Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 623 - 565: Red Crow Pattern

Early spring, Dragon Cypress sent White Rice back to the mountain and, along the way, helped Black Rice complete a juvenile evolution.

Afterward, Dragon Cypress hastily proceeded to Silver Cypress Mountain.

The northern wind was still cold. The snow on the mountain hadn't melted yet.

In the mountains, Mountain Persimmon was leisurely cleaning the river channels and ditches, preparing for the new year's irrigation work. Noticing the Origin Force fluctuations of the Dominating Throne flying by, it looked up briefly before darting toward its cave dwelling.

"Mountain Persimmon, how are preparations going?" Dragon Cypress, who had hunted a wild deer en route, tossed it down with a lift of his paw.

Mountain Persimmon approached and took a peek, then said, "I've finished the Origin Force Food, and there are faint signs of evolution."

"Good! Eat up, rest, and get ready to evolve." Dragon Cypress landed, a Spider Silk Bag in tow. "This is our Cloud Trace Continent's very own Ant King Honey—50,000 Source Stones per Metal Can. I've brought ten cans; that should be about enough."

"Good!" Mountain Persimmon replied.

Outside the cave dwelling, Dragon Cypress started a fire to boil water, slowly sliced the meat, and ate after blanching it. Mountain Persimmon devoured the contents of the Metal Can.

As they ate and chatted, Dragon Cypress talked about his experiences on the Wanglan Continent this year and Red Fox's impending breakthrough to Lord-Level.

Late that night, Mountain Persimmon entered a deep slumber—an evolutionary state.

「Eight days later,」

Upon waking from the slumber and successfully molting, Mountain Persimmon evolved to its 6th Age Period as a Lord before Dragon Cypress. He ate to recover.

"Mountain Persimmon, how is it?" Dragon Cypress inquired, seeing that the time was about right.

Mountain Persimmon pondered deeply, then said uncertainly, "...I've successfully comprehended a new ability... such strange Wood Primordial Energy."

As Mountain Persimmon spoke, he thought for a bit more, then got up and walked to an ordinary Sky-Blue Persimmon Tree near the cave entrance, raising his left forefoot.

"Dragon Cypress, look." With that, crimson Wood Primordial Energy concentrated at his Claw Tip.

As the ability activated, the vast Primordial Energy condensed intensely, igniting rings of red light. At Mountain Persimmon's Claw Tip, the crimson hue gradually deepened into a blackish-red.

Mountain Persimmon locked onto the main trunk of the Persimmon Tree. His paw slowly moved forward and lightly touched it.

A vivid, red and dim, blackish-red intertwined Origin Force pattern branded onto the bark. It quickly penetrated inward, finally turning into a seven or eight centimeters long, barely visible Black Ink Tree leaf-shaped Primordial Energy Imprint—the Red Crow Pattern.

Dragon Cypress and Mountain Persimmon simultaneously expanded their spiritual power sensing. This leaf-shaped Primordial Energy Imprint merged with the plant and operated continuously. It slowly extracted Natural Primordial Force and, after transformation, infused an extremely unfamiliar Origin Force Energy into the tree's trunk.

It was definitely a Wood Element Ability, yet distinct from all common Wood Element manifestations, resembling more an Exotic System Ability.

After observing for quite a while, Mountain Persimmon said, "Dragon Cypress, I can confirm that the ability doesn't have a negative effect on the plant."

"Yes—" Dragon Cypress agreed, though he also couldn't perceive any noticeable positive effect.

The 'Red Crow Pattern' is continuously active, enhancing the plant, making its branches, stems, and roots more robust, and the leaves more resilient, increasing the plant's resistance to impacts as well as its environmental adaptability. Clearly, this ability isn't instantaneous; rather, it requires a long time to accumulate, likely measured in years.

Dragon Cypress asked, "Mountain Persimmon, what do you think, how many Red Crow Patterns can a plant accommodate?"

"Not sure..." Mountain Persimmon replied. "We'll know after trying."

Dragon Cypress continued, "How about the duration? It's obvious the imprint's power will fade over time."

"I think so too..." Mountain Persimmon mused, then asked back, "Dragon Cypress, didn't you clarify when you made the trade?"

Dragon Cypress admitted, "I was so excited at the time; I forgot to ask."

At the time, hearing the introduction, he had just felt that this ability was very useful. He had been set on using the Divine-Grade White Poplar Fruit for the exchange, hoping to get a bargain, without thinking too deeply...

Dragon Cypress said, "It's not a big problem, Mountain Persimmon. Just keep trying, and you'll figure it out."

Mountain Persimmon explained, "This ability consumes a particularly large amount of Primordial Energy—one use almost depletes all my Primordial Energy reserves. I need time to rest."

"Good!" Dragon Cypress said. "First, eat your fill, then go to the Dominating Throne to recover; it's faster that way."

Mountain Persimmon continued eating to restore his Primordial Energy. Dragon Cypress lay under the Persimmon Tree, occasionally checking. No change was evident.

Mountain Persimmon awoke in the dead of night. By dawn the next day, his Primordial Energy was fully restored. Together, they approached the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed Tree.

Dragon Cypress swayed his tentacles, releasing eight Flourish Abilities.

The Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed sent a kind and intimate spiritual message, followed by a questioning spiritual message to Mountain Persimmon.

"Sky Blue, I've successfully comprehended the 'Red Crow Pattern' ability! I'm going to test its effects now," Mountain Persimmon briefly explained, lifting his right forefoot. The peculiar Wood Primordial Energy continually concentrated, his Claw Tip gradually lighting up with a red Primordial Energy glow.

Focusing all the Primordial Energy in his body and condensing it to a point, he gently touched the main trunk of the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed. A lifelike Black Ink Tree leaf-shaped Primordial Energy Imprint, with red leaves and blackish veins, took shape. It rapidly permeated the bark, becoming barely visible.

Dragon Cypress and Mountain Persimmon both extended their spiritual power for a sweeping perception, continuing to observe. The Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed also quietly sensed the changes. After a long time, it asked, "Mountain Persimmon, is this ability too weak? Could you try it a few more times?"

"Let's try—" Mountain Persimmon said, looking towards Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress understood the hint, trotted back to the cave, and moved the Dominating Throne over.

Mountain Persimmon sat on the Throne to recover.

By evening, his Primordial Energy was fully restored.

Mountain Persimmon circled the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed Tree, picked a different side, gathered his Origin Force, and unleashed another Red Crow Pattern ability.

As if drawn by a force, the Wood Primordial Energy actually flowed along the trunk, converging on the 'Red Crow Pattern' imprint made that morning. The previously faint Black Ink Tree leaf-shaped Primordial Energy Imprint became noticeably more vivid. Its rate of absorbing Natural Primordial Force and converting it into special Wood Primordial Energy increased by fifty percent.