Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 668 - 579: Source Stone, Gone_2

In Dragon Cypress's daily routine, there was now a new addition: every morning and evening, following the guidance of the Linnan Divine Tree, it trained its 'Frostfall' and 'Frost Thorn' abilities for a set period.

He kept busy all the way through winter.

Work was put on pause.

Ink Orchid, Cypress, Black Birch, and Tie Bush all relocated to the Areca Rainforest for rest, keeping company with the King Cypress's Divine-Given Seed for a chat.

Dragon Cypress was worried that Spikemoss might suddenly require a massive amount of Origin Force at some growth stage, so he started shuttling back and forth between Xianglan Mountain and the Areca Rainforest, transporting Source Stones.

Each trip carried sixty thousand pieces, making twenty round trips, stockpiling a hefty 1.2 million in one go.

During his travels, the Dominating Throne kept producing Ant Eggs, and Dragon Cypress kept an eye on things, also cultivating another hundred Specialized Green Ants for the Elephant Foot King Orchid's Divine-Given Seed.

The number of Specialized Green Ants dedicated to caring for Elephant Orchid reached three hundred.

Since Elephant Orchid had them, it wouldn't be fair to leave out Spikemoss, so he added another hundred as well.

Now that both Elephant Orchid and Spikemoss were cared for by three hundred Specialized Green Ants each, Ink Orchid got upset—it was a must to assign some to the Red Leaf Rain Tree's Divine-Given Seed too.

And so, a whole winter was spent working busily in the Areca Rainforest…

...

Silver Cypress, year 9. Early spring.

Cypress, Black Birch, and Tie Bush returned to Fragrant Silk Island to resume land reclamation.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid remained in the Areca Rainforest until the busy roving merchant trade was about to start, before hurrying back to Xianglan Mountain just in time.

Dragon Cypress, along with Ink Orchid, Silver Cypress, Fragrant Cypress, and Black Sophora, waited at the west-side mid-slope of the mountain range.

When the golden morning sun fully rose from the eastern skyline, the Snow Velvet Spider King hurried over at a brisk pace, arriving right on time.

"Snow Velvet Spider King!"

"Hello, Snow Velvet Spider King!"

"The Snow Velvet Spider King is here~"

The group greeted in chorus.

"Lord Ink Orchid, what a rare occasion, you're here this year too."

Replied the Snow Velvet Spider King.

Ink Orchid said, "I want to see the Divine-Grade Quince Olive Fruit with my own eyes!"

All eyes turned in unison toward the carapace of the Snow Velvet Spider King.

The Snow Velvet Spider King puffed up, "Glad I lived up to the mission—the Divine-Grade Quince Olive Fruit has been delivered as promised!"

As she spoke, she untied the spider silk rope securing her goods to her carapace and handed the package to Ink Orchid.

Opening the bag, inside was a slender, multicolored ceramic jar, beautifully inlaid with both interior and exterior spider silk.

Opening the lid revealed the Bee King Jelly, perfectly sealed inside.

"Wow—"

Fragrant Cypress gasped in awe.

Dragon Cypress, Silver Cypress, Fragrant Cypress, and Black Sophora all shuffled closer, surrounding Ink Orchid.

With a sweep of spiritual power: a long, oval, hard-cored nut, gleaming bright crimson, its surface ridged like a jujube pit in orderly interlacing crests, and vivid red Origin Force patterns covering the whole fruit core along the ridges.

Unfamiliar and peculiar Primordial Energy fluctuations flickered in and out.

The 'Heart of Bee King' ability granted by the Divine-Grade Quince Olive Fruit belonged to neither Strength, Life, Soul, nor any of the seven regular elemental Primordial Energy systems—it was classed as a Special Ability System.

Rare and extremely valuable among the divine grades.

"Here you go—"

Ink Orchid helped out, curling a tentacle into the jar to hook out the fruit. With a faint ripping sound, she gave it a lick, tasted the Bee King Jelly, then held it up to her eyes for a long, careful look before handing it to Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress took it, directing five small Blue Ants to quickly lap up the Bee King Jelly stuck to the fruit shell and spit it back into the jar.

Snow Velvet Spider King: "???"

Dragon Cypress said, "Snow Velvet Spider King, this year there are no particularly important trades—Fragrant Cypress and Black Sophora can handle it, so I'll sit this one out."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Alright—"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "About this Bee King Jelly..." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Dragon Cypress: "In recent years, trade volumes of Origin Force Honey have soared, and demand for Bee King Honey is increasing every year. We're running low on Bee King Jelly for sealing, so not a drop can be wasted."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "..."

Such slovenly ants and mantises~

Mind your food hygiene, will you~

I can't eat any more of your Bee King Honey~

The Snow Velvet Spider King grumbled inwardly, then called out, "Since that's the case, Fragrant Cypress, Black Sophora, come with me."

After seeing off the Snow Velvet Spider King, Dragon Cypress turned and sped back to the Ant Nest Royal Family, leaping onto the Throne.

Ink Orchid followed inside.

Under Ink Orchid's watchful gaze, Dragon Cypress carefully formed a thread of Primordial Energy at his toe, gently cut open the fruit shell, scooped out the kernel, and swallowed it whole.

The unique Origin Force Energy melted slowly inside his belly, coursing through the body along with the blood.

It was a bit similar to the Black Lotus Seed, with most of the Primordial Energy merging into the brain, reshaping and strengthening it!

—Good stuff!

—Anything connected to brains is always good!

Dragon Cypress secretly commented.

Now being a 7th age period Lord, with a King Level soul, it took only a single day to easily absorb and digest all the Primordial Energy.

Ink Orchid, who had been waiting at the cave entrance, was the first to get up.

"Dragon Cypress, how is it?"

"Excellent! But, unsurprisingly, I'll probably need one Molting Evolution to master the new ability."

"Oh—"

Ink Orchid sighed, "Desperately need a Divine-Given Seed!"

Dragon Cypress lightly tapped his tentacle, correcting, "Two seeds!"

Ink Orchid's Divine-Grade Leilian Seed was about to arrive, and the Divine-Grade Fruit granting soul system ability would be delivered in eight years. Ink Orchid would use two divine-grade talents in the 2nd age period, making huge evolutionary leaps.

Ink Orchid also sorely needed a round of Molting Evolution.

Moreover, the Divine-Grade Molan Seed was about to ripen—everyone had no shortage of resources for evolution.

The only thing in short supply was Divine-Given Seeds.

...

There was another matter…

Black Peach had eaten a Divine-Grade Ink Fruit…

Dragon Cypress made a trip to Molan Mountain to bring Black Peach back to Xianglan Mountain. After some simple preparations, Black Peach went into deep sleep to evolve into a 2nd age period Lord-Level Assistant King.

Successfully awakening the Red Crow Pattern ability.

Black Peach stayed at Xianglan Mountain for now, strengthening all the Life Seed Plants on the mountain.

Later, if time allowed, Dragon Cypress would take him around to all the Lands of Origin Force, using the Red Crow Pattern to strengthen his and Ink Orchid's Life Seed Plants in turn.

...

Spring trade wrapped up.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid quickly finished their tasks on Cloud Trace Continent, then set off for Wanglan Continent to continue the land reclamation work on Fragrant Silk Island.

...

Silver Cypress, year 10.

All the land reclamation projects on Fragrant Silk Island and Twin Pillar Island were finally complete.

The ant colony operating the island still lacked two thousand members, so Dragon Cypress stayed on the island to look after subsequent management.