Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

"Do you take me for a fool? Like repels like, Lofdi looks like a man... You're male, aren't you, Lofdi?"

The victims finally had the opportunity to speak for themselves.

"Protoss are asexual in their infancy. In adulthood, we differentiate into masculine or feminine physical forms and sexual characteristics based on our individual feelings. In fact, Archbishop Raymond, I should be considered one of the males you mentioned..."

“Lofdi! As your senior, this is a kind suggestion! I command you to immediately reveal your female nature!”

"...Lord Elion, I have long since passed adulthood, and my physical structure is already fixed..."

"Holy Light is omnipotent!!! Transform for me now!! Transform now!!!"

"..." Lofdi was at a loss, and turned to his leader for help.

Raymond looked at the somewhat pitiful Lofdi and the somewhat crazed Elian, and sighed.

"Stop messing around, when will you guys be able to give me a break like Lyle?"

Chapter 687 Experiments are More Important

This woodland is immersed in some kind of chilling horror, with flesh and blood emerging from the soil intertwined with skeletons, and filth unacceptable to the gods spreading in the deformed bed. In the writhing corpses, a bizarre plague doctor is weaving twisted life.

A gigantic, foul-smelling tumor burst from the earth, and a newly grown Blood Nest Tree stood amidst the former corpses. Its surface, with its honeycomb-like hexagonal windows, resembled cold, cruel eyeballs. The Blood Nest Tree began to bleed, and Mr. Crimson emerged from the pool of blood. He only glanced at the dazzling crown atop the tree; his attention was more focused on the multiple chunks of flesh sculpted by the crown's wearer.

"Semi-finished products?" Scarlet's years of teaching experience quickly revealed that the works could not move independently; they were covered in blood and looked blurry.

“A modular structure.” Lyle inserted the filthy, blood-stained glove into the nearest writhing mass of flesh. The fat layer inside was cold, while the leather glove he pulled out was spotless, with a protective mucus membrane. “When needed, I will sew these parts together to form the Dream Flower. The excellent remodeling properties of flesh will ensure that the final whole is seamless.”

Scarlet observed the smooth, even lines of the modified area. This excellent student always paid meticulous attention to detail during the spirit-summoning process, which was very good. The Plague Doctor's creations had a bizarre beauty that could be used as bait to attract perverts, weirdos, and other such characters.

Is there any need for it to be split into two parts?

"The completed form is too large to pass through the Gate of Bones. After this academic gathering, I want to let the Flower of Dreams bloom in every corner of the world, not just the liches, but every race in need!"

"...Creating nightmares? Or spreading mental illness?"

"It's for treating insomnia and regulating mood!"

"...My dear student, have you forgotten your lab notes? Selective amnesia?"

"I told you it's still in the development stage, and it will get better and better in the future! Once I've finished the academic gathering and collected more experimental data, I will make Dream Flower the best-selling spirit-summoning product."

The scarlet figure stood there, like a sculpture.

"I look forward to your improvements, Physician. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Lyle thought for a moment and nodded.

“Scarlet Mentor, I would like to ask you about the technique of adding flesh resistance.”

Flesh and blood resistance. As the protector of living beings and the transmitter of genetic information, flesh and blood, a unique necromancy trait, expresses the boundary between the living and the dead. Flesh and blood possess adaptability to the environment and extremely high remodeling ability; skilled necromancers have the ability to alter muscle density and the adaptability of flesh and blood. Various elemental attachments and magical resistances are also present, and it can differentiate into surface layers with special functions: scales, feathers, keratin, and chitinous layers.

"Resistance enchantment... My curriculum hasn't progressed to that yet. Speaking of which, Plague Doctor, you're still a first-stage Salvation Society member. I understand. Leave the flesh and blood resistance enchantment work to me during the academic gathering preparation phase. Whatever resistance you want, I can make it for you!"

Scarlet's confident demeanor reassured Lyle considerably.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Teacher Scarlet. Please add Holy Light Resistance to my Dream Flower." Lyle's bright smile became the only ray of sunshine in this terrifying forest.

"...I just thought about it. As a professor, I should prioritize my students' studies. It's better to teach someone how to fish than to give them a fish. Epidemiologist, I'll teach you the method of adding resistance now. Experiment with it yourself. Listen carefully, this is all new knowledge!"

After a two-hour class, Lyle nodded slightly, seemingly enlightened.

"In other words, the quickest way to add resistance to flesh and blood is to let the flesh and blood creations come into contact with the target element for a long time, allowing the flesh and blood to mutate and evolve to develop the corresponding resistance."

Scarlet was glad Lyle understood.

"We artificially accelerate the process of natural selection, which generates a lot of energy and material consumption during contact, so you need to pay close attention to the changes in the contact person and their flesh."

"I see. So, if I want to gain Holy Light resistance, I have to come into contact with Holy Light with my flesh and blood..."

Lyle understood, and seeing Scarlet's somewhat guilty look, he suddenly realized.

“I need to get in touch with Mr. Raymond.”

"Hmm...and the more efficient the contact process, the more corrosive the effect will be. If you want good results, you have to use strong medicine. But, well, it's not shameful to say it, but I dare not attack that lich trampler. Not all professors of necromancy are known for being tough as nails."

Lyle chuckled and finally bid farewell to Mr. Crimson. He was right; this was something he had to do himself. Mr. Raymond was an easy person to deal with, and he was indeed the most suitable target. Moreover, wanting to add holy light resistance to the Dreamweaver was indeed for Raymond's sake. Lyle discovered that Mr. Raymond's body was covered with an inextinguishable holy flame, usually hidden under his armor and inconspicuous, but the destructive power of the holy flame against dark forces was not to be underestimated. Although these small flames were as natural as breathing to Raymond, and Raymond had never used flesh and blood disguise, the skin that all the liches of Andrei treasured was burned to ashes the moment it touched Raymond's bones.

To make Raymond the protagonist of her dream, she must overcome the problem of the Holy Flame.

Leaving the Bone Forest and freed from the concealing magical barrier, sunlight streamed through the side walls of Andre Castle, enlivening the ancient fortress. Andre's days were indeed lively; the liches, now in disguise, revived their old habits, basking in the sun with tea and snacks on the grass, their boundless energy causing trouble for the Executive Committee. Occasionally, a flash of inspiration would strike during a break, and they would hurriedly retreat back to their laboratories. Aside from the social butterflies like gentlemen, the daytime liches of Andre would indulge in their own pastimes, casting a peaceful, languid gaze upon their surroundings.

But today seems a little different.

Lyle was unaware of what was happening, but he seemed to have become the focus of his colleagues' attention again, and the subtle or direct stares made him uncomfortable. Moreover, those stares weren't the usual kind that conveyed a hint of respect and goodwill, but rather a look that contained a rather unpleasant sense of malice.

"Ah, where is the plague doctor rushing off to in such a hurry?"

"I need to go to the Holy Light Chapel; there are some research matters that need to be coordinated."

"Ah...did I disturb you? Hahaha, hahaha." With a strange laugh, the lich who had greeted him backed away from his sight. Lyle saw the grotesque smile on his fleshy disguise and the intense light shooting from his pupils.

Have my lich colleagues gone mad again today?

"Ah, Mr. Plague Doctor... Are you going to see Mr. Raymond? Oh dear! I have something to attend to, please excuse me!"

"We understand, we understand. It's about research, how could we not understand what you mean? Keep it up, Mr. Plague Doctor! We don't have so many rules with Andrei!"

"Oh, you're wondering why my hands are behind my back? I'm doing stretching! The weights I'm holding are for exercising! They're not light, though they look like newspapers, they're actually compression dumbbells. Hahaha."

Lyle encountered liches exhibiting this behavior along the way. He sensed that Andrei had erected a thick barrier, isolating him from the other liches. They were outside the barrier, observing him like he was a monkey.

What the heck? Is this a new form of bullying, or has some twisted trend been stirred up by the wavering?

Lyle saw the glowing door in the distance and put aside his distractions; the experiment was more important.

Chapter 688 A Feast of Light

Lyle habitually squinted; after all, it was the Chapel of Holy Light, and he had experienced being blinded by the bright light as soon as he opened the door several times before.

Strange, the brightness is lower today. Is Mr. Raymond not here? Or has he finally realized the importance of energy conservation and emission reduction?

Before he could even think it through, the image entered his eyes, and the information processed by the retina exploded in his central nervous system, leaving Lyle stunned. His hand, which was about to push open the door, froze slightly. Resisting the urge to slam the door shut and run away, Lyle swallowed hard and walked into the chapel, his mind filled with questions.

The Chapel of Holy Light could no longer be called a chapel. The benches on either side for prayer were gone, leaving the large room feeling empty. This made the round table in the center stand out starkly; four chairs were placed beside it, the one in front of Lyle empty. To his left sat the exile Lofdi, his arms resting on the table, head bowed, the visible shadows seeming to speak of his gloomy mood. Elian sat gracefully to his right, her hands folded on her knees, turning to give Lyle a sweet smile as he entered. Elian looked gentle and beautiful, if one ignored the deathly expression on her face.

Something was wrong. Lyle's inner demons were screaming for him to run. Something unimaginable had definitely happened to the Andrei Holy Light Society, and the instinct for survival drove his body, preventing him from getting involved.

It was too late. Directly opposite, Mr. Raymond's radiance was like a gentle sun. He sat calmly in the main seat, waving to Lyle who had just entered.

"You've come at just the right time, Doctor of Epidemic Diseases. Come and sit down, we're just waiting for you."

Lyle approached the round table shakily, his heart pounding with the trepidation of being led to an execution ground. He sat down, awaiting the judgment of the Holy Light's calamity. Nia huddled behind him, the ominous premonition silent in her mind, the lingering phantom holding its breath in silence.

"Um, Mr. Raymond, what... what is this all about?"

Lyle noticed that ever since he stepped into the chapel, Mr. Raymond's gaze had been fixed on him. Although he had felt the pressure of the gaze before, it was at most a disturbance, which was completely different from now, when it was as if the eyes were on his body.

Raymond chuckled. "Haha, it's nothing important. You've come at just the right time, Plague Doctor."

"Actually, it's like this: the Holy Light Society has flourished during your time in Andrei. We've grown stronger, and I felt I couldn't act as casually as before. I wanted to find some time for team building, for all the members of the Holy Light Society to have a meal together, chat, and connect. Because you were so busy, I didn't notify you, and you just happened to arrive right at mealtime. Isn't that a coincidence? We must have a strong bond between us. Let's put everything else aside for now and start eating."

Raymond clapped his hands lightly, the resounding applause echoing in the empty room. Loud footsteps sounded behind him, and the door opened, revealing a group of human maids who filed in, surrounding the four of them with trays of food. As the lids of the dishes were lifted, the aroma of delicious food bursting forth made Lyle's mouth water. The previously empty chapel instantly transformed into a noble's dining room, the clean table filled with food in a flash. Two maids stood behind Lyle with their trays, followed by a long queue, forming a delicious food delivery line.

"Master, please have your meal." The sweet voice and smile left Lyle momentarily bewildered. Moreover, these women were all quite attractive, clearly trained professionals. When did Andrei acquire a maid guild? A thought struck Lyle, and he reached out to one of the maids, his fingers gently brushing her cheek.

Some of the offensive actions went unchallenged, and a glint of light even flashed from the gaps in Raymond's helmet.

But Lyle wasn't lustful at first sight. When his fingers approached the maid's face, her cheeks instantly collapsed, and her entire face began to writhe and deform like a maggot's mass of flesh. The nearest "flesh strip" raised its head in response to the call of the creator.

Lyle was not surprised and continued to raise his hand while the maid tidied her face.

Snapped.

His hand was grasped by Elian, who squinted her eyes, her smile like a mask.

"Mr. Epidemic Doctor, eat well and don't let everyone's preparations go to waste."

Perhaps fearing it would spoil their appetite, Lyle stopped casting spells, skillfully picked up a knife and fork, and began to eat with Raymond and the others. Those "human" maids were all disguised liches, but liches who obeyed Raymond's orders and were involved in cooking…

"So the Holy Light Culinary Club has so many female members?"

“Of course, everyone here is a believer drawn by the brilliance of Archbishop Raymond, and there are many of them, both men and women,” Lofdi said softly.

No, the maids present were all cross-dressing liches in pretty costumes, members of the Holy Light Culinary Society who treated Raymond's orders as divine pronouncements. They could be top chefs wielding woks and pans, or they could don maid outfits and act coquettishly, becoming ultimate beings. Lyle was unaware of all this. Lofdi, who had just felt a little guilty for lying, was silently praying in his heart, all for Archbishop Raymond.

Lyle swallowed the juicy steak, a look of delight on his face. "Fantastic!" he thought. "Naslan's ghostly maids couldn't possibly cook like this. Now I understand why Ariana's appetite has been so absent-minded lately." Picking up his glass, Lyle happily shared his joy with Mr. Raymond.

“Fantastic, Your Majesty Raymond. Just thinking about this banquet, which is only my first time here, makes me feel like I’ve missed out on so much. Cheers, and thank you for letting me be here at this coincidence.”

"Haha, just remember to come next time. I'll always be waiting for you, Plague Doctor." Raymond was in high spirits and picked up the dried fruit next to Elian and handed it to Lyle.

Elian held up his knife and fork and smiled at Lyle.

Lyle smiled apologetically and changed the subject.

"How fortunate we are to have so many female companions in the culinary club, and they also possess such skillful techniques. Ms. Elian, is this a common hobby among women of this era, such as maid training? Their manners and etiquette are on par with those of Naslan's servants. Is this the result of years of accumulated experience?"

“Of course, these are some of our specialties, the fruits of long years of cultivation.” Elian smiled elegantly and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

No, it's not a coincidence, nor is it maid training; it's not what you think, Lyle. It was all part of that bastard Raymond's plan from the day before. The reason these cross-dressing liches improved their skills wasn't due to time spent training, but rather the liches' damned efficiency, these lunatics' worship of Raymond, and my tireless, sleepless training. It's inhuman! They treat me like livestock, forbidding rest and food just because I'm a lich. I've never been treated like this before, but I endured it to avoid becoming a sacrifice to the Holy Light. Coincidence? Ha! We've been waiting for you for three hours straight, and I haven't eaten or drunk a thing! It's infuriating! I was just about to reward myself for my hard work when my plate was taken away.

You wretched brat, you'll stuff yourself to death! Just looking at you makes me angry!

"Don't worry, Doctor of the Plague, eat more. I'm happy to see you eating so happily."

Chapter 689 Raymond: "You like me, don't you?"

Lyle's stomach was already more than half full, and the feeling of satiety gradually suppressed his craving for delicious food. The excitement that had burst forth from his taste buds began to cool, and Lyle snapped out of his reverie in the holy light. He looked around and then remembered the purpose of his trip: to persuade Mr. Raymond to assist him with his experiment.

The feast wasn't over yet. Lyle picked up his knife and fork, pretending to continue eating, while his eyes discreetly observed the people around him. Elian was the most boisterous of them all, constantly eating, maintaining a delicate balance between elegance and enjoyment. The aristocratic nun possessed table manners that made one feel ashamed, but strangely, this smiling lady often misused her knife and fork, breaking the porcelain plates underneath. Lyle gave her one last cautious glance; Elian had already smashed eleven plates.

Although the round table was laden with food, Mr. Raymond and Mr. Lofdy showed no interest in touching it; they seemed merely to be there for the sake of it, showing no interest in the food. Raymond kept staring at them, while Mr. Lofdy kept his eyes closed, seemingly resting.

Mr. Raymond was unable to wear a disguise and enjoy his food because of the Holy Flame, while Lofdi simply lacked a mouth due to the Protoss' unique physical structure.

“I almost forgot.” Raymond seemed to remember something and took out a tin can that he had prepared beforehand. Raymond pressed down on the sealed lid with one hand, raised it high above his head, and shook the tin can rapidly with his hands bursting with holy light until the silvery tin turned into a dazzling gold.