Astral Cockroach

This was the first time Banbu had seen a warrior from the Firefly Roach Tribe, and it was a rather famous princess.

In terms of size, they were no different from the Red Roach Tribe, the difference being in the color of their carapaces.

The Firefly Roach Tribe was a more vibrant, bright red.

The Red Roach Tribe was a dull red, with a slightly darker hue.

Princess Daye and Princess Xiaoye were very polite to Princess Xuetao, apparently something major had happened, and after a round of apologies, they hurriedly left.

Banbu lowered his mental power and asked a veteran princess beside him, "Princess Youli, what happened?"

Princess Youli possessed a top-quality Youli tree, a divine gift seed. In the Red Roach Tribe, her seniority and prestige were second only to Princess Chijian. This year, she took out 150,000 original stones in one go, and in previous years, she had gradually lent out many more, totaling 500,000 original stones to support Princess Chijian's promotion to Roach King.

Princess Youli was the biggest creditor among all the mountain lords and princesses present, so naturally, she was the most anxious.

"I don't know either! Judging from their tone, it seems like there's a shortage of original stones?"

Princess Chuirong also asked in confusion, "How could there be a shortage of original stones?"

"Because Princess Chijian is sleeping under the Chijian tree to advance," Princess Xuetao, with her cheerful and easy-going personality, was a natural socializer. She strode towards Banbu and his group, squeezing into the middle while stirring her divine sense, explaining:

"When a princess advances to Roach King, they need to absorb a large amount of natural original power, especially when the advancement is about to be completed, the demand is greatest. Moreover, during this period, the corresponding divine gift seed breaks through its shackles and begins to transform and grow, also requiring a massive amount of natural original power."

"The Chijian tree's divine gift seed is a top-quality large, high-quality tree. How can its ability to absorb and release original power be underestimated?"

"Princess Chijian is really stupid, lying under the Chijian tree to advance. With those two together, how could the mountain's natural original power be enough to supply them? Insufficient original power, and now, it's dangerous."

The words didn't sound pleasant, but the reasoning was correct.

This was the first time the Red Roach Tribe had given birth to a Roach King. Without any experience, they hadn't considered everything beforehand, resulting in a major mistake.

"There's such a saying…" Princess Youli's mood immediately turned low and anxious.

"It can't be entirely blamed on Princess Chijian. Who could have expected that the Chijian tree's divine gift seed would undergo qualitative change and growth? That thing is transforming into a standard top-quality, requiring an exceptionally large amount of original power." Accompanied by a clanging sound of carapaces colliding, Princess Xuetao finally squeezed into the center position and saw Banbu.

"Oh, how did a black little guy sneak in here?"

With a wave of her wing-veins, she unceremoniously pushed Banbu aside.

Banbu, as a young rising star in the Chijian Tribe with many divine gift seeds, was originally being protected in the center, but now he was squeezed to the side, replaced by Princess Xuetao.

"If Princess Chijian dies, I'll be miserable," Princess Xuetao complained, "I lent all my savings to her, 210,000 original stones, not a single one left. What about you? Is there anyone more miserable than me?"

Who present wasn't the same?

No one answered.

There was indeed one person more miserable than Princess Xuetao.

Princess Youli waved her antennae, pointed towards the center of the tree sea, and asked, "Princess Xuetao, do you know what the current situation is? Is Princess Chijian in danger?"

"Didn't I say? Insufficient natural original power, not enough stored original stones, stuck in the final stage of molting and growth. Every day that passes, the danger increases," Princess Xuetao said, then twisted her body, turning around in place, squeezing away all the Red Roach warriors gathered together, creating a comfortable space for herself, and lazily lying down in the mud, asking:

"What are you all doing gathered together? What are you all standing around for? Those with stored original stones in their territories, hurry back and get them!"

That's right! Those with original stone reserves, hurry and send them over for emergency use!

Several warriors immediately flapped their wings and soared into the sky, disappearing into the wind and rain.

The vast majority of warriors stayed behind. The original stones they had stored had long been lent to Princess Chijian.

Banbu asked, "Princess Xuetao, what are Princess Daye and Princess Xiaoye planning?"

"Of course, they're going to borrow original stones," Princess Xuetao stared at Banbu for a while, suddenly realizing, and asked, "Are you called Banbu?"

"Yes," Banbu replied.

Somewhat surprised, Princess Xuetao actually recognized him, while his understanding of Princess Xuetao was limited to having once given Fengling a Xuetao seed. However, through this action, it could be judged that Princess Xuetao did not reject the Red Roach Tribe, leading to the inference that there should be a portion of warriors in the Firefly Roach Tribe who recognized the Red Roach Tribe.

"I heard Princess Huangjing mention you, a very clever little guy," Princess Xuetao said, adding, "Indeed very black, luckily the aura is correct."

Aura is the fundamental standard for insects to distinguish whether they are from the same tribe.

Compatible auras allow for communication and exchange of information through pheromones and radio waves.

Incompatible auras mean different chemical compositions of pheromones, making communication impossible; different electromagnetic wavebands also prevent the use of long-range communication functions.

The Red Roach Tribe and the Firefly Roach Tribe have compatible auras. The difference lies only in the color of their carapaces, merely a mutation in a few genes related to color. In essence, they belong to the same race.

The Firefly Roach Tribe and the Iridescent Flower Roach Tribe have incompatible auras. Both are roaches, but they belong to two different races, thus forming two different kingdoms.

"Princess Chijian is in great danger now, but as long as we can borrow the original stones back, she can live."

Princess Xuetao finished speaking, vigorously waving her antennae and shouting, "What are you surrounding me for? Don't crowd so close. In this thunderstorm, if lightning strikes, we'll all die."

As a veteran princess with considerable fame, she not only lacked dignity but was also talkative and scheming.

Weren't you the one who kept squeezing into the middle?

Banbu was speechless, gently touching Princess Chuirong's antennae, signaling to leave.

The gathered mountain lords and princesses dispersed, those familiar with each other gathering in small groups, lowering their mental power to chat.

Princess Youli followed Banbu and Princess Chuirong to a Chijian tree to take shelter from the rain.

Princess Chuirong asked Princess Youli, "Princess Daye and Princess Xiaoye should be going to the nearby Firefly Roach Tribe territory to borrow original stones, right? In recent years, the Firefly Roach Tribe's rejection of our Red Roach Tribe has become increasingly strong. Will they succeed?"

Princess Youli said, "Everyone originated from the Longevity Roach King's territory. At least, we share the same bloodline. Such a big event as advancing to Roach King, they shouldn't refuse, right?"

Banbu analyzed, "That depends on who it is. It should be said that some warriors of the Firefly Roach Tribe are particularly repulsed by us, while others are not so repulsed. With more effort, we should be able to borrow some."

Princess Chuirong and Princess Youli thought about it and felt it made sense, both nodding their antennae in agreement, their hearts slightly comforted.

Princess Youli asked, "Banbu, can you save some of this year's Bloodthorn seeds for me? When the merchant team arrives next year, I'll sell a batch of Youli fruits, and I'll be more financially comfortable."

Earlier, so many mountain lords and princesses surrounded Banbu, mainly attracted by the Bloodthorn seeds. There were also young warriors trying to inquire about the Great Yellow Fig from Princess Chuirong. No insect would want to miss an original power food that could extend their lifespan.

Bloodthorn seeds have a good strengthening effect and are cheap. Taking out 4,000 seeds for internal sales within the Red Roach Tribe each year is far from meeting the demand. At this time, seniority and prestige within the tribe come into play. Other warriors consciously give up, defaulting to Princess Youli's priority purchase.

Banbu certainly couldn't refuse, simply asking, "Princess Youli, there are 3,000 shares left this year, how many do you want?"

"I want them all!"

It was Princess Xuetao who answered.

Before Princess Youli could answer, with a clang, she was squeezed away by the suddenly appearing Princess Xuetao.

"Little guy, you should have heard of the Xuetao produced in my territory, right? Strengthening the body and increasing endurance, I think your physique is especially suitable for close combat. Xuetao is the most suitable for you. Let's exchange equally, I'll use peach pits to exchange."

"Princess Xuetao!" Princess Youli was annoyed.

Princess Xuetao spread her wing-veins, gently patting Princess Youli's carapace, and said, "I lent Princess Chijian 210,000 original stones, saving her life. Princess Youli, you should be grateful to me. As a reward, let me go first."

"…" Princess Youli lost her temper.