The Black Market

"I will give you guys a handbook. Written inside this handbook are the rules inside the academy. Make sure to read eveything inside this, as the academy is very strict about these rules." Santharus distributed the handbooks to the students on the front rows. 

"Pass them around, and tell me if you haven't received one." The students all received a small black handbook. It was fairly ordinary, but it's clean. 

Santharus nodded his head after seeing that everyone received their handbooks.

"Great! For now, please keep the handbooks. You will have to read them after class. Okay, so aside from being your homeroom teacher, I will also be mentoring you guys regarding your origin essence cultivation. So let's start with the fundamentals. Your body..."

Santharus discussed in a very detailed manner that even the slow learners in class were able to get a good grasp of it. They were not bored during his lessons at all, and in fact they were enjoying it. Their perspective regarding origin essence cultivation changed instantly and they became even more passionate about it.

"Just to inform you guys. All of you might have known of it, but just to make sure, I will start from the beginning. The strength levels that most of you knows is the; E-Class level, D-Class level, C-Class level, B-Class level, A-Class level and S-Class level. But did you know that there are still something beyond the S-Class level?" Santharus asked the class while looking at everyone's reaction. Most of the students had surprised expression, but there were a few who already knows this. There were descendants from the Sima, Nangong at Situ Family inside the S-Class section. And all of them were already told by their elders regarding these matters.

"Who can give me the strength levels after the S-Class level?" Santharus glanced around and saw a young man raising his right hand. 

"State your name please before you answer." Santharus gestured the student to stand up using his hands. 

"My name is Situ Kui, a descendant of the Situ Family from China. According to what my elders told me, the strength levels after the S-Class level are; King-Class level and Emperor-Class level." Situ Kui was lean young man with long black hair tied in a ponytail. He may not be on the handsome side, but his features were quite manly.

His classmates were surprised about Situ Kui's answer. To think that there are still something beyond the S-Class level.

Santharus smiled and shook his head. "You are correct, but there are still more after the Emperor-Class level. After that is, the Divine-Class level, then next is the Saint-Class. As of the moment, we will only discuss until the Saint-Class level."

The students grew numbed after the revelations, and at the same time, they were excited. Perhaps the school will groom them to exceed the S-Class level. And if that is so, then Earth will face a new era of martial arts in the following years.

They never would have thought everyone of them will someday become the first batch of students to have everyone in class reach the King-Class level. But that is a story that will later be told.

* * *

Roan gasped in shock, he now learned that he was merely a frog at the bottom of the well. He was not even at E-Class level and he was also confused on how the academy gave him very high scores in talent and in physical exams. He raised his right hand and Santharus gestured him to stand up.

"My name is Roan Argentos. Professor Santharus, will it be okay for you to tell us how strong you are right now?" Everyone in class turned silent and they focused their attentions on their professor. Santharus on the other hand recalled the hellish training he experienced with Atlas. The guy was really passionate about instructing them, but after one year of training, the results were not in vain. All of them had their strengths increase significantly.

"I am at the Initial stage of Emperor-Class level." His reply shocked the whole class. To think that their professor was already at the Emperor-Class level. How astonishing!

Roan was also surprised, but he asked another question before he sat down. "Then how strong is Wolf King, the owner of Tyrannical Tower and this academy?"

Although Roan had a humble origin, he still received news about the famous Wolf King. His fame grew exponentially after he accepted one of the media's interview. Of course his identity was still a big mystery. Even during his interview, he did not take off his mask. But it did not stop the crowd from speculating and theorizing his background. Nevertheless, none of them were sure of their hypothesis.

Santharus felt a sense of deja vu. This question was also asked by the first disciples of the tower a year ago.

"Wolf King... Several months ago, he already reached the Divine-Class level. As for his current strength, even I could no longer tell..." He shook his head, but the reverential tone of voice can be felt upon the mentioning of Wolf King's name.

The whole class were thrown into a series of shocked exclamations. Their awe towards the mysterious Wolf King increased by several levels after learning his strength. 

Roan clenched his fist tightly while his eyes burned with determination. It's not just him, but everyone in class also told themselves to practice hard in order to someday reach the same height as Wolf King.

Santharus smiled after seeing the whole class' determined gazes. 

"Don't worry, that's one of the goal of this academy. We will groom everyone here to become elite fighters. And S-Class level is not the maximum. The academy will support everyone into exceeding it.

And as to why we are grooming everyone to become elite fighters, you will slowly learn why this is so. But now is not the right time." 

"Oh right! I forgot to tell everyone that from now on, you will also be living inside the academy. All expenses will be free, including the room, food, water and etc. And don't worry, we already asked your guardians' permissions regarding this matter. And all of them gave us their approval.

Now, if some of you don't agree with this, then you are free to leave the academy, but going back will never happen."