Halfway up one of the giant trees, on a branch neither high nor low, a Puji perched quietly.
The elf who had barged into the hut earlier bore the same surname as Elawen—“Whitepeak.” Most likely they were siblings, or perhaps even father and daughter.
After all, panels didn’t display age, and one couldn’t tell an elf’s age from appearances alone. Judging by his level, though, he was clearly much older than Elawen.
He had looked ready to dissect the Puji—and inside its body was still symbiotically fused with a B-rank magic crystal!
Not a fatal issue, but better not to let that be discovered.
Lin Jun had no intention of letting rumors spread that killing a Puji might yield magic crystals.
Scout Puji had taken the opportunity to leave, not only to avoid trouble but also because he had serious work to do.
He hadn’t infiltrated the elf city just to play pet and act cute!
His original goal had been [Nature Magic], and now [Gravity Field] was also on the list.
Of course, no rush yet—the Mycelium Carpet hadn’t even been laid. The current goal was to first familiarize himself with the elf city.As for safety, there was little worry. Right now, Scout Puji’s right leg was tied with a little green ribbon. Looking closely, there were words written on it in elvish.
Such ribbons weren’t unique—Elawen’s parrot, bear, and python had them, and so did the pets of other elves. They were basically like collars.
Meaning: Scout Puji was now officially recognized as a pet!
Could this serve as a pass through the outer watchposts? If so…
The Puji flitted low through the forest floor. The treetop “sky market” above might be fascinating, but Lin Jun couldn’t understand elvish. Better to start exploring from the ground.
He was already thinking about how to learn the language. If [Corpse Decomposition] could reach LV3 or LV4, he could slowly pick it up through daily exposure.
But where to find fresh elf corpses?
In the Dungeon under the World Tree?
Lin Jun wasn’t hopeful. That place was nothing like the bustling Amethyst Dungeon—it was primitive, untouched, with very few elf adventurers.
The fact that Elawen had met no other adventurers on her return was proof enough.
Even if an elf did die there, monsters would devour the body quickly. Stumbling across another half-dead elf would take miraculous luck.
So… where could one find freshly dead elves whose bodies weren’t immediately eaten?
After half a day’s flight, Scout Puji arrived at a peculiar grove.
At the base of every tree stood a small stone plaque inscribed with elvish.
On the edge of the grove, a funeral was in progress.
Several elves stood silently around a shallow pit about a meter deep.
Inside lay an elf elder, lifeless.
It was Lin Jun’s first time seeing such an aged elf—their wrinkles deep as bark, silver hair sparse, the famed beauty of the race completely gone.
One elf noticed the strange Puji flitting near. They gave it an extra glance but said nothing—perhaps the green ribbon did its work.
There were no long eulogies, no wailing cries. Not even sadness.
The elves silently buried their companion beneath the earth. When the pit was filled, they planted a dark-brown seed in the center.
A vial of emerald-glowing potion was poured gently over the seed.
Then, soft, life-filled light of [Nature Magic] glowed from an elf’s hands, wrapping the soil in gentle radiance.
Before their eyes, the seed sprouted, budding, unfurling tender leaves. Under the protection of magic and potion, it passed its fragile stage swiftly, becoming a slender, vigorous sapling.
It was the same species as the surrounding ancient trees.
Through [Mana Perception], Lin Jun saw its roots entwining with the buried elf—surely, the body would soon become nourishment for the new tree.
So that was their funeral custom.
Lin Jun greatly approved of this “return to nature.” The only issue was that letting the trees slowly absorb corpses was inefficient. As a helpful mushroom, he was willing to give them a little “assistance.”
At last—he had corpses.
Now the real question:
How to sneak these “top-grade fertilizers” back to the Mycelium Carpet?
—
Back in the Dungeon beneath the World Tree, at the fissure where Scout Puji had first emerged—
Another Scout Puji crawled out.
Number One had been “adopted” by elves. The task of exploring the Dungeon now fell to Number Two.
This time, he wasn’t alone. Several ordinary Pujis followed him out.
The drained Seventh Layer wasn’t without benefits. At least spreading the Mycelium Carpet downward was easier, and it had already reached this fissure.
The Pujis swayed and scattered spores.
Since elves rarely ventured into this Dungeon, the real threat to spreading fungus here was the native monsters.
But Lin Jun was experienced!
Surface Mycelium Carpet and underground spore networks together!
Exterminate the slimes!
Exterminate the Glowgrass!
There were already plantations in the deep layers run by the demonkin for producing Glowgrass. The Dungeon didn’t need any more light sources!
This fissure was a bit too exposed, though. It needed camouflage.
After half a day’s work, the Carpet spread further, and several Fatty Pujis were produced.
They plastered themselves against the fissure edges, while others brought stones for them to absorb.
With [Rock-Eating LV8] and [Resonance LV2], the fissure slowly turned into a massive boulder.
Once the Fatty Pujis were decomposed, the stone’s surface was reshaped—basic camouflage complete.
To the naked eye, it was now just a big rock resting on the Mycelium Carpet.
Though hollow inside, being skill-produced made it harder than natural stone. No risk of it breaking from a touch.
Well—unless a migrating tree came along. Then all bets were off.
While the Carpet kept spreading, Scout Number Two flew off on his own.
This fissure was around the fourth spiral layer, close to the surface.
Lin Jun planned for the Puji to fly to the center, then descend along the shortest route, to see what monsters the Dungeon held.
And just as Scout Two set off on his adventure, a pink Puji reappeared in the network after three days away.
No detection skills were needed—the smug look on her face said it all. She had brought something back!