Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 514 - 494: White Poplar Bears Fruit
In less than two months, the Purple Poppet Divine-Given Seed had already grown into a small tree just over four meters tall.
Black Peach permanently resided at Molan Mountain to take care of it.
...
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid swiftly traveled around the continent, shuttling between various Origin Force Points, searching for Divine-Given Seeds, and finally arrived at the Purple Tung Insect Nation.
Ink Orchid was anxious. As soon as she entered the Land of Origin Force, she left the Throne and rushed into the mountains and forests, beginning her search.
Dragon Cypress alone maneuvered the Dominating Throne, descending beneath the White Poplar Divine-Given Seed tree.
"White Poplar!"
Dragon Cypress called out, tentacles waving, casting Prosperity eight times onto the trunk.
Having evolved to Lord-Level, the strength of the Prosperity ability had increased, with its uses slightly raised as well—from six times to eight.
"Dragon Cypress——"
White Poplar responded cheerfully, taking the initiative, "Dragon Cypress, I can bloom now."
"Excellent!"
Dragon Cypress noticed that Cypress, Round Cypress, and Black Birch were hurrying this way, and took a brief pause, waiting for them to arrive before saying:
"White Poplar can now blossom and bear fruit. For the next twenty days or so, I’ll be transporting Source Stones to Huagi Mountain. Each night, I’ll come over to rest at Purple Tung Insect Nation. I’ll personally use Prosperity and Tranquility abilities to help White Poplar grow."
"Black Birch, every day use Origin Force Ant Honey of the Life System worth one thousand Source Stones, twice a day—morning and evening—dilute with water and apply to the leaves. Don’t be stingy."
"Understood, Great King."
Black Birch accepted.
Dragon Cypress then continued, "Now that I’m at Evolution Lord Level, the Kingdom Ant Colony needs an update and iteration, starting with the Green Soldiers and Green Ants, beginning right here in the Purple Tung Insect Nation. For the next year, all Ant Eggs produced by the Dominating Throne will be placed here in the Purple Tung Insect Nation."
"For Lord-Level Specialized Ants, the development period has lengthened. There might accumulate as many as seven or eight hundred larvae of varying sizes in the Ant Nest. Round Cypress, you must set aside time and effort to oversee their care."
Round Cypress: "Please rest assured, Dragon Cypress Ant King!"
Round Cypress hesitated slightly, then said, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Fuzzy Flower Mountain Lord has been inquiring when you might have time to reside regularly in Purple Tung Insect Nation. It hopes to borrow the Dominating Throne to break through to Evolution Lord Level."
"Hmm——"
Dragon Cypress gently tapped its tentacle.
In the Barley Bug Tribe, the three Mountain Lords—Mountain Thorn, Magnolia Bark, and Fuzzy Flower—were the most highly respected, and also the oldest.
Mountain Thorn and Magnolia Bark had grown old and given up on evolution, pooling their resources to help Fuzzy Flower Mountain Lord make the breakthrough to Lord-Level.
Fuzzy Flower was also tactful, waiting until Dragon Cypress evolved to Lord-Level before making this request.
"Round Cypress, tell Fuzzy Flower Mountain Lord that I’ll be staying all year in the Purple Tung Insect Nation. If it’s going to attempt a breakthrough, it’s best to choose either late summer or early autumn."
"Understood, Dragon Cypress Ant King."
Dragon Cypress tapped his tentacle, lifting his head to look at the White Poplar Divine-Given Seed.
Cypress, Round Cypress, and Black Birch all looked up with him.
On the lower layer of the large tree, the first nine principal lateral branches were sending forth pale green buds, quickly growing into flower-bearing branches and pushing out flower buds.
No problems here; nine flower buds, nine flowers, which meant there would be nine Divine-Grade Baihe Fruits produced in one go.
White Poplar: "No rush, Dragon Cypress. I’ll absorb a bit more sunlight, then I’ll bloom."
Dragon Cypress: "...There’s no rush."
The spiritual power from Jinhe Divine-Given Seed surged forth.
The spiritual power of Purple Tung Divine-Given Seed also probed over.
Jinhe: "Ant..."
"Little Ant."
Dragon Cypress corrected.
"Now that you’re at Evolution Lord Level, you’re not exactly little anymore," Jinhe explained, then asked, "Ant, are there results from the testing of Wood Green Ants?"
"There are."
Dragon Cypress spoke rapidly and concisely: "Both the Wood Green Soldiers and Green Ants have completely inherited my ’Forest Symbiont’ ability."
Jinhe: "What else? Be more detailed."
Dragon Cypress: "So far, observed Miniaturized Green Ants and Green Soldiers are born with a black carapace, with a very small pine-leaf-shaped spot on their backs. After four or five days of sunlight exposure, it gradually splits and multiplies, spreading dark green all over the carapace."
Jinhe: "Anything else?"
Dragon Cypress: "The energy and nutrients generated by photosynthesis are sufficient for the daily needs of the Green Ants."
Jinhe: "Anything else?"
Dragon Cypress: "That’s all."
The spiritual power of Jinhe Divine-Given Seed receded like a tide, then turned to the nearby Linnan Divine Tree and the distant Huagi Divine Tree.
Purple Tung: "Hello, Dragon Cypress~"
Purple Tung greeted, then withdrew its spiritual power to another direction.
Purple Tung didn’t know or understand much, nor did it speak much.
But she was very active, occupying the central spot of the Land of Origin Force, sending her spiritual power all around, paying attention to the exchanges between Huagi, Linnan, Jinhe, Night Fragrance, and the others.
...
The Purple Tung Insect Nation covered a vast area, with much daily business to handle.
Round Cypress and Black Birch led the ant colony off to get busy.
Dragon Cypress and Cypress stood guard beneath the White Poplar Divine-Given Seed tree.
By mid-afternoon,
The White Poplar Divine-Given Seed blossomed.
A couple more days passed, then the flowers faded and bore fruit.
Dragon Cypress began commuting between Snow Cedar Mountain and Huagi Mountain, working during the day and returning to the Purple Tung Insect Nation late at night.
The speed of the Dominating Throne had nearly doubled; it could make four trips a day, each carrying sixty thousand Source Stones, totaling 240,000 Source Stones daily.
The 4,500,000 Source Stones were moved in just nineteen days.
It was now the end of spring and beginning of summer.
And when Dragon Cypress hurried to check in at Molan Mountain again, the Purple Poppet Divine-Given Seed was already over six meters tall...
"You are——"
"Dragon Cypress."
"Oh! Lord Dragon Cypress! Black Peach mentioned you to me, the largest ant in the Xianglan Mountain Kingdom!"
"The formal title is ’Dragon Cypress Ant King,’ but you may simply call me ’Dragon Cypress,’ Purple Poppet."
"Dragon Cypress!"
"Mm——"
Dragon Cypress tapped his tentacle, casting Prosperity twice.
Purple Poppet immediately said, "That’s the Flourish ability! Black Peach and the Green Ants can do it too, but they’re nowhere near as strong as you. You really are the largest ant in the Xianglan Mountain Kingdom!"
Dragon Cypress: "...Naturally."
A short conversation was enough to judge: Purple Poppet was innately cheerful and lively, and quite close to insects.
Under the tree were arranged many plant samples and animal carcasses, presumably gathered by Black Peach leading the ant colony, teaching Purple Poppet to recognize all things in nature.
"Purple Poppet, how long has it been since your Soul Consciousness was born?"
"Fourteen solar days."
"Is Black Peach teaching you knowledge?"
"Yes. Also Thunder Oak and North Elm—they were just talking to me a moment ago."
As they spoke,
The spiritual power of Thunder Oak and North Elm reached over.
"Dragon Cypress!"
"Dragon Cypress!"
Thunder Oak and North Elm both greeted him.
"Dragon Cypress, did you finish moving the Source Stones?"
"Just finished. I came over as soon as I was done."
"And the White Poplar Divine-Given Seed?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
"It blossomed and bore fruit successfully..."
Thunder Oak Divine-Given Seed was born with great intelligence. Every time Dragon Cypress visited, it made sure to ask about many things. Over time, it had accumulated a wealth of knowledge and could now understand most things in this world.
North Elm was less talkative, but equally smart. Talking with Thunder Oak, it too had gathered tremendous information and gained considerable wisdom.
The Dominating Throne stopped beneath the Purple Poppet tree as Dragon Cypress communicated with three God-Given Life Seeds.
Ink Orchid watched for a while, then fluttered away to check on her own Great King Molan Divine-Given Seed.
"Great King!"
Black Peach, leading the ant colony and bringing freshly gathered plant and animal samples, arrived under the Purple Poppet Divine-Given Seed tree.
Unusually, this time the fellow wasn’t slacking off.
"Great King, I’m teaching Purple Poppet to identify things!"
"Black Peach. Not bad. Well done."
"It’s because Great King directed us so well."
"Enough talk. Go collect more samples. I’ll teach Purple Poppet."
"Great King, thank you for your hard work!"
Black Peach led the ant colony and scurried off...
...
Dragon Cypress spent three days at Molan Mountain, then hurried off to Southern Sour Jujube Mountain to check on things, and then returned to Xianglan Mountain.
All the Common Life Seeds had smoothly completed their transitional evolution and advanced to Lord-Level.
The most urgent matters were now resolved.
Ink Orchid stayed at Xianglan Mountain.
Dragon Cypress traveled alone to Purple Tung Insect Nation, settling down there permanently to focus on cultivating Specialized Green Soldiers.
This year, there was much to be done. Spruce and Mountain Persimmon would also need to use the Dominating Throne to break through to Evolution Lord Level.
