Chapter 34

"How many people can enter each time the Tree Tower opens?"

"Each floor is different. The first floor is relatively easy, usually for five or six people, but the second and third floors are more difficult, especially the third floor, where sometimes thirty or forty people go in at once."

Li Yang grasped the key point: so few people could actually enter the first floor.

The two chatted idly until they arrived at the Tree Tower.

Li Yang had imagined what the Tree Tower would look like, but she was still shocked when she saw it with her own eyes.

It really is... Tree Tower!

Before me stood a colossal tree, its trunk so thick it blotted out the sky. It was at least ten stories tall, but it was not an ordinary tree. Instead, it was shaped like a tree trunk, its color a dreamy emerald green. The branches that stretched out above were not leafy, but adorned with countless starlight. When a gust of wind came, it was as if thousands of Starlight were falling.

Someone nearby exclaimed, "Wow! The Tree Tower is so beautiful!"

"This is the iconic building of our Star Magic Department, how could it not be beautiful!"

"I regret it. I should have come to the Star Magic Department."

"Hilarious! You didn't want to come, did you? You were just reassigned!"

A crowd of students from other departments had gathered around the Tree Tower, all seemingly there to visit. The Tree Tower is usually hidden, only revealing its full appearance when it is opened, so upon hearing that Tree Tower was about to open, those who were not qualified to enter, and even students from other departments, flocked over in droves.

Someone else asked curiously, "Wasn't the Tree Tower supposed to open in a week? How come it opened today? I almost missed it!"

"I don't know, don't try to guess what the professors are thinking."

"Is it just one floor open this time? Consider it a perk for the new students."

"The cultivation of Star Plant on the second and third floors is much slower, so they can't be activated for now. I'm so envious. If I were in the Star Magic Department, would I still have to worry about not having suitable Star Skill?"

Even if you're in the Star Magic Department, you still have to be from the Shen Family or the Ying Family.

"I don't care what your surname is, the prerequisite is that you have to be talented!"

"Speaking of which, Li Yang from Donghua Province was really stupid. If she hadn't refused the Star Magic Department, she could have gone in today."

Fang Chuyun frowned and pulled Li Yang, saying, "Let's go to the other side."

Li Yang said nonchalantly, "Take me to see Senior Chu."

Fang Chuyun agreed and led her through the crowd to the very bottom of the Tree Tower.

The closer you get, the more you feel the grandeur of the Tree Tower.

As expected of Master- level treasure, it's truly magnificent!

The thought that this was a treasure of her department made Li Yang feel as if she were being scratched by a kitten's claws.

We must come back! We absolutely must come back!

This is such a huge treasure! Even if you put it in the Agronomy Department and sold tickets there, you'd make a fortune!

The entrance fee to the tower is 100-500 merit points, not expensive, right?

The entrance fee is 1 point of merit, not expensive, right?

What the Star Magic Department has seized isn't the Agronomy Department's Tree Tower; it's clearly their cash cow!

Li Yang met the senior Chu that Fang Chuyun had mentioned. He was wearing a white collared shirt and black straight-leg trousers, dressed neatly and smartly, and was also handsome.

He stepped forward with a smile and said, "Li Yang, I'm Chu Runxi, the team leader for this tower expedition."

Li Yang greeted him honestly and respectfully, "Hello, Senior Chu."

Chu Runxi stepped back slightly and then introduced Li Yang, "These are our team members."

Fang Chuyun said that the usual team for each floor of the tower is five or six people, but there are ten people standing here.

Why are there so many extra people? Li Yang didn't ask any further questions.

Li Yang only remembered two people: Shen Shangchi and Ying Qi.

Shen Shangchi was a boy with a nonchalant smile; to use a popular term, he had a real "bad boy" vibe. He greeted Li Yang lazily, "I've heard so much about you."

As usual, Li Yang greeted him honestly and respectfully, "Hello, Shen."

Ying Qi was a beautiful girl who dressed maturely. She wore a white shirt and white pants, the clothes were of excellent quality, and her long hair was neatly tied up. She had an elegance and maturity that did not belong to her age.

For some reason Li Yang thought of Dean Shen of the Star Magic Department, who was like a fairy descended from heaven.

This person must be a die-hard fan of the Dean of the Star Magic Department.

Li Yang Ying Qi him, "Hello, Ying Qi."

Ying Qi didn't look at her, nor did she respond.

Chu Runxi continued to introduce the other people with a smile. Li Yang called out "senior" to them one after another, and most of them responded to her. From their expressions, there was no sign of dissatisfaction.

It seemed that only Ying Qi was unhappy. Of course, the others were probably not happy either, but they were older and more reserved, so they wouldn't show it so openly.

Li Yang didn't care about any of that. Since she had chosen to come to the Tree Tower, she was mentally prepared.

She ignored him, but she was determined to pull off something big.

As for whether they will attack after gathering the monsters...

They had no choice but to take action.

The purpose of entering the Tree Tower is to comprehend Star Skill. If you miss this opportunity, you won't be able to access it again for several months.

It's easy to find Star Plant, but difficult to cultivate Star Plant.

Who would want to wait a few more months?

However, Li Yang was still a little puzzled. Why were there so many people?

Fang Chuyun had no reason to lie to her; this information was probably not a secret, and many students in the Star Magic Department could likely find it.

So, these five extra people were there intentionally.

A thought flashed through Li Yang's mind, and she realized the truth—could it be that they wanted to trap her? Prevent her from participating in Star Plant's killing spree, making her entry pointless?

Li Yang: "..." That's a good plan, but sorry, she also has a sneaky Star Skill - Hidden Shadow.

Chapter 34

After introducing the team members to Li Yang, Chu Runxi announced, "This is Li Yang from the Department of the Agronomy Department. She's a special member of our trip to the Tree Tower."

The members of the Tree Tower team, except for Ying Qi and Shen Shangchi, all smiled amicably.

Ying Qi completely ignored him, while Shen Shangchi smiled meaningfully.

Chu Runxi was clearly not speaking to them, but to the other students gathered around the Tree Tower.

The one closest was undoubtedly Fang Chuyun. A look of surprise crossed her indifferent face as she looked up at Li Yang.

Li Yang's expression remained unchanged; she still stood there quietly with her hands clasped and eyelashes lowered, looking obedient and docile.

The surrounding classmates couldn't stand it anymore and started to speak up:

"What's going on? How come people from other factions can enter the Star Magic Department's Tree Tower?"

"This Li Yang from the Agronomy Department... isn't he the top student from Donghua Province who rejected all seven major departments and ruined his own career?"

"What right does she have to get into the Tree Tower?!"

"That's right! Shen Shangchi and Ying Qi are the strongest freshmen in our Star Magic Department, so it's perfectly reasonable for them to be admitted to the Tree Tower. What makes Li Yang so special?!"

"She has indeed opened three Star Aperture..."

"If that's the case, then Lin Zhaoxia from the Star Combat Department has already opened four Star Aperture! Doesn't that make him even more qualified to enter?"

Chu Runxi stirred up public anger with just one sentence, which was undoubtedly the effect he wanted.

Then he said to Li Yang, "Don't worry, Li Yang. Director Niu specifically instructed us that we will take good care of you and ensure that nothing happens to you."

Chu Runxi deliberately emphasized the words "Director Niu".

The new students may not know who this "Director Niu" is, but just hearing the title tells them that his rank is not low.

"Oh, could it be that head of the academic affairs office?"

"Isn't Li Yang in the Department of the Agronomy Department? How could she have a relationship with the director of the Academic Affairs Office?"

"Damn! I thought she was just an ordinary student, turns out she got in through connections."

"It's a pity about Ning Shaoyu. If Li Yang hadn't interfered, he would have been the third newcomer to join this time."

The students around him were chattering away, but Li Yang didn't care what they were talking about at all, nor was she interested in listening carefully.

Chu Runxi was deliberately inciting the emotions of uninformed people, and Li Yang was happy to do so.

How great! It saves her the trouble of creating buzz herself.

Many hands make light work; let's keep piling things up enthusiastically so that when the truth comes out, it will explode even more thoroughly.

"If you don't do stupid things, you won't get into trouble." She'll just quietly watch them cause trouble.

Fang Chuyun strode over. Li Yang thought she was going to question her, but instead, she said, "Don't worry about what they say. Getting into the Tree Tower is a good thing, so you should make the most of it!"

Li Yang: "..."

Fang Chuyun didn't develop any prejudice against Li Yang because of Chu Runxi's words. She was a little envious, but also genuinely happy for Li Yang: "I was always worried that you would be mistreated in the Agronomy Department. Now it seems that there are advantages to having fewer people. Your teachers must take good care of you."

These words actually helped Li Yang.

Someone nearby whispered, "Yeah, it might not be that Li Yang and Director Niu have any relationship, but rather that her teacher dotes on her..."

"That makes sense. No matter how dire the state of the Agronomy Department is, it still has a dean. Even if their dean isn't highly accomplished, he must have some connections. I wonder what price they paid to force Li Yang into the program."

"Looking at it this way, going to a declining department isn't so bad after all..."

There's some truth to the saying, "It's better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond."

Because of Fang Chuyun's words, the wind direction shifted, which was not what Chu Runxi wanted. He said, "Let's go, let's enter the tower."

No one objected, Li Yang nodded as well. Turning to Fang Chuyun, she said, "Don't worry, I'm doing very well in the Agronomy Department."

She was actually a little worried about Fang Chuyun. This silly boy was standing up for her now; wouldn't that offend the Star Magic Department?

Li Yang was worried that if Fang Chuyun got too close to her, she would be ostracized and bullied by the Star Magic Department.

The Fang Family held some status in Huangcheng and even in Donghua Province, but in Central Capital, where powerful families were everywhere, they were simply insignificant.

Fang Chuyun was happy for her and sincerely said, "I'll be waiting for your good news."