Wasteland Development Diary

"The 'explosive mushroom's tendril roots enter the ground making them difficult to dismantle. The Black Hand Mushrooms could dig them out, keeping them stable, but if it were me, traveling over rough terrain would likely cause them to explode. So after much consideration, I decided to give up on bringing an actual explosive mushroom specimen over here."

The Bone Man explained.

It then took out a doll fashioned from mud and stones: "However, I have also created a clay model based on the explosive mushroom. It won't explode, but its shape and size are molded according to the original, so it can be used as a reference for identification."

Zhou Yi took the model.

The explosive mushroom was flat, like a slightly raised clump of dirt, devoid of patterns or bright patches of color on its surface, yet it did have some threadlike tendril roots on the bottom.

Whether placed on the ground or buried in the soil, it was incredibly difficult to spot or notice, blending perfectly into a patch of Carpet Fungus.

Without guidance from locals, the Mushroom Forest was an extremely dangerous natural minefield.

As Zhou Yi examined the clay model of the explosive mushroom, he expressed his admiration, "No wonder the Mushroom Forest has remained unpenetrated by other Guangna Species and humans; you have a very comprehensive defense system."

"Please don't say that. Compared to your earth-shattering power to control the Dead Sea Alien, the defenses of the Mushroom Forest truly pale in significance."

The Bone Man maintained a humble demeanor: "This explosive mushroom youngster is called the Stone Bag Mushroom, and as they grow, some will evolve into explosive mushrooms. The explosive mushroom's tendril roots cling tightly to the surface of the ground and can sense vibrations and trampling caused by lifeforms other than mushrooms, triggering detonation."

"At its core, the explosive mushroom is a special kind of evolution, designed to maintain the stability and integrity of the surrounding land."

Zhou Yi picked up on a key point: "A part of them? Does the Stone Bag Mushroom evolve in another direction as well?"

"You are correct."

The Bone Man nodded: "Another part of the Stone Bag Mushroom grows upwards instead of collapsing downwards. It transforms into something that looks like a large rock, inconspicuous but accumulating more and more energy inside, with an exterior as hard as the stones in the Oasis River."

"This growth phase lasts from a few months to several years, until they stop enlarging and maintain their form. Then, they gradually crack open, decay, and return to the ground as a wealth of nutrients and essential nourishment."

Zhou Yi thought to himself, no wonder they are called Stone Bag Mushrooms.

Yet, he felt something was amiss.

There seemed to be a special connection between the explosive mushroom and the Stone Bag Mushroom.

Zhou Yi looked at Sun Chonglai: "What's inside the Stone Bag Mushroom?"

"It's not that I'm trying to be mysterious, but please give me a moment to tell you about myself because it is closely related to the Stone Bag Mushroom. It's enough to explain my current condition and why I am in the Mushroom Forest."

The Bone Man glanced at the box by its feet.

"When I woke up, I found myself in the Mushroom Forest. My body had changed to its current state, but as for my past—who I was, where I was, what I was doing—I knew nothing."

"Luckily, I had this box beside me. It was made from a special kind of beast skin and was treated with special medicines for antifungus and antidecomposition, so it remained mostly intact."

The Bone Man recalled: "I opened the box and found some papers with notes inside that, to my surprise, I could recognize. The papers depicted sketches and characteristics of various plants and among them was a will."

"The will stated that if I woke up and saw this, it meant I had become a Bone Man. It suggested I take the name Sun Chonglai and start a new life, not to dwell on the past, but look forward instead."

Sun Chonglai's ten pale fingers interlaced as he continued: "The paper mentioned that due to long-term drug experiments, my body was already failing, living in constant physiological pain and sleeplessness. Thus, the past me reminded the current me not to fret about death, as this wasn't murder, but a natural demise of my own making."

"The will stated that I had come to the Mushroom Jungle intending to pass away peacefully amidst the drowsiness caused by the Giant Mushrooms."

"However, here, I encountered a young girl in white exuding a fragrance. She said she was very hungry and needed to consume my brain and body, but as compensation, she would piece me back together and resurrect me in the form of a Bone Man."

"At the time, I wasn't going to live much longer anyway, so I agreed without hesitation."

"And then, she ate me."

At this point, the Bone Man's emotions remained very stable, as if he was simply narrating someone else's story.

"Back then, I called her a powerful being from legends, the Angel of Death."

The Angel of Death?

Zhou Yi was hearing this name for the first time.

Immediately, the voice of the Red Kestrel supplemented his thoughts.

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"This is a life form of extremely high strength, classified as an A-level skill rating in the public information of Recursive City. Where it appears, there will be a great deal of death and withering. It belongs to a category of beings that all other life forms are highly wary of and detest... Its mechanism remains unknown to this day."

Zhou Yi immediately became vigilant.

The Red Kestrel's 'Bird's Eye View' is akin to the Mind Reading Technique, with only a C-level rating, yet the Angel of Death is an A-level skill wielder, additionally equipped with a death buff... This one's tough to handle.

However, the Angel of Death can actually transform Bone Men?

This is indeed new intelligence.

"The most important thing is, before she left, Miss Angel of Death asked me to take good care of this place. When a new Angel of Death is born from her offspring, she will gift me in gratitude."

Sun Chonglai rubbed his bony hands together and showed a somewhat ingratiating skull smile, "I have never told anyone else these things, and I hope you can understand my sincerity."

A flurry of thoughts raced through Zhou Yi's head.

So, the Mushroom Forest was essentially a nursery for an Angel of Death; no wonder the Bone Man had always stayed here. Was it like the Angel of Death's babysitter or caretaker?

So that means...

"The Stone Bag Mushrooms, are they the offspring of the Angel of Death?"

The Bone Man nodded earnestly, "Yes, sir. However, in my 70 years of existence as a Bone Man, I have not yet seen a new Angel of Death emerge from the Stone Bag Mushrooms. They are just born, then quickly rupture and return to the earth, like eggs that fail to hatch into chicks."

"That lady instructed me to let everything follow the natural course and did not tell me any methods to increase the chance of birthing an Angel of Death. But such a legendary life form is indeed rare, so it's understandable that it's difficult."

"What I can do is to keep expanding and stabilizing the Mushroom Forest, continuing to stand watch."

"But please don't misunderstand, I have no ulterior motives. I'm simply relaying everything I've experienced. The Black Hand Mushrooms I lead are rich in mushroom cultivation experience, and the Mushroom Forest sincerely hopes to join your farm. Doing so will not only leverage their diligence and skills, but also provide us with a powerful backer like you."

Zhou Yi thought to himself.

The Mushroom Forest was actually tied to a legendary creature like the Angel of Death.

But importantly, the Bone Man, who had been managing the Mushroom Forest for a long time, indeed possessed a wealth of experience in cultivation and maintenance. At least in terms of growing mushrooms, they were far superior to the residents of Mao Valley Town.

Zhou Yi raised his right index finger, "I have one question that I need you to answer honestly."

"Please ask."

"People say Black Hand Mushrooms are skilled in theft, deception, and ambush. Can they be trusted?"

The Bone Man spoke calmly, "I can't guarantee anything else, but at least the Black Hand Mushrooms of the Mushroom Forest have mostly grown up under my watch. They are a species with a relatively short life span, only living for 10 to 15 years, shorter than a human's."

"These children, I have cultivated and instructed them bit by bit. What they are truly adept at is imitating humans. In fact, in the Mushroom Forest, most of the time humans are robbed and ambushed by their own kind, but outsiders are told it was done by the Black Hand Mushrooms."

"Black Hand Mushrooms have weak combat abilities, so I require them to act in groups and learn to bluff, using explosive mushrooms to intimidate outsiders. These children are very diligent; they just want to protect themselves and this place, and they have been the ones planting the giant mushrooms and further expanding the Mushroom Forest."

Zhou Yi nodded, "I believe you."

The tension in the other's bones slightly relaxed.

Zhou Yi extended his hand.

"Welcome to the Wasteland Development Company."

The Bone Man wiped his bony hand on his garment before cautiously reaching out.

"From today on, the Mushroom Forest will be the company's mushroom nature reserve, under our protection. You will remain fully responsible for it, and I hope you will grow more mushrooms, good mushrooms, and feel free to ask for whatever you need."

The other party was overjoyed, hastily grasping Zhou Yi's hand with both of his, "Thank you, thank you, Chairman, we will do our best to cultivate the mushrooms you need. The soil in the forest is very fertile; most mushrooms will grow well there!"

Zhou Yi was in good spirits.

He had been worried about a shortage of agricultural labor.

Although the Eastern brothers were agricultural machinery, breaking new ground and planting required many months, and considering weather factors, there was a certain amount of unpredictability. They were a long-term investment that couldn't be counted on in the short term.

With the original inhabitants of the Mushroom Forest at his disposal, the source of edible mushrooms was now secured.

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