Chapter 98: Planting the Fungus God
Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Planting the Fungus God
"I had some scraps left over after forging my weapon, *Qingfu*. This little bit is for you."
True Monarch Minmian looked magnanimous, but there was a flicker of pain in his generosity, as if he were forcing himself to be so giving.
"My *Qingfu* is forged entirely from this silver. This silver is a peak True Level item, a rarity in this world. You’d better work hard and not disappoint me!"
’True Level?’
Zhu Ge had just encountered another piece of knowledge he had never heard of before.
’Spirit Level, Elemental Level, Power Level... and on top of those, there’s a True Level?’
Zhu Ge didn’t know the specific classifications, but he could guess a thing or two from True Monarch Minmian’s expression.
’This is a treasure!’
Zhu Ge hesitated for only a second before speaking. "I should refuse. We are but strangers who met by chance, and I shouldn’t covet such a valuable item. It’s just..."
Zhu Ge hesitated again, finally sighing. "It’s just that I have nothing to my name, and survival is difficult in these endless lands. Not only do I lack knowledge and awareness, but I’m also in dire need of a weapon, so..."
Hearing Zhu Ge’s sincere words, True Monarch Minmian’s expression changed from frivolous to emotional. "If only I had been as sincere as you back then, and not been so awkward about accepting gifts from my elders."
With that, he tossed the Star-picking Silver in his hand. It floated before Zhu Ge, who reached out and grasped it.
It was cool to the touch and about as heavy as an ordinary stone.
"My deepest thanks, True Monarch!" Zhu Ge bowed solemnly in gratitude.
"Enough of that!" True Monarch Minmian said, waving his hand dismissively.
"All this ’this junior’ and ’this humble one’ stuff, it sounds so awful, don’t you think?"
"We of the Human Race shouldn’t be divided by age, but form our circles based on ambition."
"You and I may differ in ambition and thought, but we hit it off quite well. How about we become sworn brothers?"
’Sworn brothers?’
Zhu Ge’s eyes widened, and he stammered, unable to speak.
’Is... is this appropriate?’
WHOOSH—
The True Monarch of the Lantern appeared right beside them.
"Are you... serious?" the True Monarch of the Lantern asked with a frown.
True Monarch Minmian raised an eyebrow. "When am I ever not serious!"
The True Monarch of the Lantern looked back and forth between Zhu Ge and True Monarch Minmian with great concentration. Then, their brow smoothed, and they shot a sideways glance at Minmian. "You dumb pig. It’s actually quite fitting."
With that, they disappeared again.
Zhu Ge, however, was still in a state of shock.
’An unknown existence, powerful and ancient, wants to become sworn brothers with me?’
’What’s he after?’
’Besides this physical body, what else do I have that’s worth scheming for?’
"We become sworn brothers. From now on, what’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is yours," True Monarch Minmian said with a smile, then suddenly raised his index finger to pick his nose.
"It’s just that in this vast world, a moment of connection can be rarer than blood ties. What, you don’t think I’m worthy of being your big brother?"
’Look down on him?’
’Impossible.’
Zhu Ge was just pondering one question.
"Then I wonder, will you be the big brother, or will I?" Zhu Ge asked tentatively, his expression conflicted. "I don’t really like being number two."
That was the truth!
Upon hearing this, True Monarch Minmian’s eyes widened. "Son of a bitch, you want to be *my* big brother?"
Zhu Ge rubbed his hands together sheepishly. "Can I?"
"Hahahaha! You shameless bastard! A shameless bastard indeed! So delightfully shameless, I love it!" True Monarch Minmian threw his head back and laughed.
"I knew you were a sly one! Good, good, good! That’s the spirit! From now on, you’re my big brother! Haha!"
As he spoke, True Monarch Minmian stretched out his hand to the right and called out lightly, "Wine, come!"
The air was silent.
True Monarch Minmian’s arm remained outstretched.
Zhu Ge stood still as a statue.
A moment later, a sigh broke the stagnant air.
"Sigh... I never should have trusted you..."
After that was said, a bowl of fruit wine appeared in True Monarch Minmian’s hand.
"Hahaha! Come, come! A blood oath! That’s the term for this, right?"
As he spoke, True Monarch Minmian pointed with his right hand. A drop of pale silver blood seeped from his fingertip and fell into the bowl.
Zhu Ge understood True Monarch Minmian’s intention. He immediately bit his own finger and let a drop of his blood fall in.
Then he picked up the fruit wine, drank half the bowl, and passed it over.
True Monarch Minmian took the bowl and drank the other half.
"Alright, the ceremony is complete!" True Monarch Minmian licked his lips, his eyes lighting up. "Good wine! Excellent wine, I love it! Haha, a pure Human Race flavor!"
"Second Brother, you’re being a little scary," Zhu Ge said, scratching his head.
"Hahaha! Big Brother, maybe don’t call me Second Brother in the future. You can call me Minmian, or by my name..."
True Monarch Minmian smiled, his eyes narrowing as he spoke of his name.
"My name... is Gu Qingtian!"
’Gu Qingtian?’
’A good name!’
Zhu Ge nodded slowly. "My name is Zhu Ge. In that case, I’ll just keep calling you Minmian. How about that?"
True Monarch Minmian smiled and nodded.
"Don’t be fooled by this dumb pig. His real name is Niu Dashan, and his nickname is ’Big White Rooster.’ Gu Qingtian is a name he gave himself; he took his mother’s surname," the True Monarch of the Lantern’s voice emerged once more.
"His dream used to be to become a pretty boy and marry into a noble family."
"Hey, stop, stop! What nonsense are you spouting?" True Monarch Minmian scolded, though his fair face instantly turned red. "I was born under this blue sky. My father raped my mother to conceive me, so why can’t I take my mother’s surname? I don’t like the name my father gave me."
Hearing this, Zhu Ge could vaguely understand why True Monarch Minmian hated people like the Raincoat Fisherman so much.
"Sigh, and here he was just trying to act cool..." After saying this, the True Monarch of the Lantern fell silent.
True Monarch Minmian waved his hand with a "Tch." "Alright, alright, pay no mind to the Lantern. He’s got a vicious tongue, probably from eating too much shit when he was a kid."
"Come, come, let’s talk about you, Brother Zhu. Is there anything else you need my help with? Tell me everything at once, and I’ll sort it out for you."
Zhu Ge had received too many surprises in the past two days and had come to a certain understanding of True Monarch Minmian’s personality.
"Minmian, you’ve already given me more than enough. Whatever else I need, I’ll strive to get it myself."
"Good! Worthy of being my big brother!" True Monarch Minmian exclaimed in admiration. "You fought a Second Realm Fungus God with a mortal body and, as a First Realm being, laid a trap to kill the Raincoat Fisherman. I’ve already given you my personal reward, but I should also reward you again on behalf of the Human Race."
As he spoke, True Monarch Minmian looked around. "This valley looks pretty good. How about this: you planted your Fungus God seed incorrectly. I’ll help you replant it, which should give you another sanctuary in these chaotic times."
He turned around and gently tapped the spot between Zhu Ge’s eyebrows with his finger.
An encapsulated, pale white seed emerged from between Zhu Ge’s eyebrows.
It was the Seed of the Fungus God that had been resting beside Zhu Ge’s soul all this time!
True Monarch Minmian looked toward the center of the valley and pointed from afar. "Take root right here."
The Seed of the Fungus God hovered in the center of the valley. One by one, curved white rays of light emerged from the seed, descended, and wrapped themselves around the entire valley.
The mycelia of the Fungus God!
Then, a sense of control welled up from within Zhu Ge.
’This feeling... It’s like I’m omnipotent!’