During their conversation, Pútáo revealed that Seeds of Divine Bestowal didn't necessarily require the favor of the gods. Many tribal warriors spent a considerable amount of time and effort searching their territories during the autumn season, and there were indeed many examples of lucky finds.

As advanced warriors, both Bambu and Fáncù Bān Máo, being no more than 5 years old, still immature in mind, upon hearing this news, couldn't sit still. Fáncù Bān Máo promptly left Bambu in Pútáo's care and hurried back to his own territory, eager to try his luck.

Pútáo himself had been a "hot-blooded youth" once, wandering the mountains every autumn in search of Seeds of Divine Bestowal. Unfortunately, years of fruitless searching led him to abandon the endeavor. Now, seeing little Bambu, the fortunate finder of a Seed of Divine Bestowal, reignited his cooled enthusiasm. He would venture out at dawn each day, returning only at dusk to bring food to Bambu and rest briefly.

Bambu, content with his lot, spent most of his time resting and exercising, accepting whatever came his way. But amidst the comfortable and leisurely days, signs of evolution began to show.

Informing Pútáo, Bambu crawled into his nest and fell into slumber.

...

As a Level 5 junior warrior, 30 units in body length, the White Jade Mulberry life seed's incubation was complete. Bambu carefully selected a juniper seed as his fifth life seed.

Pútáo and Fáncù Bān Máo tirelessly searched the jungle for Seeds of Divine Bestowal. It was said that news of their discovery had spurred warriors from the entire mountain range of the Chi Ruan tribe, igniting a treasure-hunting frenzy.

One early morning, Fáncù Bān Máo arrived unexpectedly.

"Bambu, Mountain Lord Tie Dao wants me to take you to see him. We should leave now."

"Okay."

Bambu nodded his antennae.

The previous talk of visiting Mountain Lord Tie Dao had been a ploy by Fáncù Bān Máo, but this time, the visit seemed genuine.

They departed immediately.

After leaping over a dozen peaks, Fáncù Bān Máo landed once again.

"Bambu, this is Ma Yu's territory."

"I come from Ma Yu's territory. Ma Yu is my elder. You come from my territory, so I am your elder. Therefore, Ma Yu is your elder's elder. You should show respect to him. Understand?"

Flawless logic.

"Understood."

Bambu felt a bit speechless, surveying the surroundings with curiosity. The flat ground in front of the nest entrance was overgrown with various weeds, giving off a desolate and barren feeling. On the mountain, there were only five life seeds, growing rather unhealthily.

Sensing movement, a tribal warrior about 400 units in length crawled out of the nest. The color of its shell was dull, and its movements were slightly sluggish, exuding an aura of aging and decline.

"Fáncù Bān Máo, you finally bothered to come see me."

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"Is this the little fellow from your territory with the Seed of Divine Bestowal? A sturdy little one with a black shell, excellent for stealth, and equipped with front limbs adept at hunting. Truly a favored child of the True God. You will become the tribe's finest warrior!"

Even in Ma Yu's mental voice, there was a hint of senility.

Roaches had keen perceptions, and Bambu could sense a cold aura of death lingering around Ma Yu, making him uncomfortable.

Fáncù Bān Máo replied, "I've been busy lately."

"Busy looking for Seeds of Divine Bestowal? When I was young, I was as enthusiastic as you all, but experience has shown that the True God only favors a very few lucky ones."

"I will be one of those lucky few."

"Heh heh." Ma Yu ended the conversation with a laugh, looking at Bambu. "Ha ha, little one, just visited Pútáo, didn't you? Seems like you've had a good harvest."

Bambu held up a snake-skin pouch containing many juniper seeds.

"Pútáo is the most generous warrior in our Iron Knife Mountain Range."

"That's because his life seeds grow well, producing an abundance of primal energy food every year."

Ma Yu extended a limb, pointing to his own life seed plants. "Little one, those are my juniper life seeds. The fruits are ripe, so go ahead and pick them yourself. Better fill your little pouch to the brim."

Juniper seeds didn't fall off immediately when ripe. Instead, they hung on the tree, drying naturally after exposure to wind and sun, before falling off on their own.

"Thank you!"

Bambu was overjoyed.

Elders of elders were indeed different, treating him just like family and even letting him pick fruits. It was more generous than Pútáo.

Bambu carried the "little pouch," which was actually a giant snake's body, hollowed out and dried to make a snake-skin pouch. It was truly fitting for the occasion.

As they prepared to leave, the generous Ma Yu once again gifted Bambu 20 more juniper seeds as a farewell gift, adding to the 17 he hadn't finished eating earlier. In total, he now had 37 juniper seeds, barely filling the pouch.

Bambu's plan was to visit all the elders of the Iron Knife Mountain Range with Fáncù Bān Máo, with modest requests—just to fill his snake-skin pouch with various gifts.

Was his goal about to be achieved with Ma Yu?

Bambu didn't mince words, immediately trotting towards the juniper tree with his pouch.

"Bambu, stop!" Fáncù Bān Máo suddenly shouted, "It's getting late. We can't keep Mountain Lord Tie Dao waiting. We should leave now."

Bambu turned back, sending a message of confusion: Weren't you the one who brought me here to freeload?

Fáncù Bān Máo spread his wings, urging, "Come on, get up here. We need to leave."

Ma Yu interjected, "No rush. You can rest here for a day, and we'll leave tomorrow morning. I don't think Mountain Lord Tie Dao will blame you for it."

"We'll visit Mountain Lord Tie Dao first, and when we return, we'll rest here for two days," Fáncù Bān Máo replied.

Ma Yu was displeased. "Fáncù Bān Máo, you're getting more slippery by the day. You don't like staying with this old dying guy anymore. You hate me."

"No, how could that be? We'll definitely come to see you after visiting Mountain Lord Tie Dao. I'll come to chat with you."

Fáncù Bān Máo flapped his wings, somewhat anxiously urging, "Bambu, come up quickly."

Reluctantly, Bambu lifted his snake-skin pouch and

flew behind Fáncù Bān Máo, bidding Ma Yu farewell with a mental wave: "Goodbye!"

Ma Yu was suddenly delighted. "Ha ha, clever little one, learning to use mental communication. Fáncù Bān Máo, I'm proud of you."

Fáncù Bān Máo's mood was low, saying with a thick sense of sadness, "Bambu, do you feel it? Ma Yu is getting old."

"Yeah."

Bambu absentmindedly replied, pondering why Ma Yu only had a meager five life seed plants.

Fáncù Bān Máo continued, "When Ma Yu was young, something unfortunate happened. A wolf warrior intruded into his territory, attempting to plunder his primal energy food. They fought, and though Mountain Lord Tie Dao arrived in time and killed the wolf warrior, unfortunately, almost all of Ma Yu's life seed plants were destroyed during the battle."

"Without his life seeds, his strength has remained stagnant at the level of a Level 3 advanced warrior... unable to continue growing, only aging day by day..."

Fáncù Bān Máo choked up as he spoke.

"I used to love visiting Ma Yu's territory when I was young because every time, he would give me all the primal energy food he harvested. Later, Mountain Lord Tie Dao told me that Ma Yu doesn't have long left, relying solely on the primal energy food produced by his remaining five life seeds to prolong his life. If I eat his food, he will age... and die..."

No wonder Fáncù Bān Máo was anxious to leave.

Hearing the reason, Bambu also felt an inexplicable discomfort.