Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

The Green Dragon Priestess, Irason, bowed gracefully on the other side of the portal, her vitality infecting the cold castle. Even the liches felt a stirring in their hearts, a yearning for youth.

Click.

Irason tripped over something like a portal or exposed tree roots.

The Green Dragon Priest fell to the grounds of Andre Academy under the watchful eyes of the liches.

Dead silence.

Irason seemed not to have reacted yet, and looked up blankly, seeing the Dean.

The dean covered his face, awkwardly shifting his gaze, only to see the entire literary society laughing uproariously.

"The law! The judgment!"

"Disrespectful one! Fall to the ground! Gravity doubled!!!"

The members of the literary society immediately suffered the same fate as the green dragon priests; they fell face down to the ground, their skulls still trembling as they sank into the mud.

The dean's response was undeniably wise; using the embarrassing behavior of a college member to ease the guest's awkwardness was quite appropriate.

Although Irason was on the verge of tears, the liches looked ashen.

The final portal expanded to its limit, the melodious chimes of the Wandering City drowning out everything. The Arcane Eye pierced through space, gazing upon Andrei and his companions.

The Blue Dragon Priestess, Moroki, lifted up her sister, who had left her helpless. Using her unparalleled magical skills, she put on a magnificent magical fireworks display in Andrei.

"Teacher." "Scholar-mentor." "Scholar-sir."...

As Andrei's former magic professor, he earned the respect of the liches.

Led by the Dean, the Andrei Lich gave a welcoming round of applause, and the dragon priests bowed in return.

The academic gathering proceeded in an orderly manner.

……

Elian put on her newly bought crystal shoes. After regaining her flesh, she was no longer as conservative in her clothing as she was in life. At least under her nun's habit, she would make some new attempts.

The newfound satisfaction did not dispel the Divergent's anxieties. She took a deep breath and opened the doors of the Chapel of Holy Light.

Everything here is as if cast in gold, radiating an eternal and timeless brilliance.

Just like that glorious monarch, he stood at the edge of the pulpit, gazing up at the stained-glass window with its angel motif.

"My sister, you're late today."

"I am very sorry, Your Majesty Raymond. I was in the City of Wanderings buying some daily necessities, which took up my time."

Mr. Raymond turned around and opened his arms.

“It’s nothing serious, Elian. You don’t need to apologize. You’re one of only two people who will listen to me, and I’m willing to wait, even if it’s just out of gentlemanly courtesy.” Raymond began preparing the communion and some ritual texts for the service, just like an ordinary monk. “But Andre has been quiet for a while today. The noise outside has also stopped. Is there anything planned for today?”

Allie was completely tense.

"There's an academic gathering today..."

A figure materialized in the void. The Protoss Lofdi knelt down and reported everything he had observed to His Holiness the Bishop.

"Today, Andrei is holding an academic gathering about dragons. Lord Lyle the Pure has resurrected a dragon. The dragon priests are also involved in this event."

"Her Excellency Elian did not go to the City of Wanderings. She has been guarding outside the chapel, driving away any objects that could speak or convey messages from your side, Archbishop Raymond."

Shadows crept up Elian's spine, the twisted shadows meeting the psionic blades.

"Assassin, are you spying on me?!"

“Archbishop Raymond is the only master we follow, Lord Elion.”

Different voices argued in the sacred chapel, and the only adult rebuked the two. Mr. Raymond stepped down from the pulpit and approached Lofdy, the Protoss sheathing his blade with increasing respect.

"Lyle, you've revived the dragons? And you've even held an academic gathering without inviting me."

"In addition to Archbishop Raymond, His Excellency the Dean has invited all the presidents of the Andrei Society."

“You’re well prepared.” With a casual reply, Mr. Raymond approached the trembling Elian.

"My sister, why won't you look at me?"

“I…I am ashamed to face Your Majesty’s glory. But I do not believe I have done anything wrong. Andrei is our only home, Your Majesty Raymond.”

“You are afraid… Tell me, Elian, tell me your fears.”

"That was just a dragon, Your Majesty Raymond. Its return means nothing..."

Tell me your fears.

Elian knelt down on the ground.

“I fear you will once again wield the Holy Light and destroy everything here. I beg you, do not do that…”

Raymond's hand stroked Elian's head, like a loving father comforting a crying child.

“I won’t do that, my sister.”

Elian was stunned. Raymond Merlock had accepted her request? How could that be? She wasn't a Pure One! What was going on?

Raymond smiled gently.

"You, the Dean, and everyone else in Andrei all thought I would attack the dragon, didn't you?"

"I must say, you know me very well."

"But you do not yet understand dragons."

Raymond stared into the distance, as if his gaze were fixed on the academic gathering and the enormous dragon skeleton.

“That’s not a dragon, I know it’s not.”

Chapter 584 The Rekindled Flame

The academic gathering concluded unexpectedly smoothly. While basking in applause and praise, Lyle felt a mix of trepidation and relief. Most of those present likely shared this feeling. The Dean cheerfully announced the gathering's successful conclusion, the Executive Committee lifted the blockade, and the liches orderly withdrew, having just enjoyed a feast of knowledge prepared by Lyle. Although the knowledge of the evil gods and Lyle's forward-thinking insights made this dragonification experiment difficult to replicate, knowing in itself that this forbidden modification truly existed was an honor.

Everything is back on track; there is no Raymond, no destruction.

Lyle approached the Dean, and facing this powerful old man, he removed the lich's crown from his head.

“Dean, I need to borrow the Lich Crown for a little longer, just two hours. I promised it I would take it to meet Mr. Raymond.”

The dean's smile vanished, and he stroked his beard with a hint of melancholy, remaining silent for a moment.

“I agree to lend you the Lich King for a while longer, but not for two hours, but until after the coronation ceremony.” The Dean patted Lyle on the shoulder. “The scholar discussed his insane plan with me, which is why I agreed to let the dragons and scholars temporarily leave Andrei. If you want to restore the dragons' glory, you'd better stay far away from Andrei and Raymond. He tolerated it this time, but that doesn’t mean he will accept it a second time. The lich calamity triggered by this academic gathering is not nonexistent, but a volcano that is gathering momentum, waiting for its end. Your experiment is not finished. How can a dragon… be just a living skeleton?”

The Dean placed the Lich Crown back on Lyle's head.

“Child, your experiment is not over yet. Do not see Raymond for the time being until your plan is completed.”

Andrei's leader once again bestowed the crown upon Lyle, allowing him to use the power of the lich race to help the dragons revive.

Lyle was filled with confusion.

“I don’t understand, Dean. What I did was to meet my mentor’s expectations and fulfill his wishes. But why would you pay such a price for the dragon priest and the dragon, even if it would anger Mr. Raymond?”

A glimmer of wisdom appeared in those small eyes, like the beautiful wings of a shimmering butterfly.

“Death is the continuation of life. Biodiversity allows us, the dead, to sustain ourselves. The friendship of the dragon priests is worth our sacrifice. The ancient existence of dragons invigorates me. And it’s fun, isn’t it? Making this world more vibrant/chaotic is what liches look forward to most. We are liches, spellcasters who act with a will that scorns death.”

"And you are the best Andrei Lich. Lyle, we look forward to you making this world more interesting. Unleash your nature and let the dragons return; this is Andrei's command to you."

Lyle bowed with his hand on his chest.

"Your will, Dean."

With renewed energy, Lyle approached the dragon and the five dragon priests.

Aside from the scholar, this was the first encounter between the other dragon priests and the newborn dragon.

“I devoured the dragon soul of Krossis and, with Lyle’s help, obtained this body, Omhead.”

The black dragon priest shook his head.

“We no longer have the right to resist you, dragon. In both knowledge and existence, you are now one step closer to being a dragon than we are. We will follow you, newborn dragon.” The black dragon priest raised his body, his hunched and twisted bones making a terrifying cracking sound. He stood up and looked up at the dragon skeleton. “Moroki has succeeded. You are taller and more powerful than any dragon I have ever seen.”

"It's about the size of a normal sea dragon, although it is indeed a monster in terms of size for a terrestrial dragon species." Priscilla glanced at it casually and turned her head to the side. Her conflict with the dragon still existed, but the dragon's sacrifices had made this dragon priestess put aside her prejudices.

“My God, you’re huge! The lava pool of the Great Furnace can probably barely fit you.” Freheimer tapped the dragon’s forepaw. “Warrior dragon, looks like I can challenge myself with new armor forging.”

Irason reached out and measured the size of the dragon. "He's too big. The Dream Forest definitely can't contain him. Clearing the forest will cause complaints from the druids and dryads... What a hassle."

“The dragon has completed his mission, my brothers and sisters, and we must complete ours as well.” The scholar calmed the dragon priest’s slight excitement. “We have many options regarding the dragon’s dwelling place, but the most important thing now is the upcoming coronation ceremony. We must harvest the power of our respective clans to reshape the dragon’s flesh and blood and help him become the new dragon king.”

"There is also the task of procreation and the revival of the race, dragon, my old friend. I remember you loved animals, didn't you?"

Lyle saw the dragon mentor visibly tremble. "What do you mean! Scholar!!! What are you going to do to me!!!"

The scholar looked at his old friend with sincere eyes.

"For the rise of the dragons, some of us need to sacrifice ourselves, and I am glad, old friend, that your love for large animals has lessened my guilt."

"No!! I love animals!! But I don't want to live like a breeding machine!!! I don't want a partner!!! And I definitely don't want animals!!!!"

The dragon's roar echoed throughout Andrei. It lowered its head, bit Lyle's collar, and flapped its wings to flee. Soon, it turned into a speck of light amidst Lyle's screams.

The five dragon priests remained where they were, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Omhead looked helplessly at his brother.

“We can use the power of the race to help him create offspring. Dragons are magical creatures, and primitive reproduction is not the only way to reproduce. Morokui, you scared him away.”

“It was just a joke with a friend. It’s best to keep him away while we’re harvesting the power of the race. Don’t worry, I left a mark on the dragon bone.” Moroki raised his hand, and a pale blue rune appeared in his palm.

"We are too."

The five dragon priests raised their hands together, and runes resembling claw marks appeared one by one.

Amidst the pulsating magical light, the five dragon priests exchanged knowing smiles.

“I will complete the task of reaping the power, and then we will gather around the dragon.” Priscilla opened a portal and returned to her own world.

“My job isn’t too difficult, I’ll be there on time.” The red dragon priest Freheimer then left.

The black dragon priest glanced at the scholar. "Don't worry about me, I'll finish it. It just takes some time."

The scholar nodded and turned his gaze to the sisters who remained.