The year 141 of Silver Cypress.

During the spring trading season for roving merchants, Snow Velvet Spider King arrived a few days late.

Dragon Cypress activated Whirl Beast's devouring ability and Ice State, parading with Ink Orchid on the sea surface to greet.

"Hmm—"

Snow Velvet Spider King, knowledgeable as it was, sensed something from afar and vibrated its spiritual power to congratulate: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, you truly are a genius! Such a massive and complex ability, yet you successfully condensed the Divine Pattern so quickly! Even Blood Root Spider King would admire you."

Blood Root Spider King was acknowledged as the smartest spider in their Shanglu Ancestral Land.

Dragon Cypress, feeling quite proud, replied courteously: "It's luck, mere luck. Thanks also to your unstinting support, Snow Velvet Spider King."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "I was just doing my best. The first time we met, I felt you were no ordinary ant. I never misjudge insects. Was I wrong?"

Dragon Cypress: "Snow Velvet Spider King's eyes are sharp! I was fortunate not to fail!"

"..."

Ink Orchid coldly scanned back and forth over Dragon Cypress and Snow Velvet Spider King.

Two shameless insects.

Lightning flashed on Snow Velvet Spider King's body, and with a leap, it accelerated closer, jumping onto Whirl Beast's head.

Dragon Cypress's mind was stirred once again, and asked: "Snow Velvet Spider King, if I remember correctly, is your movement ability called 'Electric Flicker'?"

Snow Velvet Spider King instantly understood Dragon Cypress's intention and explained: "I comprehended an ability to accelerate with the Thunder System, called 'Electric Flicker,' then combined it with 'Flash Strike,' forming a simple yet practical Thunder System movement ability."

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, take a close look!"

After that, its Thunder System Primordial Energy glowed, and with a sizzle, its figure transformed into a streak of silver-purple lightning, flashing out over a hundred meters.

Dragon Cypress simultaneously activated Scorching and Super Brain abilities to observe.

Snow Velvet Spider King continuously used its ability, zigzagging in Z-shape, traversing left and right, disappearing a kilometer away in a blink, then turned around and dashed back in a straight line.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, how is it?"

"This ability... is difficult to learn..."

Dragon Cypress shook its tentacles helplessly.

To condense the Divine Pattern with just the 'Flash Strike' ability was no less difficult than the 'Whirl Beast Devouring.'

Snow Velvet Spider King diverted the topic and asked: "Is the Divine-Grade Black Lotus Seed maturing and ready for harvest this year?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Ink Orchid: "Yes!"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Will Ink Orchid use it?"

Ink Orchid: "My ability's progress is also not smooth; I urgently need Super Brain assistance. Snow Velvet Spider King, I might bother you next year to activate 'Touch of Origin Fire' for observation and learning."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "...alright."

Is condensing four system form ability Divine Patterns within seven years considered not smooth?

Do you even know how hard my Snow Velvet Form took?

Mantis is too hypocritical.

Snow Velvet Spider King jumped topics again and asked: "Is there a Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit item conferring Soul System Talent available this year? Which Assistant King is it meant for?"

Dragon Cypress: "Cypress and Silver Cypress need to command Specialized Blue Soldiers to assist my Whirl Beast Devouring in battles; those two are prioritized."

Dragon Cypress voluntarily said: "Dark Maple Dragonfly King sent Butterfly King Nupur to Rainbow Island, mainly to invite me to participate in the next war between Wave Tree Bay and Blue Island. Snow Velvet Spider King, what do you think?"

"King Cypress didn't get exposed, right?" Snow Velvet Spider King queried cautiously.

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress countered: "Do the Saint Butterfly Tribe know about the 'Law Divine Tree'?"

—Absolutely!

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Didn't attract its attention?"

Dragon Cypress: "Attention was drawn, but I managed to gloss it over. However, it's best to minimize other insects visiting the island. If someone has keen eyesight and sharp primordial energy perception, detecting anything amiss, it would be troublesome."

"Furthermore, Ink Orchid and I possess many unique Life Seed Plants from the Northern Hemisphere, hard to explain their origin. We claimed they were obtained in Shanglu and the Thousand Reef Islands, but judging by the way, Butterfly King Nupur didn't entirely buy it. Fortunately, it was only interested in the Divine God-Given Seed, not paying attention to these details."

"...Everyone should be cautious."

Snow Velvet Spider King paused, returning to the main subject: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, here's the plan. In the next war, you take Cypress and Silver Cypress to Shizhi Mountain Fortress to observe."

"Only observe, not participate. I'll inform Dark Maple Dragonfly King and White Crystal Butterfly King. Dragon Cypress Ant King, your strength is formidable, but not formidable enough. Don't reveal yourself yet. Kirin Beast Ant King is out in the open while you're in the shadows, watching it. At the right time, find the right opportunity to eliminate Kirin Beast Ant King, this hidden threat."

Dragon Cypress nodded solemnly with his tentacles, "That's my intention too!"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, we can formally plan the preparation to eradicate Blue Island's food. What are your plans?"

Dragon Cypress: "The matter is urgent, but Assistant Kings lack strength, so I'll have to personally take action."

Dragon Cypress: "Over at Cloud Trace Continent, the number of Specialized Blue Ants hunting at sea has increased from the original 10,000 to 20,000. At Wanglan Continent, I'll personally lead 30,000 to 50,000 Specialized Blue Soldiers, annually venturing out to sea, east and west, until the Divine Force Barrier, catching fish in the deep sea. In the Eastern Sea Region, I can move somewhat south too..."

...

Whirl Beast carried Snow Velvet Spider King and Ink Orchid ashore, as usual, first looking under the King Cypress.

A Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit conferring Soul System Talent, worth over 50 million Divine Grade, Dragon Cypress returned personally to trade in Cloud Trace Continent with Snow Velvet Spider King.

...

Rednan Mountain, Trade Cave.

The transportation of 100 million Source Stones sent this year is already completed.

The passage is piled full of mountains of Source Stones.

Ghost King Woonyoung and Red Peach are nowhere to be seen.

The Little Flame Spider known as Chasing Wind had already reached Mountain Lord Level over a decade ago and hasn't come to trade since.

During these decades, Wave Tree Bay also sent a Little Flame Spider named 'Thrust' for trading, but after quickly advancing through the Mid-Level and High-Level warrior stages, it stopped coming.

Heliotrope is still here, currently tallying Source Stones with Fragrant Cypress and Black Sophora.