Chapter 16

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Li Pu only knew that his grandfather had spies at the University, but he didn’t know who they were.

He would never have expected that the other party was the highest person in charge of this Academy, the current principal.

No one would have expected that the white-haired old principal, who usually had a slightly Sage-like temperament, would be holding a thermos cup and squatting on a tree trunk in a very casual manner.

“Principal Cha, didn’t you say you were going to inspect the new students’ course selection…”

On the same tree trunk, there was a woman squatting behind the principal. She was the principal’s assistant.

“I’m on it.”

The principal took a sip of tea, his expression not looking too good.

“You are but…”

The assistant looked at the principal’s back and then at Li Pu.

The problem was that there were almost 1000 new students, but he only ‘inspected’ one from the beginning to the end. What did he mean?

He didn’t even care about his grandson, Wu Guinan, who seemed to be in last place now.

However, it was a bit of a coincidence. If they didn’t follow Li Pu in secret, they wouldn’t have found out about this situation.

Yang Sheng was the current principal of Western Capital University.

As he liked to drink tea, Cha, very much, everyone usually called him Principal Cha.

This hobby was not a secret, and everyone in the school knew about it.

This also explained why he had left a tea leaf magical beast in this deep forest.

C-grade magical beast, little Zen tree.

They had no combat power, but they could control plant-type magical beasts to a certain extent by emitting a specific fragrance.

The leaves of this magical beast would have a very mellow taste after being soaked in hot water, so they were often raised by tea lovers and used as a source of tea.

The term ‘raised’ here was simply the act of ‘raising’, not referring to the contract of summoning.

Another reason why the little Zen tree was often raised was that it was not picky about its growing environment, and it had a gentle and non-threatening personality.

It could even be placed at home or in the office, as long as it was provided with water, nutrients, and light, it could be well-raised.

However, there was one condition that must be paid attention to in terms of raising it, which was that it had to be completely placed in the wild environment during its infancy.

Only when it grew in the wild during its infancy and interacted with many other plant-type magical beasts would the leaves of the little Zen tree be more fragrant in the future.

This was a natural habit of magical beasts, and no other way could replace it.

The forest to the South of the school was the safest of the four surrounding environments.

Due to some special reason, the magical beasts here were weak and gentle, and would not pose any threat to the little Zen tree.

In addition, it was very close to the school, so Principal Cha had chosen to leave the little Zen tree there and head over to check on it regularly.

In fact, the little Zen tree’s range of activity could be considered to be in the deeper parts of the forest.

Normally, the new students’ class selection competition would not intersect with its domain.

However, there was a freshman who had to run out of the normal track with a 10-wood summoned beast that was very sensitive to plants.

More importantly…This fellow was actually someone whom he had been entrusted to take care of!

[Sob sob sob!]

Just then, the straw doll plucked the first leaf from the little Zen tree.

“Principal, it took your tea leaf!”

The assistant exclaimed in a low voice.

However, to her surprise, Principal Cha, who usually loved tea as much as his life, did not take any action to stop it.

“Forget it, I’ll just treat it as me repaying the favor from his grandfather.”

Principal Cha’s tone and wording sounded like he was scolding someone.

At this time, he could only hold the thermos cup and drink big mouthfuls of tea to calm his emotions.

Although C-grade beasts were not too important at his level, this little Zen tree was different.

Principal Cha had spent a lot of effort and pulled a few strings to get this little tree.

However, he really did owe Li Pu’s Grandpa a favor. It was the kind of favor that a little Zen tree couldn’t repay.

…

Below, Li Pu was reading the information on the leaf that Scarecrow had handed over.

[LV1 Zen Incense (B+) ] 1/100

[Active effect: emits a special fragrance]

[Attribute requirement: wood/water]

[Type requirement: Wind Listener]

[Race requirement: Zen-type species]

To be honest, he didn’t really understand this skill.

The skill description basically didn’t explain the specific effects.

He had never heard of a Zen species.

However, since it was a [B+] class skill, it should not be a weak skill. Only…

“Count it. Does it have 100 leaves on its head?”

Li Pu asked Scarecrow.

[Grass!]

[Scarecrow: Summoner, you’re clearly making things difficult for me!]

[Scarecrow: I can only count to 20, no more!]

Even without listening to the staw doll’s bargaining, Li Pu knew that it was impossible for the little Zen tree to have 100 leaves.

By visual inspection, there were at most 20 to 30 pieces.

“Why don’t I try the branch?”

Li Pu held his chin as he looked at the trembling little Zen tree.

[Sob sob sob!]

The little Zen tree trembled even more violently when it heard that.

In fact, its intelligence was not low, and it could barely understand some human language.

Li Pu didn’t think too much about it. He walked up to one of the leafless branches and gently broke it off by the length of a little finger.

[Sob sob sob!]

This made the little Zen tree cry out again.

It didn’t hurt, the little tree was just shocked.

Another characteristic of it was that it was very timid.

“This won’t do.”

Li Pu was very disappointed by the results of breaking the branch.

Just like the single leaf, this branch could only be counted as one portion. It was still far from 100 portions.

“Don’t tell me I have to break it into 100 pieces?”

[Whoosh!]

Li Pu’s mumbling scared the little Zen tree out of its wits.

One had to know that it was the most coddled plant-type magical beast in this forest, and even the Tiger boss doted on it.

However, this Summoner in front of it actually wanted to split it into 100 pieces!

Therefore, the little Zen tree decided that it could not wait any longer.

It bent down clumsily and slowly pulled out a long green vine-like whip from its root-like feet.

“Um, this is…”

Principal Cha, who saw this from above, was stunned.

He didn’t expect this, he didn’t expect that he had actually misjudged.

It turned out that this little beast was not an ordinary little Zen tree, but a King among the little Zen trees!

The King of Zen tree!

Although it was also an unremarkable C-grade in its infancy, when the King of Zen tree reached adulthood, it would grow into a higher grade than a normal little Zen tree, a B+ grade.

Its value was far more precious than an ordinary little Zen tree.

Furthermore, the biggest difference between the King of Zen tree and the little tree was not the difference in their aptitudes.

Instead, it was because they had a chance of producing a companion inscription weapon!

It was obvious that the vine whip that the little King of Zen tree had pulled out was its Companion Inscription Weapon.

[Whoosh!]

At the same time, the little King of Zen tree raised its Vine Whip.

Li Pu could see that the other party’s gaze had changed.

He thought, “This guy, is it trying to fight?”

Out of caution, he immediately took a few steps back.

[Grass!]

[Scarecrow: Summoner, it said it surrenders and is willing to offer its treasure!]

“…”

However, Scarecrow’s timely translation made Li Pu fall silent.

…

…