Majestic red-brick buildings stood tall and solemn, engraved with the wisdom and engineering secrets inherited from the history of the School of Sages.
Two figures traced the deep veins of the academy grounds, walking along an increasingly familiar path.
The brook along the road was like a ribbon of flowing amber, rippling lightly over pebbles with a pleasant murmur. Reflected in the water were trees awakened by the morning light, their verdant boughs swaying gracefully over the crystal-clear surface, whispering tranquility.
At first, Noe had found the academy an intricate maze, winding around without ever finding where he wanted to go. But under the guidance of Luvishir, who knew the school inside and out, he found himself swiftly passing several major landmarks. They would surely reach Jera Memorial Square in no time.
"To be honest, I'm quite a failure as a father and educator," Noe sighed in self-reproach. "I focused so much on the chamber of commerce that I neglected him, leaving him to grow wild. Without me realizing it, every time I see him, he turns into someone I barely recognize."
He had never imagined Lanqi could be so capable.
A pampered young master who seemingly squandered his days doing nothing,
yet actually possessed so many talents and put in efforts that no one else had noticed.
Perhaps it was all because he met Miss Tata.
According to Hans the butler and Francine the maid, that night a drunken Lanqi had brought back a pigeon, and had seemingly blundered into a temple of the Goddess of Fate on the way.
From then on...
When Lanqi woke up the next morning, he had turned over a new leaf.
Perhaps the boy had fallen in love, crossing paths with a mysterious, beautiful woman, and realized he needed to better himself to win her favor.
Although Noe had only stayed in South Vantina for a few days during his last visit home and hadn't been able to meet the Miss Tata mentioned by the butler and maid, if he ever had the chance to meet her in the future, he would definitely thank her properly for looking after his foolish son—and find a way to play matchmaker for the silly boy and the young lady who had captured his heart.
Too bad she was a bit older—likely several years older than Lanqi.
Still, if Lanqi liked her, Noe wouldn't object.
"You haven't seen him in nearly half a year. Have you thought about what kind of person he might have become this time?" Luvishir asked, taking notes with a pen in her small notebook as she interviewed Noe.
Noe lifted his gaze slightly toward the distance. Across the water, fields of flowers bloomed like fire—a corner of the systematic botanical garden carefully tended by the School of Alchemy, and fertile ground for bioengineering education and research.
"If I had to guess, he must have realized that a man needs to work hard and build a career to be worthy of the gentlest woman he longs to see. If that boy's academic performance could just be a little better, I'd have nothing left to worry about." Noe chuckled.
At the School of Sages, where the primary focus was practical magic, Noe was still quite worried about Lanqi's campus life.
He knew Lanqi's mana aptitude. When he previously had Francine, the battle maid at home who was skilled in magic, teach him, Lanqi had been utterly hopeless; after studying for an entire month, he still couldn't cast a Tier 1 Fireball spell.
As Francine had tactfully put it, even if Lanqi did manage to learn Fireball, with his mana potency, it would only be good for lighting cigarettes.
"You can rest assured," Luvishir nodded with utter confidence.
She decided it was best to let Lanqi show his father his academic achievements in person, so as to deliver the most shocking impact.
"Do you have any other wishes?" Luvishir asked warmly.
Noe thought for a moment.
"Our family has always been devoted believers of the Goddess of Fate, yet Lanqi has never believed in the gods since childhood... I once wished so dearly that he could work in a church and get along harmoniously with the clergy. What a peaceful picture that would be."
The father spoke as if offering a prayer to the Goddess.
"Then you're in for a treat today," Luvishir said with a smile.
Passing through the tree-shaded path, they arrived near Jera Memorial Square.
The clock face hanging high on the tower pointed leisurely to nine-thirty. The giant outdoor screen framed by numerous academic buildings was broadcasting footage of today's Shadow World challenge to all of Ikerite Academy.
This weekend, the academy was more vibrant than ever.
An enthusiastic clamor surged like waves across the broad stone-stepped plaza. The seating along the steps was packed with students, as were the surrounding paths. Passersby seemed drawn by this magnetic pull, stopping in their tracks one after another, their eyes glued to the colossal screen.
The outdoor screen had already switched to a close-up of the Shadow World Lanqi was in.
It was still the foundation-level chapel of Lichtenstein Castle.
Under the stained-glass dome reaching all the way to the top of the castle, the morning sun was picturesque. A thin veil of golden light cascaded down onto the marble floor, illuminating the resplendent dark-stone carved walls.
A massive pipe organ, nearly five stories tall, occupied the entire back wall. Straight, towering pipes intertwined with elegant curves, bathed in golden light yet grounded in muted wood tones; their tiers and layout exuded an indescribable aura of sacred solemnity.
As this light danced through the chapel air, it limned Lanqi's figure into a bright silhouette.
Even though Lanqi simply stood on the stage, smiling into the camera, a wordless hymn seemed to guide people out of the mist and toward the shores of truth.
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work."
At last, Lanqi's voice rang out, addressing everyone before the screen.
Today, he was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, looking as if he were hosting a product launch.
"Today, we are going to make history together."
Meanwhile, wheeled out by three clergymen was a square wooden coffin two meters long and two meters wide, featuring a brown oak exterior with an iron core.
It came to rest in the center of the chapel. Adorned with delicate carvings and painted motifs, it gave off the artistic aura of a mystical land. Deities and various symbolic patterns were depicted across the wood in deep hues, yet the lines remained crisp and distinct, showcasing the master craftsman's exquisite artistry.
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works," Lanqi continued in a steady, composed tone.
The scene cut.
With the clergymen assisting in the demonstration, the camera slowly focused on the coffins placed in the church—
There were two coffins, set side by side right next to each other.
However, between the two coffins, there was only a single shared sliding coffin lid.
The vampires lying inside had been turned into mummies and completely immobilized, unable to move so much as a finger, with only a straw inserted into each of their mouths.
"Your flesh may turn to dust, but your spirit will never perish. Just as the pyramids stand forever beneath the blazing sun, your presence will remain eternally etched in our memories. I pray that your soul shines forever under the blessing of the Sun God."
First, following a prayer by the Priest, he slid the lid over the left coffin, shielding Viscount Augustine.
Count Palocas in the right coffin was thereby exposed to the blazing sun streaming through the stained-glass dome.
At this point, the mummified Pharaoh Palocas on the right began blowing desperately into his straw.
Driven by the pneumatic mechanism built into the coffin, the lid gradually slid over to the right.
Once the right coffin was covered, the air channel connected to the right straw was simultaneously blocked.
Meanwhile, the undead Zombie Augustine lying in the left coffin found his entire body exposed to the sun now that the lid had slid away. Thrashing in agony, he immediately blew into his straw as hard as he could, trying his best to shift the coffin lid back to his side.
And so the lid slid back to the left.
At that point, the left air channel was blocked, the right air channel unlocked, and Palocas beneath the right lid could blow again to push the lid back to the right.
As sunlight poured over the two ancient wooden coffins, the light seemed to breathe new life into them. Streams of golden luster danced across the wood, breaking through the somber base colors and bringing the painted motifs brilliantly to life—while the silence of the chapel was broken by faint, agonizing shrieks.
Viscount Augustine and Count Palocas, reduced to a zombie and a mummy, lay side by side in the coffins, endlessly taking turns fighting over the coffin lid.
"Only when the lid has completely sealed one side will the air channel on the other side open, allowing the lid to move once again."
On screen, Lanqi smiled and spread his hands as he introduced this dark duel.
"This is the Solar-Powered Boundless Merit Machine developed by our company. By capturing just two members of the Blood Clan, you can have them continuously help each other by passing the sunlight back and forth. The operator accumulates merit while generating all-natural, clean energy—protecting the environment and combating global warming."
...
At Ikerite Academy, across Jera Memorial Square.
The silence was terrifying.
For this era, Lanqi's design philosophy was simply far too ahead of its time.
Chapter 168