Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 500 - 480: Ants Leap Over Vast Seas, Mantis Soars Into The High Heavens
Starship Passage, the rumbling thunder of stone wheels spinning grew louder as it approached from afar.
Red Peach was pulling its extended and widened stone slab wheelcart, racing at full speed.
Heliotrope was still just a 7-age Mid-Level Little Flame Spider, with two spider silk bags carried on its carapace, running desperately to catch up.
"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"
"Fragrant Cypress! Black Peach! Spiked Cypress! Silver Cypress..."
Greetings upon meeting,
Heliotrope untied the spider silk rope bundling the cargo, took down a spider silk bag and handed it over.
"Spider King Spurge’s Divine-Grade Ghost Lotus Seed has been delivered."
"No problem!" Dragon Cypress took it, gave it a quick inspection, and turned to hand it to Fragrant Cypress.
Red Peach raised its claw, took the other spider silk bag from Heliotrope’s carapace, and handed it over, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, this is the Divine-Grade Lightwing Seed sent by Lord White Ivy."
Everything checked out fine.
Dragon Cypress lightly waved its antennae.
Fragrant Cypress and Black Peach each carried a large spider silk bag forward, took out the metal cans inside, and pushed them through the cracks.
Six Divine-Grade Baihe Fruits.
Three of them were to settle the old debt for Spider King Spurge’s help in buying the One-Glimpse Fruit in years past.
The other three were regular sales: two for White Ivy, one for Melde.
"Ghost Lotus Seed, 1.2 million Source Stones?" Dragon Cypress confirmed with a question.
"Yes." Heliotrope replied.
Dragon Cypress: "Put it on Lord White Ivy’s account, Lord White Ivy will help pay for it."
Dragon Cypress called out: "Transaction finished, let’s settle the accounts together."
"Okay!"
"Alright!"
Red Peach and Heliotrope agreed.
Dragon Cypress: "The six million Source Stones owed for purchasing the Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit, I’ll repay after I reach Evolution Lord Level."
Red Peach: "Alright. It’s fine. Lord White Ivy has plenty of funds, no need to rush repayment."
Dragon Cypress lightly tapped its antennae.
The debt to Huagi Mountain was down to the last three million, about to be paid off.
After evolving to Lord Level, the six million owed to White Ivy could be cleared in just two or three years.
It’s not a small sum, but for the current Xianglan Mountain Kingdom, it’s nothing major.
And for White Ivy and the Luoli Caravan, it’s not a particularly painful amount anymore.
Red Peach asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, your plan is to break through to Lord Level next year?"
Dragon Cypress: "The plan is early spring the year after. Depends on the situation."
Red Peach: "Then, on behalf of Lord White Ivy, Lord Melde, Seven-Leaf Lord, Grass Dragon, Lupine, Natsumi, Silvergrass, as well as Spider King Spurge, Aconite Spider King, Wormwood Spider King, Purple Jade Spider King, Spider King Tiankui—congratulations a year in advance and best of luck!"
"...Thank you."
Dragon Cypress was momentarily choked up, and couldn’t help but feel pleased.
This was an obvious sign of Insect Clan status—even Spider Kings were invested in his progress and evolution.
Red Peach continued, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Lord Melde wanted me to ask how Mountain Lord Ink Orchid’s ’Great King Molan Divine-Given Seed’ is doing?"
"I was just about to bring that up."
Dragon Cypress said gravely, "It’s been twelve years between cycles; last spring, it bore fruit for the second time. Based on my estimation, at the Mountain Lord stage, the blossom-fruit cycle could last up to 51 years. The fruit may not mature for another 35 years. If we’re unlucky, a 63-year flower-fruit cycle isn’t out of the question..."
—That long?!
Red Peach was stunned.
Heliotrope was at a loss.
Dragon Cypress: "Molan is 69 this year. After 35 years, it’ll be 104—its body functions will begin to decline, and the chance of failure during evolution will increase. So..."
Dragon Cypress: "Red Peach, tell Melde and White Ivy to send over a Moon Peach Fruit."
Red Peach said hesitantly, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, we didn’t expect you’d suddenly need a Divine-Grade Moon Peach Fruit. The next batch of two—Lord Melde and Lord White Ivy have already promised them out..."
Dragon Cypress: "The next batch matures in three years?"
Red Peach: "Yes."
Dragon Cypress: "And the batch after that is in 22 years?"
Red Peach: "That’s right."
Dragon Cypress: "Perfect! In 22 years, Molan will be 91. Eating it then will be just right."
Red Peach: "Noted!"
Dragon Cypress: "From now on, whenever a Divine-Grade Moon Peach Fruit matures, send one to me each time. Over here on Cloud Trace Continent, I and the Assistant Kings can also use life-extending divine goods now."
Red Peach: "Got it!"
Dragon Cypress: "That’s all—no other important matters?"
"No."
Red Peach and Heliotrope answered in unison.
Dragon Cypress waved his antennae and called out, "Trade."
Heliotrope helped untie the spider silk rope securing the cargo on the stone slab wheelcart.
Red Peach took down a thick stack of stone slabs recording cargo information and handed them over.
Dragon Cypress took them and flipped through.
Heliotrope unloaded the goods,
Red Peach passed them over, verifying the goods with Fragrant Cypress, confirming quantity and quality, and tallying the value.
Black Peach directed the ant swarm to carry away the delivered items.
As usual, the trade for the Divine-Given Origin Force Food was completed first, then the Source Stones were transported...
...
One Divine-Grade Ghost Lotus Seed—to be eaten by Spiked Cypress first, for evolution to 9-age period.
One Divine-Grade Lightwing Seed—to be given to Silver Cypress, who also needs to evolve to 9-age period as soon as possible.
In Dragon Cypress’s future development plan,
The main nest’s security at Xianglan Mountain depends mainly on Spiked Cypress and Giant Cypress; both must be prioritized for strength improvement.
Over on Molan Continent, development will most likely begin from Swinging Leaf Island. Silver Cypress has inherited Water System Talent, and Dragon Cypress plans to send it there first.
Silver Cypress will lead troops, mainly responsible for deep-sea hunting, security, and warfare.
Molan Continent is dangerous—Silver Cypress needs to get stronger too.
Besides that, among Black Leaf, Black Birch, and Black Peach, one must be chosen to handle land reclamation; Dragon Cypress hasn’t decided who yet.
Black Peach is a lazybones and not very likable—should he send it over?
...
...
...
After half a month, the trade was completed.
The trading team returned to Xianglan Mountain. Dragon Cypress and Molan tidied up quickly and set out in haste, heading directly for the southern sea region.
Piercing through the deep sea Starship Passage.
Entering the tunnel that led into the deep sea.
The Dominating Throne pressed right against the Divine Force Barrier heading west, diving deep into the sea, away from Leafcutter Island, quietly resurfacing, rocketing straight up above the clouds, then turning south.
Molan perched on the edge of the Throne, staring keenly down at the sea below, then suddenly cheered and jumped up.
"Wow!"
"Endless Origin Force!"
"Oh!"
"Boundless ocean!"
Molan kicked off and took flight, flapping its wings to circle the Throne, "Dragon Cypress! Free and unfettered—Origin Force Continent without restraint!"
"The sky’s high, and the mantis can soar!"
Finished with this poetic exclamation, Molan gently patted its wings, flickered, and vanished swiftly into the clouds.
Dragon Cypress activated the Soul-Setting ability.
Molan noticed and activated Soul-Setting as well.
"Molan, don’t go running off—be careful not to expose our position."
"Don’t worry, Great King! I’ll just fly below the clouds for a bit."
"Do not leave the Soul-Setting range of perception."
"I won’t!"
Conversation ended.
Molan accelerated and immediately left the range of Soul-Setting perception.
Dragon Cypress was speechless and helpless. The Dominating Throne accelerated south. After flying about a thousand kilometers, it changed direction, heading straight east.
Molan sensed the directional change and sped back.
"Flying free feels amazing!"
"I’m not taking you with me next time."
"You wouldn’t dare!"
"Just watch me!"
"I’m not going to argue. Let’s get down to business."
Molan straightened up, looked serious, thought for a moment, and asked, "Are we heading straight for Swinging Leaf Island?"
Dragon Cypress: "Yes."
Molan: "When will we get there?"
Dragon Cypress glanced back; the sun hung slanting in the western sky.
Dragon Cypress: "Late at night."
Dragon Cypress: "We’ll rest at sea for the night and cross in the early morning."
...
At dawn.
The Dominating Throne entered Swinging Leaf Island, slowed down, and landed at the foot of the mountain under the Divine-Given Ironheart Wood Seed tree.
"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"
The Tie Bush living by the nearby water channel scuttled over quickly, drawing close.
"Tie Bush, hello! I’m Molan! An Orchid Mantis Warrior. I’m Dragon Cypress’s best friend."
Molan greeted enthusiastically, introduced itself, and carried a spider silk bag as it leaped down from the Dominating Throne.
"Hello, Molan—"
Tie Bush responded, but suddenly looked downhearted, and said, "Swinging Leaf is a Demon Flower Mantis. It was my best friend..."
Dragon Cypress: "Go back a hundred million years, Orchid Mantis and Demon Flower Mantis were of the same race. Tie Bush, from now on, both Molan and I are your friends."
Molan: "That’s right! That’s right! And we can introduce you to lots more friends."
Molan opened the spider silk bag, took out three metal cans, and said, "Tie Bush, these are Origin Force Ant Honey we carefully selected and made for you—try it! It’s delicious."
"Thank you—"
Tie Bush leaned in to take a look.
Molan unscrewed the metal can’s lid and passed it over.
Tie Bush raised a pincer limb to clamp it, held it up for a closer look, paused for two seconds, then moved it to its mouth.
The twelve tentacles around its mouth worked together, dipping into the can for honey and feeding itself.
The way crabs eat is quite different from the Insect Clan.
Molan and Dragon Cypress watched in fascination for a while before realizing.
Molan suddenly shouted, "Tie Bush, stop! Eat less!"
"Oh—"
Tie Bush stopped abruptly, looking a little nervous.
Dragon Cypress reminded, "Tie Bush, don’t eat too much Origin Force Food at once. These three cans are more than enough for you to evolve to 2-age period."
Dragon Cypress: "The can you’re eating now is for comprehensive physique strengthening. A suitable amount is enough."
Molan rummaged and took out another can, "This can is mainly for carapace enhancement, made with Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Ant King Honey. Tie Bush, eat this one first."
Molan took out one more can, "This one is a mixed-type for Life System enhancement. You can eat a bit more of this one."
Molan: "We packed them at 5,000 Source Stones per can. You’re only a 1-age High-Level, so you can’t eat that much—just taste a little of each."
Tie Bush was a bit confused: So am I supposed to eat, or not eat? Should I eat more or less?
Tie Bush slowly turned to Dragon Cypress, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, what are Source Stones?"
Dragon Cypress jumped onto the Throne, took down a bag, opened it to display, and explained, "Source Stone is a kind of naturally formed ore that highly concentrates and condenses pure Origin Force. It has many uses—a practical kind of currency."
Dragon Cypress pointed to the Divine-Given Ironheart Wood Seed tree and said, "When the Divine-Given Ironheart Wood Seed matures, you can use Source Stones to replenish its Origin Force. That way, you not only prevent fruit maturation from greatly draining its own Primordial Energy and harming itself, but also improve the quality of the seeds it yields."
Dragon Cypress: "I’ve brought over twenty thousand Source Stones this trip. Tie Bush, keep them—they’re for when the fruit ripens. The method is simple: crush with pincers and the Origin Force will be released..."
Tie Bush: "Oh—"
Tie Bush: "I understand that part."
Tie Bush asked anxiously, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, are Source Stones very valuable?"
Dragon Cypress: "Not especially—they’re a common consumable."
Dragon Cypress discovered that Tie Bush had only learned some basics of flora and fauna from a Demon Flower Mantis warrior named ’Swinging Leaf’. Stranded on a deserted island, there were still many basic things it didn’t know.
Dragon Cypress patiently began to explain things to Tie Bush.
PS: Brothers, it’s almost the end of the month—begging for your monthly ticket. Monthly tickets are important now; with 1000, the author can enter a prize draw.
