In the hollowed-out sixth layer of the mountain, the cage was once again pulled up, revealing the spatial fissure beneath.
The curse of corrosive damage swept through the entire cavern, and all the puffshrooms' pristine white bodies began to corrode.
This time, the cage remained raised for an extraordinarily long period—so long that the two-colored slime grew impatient within the cage, shifting about and making "toot-toot" sounds. It wasn't until the puffshrooms' health was nearly depleted that the cage was finally lowered back into position.
That yellow book had mentioned something about [the fissure gradually expanding]. Lin Jun frowned beneath his mushroom cap, studying it for quite some time.
It seemed... it had indeed grown a tiny bit larger?
The change was infinitesimally small—so minute that if the yellow book hadn't deliberately mentioned it, Lin Jun wouldn't have noticed at this moment.
But that was only for now. As the fissure continued to expand, it wouldn't be long before Lin Jun would naturally notice such changes.
Complete connection with an unknown underground dungeon bearing a curse?
It was troublesome—the unknown was always troublesome—but not enough to throw Lin Jun into disarray.
At this fissure's expansion rate, even if it accelerated, Lin Jun was confident he could raise his [Corrosion Resistance] before it grew large enough to matter. When that time came, the sixth layer would simply have gained an additional exit, nothing more.
While contemplating, Lin Jun confirmed with the yellow book: "The fissure has indeed changed slightly."
[Could you reveal which location, if you would?]
Lin Jun didn't conceal it: "The sixth layer. Why?"
[My lord, fissures are harbingers of dungeon collapse]
[If the collapse begins from the sixth layer, then the fissure you observed would be all of it]
[But if the collapse originates from other floors, then that fissure on the sixth layer might be merely a small portion]
[Have you made no similar discoveries elsewhere?]
At least floors one through five showed nothing. Lin Jun thought as much.
Rather than answering the yellow book's question, Lin Jun directly countered: "What is this collapse you speak of? How does it collapse? Why does it collapse?"
[More and more fissures appear, growing ever larger, until the entire dungeon is torn apart—that is what's called collapse]
[As for why... naturally it's been eroded by time, just as houses deteriorate with age. The dungeon has existed for over three hundred years since its appearance—isn't it normal for problems to begin emerging?]
Over three hundred years?
This aligned temporally with the story Dylan had told: the hero battled the Demon King, breaking through a passage to the abyss and forming the dungeon.
"Do you know the dungeon's origins?"
[My lord, I don't know everything]
Tch.
If only the yellow book were human—then he could arrange a parasitic implant and naturally know whether it was lying.
"Returning to the matter of the fissure, you're not the type of waste that can only identify problems without offering solutions, are you?"
[My lord, could you perhaps stop keeping me locked away all the time in the future?]
[I too wish to serve the Mushroom Garden, just as I'm doing now]
Faced with the question, the yellow book didn't rush to answer but first made a request—this didn't surprise Lin Jun.
"If what you say proves useful..."
Having received a response, the yellow book immediately provided an answer, showing no concern about Lin Jun reneging on the deal.
[The core—the dungeon's core]
[My lord, forgive my bluntness, but you're currently like an outsider lodging under another's roof. Even if the house breaks, you lack the authority to repair it]
[But if you were to control the dungeon's core and become the dungeon's master, you would naturally find a way to mend it]
"The dungeon core... then where is this core you speak of?"
[In the deepest part of the deep layers—the core lies there]
"So your solution is for me to fight through the entire dungeon... Fine, one last question."
Lin Jun's tone seemed unchanged upon hearing this secret, while Norris, who was responsible for translation, trembled uncontrollably in place.
"Sacred Tome, how do you know so much?"
[My lord, I don't know. I'm merely a creation—some things I know innately. If you must ask why, you'd have to question my mysterious creator]
"Hmph..."
[My lord, you must believe me—this humble one conceals absolutely nothing!]
After a brief silence, just as Norris thought Lin Jun might tear the book again to press for answers, Lin Jun suddenly said:
"If Norris agrees, you may have him carry you, provided you stay within the fifth and sixth layers.
You're forbidden from charming Norris or driving him insane, or I'll tear you apart.
When Norris isn't carrying you, stay obediently in the cavern."
[Thank you, my lord!]
[Wait, no]
[Thank you, boss!]
The yellow book's pages were filled with cheers and praise, while Norris looked utterly bewildered.
Me?
Carry this evil book?
Just listen to what the boss said: it's forbidden from charming or driving him insane.
No matter how he heard it, carrying this thing sounded dangerous.
Stealing a glance at the yellow book still celebrating its freedom, come to think of it, the boss never said he *had* to carry it...
Norris silently decided in his heart—avoid touching the yellow book whenever possible!
After questioning for so long, Little Black, who had been waiting nearby, had grown bored enough to fall asleep leaning against a mushroom tree, drool trickling down the scales on her face.
Three puffshrooms approached, extending their mycelial tendrils to lift Little Black and carry her all the way back to her house filled with glittering mushrooms.
A mycelial tendril swayed back and forth, barely managing to clear a space before setting Little Black down.
Just as the puffshrooms were about to leave, Little Black suddenly reached out and hugged one of them.
The embraced puffshroom continued following Lin Jun's departure command. Feeling the puffshroom struggling in her arms, the drowsy Little Black hugged even tighter.
*Pop—*
The mushroom house returned to tranquility.
...
Lin Jun didn't entirely believe the yellow book's words.
This fellow seemed to speak half-truths while concealing the other half—who knew what schemes it might be plotting? The key issue was that he had no good method to verify its claims.
Something about the dungeon facing structural failure after three hundred years of age.
Even a castle built of stone wouldn't collapse after just three hundred years.
Its credibility was questionable.
But there was still some useful information within.
For instance, the dungeon core—the probability of the yellow book fabricating such a thing to deceive him wasn't high. Once he reached that place, he'd know its truth or falsehood at a glance.
Lin Jun wasn't afraid of any traps in the deepest areas either. His puffshrooms would certainly take the lead, and if there were traps, they'd only kill a batch of his puffshrooms—completely meaningless.
The fissure's expansion had been verified, and as for multiplication... Lin Jun would know whether that was true as he continued developing downward.
Overall, the yellow book's suggestions didn't conflict with Lin Jun's original plans.
Lin Jun had always intended to develop downward—now he simply had an additional objective: the dungeon core.
Regarding the yellow book itself, he'd kept it locked away before, only knowing it was a Sacred Tome and an evil book, but his understanding of other aspects remained too limited.
It certainly harbored more secrets, but Lin Jun hadn't figured out how to pry them from its... pages. Simple threats of tearing wouldn't guarantee truthfulness.
Permitting the yellow book to accompany Norris under his watchful eye also served as a form of observation.
As for the dangers Norris might face... Lin Jun decided to divide more attention toward him, keeping constant watch...
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