Chapter 473: The First Batch of Apprentices

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After all, it is a landmark Holy Sanctuary renowned for its reforms within the League. With the recent victory in the Eight Battles and the now universally acknowledged title of the top Holy Sanctuary, it was predictable to everyone that Rose would usher in a new wave of reforms.

Now, at the beginning of autumn, as the second half of the academic year is about to start, the campus of Rose Holy Sanctuary is unprecedentedly lively. The first reform is the overall restructuring of academic divisions.

Previously, all Holy Sanctuaries, including Rose, which prided itself as a "reform leader," still adhered to the outdated practice of dividing classes and levels based on the number of years spent in the Holy Sanctuary—such as first-year, second-year, third-year, and so on. But in Old Wang's view, this year-based classification system is utterly ridiculous.

For example, if a genius emerges among the freshmen, already at Tiger Peak rank upon entering the Holy Sanctuary, yet due to the age-based division, they are forced into a class full of novices who have just reached Tiger Level. What could such a genius possibly learn in that class?

Take Mo Tong, for instance. When he entered Rose, instead of joining the Martial Arts Academy, he chose to be in the same class as Yin Fu in the Rune Academy. Aside from genuinely wanting to accompany Yin Fu, wasn’t it also because the first-year Martial Arts Academy at Rose had nothing to teach him? The same goes for Winnie and Hei Wukai—chronic truants who were never seen attending classes. But it wasn’t due to lack of ambition; rather, the first-year curriculum only covered basic Tiger Level techniques, surrounded by weaklings. Old Hei was already dabbling in dimensional combat techniques—how could he be expected to practice basic stances alongside a bunch of first-year Holy Sanctuary disciples?

This is an extremely unfriendly environment for geniuses. People are influenced by their surroundings; spending years among the weak can turn even a genius into an idiot. Alternatively, the genius might grow increasingly arrogant and delusional, losing perspective on their actual worth because their peers are so inept that they start believing the whole world is just as incompetent. Meanwhile, the less talented become more insecure and unmotivated, constantly beaten down by their peers in the same grade, leading them to believe they’re simply too stupid to ever succeed.

This creates a highly dysfunctional learning ecosystem. Old Wang understood this flaw in Rose’s grading system from the very beginning—it’s not the disciples or the mentors who are at fault, but the inherently problematic age-based division system itself.

In the past, Old Wang lacked the power to change this. Of course, he also had no real motivation or reason to help improve things. But now that Rose has become his base, all these outdated systems that hinder the Holy Sanctuary’s progress must be discarded.

With the full support and delegation of authority from Thunder Dragon and Hawkland, Old Wang took bold action, completely abolishing the age-based grading system and replacing it with Rose’s unique strength-based grading system.

Rose will now be divided into four academic levels. The first level consists of all disciples who have not yet reached Tiger Level—essentially the entry-level class, equivalent to the former first-year. These disciples wear white Rose uniforms, symbolizing their "pure and unblemished" infinite potential.

The second level comprises ordinary Rose disciples who have reached Tiger Level. They wear the signature crimson Rose uniforms, symbolizing the vitality and eternal spirit of Rose. This level represents the foundation of Rose Holy Sanctuary and forms the largest group within the Holy Sanctuary.

The third level consists of Tiger Peak disciples, who wear newly designed blue Rose uniforms, symbolizing the elite and pillars of Rose. These are individuals ready to step out into society for internships, representing the true strength and heritage of Rose Holy Sanctuary. In the early days of the Holy Sanctuaries, rankings were largely determined by the number of Tiger Peak disciples a Holy Sanctuary had, reflecting its fundamental teaching quality and standards.

Above this is the fourth level, composed of Ghost Rank disciples. They wear black Rose uniforms, symbolizing the core of Rose. In addition to their status as Rose Holy Sanctuary disciples, they also enjoy certain mentor privileges, serving as specially appointed teaching assistants to guide and mentor their juniors. They are the face of Rose Holy Sanctuary and receive a generous monthly allowance, effectively engaging in semi-internships within the Holy Sanctuary. Of course, they can decline, but the few existing Ghost Rank Rose disciples are unlikely to refuse.

With about half a month left before the start of the second semester, at least 70-80% of Rose disciples have already returned to campus. Most came back early from their homes in nearby towns to celebrate the triumphant return of Old Wang Squad, eager to witness the grand spectacle of Wang Feng and his team’s victory.

Their timely return is also a great help. Due to the Eight Battles victory, the upcoming semester at Rose Holy Sanctuary is expected to be exceptionally busy, with a surge in enrollment applications. The urgent preparations for the Ghost Rank Class also mean the Holy Sanctuary has much more work to do. The senior disciples’ early return and enthusiastic volunteering have been a tremendous boon to Rose.

At this very moment, no fewer than four or five hundred people are gathered in Rose Holy Sanctuary’s lecture hall.

On the stage, Wang Feng, as the head of the Student Council, is announcing a series of new Rose policies on behalf of the Holy Sanctuary, including the aforementioned strength-based grading system.

Old Wang’s voice is steady and measured, a stark contrast to his usual playful tone. The Rose disciples below listen in complete silence, with even the occasional cough echoing clearly in the hall.

"Those who remained with Rose through the turmoil of the Eight Battles are our true brothers and sisters. As you all know, Rose has attracted significant investment this summer, and our rise in rankings has also brought a substantial increase in resource allocation. Rose is now truly upgrading its arsenal, and financial shortages are no longer an issue," Old Wang said with a smile. "So, in addition to the facility upgrades I mentioned earlier, how could we neglect our own people? Now, let me announce the new scholarship system!"

The juniors in the audience sat up attentively immediately. Why did Rose’s average strength improve so dramatically in the first half of the year? Wasn’t it because of the "Community Service Scholarship" initiated by President Old Wang? Is another round of benefits coming?

"The grading system has already been explained. Based on this, Red Rose disciples will receive a fixed monthly stipend of 100 euros, while Blue Rose disciples will receive 1,000 euros per month. Additionally, all Community Service Scholarship programs from last semester will remain unchanged! Furthermore, Rose’s smithing workshops, alchemy labs, martial arts halls, firearms training rooms, and all other public facilities will now be free for everyone to use—no more usage fees!"

As soon as Old Wang finished speaking, the hall erupted in deafening cheers, nearly raising the roof off the lecture hall.

Reaching Tiger Level qualifies one as a Red Rose disciple, meaning nearly 90% of Rose disciples—except for the newest enrollees—meet this standard. A monthly stipend of 100 euros, with no restrictions? That’s 1,200 euros a year. The basic tuition fee is around 2,000 euros per year, so this effectively cuts everyone’s tuition by more than half. Truly a conscientious Holy Sanctuary!

A Holy Sanctuary like Rose, which has long been ranked low, rarely attracts students from truly wealthy families. Aside from a few local families with connections to the Thunder Clan, why would any affluent individual choose Rose? Even locals often opt for Judgment—if you’re paying for admission, why not pick a bigger, higher-ranked Holy Sanctuary? The difference isn’t just in teaching quality; the social circles you’d access are entirely different! Thus, most Rose disciples under Karida’s leadership came from humble means—not exactly poor, but far from wealthy.

After Karida’s expanded enrollment policy, the admission threshold lowered further, which also contributed to Rose’s consistently low rankings and overall strength. The disciples’ family backgrounds were simply too humble to provide any cultivation resources beyond barely covering tuition.

Someone like Fan Te Xi was considered relatively well-off, but for most ordinary families, 2,000 euros a year in tuition is no small sum—it might represent half their annual household income. How many such families have been strained under this financial weight to send their children to Rose Holy Sanctuary? Now, with Old Wang’s bold initiative, the 2,000-euro tuition is effectively reduced to just 800. For many families, this is like a miracle.

As for those who train diligently and reach Tiger Peak, the 1,000-euro monthly stipend is even more enviable.

Aurora City, as a bustling port and trade hub, is among the wealthier regions in the League of Blades, with an average annual income of around 2,000 euros. Earning over 1,000 euros a month already places one in Aurora City’s affluent class. For most Rose disciples from ordinary families, how much does their entire household earn?

"Oh my god, President Wang Feng, I could kiss you a thousand times!"

"Mom will never have to worry about me not having money for potion ingredients again!"

"Dad won't have to pedal rickshaws after work anymore—his knees have arthritis and hurt when it gets cold... Wahhhhh!"

All the Temple disciples below the stage were shouting excitedly, their faces flushed red. But as they cheered and laughed, they couldn't help but burst into tears—great, heaving sobs. The hall was soon filled with a mix of wailing cries and joyous laughter.

Those conservative bigwigs who once slandered the reforms on the Path of Holy Light could never have imagined what Karida's lowering of the Rose Temple's admission standards truly meant for countless commoners. In the Alliance, those who truly had the chance to become Soul Cultivators were almost exclusively from wealthy families. For the poor, even if they possessed extraordinary talent, their parents wouldn't understand, those around them wouldn't understand, and they themselves wouldn't either. Without access to cultivation, their gifts would remain buried, forever relegating them to the lowest rungs of society—surviving through menial labor or simple trades. At best, they might become small-time merchants like Fan Tessi's father, barely escaping poverty. Forget becoming revered heroes—even basic official Alliance positions, which required at least Tiger Level qualifications, would forever be out of reach.

But by lowering the entry barrier, the Rose Temple had given countless people at the bottom a chance to rise, to break free from their station in life. Parents who had managed to scrape by in the lower classes—families like Rachel's and Patu's—could have lived relatively comfortable lives by their standards, envied by those around them. Yet, for the sake of giving their children a shot at climbing the social ladder, they gritted their teeth, scrimped and saved, cut every possible expense, and bet everything they had into this opportunity.

These kids had it rough, burdened with pressures most could never fathom or see. Yet they were also fortunate—they now had a chance to escape the rigid class stratification that had persisted in the Alliance for two centuries. And they were fiercely determined, pushing themselves to the limit, whether for their parents' sacrifices or their own futures.

A hundred euros a month—even a thousand—might be pocket change to rich kids, barely worth noticing. But for these true Temple disciples, it represented their entire household expenses, the weight that had been crushing their families. And now, Wang Feng had lifted that burden.

Seeing so many disciples below the stage hugging each other in tears, Old Wang couldn't help but feel moved. Yet more than that, he felt a deep, genuine joy. Being a good person... really did bring its own rewards.

He raised a hand slightly, signaling for quiet, and cleared his throat. Within three seconds, all noise in the hall ceased. Every eye locked onto the almost godlike presence of President Wang on stage.

Damn—every Temple disciple present was certain that even Headmistress Karida couldn't command such instant, absolute obedience!

"Don't get too excited yet," Old Wang said with a smile. "There's one more announcement, though I'm sure you've all guessed it already—the Ghost Level program."

The crowd buzzed with excitement, but no one made a sound. After all, the Ghost Level program wasn't exactly news—only its launch date had been uncertain. According to earlier media reports, any disciple who reached Tiger Peak could apply. The Rose Temple currently had dozens of such disciples. For commoners to reach Tiger Peak, their talents were undoubtedly exceptional—yet their backgrounds meant that Ghost Level might forever remain out of reach.

Ghost Level and Tiger Peak might seem separated by just half a step, but in reality, they represented an entire social divide—the difference between heaven and earth. And now, the Rose Temple was placing this opportunity before these ordinary Tiger Peak-level disciples.

"In ten days—on the Rose Temple's official reopening—the Ghost Level program will commence. All Tiger Peak-level disciples may apply. Beyond the standard tuition, there will be no additional fees for the program. However, due to limited capacity, enrollment will be restricted—the first cohort will be capped at one hundred."

The hall remained silent, every ear straining to catch his next words. "Given the limited slots and the fact that the Ghost Level program is open to the entire Alliance, admission won't be automatic. There will be a unified assessment. As the head of the Ghost Level program—and your head brother—I naturally can't help anyone cheat in the name of fairness. But that doesn't mean our own folks will still get perks..."

"You can get a heads-up on the assessment details," Old Wang paused and smiled. "The assessment consists of three parts. The first is a soul seed test and soul power level, which evaluates personal potential—this is non-negotiable, and ten days won’t be enough for any significant improvement. The second assessment is a physical fitness test. Different standards will be set for various professions like wizards, Martial Artists, and exorcists. Physical fitness is the most basic quality for a Soul Cultivator warrior. Some wizards or exorcists don’t pay much attention to this, so if any junior disciples here are planning to apply, using these ten days to train hard might still offer some help."

"The final assessment is on willpower—the most crucial one. Reaching ghost level takes sheer stubbornness. If you lack the determination to win, it’s best not to come." Old Wang smiled faintly. "The Temple’s strength comes from its disciples. The Ghost Level Class is the core of our rise and growth. Everyone is welcome to participate and to oversee the process. Only the most outstanding Temple disciples can enter!"

After a brief silence, the disciples below erupted into thunderous applause and cheers. Plenty of them had their sights set on this Ghost Level Class. Though assessments were still required, unlike the Holy City’s impossible standards, this was already a tremendous opportunity—perhaps the closest many would ever get to the ghost level.

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