Chapter 37 (continued)

Even so, the construction of the Tree Tower back then still attracted a lot of controversy.

--Are students below the Third Grade Realm worth such extensive training?

It proved to be worthwhile.

Students graduating from the Nature Department are capable of taking on ten opponents at once once they go to the Astral Realm Battlefield. A small team of them, at the fourth or fifth rank, can conquer a city and establish a formidable reputation in the Astral Realm.

This very act backfired, leading to the horrific massacre of the entire family.

Today, the Star Magic Department spares no expense in maintaining and nurturing it, all in order to cultivate outstanding offspring.

A solid foundation is essential for a stable future.

Although only twenty years have passed in Huaxia, if one cultivates in certain spacetime misaligned Realm Domain of the Astral Realm, the earliest Star Magic Department students who comprehend Star Skill through Tree Tower have already grown into regional overlords!

Why would Shen Binghua easily hand over the Tree Tower?

Moreover, from a broader perspective, the Agronomy Department is no longer suitable for this Master- level treasure.

Shen Binghua first presented Li Yang with a series of difficult problems, making her feel intimidated, and then offered her sweet "candy" to tempt her.

"Senior Si's deep affection for his student is truly touching, but currently, in the Agronomy Department, only you, Li, meet the requirements for admission..."

She paused, then continued, "I also came here to tell you, Li, that you can enter the Tree Tower at any time, as long as you meet the entry requirements."

Li Yang remained unmoved.

Shen Binghua continued, "Not only that, you can take all the spoils; you don't have to share them with your teammates."

Li Yang remained calm and composed.

Shen Binghua finally revealed his trump card, saying, "At the same time, the Star Magic Department will pay the Agronomy Department for the rental of the Tree Tower, 10,000 merit points per year."

Ten thousand merits!

One hundred million!

Even though Li Yang was mentally prepared, she was still completely disoriented by the impact.

So rich!

No wonder the Star Wielders use Merit Points as their currency!

If this were done in Huaxia Currency, wouldn't it mean constantly talking about a "small goal"?

I have to say, Shen Binghua's skill level is truly high.

No wonder she didn't talk to Si Kui, but instead talked to Li Yang.

When Si Kui heard these things, Si Kui didn't care at all. She probably thought that 100,000 merits were nothing.

If you told Li Yang, it would be just too, too tempting.

The cost of maintaining the Tree Tower is exorbitantly high, which the Agronomy Department clearly cannot afford. Moreover, Shen Binghua's words implied: Li Yang, it's not worth going to such lengths just for your use.

If Li Yang were truly a seventeen or eighteen-year-old orphan, he would have been completely fooled by now.

Shen Binghua first tried to intimidate her by offering high maintenance fees.

To stir up her guilt again.

And then they provided such a perfect solution.

If Li Yang agrees, she will not only no longer need to worry about maintaining the Tree Tower, but she can also use Tree Tower at will, and may even be able to secure an annual income of 100 million yuan for the Agronomy Department.

There are only a few people in the Agronomy Department, so it's obvious who will benefit from this 100 million.

Saves time, effort, and worry.

Anyone who heard Shen Binghua say this would probably nod in agreement immediately.

Even Li Yang was somewhat tempted, but she always remembered her goal—to retrieve the Tree Tower.

Anything unrelated to these four words is fleeting and meaningless.

Li Yang spoke up, saying, "Dean Shen, these are all matters for later. Please return the Tree Tower to its rightful owner first."

Shen Binghua: "..." Even with her composure, she couldn't hold back any longer.

Despite the conditions being offered, Li Yang remained unmoved.

Li Yang continued, "This Tree Tower is a treasure of the Department of the Agronomy Department. Just as Dean Shen said, it also carries the sentiment of remembering the deceased. Although I haven't been in the Department of the Agronomy Department for long, I have already been moved by the Agronomy Department atmosphere. As a student of Agronomy, I should protect this treasure that belongs to the Department of the Agronomy Department for the sake of our departed predecessors."

"And then..." Li Yang continued, "I'm an orphan with no parents, and I value feelings more than money. Anyway, I'm used to being poor, so I can get by whether I have money or not. And my teacher doesn't care about these ten or twenty thousand Merit Points."

Shen Binghua: "..."

Not only did she fall silent, but Si Kui, halfway up the mountain, also fell silent.

Her apprentice...

His ability to spout nonsense is unparalleled.

First there was the gentle and serene Dean Si, and then there was herself, who didn't covet money.

To be able to say this without batting an eye, Li Yang's "Heavenly Fortune" probably has little to do with Star Skill, but a lot to do with his thick skin.

Si Kui thought it was all nonsense; only a fool would believe her rambling.

However, Shen Binghua did indeed have some doubts.

Could this Li Yang really be a tough guy who doesn't care about money?

Otherwise, how could she have resisted such an enormous temptation?

We can't rush things; we need to give her some time to think it over.

Li Yang is still young, at an age where she should be Steam Mantou things easy. Once she calms down and realizes what 10,000 merit points per year means, she might relent.

Shen Binghua smiled slightly and said, "As expected of Dean Si's highly regarded protégé, Li, your integrity and upright character make me seem a bit presumptuous. This matter is not urgent; please think it over carefully."

Unexpectedly, Li Yang said, "Dean Shen, I have already made myself very clear. There is no need to wait any longer. Please send the Tree Tower back to the Agronomy Department as soon as possible."

Shen Binghua's smile froze, and a coldness crept onto her otherwise plain face. She said, "Li Yang, even if you return to the Agronomy Department, you won't be able to run the Tree Tower."

Li Yang said calmly, "No need for Dean Shen to trouble himself."

Seeing that she was unmoved, Shen Binghua gave up on maintaining her fake smile and said, "Do you think the Star Combat Department and Spirit Department can help you maintain the Tree Tower? They each have their own cultivation systems, especially the Star Combat Department, which doesn't need to go to the Tree Tower to comprehend Star Skill at all!"

Li Yang said, "Dean Shen, we people in the Agronomy Department are all very simple. I didn't think that much about it; I just want what belongs to us back."

Shen Binghua was amused by her words and said, "Li Yang, let me tell you frankly, as long as I delay handing over the Tree Tower, there's nothing you can do."

This is a complete breakdown in relations.

Shen Binghua cut to the chase. "Think about it carefully, what could your teacher possibly do? Do you really think she would slaughter the entire Star Magic Department? If she truly valued you, she wouldn't dare do anything; if she didn't value you, why would she commit such a heinous crime for you!"

Li Yang maintained her polite smile and said, "Dean Shen, my teacher is not like that in your words. She is kind and compassionate and would never harm her students."

Shen Binghua had been pretending his whole life, but he never expected to be fooled by a teenage girl.

However, she patiently warned her calmly, "Greed knows no bounds, Li Yang. Be careful, or you'll end up with nothing."

Li Yang said, "Then Dean Shen must also know another proverb—'Those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who have something to lose.' Dean Shen, I have nothing to begin with."

Shen Binghua sneered, turned around, and disappeared into the Agronomy Department.

The next moment, Si Kui appeared in the simple farmhouse courtyard and looked at Li Yang: "Why don't you agree? Shen Binghua's conditions are quite sincere."

Li Yang muttered, "Teacher, am I the kind of person who's obsessed with money?"

Si Kui didn't give her any face, saying, "You are..."

Li Yang pouted and said, "Yes, yes, I love money! I love it so much! If a person doesn't love money, they'll be struck by lightning!"

Si Kui still liked her childlike demeanor, and her expression softened as she said, "You don't need to worry about me, Shen Binghua's terms..."

"Teacher!!" Li Yang had to interrupt Si Kui. She looked at her teacher with worry. How did someone with such a straightforward personality manage to advance to the Eighth Grade? Could it be through killing?

Oh, that's quite possible.

In the face of absolute power, all scheming is futile.

"What's wrong?" Si Kui looked at her apprentice, not understanding what was troubling her.

Li Yang sighed softly and explained, "Dean Shen's words are more eloquent than his actions. If I were to actually agree, the Agronomy Department would completely lose its Tree Tower."

Si Kui frowned, listening intently to what Li Yang had to say.

Li Yang continued, "If we agree to rent the Tree Tower to the Star Magic Department, we'll receive 10,000 merit points in the first year. But by the second year, the Star Magic Department will have countless excuses, like tight budgets or cash flow problems..."

"If I keep pressing them for it, they might just send someone to argue with me. What can I do?"

"If this drags on for years, it'll kill me! Think about it, if I keep asking for it every day, how am I supposed to continue my cultivation? If I don't ask for it, after a while, this matter will just disappear without a trace."

"And the Star Magic Department, by simply paying 10,000 Merit Points, rightfully seized a Master- level secret treasure!"

Si Kui was furious upon hearing this. "Insidious!"

Li Yang, on the contrary, burst out laughing.

There's no way around it, Lady Sunflower is just too adorable.

Si Kui glared at her, then said worriedly, "But Shen Binghua is right, the Tree Tower is indeed difficult to maintain, and I can't go to the Astral Realm for the time being... The Star Combat Department doesn't need the Tree Tower that much, so they probably won't want to get involved. As for the Spirit Department, they're a bunch of bad guys, and they'll definitely try to scheme against us."

Li Yang laughed and said, "Why go to such lengths when we can find something nearby? We still need the Star Magic Department."

Si Kui: "?"

Li Yang said, "We just need to change the rental to admission tickets."

Shen Binghua's plan was actually quite good, but what Li Yang needed to do was to reclaim sovereignty.

She wanted the Tree Tower to be located in the Agronomy Department; she wanted everyone to know that the Tree Tower was the Agronomy Department's secret treasure.

Then, she would convert the maintenance materials, the additional Star Plant, and the so-called rental fee into a ticket price.

Li Yang wants control, not to be given charity.

Star Magic Department students want to go to the Tree Tower to comprehend Star Skill?