"How is it?"

[It feels... like it’s about to catch fire...]

Puki moved the Yellow-covered Book slightly farther away.

It seems that direct exposure to the Sunstone does not produce any changes.

In the [Inspiration] view, although the core of the Yellow-covered Book was trembling, there was no substantial change.

In fact, placing any soul-bearing life form directly under the unprotected light of the Sunstone is quite dangerous.

The division of souls is like the passive effect of this Divine Artifact.

Those D Level volunteers are a good example. Their souls experienced incomplete division under the light.

New consciousness fragments were torn from the original soul, yet the vessel carrying the soul, their bodies, did not split synchronously.

Thus, multiple new consciousnesses were forced to crowd into the same shell.

The final result was akin to symptoms of severe schizophrenia, with each consciousness madly competing for dominance.

Not everyone is like Lin Jun, who can use Puki and Cocoon to separate out new consciousness, or rely on sheer bulk to easily integrate incomplete divisions back.

Until a certain critical point is reached where the soul, fragmented to its extreme, cannot divide into more new consciousnesses, this transformation process will cease.

However, by then, no consciousness will be able to regain control over the body, resulting in the loss of bodily control, finally becoming a babbling vegetative state.

As for the Yellow-covered Book, its situation is even beyond curing a dead horse as a living one.

After all, to Lin Jun’s perspective, an entity without a soul is not even a living being, it should be classified as a Magic construct endowed with will.

Therefore, any attempt that can induce a change in its core can be considered progress.

Unfortunately, it now appears that direct exposure has only a slight influence without causing change.

Lin Jun immediately switched to an alternative plan.

He stuffed the Yellow-covered Book into the arms of a Puki, then the mycelium on the ground spread and quickly wrapped it into a mycelium cocoon.

This is the process of creating a Mushroom Race, though this time with an added Yellow-covered Book.

Whether it’s the Sunstone or the creation of the Mushroom Race, both are uncharted territories for the Yellow-covered Book.

It rarely seemed a bit helpless.

Fortunately, the ability to perceive emotions was still functioning normally; the familiar faint malice around it made it clear that the boss was not trying to kill it.

The Yellow-covered Book and Puki cocoon were illuminated by the Sunstone for a whole day.

Effective!

Lin Jun sensed that the part of his soul wrapped inside was reacting with the core of the Yellow-covered Book.

Finally, the mycelium cocoon was pushed open from the inside, and a new Mushroom Race stood up.

It twisted its body and used its tentacles to touch itself all over.

"Is this... me? Have I become a Puki?"

"But the soul? The emotions? Why can’t I sense anything?"

Of course, it couldn’t sense anything; this Puki body was merely an ordinary Cow and Horse Puki without any special Skills.

And the various unique features on the book could not transfer into the Puki.

Additionally, there was an issue...

Suddenly deprived of all abilities, the Yellow-covered Book Puki was excited and panicked.

It suddenly recalled something, clumsily used its tentacles to lift the Yellow-covered Book beside it, wanting to see if it could still utilize the abilities within it.

Then, it saw a symbol slowly emerge from the book’s pages:

[?]

"?"

[Boss, what’s going on?]

"Boss, what’s going on?"

[Inspiration]

Lin Jun watched for a long time: "Little Huang, do you know what cloning is?"

...

The Yellow-covered Book is still the Yellow-covered Book, but through the Sunstone and mycelium cocoon, the information from its core was engraved and placed into this Mushroom Race.

In other words, the Mushroom Race before them was an individual using Lin Jun’s soul but with self-awareness as the Yellow-covered Book.

After hearing Lin Jun’s general explanation, the Yellow-covered Book was silent for a long time before speaking:

[Does this... mean I have a soul now?]

"Then what constitutes you? This book cover, or that self-awareness?" Lin Jun replied, "Others may say a soul is their core, but you don’t originally have a soul; now, this awareness can also be duplicated..."

The Yellow-covered Puki beside it quickly regained its composure after a brief stupor.

"Boss, it worked! Though this may not be entirely my soul, you indeed granted me a soul!"

[You just don’t want to be disposed of as a defective product!]

The Yellow-covered Book unhesitatingly exposed another self’s intentions.

"Boss, I’ve been reborn! What remains in that book cover is just meaningless remnants, crush it, and I can continue to use the book’s abilities for you!"

[You’re spouting nonsense!]

[Boss, don’t believe its rubbish! It could never replace me in controlling the book’s abilities!]

Lin Jun also didn’t anticipate that there’d be a scenario where the clone and the original backstab one another so quickly.

Should they commend the Yellow-covered Book for adapting so swiftly to this type of situation?

Both the Yellow-covered Book and the Yellow-covered Puki tensely waited for the boss to make a decision.

Marshal Puki rubbed its tentacle along the underside of the mushroom cap, pondering.

On the one hand was the Yellow-covered Book, which though the core was wrapped and controlled, wasn’t entirely secure.

On the other hand was the Yellow-covered Puki, whose soul had been separated out, essentially considering it its own mushroom.

Choosing between them is obvious.

Marshal Puki reached out a tentacle and patted the mushroom cap of the Yellow-covered Puki.

[Boss?]

In an instant, the Yellow-covered Puki straightened its posture and strode over to the Yellow-covered Book.

Meanwhile, Lin Jun’s specially configured synchronous transmission Puki emitted its triumphant voice:

"What’s there to complain about? You’re just remnants, without a soul, what difference does life or death make? Whereas I, with a soul, am the real Little Huang! Your wish for a soul can only be realized through me, accept this reality and depart peacefully!"

[What kind of realization is this? I won’t...]

Before finishing its sentence, the Yellow-covered Book was shut, and Yellow-covered Puki turned and left, growing shorter and shorter...

Upon realizing something was wrong, Puki’s legs were already gone, as the Fungal Mat beneath continued to decompose and consume it.

"No no, boss! I am the one completely loyal to you, Little Huang! I don’t want to disappear!"

"Damn it! If I’m disappearing, you won’t fare well either! Boss, that lousy book has always remembered you tormenting it; I’m it, and I’m most aware of this, given the chance it will definitely seek revenge!"

"Ah... the soul, the self is vanishing... is this the ocean?"

"The feeling of becoming one... it’s not bad..."

The Yellow-covered Puki vanished entirely, akin to Zero Puki, Lin Jun absorbed it back completely, it was merely a Mushroom Race believing itself to be the Yellow-covered Book, aside from self-identification, it was no different from other Mushroom Races.

Its claim of controlling book abilities was mere self-talk, requiring the crushing of the Yellow-covered Book’s core first, the risks and gains were not proportional; naturally, Lin Jun would not choose this option.

However, its mention of the Yellow-covered Book bearing a grudge...

Feeling the ambient malice intensify, the Yellow-covered Book swiftly clarified:

[Boss! That impostor, even when facing death, sought to sow discord!]

[I harbor no malice towards you, there couldn’t possibly be any thoughts of revenge!]

"Of course, how could I believe it? Hahaha~"

[Haha... Haha...]

The sticky eerie laughter echoed within the chamber, the soul experiment with the Yellow-covered Book temporarily concluded, achieving some progress after all.