Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 225 - 212: Mystic Witch Soul Stone Troy

Becoming a ghost was a marvelous experience, floating in the air felt like parachuting with a pillow attached. Lyle experienced lightness and a warmth emerging from within, like merging into soft clouds. He felt at peace, as if there were no more worries in life, the bitterness and sorrow drifting away from him. Lyle comfortably closed his eyes.

Bzzt! Medusa, with a body glowing with soft light, burst into electricity, and bright yellow jumping sparks reached Lyle, causing his ghostly garment to twitch as if he were dancing the robot.

Lyle was nearly stupefied by the shock, the only sensation in his mind was the stinging pain, as if his head was full of thorns—ghosts probably have brains, right? Thanks to Medusa’s electric shock, his spirits were lifted considerably, and sleepiness had also vanished.

Medusa, still floating like a shiny scarf, however spoke in Lyle’s mind in a form of communication similar to telepathy.

"Resist the drowsiness, Lyle, if you fall asleep, your consciousness will disperse, and you’ll enter a state of brain death. This is also why Nia and I had to change our forms in the Spirit Realm, Lyle, you need to stay awake. The stings of jellyfish and the shocks of electric eels are quite effective."

"Is resisting drowsiness a basic characteristic of ghosts?" Otherwise, they would dissipate.

"Yes, it’s also why specters enjoy causing scares; they need stimulation to stay awake."

Lyle looked at the other apprentices floating nearby, "They don’t seem to have this trouble?"

"Are you expecting Liches to sleep? Liches are just a collection of obsessions, there’s no fundamental difference between them and ghosts."

"Alright, I guess I’ll just have to accept this ’special treatment.’"

"Yes, once every thirty minutes."

Mr. Surprise was the last to enter the Soul High Tower after soothing those apprentices who didn’t make it. The grand door to the Soul High Tower closed completely.

Mr. Surprise looked at the now ghostly apprentices, floating higher as he moved. The Soul High Tower seemed to come alive, with shadowy figures emerging one after another from the pale grey tower brick walls. They swirled around Mr. Surprise, their robes changing into the uniform of Soulology just like his, eventually forming a circle in the air, surrounding the new arrivals.

"Welcome, our new comrades, the Soul High Tower will be your home forever."

"The Soul High Tower is carved from Spirit Realm Crystals, and I think you might be unfamiliar with them. Thus perhaps you understand now, Spirit Realm Crystals are the main material for Soul Stones. If one day you grow tired of your forms, this will be your home, it’s beneficial for all souls."

"I’ll cut the chatter now, including myself, twelve mentors will choose suitable students based on our respective specializations. Trust our judgment."

The twelve spectral mentors began their selection in the air, gliding over each newcomer, their sleeves lightly caressing the heads of those they deemed fit, the chosen students uncontrollably following behind their mentors, like fish in a school.

The procession of school fish returned to their homes, and the main hall was instantly deserted.

Except for the four from the Necromancer Figure Club.

As Mr. Surprise was about to leave, he turned back, his face filled with concern as he looked at Lyle and the others.

"I’m sorry, sirs, it’s the first time it’s requested to instruct students, and we couldn’t refuse. It may be irresponsible to leave you with something that doesn’t even have teaching credentials... But, you might learn something from it. Kids, don’t worry, if you’re not satisfied with its lessons, I’ll take the time to teach you myself."

"Good luck, kids." Right before Mr. Surprise stepped into the next room, he paused for a moment. "Don’t anger it, kids."

With Mr. Surprise’s departure, only Lyle and the others remained in the main hall.

They looked at each other.

"How are you feeling?"

"Feels like we’re offerings to an irresistible demon."

"Don’t insult the demons, Demon Race are our clients now."

"So... meat slabs offered to dragons?"

"The dragon mentor will remember your request to perform. He’ll have you do the performance of being a meat slab’s previous stage."

"..."

Before Lyle could think of a new metaphor, a large door on the second floor banged open, the darkness behind it like a gaping mouth ready to swallow everyone.

"...What do you think that is?"

Medusa drifted to Lyle’s shoulder, watching the four who were conversing.

"Perhaps it’s an invitation."

"I’ve never received such an impolite invitation."

"Yes, but we are the guests."

"Medusa is right, if it can open the door, it can also throw us out of the tower. Let’s go, friends. Be it demons or dragons, we must face them."

Lyle led his companions into the darkness beyond the door.

The straight, dark corridor initially revealed no light, except for the brightness at the other end. As they progressed, points of light began to appear on the surrounding walls, accompanied by a growing sound.

"When the three stars of Andromeda light up the night sky, I was born at their conjunction."

"Immense power, endowed me with the halo of moonlight."

"Enchanting minds, controlling bodies, dominating souls."

"Proud kings will falter, withered crones will be coveted."

"My enemies shall wither in lament, my master shall forever be peerless and distinguished."

"Pick me up, I shall give you joy."

"Embrace me, I shall grant you dreams."

"Lift me up, I shall bestow upon you strength."

"I, the greatest masterpiece of this world."

"I, the lovable and considerate companion."

"I, the forbidden creation of Soulology."

"I, am the finest of Troy."

The voice crescendoed, and the low murmur transformed into a loud chant. Amidst the darkness, dazzling colors began to emerge, and a beautiful red cushion placed on a bronze pedestal in the middle of the path, with a crystal sphere at its very center casting fantastical hues.

"Troooy," the voice became a high-pitched tone as the central crystal vibrated.

Shiny approached Lyle.

"Would smashing that ball shut it up?"

The high-pitched voice stopped, and from within the crystal came an angry, pristine voice, a child’s voice, too immature to distinguish between male or female.

"Shiny, you are fantasizing about the intolerable, I demand that you immediately apologize to the mighty Troy, or the clever Troy will definitely not teach you any advanced knowledge of Soulology."

Silence fell around them.

Shiny walked up to the crystal ball and saw the excessively cute face of a child inside it.

"What did you say? You’re going to teach us Soulology?"

Troy hummed twice, the image in the crystal curling its lips high, "It is the mighty forbidden creation, the Mystic Witch Soul Stone Troy that shall educate you in the profoundest knowledge of Soulology! Bow and give thanks at once!"

Shiny didn’t bow or give thanks; he turned around to look at his companions.

"We smash it, then tell Mr. Astonished we didn’t find a tutor and ask him to teach us instead, how about that?"

"Agreed!" "Agreed!"

"Right! The majority agrees, so we don’t need to ask the boss’s opinion. Let’s get started."