Pillar of Yita

After passing through Greywind Ridge, the Green Dragon Mountain Range blocked the southern rain clouds, and the sky began to clear up. It was just past noon when Mr. Greyrock entered a verdant valley. Although the rain had let up, streams were overflowing within the valley, making progress through the mud exceedingly difficult, and the group had to ”dismount” from time to time to clear the way for the huge Burden Beasts.

The vegetation in the valley was lush, with curly ferns still draped in sparkling moisture, and tree trunks dense with layers of mushrooms in various colors. After stepping off the platform, Tianlan was eager to pick some, but Atira pulled her back.

Miss Elf was selective, only picking some before explaining to the others how to identify the harmless varieties. The wild fungi in Eteliria were much more numerous than on Earth, and some were not only poisonous but even contained strange magic power.

For example, there was a kind of oily yellow mushroom. Its bright color suggested danger at first glance, but in reality, it was harmless and could momentarily enhance a person’s insight when consumed.

It could even be eaten raw. The raw taste was somewhat astringent, but after the initial dryness, there was a refreshing aftertaste; the experience was very strange, and Fang Hong had no desire to try it a second time.

After taking a bite of this mushroom, he immediately felt that his perception of the surrounding scenery had become somewhat altered.

He could see strange patterns emerging between the trees, as if they had faces with all manner of odd expressions - some sighing, some laughing joyfully, while others glared angrily as if ready to pounce at any moment.

The dense leaves hid a variety of birds, whose exaggerated and bizarre magnified forms seemed outlined in a halo of red light, making them especially conspicuous.

He could even make out a Fenris Grey Speckled Longhorn beetle dozens of meters away, a size smaller than the common ones found in other regions.

The movements in the surrounding grass drew his attention. Turning his head, Fang Hong saw a skeletal fawn dart past him. It stopped in the distance, turned, and glanced at him with hollow eye sockets, giving him quite a start.

But the peculiar vision quickly faded, and the menacing trees returned to normal.

With a mischievous twinkle in her sharp ears, Atira asked, ”How was it?”

Fang Hong rubbed his eyes, realizing that the gentle Elf Miss was also fond of playing pranks. This wasn’t insight she’d added; it was clairvoyance, to be exact.

”This mushroom is called Eyes of Orphen. It’s a famous spiritual medium on Giant Tree Hill, but it indeed serves to enhance insight,” she explained. ”The correct way to use it is to crush it and mix it with Magic Solution to apply on the eyelids.”

”Additionally, eating too much can cause hallucinations.”

Fang Hong didn’t experience any hallucinations, only feeling a bit dizzy.

Miss Atira leaned in to inspect more closely, flipping his eyelid with her fingers and asked with concern, ”Are you alright?”

Fang Hong shook his head.

However, just because he was fine didn’t mean everyone else was. In the blink of an eye, Tianlan and the Papalarians had vanished.

They finally found the pair on a different platform.

The Papalar had eaten a Fluorescent Mushroom, causing his chin and neck to glow; puffed cheeks making him resemble a walking desk lamp.

Meanwhile, he was loudly exclaiming to everyone, ”Ah, I feel terrible, like I swallowed a light bulb. Am I going to die? By the way, where’s the nearest Resurrection Temple? I don’t want to respawn at Roman’s sanctuary; her priests lack any semblance of compassion.”

”You won’t die,” Atira said with a lack of enthusiasm as she glanced at him. ”However, you’ll be uncomfortable for two to three hours. Don’t worry, this mushroom is completely harmless.”

Parker opened his mouth wide, sticking out his glowing tongue as if he were some mutant anglerfish, ”Really? Should I eat another then?”

”Do you want to continue glowing throughout the night?”

Reed, comfortably leaning against the railing and puffing on his pipe, eyed the distant valley with his silver-grey gaze. ”Just so you know, this area belongs to the Night Lizard People. They are highly skilled Archers, especially sensitive to light, so I suppose you get my drift,” he quipped.

Parker swallowed hard with a gulp and looked around hastily.

”What about Tianlan?” Fang Hong was even more worried.

The French girl had disappeared completely.

Her clothes were scattered about; her Magic Guided Reactor, Kane Harp, and various trinkets were all over the ground. Among the fabrics, only a small white cat remained, tilting its head and staring with bright blue eyes at the group.

”Meow—?”

”What’s this?”

”Shapeshifting Mushroom. They’re quite rare,” Gita said with a frown. ”I don’t know where Sister Fuli found it.”

”How could she dare to eat it?” Fang Hong couldn’t help but ask.

Luo Yu lifted the kitten by the scruff of its neck giving it a shake, and the kitten struggled fiercely, meowing plaintively.

”Luo Yu, put her down,” Atira said without amusement.

Out of curiosity, Luo Yu turned the kitten over to inspect her belly, which provoked Tianlan to scratch his arm, leaving behind a bloody streak. Luo Yu yelped in pain and let go; the kitten skittered away and hid behind Hilveld’s boots, peering out fearfully at everyone.

Lady Noble gently stroked her head and picked her up into her arms.

Curiously, the kitten seemed to relish her touch, purring unknowingly while curling its tail in her embrace, making ambiguous purring sounds.