Astral Cockroach

The wax apple Ghost King departed ahead of schedule.

The Begonia Butterfly Queen shouldn't linger. Led by Guanli, she wandered around the pear orchard, which was still in its rudimentary stage, for a short while before bidding farewell and leaving.

Guanli continued to lead Xueli and Baizhu, busying themselves at the foot of the mountain.

Banbu, on the other hand, began preparations, consuming large quantities of Origin Power food to accelerate its growth.

Next year, when the ghost mist lotus and fire scale pine cones of Chiwu Mountain ripen, the Wax Apple Ghost King and Begonia Butterfly Queen will lead a team to deliver 1 portion of ghost mist lotus and 2 portions of fire scale pine cones to Banbu at the first opportunity, and also send over 3 million Origin Stones to complete the transaction for the Dragon Bamboo aberrant species.

This can be considered Chiwu Mountain's indirect support for Banbu's growth and the development of Lizhu Peak.

Both the ghost mist lotus and the fire scale pine cones have the effect of accelerating growth and greatly increasing the probability of successful molting and evolution. Banbu wants to advance to County Lord level before the drought season the year after next.

Chiwu Mountain is not helping Banbu for no reason. The year after next, all 584 bamboo poles of the Dragon Bamboo God-given Seed will be fully grown. The year after that, when Banbu advances to County Lord level, the Dragon Bamboo God-given Seed will be able to transform and grow along with it.

After the transformation and growth, it will probably need to recuperate for a year, which means it will flower in Banbu's 35th year. Corresponding to Banbu's County Lord level strength, the quality of the bamboo fruit produced by the Dragon Bamboo God-given Seed will be slightly improved, and the yield will double without any accidents. Banbu is the direct beneficiary, while Chiwu Mountain, which exchanges with Banbu, is the indirect beneficiary.

… …

With the development of the Jinping Mountain Range, there will inevitably be more and more red ant warriors. Banbu, as the Mountain Lord, will certainly not be able to take care of everyone, and the phenomenon of "favoritism" will inevitably occur.

In Banbu's view, Guanli is most like itself: diligent and steadfast, planning before acting, decisive in action, and always thinking before speaking… It has inherited all the advantages of itself, and has no obvious shortcomings. Most importantly, it possesses an innate "insect charisma" and is born to be a leader.

If Lizhu Peak were to open up a second sea of trees in the future, it would definitely be pear trees.

If Lizhu Peak needs a successor insect, it must also be Guanli.

Seeing that the members on the mountain were all a bit restless, Banbu simply organized them again to help Guanli dig and build ponds, and cultivate nurseries, preparing to help it build a small-scale pear orchard at the foot of the mountain next year.

In the future, any other small warriors who like pear trees that are born in the mountain range will be sent to the pear orchard to follow Guanli and manage the pear trees together.

… …

Banbu's 32nd year, spring, February.

The temperature stabilized above 18 degrees Celsius. The 8 bamboo clumps of the Dragon Bamboo God-given Seed began to develop underground stems, each bamboo clump developing 8 stems, generating 8 bamboo clumps, and sprouting 8 bamboo shoots. As expected, 64 new bamboo poles were about to be generated.

After a year of accumulation, the development process was relatively smooth.

Banbu spent most of its time guarding the bamboo forest every day, constantly guiding the ant colony to replenish Origin Power, watering and fertilizing, while also teaching the Dragon Tree Spirit some human knowledge such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, and so on.

Interestingly, the Dragon Tree Spirit's learning ability is much stronger than that of insect warriors. It can learn many things that even Hongdao cannot.

A big bear also followed beside it, its eyes wide open, clueless. The big bear only had brute strength, and there was no suitable work for it in the spring. When Banbu was not around, it was responsible for protecting the Dragon Bamboo God-given Seed.

"Banbu, Banbu…"

From afar, Baba turned the volume to the maximum, shouting loudly, speeding over and then suddenly slowing down, accurately landing on Banbu's head.

There was more rain in spring and early summer. At Baba's repeated requests, Banbu agreed to drain the reservoir, and it also had the electricity to fly and play.

This thing was lively and jumping around as soon as it had electricity, flying around everywhere.

"What's wrong again?" As a qualified mentor, Banbu was teaching knowledge with great enthusiasm, but was suddenly interrupted, feeling a little annoyed.

"Little warrior!" Baba said, "I just discovered a little warrior."

"Roar!" The big bear roared and stood up, rubbing its fists and palms.

"Little warrior!" Banbu said in surprise, "Big Bear, sit down and stay here to protect the Dragon."

"Baba, where is it? Lead the way."

Baba didn't say much and took off directly.

Banbu quickly flapped its pulse wings and took to the air, flying at low altitude, following all the way southeast at high speed.

Soon it passed through the existing bamboo sea range and entered the vast mountains and forests.

Finally, Baba stopped by a pool at the foot of a solitary peak more than forty kilometers away from Lizhu Peak, scanned around, and said:

"Huh, it's gone."

Banbu also unfolded its mental power to scan and check. Where was there any little warrior? It asked, "Baba, are you sure there was a little warrior here?"

"I'm sure."

"Red Ant Tribe?"

"Yes."

"What instar?"

"Early-stage seven-instar little warrior."

"Seven-instar? Then it's probably a little warrior born last year." Banbu asked, "What did you come here to do?"

"To take a bath."

"… …"

Banbu flew towards the mountain, carefully searching with its mental power, while also quietly sensing the Origin Power fluctuations.

Soon it discovered a small number of ordinary little cockroaches in a wild state on the mountain.

In an environment with sufficient food and a lack of natural enemies, the reproductive ability of ordinary little cockroaches is super strong. In recent decades, ordinary little cockroaches have been constantly flowing out of Lizhu Peak and entering the jungle.

There is certainly a possibility of little warriors being born in the wild jungle. Without the protection of elders, it is basically impossible for them to survive. Any medium-sized predator could take their lives.

Baba has no reason to lie.

To be able to survive in the wild jungle for a year, this little warrior is not simple!

The Origin Power concentration on the mountain is not good. That little warrior is not stupid and certainly wouldn't settle here. Moreover, its Origin Power plant must have been sown. Banbu searched hastily and found nothing, confirming that it was not here.

It should have just been passing by and was discovered by Baba.

"Baba, what was that little warrior doing when you found it?"

"It was hiding on the mountain, secretly watching me."

"… …" Banbu asked patiently, "Was it passing by?"

Baba thought for a moment and said, "I didn't pay attention! When I found it, it was hiding on the mountain peeking. I greeted it, and it ran away directly. It was silly and couldn't understand human language. I couldn't communicate with it, so I went to find you."

Banbu thought for a moment and said, "It should be nearby. Let's go back first."

Baba immediately landed on Banbu's head, righteously saying, "I'm out of power."

… …

Returning to Lizhu Peak, Banbu immediately mobilized all the members on the mountain to search separately, centered on that mountain peak.

Soon there were results, with Longzhu using wireless communication to transmit the message.

As suspected, less than three kilometers away, in an inconspicuous flat jungle with abundant Origin Power.

Banbu arrived at the first opportunity.

A seven-instar Red Ant little warrior was communicating with Longzhu.

It should have been found by Youcha, and there was also a leopard cat warrior, pinned to the ground by Youcha's single paw, unable to move.

There were also two God-given Seeds, one was a wild Job's Tears God-given Seed, which had grown into a large patch; the other was a sapling of the Chinese Beech God-given Seed, which was more numerous in this jungle.

Banbu asked, "Youcha, have you ever mentioned this leopard cat warrior to me?"

Youcha replied, "That was a long time ago. It has been living attached to this Job's Tears."

It was indeed a long time ago, back when Youmaidi was opening up and expanding thirty years ago. Youcha had roamed the entire Jinping Mountain Range, searching for beast warriors, and had once mentioned that there was a wild herbaceous God-given Seed, guarded by a feline beast warrior that was about the same strength as it.

Banbu didn't like the herbaceous wild God-given Seed. Out of respect for Youcha, it didn't touch this leopard cat warrior. Anyway, it posed no threat to Lizhu Peak, so it simply let it go.

Youcha was a marbled cat, and it obviously didn't have much affection for its close relative, the leopard cat warrior, and didn't pay attention to it either.

Thirty years have passed, and the leopard cat warrior has barely reached the advanced warrior level and is not far from old age.

Banbu understood what was going on.

It turned out it wasn't self-reliance.

The little warrior born in the wild was discovered by the leopard cat warrior, taken in, and survived. What was amazing was that they had actually found a God-given Seed!

Longzhu explained, "Banbu, this little warrior is called Qinggang. Based on its inherited memories, it gave itself the name. It is considered a wild little warrior born in our Jinping Mountain Range. That leopard cat warrior is called Suocao, named by Qinggang."

"Qinggang just advanced to the early stage of the seven-instar. In the autumn, it collected plant seeds and dug a small cave on that mountain to store them dry. When Baba discovered it, it was going there to get seeds to nurture its life seed."

"I understand." Banbu waved its antennae and said, "Youcha, let it go."

Youcha pressed down even tighter and asked, "Why didn't it send the little warrior to Lizhu Peak when it found it?"

Banbu looked at the leopard cat warrior Suocao.

Suocao stammered and explained, "I… I was afraid… dangerous…"

Longzhu explained, "Lizhu Peak has cleared the jungle beast warriors several times, and there is a Big Bear guarding it. It didn't dare to get close."

The little warrior named Qinggang was somewhat afraid of Banbu's aura, shrunk behind Longzhu, and said, "I, I am also afraid."