Astral Cockroach

During the flight, Hei Sang suddenly asked, "Banbu, how much of my Origin Power food is left?"

This guy followed along; he's not just here to eat, is he?

Banbu said unhappily, "There are 8 Fire Oil Pine Nuts left, and 13 Five-Leaf Redwood Pine Nuts. That's all that's left. Take them and hide them in your cave, eat them slowly."

"No, I'm not eating…" Hei Sang said anxiously, "Banbu, can I not have Origin Power food anymore? I want to exchange it for Origin Stones."

"No!" Banbu's mind raced, and he adjusted his tone, asking, "Hei Sang, what do you want Origin Stones for?"

Hei Sang said, "I'm very worried about Cliff Cypress, I want to help it."

"Just those few Origin Stones of yours? That won't make a difference." Banbu shook his antennae and said, "Hei Sang, don't worry. Next year, I will buy a batch of Origin Power food for Cliff Cypress and Yuntao that will help them molt and grow smoothly."

… …

Returning to Li Bamboo Peak and checking on Wind Chime's condition, its aura was much weaker.

The next day, Pu Tao, Li Zhu, and other warriors from the Iron Saber Mountain Range who received the news came as agreed.

Flying in the air, Pu Tao shouted with his divine sense, "Banbu, how is Wind Chime's condition?"

"It's getting weaker and weaker." Banbu said with some sadness, "This is already the 14th day."

As the aura weakened, Banbu discovered the problem with Wind Chime. Limb regeneration requires a large amount of Origin Power, nutrients, and energy, and the gestation of a Life Seed in the Life Sac also requires a large amount of Origin Power and energy.

The nutrients and energy stored in Wind Chime's body are insufficient! The speed at which the carapace absorbs Origin Power is also somewhat unable to keep up.

This kind of thing, in human society with advanced technology, is not a problem. It can be supplemented from the outside with equipment.

But in this desolate and primitive planet, it is fatal, and there is really no way, so we can only resign ourselves to fate.

Pu Tao, Li Zhu and other warriors landed and carefully unfolded their divine senses to probe inside the cave.

Li Zhu comforted, "It's only been 14 days today, there is still hope…"

Banbu moved his antennae and asked, "What about Flame Cluster Spotted Grass? Why didn't it come?"

Li Zhu said, "It's on duty these days to take care of the Snake Vine God-Given Seed. It's far away, so we couldn't notify it."

Pu Tao asked, "Banbu, I heard that Flame Cluster Spotted Grass and Wind Chime have reconciled? Should we notify it?"

"Let's not for now." Banbu said, "Let's wait and see."

… …

On the 15th day, the situation became more serious.

On the 16th day, Wind Chime's body's self-preservation mechanism was activated, and it no longer used its physical strength to restore the broken hind legs. The regeneration of the short limbs was terminated halfway. All Origin Power, nutrients, and energy were concentrated to supply the Life Sac.

On the 19th day, Wind Chime's physical strength was almost exhausted, and the evolution had not yet succeeded. Its life hung by a thread, a narrow escape from death.

Everyone began to discuss when to forcibly wake it up to say their final farewells.

Hei Sang was sent to notify Flame Cluster Spotted Grass.

… …

Late at night.

Banbu habitually used his divine sense to probe inside the cave.

Suddenly, he keenly noticed a special Origin Power fluctuation falling from the sky and drilling into Wind Chime's body, heading straight for the Life Sac.

The duration was very short, only a few breaths.

In the deep dark sky, there was only a lonely star, and that strange Origin Power emanated from it.

Looking at Wind Chime again, the Life Sac suddenly stopped absorbing Origin Power and energy.

This meant that the Life Sac had completed the gestation of the Life Seed!

The most crucial step in restricting molting and evolution had been successfully passed!

Then there was still hope!

Banbu cheered up and continued to observe.

The energy fluctuations emanating from Wind Chime's body weakened sharply and eventually ran out. Then, the vitality began to drain away.

Pu Tao next to him noticed the situation, raised his antennae, and lowered his mental power, saying, "Wind Chime seems to be dying!"

Li Zhu probed with his divine sense and sighed, "Hei Sang and Flame Cluster Spotted Grass haven't arrived yet. Should we wake it up now?"

Banbu stopped him, "Don't! It hasn't completely failed yet! Let's wait and see!"

Walking to the entrance of the cave and looking inside, at this time, the color and luster of Wind Chime's carapace became dim and was slowly peeling off. The body was expanding little by little, which meant the flesh was evolving, but the formation speed of the new carapace was very slow. Banbu knew that Wind Chime's current situation was that the body was consuming somatic cells out of survival instinct to forcibly complete the final step of evolution.

There was still a glimmer of hope.

Banbu recalled that when he was a beginner warrior, he survived alone in the wild and experienced two similar crises to Wind Chime. If he could survive twice, Wind Chime might also be able to.

Waiting for most of the night, the sky gradually brightened.

Hei Sang and Flame Cluster Spotted Grass returned.

Wind Chime had only a faint trace of life left, precarious and likely to disappear and die at any time.

Pu Tao persuaded, "Banbu, let's wake up Wind Chime and say our final farewells."

"It's not dead yet!" Banbu said, "Don't, it's only a little bit away from succeeding."

Flame Cluster Spotted Grass was simple-minded and thought Banbu couldn't bear it, so he persuaded, "Banbu, don't wait, it's only a little bit away from losing its life. What if it dies…"

"Then there's no need to say goodbye." Banbu said, "Either it succeeds… or it fails and dies in its sleep."

Flame Cluster Spotted Grass said, "Banbu, you… Wind Chime…"

Li Zhu gently touched Flame Cluster Spotted Grass with his antennae and suggested, "Then let's wait and see."

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That glimmer of life on Wind Chime was hanging on, just not extinguished.

Continue waiting, until noon.

"It's done!"

Banbu suddenly let out a cry of surprise.

For insect races, the ultimate sign of whether molting and evolution is successful is the formation of the carapace at the brain location. That is the key point. The formation of the carapace also means that the most vulnerable brain cells have completed their evolution and transformation.

Wind Chime was still holding on to its last breath, not dead!

But it was only a little bit away from death, even more dangerous than the two times Banbu had experienced.

"It's done?!" Many warriors in the Iron Saber Mountain Range launched their mental power to check.

Wind Chime was awakened by the mental power that swept back and forth. It laboriously pried open its old carapace, slightly shaking its antennae. Its brain was heavy and dizzy, and its consciousness was vague.

Banbu flashed and entered the cave.

"Wind Chime, you are very weak now, don't move around."

Flame Cluster Spotted Grass and Hei Sang rushed into the cave.

The cave space was limited, and the other warriors were blocked outside the cave.

"You…"

Wind Chime's brain couldn't think, only innocence and confusion were left.

"It's okay, we…" Flame Cluster Spotted Grass originally wanted to say "We thought you were going to die, so we came to say our final farewells," but stopped in time and changed his words, laughing:

"Haha, we heard that you have been asleep for a long time and haven't woken up, so we were worried about your safety and came to see you."

Li Zhu was also straightforward and sighed, "Wind Chime, you are really lucky, you can survive this!"

Wind Chime asked, "Was I almost dead? I feel very uncomfortable, very weak, and I can't muster any strength at all."

Banbu took out a piece of dried meat, put it in front of Wind Chime, and comforted, "Eat something first to regain your strength."

Pu Tao shouted, "I'll go down the mountain to hunt fresh, live creatures!"

"I'll go too!"

"I'll go too!"

The warriors outside the cave took off and ran to the jungle at the foot of the mountain.

Soon they returned with various foods in their mouths.

The cockroach's vitality is really tenacious. After eating and drinking enough, Wind Chime's condition began to recover rapidly.

After recuperating for two days, it became lively again.

The only defect was that the broken hind leg had not fully grown, only half the length of the other leg, and it was particularly thin, making walking uncoordinated.

Life returned to normal, and Banbu continued to be busy.

Having experienced this, Wind Chime obviously became enthusiastic and cheerful, insisting on helping Banbu with his work.

Banbu couldn't resist, so he arranged for it to cut flagstones on the mountain.

PS: Added one more update. I have a bit of a cold these two days. I'll save some drafts later and try to update three times a day.