Ant Lord in the Star Realm

After trading with the caravan, Ink Orchid began consuming large amounts of Origin Force Food, preparing for his evolution to the second Age Period.

Dragon Cypress led the ant colony, continuing the construction of the reservoir.

Considering the summer downpours, with a large amount of flash floods converging at Azure Blue Reservoir, a 1-meter-high, 2-meter-wide drainage outlet was left on the east side of the dam, and a 1.5-meter-high, 3-meter-wide flood discharge outlet was left on the west side. The 30-meter-long dam actually only needed 25 meters built.

With the evolution of the High-Level Ant King, the newly cultivated High-Level Worker Ants and Soldier Ants showed a qualitative improvement in strength, speed, stamina, carapace strength, as well as vision, olfaction, and hearing. Accordingly, the efficiency of the High-Level Worker Ants and Soldier Ants significantly increased.

The Azure Blue Reservoir dam construction progressed rapidly: a new level every two days, then every day, then every half-day, each layer rising higher. Totaling 20 levels, the remaining construction was completed in just 6 days.

After taking a day to rest, Dragon Cypress, commanding the Dominating Throne, headed towards Black Lotus Lake.

The rain drizzled continuously.

At the lakeside, under a large willow tree, Fragrant Cypress sheltered the various Little Blue Ants and Worker Ants from the rain. White Willow was also there. A dense crowd huddled around a Bamboo Tube emitting steam. A crucian carp was stuffed inside the Bamboo Tube, and three Specialized Blue Soldiers continuously used their Boiling Water Ability to heat it.

Over the lake, Cypress commanded the Blue Soldiers in the rain to surround and catch fish.

The Dominating Throne slowly approached.

"Dragon Cypress," White Willow fluttered aloft to meet him, asking, "Where's Ink Orchid?"

"Ink Orchid is resting and eating, preparing for his evolution to the second Age Period," Dragon Cypress replied, then countered, "Is the Marsh Gas Pool dug out yet?"

White Willow said, "… No." She hurriedly explained, "It's raining today, so everyone came to the lakeshore to watch Cypress catch fish… and also to cook a few small fish to eat."

You two sure know how to enjoy yourselves.

Dragon Cypress thought, "…"

The Dominating Throne landed.

"Great King," Fragrant Cypress shook his tentacles in greeting.

Dragon Cypress then noticed only 18 Specialized Blue Ants gathered under the tree. Shaking his tentacles, he asked, "Fragrant Cypress, where are the other Specialized Blue Ants? Are their stomachs full?"

"Yes. I dug a temporary small Ant Nest on that hillside and arranged for them to rest inside the Ant Nest."

"Oh!" Dragon Cypress nodded his tentacles. Very clever; there were many things they were able to consider on their own without being taught.

"I'll go inform Cypress," White Willow said, then performed a backflip mid-air, turned, accelerated, and raced towards the lake, circling over Cypress's head.

Cypress, focused on commanding the Blue Soldiers, turned his head and saw the Dominating Throne docked by the shore. After a moment's thought, he shook his tentacles, and the ant colony converged, running rapidly towards the shore.

"Great King."

"Cypress, how is it? Has the efficiency improved?"

"I need more Blue Soldiers."

"And the number of fish in the lake?"

"Too many to catch."

"Before the end of autumn, I will increase the number of Specialized Blue Soldiers and large Blue Soldiers to 80 each. We will come back here in late autumn."

"Great King..." Cypress flicked his tentacles, pointing at the Specialized Blue Ants sheltering from the rain under the tree, "There are still 18 hungry ones."

Dragon Cypress said, "You continue fishing. No rush. The Marsh Gas Pool on the mountain hasn't been dug out yet. I'll stay and help first."

With Dragon Cypress operating the Dominating Throne to help transport rubble, the excavation efficiency of the Marsh Gas Pool doubled, and it was completed in four to five days. Fragrant Cypress stayed behind, directing the Worker Ants to cut grass, gather leaves, and toss them into the pool for fermentation.

Dragon Cypress made a trip, first transporting 50 Specialized Blue Ants back to the Ant Nest. Another trip was made to transport Cypress and the Blue Soldiers back to the Ant Nest. Finally, on the third trip, he transported Fragrant Cypress and the various Worker Ants back to the Ant Nest.

Ink Orchid was still feeding on Origin Force Food, preparing for evolution. Dragon Cypress simply enlarged the Dominating Throne and placed it in Ink Orchid's bedroom, using the Throne's ability to assist in absorbing Origin Force to hasten his process.

Dragon Cypress himself, along with Cypress and Fragrant Cypress, roamed the mountains and fields, continuing to teach them about more plants and animals, imparting basic arithmetic, sharing various experiences from the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent and the Ten Thousand Nations Continent, and also about the various Origin Force Points discovered on Cloud Trace Continent so far.

Giant Cypress led the Soldier Ants, in charge of territory defense duties. Round Cypress accompanied the Worker Ants in excavating the Shanxi Reservoir. Spiked Cypress led the Soldier Ants, stationed at the peak next to the Shanxi Reservoir.

Time flowed gently until, one day, waves of Origin Force Fluctuation emanated from South Mountain.

Ink Orchid had evolved!

Dragon Cypress noticed. Turning around, he instructed, "Fragrant Cypress, you go back to the Ant Nest, get more acquainted with the interior environment of the Ant Nest. Cypress, go find Spiked Cypress and try commanding the Soldier Ants to march and hunt."

"Okay," Fragrant Cypress agreed.

"Got it! Great King," Cypress cheered.

Dragon Cypress flapped his wings, soared into the sky, flew over the mountain range, and landed at the entrance of the South Mountain Ant Nest Restaurant. He peeked around; on the Dominating Throne, Origin Force converged, forming a Primordial Energy Light Cocoon that enveloped Ink Orchid.

Since Ink Orchid evolved into a High-Level Flower Mantis Warrior two years ago, he had rested for long enough. This evolution should go smoothly.

Dragon Cypress waved his tentacles, summoning the guards. The 12 Specialized Soldier Ants guarding the entrance of the nest quickly ran over.

He issued an order: "Guard the cave entrance. No ant is to enter!"

Dragon Cypress settled down at the South Mountain Restaurant.

Four days later, in the mid-morning, the Dominating Throne rapidly absorbed Origin Force, and the Primordial Energy Light Cocoon enveloping Ink Orchid erupted in intense white light, which continued for a while before calming down. By noon, the dense Primordial Energy gathered on Ink Orchid began to weaken gradually, and the light cocoon slowly dissipated.

Ink Orchid raised his head; his body shook, old pulse wings and cover wings fell off, and a crack appeared at the top of the old shell, quickly spreading to the carapace. Shedding the old shell, new wings slowly grew and unfolded. His body rapidly expanded until it reached one meter in length before stopping, also completing the hardening of the carapace.

"Dragon Cypress?"

"Present."

"How many days did I sleep?"

"Four days."

"That was quite fast!"

Ink Orchid spat out the well-nurtured Six Paths Wood Seed. "The seeding season is almost over! Hurry up and sow!"

"Okay," Dragon Cypress waved his tentacles, and a medium-sized Worker Ant carrying a Bamboo Tube approached. Inside the Bamboo Tube was a carefully selected Silver Cypress seed, serving as the Life Seed for Ink Orchid's second Age Period as a High-Level Warrior. The worker ant also meticulously collected the Six Paths Wood Seeds, placing them carefully into the Bamboo Tube.

Dragon Cypress waved his tentacles again, signaling two Specialized Blue Ants that had been waiting with a wooden plate to enter the bedroom.

"Ink Orchid, you eat and rest first," Dragon Cypress instructed, and left the nest with a team of Soldier Ants and a few Worker Ants. He planted Ink Orchid's Six Paths Wood Seed into the soil about 30 meters away from his own Six Paths Wood Life Seed. Gathering Red Thorn Vine, he made protections around it. He then found Cypress and arranged for him to lead the Soldier Ants to guard it in three shifts, providing round-the-clock protection.

When the work was done, Ink Orchid had also eaten his fill and regained his strength, seeking out Dragon Cypress at the first opportunity.

"Dragon Cypress, is there nothing else you need to take care of in the territory?"

"It seems not."

"Then can we set out earlier? Let's go south first to see the Mulberry and the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed?"

"Let's wait a few more days. First, let your Six Paths Wood Life Seed sprout and grow. We need to hurry and enhance the strength of the Ant Kingdom; the cultivation of Soldier Ants must not stop. I need to make some preparations."

"What preparations?"

"Do you remember that Pauwlonia Tree from last time? We will go there using the Dominating Throne!"

On a hill to the east of the mountain range, away from Xianglan Mountain's Origin Force Vacuum Land, lay a huge fallen Pauwlonia Tree. Nearby was a tree stump, nearly 2 meters in diameter, that had been dug out from the ground. This was discovered by Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid two years ago while searching for large rocks to build the reservoir dam. It was a rare type of wood, light in weight and suitable for making a 'Mobile Ant Nest' to be placed atop the Dominating Throne. Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid had some difficulty felling it and digging out the stump. After two years of drying, it was completely dry.

Dragon Cypress used his mandibles to bite, trimming all the excessive remaining roots, and together with Ink Orchid, they managed to lift it onto the Throne. The stump was so large that even when the Dominating Throne expanded to its maximum size, the stump still occupied a substantial portion of its surface. The nearly 2-meter-tall stump was as high as the top of the Throne. It was still quite heavy; the Dominating Throne's carrying capacity was limited, and it couldn't move the stump.

They had to modify it on the spot. Dragon Cypress commanded 50 large, medium, and small Worker Ants to come forward, bite, drill holes, and excavate chambers inside the stump. They worked in shifts day and night, continuously for five days, reducing the weight of the stump by half.

It was transported back to Xianglan Mountain for further modification. This took another five days, during which the tree stump was transformed into a giant wooden nest, 2 meters in diameter and 2 meters high, divided into nine levels.

In the future, when traveling far for trade or exploration, they would bring it along. Cultivating Specialized Soldier Ants and Specialized Blue Ants along the way would not be a problem.

The preparations were complete.

The Six Paths Wood Life Seed had rooted and sprouted, growing rapidly to a height of about 10 centimeters.

The sun began to blaze with fierce intensity, marking the transition from late spring to early summer.

They packed their bags and set off!