First Ring, Hundred Thousand Years

Just like that, a year passed. Notting College went on break, and Tang San took Xiao Wu to Holy Spirit Village.

Lan Yu came to the back mountain of the college. There was a large mushroom half a person's height there. If this spot had not been so secluded, it would have been discovered long ago.

Lan Yu's Spirit Power had already reached level ten. He had merely been waiting for this moment.

There were barely any people at the college during break, so it would be difficult for anyone to notice the sacrifice.

"Xiaolü, what age Spirit Beast are you equivalent to now?"

"Hundred Thousand Years."

"Hundred Thousand Years? How did it get so high?"

"I absorbed nearly all the Spirit Power gathered through the Mycelium Network. Hundred Thousand Years is normal. The Mycelium Network now covers the entirety of Notting City."

"That makes sense. Then let's begin!"

"Alright!"

A red glow rose from Xiaolü and enveloped Lan Yu. The sacrifice began. Since it was evening, even if someone noticed it, they would mistake the red light for the sunset glow.

The sacrifice went smoothly. Once it was complete, the half-person-tall mushroom vanished completely, and Lan Yu felt an inexplicable sadness.

"Where is Xiaolü's consciousness?"

"Huh? It went to sleep. It'll emerge on its own once it wakes up."

"That's good. Let's see what I got. A Hundred Thousand Years Soul Ring comes with two Soul Skills: Hypnotic Spore and Restorative Mushroom.

"One support skill and one healing skill. Not bad.

"Oh, and there's also a Left Arm Bone, with two Spirit Bone Skills as well: Strength Amplification and Decomposition."

Strength Amplification needed no explanation. It simply increased strength. Decomposition, however, was something else entirely.

Lan Yu could release mycelium to revert objects condensed from Spirit Power back into Spirit Power, allowing him to nullify manifested Soul Skills to a certain extent.

"I like this skill. Mushrooms are decomposers, after all, so it makes perfect sense.

"Let's check my Spirit Power level too. Around level eighteen. Using cheats really is great!"

Bifulong popped out at this moment. "Your plan is complete. What about mine? Isn't it time to take action too?"

"Yeah, it is time. Let's pack up and go."

After packing, Lan Yu left Notting City. He did not return to Mushroom Village, instead heading for even more remote places.

The land in those regions was barren, and food yields were extremely limited. Coupled with the exploitation of imperial nobles, the people there could barely survive.

Lan Yu had Bifulong make mushrooms sprout from the barren soil.

The villagers quickly discovered the mushrooms and brought them home to eat.

After eating the mushrooms, they too established a spiritual connection with Bifulong.

"Hahaha, I am the God of Fungi, the Sage Lord of Fungi. Mushrooms are my gift. Be properly grateful to me..."

Bifulong bragged about himself for quite a while before finally getting to the point.

Through the spiritual connection, Bifulong taught the villagers how to cultivate mushrooms.

When the villagers woke up the next day and compared notes, they immediately felt that the God of Fungi had truly descended to bestow gifts upon them.

In the end, the villagers began cultivating mushrooms according to Bifulong's instructions.

"Can this really work? I don't have to do anything, and humans will reproduce my clones for me?"

"Of course. If your brain worked even a little better, you wouldn't have ended up as the weakest Demon God."

"I'm not! Don't talk nonsense! I'm not the weakest Demon God!"

"Let's go. The plan continues. There are still more impoverished people who need the Sage Lord of Fungi's salvation."

"That's right! Hahaha, humans suffering in hardship, the Sage Lord of Fungi has come to save you!"

After that, Lan Yu traveled farther and farther away. He had already left Farunos Province, and by the time he headed back, he could no longer make it for the start of term.

Besides, there was nothing more for him to learn at Notting College, so Lan Yu did not return.

There were many impoverished and remote regions in the Heaven Dou Empire. If all those places planted mushrooms, the restorative power of his martial spirit would surely become formidable.

After term began at Notting College, Xiao Wu noticed that Lan Yu had not returned. She went to ask the teachers, but they did not know either.

Seeing Xiao Wu care so much about Lan Yu, Tang San felt bitterly jealous. But when he thought that Lan Yu had disappeared and might even be dead, his mood improved again.

Without Lan Yu around, he believed he could keep Xiao Wu firmly under his control.

Half a month after school began, Lan Yu still had not returned. Even the teachers felt that he might have met with an accident. Such things were common, and few people cared.

Xiao Wu came to the small grove on the back mountain of the college. Sitting on the ground, she began to cry. "Sob, sob, sob..."

She was acting this way because she was afraid. Lan Yu had been there before. Although they had barely interacted, Xiao Wu knew they were both believers of the Sage Lord of Fungi, so they counted as "companions."

Now that her "companion" had disappeared, only a father and son pair eyeing her covetously remained. How could she not be afraid?

"Don't... cry..."

The sudden voice gave Xiao Wu a fright.

"Who? Who's there?"

"Don't cry..."

"A red mushroom? Could it be Lord Sage Lord of Fungi..."

"Yes... I am one of the Sage Lord's... people..."

"Then do you know Lan Yu? How is he now?"

"He... is fine... You need to be well too..."

"Xiao Wu!"

Tang San's voice carried over. When Xiao Wu looked again, the red Fungus Beast had already turned back into a mushroom.

Xiao Wu wiped away her tears. As long as she knew Lan Yu was fine, she was relieved. The mushrooms left behind by the Sage Lord of Fungi were here to keep her company too. That was enough.

"Tang San! Enough already! Can't you leave me even a little personal space?"

Xiao Wu berated Tang San fiercely, then turned and returned to Room Seven.

Tang San swept his gaze around the area and saw the red and green mushrooms as well, but he paid them no mind.

"Xiao Wu, wait for me..."

Just like that, Tang San shamelessly chased after her again.

Time flew by, and five years passed. Lan Yu was now twelve years old. Over the years, he had traveled through many places, and many regions had gained enough to eat and wear through mushroom cultivation.

As a result, Bifulong, the Sage Lord of Fungi, had gained quite a bit of faith and recovered much of his strength.

Over the years, Lan Yu had eaten mushrooms that could permanently increase his strength, so both his physical toughness and strength far surpassed those of ordinary Soul Masters.

Lan Yu was now within the Star Dou Great Forest. This entire stretch of the Periphery had become a sea of mushrooms.

This was where Lan Yu cultivated Soul Rings, and his fifth Soul Ring had now matured.

After another sacrifice, Lan Yu broke through level fifty, reaching level fifty-five in Spirit Power.

Moreover, his limbs and Head Spirit Bone were all complete. Only the Torso Spirit Bone remained.

Lan Yu had just stood up to stretch when he heard Bifulong complaining nearby.

"Why are you humans so greedy?"

"What is it this time?"

"Once they have mushrooms to fill their stomachs, they want me to grant them even more. Aren't mushrooms enough?"

"Just ignore them. There's nothing wrong with wanting a better life, but they should strive for it themselves instead of hoping for divine gifts and gaining something for nothing."