Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 488 - 468 Metal Rot and Metal Bettle

The two abilities come together?

How are they together?

A pair of matching abilities?

Under everyone’s puzzled gaze,

Ghost Fan clumsily picked up the metal can containing Origin Force Ant Honey with its front legs, gathering Primordial Energy to its antennae, brushing them back and forth, erasing the ’Jinhe Pattern’ enhancement. Another wave of Primordial Energy, which made Ling Chong feel very uncomfortable, gathered at the tip of its foreclaw.

The surface of the black metal can began peeling off layer by layer, crumbling into fine particles of sand that scattered down.

Soon, the entire metal can became a pile of black metal sand.

Ghost Fan: "Metals are held together by tiny crystalline structures. The new ability I’ve comprehended specifically destroys this structure, turning metal into rotten, loose sand."

"Wow!"

"Oh!"

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid exclaimed in surprise.

Dragon Cypress: "Ghost Fan, this is perfect! This ability can be used to break the gate to Molan Continent!"

Ghost Fan: "It’s useful to some extent, but if I go up against especially powerful reinforced metals, like those enhanced by the Jinhe Pattern, this power won’t work as well."

Ghost Fan estimated and said, "The metal used for that gate is already impressive, and the abilities applied are even stronger. It’ll probably still be hard to shake. However, I can easily destroy the metal that seals the door’s cracks."

Dragon Cypress: "That works too!"

Ink Orchid had a sudden thought and asked, "Ghost Fan, can you destroy Starship metal?"

Ghost Fan: "Definitely not that metal. That’s reinforcement far beyond King Level. I’m only a Lord now—there’s a huge gap."

Ink Orchid: "What about in the future, once you evolve to King Level?"

Ghost Fan still shook its antennae, "The destructive power of this ability isn’t enough; it seems more like a supporting ability for my second ability."

Ink Orchid: "???"

Ink Orchid: "Ghost Fan, so what’s your second ability?"

Ghost Fan opened its mouth. On the ground, the metal sand automatically flew up and into its mouth. "The second ability is that I can absorb this ’rotten’ metal sand, and after my body digests and transmutes it, it gets integrated into my carapace, strengthening it."

Ghost Fan: "The second ability is to greatly increase my carapace’s strength by devouring metal."

Ghost Fan: "The effect of the strengthening depends not on the amount of metal, but on the type of metal and the strength of the ability. The stronger the ability, the better the reinforcement of the carapace."

Ink Orchid: "Oh——"

Woodberry: "Ghost Fan is awesome——"

Dragon Cypress: "Another defense-type ability——"

The abilities that Insect Clan Warriors comprehend on their own are greatly influenced by their Racial Talent.

The Racial Talent of the Longhorn Beetle is super-high carapace hardness, so all the abilities Ghost Fan comprehends slant toward defensive nature.

Dragon Cypress is similar. The Giant-Headed Ant is all about strength talent and is deeply linked to comprehensive physique. The Wood Element Flourish ability Dragon Cypress comprehended at age 7 also requires a powerful body to sustain.

"Ghost Fan, there’s a downside to this ability!"

Dragon Cypress suddenly thought of something, "Strengthening your carapace with metal—won’t that make it even heavier?"

Ghost Fan: "That’s inevitable."

Dragon Cypress: "That’ll certainly affect your mobility, right? Also, metal is heavy—if you enter water, won’t you just sink? And in swamps, won’t you get stuck and not be able to climb out?"

Ghost Fan: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "When we get the chance, try using Divine-Given Origin Force Food like Divine-Given Northern Elm Fruit to reduce your carapace’s weight. Longhorn Beetle’s carapace is super hard but a bit less flexible. Perfectly enough, Mountain Persimmon’s Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Fruit is ripening this year; I’ll save you some."

Dragon Cypress: "Eat Divine-Given Northern Elm Fruit with Sky-Blue Persimmon Fruit, and suitably combine other carapace-enhancing Divine-Given Origin Force Food."

Ghost Fan: "Okay!"

Ghost Fan: "Dragon Cypress, thank you."

"We’re all old friends here, what’s the point of being polite."

Ink Orchid waved a claw heartily and said warmly, "Lord Ghost Fan, you haven’t named your two new abilities yet, right? Leave it to me!"

Ink Orchid immediately declared, "The first ability is called ’Metal Rot’, and the second is ’Metal Armor’. How’s that?"

Ghost Fan: "...Pretty good. Ghost Fan thanks Ink Orchid."

Ink Orchid: "Told you already, no need to be polite."

Ghost Fan: "..."

Woodberry: "..."

Dragon Cypress called out, "Food time. Let’s eat."

Dragon Cypress: "Ghost Fan, you just evolved. Rest up for a few months. When winter comes, we’ll go investigate Molan Continent."

Ghost Fan: "Okay!"

Dragon Cypress: "It’s just the beginning of autumn, and Ink Orchid and I aren’t busy. We’ll stay on Ghost Fan Mountain for a few days. I’ll use my Flourish ability to help your Common Life Seed Plants evolve..."

...

Common Life Seed Plants started slowly transitioning from Mountain Lord Level to Lord Level, one after another, after Ghost Fan evolved to Evolution Lord Level. During this period, a lot of Origin Force, energy, and nutrients are needed.

Flourish Ability helps complete the transition smoothly.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid stayed on Ghost Fan Mountain for half a month.

Early autumn, nothing urgent.

After leaving Ghost Fan Mountain, Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid went visiting Scarletlight Mountain, White Rice Mountain, Kiwifruit Mountain, and Black Lotus Lake, informing everyone about Ghost Fan’s successful evolution to Lord Level.

Then they spent a few days at Southern Sour Jujube Mountain.

Afterwards, they went to Molan Mountain to check the growth of Senior Orchid Mantis, Junior Orchid, and Northern Elm, and shared the whole process of Ghost Fan’s evolution with Thunder Oak.

They strolled around, took their time, and when time was about right, finally returned to Xianglan Mountain, rested for a few days, and set off for the autumn roving merchant trade.

Once again making a big circle around Cloud Trace Continent, they arrived at the Purple Tung Insect Nation.

Ink Orchid stayed in the Purple Tung Insect Nation to search for Divine-Given Seeds.

Dragon Cypress set out alone to Black Fruit Mountain, stayed two days, then, timing it right, took Red Moonseed and Chinese Clematis to head west toward Silver Cypress Mountain.

... 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon had already grown into a towering giant over 120 meters tall.

The branches and leaves spread out, with a new layer each year, rising upwards, clearly stratified.

Sparse golden-red persimmon fruits hung on the branches; even from dozens of kilometers away, you could smell their unique fragrance.

Mountain Persimmon stood guard under the tree, vibrating its wings, frantically emanating the aura of a Mountain Lord Level Origin Force Life, driving away birds and beasts attracted by the scent.

The soldier ants and blue soldiers Dragon Cypress left at Silver Cypress Mountain were nimble, scampering furtively up and down the branches, anxiously guarding the fruits.

The Dominating Throne flew over and parked under the tree.

"Mountain Persimmon!"

Dragon Cypress called, rapidly tapping antennae, sending out four waves of Flourish.

"Mountain Persimmon Mountain Lord!"

"We’re here to help!"

Chinese Clematis warmly greeted.

Red Moonseed darted up, body flashing and weaving, showing off her tail stinger. In a few swift moves, several birds were knocked down, and the circling flock scattered.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, you’re right on time this year. I completed Primordial Energy Quality Change yesterday; the fruits should be fully ripe for harvest by evening."

Mountain Persimmon reported the situation.

Dragon Cypress: "I’m always on time!"

Dragon Cypress unfolded its membranous wings too, rhythmically sending off Origin Force waves to help drive away birds and beasts.

"Mountain Persimmon, good news: Ghost Fan has successfully evolved to Lord Level."

"Really? That’s great! Dragon Cypress, give Lord Ghost Fan my congratulations."

"Just congratulations? Mountain Persimmon, I can bring some gifts over for you."

"That’d be a real favor."

"Not a problem, not a problem, don’t bother being polite with me..."

Dragon Cypress and Mountain Persimmon chatted idly.

Soon it was dusk, and under Dragon Cypress’s direction, the ant colony began harvesting.

Red Moonseed was slim and agile, darting up and down through the branches to help pick fruit.

After a period of busy work, all the fruit was picked.

Piled in neat stacks, 50 to a pile.

A total of 40 piles, and 6 extras.

A total harvest of 2006 fruits.

"Red Moonseed helped out, take two."

Mountain Persimmon picked up two fruits and handed them to Red Moonseed.

"Thank you, Mountain Persimmon Mountain Lord!"

Red Moonseed thanked happily.

"Chinese Clematis helped too, take one."

Mountain Persimmon picked up another and gave it to Chinese Clematis.

"Thank you, Mountain Persimmon Mountain Lord."

Chinese Clematis also thanked with a smile.

Red Moonseed and Chinese Clematis helped with the trade and knew very well how valuable these were.

A single persimmon fruit fetches as much as 600 Source Stones right after picking.

If refined into Ant King Honey and sold to the Flame Spider Caravan, one persimmon fruit can go for 700 Source Stones.

After the Flame Spider Caravan resells it, the price averages out to eight or nine hundred Source Stones per fruit.

...

Every time the Sky-Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed fruit ripens, Dragon Cypress always plans the trip, bringing Red Moonseed and Chinese Clematis to help harvest.

Mountain Persimmon always frets over the work, handing out one or two fruits as payment.

Mountain Persimmon picked up another and handed it to Dragon Cypress. "Dragon Cypress Ant King, this is for you."

Dragon Cypress: "... Mountain Persimmon Mountain Lord is generous!"

Mountain Persimmon: "I’ll eat two myself. The rest—the whole lot of 2000—will be sold."

Dragon Cypress: "1.2 million Source Stones."

Red Moonseed was quick, immediately flying onto the throne to bring down spider silk bags one by one, setting them out before Mountain Persimmon.

Chinese Clematis, experienced in trade, helped with the explanation.

This year, Dragon Cypress brought 100,000 units of regular Origin Force Ant Honey and 200,000 units of various Ant King Honey, totaling 300,000 Source Stones’ worth of goods.

"Mountain Persimmon, do you still have enough Source Stones? Need to resupply?"

"There’s less than 5,000 left—badly need a new batch."

Dragon Cypress: "In spring next year I’ll make a few extra runs and bring 300,000, enough for the next two fruitings."

Mountain Persimmon: "Good!"

Mountain Persimmon: "That makes 600,000. Dragon Cypress, you still owe me 600,000."

Red Moonseed and Chinese Clematis jumped onto the throne, picked up a large spider silk bag filled with ’Ant King Trust Cards’, counted out sixty wood plaques representing 10,000 each, put them into a medium spider silk bag, and handed it to Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress gently waved its antennae, "No rush. Mountain Persimmon, let’s go look at your regular persimmons and settle up together."

Mountain Persimmon: "Okay..."

Mountain Persimmon: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, any news on Divine-Grade Fruits?"

Dragon Cypress: "I asked the caravan to help check; nothing’s showed up yet."

The Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon is one of the best top-level Divine-Given Seeds, with a blossom-fruit cycle of five years, requiring about 150,000 Source Stones to ripen a crop, and bringing Mountain Persimmon an average annual profit of 210,000 Source Stones.

Mountain Persimmon’s Common Life Seed Plants are also very good, having been reinforced by Divine-Given Remains, earning seven to eighty thousand Source Stones a year.

Mountain Persimmon earns almost 300,000 yearly, of which 200,000 is spent buying Ant King Honey from Dragon Cypress. Plenty to grow and evolve, so now he’s always longing for Divine-Grade Fruit.

Mountain Persimmon wants a Wood Element ability to help manage the territory.

Dragon Cypress wants just such an ability as well.

They asked the Flame Spider Caravan, but there really isn’t one available.

The five Spider Kings have all agreed to keep an ear out...

Dragon Cypress: "How about this, Mountain Persimmon. Next year I’ll raise 200 Specialized Green Ants in the Purple Tung Insect Nation and send them over to help you. 100 will tend exclusively to the Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Tree, and the other 100 will rotate tending your Life Seed Plants."

Mountain Persimmon: "Great! Thanks——"

Mountain Persimmon: "What about ordinary persimmon trees? Didn’t you say these ants barely eat anything? Can you send more? I can buy them with Source Stones, or rent..."

Why do you care so much about ordinary persimmon trees?

Dragon Cypress rejected flatly, "200 is already the limit. I don’t have the time or energy to raise any more."

Dragon Cypress waved a claw, "Come on, Mountain Persimmon, let’s go check your Common Life Seed harvest."