Astral Cockroach

Large patches of gold appeared in the mountain forests, a natural change as deciduous trees transitioned with the season.

The sky was a hazy gray.

A drizzle of fine rain fell.

Migratory birds flew south, and snakes and rodents went into hibernation.

The subtropical winter had a unique chill.

The temperature remained above freezing, with no ice or snow, but below 10 degrees Celsius, common insects either froze to death or hibernated.

Pervasive humidity was the best medium for transmitting the cold.

The forest fell into silence.

The once lively mountains became quiet, with only two cockroaches, one large and one small, still active.

The Red Ant Tribe warriors reduced their hunting frequency, and each trip took longer, sometimes two or three days to return.

They hunted large warm-blooded animals like elk and wild boar, likely cooperating with nearby companions to kill them. The carcasses they brought back were incomplete, and they could only get a small piece each.

The Red Ant Tribe warriors became frugal, carefully gnawing every bit of meat clean.

The other small cockroach still able to move was Banbu.

Banbu guessed that the main reason was the soul mutation caused by the radiation of the Sovereign-level metal core, and the soul rebirth led to the Red Ant gene mutation. A small part of the reason was that raspberry fruits strengthened cell activity and enhanced his cold resistance.

He was conscious and could move freely, but his growth rate was very slow.

The Red Ant Tribe warriors noticed that this dark male sub-adult of their kind could move in winter, and were amazed. Each time they returned from hunting, they would proactively cut off a large piece of fresh meat and leave it at the entrance of Banbu's nest.

Banbu enjoyed the hospitality of his fellow warriors. In return, whenever the rain stopped, he busily collected fallen leaves, cut them into pieces, and piled them under the Origin Force plants he had planted.

Plants need nutrients to grow, and Origin Force plants are no exception.

The Red Ant Tribe's inherited memories didn't seem to contain much knowledge about cultivation. Banbu had never seen the Red Ant Tribe warrior who protected him loosen the soil or fertilize the Origin Force plants he planted.

The soil on the mountainside was barren, and rotten branches and leaves could improve fertility.

Banbu focused on taking care of the raspberry bushes that had already begun to bear fruit. He also had another consideration: Origin Force plants weren't readily available everywhere. This Red Ant Tribe warrior was weak and couldn't handle too many Origin Force fruits. Perhaps, next autumn, after he became an Origin Force creature, he could share some from it.

The Red Ant Tribe warrior couldn't fathom the complex thoughts in Banbu's head, or even understand the purpose of his strange behavior, but he didn't stop him. When he was idle and bored, he would silently lie beside the raspberry bushes, watching Banbu working hard.

The winter in the forest was peaceful but not auspicious; death occurred at any moment.

Cockroach Mama had disappeared.

Banbu had traveled far to look for her, but unfortunately, he couldn't find her.

To survive the harsh cold, cockroaches would follow the guidance of their inherited memories, with a dozen or even dozens crowding into one nest, truly huddling together for warmth.

However, the effect wasn't obvious. Roughly speaking, only one in a hundred nests of nymphs survived, and seven or eight out of ten nests of sub-adults and adults were lost. Only the strongest young cockroaches could survive.

In the long winter, ultimately, less than one in ten could make it through.

Harsh natural selection screened out the best genes for survival and reproduction.

Next spring, the surviving cockroaches would feed on the corpses of their dead companions to replenish their nutrition, either growing quickly or frantically reproducing.

Then, the entire mountain range, the Red Ant Tribe, would quickly become prosperous, becoming the most numerous "ruling insect race."

… …

"Absorbing Origin Force, completing the 19th molting growth, is the Red Ant Tribe warrior."

"Only Red Ants who have experienced the trials of winter and summer heat can sense the Origin Force of the universe."

"Rest during the day to conserve energy, and exercise at night to strengthen the body."

"Be sure to eat more meat to maintain ample physical strength at all times."

"To become a Red Ant warrior, the first life seed should be a low shrub seed…"

Boom!

A spring thunderclap awakened Banbu from his slumber.

The 18th molting growth was nearing completion when it was disturbed and interrupted.

He woke up groggily and anxiously checked, fortunately without any side effects.

He looked up, and the stone above the nest was covered with "卍" characters, with each character representing six days and nights.

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This was a record that started when Banbu moved here, and it had been 25 characters, meaning 150 days. It was currently the night of the 151st day.

Adding the 64 days he lived on the adjacent mountain peak before moving here, he had experienced 215 days on this planet. Counting 30 days as a month, it had been over 7 months, experiencing half a hot summer, an entire bleak autumn, and a desolate, silent winter.

Banbu turned his head to look at his pale gray new shell, and couldn't help but feel a burst of emotion: finally, a 19-year-old adult!

He ate a few leaves, then hastily gnawed on his shed carapace, and then ate some stored animal meat.

He walked to the entrance of the cave and looked out. The spring rain was continuous, not a good day to go out.

He lay in his nest, waiting silently.

The newborn carapace came into contact with the air, slowly hardened, and its color became deeper. By morning, it had completely transformed into a pure black with a metallic luster.

The soul guides gene mutation. Each molting growth resulted in subtle changes in the body structure. After more than a dozen times, Banbu's appearance differed significantly from that of a male Red Ant.

His two front legs were developed and powerful, with sharp, curved toes like scythes, also with fine serrations, that could cut leaves. The three toes folded together like pruning shears, easily cutting through the tough leaf veins.

The tibiae of his two front legs were covered with slender spines, shining with a dangerous metallic luster.

He looked more like a predator in the insect world, a "mantis," or more precisely, a "metal mantis." The difference was that he didn't have the bloated abdomen of a mantis weighing him down, and could run more agilely and quickly than a mantis.

After long-term unremitting exercise, his wing veins were also developed, gradually gaining some ability to take off and fly.

The flight ability of a 19-year-old adult remained to be tested.

Banbu was more concerned about a brand-new memory he had gained during his molting slumber: to become a Red Ant Tribe warrior, the first life seed should be a shrub seed…

It was about how to continue growing after becoming a Red Ant Tribe warrior, but it was very vague.

It mentioned "life seed," and after thinking about it, Banbu was 90% sure that it was linked to Origin Force plants. More specifically, he couldn't figure it out. What was exciting (for an insect) was that there were indeed enough Origin Force plants on this planet, with room for choice.

When Banbu was human, the Huo Si family was considered to be powerful. His ancestors had served as governors of a B-grade industrial planet, leaving behind a large number of political connections; in the business world, the family held a high-tech company and held shares in several inter-stellar large technology companies; in terms of cultivation, the family had mastered several exclusive secret techniques; in the military, a senior member of the family served in the Seventh Army of the Thunder Expeditionary Force, serving as the commander of the most elite 702 Pioneer Regiment, with great military achievements and the rank of Major General.

Such a comprehensive family only supported one Origin Force plant.

"Various signs indicate that in the future, when I become a Red Ant Tribe warrior, I can also plant a large number of Origin Force plants and open my own orchard, with Origin Force fruits to eat every year!"

Whenever he thought about it, Banbu couldn't help but feel excited.