Astral Cockroach

Yu Zhu's trade caravan gifted a round sum of 50 Xiang bamboo rice grains.

After sowing, 44 of them successfully sprouted and grew into seedlings.

Banbu divided them into six experimental groups, planning to conduct experiments in six phases.

The first group consisted of 4 seedlings. Since they were planted this year, they had only grown into pitifully thin bamboo stalks. The short ones were only about 1 meter tall, and the taller ones were only about 1.5 meters tall. They provided nutrients for the underground stems to grow. Next year, they would sprout strong bamboo shoots and grow into normal bamboo stalks. Ordinary bamboo also requires time to develop, taking three to five years to fully mature, with each plant developing more than 10 stalks.

Banbu was somewhat impatient and used the first group of 4 Xiang bamboo seedlings for experiments. Fortunately, he successfully stimulated flowering, and the pollination experiment was also quite successful.

Scanning with mental power clearly revealed that the underground stems of these 4 seedlings, which should have been growing vigorously, had stopped growing. Nutrients were concentrated on supplying the flower spikes. They were sacrificing their lives to nurture offspring.

The pinkish-white flowers began to wither after successful pollination.

Careful observation would reveal that one of the flower spikes was quite special. It should have had 7 small flowers, but 6 of them had all withered and died, leaving only one surviving, full of vitality, and slowly absorbing natural Origin Power.

Getting closer and carefully sensing, it could be found that it was the abnormally developed snow-white veins of the petals that were absorbing Origin Power. They were then transporting the absorbed Origin Power to the ovules that were in the development stage.

This process would probably last for 5 days. When the ovules absorbed enough Origin Power, the petals would automatically fall off.

Therefore, the flowers that nurtured God-given seeds would wither a day or two later than other flowers, and the seeds would mature four or five days later as well.

"Big Head, did my molting and growth only take two days of slumber this time?"

"Yes." Big Head was surprised and asked, "Banbu, how do you know?"

Banbu pondered, wiggled his antennae, and said, "It's a bit complicated, and it's troublesome to explain."

Looking around, Big Head dispatched about 500 soldier ants and 1000 slightly stronger worker ants to guard the area.

"Big Head, have all the flowers of the Emerald Bamboo God-given seeds withered?" Banbu asked.

"They all withered yesterday." Big Head said, "The Blood Thorns God-given seeds down the mountain are flowering and have started pollination. This year, with the help of the bumblebee swarm from the Cattail, my work is much easier."

Big Bear guarded the Cattail God-given seeds down the mountain, and seven Bamboo Rat warriors were sent to the bamboo forest in the Sheep Hoof Mountains. Windbell was still recovering from serious injuries, and almost all the farm work on Li Bamboo Peak fell on Big Head's shoulders.

Big Head worked hard and diligently, busy from dawn until dusk every day, without any complaints.

Banbu suddenly felt a little guilty and said, "Big Head, you can withdraw the ant swarm. I can guard this place."

"Okay." Big Head first agreed, then asked, "Banbu, aren't you going to deduce cultivation methods?"

"The matter of cultivation methods can't be rushed." Banbu was also feeling powerless. Every time he evolved, there were changes in his heart and bloodline. Now, the speed of deducing cultivation methods was far behind the speed of changes in his body structure.

Currently, as an L5 Advanced Warrior, the cultivation method he practiced was still 《Basic Cultivation Method · L9 Intermediate Chapter》, and its beneficial effect on growth was becoming increasingly poor.

The wisdom of carbon-based life forms lies in association and innovation. Faced with complex deduction problems, the brain's computing power was completely insufficient.

A year of hard work from beginning to end, with too little leisure time, Banbu couldn't spare enough time to calm down and deduce cultivation methods.

… …

The dawn broke.

Golden-red sunlight shone on the mountain peak.

Big Head led the ant swarm and began another day of labor.

The Red Ant Tribe awakened the ability of fire. With each genetic evolution, their nature of liking darkness was transforming.

Banbu gradually began to like the heat of summer and enjoyed the scorching sensation of sunlight shining on his carapace.

Quietly lying next to the Xiang Bamboo, he separated a wisp of mental power, constantly paying attention to the changes in that small flower that was nurturing the God-given seed.

Not far away, Du Bamboo poked his head out and looked around.

Banbu glanced back.

Du Bamboo simply walked out and shouted generously, "Banbu, you're awake!"

The little warrior born this year became his little follower, with a deep purple trumpet-shaped flower on his head, sneakingly looking towards the Xiang Bamboo. He was full of curiosity about the God-given seed being nurtured.

Big Head sent "heavy troops to guard," probably mainly to prevent these two naughty little guys. Banbu left them in Windbell's territory, also worried about their curiosity. If something went wrong and the God-given seed was destroyed, the loss would be great.

Banbu asked, "Du Bamboo, aren't you supposed to stay in Windbell's territory? What are you doing here?"

"I came to take a look." Du Bamboo said, "Banbu, a God-given seed is being nurtured. Is this the favor of the True God of Nature? It's amazing!"

The little warrior also shook his antennae irregularly, releasing pheromones, echoing, "Yes, yes…"

"The favor of the True God of Nature?" Banbu couldn't help but look up at the sky.

The morning glow filled the sky.

"Pay attention to the changes in the 'stars' at night."

Banbu thought silently, waved his antennae, and drove them away, "You two little guys go play with Windbell. Don't come near here. "

"Okay." Du Bamboo was dejected and led the little warrior towards Windbell's territory down the mountain.

Banbu scanned with mental power and found that the flower on the little warrior's head was glued to his carapace with resin.

Pine resin.

Cutting open the bark, the wound would secrete this resin, the purpose of which was to prevent fungi from invading through the wound.

The ordinary pine trees on the mountain had long been cut down, and only Windbell's territory had three oriental arborvitae life seeds planted.

"I hope it wasn't cut from the main trunk."

"If the bark of the oriental arborvitae is cut a little, the wound will heal… Windbell has a good temper, so he shouldn't beat him to death…"

Banbu thought silently, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he asked sternly, "Du Bamboo, where did the morning glory on his head come from?"

The little warrior was so frightened that he hurriedly hid behind Du Bamboo, subconsciously waving his antennae and constantly releasing warning information of "danger."

Du Bamboo was also startled, answering nervously and innocently, "From Windbell's territory! There's a small patch, growing next to his windbell flowers. He said they looked pretty, so they were left behind."

Banbu emphasized and asked, "Why did you glue the morning glory to his head?"

"Ah?!" Du Bamboo replied aggrievedly, "I saw he liked it, so I picked one…"

Liked it?!

Morning glory!

Banbu felt like he was struck by lightning, his head buzzing… Did the thing he worried about the most happen after only two days of slumber?

It's impossible to guard against!

Banbu was unwilling and asked, "Does he like morning glory?"

"Yes." Du Bamboo replied.

The little warrior didn't understand, and also shook his antennae, constantly releasing pheromones: "Yes, yes, yes…"

The little thing was quite happy.

Banbu changed his perspective and asked, "The windbell flowers are in full bloom, does he like windbell flowers?"

Du Bamboo replied, "He likes them quite a bit too, but Windbell is stingy and doesn't let us pick them."

It's right not to let you pick them!

Life has a natural love for beauty, it should just be a simple feeling that they are pretty.

You scared me to death.

Banbu continued to ask, "Does he like bamboo? Many bamboo trees on the mountain are also flowering?"

Du Bamboo thought for a while, shook his antennae, and said, "He doesn't like them. Probably because the flowers of the bamboo are too small, the shape is not good, and the color is not bright."

"Is that so?" Banbu pondered: Windbell's territory is surrounded by windbell flowers, and there are morning glories. The flowers are in full bloom at this time, which is not a good place to go.

What if this little thing likes windbell flowers or morning glories, then it's over!

Banbu temporarily changed his mind and said, "Du Bamboo, you don't go to Windbell's place, just stay here with me… Don't come near the Xiang Bamboo! Otherwise, I'll punish you to go down the mountain with the ant swarm to cut 100 kilograms of grass."

"Okay." Du Bamboo was happy.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak…" The little warrior also vibrated his wings vigorously, making a joyful chirp.

"Take off the morning glory on his head! Don't pick flowers casually in the future, understand?" Banbu shook his antennae, pointed to a patch of variegated bamboo forest used for experiments next to him, and said, "The bamboo forest is cool, go play inside."

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