Chun first hid in the tunnel to listen to the movements of the Supervisor, and once again, there were the sounds of whipping and painful wails, though not many. Apparently, it was just those two little guys who were unlucky again.
The appearance of the Supervisor also allowed Chun to figure out an accurate patrol time, but this time the Supervisor lingered a bit longer.
Chun felt that something was bound to happen, after all, so many mushrooms suddenly appeared.
Finally, after lingering for an extra 5 minutes, the Supervisor left and went to another passage.
Chun hurried back to check, only to suddenly find that all the mushrooms covering the walls and ceiling were gone! Holy shit, the Supervisor could collect mushrooms? What kind of powerful monster is this?
Then he saw those two little ones lying on the ground, twitching in unconsciousness, too tragic!
Earlier, he thought about helping them dig, but they couldn't keep up. Falling behind step by step. Why not give them a chance and see what happens?
Chun then took out two mushrooms and put them near their mouths. Both creatures sniffed and suddenly opened their eyes, swallowing all the mushrooms like a burst of energy from the brink of death.
The nearby Little Demons immediately stirred, and Chun sensed their displeasure.
Tch! There are even greater displeasures, Chun decided to snatch their pickaxe. How can one improve Disarm proficiency without struggling and resisting a bit?
As a result, with this snatch, the Little Demon didn't struggle at all and let go, then instantly rolled over and grabbed the heavily injured Little Demon's pickaxe on the ground.
Holy shit!
Chun was truly shocked. Intelligent creatures! It knew that I would gain from snatching the pickaxe and also knew to grab someone else's pickaxe as a backup! How can I practice disarming with such cleverness? Unless I go to the other six pits.
But Chun's style has always been to focus on exploiting a breakthrough point once it's discovered, to pluck it bare. Just like focusing on a breakthrough with Sherry and Vivian during the public test.
So be it, disarming is time-consuming and labor-intensive, temporarily won't practice it, first focus time on training Dual Wielding.
Thus, Chun continued mining and dug up a pile. The Little Demons present did not display the previous aggressive and grabbing stance; instead, each had a cheerful, awaiting-harvest demeanor.
The more Chun looked, the more surprised he was. The growth of intelligence was too fast! What will happen if they keep getting smarter?
In any case, next is the repeat process: smelt ore, grow mushrooms, snatch mushrooms, Chun continuing to wall-climb while eating.
But the more mushrooms Chun ate, the brighter his vision became. The originally flame-tinted mine also had a hint of white light rendering, feeling like photo beauty filters were applied. Is this the hallucinogenic effect of the poisonous mushrooms?
Then collection, Dual Wielding, and climbing also advanced to Intermediate.
Up to now, aside from Dual Wielding still having a higher proficiency growth, collection and climbing's proficiency nearly stalled, requiring climbing to the ceiling to collect advanced mushrooms, and only by eating advanced mushrooms could the beauty filter confusion be resolved.
With Intermediate, climbing the ceiling is impossible, what to do?
Chun had an idea and picked a handful of mushrooms from the wall and approached the two little ones. In Chun's filter beauty vision, the two little ones were like infants looking at parents, not as disgustingly ugly as before.
Chun fed them first, seeing their greed and insatiable look, he pointed to the mushrooms on the ceiling, not caring whether they could understand, relying on wisdom to communicate: "Well, got any ideas?"
The two little ones clearly understood and shook their heads repeatedly: "Wala wala oo..."
Chun pointed to the other Little Demons present: "Make them gather together, build a human ladder!"
The two little ones looked puzzled.
Chun grabbed a pile of small stones, arranged them in a circle, stacking higher and explained: "Human ladder..."
Still seemingly not understanding, Chun drew a circle on the ground "people people people people..." then drew mushrooms above it.
The two little ones finally realized, and one climbed on the other's head to demonstrate: "Waka ka?"
Holy shit, the intelligence! Not only understood but could actually form a ladder?
Chun was greatly delighted: "Yes, yes, yes, just like that, everyone gets big mushrooms! You go and talk with them!"
The two little ones immediately rushed to talk to them, greeted with ridicule.
Chun's hope was dashed. Makes sense though, after all, they're demons. Actually, it's not hard for them to eat advanced mushrooms, just let the mushrooms on the Molten Lava Pool's edge grow. But demons' nature is doomed to mutual distrust; they won't wait for mushrooms to mature before plundering. Moreover, there are some hundred and dozens of demons, obviously, not enough mushrooms on the top for them, no one willing to wait for the next batch, can't negotiate.
Speaking of which, if not afraid of being hunted by the Supervisor nor having the power to secure it, eating advanced mushrooms himself isn't hard, just kill them all.
Finally, amid a burst of mocking laughter, the negotiation failed.
Though intelligent, with low strategies, Chun was disappointed in them. Perhaps there's one last move!
Chun then tossed the pickaxe back to the two little ones: "I'm leaving, going to other pits to find smart folks!"
Chun meant it. If even these Little Demons are so intelligent, what about the Supervisor noticing something amiss? Although he enjoys exploiting to the point of exhaustion, thoroughly sapping could lead to trouble. Better to stop now, shift ground, and evenly exploit, at least practice disarming.
The two little ones anxiously cried out "Wala wala," a group of Little Demons finally woke up: "Wala wala!"
Chun was shocked: "Agree?"
The two little ones took the lead in gathering people, and soon a bunch of demons were gathered around the well-sized Molten Lava Pool, holding hands and stepping on each other to start forming a human ladder.
Holy shit, the level has risen too, completely underestimated the demons!
Moreover, even though the ladder's construction looks chaotic, it's stable. It can work! The biggest variable is the supervisor.
Chun hurriedly checked the time; the supervisor would appear in about ten minutes. With this pace, there's plenty of time. Great.
But now the trouble is tossed back to me. How do I divide the mushrooms?
At that moment, Chun suddenly had a strange idea: If I just finished collecting the mushrooms and the supervisor appeared, all the demons would have to scatter back to their posts, then—
Then I could legitimately carry the mushrooms away without sharing them! Besides, it's the supervisor's fault, not me being untrustworthy...
Even though this idea isn't very nice, it's the demon world after all. Here, you must act according to demon logic. Maybe trickery is even the mainstream value here, and the better you deceive, the more respect you'll get?
No matter if that's true or not, letting the supervisor take the blame is the optimal solution! As for whether to share the mushrooms afterward, that depends on whether they're truly valuable...
Just do it this way.
Chun decided to stall a bit, pulling up the two struggling little ones from the bottom layer: "You two are too weak and injured, you can't hold up! Go to the upper layer to help build!"
While speaking, Chun pointed to the top.
The two little ones actually understood, excitedly climbing up and pulling down the people from above to fill in. This reshuffle delayed things by two or three minutes.
Chun felt satisfied, deciding to still give two mushrooms to these two little ones as a gift from the former owner, also proving I'm not completely a liar.
The higher the human ladder goes, the greater the pressure on the bottom layer, and it seems more and more unstable.
Seeing it's almost formed, Chun climbed with the two little ones to the top, forming the last tip of the pyramid—touched it! From close up, it looks just like a smooth gemstone or a freshly picked big apple!
I pick—Chun once again felt the weight.
—System notification: Congratulations! You have collected an energy-packed unknown mushroom, your Intermediate Collection Technique has upgraded to Level 3...
One piece upgrades a level, quite prestigious! And as heavy as a rock, similar to a magic stone, indeed it signifies abundant energy.
No time to check attributes, Chun hastened to collect, the Collection Technique soared to Intermediate Level 10—and then easily breaks through!
—System notification: Congratulations! Your Collection Technique has advanced to Advanced Level 1! You've earned the achievement: Load-bearing +1, Physical Strength +1. You've received the reward achievement: Wisdom +1.
Gaining wisdom again, good!
There are dozens left, at this rate, reaching Advanced Level 10 isn't impossible.
And as Chun collected more and more mushrooms, his load increased by dozens; this is no longer the straw that breaks the camel's back, the human ladder is shaking and barely holding!
Now, it's time to boost morale, Chun decided to fulfill his promise and give the two mushrooms to the two little ones below: "You eat first, let everyone hold on!!"
The two little ones were ecstatic, swallowing them in one gulp, immediately yelling "Wala Wala," and the little demons, inspired, burst into a uniform rhythm: "Wala Ah!"
They're all promising material! Chun felt guilty, then continued to crazily collect in the midst of guilt.
No suspense, the Collection Technique level continued soaring, getting stuck at Advanced Level 10 with only a dozen mushrooms left, no more skill progress.
Enough! The timing is about right, now Chun started to deliberately slow down, waiting for the supervisor's arrival.
Sure enough, the supervisor didn't disappoint Chun, the passage echoed with the beast's muffled roar again.
Chun clearly sensed the human ladder trembling violently!
Great, Chun swept the last few pieces and slid down the human ladder: "Everyone run first!"
The human ladder collapsed with a crash, Chun took advantage of the chaos to roll and crawl quickly into a passage, behind him were the angry roars of little demons—are they cursing me? No, they must be cursing the supervisor, I reasonably have no responsibility?
Even so, Chun was still guilty and afraid they would chase him, so he dashed along the path. Admittedly, the load of dozens of mushrooms plus six magic stones totaling over two hundred, made running quite exhausting, and Chun only stopped to rest once he reached the next mine shaft. Then eagerly checked the mushroom attributes:
—Unknown Mushroom: Obviously poisonous, looks delicious and makes you hungry at first sight. Weight 2.
Ugh... this attribute description is getting more and more abstract. Eat one quickly to replenish Physical Strength first, the crunchy feeling really is like munching an apple.
—System notification: Warning! You have consumed an unknown poisonous mushroom, struggles to fully immunize toxicity, hunger appears abnormal. You absorbed a large amount of mushroom energy, gained hallucination effect, obtained hidden attribute: Illusion Value! You currently have Illusion Value 1.
...
Turns out it's deep! Never heard of Illusion Value before!
The next moment, the world before Chun's eyes turned much whiter, like a white haze covering the fiery red mine pit, making the mine pit seem a bit like a fairyland. Looking again around, the little demons digging also changed to pure white clean forms, even having cloud-like illusion wings on their backs!
Holy shit, are these little angels now? This hallucination is disgustingly excessive!
Just then, the beast's roar came from the passage entrance.
Chun was shocked, the supervisor didn't stay to reprimand them, but came directly for me? Reported by these little demons?
Run quickly!