This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 95, Section 94: The First Hire

When the three Puji returned to the Tree Demon Forest, Lin Jun discovered that the number of tree demons connected to the fungal network had increased.

"We meet again, my tree spirit neighbors. Are there five this time...?"

It's a small number compared to the hundreds of tree spirits in the entire forest, but it's a good start.

Several tree spirits had clearly sensed Puji from the fungal web and had been waiting for Lin Jun's arrival.

Lin Jun could sense that they were all a little nervous.

However, after realizing that Xiao Hei hadn't followed, the tension subsided considerably.

Seemingly worried that Lin Jun might find it insufficient, the tree spirit with the mushroom on its head from last time stepped forward and said, "Mushroom Lord, our people need more time to accept the changes. Please understand."

A soothing thought was transmitted from the fungal web to the tree spirits: "I am glad to see five beings willing to come out and communicate. In fact, I came here to ask you all for a small favor. Is anyone willing to do it? Of course, there is a reward."

Lin Jun didn't say what kind of small favor it was, as testing the relay node was something that couldn't be explained in a short time.

The tree spirits looked at each other, having prepared themselves mentally before connecting to the fungal network. Naturally, they had no reason to refuse and came out together.

However Lin Jun viewed it, it seemed to carry a sense of resolute determination.

That's true, thanks to Xiao Hei's good start, they might now think that "Xiao Mang" was sent to Xiao Hei to take apart and play with...

take it easy.

Puji led several tree spirits out of the forest, their destination being the rock wall near the steps, which was already covered with fungal carpet.

The location of the Treant Forest is indeed very remote, and you have to pass through the territories of several other monsters along the way.

Actually, there were five Puji when they set off, but without Xiao Hei leading the way, only three of them ended up reaching the Tree Spirit Forest.

For example, right now, the team encountered another problem on their way back. A vine-like monster suddenly wrapped itself around a passing Puji, gradually tightening its grip, and it looked like it was about to crush the Puji to death.

Lin Jun hadn't paid attention to this at first, and it was too late to save her.

The Puji go up and down several floors. Normally, a hundred or so Puji would die every day, let alone now that we're in the middle of the sixth floor challenge, even more are dying.

But then a tree-man came up and reached out to touch the vine, and the vine actually released its prey on its own!
What is this stuff?
Lin Jun opened the panel and searched for a while before finally finding a skill: [Plant Affinity LV4].

He knew the tree spirits had this skill before, but he always thought it was used to grow mushrooms and moss on their bodies.

So this is the effect?

If Puji had this skill, wouldn't that be...?

Several tree spirits inexplicably felt a chill, but could not find the source.

No, no!
There's no need to take any extreme actions.

I can just go back and pick up the corpses of the tree spirits that died by accident... They probably don't have a cremation culture, right?

After being attacked by the vines once, the tree spirit crossed over and took the initiative to become the trailblazer.

When encountering aggressive plants, the team will first use the "Plant Affinity" skill to calm them down before allowing the team to pass.

This also made Lin Jun understand the skill more clearly—it wasn't as useful as she had initially thought.

At first, Lin Jun thought that having this skill would prevent her from being attacked. However, after watching the treant use it a few times, she realized that it was an active skill rather than a passive one.

You have to touch the plant to use it, but be aware that if you touch the plant, it will most likely die instantly...

Moreover, the skill's effect looks more like a plant-based version of charm.

If used successfully, it forces the opponent to give up the attack; if it fails... well, the result is a vine that is forcibly snapped by the treant through brute force.

When the five tree spirits finally arrived at their destination, they saw a fungal carpet spreading across the entire rock face, and more than sixty puffies below the rock face.

An unease about the unknown gripped the hearts of every tree spirit. One of the bolder tree spirits asked directly:
"Mushroom Overlord, could you tell us what we need to do now?"

Lin Jun didn't deliberately leave them hanging; she explained directly:

"The favor I need from you this time is to test the microbial network. The microbial network is what we use for communication right now. You just need to know the general idea."

As she spoke, Lin Jun transferred control of the two puffy creatures to the tree spirit who had spoken.

The tree spirit realized the change almost instantly. It first watched the two Puji mimicking its movements, and half a minute later, without Lin Jun's further prompting, it learned how to give commands to the Puji.

"How are you feeling?" Lin Jun asked.

"It feels..." The tree spirit controlled the two puffies in front of it to make different movements, "It's a bit like roots, but different."

Genmai Linjun knew the way tree spirits communicated, but they could only convey emotions; the specific meaning was entirely up to guess, far less convenient than the fungal network.

But that wasn't what Lin Jun wanted to ask.

How are you feeling mentally? Are you under pressure?

The tree spirit shook its head, indicating no.

Lin Jun promptly drew four more Puji for it.

Seeing that it seemed to be working fine, Lin Jun continued to increase the quantity.

"Say it if you feel pressured!"

After the number was increased to 24, the tree spirit waved its hand, indicating that it was feeling unwell.

"faint……"

Lin Jun quickly regained control and told the tree spirit to rest aside.

Next, Lin Jun had the other tree spirits test it one by one.

It was discovered that tree spirits can generally control more than 12 Puji, and the tree spirit with the mushroom on its head can control as many as 20.

Looking back, giving Little Blackie over twenty at once was indeed a bit too much...

These tree spirits seem perfect for me to be their assistants!
However, Lin Jun was in no hurry to let them lead the Puji to rampage across the sixth floor; this matter couldn't be rushed.

Five tree spirits alone wouldn't be enough.

After completing the test, Lin Jun took out the reward she had prepared beforehand.

A C-grade magic crystal, about the size of five fingers.

It may not seem like much, but for these tree spirits, this mission was just a short trip, so it was quite rewarding.

Moreover, Lin Jun had observed that although magic crystals also existed on the sixth floor, they were cracked and mixed, of low quality, and bordering on being junk.

The quality was so poor that some magic crystals were directly exposed outside the earthen walls, and passing adventurers were too lazy to pick them up.

C-grade magic crystals are an extremely rare resource for level six monsters.

For the tree spirit, magic crystals should be no different from mushrooms—they can be used to fertilize fields.

Sure enough, the treants were visibly invigorated after receiving the magic crystals, seemingly surprised by such a good thing!
Lin Jun didn't linger. After distributing the daily wages, she let them go home on their own.

Seeing their expressions, Lin Jun knew that her second objective had also been achieved.

After several visits, once a foundation of trust is established, Lin Jun will select some tree spirits who are willing to completely side with her and give them more preferential treatment.

With role models, the number of mushroom trolls among the tree spirits will gradually increase, and eventually they will be completely absorbed!

Lin Jun has already planned out the future for the tree spirit.

With the transfer nodes of the mushroom network, perhaps we won't have to worry about the management and maintenance of the sixth layer at all.

It would be great if other social classes also had tree spirits.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Jun remembered that the werewolf on the 10th floor might meet the criteria.

But the 10th floor is still a bit far, and Lin Jun hasn't figured out how to break through the teleportation maze on the 8th floor yet.

Secondly, werewolves probably aren't a good match; I don't have a good impression of them in my memory...

　Everyone, from now on, I'll probably be updating twice a day around 6 PM.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)