Lan Yu rose from his seat and smiled. "Dean Su, do you think I'm joking?"
As he spoke, five scarlet Soul Rings lit up beneath Lan Yu's feet.
At the sight of those five red Soul Rings, Su Qingluo immediately rose from her chair as well.
"Hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings—all five, from the first ring to the fifth. How is that possible?"
"This is a gift from the divine Sage Lord of Fungi. Do you believe me now, Dean Su?"
Lan Yu then signaled Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong with his eyes, and they summoned their Soul Rings as well.
"Their third rings are actually Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings!"
"Yes. This is also a gift from the Sage Lord of Fungi. Become a believer of the Sage Lord of Fungi, and the Sage Lord will grant you power as well."
After her initial shock, Su Qingluo quickly calmed down.
"So your purpose is to make Botanical Academy believe in this Sage Lord of Fungi you speak of?"
"Yes, that is indeed my purpose. Is Dean Su going to refuse?"
"What would happen if I refused?"
"Dean Su need not worry. The Sage Lord of Fungi is merciful. Even if you refuse, the Sage Lord will not send down divine punishment. At most, the Sage Lord will simply be a little disappointed."
Su Qingluo remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "May I meet the Sage Lord of Fungi you speak of?"
"You may, if you have the courage."
Lan Yu raised a hand, summoned a Green Mushroom, and handed it to Su Qingluo.
"Eat it, and the Sage Lord of Fungi will meet you. If the Sage Lord favors you, you will receive a gift."
Su Qingluo took the Green Mushroom. After giving it some thought, she ate it anyway.
Shortly after eating the Green Mushroom, Su Qingluo's consciousness was brought into the Illusion Space by Bifulong.
"My subjects have gained another member. Not bad, not bad."
"Are you Lord Sage of Fungi?!"
"That's right. I am the Sage Lord of Fungi, Demon God Bifulong. My subject, what would you like to ask?"
"Lord Sage, can you help me break through to Spirit Douluo?"
"Hm? Is that all you seek? What a simple wish. Then go find my sage. He will fulfill your wish."
With that, he tossed Su Qingluo out of the Illusion Space.
When Su Qingluo awoke, Lan Yu smiled. "Dean Su, you must have met the Sage Lord of Fungi."
"Yes, I did. You are Lord Sage's sage?"
"Yes. I already know your wish. I cannot directly make you break through to Spirit Douluo, but I can help you break through your own shackles."
Lan Yu tossed another Green Mushroom to Su Qingluo.
"This is?"
"This is a gift from the Sage Lord of Fungi. Eating it will strengthen your physical body."
This time, Su Qingluo did not hesitate and ate it directly.
Sure enough, Su Qingluo soon discovered that her physical strength and overall constitution had greatly improved.
"Thank you, Lord Sage, and thank you, Sage."
"We are all believers of Lord Sage, so there is no need for courtesy. Let's discuss something else."
"Please speak, Sage."
"I want to talk about the Soul Master Tournament. We will join the Botanical Academy Team and participate in the tournament, spreading the name of the Sage Lord of Fungi by winning the championship."
At that, Su Qingluo's eyes lit up again. Botanical Academy had always been little more than a supporting act in the Soul Master Tournament. If there was a chance to win the championship, she naturally wanted to seize it.
"No problem, Sage. You aren't over the age limit, are you?"
"Of course not. The two of them and I are the same age. Dean Su can also speak with the members of the Botanical Academy Team. If they are willing to become believers of Lord Sage as well, Lord Sage will grant them gifts too."
"No problem. Please wait here, Sage. I'll call the Botanical Academy Team over right away."
Not long afterward, Lan Yu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong met the Botanical Academy Team at the training ground.
When Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong saw that the entire Botanical Academy Team consisted of beautiful girls, the looks they gave Lan Yu became strange.
"Why are you looking at me like that? If I said I had no idea the Botanical Academy Team was entirely female before this, would you believe me?"
"As if we'd believe that!"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head too, indicating that she did not believe him.
At this moment, Yao Zi, the captain of the Botanical Academy Team, was also sizing up Lan Yu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong.
"Dean, have you been deceived? How could they possibly be divine messengers?"
"Yao Zi, don't be rude. Would I not know whether it was real or fake?"
Lan Yu smiled. "Dean Su, please don't be angry. It is normal that they don't believe it. I'll prove it, then."
Lan Yu revealed his five red Soul Rings again. Immediately afterward, the Mycelial Carpet rapidly spread out, covering the entire training ground in the blink of an eye.
Then mushrooms began sprouting everywhere. Before long, the entire training ground had turned into a kingdom of mushrooms.
Although this sight was impressive, it was not enough to prove that it was the work of a god.
So Lan Yu summoned the Jadeplume Terrorshroom as well.
The instant the Jadeplume Terrorshroom appeared, it brought immense pressure upon all the girls of the Botanical Academy Team.
Su Qingluo's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.
"A, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"
"Don't be nervous, Dean Su. It is the Jadeplume Terrorshroom, merely Lord Sage's pet."
Lan Yu waved his hand and sent the Jadeplume Terrorshroom back into the Mycelium Network, though the mushrooms growing all around remained.
"Do you believe now?"
The members of the Botanical Academy Team all nodded. They had indeed been frightened by the Jadeplume Terrorshroom just now.
"Very good. Let me introduce myself again. My name is Lan Yu, and I am the sage of the Sage Lord of Fungi—the spokesperson of a god."
Lan Yu waved his hand again, and Green Mushrooms landed in the hands of every member of the Botanical Academy Team.
"Eat them, and you will officially become believers of the Sage Lord of Fungi. You will gain the right to meet Lord Sage and receive even greater power."
The members of the Botanical Academy Team hesitated only briefly before eating the Green Mushrooms in their hands.
Bifulong also dragged them into the Illusion Space and spouted a few meaningless words of encouragement.
After waking up, they could clearly feel that their strength and constitutions had improved, and their faith in the Sage Lord of Fungi had gained a little more sincerity.
"Very good. Lord Sage has acknowledged you. Next, they will train you, allowing you to better master the power Lord Sage has bestowed upon you.
"This Soul Master Tournament will be your stage to shine. I have only one goal: winning the championship. I hope you will not disappoint me or Lord Sage."
Yao Zi stepped forward and said respectfully, "Please rest assured, Sage. We will never disappoint you or Lord Sage."
Lan Yu nodded in satisfaction. This trip to Botanical Academy had gone even more smoothly than he had expected.
Meanwhile, at Dugu Bo's residence in Heaven Dou City, Dugu Yan was telling Dugu Bo about what had happened at the Soto Grand Soul Arena.
"The first five Soul Rings were all hundred-thousand-year red Soul Rings? How is that possible?"
Before you continue