Is she a Tienyun (Heavenly Fate) user?
Do other Tienyun users have similar systems?
But on second thought, high-ranking Star Executors are already like cheaters; it’s just that Li Yang has materialized it into a system.
Although Si Kui said that Li Yang didn’t need to hide her strength too much, Li Yang also didn’t want to expose anything.
The teacher looks down on Star Executors below the sixth rank, but Li Yang is very timid—let alone the fourth or fifth rank, even a third rank could easily crush her.
Besides, exposing it wouldn’t do any good. In fact, hiding some star secrets could help lower others’ guard.
Li Yang collected her thoughts and looked at Si Kui with starry eyes:
“Teacher, can you now teach me the star technique for safely gathering monsters?”
The teacher is a half-step Supreme, and the star techniques she masters must be incredibly powerful.
If she casually teaches, Li Yang will be able to command the first floor of the tree tower!
Si Kui thought for a moment and said: “Once you leave the tree tower, you must forget it.”
Li Yang nodded eagerly: “Okay!”
Si Kui felt a little headache.
Her student was so different from her when she was young.
Back then, she was fearless and worked hard without hesitation, making both the star law and mental systems submit.
But Li Yang is different.
She’s afraid of both heaven and earth and has become timid to the point of curling up into a ball…
However, Si Kui understood.
Li Yang was an orphan with no parents, no relatives, and no power, so it was understandable for her to be cautious.
“I’ll teach you a defensive star technique.”
“Okay!” Li Yang was eager.
Si Kui reminded her: “Teaching a star technique directly isn’t as easy as you think. That punch technique was too poor. The one who taught you didn’t have high mental power, so you learned it easily. This one may be harder for you to handle.”
Li Yang became serious and said: “I understand! Even if it’s difficult, it’s better than getting killed by twenty star plants in the tree tower.”
Si Kui closed her eyes and “searched” for a moment before saying: “This one will do.”
Her voice had barely faded when Si Kui’s mental power descended on Li Yang like a vast ocean.
Li Yang felt a sharp pain in her head as if someone was drilling a hole into her brain, causing her whole body to tremble and sweat profusely.
“If it’s too much, you can stop at any time.”
Li Yang remained silent and endured the excruciating pain, while Si Kui quickly imprinted a star technique into Li Yang’s mental space, like tattooing the brain, a process only the toughest could withstand.
When the star technique was finished, Li Yang staggered and collapsed onto the bed.
Si Kui observed her and said: “It’s done.”
Li Yang rested for a while before recovering. She closed her eyes and meditated, seeing the newly acquired star technique in her mental space: “Invincible Sun Shield.”
She had been in so much pain, but now, she almost wanted to laugh.
“Teacher…” Li Yang looked at Si Kui, “Did you come up with the name for this star technique?”
This star technique was something Si Kui had realized when she was young. Since she was the first to understand it, she had the right to name it. But… well, let’s not talk about those past stories.
Si Kui calmly said: “No.”
Li Yang didn’t push further and asked, “Teacher, can you teach me a fast-moving star technique as well?”
Si Kui frowned and looked at her: “Does it not hurt?”
“It hurts!” Li Yang rubbed her head and said, “It’s so painful; I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
“Then do you still want it?”
“Even though it hurts, it’s better than being killed by star plants.”
This kid is indeed a good seed for the natural system.
She’s incredibly strong when it comes to enduring hardship (her willpower is off the charts).
“None of the ones I know would suit you.” Si Kui thought for a moment and then said, “But I do have one that could work for you. Do you want it?”
Li Yang immediately said: “Yes!” Having something is better than nothing. She might as well take advantage of a half-step Supreme.
Si Kui looked at her tired state and felt a little pity: “Rest for now. I’ll come back in an hour.”
But Li Yang replied: “It’s fine. I’ll endure the pain in one go and then sleep well.”
Si Kui didn’t know how to comment on her.
If you call her tough, she’s also afraid of everything; if you say she’s timid, she’s actually incredibly tough when it comes to enduring unbearable pain.
“Alright.”
After saying that, Si Kui’s vast mental power once again descended upon Li Yang.
The excruciating pain hit once more, and Li Yang felt as if her skull was being opened for surgery without anesthesia…
Although Li Yang had never had brain surgery, she felt that the sensation was probably very similar.
As the star technique was slowly branded into her mind, Li Yang saw the new star technique’s name – “Binding of the Willow God.”
Once the pain passed, Li Yang felt like she had been pulled out of water—pale, weak, with more intake than exhale.
Si Kui’s finger flashed with starlight, and a soft warm glow surrounded her, helping stabilize Li Yang’s restless mental space.
Li Yang finally managed to speak: “Teacher… what do these two star techniques do?”
Si Kui replied: “One blocks damage from the same realm, but it consumes star power; the other is a binding effect. After you gather all the star plants, you can briefly control them.”
Li Yang sighed: “Teacher, don’t you have any offensive star techniques?”
Si Kui calmly said: “My weakest offensive star technique could easily destroy your mental space.”
Li Yang: “Alright, it seems I’m not qualified for it.”
Si Kui stood up: “Rest well. Gather your star brilliance. Tomorrow, when you go to the tree tower, you’ll be able to use the star techniques well.”
Li Yang weakly nodded in agreement.
After Si Kui left, Li Yang dragged her exhausted body to the bathroom.
She soaked in the hot water and summoned the system panel.
@Unlimited Good Stories, exclusively at Jinjiang Literature City
The person was briefly stunned but quickly understood the meaning and said, “Understood, teacher.”
“Leave now.”
Shen Binghua could easily see through Niu Qianqian’s intentions—she was trying to help Si Kui reclaim the Tree Tower in a legitimate manner.
Shen Binghua had some vague knowledge about the Tree Tower’s specific usage.
Only those who inherited the Natural System’s legacy could activate it, but she didn’t know the exact method.
However, she didn’t need to figure it out.
As long as she cut things off at the root, the problem would be solved.
The Next Day
Li Yang was full of energy when she stepped outside but didn’t see her teacher anywhere.
She only greeted the Fifth-Tier Bloodthirsty Lotus in the pond.
The Bloodthirsty Lotus was already familiar with her, jumping up and letting out a few howls.
Li Yang grinned at it.
“Grow up strong! When I reach the Fifth Tier, I’ll use you to test my blade. Let’s see if you still dare to try and eat me!”
Bloodthirsty Lotus: “Awooo~ Awooo~ Awooo~” It spun in the water three times.
Li Yang opened her navigation and, as usual, ran all the way to the Star Law Department.
Even though she had swindled 400,000 credits from her master, she still needed to be frugal. If she could use her own two legs, there was no need to waste money.
The Star Law Department was next to Moonlight Plaza, the central area on the left side of Zhongdu Military Academy.
It wasn’t just home to the Star Law Department but also the Spiritual Department.
Previously, Li Yang had a decent impression of the Star Law Department—after all, that white-clad, fairy-like dean was truly elegant and charming.
However, after learning that the department had taken over the Agricultural Department’s treasure and refused to return it…
All goodwill was gone!
The Star Law Department had now become Li Yang’s most hated faculty—at least for now.
Oh, Fang Chuyun was in the Star Law Department…
Would she be going to the Tree Tower too?
As Li Yang was thinking about this, Fang Chuyun suddenly appeared in front of her.
“Li Yang, over here!”
Seeing her, Li Yang was pleasantly surprised.
“Were you waiting for me?”
Fang Chuyun replied, “Senior Chu told me to come pick you up. Why are you visiting the Star Law Department?”
Li Yang immediately understood—she had been specifically sent to fetch her because they were both from Huangcheng.
She answered straightforwardly, “I’m going to the Tree Tower.”
Fang Chuyun assumed she was just there to take a tour and asked, “How do you know Senior Chu?”
Li Yang was full of question marks. “Who is Senior Chu?”
Fang Chuyun was surprised.
“You don’t know Senior Chu? But he’s the one who asked me to pick you up.”
There was no need to go into details.
Li Yang didn’t want to drag Fang Chuyun into this mess and cause trouble for her.
She changed the subject.
“Are you going into the Tree Tower this time?”
Fang Chuyun, though confused, still answered, “I can’t go in. Among the freshmen, only Shen Shangchi and Ying Qi qualify.”
Li Yang had heard these two names at the school banquet before.
Both had unlocked three Star Orifices, and since the Shen and Ying families were both prominent in the Star Law Department, they were probably descendants of those families.
“How many people can enter each time the Tree Tower opens?”
“It varies for each level. The first level is relatively easy, so usually five or six people enter. The second and third levels are harder—especially the third level, which sometimes allows 30 to 40 people in at once.”
Li Yang caught onto a key point—so few people could enter the first level!
As they chatted, they arrived at the Tree Tower.
Li Yang had imagined what it might look like, but seeing it in person still left her in awe.
It really was… a Tree Tower!
A massive tree stood before them, towering into the sky, at least ten stories tall.
However, it didn’t resemble an ordinary tree. Its trunk had an ethereal, dreamlike green hue, and instead of leaves, its branches were adorned with countless twinkling star-like specks.
When the wind blew, it looked as if thousands of starlights were cascading down.
Someone nearby exclaimed, “Wow! The Tree Tower is beautiful!”
“Of course! It’s the Star Law Department’s iconic structure—how could it not be beautiful?”
“I regret it now. If I’d known, I would’ve chosen the Star Law Department.”
“Hah! As if it was your choice. You got assigned here because of placement adjustments!”
A large crowd of students from other departments had gathered around the Tree Tower, seemingly just to admire it.
The Tree Tower was usually concealed and only revealed itself when activated.
So, when word spread that it would open, even students who couldn’t enter—and those from other departments—rushed over.
Someone curiously asked, “Wasn’t the Tree Tower supposed to open in a week? Why is it opening today? I almost missed it!”
“No idea. Don’t bother guessing the professors’ decisions.”
“They’re only opening the first level this time, right? A special privilege for freshmen.”
“The second and third levels take much longer to cultivate Star Plants, so they can’t be opened yet. I’m so jealous! If I were in the Star Law Department, I wouldn’t have to worry about learning new Star Techniques!”
“Even if you were in the Star Law Department, you’d still have to be from the Shen or Ying families.”
“It’s not just about your surname—you also need talent!”
“Speaking of which, that Li Yang from Donghua Province is such an idiot. If she hadn’t refused the Star Law Department’s offer, she’d be going in today.”
Fang Chuyun frowned and pulled Li Yang aside.
“Let’s go somewhere else.”
Li Yang didn’t care. “Just take me to Senior Chu.”
Fang Chuyun agreed and led her through the crowd to the base of the Tree Tower.
The closer they got, the more they could feel the Tree Tower’s grandeur.
No wonder it was a Grandmaster-level treasure—it was truly magnificent!
Just thinking about how this belonged to her department made Li Yang itch with excitement.
She had to get it back!
Such a treasure—just charging entrance fees at the Agricultural Department could bring in a fortune!
Entry fee: 100-500 merits—not too expensive, right?
Touring fee: 1 merit—not too expensive, right?
The Star Law Department wasn’t just occupying the Agricultural Department’s Tree Tower—they were treating it as their personal money tree!
Li Yang finally met Senior Chu, a young man dressed in a white high-collared shirt and black straight-leg trousers.
His outfit was neat and clean, and he was undeniably handsome.
He smiled as he approached.
“Li Yang, I’m Chu Runxi, the leader for this expedition into the tower.”
Li Yang responded earnestly, “Hello, Senior Chu.”
Chu Runxi stepped aside and introduced the rest of the team.
Fang Chuyun had mentioned that first-level exploration teams usually had five to six people, but there were actually ten people standing there.
Why were there more than expected?
Li Yang didn’t ask.
She only remembered two names—Shen Shangchi and Ying Qi.
Shen Shangchi was a laid-back young man with a casual smile, the very image of a heartbreaker.
He greeted Li Yang lazily, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Li Yang, as always, responded seriously, “Hello, Shen.”
Ying Qi, on the other hand, was a sophisticated and beautiful young woman dressed in pristine white.
Her long hair was neatly tied, and she exuded a maturity beyond her years.
Li Yang was reminded of the ethereal, fairy-like Dean of the Star Law Department.
She must be a die-hard fan of the dean.
Li Yang greeted her first.
“Hello, Ying Qi.”
Ying Qi neither looked at her nor responded.