Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 465 - 445: All Members Gather

The autumn-to-winter season in the north, with the north wind howling.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid traveled across the continent, the Dominating Throne carrying Red Moonseed and Chinese Clematis, arriving at the Purple Tung Insect Nation together to overwinter.

Spruce came up to greet them.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

"Ink Orchid, Red Moonseed, Chinese Clematis."

After greeting everyone, Spruce flew alongside the Throne, chatting and asking, "Ink Orchid, did you manage to collect your own Life-Given Divine Seed smoothly?"

Ink Orchid: "Of course! I got one. Dragon Cypress got one."

Spruce: "So, are you planning to evolve to Age 6 next spring?"

Ink Orchid: "Yes."

Ink Orchid took the initiative to ask, "Spruce, you’re almost there too, right?"

Spruce: "Yes. I’m also planning to evolve to Age 6 Mountain Lord early next spring. Dragon Cypress Ant King, what do you think, do you have time?"

Dragon Cypress: "I have plenty. This winter is pretty free, Ink Orchid and I will stay at Purple Tung Insect Nation and study under Linnan Divine Tree. We’re in no rush next spring either, just tell me half a month in advance when you need to use the Dominating Throne for your evolution."

Spruce: "Then I’ll thank you in advance."

Spruce switched the topic, teasing, "Chinese Clematis, Diluo’s been standing by the riverbank every day for the past half-month, looking out, hoping you’ll come play."

Chinese Clematis replied earnestly, "We’re not Little Warriors anymore, not mischievous. Diluo probably has something to discuss with me."

The Dominating Throne landed, and Chinese Clematis took off running, dashing toward the mountain where Diluo and Wuye lived.

Dragon Cypress walked on the ground, visiting Huagi, Linnan, Jinhe, Night Fragrance, and the five old trees of Purple Tung one by one.

On the way, he checked on the mutant Dome Leaf Berberis that was grafted last spring by ’branch grafting’.

It’s a very simple and practical method for grafting:

Cut a piece off a mutant branch and graft it onto 11 native Dome Leaf Berberis trees.

Once the graft takes, cut off the native Dome Leaf Berberis branches so all the nutrients go to the grafted branch.

After a year’s growth, the branches had grown over a meter long, with side branches sprouting.

Next year, more side branches can be cut for grafting, plus flowers and fruits can be left to harvest seeds.

With both grafting and seed propagation, in two or three years you can expand to scale, and after five or six years you’ll have mass seed harvesting and enter the iteration and optimization stage.

It’s not a complicated task—just leave it to Round Cypress, Black Leaf, and Black Birch.

After Dragon Cypress took a quick look, he led Ink Orchid, Spruce, and Red Moonseed to the White Poplar Divine Seed tree.

"White Poplar. Giant Cypress."

"White Rice. Mulberry."

There was no training today, and everyone was gathered beneath the tree, eating, drinking, and chatting.

After greetings,

Ink Orchid enthusiastically recounted the Natural Godsend encounter to White Rice and Mulberry.

Getting two Divine Seeds at once—Ink Orchid’s excitement hadn’t faded.

Dragon Cypress listened for a bit and got bored, so he approached the White Poplar Divine Seed, tapped it with his antennae, giving it four doses of ’Flourish’.

Six White Poplar Fruits were set, their skins turning lighter in color, suggesting they’d mature at next year’s end of autumn.

"White Poplar?"

"Mm—"

"Cold?"

"Not cold—"

The wind had been blowing for days, the sky overcast and temperature dropped fast, making White Poplar enter a semi-dormant state.

Dragon Cypress tapped with his antennae again, giving it another four doses of ’Flourish’.

White Rice suddenly turned and asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, we’re done with our tasks. Can Mulberry and I return to our territory now?"

Dragon Cypress: "No rush, the White Poplar Fruit is about to mature."

White Rice: "Still a way to go. Won’t happen until next year. The first batch is only six fruits—there aren’t enough to go around, and besides, everyone’s young and not in a hurry."

Mulberry: "Isn’t Ghost Fan Mountain Lord getting a bit old? Let Ghost Fan have one first?"

Dragon Cypress: "Ghost Fan is already preparing to evolve to Evolution Lord."

Dragon Cypress: "Nothing much needs doing this winter, so let’s have a big gathering. All the warriors who fought the Termite Kingdom back then, I’ll bring everyone over, we’ll hold a feast, celebrate grandly, and discuss the future distribution of White Poplar Fruit."

Dragon Cypress: "The White Poplar Fruit, the first one gives 50 extra years of life, the best deal; the second one gives 30 years, still quite good; the third only 10 years, so it’s more optional."

Dragon Cypress: "Everyone can discuss and plan, see who doesn’t need a third fruit, and who needs more and is willing to buy."

Ink Orchid: "If you don’t need a third one, you can sell it in advance and exchange for resources needed for evolution and growth."

Red Moonseed responded eagerly, raising a claw and asking, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, I want to buy one... Can I pay in installments?"

Dragon Cypress: "No."

Spruce: "I want to buy one too... but I’ll need Huang Qian to ask the Banner Divine Tree..."

Dragon Cypress: "Such a small matter—Huang Qian can decide on his own."

Mulberry: "My three White Poplar Fruits are just enough. I’ll eat two myself, and give one to Areca."

White Rice lapsed into thought.

Dragon Cypress: "It’s cold up north. White Rice, after a few days of work, use your Earth System Abilities to build a temporary palace about 300 meters from the White Poplar Divine Seed, just for warmth. We’ll gather there, and tear it down afterwards."

White Rice: "Okay."

Dragon Cypress: "A windbreak wall is needed under the Purple Tung Divine Seed tree, and later we’ll invite the Barley Bug Warriors over for a lively get-together."

White Rice: "..."

White Rice: "All right, then."

...

The Insect Clan warriors who fought in the Termite Kingdom campaign included Ghost Fan, Mulberry, Spruce, White Willow, White Rice, Black Rice, Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, and Mountain Persimmon.

The ones who didn’t participate were Huang Qian, Woodberry, Areca, Red Moonseed, and the later-born Chinese Clematis.

Dragon Cypress rested for five days, then piloted the Dominating Throne, crisscrossing north and south to bring everyone to Purple Tung Insect Nation, gathering in the temporary palace.

Ink Orchid and Spruce were busy entering the edge of the Land of Origin Force, hunting all sorts of fresh meats.

Round Cypress, Black Leaf, and Black Birch organized the Specialized Blue Soldiers to portion food, boil broths, and prepare utensils.

Dragon Cypress, in a generous mood, laid out 2000 pieces of Divinely-Bestowed Huagi Pine Seeds produced this year by the Huagi Divine Tree as snacks.

He also brought out Ant King Honey worth 100,000 Source Stones as dipping sauce.

Everyone helped themselves freely.

After eating and chatting for a while, they got down to business.

Dragon Cypress: "As agreed, after I evolve to Lord-Level, for every batch of divine-grade fruits produced by the White Poplar Divine Seed, three will be handed out to the warriors who fought that year."

"At present, I am a 7th-Age Mountain Lord, and in about two years I’ll evolve to Age 8. I’m not far from Lord-Level—could be 16 years soonest, 32 years latest."

Dragon Cypress: "After I evolve to Lord-Level, it’s another 16-year wait for the White Poplar Fruit to be produced. By then, some of you may need it."

Dragon Cypress: "The first White Poplar Fruit gives 50 years more life—the best deal. We can distribute them one by one. White Willow doesn’t have a Divine Seed and is slow to evolve—White Willow will definitely need one..."

"I have a Divine Seed..."

White Willow retorted sheepishly.

Dragon Cypress: "That Divine Seed of yours doesn’t cut it."

Dragon Cypress: "Mulberry’s evolution isn’t fast enough either."

Dragon Cypress assigned, "When I reach Lord-Level, the first batch of White Poplar Fruits will go to you all: one for White Willow, one for Mulberry, and the third one..."

Dragon Cypress: "Try to figure for yourselves: which of you, in 32 to 48 years, won’t be able to evolve to Lord-Level? If you can’t reach Lord-Level by then, odds are you’ll need it."

The insects eyed each other, and finally everyone’s gaze fixed on the least-evolved Blue Catalpa.

"Me?"

Blue Catalpa: "Thanks, everyone."

Snakebark Maple: "Blue Catalpa and I are barely in our thirties, so we’re still young, right?"

White Rice: "So aside from White Willow and Mulberry, no one else really needs it? Either Black Rice or I could eat one."

Black Rice: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, I’ve discussed with White Rice. We’ll each eat two, and the extra two we can sell or swap for evolution resources."

White Rice: "Huang Qian, want to buy?"

Huang Qian: "Of course."

Huang Qian: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, you decide the price for everyone."

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple, thinking the same about selling one, quickly agreed, "Yes! Let Dragon Cypress Ant King set a unified price."

Dragon Cypress: "As for life-extending divine goods, the Flame Spider Roving Merchants buy at 15,000 Source Stones per year and sell at about 20,000 per year. Special cases might cost more."

Dragon Cypress: "All nine Assistant Kings in the Xianglan Mountain Ant Kingdom need it. I won’t take a cut—the Divine-Grade White Poplar Fruit, I’ll buy back at a flat 1,000,000 per piece."

Huang Qian: "..."

The price—Huang Qian was speechless.

White Rice said, "Black Rice and I sell two, trade for two million worth of premium Origin Force Ant Honey, best if you can add some Ant King Honey."

Dragon Cypress picked up the stone slab he’d prepared and agreed, "No problem! Two hundred thousand a year, I’ll pay you over ten years."

Blue Catalpa pushed down Snakebark Maple’s claw, shouting excitedly, "We’re also selling two, two million Source Stones, preferably as Ant King Honey."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

What are you going to do with that much Divine-Given Origin Force Food?

One male Green-Red Kiwifruit Divine Seed can’t support you burning through resources like this.

The smart play is to evolve to Lord-Level sooner, raise your territory’s profits, and then make new plans after Lord-Level.

Dragon Cypress tapped the stone slab with his toes, annoyed, "You two hold your horses. I’ll talk to you about this later."

Dragon Cypress turned, "Ghost Fan, what about you?"

Ghost Fan’s antennae swayed, "I’ll eat one, Mulberry eats two, that’s just right."

Dragon Cypress: "Mountain Persimmon, how will you allocate yours?"

Mountain Persimmon: "I... I want to trade a divine-grade fruit—something with an ability type, to help manage the territory... I want to reclaim more land and plant more persimmon trees."

Mountain Persimmon’s Sky Blue Persimmon Divine Seed’s yield is extremely high—ordinary Origin Force Food just can’t satisfy him anymore.

Dragon Cypress: "How many White Poplar Fruits will you keep? How many sell?"

Mountain Persimmon: "Can exchange them all away."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "I’ll ask the Flame Spider Caravan for you."

Dragon Cypress asked again, "White Willow, what about you?"

White Willow: "I’ll eat two myself? Black Cory one?"

Dragon Cypress: "Black Cory doesn’t need you to worry. So you’re selling one?"

White Willow: "...I guess."

Dragon Cypress: "Huang Qian, your plan?"

Huang Qian groaned, "I’ll buy two."

Red Moonseed piped up, "I want to buy one, but I have no Source Stones, is it possible..."

Dragon Cypress: "Red Moonseed, you’re still young, at Mountain Lord Level you won’t lack for resources. No rush—consider it after you evolve to Lord-Level."

No need to ask Mulberry anymore.

Dragon Cypress quickly finished taking stock, did a quick count, put away the stone slab, and said:

"Starting next year, I’ll provide White Willow, White Rice, and Black Rice with Origin Force Food at 100,000 Source Stones per year. Resources needed to go from Lord-Level to King-Level are immense. It’s a long, tough journey of life, so everyone, try hard—the sooner you evolve to Lord, the better your shot at becoming King."

The insects all chimed in agreement.

Dragon Cypress: "Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, save your 2 million from selling your White Poplar Fruits. I’ll give you 20 years; if, within 20 years, you get another Divine Seed, I’ll help you with Divine-Given Origin Force Food. If not, you two better just eat Origin Force Ant Honey and evolve properly."

Blue Catalpa: "Oh—"

Snakebark Maple: "Oh—"

Dragon Cypress: "Business is done. Let’s eat."

Dragon Cypress called out, and the feast continued.

It started at noon and lasted until late at night.

The next day,

Dragon Cypress gathered the Barley Bug Warriors, and everyone assembled once more under the Purple Tung Divine Seed tree for an even grander banquet.

Sixty to seventy Insect Clan Warriors gathered—a rare carnival.

Huagi, Linnan, Jinhe, Night Fragrance and several other old trees even wafted their spiritual power over to liven things up. Jinhe’s Divine Seed was especially chatty, sharing strange tales and anecdotes from Cloud Trace Continent.

It was as if they’d returned to the flourishing, abundant Origin Force Era.

Suddenly the Huagi Divine Tree asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, how much Origin Force Ant Honey did you use for the banquet?"

Dragon Cypress: "Not much, just over 100,000."

Huagi Divine Tree: "Huang Qian, how much Origin Force Ant Honey has Huagi Mountain stored these years?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Qian immediately sensed trouble. "Not much, not much. Not even thirty million yet."

Huagi Divine Tree: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Huang Qian, hurry back to Huagi Mountain and bring another 200,000 Origin Force Ant Honey for everyone to enjoy."

Huang Qian: "...Okay."

Huang Qian’s heart bled.

...

Huagi Mountain sponsored the revelry.

The originally one-day feast was extended to three days.

Everyone gathered under the Purple Tung Divine Seed tree and spent three bustling days eating before it finally ended.

Dragon Cypress busied himself sending the insects back to their respective territories.

On the way back,

heavy snow fell, and Purple Tung Insect Nation entered a frozen winter.

Dragon Cypress, under the guidance of Linnan Divine Tree, diligently practiced combat skills.

Ink Orchid lay on the Dominating Throne, using the throne’s support features to speed up the gestation of her Life Seed.