Chapter 78

Mentioning this made everyone happy again.

They didn't think Si Kui would cause any trouble going to the Astral Realm.

Firstly, the school teachers would occasionally go to the Astral Realm to complete fixed missions, and secondly, with Si Kui's level of cultivation, no one could possibly hurt her.

Zhong Kun was the first to open his pocket and show off his spoils. "Honestly, I don't even want to have them appraised; I want to keep them as souvenirs!"

Seven purple Star Core fell this time.

Li Yang took three, Ying Qi took one, and Lin Zhaoqin, Fang Chuyun, and Zhong Kun each took one.

Zhong Kun really didn't slack off; after all, he shared the burden of the left passage with Lin Zhaoqin, and later he also worked hard to support Star Plant.

Although Feng Yiqiao and her two companions did not obtain the purple Star Core, they themselves were even more eager for a high-quality blue Star Core.

Li Yang said, "Let's not rush to identify the purple Star Core; let's identify the blue Star Core first."

Lin Zhaoqin said, "Shall we go find a professor in the Department of the Spirit Department to help with the assessment?"

Identifying Star Core requires mental energy, which is also a way for mentalists to earn extra money.

Of course, the students in the Agronomy Department actually have enough mental energy to minor in this skill, but they just don't have the time right now.

Li Yang said, "I can do it."

Everyone was filled with awe and respect.

However, they weren't surprised.

After all, Li Yang's Spirit Points has always been very high, so he may have already minored in appraisal ability.

Actually, Li Yang didn't go to learn it; she didn't have the time.

She's minoring in the Pill Department, so she hasn't had much time to practice alchemy yet.

She was also quite interested in weapon forging...

This made it even less time for him to minor in the Spirit Department abilities.

However, she can use the system to verify it.

Although it consumes lifespan, with Lianlian's occasional subsidies, it's manageable to cover this consumption.

The last assessment took quite a while.

However, as proficiency in identification increases, the lifespan consumed also decreases significantly.

Li Yang asked in his mind, "Tongzi, when will I be able to reduce the lifespan cost after increasing my Physique Points and Spirit Points?"

System: [Do you wish to consume 20,000 years of your lifespan to perform this query?]

Li Yang: "..."Where am I supposed to get you 20,000 years of lifespan! Don't you know how much lifespan I have?!

However, she glanced at Lianlian's remaining lifespan.

Heavenly Spring Water.

I don't know where to find this.

Unfortunately, the teacher came out of seclusion in such a hurry that she didn't have time to ask.

Li Yang had certainly considered asking the system, but the system was now very demanding, requiring a lifespan of several hundred years as a starting point, which she was really reluctant to give up.

Li Yang also asked Lianxin.

Lianxin answered quite seriously, "The Heavenly Spring Water is extremely refreshing, it tastes icy cold and has a slightly sweet taste, much better than the water you gave me..."

He said apologetically, "The water you gave me, fellow Daoist, is excellent, but..."

Li Yang finished speaking for him, "It's 100 times worse than Heavenly Spring Water, right?"

Lianxin nodded vigorously.

Li Yang was both amused and exasperated.

Lianxin's description of the Heavenly Spring Water was quite detailed, but he didn't know exactly where to get Heavenly Spring Water.

What is this like?

Suddenly, a pampered young master was asked, "Do you know where this bowl of rice you're eating came from?"

It would be a miracle if the young master could answer that.

Li Yang regained her composure and began to examine the Star Core of everyone one by one.

With each tree she examined, she couldn't help but marvel at how much effort the seniors in the Nature Department had put into it; this Tree Tower was practically a superb Star Skill customization tool for the Agronomy Department students.

Zhong Kun acquired a movement-type Star Skill called "Rippling Wave Steps," which made him jump for joy.

Lin Zhaoqin gained a defensive Star Skill and a burst Star Skill.

Fang Chuyun and Lü Shunshun each obtained a suitable ice-type ranged Star Skill.

Feng Yiqiao, on the other hand, obtained a rather rare wind-type Star Skill.

Xia Putao's Star Skill also matches his personality; it's a stealthy Star Skill somewhat similar to Hidden Shadow, but less effective.

Another advantage of the Tree Tower is that it assigns the same Star Core to students.

For example, Zhong Kun obtained three "Rippling Wave Steps". The advantage of this is that he can use them to upgrade Rippling Wave Steps later, without having to search for Rippling Wave Steps Star Core everywhere.

Li Yang also identified her own Star Core.

She didn't examine the three purple Star Core, but instead examined the five blue Star Core in her hand.

The first Star Core immediately caught her eye.

Star Skill Name: Wearing a Vest, I won't recognize you.

Star Skill quality: Blue.

Star Skill Description: Consumes Power of Starlight to change one's appearance. It requires extremely high Spirit Points. Against beings with Spirit Points far exceeding one's own, the effect lasts for a very short time, or it may even be unusable.

Note: If you have too many Vest, they'll eventually all be exposed.

Li Yang: "..."

She not only thought of Bark, but the full name of this Star Skill was also quite unconventional—"People need face, trees need bark."

How come she always manages to pick up these shady Star Skill!

However, this Star Skill is quite good, although it doesn't meet Li Yang's expectations, as it's not a Spirit Department control type.

However, having multiple Vest makes things easier, so Li Yang was still very satisfied.

In Li Yang herself has a high Spirit Points.

It can deceive 99% of Star Wielders of the same rank, and even those one or two ranks higher.

That's enough.

After all, it's just a blue-level Star Skill.

Li Yang also identified a reasonably normal Star Skill – "Natural Healing".

The effect of this Star Skill perfectly matches Li Yang's expectations.

Although it requires the consumption of Power of Starlight to heal injuries, with this Star Skill, there will always be time to provide assistance in case of any emergency.

First, take one Fast-Acting Star Recovery Pill, then combine it with the effects of Natural Healing.

It can at least save half a life.

Li Yang increasingly felt that the Tree Tower was a great treasure. If she could farm more duplicate Star Core, wouldn't she be able to switch Star Skill at will as long as her lifespan remained sufficient?

Of course, the cost of this switch is also quite high.

For example, some Star Skill require a lot of lifespan to improve proficiency; once forgotten, they will have no proficiency left when you try to learn them again.

Li Yang was also quite curious. What would happen if she didn't use the system to improve her Star Skill proficiency, but instead used the same Star Core...?

Like Zhong Kun's Rippling Wave Steps, three Star Core should be enough to upgrade it to the third tier.

Zhong Kun then said, "With Senior Sister's talent, two should be enough!"

Upon hearing the word "talent," Li Yang put her mind at ease.

Hehe.

I'm afraid even 30 won't be enough!

She should just waste a little of her lifespan and save some money!

--

Astral Realm.

Si Kui only left briefly for 28 years, but when she returned, everything had changed.

The Star Nexus Pavilion consists of Twelve Marquises.

All matters concerning the Huaxia Main City are ultimately decided by the Star Nexus Pavilion.

The Twelve Marquises take turns guarding the Star Nexus Pavilion, and the current marquises guarding the Huaxia Main City are Marquis of the Long Night, Marquis of Wind Pavilion, and Marquis of Mirror Bamboo.

Among them, Marquis of the Long Night is a proponent of war and was the one who tried his best to protect Si Kui twenty-eight years ago.

Chapter 78

Si Kui spoke to Li Yang in a nonchalant manner.

But she knew very well that this trip to the Astral Realm was a near-certain death mission.

Over the years, she had been trying to advance to the Ninth Grade Realm, all for this moment.

Once she advances to the Ninth Grade, Marquis of the Long Night will find a pretext to wipe out the Descending Star Cult.

The Descending Star Cult's trump card over the years has been its Divine Descent Ritual.

This is what conservatives are afraid of as well.

Once the bishop of the Descending Star Cult dies, he will initiate Divine Descent Ritual, thereby revealing the location of the Huaxia Main City to a Divine Venerable from the Upper Three Realms.

What is Divine Venerable?

That's an existence even more terrifying than Ninth-Grade Supreme!

Ke Si Kui and Marquis of the Long Night happen to want to take advantage of this Divine General Ritual.

They intend to kill a Divine Venerable and intimidate the Upper Three Realms!

This will also quiet down those restless Astral Realm creatures.

The Huaxia Realm Domain is not to be trifled with; if they dare to come, they dare to fight!

If you always act like a coward, you'll only be bullied until you have no power to fight back!

When Marquis of the Long Night proposed this plan, Si Kui agreed without hesitation.

She will conquer the Upper Three Realms and avenge her fellow disciples!

Admittedly, it was an internal traitor who exposed the Nature Department's return route twenty-eight years ago, but it was the Divine Exalt Daowu of the Upper Three Realms who took action.

Si Kui was determined to avenge herself, even at the cost of mutual destruction.

Unfortunately, the Lianxin was just a facade.

The Fenglie Clan were nothing more than pawns. They carefully guarded the Lianxin, believing it to be a naturally divine object that could elevate their Realm Domain to the level of another Ninth-Grade Supreme...

Little did they know, they had been set up.

The Lianxin possesses sentience, and no one at the Peak Eighth Grade can use it to advance their cultivation.

At best, it will hinder your advancement for hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years; at worst, like Si Kui, if you forcefully devour it, you will become food for the Lianxin.

Now, how could Si Kui not understand?

This is a complex and interconnected scheme.

This Lianxin was most likely bestowed upon the Fenglie Clan by the Upper Three Realms.

Not only did he harm the Peak Eighth Grade of the Fenglie Clan, but he also leaked the information to Si Kui's teacher, almost harming Si Kui as well.

The Fenglie Clan and the Nature Department are locked in a fierce battle, Upper Three Realms reap the benefits—they've really played their cards right!

It's difficult for Si Kui to advance to the Ninth Grade now, and the Descending Star Cult has done something so foolish again. Marquis of the Long Night won't let this opportunity pass, and neither will Si Kui.

The thought of Li Yang almost being parasitized by the spores of the Flower of Evil made Si Kui want to tear those cultists apart!

It's too late for the conservatives to say anything this time; the Descending Star Cult is doomed.

As for the subsequent Divine Descent Ritual...

Is it a divine intervention or a god-slaying act?

That's hard to say!

Under a sky full of stars, Marquis of the Long Night stood alone, holding a long spear.