This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 367, Section 366: Refusal
“I don’t understand… This sounds like a doomsday prophecy? But what does ‘Ark’ mean? Who said that? And where exactly is this place?” Salian’s questions kept coming, filled with confusion and unease.

The two continued on their way and eventually stopped in front of a "wooden wall" that stretched as far as the eye could see, disappearing into boundless darkness both above and below.

Iros gently placed his palm on the wall and said, "This is a small part of the 'Abyss,' which should normally be an absolute forbidden zone for life. However, the sacred tree has taken root here, changing the state of this area."

“A sacred tree?” Salian was shocked upon hearing this. He looked up sharply and re-examined the huge “wooden wall” before realizing that it was not a wall at all, but a small part of an unimaginably large tree!
It's not that Salian was slow to react; if it weren't for the control panel, Lin Jun would have had a hard time connecting the magnificent behemoth before her with the seedling that looked like it would fall over with a gust of wind.

Iros continued to explain to his disciple: "And the Ark is the underground city! They have independent spaces and ecosystems, and with proper adjustments, they can completely isolate themselves from external calamities and become self-contained."

"An independent space? I know some dungeons do have this characteristic, but the Divine Tree Dungeon seems to..."

Iros shook his head, his tone as he always did when teaching his students: "Don't be satisfied with just superficial understanding! Salian, do you know what's left behind when a dungeon is completely destroyed?"

Salian shook his head blankly.

He had never witnessed the complete destruction of the underground city, a fact not even recorded in detail in the royal archives.

Iros didn't expect his disciple to answer. He said in a deep voice, "Nothing will be left. There will be no ruins, no giant pits, only a blank space, as if nothing had ever existed on the land. That is the original foundation of this world. The existence of the underground city is actually a spatial overlay on the original area."

“Salian, you are very talented, but staying in Isildolin will ultimately limit your vision.”

“I… don’t have many opportunities to go out and see the world…” Salian said in a low voice.

Iros sighed softly, his voice so low it was almost a soliloquy: "That's the problem...that's exactly it..."

"As for who said those words..." the two said, as they arrived in front of three smaller information blocks.

At Iros's prompting, Salian touched it directly, and inside was the same message:
[Time: 77635.223.74]
[Today is another leisurely day with nothing to do.]
[Waiting to die, once you get used to it, is actually quite pleasant.]
[Anyway, it wasn't my fault.]
“Some kind of…diary?” Salian asked, surprised.

And what's going on with this timing?

Salian looked at his teacher with a puzzled expression, but Iros simply told him to continue.

[Time: 77635.223.115]
[Hilarious! I knew Arthur would fall for his womanizing ways!]
[He can't control his urges, he'll take any beautiful woman he sees, and he's so prolific!]
[Now look what's happened, such a vast empire, shattered like crumbs, a lifetime of work for nothing.]
[Speaking of wasted effort, Neferella and Ixion are the same; they're clearly beyond saving but still messing around.]
While reading the first half, Salian was still trying to recall which emperor in history was named Arthur.

When the names of Ixion, the god of light, and Neferella, the goddess of death, were mentioned in such a casual and even contemptuous tone, Salian's expression immediately changed.

He took a deep breath and reached for the last small square; sure enough, it was the same style of recording:

[Time: 77635.226.2]
[Neferella invited me over, saying she would show me a way to turn the tide.]
[I want to see what she's actually made after all this time.]
"This...this is God's diary?" Salian's voice was hoarse with shock.

“At least he is a being close to godhood,” Iros replied, maintaining a rigorous tone.

Although it is impossible to determine who left these records, and the tone is almost casual or even sarcastic, the recorder's attitude towards the gods is clearly one of equality.

As for the possibility that this is just someone talking nonsense...

It's not that there aren't any, but they're too small.

It's hard to imagine an ordinary person leaving behind records in such a strange form. Judging from the content of these records, the God of Light and the God of Death seem to be trying to save the world, but this mysterious recorder has no expectations for their efforts.

What really bothered Salian was the point where the record ended!

"Teacher, is that so-called 'solution' the dungeon?"

“I think so.” Iros cast a light spell, illuminating an enormous black cube not far away, and warned, “Don’t touch it, you’ll die.”

“Many more such record cubes are scattered here, but I don’t have enough time to organize and decipher them all.” Iros’s gaze swept over the black cubes before finally returning to Salian. “But one thing is certain: the mist will eventually engulf everything. And before that, we must study it thoroughly. And this is something that can never be done while huddled in a corner of the continent.”

"Then why not with Wang..."

“I know Auril too well,” Iros interrupted him directly, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible weariness. “He would never agree. The long years have worn away all his edges. Now, he would never agree to any decision that might risk the elves, even for the sake of their long-term survival.”

"Teacher, do you perhaps intend to... seize the throne?"

Iros looked at his best student: "Salian, I am not doing this for myself. Like Auril, I have less than a hundred years left to live, and I will most likely not live to see the day when this land beneath my feet is swallowed by the mist. But what about you? What about the younger elves? The elven race should not perish because of our shortsightedness and conservatism... At least... they should fight one last time."

“Sarian, you are young and possess extraordinary talent. You are destined to become one of the leaders of the elves. Come with me; the future of the elven race needs your strength.” Iros extended his hand to Salian.

Salian instinctively reached for that hand—the hand of his revered and followed teacher. But at the last moment, he couldn't help but ask, "This will kill many people, won't it?"

“Sacrifice is inevitable,” Iros replied calmly and firmly, “but for the sake of the entire race, a small price is worth paying.”

Salian hesitated for a moment, but ultimately withdrew his hand: "I can't do it... Teacher, should I be sacrificed too?"

Iros sighed, as if he had expected this.

“Sacrificing you is not worth it,” he said with a hint of regret. “Since you can’t make up your mind right now, then stay here for now until everything is over. It won’t be long.”

"correct……"

Iros suddenly turned around, the end of his staff slicing through the air.

The scout, Puji, who was watching the show from behind Salian, immediately stopped all movement.

The next moment, several of its mycelial tentacles broke off at the base and fell to the ground.

Then, its round mushroom cap slid off.

Immediately, Iros's figure vanished from Salian's sight.

……

Even though they've been so low-key, they still won't let Puji off the hook?! (This part of the plot is a bit stuck; I'm still writing another chapter, around 1 AM.)
(End of this chapter)