Chapter 337: Fungus King Binen

Zhaogu Mountains.

When Luo De arrived, he saw the Fungus King of the Mycelium Clan, restrained by seven or eight mages, and couldn't help but fall silent.

"What did he do?"

"He tried to break through, injured our people, and threatened to level this place to the ground."

Diamiya walked over to his side and sighed.

Today, a circle of black silk fabric hung from the brim of her wide mage hat, concealing her entire upper body.

A witch's skin is delicate; with the recent sandstorms in the Twilight Hills, she must have needed some protection.

Not seeing Diamiya's baby-faced roundness and rabbit-like cheeks was a pity, Luo De thought.

"Such arrogance—just kill him outright."

Luo De raised an eyebrow.

"That won't do. After all, he's someone you know. I thought perhaps you two might have some connection."

Diamiya had never spoken to the Fungus King, but she had seen him in the cave.

After all, a two- or three-meter lump of fungus absorbing hallucinogenic spores and puffing clouds—it was hard to miss.

Luo De stood in the watchtower, looking down.

On the mountain path defense line, there was a small patch of battle damage.

A gray defensive wall built with earth and wood magic had been smashed open; the ground bore deep fist craters, vast stretches of broken trees, bloodstains, and wounded soldiers!

Not far from the hole and crater, the mages, their faces flushed with anger, held the Fungus King firmly in place.

The town hall's forces had been advancing layer by layer, clearing dangerous points in Zhaogu Mountains by reshaping terrain and building walls; those willing to guard here were mostly local mages who had come originally to protect their homeland.

Now, this reckless fungus had nearly disrupted everything—how could they not be furious?

"I'll handle him."

"Thank you."

Luo De leapt from the watchtower and landed with a thunderous crash.

The mages guarding the position turned to look—some recognized him, others were foreign mages who didn't.

But seeing him speak shoulder-to-shoulder with Diamiya, no one dared underestimate him.

Luo De strode forward.

The Fungus King's pea-sized eyes rolled and spotted him.

Instantly, a warlike grin spread across his face.

"Human! Fight! Fight!"

Luo De sneered as he walked forward.

"Let him go."

"Mr. Luo De!"

One of the mages controlling the Fungus King was a familiar face—if Luo De remembered right, he was Mason, the second son of the clothing shop on Beloluo Street.

That winter, Luo De had bought a batch of thick clothes in town—from his family's shop.

Mason's rank was low, only fifth-tier low.

The moment he saw Luo De, his expression lit up with excitement.

Most locals had witnessed Luo De's feats firsthand; they had absolute confidence in this Forest Warden.

As Mason prepared to cancel the linked spell,

the nearby foreign mages panicked.

"What are you doing!? We spent enormous effort controlling him—why let him go?!"

"Because Mr. Luo De has arrived!"

"Him? Forest Warden Luo De? But this Fungus King is seventh-tier! Even if—"

The mages looked at Luo De, sensing his sixth-tier peak spiritual warrior aura—and their faces filled with doubt. But instantly, they felt something choke their throats.

As Luo De advanced slowly,

each step raised his aura higher; blue-white mist rose behind him like flames, his massive, heavy spiritual energy becoming tangible, thickening every inch of air, pressing down on the shoulders of everyone present.

Their hearts pounded uncontrollably, as if facing the crushing pressure of a dragon.

Mason canceled the spell and quickly pulled his teammates aside, beaming with excitement.

The enhanced immobilization spell dissolved.

The freed Fungus King laughed and turned.

His massive fist drew back like a bowstring, gathering full force.

Fungi primarily rely on spores for attack and defense, but if you think they can't fight up close, you're dead wrong—their sudden punches are blows no one wants to face.

Boom!

A deafening crash.

Two fists slammed together.

A powerful shockwave erupted at the point of contact; spiritual energy churned violently around them like a storm-tossed sea.

The next instant,

the Fungus King shot backward like a cannonball, smashing through several trees before embedding himself deep into the mountainside.

Rocks shattered like flowers, spraying outward, then cascaded down like a waterfall, burying the lower half of the Fungus King completely.

"Wh-what?!"

Everyone around stood frozen in shock.

Sixth-tier versus seventh-tier—and one punch knocked him flying?

Luo De's right hand trembled slightly; he clenched his fist tightly, letting the regenerative power of 【Saprophytic Unity】 flow through his arm.

【Power Liberation】: 900%.

The skill was powerful, but the physical toll was immense.

He forced a calm expression, face cold and unreadable.

He walked slowly toward the mountainside where the Fungus King had crashed, then yanked him out.

Splash—

The Fungus King's mushroom cap was half-shattered, transparent slime oozing steadily from the wounds.

"Tally, wake him up."

"Got it~~"

The succubus had been waiting for this; she lashed out from the shadows with a 【Painful Lash】, striking his face with vicious force.

Intense pain toxins seeped into his skin.

The Fungus King let out a muffled groan.

He blinked open his eyes dazedly, and for the first time, fear flickered in his gaze toward Luo De.

"I remember Heili sent you away. Why did you come back?"

"I lost again."

The fungus slumped, answering incoherently.

"Hm?"

"From now on, you are the Fungus King."

He knelt before Luo De, his expression utterly defeated.

Different fungal clans choose their leaders in different ways—some by the number of hallucinogenic spores in their bodies, others by size and combat strength.

This Fungus King of the Mycelium Clan clearly belonged to the latter.

He lost in a wrestling match five days ago, returned today to try again, and only now, after losing once more, truly surrendered.

These fungi spend their lives absorbing hallucinogenic spores; mistaking humans for fungi isn't surprising.

All for such a trivial reason?

Luo De snorted, unconvinced.

"Tally, I recall you have a contracted spiritual art—"

"【Soul Contract】? Oh, that's a spiritual art only demons of ducal blood can wield—impressive, right?"

"Contract him under my name."

"Sure~~"

Tally cast the spiritual art.

Sulphurous spiritual energy gathered in midair, rapidly forming a demonic, evil soul contract.

Luo De grabbed the contract, scanned its contents, confirmed it was clean, then flung it before the Fungus King.

"Sign it."

"As you command, King of the Mycelium Clan."

The Fungus King lifted his right hand, which looked like a burst-open flower, paused, then switched to his left hand, carving his mark onto the soul contract.

At the same moment, information about the fungus flooded into his mind.

Binen·Coconut·Mycelium.

The true name of this towering fungus.

Fine.

Let him be the Fungus King, then.

I don't care anymore, as long as combat power increases.

Luo De kicked the mushroom person Binn to Diami's feet.

"He's stationed here, Diami. Do as you wish. Did you hear what I just said? Listen to this pretty sister, got it?"

Binn nodded meekly.

A stark contrast to his earlier arrogance.

His half-destroyed skull gave him a stupid, brainstem-deficient look.

Though most mushroom people are like that anyway.

(End of Chapter)