Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 611 - 564: Burial Ground

The place called home by the Giant Dragon, his Burial Ground, was a primordial jungle hidden deep in the mountains. As Lyle stepped onto the damp soil that would ooze water with each step, a thick and heavy grassy odor assaulted his nostrils. Nameless broad-leaved plants further condensed the moist air, their verdant leaves mottled with a waxy yellow hue, and the greasy substance oozing from the twists in the wood might be one of the culprits further muddying the air.

It was like a swamp here, a strange swamp where the trees only reached as high as one’s calves.

"Ancient ferns, large ancient ferns. These are living fossils, Lyle." Mr. Zhiyan extended his palm, fondly caressing the sticky resin on the surface of the trunks that piled up like insect egg sacs. Watching the snot-like substance stick to his hand, Mr. Zhiyan’s zeal dissipated, "They hold no value in carrying knowledge. But their presence still exhilarates me."

With a sob in her voice, Nia sat on Lyle’s shoulder, her tentacles struggling to dig out the sour resin in her mouth. Even Nia, who was usually so accepting, couldn’t stand the taste of these ancient plants. It seemed she would learn a lesson from this, and Lyle, amused, took out some Moonlight Fruits from his pocket and handed them to her. They were a specialty fruit of the Elf Race, endowed with cleansing magic.

The Dragon Priest, Giant Dragon, also laid down his leader’s burden here. Perhaps it was the feeling of returning home that made him feel relieved. He laughed heartily as he ruffled Nia’s head, picked up a bone, and stirred the resin scattered on the ground before placing it back on the tree.

"I’m not too fond of other plants, but the exception is these ancient ferns here. They have been preserved in this place since the moment I became a Lich. They are the signposts guiding me home. For this, I have specially commissioned the Weather Research Association to condense the moisture in this area. These ancient plants, they like moisture and shun the light."

Lyle surveyed the surroundings, deserted and barren. Through the shadows of the trees, he could only see distant cliff faces stretching into the clouds, like a green-blue canvas high above.

"So the Giant Dragon mentor wasn’t human in life?" Lyle kept up with the Giant Dragon’s pace, with Nia slumped over his head, needing a rub to get up. The shadow of a bad omen stretched out its dark claws, successfully tickling Nia into laughter.

"I indeed was a human in life, not some wild man who lived in solitude in the wilderness. I lived in a village but died here," the Giant Dragon continued forward without looking back, leaving behind a few simple words.

"Indeed, teacher, you have your own story..."

"Hmm, but if you’re expecting some tale of poignant departure, epic saga, or a valiant fate... my student, you might be disappointed." The Giant Dragon stopped his walk, picked up Mr. Zhiyan, who as someone weak in martial prowess failed to keep up with the two without help.

"My death was very ordinary, like a speck of dust," the Giant Dragon patted Lyle’s shoulder, "The rest I’ll tell you once we get home, I want to talk to you about it. For now, let’s press on, my student."

Your death, like dust, woke Andrey’s Giant Dragon, the chief professor of White Bone Spirit Summoning Studies, one of the Salvation Association’s harbingers of disaster.

The already imposing frame of Mr. Giant Dragon took on an air of nonchalant grace in Lyle’s eyes, just as he believed, outside of issues involving animal affection, Mr. Giant Dragon was truly a revered elder.

After a few dozen steps, the view suddenly opened up to a large clearing surrounded by ferns, with no plants above knee-height, and the ground solid and compact beneath their feet—an appropriate place to dwell, just overly spacious. The "home" of the Dragon Priest wasn’t much different from his room at the Cup of Luxury; in fact, that room was designed to mimic this very spot.

Piles of bones, some half-buried in the ground, others exposed on the surface. Some had already developed sentience and moved around just as they did in life. The aberrations created by the Giant Dragon weren’t many—he merely awakened them from the earth. Various natural creatures, in a bone-chilling terrible manner, formed the Giant Dragon’s home.

This was the Burial Ground, not just for the Giant Dragon, but for myriad beasts as well. It was the burial ground for countless spirits. Mr. Giant Dragon was the only human buried here, which shed some light on his peculiar love for animals.

"The power of the Skeleton Gate will disturb them, as they are as timid and fragile as they were in life. But I cannot disrupt the climate-controlling magical arrays set up throughout the jungle, so to get home, we have to walk a distance first."

"I understand your methods, Mentor," Lyle took a small step back, allowing the frolicking Skeletal Velociraptor to pass by him.

The Giant Dragon laughed as he turned his head and entrusted Mr. Zhiyan with the care of his little creatures, taking Lyle to the side, into a house piled with skeletons, a simple square box, its exterior mimicking a small wooden hut, but empty inside.

Mr. Giant Dragon sat with Lyle on the bony steps of the door frame, side by side, watching Mr. Zhiyan being chased by the skeletal beasts.

"Mr. Zhiyan is not skilled at dealing with them."

"Zhiyan excels at observing the human heart, which is also why he agreed to handle the skeletal creatures he’s not good at," said Mr. Giant Dragon, who seemed somewhat troubled—a conflict to his usual demeanor of managing the Manu clan—which made Lyle worry that he might have been influenced by Kolosis.

"Do you still remember our plan, Lyle, the Dragon Creation Project?"

"I do, sir. With my power combined with Zhiyan’s knowledge, we will turn you into a true Giant Dragon."

Mr. Giant Dragon clasped his hands together, "It is bound to be a very difficult plan, not just in terms of power, but also because of some of my inner conflicts..."

"I won’t regret the process of transforming into a Giant Dragon, but I’ve already foreseen that once I become a Giant Dragon, something will certainly be missing in my body."

"Lyle, I want to talk to you, if possible, I’d like to keep Mr. Giant Dragon’s ’humanity’ in your hands."

"Even the most ordinary of stories needs a listener, I mean, if you’re willing, my student. Can you remember me as I am now? No matter what I become later."

Lyle spread his hands, magical power drawing in the bone shards around him, forming them into a bone shard flower in his hands. This was the White Bone Spirit Summoning Studies that the Giant Dragon had taught him.

"Forgetting you would be a rather difficult process, sir. Every spell I cast is shadowed by your presence."

The Giant Dragon cradled his head, his body gently swaying back and forth.

"Well, at least I don’t have to worry about losing ’myself,’ but I still need to dig into the memories of my past life. Compared to all the experiences after my death, my life seems quite pure. Let me search in my soul; it’s quite an ancient thing."

At the edge of the horizon, the massive mountain walls guarded the Giant Dragon’s home. Lyle sat on the steps, his consciousness gradually sinking into the wilderness, accompanied by the sound of bone friction caused by the Giant Dragon’s swaying.

"I remember now, my life began in the home of a hunter."

"That’s somewhat ironic, looking at it now."