The Dominating Throne was flying over the dry, scorching, and barren mountains of the Southeastern Continent.

Dragon Cypress used the Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot to produce water, turning it into an ice ball, which floated above his head as he exerted himself to activate the Freezing Ability, continuously cooling the ice ball.

Wisps of white steam rose, pervaded by icy chill.

After advancing to Evolution Mountain Lord Level, the most direct and effective way to enhance Awakening Abilities is through Origin Force Food, followed by repeated usage and exercising of abilities for improvement.

Dragon Cypress multitasked, controlling the Dominating Throne's flight while practicing his Water System Ability.

As a bonus, he could cool off—no energy wasted there.

Ink Orchid drooped his antennae, looking sullen and gloomy.

Areca was a mid-level Flame Spider Warrior who evolved last winter at Age Period 2. It hadn't been long since the Divine-Given Wood Tangerine Seed was sown; she worried about her territory. Every so often, she'd get up, walk to the edge of the Dominating Throne, peer down to check where they were flying.

Dragon Cypress's Origin Force was about to be depleted; he controlled the ice ball to slowly descend and drop it in front of Areca.

Areca picked it up and held it above his head to cool down.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, when will we arrive?"

"Very soon."

Dragon Cypress took out a jar of Ant Honey, unscrewed it, dipped his antennae in, and leisurely began eating.

Areca sidled over.

Dragon Cypress said, "It's Strength-enhancing—don't eat too much."

"Oh—"

Areca manipulated a Spider Silk Rope, dipped it into the jar, licking as she went.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, after getting the Source Stones, are we going straight to Scarletlight Mountain?"

"Up to you."

Dragon Cypress casually asked, "Going to Kiwifruit Mountain or not? The Green-Red Kiwifruit Life Seed plants from Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple are flowering and fruiting en masse this year."

"…Oh." Areca hesitated.

Curious and wanting to go, but more eager to return to her own territory to check on her Divine-Given Wood Tangerine Seed.

Suddenly, Ink Orchid looked up. "Let's go to Scarletlight Mountain first, stay two days, then go together to Kiwifruit Mountain."

Areca: "…Alright!"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

I'd hoped to finish the errands quickly and return to Xianglan Mountain to cultivate my Mountain Lord-level ant colony.

Dragon Cypress: "...Alright, too."

...

Departing from Red Cypress Mountain, they flew three days to reach the second Source Stone mine.

The Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple needed a lot of Source Stones, so some were packed up for transport.

The Divine-Given Ghost Fan Seed and Divine-Given White Rice Seed also needed Source Stones for fruit ripening; a batch was sent in advance.

Try not to touch Xianglan Mountain's reserves; prioritize using the second Source Stone mine, let the ants move things slowly.

Tests showed the Dominating Throne's current maximum load is 35,000 Source Stones.

Transport 30,000, then rush to Scarletlight Mountain at maximum speed.

Five hundred meters from Areca's cave, in the jungle at the foot of the mountain, the scorched ground was still blackened by flames.

A small tree, about two meters high, stood proud and alone.

Areca's Divine-Given Wood Tangerine Seed.

Nourished by Divine-Given Remains, in just four or five months it had begun to develop the shape of an arbor.

Under an olive tree at the edge of the plot, Mulberry had hunted a black bear and was slowly dismembering it.

Up and down Mulberry's body crawled native breed Flame Spiders.

The Dominating Throne slowed and gradually descended to land.

"Dragon Cypress!"

"Success!"

"Congratulations!"

Mulberry greeted and congratulated them, carefully rising, elytra spread and hanging down.

The Little Flame Spiders on Mulberry scurried to the ground in a burst, flocking to the Dominating Throne and circling around Areca.

Dragon Cypress: "Same to you. Congratulations all around."

Dragon Cypress: "The Dominating Throne flies fast now. In the future, Ink Orchid and I can visit Scarletlight Mountain anytime."

One very important reason for this spring's Roving Merchant circuit was to notify everyone that he'd advanced smoothly to Evolution Mountain Lord Level, so there was no need to worry about him.

Cloud Trace Insect was even more concerned than Spider King Spurge about Dragon Cypress's evolution this time.

If anything happened to Dragon Cypress and the Roving Merchants in Cloud Trace Continent ceased trading, everyone would be doomed.

"Ink Orchid. Long time no see." Mulberry sighed in relief, in high spirits, waving his antennae in greeting.

After a bit of casual chatting.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on the Divine-Given Wood Tangerine Seed.

—Growing so fast.

—Looking good.

—When do common wood tangerines flower?

—Most likely it'll bloom next year.

—Let's not let it bear fruit yet. Wait a few years; after Areca evolves to High-Level Warrior, then consider it.

—How goes the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed?

—Seems like it's about to evolve, soon.

...

More chatting for a bit.

Areca stayed behind to continue sharing meat with her kin.

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Mulberry walked over to the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed tree together.

In recent years, every flower was pruned right after nectar collection; only the final 112 clusters of fruit remained on the tree.

With fewer fruits to bear, the foliage kept sprouting, and the trunk continued to shoot up.

"Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, I have a hunch—after this batch of fruit is harvested, with no burden left, the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed will break through very soon."

Mulberry said this with excitement, though there was also a trace of worry.

Mulberry: "When it breaks through, it'll require a massive amount of Source Stones to supplement Origin Force. Areca and I won't be able to manage it alone."

Ink Orchid raised a claw, "Should I stay?"

Dragon Cypress said bluntly, "Even with you, you still won't manage."

Ink Orchid: "Then let's have Black Cory come over. Black Lotus Lake should be fully reclaimed by now, right? She shouldn't be busy."

Dragon Cypress: "…That works too!"

Dragon Cypress: "Have Black Cory lead 200 Worker Ants to garrison Scarletlight Mountain, always ready."

Mulberry: "Then I'm relieved."

Dragon Cypress: "No problem."

Dragon Cypress: "Mulberry, I have another small matter I'd like to trouble you with."

Mulberry: "What is it?"

Dragon Cypress: "Help cultivate a batch of Golden Light Tree, Mango, Starfruit, Rambutan, and other tropical fruit seedlings. With Black Cory coming, she can command the ant colony to work, till the nursery, sow seeds. You'll just need to take care of follow-up."

Mulberry agreed without hesitation: "Sure!"

Mulberry asked, "Sowing these tropical seedlings for what? Areca Rainforest?"

Ink Orchid: "A new Command Ant, named Black Leaf, has appeared in Xianglan Kingdom. We're planning to assign her to reclaim Areca Rainforest and start raising fruit seedlings two years ahead…"

...

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid stayed two days at Scarletlight Mountain, then once again set off, carrying Areca along.

First they went to White Rice Mountain, leaving White Rice and Black Rice 10,000 Source Stones each.

Then to Kiwifruit Mountain, inspecting the fruiting of the Green-Red Kiwifruit Life Seed plants from Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple, offering some guidance, and leaving each of them 10,000 Source Stones.

Next, to Black Lotus Lake, picking up Black Cory and the ant colony, then heading south. They passed through Ghost Fan Mountain, leaving Ghost Fan 10,000 Source Stones.

The Dominating Throne circled the entire southwestern region, finally returning to Scarletlight Mountain.

Early summer,

The final batch of fruits from the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed ripened and was harvested.

As if freed of a heavy burden, the entire tree's momentum surged, and its daily absorption speed of Origin Force increased significantly.

It could break through at any time!

Ink Orchid also stayed to help.

Dragon Cypress returned alone to Xianglan Mountain.

...

Southern Gorgon wasn't entirely useless, either. After Dragon Cypress's departure, all its offshoots matured, and astonishingly, it bloomed at the end of spring and now had pod fruits.

At Mountain Lord Level, the yield remained constant.

There were 468 offshoots, 468 pod fruits, each pod yielding 5 Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seeds, totaling 2340 seeds.

For herbaceous plants with offshoot development mode, there's no need to nurse trees. Since it's already fruiting, just leave it be.

...

The Deep Blue God-Given Seed was growing rapidly. The trunk had surpassed 50 meters in height, and the range of spiritual power had extended to about 500 meters, making the special Water System Energy Field reach a radius of roughly 500 meters as well.

The Black Leaf Citrus Life Seed newly sown by Dragon Cypress beside the mountain streams fit perfectly within the field.

At the same time,

Dragon Cypress's common Life Seeds were gradually transitioning to Mountain Lord Level.

Just proper fertilization would do,

With Round Cypress and Cypress caring for them, no need to worry.

...

Early morning,

Deep within the Ant Nest, in the Royal Family chamber.

Dragon Cypress used spiritual power to communicate with the Dominating Throne.

[Please select Messenger type]

[Guardian of Strength]

[Guardian of Hydrology]

[Producer of Agriculture]

[Producer of Refinement]

Dragon Cypress selects [Guardian of Hydrology]

The Dominating Throne transmits a prompt for quantity selection:

[Please select quantity]

[Quantity 1]

[Quantity 2]

...

[Quantity 10]

Dragon Cypress selects [Quantity 10]

A sweep of blue light; the Dominating Throne sucks out Origin Force, physical strength, and nutrients.

Fortunately, with physique enhancement in place, there were no ill effects.

The Dominating Throne immediately sent another prompt:

[Messenger: Guardian of Hydrology generated, entering Primordial Energy Breeding Stage One]

Seemed unchanged for now.

The next morning,

Dragon Cypress connects with the Dominating Throne again.

[Messenger: Guardian of Hydrology has entered Primordial Energy Breeding Stage Two. Continue?]

Dragon Cypress selects [Yes]

Blue light sweeps by,

Again, large amounts of Origin Force, physical strength, and nutrients are drained.

The third morning,

Dragon Cypress communicates with the Dominating Throne.

[Messenger: Guardian of Hydrology has entered Primordial Energy Breeding Stage Three. Continue?]

Dragon Cypress selects [Yes]

On the fourth morning,

Dragon Cypress contacts the Dominating Throne and receives a new prompt.

[Messenger: Guardian of Hydrology has entered Primordial Energy Breeding Stage Four. Continue?]

When Dragon Cypress was a primary, mid-level, or high-level Ant King, the Throne only went through three breeding stages to produce Ant Eggs.

After advancing to Evolution Mountain Lord Level Ant King, the number of breeding stages for Ant Eggs increased.

Dragon Cypress selects [Yes]

On the fifth morning, communicating again with the Dominating Throne.

[Messenger: Guardian of Hydrology has entered Primordial Energy Breeding Stage Five. Continue?]

Dragon Cypress selects [Yes]

Until the sixth morning, the prompt from the Dominating Throne finally changed: [Messenger: Guardian of Hydrology generation complete]

With a thought, Dragon Cypress made it so the tightly sealed metal sphere at the back of the Throne revealed ten hexagonal openings.

In each opening lay a single white Ant Egg.

The Ant Eggs had changed—they were obviously much larger.

From an original diameter of just a fraction of a millimeter, they'd grown to about 1 millimeter across.

Dragon Cypress ordered micro Worker Ants to retrieve the Ant Eggs, placing them in the Royal Family's hatchery for easy observation at any time.

This summer, Dragon Cypress had no other matters, so he stayed at Xianglan Mountain, first clarifying the differences among Mountain Lord level Soldier Ants, Worker Ants, Blue Soldiers, and Blue Ants.

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