Comprehensive network wizard, magic emperor.

Chapter 337 The Realm of the Mind: A Gathering of Powerful Individuals

When Lin Bo condensed his sacred embryo, his body was completely still, his breathing was subtle, and his heart did not beat, as silent as a withered stone under a tree. Thus, the beasts that gathered and roamed in the forest, freely munching on mushrooms, regarded him as a human-shaped statue.

Birds hopped and frolicked in his arms, red foxes slithered across his knees, mice curled up in his cloak, saber-toothed beasts lowered their heads to sniff the scent of his fingers and palms, and muntjacs and elk licked the dew that had condensed on his armor.

The little seagull stood on a branch of a tree behind the monk, calling for all the creatures of the fungus to gather and commanding them to bring more wild beasts to join the embrace of the azure sea.

So the pack of predators drove away wild boars, cattle, and sheep, while pikas gathered their friends and relatives. These creatures had their flesh torn open by sharp claws, allowing the mycelium to burrow into their bodies. They experienced brief terror and pain, then became lost in the jubilant language of the fungus, their pupils dilated, their expressions serene, as if returning to their nests and childhood.

It's true that the rainforest is being eroded by fungal carpets, but animals are regaining their right to live peacefully in this land through symbiosis. The mycelium implanted in their bodies makes them stronger, not only physically, but also with an affinity for magical energy.

At 2 PM, the barbarian and the mechanic went home together.

The situation on the battlefield guarded by the Greenskins didn't require too much concern. They had some free time to retreat to the rear to eat and rest, and on the way, they came to visit the Mage Brother, only to find him peacefully meditating amidst the surrounding wild beasts.

The carnivorous beasts here were all at ease, lazily watching the herbivores pass by.

"What's wrong with these little animals?" The mechanic tilted his head, puzzled.

“They are connecting with this land.” The female orc could sense the will of the creep; all the creatures connected to it were communicating, not through language, but through a more primal communion of thought.

The Mechanist became even more curious. She wanted to know what a group of wild beasts would talk about when they got together. Would they talk about the weather, or complain about a carnivore eating their relatives?
"I can try taking you deep-sea diving. Let's eat first. I'm starving."

After the meal, the two went to the group of animals and adjusted themselves to the most comfortable positions. The barbarian knelt upright, while the mechanic simply lay down.

The raging psychic energy swept through, carrying their souls deep into the mycelium-covered earth.

A vast thing encountered them, without thought or intention, as dense as a network, as boundless as the ocean.

They heard the little seagull's loud cry, and the cawing of the bird echoed in their hearts, creating a complex sonic image that allowed them to understand its meaning immediately.

"The azure sea is magnificent; it feeds us and makes us happy when we're not hungry! It makes us strong and healthy!"

The beasts' minds were immersed in the Hadith of the Seagulls, quiet and comfortable, and they showed no alarm at the sudden intrusion of the two humanoid intelligent beings.

"This place is so...strange. It's like another world. There's no time or space, no physical laws, it's purely composed of spiritual energy, just like the astral plane," the Mechanist remarked, giving her first impression.

“Thoughts are powerful.” The female orc had already experienced the power of the mind. “The greatest invention of life is communication, connection, and aggregation. The ideology of a group can create a purely imaginary space, a sight invisible in the real world… It’s beautiful.”

"It's beautiful. But I feel a little unsafe." The Mechanist freely used his imagination to create geometric structures. "I'm more comfortable with rigid, cold, solid matter. They can't be easily distorted or destroyed by thought."

"Thoughts cannot directly change matter. However, they can drive our hands to create and destroy. Psychic energy is this medium of power, but it is far more dexterous than our hands."

"No wonder you psionicists are all a bit reclusive. You're used to being omnipotent in your imagination, so returning to reality must be quite a shock, right?"

"Yes, but this is a wicked thought that must be eradicated. Losing love for reality means losing the source of psychic power. All the emotions and philosophies that drive psychic power originate from the pain of reality. Escaping suffering will trap us in an imaginary world until we perish. This is probably one of the endings we fear most."

As the mechanic seemed to be deep in thought, the female orc suddenly asked, "Would you like to go deeper inside?"

What does "deeper" mean?

“We are now essentially inside the mycelium’s brain, and deeper inside is their sensory layer, which is their body.” The female orc led her enthusiastic companions down the slope. The spiritual entities of the animals before them gradually receded into the distance, and the seagulls’ loud didactic pronouncements could no longer be heard. At this moment, the mycelium master’s emotions became clear.

This is a pure joy and warmth, representing a welcoming attitude.

Through their mental connection with the fungal master, they were able to sense the earth enveloped by dense mycelium, like a vast, deep blue lake. The trees on the ground were the arms of the mushrooms, used to grab the warm sunlight, while their feet pierced deep into the rock strata, drawing hot springs flowing underground.

Both the mechanic and the barbarian were learning for the first time the secret buried in the forest: a massive man-made structure underground. The mycelium could feel the crisscrossing pipes and the enormous textures on the rock surface, with each character clearly visible—a vast amount of magical runes.

“No wonder the mage told me not to dig.” The mechanic muttered to herself. She was also studying enchanting and naturally recognized the Gudorei language.

Giants and dwarves both liked to carve runes into rocks to preserve the lettering for a long time. But their skill was far inferior to the enchanting method that used the rock's texture as ink, a truly masterful technique whose power could not be erased until the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled.

"I really want to learn." [Picking up trash makes me happy] looked on with unhappiness and longing.

They sensed the strange visitors entering the forest through the mycelium, and a player sent a message in the world chat saying that they had entered the territory of a big shot and would soon be able to meet offline.

Almost all players, unless they are really too busy or have a very withdrawn personality, are determined to come to the [Sanctuary] faction, meet the strongest mage in the dungeon, broaden their horizons, and keep up with the pace.

[Toad Journey] tugged at his backpack, beckoned to the shield dwarf honor guard behind him, and together they stepped onto the thick, soft fungal carpet, a firm and elastic sensation returning to them.

They had walked timidly for less than half a mile when they saw the mechanic and the barbarian beckoning from the forest.

"Hello, boss!" [Toad Travel] greeted the audience like a very polite elementary school student on an autumn outing.

"He's not some big shot at all, he's just someone who makes a living by following the mage brother." They said cheerfully.

"Are you busy, Master?"

"I'll take you to see him now. Let's go."

"No, no, isn't that a bad idea? I, I, I'm scared!"

“He doesn’t eat people, probably.” The mechanic snapped his fingers, and the fungal carpet split open, swallowing them whole.

The dwarf let out a sharp screech, only to find that it was not being eaten, but was being rapidly propelled by wriggling mycelium through underground pipes, soon reaching the depths of the woodland, where it was then spat out of the ground.

The dwarf he brought was so frightened that his pants were almost wet, but he looked excited and shouted that it was fun.

"Look, the monk is right there. Let's wait a bit. Would you like to check out our special attractions?"

[Toad Journey] was still in shock. He patted his chest and bowed to the ancient saint from afar. Then he was dragged to the battlefield of the green skins and chaos to experience the carnage.

Soon after, more players arrived, and local powerhouses also stepped into the Azure Forest with utmost awe.

All visitors went to the place where the monk meditated, paying their respects from afar in careful silence.

(End of this chapter)