NOVEL NEXT Chapter 163 Metal Case
The half-month-long winter fishing at Black Lotus Lake.
Dragon Cypress stayed at Xianglan Mountain, carefully checking the territory's development over the past year and conducting a census of the kingdom's ant population.
The number of high-level Specialized Soldier Ants had finally reached 500, with Large Soldier Ants at 400—barely meeting the Ant Kingdom's expected high-level combat power.
He assigned 500 Soldier Ants, to be commanded in shifts by Spiked Cypress and Giant Cypress, stationed at the fortress on the western peaks of the mountain range.
Across the mountain territory, under every Life Seed Plant, there were Soldier Ants stationed permanently.
Intertwined fixed ant paths ran up and down the mountain, and squads of Soldier Ants patrolled these routes on schedule.
Soldier Ants raised during the Mid-Level Ant King period were mostly assigned within the Ant Nest, with sentries every three steps and posts every five.
On both South Mountain and North Mountain, any hint of danger would set off a cascade of alerts, instantly dispatching large reinforcements.
The Ant Kingdom was beginning to show its majesty.
For logistics, there were 230 high-level Specialized Blue Ants, and 120 Large Blue Ants—fully supplied.
Keep improving the kingdom's combat strength!
Meanwhile,
This harsh winter, the Worker Ants and Soldier Ants raised during the Primary-Level Ant King period were dying off in batches.
The older ants' resistance was weakened; they simply couldn't withstand the freezing cold.
...
Five days later,
Dragon Cypress transported 50 famished Specialized Blue Ants to Black Lotus Lake, and brought back 40 with full stomachs.
He checked on Black Cory—very healthy, with no abnormalities found.
Another five days later, he sent 30 more empty-bellied Specialized Blue Ants, bringing back 40 full-bellied ones.
Another five days passed, and as winter fishing ended, Dragon Cypress made two consecutive trips, transporting Cypress and all the Blue Soldiers and Blue Ants who participated back to Xianglan Mountain.
Afterwards, Black Cory ate 20 Black Lotus Seeds, but showed no signs of a breakthrough, nor any other abnormalities.
Dragon Cypress made a third trip, bringing Black Cory and the remaining Worker Ants and Soldier Ants back to Xianglan Mountain.
The 7 Specialized Worker Ant larvae used for testing had each reached nearly one meter in length, but none showed any unusual traits—entirely consistent with normal Specialized Worker Ant larvae.
At this point, it was basically confirmed: Black Cory was just a mutated exception.
Dragon Cypress then checked all the ants in the kingdom, and didn't find a second case.
With nothing much to do, Dragon Cypress called Black Cory over for further verification tests. He took out various types of Origin Force Food from the storage, letting Black Cory try each one.
The results were the same each time—Black Cory could only absorb about one fifth of the Origin Force Energy, with most of it simply dissipating, wasted.
This was a matter of constitution—an issue of life level.
Dragon Cypress grew more curious: Just how did Black Cory evolve?
He kept Black Cory by his side, and in idle moments would give him lessons, imparting various knowledge.
Time drifted on.
The end of winter.
It was the season when ordinary Golden Light Fruit ripened on Scarletlight Mountain.
The wild Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed was about to bloom—its nectar and pollen are key ingredients in brewing 'Ant King Jelly', not to be missed.
Dragon Cypress packed his things, brought Black Cory, and set out a few days in advance.
...
Cold Orchid Mountain.
Outside the range of Origin Force Points, in a patch of thin Origin Force, Ink Orchid beat her wings and soared, then dove back down.
From afar, Dragon Cypress spotted her and steered the Dominating Throne closer, landing on the ground.
On the hilly slope,
Ink Orchid, Blue Catalpa, and Snakebark Maple were busy digging.
A giant Starship Wreckage Fragment jutted at an angle out of the dirt.
They'd already dug a huge pit, exposing a part at least seven or eight meters wide.
"Dragon Cypress!"
"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"
Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple called out, hopping and cheering, "We found treasure!"
The two scrambled to a nearby Spider Silk Bag, tearing it open to take out a black metal block.
"Dragon Cypress Ant King, look!"
"We found this together with Ink Orchid!"
"Ink Orchid said she doesn't need it."
"We're keeping it to play with."
"It belongs to me and Snakebark Maple."
Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple chirped back and forth, first emphasizing ownership, then offering it to Dragon Cypress.
It was made of metal, rather light.
About 10 centimeters long, 6 centimeters wide, and 4 centimeters thick, with smoothly polished corners.
A rectangular block with six sides—one frosted side, apparently the base, and the other five beautifully engraved with unknown herb patterns.
It was seamless; to the eye, no joints or cracks could be seen.
Only a sweep of spiritual power revealed that some lines in the design hid faint, almost invisible seams.
But there were no switches or clasps.
Ink Orchid, Blue Catalpa, and Snakebark Maple had clearly figured out how the item worked, but offered no hints, simply watching Dragon Cypress, as if testing him.
Dragon Cypress chuckled inwardly and channeled Origin Force into it.
Without a sound, the patterns split apart.
As Origin Force continued to flow in, the black metal unfolded layer by layer, flowing outward like water, revealing an inner space.
So it was a cleverly designed metal case for storing small items.
The inside was empty.
Withdrawing the Origin Force, the opened case didn't close up.
Dragon Cypress tried channeling Origin Force again, and the black metal folded back like flowing water, the patterns aligning perfectly with not a gap left.
"Dragon Cypress, recognize it?" Ink Orchid cautiously asked.
"No."
Dragon Cypress shook his tentacles and said, "It's a metal case for storing little things. What about the stuff inside? Was it empty to begin with?"
Ink Orchid: "Sort of empty—"
Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress, it has an actual function. Take a closer look."
Dragon Cypress had no patience for these test-the-ant games. "No need. Can't figure out what it's for. Just tell me. Blue Catalpa, you explain."
He handed the metal case to Blue Catalpa.
"I know."
"Me too."
Blue Catalpa injected Origin Force, opening the case.
Snakebark Maple plucked a few grass seeds nearby, popped them into the case, and quickly channeled Origin Force.
A surge of emerald-green Primordial Energy emerged as the black metal closed up, fixing the seeds in place, enveloped by the green energy.
Snakebark Maple channeled Origin Force until the case was fully shut.
Dragon Cypress understood now.
A seed-storage artifact from Outworld Civilization.
It had Wood Primordial Energy protection, meaning it could greatly extend seed preservation.
Dragon Cypress's mind spun—right away, he thought of its use: [Often, Insect Clan Warriors' evolution sleep doesn't line up with the Life Seed sowing period, so careful preservation was needed. With this metal case, there'd be no risk at all!]
What a great item!
Ink Orchid, you are really generous—to give such a practical treasure to these two little flatterers?
Dragon Cypress tentatively asked, "Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, how about selling it to me?"
"No way!"
"We don't need Source Stones!"
This time, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were alert—no more flaunting, quickly stashing the thing back into the Spider Silk Bag, pinning it underneath themselves.
Knew it—shouldn't have left you two little rascals here.
After a beat, Dragon Cypress asked, "When you found that metal case, what was inside…?"
Blue Catalpa: "An Outworld Civilization seed!"
Snakebark Maple: "It shattered at the slightest touch."
Dragon Cypress: "..."
Dragon Cypress spread his spiritual power out, sweeping the surroundings, asking:
"Ink Orchid, any other finds?"
"Over there—"
Ink Orchid pointed to the huge Starship Wreckage in the pit.
Dragon Cypress: "..."
He jumped into the pit for a closer look.
The wreckage was made of the same lightweight silvery-white Primordial Energy Metal as the room partitions and doors. Over 10 centimeters thick, likely a multilayered Starship wall.
A massive piece.
Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress, can the Dominating Throne bring it back?"
Dragon Cypress: "It'll be tough... but what for?"
Ink Orchid: "Haven't thought of a use yet. But it might come in handy someday."
Dragon Cypress suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said:
"We could pave it on the mountain, making it an open camp, or dig out an enormous dining hall in the mountain and tile it with this. Once my evolution advances and the Dominating Throne flies faster, I could gather all the Insect Clan Warriors from different Origin Force Points for a party at Cold Orchid Mountain. Like the prosperous Great Tribes of the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent—with a giant gathering each year, everyone comes to chat and enjoy delicious food."
"Oh—" Ink Orchid tilted her head, considering.
Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple exchanged a look and started cheering.
—Wow! That's awesome!
—Dragon Cypress Ant King, what a great idea!
—Let's bring Autograph Tree over!
—Let's bring Black Rice and Woodberry over!
—Everyone playing together!
Ink Orchid spoke earnestly: "Thinking it over, it actually sounds great. This way, no one would feel lonely and bored anymore."
Dragon Cypress: "Then it's settled for now. We'll make a detailed plan later."
Dragon Cypress returned to the Throne, hopped on the wood plank, and gave the order: Black Cory, take the Large Worker Ants down and help dig!
"Understood, Great King."
Black Cory led his unit of 30 Large Worker Ants in an orderly descent from the Dominating Throne.
Ink Orchid stared fixedly at Black Cory.
"Dragon Cypress, this Worker Ant…"
"Black Cory. The very one that first discovered the Starship Wreckage."
"Why is he a size smaller? His aura seems different too."
"That's right."
Dragon Cypress said, "At the end of autumn, when picking wild fruit and returning to Xianglan Mountain, to save on transportation I left some Worker Ants, Soldier Ants, and Blue Ants at Black Lotus Lake and had Black Cory direct their work…"
Dragon Cypress explained everything in detail.
Ink Orchid, Blue Catalpa, and Snakebark Maple were stunned, and then they all began analyzing the reasons in a flurry.
After a lively discussion,
Dragon Cypress asked, "Ink Orchid, almost half a year has passed. Have you searched through all of Cold Orchid Mountain?"
Ink Orchid: "Pretty much. I carefully looked everywhere accessible. Nothing else discovered."
Ink Orchid then took the initiative: "Have the Northern Gorgon and Fruit-Scented Orchid been successfully harvested? I've been gone so long, I ought to check on them."
"All harvested smoothly. In fact, while you were gone, their growth state looked even better."
Dragon Cypress teased, glancing over at Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple.
The two little fellows, after scoring their reward, were clearly still unsatisfied—reluctant to leave.
Dragon Cypress: "Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, you two come with me to Scarletlight Mountain to see Autograph Tree. It's time for your 8th age stage evolution. Next year, you'll have to try living on your own."
Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid lived alone at Xianglan Mountain right after awakening. I too came to the Cloud Trace Continent at the age of four, making my own way in the wild."
Blue Catalpa's tentacles drooped. "Got it."
Snakebark Maple: "Thank you all."
...
Ink Orchid, Blue Catalpa, and Snakebark Maple dug and loaded earth together with the ant colony.
Dragon Cypress controlled the Dominating Throne, lifting and hauling.
They toiled for five days. In the end, Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid together pulled out the wreckage.
The fragment was roughly rectangular, about seven or eight meters wide and over ten meters long.
It was very light—Dragon Cypress could lift it easily with just one front leg.
They tossed it onto the slope for later handling.
With a little tidying up, they set off together for Scarletlight Mountain.