Chapter 183: Abnormal State
As a light laugh escaped her, the crowd’s gaze inadvertently turned towards Mushroom. Murmurs erupted.
“So that’s Earl Lister’s daughter, huh? Tsk, how dare she show her face at the Saintess selection? Disgusting!”
“Hey, is there some juicy gossip?”
“You haven’t heard? Three months ago, there was a huge loophole in the Boundless Realm in District 51, which almost led to Junlin being invaded by God’s Calamity Society. That loophole was caused by Earl Lister’s corruption.”
“If it weren’t for the Peach Organization back then, at least half of Junlin’s eight million people would have died.”
“Oh, right, I saw that on the news. I have to say, your District 51 really is plagued by misfortune. A Venerable Great died a few years ago, and this year you almost got invaded by God’s Calamity Society. Unlike our Seven Major Districts, nothing’s happened for decades.”
“So now you understand, right? A daughter of such scum, I really don’t understand how she’s still alive.”
“Ah, but harm does not extend to family. You’re wrong to say that.”
“Heh~ The prerequisite for harm not extending to family is that blessings do not extend to family. Look at the designer brands she’s wearing. Do you really think this waste has the ability to earn so much money to buy these luxury goods?”
Hearing this, Mushroom really wanted to retort. After she ran away from home, she hadn’t used a single cent from Lister. The wealth her mother left her was enough to squander for a lifetime, not to mention that the money she earned in the game was also enough to cover her daily expenses.
However, the moment she thought about how she had indeed used Lister’s money as a child, and that she was currently living in the manor left behind after Lister’s death, she found herself unable to argue back.
Mushroom gritted her teeth and scrambled to her feet in a disheveled manner. She raised her head slightly to see the dense crowd standing under the Holy See’s holy light. Their cold gazes were filled with disdain and mockery as they all looked down at her.
The scattered murmurs filled Mushroom’s ears. She couldn’t bear the weight of so many gazes that felt like they could kill, her heart tightening. Her throat felt dry, and she subconsciously took a step back, retreating into the shadows of a corner.
Someone in the crowd suddenly threw a crumpled piece of paper, which hit Mushroom squarely between her eyebrows.
However, seeing that Mushroom merely lowered her head, her little face flushed red, and she stood in the corner without any reaction or retort, the crowd quickly lost interest.
They had expected this princess to get angry, but instead, she turned out to be a coward. Everyone shook their heads dismissively.
“Hilarious. Such trash, I can’t even be bothered to condemn her.”
“Let’s disperse, everyone. No need to gather here anymore. What if someone misunderstands and thinks we’re bullying the princess.”
A tall woman with heavy makeup in the crowd let out a light laugh and waved, signaling for everyone to disperse.
She was the one who had tripped Mushroom earlier. She had intended to tease Mushroom but didn’t expect the situation to escalate, so she hurriedly called for everyone to leave.
After all, while she disliked Earl Lister, she knew that causing trouble at the Holy See was not a wise choice.
As she spoke, people began to disperse, chatting and laughing, quickly forgetting about Mushroom.
The heavily made-up woman glanced at the girl in the corner, shook her head disdainfully, and turned away. “Let’s go too.”
Her friends followed closely behind, teasing, “Sister Mikey, I have to say, this so-called princess is too funny. With such trash talent, she actually dares to compete for Saintess.”
“Indeed, she’s overestimating herself. Let’s go, no need to bother with her anymore.”
They gradually walked away.
Mushroom slowly slid down the wall, lowering her head in silence. Although the crowd surrounding her had dispersed, for some reason, her heart felt increasingly constricted. *Plop…*
The bustling crowd passed by her. Leaning in the shadow of the corner, she felt like a mushroom growing in a dark, damp corner, ignored and uncared for after the downpour.
Mushroom had always known she was an ordinary girl. Without the title of princess, she had no merits at all. In the real world, no one would like someone like her: cowardly, timid, prone to crying, short, and with a rather cumbersome chest.
Perhaps the only fortunate thing in her life happened four years ago. She saw a beautiful young man cornered by a female Spirit Master in an alley. She chose to call the police and bravely shouted, “Let that boy go!”
That was how she met Xia Feng and gained her first, and only, good friend.
It was just a pity that as Xia Feng gradually rose to prominence, becoming a prominent figure in the academy and even the entire District 51, she knew that one day, she would once again be alone.
So she was unwilling. Unwilling to be mediocre, unwilling to be looked down upon, unwilling to only live out false dreams in the virtual world.
Even more unwilling to part ways with Xia Feng.
Thus, she wanted to do her best to catch up to Xia Feng’s footsteps. But unfortunately, reality told her that these were just another of her unrealistic fantasies.
Perhaps, trash should stay in the trash can. The trash can was her destination.
*Boom!*
As Mushroom’s thoughts swirled, the entire world shattered like a dream.
A mysterious piece of information surged into Mushroom’s mind.
[Spirit Energy Unsealing Successful—]
“?” Mushroom snapped back to reality. She finally remembered that she had actually been in the Spirit Artifact Space just now.
It was Xia Feng using his abilities to help her awaken her Spirit Artifact.
So, recalling yesterday’s encounter was enough to awaken her Spirit Artifact? Mushroom was shocked and bewildered.
However, regardless of the reason, now was not the time to dwell on such things. She, the future magical girl, and even more so, the future Mushroom Heavenly God, had finally awakened her Spirit Artifact!
With anticipation, she received the information transmitted into her mind.
[Spirit Artifact: Trash Mushroom]
[Description: Trash should stay in the trash can. Mushrooms should grow in the shadows.]
[Level: N]
!
[Mushroom Form: You can transform into a mushroom of any species. In this state, your presence will be minimized, and no one will notice you.]
[Abnormal State: Awakened in an optimized Spirit Artifact Space, possessing a {Upgradeable} abnormal attribute.]
Mushroom: “…”
“I’m tired, let’s end it all.” Mushroom slowly opened her eyes and found herself back in reality. She looked at Xia Feng, her spirit broken, finding him staring at her with anticipation.
“How was it? What Spirit Artifact did you awaken?”
Xia Feng was also quite surprised. Mushroom’s awakening was incredibly fast, even faster than his own was back then. What puzzled Xia Feng even more was that Mushroom seemed to have awakened without defeating any Spirit Artifact embodiments, which was very strange.
Facing Xia Feng’s expectant gaze, Mushroom pursed her lips, her gaze slightly dimmed. She lowered her head and, with a touch of shame, manifested a green mushroom and offered it to Xia Feng to sense.
As expected, defying fate and changing destiny would never happen to me. Mushroom’s heart turned to ash. She was prepared to face Xia Feng’s disappointed expression.
But to her surprise, Xia Feng showed no disappointment after sensing it. Instead, he tapped her head. “Are you an idiot? Didn’t you see the ‘Upgradeable’ abnormal state?”
In Xia Feng’s opinion, this upgradeable attribute was far rarer than a C-class or B-grade Spirit Artifact.
Moreover, he could perform a super-optimization for Mushroom.
He currently had three ‘Optimization Slots’. He had used one on Cha Nai Xue, leaving two.
Although Mushroom’s Spirit Artifact was only N-level, its future development potential was immense. Coupled with his super-optimization, it might produce unexpectedly powerful effects.
“Come on, don’t resist. I’ll optimize your Spirit Artifact.”
“Optimize?” Mushroom blinked in surprise. “You can optimize for others?”
Xia Feng placed his hand on Mushroom’s abdomen. He was somewhat expectant. The optimization effect on Cha Nai Xue had been excellent.
He wondered what new abilities Mushroom would gain after being optimized.
