Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 598 - 557: Divine Tree Shanglu

Swinging Leaf Island.

Silver Cypress guarded the mountaintop.

Tie Bush stood watch over the Swinging Leaf Iron Core Tree Divine-Given Seed.

This time, after being away for over a month, the Worker Ants had been working on their own, yet the expansion of the five Ant Nests—East, South, West, North, and Center—was still unfinished, and they were busily occupied.

There was nothing else.

After Dragon Cypress reported the situation and gave some instructions, he took Ink Orchid and Black Birch, and hurried back to Fragrant Silk Island through the night.

They waited and waited, ten days passed, and at last, the Snow Velvet Spider King came racing across the sea.

"Snow Velvet Spider King!"

"Is there news from Wave Tree Bay?"

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid called out and questioned.

Snow Velvet Spider King's mood was heavy, and he said, "That night, a large force of Blue Island's elite main troops stealthily bypassed the blockade by traversing the northern sea, taking advantage of the tsunami's momentum, and stormed Wave Tree Bay. But their main target was not the food storage base, but rather, they pressed deep into the continent's heart, heading straight for Smoke Blue Mountain where the Life Seeds of the various Kings from the Wave Tree Bay United Kingdom are rooted in the rear. Fortunately, the One Fruit Bee Queen and the others were prepared—their Life Seeds had been transformed into Tree Hearts and hidden, and thirty-four allied kingdoms in the vicinity had stationed heavy defenses. Thus, no fatal losses were suffered."

"..."

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid's hearts tightened and then relaxed.

Ink Orchid: "Good thing they were prepared."

Dragon Cypress: "As expected of the battle-hardened Old Bee King..."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "The situation is far from optimistic."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "The participating Butterfly Kings of the Saint Butterfly Tribe were not, as publicized across the continent, ten in number, but as many as sixty. While Blue Island's elites were flanking and raiding Smoke Blue Mountain, the Wave Tree Bay Allied Army decisively launched an assault of their own, attacking Blue Island and laying siege to the 'Eight Directions Land' where the Ocean God's Scepter resides..."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "But the Wave Tree Bay Allied Army, besieging Blue Island's Eight Directions Land, also failed. Casualties were heavy; the sixty Butterfly Kings of the Saint Butterfly Tribe charged fearlessly, but still failed to breach the defensive lines or even get near the Ocean God's Scepter."

Pausing, the Snow Velvet Spider King briefly added: "The elite Blue Island forces that attacked Bayonet Continent were beaten back into the ocean by the united thirty-four kingdoms. They have entrenched themselves at Yu'e Island, holding fast, and their total force there still exceeds five million."

Ink Orchid grew even more tense, six legs braced, awaiting more news.

Dragon Cypress: "So, the current situation is..."

The Snow Velvet Spider King's spiritual power and intent were heavier than ever as he spoke: "Yu'e Island is a near-shore island with an area of 13,000 square kilometers. If it is occupied by the Stone Hunt Blue Ants for more than a month, and they complete their defensive modifications, attacking it will then require several times more troops."

"The Specialized Soldier Ants of the Stone Hunt Blue Ants take about seven months to develop from Ant Egg to adult. If the Stone Hunt Blue Ants occupy it for over seven months, endless streams of Soldier Ants will feather-transform from the Ant Nest, and by then, to reclaim the island, we will have to request aid from the Zhibai Continent, whose Insect Clan Warriors are skilled in water combat."

"The location of Yu'e Island is simply too critical. If the Stone Hunt Blue Ants seize this island, they can easily land to the east, endlessly plundering the resources of coastal kingdoms. For more than a thousand kilometers of coast, both north and south of Wave Tree Bay, Stone Hunt Blue Ants will turn it into their hunting ground; to the west lies a vast sea, where they can continue hunting, endlessly collecting food resources."

"It is like a poison stinger, driven deep into the windpipe of Bayonet Continent; half the continent will suffocate from it."

The Snow Velvet Spider King heaved a long sigh: "The tides of assault and defense have shifted. The One Fruit Bee Queen and others have regrouped their broken forces, joined with the coastal kingdoms, and are now fiercely attacking Yu'e Island."

Ink Orchid: "Then..."

Ink Orchid, downcast, asked: "That means the plan to destroy Blue Island has completely failed?"

Sixty Butterfly Kings of the Saint Butterfly Tribe gave their lives, yet did not even catch sight of the Ocean God's Scepter.

The core stronghold could not be broken, nor the control of the Scepter seized; how, then, to destroy Blue Island?

The Snow Velvet Spider King did not want to speak further.

Dragon Cypress said: "So, now the battle has evolved again—into a struggle of attack and defense around Yu'e Island. And this time, unlike before, offense and defense are reversed: now it is the Stone Hunt Blue Ants defending the island, and the Wave Tree Bay Allied Army attacking it."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Yes. The Wave Tree Bay Allied Army suffered heavy losses on Blue Island and is now at a disadvantage—they are attacking fiercely, while at the same time lobbying other kingdoms on the continent for reinforcements."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "In the past three thousand years, similar battles around Yu'e Island have replayed 114 times. I do not believe the 115th time will see a reversal. I plan to return to the Shanglu Ancestral Land first to report the battle's progress. Dragon Cypress Ant King, Ink Orchid Lord, what about you two?"

Ink Orchid tilted his head and looked at Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress: "We don't intend to keep watching from the sidelines. I'm returning to Xianglan Mountain to prepare for evolution to the Fifth Age Period, and for the Awakening of the Thunder System Talent."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Good! Then you'd best return soon. Next time we meet, you can wait for me at Rainbow Island, or on Fragrant Silk Island. This Fragrant Silk Island, if you're interested, you may operate it; the three Wild God-Given Seeds on the island can be borrowed for your benefit, their yield is yours, but the ownership remains mine. I mean to nurture them to King-Level and bring them back to the Shanglu Ancestral Land. I am wildborn, with no kin of my own; the tribe nurtured me to my current stature, so before leaving, I should leave something behind for the tribe."

"Thank you, Snow Velvet Spider King!"

"Snow Velvet Spider King, you may rest assured."

"We will help take good care of them."

"We can bring over some Divine-Given Remains to strengthen them further."

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid raised their tentacles in encouragement, happily agreeing.

"Good—"

Snow Velvet Spider King lifted a claw, pointing southwards, and said, "All the coastal kingdoms know that it is I, the Snow Velvet Spider King, who occupies these two deep-sea islands. Should you encounter anyone, just present my name, 'Snow Velvet,' and say you come from the birthland of the Flame Spider Kingdom's Rainbow Island, breaking new ground and tending the Divine-Given Seeds on the island—no insect will trouble you."

"Understood!"

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Black Birch all agreed together.

The Snow Velvet Spider King also cautioned: "But do not get too involved with the insects of Bayonet Continent, especially do not reveal other Divine-Grade Fruits besides the Divine-Grade Molan Seed, to avoid arousing suspicion. As for the Divine-Grade Molan Seed, feel free to reveal it—possessing a Divine-Grade Life Seed Divine-Given Seed marks one as favored by the Natural True God, the most noble existence within the Natural God System; generally speaking, both the Ant Clan and the Bee Clan Kingdom will show you respect and welcome you."