The next day, at dawn.
Lu Li slowly woke up, washed with a basin of clear water fetched from Agate Lake, and proceeded to the school building as agreed.
In the Exorcist classroom, the apprentices and official exorcists sat at their desks as students.
Tesla, dressed in a slightly wrinkled tailcoat, was explaining, "The first lesson I’ve prepared is a question."
Tesla nodded as Lu Li arrived, signaling him to stand at the back with the stern-faced Hades.
Evil Spirit, Evil Entity, Strange Being, Evil God.
Tesla wrote down the old Four Major Systems on the blackboard, holding chalk, and turned to ask the students, "Which of the four do you think is the most powerful?"
The exorcists unhesitatingly ranked them, which Tesla wrote on the second line: Strange Being, Evil Entity, Evil Spirit, Evil God.
The shadow of the Evil Spirit had lood over humanity for too long, and the mighty powers of the Mother of the Marsh and the Twisted Shadow were witnessed by many.
"You are only half correct."
Tesla pinched the chalk with his fingers, picked up the eraser to erase the newly written order, leaving only the jumbled initial Four Major Systems, laying down the eraser, and connecting them: "Evil Spirits have killed Evil Gods, and have died at the hands of Strange Beings. Evil Gods have almost no natural enemies but were annihilated by Evil Entity rituals."
Tesla recounted their ancient stories: "The real weakness of Evil Spirits is their essence. In 1083 of the Arlen Kingdom, a lion dog kept by the royal court tossed out a piece of Naless Beast Tooth from the duke’s mansion’s back garden, which was the essence of the infamous Wicked Ghost’s Tooth from a generation’s childhood. When a maid heard the scream and rushed to the back garden, all she saw was the lion dog with a mouthful of blood, while the Naless Beast Tooth lay in a pool of blood... From then on, the Wicked Ghost’s Tooth never appeared again, and this matter was only discovered a few years later when the maid was caught stealing her master’s jewelry, found as a Wicked Ghost’s Tooth made into a decoration in her room."
The second story took place in the northern part of the Ailen Peninsula. There, in Arlenbeth County, a secret cult once operated, with their Evil God possessing a saint, but they were tragically annihilated in an attack by the Crowd of Suffering, and even their souls were extinguished.
This is sothing Hades would never teach them—after all, even he didn’t know this.
"Can you guess what I’m trying to convey?" Tesla asked the young exorcists after sharing the stories.
"The power ranking isn’t accurate," Langeler, as always, was quicker to speak than to think.
"A good analysis, anything else?"
Tesla looked at the others.
The one polluted by the Land of Vortex, Porter, raised an arm, and Tesla nodded for him to speak.
Porter spoke slowly and awkwardly, "Power is not a asure of life and death. Just like those examples you gave, Mr. Luli can kill an Evil God in human form, and so can we."
Clap clap—
Tesla gently applauded Porter approvingly, "Great answer, that’s exactly what I want to tell you... I’ve been reading about events outside these two days, such as the legendary Mr. Luli. His actions have long surpassed anyone before him, and there’s no fault in mythologizing Lu Li; people need hope. However, I hope you, all of you exorcists, don’t see Lu Li as an unattainable existence... but rather look at him as soone you can beco in the future."
"Currently, our world survives with about 200,000 people. In just thirty years, these humans will be completely replaced by another group. 99% of people will disappear into the crowd, including you and . Without Lu Li, you wouldn’t know , wouldn’t know Hades, and the Mother of the Marsh and the Twisted Shadow would just be distant terrifying Evil Gods, the Land of Light would no longer exist."
Tesla laid down the chalk and eraser, taking out a handkerchief to wipe away the adhering dust.
"And this is the first lesson I have prepared for you: our actions guide countless possibilities. As Mr. Porter said, if Lu Li can do it, so can you. I hope that in thirty years, you will beco part of the legend."
Ending the lecture, Tesla descended from the podium, eting with Lu Li and Hades.
The inspired exorcists bid them farewell and left the classroom.
"A perfect lesson," Lu Li comnted, for such insight was precisely what they lacked.
"I thought of it from the story of the Master of Dreams, so to receive your praise is no easy task." Tesla smiled warmly, "These children are all wonderful; they have a qualified teacher."
Hades snorted, not returning Tesla’s goodwill, especially as Lu Li handed a stack of brand new Shillings to Tesla, which rightfully belonged to him.
Before he went mad with jealousy and greed, Hades hurriedly left, and Tesla returned the Shillings to Lu Li with a smile, "There’s no need to pay ; helping exorcists return to the stage is my greatest reward."
"Shillings have no currency circulation in the Land of Light; you can consider it a collectible."
Lu Li did not take back the Shillings.
The Vena Underground City had long begun printing money extensively, reaping resources before the Shilling beca pure paper with ink, which also intensified the rate of inflation.
The ratio of Shillings to Strange Currency had gone from 300:1 to now 1200:1 in just two months, and it wouldn’t be long before it beca completely worthless.
Hades didn’t know about this yet, and Lu Li also planned to maintain it until the truth was revealed—after all, Strange Currency was scarce among humans.
"The Mother of the Marsh invites us back to Lake Heart Island for breakfast."
Lu Li and Tesla headed out of the school building, walking along the lake shore with greetings from the now-amiable residents and in the company of children’s playful chase, stepping onto a wooden bridge and assisting Tesla forward.
The Agate Lake shimred brilliantly in daylight, and Tesla, accustod to life in the Eternal Forest, was still not used to the bright environnt.
Walking to the last section of the wooden bridge, Lu Li saw splashes leap up, followed by a shadow diving back into the water.
What a surprise, there were actually seawater fish surviving in Agate Lake.
However, Lu Li couldn’t tell what kind of fish it was.
Returning to the round table set up in front of the wooden house, the Mother of the Marsh, Jimmy Siblings, Ophelia, Elena, and Nikola were all present.
The body of the Twisted Shadow remained at the bay transforming territory, only the consciousness was present here.
The breakfast conversation centered around the Land of Light, during which Lu Li asked rchant Anthony to bring so fluorescent plants to the Vena Underground City.
When discussing how to protect the Land of Light from strange invasions, Lu Li revealed his plans to leave again.
"Leave? Why?"
They expressed their surprise.
"We need more allies and must protect the Land of Light more swiftly," Lu Li answered.
Only Tesla knew the true reason.
"Are you still going to set out alone?" the Mother of the Marsh asked.
"Yes."
"Release your Speaker of the Trees."
The peculiar dreamscape spread as the Mother of the Marsh extended her gem-like arm, glowing with faint light, slowly but resolutely reaching into the dreamscape—pausing at Lu Li’s forehead.
"It can protect you from most damage below that of Alien Gods."
The Mother of the Marsh approved Lu Li’s venture.
His departure was quicker than anyone had imagined. The next morning, the Andrea, docked at the port, set sail once more, carrying Lu Li towards the Barren Lands.
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