Chapter 480: The War of Ghost Level

Speaking of the Moon Worship Sect, its relationship with the Holy City is truly extraordinary. It was founded by the first disciple under the old master who established the Holy Sanctuary, possessing profound heritage and formidable strength. For two hundred years since its establishment, it has remained unwaveringly loyal to the Holy City and the Luo Family, earning the trust of successive Holy Lords. It stands as an immovable core within the Holy Sanctuary's power structure. With the Holy Lord currently absent, Roy's participation in the Elder Council is merely as an observer for learning purposes, leaving the council largely deferential to Gudel.

As soon as he finished speaking, the conference hall buzzed with endless discussions. Many offered their insights, but truth be told, they were little different from the old methods employed against the Dark Hall over the past two years.

The suggestions mostly revolved around strengthening local security defenses and deploying Ghost Level experts to key towns—a defensive approach. However, this method had long proven ineffective. The Dark Hall operated in the shadows, while the Holy Sanctuary remained exposed. The Dark Hall could concentrate forces to strike at any point, whereas the Holy City and the Council had to disperse their forces to guard everywhere. Though the Holy City and the Blade Council boasted numerous Ghost Level experts, the alliance's strategic locations were even more numerous. How could they possibly cover every place with enough strength to counter the Dark Hall? Too few Ghost Level defenders would be like offering easy prey, while deploying too many would stretch their manpower thin, allowing the Dark Hall to strike wherever they pleased.

Some proposed plastering wanted posters of the Dark Hall's core members and Qian Jueqian across major alliance cities, hoping public surveillance would hinder their movements, while also increasing their bounties in the bounty guilds. This was an attempt at counterattack, but it remained meaningless. Not to mention masters like Fourier, the "Hundred-Faced Star Lord," even ordinary Dark Hall members had concealment techniques that could easily fool common folk. As for bounties, they were even more absurd—Qian Jueqian's bounty had already surpassed a hundred million, and the New World's Nine's bounties were in the tens of millions, yet no one in the bounty guilds dared take on Dark Hall targets. Those who had the courage were already dead. Against the Dark Hall's caliber, bounty hunters stood no chance.

The elders at the conference table debated fervently, their voices rising in a continuous hum.

Roy, however, remained silent with a faint smile.

The Dark Hall was a long-standing, thorny issue for the Holy City. If it could be resolved by mere discussions, the Holy City would have eradicated them long ago. Despite the elders' heated arguments, even days of debate would yield no real solution.

"Esteemed elders," Roy suddenly spoke with a smile, "why trouble yourselves over this when we have the tale of Lingge and Feige as a lesson?"

The room fell silent before smiles spread across their faces. Lingge and Feige—an old story about a swift blue bird named Lingge. A great family exhausted tremendous effort to capture and bind it as a Spirit Beast. Yet, under their meticulous 'care,' the once-small Lingge grew fat—Feige meaning 'fat dove'—losing its speed until even a three-year-old could catch it.

Gudel stroked his beard and chuckled. "The Saint speaks wisely. The Dark Hall is like that wild Lingge—small, agile, hidden in the shadows, difficult to catch. But it remains a mere nuisance. Why not let them grow a little more, expand faster? A bigger target is easier to handle."

"Well said, Elder Gudel. I share that view."

"Seconded."

With Roy and Gudel in agreement, no one below dared oppose. Roy then continued, "Uncle Gudel, compared to the Dark Hall, I find the matter of Rose more troubling."

"Recently relocated Quicksand Holy Sanctuary, inland schools like Kusunagi, Xinfeng, and Cardell—seven in total—along with coastal ones like Dragon Moon and Ice Spirit, have all lowered their admission thresholds this year, seemingly following Rose Holy Sanctuary's expansion model." Roy smiled. "This is the pressing issue we must address."

The hall grew quiet.

Within the Holy City's Elder Council, there were no clear divisions between conservatives and reformers.

All present were powerful old-timers representing the entrenched authority of the Holy Sanctuary. Reform was something they deeply feared and despised. Their stance was unified—not because they believed reform harmed the Holy Sanctuary or the Blade Alliance, but because new circumstances meant a redistribution of power. Who among these established forces would willingly surrender their authority or share their spoils?

Though reform had been a hot topic within the alliance and the Holy Sanctuary, with many supporters, it had never truly gained momentum. The only one bold enough to implement reforms was Rose Holy Sanctuary—but given its low rank and limited influence, the Holy City might not have paid much attention if not for Thunder Dragon, whom even the Holy Lord feared.

Now, with Rose's momentum from challenging the eight great Holy Sanctuaries and the explosive popularity of its Ghost Level Class, it had become a phenomenon. Not only was the alliance abuzz with discussion, but lower-ranked Holy Sanctuaries were also beginning to emulate them. For the conservative powerholders, this was a dangerous signal—one that threatened to shake their foundations. If left unchecked, it might soon spiral beyond control.

"Rose's situation has escalated too quickly. Thunder Dragon is like a centipede that refuses to die—the Holy Lord had been too lenient back then. He should never have been spared."

"Gentlemen, now is not the time for complaints. I've reviewed the Ghost Level Class materials—there are indeed many appealing aspects, not just empty hype." Fu Changsheng, seated at the end, spoke up. Compared to his brother Fu Changkong—head of Zenith Holy Sanctuary and a Blade Councilman—his status was equally illustrious. As the youngest elder in the council, his words carried weight, especially with Fu Changkong's backing. "If their Ghost Level Class succeeds, Rose's reputation will soar to new heights. By then, it may be too late to act."

"But how can we act now? The entire alliance's attention is fixed on Rose, with countless schemers watching our every move. Thunder Dragon is prepared, waiting for us to strike so he can rally the alliance against us."

"With all eyes on them, we cannot move against Rose directly." Gudel smiled faintly. "But there are other avenues."

"I heard nearly all elite students sent by major Holy Sanctuaries were rejected in Rose's assessments." Someone remarked. "Hawkland previously allocated Ghost Level Class spots to Holy Sanctuary heads, only to revoke them later. Perhaps we can incite conflict between Rose and other Holy Sanctuaries, prompting condemnations."

"Futile." Roy shook his head. "During the assessments, Zhao Chun of West Peak Holy Sanctuary challenged Rose, only for Wang Feng to disable and expel him, banning the Zhao Family and West Peak Holy Sanctuary from future participation. Though young, Wang Feng acts with ruthless efficiency."

These veteran elders understood the gravity of the matter. Had Wang Feng engaged in lengthy debates with Zhao's disciple, it would have left an opening for endless future attacks. If reasoning alone could resolve conflicts, no intelligent world would ever know war.

Wang Feng's swift, brutal response sealed all gaps. Setting aside allegiances, Thunder Dragon had clearly taught his disciple well.

More importantly, in the past, loyalists would have attacked Rose on the Holy City's behalf. But now, major Holy Sanctuaries had fallen silent—likely because their rejected disciples had relayed something that unified their stance. They now held expectations for Rose's Ghost Level Class, preferring to wait and send their true core disciples next year. Who would dare offend Rose now and risk cutting off next year's opportunities?

Was the Ghost Level Class truly so promising?

The elders exchanged glances, both amused and frustrated.

Directly opposing Rose won't work, and using others to do their dirty work proves impossible—are we really just going to sit back and let Rose gain power? This has indeed become as big a headache as the Dark Sanctuary, except the Dark Sanctuary's difficulty lies in the shadows, while Rose presents an in-your-face problem.

"The issue with Rose cannot be ignored. The Lei family seeks to shake the very foundations of the Holy City. Attempt to communicate first with the major families and the various Holy Sanctuaries," Gu Del mused briefly before making the final decision. "As for the seven Holy Sanctuaries—Quicksand, Kusunagi, Xinfeng, and others—have the Holy City order them to reinstate the Tiger Level admission standards. Transfer any Wolf Level disciples already admitted to probationary classes. As for Dragon Moon and Ice Spirit... we'll defer discussion for now!"

Unconsciously, even the typically domineering Holy City suddenly realized it could no longer openly oppose Rose. Doing so would contradict the very spirit of the Holy Sanctuary, slapping their own face and undermining their foundation. Coupled with the existence of the League of Blades' parliament, the Holy City would also lose its transcendent status.

...

At this very moment, those paying attention to Rose and the Ghost Level Class were not limited to the League of Blades.

Ninth Prince Long Jing, Fifth Prince Long Xiang, and Crown Prince Long Zhen were engaged in a small discussion in the hall. Long Luo—formerly known as Luo Lan—had just left. The three princes had summoned him to inquire about all the details of Wang Feng's time at Rose Holy Sanctuary.

To be honest, Long Xiang had been pissed with Long Luo's repeated failures in operations against Rose, thwarted by some nobody named Wang Feng. He had once questioned Long Luo's competence, and had it not been for Long Luo's royal lineage, he'd have been kicked to the curb. But now, it seemed Long Luo had been totally screwed over...

Faced with the combination of Wang Feng and Thunder Dragon, even the entire League of Blades had been played like fools, and even the Holy City found itself hemmed in by the court of public opinion, unable to act. Against such formidable opponents, how could Long Luo alone have prevailed? Moreover, after hearing his detailed account of Wang Feng's various actions at Rose, even the three princes looked at each other like 'WTF?'.

That guy's acting skills were simply next-level insane... Previously, they hadn't taken it seriously, but walking a mile in Long Luo's boots, even Long Xiang—the head of intelligence—would likely have struggled to do better had he been in Rose at the time. Who would have taken such a clown seriously? Yet hidden beneath that clown's facade was the kind of power that could topple the entire League of Blades.

No, if all events were connected, it wasn't so much that Long Luo had lost to Wang Feng, but rather to Thunder Dragon... Can't blame him for that.

"The Ghost Level Class's first enrollment already pulled in a solid hundred students. Given Rose's current standing in the League of Blades, daring to recruit so many proves they're dead serious... If Rose truly has mastered the secret to breaking through to the Ghost Level, and if they are as selfless as Wang Feng claims—intending to spread this method throughout the League—then I fear..." Long Jing left hanging, like he didn't want to say it.

Long Zhen remained expressionless, while Long Xiang snorted coldly. "If such a method truly exists, it's our Nine Gods' opportunity. Acquiring it would allow us to reap benefits faster than the League, given our resources."

For the two great powers—the League of Blades and Nine Gods—wars came down to Dragon Level power. However, due to the presence of the Sea Clan, the Dragon Level was balanced. This meant that whichever side sought to decide the war with Dragon Level power would face intervention from the Sea Clan's royal family, as it served their interests. This had turned the last Holy War into a conflict decided below the Dragon Level—relying on ordinary ground forces, rune technology, logistical support, and overall national strength. In this context, Ghost Level power was particularly crucial, whether in mutual assassinations or executing decisive missions. As a result, both sides' Ghost Level forces had been nearly wiped out, requiring long recovery periods to reach their current state. Of course, during this process, the Sea Clan had also reaped substantial benefits—otherwise, their current standing wouldn't exist.

If Ghost Level power could be produced in greater numbers, it would undoubtedly become the dominant force.

Unless one faction possessed Dragon Level power surpassing the combined strength of all others—with absolute overwhelming force—the Dragon Level could at least ensure mutual destruction.

Of course, rumors were just rumors. At this level, sensationalized doomsday messages were a dime a dozen these days. Breaking through to the Ghost Level was no easy feat and couldn't be achieved without cost. It was only due to Wang Feng's unique circumstances that this warranted attention.

"This matter should have been reported to Father Emperor immediately, but he entered seclusion just three days ago..." Long Jing looked to Long Zhen. "Only the Crown Prince can decide now."

Long Zhen pondered briefly. Before Long Jing's return, he had already reviewed all intelligence regarding Rose's Ghost Level Class. Frankly, even the Holy City's inner circle found this a thorny issue. No matter how strong Nine Gods was, what could they do from afar? Sabotage? That was wishful thinking. With Thunder Dragon stationed in Aurora City, the intense scrutiny from all sides, and covert defenses against the Holy City, the hidden protective measures were undoubtedly formidable. Sending a few agents over wouldn't accomplish anything—let alone get anything done, Aurora City was now locked down tight.

"Fifth Brother, the empire's eyes and ears are in your hands. We must rely on you!" Long Zhen smiled faintly, his gaze settling on the silent Long Xiang. That Wang Feng... tsk, this was a black mark Long Xiang couldn't wash off.

"Difficult." Long Xiang also shook his head. "Elder Brother, you know as well as I do—Thunder Dragon and Karida are cunning. Our forces in Aurora City have been completely cleaned out."

"Oh, is that so?" Long Zhen's smile remained.

"My failure regarding Wang Feng is my own. When Father Emperor has time, I will naturally seek punishment," Long Xiang said coolly. "I suggest we observe for now—see whether this Ghost Level Class has real substance or is just empty hype. Think thrice before acting; sometimes stillness is better than action... Heh, this is what you taught me, Elder Brother. If Rose's Ghost Level Class truly is as formidable as claimed, Father Emperor will decide after his seclusion."

Long Zhen fell silent, his piercing gaze fixed on Long Xiang, who remained stoic.

The room grew quiet, you could cut the tension with a knife.

Long Jing acted like he didn't have a care in the world, perfectly at ease.

"Stillness over action..." In the end, Long Zhen relented, chuckling. "Fifth Brother speaks wisely. The truth of Rose's Ghost Level Class remains unverified. We may be rushing too soon. Let us observe for now!"

...After leaving the side hall, Long Jing seemed inclined to speak further with Long Xiang, but the latter showed no interest in deeper discussion. With a few perfunctory words, Long Xiang excused himself. Yet once he leisurely boarded his luxurious, elongated customized magic vehicle and the door closed, a glass of red wine was handed to him in the spacious interior.

"Congratulations, Your Highness!"

Feng Buxiu and Long Luo sat inside the carriage, both smiling—clearly having anticipated the silent clash between the Fifth Prince and the Crown Prince in the side hall.

Long Xiang grinned. "How is that Mi fellow doing?"

"Here is the dossier of this woman." Feng Buxiu handed over a file. Long Xiang opened it and examined it carefully while Feng Buxiu explained, "Before the age of nine, she was a vagrant in Hara City. Her origins are lost to history. After that, she underwent six years of training with the Mi Group at the Titan Base, codenamed No. 7. Her performance was outstanding, and her loyalty to the Empire is beyond doubt. However, some anomalies emerged recently."

"Oh? Members of the Mi Group undergo the strictest training. How could there be an issue?" Long Xiang frowned. "If it were just some Dandelion operative going rogue, that'd be one thing, but Mi agents are thoroughly programmed tools, vetted and brainwashed."

"She has been undercover in Aurora City for several years. Previously, with Long Luo present, she was hardly utilized and remained idle for too long. Whether she has been influenced by the League of Blades remains uncertain. That’s why I assigned her no tasks during the previous Dragon City operation." He summarized the situation and added, "Originally, I intended to investigate why she violated her undercover orders, but before I could act, she followed Wang Feng to challenge the Eight Holy Sanctuaries and gained combat honors. If she remains loyal to the Empire, both Wang Feng’s life and the secret of the ghost-level breakthrough would be within our grasp. For absolute caution, Your Highness, perhaps we should test her first?"

"Indeed, a test is necessary." Long Xiang closed the dossier, his smile radiant as he took a sip of red wine. "How shall we proceed with the test?"

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