Astral Cockroach

April.

Late spring, early summer.

A very boring season, in the interval between finishing one round of farm work and the next round not yet appearing.

Banbu accelerated the rate of eating Origin Force food, efficiently absorbing and digesting it through cultivation techniques, speeding up the pace of growth and evolution.

The research on the "relationship between light exposure and the probability of Small Warrior birth" continued, but unfortunately, there were no obvious results. The *Ma Zhu* bamboo forest was already dark enough. With Banbu's special care, the number of ordinary small cockroaches exceeded one million, the male-to-female ratio was appropriate, and the food was plentiful enough. However, no Small Warriors were born.

Banbu couldn't help but feel some doubt and wavering about his previous assumptions.

It seemed that quality did not increase the probability of Small Warrior birth as significantly as he had imagined.

The birth of Red Rice probably had to be attributed to "the favor of the True God of Nature."

Banbu's thoughts turned, and he began to work on the quantity aspect again.

Having three Mountain Lords stationed at Li Bamboo Peak had one advantage: the permeating aura kept any snakes, rats, or birds from daring to approach. As ordinary small cockroaches entered the breeding season, lacking natural enemies, their numbers began to explode.

With Li Bamboo Peak reaching its capacity, Banbu intentionally guided them towards the Bloodthorn God-given Seed at the foot of the mountain, allowing them to survive hidden within the Bloodthorn thickets.

The food problem was also easily solved, with dried fodder piled next to the Bloodthorn thickets, and occasionally some leftover meat could be thrown in.

Banbu's plan was quite good: the Yellow-striped Mountain Lord and the others would be stationed at Li Bamboo Peak for about two or three years, and he could take this opportunity to expand the number of ordinary cockroaches to the maximum. With a huge base of tens of millions, surely one or two Small Warriors would be born?

… …

Early summer brought little rain, and the melon fields on the ridge needed watering every two or three days, as well as appropriate nutrient replenishment. For dangerous tasks, Banbu did them himself.

Bamboo tubes made of *Ma Zhu* were used to hold swamp water, with one tube irrigating two melon seedlings.

A full 100 plants required 50 round trips, going up and down the mountain, which could be considered training for his flying ability.

Dawn.

As the morning light broke, Banbu emerged from the mountain cave early and began to work.

Just as he was carrying a tube of swamp water down the mountain, he keenly sensed the fluctuation of Origin Force aura not far away.

A beast warrior!

Banbu tensed, his mental power instinctively scanning, then relaxed.

It was that little Leopard Cat Warrior.

Its performance was a bit strange this time. Sensing Banbu's mental power sweeping over it, it showed some fear, but did not immediately flee.

Banbu's mind raced, and he thought of another illogical point: wasn't this guy nocturnal? Why did it come over so early in the morning?

"Could it be that it encountered some trouble? Perhaps it was frightened by the various beast warriors that suddenly appeared in the jungle?" Banbu thought.

The Leopard Cat Warrior took two steps forward.

Banbu was even more surprised. He made his mental thoughts as gentle as possible and asked, "Have you encountered any trouble?"

The Leopard Cat Warrior wagged its tail, pointing to the northwest direction. Its mental communication was still very clumsy, and it said intermittently, "They, want, destroy, your, territory."

"Beast warriors?!" Banbu tensed again and asked, "What kind of beast warriors?"

The Leopard Cat Warrior was at a loss, a little anxious, not knowing how to express itself.

Without inherited memories, its knowledge of plants and animals was almost zero.

Banbu switched the angle of questioning and said, "Are there many beast warriors preparing to attack my territory?"

"Yes."

The Leopard Cat Warrior emphasized and added, "Many, many!"

Banbu asked, "An organized attack? Beast warriors of different races?"

"Yes."

Banbu asked, "Do you know them?"

"Yes."

The Leopard Cat Warrior said, "They asked me to come and see, and then tell them."

So the Leopard Cat Warrior was sent out to scout the situation.

Heaven helps me!

Banbu was secretly delighted and asked, "When do they plan to launch the attack?"

The Leopard Cat Warrior stretched out its front paw, pointed to the sky, and laboriously expressed a noun: "Night!"

Banbu asked, "Tonight?"

The Leopard Cat Warrior did not answer, turned and plunged into the grass, scurrying down the hillside, disappearing into the dense forest in a puff of smoke. Soon, its Origin Force fluctuations were also out of sensing range.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?"

"Rude little fellow."

Banbu thought for a while, put down the bamboo tube, and flew towards the top of the mountain.

… …

The three Mountain Lords, Yellow-striped, White-furred, and Brown-skinned, were not simply staying at Li Bamboo Peak. Each day, one of them would keep watch, constantly alert to the movements around Li Bamboo Peak.

As Banbu went down the mountain to work, they naturally had to pay attention and be constantly vigilant.

As soon as Banbu landed, the Yellow-striped Mountain Lord asked, "Was that a Stone-patterned Leopard Cat? Has it joined Li Bamboo Peak too?"

"No, I gave it a little Origin Force food." Banbu paused for two seconds and said solemnly, "Yellow-striped Mountain Lord, something may be about to happen. It came to warn us that beast warriors are planning to attack Li Bamboo Peak, and it should be tonight. The number and strength are unknown."

The White-furred and Brown-skinned Mountain Lords sensed the movement and emerged from the mountain cave.

The White-furred Mountain Lord said, "Beast warriors are the same. If they survive a little longer, their intelligence grows."

The Brown-skinned Mountain Lord asked, "Banbu, are there many of them?"

Banbu said, "Many."

The Brown-skinned Mountain Lord said, "There should be a Mountain Lord level beast warrior organizing them, uniting the beast warriors of various races who hate the cockroach race. This situation is very common."

The Yellow-striped Mountain Lord comforted, "Banbu, you don't need to worry too much. Now that we know about the sneak attack, we just need to be on guard. Under normal circumstances, the safety of Li Bamboo Peak will not be threatened."

Banbu said, "It would be best to gather some more combat power… Since they are taking the initiative to gather together, why not take the opportunity to wipe them all out? From then on, the Jinping Mountain Range will be much more peaceful."

The Yellow-striped Mountain Lord asked, "Tonight?"

Banbu said uncertainly, "It should be."

The Yellow-striped Mountain Lord said, "Li Bamboo Peak is remote, and there isn't enough time to gather a sufficient number of warriors."

The closest are the Iron Saber Mountain Range and the Banyan Mountain Range. These two mountain ranges are threatened by beast warriors and are unable to spare too much combat power.

Further away are the Red Tangerine Mountain Range, the Green Ridge Mountain Range, the Sheep Hoof Mountain Range, and the Scarlet Fortress County.

Banbu waggled his antennae, releasing electromagnetic wave information.

Wind Chime, who lived at the foot of the mountain, received the message and flew up the mountain.

Banbu briefly introduced the situation.

Having experienced several battles, Wind Chime was no longer as afraid as she was when facing the Cloud Leopard Warrior back then. She was only slightly worried and asked, "Banbu, what are your plans?"

Banbu said, "Wind Chime, please go to the Iron Saber Mountain Range immediately and report the situation to the Iron Saber Mountain Lord. The Iron Saber Mountain Lord should personally go to the Red Tangerine Mountain Range for reinforcements. There might still be time."

"Understood."

Wind Chime responded and left, flapping her wings.

Banbu discussed the battle details with the three Mountain Lords, Yellow-striped, and went down the mountain to inform the other members.

Red Rice took Belly Bamboo and Red Rice, the two little ones, and hid in advance. Red Rice was already an L7 Intermediate Warrior and could suppress the two of them.

Big Head and Cattail shrank into the ant nest and beehive, no longer easily showing their faces.

The seven Bamboo Rat Warriors dug hidden burrows at the foot of the mountain, scattered and hid, and strengthened their vigilance.

Big Bear guarded the south of the mountain, sharpening his knife and preparing for a big fight.

With the arrangements made, Banbu continued to work as if nothing had happened.

The Scarlet Ant Warriors who came to garrison were also scattered as usual, lazily enjoying the slightly violent sunshine of early summer.

At noon, two figures, one large and one small, sped from the northwest direction and landed at the location where the Yellow-striped Mountain Lord and the others were staying.

County Princess Oily Pear!

She also brought an L9 Advanced Warrior.

Each carried a silk bag, probably to pay back the money.

Perfect timing!

Banbu hurried up the mountain to greet them.