Chapter 481: One Year Promise

Feng Buxiu glanced at Long Luo beside him and said with a smile, "Long Luo has spent quite some time at Rose and knows its network of relationships well. For Wang Feng, the most important person in Rose probably isn't Thunder Dragon, but his senior from the Rune Institute and mentor—Li Sitan."

"Li Sitan has shown great favor to Wang Feng at Rose. He's a guileless man with low combat ability, unsuspecting and completely unguarded against others. He'd be the easiest target," Long Luo said. "If we want to prove No. 7's loyalty, I believe having her take Li Sitan's life would be the best proof of loyalty."

"Li Sitan of Rose... quite a contemporary rune master," Long Xiang chuckled. "How unfortunate... Do you really think this is necessary?"

Feng Buxiu was slightly taken aback. Showing mercy to talent? And enemy talent at that? This didn’t seem like Long Xiang’s usual style.

After a brief pause, he asked, "Your Highness is worried about tipping our hand?"

"I trust every one of our Mi operatives," Long Xiang smiled. "They are the pillars of our empire, willing to sacrifice everything for it. To doubt them is to doubt ourselves—and an injustice to these warriors."

Feng Buxiu fell silent, while Long Luo was utterly baffled. The Fifth Prince was known for his suspicious nature, yet now his attitude...

"No need to test her. Change the orders. Her primary mission is to obtain all the information on Rose's Ghost Level Class," Long Xiang said with a grin. "Remember, not just the general overview from the Holy Light Sacred Path. I want every detail—including the formula and samples of their so-called new potion, and all the decrypted details of their Soul Refining Array! Obtaining these core secrets should be more than enough to prove No. 7's loyalty, don’t you think?"

Feng Buxiu had an epiphany; he understood.

To His Highness, No. 7’s loyalty was irrelevant. This asset was far too valuable at the moment. Having her risk exposure just to prove herself would be a true net loss. Better to go straight for the prize and secure what they truly wanted first.

Despite Rose’s Wang Feng claiming to publicize all the Ghost Level Class’s secrets... only the naive would believe that. The true core would never be revealed. Moreover, compared to killing Li Sitan, obtaining detailed intelligence on the Ghost Level Class would be far easier and less conspicuous for No. 7, who was already close to Wang Feng.

"Understood."

"Then proceed." Long Xiang waved his hand dismissively, in high spirits. If he could accomplish this great feat, His Majesty would view him differently. From start to finish, Long Xiang had always believed the throne was meant for him.

As Feng Buxiu and Long Luo exited the carriage, Long Xiang swirled his glass of red wine, a faint smile on his lips.

His Majesty’s seclusion was perfect timing. If he could resolve the Rose affair splendidly before His Majesty emerged—or better yet, obtain the very theory that gave Rose such confidence in mass-producing ghost-level experts—then with the empire’s resources and capabilities, while Rose could train a hundred, he could train a thousand, ten thousand!

Why was the Crown Prince so formidable? Why did he command such loyalty? Not because of his birthright, nor his maternal relatives in high positions—but because he controlled the War Academy! Among the empire’s high-ranking officials and generals, eight of ten were War Academy graduates. That was their origin, their allegiance. By controlling the War Academy, the Crown Prince secured their support—and by extension, the military’s.

But what if he, Long Xiang, established a Ghost Level Class and trained thousands of Ghost Levels? What if these Ghost Levels infiltrated the empire’s upper echelons, even permeated every vein of the military, replacing the War Academy’s status? What kind of scenario would that create?

The secrets of Rose’s Ghost Level Class must fall into his hands!

......

With the establishment of Rose’s Ghost Level Class and Zhao Chun’s crippling, elite students from various Holy Sanctuaries were eliminated under Rose’s assessment system.

This time, none of the major Holy Sanctuaries made a sound—even the most humiliated, Western Peak Holy Sanctuary, remained uncharacteristically silent, clearly unwilling to make themselves targets. Yet the news inevitably surfaced in the Holy Sanctuary's Light, presented as ordinary reports without commentary from any notable figures, as if merely objective coverage and factual statements.

All factions within the alliance understood—this was Holy City testing the waters, gauging reactions and attitudes toward the Rose incident. But the results were undoubtedly disappointing for Holy City. These reports failed to stir any significant public discourse. While the powers remained on the sidelines, the populace overwhelmingly approved.

"Of course! That Zhao Chun getting crippled must’ve been because his privileged temper flared up. It’s definitely his fault!"

"Exactly! Rose is a fine Holy Sanctuary. A relative of my neighbor Aunt Kasha studies there—just an ordinary kid. Yet the people at Rose treat him kindly, even giving him some monthly stipend. It’s absolutely true! How could such a Holy Sanctuary possibly bully others?"

"The reports in Holy Sanctuary's Light are getting harder to believe. Who knows what’s real anymore?"

This was rather damning... Those in the know understood that Holy Sanctuary's Light hadn’t exaggerated this time—at most, they’d slightly embellished Zhao Chun’s words and actions. Frankly, Zhao Chun had accused Rose of cheating and struck first, so he was clearly in the wrong. But the issue was Wang Feng’s excessive retaliation. Any discerning eye could see this was Wang Feng delivering a warning to the major Holy Sanctuaries—even Holy City itself. Neither side was innocent... Holy Sanctuary's Light had merely reported the facts, yet it provoked such backlash and skepticism from the masses. This was undeniably the voice of the people!

The factions were amused. Was this... rebellion?

Public sentiment—the most sensitive matter for any ruler, especially under the unique structure of the League of Blades. At its core, the League was a coalition of multiple forces united under the Holy Sanctuary. Order and prestige were the foundations of governance, entirely different from the Nine Gods’ system. Such a structure excelled in defense—unity was imperative in life-or-death struggles—but was utterly unfit for offense, as it would inevitably spark conflicts of interest. This was why the League of Blades had always remained on the defensive.

The more perceptive could already smell the brewing confrontation. Yet Holy City remained silent, seemingly content to watch Rose’s rising influence expand.

A week after the Ghost Level Class’s launch, the first clear voice from Holy City finally emerged—an article personally published by Saint Roy. The main content lavished praise on Rose’s achievements, fully acknowledging Wang Feng as the foremost among the younger generation. Though somewhat brash, "what youth isn't headstrong?" As the Saint, Roy wished to participate in this matter, stating that the only way to test the Ghost Level Class was through results. He oversaw the Dragon Group, which operated similarly. To give the Ghost Level Class ample time, a year later, the Dragon Group would conduct an assessment with them. Quoting the Supreme Sage Teacher: "Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth."

At the same time, the Holy Sanctuary's central publication also featured a special report, mainly highlighting that Rose had essentially poached elite talents from various major Holy Sanctuaries while absorbing substantial resources. Thus, the success rate of the Ghost Level Class became critically important. If it fell below 20%, Rose Holy Sanctuary would also have to bear responsibility.

This 20% benchmark was tacitly acknowledged among higher-ups—it represented the success rate of all elites sent to the Holy City who ultimately achieved ghost-level prowess. Spending money or leveraging connections didn’t guarantee ghost-level attainment; it merely secured an opportunity.

Given how bold Wang Feng was, a 20% success rate was the bare minimum expected.

No specifics were mentioned about the consequences, but clearly, this was part of a coordinated strategy.

All of this once again thrust the Ghost Level Class into the spotlight. First, the Saint Child's tactic of "kill with kindness," followed by the Holy Sanctuary's central authority delivering a fatal blow. After all, what kind of resources did the Holy City have? And what did Rose have?

Even with the same 20% benchmark, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Everyone was also waiting for Wang Feng’s response—this man had been a troublemaker since his rise to fame.

True to expectations, Wang Feng did not disappoint.

"A one-year pact. The proof is in the practice. Let all Holy Sanctuary disciples bear witness!"

This was Wang Feng’s reply. Who would be the judges? The Holy Sanctuary disciples—not the Holy City, nor the Holy Sanctuary's central authority. Playing mind games? Who was afraid of whom? Wang Feng understood all too well. What the Holy City feared most was anything that could shake the foundation of their authority, and Wang Feng’s move struck right at the heart of it—winning the hearts of Holy Sanctuary disciples.

Yet factions across the board, including the Holy City itself, were stunned. Even a fool could see the obvious trap in the Holy City’s so-called success rate and the Ghost Level challenge. Yet Rose didn’t seem to care at all?

He just accepted it?!

Accepted it?

...it?

At Tiger Peak, there might still be some room for luck, but ghost level? Throughout the Nine Heavens Continent, how many places could even compare to the Holy City?

Even if Thunder Dragon was a prodigy, he couldn’t carry so many people, could he?

Moreover, what could they possibly use to guarantee success in the Ghost Level challenge? Let’s not forget—the Holy City never specified what level of opponents they’d send. What if they deployed Heroes right off the bat? Rose wouldn’t be able to back out then, since they’d agreed to it themselves! Forget Heroes—just the members of the Dragon Group around the Saint Child alone, like Ye Dun (who wasn’t even considered top-tier among them), would be enough.

The Saint Child smiled. The next day, the Holy Sanctuary's Light carried only four words penned by the Saint Child himself: "Done deal!"

………………

The turmoil along the Holy Light Sacred Path seemed to have no impact on Rose Holy Sanctuary, which had already settled into a steady rhythm after reopening. In fact, hardly anyone paid it any attention because everyone at Rose was swamped with their own overwhelming workload.

The unexpected enrollment of 12,000 new students had clearly exceeded Rose’s original capacity. The shortages in classrooms, dormitories, and other facilities were secondary—the real crisis was the severe lack of teaching staff, which brought administrative and academic operations to near-collapse, even disrupting regular classes.

Fortunately, Old Wang stepped up decisively. His swift and effective countermeasures felt like a godsend to the nearly broken-down Hawkland, who suddenly felt as if Karida had returned.

First, the Self-Governing Council took full charge of campus security and management. An "old-timers guiding newcomers" system was implemented, spawning various small groups. Almost every senior student at Rose was responsible for guiding five to ten freshmen—helping them settle in, familiarize themselves with campus life, and understand school rules. In the past, few would’ve willingly sacrificed their training time for such tasks. But this was Old Wang, the guy who paid everyone's stipends. At his command, students rushed to volunteer with unprecedented enthusiasm, without a single complaint.

For faculty, Rose launched a recruitment drive across the entire Alliance. While many hesitated due to fear of the Holy City’s influence, there were plenty of "those with nothing to lose" individuals undeterred by consequences. Though the announcement was disseminated via the Holy Path, it would take time for applicants to arrive from across the Alliance.

This was when friends came through. Ice Spirit and Dragon Moon Holy Sanctuaries dispatched emergency teaching reinforcements to Rose at lightning speed. This wasn’t solely due to the influence of Xue Zhiyu and Xiao Bang in their respective sanctuaries—many, like Ice Spirit’s Deder, came purely for Rose.

Rose was a true paradise for rune enthusiasts. With Wang Feng, Li Sitan, Hawkland, Thunder Dragon, and others, these names were irresistible to any genuine rune lover in the Alliance. Upon hearing about the teaching opportunity at Rose, the 1.3-meter-tall Guadelan instructor literally jumped for joy, starting packing that very night in his excitement. He even brought along Wang Feng’s devoted admirer, Timols.

Most others were equally thrilled, especially martial arts and wizardry instructors. Rose’s Ghost Level Advanced Training Class had piqued their interest. Even if they couldn’t enroll directly, attending as guest lecturers might be possible. With the latest teaching philosophies and the best ghost-level mentors now at Rose, what greater reward or pursuit could there be for these ghost-level Soul Cultivators than improving their own strength?

Thus, a wave of teaching reinforcements surged from Dragon Moon and Ice Spirit. These weren’t institutional assignments—everyone vied for the chance to come. Such opportunities were rare! Only Dragon Moon and Ice Spirit, unafraid of Holy City retaliation, could offer this. Other sanctuaries like Quicksand or Fire God Mountain could only watch enviously, drooling from the sidelines.

A week later, when the first batch of Dragon Moon instructors arrived, coupled with covert support from Judgment under Anbolin’s guidance, Rose’s severe faculty shortage finally eased. By the time Ice Spirit’s second wave arrived, Rose was fully operational.

This was the big picture upheaval. On a smaller scale, there was the Ghost Level Class—Rose Holy Sanctuary’s number one priority and crown jewel.

The Rose Sanctuary designated a special area deep within the Rune Academy. Apart from converting some of the original rune laboratories and workshops into teaching buildings and training grounds for the Ghost-Level Class, they also constructed a unified dormitory here. Entry was strictly prohibited for outsiders, and those inside were barred from leaving, effectively establishing a closed management system as per Old Wang's orders.

Over the past week, Old Wang had been buried in Rose's affairs and hadn’t had time to tend to this matter. Fortunately, Hei Wukai stepped in to keep things running—it was only a week, after all.

Every member of the Ghost-Level Class received a bottle of potion daily as the bare minimum. However, these weren’t the same as the ones previously given to the Old Wang Squad. The quantity was too large, and if they kept bleeding like before, not even Wang Feng could endure it—let alone the Blood Demon Manku, whose blood once flooded rivers.

The new potions primarily relied on 'Eagle Eye' as the main ingredient, with the diluted blood of the Insect God serving as a catalyst to trigger the effect. The key, however, lay in the Soul Refining Array. Another crucial factor was that when a group of elites gathered together, striving toward a common goal, the success rate of any endeavor would skyrocket. There was no room for foolish selfishness here.

While Old Wang had been busy assisting Hawkland with school affairs this past week, Mapeier had taken charge here. Mapeier wasn’t a student of the Ghost-Level Class—with Wang Feng as her senior, a spot in the class held no significance for her. Instead, Wang Feng appointed her as the head administrator of the Ghost-Level Class, responsible for all resource allocations. In contrast, Winnie and Fantexi, who had already reached the ghost level, occupied two spots in the class.

Though it might seem unnecessary, it was inevitable. As Old Wang put it, their breakthroughs to the ghost level had been somewhat fortuitous, and their foundations still needed consolidation. The Ghost-Level Class’s curriculum would benefit them. Moreover, the class currently needed two leading ghost-level figures as benchmarks for others to strive toward. Xiao Bang, Gule, de Broglie, Momosang, and even Aota—their actual combat prowess wasn't inferior to Winnie and Fantexi’s, and they could surpass them at any moment. While they could serve as benchmarks, their lack of an overt breakthrough made them less effective than Winnie and Fantexi in this role.

Thus, the core structure of the Ghost-Level Class was firmly established.

Although Thunder Dragon was nominally the instructor and organizer of the Ghost-Level Class, none of its members had even seen what he looked like yet.

At the instructor level, the first was Class Monitor Wang Feng, who also served as a mentor and the direct overseer of the Ghost-Level Class, holding all the power.

Li Sitan handled runes, teaching the class about them. As Wang Feng put it, "Without understanding runes, reaching the Dragon Level is impossible."

Mapeier was the head administrator, managing all resource distributions for the Ghost-Level Class.

Hei Wukai was the deputy monitor and also Old Wang’s teaching assistant, guiding the juniors in their training. There was no debate about this—on the first day of the Ghost-Level Class, an overconfident Fantexi challenged Old Hei with his ghost-level combat power, only to be instantly defeated with a single move. He knelt on the ground, nearly vomiting bile, while Old Hei hadn’t even drawn his blade… The entire class was stunned, instantly accepting Old Hei’s role as teaching assistant.

Old Hei was also at the ghost level, having broken through after returning to Mandala from Dragon City. The gap between him and Fantexi was about the same as when they were both at the Tiger Peak. He was more than qualified to instruct anyone in the Ghost-Level Class.

For the past few days, Hei Wukai had been overseeing the Ghost-Level Class’s training on Wang Feng’s behalf. Of course, the classes were reportedly a bit chaotic. Old Hei could guide a few people in cultivation without issue, but a hundred? That wasn’t his expertise—the larger the group, the messier it got. It was beyond him.

In truth, everyone was waiting to see how this would play out. Managing a few people was easy, but how could so many, all striving for the ghost level, be handled?

For someone like Old Wang, who had studied management, larger groups were easier to manage than smaller ones—the key was setting up systems.

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