Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 436 - 416: 5th Age Period Mountain Lord

As autumn arrives, autumn gives way to winter.

The cycle of seasons continues, and it is spring once again.

Dragon Cypress returned to Xianglan Mountain at the first possible moment, made a brief rest, and then fell into sleep.

...

Waking from slumber, shedding the old shell, donning new armor.

Everything went smoothly, with no feeling of weakness at all; soul consciousness had never felt so clear.

The full soul-strengthening effects of the Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit were brought into play.

Soul-Setting Ability spread forth,

Just as expected, the area of coverage surged, exceeding a radius of 10 kilometers.

Peak Lord-Level soul tier!

Spiritual power extended, spreading northwards along the main tunnel of the ant nest.

meters!

The Lord-Level limit.

"With today’s spiritual power level, piloting the Dominating Throne to fly back and forth between Xianglan Mountain and Huagi Mountain, one trip would take about two days."

"Each trip can transport 50,000 Source Stones, and with no rest between trips, only 750,000 can be shipped in a month."

"Quandong Divine Tree, Linnan Divine Tree, Jinhe Divine-Given Seed, these three Divine-Grade Divine-Given Seeds will bear fruit in succession. After selling normally to the caravan and deducting my own middleman profit, plus using Melde’s and White Ivy’s Origin Force Food for payment, on average I’ll need to ship 4,542,000 Source Stones to Huagi Mountain every year..."

The first batch of Source Stones will arrive this very year.

Dragon Cypress began to ponder the Source Stone transportation issue.

Hauling stones directly from Xianglan Mountain to Huagi Mountain was obviously not feasible—he’d spend his every year as a hardworking porter for Huagi Mountain and nothing else.

Dragon Cypress had thought of a better solution:

Follow the Divine Force Barrier northwards, and, directly west of Huagi Mountain, build a sub-nest there. Send the ant swarm to deliver Source Stones to the sub-nest, and from there continue the delivery to Huagi Mountain.

By doing so,

With Dragon Cypress’ current spiritual power, piloting the Dominating Throne round-trip would only take about half a day per run.

With overtime at night, two runs per day were possible.

100,000 per day—transporting 4.5 million Source Stones would still take 45 days.

Dragon Cypress still wasn’t satisfied with this plan; he didn’t want to waste that much time just running goods around.

"The main issue is that the Dominating Throne’s transport capacity is too low. The Throne’s space is limited, at most it can only hold 60,000 Source Stones—no room for more."

"The only solution is to improve the speed. As far as I can see, the Dominating Throne’s flying speed has no upper limit..."

"But right now, both my soul and spiritual power have reached Lord-Level peak. To break through, I need to evolve to Evolution Lord Level..."

"Are there any smarter, easier, and more time-saving ways..."

Dragon Cypress racked his brains, but couldn’t come up with anything for now.

The issue was temporarily shelved.

He drew back his thoughts, used spiritual power to check over himself.

Thanks to the Linnan Divine Tree’s training, the effect was apparent: his legs were obviously sturdier and stronger, and his portly figure seemed a bit improved.

"Can’t rely too much on external things..."

"I need to stick with it..."

Dragon Cypress mulled it over and jumped down from the Throne.

"Silver Cypress."

"Great King, you’re awake?"

Silver Cypress had just been peeking inside through a gap under the door panel at the entrance; upon being called, he pried open the panel with one claw and dashed into the cave.

Dragon Cypress asked, "How many days have I slept?"

Silver Cypress: "Four days? Less than five! Great King, you’re so fast!"

Dragon Cypress’ first impression on waking was that this evolution was especially easy—an added perk of a stronger soul.

The next time he slumbers to evolve will be even easier.

"Silver Cypress, everything’s in order. Go now and pass on the news to Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, and Fragrant Cypress. I’m heading to Southern Sour Jujube Mountain to sow seeds."

"O—kay!"

Silver Cypress: "Great King, in such a hurry? Don’t you want to eat something first?"

"No need."

Dragon Cypress willed it, and the Dominating Throne shrank dramatically, floating behind as he left the nest.

...

He set off in the middle of the night.

On the way, hunted a wild boar.

Arrived at dawn, just as the first light crept in.

"Red Cypress!" Dragon Cypress called out.

"???" Red Cypress was a bit dazed and confused.

"I’m now a Year Five Mountain Lord."

"O—kay!"

"I’ve come to sow seeds."

"O—kay!"

"Just letting you know."

"Got it—"

"You doing well?"

"I’m fine. I was sleeping."

Plants take rest at night too.

Was sleeping soundly—Red Cypress was feeling a bit speechless.

Dragon Cypress: "Then you keep sleeping."

Red Cypress: "...I’m awake now."

Red Cypress: "Dragon Cypress, seven or eight days ago, there was a sudden massive Origin Force Fluctuation. Black Cory said it was the Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed evolving."

Red Cypress: "It successfully evolved to Evolution Lord Level!"

Dragon Cypress: "!!!"

Dragon Cypress unleashed his Soul-Setting Ability to perceive.

Sure enough! The soul of the Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed had transformed in essence, growing much larger and more solid.

Dragon Cypress set the Dominating Throne down under the Red Cypress Divine-Given Seed tree, fluttered his wings, and landed below it.

It must have just finished evolving in the last two days; the roots had just been watered, with some Source Stone powder still scattered underneath.

Many new branches were sprouting from the tree; by the look of things, a vigorous growth phase was imminent. Over the next decade or so, the wild Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed’s trunk would massively increase in size.

Black Cory had managed things well, nothing amiss.

Dragon Cypress gave everything a careful inspection, then jogged over to a tubao 1,200 meters away from the Red Cypress Divine-Given Seed—one he’d previously prepared.

Climbed to the top, dug a hole, burrowed in, spat out the nurtured Little Wild Chestnut Divine-Given Seed, filled it back in, and finished sowing.

Activated Water Control Ability, drew water from the nearby ditch, and thoroughly irrigated the entire tubao in one go.

Once finished, stayed by its side in peace to wait.

...

The first rays of dawn appeared over the eastern skyline.

A team of Soldier Ants had already left the nest on their routine patrol. As they neared the Red Cypress Divine-Given Seed, they caught sight of the Dominating Throne parked below the tree and rushed back to the nest in panic to report to Black Cory: This is bad! The Great King is here!

Black Cory hurried over.

"...Great King."

"Great King, when did you arrive?"

"Early morning. Figured you’d still be sleeping, so didn’t notify you."

"O—kay!"

Black Cory pointed a claw at the top of the tubao. "The Little Wild Chestnut Divine-Given Seed’s been sown?"

"Of course!"

Dragon Cypress asked as usual, "Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed successfully evolved?"

Black Cory: "Succeeded just two days ago."

"Excellent!"

Dragon Cypress flicked his antennae. "Black Cory, you go about your business, I’ll keep watch here."

Black Cory: "Great King, there’s really nothing to take care of on Southern Sour Jujube Mountain."

Then let’s just wait together...

...

They waited until noon,

With the gentle spring breeze, the Little Wild Chestnut Divine-Given Seed sprouted, took root, broke the soil with its shoot tip, and unfolded its cotyledons.

Black Cory directed two Worker Ants to climb the tubao with Source Stones, scraping and sprinkling powder to supplement its Origin Force.

Dragon Cypress watched over it the whole time, never leaving its side.

One day later, the first and second true leaves unfolded.

Three days later, the seedling grew to over ten centimeters tall.

Ten days later, the sapling reached half a meter, and began to sprout side branches.

After all, it’s a small arbor species; this growth speed was still inferior to the original Black Yellow Divine-Given Seed, probably on par with the Sea Blue Divine-Given Seed.

"Black Cory, this spring, do nothing else—just look after this Little Wild Chestnut Divine-Given Seed."

"Understood!"

"This year, the Flame Spider Caravan is delivering 5 million Source Stones, so I’m returning to Xianglan Mountain to prepare in advance."

"Great King, please take care!"

"Mhm—"

Dragon Cypress chatted idly under the Red Cypress Divine-Given Seed tree, then went to see Ink Orchid’s Sea Blue and Chestnut Bean Divine-Given Seeds, and then piloted the Dominating Throne away.

...

Spring arrived much later in the north.

At Huagi Mountain,

The ice and snow had only just melted.

Yellow Stem was busy loosening the soil for himself and Spruce’s Life Seed Plants; sensing the Origin Force Fluctuations of the Dominating Throne, he dashed up to the ridge.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King."

"Yellow Stem! Quandong Divine Tree!"

After exchanging greetings, Dragon Cypress went straight to business, "If all goes well, there’ll be 5 million Source Stones delivered this year. My plan is to ship 3.5 million over first. The three Soul-Setting Fruits require 13.5 million Source Stones; the remaining 500,000, after the fruit matures and gets handed over to the caravan, will be shipped later."

Quandong Divine Tree responded simply, "Okay."

Yellow Stem was less pleased. "Dragon Cypress Ant King, does it really make a difference if it’s early or late?"

Dragon Cypress: "If it’s a few years later, and I evolve again, with a higher carrying capacity on the Dominating Throne, I can haul more each trip and save time."

Yellow Stem thought for a moment, twitched his antennae, and agreed.

Dragon Cypress raised a claw and pointed west. "I plan to open a sub-nest due west, right by the Divine Force Barrier, directing the ant swarm to transport the Source Stones there first, then ferry them to Huagi Mountain."

Dragon Cypress: "This is the fastest delivery solution I can think of so far. Quandong Divine Tree, Yellow Stem, if you have any better ideas, let me know."

After a brief silence,

Yellow Stem said, "I’m not smart enough. Can’t think of anything better."

Quandong Divine Tree: "This is the smartest plan."

"Alright then—"

Dragon Cypress: "Shall I get to work?"

Yellow Stem: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, thank you for your hard work."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

The Dominating Throne took off,

Dragon Cypress locked on to the rising sun at the eastern horizon with three Heavenly Eyes atop his head, making a precise fix.

Headed directly west,

And arrived at the Divine Force Barrier.

Dragon Cypress made a brief survey, picked out a hilltop, and simply named it "Snow Cedar Mountain."

Having chosen the spot, he directed the accompanying Worker Ants and Soldier Ants to land and start digging a wide main tunnel.

He then hurried to Jianlan Plain and invited White Rice over, and also deployed more Worker Ants, Soldier Ants, and Blue Ants from Xianglan Mountain to help establish the sub-nest.

This location would also serve long-term as a base for the ant swarm to hunt northward from Xianglan Mountain Ant Kingdom.

One nest, two uses.