Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

Chapter 693: Chapter 682: Proper Use of the Supreme Mushroom

Does the most exquisite delicacy stem from the most cherished memories in one’s heart?

The effect is quite strong, Old Dylan still occasionally mutters about his daughter Bella in a daze.

The Sword Saint and Marshal Puki were also drawn into the Illusion Realm. Although due to Puki’s body, Puki Sword Saint’s expression was unreadable.

Still, Lin Jun noticed that he was moved too.

This means that Transformers like the Sword Saint, although unable to directly taste the Absolute Taste Mushroom, can still experience its exquisite taste through others.

It seems like it could serve as a luxurious experience for the Transformers!

However, given the Magic Power consumption of the Absolute Taste Mushroom, even if Lin Jun were willing to release it, it would cost a fortune.

Fortunately, it allows many people or mushrooms to experience it at once, sharing the cost makes it feasible as an occasional indulgence.

But what can be said?

The effect of the Absolute Taste Mushroom turned out differently from what Lin Jun initially expected.

The plan to control the elite from various races and unify the world using the Absolute Taste Mushroom seems unachievable now.

However, releasing personal memories to create an almost real Illusion Realm, the function feels strangely familiar.

The white mist it emits is also familiar.

Fog?

Speaking of which, the concentration of Magic Power in the fog is quite high.

So, is Magic Power concentrated to the extreme the fog?

It’s likely not entirely, as the white mist and Illusion Realm created by the Delicious Mushroom have notable differences from the fog, yet there could be some connection between them.

Additionally, Lin Jun feels this Delicious Mushroom could undergo further processing.

He still has the last mushroom on hand, left by the hopeless Ming.

So, kids are just incapable—naked running, what kind of a farce is that?

When has Puki ever worn clothes or felt shy?

But it’s fine, sparing Lin Jun from generating a new Absolute Taste Mushroom.

After everyone left, a pitch-black Puki took the Absolute Taste Mushroom and placed it in a cave of the restricted area.

The cave was filled with mushrooms of various sizes, just like all other caves.

The difference was that these mushrooms were completely black, devoid of any color.

Next to this cave was the D Level personnel playground; here stored vast amounts of negative emotions collected through [Negative Energy Collection].

Primarily... fear and despair.

Planting the Absolute Taste Mushroom at the cave’s center, under Lin Jun’s guidance, masses of dark emotions slowly climbed onto the mushroom, forming winding black patterns on its bluish surface.

Just like its ability to absorb vast amounts of Magic Power, the Absolute Taste Mushroom has a large capacity for storing negative emotions.

After a full day of cultivation, the cave’s mushrooms were entirely renewed, restored to a colorful state.

The Absolute Taste Mushroom at the center had become so black it was hardly recognizable from its original blue.

A Cow and Horse Puki rolled up the darkened Absolute Taste Mushroom.

As usual, the outer experiment selected core members, while the inner experiment chose D Level personnel.

When pure black fog enveloped the cave, it emitted wails far surpassing usual cries, mixed with roaring and nearly frenzied fighting sounds.

Of course, all sounds were blocked by the entrance’s soundproof Magic Array, preventing the Fungus People working in nearby caves from being scared.

After it ended, the Fungal Mat decomposed all corpses.

Seeing the traces of madness throughout the cave, Lin Jun thought he found the true application of the Absolute Taste Mushroom...

...

The Northern War has ended, yet the aftermath continues to ferment.

The Dwarves are intensely preparing for war, clearly aiming to strike hard while Dean’s defenses are empty.

Unlike Lin Jun, they aren’t fully aware of the situation within the Empire, thus they plan to cause more destruction and casualties, ensuring ample support behind so when the Empire’s reinforcements arrive, the attacking troops can withdraw smoothly.

Things are different at Fungus Castle.

Giant Puki, large Combat Puppets, more and stronger Battle Pukis.

The newly risen Second-Generation Mushroom Race are also undergoing relentless combat training.

Aiming to swallow the Northern Border of the Empire.

Meanwhile, Dean hasn’t been idle either.

With no reinforcements expected internally from the Empire, Dean, relying solely on himself, is pushing hard.

Forcefully conscripting soldiers from his territory, coercion and enticing with promises, binding the nobles under Eugene onto the war chariot.

Even the deserters parasitized by Mycelium have been reintegrated into his forces.

However, whether intentional or not.

These parasitized soldiers have mostly been placed in positions relatively close to the front lines that could be abandoned at any moment.

While territories needing staunch defense are occupied by pure, non-parasitized troops.

In Dean’s assessment, releasing the parasitized is a desperate measure; important areas naturally won’t have these risky elements assigned.

Although not an outright mistake, it triggered a chain of responses.

Majority of the deserters remain oblivious, merely grateful for finally being released after confinement, while cursing those other soldiers who look at them the same.

Yet, a small portion of clever and keen parasitized soldiers noticed this situation.

Some chose silent acceptance of this arrangement.

Others began quietly plotting an escape route for themselves.

Some shared their observations secretly, circulating rumors among the parasitized soldiers.

Such occurrences caught the attention of some mid-level officers, who apprehended batches of rumormongers, intensifying punishments each time, even executing a few, eventually quelling the rumors.

Yet, that’s just a facade.

Their actions of silencing reinforced the rumors’ truth.

An increasing number of parasitized soldiers began to believe they had completely become expendable sacrificial pawns in Dean’s eyes.

New rumors began spreading among the parasitized, this time more covert—Fungal Network.

In the eyes of other soldiers, the parasitized were becoming peculiar and increasingly silent.

Sometimes, they’d witness seemingly vibrant communication between parasitized soldiers, yet upon approach, wouldn’t hear a word exchanged.

The officers knew it was a heart communication ability named Fungal Network, but to ordinary soldiers, the parasitized’s eerie nature made them even more reluctant to associate with these oddities.

The barrier between parasitized and non-parasitized soldiers was thickening.

Further, this barrier fostered even more rumors within the Fungal Network.

Among them, an extreme statement claimed that after this war, even if they survived by chance, they’d be murdered.

In an instant, the parasitized soldiers were panicking.

They couldn’t comprehend why, after fighting for the Empire, they’d end up in such a predicament, was it purely because they failed to triumph?

Additionally, they’re uncertain about their future direction.

Some soldiers contemplated rebellion or escape.

But rebellion seemed improbable; where could they flee to?

Beyond desertion identity, consider the Mycelium within their bodies.

If Dean’s side guards against them, surely other parts of the Empire would do the same?

Instantly, confusion dominated their minds.

In muddled bewilderment, a portion heard whispers from the deepest depths of the Fungal Network:

"Poor and lost non-mushrooms, worship the fungus, you shall find a new home!"