The scout Puki quietly retreated without alarming the Cave Dwellers.

Since the location of the nest was already known, there was no fear of them escaping.

Because this scouting Puki was controlled by Subordinate Control, it couldn't directly connect to the Fungal Network, whether it still existed or not, so Lin Jun decided to lay the Fungal Mat first.

Even the front line's strategy could be temporarily postponed.

...

"What? Retreat!?"

Louisa, who had just shot through a snake's head with a Blood Awl, couldn't believe the order she received.

The Snake Cave was full of Snake Monsters, but its narrow and complex terrain prevented the Puki army from using their most proficient long-range fire suppression.

Almost every inch of progress in the Snake Cave required a Puki's sacrifice.

Moreover, with the expedition team's numbers already halved, the advance was very slow, but they were close to reaching the core area.

"Boss, we're almost at their nest!

Once we eliminate the young snakes in the nest, they won't be able to replenish from behind.

Retreating now is like giving up all the territory we've occupied, it would make these past few days' efforts pointless!"

It's not that Louisa was particularly loyal to the Mushroom Garden, but the young snakes, if their blood essence could be extracted from each, would make quite a fine wild delicacy.

"How much longer?"

"Just two more days will suffice!"

"Too long. The matter here is more important." After saying this, Lin Jun moved his gaze away.

Louisa frowned, reaching out to grab a venomous snake that had just slithered out from a small hole, and squeezed it to death with force.

Reluctantly glancing at the forked Snake Cave ahead, she turned and retreated— the boss's orders were absolute.

...

Compared to fighting Monsters and occasionally quenching one's thirst with fresh blood during the great expedition, the task of laying the Fungal Mat to the Cave Dwellers' homeland was much more boring.

Since it was laid along the "safe passages" discovered by the Cave Dwellers, enemies were very sparse, mostly some wandering solitary Monsters.

Thus, Louisa appeared listless along the way.

Although there were stored Blood Packs, they weren't fresh enough... lacking strength...

After feasting for so many days, Louisa began finding it difficult to accept blood from the previous day.

The food was secondary; the key was that this time the Holy Scripture was also present...

Always calling it the Holy Scripture, Louisa's understanding of it all came from tasks.

Yet, from the Demon Race, who clearly knew more about the inside story, and their deeply reserved attitude toward the Holy Scripture, it was not difficult to see everyone was deeply apprehensive of this evil book.

It was really dangerous for the boss to let a tailless Lizardman hold it casually!

In Louisa's view, the Holy Scripture ought to be sealed, and in extreme cases, thrown into the ubiquitous Rifts here wouldn't be impossible.

As for working alongside the Holy Scripture?

It really made her uneasy.

Louisa was apprehensive of the Holy Scripture, and it didn't like her either.

[Little Norris, don't stand so close to this female demon]

[Be careful she suddenly loses control and drains you]

[I can't save you as a book]

"Senior... if you don't intervene, she probably won't lose control..."

Having been together for so long, Norris also understood some regular methods of the Yellow-covered Book.

Unexpectedly, the Yellow-covered Book suddenly felt aggrieved.

[How could I still influence her?]

[Look at me, I'm so thin now]

[Almost turning into a waste book]

[My fate is bitter, Little Norris!]

Norris felt the Yellow-covered Book in his hand was indeed much lighter and didn't know what to say.

It seemed the Yellow-covered Book was quite pitiful, but it seemed to have brought it on itself...

Seeing his subordinates getting along so harmoniously, Lin Jun felt deeply gratified.

Having called them all here this time was enough to show how much Lin Jun valued the Cave Dwellers.

Louisa was for aggressive attacks, while the Yellow-covered Book and Norris were responsible for capturing any Cave Dwellers who might escape through other passages.

Of course, it wasn't mandated to use violence; if the Cave Dwellers could submit willingly, Lin Jun would happily skip a step.

Lin Jun also noticed among the three subordinates, except for the honest child Norris, the other two weren't very enthusiastic about this task, still, some carrots had to be given.

So when they finally reached near the Old Mushroom Garden, sensing the still-active Fungal Mat behind the Living Wood Castle, Lin Jun made promises.

"Louisa, if this job is done well, I'll allow you to drain a few."

"Yellow-covered Book, if you ensure no Cave Dweller escapes, I'll grant you the souls of two Cave Dwellers."

"!!!"

[!!!]

The power of blood surged around Louisa, and she began counting her controlled Elite Pukis.

The words in the Yellow-covered Book floated line by line, instructing Norris on what to do in a moment.

Seeing the full of motivation team, Lin Jun suddenly felt the efficiency of using his team against enemies was quite high.

Blood for Louisa to draw, souls for the Yellow-covered Book to absorb, it's a pity Norris refused to eat humanoid Cave Dweller meat...

Agreeing to let the Yellow-covered Book absorb two souls also had its considerations.

When the Yellow-covered Book consumes souls, it replenishes pages; tearing pages causes soul loss.

Last time it tore so many, giving it two more was no big deal.

The Yellow-covered Book needed some hope or it'd always be thinking of fooling Norris.

As for the threat of consuming too many souls?

Next time it makes a mistake, just tear it again...

As for why Lin Jun was willing to let them harm a few precious Cave Dwellers?

Lin Jun didn't know when the Cave Dwellers took over, but apparently, when they did, the mushrooms in the Old Mushroom Garden weren't extinct yet.

The remaining mushrooms were preserved and even cultivated by the Cave Dwellers as a stable food source.

And now, as Lin Jun's Fungal Mat approached, these originally proprietary to Lin Jun Fungal Mat naturally integrated into the Fungal Network.

At the same time, it opened up the view inside the Living Wood Castle for Lin Jun.

Inside, Lin Jun found some Cave Dwellers useless for battle.

They were fat-headed and big-eared, broad and fleshy, raised like pigs and clearly unsuited for work.

To command the Puki, would it require four specifically to carry them?

Honestly, Lin Jun couldn't quite understand.

In theory, the conditions in the Deep Area were harsh; even if the Cave Dwellers were under a slave system, leaders shouldn't be this fat, they should have some ability to face challenges.

But the reality was, not only were there such fat ones, but many of them, very bizarre indeed.

Thinking too much was pointless, after all, they were just little snacks for Louisa and the Yellow-covered Book, hopefully, they wouldn't mind the excess fat.

...

As the Mushroom Garden's three generals led the Puki army closer to the Cave Dwellers' lair, they were already well-prepared.

Actually, as soon as the Fungal Mat had been laid halfway, some Cave Dwellers came to scout and were promptly captured by Lin Jun.

As a moderately organized tribe, when their scout didn't return, they naturally understood danger was imminent.

At this moment, the traps inside the passage had doubled since last seen.

Groups of Cave Dwellers clenched spears or stones, densely guarding inside and outside the Living Wood exit, holding their breath.

However, when the Puki army appeared before them, the Cave Dwellers' formation instantly wavered—they were simply too numerous!

They couldn't perceive Louisa's strength as the leader, but the number of Pukis was unmistakable.

The Supervisor whipped at the Cave Dwellers retreating in fear, barely quelling the chaos, yet their trembling limbs exposed their inner fear.

Lin Jun wasn't a savage; when facing the also intelligent Cave Dwellers, even if the other side was so ignorant, Lin Jun still chose diplomacy before force.

The Puki forces parted to the sides, leaving a path.

A Cave Dweller scout covered in mushrooms staggered out and began shouting toward the Cave Dwellers' formation.

The Cave Dwellers' language was simple and primitive, and though the Cave Dweller scout shouted for a long time, the message conveyed was very brief—submit or die!

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