Astral Cockroach

Bamboo Stalk still wasn't up to the task.

Among all the members of the entire Li Bamboo Peak, only two could seriously discuss important matters with Banbu: Hongdao and the Rat King.

Even Baba wasn't reliable; as an electronic lifeform, its intelligence was stuck at the level of a child, making it untrustworthy most of the time.

"Banbu, what's wrong with you? Your condition… are you exhausted? Did you rush back from Chiwu Mountain? Is there something important?!"

Hongdao extended its psychic power, scanning the two silk pouches.

One pouch contained lotus root fragments.

The other held a metal ball, wrapped very tightly.

"Remnants of a God-Given Seed?" Hongdao said, reaching out a claw to open the other silk pouch, carefully holding out the oval metal ball, examining it closely, and asking, "The original power fluctuations are very intense, what is this thing?"

Banbu solemnly said, "A God-Given Seed, God-Rank. Found in the Dragon Bamboo Continent. It had originally completed three transformations and growth stages, but its original power was cut off, and it condensed into a lotus seed-like tree heart."

"After too many years, the life essence originally contained in the lotus seed was almost completely exhausted. Stimulated by the absorption of original power, the tree spirit residing within is on the verge of death and urgently needs to be planted."

"A God-Given Seed! God-Rank! About to die!" Hongdao was so frightened that its antennae trembled. Quickly and carefully, it placed the thing back on the ground, saying, "I was just looking at it. It should be fine."

Banbu's antennae swayed, pointing towards the northwest direction of Li Bamboo Peak, saying, "The sandy soil on the south side of Li Bamboo Peak is not suitable for water storage, and not suitable for developing a lake. Go and summon Mazhu and the others, go down the mountain, to the Iron Saber Peak territory on the north side of the mountain range, find a flat area with relatively abundant original power, choose a location, and prepare to start digging."

"When choosing a location, remember to bypass the view of the trading square. The northwest direction is more suitable, but don't be too far away."

"Later, see what Baba says. If there are no other problems, we'll immediately start digging and first excavate a small pond."

"Understood!" Hongdao thought for a moment, and said seriously, "I understand what you mean. The question is, how big should the lake be?"

Banbu said, "Circular, possibly needing a diameter of 3 kilometers, preferably a little larger."

"Does it need to be that big?!" Hongdao flapped its wings and ascended into the sky, observing and measuring from high altitude, then landed again, saying, "Then it will need to be close to the Crown Pear Peak direction, digging along the foot of the mountain range. It just so happens that we can dig it larger and store water for Crown Pear's tree sea and my rice paddies in the future, to cope with the dry season. In addition, we can also plant a large circle of Giant Dragon Bamboo around it to obscure the view, block the road, and create a separate path directly to Li Bamboo Peak."

"A good suggestion." Banbu emphasized, "It can be a little further away from Li Bamboo Peak. The natural original power must not be too poor. A 'God-Rank' God-Given Seed has too high of operating costs. This thing enhances fire element abilities, and isn't as valuable as Giant Dragon Bamboo."

"Fire abilities? That's great!" Hongdao said, "Don't worry, I understand."

Sensing the movement, Xiangpu, Datou, Hongmi, Youcha, who were staying on the peak, and the four bamboo rat warriors led by Mazhu, rushed over.

Hongdao led the four bamboo rat warriors down the mountain to survey the terrain and choose a location.

Hongmi went to the Iron Saber Mountain to invite Princess Iron Saber to discuss matters.

Xiangpu and Datou were busy, so they were arranged to continue their work.

Youcha had nothing to do all day, so they were arranged to run to Xiangfei Peak and Huozhu Mountain to notify Xiangfei and Huozhu to bring two warriors to help.

… …

When Banbu arranged the matters, Duzhu also returned with Baba.

Metal ability activated, the oval metal ball cracked open from the middle, revealing the lotus seed wrapped inside.

"Baba, please help take a look."

"Tree heart, a very special plant species, actually condensing the tree heart in the form of a seed. A lotus? The dried lotus seed skin is very hard, perfectly containing the original power, so it was able to survive for such a long time."

"The soul is extremely weak, revived after absorbing external original power. You didn't plant it in time, delaying it for more than two months, right? Now it's in danger again."

Banbu asked, "Baba, how should it be handled?"

Baba scanned the other silk pouch, saying, "That is its main trunk and stem, the best growth fertilizer for it."

"It's only short one original power gene pair to break through, it's already infinitely close to the level of a cosmic lifeform. It has survived for a very long time, suppressed by the gene lock for too long, the scale of the plant broke the shackles ahead of time, exceeding the scope of ordinary original power creatures, it's very large!"

Baba said, "You have to prepare a large enough growing territory for it in advance. This thing grows in water, digging a lake? The amount of work is not ordinary, find the Red Armor Cockroach King to help."

Baba suggested, "Plant it on the mountain range, you can also drain the lake in winter…"

"No!" Banbu directly rejected, asking, "Baba, what's the most appropriate way to handle it now?"

Baba angrily said, "It's hopeless, just wait to die."

"…" Banbu kindly advised, "Baba, how can you dig a lake of sufficient size on the mountain range, it can only be planted at the foot of the mountain. However, in the future, we can consider digging a reservoir on the top of the mountain to store water specifically for it, to cope with the dry season."

"Dig it bigger!" Baba reminded, complaining, "The small reservoir you dug last time was too small, not enough at all."

"We'll dig it later." Banbu continued to ask, "How do we handle it now?"

Baba said, "You first use your metal ability to make a water basin, soak the lotus seed in it, the seed coat is too hard, it won't sprout easily, it's very short of water now. By the way, remember to grind the lotus root remnants into powder and mix it in the water, which will help it recover its vitality."

Baba also reminded, "Quickly choose a location, and dig a pond before it takes root and sprouts, and plant it first."

"Okay!" Banbu immediately did as instructed.

… …

Hongdao led the four bamboo rat warriors and quickly locked onto an area with relatively good natural original power, but it was a little far away, about 10 kilometers northwest of Crown Pear Peak, 15 kilometers from Li Bamboo Peak, and not far from Xiangfei Peak.

There were many benefits to choosing this location:

Normally, Crown Pear Peak and Xiangfei Peak can be arranged to send warriors to guard it. During the lotus seed ripening season, Li Bamboo Peak can also send warriors to manage it.

The lake can be dug along the mountain range in the southeast and northwest directions to create river channels and canals. In the future, when the scale of Crown Pear and Xiangfei's tree seas grows, water can be directly drawn from the lake for irrigation, and further southeast, it can also supply water to Hongdao's rice paddies.

In addition, it's a little far away, which can avoid the prying eyes of merchants passing through Li Bamboo Peak from the north, as well as other foreign warriors coming to Li Bamboo Peak from the north for trade.

… …

The efficiency of handling affairs was very high.

Banbu arrived at Li Bamboo Peak around noon.

After noon, Hongdao selected a general location, and Banbu, with Baba, personally went to inspect it, and initially outlined the contour of the lake.

After determining the central location of the planned lake, Hongdao, with Huoji, Daxiong, and the four bamboo rat warriors, began to work. The matter was urgent, and Datou also sent an army of Datou ants to help.

Daxiong used his Iron Sand Palm to knock down the jungle trees.

The ant colony was responsible for clearing weeds.

The bamboo rat warriors were responsible for digging.

Hongdao and Duzhu transported the dug-out mud away in bags.

In the evening, Xiangfei and Huozhu, who had received the notice, arrived with their warriors to help.

The labor force was still not enough, especially at this time of year.

Duzhu had to guard the soon-to-be-ripe Holy Bamboo bamboo fruits.

The second batch of Giant Dragon Bamboo fruits was not far from maturity, so Banbu did two jobs alone, holding the metal basin soaked with lotus seeds down the mountain, guarding the bamboo forest. On one hand, he guarded the bamboo fruits, and on the other hand, he paid attention to the state of the lotus seeds.

It was also necessary to prepare nutrient soil, and the pond had to be dug and the bottom layer laid, so there was no labor to spare to do it.

… …

Late at night, Hongmi arrived at Li Bamboo Peak with Princess Iron Saber, and went down the mountain to the bamboo forest.

"Banbu, what are you digging again? Are you going to occupy my Iron Saber Mountain's land again?"

Princess Iron Saber was very unhappy.

Hongdao's rice paddies and Crown Pear's pear tree sea were all developed north within the territory of Iron Saber Mountain. In recent years, Xiangfei Peak and Mitao Peak had also begun to develop land and expand forests within the territory of her Iron Saber Mountain. The entire Jinping Mountain Range, one by one, was inching forward, tending to eat both north and south and annex Iron Saber Mountain.

"Haha, Princess Iron Saber, there's plenty of unused land in the borderlands, why are you fussing about this?" Banbu complained again, "The soil south of Li Bamboo Peak is not good, not suitable for water storage, and there's no way to develop rice paddies and lakes, so we can only go north and occupy a little bit of Iron Saber Peak's land."

"A little bit? Is that a little bit to you?" Princess Iron Saber glanced at the metal basin, her antennae trembled, and she asked, "What is this?"

Banbu chuckled, "Just found a good thing, a wild God-Given Seed, God-Rank, we must open up a special lake to plant it."

"Another God-Rank!" Princess Iron Saber jumped up in shock, exclaiming, "Was it found in that Dragon Bamboo Continent again?"

Banbu said, "Yes."

Princess Iron Saber gasped for breath, and it took a long time to calm down, and asked in confusion, "What kind of plant is this, the seed is so big?"

Banbu explained simply, "A wild lotus God-Given Seed, originally completed three transformations and growth stages, but the original power in the Dragon Bamboo Continent was exhausted, so it turned itself into this to continue its life."

Princess Iron Saber thought for a long time again, and said, "The scale of the lake needed is not small, right? Iron Saber Mountain can't help you, I'll go to Red Armor County."

Banbu smiled, "Princess Iron Saber, then I'll have to trouble you. Ahem, also, please ask Lord Cliff Cypress and the others to come and help in an emergency first, we urgently need to dig a pond to plant the lotus seed."

Banbu then instructed, "Hongmi, go to Drooping Banyan County again and invite Princess Drooping Banyan to Li Bamboo Peak."