Chapter 531, Section 530: The Master's Reward
Fireball!
Lightning Bolt!
Mud Swamp Technique!
Without relying on the framework of magic nodes, the condensation and shaping of magic becomes more direct than ever before, significantly accelerating the construction speed.
However, after careful comparison, Lin Jun still discovered its shortcomings. Maintaining stable magic power without going through nodes requires several times more mental control than normal spellcasting.
The difference was so subtle that Lin Jun didn't even notice it at first.
That makes sense, as the node system itself is an excellent spellcasting framework that provides stability and repeatability.
While breaking free from constraints brings freedom, maintaining the stability and precision of spells undoubtedly places more demanding requirements on the user.
Fortunately, it made no difference to Lin Jun.
But... studying is so hard...
In the Super Magic Library, Lin Jun's reading progress had easily caught up with Ivan's in just a few days.
This is because Lin Jun uses [Mental Guidance] to enter the dream every night. If she could stay in it all the time, she wouldn't have to withdraw all her mental energy every morning, and the progress would be countless times faster.
However, from this point on, the content became increasingly complex, even starting to analyze things like magic, showing a trend of delving deeper into the microscopic realm.
Simply put, although Lin Jun could read quickly, she was a little too full to eat.
But there's an old saying in the mushroom garden: Mushrooms are not born strangely, but they are good at borrowing from the fungus.
Number 10 seems to have a lot of magical talent, so let's give it a try.
As for the issue of Number Ten's limited mental strength... as a unique individual that was partially separated from Lin Jun's soul, it was able to utilize a new method of using sunstones that Lin Jun had recently learned from the abyss space.
...
The library of the Elf King's Palace.
In the spacious arched hall, light shines through the high glass windows, turning into dappled beams of light that illuminate the ancient, heavy wooden tables and bookshelves.
The air was filled with the scent of old paper, parchment scrolls, and a certain cool woody aroma.
Only a few elves were scattered throughout the pavilion, some sitting, some standing, focused on the scrolls in their hands, with the occasional soft sound of pages turning.
However, whenever the "puji puji" sound is heard, they still can't help but focus their attention on the puji that is reading the book back and forth.
Its slender tentacles compensate for its short stature, allowing it to easily reach the books it wants to read.
It wasn't that they found it noisy; the palace elves wouldn't be bothered by such a small movement.
I was simply intrigued by the appearance of a Puji in the royal library.
You should know that just six months ago, Puji was still classified as a monster.
Even now, mages and druids are still debating whether the Puji should be classified as an intelligent race or a high-intelligence monster.
This is the first floor of the Royal Palace Library. There are no books that are not meant to be seen, but outsiders are generally not allowed to enter.
This is all thanks to Pinkpuji and Fourteen. Number Ten only tried to mention it, but she has already fallen completely into the mushroom master's beautiful mushroom scheme. Addicted to Fourteen's mushroom body, Galadriel generously gave her approval.
Thinking of this, Number Ten also sincerely praised the greatness of the Bacterium Master in his heart.
With just a few clever tricks, they manipulated the Elf King (even if he was just a proxy), a pivotal figure on the continent, at will.
In the future, the entire continent will surely submit to the mushroom master's mushroom cap!
And it itself must work harder, acquire more knowledge, and master more powerful abilities to prove its value and become an indispensable and capable helper under the master's command!
Looking around the Mushroom Clan, the other members are either still indulging in the power struggles of the early days of the clan, or complacent with the status quo, or even falling into the gentle embrace of humans or other races. They have completely failed to realize that only knowledge and power are the foundation of the Mushroom Clan!
The only real threat is a fourteenth-ranked dog; right now...
Inside the library, Number Ten isn't limited to magical texts. As long as the content has value, whether it's historical records, alchemical principles, basic elemental theories, or even some monster illustrations, it accepts them all.
With a spiritual perception far exceeding that of ordinary intelligent races, its reading method is closer to an efficient scanning and storage process. The pages flip rapidly under the mycelium, emitting a continuous and slight rustling sound.
It is precisely because of this frequent movement and handling that it occasionally makes that signature "plop" sound.
Lin Jun felt that the Mushroom Clan's spiritual strength was limited, but that was a conclusion drawn from her own perspective.
"Number 10, you're working very hard!" Lin Jun's gentle voice suddenly rang in Number 10's mind.
"Master!" Number Ten responded instinctively when suddenly noticed by the Master.
"You are very good. You have a strong will and are calm in handling matters. What is even more commendable is that you know how to actively seek knowledge and teach yourself magic. Your handling of the situation in the underground ruins last time was also remarkable."
Having gained the approval of the master, even the usually calm Number Ten couldn't help but feel excited.
"Given your performance, I intend to reward you. You will have a valuable opportunity related to magical knowledge, or you can choose to exchange it for other necessities, such as more S-rank magic crystals or other resources, which I will grant your request."
"I choose that opportunity!" Without hesitation, for Number Ten, how could something as mage crystal compare to the magical knowledge that even the Bacteria Master considered precious?
"But it's quite difficult, and you might not be able to catch it. Otherwise, you'll waste this reward. Why don't you reconsider?" Lin Jun kindly reminded her.
"I...I can do it! Master, please believe in me!"
"good!"
The next moment, the mycelial tentacles that were stroking the pages of the book suddenly loosened, and the entire round mushroom body seemed to lose all support in an instant, collapsing softly to the floor with a "plop".
An elven scholar who was engrossed in his files nearby was startled by the commotion. He looked up and saw the motionless Puji lying on the ground. He immediately got up and hurried over, his face filled with concern and doubt, and bent down to check on the situation.
However, the limp thing had already stood up again on its own, albeit unsteadily.
It methodically closed the open books, placed them back in their original positions with its mycelial tentacles, then turned around and left the library under the watchful eyes of several elves.
Nobody knew that this wasn't number ten anymore.
...
Having detached from the mushroom body, Number Ten naturally lost the ability to perceive the outside world.
Consciousness faded into a hazy state.
It felt its soul enveloped in countless warm and supple mycelium, a sensation of unparalleled comfort, as if returning to the most primal tranquility of life.
It felt as if with just a gentle effort, one could merge into the endless mycelium, and from then on, there would be no more disturbances, only eternal and peaceful rest.
Unfortunately, in its soul state, it couldn't even muster the simple thought of "merging" into the other's body.
That carefree comfort comes and goes like the tide.
When it came to its senses, it was already inside the body of a cannon fodder, surrounded by a small, enclosed space.
A slight sense of loss lingered in my heart; this was a minor aftereffect of each soul transfer.
It quickly perked up and prepared to meet that opportunity and challenge!
"Don't rush, don't rush!" Lin Jun reassured her. "Before we begin, there's a little preliminary work that can help increase your success rate."
The sunstone was brought in by a poop, but instead of spreading its warm light around as usual, it did not.
Instead, under Lin Jun's control, the light was gathered together, eventually transforming into a slender yet stable bridge of light that enveloped the mushroom body of Number Ten.
Number 10 immediately noticed the change in himself; his mental strength was actually increasing!
"This is……"
"Be quiet and adapt to the changes."
Number 10 stopped asking questions and devoted himself entirely to experiencing this unprecedented feeling of "soul expansion".
This power did not originate from nothing. In fact, it was Lin Jun who voluntarily shared her share of her soul power with him.
This is one of the small uses of the sunstone: adjusting the proportion of the split soul to Lin Jun herself.
It's probably of little use to most things, since dividing them up reduces their number and weakens them.
But it's different for Lin Jun. What he lacks is never the total amount, but the means to allocate and utilize this massive amount.
Even if the portion allocated to Number Ten reaches the limit that Number Ten can currently bear, it is still just a drop in the ocean for Lin Jun.
The significant increase in mental strength will ensure that Number Ten will be able to read the knowledge more quickly during its upcoming journey in the "Super Magic Library." The rest will depend on its own learning ability.
As for the other Puji, although they have no shortage of soul volume, it seems that they wouldn't use it even if given it, so there's no need to waste it.
The upgrade to number ten, or rather the adjustment of his soul's mass, won't be long, and Ivan should start making preparations as well.
Infiltrating every night and evacuating in the early morning is ultimately too inefficient and carries the risk of exposure.
Moreover, if left unchecked, this halfling mage probably won't live much longer; his spiritual power is being rapidly depleted.
Even if it's just for the sake of Number Ten's studies, we have to keep him alive first. This requires a reasonable identity that allows him to stay in the Silver Thorn Squad's courtyard for an extended period.
...
Norwich, a quiet alleyway corner.
A figure completely shrouded in an inconspicuous dark gray-brown cloak, with even its face hidden in the shadow of the hood, quietly raised its arm and blocked the female elf night owl that was nimbly skimming over the side wall.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com