Chapter 177: Chapter 175: Blossoms of the Star Spirit Tree

"Are you leaving already?"

"Aren’t you going to stay at school for New Year’s?"

After the trials concluded, under the guidance of their mentors, the students returned to school in batches, followed by the official holiday break.

The five girls who had fought together were now parting ways.

Doris crossed her arms, her eyes reddening as she turned away, "Hmph, after this farewell, we’ll be competitors in the future. You better quit early."

"If Doris can truly convince us, quitting isn’t impossible," Benovia smiled faintly.

Hilia waved to them, "Goodbye, everyone, see you next year!"

"Goodbye!"

After parting with the other Holy Daughter candidates, Hilia packed her luggage and intended to tidy up her dormitory, but she encountered someone downstairs.

Mier looked at Hilia with a complex expression and hesitated for a moment before gathering his courage to say, "Hilia, are you heading back to Star Ash Town? Let me take you."

"No need, thank you. I have my hands and feet, no need for anyone to take me," Hilia replied coldly.

Mier watched her enter the dormitory building and ultimately sighed in melancholy.

"Nosen, really, are you taking any action? Hilia has improved so much, is your plan even effective?"

From the footage played by the school, Mier witnessed Hilia’s strong side. He used to think Hilia could never become a Holy Daughter, but now he feels that Hilia is the most likely candidate.

With her strength, she surely will garner more attention, leaving them fewer opportunities.

Mier felt very uneasy.

It seems that starting from Tier Two, Hilia has been distancing herself from her classmates.

He reported the situation to Nosen.

After a while, Nosen replied, "What have you been doing all this time? If you had listened to me earlier, would things have turned out like this?"

Mier: "..."

...

Hilia, having finished organizing her belongings, left the dormitory and was surprised to see Mier still standing outside, "You’re still here."

"Hilia, I..."

"Goodbye!"

Hilia nodded courteously and left without looking back.

She first went to have a meal with Anarce, then reported to Alina, before leaving school and boarding the patrol car heading to Southern Border City, near Star Ash Town.

She rode until evening, finally reaching the last stop. After resting for a night in Southern Border City, Hilia began her journey to Star Ash Town.

Rose’s phantom appeared beside her, looking up at the awe-inspiring Star Spirit Tree in the sky. Nodding, he said, "Although its height is much smaller than the previous one, this level is still nice; it’s a very young Star Spirit Tree."

"Very young?" Hilia was curious, "Does the Star Spirit Tree have an age?"

"Of course it does. This one is very young. Judging by its form, it’s roughly equivalent to a 16-year-old girl, still in its growth phase."

Hilia glanced at the Star Spirit Tree, and Rose’s metaphor gave her an extraordinarily peculiar feeling.

As she gradually approached the Star Spirit Tree, the strange feeling grew stronger. Despite living in Star Ash Town for over a decade, she never felt this way.

Is it because of Lord Rose?

Hilia secretly looked at Rose.

She found him floating along, continuously gazing at the Star Spirit Tree, pondering something.

Hilia took out her Flying Broom, sat on it, and playfully said, "Does Lord Rose want to ride together?"

Rose lowered his head, smiling, "Sure, I’ll drive."

Hilia’s face suddenly turned pale, "No, I’d better do it! No need to trouble Lord Rose with such a trivial matter!"

Without encountering any demons along the way, Hilia took the main road. The area near the main road often had people dedicated to clearing out any demons that appeared, making it very safe.

Soon, Hilia arrived in Star Ash Town.

The small town in front of her was indeed a town, yet its level of development was completely different from other towns she’d seen before—vastly different.

The buildings lining the main road looked decades old, worn and low, unlike the new faces of those in other cities. Many passersby wore shabby clothes, greeting each other with a few words, resembling a poor county.

Upon entering Star Ash Town, a hint of a smile appeared on Hilia’s lips.

From time to time, a middle-aged uncle or aunt greeted her, to which she politely responded.

In this way, she slowly arrived at the entrance of the Star Dust Divine Hall.

There were no assistant priests standing guard at the entrance, so she could enter directly.

The Divine Hall in this town lacked the grandeur of other halls, resembling a small chapel, covering a small area akin to a minor villa.

Though rundown, it exuded a warm feeling.

Hilia entered and saw a young assistant priest cleaning inside.

Smiling, Hilia greeted, "Good morning, Piggs."

Piggs raised his head, froze for a moment, and then exclaimed in delight, "Hilia? Vanessa High Priest, Hilia is back!"

The assistant priest hurriedly ran into the small Divine Hall, and soon, Vanessa, dressed in her high priest’s robe, came out cheerfully from the Divine Hall.

Seeing Hilia with her luggage, she beamed with joy.

"Welcome home, Hilia."

Vanessa seemed to be in her forties, the marks of years etched on her cheeks, revealing that she had been a beauty in her youth.

Her high priest’s robe was as old as the Divine Hall itself, and her hands were stained with water; it was unclear what she was doing.

"Mama Vanessa!"

Hilia exclaimed, running over and giving Vanessa a big hug.

Vanessa patted Hilia’s head, smiling gently, "Hilia has grown taller, and a bit plump too."

"I’m not plump at all!"

Vanessa checked Hilia’s body and said amazedly, "When you left, you hadn’t officially become a mage, and now you’ve returned at Tier Two. Impressive."

Hilia’s lips curled up, "It’s all thanks to Mama Vanessa’s solid foundation."

She added, "Also, the guidance and blessing of the God."

She secretly glanced at Rose, observing from the side.

No one would care if she spoke the truth; after all, this is a Divine Hall — mentioning divine gifts here is well-understood but never taken seriously.

Vanessa was full of emotions, "Ten-plus years ago, when I took you in, I never imagined your talent would be so great, and you might have the chance to become a Holy Court’s Holy Daughter."

Rose turned around, raising an eyebrow, "Hmm? Took her in? Where did you take her from?"

In her heart, Hilia explained, "Mama Vanessa said I was abandoned outside the forbidden area of the Star Spirit Tree. She happened to come out from there, heard my cries, and took me in."

Rose mused, "Why would your parents leave you outside the forbidden area, interesting."

"I don’t know. Mama Vanessa said perhaps they wanted to abandon me inside the forbidden area, but didn’t dare to go in, so they left me outside," Hilia replied.

Rose nodded without further inquiry.

Meanwhile, Hilia accompanied Vanessa into the small Divine Hall, sending the two assistant priests to prepare lunch, as they continued to reminisce.

As for Rose, he circled the Divine Hall and found something quite interesting at the back.

"A flower of the Star Spirit Tree? That’s super rare. It has the potential to gather Main God Level authority—having such a thing in a little Divine Hall is unexpected."