Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

  Of course, fungi species were not limited to the prince mushroom.

  But what is the fungi species in the first place?

  Most commonly seen mushrooms were fungi, including wood-ear and snow fungus. They do not have chlorophyll to perform photosynthesis, and they could be found living everywhere: underwater, in the air, beneath the soil or even within the body of plants and animals.

  As a matter of fact, Jiang He was quite interested in the mutated fungi.

  However, he could not bear with Great Desert Swordsman’s attitude.

  Pay up front?

  Was he afraid that Jiang He would cheat him?

  “Bleh. I’m more afraid that he would try to cheat me. If you are known in Xibei, why haven’t I heard of you?” Jiang He complained, and was about to sleep when his phone started ringing.

  It was Wang Meng.

  So, Jiang He promptly rejected the call.

  Still, that man stubbornly called back, and a modern classic saying appeared in Jiang He’s head then: Cold shoulder me today, and I’ll destroy you tomorrow.

  Lighting himself a cigarette, Jiang He only answered then.

  Over at the other end, Wang Meng was laughing. “Uh, well, I was just joking just now, bro…… You wanted to buy mutated fruit or vegetable seeds, right? Fungi counts, I believe?”


  His attitude was much better this time, and his tone less arrogant. “I definitely discovered mutated fungi out in the wild and managed to pluck one by luck. We could talk in detail if you’re interested.”


  “Didn’t you say that the reason you could ascend up to rank-four was mostly thanks to that fungi?” Jiang He replied.

  Wang Meng chuckled awkwardly on the other end, saying, “I was just exaggerating. My ascension definitely was connected to that experience, but it was not mostly because of the mutated fungi.”


  Jiang He nodded.

  That was much better.

  If that fool had still insisted that his ascension from rank three up to rank four was because of the mutated fungi, Jiang He would suspect him for being a cheater!

  One should know that rising from rank-three to rank-four in martial arts was a great leap, but if successful, the individual’s ability would improve by leaps and bounds—even by several folds, along with gaining the ability to cultivate True Qi.

  Such information would be worth more than 50 merit points even when sold to the Martial Arts Department (MAD).

  Meanwhile, Wang Meng was still tirelessly introducing how special that ‘mutated fungi’ was, how his qi and body improved immensely after consumption and his whole body was filled with inexhaustible vigor……

  Unable to help it, Jiang He asked, “Mister Wang, can I just ask…… what is that fungi you harvested?”


  Pausing, Wang Meng then quietly said, “Wood-ear.”


  “Then start with that! Again and again with that mutant fungi, I almost thought that you found lingzhi!” Jiang He barked, a little lost for words. “Are you from Western Xia?”


  “Yup!”


  “Where in Western Xia?”


  “My old place was in the Helan district, but I moved two years ago.” Wang Meng replied.

  It seems that he was a martial artist with some ability even before the Revival of Qi, and had only recently cultivated up to rank-four. Still, he knows more than the average person, and it made sense that he moved house early on.

  Moreover, it was reported in the news a while ago that the entire Helan district was being moved to the new city zone of Western Xia. With Mount Helan just beside that district, it was too dangerous not to be evacuated.

  “That works.”


  Jiang He said. “Incidentally, I’m heading to Mount Helan tomorrow. We could meet up then.”


  From Lingzhou City, he would pass Western Xia City on his way to Mount Helan.

  After he hung up, Jiang He yawned, ready to sleep.

  Despite his interest at first, once he heard that Wang Meng’s mutated fungi was wood-ear, he felt…… uninterested.

  “Still, wood-ears are wood-ears……”


  “That stuff is quite good stir-fried or served cold. It’s a match in heaven with cucumber and nutritious, and it would definitely be stronger in effect after I grow it.”


  Soon, Jiang He was in dreamland.

  Sleeping until he woke naturally again, he washed up and went downstairs, where Sora was waiting by the stairs just like yesterday, saying coquettishly, “Master, I have prepared lunch for you, look……”


  Jiang He was about to tell her that he would eat right away, but when he looked up to find Mu Wanqiu on the living room couch, he quickly said, “Wait a moment. I have something to discuss with Miss Mu.”


  After all, he did blacklist Mu Wanqiu.

  Mu Wanqiu herself was rather speechless when saw him in his pajamas. “Do you always wake up at this hour, Jiang He?”


  “Of course.”


  Jiang He replied, sitting opposite her with a begrudging smile. “The dogs of the Sky Demon Cult had been troubling me so much that the quality of my sleep was on free fall. I would wake up by default at this hour every day, and can’t fall back to sleep!”


  As he spoke, he leaned into the couch with a helpless look as he rubbed his temples. “I’ll go with you to Mount Helan first. After I come back, I’ll come up with an idea to adjust my body and see if I could improve my sleep.

  Mu Wanqiu: “.……”


  She took out her phone and look carefully at it.

  It was definitely one o’clock.

  So why Jiang He was talking as if the sun had not risen?

  ‘You only woke up in the afternoon, and that is still poor sleep?

  ‘How about me, when I have to deal with truckloads of work and still cultivate, sleeping just around four to five hours per day?’


  Since she was becoming more furious the more she thought about it, she rose to her feet, saying, “Hurry up and eat your lunch. We’ll be heading to Mount Helan immediately after you’re done.”


  With that, she strode out of the mansion and climbed on to her off-road vehicle, which she parked outside his yard.

  Jiang He gave chase, saying, “Well, do you want to eat a little since lunch is ready? Alright, if you don’t want to eat, please help me carry some of the camping equipment up in your car.

  “.……”


  Mu Wanqiu scowled even harder.

  Did I say I didn’t want to?

  And am I going to bankrupt you from just one meal?

  Then, she saw Jiang He enter his storeroom and carry out a huge pile of items.

  Barbeque rack, sleeping back, tent…… and even bottle of oil, a steel wok, and a large clutter of condiments.

  “It was on short notice so my preparation was rushed, that’s why these are all I had. Still, if you’re worried about food, we could get ingredients from Mount Helan itself…… anyway, help me move them—I’m going to have lunch.”


  ***

  Atop Mount Helan.

  Several figures were standing side-by-side and looking out into the distance on one of the ridges.

  Along their gaze, they could clearly see the crown of an enormous tree on one of the ridges opposite.

  There was no wind, but the tree crown was shaking without end. When Ferals passed it by on occasion, there would be a crisp ‘thud’, and the creature would end up in pieces, its blood and remains splattering all over the ground.

  And in no time at all, those remains would disappear without a trace, as if the earth itself had devoured it, leaving only a pile of dried bones.

  Upon a closer look, there was a big pile of dried bones beneath that big tree.

  A middle-aged martial artist with facial hair carrying an alloy combat axe appeared thrilled as he said somberly, “It’s big. It’s definitely a big one. Us few are never going to handle it—Bound Star, contact headquarters immediately for backup!”