Ant Lord in the Star Realm

After Dragon Cypress finished testing the abilities of the Specialized Blue Soldiers, he began to plan the development of the Ant Kingdom.

During late spring and early summer, the Dominating Throne was already used to produce a large batch of [Producer·Refined] Ant Eggs, which had gradually been hatching one after another.

50 Specialized Blue Ants, 50 Large Blue Ants.

Priority goes to strengthening the Ant Kingdom's food storage capacity to secure logistics.

Next, begin large-scale breeding of Worker Ants.

Start with 40 Specialized Worker Ants, then breed 50 Large Worker Ants and 50 Medium Worker Ants, estimated to be completed in 80 days.

After that, breed 70 Specialized Soldier Ants to strengthen the Ant Kingdom's combat power, estimated to be completed in 40 days.

With High-Level Specialized Soldier Ants in place, Dragon Cypress could feel more at ease letting Spiked Cypress go on distant hunts.

Afterwards, it would be possible to consider breeding a batch of Specialized Blue Soldiers and Large Blue Soldiers for guarding the reservoir Divine-Given Seed at the foot of the mountain and managing irrigation for the territory up on the mountain. In the future, when the Shanxi and Shandong Reservoirs were dug out and stocked with fish, the Specialized Blue Soldiers could also take on the job of fishing.

Could even consider bringing them to Black Lotus Lake to fish, too.

...

An entire summer passed,

The foundation of the Azure Blue Reservoir dam was finally completed. First, the dam was raised by one meter, with water level maintained at half a meter deep. The riverbed and ravine at the valley bottom were submerged, and the grass along both sides became marshy.

The High-Level Worker Ants emerged, led by Round Cypress, heading to the western mountains to dig the Shanxi Reservoir.

Digging deeper into the ridge meant hard rock, so strip-shaped stone blocks were cut along the way, taken down the mountain by the Dominating Throne, and would later become dam edge materials for Azure Blue Reservoir.

The excavated rubble was also carried downhill—these all made excellent materials for dam infill.

It was now early autumn,

The wild Divine-Given Seed of White Rice on White Rice Mountain was about to ripen.

The fresh fruit yielded by ordinary Rice Trees' Life Seeds was also not to be missed.

Dragon Cypress checked the timing, packed his bags, brought along Ink Orchid, and set off to begin this year's roving merchant journey.

…

…

…

Ten-thousand Tribes Continent.

Southeastern mountain region.

Still a hot southern tropical rainforest.

The Jade Peach Kingdom, named after the Divine-Given Seed of Jade Peach, was a kingdom formed by several mantis tribes focused on peach cultivation.

Within the Arrow Mantis Tribe's territory, in a remote mountain forest rarely visited by insects, stood an isolated peak with decent Origin Force presence.

The whole mountain, above and below, was planted full of peach trees. Most of the peach trees were past harvest season—only a few common peach varieties and some Life Seed trees still had fruit hanging.

A large and a small, both with bright colors tinged in golden shine, two Gorgeous Gold Mantis Warriors were busy in the orchard.

Autumn fertilizing—for more blossoms and bigger fruits next year.

"Yellow Peach Mountain Lord."

"Little Red Peach."

White Ivy trotted along the winding mountain path, sending a mental greeting from afar.

"White Ivy Mountain Lord."

The mid-level Gold Mantis Warrior named Red Peach greeted warmly, dropped the metal can carrying marsh slag, and ran over excitedly.

"White Ivy."

Yellow Peach Mountain Lord lifted his head and called back.

Red Peach met White Ivy, turned around to walk together, and eagerly asked:

"White Ivy Mountain Lord, was the transaction in Wan Country Continent successful this time?"

White Ivy: "Especially successful!"

White Ivy, full of confidence, announced loudly, "We're about to get rich!"

"Really? Really? That's great!" Red Peach bounced with joy.

"..." Yellow Peach Mountain Lord was speechless.

Yellow Peach and White Ivy had known each other more than twenty years—he'd already lost count of how many times White Ivy had solemnly declared they were going to strike it rich.

However, without exception, every single time ended in disaster. Once, it even lost all of the elder's inheritance and ended up bankrupt.

White Ivy was dissatisfied with Yellow Peach's reaction and questioned, "Yellow Peach, you don't believe me?"

How am I supposed to believe you~

Yellow Peach: "…I believe!"

Yellow Peach asked, "White Ivy, did that Little Ant King you mentioned agree to partner up with you?"

"Of course!"

White Ivy, full of passion, said, "Not only did it agree... it was the one who proactively suggested we collaborate to make honey-pickled Azure Fruit. Large-scale production! And it even gave some very useful suggestions."

Yellow Peach tilted his head.

Couldn't understand.

Thinking and thinking, he suddenly realized—rumor had it that Little Ant King was living with a Little Huatang in the secluded, Origin-Force-less Cloud Trace Continent, at some Origin Force Point.

Probably they hadn't seen much of the world and didn't know White Ivy, so they agreed.

Red Peach hurried to ask, "What suggestions?"

White Ivy: "The metal can we made last time looked awful. Needs improvement! We should put a 'Deep Blue God-Given Seed' pattern on the outside, plus a 'Giant-Headed Ant' logo."

"That way it's both pretty and recognizable. Combined with the Deep Blue God-Given Seed's uniqueness and the superior grade Azure Fruit—these two major features—our honey-pickled Azure Fruit will become known to more insects, and then we can raise the price and make more profit!"

"Wow!" Red Peach cheered.

"Also!"

White Ivy added, "Second suggestion: put two ring handles on the sides of the metal can, for easier gripping; third suggestion: design the opening and lid after… a clever design from Outworld Civilization, hard to explain, but I'll use Earth System Abilities to mold a dirt model for you to see, then you'll get it."

"Oh——" Yellow Peach mused.

Sounds, perhaps, not so crazy—there's some logic to it.

Yellow Peach thought further and got even more confused. He asked, "White Ivy, these ideas came from that Little Ant King far off in Cloud Trace Continent?"

White Ivy: "Dragon Cypress Ant King! And Flower Mantis Warrior Ink Orchid."

Yellow Peach: "Oh——"

In that case, that Dragon Cypress Ant King shouldn't be an idiot, right?

So why agree to work with White Ivy?

No matter how much Yellow Peach thought, he just couldn't figure it out and stayed silent.

They stepped into the orchard.

White Ivy untied the spider silk rope lashing the goods, gave a rip, opened the Spider Silk Bag, took out a metal can, and said:

"Honey-pickled Azure Fruit! Yellow Peach, come and see for yourself!"

White Ivy took out a petite Spider Silk Bag, opened it, and said, "Gorgon Fruit Seeds from the Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seed are here! First harvest—only 20 sample seeds, Red Peach, I'll give you 2 to try."

"Thank you, White Ivy Mountain Lord!"

Red Peach cheered.

Why so enthusiastic? Isn't it just that every time White Ivy visits, there's always a small gift?

Red Peach popped both Gorgon Fruit Seeds into his mouth in seconds.

The flavor of Divine-Given Origin Force Food was just too wonderful.

"White Ivy Mountain Lord, aren't there any Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds this year?"

"Nope! Ink Orchid advanced to High-Level Flower Mantis Warrior, so its Fruit-Scented Orchid's blossom-fruit cycle is now two years—there'll be more next year."

"That's great!"

Red Peach cheered, hopeful.

"Yellow Peach, you have to taste my honey-pickled Azure Fruit!" White Ivy urged.

Yellow Peach was White Ivy's very first trading partner in his roving merchant career—his best friend and partner.

Yellow Peach used a bit of metal wire to fish out a blue fruit from the honey jar, tilted his head back and observed it.

White Ivy, impatient, kept urging,

"Yellow Peach, stop staring! I want you to taste it! This is the one-and-only, sweet and delicious, top-tier treat on the entire continent!"

Yellow Peach hesitated and handed it to Red Peach, who was already sticking out his head expectantly.

"Delicious!" Red Peach sent a wave of strong emotion, conveying just how much he loved the Azure Fruit's flavor.

White Ivy, seeing this, scolded: "Red Peach, this is Water Element-enhanced. Eating it doesn't help you. Spit out the fruit core, I'll resell it."

"Oh~" Red Peach buried his head.

Yellow Peach thought it over, and hesitated: "Perhaps these superior Divine-Given Fruits really can make money."

Azure Fruit is definitely good stuff.

But,

Given White Ivy's countless failures in the past, Yellow Peach couldn't wholeheartedly agree.

Lots of ventures that, in theory, should have earned Origin Stones, always lost money for all sorts of totally unexpected reasons.

Yellow Peach asked, "White Ivy, do we still need to make metal cans?"

White Ivy: "Of course!"

White Ivy emphasized again: "Add in the Deep Blue God-Given Seed design and Giant-Headed Ant logo! It might be tricky, but don't worry, Yellow Peach—when we get rich, I'll pay you 30 Origin Stones per can."

You haven't even paid for the last batch~

Yellow Peach: "Alright——"

Yellow Peach: "How many do we need?"

White Ivy: "50!"

Yellow Peach: "..."

White Ivy: "The Deep Blue God-Given Seed is an arbor! It grows super fast into a great tall tree! Yields will rise quickly! Opportunities belong to the prepared. Red Peach, wouldn't you agree?"

Red Peach: "Yep!"

Yellow Peach: "..."

Making metal cans is really a hassle.

No ore veins, so all you can do is grab a magnet torn from an Outworld Civilization Starship, head to the riverbank, and pull iron sand from river sand.

50 cans will take a massive amount of time.

Yellow Peach just didn't feel confident about this, but couldn't refuse.

Although Jade Peach Kingdom was a united kingdom made of many mantis tribes, there wasn't a Gorgeous Gold Mantis branch.

Yellow Peach was born here all alone, grew up here, and the reason he managed to evolve to Mountain Lord Level was—apart from a few elder Arrow Mantis's help and a bit of luck—mainly because of White Ivy's tireless support early on.

Back then, White Ivy had just inherited from her elders, had valuable goods loaded on her carapace, and was high-spirited.

Now…

White Ivy seemed not to notice Yellow Peach's reluctance, and continued, "That Dragon Cypress is already a High-Level Ant King. The blossom-fruit cycle of Deep Blue God-Given Seed should be extended to three years—this year it'll bloom, fruit matures the year after next, and the spring of the year after that is trading time."

"I plan to switch schedules with Melde. I'll make another trip to Wan Country next year, and then Melde goes the year after, then my turn the year after that."

"So, Yellow Peach, let's hurry and get those metal cans made!"

Yellow Peach: "..."

Yellow Peach: "Alright, fine——"

White Ivy: "Yellow Peach, how much iron sand did you collect this year?"

Yellow Peach: "Just too busy this year… so…"

White Ivy, displeased, asked, "Yellow Peach, you don't think I'll get rich this time?"

Yellow Peach: "White Ivy, I've always believed in you, always."

White Ivy: "Trust me—that's right!"

White Ivy urged, "Hurry! Get to work! Get to work!"

Red Peach was only four years old—young and naive—just like Yellow Peach had been at that age. He still didn't get what kind of spider White Ivy was, and still believed she could make money, waving his forelegs in excitement and cheering:

"Let's work! Let's work! To the riverbank! Suck up some iron sand!"