Xiao Wu glanced toward Lan Yu and found him asleep. Was that dream real? The God of Fungi? The Sage Lord of Fungi?
Unable to make sense of it, she lay down, though she couldn't sleep for the rest of the night.
Meanwhile, Lan Yu was berating Bifulong in his mind. "Why did you mention me to her? Do you have any idea how much that raises my risk?
"I was an idiot to agree to let you make that rabbit your believer."
"What's the problem? Now that she knows you're my believer too, she'll definitely try to help you. Isn't that good?"
"If she gets close to me, Tang San and his father will start watching me. That's terrible for our growth. Next time, tell her to stay away from me. Don't drag me into this."
"Fine, fine. I'll do it your way. When can I make more copies of myself?"
"Once the Mycelium Network covers all of Notting College, you can have your mushrooms sprout in hidden spots."
"Deal!"
The next day, everything went on as usual. Seeing that Xiao Wu made no effort to approach him, Lan Yu breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had some sense.
Actually, while Tang San was away Soul Hunting, Tang Hao was probably not at Notting College. He was likely protecting Tang San in the Soul Hunting Forest.
Lan Yu continued spreading the Mycelium Network, especially across the wooded hill behind Notting College.
With so many trees there, mushrooms sprouting from the ground would look perfectly natural and draw little attention.
But Lan Yu suddenly thought of something. Bifulong's copies could turn into Fungus Beasts and even speak.
So on Douluo Continent, could Bifulong's copies become Spirit Beasts?
Even Bifulong couldn't answer that. He said they would have to try it to find out.
Lan Yu went to the hill behind the college and, after making sure no one was nearby, said, "Go ahead!"
"Gladly! My copies, come forth! This is the beginning of my rule over this world! Mwahahaha..."
"Shut up! You're deafening me!"
Lan Yu pressed his fingers to his temples. Bifulong really was loud.
A cluster of mushrooms sprouted from the ground, some green and some red.
Lan Yu crouched to examine a red mushroom by his feet. Pop! It turned into a Fungus Beast.
"Lord Sage Lord..."
"Haha! Good, good. No different from Teyvat."
Lan Yu ignored Bifulong and studied the Fungus Beast that had been a red mushroom.
"Are you a Spirit Beast now?"
"Spirit Beast... what... is that...?"
So much for asking. Pop! The Green Mushroom beside it turned into a Fungus Beast too.
"I think we count as Spirit Beasts. We grow by absorbing the Soul Power gathered by the Mycelium Network. We have Soul Power in our bodies, so naturally we're Spirit Beasts."
"Then killing you would produce Soul Rings?"
"We can't be killed, not unless someone kills Lord Sage Lord."
"Yes... yes..."
"So your consciousness is tied to Bifulong's."
"Exactly. They're all my copies, so of course their minds are connected to mine."
"What about Zamalan?"
"He was an accident! An accident! Why did you have to bring him up...?"
"Fine, I won't. Looks like my plan to produce my own Soul Rings is dead."
"Not necessarily! Spirit Beasts can sacrifice themselves."
Lan Yu gave the Green Mushroom a curious look. "How do you know so much?"
"I don't know. It feels like common knowledge every Spirit Beast here should have."
"How many years old are you, in Spirit Beast terms?"
"One year...?"
"Wait, what did you say? One year? A one-year-old Spirit Beast wouldn't even have a Soul Ring. Is there a way to increase your age?"
"If all the Soul Power gathered by the Mycelium Network went to one mushroom, that should work..."
"Good. Let's try it. From now on, the Soul Power gathered by the Mycelium Network goes to you."
Bifulong objected. "Hey, weren't we gathering power so I could make more copies?"
"Have you forgotten why you failed? Your true body was too weak to produce enough Green Mushrooms in such a short time.
"So learn from your mistake. First we restore the strength of your true body—which means my strength. Got it?"
"Fine, fine! It wasn't because I was weak. That girl just ate way too much..."
Bifulong muttered the last part under his breath. He meant Valesha, of course.
Over the next few days, Lan Yu spent his time outside class cultivating mushrooms and training. He didn't even open his grilled mushroom stall.
One day, a student called Boss Xiao got into a dispute with Xiao Wu at Notting College. Xiao Wu rallied everyone in Dorm Seven to fight him.
Lan Yu got dragged along too. No one expected someone from the Food System to fight; he was there purely to cheer them on.
Things played out just as they had in the original story. Tang San returned and showed off his Hundred-Year Soul Ring, and Xiao Wu displayed hers as well.
As a result, everyone in Dorm Seven no longer had to do work-study jobs.
"I say we go have a proper meal."
"Sounds good. Sister Xiao Wu will treat everyone! Xiao Yu, I want grilled mushrooms. I haven't had any in days."
"Sure. I'll make some."
As everyone got ready to go eat, Tang San came up beside Lan Yu and warned him, "We're not from the same world. Don't get any ideas about Xiao Wu, or else... Hmph!"
Without waiting for a reply, Tang San hurried after Xiao Wu. Lan Yu rolled his eyes. Is this guy really an adult who's lived over thirty years? How is he more childish than a kid?
After the meal, everyone went to bed, and Xiao Wu dreamed of Bifulong again.
"Lord Sage Lord of Fungi, I finally get to see you again."
"Ahem. I came to warn you. The villain watching you has returned. Don't get close to my other believer, or you'll put him in danger."
"I understand. I know what to do. Lord Sage Lord of Fungi, you're a god. Can you bring someone back from the dead?"
"Bring someone back from the dead? How could I possibly do that...?"
Sadness immediately crossed Xiao Wu's face.
"Ahem... Well, it isn't entirely impossible. If the soul hasn't completely vanished, there's still a chance."
"Really?"
"I'm a god. How... how could I lie to you? Anyway, remember what I said and train hard..."
With that, Bifulong withdrew from her dream.
The person Xiao Wu wanted to revive was, of course, her mother, Ah Rou. A remnant of Ah Rou's soul still lingered in a Soul Ring, though whether she could be revived was another matter.
At least Xiao Wu had something to hope for now. She would surely train harder.
One thing was strange, though. Xiao Wu said she wanted revenge, yet her training had always been haphazard. Her actions didn't match her words, and why that was remained unclear.
In the days that followed, Xiao Wu did take her training more seriously. Apart from her visits for grilled mushrooms, she and Lan Yu barely crossed paths.
Tang San still stuck to Xiao Wu like glue. She kept up her relationship with him, but privately loathed him for the designs he had on her.
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