This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 236, Section 235: Exchanged
The Stone Fortress Underground City has changed dramatically.

The middle section of the castle is now in a semi-abandoned state, with no one around except for the mycelium that grows everywhere in the cracks on the mottled stone walls.

Listening to the demons chatting, they learned that there used to be magical creatures here, such as armored guards that could move and monsters disguised as treasure chests, but unfortunately, they all went extinct after the arrival of these Qis.

The castle is now just an empty stone brick area. Even if you came to lay mushroom mats and grow mushrooms, it would be far less suitable than the underground part. Naturally, Lin Jun ignored this area.

The canyons in the upper area have become almost like ranches for the Puji. Every day, the demons lead their Puji there to feed the filamentous insects with prepared mushrooms.

Occasionally, they would select individuals suffering from heatstroke and send them to receive treatment with a fungal blanket.

Lin Jun has handed over all the tedious daily work to these demon descendants. So far, apart from the occasional worm eating one or two of their poops, there haven't been any problems.

By the way, getting Puji eaten will deduct contribution points.

Lin Jun's Puji capacity is decreasing, but her territory is constantly expanding. As for various miscellaneous tasks, she will naturally delegate them to the employees.

To make their work easier, many of the demon descendants applied for mushroom houses in Mushroom Garden No. 3. Lin Jun even thoughtfully provided them with mana replenishment services, which made more of the demon descendants who had undergone mycelial fusion willing to stay in the mushroom garden.

After all, although you can convert mushrooms into magic power, it is far less efficient and satisfying than directly charging through the mushroom carpet.

The influx of demons has also brought life to Mushroom Garden No. 3.

Norris successfully blended in as a tailless lizardman, and to this day, no one knows he is human.

Xiao Hei has gradually gotten used to the presence of these demon descendants. Lin Jun was originally worried that Xiao Hei would take a demon descendant's magic core when she wasn't paying attention!

However, in reality, because the magic core was dark in color, Xiao Hei had little interest in it.

As for the demon, as long as you don't get close to her mushroom house, it's fine. If you do get close, Xiao Hei will stick his head out and stare intently at you with his golden vertical pupils.

Given that Xiao Hei's glorious feat of instantly tearing apart powerful monsters had already spread among the demon race, naturally no one was willing to risk their life to test her limits.

Therefore, the area within ten meters of the small black mushroom house has become an unspoken forbidden zone for the demons.

In the most conspicuous spot in Mushroom Garden No. 3, under the largest mushroom tree that emits a soft glow, there is a notice board made of "cowhide".

The list of items that can be redeemed with contribution points was written in slightly crooked, rounded demonic script. It ranged from the cheapest mushrooms to magic crystals, to various potions, and even included a custom mushroom house expansion service!
Anyway, Lin Jun wrote down everything she could think of that could be used to motivate the demons to work, and she could add anything she couldn't think of later.

As for the Demon race's script, which should be angular and full of power, why is the handwriting on this list so rounded?
You can't expect a Puji to write sharp and beautiful characters on rough "cowhide" with its soft mycelial tentacles!

Anyway, even the demons seem to understand it...

……

Having just finished handing over the cave guard duties, Hunt returned to Mushroom Garden No. 3.

He had sharp weapons strapped to his two severed arms. Even though he was crippled, his level was still high enough that he could easily kill some monsters roaming in the cave.

With Qiong's help, he removed the weapon from his arm.

He then summoned his clansmen gathered in the mushroom garden. After a brief discussion, Shou submitted a special exchange request to Lin Jun through the mycelium network—a magic core. These magic cores belonged to the thirty-odd demon descendants who had tragically perished in the Qis trap.

After taking over Qisi's territory, Lin Jun found these indigestible magic cores deep in the stomach of the clumsy insect, and with the pig's reminder, she collected them all.

Lin Jun intentionally included the magic cores in the exchange program.

If the magic cores are truly as important to the demon race as the little pig described, then they will definitely have more of their people work to exchange for these magic cores as soon as possible, which will help Lin Jun to quickly take control of the entire tribe.

In hindsight, the little pig's information was correct!
This time, Hunti wants to exchange for a magic core first.

Lin Jun did not immediately agree to the request. Instead, through the mycelium network, she asked every demon present to clearly state whether they were willing to contribute their personal points for this exchange.

Shou is the chieftain of the tribe, but within Lin Jun's system, he has no special privileges compared to other demons. He has no right to force his tribesmen to sacrifice their contribution points. Even though Lin Jun knows that all the demons present agree, this confirmation step still has its significance.

As expected, no demonic beings objected to this; everyone felt it was only natural to bring back their companions' demon cores first.

So, not long after, a round, plump little thing struggled to emerge from the mycelial network next to the giant mushroom tree.

It twisted its mycelial tentacles and pulled out a magic core from its body, a core that emitted a dim glow and had been taken from the boss's treasure room, whose location was unknown to anyone!
Qiong reached out with trembling hands and gently cupped the magic core that Puji had handed her.

The surface of the magic core was covered with fine cracks, like a spider web, yet it miraculously maintained its complete shape, and faint, familiar magical fluctuations still remained inside.

Tears streamed down her face without warning, and Qiong hoarsely called out the name of the Demon Core's master: "Hengyan...!"

The demons around them all lowered their heads, and a silent sorrow filled the air.

Although it was Hōhiko who initially proposed that led to such losses for the Demon Race, he was only thinking of the tribe and, in the end, stood alone at the narrow entrance of the passage, using his body to block the swarm of insects.

The demons never expected that the first demon core they would receive in exchange would be his.

“Take Sugihiko back to the tribe.” Kari’s voice was also somewhat low.

Before leaving, Hunti turned once more to the Puji that had delivered the magic core.

He straightened his back, bowed deeply in a ceremonial manner, and performed a bow that Lin Jun had never seen before.

“Boss, thank you,” Shou’s voice was deep and clear, filled with sincere gratitude, “not only giving the tribe hope, but also giving Sugihiko, and our people… the opportunity to go home.”

Suddenly, another round, chubby Puji took a short running start and nimbly jumped onto the Puji's large mushroom cap, standing up steadily.

The mycelial tentacles patted Hunt's head and then "accidentally" grazed his severed arm.

"You earned all of this through your own hard work, you deserve it! Keep up the good work, not only can your magic cores be restored, but your hands can also be restored! You can even become stronger, or fight for a better place to live for the tribe, it's not just a dream!" Lin Jun skillfully painted a picture of a bright future.

"We will keep your words in mind."

(End of this chapter)