Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 454 - 434 Thunder Ridge

It took half a month to complete all trades.

Five million Source Stones in cash; of these, 4.5 million went to Snow Cedar Mountain for temporary storage, and 500,000 were transported back to the Xianglan Mountain Treasury.

The Origin Force Food worth five million Source Stones brought by the White Ivy Trade Caravan was refined into Ant Honey, packed into three large chests, and sent to the Huagi Mountain Treasury for storage.

The Wood Element Divine-Given Origin Force Food brought by the caravan was immediately sent to the Purple Tung Insect Nation, to be shared between Ink Orchid and Spruce.

Send Chinese Clematis back to Black Fruit Mountain.

The Purple Tung Flower bloomed, finalizing the trade with the Barley Bug Warrior.

The Dominating Throne carried Ink Orchid, traveling across various Lands of Origin Force, searching for Divine-Given Seeds...

...

Molan Mountain.

The Leigangli Divine-Given Seed had already grown to nearly three meters in height.

Black Cory stood guard at the base of the tree, with a large, dopey-looking Blue Soldier following behind.

"Great King!"

"Second King!"

Black Cory waved his tentacles in greeting.

The large Blue Soldier hiding behind Black Cory also came out, enthusiastically waving its tentacle at Dragon Cypress: Great King~

"So this is a Wood Element Soldier Ant?"

Ink Orchid jumped down, instantly appearing in front of Black Cory, raising a claw to grab the large Blue Soldier, lifting it up before their eyes to examine it.

The large Blue Soldier struggled desperately, releasing pheromones signaling enemy attack and a plea for help.

"Ink Orchid——"

Dragon Cypress called out in displeasure, then asked Black Cory, "Have you tested its ability?"

Black Cory: "Tested it!"

Black Cory: "Great King, just as you expected, the large Blue Soldier can perform the ’Flourish’ ability, but the strength is far weaker than when you cast it yourself—less than one percent, and it can only be used once a day, plus it must eat meat afterward to replenish the loss."

Black Cory: "From my observations and tests, if the ’Flourish’ ability isn’t used, Blue Soldiers and Green Ants can survive healthily just by eating refined Ant Honey made from plant fruit."

Dragon Cypress: "Black Cory, you did very well!"

Ink Orchid set the large Blue Soldier back onto the ground.

Dragon Cypress waved his tentacles, issuing a command.

The large Blue Soldier trotted up to Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress tapped his tentacles lightly, pointed at the Leigangli Divine-Given Seed, and gave another command.

The large Blue Soldier hurried up the Tubao, its tentacle touching the tree trunk, gathering all its Primordial Energy to perform a faint ’Flourish’ ability and channeling it into the trunk.

Weak!

Dragon Cypress shook his tentacles and said, "Too weak, maybe Blue Soldiers aren’t suited for this kind of support ability."

Black Cory: "That’s what I suspect too. Great King, the large Green Ant will emerge after feather transformation in two months, so we’ll know then."

Dragon Cypress flexed his tentacles and slowly walked to the Leigangli tree, looking up to examine it.

The Flourish ability works a bit like fertilizing.

After casting, its effect gradually manifests; the plant grows better, new branches are sturdy, new leaves are lush and green.

A month ago, when Dragon Cypress left, he used the Flourish ability on the Leigangli Divine-Given Seed.

After a month of growth and vitality expenditure, the effect of Flourish had long since been exhausted, and it had returned to normal growth.

Dragon Cypress channeled Origin Force, tapped his tentacles a few times, granting it four charges in a row.

Then, turning back, he said:

"Ink Orchid, you go search for Divine-Given Seeds and bring back some food too. Let’s have a little celebration."

"Celebrate what?"

"That Blue Soldiers and Green Ants can inherit the Flourish ability! This is a major event for the future development of the Ant Kingdom."

"Oh——"

"Let me take a look at my Ink Orchid first!"

Ink Orchid beat its wings and soared into the air, vanishing into the woods in the blink of an eye.

Black Cory said, "Great King, last year didn’t we dig up a lot of apricot trees? About transplanting Black Peach Tree saplings..."

Last year, Black Cory led Worker Ants to dig up the apricot trees in the Southern Sour Jujube Mountain Orchard, and Dragon Cypress directed Worker Ants to uproot those in the Cold Orchid Mountain Orchard.

The plan was to replace them all with Black Peach Trees.

Now it was already late spring, and they were close to missing the best time for transplanting.

Dragon Cypress: "The search for Divine-Given Seeds each spring and autumn must never be neglected. There’s still White Lotus Lake yet to be searched; when that’s done, I’ll send Ink Orchid to Purple Tung Insect Nation. When I return, we’ll start. I’ll handle the transport, you lead the Worker Ants in planting."

Black Cory: "Understood!"

...

Evening.

Ink Orchid came back carrying a wild boar carcass.

Black Cory went to the river gully and caught plenty of crabs, fish, and shrimp.

Dragon Cypress used clear water and froze it to create an ’Ice Pot’, continuously using his ability to keep it frozen.

Black Cory directed Specialized Blue Soldiers to use the Boiling ability, and commanded Worker Ants to handle the food.

They gathered at the foot of the Tubao, eating, drinking, and chatting leisurely.

The large Blue Soldier seemed especially sharp—it had already figured out who the real boss was and stood right next to Ink Orchid.

Ink Orchid had little appetite, and kept tossing food to it.

"Dragon Cypress, this little guy is even smarter than you. Is there any chance it could evolve into an Assistant King?"

"So far, every Assistant King has evolved from a Specialized Ant."

"Is there a big difference?"

"A big one! Specialized Ants themselves are almost like Ant Kings, while Large Ants are far inferior."

"Size?"

"Life Level! It can be crossed, but crossing two whole great tiers at once is..."

As Dragon Cypress spoke, he suddenly stood up, his gaze shifting to the Leigangli Divine-Given Seed above the Tubao.

Ink Orchid tilted its head to look as well, habitually sweeping with spiritual power, while also using the Soul-Setting ability to perceive.

Threads of Primordial Energy were gathering at the Leigangli Divine-Given Seed’s trunk, twisting into a cluster.

Amid that source of energy, a thin soul was slowly emerging.

—This little tree is already about to awaken soul consciousness?

Dragon Cypress shook his tentacles in signal.

Ink Orchid stepped slowly back.

Black Cory led the surrounding ant swarm, quickly retreating.

"Don’t use spiritual power to scan it," Dragon Cypress cautioned, also carefully backing away.

The awakening of soul consciousness in a Divine-Given Seed made only the faintest ripples, usually occurring in the dead of night and with no early warning.

This was the first time any of them had witnessed the birth of a sentient being.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid occasionally used the Soul-Setting ability to sense what was happening.

Within the mass of Origin Force,

strands of soul power were being woven into existence.

In the depth of night,

under the restraint of Origin Force, the soul power came together, as thin as drifting mist, and as small as a bean.

The Origin Force quickly dissipated.

The soul grew a bit stronger.

It’s done?!

Ink Orchid looked to Dragon Cypress.

"Wait a bit longer." Dragon Cypress was unsure, not daring to act hastily.

They continued to wait,

until midnight, when Dragon Cypress, through the Life Seed bond, sensed that the newborn soul of the Leigangli Divine-Given Seed had stabilized and an initial spark of awareness had emerged.

He gently shook his tentacles and gave a command.

Five small Worker Ants carried Source Stones up the Tubao, came to the base of the Leigangli Divine-Given Seed, and scraped down bits of Source Stone powder.

With a steady supply of Origin Force, the weak and wavering soul consciousness gradually grew firmer and more solid.

Dragon Cypress walked up alone, sending a friendly message with his spiritual power:

"Hello——"

"..."

A soul impulse returned, calm yet tinged with curiosity and affection.

Dragon Cypress immediately concluded: This is a good-natured, insect-friendly tree!

"Are the Source Stones enough?"

Dragon Cypress inquired.

—Source Stones?

Leigangli replied with a spiritual power impulse expressing confusion and puzzlement.

Dragon Cypress raised his claw. Instantly, two Specialized Worker Ants brought over a bag of Source Stones.

Dragon Cypress picked up one, "These are Source Stones!"

—Got it!

Leigangli sent back feelings of delight and fondness.

"My name is Dragon Cypress. I’m called Dragon Cypress."

Dragon Cypress, as was customary, introduced himself first.

Leigangli: "Dragon Cypress——"

Dragon Cypress: "Your name... is Leigang."

Leigangli: "Leigang——"

...

The newly awakened, fragile soul consciousness should not communicate too much at first.

After this initial exchange, Dragon Cypress stepped aside.

They remained at Molan Mountain for five days, communicating with the Leigangli Divine-Given Seed, bonding, and teaching it some basic knowledge.

Black Cory stayed behind to watch over things.

Dragon Cypress hurriedly set out with Ink Orchid.