Astral Cockroach

The Red Oak Tree God-given seed was of such high quality that after Banbu consumed two-thirds of it, just one day of growth was equivalent to nearly 20 days of growth from ordinary Origin Power food.

Traveling to the bamboo forest of the Sheep Hoof Mountains with Hei Sang, this burden, would take at least 5 days for the round trip.

Adding the time spent searching for bamboo seeds, it would take at least half a month to return.

Upon returning, Banbu would almost be ready to enter the next molting evolution, advancing to a level 4 intermediate warrior.

Banbu postponed the departure by two days to go to the swamp and absorb the unowned mental power emanating from the metal core.

During the trip to the Sheep Hoof Mountains to find bamboo seeds, he could slowly digest and assimilate this mental power.

…

Like preparing for a trip: Banbu packed important items into a spider silk bag and sent it to Iron Saber Peak, asking Cliff Cypress for safekeeping.

Banbu, Li Zhu, and Hei Sang each carried a snakeskin bag and flew east from Iron Saber Peak along the mountain range.

The snakeskin bags contained Origin Power food. Banbu brought 300 Cliff Cypress seeds, eating 15 each day, enough for 20 days, ensuring that the search for bamboo seeds wouldn't delay his growth.

…

The Iron Saber Mountain Range ends at a vast plain forest.

Li Zhu led the way, changing the flight direction to southeast, and it took a full day to cross the plain forest and reach a mountain range – the Banyan Water Mountain Range.

In fact, the Brocade Screen Mountain Range extends southeast, eventually running parallel to the Brocade River. The swampy plains east of the Brocade Screen Mountain Range belong to the Banyan Water Mountain Range territory.

The Brocade River doesn't flow in a straight line; it bends again in the Banyan Water Mountain Range territory, turning southeast. If you follow the Brocade River southeast, you'll pass through the Banyan Water Mountain Range territory and enter the Sheep Hoof Mountains.

Banbu and his group departed from Iron Saber Peak, taking a different route and slightly detouring.

Dusk.

They landed on the ridge of the Banyan Water Mountain Range.

Banbu and Hei Sang rested.

Li Zhu went into the jungle to hunt.

He quickly returned, eating while discussing the route.

"Li Zhu, shall we fly along the Banyan Water Mountain Range?"

Hei Sang asked.

Li Zhu replied, "It's best not to. If we encounter fellow warriors living in the mountains, we'll have to stop and be guests, delaying our journey."

Hei Sang said, "Isn't it good to visit elder relatives along the way? Banbu and I are still intermediate warriors; we should be able to get some gifts."

Li Zhu slapped Hei Sang's head hard with his antennae and said, "We're out here to find bamboo seeds, not to beg for gifts."

"Hei Sang, you're already an intermediate warrior. You need to learn to survive independently and consider the development of your own territory, not always thinking about freeloading in the territory of your elders."

"My territory is developing quite well!" Hei Sang retorted indignantly.

Li Zhu asked, "Banbu hasn't even said that its territory is developing well enough. What right do you have to say that?"

Hei Sang said angrily, "Banbu is different; it's blessed by the God of Nature."

Li Zhu shook his antennae and said to Banbu, "Eat your fill, rest, and set off late at night. We'll travel by night, continue south, and finally fly along the Brocade River. Banbu, what do you think?"

Banbu asked, "I heard that the Brocade River near the Banyan Water Mountain Range has many swamps, with large beasts like the Rainbow Python and Bridge Crocodile. Is it safe?"

Li Zhu said, "Red Banyan Mountain Lord just dealt with it; it's very safe."

Banbu said, "Then let's travel along the Brocade River."

…

Flying high in the sky, the Brocade River was faintly visible.

Below were black swampy depressions.

It was indeed very safe.

Originally, a large number of reeds grew there, but they had been burned away by a large fire.

Li Zhu explained that the territory under the jurisdiction of the Banyan Water Mountain Range was mostly swampy, with tall, dense reeds and scattered puddles and pools, making it an excellent terrain for Rainbow Pythons to hide.

In the Banyan Water Mountain Range, Rainbow Pythons were rampant.

The Rainbow Python is a super-sized giant python, an amphibious overlord-level beast, and the top predator in the ordinary food chain. Once an ordinary Rainbow Python transforms into a Rainbow Python warrior, it immediately possesses combat power equivalent to that of a seventh-instar advanced warrior of the Red Roach Tribe.

Every autumn, the Red Banyan Mountain Lord of the Banyan Water Mountain Range would set a fire to burn the reed marshes, and then organize the mountain range warriors to carry out a large-scale hunting operation against the Rainbow Pythons.

After the reeds are burned once, they will grow more luxuriantly the following year.

The Rainbow Pythons have low intelligence. The clever ones, sensing danger, would cross the Brocade River every autumn and winter and run to the territory of the Black and White Roach Tribe on the opposite bank to survive.

The Red Banyan Mountain Lord's method was effective, but ultimately unable to eradicate the Rainbow Pythons within the territory.

The swamp was vast and endless.

The blackness of the swamp intertwined and mixed with the blackness of the night sky.

Immersed in endless darkness.

Only a few faint stars pointed the direction.

Flying for most of the night, and then for a whole day, the Brocade River suddenly made a sharp turn south, finally entering the Sheep Hoof Mountains.

Last time, the warriors of the Sheep Hoof Mountains had come to the Brocade Screen Mountain Range to help search for the "Black Bear Warrior." Li Zhu had given advance notice and obtained consent, so this time they didn't need to visit the mountain range and waste time, flying straight towards the bamboo forest.

The hills undulated, stretching endlessly.

Beyond the hills was a vast plain, lush green, with sparsely scattered mountains, layered peaks, and occasionally solitary peaks standing proudly, verdant and lush.

Boundless and limitless, all bamboo – this was the bamboo forest!

Drizzling rain.

Bitterly cold wind.

Li Zhu led Banbu and Hei Sang to land at the foot of a solitary peak. After searching, they found a naturally formed cave and crawled inside.

The three insects were battered by the cold wind and drizzle.

Based on experience, once this kind of rain started in the dead of winter, it would last for four or five days at the shortest, and ten days or half a month at the longest.

Very bad!

"Damn weather!"

Li Zhu complained, throwing a snakeskin bag back to Hei Sang.

Hei Sang caught it, opened it, closed it again, and said, "Li Zhu, I'm hungry."

Li Zhu's mood was as bad as the weather, and he scolded, "Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eat. Sometimes you're tired, sometimes you're hungry, Hei Sang, I shouldn't have brought you along."

"But I'm already here." Hei Sang protected his head with his two forelegs and shouted confidently, "Li Zhu, I'm hungry!"

Hei Sang had a thick face and wasn't afraid of scolding.

And he couldn't really teach him a lesson.

With his forelegs protecting his head, Li Zhu couldn't do anything about it.

"Forget it, Banbu, you must be hungry too, right? I'll go find something to eat nearby and bring it back."

Banbu said, "Li Zhu, I see you carrying two bags all the way, which is quite strenuous. I'll take care of hunting; it's a small matter."

Hei Sang was really too weak. You couldn't tell usually, but when it came to a real long trek, the gap between him and Banbu was exposed. In order not to delay the journey, Li Zhu helped him carry the snakeskin bag. The bag wasn't heavy, but mainly because they were flying east against the north wind, and the bag was buffeted by the wind, making it difficult to carry.

Before Li Zhu could open his mouth, Hei Sang抢着 shouted, "Banbu, I'll go with you."

Banbu thought for a moment and said, "Then come along, but you must stay by my side and not run around."

Hei Sang agreed without hesitation, "I'll listen to you."

Li Zhu reluctantly agreed and instructed, "Banbu, just search near the solitary peak. There are many snakes and rats in the bamboo forest. Find a burrow and dig it open; there will be something to eat."

Banbu agreed, "Understood."

"Banbu, let's go." Hei Sang was actually half-dead from exhaustion, but hearing about finding food, he immediately perked up, waving his antennae and running out of the cave while muttering, "To think he's an advanced warrior, almost dying from carrying two snakeskin bags, haha…"