Actually, this was Annan’s first ti reaching the Bone-nurturing Ground with his own body.
In the "Thermal Illusion" nightmare, or rather "Gemini" nightmare, he had reached the vicinity of the Bone-nurturing Ground before.
Of course, at that ti, it wasn’t called the Bone-nurturing Ground.
Instead, it was respectfully referred to as the "Grey Tower".
It is worth noting that the word "grey" in the Elves’ language also ans reflection or shadow – the logic is quite straightforward. If black signifies "darkness," then grey, being "impure black," signifies a secondary level of "shadow."
Another na for the Grey Tower is the Tower of Reflection.
The so-called reflection must have an original form before being mirrored on the lake.
If we regard the ground as the lake surface, then the Grey Tower is the "Wizard’s Tower in the shadow".
The birth of the Underground City ca after the destruction of the Elven Empire, and even later than the era when the Wizard’s Towers fell to the earth. Initially, it was just a group of refugees living underground who could not possibly have a Wizard’s Tower of their own.
The Wizard’s Towers had already ford a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding society and resources.
Just as the Heath Tower of Black produces black and green fires which are related to the swamp they are in; the technology developed by Gemstone Island to cast spells with gems is also due to the fact that they are surrounded by gemstone mines.
And the ability of the Tower of Storms to mass-produce jade slips is because they have a "gigantic wind-powered lithography machine"; the Thousand-Faced Phantom Tower is even located directly above Miss Haoyun’s sanctuary.
As ti went by, although more and more people flooded into the Underground City... their social structure had already been established.
Since they did not reserve a special place for a Wizard’s Tower, nor did they plan to or have the ability to provide special resources for it, naturally, the Wizard’s Tower would not disrupt its existing social ties and risk offending the original region to move away.
By the sa token.
Apart from Wizards, the top perforrs of other professions really had no reason to enter the underground. They were not from here in the first place... Those who would enter the underground were usually the Winter Reversers or the crew of the treasure ship "Silver".
They all had one thing in common: they were failures from the world above. Those who choose to enter the underground are generally such people.
If they had a choice, who would want to leave their holand?
Even blessed by the two goddesses, where they wouldn’t starve to death, had places to live, and even had unique assets such as the subway technology that allowed them to travel through various countries... their "legacy" was still far from sufficient.
Under such circumstances, Professor Seti, a "surface dweller," was able to establish a school underground, and thus he naturally received everyone’s respect and praise.
Although Professor Seti, the Tower Master, was not as superior as the Tower Master in knowledge, ability, or even personal character, the people of the Underground City simply had no other choice... It was better to hype him a bit more so that they could enjoy themselves more when they went to school.
This is sowhat self-deception.
However, Professor Seti obviously did not indulge in such a false reputation.
Although he was honored as the "Tower Master of the Tower of Reflection"...
According to Annan’s understanding, he was actually performing a ritual – a dream-harvesting ritual.
He nurtured those young boys and girls with bright dreams.
He then gradually misled their outlook on life, leading them down the wrong path... but eventually, they beca happy due to the skills he taught them. Thus, they had to willingly give up their "childish and immature dreams."
Subsequently, these dreams were harvested and stored by Professor Seti.
One of the reasons he later transitioned into the holy relics industry was by sheer coincidence... it so happened that Professor Seti acquired the shattered "Bone of Fearlessness" and truly had the ability to repair it.
But the main reason... was that he no longer needed to "collect dreams".
It was also for this reason that Neve was spared from disaster.
It was not because Professor Seti was particularly rciful or had any use for her.
It was simply no longer necessary.
When Professor Seti renad the Grey Tower to the Bone-nurturing Ground, it was actually to avoid attention – he was worried that continuing to use the na "Tower of Reflection" might make the Wizard’s Towers above feel anxious and puzzled, prompting them to send soone down to investigate.
If that happened, his plan could be exposed.
Therefore, once Professor Seti’s objective was accomplished, he imdiately removed the na "Grey Tower" and renad it to the Bone-nurturing Ground. This was solely to avoid unwanted attention.
Though the na had changed, the architecture remained unaltered.
After Annan and his companions teleported over, they looked up to see a towering grey high-rise.
It was indeed a physically true "Tower of Heaven".
This tower connects from the "ground" all the way up to the "sky"—that is, the layer of light wall. And the very top of it doesn’t taper off or vanish but is instead buried within the layer of light ants. From the outside, it looks like a section is hidden above the firmant.
It was while Annan and his four companions were scrutinizing this tall tower from the outside.
The door of the tower, however, suddenly opened on its own.
A person sowhat familiar to Annan was waiting at the doorway.
That person had ssy grey hair that draped over the shoulders. It looked as if it hadn’t been combed after waking up, yet it wasn’t greasy or dirty.
He was draped in a purple toga robe, and his dark grey pupils were like stagnant rcury.
His feet donned grey cloth shoes, and from his left shoulder to his right waist, he was casually draped with a dark grey sash. His face was beaming with a radiant smile... one could sll the faint aroma of alcohol emanating from him upon stepping closer.
Without a doubt, this was Professor Grey.
He appeared very friendly.
Annan’s pupils suddenly shrank!
Because Annan had seen Professor Grey from decades ago in a nightmare.
And now... he looked exactly the sa!
Not just simply that the clothing, the style hadn’t changed; nor was it rely that over fifty years had passed without him aging a bit.
It was the color of his attire, the angle at which the sash was worn, the smile on his face, and even the strength of the alcohol scent on him... All were exactly the sa as in that nightmare!
Similarities, or even complete differences, Annan could have understood. But identical was a bit terrifying.
——fortunately, Annan was now a gold rank Transcendent. His mory had also been greatly enhanced.
After a careful recollection, Annan realized an even more critical detail:
That was Professor Grey’s hairstyle.
If every other part was identical, one can say it was deliberately maintained.
But his ssy hair, which itself was quite disheveled and clearly had no gel in it, was also exactly the sa as back then!
"...Is that Professor Grey?"
Annan fell silent for a mont, then subtly inquired to Naifertali who was beside him.
Naifertali nodded emphatically: "Yes... What about him?"
She was very smart and quickly picked up on Annan’s hesitation.
"Nothing. Has he always dressed like this?"
"Yes," Naifertali asserted, "Teacher has never changed. And even the strength of the alcohol sll on him has neither intensified nor weakened. We all say that the teacher is a traveler who wanders through ti, which is why he wears such old-fashioned clothes."
Indeed, that was the case.
This was an elven era—or at least, late elven era clothing style.
It is possible for Professor Grey to have survived from Philip’s era...
Upon Annan’s arrival, Professor Grey walked up with a smile.
From his mouth, a tempting fragrance of alcohol wafted out.
But this ti, Annan no longer felt dizzy.
"—I was saying, I felt the thread was touched. It turns out to be distinguished guests arriving..."
Professor Grey, like a drunken old man, revealed an utterly heartfelt, joyous smile to everyone.
Like an exaggerated actor, he pressed the middle and ring fingers of his right hand against his chest, leaning his body slightly forward: "Charioteer... Your Majesty. Greetings to you."
The others didn’t notice anything, but Annan’s brows were already furrowed.
Because this greeting from Professor Grey...
Was exactly the sa as the greeting he had given to "Annan" in that nightmare, not a single word different!
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