Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

“In the City of Wandering, harming humans in any form is illegal. We can use this as evidence to threaten Desili and get him to give us our services for free, although we don’t know how much it will cost afterward.” Bian Tong began rummaging through his leather bag for his developing crystal. “Remember to let me know when he eats people, so I can take pictures as evidence.”

"The person is gone."

"What?" Bian Tong put down his hand that was rummaging in the leather bag and hurriedly looked into the room. The flower bed in the center was empty. The human had disappeared without a trace. Only De Xili, who had finished, was clapping his hands.

"Damn it, he must have found us. Our free meal is gone. How did he eat so fast? Isn't his body transparent? Where did he go?"

"I don't know, we just glanced at you, and when we turned around, you were gone."

"He's cunning, let's go in." The three of them pushed open the door.

The pink-haired Dexi smiled at the three of them, his body inflated like a balloon, but his voice was gentle.

"Ah, new guest, I am the Dream Master Desili, the God of Wishes who grants your desires, a merchant who weaves dreams."

"Come on, you cannibal, stop with the fancy words and let's get to the deal."

"Cannibals? Kid, you need to provide evidence. I can sue you for defamation."

"Heh, didn't you eat that human just now? Did he just disappear on his own?"

“That human just now, ah, you mean Mr. Leshor, he’s a regular customer of mine, why would I eat him? I just saw him off.” Desili beckoned to the three of them, then pressed a mechanism hidden at his feet, revealing a gap in the center of the flower bed leading to a slide that went straight to the first floor. “This is a special passage.”

Shining scratched his head, which was sore from thinking, and asked, "Since he's your guest, why didn't you let him leave through the main entrance instead of coming from here?"

De Xili's sharp, transparent face revealed an indifferent expression. "To avoid the enraged parents that follow, a good businessman should be responsible for the safety of his customers."

"Parents? Strange reason. Never mind, let's begin our deal, Dexili."

“Very well!” Pink clouds materialized from Dexi’s sharp, pinkish-purple body, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder. He bowed and lowered his voice, “I will grant your wishes, you ‘ambitious’ gentlemen.”

"Control it, bring out a Gundam."

Dexi scratched his head. "Sure, but you should be more specific. For example, her appearance, figure, and clothing. A detailed description will make you feel more immersed and give you a better experience. Also, her personality traits, such as being gentle and dependent or assertive and fierce."

"Huh???" The pilot looked at the bewildered Dexili. "Are you sick? Aren't you supposed to be the God of Wishes? You don't even know what a Gundam is? What kind of bullshit question are you asking? I just want to pilot a Gundam, what's the point of all this questioning?"

De Xili frowned. "I understand. A barbaric man with no romance? Well then, the generous De Xili will bring out his treasure to entertain you. Look closely, this is my masterpiece." De Xili interlaced his hands, and after a pink mist dissipated, a tiny figure appeared in his palm.

She was a beautiful blonde elf with blue eyes, dressed in revealing, lotus-leaf-shaped clothing, her milky-white thighs clad in white stockings. She lifted her leg and spun around in De's sharp palm, casting a few alluring glances at her manipulator.

"My masterpiece, I call her Mattison. She has a perfect body proportion, a gentle and easy-going personality, and excellent skills. She's set as an elf who came out of the Dream Continent to explore." Dexili looked at the person in his palm with a face full of tenderness, his eyes overflowing with love and reluctance.

Desili covered his face with one hand to express his sadness, while using the other hand to place the spinning Mattison in front of his eyes.

"Please use it carefully, and be gentle with me considering how much I've sacrificed."

He manipulated a slap, turning the little elf into pink light foam. He angrily removed his mask and roared at Dexili.

"Fool! I am a lich! Are you out of your mind? Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall!"

Dexili, glaring at the skull he was controlling, roared, "You damned lich! Did you come here looking for trouble? Who sent you?! I, Dexili, have been in this business for so many years, and no one has ever dared to mess with me!"

"Sent by Troy."

"You're all dead! Your boss Troy too...! Wait, Troy?" Desili looked at the three of them in surprise, his imposing aura gradually diminishing and his anger dissipating.

"So, you're not here to have me conjure up your dream lover and replay the scene of your lovemaking in your minds, are you?"

"..."

The two looked at each other, and a silence fell over them, broken only by the faint sound of laughter that continued to echo in the hall.

Chapter 224 Causes of Lacerations

“So you came here to heal your soul wounds. You should have said so earlier.” Dexili tapped on the crystal balls on the wall one by one, their colors changing to a dark blue resembling the starry sky. “My race is the Dream Eater, a kind of soul that can extract emotions. You’ve come to the right place. I can extract your pain; I have extensive practical experience in this, so you don’t need to worry about your safety. My technique will be extremely meticulous, and the process will be very smooth. Your soul will not be damaged in any way because I have the most exquisite hands, like those of a craftsman.”

"So you used these hands to create romance films?" Shining tapped the nearest crystal ball, watching its color change again and again.

Desili placed the crystal ball higher. "Don't adjust its color arbitrarily. Those colors all have meaning; they inspire me or help me focus." Desili pointed a finger at the sky, his face serious. "Bringing enjoyment to people is a sacred profession. Only you mortals filled with lust are disgusting. I initially just wanted to create dreams to make people feel comfortable, but those guys think the most comfortable thing is impulse and pleasure. Thanks to them, my reputation has become increasingly ugly, and I can only curl up in this dark place to satisfy the sexual fantasies of those brainless teenagers in puberty."

Dexi's expression then changed. He reverted to his lewd and shameless self. "Whatever, it's a quick way to make money anyway. What I mean is, who doesn't like pretty girls?"

“You could have done more; you have the ability,” Manipulator said, looking at Descartes.

“I’ve done more, suffered more, and endured more pain. I’m sick of pain; now I crave sweetness. I understand the mindset of you self-righteous fighters. I’m long past that age of youthful passion. I’m sure the hardships you’ve endured aren’t even as big as my brain.” Dexi reached out and touched the head he was controlling, feeling the suffering within. A relentless snort escaped his lips. He gestured with his finger and said contemptuously, “Your pain is about the size of my booger. You spineless brat.”

Shining patted the control panel. "In fact, he's telling the truth, and he doesn't have brains or boogers, so if you get angry now, it's just being unreasonable."

"Shining, I am a lich. I don't need a reason to kill. I forgot, you are not human."

"Heh, you think I'd get angry so easily? I... damn, my head's starting to hurt again, that damn Dexi's booger."

Dexi tidied up the flower bed and looked at the person rolling on the floor.

"I didn't know that the boss's tolerance has improved so much over the years. When I was following him, you guys would have been torn to shreds long ago. Alright, move the one on the ground who's crying in pain over here first."

They placed the shiny object on it, taking in De Xili's tall and imposing figure.

"Wait, you're not going to use this opportunity to steal our memories and turn us into puppets, are you?"

Desili raised his hand, which he had just placed near Shining's head, and looked at Bian Tong with disgust. "I'm not interested in you skeletons, in any way. There are plenty of people in this world with filthy souls. I won't defile myself by delving into your disgusting thoughts. Maybe you liches don't have the 24-hour vibration memory of teenagers, but you are different. What are your leisure activities today? Eating carrion or playing intestine instruments? Let me tell you, the memories I want to explore are only those of beautiful women who are 1.6 to 1.8 meters tall, with long golden ponytails, beautiful faces, and full figures with long legs, aged 18 to 28. Humans and elves are preferred, and being a homebody and good at housework is a bonus. Other than that, you brainless, moving things are truly disgusting."

Dexili began his treatment.

"It's quite amusing that this peculiar ghost is pursuing women."

"One day I'll earn enough money to smuggle myself into the Guangwu District to find my dream girl!"

"His idea that he can live in District 5 is as ridiculous as the elves taking a liking to him."

"If it weren't for the boss's request, I would have killed you." De Xili calmed down and began to focus on his work. "The cracks are in these locations. Although they seem weak to me, this is the limit of what you have done. Let me see what you little lunatics have done."

one day ago.

Shining brightly, she moved towards flexibility.

"My friend, could you do me a small favor? I recently discovered a new type of scale, and I'd like to know if it can defend against soul attacks."

What should I do?

"Use Soul Scream on me."

"you sure?"

"I'm sure."

after a while.

"Shine, are you going to keep going? Your legs seem to be wobbling."

"Keep going. I think I'm starting to sense its soul resistance. Just a little more effort and it'll be fine."

after a while.

"Kneel on the ground."

"Continue, I've reached the edge. The power of this scale is just a little bit away from being activated."

after a while.

"You're unconscious, Shining. I think your experiment failed. I'll take you back to your room. Wait, what's this? A little note. [Don't worry about me, this is my body's special protective mechanism. My experiment was a success. Now all you need to do is try one more small step. Keep going, don't let my current suffering ruin everything!] Are you sure? Well, you can't be sure."

Eight hours ago.

"What's wrong with being flexible and flashy?"

"He...he is practicing a kind of cultivation, a cultivation of the power of the soul."

"What kind of spiritual practice?"

"You know what, my brother? As long as you push your mind to its limits, you'll surpass yourself and keep getting stronger. Shining did it!"

"That shiny head is like an arcane bomb right now, you know, the one from the Magic Research Society. Anything that glows white means danger."

"Believe me! My brother! Would I lie to you? Would I deceive you just to make you suffer? Do you think I'm an idiot? How could I betray our blood ties for a prank on a whim!"

"I believe you will, after all, you're a boring person, and we don't have flesh and blood, only bones. Bones are cold."

"...Actually, this is a cultivation method taught to us by the Plague Doctor. It requires the cooperation of two people. I did this just to provoke you into using Soul Shriek on me to improve yourself. Did I fail after all?"

Manipulator immediately grabbed Bian Tong's arm. "Yes, you failed. Now, I command you to use Soul Scream on me to make me stronger! Otherwise, I will force you to submit, my foolish brother!"

Five hours ago.

"Damn your flexibility! I'm going to kill you! It hurts so much! Shining has told me everything! About his idiotic scales and your idiotic pranks! You damned bastard! You want to improve yourself, huh? I'll let you improve to your heart's content! I'll make you feel the same pain I'm going to experience!"

Chapter 225 The Vanished Witch

“So you all did it yourselves. I’m so glad. I’ve been away from the Soul Tower for over fifty years. I can imagine what Andre looks like now. Its growing notoriety is as terrifying as the chaos it caused in the City of Wanderers.” Desiri healed the three of them one by one. The bright spots of light covering the surface of their bones were guided into Desiri’s body by the bright blue light extending from his arm, shimmering and sparking a burst of electricity within his pinkish-purple transparent body.

“That’s not a cure, Desili.” Shining, the first to regain consciousness, looked at the silent Desili. “You didn’t heal the pain; you just transferred it onto yourself, suffering in our place. Desili, you…”

“To reiterate, I’m not interested in skeletons. It’s no big deal. I’m far stronger than you all. This pain is nothing more than an itch to me. I’m just used to doing this, after all, it’s the boss’s order. As the price for my avoidance, this little bit of bitterness is nothing.”

Soon, all three had recovered to their peak condition. Looking back at Desiri, just as he had said, this pain was nothing. The light spots from the three soul rifts formed a cluster the size of a fingernail within his body—truly insignificant to his robust physique. Desiri sat lazily like a water balloon, watching the three standing liches.

"How is the eldest sister doing now? Is she still in pain? Hmm, considering she's even taking on students, she seems to be doing well; her wounds have finally healed. Hmm... what are you guys still doing here? Are you interested in my Mattison?"

"You haven't told us what you're going to use as payment yet."

Dexi crossed his arms, tapping his fingers on his arm. "Ha, when did the lich become so polite, even playing that demonic contract game? It's free, brats. Getting back the boss's orders is my reward. At least I don't have to live in fear anymore, hiding from XZ. After all, I can't hide from her."

The three looked at each other, shrugged, and, having gotten a freebie, performed a lich-style salute to Dexili, who was lying on the flower bed. Then, the three walked towards the door.

Desharp's languid voice came from behind, "I don't know what you liches have been up to lately, but your growing activity is clearly a sign of an era. Remember my words, Andrei's brat."

"If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight."

De Xili's incomprehensible words reached the ears of the three, and that strange sense of heaviness affected them for a long time.

Inside Andre Castle, the polarized streets in the daytime are as deserted as at night. On the surface, it looks like a sleeping building, day and night, but no spider dares to come here to spin its web, and no speck of dust lingers here.

Cookie crumbs fell on the ground.

The crunching sounds never stopped. Nia floated behind Lyle, clinging to him with her grille tentacles, her hands constantly pulling cookies from her leather bag, her mouth never stopping.

With rhythmic chewing sounds, Lyle tapped the bricks in front of him.

"Scholar, I need your help." Who could persuade those witches better than a renowned witch mother? Although it might be a bit heartless to entangle the scholar in witches' troubles, knowledge is the most important thing, and the scholar would certainly applaud Lyle's thirst for knowledge.