Chapter 49 - Purple Illusory Rat

“Although we both know the approximate area where the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom is usually found, the Desolate Mountains is a vast area and the Burning Heaven Mountain Range is also huge. Even if we know that it’s there, we might not be able to find the mushroom immediately,” Feng Mingyang, who was walking in front, suddenly turned to Long Chen.

The muscular Chen Xiongzhou also turned and said, “But we are planning to explore the Burning Heaven Mountain Range today so we can take you along with us. There are countless dangers there and it’ll be too dangerous for you to search alone. It’s best if you follow us closely.”

Long Chen quickly nodded. “Both of you are extraordinarily talented. It’s my honor to be able to enter Burning Heaven Mountain Range with you.”

Long Chen knew what they were thinking. They didn’t want to kill Long Chen, but if Long Chen went alone to search for the mushroom, he might get lucky and find the treasure they were looking for in the Burning Heaven Mountain Range. It was best to keep Long Chen with them and quickly find the Dream Mushroom before sending him off.

“Long Chen, these two guys are so nice to you,” said Ling Xi excitedly, not able to read between the lines. Long Chen was going to get her the soul-nourishing herb she needed after all.

You silly woman, you don’t know anything,

cussed Long Chen privately. Then, he followed the two men into the Burning Heaven Mountain Range, which was covered in what looked like coal.

The ground and rocks covering the Burning Heaven Mountain Range were completely black and as hard as iron pieces. Long Chen was surprised that the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom could grow in a place like this.

As they approached the Mountain Range, Long Chen sensed that the temperature was indeed high. When he stepped into the area, he realized it was hotter than a summer day in Baiyang Town. A regular person probably would die not long after arriving.

“Based on what we remember, there should be Dream Lingzhi Mushrooms over there. We’ll head there first.” The three of them walked carefully. Although Chen Xiongzhou and Feng Mingyang said they were looking for the mushroom, most of their attention was on the peculiar phenomenon. Feng Mingyang picked up some black soil and sniffed. He frowned and said, “There’s a burnt smell in the soil. Although we call it ‘Burning Heaven Mountain Range,’ there’s no fire here. So where did the burning smell come from?”

Chen Xiongzhou was equally puzzled.

They couldn’t figure it out so they continued to trek forward. It was more important to get rid of their burden, Long Chen, first.

Long Chen also hoped to be done quickly. He needed to rush back to Baiyang Town after getting the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom.

Almost half the day had gone by. They encountered a Category 7 Yellow-tier demonic beast along the way but Chen Xiongzhou killed it easily. After Long Chen saw him do it, he realized that people from big cities had great hidden strength. Chen Xiongzhou had used an advanced Yellow-tier combat technique, which was powerful!

“In the past, many people found Dream Lingzhi Mushrooms in this area so let’s start searching here. Do your best to keep the other two within sight so we can come to each other’s rescue if anything happens. Long Chen, you’re still young and you’re inexperienced in combat. You don’t know how dangerous the Desolate Beastlands can be. If you encounter danger, just shout loudly.”

The three of them started searching. However, Long Chen could tell that the others were mostly investigating the Burning Heaven Mountain Range.

He didn’t have high hopes for them to help. “Hurry, hurry! I want more Dream Lingzhi Mushrooms!” Ling Xi pushed him on.

But treasures were rare after all. Usually, people got it through cunning or luck. Although there were indeed Dream Lingzhi Mushrooms in this area, they were extremely difficult to find.

The three of them trekked towards the mountainous area but after four days, they still didn’t find anything. By this point, Long Chen was deeply anxious.

He would need to rush home in half a day. Getting the Ascension Fruit was extremely important to the Yang family and Long Chen was their main fighter. Without him, the Yang family would lose badly. At this moment, he should’ve been guarding the Yang residence. Heading out to search for the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom for Ling Xi was already taking a huge risk. Five days had passed and it would take one more day to get home. They were very close to the ripening of the fruit.

All Ling Xi could do was comfort him. “Hey, I’m really not afraid of death. It’s about time anyway. I’m happy to have lived this long.”

Long Chen didn’t reply and continued searching among the black hills.

With her powerful senses, she would be the first to notice any Dream Lingzhi Mushroom present.

Chen Xiongzhou and Feng Mingyang looked at the teenager searching far away to the left of them, then looked at each other. Feng Mingyang said, “It’s been so long. I thought we’d find the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom easily and send him away but I didn’t expect it to take this long ...”

Chen Xiongzhou looked at the black soil and said, “The Burning Heaven Mountain Range’s temperature has gotten higher these few days. I have a feeling that something important is going to happen. I guess the treasure’s going to show itself soon. And with Long Chen still here, I’m afraid things aren’t going to go as planned.”

When Feng Mingyang saw a flash of determination in the other person’s eyes, he probed, “Why don’t we end him now? Then we can finally move on in peace. There’s something about Long Chen that makes me very uncomfortable.”

Chen Xiongzhou looked at Long Chen and his eyes flashed with violence. Finally, he nodded. “Do you want me to do it, or you?”

Feng Mingyang was about to say “I’ll do it” but suddenly, he saw a faint flickering purple glow and pursed his lips. “Whatever, I see the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom. Let’s send him off.”

They rushed over and indeed there was a Dream Lingzhi Mushroom growing in a crack beneath a boulder. “Long Chen, you don’t realize that this Dream Lingzhi Mushroom just saved your life.”

Long Chen was still searching when Ling Xi suddenly smelled the scent of the mushroom. Long Chen turned excitedly towards the direction she pointed and saw that the two men were holding the mushroom, approaching with smiles. Feng Mingyang said, “Brother Long Chen, we’ve finally found the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom. Seeing as you need it so badly, I’ll give this to you. Come have a drink with me at Yuanling City someday!”

Long Chen took the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom and thanked them even though he didn’t really like the two men. “Thank you Brother Chen and Brother Feng. I will definitely return your kindness in the future!”

Chen Xiongzhou waved and said, “There’s no need for that. Long Chen, do you know how to exit the Burning Heaven Mountain Range?”

He was very obviously shooing Long Chen away and Long Chen understood it well. Although he still had a bit of time to find more mushrooms, it was clear that the two men would not allow it and he said gratefully, “I do. Now that I have the mushroom, I must rush home to deal with some urgent matters. Farewell, my two brothers!” As he spoke, he put away the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom and bade them farewell.

Seeing as you two gave me the mushroom, I’m not going to dwell on this matter. But the Burning Heaven Mountain Range is huge, I can go explore on my own too.

One Dream Lingzhi Mushroom couldn’t keep Ling Xi alive for long. Long Chen needed as many mushrooms as possible for the girl to live a good life.

Along the way, Long Chen let Ling Xi cultivate the mushroom. It was soon refined and entered her system. Ling Xi emerged from the sword and stared at him pitifully, as if unsatiated, and said wistfully, “I ... I want more.”

Long Chen’s mind ran wild when he heard such an enticing sentence coming from Ling Xi, in addition to her ethereal looks but then he remembered that she was only two centimeters tall.

***

“We’ll search for half a day more. If we still can’t find any, we’ll have to head back.”

“Alright.”

Long Chen walked in a different direction to avoid meeting the two men but he kept his attention on the ground. “The soil gets hotter when I walk in this direction ...”

Long Chen knew that the two men were investigating the mountain range’s strange phenomenon but he was focused on the Dream Lingzhi Mushroom. Since it felt like he was heading in the right direction, he continued walking. “Hey, hey. Wait a minute ...”

Ling Xi had been flying along with him but she suddenly flew in front of his face and said mysteriously, “There’s something small over there, we must be careful. Listen to my guidance.”

Ling Xi’s discoveries were usually good things like the demonic ginseng that helped Long Chen greatly.

Long Chen held his breath and crept in the direction Ling Xi pointed. She had returned to her sword and he could hear her faint but excited voice. “I think it’s a Purple Illusory Rat. It’s just a small Category 1 Yellow-tier beast but it’s great at illusory magic with spiritual energy stronger than all the other beasts in the Yellow tier. Usually, this powerful spiritual energy is nourished by spiritual medicine ...”

“So this Purple Illusory Rat can lead us to a place with more soul-nourishing medicine?”

Under Ling Xi’s guidance, Long Chen soon saw the Purple Illusory Rat. It was a pale purple rodent as large as a kitten. It glowed a faint purple as if it was wrapped in a veil of mist so no one could see its true form clearly. However, it had a bright pair of purple eyes that made it adorable. “Scare it, then follow as it runs home.”

They might find more spiritual herbs. Although Ling Xi was usually ditzy, at least she was smart about this.

When Long Chen approached, the Purple Illusory Rat noticed him and let out a shrill cry. It exploded in a cloud of mist and turned into a ferocious Moon Devouring Wolf!