Chapter 161: Chapter 159: Vindication

What was the biggest failure in Lin Jun’s career?

It wasn’t being chased by a Slime for a meal when he first arrived. That was just how it was during the novice period.

Nor was it almost being killed by three Gold Level humans; Lin Jun only got hit by an arrow without much loss.

The biggest failure was the Earth Worm hunt!

Exhausting all the resources produced by the Fire Mosquitos, an excessive group of 400 Puki burst onto the scene, and a large amount of Demon Crystals accumulated over two years was also used up.

But the result was gaining nothing at all. Not only that, only a few expedition Puki managed to escape back, and even the great general Inanna almost got trapped in it.

Rebuilding seemed far away, directly leading Lin Jun to decide to risk relocating.

It’s as if destiny was mushroomed; it’s not an exaggeration to say Lin Jun’s current situation was granted by those two Earth Worms.

Lin Jun has never forgotten this humiliation.

However, the Deep Area is vast. Lin Jun thought that encountering them again would require controlling the core first and then searching diligently.

Unexpectedly, oh unexpectedly!

Was it because your activity area is nearby?

Or because you sensed the aura of Puki that once caused you great trauma and deliberately revealed yourself?

Whether intentional or coincidental, it doesn’t matter.

Today, I will not let you go!

“Little Pig, cooperate with me and slaughter this Earth Worm with all your might!”

“Boss?” Louisa had never heard the boss so excited, but she still raised her objection, “But most of the Puki now are melee ones!”

Indeed, Mushroom Cannon Puki are few.

But there are still hundreds of them. Can it be worse than before?

“With all your might! Louisa! Slay this Earth Worm, and I’ll let you drink to your heart’s content! I’ll even reward you with equipment! But if it escapes… prepare to pull mushrooms off your body at midnight!”

This time, she wasn’t called Little Pig, but Louisa felt more frightened.

The boss was clearly not joking!

Daring not to hold back, blood gathered quickly in her hands. Even the blood drawn from the chubby Cave Dweller, preserved as dried food, was used in the battle.

The Mushroom Cannons from the Puki poured out firepower without reservation, and even if the melee Puki couldn’t do much damage, they tried to get close to attract the Earth Worm’s attention.

At the same time, countless Magic Power was conveyed to the cave through the Fungal Mat.

Lin Jun naturally wouldn’t rely entirely on Louisa.

[Puki Creation Level 8]

Under the catalysis without regard for Magic Power consumption, Puki were rapidly produced.

The first Puki to drop was a Magic Puki!

The Magic Puki’s fungal tendrils connected to the Fungal Mat, and a Demon Crystal scavenged from the Cave Dweller’s warehouse was placed on its mushroom cap.

Lin Jun manipulates it, beginning to cast a spell—Mud Swamp Technique!

As a Tier One Magic, Mud Swamp Technique wasn’t hard to learn. How could Lin Jun not learn this magic that left a deep impression on him!

Though not proficient, though the casting read time was longer than Inanna’s, Lin Jun still released the spell!

The Earth Worm, quickly shuttling between the Puki, suddenly halted. This familiar feeling gave it a bad premonition.

And this was just the beginning.

With Magic Puki connected to the Fungal Mat, without worrying about Magic Power, Lin Jun repeatedly used the Mud Swamp Technique, turning every ground the Earth Worm touched into mud.

Meanwhile, new Puki continued to fall onto the Fungal Mat.

Except for the first Magic Puki, the others were all cannon Puki.

Occasionally, a few Bat Puki emerged, flying to self-destruct.

Louisa also exerted herself, at first having no idea where to begin with the Earth Worm rapidly shuttling back and forth.

Now that the Earth Worm’s movement was restricted, she decisively condensed the blood into an axe shape, fiercely hacking at the same spot on the shell, seemingly wanting to chop the Earth Worm in half.

The Earth Worm’s counterattack involved swinging its gigantic body, knocking Louisa into the rock wall with just one swing.

But relying on her high recovery ability, Louisa quickly charged back, even directly attempting to draw the Earth Worm’s blood.

The entire battle was anything but elegant, even giving a primitive and savage impression.

Clearly, it was a desperate fight.

However, pitting a Vampire against an equally large Earth Worm was tough for Louisa. After being smashed into the wall once more, Louisa couldn’t emerge quickly again.

Lin Jun glanced at her status panel, seeing she still had a third of her health left.

Surely, she had more energy left, but she also worked hard, so Lin Jun didn’t mind.

Louisa managed to open a big hole on the Earth Worm, and under Lin Jun’s control, the Puki focused their fire near the wound.

The Earth Worm was no longer the arrogant creature recklessly drilling and crushing Puki; now, it was diligently trying to retreat into the ground.

Finally, it recalled being in such a dire state last time as well.

If it weren’t for the other Earth Worm…

Will the other Earth Worm come this time?

Lin Jun speculated while attacking with all his might.

The ground beneath Puki shook continuously, but that was due to the Earth Worm colliding repeatedly, not from the excavation vibrations of another Earth Worm.

More than a dozen Bat Puki entered the Earth Worm’s already widened wound, followed by a series of self-destructs.

The Earth Worm’s body was directly blown apart, flesh separated, barely held together by its rock armor.

Gazing at the limp creature, Lin Jun didn’t hesitate, continuing to command the Puki to finish it off.

Only when its health bar hit zero and its panel disappeared did Lin Jun halt his assault.

This time, the Earth Worm’s hero didn’t show up!

…

Stopping the ongoing production of Puki, even though Lin Jun had a lot of Magic Power, such a trip consumed more than half of his stored Magic Power.

As for the expedition team?

More than half died, and a little replenished, significantly reducing their numbers. Plans to return to the frontline had to be delayed for a few days.

The Puki dug Louisa out, though judging from the status, she could’ve managed on her own.

“I lacked strength and failed the boss’s expectations,” Louisa weakly said.

“Nonsense, Little Pig, you did great. Take a good rest. As promised before, there will be plenty of blood!”

“Boss!”

“Little Pig!”

Though Louisa was a bit lazy, she still contributed.

Having just slain the Earth Worm, Lin Jun was in a great mood and didn’t mind playing along with her loyalty show.

He ordered the Puki to carry Louisa away for a good rest, and also to deliver the two captured Minotaurs over.

Now, with Cave Dwellers around, Lin Jun found it tedious to waste time on these stubborn fools.

…

The Magic Puki stood atop the unmoving Earth Worm’s body.

Lin Jun savored the scent of victory, letting it permeate every strand of his mycelium.

This sensation was far more intoxicating than capturing ten caves.

The ugly worm corpse beneath him marked his departure from the past—no longer the fragile mushroom struggling to survive in the shadows, threatened at every turn.

The current Lin Jun not only had control over his destiny but also influenced the fate of others with his every move, whether they be Earth Worm, Cave Dweller, or Louisa…

Regrets? The biggest fear of the past—the Flame Demon—was slain by adventurers.

To personally end the monster that haunted Lin Jun for two years… just imagining the sweet scenario is enough to make his soul tremble!

But alas…

Even in his intoxication, Lin Jun didn’t forget to gather his spoils.

The Puki spread spores, and the mycelium covered the worm corpse, slowly decomposing everything except the Rock Armor.

Lin Jun didn’t rush this process, instead savoring the harvest.

Days later.

[Seven Sins of Greed Triggered]

[Plunder Skill: Rock Eating LV5→LV7]

[Plunder Skill: High-Temperature Resistance LV7→LV8]

…

…

…

[Plunder Skill: High-Temperature Drilling LV1]

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