Ruins, Glowcap Mushroom Gathering Commission

Luo Lin looked at the map, then at Mason.

He needed to weigh the pros and cons.

Helping Mason meant risking entry into a more dangerous area, but the rewards were considerable. Not only could he earn a large number of contribution points, but he could also obtain a regional map containing some clues.

Moreover, although Mason appeared lazy and dispirited, he was able to conduct cross-region reselling business. His information channels and connections seemed quite extensive, so maintaining a good relationship with him might prove useful in the future.

"Let me look at the map first."

Luo Lin did not agree immediately.

Mason readily handed the map over.

Luo Lin unfolded it and examined it carefully.

The map was rather crudely drawn, covering only a small area along the outermost edge of the Rotting Mire. It marked several places where Glowcap Mushrooms might grow, as well as several regions labeled "Danger," "Aberration Nest," and "Unknown Force-Field Interference."

One of the marked locations did not seem too far from the general direction Mason had previously mentioned, where the Ancient Gray Tower Ruins might exist.

Luo Lin memorized the map, then returned it to Mason.

"I can give it a try,"

Luo Lin finally said.

"But I can't guarantee that I'll find them, nor can I guarantee the quantity."

"And I'll need time to prepare."

"No problem! That's great!" Mason was overjoyed.

"As long as you're willing to help!"

"There's no rush. Safety comes first!"

"I'll wait for news from you at the outpost. I can use this time to rest up and handle a few other matters."

After agreeing on a method of contact, Luo Lin got up and left.

He needed to make more thorough preparations for this exploration of the Rotting Mire's outskirts.

The clues and map Mason had provided were like a stone dropped into the center of a lake, sending ripples through his heart.

The possibly existing Ancient Gray Tower Ruins were like a distant temptation, drawing him in.

But he knew full well that before taking that step, he needed sufficient strength and preparation.

For now, gathering the Glowcap Mushrooms first might be a good test.

Over the next half month, Luo Lin's daily rhythm remained regular, but he secretly devoted more of his energy to this expedition.

During breaks between patrols and while resting, he repeatedly studied and memorized Mason's simple map.

He etched every marked location, every possible route, and every dangerous area into his mind.

He noticed that one suspected Glowcap Mushroom site lay at the edge of an area marked "Unknown Force-Field Interference," which made him especially wary.

Luo Lin carefully inspected and maintained all his equipment.

His enchanted dagger was polished until it gleamed. The items in his dimensional pouch were reorganized to ensure that he could retrieve whatever he needed at the first sign of an emergency.

He took stock of and replenished his potion supplies. In addition to a large number of [Stamina Recovery Potions] and [Lesser Mental Boiling Potions], he specially prepared several antidotes for common swamp toxins, along with some new potions improved with Black Forest materials that had stronger paralysis or dispelling effects.

As for spells, he focused on practicing casting stability in complex terrain and environments with energy interference.

He even found an area near the edge of the outpost where the energy was relatively chaotic and conducted simulated training there, adapting himself to the force-field interference that might exist in the Rotting Mire.

He practiced [Breeze Dust-Cleansing] until it was nearly proficient, hoping it would better counter the swamp miasma and energy pollution.

He also spent quite a few contribution points to exchange for two items from the outpost's logistics department.

One was a pair of boots inscribed with simple levitation runes. Though they could not truly fly, they could provide brief support over the surface of the swamp and prevent him from sinking completely.

The other was three [Greater Flash Rune Stones]. They were not offensive weapons, but could create intense flashes of light at critical moments, disrupting certain magical beasts that hunted by sight or light perception and buying him time to escape.

Once everything was ready, Luo Lin chose a period when outpost duties were relatively quiet. Using "deep patrol and gathering specific materials" as his reason, he reported his itinerary to Captain Holm.

Although Holm was somewhat worried, he approved it based on his trust in Luo Lin's abilities.

He only repeatedly warned him not to venture into dangerous areas and set a latest return time with him.

At dawn, thin mist draped the entire Black Forest like a gray veil.

Luo Lin silently left the Gray Tower Outpost without alerting anyone.

He wore a set of dark leather armor suited for mobility, covered by a waterproof travel cloak. His dimensional pouch and weapons were all positioned where they were easiest to reach.

Rather than taking a regular patrol route, Luo Lin followed the map he had memorized and entered a more remote, rarely traveled path.

The trees here were denser and more twisted, and the pale, floating scent in the air grew increasingly heavy.

He proceeded with extreme caution, his mental power stretching out like invisible tentacles to sense the surroundings across the widest possible range.

[Weak Force-Field Armor] remained active at the lowest possible energy consumption.

Along the way, Luo Lin encountered many of the Black Forest's common dangers.

A seemingly ordinary patch of moss suddenly collapsed, revealing a bubbling acidic bog beneath. He narrowly avoided it with the brief effect of his Levitation Boots.

A flock of Vampiric Bats hidden in the canopy was drawn by his life force and swooped down like dark clouds. He successfully drove them away with a combination of the area attack from [Acid Spray] and a [Greater Flash Rune Stone].

The closer he drew to the Rotting Mire, the stranger the environment became.

The trees gradually thinned out, replaced by vast stretches of bizarre fungi in vivid colors that gave off an ominous aura.

The ground became increasingly soft and muddy, and every step had to be tested carefully.

A cloying, rotten stench began to fill the air. It was the smell of swamp miasma mixed with the secretions of certain magical beasts.

Luo Lin increased the effect of [Breeze Dust-Cleansing] at the right moment, maintaining a small patch of relatively clean air around himself.

Following the map's directions, he cautiously avoided several areas marked "Aberration Nest," faintly sensing the chaotic and violent energy fluctuations emanating from them.

He even spotted one or two wandering Marsh Aberrations from afar. Their forms were twisted, their bodies covered in pustules and tentacles, and they gave off a nauseating stench.

Luo Lin did not disturb them, silently avoiding them with the cover of the terrain and fungal growths.

After a full day of difficult trekking, Luo Lin finally reached the first suspected Glowcap Mushroom site marked on the map at dusk.

It was a depression nestled among several enormous, slick black rocks, its ground covered with thick, dark humus.

Beside it was a small pool of murky water that released tiny bubbles.

He carefully observed the surroundings and approached only after confirming there were no obvious signs of magical beast activity.

His mental power carefully scanned the humus and the gaps between the rocks.

Soon, beneath the shaded base of one rock, he discovered several clusters of umbrella-shaped mushrooms emitting a faint ghostly blue glow.

Their caps bore natural ring-shaped patterns, the unmistakable feature of Glowcap Mushrooms.

Luo Lin was delighted, but he did not gather them rashly.

Dangerous guardian creatures or traps sometimes accompanied Glowcap Mushrooms.

He observed patiently for a while, then gently stirred the surrounding humus with a long branch.

Sure enough, when he disturbed the soil beneath one cluster of Glowcap Mushrooms, several transparent threads as thin as hairs, nearly blending into the environment, were triggered!

Immediately afterward, several vicious insects the size of fists burst from the nearby pond. They had sharp mouthparts and resembled water scorpions as they lunged straight at Luo Lin.

Luo Lin had been prepared. [Mage Hand] activated instantly, not as an attack, but to violently lift a fairly large chunk of rubble and hurl it precisely at the insects.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The insects were struck by the rubble with dull impacts. They fell to the ground, struggled a few times, and then stopped moving.

At the same time, a green glint flashed from Luo Lin's fingertips as he fired an ordinary [Acid Spray] toward the source of the transparent threads.

A nondescript hole at the edge of the pond.

Sizzle!

The acid disappeared into the hole. A faint hiss sounded from within, followed by silence.

After dealing with the potential guardian creatures, Luo Lin finally stepped forward and carefully cut the clusters of Glowcap Mushrooms off at the roots with a specially made jade knife, placing them into a prepared wooden box lined with imitation leaves.

He did not harvest them all, leaving behind the smaller ones to preserve the local ecology and avoid causing unnecessary trouble in the future.