252: Chapter 252 Identity

After reaching a consensus on the allocation of the treehouses,

everyone from the Time Book House finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They also chose not to live in tree hollows, opting instead for a relatively open area to construct temporary spatial dwellings.

These dwellings appeared to be only one square meter in size but contained thousands of square meters of interior space, complete with everything one could need.

When it comes to comfort and convenience, the technology side is undoubtedly in a league of its own.

Meanwhile, Zhang Huaiyuan stepped onto a giant flower petal and floated up to the front of a treehouse.

Just as he was curiously about to push the door open, a crisp voice reached his ears:

"Hello, are you a Scholar from the Virtual Tower?"

"You could say that. What's the matter?"

Zhang Huaiyuan turned his head to look and saw the staff-wielding girl. Her eyes flickered slightly as she glanced at the Missionarys praying with closed eyes on the ground below. She lowered her voice somewhat sheepishly and said:

"Do you have that kind of device... the one loaded with lots of virtual games? Preferably the type where you can get stronger just by spending money."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Zhang Huaiyuan couldn't help but be taken aback.

This woman, who appeared noble and was surrounded by a holy aura, was actually a gaming addict?

"I can trade something for it!"

Seeing that he remained silent, the staff-wielding girl suddenly nodded thoughtfully. With a swipe of her hand, she produced a white feather, identical to the ones she had given the two Elf Race envoys earlier.

"Ah, no need. It's just a few virtual games. I'll give them to you."

Snapping back to reality, Zhang Huaiyuan waved his hands repeatedly and took out several virtual login devices from his storage apparatus, tossing them over to her.

At the same time, he looked at her with some curiosity.

[Jiang ???]

Multiple indescribable forces protected her. Unless she revealed it herself, no information could be gleaned.

Holy cow!

Zhang Huaiyuan's pupils contracted slightly.

This was the first time since obtaining his ability that he had received such feedback. Just what was her identity?

"Oh, that won't do."

The staff-wielding girl took the virtual login devices, tilted her head in thought for a moment, put the white feather away, and then took out a feather shimmering with golden light.

"Then I'll give you this instead."

"Really, it's not necessary, Miss Jiang... huh?"

Zhang Huaiyuan's gaze swept over the feather. Just as he was about to refuse, a piece of information fed back into his mind.

[Seraph's Feather]

Does not belong to the mortal realm; extremely precious. Can be used to unleash a single strike with one-thousandth of the power of the feather's owner.

Please note! If this item was obtained through improper means, this power will prioritize targeting the holder.

In that moment of stunned hesitation, the feather automatically floated over and landed in Zhang Huaiyuan's hand.

"Alright, now we're even. Don't expect me to go easy on you in the competition later."

The staff-wielding girl let out a relieved sigh, waved her hand, and said, "I'm off, kind Scholar."

With that, she flew eagerly toward another treehouse.

"She couldn't possibly be in a hurry to go back and play games, could she?"

The thought flashed through Zhang Huaiyuan's mind. He then shook his head with a wry smile and looked down at the pale golden feather in his hand.

Although he wasn't clear on what exactly a Seraph was,

the energy contained within this feather almost surpassed that of every weapon he had ever seen. The only things that could compare were the life-protecting treasures given to him by his two teachers and the spark of World Fire he obtained from Ruin No. 1.

"To exchange such a treasure for just a few virtual login devices... Just what is this young lady's identity..."

After pondering for a brief moment, Zhang Huaiyuan suppressed his curiosity and pushed open the treehouse door to enter.

The entire treehouse wasn't very large, roughly less than fifty square meters.

But every part of it was decorated with extreme elegance. Each handmade decorative ornament was as exquisite as a piece of art.

Of course, Zhang Huaiyuan paid no attention to these things.

He scanned the entire space, his gaze settling on a carpet woven from flowers.

That spot seemed to be connected to some kind of energy-gathering array, emitting a gentle energy.

"Hmm... trace harmonizing particles, terahertz waves... all things beneficial to the human body. I see. So this is a cultivation-side energy-gathering array. Perhaps it compresses a large number of atoms through some method, condensing them into special particles that can induce resonance or life-level leaps in living organisms..."

Thinking this, Zhang Huaiyuan contentedly sat down cross-legged on the carpet. A sense of comfort spread from every cell in his body.

He took out a tome he hadn't fully mastered yet and began studying it leisurely.

...

At the same time, in another space within the World Tree,

the academy higher-ups, who were observing the participating teams through images, all looked at the leader of the Holy Light Monastery with expressions of surprise.

This leader was a Paladin wielding a massive two-meter-tall warhammer and clad head-to-toe in silver armor.

"That person couldn't possibly be..."

"That's right."

The Paladin looked toward the figure who had entered the treehouse, his gaze filled with piety:

"She is the most brilliant pearl of Holy Spirit City, the successor to both Holy Light and the Undead, the next master of the Abyss, the only daughter of the great Holy Lord, Her Excellency, the Daughter of Holy Light, blessed by ten thousand deities."

"This..."

Everyone's expressions changed dramatically.

What kind of identity was this?

Placed in the Origin Star Sea, it would be equivalent to being the daughter of the Zerg Overlord.

Placed in the Sea of Time, it would be equivalent to being the successor to the Lord of Truth.

To put it bluntly, she was even millions of times more noble than all of them combined.

How many treasures did someone like her carry? Was there any fairness left in this competition?

"There is no need for concern, everyone."

The Paladin shook his head with a smile and said:

"Just treat her as an ordinary participant."

"Heh heh..."

The others let out a couple of forced, dry laughs, but there was nothing they could do. After all, she did meet the competition's requirements.

"It seems this time, we can only try to compete for second place."

The higher-ups of the other two major academies thought somewhat helplessly.

...