Ant Lord in the Star Realm

Origin Force Food worth 6,950 Source Stones. A small part was produced from Mountain Lord-Level Warrior territories, while the majority came from High-Level Warrior territories. It filled two medium-sized Spider Silk Bags. Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid each shouldered a bag. They weren't transporting it back to Xianglan Mountain yet; instead, they carried the Dominating Throne and hid everything deep within a small room in the Starship Wreckage. After trading with White Ivy, they could transport it all back in one trip. They had arrived early, fearing Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord might become suspicious.

...

Dragon Cypress had an exceptional memory and still remembered the layout of the rooms and corridors inside the Starship from previous explorations. He and Ink Orchid wandered inside the Starship for two days.

「The third day.」

Early in the morning, Dragon Cypress first went to the hillside to check the situation. He witnessed the caravan led by Spider King Spurge arriving, then ran back deep into the Starship to inform Ink Orchid. Together, they went to the small forest.

White Ivy was already waiting.

"Dragon Cypress! Ink Orchid!"

"Why have you two come so late this year? You gave me quite a scare!"

Dragon Cypress explained, "I was worried other caravans might notice, so I had Ink Orchid hide far away."

"White Ivy Mountain Lord."

Ink Orchid greeted her and opened the Spider Silk Bag, revealing two metal cans inside. "These are honey-marinated Azure Fruits, harvested and sealed last year and untouched since. I'm not sure if they're still good. Please, open them and check quickly!"

"Alright!"

White Ivy could hardly wait.

A spider silk strand slid over the mouth of the can, cutting away the sealing resin. She opened it and scanned inside with her spiritual power.

"They're not spoiled!"

"Perfectly preserved!"

White Ivy again used spider silk to pull out a fruit and taste it.

"Wow! It's really something! Such a strange flavor, a unique aroma—delicious!"

"Those wealthy insects will definitely like it."

"It's just a pity it's not the original fresh taste of the fruits..."

Unable to contain her joy, White Ivy couldn't help but try another one.

Ink Orchid said happily, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, if there are no problems, then we can mass-produce them from now on."

White Ivy replied, "Of course!"

Dragon Cypress proposed, "The size of the metal cans is a bit inappropriate. I suggest making them larger but slightly shorter, with five fruits per layer, still three layers, to save as much space as possible. Each can would contain fifteen Azure Fruits. High-density packaging will facilitate transportation."

White Ivy said, "I've already thought about this issue!"

The Spider Silk Rope swayed, directly lowering an Oversized Silk Bag and placing it before Dragon Cypress.

She opened it, revealing a large bag full of empty cans.

It seemed White Ivy wasn't so foolish after all; she could also realize problems in time and improve immediately.

The Spider Silk Rope swayed again. White Ivy took out an empty can, picked up some honey-marinated Azure Fruits, and tried arranging them: five per layer. The can was a bit too wide, but the height was appropriate.

White Ivy said, "I designed it by comparing it to the size of Snake Blood Apricot Fruits. The Azure Fruits are only slightly smaller... No worries, we can make the metal cans a bit smaller next time!"

"Yes, that's right!"

Dragon Cypress scanned the Spider Silk Bags with his spiritual power. There were exactly thirty such empty cans.

That should be enough.

Dragon Cypress continued, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, I have three more suggestions."

White Ivy, startled, asked, "What suggestions?"

Dragon Cypress raised a tentacle and demonstrated how to hold a metal can with two claws. "The first suggestion: holding it like this makes it easy to slip and fall. I suggest designing two semi-circular ring clasps on the can to grip it."

White Ivy replied, "Makes sense! Okay! We'll change it next time."

Dragon Cypress raised a second tentacle and opened the lid of the can. "The second suggestion... I've seen Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord has a cylindrical artifact from an Outworld Civilization. The design of its lid is quite ingenious: a screw-thread structure. Twisting it one way tightens the lid, and twisting it the other way loosens it..."

White Ivy looked perplexed.

After a moment, White Ivy said, "I understand..."

Dragon Cypress began, "Third..."

Ink Orchid moved closer, raising a third tentacle.

Dragon Cypress went on, "The third suggestion: these metal cans are very dark and not very visually appealing. Next time they're made, we can print patterns on the body of the can. It could be the pattern of the Deep Blue God-Given Seed, plus a Giant-Headed Ant pattern. It will not only look more attractive but can also serve as a unique identifier."

"Identifier—"

White Ivy, being a Roving Merchant by background, understood a little.

Dragon Cypress explained, "With the unique Divine-Given Seed and a mark, it will appear more luxurious and make it easier for insects to remember. Over time, as many insects get to know and remember it, it will gain fame and a good reputation. Then, the items can be sold for a bit more, and we can both earn extra."

"I get it!" White Ivy exclaimed, delighted. "You're so smart, Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

Dragon Cypress calmly waved his tentacles and took the initiative to say, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, once the transaction is complete, I will go into slumber for evolution and advance to High-Level Ant King. The Deep Blue God-Given Seed blooms in early summer, and there is still time for it to bloom once more this year. I predict the Blossom-Fruit Cycle to be three years. This means the harvest will be in the autumn of the year after next, and it can only be sold to caravans in the spring of the year following that."

Dragon Cypress then asked, "The year after next, it should be Melde's turn to come to the Ten Thousand Nations Continent for trading, right?"

This was a bit complicated.

After pondering for a while, White Ivy replied, "Yes..."

Dragon Cypress asked, "Is Melde willing to transport so many heavy metal cans?"

White Ivy mused, "If it were fresh fruit from a Common Life Seed Plant, it definitely wouldn't be willing. But if it's Azure Fruit..."

Suddenly, White Ivy had an epiphany and said, "How about I swap with Melde? I'll come again next year, Melde can come the year after that, and then it will be my turn the year following. Doesn't that solve the problem?"

"Yay!" Ink Orchid cheered.

Dragon Cypress bobbed his tentacles in approval.

This White Ivy wasn't so foolish; she understood on her own without needing any hints.

White Ivy scanned with her spiritual power and said, "Dragon Cypress, are these Gorgon Fruit Seeds in your Spider Silk Bag? Why are there only twenty? Show me quickly!"

...

Selling 225 Azure Seeds and 20 Gorgon Fruit Seeds, plus two cans of honey-marinated Azure Fruit, yielded a total income of 3,015 Source Stones.

They took 1,015 Source Stones in currency.

Then, they took Origin Force Food worth 2,000 Source Stones, packed in empty cans.

One Oversized Silk Bag was carried by Ink Orchid.

One large Spider Silk Bag was carried by Dragon Cypress.

Struggling, they reached deep inside the Starship Wreckage, loaded all the goods onto the Dominating Throne, and returned fully laden.

...

「Xianglan Mountain.」

Deep within the Ant Nest, Dragon Cypress took the 300 Six-Path Seeds he bought on this trip, mixed them with Origin Force Food for Comprehensive Physique Enhancement worth 300 Source Stones, and handed them over to the Specialized Blue Ants for Refinement and consumption.

Clearing his mind, he lay peacefully in the nest, recuperating quietly and not emerging.

Giant Cypress led the Soldier Ants, guarding outside the Ant Nest.

「Two days later, signs of evolution appeared.」

Three more days passed. After finishing the carefully selected Origin Force Food, drowsiness overcame him, and he fell into a deep sleep late at night. Natural Primordial Force began to converge around Dragon Cypress. The Dominating Throne immediately sensed this and accelerated the release of Origin Force. Soon, thick Origin Force gathered around Dragon Cypress, bursting into a hazy white halo. Strand by strand, it formed a Primordial Energy Light Cocoon.

One day, two days, three days passed...

Inside the Ant Nest, the ant colony seemed to sense something. Occasionally, curious Worker Ants would stroll by, standing at the entrance to the King Nest to peer inside, only to be driven away by Giant Cypress, who brandished his tentacles like a whip. Worker Ants with Worker Ants, Soldier Ants with Soldier Ants, Worker Ants with Soldier Ants—they also communicated simply through Pheromones and tentacle contact.

The message spread within the Ant Nest:

[The King is evolving]

[The Kingdom is about to experience a qualitative leap]

More and more Worker Ants gathered outside the nest, densely covering the floor, the stone walls of the passage, and the ceiling. Some Worker Ants even brought Larvae over, holding them high.

Worker Ants lacked the discipline of Soldier Ants.

Pheromones filled with excitement, jubilation, and anticipation spread wantonly within the limited space. No matter how much Giant Cypress and Round Cypress tried to disperse them, they refused to leave. Hundreds, even thousands, of Worker Ants lost control. The Soldier Ants followed suit, also losing control. They began to join the commotion, gathering in crowds, heads held high, forming noisy clusters. Giant Cypress and Round Cypress were at their wits' end and could only block the entrance to prevent the ant horde from rushing into the King Nest and disturbing Dragon Cypress's evolution.

On the fifth day, the Dominating Throne suddenly erupted with intense Origin Force Fluctuation, rapidly drawing in Origin Force. The ant horde became restless in response. The violent fluctuation came quickly and departed just as swiftly. The Primordial Energy Light Cocoon started to dim, the enveloping Origin Force began to thin, and then, suddenly, the Origin Force dissipated completely. Dragon Cypress, who had been lying still on the Throne, raised his head.

A GREAT RUSTLE!

Inside the cave, the ant colony waved their tentacles in celebration: "The King has awoken! He succeeded!"

PS1: Thank you to Bai Fei for the donation. Thank you for your support, brother.

PS2: If average subscriptions reach 1,000, there will be two extra chapters at noon tomorrow. The update time will also be changed to around 12 PM.

PS3: Let's set another small goal: if average subscriptions reach 1,200, hmm, there will be more extra chapters.