Fireball!
Lightning Arrow!
Mud Swamp Spell!
Without relying on the framework of mana nodes, the condensation and shaping of mana became unprecedentedly direct. The construction speed increased significantly.
But after careful comparison, Lin Jun still discovered its drawback. Maintaining mana stability directly without nodes required several times more mental control than normal casting.
The difference was so subtle that Lin Jun hadn’t noticed it at first.
It made sense, though. The node system itself was an excellent casting framework, providing stability and repeatability.
Breaking free from the framework granted freedom, but maintaining spell stability and precision undoubtedly placed harsher demands on the caster.
Fortunately, for Lin Jun, it made no difference.
Only… reading was so hard…
In the overmagic library, Lin Jun’s reading progress had easily caught up to Evan’s in just a few days.
This was still with Lin Jun re-entering the dream each night via [Mental Guidance]. If he could stay inside continuously without withdrawing his invested mental power every morning, progress would be countless times faster.
But from this point onward, the content grew increasingly complex—even beginning to analyze mana itself, trending toward the microscopic.
Simply put, though Lin Jun read quickly, he was starting to struggle digesting it.
But the mushroom garden had an old saying: Mushrooms are not born different; they excel at borrowing Puchis.
No. 10 had quite the magic talent—perfect to give it a try.
As for No. 10’s limited personal mental strength… as a unique individual half-separated from Lin Jun’s soul, it could perfectly use a new Sun Stone method Lin Jun recently learned from abyss space.
…
The library in the Elf Royal Palace.
In the spacious arched hall, light streamed through high glass windows, forming mottled beams that illuminated ancient heavy wooden tables and shelves.
The air carried the mingled scent of old paper, parchment, and cool wood fragrance.
Only a few elves were scattered throughout, seated or standing, absorbed in their volumes. Occasionally came the soft rustle of turning pages.
Yet whenever “puchi puchi” sounds rang out, they couldn’t help directing their gazes toward the Puchi moving back and forth reading books.
Long slender tentacles compensated for height disadvantage, easily reaching desired volumes.
It wasn’t that they found it noisy—palace elves wouldn’t be bothered by such walking sounds.
Purely novelty at seeing a Puchi in the royal library.
After all, half a year ago, Puchis were still classified as monsters.
Even now, mages and druids debated whether Puchis belonged to intelligent races or high-intelligence monsters.
This was the library’s first floor—nothing secretive, though outsiders normally had no access.
Thanks to Pink Puchi and Fourteen, No. 10 merely mentioned it. Already fallen to the Fungus Lord’s beauty scheme and obsessed with Fourteen’s mushroom body, Galadriel generously approved.
Thinking this, No. 10 sincerely praised the Fungus Lord’s greatness in its heart.
With mere slight scheming, a continental heavyweight like the acting Elf Queen was toyed with on tentacles.
The future—entire continent would surely submit beneath the Fungus Lord’s mushroom cap!
It must work harder, acquire more knowledge, master greater power—to prove value and become indispensable aide under the Fungus Lord!
Looking around Mushroom Tribe internally, other kin either indulged in power struggles from early tribal rise or grew complacent in status quo—even sinking into human or other races’ gentle traps. None grasped that only knowledge and power were Mushroom Tribe’s foundation!
The only real threat was Fourteen, and now…
In the library, No. 10 wasn’t limited to magic texts. Anything valuable—history records, alchemy principles, basic element theory, even certain monster illustrated guides—it accepted all.
With mental perception far surpassing ordinary intelligent races, its reading resembled efficient scanning and storage. Pages flipped rapidly under mycelium, emitting continuous soft rustle.
Precisely this frequent movement and replacement caused occasional signature “puchi” sounds.
Lin Jun thought Mushroom Tribe mental strength limited—conclusion based on himself as reference.
“No. 10, quite diligent!” Lin Jun’s gentle voice suddenly rang directly in No. 10’s consciousness.
“Fungus Lord!” Suddenly addressed by the Fungus Lord, No. 10 instinctively responded.
“You’re excellent—resolute mindset, calm handling, and rarest of all, proactively seeking knowledge and self-studying magic. Your response in the underground ruin last time was commendable too.”
Receiving the Fungus Lord’s recognition, even No. 10’s usually calm heart stirred with excitement.
“Given your performance, I intend to reward you. A precious opportunity related to magic knowledge—or you may exchange for other needs, like more S-grade magic crystals or resources. I’ll satisfy whatever.”
“I choose the opportunity!” No hesitation. For No. 10, external items like magic crystals couldn’t compare to magic knowledge the Fungus Lord deemed precious.
“But it’s quite difficult—you may not grasp it. Wasting the reward then—no reconsidering?” Lin Jun kindly reminded.
“I… I can do it! Fungus Lord, please trust me!”
“Good!”
Next moment, No. 10’s mycelium tentacles stroking pages suddenly loosened. The entire round mushroom body seemed to lose all support—“poof”—softly collapsing to the floor.
Nearby, an elf scholar buried in scrolls startled at the noise. Looking up at the motionless Puchi, he immediately rose and hurried over, concern and confusion on his face, bending to check.
Yet the limp Puchi already wobbled back upright.
It methodically closed open books, returning them with mycelium tentacles, then turned and left the library under several elves’ gazes.
No one knew—this was no longer No. 10.
…
Detached from the mushroom body, No. 10 naturally lost external perception.
Consciousness fell into haze.
It felt its soul wrapped in countless warm flexible mycelium—indescribably comfortable, like returning to life’s primal peace.
As if with slight effort, it could merge into endless mycelium—forever undisturbed, only eternal tranquil rest.
Unfortunately, in soul state, even simple intent to “merge” was hard to form.
The carefree comfort came and went like tide.
Regaining awareness, it was already in a cannon-fodder Puchi body, surroundings a sealed small space.
Faint lingering loss—this minor aftereffect of each soul transfer.
It quickly rallied, ready for the opportunity and challenge!
“No rush!” Lin Jun soothed. “Before starting, some preparatory work to boost success rate.”
A Puchi brought in the Sun Stone—no usual warm light filling surroundings.
Under Lin Jun’s control, light condensed into thin stable beam, enveloping No. 10’s mushroom body.
No. 10 immediately sensed change—its mental power constantly growing!
“This is…”
“Quiet. Adapt well to the changes.”
No. 10 asked no more, fully immersing to experience unprecedented “soul expansion.”
Power source wasn’t created from nothing. In fact, Lin Jun actively transferred portion of his own soul power.
One small Sun Stone use—adjust split soul proportion with Lin Jun himself.
For most existences probably useless—split means less, less means weaker.
But for Lin Jun different. He never lacked total volume—only means to allocate and use vast amount.
Portion given No. 10—even reaching current limit—was mere drop for Lin Jun.
Vastly boosted mental power would ensure No. 10’s upcoming “overmagic library” journey allowed faster reading those knowledges. Rest depended on its learning ability.
As for other Puchis—though not lacking soul volume, currently seemed unable to use if given—no need waste.
No. 10 upgrade/soul volume adjustment wouldn’t take long. Evan side needed preparation too.
Nightly infiltration, morning withdrawal—efficiency too low, exposure risk.
Moreover, left alone, this half-elf mage truly wouldn’t last long—mental power rapidly depleting.
Even for No. 10’s studies, must first keep him alive—requiring reasonable long-term presence identity in Silver Thorn courtyard.
…
Norwid, quiet alley corner.
A figure wrapped in unremarkable dark gray-brown cloak, face hidden in hood shadow, silently raised arm—blocking female elf Nightowl lightly leaping over side wall.
(End of Chapter)
