The conversation between the Mountain Lord of Iron Knife and Fáncù Bān Máo left Bambu feeling perplexed. It seemed he was to be dispatched to the treacherous Jinping Mountains.

Having overheard the casual conversation between Fáncù Bān Máo and Pútáo, Bambu had a vague understanding of the Jinping Mountains. They lay south of the Iron Knife Mountains, visible from afar atop the peaks. Rumor had it that the Jinping Mountains once had a mountain lord and many senior warriors reigning supreme until an unfortunate incident wiped them all out.

Ordinary cockroaches were prolific breeders, with each tribe sheltering hundreds of thousands, even millions of ordinary cockroaches within their territories. However, the likelihood of ordinary cockroaches transforming into junior warriors was extremely low. Considering the current scale of development in the Iron Knife Mountains, it took an average of about five years to produce a junior warrior.

Bambu's emergence was somewhat exceptional. He was born four years after Pútáo, marking a significant gap between their births.

The Red Cockroach Tribe controlled vast territories but constantly faced the grim problem of scarce tribesmen, unable to fully control their territories.

This planet was imbued with abundant primal energy, enabling cockroaches to evolve into primal energy beings. Other insects could do the same, and creatures of all sizes were no exception.

Particularly those larger creatures, individuals with robust physiques could easily evolve into beast warriors. Once becoming beast warriors, they quickly gained combat prowess comparable to advanced cockroach warriors.

Beast warriors lacked life seeds and couldn't cultivate life seeds, making them reliant on predatory tactics for growth. They often launched attacks on cockroach territories.

Beast and insect were natural enemies. Clever beasts, realizing they couldn't defeat cockroach warriors, resorted to ambushes to destroy life seed plants.

The growth of cockroach warriors was heavily reliant on life seeds. Losing these plants meant losing the prospect of further evolution.

To prevent such accidents, the Mountain Lord of Iron Knife organized a monthly hunting event. All warriors from the mountains participated, clearing and hunting down large animals in the jungle.

The large skeletons seen by Bambu in Pútáo's territory were the spoils of these hunting expeditions.

...

Extending southward from the Iron Knife Mountains to the Jinping Mountains, the vast forest belonged to the Iron Knife Mountains. The Red Cockroach Tribe warriors residing in these mountains freely hunted and managed the forests.

What dangers lurked in the prey territories governed by the Jinping Mountains? What caused the mountain lord and many warriors to be wiped out?

Bambu wasn't clear on this yet.

However, although the Mountain Lord of Iron Knife didn't explicitly say it, Bambu could tell it didn't fancy his black carapace.

All the talk about "a carapace color and abilities similar to the Black and White Cockroach Tribe, possessing a Seed of Divine Bestowal, well-developed forelimbs, naturally adept at combat..." was just an excuse. The main reason was that it found Bambu unattractive.

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And with the Jinping Mountains urgently needing warriors, the Mountain Lord of Iron Knife, seizing the opportunity, swiftly arranged for Bambu to be sent out.

Intelligent beings have likes and dislikes. Sending an undesirable member to a dangerous place meant that if something happened, there would be no need for sadness.

...

Black Mulberry, standing beside Bambu, nudged him with his antennae, conveying a comforting emotion sneakily.

Bambu was annoyed. This guy was getting a free ride and acting like he cared. If Bambu hadn't shown up out of nowhere, it would've been Black Mulberry being forced to go to the Jinping Mountains for sure.

Fáncù Bān Máo was angry but also helpless.

The Mountain Lord of Iron Knife was the highest-ranking elder in the entire mountain range. It was necessary to follow its arrangements and not disobey.

A huge cockroach lazily flew to the peak, circling before landing next to Fáncù Bān Máo.

It was Mayu.

Mayu was born in the territory of the Mountain Lord of Iron Knife, Fáncù Bān Máo in Mayu's territory, and Bambu in Fáncù Bān Máo's territory, making the hierarchy crystal clear.

Concerned about Bambu's future, Mayu and Fáncù Bān Máo were naturally the most concerned and also had the most say.

Mayu asked, "Mountain Lord of Iron Knife, did you have something important to discuss with me?"

Fáncù Bān Máo interjected, "The Mountain Lord of Iron Knife intends to send Bambu to the Jinping Mountains."

Mayu pondered for two seconds and said, "It's a reasonable arrangement. To the south of the Jinping Mountains is the Jin River, and further south is the territory of the Flower Cockroach Kingdom. Bambu's carapace color would make it easier to communicate with the Black and White Flower Cockroach Tribe. When Jinshui Mountain Lord was in charge of the Jinping Mountains, there were many conflicts with the Black and White Flower Cockroach Tribe. With Bambu going over, the situation should improve."

The Mountain Lord of Iron Knife added, "Exactly as I think."

Fáncù Bān Máo angrily exclaimed, "The Jinping Mountains are very dangerous! Mayu, do you want to see the tragedy that happened to you repeated on Bambu?"

Mayu responded, "We can concentrate our forces to conduct a large-scale cleanup around the Lijian Peak in the Jinping Mountains, minimizing the imminent danger."

The Mountain Lord of Iron Knife said, "That's right. A cleanup is needed. Last month, the Black and White Flower Cockroach Tribe suffered an attack by a Cloud Leopard warrior, suffering significant losses. Over the past two years, with a lack of warrior control in the Jinping Mountains, various beasts have been breeding rampantly. If left unchecked, it won't be long before our Iron Knife Mountains will no longer be at peace."

Mayu sighed, "An irrefutable request."

The Mountain Lord of Iron Knife continued, "Fáncù Bān Máo is still a child who doesn't understand much. Mayu, you've traveled across the continent and are one of the few wise ones in the Iron Knife Mountains. I hope you can personally teach Bambu about hunting and farming."

"I will," Mayu then turned to Fáncù Bān Máo and said, "Take Bambu to visit the other elders of the mountain range. Don't be reckless. Come to my territory tomorrow."

"Okay," Fáncù Bān Máo replied dejectedly. Then he said to Bambu, "Let's go, Bambu. I'll take you to visit the other elders of Iron Knife Peak."

...

The four senior warriors living on Iron Knife Peak were named "Cliff Cypress," "Yun Peach," "Gourd Persimmon," and "Lizhu." Each managed their territory prosperously, no less than Pútáo.

Beyond Iron Knife Peak, there were thirteen other elder warriors of the same tribe, all of them high-ranking warriors.

In total, the Iron Knife Mountains were ruled by one mountain lord and

twenty-one high-ranking warriors.

Black Mulberry could grow into a high-ranking warrior in two or three years. But by then, Mayu would probably be dead.

Apart from Mayu, there were several other aging high-ranking warriors in the mountains. It could be predicted that there wouldn't be any major changes in the number of high-ranking warriors in the Iron Knife Mountains in the short term.

Bambu wasn't particularly interested in the rise and fall of the Iron Knife Mountains. He was more concerned about how dangerous the Jinping Mountains really were, worrying about his own future.

Of course, there were also happy things. The many gifts from the elders filled his snake skin bag to the brim. There was too much stuff for Bambu to carry, so Pútáo took over the duty for him.

Pútáo wasn't in the mood for any joy. After visiting all the elders, he hurried to Mayu's territory.