lost. According to the bet, I’ll be joining Rose Holy Sanctuary." Gule looked at Wang Feng calmly and solemnly. "Tomorrow, I’ll submit my transfer application to Sakuman and head to Rose Holy Sanctuary. Regardless of your final victory or defeat, I’ll be waiting at Rose Holy Sanctuary for your return from the challenge!"

Joining… Rose? Gule?!

The Sakuman disciples, who had just been stewing in envy, now felt their brains short-circuiting. Earlier, Gule had only mentioned the bet with Wang Feng—everyone assumed it was just about the match’s outcome. No one expected such an additional condition!

Winnie was delighted. Gule? One of the Holy Sanctuary Top Ten? Recruited into Old Wang’s ranks? Only Wang Feng could come up with such an absurd idea. Anyone else wouldn’t dare even think it. Just imagining being able to order around a Top Ten elite, making him obediently call her "senior sister," serving tea and water… Having Ah Xi do it was easy, but getting Gule to do it? Now that was a real challenge!

Winnie’s eyes gleamed as she stared at Gule, all but salivating.

While the disciples from both Holy Sanctuaries were still reeling from the news, the reporters were already going wild with excitement.

"Mr. Gule! Are you serious about what you just said? You’re really choosing to join Rose?"

"Mr. Gule, as one of the Holy Sanctuary Top Ten, choosing to join Rose at this moment—does this represent only your personal decision, or is it the will of the Vis Clan?"

"Mr. Gule! There have long been rumors that Elder Dablido has expressed dissatisfaction with the Holy City’s interference in the Vis Clan’s influence within Sakuman. Are your actions now a declaration from the Vis Clan against the Holy City’s meddling in Sakuman?"

Gule frowned slightly. He hadn’t thought this through at all—it was just the outcome of a bet. But these reporters were deliberately tying his actions to the Vis Clan and his teacher, Dablido. Their intentions were clearly malicious.

Dablido, the Thunder of Hegvis—in Hegvis, only one person in each era could bear that title. He was the principal of Sakuman, the Grand Elder of the Vis Clan, a member of the League of Blades, and most importantly, Gule’s teacher—the man he respected most.

"This is purely my personal decision. A bet is a bet—it has nothing to do with my teacher." Gule was straightforward, not stupid. He didn’t want to drag his teacher into any conflict with the Holy City.

"Watch your words and questions!" Reik Miller was furious, his death glare sweeping over the reporters. "Keep your questions about the match!"

But the reporters, who had mustered every ounce of courage to follow them halfway up the mountain, were all seasoned reporters undeterred by threats. Unfazed by Gule’s calm dismissal or Reik Miller’s threatening gaze, they pressed on with relentlessly probing and provocative questions, hell-bent on uncovering a bombshell. Soon, chaos erupted on the mountainside, with only Reik Miller’s furious roars ringing out: "No comment! No comment!"

…………

The roof of a five-story building was lined with towering ironwood trees, while the surrounding ground was a deep purple, etched with bold thunder sigils.

This was clearly a lightning magnet. Despite being deep within Hegvis City, bolts of lightning frequently struck this spot, making the whole structure crackle with energy. Especially at night, whenever lightning struck, the bold lettering adorning the building’s façade would illuminate in the darkness—Sakuman Thunder Sanctum.

An old man with a face bathed in purple light sat cross-legged in the courtyard. He was none other than the foremost expert of Hegvis, the Grand Elder of the Vis clan, and the current Headmaster of the Holy Sanctuary of Sakuman—Headmaster Dabudor.

His thick, wild beard made him look nothing like a centenarian, appearing instead to be in his forties or fifties, eternally preserving his prime physique and appearance.

In fact, there were many such veterans across the Nine Heavens Continent—centuries-old yet remarkably youthful in appearance. Of course, this "youth" had its limits, as not every top-tier expert could live to the age of a true freak of nature like Oscar.

At the moment, he was deep in meditation. Gule had been standing respectfully by his side for quite some time before Dabudor finally opened his eyes.

"Master," Gule greeted reverently.

"I already know about your transfer. Tell me your reasons." Dabudor wore a faint, affectionate smile. Truth be told, of the seven disciples he had taken in throughout his life, Gule was the weakest—neither his current strength nor his talent could be considered truly top-tier. Yet, he was Dabudor’s favorite, solely because of his single-minded devotion to the Thunder Path. Dabudor believed that perhaps, in the end, it would be this apparently least accomplished disciple who would truly inherit his legacy.

And now, this very disciple he held in such high regard had decided to transfer to Rose. A bet? Dabudor understood—integrity defined a man. If Gule were the type to break his word, he wouldn’t have valued him so highly in the first place.

But why make such a bet? He knew Gule would give him a reason far better than mere "pride and hotheaded rivalry."

Gule recounted the events on the Thunder Path in detail—no embellishments, no explanations for what he hadn’t understood, just a straightforward, matter-of-fact retelling.

"...The Path to Heaven."

To be honest, Dabudor hadn’t expected this. Like everyone else, he had initially assumed Wang Feng had simply been lucky, stumbling upon the Thunder Pearl along the Fivefold Thunder Path.

Dabudor chuckled and shook his head, as if recalling something nostalgic. "Thunder Dragon... Thunder Dragon... First you bested me, and now even your disciple... Hahaha!"

He laughed heartily, his mirth unrestrained. Gule waited quietly until Dabudor’s laughter subsided before the elder spoke to him gently, "I understand now. What you envy is that Wang Feng’s cultivation environment—the competitive, uplifting environment around him, the purity of it all... From the moment you made that bet, you were secretly hoping to lose, weren’t you?"

"No, Master..." Gule froze, instinctively denying it. But the moment the words left his mouth, he realized there might have been some truth to it.

Had he agreed to the bet solely because he believed Wang Feng couldn’t succeed? Not really... His master understood him better than he understood himself!

"These years, I’ve been focused on Thunder Arts, striving to break through the *ghost level* barrier. I’ve spent most of my time in this Thunder Hall, rarely involving myself in Sakuman’s affairs..." Dabudor spoke, then—to Gule’s astonishment—stood up. In Gule’s memory, seeing his master rise to his feet was a rare sight indeed!

"It seems Sakuman has grown lax. Morale has decayed—scheming, petty-minded, chasing fame and profit... Hmph, what good could come from mingling with the Fu family?" Dabudor said coolly. "Go and prepare your transfer application in peace. As for the board’s approval... I’ll handle it."

………………

By the very morning the news broke, the whole League of Blades erupted.

That Sakuman would pit Rose against them in a trial of the Thunder Path was something no one could have anticipated. Faced with Rose’s challenge, Sakuman had resorted to such an underhanded move—was this still the unshakable, historically prestigious Holy Sanctuary Top Ten people remembered?

But even more astonishing was that, despite such overwhelming odds, Rose had won! Not only won, but also managed to snatch Sakuman’s star player—Gule, one of the Holy Sanctuary Top Ten.

The onlookers were stunned, yet also thrilled beyond measure. In these peaceful, carefree times, what people craved most was precisely this kind of juicy gossip to spice up their idle chatter.

The incident became the talk of the town. Sakuman had lost to Rose under circumstances where they held every advantage. One might have expected them to be utterly humiliated, yet public opinion took an unexpected turn: *Look at the integrity of the Holy Sanctuary Top Ten! A man of his word—good gambling ethics reflect good character. Never mind whether Sakuman’s choice of the Thunder Path was shameless or not—at least their disciples know honor and keep their promises!*

This reaction left Sakuman’s members feeling as if a weight had been lifted. Even the Old Wang Squad of Rose, who had decided to stay a few more days to recuperate, suddenly seemed a little more tolerable—though their gazes still carried a mix of side-eyed glances.

That Thunder Pearl—a treasure unseen for decades—and Wang Feng had just *given* it away? Who could stomach that? What a reckless wastrel, a backwater simpleton! Once he realized the Pearl’s true value, he’d surely rue it bitterly.