Chapter 1064: Chapter 33: Seed Advancement
23:00
Children should not carry dazzling treasures through dark alleys filled with sewage.
Some professors, led by Hagrid, think so.
No matter if the child is the crown prince, the heir, the chosen one, or a noble person... regardless of his identity, no matter how the child uses wisdom to evade robbers, uses reason to defeat enemies, or uses status to repel villains—he cannot escape the fact that he is only a child.
He can succeed countless times, but only needs to fail once.
Yet, the crown prince must also brave thorns and endure tribulations to become a true king.
The remaining professors think so.
Lu Li did not achieve being a legendary Exorcist, but the legend made him an Exorcist.
The Exorcist announced his arrival at the end of the Weird Times and will make his way into the world during the Dark Era.
"...Your emotions seem like we’ll never see Lu Li again," Professor Rubacher said helplessly, looking at Hagrid, the instigator of the plan.
Just yesterday, Lu Li was promoted to the intermediate grade as a seed.
No one expected Lu Li to progress so quickly, just as no one expected the level 3 Mysticology trial to be as easy as cutting cheese with a hot knife for Lu Li.
Perhaps dealing with a strange incident for this legendary Exorcist
Professor Hagrid’s idea only delayed Lu Li for less than a week.
"Indeed. Outsiders can’t return to the Tree Crown Area, not even Mr. Luli," Professor Caesar sighed, realizing the goodbye was shorter than expected.
"Maybe in the... never mind." Professor Rubacher thought of the library, but professors never go there, and there’s no need to do so just for a chat.
"Hagrid, don’t be like..."
"Don’t whimper like a woman." Professor Mavin said disdainfully.
Professor Hagrid was actually sobbing. He worshipped Lu Li devoutly, like a believer, and didn’t want him to leave just like that.
Hagrid’s weeping made the scene look like an old father bidding farewell to his son, even though he was almost the same age as Lu Li—if one adds the time Lu Li was lost underground.
The farewell continued. The lower-grade professors offered gifts to this student with whom they had the shortest teaching time and the most noble status.
Professor Caesar gifted Lu Li a "forbidden book", the "Illustrated Guide to Evil Spirits", a set with the "Strange Community Atlas". As humanity grows, Lu Li will not take long to open these two sets of books.
Professor Rubacher’s gift was a Sequence Potion he personally brewed: 85% No. 299 Sequence Potion: Moment of Consciousness. It temporarily enhances brainpower, with side effects becoming more severe as the qualification rate increases.
Professor Mavin’s gift was a lock of hair. In unavoidable crises, light it, and some being will appear to help. Everyone knows Wild Lion Lei is Professor Mavin’s brother, only he thinks everyone doesn’t know.
"May the Noble Nameless Lady, who is lost in the river of time, walks in the world’s crevice, and sees through the truth of all things, bless you..." The Nameless Lady cupped Lu Li’s face with her hands, chanting mysteriously.
The old professor’s gift was also a sentence: he awaits the day Lu Li becomes the light piercing the primal darkness.
Professor Hagrid’s gift to Lu Li was a Fluorescent Hourglass: Because it can only be placed in residence, its commemorative use outweighs its practical use.
Lu Li summoned the merchant’s eyeballs as a return gift for each professor.
With the merchants reviving, their Inner World is gradually regaining vitality, allowing Lu Li to issue eyeballs, albeit limitedly and more extensively.
The merchants primarily assist Vena Ice-Free Port in allocating resources; before finding more merchants, Lu Li should not increase too many trading points.
"Are you ready to leave?"
The Gatekeeper’s cold low query echoed from the one carrying luggage, unclear if from their usual coldness or Lu Li’s excessive luggage.
"Have you found a suitable team?" the old professor asked Lu Li.
"There’s one."
Besides the excuse to retain Lu Li, the professors were not worried about whether Lu Li could find a team.
No team can resist Lu Li’s allure.
Prompted once more by the Gatekeeper, Lu Li bid farewell to the professors and left the Tree Crown Layer, where he had stayed for only half a month.
The radiant warmth faded as he moved away from the Tree Crown Layer, akin to falling into the abyss formed by the real world. The stripping of security left one bewildered.
The "Meaning" of Giant Tree Academy may have successfully been engraved at this moment, but thinking of the student who prayed to be brought back to the Tree Crown Area, not all students can wake from a beautiful dream.
Tree Trunk Layer.
Reaching the intermediate grade was like stepping into an ancient castle deep in a dark forest from a bright rural village.
Following the guide of the Gatekeeper, Lu Li headed to the dormitory of the Holy Light Squad.
[Midnight in the Intermediate Grade is Noon]
This circulated rule means that starting from the intermediate grade, time is reversed. All courses will begin at midnight, leaving the day free for various off-campus missions.
There weren’t many students in the corridor now, as it was "midnight snack" time, corresponding to lunch before time reversal.
As he approached the rest area, Lu Li encountered a familiar face.
"Mr. Luli...?"
Yege met Lu Li at the street corner, realizing the bookshelf was pushed and propped by the Gatekeeper: "You’re already in the intermediate grade?"
Lu Li nodded calmly: "Let’s go to your squad’s dormitory together."
"You mean..."
"Yes."
Bang!
Yege kicked open the lounge door.
The loud bang didn’t wake the man sleeping on the round table, and with no time to waste, Yege kicked the round table, the shock waking the man abruptly.
"Wake up, greet the new member!"
The familiar voice made the man lower his guard, stretching drunkenly: "A new member? I’m the captain, what new member needs me to greet... and why didn’t I know about a new member..."
"Lu Li!"
"Strange name. Never heard of... wait, who did you say?!"
No need for Yege to repeat. He already saw the slender figure with black hair and black eyes appearing at the door.
"Are you sure it’s here?" the Gatekeeper asked.
The Gatekeeper’s coldness was the same as usual, but the query sounded harsh to Yege, as if hinting at something, like "Do you want to reconsider".
The only thing that gave him some peace of mind was Lu Li’s calm nod.
...
In front of the cleaned round table were Yege, Captain Kiluat, and the vice-captain Margaret, who had rushed back from the dining hall upon hearing of Lu Li’s arrival.
"Mr. Luli, or rather... Your Excellency... Sir, may I touch you?" harboring a certain desire, Captain Kiluat tentatively asked, suddenly complaining to Margaret: "Did you secretly feed me another Dream Elixir while I was asleep!"
"The Dream Elixir is more valuable than you." Margaret, dressed in an Alchemist’s robe, said indifferently: "Also, please stop your embarrassing behavior."
"Embarrassing? This is Lu Li! The big figure from the legendary stories I heard growing up! Before this, my only connection to him was that we were both students of Giant Tree Academy. Now he suddenly says he’s joining my squad..."
Captain Kiluat was evidently a fervent admirer of Lu Li.