Chapter 20 (continued)

"Otherwise, why would they call it a wilderness zone?"

"Will we pass through a quarantine zone?"

"Don't jinx us! If we really do pass through a quarantine zone, we'll be in trouble!"

"No, we won't. This route was planned long ago, and it avoids quarantine zones and mutated creatures wherever possible."

Everyone was talking excitedly, but Li Yang didn't join in.

Fang Chuyun sat beside her. Unlike the other students, who were bursting with curiosity, Fang Chuyun sat quietly the whole time, leafing through the Basic Star-Wielding Cultivation Technique.

Yu Hongyuan was behind them. He didn't make a fuss or say much either, seemingly still immersed in the sadness of leaving home.

He really was heartbroken. His designer clothes, his super-cool models, his first wife, second wife, and third wife (sports cars)... he couldn't take any of them with him!

His mother had also cut his allowance, telling him to take on missions and earn money at university so he could support himself.

At the thought of it all, Yu Hongyuan cried his eyes out!

The students were excited when they first left the province, but gradually, they began to find it dull and tedious.

The wilderness zone was devoid of people. The scenery seemed novel at first glance, but after looking at it for several hours, it grew boring.

Some people began yawning and fell asleep, some gathered to play cards, and others, like Fang Chuyun, got a head start on studying the Basic Star-Wielding Cultivation Technique...

Li Yang, meanwhile, closed her eyes and meditated.

Over the past two months, she hadn't spent any more of her lifespan. Instead, she had steadily consolidated her physique, mental strength, and Star Aperture cultivation.

Although she was currently stuck at first grade low stage, as soon as she bought a Realm-Breaking Pill, she could break through the low-stage bottleneck in minutes and open her third Star Aperture.

Once night fell, the convoy stopped.

The city guards began setting up camp. The students couldn't be of much help, but they didn't dare run around either, so they craned their necks and watched from the side.

The team leader was a woman of about thirty named Lin Yuesuo. Everyone in the city guard called her Team Leader Lin.

She wore a brown combat uniform. Her black hair was very short, a metal stud pierced her left eyebrow, and a stalk of foxtail grass hung from her mouth. She had a natural air of a bandit about her, making the students afraid to sneak glances at her.

Lin Yuesuo spat out the wild grass and said, "Li Yang, Fang Chuyun, Yu Hongyuan, come with me."

With that, she turned and headed toward the innermost part of the camp. Li Yang and the other two hurried after her.

Yu Hongyuan asked quietly, "What's this about?"

Fang Chuyun ignored him.

Li Yang didn't answer him either.

Yu Hongyuan hugged his backpack tightly in disappointment and obediently followed.

Lin Yuesuo pointed inside the camp and said, "Go in and stay there. You're not allowed out before daybreak."

Li Yang and Fang Chuyun immediately replied, "Yes, Leader."

Yu Hongyuan opened his mouth, but Lin Yuesuo shot him a glance, and he shut it, not daring to ask any more questions.

Lin Yuesuo explained nothing. As her gaze swept over the three of them, it lingered on Li Yang a little longer.

Li Yang stood straight, her eyes fixed ahead, but she knew that Team Leader Lin had seen the Star Apertures inside her.

That required probing with mental power, and as a third-grade Star Wielder, Lin Yuesuo could discern Li Yang's cultivation level with ease.

Li Yang, on the other hand, couldn't see through Lin Yuesuo.

Most of the city guards were Grade One High Stage Star Wielders, and the strongest among them had only reached second grade. With her 200 points of mental strength, Li Yang could actually see them all clearly. Only Team Leader Lin appeared to her as a mass of black mist.

Lin Yuesuo paused, then said, "You two go in first."

Yu Hongyuan looked at Fang Chuyun, then at Li Yang. Fang Chuyun tugged him and pulled him into the tent.

Li Yang saw Lin Yuesuo tap a fingertip, and Starlight seemed to spread out. Then, remarkably, her voice rang out in Li Yang's mind.

"Not bad. You've already opened two Star Apertures."

"..."

"This is Mental Resonance. Your mental strength is very high, so you'll master it in time too."

Team Leader Lin... Li Yang tried speaking in her mind. What did you need me for?

"Have you mastered any Star Skills?"

"No." Li Yang did know what Star Skills were. They were the biggest change that came with becoming a Star Wielder: not only was one's physique strengthened, but one could also practice different kinds of "combat skills."

"Hmm, I'll teach you a simple one. Do your best to master it."

Li Yang was taken aback.

Lin Yuesuo said, "Things might not be peaceful tonight. Although we're taking the safest route and avoiding quarantine zones and mutated creatures, we've also exposed our movements. There's no guarantee someone won't ambush us."

"Is it the Descending Star Cult?"

"You know quite a lot."

"They..." Before Li Yang could finish asking, Lin Yuesuo waved a hand and said, "The three of you are promising talents. They've had their eyes on you for a long time. It was just hard for them to make a move in the safe zone. Out here in the wilderness zone, we're on their turf."

"In times like these, geniuses are an important resource. Killing you would be a way to nip danger in the bud. Of course, if they could capture you..." Lin Yuesuo sneered. "Maybe they could brainwash you into capable subordinates."

Hearing that, Li Yang understood.

No wonder the provincial capital had sent a third-grade Star Wielder to escort them. The journey really was dangerous.

Lin Yuesuo glanced at her and said, "Stay put in the tent. We'll keep you safe. But since you're already a Star Wielder, I can teach you a simple Star Skill."

Li Yang's expression grew solemn. "Thank you, Team Leader Lin. I'll do my best to master it."

Lin Yuesuo studied her carefully for another moment and muttered to herself, "...Already opened two Star Apertures. What a monster."

She shook her head, looked into Li Yang's eyes, and said, "This Star Skill is called Fist Burst. I'll pass it to you through Mental Resonance. Learn as much as you can."

Li Yang nodded solemnly. "Yes!"

In an instant, an image appeared in Li Yang's mind. The figure vaguely resembled Lin Yuesuo. Starlight burst forth inside her body and surged rapidly into her arm. Power exploded from her fist with a boom like a muffled thunderclap, blasting a deep crater into the ground ahead.

Li Yang: "!"

Lin Yuesuo said, "Go inside and take some time to understand it. If anything out of the ordinary happens, you'll at least be able to hold out on your own for a while."

Li Yang thanked her.

Lin Yuesuo smiled lazily. "No need to thank me. If I fail this mission, I stand to lose a lot."

After saying that, Lin Yuesuo left, and Li Yang returned to the tent.

Yu Hongyuan stared at her with wide eyes, curious and wanting to ask questions, but not daring to.

Li Yang said nothing and closed her eyes to meditate.

Just as Lin Yuesuo had passed Fist Burst to her through Mental Resonance, a system message had appeared before Li Yang.

[Star Skill detected. Loading new function.]

By the time Li Yang sat down, the information on the system panel had finished updating.

Name: Li Yang

Lifespan: 8 years/100 years

Physique: 200

Mental strength: 200

Star Apertures: 2 (100%)

Cultivation technique: Basic Star-Wielding Cultivation Technique (100%)

Pills: Star-Attracting Pill (can be improved)

Star Skills: Fist Burst (1%)

Note 1: Only 8 years of lifespan remain. Please harvest plants as soon as possible to obtain lifespan.

Note 2: The Star-Attracting Pill contains too many impurities. Spending lifespan to purify it is recommended.

Note 3: The number of Star Apertures has reached the upper limit. Please seek an opportunity to break through.

Note 4: Proficiency in Star Skill: Fist Burst is extremely low. Lifespan can be spent to increase proficiency.

Li Yang didn't hesitate. She silently said to herself, Spend one year of lifespan to increase proficiency in Star Skill: Fist Burst.

[You continuously practiced the "inferior" Star Skill, Fist Burst, for one year. Because your physique stat exceeded the requirements of the "inferior" Star Skill, you accumulated enough proficiency. Proficiency in Star Skill: Fist Burst increased to 50%.]

Li Yang ignored the system's

sharp tongue

. As far as it was concerned, everything was inferior anyway: cultivation techniques, pills, Star Skills... yes, she might as well include herself in that list.

One more year.

[Impoverished as you are, you have only this one "inferior" Star Skill. You have no choice but to foolishly spend your precious lifespan on it. Proficiency in Star Skill: Fist Burst increased to 100%.]

Li Yang could tell the system was displeased, but she really didn't have any other choice.

Lin Yuesuo was clearly a battle-hardened warrior, and Li Yang trusted her judgment.

Whether or not anyone attacked that night, and whether or not the city guards could beat back the attackers, she had to master this Star Skill.

Rather than count on others, she would make herself stronger.

Ten kilometers away.

More than twenty people had gathered in a desolate, abandoned village.

Their leader was a middle-aged man. Staring at the distant camp, he asked, "Have you finished investigating?"

A gaunt man said, "We have! This time, the provincial capital sent a third-grade Star Wielder as the team leader. The rest are all Star Wielders from the Huangcheng city guard!"

"Remember, squads one and two will do everything they can to hold off that third-grade leader. Squad three will tie up the city guards. We need to do everything possible to give Shadow Man a chance to sneak in."

"Understood!"

"Shadow Man, have you memorized what those three look like?"

"Hall Master, I have!" The speaker was a young man. He was extremely gaunt and wore a black mask, his whole person as inconspicuous as a shadow.

"Your first target is Li Yang, and your second target is Yu Hongyuan. That Fang Chuyun has a father who's a fifth-grade Star Wielder, so avoid her if possible."

"I understand."

The middle-aged man continued, "Remember, capture them alive if you can, especially Li Yang. Capturing her alive is worth 1,000 contribution points!"

The young man named Shadow Man paused, then asked, "What if she resists fiercely?"

The middle-aged man said darkly, "Then kill her. That's still worth 500 contribution points!" Although Shadow Man was only at first grade low stage, killing an ordinary person who hadn't drawn a star into their body was still easy for him.

Shadow Man replied coldly, "Understood!"

The bounty mission issued by the higher-ups this time offered exceptionally generous rewards.