Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 437 - 417 Work Adjustment

White Rice activated its earth system abilities to help. With over a thousand worker ants and soldier ants working together, in just over twenty days, an ant nest deep within the mountain could be built, with a storage capacity for 4.5 million source stones.

The branch nest of Snow Cedar Mountain was completed.

It happened to coincide with the spring trading season.

This year’s transaction was relatively simple, focusing on trading all kinds of divine-given origin force food and regular origin force food.

Red Peach successfully evolved to Evolution Mountain Lord Level. During its high-level stage, it consumed large amounts of divine-given origin force food that strengthened comprehensive physique, strength, and speed. Its size far exceeded that of an ordinary Gorgeous Gold Mantis, reaching a body length of 3.8 meters. Its stone slab wheelcart was upgraded accordingly, measuring 5 meters long and 4 meters wide, from four wheels to six, with a single cart able to carry 200 bags of origin force food and haul 100,000 source stones per trip.

It ran incredibly fast, making five trips in a day.

Natsumi and Silvergrass, the two Dulai Flame Spiders, also helped by pulling two smaller four-wheeled stone slab carts.

The first task was to transport source stones.

Large and small carts, with a thousand per bag, delivered big bags of source stones in a constant stream. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

On the Rednan Mountain ant nest’s end,

Dragon Cypress personally received the goods.

Areca assisted on the side, checking the numbers.

With spider silk binding, each Specialized Blue Soldier had a bag strapped to its carapace.

Lightly equipped, advancing at a rapid march.

Dragon Cypress assigned a total of 1,000 Specialized Blue Soldiers for transportation, with 100 Specialized Blue Ants accompanying, always prepared to provide food for the team.

Led by Giant Cypress, one trip could complete the transport of one million source stones.

Marching on the ground, the speed was slow no matter what; a round trip from Rednan Mountain branch nest to Snow Cedar Mountain branch nest took six days.

On the Flame Spider Caravan’s side, Red Peach, Natsumi and Silvergrass took only eight days to deliver all the source stones.

Next came the trade in origin force food, the largest of which was origin force honey.

Black Cory guarded Southern Sour Jujube Mountain.

This year, the blue ants’ brewing was personally overseen by Dragon Cypress; it took another eight days to finish the task.

The trade concluded.

The caravan delivered five million source stones: 3.5 million went to the Snow Cedar Mountain branch nest, guarded by Giant Cypress and soldier ants; 1.5 million were sent back to Xianglan Mountain and put into storage.

Dragon Cypress rushed about for another two days, escorting White Rice and Areca back to their respective territories, and stopped by Southern Sour Jujube Mountain to check the growth state of the Divine-Given Seed of Little Wild Chestnut.

Then he rushed straight to the Purple Tung Insect Nation to complete the spring trade with Barley Bug Warriors.

Afterwards, he picked up Ink Orchid, making stops at various Lands of Origin Force, searching for Divine-Given Seeds.

Circling a large round, with all urgent matters settled,

Dragon Cypress finally arrived at the Snow Cedar Mountain branch nest and, trip after trip, began transporting source stones to Huagi Mountain.

Every time he delivered source stones to Huagi Mountain, he would also stop by Purple Tung Insect Nation, transport a batch of soldier ants and blue soldiers trained by the Linnan Divine Tree to the Snow Cedar Mountain branch nest, and then take some back to Xianglan Mountain.

The Specialized Ants would exchange experiences, teaching and learning from each other.

These ants would then take their training results back to Xianglan Mountain, teaching the ants there.

Silver Cypress was sent to Purple Tung Insect Nation for combat training under the guidance of the Linnan Divine Tree.

Cypress was transferred back to Xianglan Mountain to replace Silver Cypress’ duties; during spare time, it also provided combat training for the Xianglan Mountain soldier ants and blue soldiers.

...

Dragon Cypress next began cultivating Specialized Soldier Ants, Specialized Blue Soldiers, and Blue Ants.

Appropriate numbers were stationed at the branch nests of Rednan Mountain and Snow Cedar Mountain.

There were three considerations:

First was the issue of security.

As the trades with the Flame Spider Roving Merchants grew bigger and more conspicuous, there was always the risk of attracting some neighboring continent’s Ant King or Bee Queen’s covetous gaze; enough strength was required to repel them.

The second was for source stone transport.

Next time the caravan brings in source stones, 2,000 Specialized Ants could be dispatched to transport them to Snow Cedar Mountain branch nest at a go, with two million carried per trip.

This would save time.

The third was the matter of food.

The Xianglan Mountain Kingdom could follow along the Divine Force Barrier, foraging farther north.

This would reduce dependence on reservoir and lake fish as food sources.

The big fish in Black Lotus Lake grown fewer year by year; fishing needed to be decreased for ecological restoration.

...

...

...

Time flies like an arrow, years pass like a shuttle.

A year sped by in the busyness.

Late winter season, Dragon Cypress went to Ghost Fan Mountain, using the Dominating Throne to help Woodberry break through to Evolution Mountain Lord Level, stopping by Purple Tung Insect Nation on the way to enjoy the scenery of the North Country and also undergo some combat training from the Linnan Divine Tree.

But Woodberry wasn’t just timid...

The Linnan Divine Tree told it to run.

It crawled slowly.

Once the Linnan Divine Tree got angry, it immediately stiffened up and feigned death on the ground. This was the three-spot click beetle warrior’s talent ability "Feigned Death." After evolving to Evolution Mountain Lord Level, once activated, it was nearly indistinguishable from real death.

No matter how much the Linnan Divine Tree scolded and cursed, it wouldn’t move, just lay there for half a day.

Even Dragon Cypress’ shouting was of no use.

After two days, the Linnan Divine Tree was utterly exasperated and refused to teach it anymore.

Every insect has its own aspirations; Woodberry had made it clear it wasn’t interested in fighting.

Dragon Cypress had no choice but to have Pueraria and Chinese Clematis escort Woodberry around for sightseeing and fun.

With the coming of spring, temperatures warmed slightly,

Red Moonseed was the first to borrow the Dominating Throne, accomplishing a molt evolution, becoming a fourth-age high-level Beautiful Ji Bee Warrior.

Chinese Clematis immediately followed suit, borrowing the Dominating Throne to break through by evolving into a first-age intermediate Dry Stone Green Ground Beetle Warrior.

Once Red Moonseed evolved again, by the time it reached fifth-age high-level warrior, it would no longer be able to cross the Starship Rift.

Just right—by then Chinese Clematis could replace Red Moonseed to assist with transactions.

A perfect handoff.

"Intermediate warriors possess preliminary combat abilities. Chinese Clematis, you may venture to Black Fruit Mountain and try surviving on your own."

Dragon Cypress gathered Red Moonseed, Chinese Clematis, Pueraria, and Woodberry together to assign this year’s tasks.

"Alright—"

Chinese Clematis looked longingly at Pueraria, reluctant to part.

These past two years at the Purple Tung Insect Nation, the two were almost inseparable.

Dragon Cypress said, "Over at Black Fruit Mountain, Black Birch has cleared ten nursery plots for you, cultivating a variety of seedlings including sky blue persimmon and silver cypress trees. Red Moonseed, Chinese Clematis, the next phase of pioneering will be up to you."

Red Moonseed: "Thank you, Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

Dragon Cypress continued, "Woodberry is best at farming; Woodberry will go to Black Fruit Mountain and help for a year."

Woodberry vigorously wiggled its tentacles.

"Thank you, Woodberry!"

Red Moonseed gave a resounding thanks.

Chinese Clematis’s eyes shone orange as it looked at Pueraria.

Dragon Cypress: "Pueraria, you can also go to Black Fruit Mountain...to help with the work!"

"Alright! Wonderful!"

Pueraria cheered.

Dragon Cypress: "Good. Red Moonseed will remain in the Purple Tung Insect Nation and return to Black Fruit Mountain after the spring trade ends. Chinese Clematis, Pueraria, Woodberry, I’ll take you there now."

...

After delivering Chinese Clematis to Black Fruit Mountain, Black Birch was brought back to be replaced.

The Purple Tung Insect Nation now had Round Cypress, Silver Cypress, Black Leaf, and Black Birch—four command ants.

Round Cypress was responsible for the orchards and woodlands.

Silver Cypress trained with the Linnan Divine Tree during the day, and at night led the army to guard the White Poplar Divine Seed.

Black Leaf and Black Birch, following Dragon Cypress’ lead, trained under the Linnan Divine Tree in the mornings and worked with Round Cypress to direct the ant colony in the afternoons. At night they led the ant army to guard beneath the White Poplar Divine Seed’s tree.

After living as neighbors with the Barley Bug Warriors for many years, relations remained harmonious, without any sign of strangeness.

Only now did Dragon Cypress cautiously conclude: the Purple Tung Insect Nation’s situation was stable.

He made some adjustments.

Snakebark Maple no longer needed to come as backup.

Ink Orchid, Spruce, and Dragon Cypress took rotating duty, ensuring at least one always remained to guard the White Poplar Divine Seed.

He could also bring over Mulberry, Blue Catalpa, and Black Rice to receive training under the guidance of the Linnan Divine Tree, for a year or two of combat training.

And then there was a Mountain Persimmon...

In the frigid winter when the earth is sealed by ice and snow, it could be brought over too, to join in the lively gathering.