CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 345: BLADE PALACE, THE MUSHROOM IS NOT A MUSHROOM, IT HAS GAINED SENTIENCE!_1

Inside the Blade Palace, Wang Linchi was poring over the Enchanters’ complete legacy of Magic Enchantment Techniques. Even for an Enchanter, significant meritorious deeds were required to gain access to these Magic Enchantment Techniques, and the time allowed for perusal was extremely limited.

This was, after all, the legacy passed down by various Enchanters; it was considered somewhat distasteful for outsiders to view it. There had been Enchanters who attempted to retrieve their own Magic Enchantment Techniques from the Blade Palace, but those attempts had all ended in failure.

It wasn’t that these individuals were profoundly righteous; they had simply failed in their struggles against the royalty and high ministers, hence they couldn’t reclaim their techniques.

The Enchanters utilized the conveniences afforded by the rules, but naturally, they were also bound by these same rules. If they were to demand everything without compromise, their entire circle would descend into chaos, and they would ultimately be the ones to suffer the losses.

Wang Linchi, however, hadn’t entered through official channels; he had infiltrated the Palace instead.

With the Lizardmen’s level of technology, they still wouldn’t be able to detect him.

"I have to admit, these Enchanters truly have some audacity."

I previously thought the decline of the White Claw Empire was due to the Illusionary God Mushroom and an incompetent Emperor. As it turns out, even if the Emperor had been competent, his death rendered it meaningless.

The death of the White Claw Emperor ten years ago was orchestrated by the Enchanters, who aimed to seize power.

That the White Claw Emperors who assumed the throne in the past decade did not live past the age of five was also a result of the Enchanters’ machinations. However, by now, it wasn’t solely the Enchanters’ doing; other royalty and high ministers were also involved.

From Wang Linchi’s interrogations, it was revealed that many high-ranking officials in the White Claw Empire had already secretly struck deals with the Black Tooth Empire, securing a way out for themselves.

For instance, the most notable case was a certain Marshal who had just repelled an attack from the Black Tooth Empire. He had recently been beheaded—a token of allegiance presented by some influential figure to the Black Tooth Empire.

Wang Linchi couldn’t quite understand it. Have these people’s brains been addled by the Illusionary God Mushroom, making them only think about consuming the fungi?

Could surrendering truly be better than their current positions of power and prestige? More likely, they’d end up as timid dogs, treading carefully.

Anyone with a clear head would know how to choose between being their own master and being someone else’s dog. Could betraying the White Claw Empire’s interests possibly yield greater benefits than controlling the Empire themselves?

"For me, this could actually be a good thing," Wang Linchi chuckled. In this situation, the more chaotic, the better.

Otherwise, how could he fish in troubled waters?

As day slowly dawned, Wang Linchi finished reading the last book on Magic Enchantment Techniques.

There was a lot of content, but with his abundant spiritual power and his Thought Field working in conjunction, Wang Linchi simply scanned through it all. There was no need to read each book individually.

"Are the Magic Enchantment Techniques of my White Claw Empire to your liking?" a youthful voice sounded.

Wang Linchi abruptly turned his head. It was a small Lizardman, wearing what appeared to be pajamas and barefoot.

"Not bad. These are the most sophisticated and comprehensive Magic Enchantment Techniques I’ve ever seen," Wang Linchi responded calmly. What was the origin of this small Lizardman? He hadn’t noticed its presence at all.

"Naturally. These were inherited from the Golden Pupil Empire." The small Lizardman casually pulled out a book on Magic Enchantment Techniques, flipped through a couple of pages, and then tossed it aside. "Since you’re satisfied with what you’ve seen, why not help me with something?"

Despite the youthful voice, Wang Linchi could perceive a maturity in the small Lizardman that belied its apparent age.

"What kind of help? Tell me. If I can do it, consider it payment for what I’ve read," Wang Linchi provisionally agreed. This was mainly because the small Lizardman was too mysterious. His Thought Field and Soul Vision detected nothing unusual about it. In his perception, it truly was just a four-year-old Lizardman.

Actually, Wang Linchi already had a suspicion about the small Lizardman’s identity.

It was likely the Emperor of the White Claw Empire.

If things went smoothly, this little Lizardman wouldn’t live to see the next year.

"Tell me, how did you break the seal and reach the second level?" A glimmer of purple light appeared in the small Lizardman’s eyes.

Wang Linchi recognized this light; it was the same color as the Illusionary God Mushroom.

More importantly, the fact that it knew this was the second level was simply inconceivable.

Even the Lizardmen in power didn’t know this, let alone a mere four-year-old Lizardman.

From this, he could also confirm one thing: he was most likely exposed.

"I just walked down," Wang Linchi replied, not worried at all.

As a Secret Silver Level with four perfected secret techniques, even if he couldn’t defeat an adversary, he could still escape.

"The seal was broken? That’s impossible!" The small Lizardman seemed skeptical.

"What’s so impossible about it? How else could I have gotten down here?" Wang Linchi retorted, implying his very presence was proof.

"Take an Illusionary God Mushroom out of here and feed it to a Barbarian," the small Lizardman said, realizing its lapse in composure and speaking directly.

"Sorry, that’s beyond my capabilities." Wang Linchi understood instantly. The small Lizardman might have been taken over by another entity, and this entity was inextricably linked to the Illusionary God Mushroom.

Perhaps it could control those who consumed the Illusionary God Mushroom? And Barbarians... they were probably Elemental Giants, just called by a different name.

"You’re courting death!" The purple light in the small Lizardman’s eyes flared intensely, almost solidifying.

Wang Linchi curled his lip, his spiritual power surging. A brilliance also emanated from his eyes, forming a tangible pressure.

"Threaten me? Let’s see if I annihilate both the White Claw and Black Tooth Empires before you manage to deal with me," Wang Linchi said, his tone laced with malice.

He might not be able to defeat Elemental Giants, but couldn’t he handle a bunch of Lizardmen?

The entity behind this purple light was acting secretively, indicating its power was limited. Otherwise, why resort to threats?

"What do you want?" The purple light began to fade. Zi Guang had sensed that Wang Linchi posed a lethal threat; otherwise, it would have attacked already instead of resorting to negotiation.

"That depends on what you can offer," Wang Linchi replied, not stating any specific demands. However, the other party’s concession made him realize something.

The entity truly relied on the Illusionary God Mushroom. This mushroom didn’t just have its apparent functions; it possessed other capabilities Wang Linchi hadn’t detected, such as parasitism, control, and more.

And this entity was likely a consciousness-based life form, exceedingly ancient—so ancient that the seal formed deep underground was probably meant to bind it. Yet, even if the seal was broken, it couldn’t leave the second subterranean level.

The main reason, of course, was that Lizardmen could no longer fly.

As for using flying creatures from the second subterranean level, aside from whether the entity could control them, it was unlikely any could reach the necessary altitude. Furthermore, flying creatures in the subterranean world were scarce, making it impossible to find a suitable candidate.

According to Wang Linchi’s deduction, Zi Guang could only control intelligent life forms through the Illusionary God Mushroom, because the Illusionary God Mushroom had no effect on non-intelligent life.

It was like catnip: cats loved it, but humans were indifferent.

"The complete legacy of the Golden Pupil Empire’s Magic Enchantment Techniques. Although the White Claw Empire inherited their Magic Enchantment Techniques, it’s incomplete, missing many core, crucial aspects.

"The Black Tooth Empire doesn’t have it either; it was lost long ago. Only I possess it," Zi Guang stated through the small Lizardman.

Wang Linchi stroked his chin, feigning interest. "Indeed, that’s quite tempting. However, it’s still not enough."

If I don’t help you, you’ll be stuck on the second subterranean level forever.

At this point, whether it was reasonable or not didn’t matter. He’d start with an exorbitant demand and see how much he could extort.

"Not necessarily. There’s another outsider in the Black Tooth Empire. I can form a partnership with him." Zi Guang had its own trump card.

Hearing this, Wang Linchi chuckled. "Alright, then go partner with him."

"But if you come seeking my help next time, my price will have increased."

The other outsider was undoubtedly Ye Tian. Given Ye Tian’s character, there was no way he would help this entity; it would be merciful if Ye Tian didn’t try to kill it instead. Wang Linchi had previously asked Ye Tian to bring people down for a clean sweep, and he had refused. So how could he possibly push the Elemental Giants into a fiery pit? If they became his own people, Ye Tian would protect the weak, not harm them.

Of course, Wang Linchi didn’t intend to help Zi Guang either. He was mainly thinking of squeezing the entity dry and, ideally, unmasking it. That would be a prize of great value.

This resolute response made Zi Guang hesitate.

"I hope you don’t regret this." In the end, Zi Guang still decided to choose Ye Tian, partly because Ye Tian didn’t have a stained record like Wang Linchi.

Murder, skinning, deboning, kidnapping, torture—Wang Linchi committed such acts without any hesitation.

This was unlike Ye Tian, whom the Black Tooth Empire was treating as an honored guest, and who conducted himself with clarity and composure, being neither servile nor overbearing.

After the small Lizardman controlled by Zi Guang departed, Zi Guang itself also slowly dissipated.

Wang Linchi scoffed at this. Trying to get a protagonist with strong moral principles to do such a thing was simply courting death.