With Li Yaowan around, Li Yang saved herself the trouble of spending money on the forum to look up information.
Li Yaowan, an associate professor at Zhongdu Military Academy, knew far more than what was available on the forums.
She explained, “The Starfall Secret Realm opens once a year, right after the freshman monthly exam. That’s why they allocate one slot to the freshmen… It serves as motivation for them.”
Li Yang asked, “Is the Starfall Secret Realm located inside the school?”
She didn’t dare leave the campus right now—there were still people waiting outside, eager to ambush her.
Li Yaowan smiled.
“It’s somewhat similar to your Natural Studies Department’s Tree Tower.”
Li Yang suddenly understood.
“Oh, so it’s a secret treasure!”
Li Yaowan nodded.
“It can indeed be considered a secret treasure, but its scale is much higher than the Tree Tower. This realm has been passed down in our Zhongdu Military Academy for tens of thousands of years, constantly refined and reinforced by generations of grandmasters. By now, it’s practically a small world of its own.”
Hearing this, Li Yang became a little worried.
“Then… is it dangerous inside?”
“Relax! It’s much safer than your Tree Tower!”
Li Yaowan assured her.
“Back when I was a student, I went in too. The environment inside is… extremely comfortable! Everyone who enters experiences a significant boost in cultivation.”
Li Yang had initially thought it was some hazardous place like the quarantine zone, but from Li Yaowan’s description, it sounded more like an advanced and highly secure training ground.
She asked another question, “Can I bring Starfall Soil out from the realm?”
“Of course,” Li Yaowan confirmed.
“The secret realm itself is formed from vast amounts of rare natural treasures, which is why it provides such a perfect environment for cultivation. However, most students enter purely for training purposes, and very few actually collect those materials.”
Now, Li Yang had a clear understanding of the situation.
The qualification to enter the Starfall Secret Realm was incredibly difficult to obtain—only one freshman would be allowed in.
Considering that just among the freshmen, there were dozens of noble family heirs—nearly ten from top-tier families alone—even they had to compete fiercely for this single spot.
That fact alone demonstrated how rare and valuable this opportunity was.
Li Yaowan continued, “But Xiao Li, the freshman monthly exam is no joke. I’ve noticed that this year, the Lin and Zhong families from the Star Battle Department, as well as the Shen and Ying families from the Star Law Department, all have exceptional talents…
It won’t be easy for you to secure this slot.”
Li Yang asked, “Professor Li, is the monthly exam format the same every year?”
Li Yaowan nodded.
“Yes, it follows the same structure. First, the top ten are determined based on cultivation level, and then they proceed to a tournament-style competition.”
Though Li Yaowan made it sound simple, the freshman monthly exam was notoriously brutal.
There were only two stages in the exam, but for most students, the second stage wasn’t even a concern—they struggled just to clear the first one.
With one week left before the exam, the forum was already filled with lamenting voices.
“It gets harder every year. When my brother took the exam, he only needed to integrate starlight into his body before the exam to pass.”
“How old is your brother? That was the standard twenty years ago.”
“Uh, what happens if we don’t integrate starlight before the exam…? Do we get expelled?”
“No, but your tuition fees will skyrocket.”
“Wait, what?!”
“Did you think Zhongdu Military Academy was a charity?”
The first month was tuition-free, but after the monthly exam:
The top ten continued to study tuition-free.
Ranks 11–100 paid 10 points in merit per year.
Ranks 101–200 paid 20 points per year.
Ranks 201–500 paid 50 points per year.
Ranks 501–1000 paid 100 points per year.
Ranks 1001–1500 paid 200 points per year.
Anyone ranked below 1500 had to pay a staggering 1000 points in merit.
“Holy crap! Who can afford that?!”
“It’s just 10 million… Don’t underestimate the rich.”
“But… is it even worth it to stay if you’re that low-ranked?”
“You’re poor, so you don’t get it. The rich think it’s absolutely worth it.”
Even Li Yang was dumbfounded reading this.
She suddenly thought of the long-time students in her own department.
If the freshmen tuition was already this absurd, then…
What about the senior students?!
No wonder the upperclassmen in the Agricultural Studies Department were dirt poor despite having access to the “Divine Soil.”
Could it be that all the money they earned from growing wheat was being funneled straight into tuition fees?!
Li Yang took a sharp breath and immediately messaged Feng Yiqiao.
Li Yang: “Senior, how much is your annual tuition?”
Feng Yiqiao: “…Ahem, why are you asking all of a sudden?”
Li Yang: “Just curious!”
Feng Yiqiao: “Well… our department is small, so the school gives us a 70% discount…”
Li Yang: “So… 300 points?”
Feng Yiqiao: “No… 1000.”
Li Yang: “???”
Feng Yiqiao: “Freshmen pay 1000 points, but senior students have to pay 3000 points per year… But! We only pay 30% of that, so it’s… 900 points.”
Li Yang felt her vision go black.
She clenched her fists and swore to herself: Big Senior, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Brother—I’ll make sure you all graduate!
What a joke!
With an annual tuition of 30 million, she had no choice but to help them graduate as soon as possible!
Once they graduated, they could stay at the school as teaching assistants.
That way, not only would they no longer have to pay tuition, but they could also make a fortune growing mutated wheat.
Forget alchemy!
Farming alone could make her rich!
—Wait, no.
She still needed to refine pills, forge star weapons…
The more money-making methods, the better!
Li Yang turned to Li Yaowan.
“Professor Li, I need to focus on preparing for the monthly exam this week. After that, I’ll come to you for alchemy lessons.”
“No rush, no rush! Handle your business first.”
Li Yaowan didn’t mind waiting a week or two.
After all, now that Li Yang had officially joined, she could finally relax.
Besides, preparing for the monthly exam was indirectly preparing for alchemy too.
Mutant plants weren’t as effective as farm crops.
Once the crops were planted, Li Yang would be able to cultivate more steadily—her alchemy efficiency would surely skyrocket.
After bidding farewell to Li Yaowan, Li Yang headed back to the Agricultural Studies Department, only to run into Zhong Kun.
The guy had an expression that screamed “I knew you were a genius” as he smirked.
“You sure are well-informed! I didn’t know the Natural Studies Department used to be so powerful!”
Kun Qing cleared his throat and said, “You actually have a shot, you know. After all, you’re both second-grade. Her physique value is at most 500 points, and you’re already at 470. As for Star Techniques… hmm, you should buy three more blue-grade ones. And if possible, replace your weapon with a blue-grade Star Armament…”
Before he could finish, Li Yang had already turned and headed toward the trading post.
She indeed needed more Star Techniques.
Among the four she currently possessed, only Light Blade was an offensive skill—far from enough.
Hidden Shadow and Tree Bark had to be kept, but she needed three more skills to form a proper combo.
The real question was: would the little bit of money she had be enough to buy the right techniques?
The price of blue-grade Star Cores was fixed, but Star Techniques were another matter entirely.
Acquiring a Star Core was akin to gambling—like opening a mystery box.
Even if two cores were of the same blue grade, their contents could vary drastically.
Some weaker blue-grade techniques were worth barely 100 merit points, while powerful combat techniques or those with special properties—like Hidden Shadow—could soar to thousands of points.
Kun Qing followed her closely.
“Wait, you’re really going to buy Star Techniques?”
Li Yang nodded. “Mm.”
“I was just joking! You don’t have to take it seriously…”
Kun Qing quickly tried to dissuade her.
“Lin Zhaoxia’s Star Techniques were personally taught by our Star Combat faculty. They’re supported by complementary martial arts. You won’t find anything in the market that can compare…”
“And what if your Natural Branch’s Tree Tower opens up later? Blue-grade Star Techniques are difficult to forget. If you learn them now, you might not be able to comprehend stronger techniques in the future, wouldn’t that be a waste?”
“Besides, it’s just the monthly exam. Even if you take first place, so what? You’ll get access to the Star Ash Secret Realm, but all that does is speed up cultivation. For us low-rankers, we’re already progressing fast enough—it doesn’t make much difference…”
Kun Qing tried to reason with her, but Li Yang had already made up her mind.
Before long, they arrived at the trading post.
Li Yang glanced at her balance—after reselling Guiding Star Pills twice, she had accumulated 2,775 merit points.
That was quite a sum, but Li Yang was already worried it wouldn’t be enough.
If she could get suitable blue-grade Star Cores at 500 merit points each, that would be 1,500 points gone.
A blue-grade Star Armament was expensive, starting at 500 merit points at the very least.
That alone would take her total past 2,000.
Then there was the seven-day combat training she planned to undergo, averaging 600 merit points per day…
This is nothing!
I need at least 3,000 more!
The trading post was bustling with people.
Many students, especially second-graders, were still lurking around, hoping to catch another deal like the Guiding Star Pills sold at 47 points each.
Kun Qing was still calculating.
“Think about it, you’ll need at least 3,000 merit poi—”
His voice abruptly stopped.
Not because of the stunned gazes from the surrounding students, but because he suddenly realized—Li Yang was no longer short on money.
Three thousand merit points was a considerable sum even for Kun Qing, a rich second-generation heir.
But for Li Yang?
That was just a day’s worth of selling pills.
“…Alright, fine. I know you’re not short on money. A mere 3,000 merit points means nothing to you,” Kun Qing changed his approach.
“But have you thought about Star Technique retention? Are you really going to stick with a few low-grade blue techniques for the next few years?”
Kun Qing’s voice carried across the trading hall, drawing even more attention.
The surrounding students murmured:
“Holy crap, where did these two young masters and mistresses come from?”
“Three thousand merit points is nothing?”
“Blue-grade Star Techniques… trash?”
“Damn it, I swear one day I’ll crush these rich kids!”
Ignoring the chatter, Li Yang moved straight to an unmanned terminal.
Kun Qing followed, and so did a small crowd of spectators.
Kun Qing suggested, “Let’s go to the private rooms on the second floor.”
Li Yang raised an eyebrow.
“There’s a second floor?”
The surrounding students were just as surprised.
Kun Qing, being the seasoned second-generation heir he was, led her upstairs with practiced ease.
The moment they arrived, a staff member greeted them and escorted them to a private room.
After they sat down, refreshments and tea were promptly delivered.
Li Yang eyed Kun Qing warily.
“This private room doesn’t have extra charges, does it?”
“As long as you spend at least 2,000 merit points, the room is free,” Kun Qing reassured her.
“Fine,” Li Yang sighed.
I’ll be spending at least that much anyway.
Now that they were alone, Kun Qing tried once more.
“I shouldn’t have joked earlier—Li Yang, you really don’t—”
“This has nothing to do with you,” she interrupted.
Kun Qing knew his words had put her on this path, so he had followed her to prevent any rash decisions.
“…It’s not about the money. If you want a better Star Armament, that’s fine. But these blue-grade Star Techniques—”
Li Yang cut him off.
“I asked my teacher. She said it’s fine.”
Kun Qing blinked. “…What?”
She had spoken ambiguously, but it was just vague enough to plant doubt in his mind.
Kun Qing stood frozen, thoughts running wild.
Wait…
Did she mean… her teacher knows a method to help her forget blue-grade techniques easily?
Isn’t that… practically cheating the system?!
Kun Qing’s heart pounded.
If she had a teacher capable of doing that…
His mind drifted.
What if I had a teacher like that?
Kun Qing’s family had a Nine-Rank Supreme as their patriarch, but that elder had been in the Star Realm for nearly a century, never once returning to Hua Xia—let alone guiding a great-great-great-grandson like him.
His own teacher, a Six-Rank Pinnacle Star Warrior, was strong, but nowhere near the level of an Eight-Rank Pinnacle like the Star Combat faculty head.
The headmaster of the Star Combat Department was a Seven-Rank Grandmaster, but even she had only taken Lin Zhaoxia and Zhong Qian as inner disciples—not personal apprentices.
Only those who showed outstanding potential could earn that privilege.
After all, every year, geniuses appeared—yet many with high physique values disappeared without a trace after venturing into the Star Realm.
In his family, Kun Qing wasn’t particularly outstanding.
Even earning the guidance of a Seven-Rank Grandmaster was beyond him.
Let alone a Half-Step Supreme.
But now, right before his eyes…
A “wandering” Half-Step Supreme.
Kun Qing shivered, his face turning pale.
Impossible!
This is absolutely impossible!
I was born into the Zhong family, and I will die as a member of the Zhong family!
I will never betray my clan!
Li Yang said nothing.
She understood that when it came to breaking a person’s loyalty, it couldn’t be rushed—it had to be done step by step.
Kun Qing had willingly followed her, gathering information for himself.
That meant, in the end, he had to be the one to make the choice.
Only when a person decided something for themselves would they be truly committed.
And all she had to do… was add fuel to the fire at the right moment.
For now, it wasn’t the time.
Li Yang refocused on the trading platform, carefully searching for the best Star Techniques and Star Armament she could find.