Lu Zhi was summoned by Director He before he could return to the dormitory.
It seemed to be the final stage of the entrance test.
The Clock Tower.
The tallest building in the Academy of Paranormal Management, it stood alone on a hilltop, enclosed by a white wall, and no one was allowed to approach it casually.
The golden gate was carved with ornate and alluring镂空 patterns that wound upwards, clinging to a tree whose branches and leaves were invisible, as if madly absorbing the tree's nourishment to grow, yet in turn, protecting the giant tree.
Lu Zhi saw the backs of several people waiting at the entrance from afar, but the most striking figure was Shen Qi himself, who, by simply standing beneath the tree, was already the most beautiful landscape.
"Lu Zhi, over here~" Lan Yushan waved excitedly.
As Shen Qi turned his head, Lu Zhi quickly averted his gaze, smiling as he greeted the others, "Sorry for keeping you all waiting so long."
"It's fine, I just woke up anyway." Gu Weiyu was squatting in a remarkably manly pose, her face still groggy with sleep, yet her bare face was still stunningly beautiful.
Luo Shiyu's eyes still held traces of fatigue, but he merely nodded at Lu Zhi, saying nothing.
Lu Zhi mused that everyone, after the Great Clock, had similarly endured the hardships of the physical enhancement process.
"Everyone's here, let's go into the Clock Tower with Shen Qi," Director He said with a kind smile, encouraging them, "I hope you all receive recognition, gain your own abilities, and strive for humanity's future."
"Let's go." Shen Qi walked past Lu Zhi, the slight breeze that followed him carrying his pleasant scent.
Lu Zhi felt a strange change in himself; his eyes kept involuntarily drawn to Shen Qi.
The golden gate outside the Clock Tower's courtyard slowly opened. A path paved with white foundation stones led directly into the Clock Tower. Sunlight filled the courtyard, and the flowers, grass, and trees grew exceptionally lush, carrying the scent of the morning sun.
"This Clock Tower is the center of the school," Lan Yushan said softly, walking beside Lu Zhi.
Ever since entering the courtyard, Lu Zhi had a vague, inexplicable sense of an unusual fluctuation emanating from within the Clock Tower. Hearing Lan Yushan's words, he instinctively asked, "Hmm? Isn't the Clock Tower built outside the campus?"
Lan Yushan replied, "I'm not talking about the location, but the Clock Tower's importance to the school. It's said that all new students, after passing the initial tests, must enter the Clock Tower for the final trial. However, many students, no matter how outstanding their abilities were in the earlier tests, still fail to pass once they enter the Clock Tower."
Lu Zhi pondered, "So, what exactly is inside?"
Lan Yushan looked dumbfounded, "I forgot to ask the seniors about that. What should we do?"
Lu Zhi couldn't help but feel amused and helpless. Beneath that sharp appearance, was he actually a silly and cute husky?
Soon, the group followed Shen Qi into the Clock Tower. They had expected the interior to be magnificently opulent, given how exquisite the courtyard outside was.
Gu Weiyu suddenly gasped, asking, "What is that?"
In the center of the spacious hall, an open atrium allowed a beam of sunlight to fall upon a white pillar. A green branch was bathing in the sunlight, gentle and sacred. Tiny branches emanated a radiance even more dazzling than the sunlight, exuding an indescribable beauty.
Lu Zhi's entire attention was deeply captivated. For a long moment, the diamond embedded in his heart, which had been dormant, felt intensely hot, as if it would burn him to ashes and leap from his body towards the branch.
Lu Zhi instinctively placed his hand on his chest, and the burning sensation slowly subsided.
The others, including Luo Shiyu, unconsciously held their breath, staring intently, their eyes filled with shock and reverence that did not fade for a long time.
Shen Qi's voice roused them from their daze as he slowly said, "This is the only proof of the gods' existence that humanity brought back from the ruins: the Tree of Life."
Only then did the others snap out of their stupor, involuntarily swallowing. Their hearts were filled with excitement, and an uncontrollable desire arose within them to offer the most devout worship to the Tree of Life, dedicating all their faith and souls to its veneration.
"This is just a branch..." As soon as Lu Zhi spoke, he received sharp glares from the other three.
"Teacher Shen, is the final trial to gain the Tree of Life's approval?" Luo Shiyu asked seriously. His usual aloof demeanor softened when looking at the Tree of Life, revealing eagerness and reverence.
"Teacher Shen, how can we gain the Tree of Life's approval? Please tell us." Gu Weiyu, who had looked drowsy earlier, now had eyes shining as if they were inlaid with two large suns.
Lan Yushan stared at the Tree of Life with a dazed, infatuated expression. "Teacher Shen, if I can gain the Tree of Life's approval, I'm willing to go through fire and water without hesitation."
Lu Zhi stared dumbfounded as the three of them instantly transformed into fervent devotees of the Tree of Life. For some reason, he felt something was off about himself.
"I..." Before Lu Zhi could finish speaking, he received threatening glances from the other three, as if they feared he would "speak carelessly" and utter words disrespectful to the Tree of Life.
Thus, Lu Zhi calmly closed his mouth, glancing sideways at Shen Qi, who had remained silent.
"Stand before the Tree of Life." Shen Qi seemed accustomed to the fervor everyone displayed upon seeing the Tree of Life.
"I'll go first!" Lan Yushan volunteered, rushing to the front of the other three and stopping at arm's length from the Tree of Life, not daring to get too close, his face filled with nervous excitement and anticipation.
Lu Zhi also couldn't help but hold his breath, watching intently to see what would happen next.
The Tree of Life, only fifty centimeters in size, extended a delicate branch and slowly reached towards Lan Yushan.
Lan Yushan instinctively extended his hands. A tiny leaf, the size of a little finger, slowly detached from the branch and floated into Lan Yushan's palm, disappearing as if water had been dropped into water.
"How was it? Is this success or failure?" Lu Zhi saw nothing happen to Lan Yushan and wondered if he had failed.
"He passed," Shen Qi said. Just then, Lan Yushan knelt on one knee before the Tree of Life, his right fist clenched over his left chest, his head bowed, adopting the posture of a knight pledging allegiance to an emperor.
Lu Zhi: ... He inexplicably felt the pose was somewhat embarrassing.
"Lan Yushan, it's my turn." Gu Weiyu impatiently asked Lan Yushan to make way.
Lu Zhi, seeing Lan Yushan's invigorated demeanor and the change in his aura, finally believed Shen Qi's words about success.
Gu Weiyu also soon received a leaf from the Tree of Life, but unlike Lan Yushan, Gu Weiyu's body was enveloped in an orange glow.
When it was Luo Shiyu's turn, Lu Zhi saw a thin layer of frost form on the ground, one of the strongest among the nature series.
Finally, it was Lu Zhi's turn. Under the gazes of the other three and Shen Qi, Lu Zhi stood before the Tree of Life and extended his hand.
However, the Tree of Life, which had always given the impression of being haughty and germophobic, unwilling to come into contact with others, suddenly grew its branches rapidly the moment Lu Zhi extended his hand, tightly wrapping around Lu Zhi's arm and climbing upwards madly.
The other three: !!!
Lu Zhi: ...
Lu Zhi cried out in shock, grabbing the branch that was crawling towards his collar and shouting, "Holy shit, what's going on!!!"