The Strongest Talent Tree

In a corner of the commercial district of Five States City, the Treasure Pavilion’s business was booming. Next to it, however, the general store had been closed for over a month.

Today was the day Five Provinces Academy enrolled new students, and also the day the old students started school. With the holidays over, most students had already returned to campus early. After a month-long period of training, Yao Ying seemed to have matured a lot, but a hint of disappointment lingered in her bewitching eyes.

’Hasn’t he come back yet?’ Yao Ying’s heart was a tangle of emotions as she gazed at the familiar storefront.

When she had left the general store, she had only intended to play hard to get, to make Feng Hao come looking for her. That way, she could easily capture his heart, and her plan for revenge would naturally fall into place.

But she hadn’t expected that she would be the one to suffer the most during this month. A few times, she couldn’t resist rushing back to the general store, only to find the door tightly shut. After making some careful inquiries, she learned that Feng Hao had gone to the Mu Country.

From that day on, a sense of loss and melancholy had lingered in her heart, impossible to shake off.

Now, another school season had begun, but Feng Hao still hadn’t returned, leaving her heart in a mess. ’Could it be that he’s afraid I’ll reject him, so he’s deliberately hiding from me?’

It had to be said, Yao Ying’s narcissism ran bone-deep. Even now, she still believed Feng Hao had fallen for her and was only hiding because he was afraid of being rejected.

’Should I use a Listening Stone to contact him?’ At this thought, Yao Ying frantically shook her head. ’No, if I make the first move now, I lose. I have to wait for him to contact me first.’

With that, she took one last deep look at the general store’s facade and resolutely turned to leave.

Time passed slowly. After the clamor of the enrollment period, Five States City gradually returned to peace. The new students were full of vigor and high spirits, wandering among the various departments, while the old students seized the time to earn points, working hard towards graduation!

The next day’s sun shone upon the land, and Five Provinces Academy welcomed the new academic year.

Meanwhile, outside Five States City, an impressively domineering armored flying car slowly landed. It was Feng Hao and his companion, who had rushed all the way back.

Getting out of the flying car, Feng Hao was a little reluctant to part. "Fourth Sister, are you sure you won’t come in and look around with me?"

"I can’t. The mission concerning the True God Sect is urgent. I have to hurry back," Mei Meimei said, waving her hand.

"Alright then." Feng Hao nodded helplessly. "Fourth Sister, be careful on the road."

"Don’t worry. You know how strong I am, don’t you?" Mei Meimei smiled sweetly and decisively piloted the flying car into the air. "I’m off, I’m off! See you in a year, and don’t you dare disappoint your big sister then!"

With that, she turned into a streak of light and quickly vanished over the horizon.

Watching Mei Meimei leave, Feng Hao couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement. "Fourth Sister is really something else..."

According to the original plan, Mei Meimei was supposed to stay in Five States City for a while, since it was rare for her to get out.

But ever since she received the mission to investigate the True God Sect, Mei Meimei had been like a different person, as excited as could be. In her own words: The Thief Master rarely entrusted her with such an important task, so she had to perform well.

In reality, Feng Hao knew in his heart that she was worried the True God Sect would grow and bring disaster to the Ancient Cang Realm.

’Sigh, I’d better go find Yao Girl as soon as possible. I haven’t seen her in so long, I wonder how that girl is doing.’

Feng Hao gave a helpless smile and hastily piloted the Manza toward the city.

Although he had rushed the whole way, he was still a day late. He figured Yao Girl was probably a crying mess by now.

Seeing the Combat Department getting closer, Feng Hao connected to Xiyue Frost’s Spiritual Mark. "Big Miss, I’m almost at the Combat Department. Where’s Yaoyao?"

"You’re back?" Xiyue Frost was taken aback for a moment, then frowned slightly. "Today’s the first day of school. Yaoyao should be in the Strength Department right now."

"Okay, thanks." Feng Hao didn’t waste any words. After cutting off the Stone Listening Communication, he dove down towards the Strength Department.

A new semester brings a new atmosphere, as they say. Returning to the Strength Department, he saw unfamiliar faces everywhere. It was as if he had gone back to the day he first enrolled.

Of course, there were still many old students among the passersby, and when they saw Feng Hao, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.

"Hey, buddy," Feng Hao said, casually stopping an old student to ask a question.

The old student’s expression stiffened. He stammered in fright, "Wh-what do you want? I didn’t do anything to you, don’t try anything funny~!"

"Er." Feng Hao was taken aback, then chuckled in amusement. "Relax, I don’t mean any harm. I just want to ask about someone. She’s a new student this year, named Xi Yueyao. Do you know what class she’s in?"

"You mean Xiyue Frost’s little sister?" The old student breathed a sigh of relief. "I know her, I know her! Junior Sister Xiyue was number one in this year’s entrance exams."

"Number one? Not bad!" Feng Hao chuckled in surprise.

"I heard Junior Sister Xiyue was assigned to New Student Class 1. You should try looking for her there," the old student said truthfully.

"Thanks, buddy." Feng Hao nodded in satisfaction and strode towards the new student building.

He left behind the old student, who had just had a false alarm, and a group of bewildered new students.

It was now afternoon. After their first day of introductory classes, the new students were all free. They began to mill about the various departments, visiting friends from their hometowns, creating a lively and bustling scene.

But the Strength Department’s new student building was a different story. Inside the vast building, several thousand new students of the Strength Department were now completely silent.

And in the midst of this group of new students, Xi Yueyao stood with one hand on her hip and the other brandishing a long whip. She gave off an air of being in a class of her own, her domineering presence on full display. Combined with her lolita-style outfit, she looked exactly like a Little Demon.

"All of you, listen up! From now on, I am the boss. Anyone who’s not convinced can step forward. I promise I won’t beat him to death!"

Xi Yueyao proudly scanned her surroundings, her whip occasionally lashing the ground and making a sharp CRACK CRACK CRACK sound.

Behind her, Zhang Meng and the other two wore equally arrogant expressions, their chins tilted so high they could almost touch the sky.

Faced with such an arrogant quartet, the new students were clearly intimidated. After a brief silence, however, bursts of indignation and anger erupted.

After all, everyone who could get into Five Provinces Academy was an elite, each more prideful than the last. How could they tolerate this kind of intimidation?

"So what if you got first place on the entrance exam? Why should we listen to you?"

"That’s right! What’s so great about being number one on a test? It’s not like it’s your real strength."

"Don’t think we’re afraid of you just because your sister is Xiyue Frost. I, for one, don’t scare easily."

Xi Yueyao snorted softly, a wicked smile playing on her lips. With a flick of her whip, she pointed arrogantly at the shouting new student. "Fatty, Xiaoshan, Li Mufeng, get him!"

"Yes, ma’am." Zhang Meng and the other two instantly accepted the order and charged toward the new student without hesitation.

The crowd was thrown into an uproar. Seeing the people around him scatter abruptly, the black-clothed youth’s mouth twitched. He could only grit his teeth, draw his sword, and meet their charge. "Damn it! You think I’d be afraid of you?"

As he spoke, the light of his sword flashed out. A pale blue Sword Qi stirred up layers of ripples as it spiraled toward Zhang Meng and the other two.

"With just this little bit of skill, you dare act so arrogantly in front of our Big Sister? You’re just asking to die!" Zhang Meng sneered. With a slight twist of his barrel-like body, he easily dodged the Sword Qi’s attack.