Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 458 - 438: The Scent of Freedom

The Dominating Throne flew slowly westward, hugging the coastline.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid lay atop the Throne, observing along the way.

They kept on until they arrived beneath the Divine Force Barrier to the west.

This place was a gentle beach.

The breeze was mild and the waves were low, making it look more suited for fishing at sea.

Ink Orchid flashed down to the sand, snatched up a crab with the tip of his claw, violently tore it in half, dipped his antenna in to taste, then forcefully tossed it away.

"This tastes awful! It's poisonous!"

"Poisonous?"

Dragon Cypress followed, landed, quickly dashed forward, dipped his antenna in some of the corpse's fluid, and gently tasted it.

It really was poisonous!

Dragon Cypress: "That's crab. Just remember not to hunt crabs from the sea. We'll fish! Let's go into the water and catch the big fish!"

Ink Orchid: "And what if the big fish are poisonous too? Dragon Cypress, we know nothing about marine life. Be careful—if your ants die, it could be a whole swath at once." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "That can't possibly happen."

Dragon Cypress: "Let's start by catching a variety of fish at sea, bring them all in, check each one, and figure out which are poisonous and which aren't. We'll select a few types that are plentiful in the sea, large, delicious, and nonpoisonous, then teach the Specialized Blue Soldiers involved in the hunt to recognize them. Only hunt the fish we know."

Ink Orchid thought for a moment, then praised, "Great idea!"

Ink Orchid turned, looking northward.

"Dragon Cypress, that's so far away!"

"By my estimate, it's about three thousand kilometers. For Mountain Lord Level Specialized Blue Soldiers and Blue Ants, a round trip march would take about a month just for travel."

"That's... awfully tiring, isn't it..."

"At the Mountain Lord stage, yes, it's tiring. After reaching Lord-Level, it should be much easier."

Dragon Cypress raised a claw, pointing to a distant mountain near the Divine Force Barrier, and said, "We'll open an outpost on that mountaintop, station Blue Soldiers and Blue Ants there. When the weather is calm, they'll go to sea and fish, stockpile food. Regularly, Cypress or Silver Cypress will lead Blue Ants to collect it and bring it back to Xianglan Mountain."

"Oh——"

"Arranged this way, it doesn't seem so tough after all."

"That mountain? Let's go check it out!"

Ink Orchid kicked off and soared into the air, flying toward the distant peak.

Dragon Cypress followed closely, circling down and landing on the summit.

"The Origin Force concentration here is pretty good!"

"There are quite a few Zilian trees on this mountain."

Ink Orchid looked around and suggested, "Dragon Cypress, let's name it 'Zilian Mountain.'"

Dragon Cypress: "Very fitting."

They examined the geology, confirmed it was suitable for building an Ant Nest, and settled the decision easily.

No hurry for now—they'd wait until they evolved to Evolution Lord Level, then transfer the retired Mountain Lord Level Blue Soldiers and Blue Ants here to stay permanently, specializing in fishing.

They rode the Dominating Throne and headed straight back to Xianglan Mountain.

Sorted out the goods and set off again to continue the autumn roving trade for the year…

...

The autumn trade ended.

After circling the continent and searching every Origin Force Point for Divine-Given Seeds, they finally returned to the Purple Tung Insect Nation.

The Dominating Throne had just approached the Central Region when a wild, brawny wave of Mental Power from Linnan Divine Tree rushed toward them: "Little Ant, where have you been?"

Dragon Cypress explained, "Surveying the terrain of the southern coast. I took the advice of the Jinhe Divine-Given Seed, so I planned to try fishing in the sea—to bolster the Ant Kingdom's food."

The spiritual power intent of Jinhe Divine-Given Seed also came over to join in.

Dragon Cypress asked, "Is the Jinhe Fruit ripe yet?"

Jinhe: "It was harvested four days ago."

Ink Orchid: "Nothing went wrong, right?"

Jinhe: "Obviously."

Jinhe: "The Ghost Fan is just one Jinhe Fruit short of breaking through and evolving. Since you didn't return, it's been so anxious it hasn't slept for four days and nights."

"Uh…"

Ink Orchid tilted his head to look at Dragon Cypress.

Activating his Soul-Setting Ability to sense, Ghost Fan was waiting in the King Nest.

Dragon Cypress: "The Ghost Fan I know isn't that kind of insect…"

Shooting the breeze, the Dominating Throne landed directly beneath the Jinhe Divine-Given Seed tree.

Yellow Stem was guarding the tree, watching over seven Spider Silk Bags.

The seven Jinhe Fruits had already been sealed and preserved in Metal Cans with Ant King Honey.

The goods were handed over.

The accounts were settled.

Ink Orchid stayed behind to chat with Jinhe Divine-Given Seed and Linnan Divine Tree, giving a brief account of the gains from this journey.

Dragon Cypress hurried back to the Royal Palace, arranged for Ghost Fan to eat well and rest in the Dominating Throne, and prepared to use the Jinhe Fruit.

Ghost Fan had always evolved steadily at the rate of one Age Period every four years, synchronized with the blossom-fruit cycle of its Ghost Fan Divine-Given Seed.

Each time the Divine-Given Ghost Fan matured and was harvested, it was sold for a tidy profit, enough to purchase ample Origin Force Food and power through another evolution.

Plus, with Dragon Cypress and Huagi Mountain's yearly aid of 200,000 portions of Divine-Given Origin Force Food, Ghost Fan was currently a seven-Age Period Mountain Lord.

It could've evolved to the eighth Age Period last year, but had delayed a year waiting for the Jinhe Fruit.

It took half a day to finish absorbing the Primordial Energy from the Divine-Grade Fruit.

Rested for half a day, then fell into deep sleep at midnight.

Dragon Cypress personally led Worker Ants to stand guard outside the King Nest.

They waited for eight full days,

Ghost Fan awoke smoothly, shed its old shell, and successfully completed an Age Period Evolution.

Dragon Cypress always attended to the activity inside the cave and immediately directed the Worker Ants to carry a large Metal Box inside.

A big box full of Ant Honey.

Ghost Fan activated its Metal Ability, controlled the box to fly and hover, tilted its head back, and poured it into its mouth.

Dragon Cypress stood quietly by, waiting patiently.

"Dragon Cypress——"

Ghost Fan suddenly paused, stared at the Metal Box, and said, "True to expectations, I've successfully grasped the 'Jinhe Pattern' ability."

"No rush. No rush."

Dragon Cypress suddenly felt a surge of eagerness in his heart. "Want to give it a try?"

Ghost Fan guided the floating Metal Box gently down, laid it flat, gathered Primordial Energy to its left antenna, bent it, and lightly traced it across the box.

Primordial Energy kept seeping in—quite a while before it finished.

On the surface of the black Metal Iron Box appeared a thin layer of slightly shinier black markings.

Dragon Cypress leapt onto the Throne, inspecting it closely.

The pattern was both familiar and foreign.

Different Insect Clan Warriors who obtained the Jinhe Pattern ability through the Jinhe Fruit would each display different 'patterns,' and the strengthening effect would also differ in strength and level.

"Ghost Fan, how's the strength?"

Dragon Cypress asked politely.

"Not bad——"

Ghost Fan didn't sound very confident.

"Let me try!"

Dragon Cypress gathered Primordial Energy at his claw tip, covertly activated the 'Rend' ability, and stabbed fiercely.

Clang.

Crack.

His claw ached.

The Metal Box dented but wasn't pierced through.

The soil and rock layer inside crumbled.

"Very strong!"

Dragon Cypress praised. "Ghost Fan, try reversing the 'Jinhe Pattern' strengthening."

"Okay!"

Ghost Fan answered simply, gathering Primordial Energy to its right antenna, bent and slid it across the Metal Box.

The black markings remained, but they very clearly sensed the reinforcement effect had disappeared.

Dragon Cypress swapped to another claw, gathered Primordial Energy at the tip, secretly activated 'Rend,' and jabbed fiercely at the Metal Box.

Without a sound, it was pierced effortlessly.

Excellent!

Dragon Cypress: "Ghost Fan, take a break and recover. I'll send Giant Cypress to hunt some fresh meat. It's morning now. At noon we'll hold a banquet to celebrate."

"...Okay."

Ghost Fan: "Dragon Cypress, can this ability break open that door to the new continent you mentioned?"

Dragon Cypress: "There shouldn't be any problem. We'll know for sure after we try."

Dragon Cypress thought for a moment, then suggested, "Winter's come, and there's nothing much to do in the territory. Ghost Fan, shall we give it a shot?"

Ghost Fan: "That's what I think too. I've gotten so many benefits from you and Huagi Mountain—if it doesn't work, big trouble."

This insect, Ghost Fan, was so honest~

Dragon Cypress spread his antennae grandly, "It's fine. Huagi Divine Tree said it would work. If not, the responsibility lies with Huagi Mountain—not with us."

Dragon Cypress paused. "Ghost Fan, recover and rest today. We'll leave first thing in the morning."

Ghost Fan: "Alright!"

...

Celebratory banquet.

The next morning,

they escorted Yellow Stem back to Huagi Mountain, and on the way delivered the seven Jinhe Fruits for storage in the Treasury.

The Dominating Throne turned south.

With Dragon Cypress's exceptional sense of direction, coupled with the Ant Clan's Heavenly Eye positioning ability, they traveled in a straight line, crossed mountains and forests, spanned the vast sea, and arrived directly at the Starship Passage.

Compared to last time,

Dragon Cypress had experienced multiple deep sleeps, eaten a large amount of Water System Divine-Given Origin Force Food, and both Dragon Cypress and the Dominating Throne had seen significant improvement in Water System Ability.

It was a breeze to dive into the deep sea, slip through the passage, and enter the cave on the Molan Continent side.

Ghost Fan looked around, and out of nowhere, uttered with a deep sigh, "So this is the Origin Force Continent? I can smell the scent of freedom."

Dragon Cypress: "...Yes."

Dragon Cypress: "Pass through this door, and ahead lies a land of unfettered freedom."

Ghost Fan's gaze fixed on the two vividly lifelike Flame Spider reliefs on the giant metal doors.

"Dragon Cypress, this really is the Jinhe Pattern ability! But it's too strong!"

Ghost Fan strode closer, touched and sensed with his antennae, tried to reverse the ability, then backed up two steps, his antennae shaking. "Way too strong. There's other metal abilities enhancing it, too. I can't budge it at all."

Dragon Cypress reminded him, "The crack! This door should either be pulled or pushed open. The crack has been locked shut by metal."

Ghost Fan leaned in to check, touched and focused for a while, then tried his ability and said in delight:

"Luckily, the metal inside the gap isn't as tough. I can use the Jinhe Pattern to reverse it and destroy…"

Ghost Fan moved around inspecting, discovered all door cracks were sealed tight, waved his antennae and said,

"I can work on it now, breaking it down bit by bit. But it's extremely hard, and will take a lot of time. The door's too thick. It'll probably take—maybe—two or three years."

Two or three years?

"No hurry…"

Dragon Cypress waved his antennae, pointed at the lower part of the door gap, and asked, "Ghost Fan, try opening a gap two to three dozen centimeters long here. I'll use Soul-Setting Ability to sense the situation on the other side… How long do you think it'll take?"

Ghost Fan bent down to inspect, thought it over, and said, "About half a month."

Dragon Cypress responded without hesitation, "That's acceptable! Let's open a breach first and see what's on the other side."

Ghost Fan said no more, inserted his antennae into the crack, gathered Primordial Energy, and swept them back and forth.

He kept at it for ages, until his internal Origin Force was drained.

Sensing, the layer of metal sealing the crack was thin, and had lost its vitality.

With practiced coordination, Dragon Cypress moved up, gathered Primordial Energy at the tip of his foreclaw, slipped it into the gap, and scraped back and forth. It was still a lot of work, and he slowly scraped out bits of metal debris.

Ghost Fan jumped onto the Dominating Throne and, using the Throne's auxiliary functions, quickly recovered his Origin Force.

When Ghost Fan had recovered, Dragon Cypress had also finished scraping off the layer of metal that had lost the Jinhe Pattern's reinforcing effect.

Ghost Fan continued.

Dragon Cypress returned to the Throne to rest and recover.

And so they took turns.