Astral Cockroach

The enthusiasm of the Iron Oak Mountain Lord temporarily changed Banbu's territorial expansion plan for this autumn and winter.

For insect warriors, once they develop a fondness for a particular plant, that fondness is etched into their genes, unchangeable until the end of their lives, a lifelong matter of great importance.

Banbu announced a major cleanup of Lizhu Peak and the surrounding area. First, plants with poor development potential, especially herbaceous plants like fleabane, groundsel, sweet vernal grass, cutgrass, and cogongrass, would be cleared.

To expand the land and establish pear orchards and citrus groves, as well as planting a suitable amount of tung trees, pagoda trees, and laurel trees, while also considering species diversity and maintaining the natural ecology, Banbu also planned to introduce ironwood, red oak, chestnut, apricot, and walnut trees as appropriate.

In short, the goal was to ensure that the young warriors born on Lizhu Peak in the future would only come into contact with high-quality arbor species with good development potential.

Sowing high-quality tree seeds could also meet Xiangpu's demand for nectar, accomplishing two goals with one action, so it took priority, and the bamboo sea expansion project was postponed.

With a plentiful supply of primal force food, five young bamboo rat warriors, including moso bamboo and water bamboo, successively evolved into advanced warriors, with only white bamboo lagging behind.

The overall strength of Lizhu Peak's members increased significantly, and their work efficiency improved accordingly.

Busy until the late winter and early spring season, Lizhu Peak and the surrounding territories were completely cleared. Taking advantage of the excellent spring season, the big-headed worker ants sowed various tree seeds.

At this time, Banbu turned his attention to digging the No. 7 pond and expanding the bamboo forest.

Last year, he harvested many golden-striped bamboo, golden silk bamboo, mottled bamboo, multicolored bitter bamboo, and multicolored red bamboo seeds.

The hybridization experiments of these bamboo species were mostly completed, and their feasibility was initially confirmed. Banbu planned to expand the planting scale.

…

While working, Banbu maintained his primal force food intake at the extreme limit of his endurance each day.

Frequent and large amounts of primal force food consumption would reduce efficiency.

Banbu was still eating primal force food condensed from God-given seeds, which, by calculation, meant wasting more than 20 primal stones per day on average.

Extravagant waste in exchange for rapid growth!

Normally speaking, it wouldn't be worth it.

But under special circumstances, it could be very cost-effective.

He ushered in another molting evolution in the early spring season.

This time, due to the rapid growth and the presence of a God-given seed in development, he slept for a full eight days before waking up, scaring the other members of the mountain quite a bit.

…

The plum rain season had just passed, and the spring sunshine was bright. It was the second best season of the year for sowing.

Banbu sowed the newly developed God-given seed on the northeast side of Lizhu Peak, in a lower position, far away from the Zijing and Cuizhu God-given seeds.

The seed took root and sprouted the next day.

Investing one primal stone every day, the seedling grew rapidly, developing into a slender bamboo pole about 1.8 meters tall.

The underground stem began to spread laterally, with a growth pattern completely identical to that of Cuizhu, one giving birth to eight, and eight giving birth to sixty-four…

The rapid growth of bamboo-type God-given seeds required extremely high amounts of primal force. Banbu did not have enough primal stone reserves, and after 64 underground stems were derived, the growth rate suddenly slowed down.

The first batch of eight bamboo poles were about 3 meters tall and 3 centimeters in diameter, with green branches and leaves, dark green bamboo poles, and brown-red spots resembling raindrops.

Banbu named it "Rain Bamboo".

The advantages of the three-line hybrid were extremely obvious. The Rain Bamboo spirit was born with a strong soul and good memory, and also possessed a bit of thinking ability, like a two or three-year-old child, able to have some simple communication with Banbu.

"Banbu, hasn't the caravan you mentioned arrived yet?"

"It should be arriving soon."

"I like to eat primal stones."

"I know."

…

The Rain Bamboo God-given seed urgently needed primal stones to grow.

Unlike other tree spirits, the Rain Bamboo tree spirit would not nag or clamor, frantically conveying thoughts of wanting to be acquired to Banbu. It would use a more subtle and euphemistic way to repeatedly remind Banbu: I need primal stones!

"Banbu, those two little roach warriors are always wandering around my territory. I feel like they want to hurt me."

"No, they are my fellow clansmen and descendants, they won't hurt you."

"They always sneak into my territory."

"Okay then, I will restrain them and not let them get close to you."

"Banbu, those big-headed ants are too stupid, I think they might hurt me."

"They are as smart as you and will water and fertilize you, they won't hurt you."

"No, they are very stupid. Banbu, I think you should water and fertilize me yourself, swamp sludge is delicious!"

…

Like all God-given seeds, the Rain Bamboo tree spirit extremely rejected any living being other than Banbu. To put it seriously, it could be said to be a "persecution complex" patient. But it would not burst out with fear and anger, but would protest to Banbu again and again in a euphemistic way.

The protest was invalid.

Banbu didn't have the time and energy to take care of the God-given seed every day, getting up early and working late. It was most appropriate to leave this heavy farm work to Datou.

Datou had the experience of directing the ant colony to take care of the four God-given seeds of Zijing, Cuizhu, Bloodthorn, and Xiangpu, and there could be no mistakes.

On the other hand, the two little fellows, Duzhu and Hongmi, had grown up a bit, their destructive power had increased, and they were in pairs, emboldening each other, and becoming more and more naughty.

Banbu felt that he should restrain them properly.

Blind punishment was meaningless, so he simply assigned them some unimportant bamboo seedling nurseries and rice seedling nurseries, and let them be solely responsible for the operation and management of the plant seedlings.

The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ say ⊥ at ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥ ⊥ book ⊥ ⊥ bar ⊥ ⊥ first ⊥ hair!

If they operated well, there would be rewards, delicious primal force food.

If they played it to death, there would be punishment, following Datou's ant colony down the mountain to cut grass.

…

Late at night, a deep mental power call came from the foot of the mountain:

"Mountain Lord Banbu, I am the Chonglou Caravan, may I come up the mountain to visit you?"

The Chonglou Caravan arrived as scheduled.

"Yes."

Banbu went down the mountain to greet them.

The Chonglou Caravan was becoming richer and richer, and the advanced warrior Luoshi was also carrying many goods on his back.

"Mountain Lord Chonglou, how are the Cuizhu bamboo seeds selling?" Banbu asked the most important question.

"All sold out." Chonglou finished speaking, and added: "Mainly because 2,000 bamboo seeds were too few, and the number was even smaller when distributed to various caravans. Most caravans consumed them by giving them away as gifts."

"It only takes a few primal stones to gain goodwill and trust, which is also a worthwhile transaction."

Chonglou continued: "Banbu, there is no doubt that the sales model you proposed is very effective. This year, you can take out more bamboo seeds to try."

Without waiting for Banbu to respond.

Chonglou continued: "There is also a message… or rather, entrusted by the Red Crow Ghost King, hoping to complete a large transaction."

"Red Crow Ghost King? Large transaction?" Banbu was completely confused.

Chonglou carefully considered his words and asked: "Banbu, have you heard of the Ghost Locust Kingdom in the southwest region of the Myriad Kingdoms Continent?"

The Ghost Locust Kingdom should be established by the Ghost-faced Locust.

Then, the Red Crow Ghost King was a peak existence at the insect king level.

"I've heard a little about it?" Banbu said vaguely.

Chonglou continued to introduce: "Red Crow Mountain is the most famous mountain in the southwest region of the Myriad Kingdoms Continent. The Red Crow Ghost King is named after the mountain, as the lord of a mountain."

Red Crow Mountain? Is it very famous? Banbu had never heard of it, and there was no record in his inherited memories.

Chonglou said solemnly: "Red Crow Mountain has nine symbiotic mountain ranges that produce black primal stones. The Ghost Locust Kingdom is the richest kingdom in the southwest region. The Red Crow Ghost King, as the lord of Red Crow Mountain, is the richest insect king in the Ghost Locust Kingdom."

So it turned out there was a mine, and nine ore veins at that!

Banbu was even more curious and asked again: "What transaction?"

Chonglou said: "The Red Crow Ghost King especially likes bamboo. Do you remember our first transaction? I bought moso bamboo and Lizhu bamboo seeds from you, which were actually collected for the Red Crow Ghost King."

"According to inherited memories, there are approximately 500 bamboo species in the world, of which only less than 40 are common or relatively common, and the other bamboo species are rare."

"The Red Crow Ghost King has already collected about 150 bamboo species."

"He is interested in your golden-striped bamboo and hybrid breeding technology."