Chapter 1161: Chapter 1: Land of Obsession (Part 1)
Death is not unavoidable; those engraved in history are merely in eternal sleep.
— Lu Li
1. Academy
There are some people you never forget from the first glance.
Lu Li is such a person. From the Ailen Peninsula to the Main Affinity Continent and then to the Barren Lands, you won’t find the same black hair and black eyes again—it’s said that everyone who sees him gets lost in those eyes, unable to resist the fatal attraction—everyone who sees him can’t help but wonder: if there were a human deity, it should look like Lu Li—this is not flattery because—everyone loves Lu Li.
The unusually long winter was still raging across the northern Main Affinity Continent. People hid underground, shivering and babbling in the dim, cold, snowy nights. At this time, Lu Li had just landed in the Barren Lands. The Spine of the World Mountains, shrouded in fog all year round, blocked the biting cold winds from the Northern Unknown Lands. In the not-so-cold weather, Lu Li headed to Midnight City—of course, now known as Midnight City’s Giant Tree Academy for further studies.
Let’s recount Lu Li’s titles at this moment: The legendary Exorcist; the last Exorcist; the Lord of the Land of Light; and the truly titled Cursed Titles: Beacon; Bloodstained; Speaker of the Trees; Dreamwalker; Scholar of Knowledge. If you’re puzzled by the additional Cursed Titles, the answer will be revealed at the end of the story.
The body of Themis after death stood tall at the center of the dark land, respected by people as the World Tree, where Giant Tree Academy nested like sparrows building nests. After the Dark Era, Giant Tree Academy moved away from the surface with Midnight City, transforming from sparrows to parasites.
Vice Dean Professor Chris received Lu Li. Though we can’t comprehend it, the well-known Lu Li had to become a student to gain knowledge from Giant Tree Academy, as they were deceiving Lu Li’s kindness. Subsequently, becoming a first-year student, Lu Li indicated that they succeeded.
Lu Li’s dorm was a spacious room located at the edge of the canopy layer, with a warm fireplace and empty bookshelves making his upcoming student life much more comfortable. One wall of the room had a window; at noon, opening the wooden window, one could see the tip of the Alchemical Tower sparkling like a star. At the brightest noon, the dark silhouette of Midnight City could be overlooked.
After spending a night in the best dorm Giant Tree Academy could offer, the next morning, Lu Li appeared in every class like a student. This situation continued for a few days and later changed with the new students’ altered courses. Mysticology, Alchemy, such knowledge appealed more to this Exorcist because his purpose for further study was related to this. His study progress amazed all the professors. Normally, the knowledge that students take ten months or longer to master took him only a few days, as if some terrifying invisible monster was chasing him from behind.
Lu Li wasn’t what we understand, a bookworm in the old system who did nothing but read. He still had normal social interactions, such as corresponding with distant friends and even making a few friends. One was a lady from a Bloodline Family, another was a child from a slum, and also Professor Hagrid from Mysticology.
A few days later, Lu Li, who had completed most students’ six-month course, went to the library. A middle-grade student foresaw his arrival and hoped to trade: exchanging knowledge Lu Li needed in return for joining their team after promotion to middle grade. Lu Li didn’t consider it long because that Bloodline Family’s Fudote followed secretly and told him she could help find that book.
After dinner in the evening, Lu Li prepared to attend the appointment at Vice Dean Chris’s office. However, the rule prohibiting first-year students from leaving the canopy layer was strictly enforced by the Gatekeepers, even for the legendary Exorcist. Lu Li had to use a method to get past those Gatekeepers—he turned into a black cat with a long tail, like a witch’s pet in fairy tales, just not as evil.
Upon reaching Vice Dean Chris’s office, Lu Li asked some questions related to curses and met her daughter Claire, returned to human form, and inadvertently discovered the black bug left on him by Fudote—even though it was without malice. But the next day, Fudote apologized for the side effects caused by Lu Li turning into a cat, became cold, and soon found the book Lu Li needed.
This autobiography titled “The Story of Cory Lavalle” recorded the story of the first human Curse Title Master, Cory Lavalle. Although he was not as well-known as Lu Li, many in the Barren Lands knew him; however, his fate was the same as all Curse Title Masters: he disappeared as his fuel ran dry—
“Human nature,”—Lu Li called this fuel, clearly aware of what it was. When master of human nature, possessing human nature, Lu Li found the professors and informed them of the truth, they excitedly and nervously hoped Lu Li could verify it. It wasn’t too difficult, and Giant Tree Academy soon brought a dying Curse Title Master. This crazy man named Cain was disdainful as if treating all previous failed attempts, until the fuel called “human nature” poured into his nearing-the-end body like irrigating a barren field.
Lu Li’s understanding of human nature was real—the professors, besides being excited, warned Lu Li to keep it secret. But he didn’t do that, just like the maxim of Giant Tree Academy: don’t hide talent. Don’t hide the talent that can save others. Don’t hide the talent that can save others in the world’s impending doom.
Vice Dean Chris recommended to him a scholar who could help analyze the power of human nature, the scientist Sterling—a term unfamiliar to people. But twenty years ago, everyone knew the smoke-billowing chimneys, the metal machines running with a hum, the iron ships sailing the seas were built by these scientists. We no longer needed these, and the past riches had long gone unnoticed.
Sterling helped Lu Li refine and supplement the human nature theory, regrettably—he committed suicide a few days later due to hallucinations caused by low Sanity Value. Lu Li noted he had to temporarily return to his initial purpose of coming to Giant Tree Academy: to learn. And two weeks after he arrived at Giant Tree Academy, the New Year came.
On this day, Lu Li received many gifts from people and also gave gifts to many: Ophelia’s gift was a piece of natural lava, the return gift was a hollow gold-thread evening gown and workwear; Puxiu’s gift was his diary, the return gift was many, many books; Hades’s gift was a piece of rock, the return gift was 100 one-shilling coins; the Devil’s Daughter’s gift was a piece of good news, the return gift was a black tailcoat; Fudote’s gift was the book Lu Li needed, the return gift was a book titled “Tracking and Anti-Tracking Techniques”; Dog Meat’s gift was a blessing, the return gift was a box of canned food; and to those known and unknown, Lu Li spent the entire New Year’s afternoon opening and giving gifts.
Anyway, regardless of the time, the rare peaceful calm descended upon this great tree.