Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

Chapter 664: Chapter 653: Tribulation Crossing

Deep beneath a border city in the southeastern corner of the Empire.

A spatial rift forcibly torn open, its edges occasionally trembling, as if poised to close at any moment under the influence of the world’s power, yet sustained in this state by a complex magic array beneath it.

Within the rift, white mist continuously surged forth, not dispersing directly to the surroundings but being confined within the magic array. Along the tracks, it spiraled downwards, forming a slowly descending vortex.

The top of the vortex was an obscured white, blurring vision, but as the mist descended, the pure white began differentiating into various magical halos, lingering at the base of the vortex, ultimately breaking free and blending into the surrounding environment.

Due to this magic array’s presence, the concentration of magic power here even surpassed that within the Underground City.

Beside the magic array, a two-toned Slime comfortably lay. It was half the height of a person, motionless, quietly absorbing the magic power in the air, thick to the point of being viscous, allowing its body to slowly expand.

Expanding, and expanding further, until a critical point was reached, with a soft pop, a single-colored Little Slime split off from it and rolled onto the rock.

Thus, the cycle continued, endlessly.

The Demon King sat not far off.

From his wrist extended several translucent pseudopodia, gently touching each newborn Slime.

Each touch established a faint mental connection.

This kind of mental connection held almost no compulsion, at most serving to transmit intent and guide.

Nevertheless, as an advanced race of the Slime, the Slime Man held an inherent absolute advantage in commanding these kin.

This level of mental connection was already sufficient.

"As long as there is magic power, one can proliferate almost infinitely." He lightly brushed the two-toned Slime he accidentally picked up with a gloved hand. "Even among slimes, your rate of proliferation is unparalleled."

At this moment, a Slime squeezed out from a narrow passageway that even a Goblin couldn’t fit through, spitting a rough stone mixed with some kind of gemstone onto the ground.

The Demon King glanced down, nodded slightly, picked up the rough piece, magic power gathering in his palm, separating and refining it into the finished material he needed.

Deep within the cavern, countless Slimes scurried in and out of narrow passages, transporting ores, crystal clumps, and various strange materials.

While on the other side of the cave, a large ritual was being drawn halfway through.

Mortis’s recent purges indeed caused some trouble for the Demon King in gathering materials, but in the end, it was merely a delaying tactic.

The rulers of both Empires were preparing for their next encounter.

Suddenly, the Demon King paused his actions.

His featureless face slowly turned southward, not simply turning his head, but his entire upper body twisted, his body of mucus and nerves unencumbered by bones.

"Newcomers? In that direction... it should be humans."

The murmuring voice emerged from the cavity in his chest, carrying no hostility, nor disdain, merely a hint of curiosity.

He hugged his arms, a slender pseudopod gently rubbing his smooth chin, assuming a contemplative pose.

If he had features, he would likely be narrowing his eyes at this moment.

"Though it’s likely to be an enemy, having come this far, falling without glimpsing the truth would be a pity."

"Hey, let me help you out."

He lightly raised his arm, a gentle, slow movement, yet it drew upon the magic power flowing throughout the cave.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Seven small magic arrays appeared layer by layer centered on his arm, each rotating at a different speed, each engraved with intricate, almost indiscernible runes. They nested together, forming an entirety through the Demon King’s fluid arm’s connection.

Then, he lightly pointed at the space in front of him.

The magic power in the cave was depleted at this point without any anomalies appearing, only as if something behind the world was gently nudged...

...

Novid.

The magic vortex continued to expand.

It could no longer be described as a storm.

Centering on Ivan in the high sky, an entire layer of the courtyard’s ground was stripped away.

Stone slabs shattered, earth flew, and the once beautiful colonnades and arbors had long disappeared, leaving only bare rock bases clattering in the gale, cracking again and again.

Gall, Nova, and Night Owl had already retreated quite a distance and were still backing away.

Thanks to the slow spread of the magic vortex, they had the chance to retreat.

Suddenly, urgent footsteps and a voice of rage came from ahead: "Nova! What the hell are you all doing?!"

A middle-aged man in half-armor, his face ashen, a badge on his chest indicating his identity—the local Lord’s guard captain.

The few of them were somewhat acquainted, having occasionally shared drinks before, but now, the middle-aged man clearly had no trace of goodwill.

"Stop it now! Damn it, this is Novid! You want to destroy this city?"

Night Owl rolled his eyes, retreating further into the shadows: "If we had a way to stop him, why would we be running? Didn’t you see our own courtyard is wrecked?"

"Destroying the city like this, Lord will not let it slide!"

"Oh."

Seeing the guard captain about to slash at Night Owl in fury, Nova hurriedly intervened: "Luns, there really is no way right now, let’s prioritize evacuating the populace!"

"What evacuation? With such commotion, who wouldn’t know to run? Can’t you see I’ve come alone, and everyone’s already gone?!"

Nova awkwardly scratched his head, while the guard captain, Luns, seemed keen to make an attempt.

He drew his longsword, holding it high overhead, gathering a dazzling layer of magic power on the blade.

"Strike!"

With the guard captain’s swing, the magic power on the blade transformed into a sharp lunar arc, flying toward Ivan.

Then, it struck the outer magic vortex, like other flying sands and rocks, swept in, vanished without a trace, having not even the slightest effect.

The guard captain Luns’s eyelid twitched violently, while Nova and Gall tactfully looked away, only Night Owl laughed outright in front of him, making Luns’s expression twitch even more.

At that moment, from the high sky came a deep rumble, as if the sky itself tore open.

Everyone turned their heads simultaneously.

At the storm’s center, the once erratic thunderbolts began converging in one direction, intertwining above Ivan’s head, forming an increasingly glaring thunder orb.

That thunder orb was but the size of a fist, yet the energy it contained...

At this point, not only were Night Owl and his companions terrified, even Lin Jun couldn’t hold it together.

Must mages in this world also undergo tribulations?