Ant Lord in the Star Realm

In the 99th year of the Silver Cypress era, ten years had passed, and one billion Source Stones now filled the sub-nest at Red Banyan Mountain.

Dragon Cypress had handled all the routine affairs for the spring on Cloud Trace Continent, but still, there was no sign of the Snow Velvet Spider King's arrival.

It seemed it definitely wouldn't be coming this year.

The Dominating Throne, carrying Ink Orchid and Black Peach, headed straight for Silver Cypress Mountain.

The Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed had gone seven years without flowering or fruiting, yet the tree itself was lush and full.

Mountain Persimmon waited quietly beneath the tree and had been waiting for a very long time.

Ink Orchid, carrying a Spider Silk Bag, flew swiftly over, circled, and landed.

"Mountain Persimmon!" Ink Orchid lifted the Spider Silk Bag and said, "This is a Divine-Grade Mountain Pillar Fruit endowed with Earth Talent."

"Thank you, Ink Orchid." Mountain Persimmon stood up to greet her.

A peaceful, inquiring thought, transmitted via spiritual power, came from the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed.

Mountain Persimmon raised his tentacles and explained briefly via his spiritual power, "I can finally break through to Evolution King Level! I'm going to evolve into an Insect King!"

The Dominating Throne arrived soon after. After a brief greeting, it first unloaded two Spider Silk Bags containing 'Ant King Pearls'.

"Black Peach, help out. Lastly, use your Flourish and Tranquility Abilities to give a boost to the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed and the common Life Seed."

"Ink Orchid, you help too. Mountain Persimmon, you two go to North Mountain and dig a cave for the slumbering evolution. Maintain some distance between Mountain Persimmon and Sky Blue Persimmon to minimize competition for Origin Force during the breakthrough."

"Okay!"

"We'll follow your arrangements, Great King."

"Understood!"

Black Peach, Ink Orchid, and Mountain Persimmon agreed.

Over the past few years, every late autumn and early winter during the Roving Merchant trading season, Dragon Cypress would transport some Source Stones along the way.

Currently, Silver Cypress Mountain had over two million Source Stones in stock.

Dragon Cypress said, "Mountain Persimmon, here are Earth System Ant King Pearls with a value of 10,000,000. By my calculations, this is more than enough for your breakthrough, with plenty to spare. Start eating them slowly, and try to eat as many as possible; ideally, finish all of them. There's also a bag of White Refining Beads I specially prepared for you—three a day. Eat until you are full, and adjust your physical condition to its optimum state. To be safe, I'll spend another two days making a few more trips to bring you an additional 1,000,000 Source Stones from Huagi Mountain. Stockpiling 3,000,000 Source Stones means we're well-prepared and can avoid any issues."

Mountain Persimmon replied, "Okay—"

After these simple arrangements, they each began their tasks.

「Three days later,」

Dragon Cypress brought 1,000,000 Source Stones.

The cave designated for the breakthrough was dug. The Dominating Throne was placed inside. Mountain Persimmon lay on the Throne, first consuming the Divine-Grade Mountain Pillar Fruit. After a brief period of adjustment, it made a final sprint, frantically eating the Earth System 'Ant King Pearls'.

There was a severe surplus of the Origin Force Food required for a 9th Age Period Lord to break through to King Level.

On the fifth day, in the mid-afternoon, Origin Force Fluctuations emanated from the cave.

Through the perception of the Soul-Setting Ability, Mountain Persimmon's soul directly entered a state of deep slumber.

The breakthrough evolution has begun!

Ink Orchid and Black Peach stood guard outside the cave.

Dragon Cypress led the ant swarm to stand guard beneath the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed tree.

Before long, intense Origin Force Fluctuations emanated from the cave. Mountain Persimmon began to absorb a massive amount of Origin Force, continuously and without pause.

As dusk fell, the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed also entered its evolution state. It began to absorb large quantities of Natural Primordial Force, forming an Origin Force vacuum that continuously expanded.

Across the majestic mountain, locations on both South Mountain and North Mountain simultaneously began to frantically absorb Origin Force, causing the Origin Force concentration throughout Silver Cypress Mountain to plummet.

Dragon Cypress waited patiently. Once the Origin Force vacuum expanded to a radius of 300 meters, it moved its tentacles and issued commands.

The ant swarm moved as one. Their Mandible Teeth opened and closed, directly shattering one Source Stone after another. Puffs of Origin Force billowed out, only to be swiftly absorbed.

The range of the Origin Force vacuum was controlled at about a 300-meter radius.

Simultaneously, on North Mountain, Black Peach was also commanding the ant swarm to use Source Stones to replenish Origin Force.

This continued for a good part of the night before Mountain Persimmon was the first to quiet down.

Late at night, the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed also quieted down.

The most difficult first stage of the breakthrough to Evolution King Level was passed smoothly.

After 21 days, the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed was the first to complete its breakthrough.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King—" the Sky Blue Persimmon tentatively called out using its spiritual power and intent.

Dragon Cypress responded, "Sky Blue, congratulations on your advancement to King Level. With your soul fully awakened, you can now communicate with all Origin Force Life."

Its spiritual power unfolded, scanning and counting the Source Stones. It quickly tallied them.

Sky Blue Persimmon's breakthrough had actually cost just over one million Source Stones.

For Mountain Persimmon, with the Dominating Throne's assistance, the Source Stone expenditure would be less, if anything, not more.

The Source Stones would definitely be sufficient.

Dragon Cypress shook its tentacles, commanding the Worker Ants to clean up.

"Dragon Cypress—" The Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed waited a few seconds. Seeing no response, it reminded him, "Your Flourish Ability..."

"Oh—" Dragon Cypress waved its tentacles repeatedly, unleashing ten consecutive bursts of its Flourish Ability.

"Thank you—"

The Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed asked shyly, "Dragon Cypress, I heard you also have a very powerful 'Tranquility' Ability?"

"Yes—" At Dragon Cypress's thought, its Waterwood Dual System Primordial Energy surged explosively. Green smoke rose and rapidly enveloped the entire large tree.

The Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed asked, "I heard we are to be relocated to Rainbow Island in the Southern Hemisphere?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "You and Mountain Persimmon don't need to hurry. The migration just needs to be completed within the next 30 years, before the next Expedition Year."

"We still have to wait 30 years, huh?" the Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed sighed.

The Sky Blue Persimmon Divine-Given Seed then suggested, "Seeing as Mountain Persimmon won't awaken anytime soon, why don't you use this time to cultivate another batch of King-Level Specialized Green Ants?"

Dragon Cypress abruptly looked up, examining it seriously.

Mountain Persimmon is such an honest insect...

But you, this tree, you're quite thick-skinned...

Dragon Cypress thought for a moment and agreed, "That's not a problem. I'll first cultivate a batch of medium and small-sized Worker Ants and Blue Ants for logistics. Later, I'll send you 100 Specialized Green Ants."

Sky Blue Persimmon said, "Thank you."

Sky Blue Persimmon began to chat warmly, asking, "I heard from Mountain Persimmon that Rainbow Island is tropical. Is it as hot as summer on Silver Cypress Mountain all year round?"

Dragon Cypress explained, "It's even hotter than summer on Silver Cypress Mountain. But don't worry; Persimmon Trees are better suited to surviving in hot regions. At King Level, your environmental adaptability is very strong, so there won't be any issues. Moreover, I have another Superior Divine-Given Seed named 'Azure'. It can release a Water System Primordial Energy Field to shelter other plants, helping them adapt to the environment better."