A clue

{Bull-Armored Scorpion}: A heavy unit hatched from a combination of General Ox Spider's genes and those of the siege {Savage Bull}, designed specifically to fight robots.

{Venom Bee}: An evolved version of the {Poison Thorn}, carrying two {Qi Spiders}. Modified using Deputy General Needle Weasel's genes, it could fire dozens of electrically charged venom needles with exceptional penetrating power at once.

{Fox Monkey}: An evolution of the {Night Ape}, capable of using "qi" to attack. More agile and intelligent, this ranged attacker released tremendously powerful blasts of qi, but its numbers were limited.

{Qi Mantis}: An evolved version of the {Sword Mantis}, capable of coating its sword claws with a layer of qi that could easily slice through three-centimeter steel plates.

{Giant Scarab}: A multi-energy version of the {Scarab}, combining mechanical electrical energy, magical energy, qi energy, and the ranged attack capabilities of Ice Blue Dragon cannons. Its power made it the undisputed king of land warfare, but its enormous size and slow movement meant it needed large numbers of soldiers to protect it.

{Dragon-Type Rebecca}: Created at Zhang Fan's insistence using genes taken from the five-clawed golden dragon that circled King Pamir. This small warship carried two Ice Blue Dragon cannons and was more maneuverable in space.

After introducing the new Insect Race units he had designed specifically to counter the Nagang People, Zhang Fan added, "I call them the Li'erwala Insect Tribe."

Hu Baili was so astounded that he could not utter a word for a long while. King Pamir remained relatively composed.

"Overlord, their numbers are certainly impressive, but how strong is the Insect Race?"

Zhang Fan smiled. "All you gave me were Nagang People remains. How about this? Let's stir up some trouble and improve them as we fight."

King Pamir was speechless. Zhang Fan actually treated war like a game. "You want us to attack the Nasteel? We can barely defend this place even with the qi veins on Myriad Demon Star. Fighting them in space would be suicide."

"Well... then why did you come looking for me? You could just keep hiding here. Don't you agree, High Priest?"

Looking at the insect army, Hu Baili felt as though he could already see the Li'erwala people's future: a return to their peak, when they had ruled three star systems. No... this time, they could rule far more than three.

His face lit with excitement. "King Pamir, I think the Overlord is right. If we keep hiding here while the Nagang People continue to advance, they will destroy us someday."

Hu Baili paused, then continued, "An ancient legend says that when the dragon of another race descends, the Lilvara will usher in a new era."

King Pamir pointed at Zhang Fan. "High Priest, don't tell me you think he's that dragon of another race."

Zhang Fan smiled faintly and waved a hand. A {Dragon-Type Rebecca} slowly emerged from the formation. "Doesn't it look the part?"

King Pamir had no answer and could only change the subject. "Then where do we attack first? Who will command the army?"

Hu Baili looked at Zhang Fan, who smiled. "You can decide. I can leave command to you, but after the war, my Insect Race will need a planet of its own to live on. And... don't forget what you promised me."

Hu Baili nodded immediately. "Of course. You have dealt with us openly and held nothing back, Overlord. We will return the favor."

"Hahaha, good. I still trust the High Priest." As Zhang Fan spoke, he cast a seemingly casual glance at the young King Pamir.

Before King Pamir could speak, Zhang Fan called out, "Yata, come down."

{Matriarch} Yata suddenly appeared before the three of them. Like Likafeier, Yata had been hatched by Zhang Fan to help him manage the Insect Race.

Genetic modifications using genes from Myriad Demon Star had made Yata stronger and enabled her to attack with qi. However, to make room for qi sacs, some of her hard shell armor had to be removed. As a result, her body was not as tough as Likafeier's.

Hu Baili looked up at Yata, who stood three meters tall, with sharp claws and teeth, six legs, and a scorpion's tail. He turned to Zhang Fan. "She... why does she look like General Ox Spider..."

"Hahaha, just think of her as General Ox Spider's younger sister."

Zhang Fan smiled. "You can't control the Insect Race directly, so Yata will assist you. She's related to General Ox Spider, after all. Does that put your minds at ease?"

The Insect Race army departed from Myriad Demon Star alongside the Lilvara warships. Their first campaign would be to reclaim the nearest star system, the Flame-Thunder Star System.

Zhang Fan and Hu Baili sat in the Myriad Demon Garden, gazing up at the sky and admiring the magnificent sight of tens of millions of troops setting out.

"High Priest, I'd still like to ask more about Earth. Have your people really never been there?"

"To be honest, as far as I know, none of our people have ever visited the region shown on your star chart, Overlord."

Hu Baili pondered for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, "Perhaps someone did!"

Zhang Fan immediately looked at Hu Baili, his nerves taut.

Hu Baili gave two dry coughs. "Actually, I'm not certain..."

"About eight thousand years ago, a Lilvara expedition lost contact with Myriad Demon Star. No one knows whether they lived or died. If, as you say, your homeland has legends about beings who look like us, perhaps it could have been them."

"Then where were they last seen before they disappeared?"

Hu Baili sank into thought again, then shook his head. "All records dating back more than five thousand years are on Huo Planet, which is now occupied by the Nasteel people and serves as their fortress. We may only have a chance to find the relevant information after reclaiming it."

"Then have the fleet change course and take Huo Planet. If we can find your missing expedition, perhaps I can find my way home."

Hu Baili shook his head and pointed to the screen on the table. "Huo Planet lies at the center of six star systems controlled by the Nagang People, and all six can reinforce one another. Only by breaking through those six systems would we have a chance of taking Huo Planet."

After carefully studying the star chart, Zhang Fan suddenly asked, "Could we infiltrate Huo Planet?"

Hu Baili exclaimed, "Overlord, you certainly dare to dream. Our ships can't even approach any one of those six star systems. How could we infiltrate Huo Planet at their very center?"

"Warships can't, but I think the Insect Race might have a way. I'll make preparations, though I'll still need your help, High Priest."

"Of course. If we can help you, Overlord, we Lilvara will spare no effort."

Zhang Fan gazed up at the departing fleet. He had never expected to actually find a clue that might lead him back to Earth.

Infiltration was the best option for now. It would keep the records from being destroyed in the fighting, and it would be easier than conquering six star systems.

The only problem Zhang Fan now faced was how to infiltrate a planet surrounded by six star systems.

At a loss, Zhang Fan paced the streets of the imperial capital. Over the past ten years, he had often wandered these streets whenever he had nothing else to do, searching for better genes. The Lilvara citizens had therefore grown accustomed to this strange-looking but friendly alien.

Ideas and inspiration did not come simply because someone wanted them to. The more desperately one sought them, the more they seemed to play hide-and-seek. Sometimes they were right beside you, yet you could search everywhere and still fail to find them.

Zhang Fan happened to notice several Lilvara children playing a war game by the roadside. Deciding to try a different approach, he simply stopped to watch. Seeing how absorbed they were in their game, he felt as though he had returned to his own childhood.