Chapter 20: The Tree World Arrives and Evolution Is Completed!
Chapter 20: The Tree World Arrives and Evolution Is Completed!
Xu Yan and his team returned to school and were immediately summoned to the principal's office.
Before Xu Yan could ask what was going on, Principal Huang got straight to the point:
"Students, I'm truly sorry. Due to certain unavoidable circumstances, your official grades were suppressed."
"But in reality, you ranked first in your grade!"
The entire team froze in shock.
Before they could process the information, Principal Huang handed out four bank cards.
Xu Yan: ¥150,000
Gao Yang, Bai Ding, Zhou He: ¥50,000 each
"This is your rightful first-place scholarship."
"Originally, the rule states that the top team receives ¥100,000, to be distributed by the captain. However, since we unfairly stripped you of your honor, the school has decided to compensate you."
The team members looked at each other, still in disbelief.
---
The Hidden Truth
"Wait, so the school deliberately hid our rankings?" Bai Ding asked, frowning.
"Why?" Xu Yan followed up.
Principal Huang sighed.
"Because we want you to represent No. 8 Middle School in the upcoming Joint Training Camp between colleges and universities."
"Your 'Tree World Arrival' ability is far too powerful and extreme. If other schools catch wind of it before the competition, you'll become their number one target."
"For your safety and our strategy, we had to keep it secret."
Xu Yan nodded slowly, finally understanding.
But one thing still bothered him.
"What exactly is the Joint Training Camp? Is it really that important?"
---
Explaining the Joint Training Camp
Principal Huang leaned forward, his voice serious.
"It's extremely important."
"Joint training is held once every three years. The final results determine the reallocation of educational resources for all high schools in Dayan City for the next three years."
"And for years… No. 8 Middle School has been at the absolute bottom."
He sighed heavily.
"Because of our low rankings, we've never been allowed to select proper training dungeons."
"For example, at Level 5, we only have access to the Wild Wolf's Lair, an extremely difficult hell-level dungeon."
"Meanwhile, other schools get multiple dungeons, ranging from easy to hard, allowing their students to progress smoothly."
"Because of this, our students fall behind, limiting their potential and crushing their future."
"It's a vicious cycle, and I'm hoping you can help us break it."
---
Xu Yan's Reaction
Xu Yan rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
A vicious cycle, huh?
He could help No. 8 Middle School escape this pattern…
But was it worth it?
No.
The Joint Training Camp was bound to have ranged disaster beasts, and his Tree World Arrival ability was far weaker against them.
The risk was too high.
And more importantly—
There was no money involved.
Xu Yan sighed.
"Principal, I'll be honest."
"My 'Tree World Arrival' only works perfectly against melee disaster beasts."
"Against ranged opponents, its control weakens, and they can still fight back."
"Wild Wolf's Lair was an exception because every beast inside was melee-based."
"The Joint Training Camp will have all sorts of threats. It's too dangerous for me."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do it."
His response was firm.
---
Principal Huang's Counteroffer
Principal Huang sighed again, then pulled out a detailed map.
"Xu Yan, let me show you something."
He pointed to a heavily-marked section.
"The training camp will be held in the Ruined Magic City."
Xu Yan narrowed his eyes.
"And?"
"You don't have to fight all the disaster beasts," Principal Huang said.
He tapped the first section of the map.
"The training camp is divided into three phases."
---
Phase One: Equipment Collection
"Nobody is allowed to bring personal gear."
"Instead, everyone starts naked and must acquire equipment through drops."
Xu Yan nodded.
"And?"
"During this phase, a huge number of pure melee disaster beasts will spawn across the map."
"If you only fight those groups, you'll gain massive equipment advantages before anyone else even gets started."
Xu Yan raised an eyebrow.
"Huh. That… actually makes sense."
---
Phase Two: Equipment Raiding
Principal Huang continued:
"Phase Two is where teams start fighting each other for gear."
"But by then, your team will already be fully stacked."
"With your early advantages, you'll dominate weaker teams and stay safe from the stronger ones."
Xu Yan was listening now.
---
Phase Three: The Grand Escape
"Phase Three is simple," the principal finished.
"Unbeatable BOSS-level disaster beasts will flood the map, forcing everyone to escape."
"The last surviving team wins."
Xu Yan leaned back, arms crossed.
"...It's just a Battle Royale, then."
The principal's face twitched.
"A what?"
"Never mind."
Xu Yan thought hard.
With the right strategy, he could dominate the first two phases.
And in the final phase, he wouldn't even need to fight—just survive.
...
"Still no," he said finally.
"The risk is still too high. I'm not going."
---
The Final Offer
"1 million yuan."
Xu Yan paused mid-step.
He turned back slowly.
"...Excuse me?"
"If you reach the middle rankings," Principal Huang said, "you get ¥1,000,000."
Xu Yan stared at him.
"Principal, it's not about the money."
"It's about survival."
...
"2 million."
Xu Yan blinked.
"Go on."
---
The System Update
Just as Principal Huang was about to sweeten the deal further,
A system prompt suddenly appeared in Xu Yan's mind.
[Ding! The Tree World Arrival evolution is complete!]
Xu Yan's eyes widened.
"Wait. Evolution?"
Something new was about to happen.
And depending on what it was—
His answer to the principal might change.