Chapter 223

Chapter 223

Bai Xiaoyu watched as the two tendrils moved nimbly. The Zerg Prince was indeed digging with impressive efficiency, a speed unmatched by others.

They were now as black as the Big Black Egg.

The two tendrils also realized that Bai Xiaoyu's attention had shifted to them, and they worked even harder. In less than a minute, all the black minerals around were broken into pieces. The tendrils darted out, letting out a hiss, and almost immediately, a large number of eight-legged brown bugs scurried in, forming a line to carry the pieces of black minerals and opening the wormhole entrances to quickly move them inside.

It turned out that several wormhole entrances had been built here without anyone noticing. No wonder he hadn't discovered them before.

The eight-legged brown bugs moved back and forth swiftly, and the tendrils twisted. The usual black dots at their tips were now hidden by the darkness.

After a few breaths, the blackness faded from their bodies, and the tendrils returned to their original deep blue. This was because the tiny hair-like small tendrils surrounding them were the main force cutting the black minerals, and the main body could avoid getting stained. The divided tendrils were less efficient, but they simply removed the blackness after finishing the work in a few seconds.

Bai Xiaoyu's mental energy threads prodded the tendrils' mental energy antennae, "Take it easy. We have enough for now."

According to Tao Limeng's data, the stored black minerals would last at least six months, provided they built the production line quickly.

Bai Xiaoyu planned to arrange for the construction crew, originally formed by the parents involved in infrastructure, to build the energy box production base before Tao Limeng manufactured the large energy converter.

As for the construction crew's equipment, since the construction didn't require too much precision, there was no need to trouble Tao Limeng's team. He had already made purchases on the star network, had them delivered to the outskirts of the asteroid belt, and transported them in. These supplies were readily available in the star system, with nearby planets delivering within two days. Recently, a lot of equipment had already arrived.

The first parent who was helped by Bai Xiaoyu to evade the Royal Guard, Cao Xing, later revealed that he had once been the minister of construction on his home planet. Now entrusted with an important task, he had taken over the construction mission of the F73 planet from the garrison warriors.

For the construction of the production base, they turned to Cao Xing, who had the necessary experience. Their planet used to have an energy box production base, which was somewhat famous. However, it produced red mineral energy boxes with decent purity.

However, he later chose to prioritize his family over his career. Now, on this planet, he had the opportunity to resume it, and the main production was the most popular black mineral energy boxes in the star system. He was immediately full of enthusiasm, and the main funding for the reconstruction of F73 would come from these black mineral energy boxes.

After arranging this, Bai Xiaoyu's attention returned to the two tendrils. After indicating that the amount of black minerals was temporarily sufficient, the tendrils darted out of the cave, looking at the pile of minerals that would take several days to transport.

By now, the team of cubs had become quite well-coordinated, especially after the second transformation. Eight-year-old human-bug cubs were not as developed as the bug cubs that had completed their second transformation. In their human-bug form, they were the size of an ordinary eight-year-old, while the bug cubs doubled in size. They had been three times the size of some cubs before, and now, after the second transformation, the gap with the bug cubs was even more significant.

Faced with stronger opponents, the cubs fought only when they could win, retreating when necessary. Now, with the strategy of fighting when they could win and running when they couldn't, plus a friend guarding them, they were mostly unscathed.

Watching the human-bug cubs' strength gradually increase, the two thick tendrils slightly twitched their front ends.

This strength barely kept them from losing face.

The two tendrils glanced at the human-bug cubs fighting the bug cubs and then darted off in a certain direction.

They wouldn't interfere here for now. Since they didn't need to mine for the time being, they might as well check out the surrounding planets. After all, these planets might need to be conquered in the future, so they needed to patrol in advance.

Bai Xiaoyu saw the two tendrils casually choose a nearby wormhole and dart in. It took them half a minute longer than before to reach the relatively distant planet.

At this point, Bai Xiaoyu was a bit worried and communicated with the two tendrils using his mental energy threads, "If you come over now and a higher-level Bug appears, what if they detect you?"

Although the two tendrils had re-soaked in isolation potions before coming, unless they deliberately exposed their presence, they generally wouldn't be discovered. But encountering higher-level bugs was still a concern. If they met a high-level leader or even a prince, the consequences would be dire.

The memory of the overwhelming bug prince was still vivid, a powerful existence that the current Little Prince and Little Bai couldn't afford to provoke.

The two tendrils paused for a moment, and soon one of them flipped the black dot at the front, while the other twisted and replied, "White Papa, this is also the most peripheral planet. Unless there's a war here, higher-level bugs won't appear. Don't worry, we can sense whether there are high-level bugs from far away."

Bai Xiaoyu felt relieved and was busy contacting the parents of the current batch of eggs, as they were about to hatch in two days. The distant parents were already on their way. At this moment, he also focused partially here. Soon, the two tendrils emerged from the wormhole, landing silently in the grass.

Before them were numerous bugs that had completed their third transformation, their bodies now displaying distinct Bug characteristics. As Little Bai had said before, no higher-level bugs were seen here, which relieved him.

There were no bugs on this planet that could threaten the safety of the two tendrils, so he continued to observe everything here. The bugs fighting nearby were darker in color, larger in size, and stronger than the eight-legged brown bugs that had completed the third transformation on their planet.

These appear to be the larvae from the last batch, and they seem smarter now. They no longer fight to the death as they did before, which is entirely because stronger bugs that have undergone their fourth transformation are keeping them in check.

A bug with green wings, a small triangular head, and eyes that occupied a third of its head approached. Its well-developed forelimbs were robust and equipped with serrated edges and barbs, giving it a fierce and dangerous appearance.

The bug patrolled the area, knocked down the fighting insects, and bit one as a warning to the others before slowly emitting a unique soundwave. Soon, the insects lined up and entered a forest where fully transformed insect soldiers awaited them.

These insects had to join a team of soldiers, who would teach them combat skills. Even though the techniques were rudimentary and relied on brute strength, they were enough to astonish Bai Xiaoyu.

Although cannibalism occasionally occurred during battles, these insects were rapidly absorbing various combat techniques from the soldiers.

This completely changed Bai Xiaoyu's perception of the insects. They seemed far more organized and easier to control than he had expected.

Noticing Bai Xiaoyu's surprise, Little Prince's tentacles twisted and said, "They are so obedient because a high leader's presence lingers on this planet."

Bai Xiaoyu was stunned, "A high leader's presence?"

Little Prince explained, "Under the Insect Emperor, there are over a hundred high leaders, each responsible for specific planets, where they leave their presence as a mark to keep the insects in line. The larvae born on these planets will join the countless insect teams under these high leaders."

This meant that insect larvae were assigned to specific high leaders from birth.

Bai Xiaoyu thought about how the dragon cubs used to find followers when they were in their insect form and wondered if they had found any by now. The current insect leaders' followers were counted planet by planet.

After contacting the parents, Bai Xiaoyu went to check on the thirty newly delivered eggs.

The eggs were in bad shape; if not for their thick dragon-race shells, they would have cracked by now. Cracks had appeared on the eggshells, but it was relatively easy for him to repair them using bone-white flowers, though they would turn into blood eggs.

He remembered what Little Prince had said not long ago, mentioning that he had found another thirty eggs of high leaders. Given how the dragon cubs had turned out last time, he trusted Little Prince's judgment. This would give him over fifty high leaders.

With 109 high leaders in the insect race, this accounted for nearly half.

Little Prince's tentacles snorted, "Once your thirty eggs hatch, so many high leaders gathering together will definitely lead to fights. F73 won't be enough for them. Since their territories are very clearly defined, you'll need at least fifty more planets for them to occupy."

Bai Xiaoyu chuckled nervously, "I only have one planet; where am I supposed to get fifty more planets?"

Little Prince reassured him, "Don't worry, you'll have them soon. They will definitely conquer the surrounding planets. For now, just focus on hatching them."

One planet was indeed not enough. Bai Xiaoyu couldn't help but wonder if, as a royal, he should feel ashamed for having such a small territory.

Where was the royal authority that a royal should have?

Right now, Bai Xiaoyu seemed more interested in hatching eggs and refining medicine, all while playing with two tiger cubs every day, distracted by trivial matters.

After all, humans didn't have the innate drive to expand territory like a true royal would. This young emperor would likely be defeated and consumed by the current Insect Emperor and other young emperors.

At that moment, both Little Prince and Little Bai furrowed their brows, their eyes narrowing to black dots as they bared their teeth menacingly. The two involuntarily returned to Bai Xiaoyu's breeding facility and saw through the window that he was playing with the eggs, occasionally touching the immobile ones without any sense of crisis.

It seemed they would have to take charge. The future high leaders needed proper training.

Otherwise, when the battle began, they might be defeated in less than a minute, and not even the royal could save them.

Both Little Prince and Little Bai wore serious expressions. Having to take responsibility for Bai Xiaoyu, who was so unprofessional, made them feel a burden beyond their years.

As the most overworked princes in history, they had to figure out how to keep this unambitious royal alive in the coming war.

This unmanageable good-for-nothing emperor was really something.