“It doesn’t have spiritual consciousness,” Si Kui explained.
“You must kill a second-grade cultivator with spiritual consciousness.”
Li Yang’s heart sank.
“So, to break through, I must kill someone?”
Si Kui calmly said, “At your current level, killing a cultivator of the same level is the easiest. After all, star world creatures with spiritual consciousness are at least third-grade.”
Li Yang understood what Si Kui meant.
Right now, she wasn’t qualified to enter the star world. Only when she reaches the third grade could she break through to the star world.
By then, she’d be able to kill non-human star creatures.
But star creatures with spiritual consciousness…
She couldn’t even imagine what they might be like.
As someone raised in the 21st century, Li Yang instinctively resisted “killing,” even though she had already killed a “cultist.”
Si Kui could tell what she was thinking and directly shattered her fantasy, explaining the harsh reality:
“The cultivation of a Star Seizer is built on killing. Even if you use a breakthrough pill to advance, you’ll still be a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.”
That’s why Si Kui didn’t want Li Yang to use the breakthrough pill.
Using a breakthrough pill would make the star aperture impure, weakening the cultivator compared to others at the same level.
“Below third grade, it’s fine since the school provides protection. But once you reach third grade and are sent to the star world battlefield, you’ll become just another ‘breakthrough pill.'”
Star Seizers want to kill star creatures to advance, but don’t star creatures want to kill Star Seizers to advance as well?
Even among Star Seizers, is there safety?
There are cults like the Falling Star Cult in China…
On the star world battlefield, it’s likely that killing among their own kind happens just as often.
Li Yang was terrified.
“But in the school, so many students have used breakthrough pills…”
Si Kui said something that hit home:
“Do you think many of them can advance to third grade?”
Li Yang was speechless.
Si Kui didn’t continue but said, “I don’t care how other departments train, but in the Department of Agriculture, you are not allowed to rely on pills to advance.”
No wonder Senior Brother hasn’t graduated yet.
If he could just buy a breakthrough pill, Feng Yiqiao could have saved up the money by now, especially since the mutated wheat harvest was decent.
After years of saving, he could definitely afford it.
But asking him to kill a third-grade cultist… that was way too hard.
It would be easier to just stay in the Department of Agriculture.
Li Yang had originally only wanted to harvest wheat and save up some lifespan, but now…
She didn’t regret it.
From the moment she chose to apprentice under Si Kui, she had made a choice.
Either grow stronger, or become a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
And she chose to grow stronger.
Si Kui saw the determination in her eyes and didn’t say anything more.
She just said, “Try to assess the compatibility yourself. It’ll be more effective. If it doesn’t work, ask someone else for help. After all, low-grade star skills are eventually forgotten, and lower compatibility is fine.”
“Okay.”
Li Yang nodded in agreement.
Si Kui stared at her and said, “Forget.”
Li Yang responded, “Okay, okay.”
She spoke quietly to the system: “Consume one year to forget the Invincible Solar Shield.”
【You fool, attempting to use a year to forget such a wonderful star skill.
Forgetting progress: 0】
She was just testing it, no need to be so harsh!
Though Li Yang had 894 years of lifespan, who would ever say they had too much life (money)?
Less than 900 years was nothing, she could burn through that in no time.
“Consume ten years.”
【You fool…】
“Consume thirty years!”
【Your comprehension is too poor, and the compatibility with the star skill – Invincible Solar Shield – is extremely low. After thirty years of non-use, you finally forgot it.】
Li Yang rolled her eyes and continued to forget the Willow God’s Binding.
It took a total of 81 years to completely forget two legendary star skills.
Li Yang felt a huge loss.
If she converted her lifespan to money, how many blue star cores could she buy?
Oh… wait, the star cores she bought wouldn’t have high compatibility.
If they didn’t work, her life would be in danger.
Si Kui looked at her and said, “You’ve forgotten it completely.”
Li Yang sighed in relief.
Si Kui said, “It looks like your ‘Heavenly Luck’ is related to star skills.”
Li Yang forced a smile.
Si Kui continued, “It’s a good thing. Heavenly luck related to star skills is usually very strong.”
She felt that the teacher misunderstood something, but she couldn’t explain.
Li Yang was about to return to her room to assess the star skills when her phone suddenly rang.
Li Yang jumped and said, “I set it to silent.”
Si Kui sneered and said, “It’s Shen Binghua.”
Li Yang was confused.
Si Kui said lightly, “The Head of the Star Law Department. Just take the call.”
Li Yang: “!”
She only knew that the Head of the Star Law Department, Shen Binghua, was an elegant lady who loved wearing white clothes, but she didn’t know her full name.
Why would the Head of the Star Law Department be calling her?
These big shots were incredible.
Even if she set her phone to silent, they could make it ring.
“Hello, Dean Shen.”
Li Yang answered the call on speakerphone, her tone polite.
Shen Binghua’s voice was gentle and calming, even through the phone, it gave a tranquil and distant feeling.
“Can we meet and talk?”
Li Yang immediately looked at Si Kui.
Si Kui spoke first, “Why do you want to meet my student?”
Shen Binghua didn’t seem surprised.
Her voice was still calm, like water. “Senior Si, I have no ill intentions. There might have been some misunderstandings about the tree tower, and I want to explain it personally to Li Yang.”
Si Kui said, “What is there to explain? This is the Department of Agriculture’s property, and I’m taking it back. Simple as that.”
Shen Binghua sighed with a faint smile.
“Of course, it belongs to the Department of Agriculture. The Star Law Department never intended to take it. It’s just my personal reason. I couldn’t bear to see the treasure that Cheng Rui worked so hard to create wither. So, I took it to carefully maintain and nurture it.”
Si Kui immediately got angry.
“Shen Binghua, stop pretending. If it weren’t for Cheng Rui’s sake, do you think I would have let you get away with this?”
Shen Binghua sighed again, sounding sad.
“Senior Si, losing Cheng Rui hurts me more than it hurts you.”
Li Yang didn’t quite understand what they were talking about but could tell the situation was tense.
Shen Binghua’s position was much higher than her own teacher’s, and if Si Kui continued to argue with her, it seemed like they would have to leave for the star world, and the tree tower would be taken by the Star Law Department.
Li Yang immediately spoke up. “Dean Shen, why don’t we talk at the small courtyard at the foot of the Agriculture Department?”
She wasn’t going to the Star Law Department.
If Shen Binghua wanted to talk, she would come to the Agriculture Department.
Si Kui glared at her and said, “There’s nothing to discuss with her…”
Li Yang quickly grabbed her arm, blinking her eyes repeatedly and mouthing, “She’s trying to provoke you. Right now, our goal is to take back the tree tower.”
Si Kui knew exactly what Shen Binghua was trying to do.
She had been patient for a long time but didn’t want to argue anymore.
However, considering that her apprentice had four star apertures, she decided to let it go.
“Fine, I’ll endure.”
Si Kui’s voice echoed in Li Yang’s spiritual sea: “Cheng Rui was one of the creators of the tree tower, and Shen Binghua was his partner.”
Okay, she had already guessed from their earlier conversation, but hearing Si Kui confirm it made her teeth ache.
No wonder Shen Binghua dared to take the tree tower.
She must have this relationship with Cheng Rui.
Li Yang quickly asked in her spiritual sea, “Teacher, Cheng Senior…”
“He’s your grandmaster.”
“Ah…” Li Yang corrected herself.
“If Cheng Senior was one of the creators, how many people were involved?”
“Three.”
“So after the tree tower was created, the ownership belongs to the Department of Agriculture, right?”
“Of course!”
“Okay…” Li Yang still needed to confirm one more thing.
“How long did Cheng Senior and Dean Shen’s partnership last?”
“Until three months before Cheng Rui’s death.”
Li Yang’s eyes lit up.
“So, they had already ended their partnership by then?”
“Yes.”
Li Yang breathed a sigh of relief.
“Got it. I’ll handle this, Teacher. You stay at the halfway up the mountain and watch me take back the tree tower!”
Si Kui looked at her with suspicion.
“Don’t underestimate Shen Binghua. She’s the most cunning person I’ve ever met.”
Li Yang said, “A clever woman can’t make a meal without rice. She doesn’t have a reason to claim the tree tower. As long as we stay firm, she won’t be able to do anything.”
Si Kui waved her hand.
“Fine, go ahead. I don’t want to see her, she annoys me.”
They communicated quickly through their spiritual sea.
What seemed like a long conversation actually took just a few seconds.
On the other end of the phone, Shen Binghua’s calm voice came through:
“No problem, I’m already outside the Agriculture Department. Please open the barrier.”
Li Yang said in the spiritual sea, “Teacher, can you move Senior Brother and Senior Sisters out of the small courtyard?”
“Mm.”
Si Kui snapped her fingers, and the group that had been sitting at the foot of the mountain appeared halfway up.
“What’s going on?” Feng Yiqiao quickly covered Yu Hongyuan’s mouth.
Lü Shunshun and Xia Putao stopped their usual carefree behavior and sat up properly, meditating to resist the overwhelming star power.
As for Yu Hongyuan, since he hadn’t summoned a star, he didn’t feel much.
He just felt like he was in a dream, as if he had stepped into an empty void.
Si Kui snapped her fingers again, and Li Yang returned to the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain while the Agriculture Department’s barrier was opened.
Shen Binghua appeared before her in the blink of an eye.
Dressed in white, she exuded an air of elegance and grace.
Shen Binghua wasn’t particularly striking in appearance, but her aura was one of grace and otherworldliness.
As she moved, it was as if a celestial being had descended, shining with an ethereal glow.
She didn’t give off a fragile or weak impression, but rather an upright, noble aura, her demeanor exuding a quiet and dignified elegance.
It was as if the world’s dust could never stain her.
At the same time, Li Yang felt an overwhelming pressure.
The oppressive force of a seventh-grade Star Seizer hit her like a tangible wave, making her feel an urge to kneel in submission.
However, Li Yang stood firm, her face showing a calm yet unyielding smile, as she said, “Dean Shen, you came in person. Are you planning to return the tree tower to its rightful owner?”