Chapter 1022: Chapter 102: Bone Growth Chapter 1022: Chapter 102: Bone Growth Streamers of light danced and twisted.

As he touched the vortex, Fu Qian distinctly felt as if he was drifting through the gaps in space, entering a special dimension.

This world, though threaded with extraordinary powers, had seen few capable of achieving the effect of spatial traversal.

According to what Professor Shein had just said, the mouth of the bronze creature was the only way in and out.

In other words, this Forbidden Area should be impossible to find in the real world.

There was no doubt it was quite special and warranted a thorough exploration.

While contemplating, his senses had fully recovered, and Fu Qian found himself standing inside a cave. The material of the walls was exactly the same as the skin of the behemoth he had just encountered.

And there Professor Lisa was, standing not far ahead of him.

Fu Qian took a few steps forward, looking out of the cave, and saw in the distant fog, tiny lights similar to the vortex’s teal glow, spinning and twinkling.

“Thank you.”

Lisa glanced at him, her tone somewhat irritated.

“Why the thanks?”

“The display of chivalry from Professor Fu just now really made me feel genuinely respected.”

By the end of her sentence, it was clear Lisa was gnashing her teeth.

“That’s an overstatement, it’s just basic manners.”

Fu Qian replied politely without much thought.

At that moment, the teal brilliance behind them flashed and vanished, revealing that Cass had also arrived.

Seeing Fu Qian looking his way, the latter nodded slightly.

“It seems nothing out of the ordinary, the Divine Ashes Institute doesn’t appear to have left much trace.”

Lisa was also greeting Cass, sharing her findings.

“Not surprising, since they emphasize so-called ‘heart-to-heart communication.’ Shein wanting to follow us inside is just to reveal to us his explored so-called taboos.”

Cass let out a cold laugh.

“In their view, all that dwells here are elegant and noble spirits, far more precious than boring humans!”

“That bunch is a bit too obsessed!”

Lisa sighed.

“However, I think the way you opened the door just now clearly laid out Heaven’s Commencement Institute’s stance. Shein likely never dreamed the door could be opened like that.”

“As long as the concept of ‘existence’ remains, no matter what form it takes, there are many ways to communicate.”

Cass spoke with an unusually cold voice, pointing to Fu Qian beside him.

“Don’t believe me? Ask Professor Fu. I believe even if I hadn’t acted, he could have done the same.”

“Really?”

Initially resisting conversation with Fu Qian after being put down, Lisa couldn’t help but turn her gaze upon hearing Cass’s words.

“That’s true, it just needed to open its mouth, so why not just tear it open.”

Does divinity affect one’s personality, making them all so brutal?

Listening to what sounded like a casual but increasingly violent proposal left Lisa absolutely flabbergasted.

“Are you sure that would work? Then why didn’t you do it just now?”

“Why wouldn’t it work? Physical communication tends to be more efficient, as there’s no need to say anything. That creature would quickly realize it needed to choose between opening its mouth and dying.”

“And why didn’t I act? Fu Mou has always shown the older and the wise respect. The Dean had already taken action; how could I interrupt so impolitely?”

…

Faced with the moral paragon, Demigod Fu, Lisa fell silent for several seconds before finally taking a deep breath.

“Excuse me, but may I ask how you usually inculcate such a profound respect for others?”

“By insulting them, of course!”

Fu Qian said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Otherwise, how would I know so well how to show respect to people?”

…

“What’s the plan?”

Lisa decided she couldn’t afford to waste any more precious time and asked Cass directly.

“Seize the opportunity, enhance our studies, and maintain progress.”

The latter spoke with a solemn face.

Are these two really the bearers of the institute’s combat power? How has Heaven’s Commencement come to this?

Lisa felt a surge of energy within her, and a strong impulse to throw in the towel.

Fortunately, the two big shots did have some conscience. After Cass finished speaking, he set out first, and Demigod Fu followed closely without leaving her to lead the way.

“Professor Fu, what do you think?”

As the trio emerged from the cave, the view opened up dramatically.

In a vast domain, they could see intertwining gorges and even traces of buildings beneath the swirling fog.

Most astonishing of all was a deep pit at the center.

The pit was outrageously large, and even on its entire cross-section, one could spot dense networks of ravine-like structures that suggested the ground below was a three-dimensional framework.

Amidst the gorges and the fog, specks of aqua light swam around, spiraling upwards to form a gigantic sphere.

Upon closer observation, the true form of these glowing specks became discernible.

They were all sorts of white skeletons, shaped according to a unique rule, assembled into various creations.

The reason for saying assembled rather than connected is because visibly, most of these bones don’t even touch each other.

It seemed the flickering aqua lights were more the essence, the bones merely their armor.

These special creations varied; some had grown wings on their backs, some were long and slender, while others were simply lumps.

But regardless of their forms, they all shared a common feature–they floated about freely like jellyfish, more spectral than corporeal.

Their appearance was indeed compelling; no wonder they had conquered the hearts of those from Divine Ashes Institute.

What do you think?

Faced with Cass’s question, Fu Qian thought for a moment, then pointed at one of the entities.

“Looks like a maggot.”

…

Prepared for an irreverent answer, they never anticipated it would also come with disgust.

“A long strip is a maggot? Why couldn’t it be a snake?”

Lisa couldn’t help but retort immediately, even pointing to another creation emerging from the fog.

“The one before was a maggot, so does this one look like a fly?”

“Indeed it does.”

Fu Qian agreed with her after only a glance.

“Then our academic expedition might as well not come here; we could just go to a public toilet, right, old man?”

Speaking to Cass, she had even discarded the use of polite terms.

“Well said, I share the same view.”

Unexpectedly, he too looked unusually serious.

As Lisa stared in dismay, Cass squinted, scrutinizing the scene ahead.

“They are maggots on a corpse. I’ve believed so for many years, but no one took me seriously. Those from Divine Ashes Institute were even offended by it.”

You’re being serious…

Despite their status as intellectuals, their sarcasm had ignited, but realizing that these two might not be messing around, Lisa became instantly solemn.

“Does that mean this entire area might be a corpse? Is the monster at the entrance a gravekeeper? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated, what kind of being could have a corpse that produces such an effect?”

“That’s difficult to say.”

Fu Qian continued to gaze intently at the scene before them, shaking his head, then he glanced at Cass as if asking for his opinion.

“Perhaps a god?”