Astral Cockroach

"It's called Banbu, and it's a purebred Red Ant Warrior. I can't mistake its aura."

Princess Daye began introducing it at a rapid pace: "Banbu lives in the Jinping Mountains. Due to the accidental death of the previous Golden Bamboo Mountain Master, it is the new master of the mountains. Favored by the God of Nature, it possesses three God-given Seeds. One of them, the Bloodthorn God-given Seed, has thorns that strengthen the blood and can also slightly improve the efficiency of using Origin Power."

"This is the Yangti Mountain Range's Big Banyan. It possesses a Big Banyan God-given Seed. The banyan fruit strengthens the intestines, reduces the absorption of harmful substances during eating, and indirectly delays aging and prolongs life."

"They are all young warriors with God-given Seeds… A God-given Seed linked to longevity! Three God-given Seeds!" Inside the cave, the Fire Lotus Queen was somewhat moved. She locked onto the retreating tide of mental energy and asked:

"That little black fellow, what are your other two God-given Seeds?"

Banbu answered truthfully: "One is a Xun Grass God-given Seed, named 'Zijin,' which enhances metal abilities. The quality is a bit poor, but the annual yield is considerable. The other is a Emerald Bamboo God-given Seed, which enhances plant abilities. It is of medium to high quality, and the yield is acceptable."

The Fire Lotus Queen asked, "Emerald Bamboo?"

Banbu said: "It's a brand new bamboo species that I cultivated myself that can flower and bear fruit every year. The bamboo pole is emerald green, so I named it 'Emerald Bamboo.'"

"Bamboo is an inferior plant. What's so good about cultivating it?" The Fire Lotus Queen, like a harsh and picky mother-in-law, bluntly asked: "What is the annual income of your territory, converted into Origin Stones?"

Banbu calculated silently and said, "About 40,000, I guess."

"Three God-given Seeds?" The Fire Lotus Queen asked dissatisfiedly: "How are you managing things? Why is the income so low?"

Princess Daye explained in a timely manner: "Banbu was only born a little over three years ago and just became a Senior Warrior this year. The lifebound plants have not yet matured. In the future, when it is promoted to Mountain Master, the income will be higher."

"Herbaceous plants mature in a year or two. Even if it is promoted to Mountain Master, it will be just so-so, with little qualitative improvement. All in all, only that Bloodthorn God-given Seed is barely acceptable."

The Fire Lotus Queen commented, her mental energy lightly sweeping towards the Big Banyan, professionally firing off a series of questions: "What about that timid warrior lying on the ground? How many banyan fruits can your banyan tree produce each year? What is the selling price? How much is invested in the management process? What is the annual net income in Origin Stones?"

"Production… Income…" The Big Banyan had just stood up from the ground when it was locked on by mental energy again. Its six legs couldn't help but weaken, and its pulse wings instinctively flapped. It barely managed to maintain its standing posture and honestly replied:

"This year I owe Princess Chuichui 30,000 Origin Stones, and next year I will owe another 30,000… There may not be much income in the next two years, but…"

The Red Lotus Queen rudely interrupted, saying: "Alright, you don't need to continue."

Princess Daye reminded: "Red Lotus Queen, the selling price of banyan fruit to our own kind is 50 Origin Stones. After five years, when it is sold to merchant caravans, the price will be re-evaluated. This is an Origin Power food that can prolong life, and the price per fruit will not be lower than 100 Origin Stones."

The Fire Lotus Queen was indeed still somewhat interested in the Big Banyan. Hearing this, her tone softened, and she asked: "Why do you owe so many Origin Stones?"

The Big Banyan replied: "I asked the Mountain Masters of the Black and White Flower Ant Tribe to help catalyze the growth of the God-given Seed. Each year, I invite three Mountain Masters to help, and each one has to be paid 10,000 Origin Stones…"

The Fire Lotus Queen asked: "Will you continue next year?"

The Big Banyan replied: "Yes, I will catalyze it three more times next year. The God-given Seed can initially mature, and there will be no need to catalyze it in the future."

Princess Daye said: "For a particularly precious God-given Seed, exchanging 60,000 Origin Stones for six years of growth is a worthwhile deal."

The Fire Lotus Queen asked: "How many banyan fruits did you produce this year?"

The Big Banyan truthfully replied: "124 fruits. There will definitely be more next year."

The Fire Lotus Queen calculated for a while and said angrily: "The number of fruits produced by your God-given Seed is very small. The annual income is not even as good as that of the little black shell."

Princess Daye said: "The plant was catalyzed to grow. After the catalysis, there is a period of weakness, so the number of fruits produced is definitely less."

The Fire Lotus Queen said: "I have seen the Black and White Flower Ant Tribe use their catalytic abilities and know more about banyan trees. There shouldn't be so few."

Princess Daye hesitantly asked: "Fire Lotus Queen, in your opinion… which one is suitable for you?"

"Neither of them is suitable!" The Fire Lotus Queen roared angrily: "Can't your Red Ant Tribe find a warrior with real potential for development?"

"It's autumn now, and soon it will be winter. Mobilize all the warriors of your tribe to enter the jungle to search. Maybe you can find a God-given Seed similar to the Red Iron Tree!"

God-given Seeds are also divided into high and low grades according to their own varieties.

The only shortcoming of the Red Iron Tree God-given Seed is that it grows slowly in the first 20 years. Once it matures, the number of fruits produced is large and the quality is extremely high, belonging to the best category. Such God-given Seeds are rare throughout the Myriad Races Continent. Is it that easy to find?

The Fire Lotus Queen is typically unrealistic and has high standards.

Princess Red Iron seemed helpless about this, so she arranged for Princess Daye to bring Banbu and the Big Banyan to try their luck.

Faced with the Fire Lotus Queen's harsh pickiness, Princess Daye was even more helpless, echoing her words: "Okay, tomorrow I will notify all the mountains and mobilize the tribe's warriors to go out and move around more during this good season to find God-given Seeds."

"Go!" The Fire Lotus Queen was a little impatient and didn't want to say more.

Princess Daye carefully reminded: "Fire Lotus Queen, after winter comes spring, and it's time to sow the lifebound seeds. Once the lifebound seeds take root and develop into plants, they should not be moved…"

"It's still early, we'll talk about it after winter." The Fire Lotus Queen said: "By the way, help me inquire with the Longevity Ant King and ask if their Flying Fire Ant Tribe has produced any descendants with great development potential in the past two years."

Princess Daye said embarrassedly: "I've inquired, and there aren't any!"

The Fire Lotus Queen questioned: "You've inquired? Is it really none, or are you hiding it from me and unwilling to say?"

Princess Daye replied affirmatively: "It's really none!"

The Fire Lotus Queen said: "Forget it, you can go."

…

Both are hopeless.

Princess Daye waved her antennae at Banbu and the Big Banyan and pointed to the ordinary Iron Tree seeds spread out to dry on the square, saying:

"You are both Senior Warriors now and have God-given Seeds. You can choose two seeds to nurture as lifebound seeds. Ordinary Red Iron Trees are also extremely excellent tree species, which can slightly increase the territory's income in the future."

Banbu certainly wouldn't be polite. He ran forward and began a second round of selection among the selected high-quality seeds. He picked out three in one breath and was about to continue when Princess Daye interrupted him.

"Banbu, don't take too many at once. If you need more in the future, you can ask for them again. Remember, tree seeds cannot be sold to merchant caravans or spread to foreign races."

"Okay! Is it okay if I take three?"

"Yes."

Banbu held the three selected seeds, checked them with his mental energy, compared them carefully, put back two, leaving only one, and then continued to choose…

"…" Princess Daye was speechless. She shook her antennae at the Big Banyan, who was standing beside her, at a loss, and said: "Don't stand there blankly. You can also choose three."