Astral Cockroach

“Ban Bu, you're too greedy. Our journey has been delayed because of your gluttony.”

Flame Cluster Bambusa underestimated Ban Bu's intelligence and spoke nonsense, directly shifting the responsibility for the past few days of stagnation onto Ban Bu. Then, he said:

“Ban Bu, it's time for us to set off and visit Lord Iron Blade. However, we also need to visit Pú Táo along the way. He is the most promising elder in our Iron Blade Mountains to become the second Mountain Lord after Lord Iron Blade.”

“Pú Táo is very wealthy and generous. He will give you many gifts, understand?”

Just as Ban Bu expected, after finishing the Chinese Arborvitae seeds, Flame Cluster Bambusa led him on the road to visit the next tribal elder.

… …

During the few days of interaction and simple communication, Ban Bu understood one thing: in the cockroach tribe, occupying a mountain theoretically makes one a “Mountain Lord.”

When one's strength grows to the “Mountain Lord” level, one can obtain an official title.

For example, the “Pú Táo” we are about to visit. If he were to be promoted to Mountain Lord, he would be respectfully addressed as “Mountain Lord Pú Táo.”

Ban Bu also gained a deeper understanding of the growth of cockroaches. Very few can be promoted to Mountain Lord.

The growth of cockroaches relies too much on their life-bound plants.

With the care of tribal elders, junior warriors can easily become intermediate warriors within one year, possessing the ability to survive independently in the jungle.

The growth of intermediate warriors in each age period takes approximately 2 to 4 months depending on the situation, meaning it takes two to three years to become advanced warriors.

The demand for Origin Power by advanced warriors suddenly increases sharply. The growth rate is entirely determined by the life-bound plant. The growth of different individuals varies greatly depending on the type and development of the life-bound plant. Some only need half a year, while others take more than a year, or even several years.

The lifespan of advanced warriors in the Red Cockroach tribe is only 40 to 50 years.

The vast majority of advanced warriors fail to continue evolving and remain advanced warriors for life due to improper selection of life-bound plants, poor self-management, slow growth, and missing the vigorous prime of their youth, leading to aging of their bodies.

… …

Pú Táo's territory is located on an inconspicuous, slightly raised hill in the mountains, and his nest is located halfway up the mountain.

Flying in the air, all the life-bound plants are in full view.

A cluster of raspberry fruits.

A Chinese Hawthorn tree.

To Ban Bu's surprise, there were as many as seven Chinese Arborvitae trees, each growing vigorously, with heights and sizes far exceeding those ordinary Chinese Arborvitae trees on the mountain. Brown-red halos flickered on the branches, making them look dazzling and spectacular at a glance.

Pú Táo's choice of life-bound plant species is relatively monotonous, but the arrangement is exquisite. The seven Chinese Arborvitae trees are arranged in a circle, interspersed with ordinary Chinese Arborvitae trees. In the center of the circle is a Pú Táo tree.

Five Pú Táo trees that are also growing vigorously.

On the east side of the circle are five iron blade trees that like sunlight, of varying heights, which should have been planted in recent years.

A tung oil tree that likes sunlight and drought stands alone on the top of the hill. The tung oil tree is a symbolic plant of the Flying Fire Cockroach tribe, a deciduous tree. Now it is late autumn, and the broad leaves have withered, leaving only bare, gnarled brown branches.

There is an open space in front of the nest in the mountains, similar to the arrangement of Flame Cluster Bambusa and Wind Chime, with a simple fence made of a large number of dead branches, carefully protecting a red iron tree sapling.

Pú Táo's territory has a total of 21 life-bound plants planted, and it is not difficult to infer that he is at least an L5 advanced warrior.

The reasonable distribution of all the life-bound plants, each growing vigorously, also means that his growth will be smooth and unhindered.

“Flame Cluster Bambusa, I must say, you are a lucky fellow.”

“Is this the little warrior born in your territory?”

“Eh… Black! Why is it black?”

As Flame Cluster Bambusa described, Pú Táo is warm and hospitable.

However, his massive size of over 600 in body length, the strong fluctuations of Origin Power, and the vigorous life force indeed brought considerable pressure to Ban Bu.

Flame Cluster Bambusa, also an advanced warrior, also seemed a little cramped in front of Pú Táo.

“I don't know why it's black either. He showed his uniqueness when he was very young.”

Pú Táo immediately asked, “Oh? Very young?”

Flame Cluster Bambusa replied, “Yes, even before he became a warrior, he was not afraid of the cold, could be active in winter, liked to bask in the sun, was energetic, and liked to crawl around.”

Pú Táo said in surprise, “Indeed, he is unique! Have you discovered any other black tribesmen in your tribe? I think our Red Cockroach tribe will spawn a brand new branch tribe in your tribe.”

“Cockroach” or “Roach” are both general terms, referring to a race. In the insect world, each race has many branches. “Flying Fire Cockroach” is one of the mainstream major races, and the Red Cockroach tribe is a branch of the Flying Fire Cockroach tribe.

Ban Bu understood that this was a genetic difference caused by long-term reproduction under regional differences, which is a common phenomenon in species evolution.

However, in the consciousness of cockroaches, they believe that the emergence of new branches in the tribe is a symbol of the tribe's prosperity and strength.

“I have carefully checked and have not found any other black tribesmen. Ban Bu has survived alone in the jungle for nearly a year. He is a special case, favored by the True God of Nature.”

Flame Cluster Bambusa then said with some frustration, “Wind Chime said black is too ugly, and she doesn't like Ban Bu.”

Pú Táo said, “Wind Chime is too obsessed with the appearance of things. She will definitely regret choosing Wind Chime as her life-bound plant in the future.”

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Flame Cluster Bambusa reluctantly echoed, “Yes, Wind Chime is stupid.”

Pú Táo asked, “You didn't foolishly choose to cultivate Flame Cluster Bambusa seeds as your life-bound plant, did you?”

Flame Cluster Bambusa quickly denied, “No, I'm not as stupid as Wind Chime.”

Pú Táo said, “Flame Cluster Bambusa, you and Wind Chime don't have a very good relationship.”

Flame Cluster Bambusa said, “Wind Chime is a miser. She only gave Ban Bu a Chinese Arborvitae seed as a greeting gift. She doesn't deserve to be called Ban Bu's elder.”

“Wind Chime, like you, hasn't been an advanced warrior for long. Most of her life-bound plants haven't grown up yet, and she's living frugally. Flame Cluster Bambusa, you should learn to understand.”

Pú Táo is still a good person, and after a word of comfort, he turned and walked into his nest, soon dragging out a colorful gourd-shaped silk bag.

Ban Bu, who had been honestly and obediently lying beside Flame Cluster Bambusa, stared straight at it.

Origin Power emanated from the bag, which could probably be considered a simple Origin Power equipment.

The bulging mouth of the bag was also designed with exquisite bonding technology. With a “shhh” sound, the mouth of the bag opened.

Pú Táo lifted the bag and poured out a small pile of Chinese Arborvitae seeds in front of Flame Cluster Bambusa.

“Flame Cluster Bambusa, you need Origin Power food to be promoted to an advanced warrior. This is a gift for you.”

Pú Táo then lifted the bag and poured it out towards Ban Bu, and a small pile of Chinese Arborvitae seeds piled up in front of Ban Bu.

“And you, little guy, become an intermediate warrior quickly. The Iron Blade Mountains need more warriors to guard them.”

“Thank you!”

Ban Bu thanked politely.

Compared to the calm and polite Ban Bu, Flame Cluster Bambusa seemed a little out of control, dancing with joy, his antennae swaying randomly, and still a little dissatisfied, staring greedily at Pú Táo's bag, without concealing his envy.

Envy filled a whole bag of Chinese Arborvitae seeds.

Even more envious of the colorful silk bag that could store seeds.

Ban Bu felt strange in his heart, slowly walked to Pú Táo, touched the bag with his antennae, and released information, conveying confused emotions.

Pú Táo understood Ban Bu's doubts and explained, “This is a spider silk bag woven by the Phantom Flame Spider tribe. It can better preserve Origin Power food.”

The answer confirmed Ban Bu's guess that the bag was woven by spider-like insects using their natural abilities, rather than technological means.

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