Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

Chapter 540 - 530: The Mushroom Lord’s Reward

Fireball!

Lightning Arrow!

Mud Swamp Technique!

No need to rely on the framework of Magic Nodes, the condensation and shaping of Magic Power becomes unprecedentedly direct, significantly speeding up the construction.

However, after careful comparison, Lin Jun still identified its weakness. Maintaining Magic Power stability without directly relying on Nodes requires several times higher Spiritual Control Power than normal casting.

The difference was so subtle that Lin Jun initially didn’t notice it.

Upon reflection, it makes sense; the Node system itself is an excellent casting framework providing stability and repeatability.

Though breaking away from the framework grants freedom, maintaining the stability and precision of a spell undoubtedly imposes more stringent demands on the caster.

Fortunately, for Lin Jun, there isn’t much difference.

It’s just... reading is so difficult...

In the Super Magic Library, Lin Jun’s reading pace easily caught up to Ivan’s within a few days.

This is due to Lin Jun using [Spiritual Guidance] to enter the dream every night. If he could stay inside without extracting all the invested Spiritual Power each morning, the pace would be exponentially faster.

However, from this point, the content becomes increasingly complex, even beginning to analyze the nature of Magic Power, showing a trend toward microscopic exploration.

Simply put, though Lin Jun reads fast, he finds it somewhat hard to digest.

But there’s an old saying in the Mushroom Garden: Mushrooms evolve not by themselves, but by the grace of Puki.

Number Ten seems to have quite a talent for magic, it’s perfect to let it have a go.

As for the issue of Number Ten’s limited Spiritual Power strength... As a uniquely split entity from Lin Jun’s soul, it can make good use of a new method using the Sunstone recently learned from the Abyssal Space.

...

The Elf Royal Palace Library.

In the spacious arched hall, light filters through high glass windows, turning into mottled beams that fall on the ancient, heavy wooden long tables and bookshelves.

The air is filled with a mixture of old paper, sheepskin scrolls, and a certain cool woody scent.

Only a few elves scattered in various parts of the hall, sitting or standing, focused on the volumes in their hands, with the occasional soft rustling of pages turning.

However, whenever the "Puki Puki" sound is heard, they still can’t help but direct their gaze to the Puki who reads back and forth through the books.

Its slender tentacles compensate for its height disadvantage, allowing it to easily reach the books it wants to read.

It’s not that they find it loud; the palace elves won’t be displeased by such minor movement.

It’s purely because they find it novel for a Puki to appear in the palace library.

It’s worth noting, half a year ago, Puki was still classified under Demons.

Even now, there are mages and druids still arguing about whether Puki should be categorized as an intelligent race or as a high IQ demon.

This is the first floor of the palace library, so there’s nothing unspeakable here, but typically outsiders aren’t eligible to enter.

Thanks to Pink Puki and Number Fourteen, Number Ten merely mentioned it and was completely ensnared by the Mushroom Lord’s seductive mushroom strategy. Enthralled by Fourteen’s mushroom figure, Galadriel generously gave the approval.

Thinking of this, Number Ten sincerely praises the greatness of Mushroom Lord.

A mere simple trick, yet it manipulates the Elf King (even if just a proxy), a figure of significant influence on the Continent, within its tentacles.

In the future, the entire Continent will bow beneath the mushroom cap of Mushroom Lord!

And it itself must work even harder to acquire more knowledge, master more powerful powers, proving its value, and becoming an indispensable capable assistant under Mushroom Lord’s command!

Glancing within the Mushroom Race, other companions are either still indulged in the power struggles of the race’s early rise or content with the status quo, even captivated by the comforts among humans or other races, yet to fully realize that only knowledge and Power are the essence of the Mushroom Race!

The only real threat is just one Fourteen, for now...

Inside the library, Number Ten does not limit itself to magic tomes. As long as the content has value, be it historical records, principles of Alchemy, basic Element theory, or even certain Demon bestiaries, it accepts them all.

Relying on Spiritual Perception Power far beyond ordinary intelligent races, its reading style is more akin to efficient scanning and storage, pages turning swiftly under its mycelium with a continuous and gentle rustling sound.

It is precisely this frequent movement and handling that periodically emits the distinctive "Puki" sound.

Lin Jun believes the Mushroom Race’s Spiritual Power intensity is limited, a conclusion drawn using himself as a reference.

"Number Ten, working hard!" Lin Jun’s gentle voice suddenly rings directly in Number Ten’s consciousness without any warning.

"Mushroom Lord!" Abruptly noticed by Mushroom Lord, Number Ten instinctively responds.

"You are quite remarkable, tenacious in spirit, calm in handling matters, and rarer still, you proactively seek knowledge and self-teach magic. Your response last time in the underground ruins was also commendable."

Gaining recognition from the Mushroom Lord, even Ten’s usually calm heart couldn’t help but be stirred.

"In light of your performance, I plan to give you a reward. There is a valuable opportunity related to magic knowledge, or you could choose to exchange it for something else you need, such as more S-Class Demon Crystals, or other resources, I will satisfy you."

"I’ll choose that opportunity!" Without hesitation, for Ten, how could external things like Demon Crystals compare to magic knowledge that even the Mushroom Lord deems precious?

"But it’s not easy, you may not be able to grasp it, you could waste this reward. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?" Lin Jun kindly reminded.

"I... I can do it! Mushroom Lord, please believe in me!"

"Alright!"

In the next moment, as Ten was stroking the pages, the mycelium tendrils suddenly loosened, and the entire rounded mushroom body seemed to lose all support in an instant, collapsing softly onto the floor with a "poof."

Not far away, an elven scholar, immersed in scrolls, was startled by the commotion. He looked up and saw the Pink Puki lying motionless on the ground. He immediately got up and walked over swiftly, with concern and curiosity on his face, preparing to check the situation.

However, the limp Pink Puki had already stood up once more, swaying gently.

Methodically, it closed the spread-out book, using mycelium tendrils to put it back in its position, then turned around and, under the watchful eyes of several elves, left the library.

No one knew, this was no longer Ten Puki.

...

Detached from the mushroom body, Ten naturally lost the ability to perceive the outside world.

Its consciousness fell into a haze.

It felt its soul wrapped in countless warm and supple mycelium, the sensation incomparably comfortable, as if returning to the original tranquility of life.

It seemed that with a gentle exertion, it could merge into the endless mycelium, free from disturbances, with only eternal and peaceful rest.

Unfortunately, in its soul state, even the simple intention of "merging" was difficult to gather.

The carefree comfort came like a tide, quickly rising and falling.

Coming to its senses, it found itself within a disposable Pink Puki body, surrounded by a small enclosed space.

There was a faint sense of loss in its heart, a small aftereffect of soul transfer.

It quickly gathered its spirit, ready to embrace the opportunity and challenge!

"Don’t rush, don’t rush!" Lin Jun soothed, "Before we start, there’s a bit of preparatory work to do, which can help increase your success rate."

A Sunstone was brought in by a Pink Puki, but unlike usual, it did not spread warm light around.

Instead, under Lin Jun’s control, the light condensed, finally forming a thin but stable bridge of light, enveloping the mushroom body of Ten.

Ten immediately noticed its change; its Spiritual Power was actually increasing continuously!

"This is..."

"Be quiet, adapt to the changes."

Ten ceased questioning, immersing itself wholly, concentrating on experiencing this unprecedented feeling of "soul expansion."

The source of this power was not created out of thin air. In fact, it was Lin Jun who actively transferred part of his Soul Power over.

This is a minor use of the Sunstone, to adjust the proportion of the split soul and Lin Jun’s own share.

For most entities, it might not be of much use since once it’s divided, it reduces; when it’s reduced, it’s weakened.

But for Lin Jun, it was different; his issue was never total volume, but how to manage and utilize this vast amount effectively.

The portion transferred to Ten, even if it reached Ten’s current capacity limit, was still insignificant to Lin Jun.

And the substantial increase in Spiritual Power would ensure Ten could read those knowledge sources more quickly during the upcoming "Super Magic Library" journey, leaving its learning capability to determine the rest.

As for other Pink Pukis, although they don’t lack soul volume, it currently seems useless to them, so there’s no need to waste it.

Ten’s upgrade, or rather the adjustment of soul volume, wouldn’t take long; Ivan’s side should also start preparing.

Nightly infiltration and morning retreats are ultimately too inefficient and carry exposure risks.

Moreover, if ignored, this Half-Elf mage probably wouldn’t survive much longer; his Spiritual Power was being rapidly eroded.

Even for Ten’s studies, they must first help him maintain his life, which requires a reasonable and long-term identity that can stay in the Silver Thorn Squad compound.

...

Novid, around a corner of a secluded alley.

A figure wrapped entirely in an unremarkable, dark gray-brown cloak, with a face hidden in the shadow of the hood, quietly raised an arm to block a female elf Night Owl gracefully passing over the side wall.