Chapter 470: The Temptation Is Not Enough

"Miss Winnie Lee." Anbolin smiled and extended his hand to Winnie Lee. "Welcome, welcome."

The Li family intended to establish a presence in Aurora City, a decision made during Li Xuanyuan and Wang Feng's discussions in Blade City. While the Li family had no immediate plans to involve themselves in the affairs of Rose and Holy City, they were keenly interested in the lucrative opportunities Aurora City presented. After all, with great wealth came great expenses, and no merchant would pass up an opportunity to make money. For the existing alliance in Aurora City, they were top-tier in commerce, but relying solely on beastmen for underground channels and protection was far from sufficient—it simply couldn't handle serious business.

Within the Blade Alliance, the Li family was unrivaled in underground networks, both in influence and capability. Adding such a powerful ally—one that could provide comprehensive underground support—would be invaluable, especially given the booming trade center. With the Li family's substantial investment, risks could be further distributed, a prospect that Clara, Udagan, and Anbolin all welcomed.

Fear of sharing profits? That was the shortsightedness of petty merchants. True business magnates were never afraid of others making money—after all, was wealth ever truly finite? Only by forging strong alliances, expanding the market, drawing in more players, and building a solid foundation could one achieve lasting prosperity.

And now, Winnie represented the Li family.

It had to be said—the Li family's genes were impeccable. Despite her petite frame, standing under 1.5 meters, Winnie held her own in presence against the likes of Anbolin, Udagan, and Clara, all titans of Aurora City. Gone was her usual playful demeanor; instead, she wore a composed smile as she gracefully shook hands with each of them. "Mayor Anbolin, Elder Udagan, Princess Clara, my elder brother Li Fusu sends his regards."

The power structure of the Li family was no secret in the Blade Alliance. Since the family head, Old Li, fell ill with an unknown affliction two years ago, he had largely retreated from public life. Real authority now lay with the Li Family's Eight Tigers. While the eldest, Li Mutian, held the reins, the fourth son, Li Fusu, served as the family's second-in-command. As the chief instructor of the Eight Thousand Brocade Phoenix assassins and overseer of the family's legitimate business dealings, he would typically handle such negotiations. Entrusting Winnie with this task was partly due to her close relationship with Wang Feng—familiarity eased discussions—and partly to give her valuable experience.

Everyone understood the dynamics. As partners, Anbolin and the others, though senior in age, didn’t put on airs. After exchanging pleasantries, they settled into the main hall and quickly steered the conversation toward business.

Today’s main agenda was discussing the Li family’s investment in the new trade center.

The Li family’s entry had already been preliminarily agreed upon—a win-win scenario and precisely the kind of underground support the tripartite alliance of sea, beast, and human factions needed. The specifics of the collaboration had even been drafted into contracts by Li Fusu, reviewed by Wang Feng and the other three parties, and revised twice. The details were essentially finalized; all that remained was for the Li family’s representative to sign and seal the deal.

The Li family’s sincerity was evident. Beyond matching the other three parties’ investment of one billion euros, they would establish a covert Brocade Phoenix branch in Aurora City, stationing at least two ghost level experts along with a contingent of Brocade Phoenix assassins and spies. This branch would not only provide commercial intelligence to the three parties but also ensure the security of the new trade center.

Frankly, two ghost level experts weren’t something Clara, Udagan, or even Anbolin—now the city’s mayor—lacked. What they truly needed was the deterrent power of the "Brocade Phoenix" name in the Alliance’s underworld. Anywhere in the Alliance, invoking "Brocade Phoenix" was almost guaranteed to resolve any dispute.

As the saying went, in business, it was easier to deal with kings than with petty troublemakers.

In terms of local influence, the mayor was already one of our own through and through. Further afield, the Blade Alliance’s parliament was covered by Princess Clara’s connections with the seaclans. Now, with the Li family’s involvement and the support of Udagan’s beastmen factions, the alliance truly had both the light and dark sides of power covered.

With the contracts pre-approved and Wang Feng leading the discussions, Winnie proved decisive. Thick stacks of documents passed between hands, signatures were swiftly added, and the most critical matter was settled in record time.

With the new partnership formalized, spirits were high. Old Wang grinned. "After a whole day of parading and signing dozens of contracts, I’m starving. Princess, mind serving up some food?"

"Always so impatient." Clara chuckled behind her hand, her every movement exuding charm. Even a casual exchange with Wang Feng carried an unspoken allure.

Udagan and Anbolin, both indifferent to such charms and long accustomed to Clara’s ways, paid no mind. Winnie, however, quietly rolled her eyes: *This fishy enchantress…*

Clara continued, "I’ve heard Winnie adores Chef Fan’s cuisine at the *Burj Al Arab*. Today, I’ve invited Chef Fan here personally. The banquet is ready—let’s dine and converse."

The banquet, befitting Princess Clara, was a lavish spread of delicacies, each a tribute-grade seafood from the deepsea, masterfully prepared to whet the appetite.

Business was set aside during the meal. Udagan and Anbolin were particularly curious about the Heavenly Decree Battle, a topic that had taken the Alliance by storm, with wild rumors circulating everywhere. When pressed for details, Wang Feng downplayed his role with a few brief remarks about his techniques, while Clara, as an eyewitness, added her observations. Anbolin and Udagan exchanged glances—they’d assumed the *Holy Light Sacred Path*’s accounts of Wang Feng’s prowess were embellished, but now it seemed the descriptions had been understated.

"Wang Feng, what’s the deal with this Ghost Level Class?" Udagan, trusting Wang Feng’s own words over hearsay, moved on to other points of interest. "Whether it’s the *Holy Light Sacred Path* or the tabloids, everyone’s singing its praises without a single dissenting voice. Forgive an old man’s suspicion, but when something seems too good to be true, there’s usually a catch. This doesn’t feel right."

"Let them talk. The Holy City’s just trying to praise us to death—an old trick." Wang Feng smirked. "When we deliver real results, they’ll regret the hype they’re creating for us."

Anbolin and Udagan blinked in surprise, while Clara twirled her wine glass with an amused smile. "That confident?"

"Have I ever done anything without confidence?"

"Truthfully, I don’t doubt Rose’s teaching standards…" Anbolin smiled faintly. If nothing else, Mapeier’s rapid transformation under Wang Feng’s guidance—despite her previous standing in Judgment—spoke volumes about his capabilities. But even with such skills, wasting potential was unwise.

Though their collaboration remained undisclosed, Rose, the Lei family, and the new trade center were now deeply intertwined.

When the Lei family thrives, the cooperation runs smoothly and everyone is happy. But if the Lei family falls, all three of them, who have intricate ties with Wang Feng, will inevitably face a thorough purge by the Holy City in Aurora City, targeting the "remnants" of the Lei family. Naturally, they would dig deep into all of Wang Feng's connections. Forget their cooperation with Wang Feng—even their past schemes against the New Lord and the fraud involving five billion lio (currency) would likely be exposed by the Holy City. Clara might escape unscathed thanks to her privileges as a sea clan member, but Anbolin and Udagan would truly face utter ruin. How could they not be worried?

Anbolin sighed softly, "But Wang Feng, human hearts are hard to predict."

"How so?"

"I heard that back in Blades' City, various Holy Sanctuary principals had already approached Lao Huo (Blades' representative) for spots in the *Ghost Level Class*." Anbolin smiled faintly. "But do you really dare to accept these people? I’d wager at least half of them are sent by the Holy City to cause trouble or steal your theories. You can’t possibly discern their true intentions. If you take them all in, forget about the troublemakers—but one thing is certain: if your theory on breaking through to ghost level is truly effective, within half a year, the secret to ghost-level breakthroughs will spread throughout the entire League!"

"What could be better? More people helping us spread the theory of ghost-level breakthroughs, saving us the trouble of teaching them for free at Rose Academy. What’s not to love?" Wang Feng chuckled. "Moreover, I don’t even plan to have them formally join Rose Academy. They can come as exchange students, keeping their original affiliations while joining the *Ghost Level Class*. If they dare cause trouble? We can send them packing anytime. Rose Academy won’t be held accountable for their actions."

Anbolin was stunned. What kind of response was this?

Not just Anbolin, but even Clara and Udagan beside him were taken aback. Wang Feng, shrewd as he was, couldn’t possibly not understand the principle of keeping valuable secrets close. After painstakingly developing this breakthrough, wasn’t he just handing it over freely?

And not only teaching Tiger Peak-level disciples how to reach ghost level for free, but also letting them keep their original affiliations—training disciples for others? Damn… What was Rose Academy gaining from this? What was Wang Feng gaining? Was he truly aiming to benefit all humans and become the Supreme Sage-Teacher? How ridiculously noble!

"I’ve never seen such a losing business," Udagan was the first to shake his head, while Clara eyed Wang Feng curiously.

Anbolin was utterly baffled, frowning as he asked, "Wang Feng, what’s in it for you?"

"There are plenty of reasons," Wang Feng replied with a faint smile. "Whether it’s Rose Academy or Aurora City, we need real talent. The *Ghost Level Class* isn’t just for the Holy Sanctuary—it’s for the entire League of Blades. Honestly, the spots promised to those Holy Sanctuary principals are just advertisements. Though we claim the only requirement is Tiger Peak now, once the number of applicants surges, we can’t possibly force Rose Academy to accept thousands at once, right? There has to be a selection process. Only by casting a wide net first can we catch the real talent. As for those sent by other Holy Sanctuaries, whether they have ulterior motives doesn’t concern me. They’ll have to pass the screening first."

Anbolin couldn’t help but interject, "But if you need talent, and you’ve gone to such lengths to attract so many promising candidates, shouldn’t you bind them to Rose Academy even more tightly?"

"Old An (Anbolin), humans aren’t animals. What binds people isn’t something as simple as a rope," Wang Feng said slowly. "Affiliations are just pieces of paper—how much restraint do they really offer? Whether they exist or not doesn’t matter. But once these people come, once they truly experience Rose Academy, it will leave a mark on their hearts… Changing affiliations is easy, but erasing that mark? Not so much."

Anbolin was momentarily speechless, while Udagan fell into thoughtful silence.

"That indelible mark might not make them betray their own Holy Sanctuaries, but at least it will help spread Rose Academy’s ideals," Wang Feng continued. "This world is ultimately moving toward greater integration. We might be pioneers, but we need more like-minded people to recognize and support us—that’s how real power is forged. In short, it’s about hearts and minds. As long as hearts lean toward Rose Academy, we’ll remain undefeated."

At first, Udagan, Anbolin, Clara, and even Winnie beside them frowned frequently. But soon, their expressions eased.

Udagan and Anbolin nodded repeatedly. Whether in vision or method, this young man operated on a grand scale, with pinpoint accuracy in his judgments.

Anbolin, however, felt a pang of shame. He’d always lacked confidence when facing the Holy City. Before Wang Feng’s return, he’d privately complained more than once about Wang Feng’s impulsiveness in provoking the Holy City. But now, it was clear Wang Feng saw further and thought bigger.

This was just a twenty-year-old, yet he saw things so clearly. There was no room for compromise between Rose Academy and the Holy City—and to win against the Holy City, which held every advantage, required a higher level of strategy.

The banquet had long been cleared away, and the others had departed. Only three remained in the top-floor hall.

Clara glanced at Mapeier, who stood silently beside Wang Feng, and gave Wang Feng a questioning look.

"Princess, if you’ve got something to say, just say it," Wang Feng chuckled. "There’s no need to hide anything from her."

Mapeier’s expression remained calm, her gaze unchanging, almost like Wang Feng’s shadow.

Clara smiled. The rumors about Mapeier and Wang Feng had spread through the League, with vivid details. Back then, she’d thought it unlikely—after all, this was a man even she couldn’t control. If Wang Feng were some lust-driven fool, she wouldn’t have believed it. But now, it seemed those rumors weren’t entirely baseless.

Not that it mattered. An extra girl nearby wouldn’t hinder her performance in the slightest. Besides, the Mermaid Princess was irresistible to all—having one more only added to the fun, making it even more thrilling.

"Look at you, talking like we’ve got some dark secret," Clara rolled her eyes, as if Wang Feng had said something inappropriate.

"There’s no ‘official business.’ I just haven’t seen you in a while and wanted to chat. Is that not allowed?" As she spoke, she casually unbuttoned her collar, fanning herself with her delicate fingers. "Honestly, it’s so sweltering today."

"Fine, fine, let’s chat!" Wang Feng grinned. It had been a while since he’d been teased by this mermaid, and her skills seemed to have leveled up. He lounged on the sofa, curious to see how far she’d go with Mapeier right there. "But don’t get too flirty. If you’re hot, just change clothes. What’s the point of undoing two buttons?"

"Good point!" Clara cooed, with a flick of her wrist. As the Mermaid Princess, she naturally had no shortage of dimensional storage. In a flash, a sheer white blouse appeared in her hand—lace-trimmed and translucent enough to make anyone’s blood boil. She dangled it from a finger, completely ignoring Mapeier’s presence, her eyes seductive as she looked at Wang Feng. "But Brother Wang, I’m a bit lightheaded from wine. Looks like you’ll have to help me into this."

Old Wang said with a straight face, "How can this be? Proper men don't look at such things. Helping you change clothes or such things would make me embarrassed!"

Clara giggled, not the least bit awkward. "Just close your eyes and don’t peek, problem solved, right?"

"If we’re closing eyes, let’s both do it. It’d be too awkward if only I had to shut mine!" Old Wang declared confidently. "My junior sister Mapeier can bear witness—watch me dress someone without using my eyes or hands—now that's a trick!"

"No eyes, no hands? How's that supposed to work?" Clara was puzzled.

"Wanna test me?"

"You wish! Try it then!" Clara, unconvinced, tossed the clothes toward Wang Feng and promptly closed her eyes.

Wang Feng’s voice counted down: "Three, two, one..."

*Swish, swish...*

A gentle touch, the evening gown slipped off, followed by the lace gauze sliding into place—truly untouched, as if the clothes had flown over and dressed her by themselves.

Was he using spirit energy?

Clara found it incredible. Though ghost-level experts had refined control over soul power, moving objects remotely was basic stuff. But achieving such precision was still a bit exaggerated.

Unable to resist, she peeked through one barely-open eye, wanting to see how Wang Feng managed it. Yet, instead of spotting him, she saw the lace garment being draped over her by a few delicate spider silk threads.

Of course, she should’ve guessed—this was Mapeier’s spider silk? But where was she?

Clara abruptly opened her eyes and sat up, only to find the hall now completely empty. She hadn’t even noticed when Wang Feng and Mapeier had left.

This man... was he truly made of wood? She might as well have been naked before him, yet he fled without hesitation? The dignified Mermaid Princess, known as a man-eater capable of toppling kingdoms—this was a massive blow to her pride!

Half mad, half laughing, Clara grabbed at the spider silk, only to watch it swiftly fade and vanish in her hand.

There was no such thing as a person immune to temptation. If one could resist, it was only because the temptation wasn’t strong enough. She couldn’t quite figure it out—given Wang Feng’s age and abilities, what was his deal anyway?