Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

“Plague messenger, sir.” Lyle explained again in detail, but this time, there was none of the joy he had shown before.

"Do you know, Physician, that the essence of a plague is a virus, and a virus is also the simplest form of life? This is a path that is quite suitable for a doctor."

"You choose to give your talent a new soul." The scholar placed Shui Shui above the cloud of dust. Under his magic, Shui Shui's body continuously expanded, transforming into a hazy mist that mixed with the black dust. It was like the eye of a storm that appeared out of nowhere, swirling in the air. The scholar continued to make meticulous adjustments, but his conversation never stopped.

"Shuishui has helped me a lot. Thinking about its spontaneous actions in the past, it is hard for me to simply regard it as a tool that serves me."

“Too much tenderness is not a good way of life. There are many things that are not worth doing so for,” the scholar’s ​​voice was indifferent, but then he changed his tone, “But there are no absolutes in the mystery. Everyone’s right is to make their own choices.”

"Extend your hand, Dr. Plague Doctor, perhaps there will be a surprise."

Lyle looked at the eye of the storm, which was now as black as ink, and although he was a little apprehensive, he still reached out his hand.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the core, he felt a distinct sensation through the leather glove.

It was a transparent, baby-like hand, that tiny palm that reached out from behind the black eye of the storm and grasped Lyle's index fingertip.

An indescribable joy suddenly welled up in my heart.

"It responded to you."

Lyle slowly rotated his index finger, and the transparent little hand moved slowly along with the rotation of his finger.

That joy lasted less than fifteen minutes before the little hand withdrew back into the eye of the storm.

"Scholar, what is that?"

"Your talent is a newly born will. The Sword Dance Mandala has the effect of stimulating human potential. I have applied all that power to your soul, catalyzing the spirituality you have placed in your talent. Perhaps before long, it will give birth to a complete soul, just like your child."

"But this is only the first step, a kind of enlightenment. This catalytic process will continue for a long time, and it will be quite a long time before the implementation of the enactment method."

After saying that, the light of the magic circle dimmed, and the water returned to its original spherical shape, except that it looked a little darker, with black dust floating around it.

Shui Shui returned to Lyle's shoulder, but a large cloud of dust still hovered above the magic circle.

"Today it can only absorb this much; there's still an apple's worth left. The foundation needs to be strengthened little by little. Once it has absorbed everything, I will begin your bestowal ritual, and your talent will be completely renewed."

"Thank you, Mr. Scholar."

"You're welcome. This also confirms my guess. Do you know why your talent allows you to cast spells?"

"Because it's part of me?"

"Because it is your magic wand, you have attached your soul to it, making it like your limbs, and that is the source of its spirituality."

Chapter 91 Revelation

Is Water My Staff?

Isn't my staff Medusa? Thinking back to the details of the ritual, how I cleverly tried to fix things when things went wrong, and how I even used water as a ritual ingredient—that kind of petty cleverness might have caused all of this. Maybe the water became my second staff through that soul-binding ritual.

This is the only way to make some sense.

A sound came from the scholar's side. He put the black dust into an exquisite peach wood box, and with a snap of his fingers, the box was sucked into another dimension by a black dot in the air. It should be a kind of storage method, similar to the leather bag that the dragon gave him.

The chains came off him and went back into the cabinet, and the books on the table automatically turned to the page with the quill pen.

The candlelight was crumpled into a ball in the scholar's hand, hanging in front of him like a light bulb.

He stood in front of the desk and began to trace words on the books.

Perhaps it's time to leave, and return to the Gate of Bones with the slightly changed Shui Shui.

Mr. Dragon remained seated in his original position, but the agate crown in his hand had been transformed into an exquisite jeweled sword sheath. He was still in low spirits, but Lyle still inquired about his condition when he returned.

"Mr. Dragon, what is troubling you?"

"My application for the Dragon Priest position has been rejected again. The reason given is that I do not possess the Dragon Soul. But what exactly is the Dragon Soul? It's a state of mind. Why do Dragon Priests possess the Dragon Soul, while I don't?"

"Even if I imitated the habits of a dragon, sleeping on gold and playing with gems, I still couldn't explain it."

"Isn't 'Dragon Priest' just the title of 'Scholar'?"

“It’s not just a title, it used to be more than that; it was a symbol of status.”

"Perhaps this was the first time in the history of humankind that they realized they were human."

"At that time, humans were still mainly tribal groups based on matrilineal clans, and primitive rituals such as shamanism that worshipped powerful creatures were prevalent."

“There was a tribe that chose dragons as their faith. Fortunately, the dragons, who were the rulers of all living beings at the time, responded to them. They signed a special ceremony with the dragons to ensure that their tribe maintained a connection with the dragons. Their tribal leader, who was also the priest who presided over the ceremony, was the dragon priest.”

"Dragon priests throughout history would accompany a dragon, learning its wisdom and knowledge. Only after their death would the dragon choose a new successor to replace them."

"These dragon-worshipping tribes appeared among various intelligent creature groups, and with the knowledge they were taught, they quickly became the de facto rulers of the previous era, until the Age of Holy Light arrived."

"The dragons were all slaughtered, and the dragon allies of the dragon priests also died one after another. The dragon priests existed in name only, but they still exist now, in the form of a guild. Although the guild only has five members, five dragon priests, you can learn about the daily habits of the dragons and learn the language and knowledge of the dragons in the guild, provided that you are a dragon priest."

"According to the scholar, there are no more than nine dragon priests still alive, and the dragon followers do not seem to have any intention of expanding."

“If it weren’t the only way to obtain the existing knowledge of dragons, I wouldn’t have put up with that.”

Mr. Dragon, a dragon enthusiast, seems to have suffered quite a few setbacks here.

“The Soul of the Dragon, teacher, could this not be a state of mind, but a true mutation of the soul? Perhaps the soul of the Dragon Priest is indeed different from ours.”

“I have considered what you said, but studying the soul is to expose the ultimate privacy of a living being. Even if it is my old friend who has been a scholar for many years, I am not qualified to ask him to show me the whole soul. As for the other dragon priests, it is better to just kill them and seize their souls.”

"But the chances of a successful attack are extremely slim, as the five dragon priests of the Dragon Followers are all at the seventh level of the chain."

"Those who inherit the dragon's legacy are not so easy to kill."

The matter of becoming a dragon priest was left unresolved, Lyle left the Cup of Extravagance, while Mr. Dragon seemed to still be making some attempts.

The nights in Andrei are unchanging, with occasional cool breezes blowing into the dark and empty corridors, the sound like the wailing of vengeful ghosts.

Although Lyle had only entered the activity room of the Holy Light Omnipotent Order once, he could still easily find the location of the chapel.

Even someone who has never been there can recognize it at a glance.

As long as he is a little sensitive to the intensity of light at night.

Following the brightest part of the light, you will eventually see the enormous archway that gleams like a giant treasure chest being opened.

The long benches made of nanmu wood are evenly arranged on both sides, and the gold and red tapestries hang in front of the marble pillars. The solemn red carpet underfoot leads all the way to the podium at the front, and the angels on the colorful glass flower bed are still radiating their brilliance.

The figure kneeling before the podium was bathed in the light of angels, the gleaming white armor outlining a heroic yet gentle figure, like a white lotus flower.

The first Holy Light believer I saw was Sister Ariane, which was truly a lucky thing.

This means that Mr. Raymond was just not there, otherwise his light, like a bright light bulb, would have definitely filled the entire field of vision.

As he rose from his silver-white armor and turned to look back, Lyle was certain that he saw a graceful lady inside the slightly bulky knight's armor.

"Anle, Ms. Ariane."

“Peace and comfort, Plague Doctor,” she said, tilting her knight’s helmet, adorned with a bright white feather, at a charming angle to the left, “do you have any troubles you wish to tell me?”

“Yes, I think that should be considered a problem.” Lyle was led to sit beside Ariane, like a mother leading a lost child.

"Is Mr. Raymond not here?"

"His Majesty Raymond is not here most of the time; he prefers to connect with other clubs."

Well, he's off challenging other schools everywhere.

"But he will return soon; I told him you were coming..."

With a loud bang.

The door slammed against the wall. It turned out that this exaggerated way of opening the door was just a habit, not something Mr. Raymond did intentionally.

The difference is that their own gate is just about to collapse, while the gates of other clubs are completely separated from the walls, and they might even take an unlucky person with them in the process.

"Pandemic Doctor, have you finally realized your mistake, turned back to the fold, and been reborn in the Holy Light? Come, come, let's immediately perform the baptism ceremony. I can't wait to see you in your final moments."

Mr. Raymond strode over like a steamroller.

Lyle involuntarily took a small step back. "No, Mr. Raymond, I am not here to walk into the lion's den, but because I have some questions that you, who are well-versed in the Holy Light, need to answer. Besides, I have already locked it."

"Already locked up? You've only been studying magic for a short time, that's truly remarkable, a real talent. Come learn Holy Light, top-tier Holy Light mentors will provide professional guidance, guaranteed to teach you until you master it, becoming a new generation Holy Light leader and reaching the pinnacle of life is not a dream. Are you interested?"

If you hadn't added that purposeful praise later on, I might have actually been happier. Even the six-locked dragon said that one-lock is a bit weak. This monster in front of me, who seems to be ten-locked, is really shameless in order to recruit new people.

“It’s like this, Mr. Raymond, during my ascension to the first level, I experienced hallucinations, and these hallucinations originated from the Holy Light…”

Mr. Raymond's demeanor gradually became more solemn as Lyle described him.

“That was divine revelation, a healing of the plague, a revelation given to you by the Holy Light.”

Chapter Ninety-Two: The Sea of ​​Holy Light

"Revelation, or oracles, is a vision shown to a believer by the Holy Light. It can be a premonition or a virtual representation with underlying symbolism, just like the dreams we've experienced. These chosen believers naturally possess personal characteristics worthy of praise from the Holy Light. Of course, Mr. Plague Doctor, yours is quite evident, as you are a Pure One, essentially a child of the Holy Light. Revelation has a certain predictive function and carries warnings, but we believe it is more of a symbol of being recognized by the Holy Light. Fate is always unpredictable; rather than living in fear of the possible future, it's better to live in the present."

"What did you see in your revelation?"

"An ocean of liquid gold, each drop of which carried a reassuring holiness, and a strange black giant bathing in the liquid. Every glance I cast at Him filled me with dread."

"What is the sky like over that ocean?"

"I'm not sure? It seems to be a night sky with dazzling starlight?" Lyle searched his memory and recalled the starry sky that was completely covered by a golden ocean.

Mr. Raymond let out a hearty laugh, as if something was making him happy.

"What you see is the Sea of ​​Holy Light, the Plague Healer."

"The Sea of ​​Holy Light?"

"Before the Holy Light descended, humanity lived in famine, fear, and disaster, until the first human to embrace the Holy Light appeared, the first Pure One. The Holy Light fell from the sky like a shooting star. As the power of the Holy Light grew stronger, we, the servants of the Holy Light, also known as the Light Chasers by the mystics, were eager to know the origin of this divine gift."

"The first Radiant Pope gave us the answer. As his life was drawing to a close, he told us that above the blue sky, above the sun, lies an eternal starry sky. There, darkness is the end of everything; all light will be extinguished, and all life will wither. But there is a place in this darkness that forever shines its own light. Even in such darkness, its light is as faint as a candle flame, but that is the hope that illuminates our lives—that is the Sea of ​​Holy Light."

"A life spent following the Holy Light is a long journey of self-cultivation. As the years conceal your darkness and time washes away your superficiality, you will have nothing left but the wisdom accumulated throughout your life and the virtues you have upheld throughout your life. When the flame of a saint's life ends, his will will continue to burn in another form, and the Holy Light he has forged will merge into the distant sea of ​​Holy Light, becoming the kindling that ignites hope."

"The Sea of ​​Holy Light is an ocean formed from the will and virtue of saints. Before my eyes, the Pope has become light. That is the final destination for us light chasers, the most sublime spiritual pursuit. But not everyone is so lucky. Some people are trapped in their decaying bodies and have to wait for the priest's eulogy to release them."

“You don’t understand that joy. When I learned that you had seen the sea of ​​holy light in your revelation, Plague Healer, I was truly happy for you. Perhaps you will become a part of this glory.”

This was the first time Mr. Raymond had lost his composure in front of Lyle, but Lyle did indeed feel his fervor and joy. Perhaps every light seeker is this kind of stubborn, arrogant person who talks about justice all the time, but there is indeed a group of people who are persistent, who only have the goal in their eyes and take the redemption of mankind as their responsibility, and who are stubbornly lovable.

Lyle loathed the rules imposed upon him, but couldn't help but admire those who adhered to them.