Chapter 11: In Development…
The insect nest was successfully established, and its location was fairly good. Within a 60-meter radius around the nest was an open area, reserved as a development zone. Only when the nest expanded to a certain extent would Su Xiao consider continuing to clear the trees.
For now, the surrounding trees served as natural shelters. It could be said that many local forces could destroy this insect nest at present. Other insect races posed little threat in the early stages. According to Baha’s observations, within a 20-kilometer radius, there were only a few small to medium-sized insect nests, all busy strengthening themselves and unlikely to invade easily.
The real threat came from the totem tribes that might appear in the nearby area. Most totem tribes obtained food through hunting. Based on Su Xiao’s understanding, among the five large tribes, only one relied on farming for part of its food supply. They were skilled with fire. The tens of thousands of primitive humans he had encountered earlier were members of that tribe.
There were five major totem tribes: besides the fire-using 'Sun Tribe,' there was the poison-using 'Ya Wa Tribe,' the curse-specializing 'Gao Zhuo Tribe,' the sacrifice-proficient 'Nie Mo You Tribe,' and the most brutal 'Ha Sa Luo Tribe,' which possessed a natural talent ability called Predation.
The Ya Wa Tribe (Poison) was a relatively conservative tribe; they rarely left the rainforest they inhabited.
The Gao Zhuo Tribe (Witchcraft) was a group of primitive zealots. If they hadn't received guidance from their 'gods,' they were manageable, but once they obtained some 'omen' or 'sign,' they became an utterly insane group of primitives.
The Sun Tribe (Fire) was relatively friendly, skilled in farming and metal smelting. The other four tribes would trade for metal weapons with them. They advocated that all things walk equally on the ground, with only the sun being noble. As for the night, they generally dared not go out unless provoked.
The Nie Mo You Tribe (Sacrifice) had the smallest population. They often summoned evil gods and had worshipped dozens of deities so far.
As for the last tribe, the Ha Sa Luo Tribe (Predation), to them, all living things except their own kind were food. Thus, this tribe was filled with bloodshed and slaughter. They had the strongest physiques and combat power. After devouring a certain creature, they could gain some of its abilities, though with many restrictions. For example, they could only possess one ability at a time, and the next predation would replace the previous one. Although many abilities were beyond their reach, this talent was already extremely abnormal, and their combat strength was predictable.
Su Xiao chose to establish the insect nest closest to the Sun Tribe, with the Ha Sa Luo Tribe (Predation) farther away, followed by the Ya Wa (Poison). As for the Gao Zhuo (Witchcraft) and Nie Mo You (Sacrifice), they were very far from the nest and posed little threat.
Although the Sun Tribe wasn't exactly friendly, compared to the other four totem tribes, they were the most peaceful. As long as one didn't enter their territory, the likelihood of conflict was low.
Currently, both the insect nest and Jila were at the first rank. As Jila evolved, the nest could also evolve; the two were interdependent.
The nest devoured animal flesh to gain bio-energy, while cultivating combat insects consumed bio-energy. When the nest's stored bio-energy reached the 2000-point cap, Jila could advance.
Whether to mass-produce combat insects or prioritize Jila's rank advancement depended on the situation. Relying solely on Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha for hunting yielded limited prey. Their combat power was indeed far stronger than low-level combat insects, but as development progressed, their catch would be a drop in the bucket. The insect army would still be needed for hunting.
At present, the nest was destitute, and Jila herself had only 20 bio-energy points left, which she needed to sustain herself. Therefore, startup capital was urgent.
While waiting for the nest to be established, Su Xiao had used the Apostle's Eye to scout the forest. This forest covered about 90,000 square kilometers, an area similar to a small province or city. For early development, this forest was sufficient.
Su Xiao drew a rough map on the ground, with Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha crouching around it.
"Bubu, you're responsible for this small area. Once this area is hunted clean, push eastward. Amu, Baha, you're responsible for this area, then push southward."
Su Xiao assigned Bubu Wang to a team alone; this guy was clever. Amu and Baha formed another team. Amu wasn't great at adapting, but with Baha, that chatterbox full of nonsense, there was no problem. This guy was also very sharp.
"Leave it to us. But I suggest that in the mid-stage, we cultivate more combat insects. Just the three of us will break our legs and still get limited prey."
Baha clearly had a bird's-eye view of military prospects.
"That's right, but we can't waste bio-energy in the early stage."
"Understood."
Baha flew onto Amu's shoulder and soon disappeared into the forest. Bubu Wang also went hunting.
The heavy rain gradually thinned, and the clouds in the sky parted slightly. A golden-red setting sun shone from the horizon.
Su Xiao suddenly realized he had nothing to do. With nothing else to occupy him, he tried to control a Mantis Armor using his mental power. He was Jila's summoner, and Jila had absolute control over the Mantis Armor.
As soon as Su Xiao gave the command, a Mantis Armor ran to him. Control was successful, but he also discovered that he could only control a limited number of insects, at most a few dozen at once.
Everyone has their specialty. In controlling insects, it was better to go through Jila. If she evolved to the third stage, reaching the level of an Insect Queen, she could simultaneously control tens of thousands of insects.
Su Xiao gave a Mantis Armor a standby order. The first batch of prey hadn't arrived yet, so this Mantis Armor could only serve as a stool.
Taking out a tablet, Su Xiao sat on the Mantis Armor's back and immersed himself in a game. As for Jila, she was a super homebody, refusing to come out of the nest. Her original words were, "This is the mother's responsibility."
On Su Xiao's side, the forest breeze gently brushed, and the warm sunset shone down. But dozens of kilometers away, in the Sun Tribe, it was a different scene.
On a barren Gobi desert, strong winds howled. Even though it was already five in the afternoon, it still felt scorching hot.
"Burn."
With a boom, flames surged, and several armored, claw-waving insects were burned to ashes.
The outer armor on Yake Luo's torso popped open. Due to the high temperature inside his body, white steam rose around him.
"That should be enough."
Yake Luo looked at the tall totem in the distance. As an outsider, if he wanted to enter the Sun Tribe, he had to pass a trial.
Meanwhile, at the Ha Sa Luo Tribe (Predation).
Bonfires blazed. A group of primitive humans, wearing bone-stick garments and necklaces of teeth, danced around the fire.
"Ba na la!"
A primitive human came to the fire, holding half a skull filled with dark red plasma.
This primitive human was at least three meters tall. He was covered in thick flesh, his body both bloated and strong—a perfect combination of fat and muscle.
The primitive human grabbed a handful of charcoal ash and sprinkled it into the plasma in the skull. He then brought the skull to a woman. She faced the bonfire, and in the firelight, her features were somewhat unclear.
"Friend, drink."
The burly primitive human's hand reached forward, rough and unyielding.
The woman took the half-skull and drank the plasma in one gulp. She felt as if fire was burning in her stomach.
"Ba na la (Friend)!"
The burly primitive human smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. His face, full of thick flesh, was fierce.
"Ba na la (Friend)."
The woman smiled and nodded. Her originally white teeth were stained red by the plasma. The smell of blood in her mouth made her eyes gleam red. Clearly, this was a ruthless killer. As the leader of the Reincarnation Paradise side, the leader of the Symbiosis Alliance, Twilight, this was to be expected.
The hundreds of primitive humans by the bonfire cheered. They had a new member joining today.
The Death Paradise side, in order to join the Sun Tribe, was locked in a death struggle with a medium-sized insect race. The Holy Light Paradise side had chosen to join the Ya Wa Tribe (Poison) and was also undergoing trials.
The Reincarnation Paradise group had set their sights on the Ha Sa Luo Tribe (Predation), and some contractors had already successfully joined.
As for the Apocalypse Paradise side, they were very busy now. Over 80% of their contractors were sweating over a mine.
Other contractors were either busy fighting or undergoing trials, all bustling with activity. As for Su Xiao in the jungle, he was sitting cross-legged on a Mantis Armor's back, immersed in a game. He wouldn't show himself easily, but when he did, it meant trouble for the Three-Paradise Alliance.