Shen Yi’s eyes first landed on the reward section. He flicked his antennae, a flicker of confusion.

—What is a Queen Bee Nest Seed?

Recalling the miraculous spiritual flower, Shen Yi instinctively guessed this might be a seed of a similar kind, wondering what extraordinary effects it might possess. He found himself growing excited.

However, upon seeing the main quest, Shen Yi’s heart plummeted.

【Main Quest: Expand the Swarm — Swarm Size: 11/1000】

He was a drone, incapable of laying eggs. His little brothers had underdeveloped reproductive systems, so they naturally couldn’t lay eggs either.

This was an impossible task.

Feeling as if he had hit a dead end, Shen Yi slumped defeatedly into the leaves. Suddenly, he lifted his head, as if a light had appeared in the darkest of tunnels.

—He still had a starter pack unopened.

The “Good Deeds, Good Rewards” system had mentioned that opening it at the right time would bring a surprise. Such a specific reminder couldn’t be without reason.

In an instant, Shen Yi’s thoughts raced.

He thought of his little brothers’ fleeting lives.

He thought of cultivation, of becoming human.

He thought of the myriad things from his previous world before rebirth.

He thought of unspeakable fears and loneliness, longing for that other world.

He thought of the impossible task, the swarm destined for extinction.

…

The moment he pressed the confirm button, Shen Yi was still hesitant. Yet, he seemed to have no better choice. Back when he played games, he always opened all available material packs in one go.

He couldn’t hoard things; once he had them, he wanted to use them. He was the type to never save anything for later. The fact that he had held out this long was already a surprise.

【Congratulations, Host, you have obtained a Primary Directional System Upgrade Card. This energy card is exclusively for system use and can upgrade the system or load corresponding programs based on the Host’s wishes.】

【Detecting Host’s intention…】

The system’s voice clearly stuttered, pausing for a long time before continuing its broadcast.

【The system is loading a new module. To match the new module’s functions, the system will undergo a comprehensive upgrade. Please wait patiently.】

“…”

Again, that absurd sensation of high anticipation followed by a punch into cotton.

He took three deep breaths, comforting himself that it was a free gift anyway—no need to get angry.

But he couldn’t help it.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Just updated and now another update?”

“I haven’t even seen the new features you just rolled out.”

“Alright, you’d better update something useful.”

Shen Yi was so frustrated by this unreliable system that he decided to ignore it. Out of sight, out of mind. Who knew how long this update would take?

He just hoped that after all this trouble, it wouldn’t just churn out a bunch of useless features.

Ah—

*Marmot scream*—

Shen Yi regretfully banged his head against the tree. Too rash. It seemed this wasn’t the right time after all. Why couldn’t he control his restless heart?

After the system began upgrading, it fell silent. The light screen couldn’t be summoned, and Shen Yi couldn’t even tell if the system was upgrading or had already crashed.

Since the system was unreliable, Shen Yi decided he had to rely on himself.

After fully digesting the flower dew, Shen Yi’s spiritual power had noticeably grown. He planned to find time to take his little brothers to see that flower again, letting them taste the flower dew too. Perhaps there would be unexpected surprises.

That day, the sunlight was brilliant.

Shen Yi, after a quick calculation, determined that the sun had risen from the east—a good omen, perfect for going out. So he called his little brothers, and they marched in a grand procession toward the valley.

Meanwhile, after the spirit dew was stolen, the unfortunate creature who had rushed back immediately but failed to catch the thief, cursed in a furious rage. After guarding its natal flower relentlessly for six days with no results, it finally concluded that the thief wouldn’t return. It couldn’t resist venturing out to seek a second chance at fortune.

On the northern cliff of the forest grew a Mist-Hidden Flower, which had been there for many years. When not in bloom, it emitted mist that formed clouds, concealing its true form. Only when it flowered would it briefly reveal itself. Last time it passed by, it had sensed the flower. By its calculations, it was almost time for it to bloom.

The flower dew of the Mist-Hidden Flower was the condensation of its essence. Consuming it had a chance of granting the ability to conceal oneself. After leaving the Flower Spirit Valley, its inability to move easily made its companion flower its greatest constraint.

Although its spiritual rank was low, as a spiritual creature, the aura it emitted attracted creatures with high spiritual sensitivity. Especially since its companion flower dew had a slight effect of enhancing spirituality—though negligible for itself and only useful for satiating hunger—it was a treasure for creatures with unawakened spirituality but high innate sensitivity.

Although the companion flower’s spiritual pressure could ward off ordinary beasts, it was useless against spiritually sensitive spirit beasts, just like the thief who had come last time.

Fortunately, it had encountered a foolish thief who only stole the flower dew, leaving the companion flower, which was richer in spiritual energy, untouched.

But this remained a hidden danger. Who knew if that foolish thief might suddenly wise up and return to eat the flower? It couldn’t transplant the companion flower again in a short time without damaging its foundation.

If it could obtain the ability to conceal itself, it could confidently venture farther to seek opportunities, evolve, and break free from its constraints.

So it was determined to succeed.

>

As if by destined coincidence, or as if Shen Yi was a born master thief, fate had chosen the perfect timing for him.

Once bitten, twice shy.

This time, with his little brothers, he found the precious grass hidden in the bushes without much effort—standing gracefully and alluring.

Shen Yi pointed to the flower bud he had entered last time, signaling his little brothers to go in. Little Seven eagerly responded but started circling the flower endlessly.

“Hurry up and go in.”

Shen Yi felt dizzy watching Little Seven circle. What was going on? A little bee not being enthusiastic about flowers—there must be something wrong with its head. He stepped forward to give it a helping hand, but the moment Little Seven was pushed toward the bud, it was bounced off. !!!

The sudden change caught Shen Yi off guard for a moment. “Little Seven!”

Shen Yi rushed to the ground, nervously checking on Little Seven, who was lying sprawled in the grass, trembling with all six legs.

If a creature’s condition could be visualized like in a comic, Little Seven would have two spiral eyes above its head right now. Thankfully, it was only knocked unconscious.

Even after being stunned, it didn’t forget to send Shen Yi signals of grievance and confusion.

Shen Yi, astonished, looked at the swaying flower bud hanging from the branch, stepped forward, pried open the closed petals, and slipped inside. He felt no resistance and smoothly entered the bud.

As if passing through a spatial barrier, Shen Yi once again saw that small space, with a green dewdrop still floating at its center.

—Then what happened to Little Seven just now?

Shen Yi exited and had Little Two and the others try one by one. None could approach the bud; any attempt to force their way near was met with a repelling force.

—Could it be that this spiritual flower recognizes its master?

—Or is it that the subordinates’ spiritual power is too low, failing to meet the spiritual flower’s access requirements?

Countless speculations flashed through his mind, but it didn’t matter if the subordinates couldn’t enter. He could still suck the spirit dew into his honey crop. Last time, he had swallowed it directly in a moment of urgency, but actually, a bumblebee queen also has a separate honey crop for storing nectar.

Recalling the dangerous premonition from last time, Shen Yi arranged for the subordinates to scatter and keep watch around them, emphasizing repeatedly, “If anything seems wrong, you must alert me. If you encounter something you can’t fight, save yourselves and run if necessary.”

After giving instructions, Shen Yi first entered the bud he had accessed last time to collect the spirit dew, then attempted to enter the other buds.

There were six buds on the stem. Last time, he had chosen one based on intuition; the others he hadn’t had time to check. It would be great if each contained a drop of spirit dew.

Shen Yi quickly climbed through all the buds. Each had a space of varying sizes, all larger than the first one.

To Shen Yi’s disappointment, four of the remaining five buds were empty, and only one contained a pile of seeds—some small, some round, of various shapes (which Shen Yi guessed were seeds).

This couldn’t possibly be something the flower collected itself. Shen Yi began to suspect—could this spiritual flower already have an owner?

In novels, spiritual flowers and plants often have companion beasts or guardian beasts.

Recalling the sudden sense of danger from last time, it seemed everything fell into place.

Whether it was Shen Yi’s imagination or not, thinking of this brought back that sense of danger. His bristles stood on end, and his heart grew uneasy. He immediately flew out of the bud, called his lookouts, and fled.

The subordinates, diligently carrying out the queen bee’s orders to keep watch, quickly gathered. The swarm flew two miles before realizing one was missing.

Shen Yi counted the bees and asked gravely, “Where’s Little Six?”

The other bumblebees tilted their heads and looked at each other, not even realizing who was missing.

What was there to ask? He immediately sensed through their mental connection that that guy was still in the same spot, probably still keeping watch there.

Dutiful and conscientious.

So the group hurried back and finally found the fellow sleeping soundly in the grass, clutching a blade of foxtail grass.

The foxtail grass was bent under its plump weight, hanging heavily. Shen Yi was both angry and amused. He stepped forward and gave it a kick: “I told you to keep watch, and you’re here catching up on sleep?”

“Little Six,” Shen Yi said its name, this time genuinely laughing—a mix of amusement and exasperation. “You really are a Little Six.”

Fortunately, he relied mainly on metaphysical sixth-sense warnings. If he had really depended on this guy for watch, the whole family would have been long dead.

Little Six was kicked awake, dazed and unaware of what had happened, swaying back and forth on the foxtail grass. Shen Yi, frustrated by its lack of improvement, gave its belly a rub.

“Follow me.”

The sense of danger grew stronger. Shen Yi urged Little Six to hurry and follow him. The two bees flew out of the valley one after the other, their small figures unnoticed by the flower owner who had rushed back in a rage, failing to stir even a ripple.

Just two ordinary bees—they couldn’t possibly approach its natal flower.

Once again, disturbed by the companion flower’s unusual activity at a critical moment, it missed an opportunity and was beaten by a spirit beast competing for the chance. Furious, it returned and turned the entire valley upside down but found no trace. When it entered its natal flower and discovered it had been robbed again, the flower owner erupted in helpless rage: “Damn thief, despicable thieves—”

Why did they always interfere at the key moments when it was guarding an opportunity? They could freely enter the companion flower but only stole the insignificant nectar, as if deliberately mocking it.

How utterly infuriating.

Its wings trembled with anger. It clenched its fists for a long time before calming down. Two faint scars on its stern little face oozed green blood. Its tone was sinister, spoken through gritted teeth:

“Better pray I don’t catch you.”

If caught, you’re finished—it swore.