Chapter 94: Chapter 93: Fungal Network Upgrade

The battle on the sixth level is still progressing slowly. Although we haven’t gained control yet, we’ve already started reaping some rewards.

[Seven Sins of Greed Triggered]

[Plunder Skill: Neurotoxin Level 3→Level 4]

[Plunder Skill: Digestive Mucus Level 6→Level 7]

[Plunder Skill: Physical Resistance Level 5→Level 6]

…

To be honest, the Slime skills on this level are quite useful.

Neurotoxin is like a liquid version of Hallucinogenic Spores; the effects are stronger at the same level, but it’s less convenient to use.

According to Lin Jun’s idea, maybe it could be used with Mimicry to suddenly spray an opponent’s face when they pass by?

Digestive Mucus is a corrosive damage type, great for dealing with trash.

For indigestible skeletons and completely damaged equipment, Lin Jun would throw them into the mucus for decomposition.

Physical Resistance, needless to say, might not be so useful for the most common Puki.

After all, their blood volume is so low that damage reduction simply means they die in one hit either way.

But for an Elite Puki, it’s a different matter.

Since Lin Jun recently has more magic power, it’s time to produce a batch of elite units that break away from the cannon fodder label.

However, this plan will be implemented only after the sixth level is conquered, as conquering it is a huge project that consumes magic power like flowing water, and given Lin Jun’s current magic power production, it’s barely balancing the budget.

Apart from those skills upgraded through Greed, another skill improved solely through Lin Jun’s hard work and sweat has finally leveled up!

[Skill Upgrade: Fungal Network Level 6→Level 7]

To be honest, as one of Lin Jun’s core skills, there’s really no shortcut to leveling up the Fungal Network; it’s all about painstaking effort.

Since leaving the Deep Area, after such a long time, it’s finally leveled up again!

What surprised Lin Jun is that after the upgrade, the skill description on the panel has an added line: Nodes can be created within the Fungal Network.

Seems like a derived function, but what’s a node?

When confused, just give it a try!

Lin Jun randomly picked four mining Pukis and by instinct, turned one of them into a node.

The Puki continued its work, rhythmically tapping its shelled cap on the stones, but the rhythm of the four Pukis… synchronized?

The other three Pukis completely synchronized their actions with the one turned into a node.

When that Puki took a step forward, the others did the same, even if there was a wall ahead.

When that Puki tapped a stone, the others tapped too, regardless of what was in front.

Why does it feel like a synchronizer?

Completely useless.

Lin Jun thought for a while, then woke up Xiao Hai, who was napping with glass beads.

Xiao Hai, groggy and rubbing her eyes, looking tired, was led out of the Mushroom House by Puki using its tendrils.

Puki led her to a small clearing in the Mushroom Forest, where a bunch of Pukis stood.

Lin Jun made Xiao Hai a node in the Fungal Network and assigned a Puki under her.

The effect was immediate.

The Puki imitated Xiao Hai, using its fungal tendrils to rub its non-existent eyes.

Still a synchronizer, which wasn’t what Lin Jun wanted.

“Xiao Hai, don’t be confused, feel if there’s anything different about yourself?”

“Different?”

Hearing Lin Jun’s voice, Xiao Hai barely perked up a bit.

She turned her head and noticed the Puki mimicking her.

“What’s this?”

Xiao Hai stepped forward to pick up the Puki.

But as she did, the Puki imitated her and stepped forward two steps as well.

…

Xiao Hai took a step to chase, the Puki stepped to run, moving forward in sync.

Finally, Xiao Hai used her long legs to catch up to the Puki, scooping it into her arms and studying this little thing that had some special connection with her.

Lin Jun watched her study for a while, and the Puki simply mimicked Xiao Hai’s actions.

Just when Lin Jun thought it was indeed just a synchronizer, Xiao Hai seemed to find the trick!

With her hands still holding the Puki, the Puki’s four tendrils intertwined into a braid.

What’s this?

Xiao Hai then put the Puki down, and as soon as it landed, it started swinging the still-braided tendrils, running circles around Xiao Hai.

Lin Jun was sure he hadn’t given such a command.

“Xiao Hai, are you commanding this Puki now?”

“Seems like it!”

Xiao Hai’s eyes sparkled with the excitement of finding a new toy.

Lin Jun finally understood the function of this derived feature.

Simply put, it’s outsourcing the control of Pukis, with the so-called node acting like a squad leader you appoint.

However, this squad leader needs to have a certain level of intelligence.

If an ordinary Puki acts as the squad leader, it becomes just a synchronizer.

So it seems this derived ability would be quite suitable for Dylan.

But unfortunately, Dylan is not in the Mushroom Garden now, and the command of the scouts can’t be handed over to Dylan.

The scouts are already so far away, and Lin Jun can still control them thanks to the Subordinate Control skill.

If the control is transferred, Subordinate Control would break.

And after the connection breaks, if you want to reconnect?

Sorry, the target is out of network range, please try again later…

By then, Dylan would really have to rely on himself.

While Lin Jun thought about skill usage, Xiao Hai was already using the Puki to feed its cap into her mouth.

Xiao Hai sat still, while the Puki circled around feeding its cap to her.

However, after only a third has been eaten, the Puki “plopped” to the ground—dead.

Xiao Hai suddenly realized she lost her remote-controlled toy and seemed to get dejected.

How could she play around so much that she ends up depressing herself?

Lin Jun brought over two more Pukis to Xiao Hai’s command, and with the connection change, Xiao Hai’s attention immediately shifted to the new Pukis.

The dead one on the ground was quickly forgotten.

But that wasn’t the end; Lin Jun continued transferring even more Puki command to Xiao Hai.

4… 8… 15…

Finally, the command of all 21 Pukis on site was transferred to Xiao Hai.

Lin Jun wanted to see where the limit of this delegation was.

However, long before testing Lin Jun’s limits, Xiao Hai’s limit was reached first.

After gaining command of so many Pukis, Xiao Hai tried to stand but stepped on her own feet, fell on top of a Puki, squashing it flat, then flopped on the ground like a fish out of water.

Meanwhile, the other Pukis were either running chaotically, colliding and rolling around, or standing still.

The whole scene was a chaotic mess.

It calmed down only when Lin Jun reclaimed all command rights.

Xiao Hai shook her head, and as soon as she recovered, she dragged her tail and ran back to the Mushroom House to hide.

Looks like that experience wasn’t very pleasant.

How did this happen?

The ability to control Pukis is related to intelligence, and Xiao Hai isn’t the sharpest, so Lin Jun could understand the limited control.

But it’s just over 20 Pukis!

Even if they aren’t precisely controlled, at least basic control should be manageable.

Why was she even unable to manage her limbs?

After thinking, perhaps Xiao Hai is simply too unique, given her innate deficiency.

If someone with normal intelligence could try, that would be ideal.

In such times, Lin Jun particularly missed having Dylan around, that average man was quite useful…

Speaking of which… what level of intelligence do the Tree Demons have?

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