【Seven Sins of Greed: Activated】
【Skill Plundered: Elvish Language LV1 → LV2】
【Skill Plundered: Nature Magic LV2 → LV3】
In the elven cemetery, a few inconspicuous mushrooms had quietly begun sprouting.
Lin Jun hadn’t spread his mycelium openly; all of it was done through hidden underground passages.
After each elven burial, a burrower Puji would dig to the grave site from below, stripping the body until only a skeleton remained.
Then the temporary patch of mycelium would be quickly reabsorbed, the tunnel carefully filled back in, leaving no trace behind.
So far, no one had noticed anything unusual.
It felt almost like he was just waiting for elves to “feed” him.
The only problem—elves didn’t hold funerals often. In the past week, there had only been two.But Lin Jun wasn’t in a hurry.
—
Elsewhere, Elawen sat idly at home, bored out of her mind.
After her near-death during her last solo adventure, her brother Salian had imposed a strict ban: she was forbidden from entering the Sacred Tree Dungeon alone unless she found reliable companions to join her.
To enforce this, Salian had even spoken with the rangers patrolling the forest’s perimeter, completely cutting off any chance of her sneaking out.
And as for joining a band of strangers to form an adventuring team?
She’d sooner die on the spot!
“Why don’t animal companions count as teammates?” Elawen buried her face into Furball’s fluffy coat, muttering gloomily. “You’re way more reliable than some strangers. Right, Furball?”
The parrot on her shoulder squawked in agreement.
The little cabin felt emptier with winter settling in. Bean and Bubble had gone into hibernation in their burrows.
Little Ji never stayed still—always flying around, only showing up occasionally.
Now, the only ones keeping her company were Furball and Feifei.
She rested her chin on the cold windowsill, staring at the gray sky. “When will Little Ji come back…”
—
Outside a potion shop, the sound of beating wings drew attention.
Riel, who had been leaning on the counter, focused intently on her grandfather brewing potions. At the sound, her long ears twitched—she leapt to her feet in an instant.
She darted to the window in a few quick steps, grabbing the frame with both hands. Her small body blocked the entire opening.
Last time, she hadn’t expected a Puji to be so strong—it had simply forced the window open with its tendrils. But this time would be different!
The scout Puji landed on an empty herb rack outside. Instead of barging straight in, it stayed put.
“Hmph!” Riel grinned smugly, convinced of her victory.
The Puji hopped down, stretched out a tendril, and casually pulled the door handle.
Creaaak—
The shop door swung open.
The Puji trotted in naturally, gave two light hops, and plopped onto its usual spot on the counter—sitting upright, as if nothing had happened, eyes fixed on the brewing process.
Riel’s lips trembled. She tried not to cry from frustration.
Her grandfather had seen it all, his wrinkled face showing helpless fondness as he shook his head.
Suddenly—
“Cough—cough—!”
The old elf doubled over, thin frame trembling, clutching the counter with bony hands to stay upright.
“Grandpa! What’s wrong? Are you sick?!” Riel’s face went pale with fright as she rushed to support him.
The Puji, however, saw clearly: it wasn’t illness—it was simply age.
【Extreme Senescence (All base attributes reduced by 80%)】
The same debuff Lin Jun had once seen on the old bat.
But unlike the bat, who had the Sunstone to stave off death, this elf had nothing.
Lin Jun remembered—when he first met him, the debuff had only been 78%. In just a few days, it had risen to the maximum.
This elder had even less time left than expected—he likely wouldn’t survive the winter.
Nearly thirty agonizing seconds later, the old elf finally caught his breath, chest heaving violently.
Still trembling, he reached toward the half-finished potion on the counter.
“Grandpa, rest! Let me do it!” Riel cried, pulling his hand back with all her strength.
A faint glimmer lit the old elf’s cloudy eyes. He rasped, “Then… does Riel still remember… how to brew Hair Growth Potion…?”
Riel looked at the bubbling mixture, then nodded hard. “I remember! First process the moon-grass, cut off the roots… then…” She fumbled through the steps while trying to follow his instructions.
“Next… add…” She stared at the light-green liquid, brows furrowing. What was it? Dewflower stamens?
No—that was for purification. Maybe Stoneheart powder?
No… that wasn’t right either. Grandpa had told her this so many times!
Her forehead beaded with sweat. The more anxious she grew, the more her mind went blank.
Just as tears were about to fall—
Plop!
A small bundle of dried brown root dropped into the cauldron, tossed in by the scout Puji’s tendril.
“You—! You’re ruining it!” Riel gasped, reaching instinctively to fish it out.
But she froze.
The root dissolved instantly in the potion.
The pale green liquid darkened before her eyes, brimming with vitality, until within seconds it became the deep green of success.
Not only was it the correct ingredient, even the quantity was exact.
“You… you… YOU—!” Riel pointed at the Puji, face filled with disbelief. “Don’t tell me—you actually learned alchemy?!”
She glanced between the perfect potion and the Puji on the counter, casually swinging its little legs. “A Puji… actually knows potion-making better than me… Grandpa taught me so many times, and I still couldn’t remember…”
In truth, Lin Jun hadn’t mastered much—just a handful of recipes over the past week. He had simply gotten lucky with this one.
The old elf reclined in his chair, just as startled. But only mildly so.
After all, the Puji clearly had a master, likely modified into some kind of familiar. Some familiars were cleverer than others.
He reached out, stroking Riel’s hair.
“Riel,” his voice was hoarse yet warm, “don’t be discouraged. There are still countless potions and methods I haven’t had time to teach you.”
He leaned forward slightly, giving her an encouraging smile. “In the days left, Grandpa will teach you everything I know, one step at a time. You’re so smart—you’ll learn them all.”
Riel sniffled and nodded fiercely. “Mm!”
The Puji didn’t understand the heartfelt exchange. Seeing they weren’t continuing the lesson, it simply flapped away toward the next shop.
—
Meanwhile, in the dungeon.
A bound minotaur volunteer suddenly had hair sprouting wildly, transforming into a “hair-cow-man.”
Lin Jun was quite satisfied with the effect.
“Norris, come try this! It’s good stuff!”