On the Radiant Sun Throne, the Proud Sun King's golden spear was already pressed against Li's neck...
"You damned fool! I sent you to relieve Illusory Cloud Star, and instead you ran off to Border to steal the credit. The Insect Race was driven back, but they would have retreated even without you."
The Proud Sun King raised his spear in a fury, looking ready to execute Li on the spot. Suddenly, a figure knelt before him and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, the Insect Race is cunning. General Li was concerned that our army might fall into a trap. His valor in the battle at Border was also commendable. Please allow him to redeem himself through service."
Seeing the Right-Whirling Sun King kneeling before the Proud Sun King to plead for Li, the assembled ministers echoed, "Please allow General Li to redeem himself through service, Your Majesty."
Just as the Proud Sun King hesitated, the Left-Whirling Sun King stepped forward. "Your Majesty, in our first clash, our army pinned the Insect Race down at Border. Then they launched surprise attacks on Hunting Cloud and Illusory Cloud Star. What sense does it make to reinforce the strong rather than rescue those in danger? This was clearly an attempt to eliminate rivals through the Insect Race. Isn't that your usual trick, second brother?"
The Right-Whirling Sun King snapped furiously, "Third brother, don't go too far..."
"Too far? Everyone knows the prophecy... 'A hundred feet, ten thousand souls, dead yet unyielding; reborn through fire, Proud Sun reforged.' Isn't your army called the Hundred-Foot Army, second brother? Can you honestly claim that 'a hundred feet, ten thousand souls' doesn't refer to you, the Right-Whirling Sun King? What, do you intend to skip being reborn through fire and go straight to reforging Proud Sun?"
Those words sent a shudder through the Right-Whirling Sun King. He hurriedly shuffled forward on his knees to the Proud Sun King's feet and kowtowed. "Elder brother, the Star Seer said that to sow discord. You mustn't believe it."
The Left-Whirling Sun King continued, "The Star Seer also said we would suffer losses in the war against the Insect Race but emerge victorious. We lost Illusory Cloud and Hunting Cloud, and we won. Why don't you call that an attempt to sow discord? Don't forget, second brother, those losses were caused by General Li, your subordinate."
Before the Right-Whirling Sun King could answer, the Left-Whirling Sun King bowed. "Elder brother, the Insect Race is a minor concern. Certain people here plotting to seize power and usurp the throne-that is the real concern."
The Proud Sun King looked down at the Right-Whirling Sun King kneeling at his feet. "Take your Hundred-Foot Army and recapture Hunting Cloud and Illusory Cloud Star. If you fail, don't bother coming back."
The Proud Sun King turned and returned to his throne before announcing, "The Right-Whirling Sun King has volunteered to lead his army to recapture Hunting Cloud and Illusory Cloud Star. The Left-Whirling Sun King will lead the Proud Sun Guards to oversee the campaign."
After its strategic retreat, the Insect Race transferred its main forces to Illusory Cloud and Hunting Cloud. The two planets supported each other like the points of a pincer, forming a dagger thrust into the Nine Clouds Star System. With the sixth Titan supporting that dagger from behind, they could advance to attack or fall back to defend.
Zhang Fan stood on the scorched earth of Illusory Cloud Star, with twelve Beast God Generals and six Matriarchs beside him. Meanwhile, the swarming Insect Race swept away every surviving life-form on the planet.
Matriarch Qilamei said to Zhang Fan, "Overlord, there is a creature on this planet with some very interesting genes."
"Oh? What is it?"
"It is a primitive organism called Miller. It has four cryptobiotic traits. Under high temperatures, high pressure, extreme cold, or low humidity, it enters a state of cryptobiosis. Once conditions return to normal, it is 'reborn' completely unharmed."
Qilamei continued, "During the battle for Illusory Cloud Star, the Insect Race suffered heavy losses from attacks using pure fire element. If we can incorporate Miller's Cryptobiosis traits, our Insect Race will no longer fear high temperatures. We will be able to survive in any harsh environment."
Zhang Fan nodded in satisfaction. "I never expected to find such powerful genes on this trip. This reminds me of Earth's most resilient creature, the tardigrade."
"I've always hoped the Insect Race could acquire tardigrade genes. Now we can finally fill that gap. Cryptobiosis traits... You Matriarchs should research them further. I need a small, fast insect capable of evolving on its own, with both parasitism and invisibility traits."
Looking at the charred remains of the Heavy Overlord Beasts beneath Ghost Mist Fortress City, Zhang Fan asked, "How is your research into Noya's absorption of Surikar's regeneration genes coming along?"
Qilamei shook her head. "Surikar is a bio-like robot. His genes cannot be integrated with ours. We are conducting research using the geqiu genes discovered on Second Earth as a template. I believe we will succeed before long."
"Get that done as quickly as you can. The Insect Race needs powerful regenerative abilities to become invincible."
The Insect Race began planting Titans on Illusory Cloud Star, while the Matriarchs stepped up their research into integrating Miller's genes.
The fleet sent from Proud Sun Star to recapture Illusory Cloud Star was assembling in space. However, it remained on the outskirts, showing no intention of attacking.
Leading the Proud Sun Guards, the Left-Whirling Sun King repeatedly urged the Right-Whirling Sun King's Hundred-Foot Army to attack, but received no response.
Aboard his command ship, the Right-Whirling Sun King sat with a grim expression. He looked at the enormous Insect Race fleet on the screen, then at his own Hundred-Foot Army, which numbered less than a tenth of the enemy's forces. Charging in would be suicide.
"A hundred feet, ten thousand souls, dead yet unyielding; reborn through fire, Proud Sun reforged."
There was no doubt that the opening words referred to the Hundred-Foot Army. But what did "dead yet unyielding" mean? Did he really have to die once?
And what about "reborn through fire"? It had taken a century to build the Hundred-Foot Army to its current strength. How long would its rebirth take?
The Right-Whirling Sun King looked up at the ministers beside him. They, too, wore worried expressions. This campaign was supposedly a chance to redeem themselves through service, but how were they meant to fight an Insect Race force more than ten times their size?
Qilima, a general of the Hundred-Foot Army, stepped forward and saluted. "My king, should we send an envoy to speak with the Insect Race? Though they look vicious, their attacks and defenses are orderly. They are certainly not lesser creatures... Perhaps..."
The adviser Laya said, "If the Insect Race is willing to talk, we may still have a chance of survival. If not, we will fight to the death. Dying in battle is our only remaining option anyway."
The Right-Whirling Sun King understood the meaning behind those words, of course. It seemed everyone shared that view. With the Insect Race army ahead and the ill-intentioned Left-Whirling Sun King behind, being caught in the middle was miserable.
"My king, you must stop hesitating. If the Insect Race attacks, or the Left-Whirling Sun King accuses us of delaying military operations, our Hundred-Foot Army will face enemies on both sides."
Laya's words once again won the support of every minister. The Right-Whirling Sun King asked, "Which of you is willing to go to Illusory Cloud Star?"
The ministers who had just voiced their support so loudly involuntarily lowered their heads. Some even took half a step back.
Laya looked around and declared, "I am willing to go."
Taking a small reconnaissance craft, Laya slipped past the Proud Sun Guards' sensors and flew alone into Insect Race Starfield.
Aboard the command ship, Matriarch Shusha watched a Proud Sun reconnaissance craft flash signals as it flew straight toward the Insect Race army.
Beast God General Rose was about to order its destruction when Shusha hurriedly intervened. "Wait. Let's see what the envoy wants first."
Escorted by six Venom Bees, Laya's reconnaissance craft slowly entered the Emperor's eagle beak.
As soon as the reconnaissance craft came to a complete stop, Shusha stepped forward to greet the visitor personally.
The moment Laya stepped out of the reconnaissance craft, Shusha spoke in fluent Proud Sun language. "Welcome, envoy of the Nine Clouds Star System. At last, one of you is willing to come and talk to us."
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