Camille Star was a planet in a period of vigorous growth, with abundant veins of Mujing Ore, the source of the Asha people's sacred power and the Lila People's energy bodies.
For Zhang Fan, this planet was nothing short of paradise. Life here had evolved to near perfection, and the genetic structures of millions of species offered more than he could take in.
Zhang Fan decided to change his strategy. He no longer needed to slaughter as he had on Rebecca Star. His legion was already large enough. What he needed now were more efficient, more powerful, more perfect killers.
Evolution!
Relentless evolution... Starting with Purple Thorn, Zhang Fan added genes from Camille Star's fiercer carnivores and evolved the {Fierce Tiger}, a tiger-sized creature with four clawed limbs, sharp fangs, and spiked scales.
Using the {Overmind} as a foundation, he added genes from more aggressive spiders to create the {Matriarch}, with eight legs, a swollen abdomen, four tentacles, and a single horn. She could launch energy attacks while retaining powerful reproductive capabilities and high intelligence.
But Zhang Fan also discovered a problem. Creatures evolved from Purple Thorn, whose foundation came from Rebecca Star, faced many restrictions. Rejection frequently produced malformed organisms incapable of surviving.
Using the original Death Star worms as a foundation caused no such problems. Through repeated evolutionary experiments, Zhang Fan identified a rule.
For the Insect Race based on Death Star worms, the success rate of adding gene chains decreased by 5% with each additional gene.
For the Insect Race based on Purple Thorn, the success rate of adding gene chains decreased by 15% with each additional gene.
Death Star worms could accommodate roughly twelve selected genes, while Purple Thorn could accommodate only about five. Zhang Fan named this the gene decrement rule.
Even under the restrictions of the decrement rule, Zhang Fan still created roughly a hundred thousand entirely new Insect Race species.
Using those hundred thousand Camille Star Insect Race species as a foundation, he then created roughly three thousand species with offensive capabilities.
Finally, he selected genes from ten optimized Camille insectoid species to match with Purple Thorn and the original worms. After centuries of evolution, an even more powerful insectoid legion ruled all of Camille Star.
One day, a small command fleet from the Asha Empire suddenly appeared above Qiuzan City, the Rebecca mercenary city.
A middle-aged man dressed in the Asha Empire's formal finery slowly descended from the command ship.
Raphael, the lord of Qiuzan City, hurried forward to greet him and bowed respectfully. "What brings an ambassador of the Asha Empire all this way?"
The finely dressed middle-aged man took out a handkerchief and lightly covered his nose. He cast a glance at Raphael, then strode toward the city lord's residence with his head held high.
What's going on? Three hundred years had passed, yet Raphael had never seen such an arrogant Asha noble.
But Zhang Fan had said that unless the Asha people attacked first, they were to be treated courteously. Raphael had no choice but to swallow his anger.
Raphael took the initiative to lead him into the city lord's residence. The imperial noble sat straight down in the city lord's seat, making himself entirely at home.
Forcing down his anger, Raphael smiled and bowed. "May I ask what brings you here, my lord?"
"On behalf of the empire's new emperor, His Majesty Great Emperor Nu, I hereby declare that, effective immediately, the Rebecca Insectoids fall under the command of our Sixth Imperial Fleet."
Raphael smiled. "You must be mistaken, my lord. We Rebecca Insectoids are merely allies of Asha. We do not belong to the empire."
"Allies? What have you done for Asha in these past three hundred years? We Asha people don't support freeloaders."
Raphael flew into a rage. "Who the hell do you think you are? Even Commander Liya wouldn't dare speak to us like that."
The noble waved a hand, and a laser beam pierced Raphael's shoulder. Watching Raphael collapse in agony, he smiled. "Remember my name... Ka..."
Before the noble could finish, a purple {Demon Ape} sent him flying. The Asha Empire's guards immediately drew their swords.
But several {Sword Mantises} stood beside the purple {Demon Ape}. The cold gleam of their blades carried an aura of death that chilled the guards to the bone.
The noble wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and roared, "You dare rebel!"
The purple {Demon Ape} let out a furious roar and leaped up, bringing down a blow with crushing force. In an instant, the noble was reduced to pulp.
By the time {Matriarch} Likafeier arrived, the Asha Empire's soldiers had been devoured by the Insect Race. Only one remained, barely clinging to life.
"All of you, stop!" Likafeier roared, and the soldier finally escaped with his life.
"Where are Commander Liya and General Karen? Who exactly are you?"
Faced with Likafeier's questions, the surviving soldier immediately confessed. "Liya and Karen have been arrested for treason. The Third Colony Star and the Norad Star System are now under the command of our Sixth Fleet."
After a moment's thought, Likafeier asked, "Treason? What exactly happened in the Asha Empire?"
The soldier hastily replied, "Great Emperor Nu-no... Asalas staged a coup and killed the emperor. Every force that supported the emperor has been branded rebels, and we were sent to take control of the Rebecca Insectoids legion."
Likafeier turned and left. Behind her came the soldier's final scream.
"Overlord, do we need to take control of Asha?"
After a brief silence, Zhang Fan told Likafeier, "Notify the Lila People. This has little to do with us. Still, find a way to rescue Liya, Karen, Mora, and the others. They may be useful later."
"As you command!"
On Duoer Star, the Lila Homeworld, in the Blue Crystal Temple.
Whirlwind Great Emperor burst into wild laughter. "The Asha people have finally set themselves on the road to destruction! My trust in this cunning Insect Race wasn't wasted after all."
Mierduoduo asked in surprise, "What does this have to do with the Insect Race? Asha is in a civil war, yet instead of sending troops, the Insect Race told us about it. They clearly want us to lead the charge."
Whirlwind Great Emperor laughed and scolded him. "Ignorant fool. What do you think that Insect Race creature of theirs, the one they claim appears only once every three million years, is for?"
Seeing that Mierduoduo still did not understand, Whirlwind Great Emperor laughed heartily. "Consciousness isn't something you can comprehend. It takes time to subtly alter someone's mind. Still, three hundred years was a little too long..."
Zhang Fan suddenly spoke. "Hahaha, I agree. If Your Majesty hadn't held anything back from me, perhaps I could have done it faster."
"Overlord, you wrong me. Consciousness cannot lie. I've taught you everything about the power of consciousness, without holding anything back."
"Have you?"
At Zhang Fan's question, Whirlwind Great Emperor said with slight anger, "After three hundred years of cooperation, do you still doubt the sincerity of my Lila People, Overlord?"
"We're each getting what we need, that's all. All the Mujing Ore goes to the Lila People, but the Asha people must not be exterminated!"
"Since when have you become so merciful, Overlord?"
"As we agreed before, I also need the Asha people's power. I have only one ultimate goal: to wipe out the Qiya People and avenge my people. Until then, I need every force I can use."
"We Lila People honor our agreements and respect our allies. Of course, don't forget the greater power you promised us."
Zhang Fan smiled. "I, Zhang Fan, will honor our agreement as well. The Scarab Mech Legion, which combines biological armor with Asha's sacred barriers, has already been transported to Mudo Star by three {Rebeccas}. Send someone to receive it, Your Majesty."
"Hahaha, I love working with friends who keep their word. The Western Universe will soon welcome a new era of peace!"
After his painful experience three hundred years earlier, Mierduoduo dared not say much. Only after Whirlwind Great Emperor told him that he had severed the connection with Zhang Fan did he ask, "Are we really going to live in peace with the Asha people?"
"Peace? There is no peace in this universe. Only unification can bring true peace!"
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