I upgraded and added points in the Holy Inquisition

Lloyd laughed at the monsters' lack of intelligence while controlling his own [projection] and wandering around the second floor of the museum.

The overall style and layout of the second floor is actually similar to that of the first floor, except that the exhibits are more "modern". However, it is not as big a leap as on Earth, where the style jumps directly from ink painting to postmodern abstract or two-dimensional style. Therefore, in terms of artistic elements, it seems that there is no difference with the first floor.

Even the types of monsters are the same. They are all disguised as works of art, waiting there for their prey, but they don't react to Lloyd's [Projection] and won't make any noise when he passes by them.

It was not until Lloyd tried to extend his inspiration through [Projection] that an ancient pottery jar suddenly jumped up, its mouth opened wide, and a bunch of tentacles gushed out from inside, trying to capture the approaching prey.

However, it could not detect the existence of the [projection], and ended up just looking for nothing and falling headfirst to the floor. It then jumped around several times in anxiety and annoyance, and finally returned to its original booth indignantly and continued its disguise.

So, are these things monsters disguised as works of art? Or are they works of art transformed into monsters?

And does their desire for prey, or humans, come from the monsters' instinctive bloodlust? Or does it come from the artwork's need for appreciators?

While Lloyd was pondering these slightly philosophical questions in his mind, he controlled the [Projection] to search the entire second floor, and then went directly to the third floor.

There is no gap between the second floor and the first floor, so there is no need to deploy an urbanization barrier here, which can save some resources and time.

When the [projection] floated to the third floor, the scene in front of Lloyd's eyes finally had some obvious changes, and he felt a sense of history and time coming towards him.

Starting from this floor, the exhibits are mainly various older archaeological discoveries, from bottles and jars to various sculptures and handicrafts, to incomplete murals, stone tablets, etc., which have extremely high historical research value.

But Lloyd’s attainments in history are not enough, and he can’t explain it clearly. If Professor Fernande or Professor Deco came here, they would probably go crazy in an instant, right?

In addition, this floor is actually safer than the two floors below. These exhibits are not disguised by monsters, but genuine originals.

So it's not the environment here that gives birth to monsters, but the so-called "art"?

In addition, through the [projection], he could vaguely feel that the 'air' on the third floor seemed to be different in some way, but he had not gone there himself, so he could not tell for the time being.

Lloyd then controlled the [Projection], picked a suitable location, and began to set up the urbanization shield. He decided to go to the third floor to take a closer look.

Anyway, I'm here...

Although the third floor looks quite safe, various protective shields are still necessary just in case.

What's more, these shields are quite useful. They can effectively isolate the monsters on the first and second floors. If Lloyd hadn't been prepared, as soon as he reached the third floor, there would be a scene of chaos and chaos, and naturally he would not be able to browse quietly.

However, while deploying the shield, Lloyd found that the panel prompt sound beside his ear gradually disappeared, so he looked at the [beacon] that had drilled into his mind.

It turns out that they are not able to attract forbidden knowledge infinitely, but have a "durability". After attracting 3-5 waves of forbidden knowledge, they will become dim and blurred and no longer attractive.

But even so, it still brought Lloyd a pretty good amount of Madness Points income, a total of five [Beacons], which helped him level up three times in such a short time.

But how come the forbidden knowledge they attracted is all useless garbage? There is really nothing useful at all, and it has all been swept into the "recycle bin".

So, although the [beacons] left behind by these monsters after their death can attract more forbidden knowledge, they lack effective screening?

Lloyd roughly summarized it, and then before going to the third floor, he took the initiative to walk out of the first floor of the urban shield, generously exposing himself to more art monsters.

Then, before they started to get restless, he used the [Distorted Realm] to instantly kill ten of them, put ten [Beacons] in his brain, continued to increase his madness value, and then went up to the third floor through the newly deployed space channel.

Only Lloyd would be so extravagant as to use the space channel to cross such a short distance of two floors. Professor Lawrence would inevitably criticize this behavior as "wasteful".

It's not a waste of resources and equipment, but mainly a waste of energy and time. For a normal person, setting up a stable space channel is still quite time-consuming and laborious. It is because Lloyd has already become "practice makes perfect" that he can play so extravagantly.

As soon as Lloyd arrived on the third floor, he immediately felt the "difference" that he had sensed through the [projection] before. A large amount of spiritual pollution that seemed to be tangible and quite special suddenly came like a tsunami.

[Ding~Insanity value +20000]

[Ding~Insanity value +10880]

[Ding~Insanity value +32307]

The spiritual pollution here is actually different from that on the first floor?

Obviously stronger and with higher frequency.

The first impact made Lloyd feel the stinging pain in his brain and eardrums again.

This does not even take into account the mental pollution attracted by those [Beacons]. The spiritual pollution emitted in the air alone is already so strong.

Fortunately, Lloyd's [Rationality] is now over 3000 points, and he has a [Stun Resistance] of level 10, so even with the doubling brought by helping the former dean, he can still easily handle it.

Then I might as well refresh my attributes. Otherwise, with such strong mental pollution and constant pain in my brain, I won’t be able to go up to the fourth floor.

It’s just that the former dean...

Huh? How come his condition has gotten better?

Lloyd looked at the half-dead chopped pepper fish head, which was shaking its head and then flew up from his hand. It actually looked like a fish in water.

Not only that, he could actually speak in a normal tone and speed:

"Hiss~ The mental pollution here is so strong? Fortunately, you are the one... Oh no, I mean you are carrying the "Book of Madness", otherwise I'm afraid both of us would be trapped here..."

"How did you suddenly come back to life?"

Lloyd asked back in surprise.

"Because the mental pollution is too strong, it hinders my connection with my true self, so it makes me more awake."

The former dean briefly explained and then asked:

"Also, didn't you notice that the spiritual pollution here is mixed with a bit of Chaos?"

After hearing his reminder, Lloyd finally noticed what was different about the spiritual pollution here.

The atmosphere and environment here are surprisingly subtly similar to the [historical] scenes?

"It seems that you have also noticed that, as an ancient person who should have died long ago, I am naturally more suitable to live in [History]. The environment here even makes me feel somewhat comfortable, which should be another major reason why I can recover quickly."

The former dean continued.

"So even if you adapt to the mental pollution here, it won't be the same as before, right?"

"That's true in theory, but it's only because you're here. Otherwise, given the intensity of the mental pollution here, I wouldn't be able to survive until the adaptation period..."

As the former dean spoke, he wandered around and asked curiously:

"That's not right... Before I died, I threw this part of my body far away, but why did it appear in this famous museum?"

"Well... maybe it's because you've become a collection here..."

Lloyd replied somewhat dumbfounded.

As a result, the former dean did not agree with this conclusion and quickly refuted:

"Ah??? This is impossible? If I remember correctly, this museum is a masterpiece of the 'Time and Art' Society. It was a prestigious art sanctuary at the time, attracting countless people to linger. Even I liked it very much at the time. They shouldn't do such a thing..."

As he was talking, he paused again, probably sensing the location of his body, and it was really on the upper floor not far away...

"Damn, they really did something like this?"

The former dean couldn't help but curse under his breath.

Lloyd then gave his further conclusion:

"Perhaps they thought you had completely perished, so they wanted to leave some commemorations for you here? Although this method is a bit strange, considering that it was the twilight age of despair, it doesn't seem strange?"

"Hmm... maybe that's the case, and it's not just me. I can vaguely sense the presence of other people. They may have more than just me upstairs, so the mental pollution here is so horrible, and it's also tainted with the aura of [Chaos]."

This time it was Lloyd who expressed surprise:

"Huh??? This..."

"Really? Crazy, right? It's disgusting. If I had known they would do something like this, I should have found an excuse to eliminate them."

The former dean said somewhat indignantly.

Lloyd quickly asked:

"Let's not talk about what happened in the past. What should we do now? If there really is more than one corpse of [Brilliant Gold] up there..."

"The risk is naturally greater, but let's still find a way to go up and take a look, right? We're already here... But the trouble is, under the influence of the Chaos aura, no one knows what our bodies will become..."

The former dean still planned to take the risk and added:

"It is precisely because of this hidden danger that we cannot retreat. Otherwise, no one knows how bad things will get."

"oh, I understand now."

Lloyd gritted his teeth and nodded vigorously, knowing very well that this was not the time to back down.

One corpse of [Brilliant Gold] is scary enough, and this crazy 'Time and Art' Society actually has collected multiple corpses. If there are some fusion, corpse transformation, alienation, and corruption in between, who knows what kind of heavyweight and precious items will be born.

At this time, the former dean noticed the [Projection] floating foolishly beside him, and said with some surprise:

"Hmm? Your [Projection] is indeed extraordinary. It seems to be completely unaffected by the surrounding environment, but it exists objectively. It is just right for this situation! Hmm! This is one of the remarkable characteristics of the [Illusion] system!"

As he spoke, he sighed with great satisfaction:

"It seems that you have gained more than me on the path of 'illusion', at least in this aspect. I wanted to have a 'illusion creation' like this, but all my attempts ended in failure... This also shows that you made the right choice by not following my old path."

In response to this sudden compliment, Lloyd just smiled and replied modestly:

"You are too kind. My excellence is also based on my own efforts and the support of you."

The former dean was choked by him and was speechless...

While Lloyd was waiting for his body to adapt to the mental pollution here, he controlled the [Projection] to go to the fourth floor to explore the way up there first.

As a result, when the [Projection] came to the corner of the stairs, Lloyd suddenly realized that something was wrong. He felt a bad feedback from the [Projection] and quickly took it back.

"what happened?"

The former dean asked quickly.

Lloyd pinched his chin and thought carefully before answering:

"The Chaos Aura above is stronger than this layer, and it has caused some kind of currently unknown interference to the Projection. If the distance is too far, I will lose control of it and it will disintegrate on its own."

"Huh? There's such a thing? Even at such a short distance?"

The former dean was a little surprised by this, so he wandered around for a while, and then said suspiciously:

"Although I don't question your judgment, this doesn't make sense. Your [Projection] wouldn't be affected much in that [History]. That's a legitimate Chaos Realm. How could it be disturbed by these auras right now?"

The more he talked, the more he felt that something was not right, so he floated around for a while, and then suddenly froze.

"No! This place... has been visited by other people besides us!"

"what?!"

Lloyd was startled.

With such horrific mental pollution and guarded by such strange and ferocious monsters, how could anyone else come in?

But just as he felt surprised, his keen sense of spatial changes suddenly reminded him that a spatial fluctuation was coming from a long and narrow corridor in the distance.

It's like a portal is opening?