Beneath the mottled bark, gnarled branches slowly writhed, while countless translucent fungal threads spread in a web-like pattern across the gaps between the branches, extending from the chest to the limbs.
A cluster of fluorescent mushrooms grew from the cracked opening atop the tree demon's head, their tender caps looking utterly mismatched against the withered wood-like body.
Tree demons weren't flesh-and-blood creatures, so naturally they couldn't be parasitized by themselves. The tree demon before them had simply connected to the fungal network through the mushrooms on its body.
In terms of independence, it ranked higher than both Dylan and Little Black.
However, Lin Jun also noticed something else at the same time.
The spores he had scattered last time hadn't managed to take root anywhere in this tree demon grove—the mushroom on this creature's body was probably the only result of his efforts.
Only this single tree demon stood at the entrance to the grove, while deeper within, more swaying figures could be vaguely seen.
How... interesting.
From an unknown source, root tendrils covering the ground twisted and parted to create a path between the tree demon and the puffshrooms.
Only one root tendril, caught by Little Black, couldn't retract even if it wanted to.
"Mushroom, Master."
The tree demon, having recently regrown its four limbs and appearing somewhat emaciated, approached the puffshrooms and once again transmitted information through the fungal network.
"The branches and leaves of the Ancestor Tree yearn for tranquility. Please do not bring destruction."
When mentioning destruction, the tree demon's head clearly turned several degrees toward Little Black's direction.
Lin Jun sensed a trace of fear in the tree demon's emotions.
So that's how it is—pleading for peace.
However—
"What is the Ancestor Tree? And what are the branches and leaves of the Ancestor Tree? Are you referring to yourself?"
Hearing a special term suddenly emerge from a wild monster's mouth, Lin Jun couldn't help but be curious.
"The Ancestor Tree is the source of all tree demons. We are all its branches and leaves!"
Mentioning the Ancestor Tree seemed to excite and fill the tree being with longing.
Lin Jun looked toward the depths of the tree demon grove: "Is this Ancestor Tree in there?"
He wasn't intimidated by such an imposing title.
If this Ancestor Tree was on the sixth floor, it would at most be on the level of that old bat.
If it wasn't on the sixth floor, then no matter how powerful it was, it couldn't affect Lin Jun.
"The Ancestor Tree is not here. We are merely a lost tender branch."
Tender branch?
Lin Jun glanced at the old bark on its body that looked ready to fall off at any moment...
"Alright, I understand. But I have a question—what does your so-called 'tranquility' represent?"
The tree demon replied: "Branches and leaves do not attack mushrooms, mushrooms do not attack branches and leaves."
"Then when I need some help, can you provide it? Of course, I would offer compensation in return." Communication, after all—starting with small interactions was something Lin Jun knew how to do.
The tree demon paused, turned to look at the other tree demons in the forest, and finally shook its head, repeating: "Branches and leaves do not attack mushrooms, mushrooms do not attack branches and leaves."
Now Lin Jun understood—they were playing isolationism here.
Lin Jun thought for a few seconds, then replied: "If that's all there is to it... I refuse."
The cold intent was transmitted to the tree demon, making it fully understand that Lin Jun sought much more.
In Lin Jun's eyes, these tree demons, as rare intelligent beings in the dungeon who could easily connect to the fungal network without communication barriers, were quite valuable.
Lin Jun was very willing to absorb them into his organization to improve the average intelligence level.
Setting aside how much help these tree demons, unable to leave their floor, could provide him, just accumulating experience in managing other races was very necessary.
But the prerequisite was that they had to join his organization!
The tree demon's meaning was clear—they weren't even willing to make superficial contact with him.
In that case, absorbing them into his organization was simply out of the question.
But...
What gave them the right?
Though it might sound somewhat arrogant, Lin Jun already considered the entire dungeon his private property—even though his actual controlled territory was probably less than a third of it.
The tree demons weren't beings of equivalent power, so what gave them the right to maintain a state-within-a-state status?
In that case, this group of tree demons would be no different from the other monsters outside, as far as Lin Jun was concerned.
One could even say that a bunch of intelligent but uncontrolled tree demons posed a certain uncertain threat to Lin Jun, even if that threat currently seemed very small.
Moreover, only the tree demon before him had come out to negotiate with Lin Jun, while all the other tree demons remained hidden in the forest. It was hard to say how much sincerity this conversation could have.
Lin Jun didn't want to appear too domineering. This group of tree demons only needed to show a willingness to engage in some level of contact, and this conversation could have had a good outcome.
What a pity.
"I won't force you if you're unwilling to make contact with me, but since there's no relationship between us, why should I stop Little Black for your sake?
Oh, Little Black refers to that large black mushroom.
Here, mutual hunting between monsters is the natural order. Your forest contains only tree demons—I assume this wasn't voluntarily ceded by other monsters, was it?
What do you think?"
Faced with Lin Jun's argument, the tree demon didn't know how to respond.
Lin Jun wasn't in a hurry. He wanted these tree demons to think it over carefully.
"This time I'll take Little Black back first. I hope that next time I come, I'll be able to meet more tree demons willing to communicate."
After saying this, the puffshrooms led Little Black away.
Actually, with Lin Jun's current strength, he could have been even more forceful—directly bringing a squad of puffshrooms to threaten them—but such methods would have been too unseemly.
A bunch of resentful tree demons joining his ranks might not necessarily be a good thing.
His current behavior, while not exactly friendly, at least left room for maneuvering.
What Lin Jun wanted to do now was create an opening among the tree demons, even if it was just a small one.
As long as there was contact, Lin Jun believed that with the resources he now commanded, he should be able to win over a group of tree demons.
---
The Mushroom Master had left, leaving the tree demon standing there in a daze.
That time, when its limbs were severed, the tree demon hadn't died.
It had no name, just an ordinary tree demon in this grove, no different from hundreds of its kin.
If there was any difference, it was that it had been unlucky enough to be on guard duty when it encountered the black mushroom representing destruction.
But it was also fortunate, not dying at the hands of the black mushroom.
Though it had lost its limbs, they could regrow.
When it and a few others fought the large black mushroom, the other tree demons had all stayed inside the grove without coming out.
Actually, it hadn't been like that initially.
The first time the large black mushroom came, half the tree demons in the forest had gathered, united in the consensus to kill all outsiders entering the grove.
That time, it had been far away, and by the time it arrived, the large black mushroom had already left, leaving only countless broken wood chips on the ground.
The second time, third time, fourth time...
Under the large black mushroom's endless harassment, they came to understand—this was not a being they could defeat.
Each fierce resistance only brought greater casualties. Conversely, if they ignored it, the damage the large black mushroom would cause was much less.
Thus emerged the system of taking turns guarding the entrance, or rather, taking turns being sacrificial offerings.
After all, each time the large black mushroom came, it would be satisfied and leave after dismantling a few tree demons.
Sacrificing a few unlucky souls whose turn it was in exchange for the survival of more tree demons seemed quite worthwhile.
Only it felt this approach wouldn't work, but it couldn't think of any other solution.
Tree demons weren't a rapidly reproducing race, and the number of tree demons in the grove was steadily declining at a slow pace.
They would all be killed off eventually—that's what it believed.
So it felt no joy at surviving the disaster. This was merely postponing the end by just a little bit.
Until a mushroom bloomed on its head...
Though vague, it had sensed it—that enormous presence above!
That being's will was as vast as an endless forest. Compared to that existence, all the tree demons in the entire grove combined seemed insignificant.
It was an undefeatable existence, and even the black mushroom was just a small part of it.
It had glimpsed the colossal entity from afar, while the colossal entity hadn't noticed it yet due to its insignificance. This filled it with fear.
It had considered pulling off the mushroom from its body—that way, that existence wouldn't discover it.
But in that case, the fate of the tree demons' extinction seemed destined.
The large black mushroom was part of that existence. If the tree demons wanted to survive, they had no choice but to try communicating with it.
It tried to convey this idea to its people, but the emotions responding through the root network were all doubt and anger.
Even with its utmost efforts, it had only earned this single opportunity for communication.
And now, the communication had ended.
Thanks to the communication, the large black mushroom hadn't torn it apart this time.
But it was hard to say the result of the communication was good.
This result was more like receiving an ultimatum.
It didn't know how many of its kin would be willing to let a mushroom grow on their bodies.
It only knew it had to try its best to persuade more of its people.
Hopefully, there wouldn't be too few...
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