The Temple of Knowledge

As the gray and white writing disappeared from Lu Yuan's sight, Lu Yuan felt a crisp sound coming from deep within his brain, as if some kind of restriction had been broken.

The familiar feeling of the words being distorted and rearranged in my vision did not disappear as usual; instead, it became even more intense.

The words in his field of vision began to surge out wildly. They were no longer confined to the book, but climbed up Lu Yuan's arm like black vines, instantly engulfing him.

"Um?"

The book spirit "Ink," suspended atop the bookshelf, suddenly raised its head, its dark, beady eyes revealing surprise and...killing intent for the first time.

"This smell..."

It stared intently at Lu Yuan, who was encased in a cocoon of black text. Its newspaper wings spread out fully, and countless dense runes lit up on its pale yellow skin.

"If you are consumed by knowledge, I will make you suffer a terrible death."

...

Lu Yuan was unaware of the situation outside.

He felt himself falling.

It passed through countless layers of clouds made up of words, symbols, and murmurs, and finally landed on a desolate land.

There is no sky here, only a chaotic gray fog.

Lu Yuan stood up and looked around.

What meets the eye is a vast, boundless wasteland, dotted with a few buildings of distinct styles.

Each building exudes a distinct aura; they are tangible halls that belong exclusively to the [knowledge pathway].

"Is this what they call the 'path to the extraordinary'?"

Lu Yuan remained rational and did not act rashly.

He remembered that Morgan Sr. said that everyone sees their own "path" when they embark on the path of knowledge.

He looked to his left.

It was a twisted tower made of interwoven black and blue colors.

The tower was wet, as if it had just emerged from the deep sea.

Through the windows of the tower, Lu Yuan could vaguely see an endless deep sea, and in that deep darkness, countless figures swam through it. In the even darker depths, an indescribably huge shadow vaguely emerged.

Even just a glance at that shadow made Lu Yuan feel an overwhelming sense of suffocation.

[Deep-sea scholars: Exploring the ancient secrets beneath the boundless deep sea, but how deep can tiny humans truly dive?]

The grayish-white message was brief and indifferent.

Lu Yuan shifted his gaze to his right.

It was a red castle that seemed to be built from blood.

The castle walls are covered with countless branches, like veins, undulating silently, from which a viscous red liquid constantly seeps out.

Inside the castle, Lu Yuan saw a kingdom filled with slaughter and bloodshed, where countless withered creatures fought in the darkness, the dead merging into pools of blood, and the living continuing to wail.

[The Flesh and Blood Scholar: You are about to embark on a journey to understand life, but how far can you go amidst endless bloodshed and screams?]

Further away, there is a ruin entwined with green vines.

The vines were covered with the faces of people in agony, and their roots twisted and wriggled in the soil, guarding a giant black tree that pierced the sky at the center.

【Scholar of the Forest...】

Lu Yuan walked across this wasteland, passing one building after another that represented different areas of specialization.

They are all calling for him.

The whispers of the deep sea, the allure of flesh and blood, the murmurs of the forest... every sound promises immense power.

Others who step into this hall may get lost among these choices.

But Lu Yuan did not.

He walked past those magnificent halls expressionlessly, his eyes eerily clear.

"Too narrow-minded."

Lu Yuan commented in his mind.

"If you choose the deep sea, you can only understand the deep sea; if you choose flesh and blood, you can only study life. The path is too narrow, and that's not what I want."

They possess an [experience bar] and the "translation" ability that can analyze everything.

One's path should not be confined to a narrow field.

Lu Yuan continued walking forward until he reached the very center of this wasteland.

There is only one lonely building here.

It was a tall, black tower with a pointed top and a circular center, devoid of any decoration or alluring aura, exuding only an unchanging, timeless solitude.

The tower gate was ajar.

Lu Yuan pushed open the door and entered.

The hall was empty except for countless blank books floating in the air.

At the far end of the hall stood a battered figure.

The shadow stood still, flickering in and out of focus, as if it might vanish at any moment.

As Lu Yuan entered, the figure seemed to awaken, bowing slightly and uttering a hoarse voice:

"It's been a long time since anyone has been able to get this far."

"Where is this?" Lu Yuan asked.

"This is a temple for scholars."

The shadow raised its hand, and the blank books around it began to turn. Although there were no words on them, Lu Yuan could feel the vast flow of information contained within.

"On the path of taboo studies, the mental fortitude of most people is insufficient to support their exploration of the world's full picture. So they choose compromise, they choose specialization, and they become scholars of the deep sea, flesh and blood, or curses..."

The shadow looked at Lu Yuan, a hint of admiration seemingly appearing on its blurred face. "And those who can come here are all unique madmen. You refuse to compromise, attempting to understand everything."

"A polymath..." Lu Yuan pondered the word.

"This means you can explore the deepest secrets of this world, whether of gods, demons, or ancient gods." The shadow's tone turned serious. "But it's also the most dangerous path. Because if you know too much, you'll become a thorn in the side of all beings."

"Especially those indescribable beings, their secrets are not for humans to know."

Lu Yuan nodded. "I don't mind."

"very good."

The shadow stopped talking and extended a finger, gently touching Lu Yuan's forehead.

"This is your reward, and also the key to unlocking this path. Hide it well, and hide yourself well too."

boom!

A vast amount of knowledge instantly flooded into Lu Yuan's mind.

[Career Advancement Successful: Forbidden Studies - Seeker 0/50]

[Acquire core skill: Forbidden Studies - Specialization]

[Taboo Studies - Specialization: Based on your extensive knowledge, you can gain insight into the deep characteristics of your target and extract and reconstruct knowledge unique to you.]

As the system notification appeared, the surrounding scenery began to collapse.

"Let's go back."

The shadow waved its hand, and a bizarre vortex appeared behind it.

Just as Lu Yuan was about to be swallowed by the vortex, he heard the shadow whisper:

"I've shielded you from the gaze of the 'outsiders.' Don't come back so easily before you truly become a polymath."

outsider?

Lu Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Is it that deep-sea being that keeps haunting his dreams?

Or is there something even more terrifying behind this so-called "strange dream"?

Before he could figure it out, a strong feeling of weightlessness came over him, and his consciousness instantly plunged into darkness.