Within the hollow mountain of the sixth level, the hoisting cage was once again lifted, revealing the spatial rift below.

The curse of corrosion swept across the entire hollow, all the Pukis' white bodies starting to corrode.

This time, the duration of the hoisting cage being raised was particularly long, so long that the bi-colored Slime moved impatiently within the cage, making "toot-toot" sounds, until the Pukis' blood volume was nearly depleted, the cage finally returned to its position.

The Yellow-covered Book mentioned [the rift will gradually widen], Lin Jun frowned and looked at the mushroom cap for a long time.

It seems... it has grown a tiny bit?

A very, very slight change, so slight that if the Yellow-covered Book hadn't deliberately mentioned it, Lin Jun would not have noticed at all.

But that was only for now. As the rift continued to expand, it wouldn't be long before Lin Jun naturally noticed the change.

Are we going to completely connect with an unknown Underground City with a curse?

It's a problem; the unknown always brings trouble, but it wasn't enough to make Lin Jun lose his cool.

At the current rate of the rift's expansion, even if it sped up a bit, Lin Jun was confident to raise the [Corrosion Resistance] in time, making it just another exit on the sixth level.

While thinking, Lin Jun confirmed with the Yellow-covered Book: "The rift indeed has changed a bit."

[Can you disclose where it is?]

Lin Jun did not hide: "The sixth level, why?"

[Sir, the rift is a precursor to the Underground City's collapse]

[If the collapse starts from the sixth level, then the rift you see is the entirety of it]

[But if the collapse starts from other levels, the rift on the sixth level might only be a small part of it]

[Haven't you made similar discoveries elsewhere?]

At least from the first to the fifth levels, no, Lin Jun thought so.

Instead of answering the Yellow-covered Book's question, Lin Jun directly countered: "What do you mean by collapse? How does it collapse? Why collapse?"

[Rifts grow in number and size until the entire Underground City is torn apart, that's what is called collapse]

[As for why… it's naturally due to the erosion of time, just like houses wear down over time; the Underground City has been around for over three hundred years, isn't it normal for problems to arise?]

Over three hundred years?

That indeed matches the timeline of the story Dylan told: the Hero and Demon King battled, breaking through a passage connected to the Abyss, forming the Underground City.

"Do you know the origin of the Underground City?"

[Sir, I don't know everything]

Tch.

If the Yellow-covered Book were a person, it would be easier to arrange a symbiosis and find out if it was lying.

"Returning to the rift issue, you're not the kind who can only point out a problem without offering a solution, are you?"

[Sir, could you refrain from keeping me locked away all the time afterward?]

[I also want to serve the Mushroom Garden, just like now]

Faced with the question, the Yellow-covered Book, rather than rushing to answer, first made a request, which did not surprise Lin Jun.

"If what you say is useful…"

With the answer given, the Yellow-covered Book immediately provided a solution, seeming unworried about Lin Jun reneging.

[The core, the Dungeon Core]

[Sir, pardon my bluntness, but currently you are like a stranger lodging under someone else's roof; even if the house breaks, you don't have the right to repair it]

[But once you control the Dungeon Core, becoming the master of the Underground City, you will naturally find a way to repair it]

"Dungeon Core… where is this core you speak of?"

[In the deepest part of the Deep Area, the core is there]

"So your method is for me to fight through the Underground City… Fine, one last question."

Lin Jun's tone seemed unchanged even upon hearing this secret, whereas Norris, the translator, shook uncontrollably in place.

"Holy Scripture, how do you know so much?"

[Sir, I really don't know, I'm just a creation; some things I know inherently, but if you must ask why, you can only ask my mysterious creator]

"Hmph…"

[Sir, you must believe me, I have no secrets to hide!]

Amid a brief silence, just as Norris thought Lin Jun was about to tear the book to force answers again, Lin Jun suddenly said:

"If Norris agrees, you can let him carry you, provided it's within the fifth and sixth levels.

No charming Norris, and don't drive him crazy, or you'll be torn apart.

When Norris isn't taking you, stay put in the cave."

[Thank you, Sir!]

[No, wait]

[Thank you, Boss!]

The pages of the Yellow-covered Book were filled with cheers and praises, while Norris looked utterly bemused.

Me?

Carry this wicked book?

Look at what the boss said: it's not allowed to charm or drive oneself crazy.

It sounds hazardous to carry it.

A quick glance at the Yellow-covered Book still celebrating its freedom, recalling the boss didn't quite mandate he must carry it…

Norris silently decided, avoid handling the Yellow-covered Book if possible!

After a long inquiry, Xiao Hai, waiting beside, had grown bored and fallen asleep next to the Mushroom Tree, drool trickling down her scaly face.

Three Pukis approached, extending mycelium tendrils to lift Xiao Hai, carrying her all the way back to her sparkly Mushroom House.

A tendril swung back and forth, barely clearing a space, laying Xiao Hai down.

As the Pukis intended to leave, Xiao Hai suddenly reached out and hugged one of them.

The hugged Puki, still adhering to Lin Jun's command to leave, struggled in Xiao Hai's arms, causing the drowsy Xiao Hai to hug even tighter.

Splat—

The Mushroom House returned to its quiet state.

...

Lin Jun didn't fully trust the Yellow-covered Book.

This fellow seemed to be half-speaking and half-concealing, who knows what intentions it has; the crucial point is there's no good way to verify them.

What about the Underground City facing wear and aging after three hundred years.

Building a castle with stones shouldn't face collapse after three hundred years.

The credibility is questionable.

Yet, some useful information still exists.

For instance, the Dungeon Core; the probability of the Yellow-covered Book fabricating such an item out of thin air to deceive is low, a glance upon arrival would uncover the truth.

Lin Jun also wasn't afraid of any traps within the deepest parts, as Pukis would lead the way; any traps would merely sacrifice a batch of Pukis, utterly meaningless.

Upon verifying that rifts do grow larger, Lin Jun would see if they increased by advancing further.

Overall, the Yellow-covered Book's suggestion doesn't conflict with Lin Jun's original plan.

Lin Jun intended to advance deeper; it's just now there's an additional target of finding the Dungeon Core.

Regarding the Yellow-covered Book, having it previously locked away meant only knowing it as a Holy Scripture, an evil book; there's still much unknown.

It definitely holds more secrets, but Lin Jun hadn't figured out how to extract them; simply threatening by tearing pages won't secure authenticity.

Allowing the Yellow-covered Book to follow Norris under supervision is another form of observation.

As for the potential danger Norris might encounter… Lin Jun decided to allocate more attention to him, monitoring constantly...

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