It is said that the Andrei Academy had a new research report, "A Hypothesis on the Fifty-Two Potential Uses of That Thing." However, due to a lack of experimental materials, these possibilities remained unproven and the matter was dropped.

But none of this had anything to do with Mr. Lyle. Research on the hunger for fleshly bodies had reached a conclusion, and the experiment had progressed to another stage, shaping the sense of taste and the soul feedback for the user himself.

This was a project that the scholars and mentors had agreed to assist with.

Thus, at Mr. Scholar’s invitation, Lyle once again arrived at the Dragon Priest’s chamber located underneath the City of Wandering. There, Mr. Scholar and another person were waiting for Lyle.

"This is the Emerald Dragon Priest, Irason, a Dragon Priest of the Dream Elves, my sister," Mr. Scholar introduced the energetic Dragon Priest to Lyle, who had been waving at him since his arrival.

"This is one of my students at Andrei..."

"I know, Mr. Lyle Butler. You’re the human undercover agent that Morocoy Brother arranged at Andrei," Irason quickly grasped Lyle’s outstretched hand and gave it a vigorous shake.

What? Am I an undercover agent?

Mr. Scholar sighed, his expression bearing a striking eight-part resemblance to the Withering Druid Heinz.

"Irason, I hope that while you’re receiving intelligence, you don’t mix in your fabricated delusions. Distinguish between fact and speculation," he said.

Irason, holding a blooming staff, tapped her head lightly, "Did I get it wrong again? Sorry." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Lyle looked at this Dragon Priest who seemed so unreliable compared to the scholarly mentor.

"Don’t judge Irason by her appearance. She is actually a master Dreamwalker, manipulating dreams, altering memories, and warping spirits," Mr. Scholar explained.

"Dreamwalker?"

"A kind of spiritual trait. Dreamwalkers are naturally able to manipulate their own dreams. Their talents in soul and spirit are superior to ordinary people. They can alter memories, manipulate illusions, and even change others’ initial impressions of them. As such, the talents awakened in these Dreamwalkers are mostly related to these abilities."

A new kind of talent that sounded like masters of psychological manipulation, hypnosis probably being their specialty.

"Irason indeed possesses extraordinary talents but," Mr. Scholar looked regretfully at the self-satisfied Dragon Priest sister during his introduction, "the first target of her mental interference after her ability awoke was herself, and she meddled about in her own dreams. Even now, her dreams are distorted and chaotic."

Ah, so I drove myself mad?

"Morocoy Brother! I can hear you!" Irason protested, thumping Mr. Scholar’s back in discontent.

"That’s exactly what I’m hoping for. After all, only you can cure your own deficiencies. Perhaps, Irason, you could still shake off the state of mental incapacitation and become a diligent Dragon Priest," he replied.

"That’s not a deficiency! Ma, constrained by reality, the likes of you could never understand me. Regardless, I won’t change," Irason said with a look of being the only sober one amidst the drunken crowd, turning her head away.

"Alright, let’s get back to the main topic," Mr. Scholar said, turning his head to look at Lyle, whose crown above his head shone brightly in the darkness, a bit dazzling to the eyes.

"Regarding shaping the excitement that arises after sensing the stimulation from tasting food. For you, Lyle, this is a complex life process. Creating such a process is very difficult," he said.

Mr. Scholar looked at Irason, "However, creating a substitute that produces the same effect, without being limited by one’s own body, is relatively easy work for a Dreamwalker."

"So, let’s dive into the dream quickly," the Emerald Dragon Priest Irason took out an olive-green, palm-sized sphere. The flowing patterns on the stone surface could make one dizzy just by looking at it.

"This is an Immersive Stone, a tool to enter deep into dreams. I made it, pretty impressive, right?" Irason boasted while showing it off.

"Irason, give the stone to Lyle. The task of collecting taste emotions is his to handle next," Mr. Scholar directed.

"Alright," the Green Dragon Priest said reluctantly as he handed the stone to Lyle, "This is a device that affects dreams, capable of giving you the ability to disrupt dreams similar to a Dreamwalker."

"But do not attempt to use it to control a Dreamwalker’s dream, trying to overshadow the host is itself an act against the rules of dreams, and if you are caught, you will be severely punished."

Irason manipulated a small speck of light from the Immersive Stone with his magic power, "Place this on the forehead of a deeply sleeping person, and you can infiltrate their dreams."

Lyle nodded; he had already grasped the general process.

"So, you want to enter my dream?" Irason’s words carried a hint of anticipation.

Then he was interrupted by Mr. Scholar’s icy tone, "No, entering dreams is tantamount to spying on someone’s secrets, although Irason has no secrets to speak of, but remember what I said? His dreams are chaos that ordinary people can hardly bear."

"So, better enter my dream instead." Mr. Scholar waved his bony fingers, and the swirling magic power lifted the three of them, floating in midair.

Lyle felt the comfort of weightlessness as he looked at Mr. Scholar’s blue-green mask.

"But sir, aren’t you a Lich? Do Liches need sleep? Do Liches even have dreams?"

"Yes, those who have died also have the dreams of the dead. It’s a replay of the past that cannot be modified, nor recalled, existing in our hollow memories."

"My dreams are dead; they are very stable, hence suitable for beginners to acclimate to."

Preparations complete, Lyle touched the light speck to the foreheads of Nia, Mr. Scholar, and the Green Dragon Priest, gradually sinking into sleep.

Darkness.

Chill.

But the air was thick with magic power, so dense that every cell seemed to celebrate.

A tall figure emerged from the darkness, clad in a dark purple grand wizard’s robe. Beneath the hood was a deep, mature face, with golden sideburns vying for brilliance on his cheeks, yet all was overpowered by the semblance of solidity between his brows. A man with the air of a profound scholar, those bright, star-like eyes also held a monarch’s pride.

With every step he took, storms of magic power raged around him, making Lyle, standing close by, feel as if magic was squeezing his throat, forcing him to bend over to breathe.

A pair of cold hands lightly patted Lyle’s back, Mr. Scholar’s mask glowing faintly.

The magic power affecting Lyle dissipated.

Lyle watched as the man, like a sovereign of magic power, stood at the center of the Dragon Priest’s ritual altar, placing the ancient blue-green mask on his face.

"Mr. Scholar, is that... the former you?"

"The younger me who didn’t know restraint. Now it seems so ludicrous." Unlike the expectant Green Dragon Priest, Mr. Scholar showed no interest in his own memory. "There’s nothing worth seeing; let’s find a secluded corner to start the experiment."

"Master, may I watch to the end? I’m curious as to what your dead dream is like."

"...Then let’s continue after you’ve seen it."

"There’s nothing worth seeing."

"I’m recording the moment we became remnants of a bygone era together with the dragons."