Astral Cockroach

It was evident that the Crimson Crow Ghost King had a special fondness for tall bamboo species. Its ordinary lifeblood was primarily composed of Ma bamboo, totaling 24 trees, forming a large bamboo forest.

The Crimson Crow Ghost King resided within the bamboo forest.

The Ghost-faced Katydid tribe was rather unique. After advancing to Mountain Lord, they would either awaken metal abilities or earth and stone abilities. Under normal circumstances, they should awaken one elemental ability.

For example, Thunder Bamboo Princess awakened earth and stone abilities, her carapace a brownish-yellow color.

If they awakened metal abilities, their carapace should be a dark golden color, with a metallic sheen.

The Ghost-faced Katydid race was physically robust, with sharp spikes covering their six legs, and a charging horn on their head, making them better suited for close combat. They were a formidable ground race.

The Crimson Crow Ghost King was clearly an anomaly, its carapace dark black, covered with irregular rust-like brown spots, with two horns on its forehead, one black and one yellow, one in front of the other, one large and one small.

Its aura was restrained.

However, through sensing the Origin Force patterns, Banbu was certain that the Crimson Crow Ghost King had awakened both metal and earth and stone abilities simultaneously.

On the Crimson Crow Ghost King's back was perched a butterfly king from the Narrow Wing Butterfly tribe. This butterfly king was more within the normal range, entirely purple, its Origin Force patterns hidden, its aura completely restrained, its body light, quietly perched on the Crimson Crow Ghost King's back.

The relationship between the Narrow Wing Butterfly and the Ghost-faced Katydid tribe was similar to that of the Red Ring Hornet and the Flying Flame Roach tribe, a symbiotic vassal race. They could command ordinary Narrow Wing Butterflies, and their main responsibility was to pollinate plants and help manage the tree sea.

The Coastal Kingdom often suffered attacks from fierce bird warriors from the ocean, and the Narrow Wing Butterflies were an important aerial force.

…

"Greetings, Crimson Crow Ghost King!"

"Mountain Lord Banbu!"

The Crimson Crow Ghost King, being in a high position, naturally carried an air of majesty. It didn't have the warmth and friendliness that came from having common interests. After a simple greeting, it briefly introduced, "This is the Narrow Wing Butterfly tribe's, Sea棠 Butterfly King."

Banbu immediately said, "Greetings, Sea棠 Butterfly King!"

Sea棠 Butterfly King had been staring at Banbu, and slightly nodded its antennae in response.

The Crimson Crow Ghost King asked, "Mountain Lord Banbu, when you came up the mountain, you should have seen the Ma bamboo that can bloom every year, right?"

Banbu replied, "I saw it."

Perhaps because the weather had been good these past few years, without any droughts, the Ma bamboo planted on Crimson Crow Mountain was still a mutated species and had not yet been cultivated into a restored species, that is, it had not been cultivated into what Banbu defined as Ma bamboo-1.

Even if it was cultivated, it wouldn't work. The first generation seeds harvested from Ma bamboo-1 had acceptable genetic quality, but if they continued to be planted, the second generation seeds would begin to show genetic degradation traits, producing inferior seeds.

To sell high-quality bamboo seeds, it was necessary to constantly cross the mutated species with normal Ma bamboo to obtain new Ma bamboo-1 seeds.

Banbu proactively said, "Crimson Crow Ghost King, the geographical environment of the Southwest Region determines that it is not suitable for the crossbreeding of bamboo plants!"

"Yes," the Crimson Crow Ghost King simply said, then instructed Thunder Bamboo Princess, "Mountain Lord Banbu has come from afar, and must be somewhat tired and hungry. Go prepare Origin Force food and fresh meat to entertain our guest."

"Yes!" Thunder Bamboo Princess departed.

The Crimson Crow Ghost King was silent for two seconds, then said, "Mountain Lord Banbu, let's go to the summit to talk."

Sea棠 Butterfly King acted first, flapping its wings, flashing out of the bamboo forest, and then with another flash, disappearing into the clouds.

What's going on? We have to go up the mountain to talk?

"Alright!" Banbu respectfully said, "Crimson Crow Ghost King, please go first."

The Crimson Crow Ghost King followed the mountain path, quickly climbing towards the summit.

Banbu followed closely behind.

Crimson Crow Mountain was a well-known majestic mountain. Now that it was winter, the clouds had descended, and one-third of the mountain was deep in the clouds, covered in snow.

Banbu followed behind the Crimson Crow Ghost King, all the way to the summit.

"Mountain Lord Banbu, look over there."

The Crimson Crow Ghost King stretched out its hunting leg, pointing towards the western horizon.

It was morning, and the sunlight illuminated the distant iridescent maze, refracting colorful light, reflecting the sea of clouds, a beautiful sight.

To the east of the Myriad Race Continent, there are the Misty Mountains and the iridescent maze. Passing through the iridescent maze is the Myriad Kingdom Continent.

To the west of the Myriad Race Continent, there is also an iridescent maze blocking it off, and it is even more thorough. Even the Rainbow Flame Spider tribe's merchant teams cannot pass through. No one can say for sure what is on the other side of the maze.

Sea棠 Butterfly King asked, "Mountain Lord Banbu, I heard from a merchant team that you can freely enter and exit the iridescent maze?"

So it wasn't just about the mutated Ma bamboo. No wonder they kept urging me.

Banbu's mind turned slightly, understanding what they wanted to do, and asked in return, "The merchant team should have mentioned the compass, right? Have you tried it?"

The Crimson Crow Ghost King said, "We tried it, but it doesn't work. When entering the iridescent maze, the needle direction keeps changing. The mountains rise and fall, and the strange rocks are rugged. The method of laying a walkway with spider silk also doesn't work."

Banbu asked, "Crimson Crow Ghost King, do you have any relevant information? What is on the other side of the iridescent maze? Is it similar to the Myriad Race Continent? If it is similar to the Myriad Kingdom Continent and ruled by ant races, that would be difficult. Or is it ruled by beast races, that would be even more dangerous."

"There is no relevant information," the Crimson Crow Ghost King said. "However, it is said that long ago, dragon bamboo lived in the Southwest Region. I guess that there should also be dragon bamboo on the other side of the iridescent maze. If we are lucky, there may still be survivors."

"No matter what race is on the other side, they will definitely not refuse Origin Stones, let alone Origin Force food. As long as they are willing to pay enough, there is nothing that cannot be solved. Give them enough benefits, promise enough benefits, and neither ants nor beasts can refuse. They will definitely be willing to help search. If we are lucky, we may not need to search, and we can buy it directly."

The Crimson Crow Ghost King paused, then continued, "In recent centuries, I have entrusted hundreds of merchant teams, large and small, to help inquire. Their footprints have spread throughout the Myriad Race Continent and the Myriad Kingdom Continent, but they have not found it, which means that the inherited memories are correct. Dragon bamboo has become extinct from the continent we live on."

The Crimson Crow Ghost King pointed to the iridescent maze, and said, "We can only pin our hopes on the other side."

The Crimson Crow Ghost King wanted to cross the iridescent maze and enter the opposite continent to find dragon bamboo.

Very ambitious.

According to inherited memories, dragon bamboo should be the only bamboo species that can be hybridized with Ma bamboo.

In inherited memories, the largest bamboo species in the past and the largest existing bamboo species are hybridized. Once successful, the harvest should be a super giant bamboo that surpasses dragon bamboo and Ma bamboo. If we are lucky, we will harvest a God-given seed…

One bamboo tree forms a bamboo forest. After advancing to County Lord or Roach King, the number of bamboo poles may reach thousands. The height of each bamboo pole should exceed 80 meters, taller than ordinary trees. How vast would that be?

I'm afraid it would take half of the Li Bamboo Peak to accommodate such a super-large God-given seed, right?

Even without a God-given seed, the ordinary hybrid bamboo species of dragon bamboo and Ma bamboo is definitely a top-level tree species that is not inferior to any tree.

The Crimson Crow Ghost King asked, "Mountain Lord Banbu, you also like bamboo, so you must be like me, dreaming of the legendary dragon bamboo, and regarding it as the highest pursuit in your life, right?"

"If there is an opportunity, I would of course be willing to try," Banbu said. "But there are too many unknown dangers in this matter. The Crimson Roach tribe is a small tribe attached to the Flame Roach Kingdom. The Li Bamboo Peak, from top to bottom, relies on me to survive…"

Banbu shook its antennae, and said, "Crimson Crow Ghost King, I cannot easily take risks."

"Mountain Lord Banbu, don't worry, of course I won't let you take risks easily," the Crimson Crow Ghost King said. "You only need to lead the way and take us smoothly through the iridescent maze. The greatest danger is nothing more than the unknown races living on the opposite continent. I will organize a group of elite warriors, and Sea棠 Butterfly King and I will personally go there. We should be able to cope with general dangers, right?"

"You personally take the risk…" Banbu thought for a while, and said, "Then I can try to probe the edge first. Crossing the iridescent maze is not that simple, and I need to understand the specific situation."

"I will arrange for warriors to escort you there. If you need anything, just ask," the Crimson Crow Ghost King paused, and said briefly, "Regardless of the success or failure of this matter, I will share the Ma bamboo that blooms and bears fruit every year with Li Bamboo Peak free of charge. If we successfully find dragon bamboo, you will also get a share of the bamboo seeds."

"However, we must also make an agreement that the cultivated bamboo species cannot be sold to the outside world, and at the same time, as a symbolic plant of the Ghost-faced Katydid and Crimson Roach tribes, it can only be used within the tribe."

"Our Ghost-faced Katydid tribe only cultivates bamboo species in the bamboo sea of Crimson Crow Mountain, and you are the same, you can only cultivate them in the bamboo sea of Li Bamboo Peak."

"Understood," Banbu nodded its antennae, and said, "This is beneficial to everyone."

Banbu shook its antennae again, and said, "Dragon bamboo became extinct during a cold disaster. According to my speculation, there should have been a problem with the sun in the sky, affecting all continents… I'm afraid it won't be that easy to find."

"The sun?" The Crimson Crow Ghost King raised its head, looked at the sky, and said, "Regardless of whether there are any survivors, how can I be willing to give up without trying?"