"Alright then, our target is the Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom."
The corners of Xiao Lin's lips curled into a slight smile. "I know where it is."
"Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom?"
Everyone was startled at those words. They had never even heard of such a soul beast.
Even Xiao Wu, a soul beast in human form, had never heard of it.
"The Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom is a kind of large, blue mushroom that absorbs moonlight. Its umbrella-shaped mushroom cap is very soft and bouncy. It's said that it stores moon essence inside."
"This kind of soul beast only appears at the bottom of clear-water pools that can absorb moonlight. Once it encounters an enemy, it sprays out its stored moon essence along with spores."
"Enemies hit by the attack are instantly filled with vitality and lose interest in attacking it, which is why it's highly suitable as a soul ring for support-type soul masters."
Xiao Lin paused. "The only pity is, even though this soul beast has moon essence that deters enemies, it's still very difficult for it to survive. That's why no one has seen anyone obtain its soul ring in recent years."
"Sometimes, powerful soul beasts don't intend to harm the Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom, but their unintentional actions can still damage its habitat."
"Also, a small pool's moonlight isn't enough to allow them to reproduce. Only when one of them dies and releases its accumulated moon essence can it activate the spores at the bottom of the water to allow new mushrooms to grow."
Xiao Lin shook his head. This kind of soul beast was just like the giant panda in his past life—an endangered species practically by choice.
After hearing Xiao Lin's explanation, everyone present was impressed by his knowledge. He even knew such obscure things.
"But according to what you said, Xiao Lin, even if the Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom is rare, its powerful life force should have made it well-known among soul masters. How could no one know about it?"
Su Yuntao looked confused. If the soul beast had gone extinct due to overhunting, that might make sense—but how could it be forgotten?
"It's not because of that. The Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom doesn't have any memory-erasing ability," Xiao Lin explained. "It's just that every soul master who encounters it becomes slightly addicted to it and doesn't want to tell others."
"The moon essence has such powerful healing properties that it's basically a precious medicinal material. Which soul master would willingly give it up?"
"And it's precisely this strong vitality that's made the Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom almost extinct."
"Think about it—a soul beast approaches the mushroom to get life force, and in order to survive, the mushroom keeps spraying out its moon essence over and over again."
"How could it maintain its cultivation like that? It's like trying to put out a fire with firewood—it only makes the fire bigger."
Xiao Lin felt deeply sorry for the mushroom's situation. In fact, it really should live in the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Great Forest.
There, there are no low-level soul beasts—only the Sky Azure Bull Python, king of the forest, and a few fearsome beasts.
With the Sky Azure Bull Python's level, it wouldn't be interested in harming a Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom. As long as there are no accidents, the mushrooms might even reproduce there—perhaps even evolve into a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
Of course, whether those fierce beasts would allow the mushrooms to move in is another matter entirely.
"Based on what you're saying, Lin-ge, it's hard to say if that mushroom is even still alive."
Xiao Wu tilted her head, a bit regretful.
She also wondered… would it taste good?
Xiao Lin nodded firmly. "I saw it mentioned in a travel journal written 50 years ago. At the time, the author confirmed that the mushroom had a cultivation of around 400 years."
"But now, with how soul beasts are in the Soul Hunting Forest, who knows whether the mushroom is still alive?"
"If it is, and if its cultivation has regressed, it might be the perfect first soul ring for Sister Gui."
"She might even awaken a soul skill related to moon essence… maybe even evolve her Osmanthus Martial Soul into a Moon Osmanthus."
"Anyway, Sister Gui, when you're absorbing the ring, you must believe in your heart that you are a food-type soul master and chant a soul incantation in your mind."
"If you don't know a proper incantation, you can try something like, 'I hold a handful of moon osmanthus flowers.'"
"You have to truly believe you're a food-type soul master and recite it inwardly."
Xiao Lin emphasized this point again and again, afraid she wouldn't understand.
"Alright, I'll give it a try."
Sister Gui clenched her fists and cheered herself on.
After hearing Xiao Lin's words, Tang San also felt a bit regretful.
No wonder Xiao Lin hadn't recommended this soul beast to him. If his first soul ring had been from the Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom…
Then it probably would've been only a two- or three-hundred-year-old ring. After all, soul ring cultivation helps soul masters level up quickly.
If he absorbed this mushroom's ring, he might've only reached level 11. And if he awakened some moonlight emission soul skill, that'd be terrible.
Sure, his vitality would increase, but his martial soul's strength would barely improve.
Plus, the mushroom's vitality comes from moon essence, not from the beast's inherent strength. What if it didn't even give him the life boost?
A soul skill that shoots out moon essence and life energy… just thinking about it made Tang San feel drained.
A single activation might deplete most of his soul power.
Maybe only Sister Gui, with her many scattered osmanthus flowers, could make good use of such a skill.
Need more healing? Just release more flowers.
That's what Tang San was thinking. He now had a new appreciation for Xiao Lin's intelligence.
Just because someone reads a lot doesn't mean they've truly learned anything. And learning something doesn't mean they can apply it.
Yu Xiaogang also knows many soul beasts, but he's terrible at helping Tang San find compatible rings for Blue Silver Grass.
If Yu Xiaogang wasn't truly interested in Blue Silver Grass and only wanted Tang San to have early combat ability…
Then for the rest of the Shrek team, his soul ring selections were outright disasters.
Take Ma Hongjun for example. All of his soul skills make him a literal cannon, with zero thought given to his Phoenix's mobility and vitality.
If Xiao Lin had a Phoenix Martial Soul, he'd only pick soul skills that enhance extreme vitality and extreme fire.
Extreme vitality for inheriting the God of Life's divine position; extreme fire for inheriting the God of Destruction's.
"Come to think of it, I might know where to find that Moonlight Big Spore Mushroom."
At that moment, Su Yuntao suddenly recalled a location that might suit the mushroom's survival.
"If Sister Gui decides to choose that soul beast, I'll talk to Elder Wang, and then I'll lead the way." Su Yuntao said.
"Alright, I want it,"
Sister Gui nodded, determination in her eyes.
Just then, Tang San couldn't help but glance at Xiao Lin.
Is it really that easy to switch to being a food-type soul master?