Chapter 123: 122 The Core

In the hollow of the sixth mountain layer, the hanging cage was hoisted up once again, revealing the spatial rift beneath.

The curse of corrosion damage swept through the entire hollow, and the pristine white bodies of all the Puji began to corrode.

This time, the cage remained raised for an unusually long duration, so long that the bicolor slime grew impatient, shifting inside the cage and emitting "dudu" sounds; only when the Puji's health was nearly depleted was the cage finally lowered back to its original position.

Regarding what that Huang Pishu said about "【the rift will gradually expand】," Lin Jun frowned beneath his mushroom cap, staring at it for a long while.

It seemed... slightly larger?

The change was extremely, extremely minute; so small that if the Huang Pishu had not deliberately mentioned it, Lin Jun would never have noticed it at this moment.

But this was only for now; as the rift continued to expand, it would not be long before Lin Jun naturally noticed such changes.

To completely connect with an unknown dungeon filled with curses?

It was a trouble; the unknown was always troublesome, but not enough to make Lin Jun lose his composure.

At this rate of expansion, even if it accelerated, Lin Jun was confident he could raise his 【Corrosion Resistance】 high enough before the rift became sufficiently large; by then, it would merely be an additional exit on the sixth layer.

While pondering, Lin Jun confirmed with the Huang Pishu: "There is indeed a slight change in the rift."

【Could you reveal where exactly it is located?】

Lin Jun did not hide it: "The sixth layer. Why?"

【My lord, the rift is a precursor to the dungeon's collapse.】

【If the collapse begins from the sixth layer, then the rift you see is the entirety of it.】

【However, if the collapse begins from another stratum, then that rift on the sixth layer may be only a small part of it.】

【Have you not found anything similar elsewhere?】

At least on floors one through five there is none, Lin Jun thought to himself.

Without answering the Huang Pishu's question, Lin Jun countered directly: "What do you mean by collapse? How does it collapse? Why does it collapse?"

【The rifts become more numerous and larger until finally the entire dungeon is torn apart; that is what is called collapse.】

【As for why... naturally, it is eroded by time; just as a house deteriorates after a long time, the dungeon has existed for over three hundred years since its appearance, so it is quite normal for problems to start arising.】

Over three hundred years?

This actually aligned with the timeline of the story Dilan had told: the Hero and the Demon King fought a great battle, opening a channel connecting to the Abyss, which formed the dungeon.

"Do you know the origin of the dungeon?"

【My lord, I do not know everything.】

Tsk.

If only the Huang Pishu were a person; then by arranging a parasite, one would naturally know whether it was lying.

"Then let's return to the issue of the rift; surely you are not the type of useless person who can only state the problem but cannot propose a solution?"

【My lord, could you stop keeping me locked up all the time from now on?】

【I also wish to serve the Mushroom Garden, just like this.】

Faced with the problem, the Huang Pishu did not rush to answer but instead made a request first, which did not surprise Lin Jun.

"If what you say is useful..."

Having received a reply, the Huang Pishu immediately provided the answer, appearing not at all worried that Lin Jun might renege.

【The Core, the Core of the Dungeon.】

【My lord, forgive my bluntness, but you are currently like an outsider lodging under another's roof; even if the house is broken, you do not have the authority to repair it.】

【But once you control the dungeon's Core and become the master of the dungeon, you will naturally find a way to repair it.】

"The Dungeon Core... then where is this Core you speak of?"

【In the deepest part of the Deep Zone; the Core is there.】

"So your method is for me to kill my way through the dungeon... fine, one last question."

Lin Jun's tone seemed to show no change upon hearing this secret; instead, Norris, who was responsible for translation, was trembling uncontrollably on the spot.

"Sacred Tome, how do you know so much?"

【My lord, I do not know; I am merely a creation; some things are known innately; if you must ask why, you can only go ask my mysterious creator.】

"Hmph..."

【My lord, you must believe me; I, your humble servant, am hiding nothing!】

A brief silence; just as Norris thought Lin Jun was about to tear the book again to force an answer, Lin Jun suddenly said:

"If Norris agrees, you can let him carry you, provided it is within the fifth and sixth layers."

"You are not to charm Norris, nor are you to drive him mad, or I will tear you apart."

"When Norris is not carrying you, stay obediently in the cave."

【Thank you, my lord!】

【No, wait.】

【Thank you, Boss!】

The pages of the Huang Pishu were filled with cheers and praise, while Norris looked completely bewildered. Me?

Carrying this evil book?

Look at what the Boss said: it is not allowed to charm me or drive me crazy.

No matter how one listened to it, it felt dangerous to carry it.

Glancing secretly at the Huang Pishu, which was still celebrating its freedom, Norris realized that the Boss hadn't actually said he *must* carry it...

In his heart, Norris silently decided: if he could avoid touching the Huang Pishu, he would try his best not to!

After questioning for so long, Seeing Xiao Hei, who had been waiting aside, had become so bored that he had fallen asleep leaning against a mushroom tree, drool flowing down the scales on his face.

Three Puji walked over, extending fungal tentacles to lift Seeing Xiao Hei, carrying him all the way back to her mushroom house, which was full of sparkling things.

A fungal tentacle swayed back and forth, barely sweeping out a space, and set Seeing Xiao Hei down.

Just as the Pujis were about to leave, Seeing Xiao Hei suddenly reached out and hugged one of them.

The hugged Pujis were still following Lin Jun's order to leave; sensing the struggle of the Pujis in his arms, Seeing Xiao Hei, in his daze, hugged a bit tighter.

Crack—

Silence returned to the Mushroom House.

Lin Jun did not believe the Yellow-Booked Scripture entirely.

This fellow speaks half and hides half; who knows what scheme he has in mind, and the key is that Lin Jun has no good method yet to verify it.

What dungeon core facing disrepair after three hundred years?

Building a castle with stones would not lead to collapse after merely three hundred years.

Its credibility is questionable.

But there is still some useful information within it.

For instance, regarding the dungeon core, the probability that the Yellow-Booked Scripture fabricated something out of thin air to deceive him is not high; one will know the truth or falsehood upon arriving there.

Lin Jun himself is not afraid of any traps in the deepest part; his Pujis will inevitably lead the charge, so even if there are traps, it would only mean killing a batch of his own Pujis, which is completely meaningless.

The widening of the rifts has already been verified; as for them increasing in number... Lin Jun will know if it is true after continuing to develop downwards.

All in all, the Yellow-Booked Scripture's suggestions do not conflict with Lin Jun's original plan.

Lin Jun intended to develop downwards anyway; it is just that now there is an additional goal: the dungeon core.

Regarding the Yellow-Booked Scripture, he had kept it locked up before, knowing only that it was a holy scripture, a demonic book, but his understanding of other aspects was too little.

It surely holds more secrets, but Lin Jun has not yet figured out how to pry them from its mouth; the simple threat of tearing the book cannot guarantee authenticity.

Allowing the Yellow-Booked Scripture to follow Norris under his own eyes also counts as a form of observation toward it.

As for the dangers Norris might encounter... Lin Jun decided to allocate more attention to him, keeping a close watch at all times...

(End of this chapter)