Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

Chapter 475 - 465: Lin Jun’s Grand Plan

Although it was Number Four Puki who aggressively dragged Inanna out the door, it froze as soon as it stepped out of the room.

After all, this wasn’t the familiar Mushroom Garden, and it had no idea which direction to go.

In the end, it was Inanna who led the two Pukis through twists and turns in the camp, and found Alama and Lorenzo in the temporary command post, where the atmosphere was tense.

Inanna wasn’t exactly being led around blindly by Number Four.

Before heading out, she had quietly consulted the boss through the Fungal Network, and Lin Jun only asked her to keep some key information hidden.

Lin Jun was well aware that the spread of the Fungal Mat and the unique qualities exhibited by the Puki Army could no longer be considered as ordinary demons.

He gathered this insight from a few private conversations between Alama and Lorenzo after the Fungal Mat covered the entire valley.

Although those two human leaders deliberately avoided mentioning Pukis every time they discussed this matter, they clearly didn’t fully understand the Fungal Mat, as every inch of this valley-spanning mat was an extension of Lin Jun’s senses.

The top human leaders knew that there was some remarkable power hidden behind the Pukis, but given the imminent threat, they still had to rely on this power, temporarily unable and unwilling to investigate deeper.

But to say they were completely without caution would be self-deceptive.

Lin Jun’s purpose was simple. Since humans were already speculating that Pukis might possess intelligence, he might as well introduce them to some wise Pukis!

Just like Lin Jun constantly mentioned to Xiao Xi, whoever controls the Pukis controls the world.

He would distribute these thirteen intelligent Pukis, placing some in the Northern Territory, a few in the main human territories, some with the Elves, and even a few among the Demon Race.

Let everyone see that whoever gains the recognition and assistance of these "intelligent Pukis" will be able to command the power of the Pukis to some extent.

Whether people suspect any underlying risks doesn’t matter; as long as Lin Jun doesn’t expose himself, and the intelligent Pukis can provide real power, then anyone who forsakes the Pukis due to suspicion is abandoning readily available power!

This is Lin Jun’s open strategy.

And the ultimate goal of all this is to more smoothly lay down the Fungal Mat, absorb more nutrients and magical power, and continuously strengthen Lin Jun himself!

To be honest, Lin Jun didn’t really want to make himself seem like an ambitious, world-conquering Demon King.

But the words of the Divine Wood linger in his mind. Whether in ten years or decades, the world may face its end.

Lin Jun cannot be entirely certain if that big shot is bluffing him, but the various signs of decline in this world force him to believe in the possibility.

With time possibly running short, the various races across the Continent that are indifferent to souls are still indulging in infighting, keen on royal dominance and racial conflicts.

Rather than hoping these forces that regard each other as enemies will suddenly put aside their prejudices and unite against the unknown apocalypse.

Lin Jun feels it’s better to have them all convert to the glory of the Mycelium, integrate all forces, concentrate resources, and make a dash for survival!

In his vision, it would be optimal to successfully spread the Fungal Mat to all corners of the world within three to five years.

By then, the vast and unmatched Fungal Mat network will bring him massive experience points and nearly infinite magical power supply, his level will rise at an astounding pace, and his power will swell to unimaginable proportions.

Afterwards, he can sweep across the continent like autumn leaves, forcibly integrating all forces, coordinating universally to face the impending crisis.

Of course, this is merely an ideal plan.

Lin Jun knows well that reality is bound to be filled with variables and resistance; he wouldn’t be surprised if it ultimately fails.

If it really comes to that, he will only be able to emulate the Divine Wood, retreat back to his Underground City lair, either waiting for destruction to arrive or hoping for an unknown "others" to save the world.

Fortunately, Lin Jun has considerable confidence in retreating to the Pujie Dungeon.

Through his relentless efforts, he has nearly mastered the Dungeon Core, with only a final portion of core rules left to explore and crack.

Even though he hasn’t completely controlled it yet, Lin Jun is confident that within this Underground City, even the destructive Blood Race Prince from before couldn’t truly threaten his main body.

...

On the other side, when Inanna led two Pukis inside, Lorenzo and Alama unintentionally swallowed and simultaneously had the same thought — after being exposed, was this finally come to showdown?

In some sense, they guessed correctly, it indeed was a showdown, just with a vastly different agenda from what they expected.

The two stared blankly as one of the Pukis excitedly waved its mycelium tendrils — sometimes raising them high, sometimes slamming them furiously onto the ground; its short fungal legs constantly stomped, emitting rapid "Puki Puki" sounds.

They exchanged glances, both seeing the same bewilderment in each other’s eyes, clueless about what was happening.

Having delivered a passionate speech praising the greatness of the Mushroom Race, Number Four Puki realized the two old non-mushrooms before it had no reaction, still wearing puzzled expressions. It turned in confusion, querying Inanna through the Fungal Network: "Pink Puki, why aren’t they reacting? Is my explanation of the greatness of the Mushroom Race unclear?"

To be honest, Number Four Puki felt a bit nervous. Normally this task fell to its big brother, Number One; now it was merely mimicking and feared doing poorly, embarrassing the Mushroom Race.

Inanna squatted down: "Probably because they aren’t connected to the Fungal Network..."

"Not in the Fungal Network?!" Number Four Puki’s worldview was shaken again, "Then what do they use to communicate?"

Inanna gently parted her lips and spoke: "Like this, using their mouths to speak."

"Speak...words?" Number Four Puki’s thoughts were filled with disbelief, "This primitive mode of communication still exists?"

Number Four Puki couldn’t be blamed for its ignorance.

In the Mushroom Garden, even the Mycelium was accustomed to direct communication through the Fungal Network at a conceptual level.

No language barriers, no ambiguity in conveyed meanings, even hundreds of meters apart, as long as you could lock onto the target visually, you could have clear "conversations."

Such convenience naturally gradually replaced verbal communication.

Nowadays, those who retain this speaking habit in the core area of the Fungus Castle, are mostly newcomers who have joined recently, not fully integrated tribespeople.

These individuals are not qualified to enter the Mushroom Garden and wouldn’t be encountered by Number Four Puki.

It naturally assumed that all intelligent beings should communicate telepathically.

In this aspect, even the more composed Number Ten Puki was no exception, although it would never outwardly reveal its inner surprise.

"Should I...help translate for you?" Inanna was somewhat resigned, unexpectedly finding herself acting as a real-time translator.

Just then, Lorenzo across from her seemed to catch some hint from this bizarre scene, tentatively asking: "Niece, is that Puki’s previous actions trying to convey something to us?"

"Actually, it was ’speaking’ just now..." Inanna explained.

Lorenzo promptly summoned a mage who was proficient in telepathy from the army. After administering a magical power-boosting potion, the mage arduously established a temporary mental link connecting the thoughts of the three humans and two mushrooms.

It was indeed difficult; the mage’s expression appeared as if enduring a thousand-pound burden.

Thanks to this mage’s dedication, Alama and Lorenzo’s minds finally achieved conversation with the Mushroom Race.

"Old non-mushrooms, can you hear now?"

Lorenzo and Alama instinctively exchanged a glance, simultaneously having the same thought: this Puki’s way of speaking doesn’t seem very friendly...