Astral Cockroach

Traveling in an environment without Origin Force was quite troublesome. There was no rushing it, and Banbu didn't dare to rush.

Wandering along for more than a month, relying on memory, he returned to the Western Regions, arriving at the supply base where he had left.

There were no longer any warriors in the base. Scanning with mental power, he discovered over two hundred bags of Origin Force food sealed away using metal abilities.

He opened one and devoured an entire bag in one go.

Only then did he have the mind to look around.

The Ghost Wasp warriors had opened up two routes: one eastward, back to Crimson Crow Mountain; the other westward. They probably hadn't found Dragon Bamboo and continued to explore westward, reaching the Illusionary Mist at the westernmost point of the Dragon Bamboo Continent.

"Calculating the time, whether they found Dragon Bamboo or not, it should have ended long ago. What's the point of hoarding so much Origin Force food?"

Examining carefully, he smelled the scent of oil tea. A realization dawned on him. Crimson Crow Mountain must have confirmed that his life seed hadn't died, leaving Oil Tea here to wait, the Origin Force food all prepared for Oil Tea.

He wasn't in a hurry to leave, staying to wait.

Just as well, he hadn't replenished Origin Force food for a long time, feeling uncomfortable all over. He needed to rest and recuperate. The journey ahead was equally long, spanning the continent, nearly ten thousand kilometers.

At dawn, Oil Tea's joyful call suddenly came from outside the cave: "Banbu, is that you?"

Banbu asked: "What about Princess Maple Yang? She wouldn't have stayed behind too, would she?"

"Princess Maple Yang went back. I stayed to wait for you." Oil Tea said, "Banbu, you disappeared suddenly, Crimson Crow Ghost King and the others were very worried. Queen Butterfly Begonia personally went to Li Bamboo Peak to check. Your life seeds are all alive, so they confirmed you were still alive, so I stayed behind."

Banbu asked: "What were you doing running outside at night?"

Oil Tea said: "Looking for tree seeds! Anyway, I'm bored."

Banbu asked: "Did you find any?"

"I don't recognize many of them. I picked some of the pretty ones to take back…" Oil Tea said, "Princess Maple Yang found several high-quality tree seeds that can be planted in the north and gave us many seeds. She was in a hurry to go back to study planting these novel tree seeds."

Indeed, she was a scientific insect.

Oil Tea continued: "Princess Maple Yang also instructed when she left that the harvested tree seeds, including Crown Pear's life seed, would be sent back to Li Bamboo Peak along the way. If you weren't dead, remember to send the 200,000 Origin Stone reward back. If you were dead, then forget it, consider the seeds her gift to Li Bamboo Peak."

"…" Banbu had already guessed that this would be the case, asking: "Did you find Dragon Bamboo?"

Oil Tea shook her head, saying: "No."

That's right, it would be troublesome if they really found it.

Banbu asked: "What about Crown Pear, Rat Overlord, and Princess Iron Oak?"

Oil Tea said: "They all stayed behind."

"Okay, I understand." Banbu said: "Oil Tea, rest first. Tonight, we'll set off on foot."

Oil Tea hesitated for a moment, saying: "Banbu, I heard the Ghost Wasp tribe warriors say that without Dragon Bamboo, managing the bamboo forest is meaningless, there's no prospect of development, Crimson Crow Mountain is going to give up… Banbu, are we at Li Bamboo Peak still going to continue planting bamboo?"

"That's the harsh pursuit of top-tier clans. Their ancestors left behind too many precious tree seeds, so they only pursue the best. Our Li Bamboo Peak is different, we don't have any management foundation. For our Li Bamboo Peak, ordinary precious bamboo species are already very good. Holy Bamboo can be used as our Li Bamboo Peak's iconic bamboo species."

"So, no matter what, we at Li Bamboo Peak must continue to develop the bamboo forest." Banbu paused and said: "What's more, I've already found Dragon Bamboo!"

…

Crimson Crow Ghost King truly had some spirit. Throwing away 100 million Origin Stones without a trace, he could still maintain the demeanor of a great clan. You should know that out of 100 bags of Origin Force food transported from Crimson Crow Mountain to the supply station in the Western Regions of the Dragon Bamboo Continent, after consumption along the way, it would be good if 10 bags could finally be delivered. Knowing that Banbu was alive, regardless of the cost, he left a large batch of Origin Force food for Oil Tea. Each supply base along the way kept a moderate amount. This journey cost several million.

The return journey was much easier due to the replenishment of Origin Force food.

The distance was still there, and it still took a month to finally return.

He first went to the trading square to report his safety to Rat Overlord and Princess Iron Oak, briefly recounting his experiences. Rat Overlord knew the secret of Banbu's second heart and knew he would be fine, so he wasn't worried at all, but he didn't spread the secret. On the other hand, Princess Iron Oak breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Banbu return safely.

The news of Banbu's return had already spread back to Crimson Crow Mountain. Not long after entering the square, Crown Pear ran down the mountain. This guy had been eating and drinking well at Crimson Crow Mountain and had now grown to be a mid-level L6 warrior.

Princess Thunder Bamboo followed closely behind.

After mingling for so long, there were still many warriors at Crimson Crow Mountain who were familiar with Banbu. After hearing the news, they rushed over.

Visiting was one reason.

The main reason was curiosity: how did he survive for more than half a year in an environment without Origin Force?

Princess Thunder Bamboo was relatively tactful, asking Banbu as a representative: "Mountain Lord Banbu, where have you been for so long? Is there another continent beyond the Illusionary Mist to the west of the Western Regions of the Dragon Bamboo Continent? With Origin Force?"

This was the only reasonable explanation that they at Crimson Crow Mountain could think of to explain why Banbu hadn't died.

"Not west, south, I went south all the time." Banbu shook his antennae, saying: "I have important matters, let's go up the mountain and visit Crimson Crow Ghost King."

…

Crown Pear flapped his artery wings, flying and following up the mountain. As soon as he approached the bamboo forest where Crimson Crow Ghost King lived, he rushed to stir up his mental power, shouting: "Banbu went south, not west, you guessed wrong!"

"…" This was originally what Princess Thunder Bamboo was preparing to report.

"South?" Crimson Crow Ghost King seemed to understand something, asking: "Mountain Lord Banbu, you discovered that the Western Regions of the Dragon Bamboo Continent had no sea to the south, so you couldn't resist your curiosity and went south all the time, wanting to reach the end and check the situation, right?"

"Hehe, that's exactly right, I unknowingly strayed away from the supply station." Banbu took the initiative to explain: "However, I also discovered that in an environment without Origin Force, as long as I lie still, I can slowly recover, my body can automatically generate Origin Force."

"There's such a thing?" Crimson Crow Ghost King pondered, saying: "This should be an individual case, other warriors probably can't do it… Two Dragonfly tribe warriors were unfortunately injured during the search for Dragon Bamboo, quite seriously."

Upon hearing this, Crown Pear suddenly woke up and asked worriedly: "Banbu, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Banbu shook his antennae.

Crimson Crow Ghost King's tone was calm, and a brief mental exchange clearly felt a strong sense of twilight. In just over half a year, he seemed to have suddenly aged.

Crimson Crow Ghost King was still far from his decline period. It should be that not finding Dragon Bamboo was too big of a blow. Despair after hope is the most heartbreaking, losing the ambition to develop Crimson Crow Mountain's seventh sea of bamboo, hurting that spirit of advancement.

Banbu couldn't bear to keep him in suspense any longer, simply saying: "Crimson Crow Ghost King, I have good news. I went south all the time, at the southern end of the continent, I encountered the Illusionary Mist. Passing through the Illusionary Mist, it's another continent. Luckily, I happened to encounter a small patch of Dragon Bamboo forest there."

"Dragon Bamboo?!" Crimson Crow Ghost King jumped up directly.

"Dragon Bamboo!" Princess Thunder Bamboo exclaimed softly.

Dragon Bamboo! Dragon Bamboo! Dragon Bamboo!

Driven by curiosity, the Ghost Wasp warriors who followed up the mountain all exclaimed repeatedly.

Crimson Crow Mountain had already decided to give up managing the bamboo forest, and had even started to take action, removing some of the bamboo forest, intending to change it to planting newly found unknown arbors from the Western Regions of the Dragon Bamboo Continent, trying to cultivate them. The nursery had already been opened up, the seeds had landed, and the future transplant forest land had been planned.

The news came too suddenly, a glimmer of hope suddenly appearing in despair.

Crimson Crow Ghost King landed in front of Banbu, asking: "You found Dragon Bamboo?"

"I found it." Banbu took the initiative to explain: "The journey is too far, equivalent to crossing the Myriad Kingdoms Continent twice, and it's an environment without Origin Force. It takes me two and a half months to get back."

"Even digging up the bamboo clumps with soil, it's still impossible to bring them back alive. However, I've already thought of a way to cultivate them there, using the dry season to stimulate the Dragon Bamboo to flower and bear fruit, and then directly bring the seeds back."

"I came back this time mainly to report the news, so that everyone wouldn't be anxious. After resting for two days, I have to leave again. There's a dry season there, I don't know when the dry season will arrive. If it arrives early, the bamboo species I transplanted will die from drought, so I'd better stay by their side to take care of them."

…

Banbu returned to Crimson Crow Mountain mainly to arrange for Crown Pear to return to Li Bamboo Peak. He had been away for too long, mixing around and about to be promoted to a high-level warrior, and had not yet seen what his territory looked like, nor did he know how his life seed plant was developing.

Crimson Crow Ghost King was enthusiastic, directly sending Princess Thunder Bamboo out, leading 20 princess-level Ghost Wasp warriors as escorts.

Banbu arranged for Oil Tea and Rat Overlord to return with the main force.

Princess Iron Oak could stay behind, get the seeds, and travel with Banbu, flying to return to Li Bamboo Peak for cultivation as soon as possible.

PS: Upload it in advance, going to sleep.