The Zhu Sisters Become Believers

A huge question mark practically appeared over Bifulong's head. The core code of a Demon God was "love people."

But "love people" could mean all sorts of things. Almost every Demon God had his own way of doing it.

Bifulong thought it was enough to let people eat their fill of mushrooms. That was why the faith he had built had collapsed so quickly.

He was not only dim-witted, but utterly clueless about human nature.

Just then, Lan Yu's brow furrowed. Bifulong sensed it too.

"Huh! Someone's broken in. What timing. Let's go take a look."

Elsewhere, Zhu Zhuqing was being hunted by Zhu Zhuyun and her companions. Zhu Zhuqing's leather outfit showed off her figure perfectly.

It was hard to believe she was only twelve. People on the Douluo Continent really did mature early.

Perhaps fleeing blindly, Zhu Zhuqing stumbled into the Mushroom Realm Lan Yu had created. That triggered its defenses.

The mushrooms began releasing spores. In a forest, spores drifting out slowly were nearly impossible to see.

After breathing them in, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lost focus, and she collapsed into a pile of mushrooms.

Luckily, mushrooms were soft. Otherwise, she would have had only the two Slimes to cushion her fall.

Zhu Zhuyun and the others pursuing her entered the Mushroom Realm too.

"Why are there mushrooms everywhere? Young Mistress, be careful."

"What's there to fear? This is only the Periphery of the Star Dou Great Forest. There can't be any powerful Spirit Beasts here. Hurry. We can't let my dear little sister escape."

"Yes!"

Before long, Zhu Zhuyun spotted Zhu Zhuqing lying on the ground.

"Heh. Finally couldn't keep going, my dear—"

Before she could finish, she and the two Soul Masters with her collapsed. Snores soon followed.

When Lan Yu arrived, he found all four on the ground. Their clothing told him who they were.

"The Zhu sisters? What are they doing here... Oh, right! Shrek Academy is about to start its new term. Should I go see what's happening?"

As he spoke, Lan Yu used fungal threads to wrap all four into cocoons, leaving only their heads exposed.

While waiting for them to wake, Lan Yu reviewed his Soul Skills.

First Spirit Ability: Healing Mushroom and Hypnotic Spore.

Second Spirit Ability: Detoxifying Mushroom and Toxic Spore.

Third Spirit Ability: Full-Buff Mushroom (comprehensive enhancement of strength, speed, defense, and more) and Weakening Spore.

Fourth Spirit Ability: High-Temperature Mushroom Skewer (raises the power of a Soul Skill by one tier) and Hallucinogenic Spore.

Fifth Spirit Ability: Mushroom Feast (raises one's cultivation by one major realm for a base duration of one minute; the stronger the user, the shorter the duration) and Manic Spore.

Every ability was at the Hundred Thousand Years level, and their effects were absurdly powerful. He also had Spirit Bone Skills.

Left Arm Bone Spirit Bone Skills: Strength Amplification and Decomposition.

Right Arm Bone Spirit Bone Skills: Mycelial Carpet (spreads a mycelial carpet that greatly boosts Soul Power recovery) and Parasitism (plants fungal threads inside an enemy to drain Soul Power and life force, growing mushrooms on their body).

Left Leg Bone Spirit Bone Skills: Charge (sends mushrooms and Fungus Beasts into high-speed movement) and Mycelium Swamp (prevents flight and slows targets).

Right Leg Bone Spirit Bone Skills: Dance with the Wind (flight) and Explosive Spore.

Head Spirit Bone Skills: Fungification (turns mushrooms into Fungus Beasts) and Puppet Control (turns enemies implanted with fungal threads into controlled puppets).

With those twenty skills, he might not be invincible, but he could handle most dangers.

In other words, he had made it through the hardest part of his early development.

"Bifulong!"

"What do you want with this great Sage Lord?"

"Want to go see what's happening?"

"Hm? Didn't you say we should lie low? Changed your mind? Ready to make a big move?"

"Stop thinking about big moves. But we're past the early development stage now. There's no need to be quite so cautious."

"Great! It's finally time for the Sage Lord of Fungi to show what he can do. What about these people?"

"Let's see if we can win them over. If not, they can stay here as fertilizer for the mushrooms. What do you think, Miss Zhu and Miss Zhu?"

Both Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun were bound in fungal-thread cocoons. Naturally, Lan Yu knew exactly when they woke.

The sisters opened their eyes at the same time. Zhu Zhuqing looked calm; Zhu Zhuyun's eyes burned with anger.

"You know who we are, and you still dare treat me like—"

"Miss Zhu, a word of advice: think before you speak. The wrong words could cost you your life."

The fungal threads suddenly tightened, draining her Soul Power and life force. Two Green Mushrooms even sprouted from her head. Only then did Zhu Zhuyun finally feel afraid.

"No, please! I don't want to die! I'll give you anything you want. She's my sister—I can give her to you."

"You really are a wonderful sister."

Zhu Zhuqing laughed in disbelief at Zhu Zhuyun's shamelessness.

"Heh. She's already my prisoner. Offering me something I already have—how sincere of you."

"Wh-what do you want?"

"Simple. I want you sisters... Bifulong, take it from here."

"You talk too much. You should've handed them over to me sooner."

Bifulong pulled the sisters straight into the Illusion Space.

Suddenly finding themselves somewhere else—somewhere that looked utterly fantastical—left both Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun frightened.

"Welcome, my subjects. You have come to stand before your god."

"Wh-who are you? Who was that man just now? What do you want from us?"

"I am the Sage Lord of Fungi, the Demon God named Bifulong. He is my believer and my sage."

A glimmer appeared in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. "Are you really a god? The God of Fungi?"

"Why does everyone insist on calling me the God of Fungi? I've already told you: call me the Sage Lord of Fungi.

"You're fortunate to meet me. Would you like to become my subjects and worship me?"

"Lord Sage Lord of Fungi, can worshipping you make us stronger? Can it free us from our fates?"

"Of course. I can grant you power. I'm very generous to my believers."

That much was true. His own believers had eaten him into ruin, after all.

"I will!"

Zhu Zhuqing agreed without much thought. Becoming Bifulong's believer was clearly a better choice for her than seeking out Dai Mubai.

Zhu Zhuyun, however, still hesitated.

"What are you hesitating for? If you don't want to, so be it. I'll let my sage decide what to do with you."

"No, no! Lord Sage Lord of Fungi, please don't misunderstand. Of course I want to become your believer. I just may not be able to follow your sage and work for you."

"That's fine! He'll make arrangements for you. If you ever have something to tell me, pray to me devoutly, my subjects..."

With that, Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun woke up.