When three Pujis returned to the tree demon grove, Lin Jun noticed that more tree demons had connected to the mycelium network.

“So we meet again, my tree demon neighbors. Five this time…”

Compared to the hundreds in the grove, five was nothing—but it was a start.

Clearly, they had sensed the Pujis’ arrival through the network and had been waiting.

Lin Jun could feel their nervousness.

But once they saw Gray wasn’t with them, their tension eased noticeably.

As though afraid he might be dissatisfied with so few, the same tree demon with a mushroom growing from its head stepped forward and said:

“Mushroom Sovereign, our kin need more time to accept change. We ask for your understanding.”

Through the network, Lin Jun sent them a thought tinged with reassurance:

“I’m pleased to see five willing to step forward and communicate. In fact, I came today to ask for a small favor. Would any of you be willing? Of course, there will be payment.”

He didn’t specify what kind of “favor.” Testing relay nodes wasn’t something easily explained.

The five exchanged glances. Since they had already prepared themselves by joining the network, refusal wasn’t an option. They all stepped out.

But to Lin Jun, it felt like they were heading for execution.

Well, no surprise. Thanks to Gray’s “example,” they probably thought the favor was to be dismantled for her amusement…

Step by step.

The Pujis led the tree demons out of the grove, toward the stairwell’s fungal-covered cliffs.

The grove’s location was remote, requiring passage through several other monsters’ territories.

The Pujis had set out five strong, but without Gray to clear the way, only three reached the grove.

And even on the return trip, trouble struck—a vine monster suddenly coiled around a Puji, tightening until it was about to burst.

Lin Jun didn’t care much. There was no time to save it.

Dozens of Pujis died every day, and during the sixth-floor campaign, the losses were even heavier.

But then one of the tree demons stepped forward, placed its hand on the vine—and the vine released its prey!

What was that?

Lin Jun opened its status and finally spotted the skill: 【Plant Affinity LV4】.

He knew they had it, but assumed it was just for growing moss or mushrooms on themselves.

So this was the true effect?

If Pujis had this skill too, then…

The tree demons shivered, though they didn’t know why.

No, no, no—no need for anything extreme.

He could just harvest corpses from the “accidentally deceased.” They didn’t cremate their dead, right?

After that, the tree demons took the lead as vanguard.

Whenever they encountered aggressive plants, they calmed them with 【Plant Affinity】 before allowing the group to pass.

Lin Jun soon realized the skill wasn’t as overpowered as he’d thought.

It wasn’t passive immunity, but an active charm.

They had to physically touch the plant—something a Puji would never survive long enough to do.

And the effect was uncertain. Success meant the plant gave up. Failure meant… well, one vine monster ended up ripped apart by brute force.

When the five finally reached the destination, they were greeted by the sprawling fungal carpet and more than sixty Pujis waiting at the cliff’s base.

Uneasy, one bold tree demon asked:

“Mushroom Sovereign, may we now know what you require of us?”

Lin Jun didn’t keep them in suspense.

“This time, I want your help testing the network—the same network we’re using to communicate now. That’s all you need to understand.”

He transferred control of two Pujis to the speaker.

The tree demon immediately sensed the change.

It first observed the Pujis mimic its movements, then within half a minute figured out how to issue commands without extra instruction.

“How does it feel?” Lin Jun asked.

“It feels…” The tree demon manipulated the two Pujis into different actions. “Similar to root-links, but not the same.”

Lin Jun knew about root-links—tree demons’ natural communication. But those only conveyed emotions, vague and imprecise. Nothing like the network.

But that wasn’t his main concern.

“Do you feel any strain?”

The tree demon shook its head.

So Lin Jun added four more Pujis.

Still no issue.

He continued increasing the number.

“If it becomes too much, speak up!”

At twenty-four, the tree demon finally waved its hand, dizzy.

“Enough…”

Lin Jun immediately reclaimed control and let it rest.

He then had the others tested one by one.

Most could handle at least twelve Pujis. The mushroom-headed one managed twenty.

Clearly, dumping twenty-plus on Gray had been too much.

These tree demons seemed ideal assistants.

But he didn’t rush to let them command armies just yet.

Five alone weren’t enough.

When the tests were done, he produced the promised reward.

Five C-grade magic crystals, each the size of a finger.

Not many, but for a task that was essentially just a stroll, it was generous.

He’d observed that sixth-floor crystals were mostly cracked, unstable, and near worthless—sometimes even jutting from walls, ignored by adventurers.

For monsters here, C-grade crystals were rare resources.

And for tree demons, they were no different than mushrooms—they could enrich their land.

Sure enough, their spirits lifted when they received them, pleasantly surprised by the windfall.

Lin Jun wasted no time. He paid their “day’s wages” and dismissed them.

From their expressions, he knew his second goal had succeeded too.

With repeated cooperation and trust, he could later pick out some to fully win over—offering greater benefits.

Role models would emerge, and gradually, the “mushroom faction” among tree demons would grow until they were completely absorbed.

He was already planning their future.

With relay nodes, perhaps he wouldn’t need to personally oversee the sixth floor at all.

If only other floors had tree demons too.

He recalled—were there werewolves on the tenth floor? They might fit the role.

But first, the eighth-floor teleport labyrinth still blocked his way.

And besides, his memories of werewolves weren’t exactly favorable…

——

From now on, expect double releases at 6 o’clock.