CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 354: THE BIG MUSHROOM THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY_1

Within the third subterranean layer, dreamlike purple light constantly floated. Abundant hyphae clung to the walls, and each Illusionary God Mushroom flickered with fluorescent light.

"You’ve arrived," the aged voice of Zi Guang sounded.

Wang Linchi noticed something was different.

Previously, Zi Guang had been like a feeble, weak old man, but now he was full of vitality and seemed muscular.

"Did you connect with the mycelium colony?" Wang Linchi asked.

He didn’t know what a mycelium colony was, but it had to be some kind of network or power source; otherwise, Zi Guang couldn’t have changed so drastically.

"Let’s not talk about that. I’m preparing to leave." Zi Guang didn’t answer Wang Linchi’s question, instead saying his goodbyes. This perplexed Wang Linchi. "Let me check the time," Zi Guang added, "There are only about ten minutes left."

"So soon?" Wang Linchi was a bit surprised but also envious. Having backing is truly different; someone would come to pick him up even if the world was destroyed.

"I also have you to thank for helping me out. Before I leave, take this as a thank-you gift," Zi Guang said.

"Thanks to me? Did you borrow my Luck?" Wang Linchi didn’t quite understand. How had he helped the other party? He’d been trying to kill him all this time.

Of course, it was impossible to kill him now. Although the other party hadn’t answered directly, Wang Linchi was certain his strength had recovered. He was no longer affected by the number of Illusionary God Mushrooms. His estimated power was at least... on par with that Goblin.

"More or less, more or less," Zi Guang answered vaguely. Then, the ground began to shake, and a stone shimmering with a peculiar brilliance broke free from the earth.

The stone was not large, only about the size of a palm.

"This is the Sky God’s marrow. I previously used it as nourishment to cultivate my progeny and mushrooms. It’s useless for me to keep, so I’m giving it to you." As Zi Guang spoke, the stone flew towards Wang Linchi.

"You’re just giving me something this precious?" Wang Linchi was a bit confused. He didn’t know the effects of the Sky God’s marrow, but if it was connected to the Sky God, that giant beast, it had to be extraordinary.

"It is precious, indeed, but useless to me. It’s like a piece of Gold—to me, less valuable than withered leaves and rotten branches."

"If I hadn’t been starving to death back then, I definitely wouldn’t have used this as sustenance. You have no idea how agonizing the taste is for a mushroom."

Zi Guang poured out his grievances. He was a fungus, and this marrow, after a long period of transformation, had become a substance akin to petroleum or natural gas. If it weren’t for his resilience in digesting it, he would have died long ago.

"Oh, so how is this thing used?" Wang Linchi asked curiously.

This was just a stone, and it did indeed look like one of those Natural Treasures, but he had no way to use it.

Zi Guang could digest it, but he couldn’t.

"Grind it into powder, mix it with the God Bloodline extracted from the Barbarian as raw material, and use Enchantment Techniques." It seemed Zi Guang knew his plan.

Wang Linchi wasn’t concerned about how Zi Guang knew. He was considering the feasibility.

"The idea is good, but I can’t grind it into powder." Wang Linchi quickly realized. This thing might be nothing in Zi Guang’s hands, but in his, it was incredibly hard.

It would be difficult for him to even leave a mark on it, let alone grind it into powder to use as material.

That was asking a bit too much of him.

"Er... you have a point. Its technical name is the World’s Core. It’s the nucleus of a world. Even if this core is still just a prototype, you indeed can’t grind it," Zi Guang explained its origin.

Upon hearing this, Wang Linchi instantly understood why it was a prototype. If it were the Mother God’s marrow, it would undoubtedly be a complete World’s Core. However, this was only from a Sky God, and one still in gestation; its main body hadn’t even fully formed, so how could its marrow be complete?

"Wanting to break it down... the difficulty is both great and small."

"If your strength isn’t enough, you can make up for it with materials. If all else fails, you can try to brute-force grind it. I’ll give you a technique; you can try it." Zi Guang pondered for a moment. It really did seem difficult to handle.

"A technique? Can a human even practice a technique used by you fungi?" Wang Linchi was somewhat doubtful.

There are differences even between humans. He was crossing species. If the other party gave him their technique, even if he could practice it, he’d probably turn himself into a mushroom.

"Indeed not. So, I’ll give you a research report on the World’s Core instead. However, yours is a prototype, so it doesn’t possess most of the capabilities described, only a small fraction, and their effects are quite diminished." As he finished speaking, a large mass of fungal hyphae began to gather, finally condensing into a small booklet.

Wang Linchi took the booklet and flipped through it. The content was indeed very comprehensive.

Zi Guang must have selected it carefully. Most of the content was related to the World Nucleus Prototype. He estimated this was research from the power backing Zi Guang. It definitely wasn’t the complete version; if it were, it wouldn’t be just this small booklet but a massive tome.

"How is it, are you satisfied?" Zi Guang asked.

"It’s fine. But why did you give me these?" Wang Linchi was still puzzled.

"Karma. You helped me, so I must help you in return," Zi Guang replied earnestly.

Wang Linchi was rather skeptical. "You also follow the path of karma?"

What a coincidence! A mushroom following the path of karma? From its previous behavior, it seemed more like a biological faction that achieved euphoria through chemicals and upgraded by consuming substances.

"That’s right. Otherwise, how could you have failed to find me? I have deeply integrated my true form with karma. As long as my karma remains unbroken in this world, I am immortal," Zi Guang said.

"Then why did you say earlier that you were starving to death?" Wang Linchi pointed out a loophole.

"I had no karma previously. But then, as more people from the White Claw Empire consumed the Illusionary God Mushroom, my karma gradually increased," Zi Guang smoothly justified his logic.

"I see. That makes sense," Wang Linchi didn’t press further.

To him, these details weren’t actually very important.

"Time’s up. The one picking me up is here. I’ll be going now," Zi Guang glanced at something, presumably checking the time, and said.

As he spoke, all the purple light, the clinging hyphae, and the numerous Illusionary God Mushrooms began to contract continuously, eventually forming a polymer-like mass.

Wang Linchi just wanted to see how this entity would depart.

Just as he was thinking this, Wang Linchi suddenly noticed irregular patterns appearing on the ground.

Not just the ground, but the entire third subterranean layer showed them. It was as if something had infiltrated.

"Hyphae..." Wang Linchi recognized the crawling patterns as fungal hyphae.

Countless hyphae clung to Zi Guang, completely enveloping him.

Before Wang Linchi could react, these hyphae began to retract rapidly, like a film being rewound. The spot where Zi Guang had been was now empty.

Once everything settled, the third subterranean layer plunged into darkness. Without the light from the Illusionary God Mushrooms, there was naturally no light source.

"This method of departure... is truly... peculiar," Wang Linchi couldn’t help but use the word ’peculiar’ to describe it.

Compared to the Goblin who left by ’catching a bus,’ Zi Guang’s departure was silent and traceless. If Wang Linchi hadn’t witnessed it, he might not have noticed it at all.

Well, I’ve stumbled upon a windfall; no need to get hung up on these things. Wang Linchi looked at the World Nucleus Prototype and the handbook in his hand, feeling he had struck it rich.

As for receiving gifts for no apparent reason, even if Wang Linchi was wary, there was nothing he could do about it.

Zi Guang, now connected to the mycelium colony, was exceedingly powerful. If he had wanted to kill Wang Linchi then, Wang Linchi would have had no way to resist.

Furthermore, the entity that picked up Zi Guang was likely something even the Game System wouldn’t dare to provoke.

The items were most likely fine. They didn’t seem like the type to plot against him, so there was probably no need to worry about underhanded tricks.

When dealing with someone you could crush effortlessly, you wouldn’t waste effort on elaborate deceptions; you’d just kill them directly to prevent any chance of them turning the tables.

With this World Nucleus Prototype, perhaps I can change my Elemental Growth to World Growth? Wang Linchi had read in the handbook that a World Nucleus Prototype could mature into a complete World’s Core. If utilized properly, it could even serve as the nucleus for birthing a new world.

If his Book of Records contained an entire world, wouldn’t he be invincible?

But first, he needed to inspect the activity level of the World Nucleus Prototype. If it was good, Wang Linchi didn’t plan to develop it into an ability; instead, he would directly fuse it with his Book of Records.

Once the Book of Records successfully fused with it, it would mean he himself had fused with the World’s Core.

After all, his Soul Resemblance was a part of him.

In that case, my Elemental Bloodline and Enchantment Techniques might need to be rethought. Their purpose of increasing the Book of Records’ size and capacity would become redundant. Wang Linchi narrowed his eyes, pondering his next steps.