Although the Divine Wood Dungeon is no longer as prosperous as it once was, it has regained some vitality, with various magical creatures visible across the levels.

However, the biggest change is undoubtedly the fungal mat present everywhere and the occasional glimpse of Puki among the trees.

At the bottom layer of the Divine Wood Dungeon, a Puki controlled by Subordinate Control emerged from the fungal mat.

The Pale Pilgrimages, serving as guards, ignored the presence of this Puki, allowing it to proceed directly to the spiral base where the Divine Wood Tree Seedling was located.

Puki's tentacle wrapped around the seedling's tip, and the moment it made contact, Lin Jun began parsing the magic array on it.

Lin Jun was clear that with a little time, she could open the door to the abyssal space below herself.

The so-called "door" was essentially just a transfer array, relatively advanced, yet still within the realm of magic, and naturally could be analyzed by the Ultimate Magic Guide.

However, Lin Jun did not do so but waited in place.

Sure enough, before long, the master of this place actively pulled Puki inside.

The familiar abyssal space, and not far from Puki, that familiar "Wind-Rolling Grass."

But unlike before, this time Lin Jun didn't need to call out to the big guy.

"What are you here for?" The Divine Wood spoke first, with a hint of caution in its tone.

"I've come to share the victory with you, my dear Divine Wood~"

Puki enthusiastically extended a tentacle, only for it to be dodged by the constantly writhing branches.

"I don't need any victory. Besides... the Demon King and Link aren't dead yet, where's the victory?"

"The overall situation is set; they've become dogs without a home. As long as you, Divine Wood, exert a little effort, we can easily resolve these loose ends completely!"

"Easily? I don't think so." The eye among the branches gazed coldly at Puki, "Besides, I'm just an idle layabout, why should I help you?"

"Don't hold grudges, Old Deng!" Puki's tentacle plucked at a branch, "I believe you will assist me."

"What? Are you going to use your specialty, coercion? Just like how you deal with those Demon Race? You could very well disassemble this useless piece of wood of mine entirely; with your current strength, it's not difficult. But there's no way I'll help you eliminate another possibility."

The Divine Wood was impenetrable, still adhering to its approach of not wanting to bear the consequences.

"I know, you don't care about your own life or death." Lin Jun remained unhurried, leisurely moving two steps closer to the Wind-Rolling Grass, "But what if I say, it's for Arthur?"

Upon hearing that name, the Wind-Rolling Grass didn't respond immediately, but the glow within the branches suddenly intensified.

Puki then slapped his mushroom cap, "Ah, I forgot, now he's called Vera."

"How do you know... do you intend to threaten me with Vera?" The Divine Wood's tone grew colder, "Then go ahead, it would merely advance his pathetic end a little, but I assure you, you'll pay a price for this too."

Puki spread its tentacles, took two steps back, looking innocent.

"Old Deng, don't jump to conclusions!"

"When did I ever say I was going to threaten you with Vera? Am I that kind of despicable mushroom?"

As he spoke, Puki tapped his own mushroom body, and a black cube was forcibly extracted from inside Puki's body.

"An information cube...?"

Puki dragged the cube forward, making a gesture of invitation.

Divine Wood hesitated for a moment, but eventually extended a branch to touch it.

In an instant, the information within the cube poured into the consciousness of Divine Wood.

It was the entire life of a human named Ocas.

A childhood with both parents deceased and no one to rely on, a youth performing various dirty jobs in the city's gutters for survival, and upon realizing a special talent in deception, he continues to refine his skills, eventually swindling numerous fools to the point of bankruptcy, earning a life of indulgence.

Until one day, he was kidnapped by Puki and became an honorable D-level personnel.

After enduring trials, rising and falling repeatedly, he was eventually assimilated into an undying Puki.

"Memories..." Divine Wood murmured.

Unlike the third-perspective memories Lin Jun had once copied and given to Vera, these were genuine memories taken from Ocas himself, from start to finish, without any additions.

Divine Wood gave Puki a second glance but still shook the twig, "Even if you can extract the memories themselves, like I said before, memories viewed externally are merely emotionless images, holding little value."

Puki flicked his mushroom cap, "What if they contain emotions?"

"Impossible!" Divine Wood asserted, "If you could even replicate emotions, with such nearly costless and stable means of salvation, the Demon King would never have opposed you, and you wouldn't have needed to rope me in! Don't take me for a fool!"

"True, emotions can't be replicated, but what if just a part of the emotions is segregated and stored together with the copied memories?"

"Impossible. An individual's emotions cannot exist separately from their soul! The moment they're extracted, they dissipate, leaving the memory a mere image, like this information block."

"Who said the storage had to be separate from the individual's soul?"

Puki extended its tentacle again, touching Divine Wood's branch.

The next moment,

Whoosh—

Appearing before the Divine Wood was an endless sea of souls.

In the consciousness space, Lin Jun's mushroom-person form stood beside the Wind-Rolling Grass, spreading arms to the vast blue sea.

"I wasn't meant to exist, a sliver of everyone's soul combined to form me!"

"I tried, my subordinates are within it, my fungus people are within it, my enemies are within it, and naturally... Vera will also be within it!"

Lin Jun scooped up a handful of seawater, letting it drip and flow away.

"As long as I find that thread of Vera's soul, and divert some emotion from his primary soul onto this thread... when he reclaims these memories, the emotions within, though much fainted, will still be his most genuine past!"

"I can't help you retrieve Arthur, but as long as I exist, 'Vera' won't disappear." Lin Jun turned, facing the Wind-Rolling Grass that had stopped writhing unknowingly, extending the hand with countless swaying mycelium, "So... will you continue to refuse to choose, or, for Vera's sake, place your bet on me? Even if this choice might lead to the world's destruction!"

The Wind-Rolling Grass remained silent, but the light orb in the midst of the branches flickered continuously.

Ultimately, a branch twined out, being grasped by Lin Jun.

"Pleasure to collaborate, Divine Wood Old Deng."

...

While Lin Jun was persuading Divine Wood, Norris was facing the greatest crisis of his life.

He sat inside the Jida, enhanced countless times, yet he felt no sense of security.

His gaze locked firmly onto a white figure ahead, he spoke with difficulty:

"Demon King..."

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