Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 721 - 596: Farewell_3

After the Golden Frost Lord broke through and became the Golden Frost Insect King, the first batch of Divine-Grade Shashuo Fruits of King Level is now delivered.

Ink Orchid uses it.

But Ink Orchid is missing one Divine-Given Seed to complete evolution.

Dragon Cypress is preparing to break through to King Level as well, also in urgent need of a Divine-Given Seed.

Luck hasn't been good, and there have been no gains so far.

...

Year 57 of Silver Cypress.

Late spring.

Cicada Orchid Mountain.

The Dominating Throne had just entered the Land of Origin Force. Ink Orchid, standing atop the throne's backrest, suddenly unfurled her wings and cried out excitedly:

"Dragon Cypress! Origin Force fluctuations of a Divine-Given Seed!"

"Great!"

Listless and languid atop the throne's soft cushion, Dragon Cypress's drooping tentacles straightened with surprise, and he leapt up in joy.

After so many years, it's finally here!

"Ink Orchid, which direction?"

Dragon Cypress asked, urging the Dominating Throne to accelerate.

"That way—"

Ink Orchid lifted a claw and pointed into the distance, then with a gentle spring of her legs, her form flickered and she plunged toward the Land of Origin Force.

Dragon Cypress again urged the Dominating Throne forward at full speed, swiftly following.

Mid-mountainside, in the cypress forest.

Silver Cypress No. 2003.

Planted in the same batch, the other cypress trees are just over twenty meters tall.

This one, guarded by Ink Orchid, is noticeably much taller—the trunk soaring past twenty-five meters.

Past the season of blossoms, the tree is decked with many green cypress fruits, one of which emits a faint Origin Force fluctuation.

"Dragon Cypress?"

"Preliminary judgment: this is a robust seedling that was overlooked during sapling selection."

"Triggered a Law Divine-Given blessing?"

"Unlikely..."

"Enhanced effect is still body optimization? Can it reach top-level?"

"It can!"

"Fourth of the King's Cypresses! Ranked fourth in the Silver Cypress series."

"..."

Dragon Cypress tipped his head back, scrutinizing the tree intently.

After careful inspection, he confirmed once more: this Silver Cypress No. 2003 had no other mutations, just overall more vigorous and luxuriant growth.

Accordingly, it also bore a slightly larger crop of fruit.

It was a robust tree and rather prolific.

Its number could be updated to Silver Cypress No. 2004 and, as a mother plant, it could be used in a limited new round of iteration.

Dragon Cypress entered the sub-nest, summoned a crew of worker ants, and sent them up the tree to pick off excess green fruits.

They had only just set fruit; full maturity was still a ways off.

Ink Orchid remained on guard duty.

Dragon Cypress hurried off to the Purple Tung Insect Nation to bring over Black Persimmon for assistance...

...

In late autumn, the Divine-Given Seed from the Fourth King Cypress is harvested.

Dragon Cypress nurtures it within his Life Pouch, wary of bad luck—lest another ten-plus years pass without finding a new Divine-Given Seed, thus disrupting the rhythm for breaking through to Insect King.

...

Year 59 of Silver Cypress.

Rednan Mountain sub-nest, Trade Cave.

Red Peach waited together with Heliotrope at the tunnel entrance; they'd already been waiting a long time.

They greeted each other.

Heliotrope first thrust a Spider Silk Bag over. "Dragon Cypress Ant King, a Divine-Grade Fruit with the Life System Talent!"

"Excellent—"

"Heliotrope, you have my gratitude."

Dragon Cypress opened it, glanced at the contents to verify, then nodded. "Aconite Spider King also worked hard. Heliotrope, convey my thanks to the Aconite Spider King."

Heliotrope: "Aconite Spider King came in person—it made a special trip here to say farewell to everyone. Aconite Spider King asked me to relay this: Dragon Cypress Ant King, Snow Velvet Spider King, thank you for all you've done for Seven-Leaf Spider King over the years. It hopes your friendship will continue after its departure."

At these words, both Snow Velvet Spider King and Dragon Cypress were taken aback.

Snow Velvet Spider King: "The Old Aconite Spider is leaving?"

Heliotrope: "...Yes."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "With Aconite Spider King's abilities, surely it's had enough life-extending Divine Good—staying another hundred or two hundred years would be easy. Why leave in such haste?"

Heliotrope: "Seven-Leaf Spider King has successfully advanced to Age Period 4. The key trade authorities passed down by Aconite Spider King have been completely inherited and run steadily for decades now. The transition between Seven-Leaf Spider King and Aconite Spider King, new and old, has gone smoothly."

"In this leader selection, Seven-Leaf Spider King can no longer compete with White Ivy Spider King, especially with Snow Velvet Spider King's support. In the entire Flame Spider Kingdom, among both the elder and newer Spider Kings, none can compare to White Ivy Spider King."

"Aconite Spider King said it doesn't mind losing; you're all of one lineage anyway. Even if it's lost, it only loses half—there's nothing keeping it in the Origin Force Star Realm now. Staying would mean squabbling with Spider King Pickerelweed every day, which is pointless. So it's heading out first."

Heliotrope: "Aconite Spider King has already revealed the origin of the life-talented Divine-Grade Fruit to both Seven-Leaf and White Ivy Spider King, introducing them to each other. Snow Velvet Spider King, if you need one, you can ask either Seven-Leaf or White Ivy at any time—they can get it for you."

"..."

"Alright—"

"Then let's wish Aconite Spider King all the best."

As Snow Velvet Spider King spoke, there was a trace of guilt in his voice.

He could sense the Aconite Spider King's bitterness and despair...

If not for his own involvement in the leader selection, chances are Seven-Leaf Spider King would have triumphed in the end...

Dragon Cypress added: "Aconite Spider King possesses extraordinary wisdom—I believe it will achieve greatness in the outworld as well, and carry on the glory of the Star Realm..."

Dragon Cypress, too, felt somewhat guilty.

He had witnessed every detail of the transactions between Snow Velvet and White Ivy, but did not warn Heliotrope or Seven-Leaf. By the time they discovered it, White Ivy's plan was already in motion, and the Divine-Grade Fruit trade was established—no spider could rival it.

Dragon Cypress: "Heliotrope, please pass on my gratitude to Aconite Spider King for its care over the past century. Tell it to rest assured: as long as Ink Orchid and I remain in the Origin Force Star Realm, Seven-Leaf Spider King's share of Divine-Grade Fruit will never be lessened by a single one."

Heliotrope: "Thank you, Dragon Cypress Ant King."

Heliotrope: "I will remember."

Red Peach, somewhat sentimental, said, "Spider King Spurge has decided to leave together with Aconite Spider King—they're the same bloodline, mutually trusting, taking care of each other."

"Spider King Spurge is leaving too?"

Dragon Cypress's heart surged with countless feelings; he, too, could not help but be gripped by sadness.

Spider King Spurge is a spider of gentle temperament and great compassion. Back when Dragon Cypress was but a Junior Warrior, all the way to today, Spider King Spurge offered much assistance along the way.

The elder generation of Spider Kings have one after another retired and departed.

Trade among roving merchants in the Northern Hemisphere has now come to be dominated by these younger Spider Kings: White Ivy, Seven-Leaf, and Melde.

Red Peach continued: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Lupine plans to break through and become Spider King in three years. Grass Dragon is waiting on a Divine-Grade Leilian Seed, and plans to evolve in seven years..."

"Ah—"

Dragon Cypress was momentarily stunned, then sighed with emotion: "Time passes so quickly! We've all grown from green Little Warriors to old Insect Kings. Red Peach, give my early congratulations to Lupine for a successful breakthrough."

Red Peach: "Alright."

Dragon Cypress: "Red Peach, it's about time you evolved into Mantis King yourself, isn't it?"

Red Peach: "Lupine and Grass Dragon's evolution cost a lot of resources, and the caravan's finances are tight. I'll probably have to hold off a while and think about it in another twenty years."

Dragon Cypress looked at Heliotrope.

Heliotrope: "I know too many core secrets; my position can't be filled by another Little Flame Spider. The Steward Spider Kings fed me life-extending Divine Good, so don't worry, Dragon Cypress Ant King—I'll be able to trade with you all for another century."

Dragon Cypress: "...That's good to hear."

Snow Velvet Spider King asked, "If Grass Dragon and Lupine both evolve into Spider Kings, they'll need to form their own caravans, right? I haven't heard of any new Little Warriors being born into the White Ivy Trade Caravan—won't the caravan basically be dissolved?"

Red Peach: "...It's splitting up."

Red Peach: "It's more or less dissolved."

Red Peach: "Lupine and Grass Dragon will first help White Ivy Spider King compete for the leader's seat, then they'll look at branching out on their own as they each lead a caravan along the roads. Luck hasn't been good for any of us—not a single Flame Spider Little Soldier has appeared. With Aconite and Spurge Spider King leaving, everyone's redistributed their ordinary Little Flame Spiders, merging them into their own lineages, hoping at least something will change."

Red Peach: "They haven't split up yet, but disputes have already begun. The only Little Warrior in the caravan, Column Spotted, is Grass Dragon's direct descendant but has always followed White Ivy Spider King. White Ivy Spider King wants to keep it, but Grass Dragon refuses..."

Unwittingly, they slipped into talking about family affairs.

Even Snow Velvet Spider King was in no rush to trade, joining in the idle chat.