The Hero Turned Into A Potato And The World Fell To Ruin

Chapter 26: Underground

Morning arrived, and the desert returned to its peaceful state once again.

After a night of intense studying, even though Liu Ji genuinely loved what he was learning, he still felt mentally exhausted.

He even considered turning back into a potato to rest for a bit. However, seeing the vast expanse of yellow sand, he couldn't find any suitable soil for taking root.

I should bring along a flower pot the next time I go out. At least I would be able to plant myself inside and get some sleep, thought Liu Ji to himself.

Speaking of which, familiars and such could be summoned with magic. If he could get one to carry a flowerpot, then that would be even better.

Yaine, on the other hand, seemed quite energetic and didn't plan on sleeping. According to her, a mage of her level could manage several days with just a night's sleep.

As they moved, she kept looking all around, trying her best to find seaberry trees. Evidently, she genuinely wanted to be a responsible and good teacher.

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on their side, and they still hadn't encountered a single seaberry tree after walking for an entire morning.

At midday, when the heat was at its peak, they decided to stop and rest for a bit. Yaine used an earth spell to create a double-layered sphere, which accommodated everyone.

Previously, doing this would only provide them with temporary relief from the heat, but now with Liu Ji around, they could stay in the double-layered sphere and have lunch before continuing their journey.

As for why it was double-layered… without an insulating layer, the inside of the sphere would be no different from an oven.

Due to the party's frugality, their food supplies were still sufficient. However, their water reserves were more worrying. Traveling in the desert consumed a lot of water, and since they hadn't encountered many seaberry trees, their water supply was running low. Yaine was aware that their water reserves were now less than one-third of which they started with.

"Hmm… It seems we must find a seaberry tree within the next two days," Yaine said after lunch, pouring a small cup of water from a water skin and handing it to Mervant.

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"Are our water reserves running low?" Mervant took the water and sipped a little. "Let's be more attentive these next few days. Hey, big cat, did you hear that? Keep your nose sharp from now on."

"Ah? Oh, alright." Osar rubbed his nose sheepishly.

What he didn't dare to say was that he had vaguely caught the scent of seaberry trees twice before, but he hadn't mentioned it since the scent was faint and because he didn't really want to eat seaberries.

"Looks like I can't avoid the fate of fruits, after all." Osar sighed. [TL note: Osar says Guoguo, which means fruits.]

"Guoguo will definitely hit you if she heard you saying that," Mervant said subtly.

"What do you take Guoguo for?" Osar rolled his eyes.

"Even a cornered rabbit will fight with teeth and claws. How do you know Guoguo won't bite?" Mervant shrugged.

"I don't know whether she will bite, but if she does, it would probably be you," Yaine chimed in.

Liu Ji couldn't understand the banter of those three, so he could only silently recite the incantations he had learned while zoning out.

Unsure whether it was because he was silently reciting the spells or because he was too spaced out, Liu Ji started to feel a sense of confusion about whether he was a human or a potato.

Or rather, to be precise, he could tell the difference. After all, when he was a potato, he couldn't hear or see anything. The only sense he got was constantly stretching his roots out under the soil.

Just like now, Liu Ji could feel a certain sensation spreading out…

When it spread to a certain point, suddenly, Liu Ji felt as if something had pricked him. In an instant, his expanded awareness retracted completely.

He just felt dizzy and looked in that direction blankly.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Are you okay?" Yaine noticed Liu Ji's unusual behavior and poked his face, asking in incantation.

"Huh? It's nothing." Liu Ji smiled, waving his hands dismissively.

Despite saying this, the subtle, indescribable sensation still lingered. It was like having candy and finding the taste familiar, yet being unable to recall exactly what it tasted like.

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That feeling just now… Strange, what was it?

Myza gazed upward to the right, frowning slightly. Is that fellow coming already? No, it doesn't seem like it. It kind of feels familiar…

"Mr. Myza? Mr. Myza?" Calidora waved her hand in front of Myza.

"Huh? Oh." Myza snapped back to reality, smiling apologetically. "Sorry, I spaced out for a moment. What were you saying? Is it a little cold here? The temperature here might be quite different from above."

"No, no, we aren't afraid of the cold," Calidora said, waving her hand dismissively. "We were just talking about how incredible it is that you managed to cultivate a farm under this desert."

At that moment, the three of them were descending the spiral staircase to the underground of this ancient city.

This was the first time Myza had brought them here. When they initially heard about an underground farm, they thought it would be some kind of underground garden. But upon arriving, they were amazed to see a super large underground cavern spanning over thousands of square meters.

Now, they finally understood where the roast lamb they had eaten earlier came from. This space was fully equipped with water sources, pastures, fields, and orchards, with the entire ceiling adorned with sunstones emitting daylight. It was a genuine underground farm.

"Oh, you're asking how this place came to be," Myza said, stroking his chin. "Well, it wasn't actually established by me; it's a remnant from the past."

"The past?" Calidora asked, puzzled. "Do you mean before this place became a desert?"

"Yes. I've mentioned before that this land was once lush and beautiful," Myza lamented. "But unfortunately, some events occurred, forcing people to leave. Those who refused to leave chose to escape underground."

"Escape underground?" Girunini frowned. "Do you mean those underground dwellers are…"

"I'm not sure who exactly you're referring to, but there are indeed many similar spaces beneath this desert," Myza explained. "However, as far as I know, most of these underground spaces are abandoned. In the end, such spaces are more like shelters; if given a better choice, no one would choose to stay underground indefinitely."

"But aren't you…" Calidora began.

"I usually stay above ground, don't I?" Myza shrugged. "However, starting today, you may need to stay down here for a while."

"You want us to hide here to avoid the Tyrant's minions while you face them alone?" Girunini frowned. "That's unacceptable. If there's a fight, we should face it together."

"Well, you're partially right. I do intend for you to hide here." Myza's lips curled into a slight smile. "But you're wrong on two points. First, it's not his minions you're avoiding but the Tyrant himself."

"Wh-what… You are saying that he will come personally?" Calidora's pupils contracted. "No, that's impossible."

"It's inevitable, just a matter of time." Myza shrugged. "Think about it; if sending minions doesn't work, eventually he'll have no choice but to come himself."

"No, Mr. Myza, you don't understand," Calidora said anxiously. "Those who came before were just the weakest…"

Myza raised a finger to interrupt her, then gently waved it.

"No, I understand perfectly. Those were just the weakest cannon fodder," Myza said. "But believe me, he'll come. And soon, he'll come in person."

"Well… what's the other point?" Girunini asked. "You said I was wrong about two things."

"The other point," Myza said, "is that I'm not the one who's going to deal with him."

"Then who?" Girunini asked in confusion.

Myza smiled and only said two words, "A calamity."