Ant Lord in the Star Realm

With the help of the Dominating Throne, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple successfully completed their molting evolution one after another.

They had grown up eating all sorts of high-quality Origin Force Food since they were little, and since Sky Oxes were pretty big to begin with, after evolving to 7th-age Primary Warriors, the two guys were about 13 centimeters long.

At that size, they could about live independently.

Even in the wild Origin Force Vacuum Land, they could leave the protection of the Throne and help gather wild fruits.

Amid Mulberry's reluctant goodbyes, the Dominating Throne carried Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple and set out, heading straight for Southern Sour Jujube Mountain.

To search for the Divine-Given Seed.

Loosen the soil and fertilize the Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube Seed.

Harvest a large number of ordinary Southern Sour Jujube Fruits and refine them into Ant Honey.

Spent a total of 7 days getting everything done, then set off northwards—Black Lotus Lake ahead.

White Willow immediately noticed the Dominating Throne approaching, sped over to greet them, and upon nearing, flipped onto its back and matched pace, flying backwards alongside the Throne.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

"Blue Catalpa! Snakebark Maple!"

"Where's Ink Orchid?"

White Willow called out, curious.

Blue Catalpa: "Dragon Cypress Ant King found a Land of Origin Force, there was some Starship Wreckage from an Outworld Civilization that crashed there."

Snakebark Maple: "Ink Orchid is treasure hunting."

Blue Catalpa: "Already found some good stuff."

Snakebark Maple: "This autumn, we're helping Dragon Cypress Ant King with work."

Blue Catalpa: "We're off to help Ink Orchid!"

These two little guys kept harping about wanting to go treasure hunting with Ink Orchid.

Dragon Cypress: "Winter fishing—maybe Ink Orchid will have time to come over to play. It found a pretty fun Outworld Civilization Artifact, White Willow, you'll love it."

"Fun? What kind of fun?"

White Willow was about the same age as Dragon Cypress, not a clueless Little Warrior anymore, but since it probably evolved less and lived alone at Black Lotus Lake, its playful side was especially strong.

Hearing something fun was in the works, it instantly perked up with interest.

Patiently, Dragon Cypress explained in detail the discovery of Cold Orchid Mountain and the Starship Wreckage to White Willow.

The Dominating Throne landed on the slope where the Marsh Gas Pool had been excavated.

Dragon Cypress unloaded a plank, waved its tentacle, and issued orders.

Black Cory led 30 Large Worker Ants, 6 hungry Specialized Blue Ants, and 10 Large Soldier Ants down the plank onto the ground.

The Blue Ants went to rest in the temporary Ant Nest nearby.

Dragon Cypress, holding a medium-sized Spider Silk Bag, leaped down to the ground as well.

"White Willow, I've got a little something to discuss with you."

"What's up?"

"I'm planning on planting a whole lot of Southern Sour Jujube Fruit Trees. I want to set up two nurseries here with you, to grow some saplings."

"Sure! Of course! I can help you take care of them!"

Dragon Cypress: "Uh—"

You can't even take care of your own few Life Seeds~

Dragon Cypress gently shook its tentacle.

Black Cory trotted over.

Dragon Cypress introduced: "This is Black Cory, a particularly clever Specialized Worker Ant. It can just barely manage to command other Worker Ants at work."

Specialized Worker Ants can command the ant colony too? White Willow tilted its head, looking the ant up and down, quite curious.

Dragon Cypress paused briefly before continuing: "I'll leave Black Cory here to lead the Worker Ants and clear the weeds off that slope for the nursery. I'll stay for a couple of days myself to help remove some bothersome Great Tall Trees."

Dragon Cypress handed the Spider Silk Bag to White Willow, saying, "It's full of Southern Sour Jujube Seeds. White Willow, hold onto them for now."

"Alright—"

White Willow was now a 7th-age Mid-Level Beautiful Winged Dragonfly Warrior, its wings stretching more than two meters, and after eating Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube and improving its wing membranes, its flying ability was even stronger.

Taking the Spider Silk Bag, it flapped its wings lightly, rose smoothly into the air, darted to its home cave, and soon flew back carrying another Spider Silk Bag.

"Dragon Cypress, my territory's Life Seed yield for this year!"

"Oh, let me have a look..."

Dragon Cypress took it and examined it.

A big bag stuffed with downy White Willow Seeds, Sweetflag Seeds, and Black Lotus Seeds all mixed together.

White Willow's initial Life Seed choices were questionable—both White Willow Seeds and Sweetflag Seeds strengthen Water Element Abilities. Beautiful Winged Dragonfly Warriors have Water System Talent, but before Mountain Lord Level, it's best not to eat too many.

Dragon Cypress had bought them before, and with Ink Orchid's help, took care of them.

Black Lotus Seeds are great, but produced in small quantities. Dragon Cypress bought them for Ink Orchid and Mountain Persimmon to eat.

White Willow's other Life Seeds were either few and far between—not even enough for itself—or, after taking Dragon Cypress's advice and picking Great Tall Trees, hadn't grown to scale yet.

White Willow's territory basically had no real profit to speak of.

"Output's a bit higher this year? 500 Source Stone it is, then," Dragon Cypress glanced over and named a price.

Loaded the stuff onto the Throne, and at the same time handed over 2 cans of Origin Force Ant Honey, each worth 1,000 Source Stones—a Spider Silk Bag full—to White Willow, with a reminder:

"Finish these two cans across four months, and next spring you can advance to the 8th age."

"Thanks——"

White Willow shyly accepted them.

Watched uncomfortably as Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple—the two Little Warriors—stared right at it.

Dragon Cypress waved its tentacle, saying, "White Willow, first put your stuff away. Take Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple down to the lakeside for some fun. I need to give Black Cory some instructions."

...

Dragon Cypress stayed at Black Lotus Lake for two days, directing Black Cory and Worker Ants to expand the temporary nest a bit, and cut down some of those bothersome Great Tall Trees.

The leftover work was left to Black Cory.

The Dominating Throne carried Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple on their way again.

First, a quick trip to Xianglan Mountain to drop off the full-bellied Blue Ants, pick up the hungry ones, pack up, and head north.

Along the way, they stopped now and then to gather wild fruits.

At White Lotus Lake, they wandered in search of Divine-Given Seeds.

No luck.

So on northward.

At the end of autumn and start of winter, they focused on travel, headed north to Silver Cypress Mountain, for the last trade of the year.

…

…

…

Black Lotus Lake.

Mountain summit.

White Willow cradled a metal can, slender forelimbs reaching inside to scoop out a bit of Origin Force Ant Honey, licking it clean, then dipped again, and licked it clean…

The sunlight felt so nice today!

White Willow's heart felt sweet and happy beyond words.

Looking down the slope,

She felt curious, and also quite puzzled.

Wasn't Dragon Cypress supposed to have them working?

So why are they all lying at the Ant Nest entrance, sunbathing?

Do they think today's sun is great too?

White Willow watched the Worker Ants and Soldier Ants below, saw them lying there from sunrise until sunset.

At twilight, the one called Black Cory—the Specialized Worker Ant—finally moved, stood up, waved its tentacle, and the ant colony followed suit.

They slipped into the woods, rummaged in the grass, among the shrubs, up and down the trees; Soldier Ants hunted, catching all sorts of small insects and critters, Worker Ants hauled the spoils back to the Ant Nest.

Then, all the way until nightfall, no one came out again.

Suddenly White Willow realized something, understood a bit more, but grew even more puzzled: ants—can ants be lazy?

The next morning,

White Willow came to the mountain bright and early, standing up high to observe.

At sunrise,

Black Cory led the Worker Ants and Soldier Ants out, directed some symbolic weeding, then as soon as the sun was golden, hanging in the sky, they packed up and went back to the Ant Nest entrance, laying together in clumps, sunbathing.

Same as yesterday, all the way until dusk before heading into the woods to forage, then back to rest...

White Willow saw it clear as day, absolutely sure—this whole crew was slacking off!

The one called Black Cory was leading the way in laziness!

Back to the same question as yesterday: Can ants really be lazy?

Clearly—they can!

——Does Dragon Cypress know?

——Should I go supervise them?

The next morning.

Black Cory led the Worker Ants out of the nest, strolling leisurely toward the nursery marked by Dragon Cypress, summoned the others for work, then found a stone, climbed up, and lounged there, high above as a supervisor.

A black shadow swooped down from the sky, circled above Black Cory's head, and landed nearby.

White Willow couldn't communicate with Worker Ants, so it gave Black Cory a fierce stare: Work!

Black Cory was startled out of instinct, a bit confused, but after staring back for a bit and realizing this was the Great King's friend, wasn't fazed one bit—waved its tentacle and kept resting.

When the forenoon sun was just right, Black Cory stood up and called the Worker Ants and the Soldier Ants who were on watch to gather at the Ant Nest, and under White Willow's glare, they all enjoyed a sunbath together.

"Work!"

White Willow flapped its wings, gesturing at the slope's weeds.

Black Cory eyed White Willow with utter indifference.

"Work! Work!"

White Willow urged insistently.

Black Cory turned its back to White Willow.

White Willow: "..."

White Willow was furious, but powerless to do anything.

Better wait for Dragon Cypress to come back and tattle—let Dragon Cypress give them a tough lesson.