The Devotee Xiao Wu

Before long, the fight between Xiao Wu and Tang San ended. Tang San looked rather miserable, with half his face swollen.

Xiao Wu had used him as a punching bag to vent her frustration, yet Tang San still gazed at her like a lovestruck fool.

Lan Yu wondered if he had ever seen a beautiful woman before.

Maybe he really hadn't. In his previous life, Tang San had been an outer disciple of the Tang Sect. It would have been perfectly normal for a sect like that to have no pretty female disciples.

After his rebirth on the Douluo Continent, Holy Spirit Village hadn't had any beautiful women either.

So after two lifetimes, it made sense that he would become infatuated the first time he met someone as pretty and adorable as Xiao Wu... Like hell it did!

Lan Yu certainly couldn't understand how the minds of these lunatics on the Douluo Continent worked.

Afterward, Xiao Wu and Tang San didn't push their beds together to sleep. Xiao Wu simply took Tang San's quilt.

With no other choice, Tang San went to Yu Xiaogang and asked for another one.

Then classes officially began. Notting College didn't teach much: basic meditation, fundamental knowledge about Martial Souls, and how to recognize common Spirit Beasts.

Most of the time, students had to cultivate on their own.

After class, Lan Yu began laying his Mycelium Network throughout Notting College.

He could lay his Mycelium Network a little faster now than before.

Soon, he had covered the entire dormitory area. When he meditated afterward, he could clearly feel the difference in his cultivation speed.

"Cultivating in a simulated environment? If that's how it works, my cultivation speed shouldn't be too slow."

Just then, Xiao Wu and Tang San returned to the dormitory. Xiao Wu ran straight up to Lan Yu.

"Didn't you say you were going to sell grilled mushrooms to make money? Why haven't you started yet?"

"Xiao Wu, I haven't got everything ready."

"What do you still need? I'll come with you to get it. Xiao San, do you want to come too?"

"Sure, sure!"

Lan Yu could clearly sense the hostility in Tang San's gaze.

He was speechless. Of all things, the two people he most wanted to avoid kept crowding around him.

With no other choice, he bought a batch of seasonings and tools, and that evening his grilled mushroom stall opened for business.

Notting College was fairly permissive about it and showed no intention of interfering.

Xiao Wu and Tang San naturally became Lan Yu's first customers.

Tang San found the grilled mushrooms unremarkable, but Xiao Wu's eyes lit up as she ate.

If he hadn't watched the whole time, Tang San would have suspected Lan Yu of putting something else in Xiao Wu's mushrooms.

"Lan Yu, my teacher said Food-System Soul Masters need incantations to summon food. Why haven't I heard yours?"

"I don't need one. Besides, surely not every Food-System Soul Master needs an incantation. There are so many Soul Masters on the continent that even Spirit Hall can't know everything."

"What are you talking about? Xiao Yu, give me another serving."

Lan Yu glanced at Xiao Wu's little belly. One serving of grilled mushrooms was hardly small.

"Are you sure you want more?"

"Of course. I won't owe you the money."

"All right."

Just then, Yu Xiaogang came over, his expression stern.

"Xiao San!"

"Teacher, what are you doing here?"

"What are you all doing here?"

"Eating, obviously. Can't you see?"

"Xiao Wu, don't be rude to my teacher."

"Hmph!"

"You can eat in the cafeteria. You're both geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power. You and a good-for-nothing whose Innate Soul Power is only level two don't belong in the same world."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Lan Yu, making no effort to hide his contempt.

Lan Yu wasn't particularly angry. If anything, he found it funny.

If someone with level-two Innate Soul Power was a good-for-nothing, what did that make Yu Xiaogang, with his half-level Innate Soul Power? Trash?

Yu Xiaogang probably didn't even realize that every time he called someone else a good-for-nothing, he was slapping himself in the face.

In the end, Yu Xiaogang paid for the grilled mushrooms and took Tang San and Xiao Wu away.

Lan Yu kept his stall open. Plenty of students came to try something new, and he earned a fair amount that night.

Grilled mushrooms tasted much better than raw ones, and Lan Yu's prices weren't high. Quite a few people were willing to change up their meals now and then.

Lan Yu also understood why Bifulong had made his mushrooms so delicious: when people who had eaten them thought of mushrooms, they would bring Bifulong faith.

Naturally, delicious mushrooms would linger in people's minds.

But that guy had no head for numbers and had ended up spending more than he earned.

Now that Lan Yu understood how Bifulong's faith worked, he began planning the paths he would take in the future.

One would reach the powerful; the other, ordinary people. He needed to develop both at once.

After that, Lan Yu attended classes, laid his Mycelium Network, and occasionally set up his grilled mushroom stall.

Xiao Wu came every time. She never seemed to tire of the mushrooms. Tang San was always there too, adding another sale to Lan Yu's tally, but today was different.

"Why didn't Tang San come today?"

"He went Soul Hunting. At least I'll get a few days of peace. He's always clinging to me. It's so annoying."

"Oh!"

"You're so cold."

"Am I? That's a normal reaction. You should eat fewer mushrooms, or the God of Fungi might come visit you in your dreams."

"Hmph! You're trying to scare me? Do you think I'm a child?"

"Don't believe me, then."

Lan Yu had said that because Xiao Wu had eaten enough mushrooms for Bifulong to establish a clear connection with her.

If he could make Xiao Wu one of Bifulong's devotees, perhaps he could eventually have her return to the Star Dou Great Forest to grow mushrooms for him.

Night fell, and Xiao Wu was already asleep.

"Hey! Wake up, wake up..."

Xiao Wu opened her eyes and found herself in a strange, unfamiliar place.

"Where am I? Ah..."

"Stop screaming! You're making too much noise!"

"Who... who are you?"

"Listen well. I am the God of Fungi, the Sage Lord of Fungi, Demon God Bifulong!"

"The God of Fungi? There really is a God of Fungi? Am I dreaming?"

"Little rabbit, do you know your life is no longer your own?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tang San's father is a Titled Douluo. He's been hiding in the shadows all along. Your identity was discovered long ago."

"What!"

Xiao Wu's face instantly went pale. Then she came to her senses and hurriedly pleaded for help.

"God of Fungi, you must have a way to save me, right? Please, save me!"

"Become my devotee, and I will show you a way forward. In time, I may even protect you and grant your wish."

"I will! I'll become your devotee, Lord God of Fungi!"

"Call me the Sage Lord of Fungi!"

"Yes, Lord Sage Lord of Fungi!"

"Good. I acknowledge you as my devotee. For now, maintain a good relationship with Tang San. You are the Soul Ring reserved for him. Until Tang San can absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, you are safe. In the future, I will create an opportunity for you to escape the control of him and his father."

"How long will that take?"

"There will be no opportunity while you're at Notting College, at the very least. Remember, don't give yourself away."

"Yes, Lord Sage Lord of Fungi. Um, is Lan Yu your devotee too?"

"Of course..."

The dream cut off abruptly. Xiao Wu woke with cold sweat beading on her forehead.