Lan Yu smiled when he heard that. "I can't guarantee your Martial Soul will evolve into the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda, but I can guarantee that a Divine Blessing will let you break past the level 79 barrier."
"Is that true?"
"Believe it or not. To the Sage Lord of Fungi, one more believer makes no difference, and neither does one fewer."
"What kind of god is the Sage Lord of Fungi? Why have I never heard of him before?"
"The Sage Lord of Fungi is a god who gives people food. Naturally, his believers are those who lack it.
"You nobles have never known hunger, so of course you've never caught the Sage of Fungi's eye."
With that, Lan Yu had Zhu Zhuqing begin meditating.
Once she entered a meditative state, Lan Yu connected her to the Mycelium Network to help her cultivate.
Lan Yu and Bifulong had previously discussed Fungus Pigs, a special fusion of mushrooms and beasts.
That had made Lan Yu wonder whether he could combine the Martial Souls of Douluo Continent with mushrooms.
Teyvat's Fungus Beasts came in all seven elements. Using a fusion to give Martial Souls new elemental attributes was worth trying.
Now, Lan Yu sent Fungal Threads into Zhu Zhuqing's body, attempting to alter her Martial Soul.
It proved easier than expected. Like a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Fungal Threads acted as a Martial Soul and fused permanently with Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Spirit Cat.
Since Zhu Zhuqing was an Agility Attack Soul Master, Lan Yu made the Fungal Threads fuse with it in the form of a Wind Attribute Fungus Beast.
"What did you do?"
Ning Rongrong came to her senses and asked him. Instead of answering, Lan Yu asked, "Have you decided? Or do you need to go back and ask your father? I won't stay here waiting for you."
"I..."
"If you haven't decided, keep thinking. You still have a little time before I leave Suotuo City."
Then he woke Zhu Zhuqing from her meditation.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem with how I'm cultivating?"
"Summon your Martial Soul and take a look."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't know what was going on, but she summoned her Martial Soul as Lan Yu had asked.
When she saw what she had summoned, she froze.
"Hey, why is there a mushroom on your Martial Soul's head?"
More precisely, a Floating Anemo Fungus was perched on the Hell Spirit Cat's head.
"My Martial Soul... evolved?"
"Yes. It has a Wind Attribute now. See if you can feel it."
"A Wind Attribute?"
Zhu Zhuqing focused and did sense the Wind Attribute. She could even sense what the Floating Anemo Fungus fused with her Hell Spirit Cat wanted to convey.
Guided by the Floating Anemo Fungus, Zhu Zhuqing circulated her Soul Power and gained better control over the wind element.
She raised a hand and slashed out with her claws. A Wind Blade flew across the room, leaving a deep mark on the wall.
Ning Rongrong's mouth fell open. "A Self-Created Soul Skill! Zhu Zhuqing, you actually have a Self-Created Soul Skill!"
"No... I can't really explain it..."
She couldn't exactly say the mushroom on her Martial Soul's head had taught her.
"It was... all a gift from Lord Sage."
When something was hard to explain, attributing it to a god was easiest.
After seeing it with her own eyes, Ning Rongrong was completely convinced.
"I've decided. I want to become a believer in the Sage Lord of Fungi too. Is there a ritual I need to perform?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. The Sage Lord of Fungi won't make things difficult for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, will he?"
"That depends on you. I don't want any conflict with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect either. The Sage Lord of Fungi is a god who advocates peace."
"That's good. I'll definitely convince my father not to come into conflict with Lord Sage Lord of Fungi."
Did Bifulong advocate peace? Probably not. He likely didn't even have the concept in his head, but that didn't matter. He didn't need to do the thinking.
Lan Yu took out a Green Mushroom and handed it to Ning Rongrong. She stared at the mushroom in her hand, utterly confused.
"Eat it, and you'll be a believer in the Sage Lord of Fungi."
"Can... can I cook it first?"
Ning Rongrong wasn't used to eating mushrooms raw.
"Of course. The hotter you cook a mushroom, the better it smells. Eat it and go to sleep, and you'll meet the Sage Lord of Fungi."
"Oh!"
Ning Rongrong used the power of money to get the hotel to cook the mushroom for her.
"It smells amazing! Zhu Zhuqing, have you eaten this mushroom too?"
"Yes. It can strengthen your body."
"Really? Does that mean I can become a Combat Spirit Master too?"
"If you want to be a Combat Spirit Master, you'll have to train hard at fighting. Can you handle that?"
"I..."
"Eat up. It'll lose some of its aroma if it gets cold."
Ning Rongrong ate the mushroom and soon felt her strength increase.
"It's true! I really am stronger."
She casually lifted the bed, something she could never have done before.
But drowsiness quickly washed over her, and Ning Rongrong fell asleep sprawled across the bed.
In her dream, Ning Rongrong entered Bifulong's Illusion Space and met him.
"Where am I?"
"Haven't you been wanting to meet me, my subject?"
"You're Lord Sage Lord of Fungi?"
"That's right. I am the Sage Lord of Fungi, Demon God Bifulong. Offer me your faith, my subject, and I shall grant you strength and keep hunger at bay."
"Lord Sage Lord of Fungi, can you evolve my Martial Soul so my Soul Power Level won't be stuck at level 79?"
"That's a small matter. Give me your loyal faith, and my sage will take care of it for you."
"Your sage? You mean Lan Yu?"
"Yes. He is my sage and my representative. I won't meet with you often, but he will report on you to me."
"I understand..."
With that, Ning Rongrong left Bifulong's Illusion Space. When she opened her eyes again, it was already the next day.
When she came out of her room and saw Lan Yu, Ning Rongrong greeted him politely. "Lord Sage."
"Mm. Just call me by my name normally. Here's what I've arranged for you: in the mornings, you and Zhu Zhuqing will spar to get used to your increased strength. In the afternoons, you'll go to the Soto Grand Soul Arena for Soul Fighting. At night, I'll help you cultivate."
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both said they understood. Several days passed like that.
Perhaps their schedules simply hadn't lined up, but they didn't run into anyone from Shrek Academy again.
The Shrek Academy group hadn't left Suotuo City either. Perhaps because of the butterfly effect, Oscar's breakthrough to level 30 had been delayed by a few days.
Today, Oscar finally reached level 30. Delighted, Flender personally led the group to the Star Dou Great Forest for Soul Hunting.
Xiao Wu passed the news to the Red and Green Mushroom she carried with her, and Lan Yu learned of it through Bifulong.
"Lan Yu, are we doing the same thing today?"
Ning Rongrong asked as she ate breakfast.
"No. Today we're going to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Before you continue