After Chu Runxi introduced the team members to Li Yang, he raised his voice and said:
“This is Li Yang from the Agricultural Studies Department, our special member for this Tree Tower trip.”
The Tree Tower team, except for Ying Qi and Shen Shangchi, gave friendly smiles.
Ying Qi completely ignored her, while Shen Shangchi’s smile carried a deeper meaning.
Chu Runxi clearly wasn’t speaking for their benefit but for the other students gathered around the Tree Tower.
The closest was Fang Chuyun, whose usually aloof face flashed with surprise as she looked up at Li Yang.
Li Yang’s demeanor remained unchanged, hands clasped and eyes lowered, standing there quietly, looking obedient and well-behaved.
The surrounding students couldn’t hold back and began speaking up:
“What’s going on? How can someone from another department enter the Star Magic Department’s Tree Tower?”
“This Li Yang from Agricultural Studies… isn’t she the top scholar from Donghua Province who rejected all seven major departments and ruined her own prospects?”
“What gives her the right to enter the Tree Tower?”
“Exactly! Shen Shangchi and Ying Qi are the strongest freshmen in our Star Magic Department. It makes sense for them to enter, but what about this Li Yang?”
“Well, she has awakened three star apertures…”
“If you put it that way, Lin Zhaoxia from the Star Combat Department has awakened four star apertures! Wouldn’t she be even more qualified?”
With just one sentence, Chu Runxi had stirred up public outrage, which was undoubtedly the effect he wanted.
Then he said to Li Yang, “Don’t worry, Student Li Yang, Director Niu specifically instructed us to take good care of you and ensure nothing goes wrong.”
Chu Runxi deliberately emphasized “Director Niu.”
The freshmen might not know who “Director Niu” was, but the title alone suggested a high-ranking official.
“What? Could it be the head of the Academic Affairs Office?”
“Isn’t Li Yang from Agricultural Studies? How does she have connections with a director from Academic Affairs?”
“Damn! I thought she was just an ordinary student, but turns out she’s got connections.”
“Poor Ning Shaoyu. If it weren’t for Li Yang butting in, he’d probably be the third freshman to enter.”
The surrounding students chattered on, but Li Yang didn’t care what they were saying and had no interest in listening closely.
Chu Runxi was deliberately riling up the unaware crowd, and Li Yang was happy to let it happen.
How great—saves her the trouble of stirring up attention herself.
As the saying goes, many hands make the fire burn higher. Let them fan the flames now, so when the truth comes out, it’ll explode even more spectacularly.
If they don’t stir up trouble, they won’t crash and burn. For now, she’d quietly watch them make a scene.
Fang Chuyun strode over. Li Yang thought she was about to confront her, but instead, Fang Chuyun said, “Don’t mind what they’re saying. Getting into the Tree Tower is a good thing—you should seize this opportunity!”
Li Yang:
…
Fang Chuyun didn’t harbor any prejudice against Li Yang because of Chu Runxi’s words. She was a bit envious but genuinely happy for her. “I was always worried you’d be mistreated in Agricultural Studies. But now, it seems like being in a smaller department has its perks. Your teachers must really care about you.”
Her words actually helped Li Yang.
Someone nearby whispered, “Yeah, maybe it’s not that Li Yang has connections with Director Niu, but that her teachers really look out for her…”
“That makes sense. No matter how declined the Agricultural Studies Department is, it still has a dean. Even if the dean’s cultivation level isn’t high, they must have some connections. Who knows what price they paid to get Li Yang in.”
“Looking at it this way, joining a declining department isn’t so bad…”
“There’s some truth to being the head of a small pond rather than a tail in a big one.”
Because of Fang Chuyun’s words, the conversation was veering in an unexpected direction, which wasn’t what Chu Runxi wanted. He spoke up, “Let’s go. We’re entering the tower.”
No one objected. Li Yang nodded and turned to Fang Chuyun, saying, “Don’t worry, I’m doing well in Agricultural Studies.”
She was actually a bit concerned for Fang Chuyun. This naive girl was speaking up for her now—wouldn’t that offend the Star Magic Department?
Li Yang worried that if Fang Chuyun got too close to her, she might end up ostracized or bullied by the Star Magic Department.
The Fang family might have some status in Huang City or even Donghua Province, but in Zhongdu, where noble families were everywhere, it wasn’t enough.
Fang Chuyun was genuinely happy for her, saying, “I’ll be waiting for your good news.”
Li Yang paused, then let it go. Fine—if the Star Magic Department couldn’t tolerate Fang Chuyun, she’d bring her to Agricultural Studies!
The Tree Tower’s entrance was small, a single-person light gate shimmering with starlight and dense star glow.
Chu Runxi said, “We’ll enter in order.”
Li Yang was assigned the eighth position. In front of her were three senior students at the peak of First Rank, and behind her were three more, neatly sandwiching her in the middle to ensure she was “protected” airtight after entering.
Chu Runxi went in first, followed by Ying Qi and Shen Shangchi, then the seniors.
Li Yang followed the order, keeping her head down and appearing very quiet, even a bit nervous and scared.
Once inside the Tree Tower, before Li Yang could take in the surroundings, she was already surrounded by a “human wall.”
Six people encircled her, their coordination flawless.
Li Yang inwardly grumbled, “Did you guys rehearse this overnight?”
Without waiting for Li Yang to say anything, Chu Runxi said, “Student Li Yang, you’re unfamiliar with the Tree Tower, and we don’t have time to explain in detail. Director Niu specifically instructed us to ensure your safety, so don’t worry—the seniors will protect you well.”
Li Yang put on a relieved expression, saying somewhat shyly, “Thank you, seniors, for the trouble.”
Her demeanor made the students surrounding her show a hint of disdain.
She probably doesn’t know anything, does she?
She must have heard how great the Star Magic Department’s Tree Tower is and pulled strings to sneak in.
Does she think just tagging along will let her comprehend star techniques?
She’s awakened three star apertures, but what a pity—her brain doesn’t seem too sharp, wasting such impressive talent.
Chu Runxi said, “No trouble at all. It’s our duty.”
Then, turning to Shen Shangchi and Ying Qi, he said seriously, “You two, don’t act recklessly. There are many star plants in this Tree Tower. Though they’re also First Rank, their overall strength is much higher than other plants!”
Shen Shangchi and Ying Qi nodded in agreement.
The 11-person team’s formation would probably make outsiders laugh.
Chu Runxi led the way, followed by Shen Shangchi, Ying Qi, and another peak First Rank student. Behind them was a “circle.”
Six peak First Rank students surrounded Li Yang, the “center,” moving forward in a circular formation.
It must have been tough for them.
Li Yang had to try hard not to burst out laughing.
The Tree Tower’s interior was dim, with scattered star glow flickering in the corners, but it was clear the internal space was vast—much larger than it appeared from the outside.
Si Kui had never entered the Tree Tower, but she knew its structure inside out. Thirty years ago, when she had free time, she’d drag her kids to analyze and study it.
Even for the least familiar floor, Si Kui could sketch a map in no time.
Li Yang had memorized it overnight. Even if she couldn’t see clearly now, she knew her general position.
In the Tree Tower, you couldn’t rely entirely on your eyes—you had to use mental power to sense.
With Li Yang’s mental strength, she could easily outmatch any First Rank cultivator. By focusing slightly, she could clearly see the gathered star glow and the star plants hidden in the depths.
The smell of rotting leaves hit them as they ventured deeper, the ground beneath their feet turning muddy and treacherous, as if they had stepped into a dark, rain-soaked jungle where danger could strike from the shadows at any moment.
Through the “human wall” in front of her, Li Yang caught sight of a star plant charging toward them.
This star plant had all four star apertures fully activated.
A star!
A peak First Rank right off the bat!
Chu Runxi was the second to notice. He took a sharp breath and said, “Careful! This star plant is peak First Rank, with a difficulty rating of at least four stars!”
Ying Qi and Shen Shangchi instantly tensed, gripping their weapons tightly, their star apertures glowing faintly, ready to act.
The six people surrounding Li Yang also shifted their attention. They hadn’t even considered that Li Yang might break away—they thought she wouldn’t dare rush out even if they weren’t encircling her.
In the eyes of the ten-person team, Li Yang only had three star apertures, with weak star glow, likely not even properly cultivated. A mere mid-tier First Rank, without star weapons or techniques, what right did she have to charge out and face a star plant?
Chu Runxi had no time to worry about Li Yang. Though he had experience in the Tree Tower, he hadn’t expected to encounter a four-star difficulty plant right at the start!
The star plants in the Tree Tower were placed there by the instructors, so students were usually given a brief overview beforehand.
The highest level on this floor was peak First Rank, but among them, a few star plants were particularly tough to deal with—this one was one of them.
By all accounts, the entrance should have a one-star difficulty, right?
How was it four stars right away?!
Chu Runxi quickly said, “It has three star techniques: poison mist spray, underground root spikes, and vine whip!”
He briefed Ying Qi, Shen Shangchi, and the other teammate, as the four prepared to surround and attack the star plant.
One of the six surrounding Li Yang said, “I’ll go help.”
The other five replied, “Go quick!” They were veterans and could tell this star plant was no ordinary challenge, worried that Chu Runxi’s group of four might not handle it.
The five-person team stayed on high alert, watching the approaching star plant. Suddenly, someone exclaimed, “Where’s Li Yang?!”
Everyone was stunned.
What the hell?
Wasn’t Li Yang surrounded by the group?
The five in the back gaped, looking at each other in shock. “Wasn’t she just here?”
“Yeah… I just…”
Chu Runxi frowned and said, “Forget her for now—focus on taking down this star plant!”
But just as he spoke, the missing Li Yang abruptly appeared right in front of the star plant.
The team: “!!!”
Even Shen Shangchi, who had been nonchalant the whole time, was dumbfounded, muttering, “When did she get there…?”
Chu Runxi shouted, “She’s courting death!”
Li Yang wasn’t about to let them kill this star plant.
There were only 20 star plants, and she needed to gather them all and take them down together to maximize the chance of getting a rare star core.
So, while everyone was focused on the star plant, she silently activated her star technique—Shadow Cloak.
The five surrounding her didn’t notice a thing, still watching the star plant in the distance, while Li Yang effortlessly slipped past them and charged toward the ferocious-looking star plant.
This little thing was quite unique.
It could rival a Bloodthirsty Lotus.
The star plant was over two meters tall, covered in tumor-like growths, with several vines flailing wildly and dense root spikes extending outward from below.
Li Yang couldn’t tell what its original form was… probably some species not found on Earth, being a star realm creature.
She cursed her lack of ranged star techniques—having to get up close to pull aggro and fight was just too dangerous!
In theory, the star plant shouldn’t sense Li Yang while she was under Shadow Cloak, but the moment she attacked, the effect would dissipate.
So, when the team saw Li Yang, she was already locked in direct combat with the star plant.
Li Yang drove her blade into the star plant’s body.
Chu Runxi shouted, “It’s poisonous!”
Li Yang was done for—how could someone be so reckless? Charging in like that was a death sentence!
The team was dumbfounded. No one expected her to be this reckless. Ying Qi’s face paled as she blurted out, “Save…” her.
But before she could finish, a burst of star glow erupted around Li Yang, and a radiant shield, like a sun, enveloped her completely.
Li Yang had secretly activated her Invincible Solar Shield and knew its effects well.
The name might sound tacky and overly dramatic, but it was incredibly fitting.
With the Solar Shield activated, Li Yang shone like a small sun.
The shield provided 360-degree protection, like an eggshell, impervious to any attack, including the star plant’s poisonous mist.
Invincible! Solar Shield!
Every word was spot-on!
Feeling the marvel of the Invincible Solar Shield, Li Yang thought her teacher was a genius at naming.
Someday, she wanted to master her own “Invincible Solar Shield”!
Each tumor on the star plant’s body was filled with toxins, now spraying out in bursts, but the mist was perfectly blocked by the Solar Shield, leaving Li Yang unscathed.
Chu Runxi and the others were stunned. Even Ying Qi, who had been about to rush in to save her, froze in place.
Someone murmured, “This star technique… it’s incredible.”
Shen Shangchi pulled a gas mask from his bag, put it on, and said, “What are you all standing around for? Go help!”
Ying Qi reacted quickly too.
But Chu Runxi, the team leader, was a bit slow to respond.
This series of events completely derailed his plans.
Last night, his teacher had instructed him—gathering star cores was secondary; protecting Li Yang was the dean’s order.
They had to keep her under close watch and prevent her from acting on her own.
The chapter got cut off, the next chapter is not connected to this one
Fixed and the chapter is split into 2 parts. 2nd part will be uploaded soon
Fixed and the chapter is split into 2 parts. 2nd part will be uploaded soon