Astral Cockroach

The next day, early in the morning, Banbu sought out the Rat King.

“Rat King, did that wildcat warrior come last night?”

“He did.”

“Let’s go, let’s go down the mountain and take a look.”

He checked the traps.

Not a single bait was missing; they were all there, untouched.

This was abnormal!

Beast warriors have no inherited memories. Even if they develop intelligence, it’s the most basic, primitive kind. Most of the time, they still act according to their instincts.

Is this wildcat warrior so sensitive to danger? Or is it exceptionally intelligent?

Banbu’s mood suddenly became extremely bad.

The Rat King carefully asked, “Banbu, do you have any other ideas?”

“No.” Banbu asked, “Do you have any ideas?”

The Rat King suggested, “Banbu, you could invite the Drooping Banyan Princess to Lizhu Peak. The Princess's aura might scare it away.”

Banbu didn’t answer. He abruptly turned around, looked up, gazed south, flapped his wings, and took to the air.

In the distance, two black dots were rapidly approaching.

Judging by the aura of primordial force, one of them was Mountain Master Huabai.

The other one was terrifying. The closer it got, the less Banbu could sense any primordial force fluctuations from it. It was definitely a ninth-instar princess, only one step away from the Roach King.

“Banbu, what are you doing down here?” Mountain Master Huabai asked curiously.

“It’s still because of that wildcat warrior from last time, lingering around Lizhu Peak, unwilling to leave. I can’t catch it, can’t kill it. The traps I carefully designed are useless, and it won’t fall for poison. It’s really infuriating.”

Banbu replied, leading the guests to land on Lizhu Peak.

Mountain Master Huabai took the initiative to introduce, “Banbu, this is Princess Qiufeng of our Black and White Flower Roach Tribe.”

So, this was the famous Princess Qiufeng!

“Greetings, Princess Qiufeng!” Banbu greeted politely.

This was a big spender, possessing a God-given Seed no less valuable than the Red Iron Tree, and receiving a large share of primordial stones from the tribe’s ore mines every year. Very wealthy.

As a senior member of a prosperous tribe, commanding three thousand subordinates, Princess Qiufeng naturally carried an air of authority, with a restrained aura, combined with the kindness of an elder. Her divine sense was gentle, and she first offered a heartfelt compliment:

“Noble carapace color! No wonder you are so favored by the True God of Nature!”

This sense of aesthetics is very correct… Banbu muttered to himself.

Princess Qiufeng continued, “Banbu, even far away in Qiufeng County, I hear your name several times every year. After the Red Iron Roach King, you are the most promising to grow into the second Roach King of the Red Roach Tribe.”

“Princess Qiufeng, you flatter me.” Banbu responded politely, understanding what was going on.

Princess Qiufeng was carrying a silk bag, bulging with a bag of primordial stones, probably heading to Red Iron County to congratulate the Red Iron Roach King. In addition, they needed to discuss the upcoming land reclamation. She was dropping by his territory to pay a visit.

Looking at Mountain Master Huabai again, Banbu realized that there was more to it than that.

Mountain Master Huabai was carrying half a bag of primordial stones.

Who gives gifts in large and small packages? Moreover, belonging to two different tribes, giving a bag of ten thousand primordial stones as a congratulatory gift was already very generous.

Mountain Master Huabai noticed Banbu’s gaze and directly opened the silk bag.

Princess Qiufeng said, “Banbu, your Rain Bamboo rice has a rare and valuable strengthening effect, and the price of 10 primordial stones is very reasonable. I have come specifically to visit this time, hoping to reach a long-term trade agreement.”

Mountain Master Huabai immediately counted out 10 primordial stones and said, “Banbu, Princess Qiufeng said that the price you gave me last time was too low. Here, I’ll make up for the 1,000 primordial stone difference.”

Was there any reason to spit out the goods that had already been eaten?

Banbu was suspicious and declined, “Mountain Master Huabai, I can’t accept these primordial stones. It’s a spot transaction, and there’s no regret for profit or loss after the transaction is completed.”

Banbu then said to Princess Qiufeng, “Princess Qiufeng, the Black and White Flower Roach Tribe is naturally strong in soul, so there’s no need to strengthen it. There’s no need to spend such a high price to buy Rain Bamboo rice, right?”

Princess Qiufeng asked, “Have you not yet realized the value of Rain Bamboo rice?”

Value?

Rain Bamboo rice was slender, with a small amount per grain. For the Black and White Flower Roach Tribe, a price of 8 primordial stones per grain was already very expensive, and 10 primordial stones was considered a luxury and a waste.

Banbu shook his antennae, waiting for the rest.

Princess Qiufeng asked, “I heard that Lizhu Peak is cultivating bamboo species on a large scale, planning to open up a bamboo sea, and also has 5 God-given Seed life seeds and 1 wild Cliff Cypress God-given Seed with good potential?”

Banbu nodded his antennae.

Princess Qiufeng burst out with aura, and her magnificent mental power spread out, instantly enveloping the entire Lizhu Peak, sweeping across it, and then instantly converging. She then said, “Your ambition is not small. You’ve found a Big-headed Harvest Ant Queen and a Red Ring Wasp Queen. With this momentum, the planned bamboo sea scale is not small.”

“Yes.” Banbu suddenly understood, and roughly understood what was going on.

Princess Qiufeng said, “The ant queen controls the ant colony, and the wasp queen controls the wasp swarm. These are very mentally exhausting things. As the population of the tribe expands, it becomes difficult to accurately control them. A strong soul, full of energy, helps them better control the tribe to carry out various tedious tasks.”

“Rain Bamboo rice will be very popular among ant and bee races.”

Mountain Master Huabai helped explain in detail: “Banbu, Qiufeng County cultivates three high-quality tree species: Qiufeng Tree, Ginkgo Tree, and Scaly-leaved Nanyang Fir. The scale is much larger than the Red Iron Tree Sea. A Yellow-striped Acid Bee tribe wasp queen is helping to manage it, and Rain Bamboo rice is for the wasp queen.”

“Among the bee swarms, there are combat worker bees. They can also ingest a small amount of primordial force food, which can give them a slight strengthening. Strengthening the soul will significantly improve the wisdom of combat worker bees, allowing them to do more complex work and command more ordinary worker bees.”

“Oh! So that’s how it is!” Banbu nodded his antennae, indicating that he understood.

Mountain Master Huabai said, “Princess Qiufeng hopes to purchase a fixed amount of Rain Bamboo rice from you every year. As for the price…”

Banbu asked, “How much is needed?”

Mountain Master Huabai said, “500 grains will do.”

Banbu said, “The price will be the same as the caravan's price, tentatively set at 10 primordial stones. As for the specific price, I will have to carefully discuss it with them when the caravan arrives next spring.”

Princess Qiufeng reminded, “Rain Bamboo rice mainly strengthens strength, and the effect of strengthening the soul is only incidental, very weak. You sell it to the caravan for 10 primordial stones, and the caravan resells it for 12 to 15 primordial stones, which is already sky-high. Any more expensive, and it may be difficult to sell.”

Banbu said, “I understand.”

Princess Qiufeng turned her body slightly and looked at the Blood Thorn God-given Seed at the foot of the mountain, and said, “Compared to Rain Bamboo rice, Blood Thorn seeds are more practical and in greater demand. Banbu, you can consider allocating a batch and selling it to our Black and White Flower Roach Tribe. The price can be slightly higher than the caravan's.”

“Princess Qiufeng, this… I’m really sorry…” Banbu said embarrassedly, “I have promised all the output of Blood Thorn seeds for the next 5 years, and I really can’t spare any extra.”

“5 years?” Princess Qiufeng said, “You will definitely be promoted to Mountain Master in 5 years, right? At that time, the yield and quality of Blood Thorn seeds will be greatly improved.”

Banbu took the initiative to say, “In 5 years, I will allocate a batch to sell to the Black and White Flower Roach Tribe.”

“That’s good, you’re very good. If you encounter any troubles with primordial stones, you can come to Qiufeng County for help.” Princess Qiufeng nodded her antennae with satisfaction, flapped her wings, and said, “Then I’ll go to Red Iron County first.”

After speaking, she directly took off and left.

Mountain Master Huabai breathed a sigh of relief, took out the primordial stones one by one from the silk bag, and handed them to Banbu, saying, “Banbu, accept the 1,000 primordial stone difference. This is the deposit for next year.”

“Mountain Master Huabai, you are too kind.” Banbu happily received the primordial stones that were delivered for free, there was no reason to be polite.