Mushroom Lord in the Underground City-Chapter 374 - 366: Refusal

"I don’t understand... This sounds like an apocalyptic prophecy? But what exactly does ’Ark’ refer to? Who said this? And what exactly is this place?" Salian’s questions continued incessantly, filled with confusion and unease.

The two continued forward, eventually stopping in front of a "Wooden Wall" that stretched endlessly, disappearing into the boundless darkness above and below.

Ilo gently placed his palm on the wall and said, "This is a small part of the ’Abyss’. By all reasoning, it should be an absolute forbidden zone for life. However, the Divine Wood has taken root here, altering the status of this area."

"Divine Wood?" Salian was taken aback by the words, suddenly looking up to re-examine this massive "Wooden Wall", only to realize that this was not a wall at all, but a small part of a tree so enormous it defied imagination!

This wasn’t Salian’s fault for reacting slowly; if it weren’t for the context, Lin Jun too would find it difficult to associate this majestic entity with the sapling that previously seemed ready to topple at the slightest breeze.

Ilo continued to dispel his student’s doubts: "And the Ark is the Underground City! They have independent space and ecosystems, and with proper adjustments, they can thoroughly isolate themselves from external disasters, becoming self-contained."

"Independent space? I know some Underground Cities indeed have this characteristic, but the Divine Wood Dungeon seems..."

Ilo shook his head, his tone like when he usually instructed students: "Don’t be satisfied with just surface knowledge! Salian, do you know what is left after an Underground City is utterly destroyed?"

Salian shook his head blankly.

He had never personally witnessed the complete destruction of an Underground City. Such knowledge was not even recorded in detail in the grand library of the Royal City.

Ilo didn’t expect his student to answer, and he said solemnly, "Nothing will be left. No ruins, no giant craters—only a blank space, as if nothing ever existed there. That’s the original foundation of this world. The existence of Underground Cities is actually an overlay of space on the original area."

"Salian, you have great talent, but staying in Ishildorin has ultimately limited your perspective."

"I also... haven’t had many chances to see the outside..." Salian said in a low voice.

Ilo sighed softly, his voice almost like he was talking to himself: "That’s the problem... It’s exactly that..."

"As for who spoke those words..." While talking, the two arrived at three smaller information blocks.

At Ilo’s gesture, Salian touched one directly, revealing content similar to before:

[Time: 77635.223.74]

[Today is another idle, leisurely day.]

[Waiting for death, once you get used to it, is unexpectedly quite pleasant.]

[After all, it’s not my fault.]

"Some kind of... diary?" Salian was taken aback.

And what’s with this time?

Salian looked at his teacher in confusion, but Ilo merely gestured for him to continue.

[Time: 77635.223.115]

[Laughing to death, I just knew Arthur would stumble because of his lust!] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

[Can’t control what’s in his pants, ready to take any beauty as his own, and so prolific!]

[Now look, a grand Empire shattered like biscuit crumbs, a lifetime of futile efforts.]

[Speaking of futile, Nevrilla and Ikezion are the same, clearly beyond salvation yet still meddling.]

Reading the first half, Salian was still trying to recall which historical emperor was named Ismael.

But when the names of the God of Light, Ikezion, and Death God, Nevrilla, were mentioned in such a casual, even dismissive, tone, Salian’s expression changed immediately.

He took a deep breath and reached for the last small block, only to find the same style of records:

[Time: 77635.226.2]

[Nevrilla invited me over, saying she wanted to show me a way to turn the tides.]

[I might as well see what she’s been tinkering with for so long?]

"This... Is this a God’s diary?" Salian’s voice was somewhat dry due to shock.

"At least it’s an existence close to God," Ilo’s answer maintained its precision.

While it’s impossible to determine who exactly left these records, and the tone borders on casual or even mocking, the recorder views the gods with an evident equality.

As for the possibility that these are the ravings of some mad person...

It’s not impossible, but highly unlikely.

It’s hard to imagine an ordinary person leaving records in such a peculiar manner.

From the content of these records, it seems the God of Light and Death God are trying to save this world, but this mysterious recorder has no hope in their efforts.

And what truly distresses Salian is the place where the record ends!

"Teacher, could that so-called ’solution’ possibly be the Underground City?"

"I think it is." Ilo cast a Lighting Technique, revealing an incredibly large black block not far away, and warned, "Don’t touch it; it’ll kill you."

"Many such record blocks are scattered here, but I don’t have enough time to carefully interpret them all." Ilo’s gaze swept over those black cubes and finally returned to Salian, "But one thing is certain: the mist will eventually engulf everything. And before that happens, we must thoroughly study it. This task cannot be accomplished by simply curling up in a corner of the Continent."

"Then why not consult the king..."

"I know Oriel all too well," Ilo interrupted directly, with a trace of fatigue barely detectable in his voice, "He would never agree. The long years have worn away all his edges. He will never agree to any decision that might bring risk to the Elf Race, even for the sake of long-term survival."

"Teacher, do you intend to... seize the throne?"

Ilo looked at his most outstanding student: "Salian, I’m not doing this for myself. Like Oriel, I have less than a hundred years left to live; I’m unlikely to see the day this land is swallowed by the mist. But what about you? What about the younger elves? The Elf Race shouldn’t head towards extinction due to our shortsightedness and conservatism... At least... we should make a vigorous effort."

"Salian, you are young and exceptionally talented; you’re destined to become one of the leaders of the elves in the future. Join me, the future of the Elf Race needs your power." Ilo extended his hand to Salian.

Salian instinctively wanted to grasp that hand, the hand of his teacher whom he had always admired and followed. But at the last moment, he couldn’t help but ask: "This will cause many deaths, won’t it?"

"Sacrifices are unavoidable," Ilo’s response was calm and firm, "but for the entire race, some costs are worthwhile."

Salian hesitated for a moment but eventually retracted his hand: "I can’t do it... Teacher, am I also to be sacrificed?"

Ilo sighed as if he anticipated this.

"Sacrificing you is not worth it," his tone carried a trace of regret, "since you can’t make up your mind now, then stay here for the time being before everything concludes. It won’t take long."

"By the way..."

Ilo suddenly turned around and drew the tail of his Magic Staff in the air.

The Scout Puki, who had been watching the scene behind Salian, instantly ceased all motion.

In the next moment, several of its mycelium tendrils broke off completely and fell to the ground.

Then, its round mushroom cap also slid off.

Immediately after, Ilo’s figure vanished right before Salian’s eyes.

...

Being so low-profile, yet still not sparing Puki? (This storyline is quite stuck, still writing the rest, around 1 o’clock)