This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 218, Section 217: The Stone Statue
To the astonishment of the demons, the fat guy slowly and deliberately pulled out a mountain of mushrooms from his belly, one after another.

After unloading the cargo, the two puppies didn't linger at all, turning around and heading towards the underground city.

"Qiong..." Shou's voice was filled with intense confusion and a hint of barely perceptible wariness, "These... you got them from the dungeon?"

“Hunter,” Qiong took a deep breath, avoiding the burning gazes of the surrounding clansmen, “we’ll talk about it when we get back.”

Shou nodded, instructed the tribespeople to gather the mushrooms on the snow, and walked with Qiong back into the tribe.

Not far from the tribe, an invisible scout hangs upside down, monitoring the tribe's every move.

After observing for a period of time, Lin Jun had figured out the strength of this tribe.

There is only one and a half diamond-level person, about ten gold-level people, and a slightly more silver-level people, with a total of less than three hundred people.

It poses no threat to me at all, but seems to be planning to relocate.

Lin Jun had seriously considered the possibility of exposing the rift and the amethyst dungeon opposite to the demons.

The fissure is not really a secret; humans have seen it, yet they have no desire to explore it.

Lin Jun only allows demons who have been parasitized to go to the other side, and she tries to avoid humans as much as possible.

The biggest uncertainty probably lies in the relationship between this tribe and the empire.

Logically speaking, they shouldn't have any connection. If they were close, they wouldn't have settled in such a run-down place. But a few days ago, Lin Jun saw two members of the Imperial Demon Clan come by, so she became uncertain again.

Originally, they wanted Qiong to sleep in the Mushroom House and dig out all the information, but he didn't lie down, and Lin Jun wasn't in a good position to force him at the moment.

The worst-case scenario is that the demons figure out the situation on the other side, then inform the Empire, and the Empire sends another force to launch a surprise attack on the human rear.

The reason it was a surprise attack rather than a large-scale invasion was because of the harsh weather; a large army would likely have suffered heavy losses from the cold...

In the worst-case scenario, Lin Jun herself would most likely come into the Empire's sights.

However, Lin Jun would not give the demon descendants a chance to pass on their messages.

From the moment Qiong returned to the tribe, any demonic beings heading south were intercepted and killed by Lin Jun.

Without creep, you can't send out a large force, but it's still easy to use [Fellowship Control] to command a small number of elites for short-range interceptions. If all else fails, just send out Little Black!

As for the entire tribe migrating south?

They were short of food, and although they provided a lot of mushrooms, it was impossible for Shou and Qiong alone to earn enough to feed an entire tribe.

If you want more mushrooms, you have to get some of the demons to "voluntarily" accept mycelial parasitism and gain the qualification to work.

After being parasitized, they are practically half of Lin Jun's people!
When it comes to relocation, won't they have to consider whether their condition is still suitable for leaving the fungal carpet?
Moreover, Lin Jun's tarantula farming business has already started. She raises and eats them at the same time, so it shouldn't be long before her [Cold Resistance] reaches level 8.

Once Lin Jun can spread the fungal carpet, this demon tribe will be completely under her control and won't be able to cause any trouble.

To make the job more attractive, Lin Jun added a lot of good things to the exchange list, such as the limb regeneration that Qiong and Shou needed most!

Lin Jun doesn't have that ability, but she can buy limb regeneration drugs from humans; she can just have Aiding run the errand.

Of course, given the price, there are many other factors that need to be considered.

The best-case scenario right now is to successfully assimilate the entire tribe without resorting to violence, so that everyone can happily work under my command.

The worst-case scenario...

Kind-hearted Puji didn't want to see that scene!

……

The contribution point system was also something Lin Jun came up with after careful consideration. As the organization grew larger, it could no longer be as arbitrary as before.

To make most people willingly follow, tangible benefits and necessary constraints are both indispensable.

Rewards should not be given arbitrarily or on a whim, as unequal distribution of rewards and punishments can easily lead to internal disputes. For large organizations, a clear and fair set of rules is indispensable.

Of course, it's still a bit rough around the edges, and the details need to be polished. When we have time, the core members will hold a meeting to brainstorm and improve it.
-
As for the demon race, they still needed to wait for things to develop internally, so Lin Jun temporarily turned her attention back to the Amethyst Dungeon.

The pioneering force advancing towards the core is finally approaching its destination!

The 500-strong team encountered no major obstacles along the way; the truly powerful monsters were all slain by the Sword Saint.

Lin Jun even saw the corpse of a giant earthworm, broken into three pieces, which was even bigger than the one she had killed!

Unfortunately, by the time the fungal carpet was laid out, the earthworm had already been completely eaten.

Even more so because of the nourishment from its corpse, there were more monsters there than in other caves, which delayed the team a lot of time.

And now, Lin Jun has finally arrived at the core area!
Unlike natural caves, it is a huge platform paved with some kind of smooth, cold black stone.

The old instrument on the platform was covered in a thick layer of dust.

And at the end of the platform, there is a pitch-black gate, and on either side of the gate, two stone statues over ten meters tall.

No monsters approached the platform.

Continuing forward, the leader, Puji, soon encountered that familiar invisible wall.

[Native monsters are not permitted to enter]

Ah ~
This familiar, discriminatory, and oppressive message!
It's been so long since I've encountered this!
[Brave man, restrictions lifted]

Thankfully, I wasn't the one being discriminated against!

The Puji swaggered onto the platform, and even the fungal carpet began to spread upwards.

Lin Jun examined the old, broken instrument but couldn't discern anything, which was a little complicated for her.

The key lies behind the gate.

The Yellow Book says that you can understand the specific issues by looking at the core of it.

But to be honest, Lin Jun finds it hard to trust it.

So before relying on it, Lin Jun still planned to go and take a look herself first.

A poopy walked along the platform toward the gate. As it crossed the center line, a purple light shone from the depths of the empty eye sockets of the two stone giant statues!

With a deafening roar of heavy rocks grinding together, they slowly rose to their feet, their massive bodies casting suffocating shadows!

Well... exactly as expected.

With such a magnificent stone statue standing before such an important central gate, what other explanation could there be besides guarding the gate?!

I just don't know if I'll do it for the sake of the hero...

Before the thought even formed!

One of the stone statues appears to be moving its arm slowly, but in fact it is moving incredibly fast!

Its massive stone staff, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air, swept precisely across the spot where the puffy creature was.

The little creature couldn't withstand such an attack and instantly burst into a large clump of mycelium.

That wasn't all. Flames spewed from the stone statue's mouth, burning all the mycelium and spores to ashes before slowly retreating to its original position.

Well, it seems even the brave can't do it...

Looking at the team on site, I wonder if 500 Puji will be enough to fight them?

(End of this chapter)