In the past, Melde and White Ivy took turns every year, bringing Grass Dragon and Lupine along to roam as roving merchants across the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent.

White Ivy left the Luoli Caravan.

Lupine started traveling and trading on their own.

With no one to keep them in check, Grass Dragon and Lupine became bolder than ever, always veering off from White Ivy and Melde's trading routes, running off to some well-known big tribes, trying every trick to sneak in...

They walked side by side, slowly meandering along the Starship Passage.

Grass Dragon chattered to Dragon Cypress, sharing all kinds of new and curious things they'd encountered.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were wide awake now, listening with rapt attention.

From the bright dawn, they walked all the way until nightfall approached, arriving once again at the rift exit at the edge of Cloud Trace Continent.

They said their farewells reluctantly.

Grass Dragon left.

Dragon Cypress brought Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple back to the Rednan Mountain Ant Nest.

After a night's rest, the next day Dragon Cypress led the Ant Army, mightily setting out to return to Xianglan Mountain.

...

This year, Ink Orchid joined in on inventory, helping count up the treasury's wealth.

The two warehouses storing Source Stones were about to burst at the seams, holding a total of 18,600 Source Stones.

All kinds of Origin Force Food, worth over 136,000 Source Stones.

"This year, our total wealth has reached more than 155,000; compared to last year's 114,000, that's an increase of 41,000 Source Stones." Dragon Cypress announced the results.

"Wow! That much!" Ink Orchid exclaimed first, hopping up with joy.

"Time for a bonus! This year let's do 2,000 Source Stones!" Spiked Cypress cheered along, only to have Dragon Cypress push their claw down.

"Fragrant Cypress, get everyone a jar of Origin Force Ant Honey worth 1,000 Source Stones each, to prepare for advanced evolution."

"The bonus is still 1,000 Source Stones for this year. Silver Cypress was only just born last winter, so for now there's no bonus."

Dragon Cypress carved an ant shape on the stone wall, then drew an octagon over it, representing Silver Cypress.

Then, behind the symbols for Round Cypress, Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, Fragrant Cypress, and Cypress, Dragon Cypress drew a little grain of rice for each.

Seeing everyone still looking unhappy, Dragon Cypress added: "Here's a new rule—for each spring's trading season, after counting the treasury, based on every 100,000 Source Stones, you all get a bonus of 1,000 Source Stones; at 200,000, a bonus of 2,000; at 300,000, a bonus of 3,000, and so on."

"Our next target is 200,000!"

Dragon Cypress wiggled their tentacles to boost morale.

"Oh——"

"Alright——"

"Got it——"

"Let's go——"

Round Cypress led the group of five in half-hearted responses: Great King, aren't you a little too stingy?

Dragon Cypress was displeased, "You lot shouldn't fuss over these petty ant gains and losses. Don't forget, you depend on the kingdom to survive. The kingdom rises or falls, and so do you. Contributing to the kingdom's growth is your duty."

"That's right."

"Great King is totally right."

"I get it."

"For the kingdom."

The group lazily wobbled their tentacles in reply.

"Dragon Cypress, why are they all unhappy now?" Ink Orchid asked, puzzled.

As a Flower Mantis Warrior, she couldn't receive ant antenna-communications, so Ink Orchid didn't know what Dragon Cypress had just said. But after all this time together, she was more than familiar with ant behavior and could definitely tell, everyone's mood was down.

Dragon Cypress replied calmly, "They think the bonus is too small."

Ink Orchid looked at the wall and asked, "This year's bonus is only 1,000 Source Stones? Dragon Cypress, don't be such a cheapskate."

Dragon Cypress scowled, "Ink Orchid, get your position straight first. I'm the Great King, you're the Second King, both of us are the ruling class of the kingdom. The kingdom's wealth is ours. Those five are Command Ants, the second tier..."

Ink Orchid shuffled over, lined herself up beside Dragon Cypress, and said, "My position is very clear, but I still think you're stingy."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress sighed, "I've done the math. With the current resource allocation, it's enough for the five of them to rapidly advance in the advanced stages of ages one to three. In the future, as their evolution progresses, the Ant Kingdom develops, and naturally, the rewards will go up."

Ink Orchid: "…Alright, fine."

Dragon Cypress wiggled their tentacles and addressed the five Command Ants before him: "Our next goal is to accumulate 200,000 Source Stones. After that, it's 300,000. Our ultimate goal is to reach 3,000,000 Source Stones!"

Spiked Cypress raised a foreleg and asked carefully, "Great King, what's all this wealth for? You and Second King can't even eat that much Origin Force Food."

How is that your business if we can eat it all or not?

Dragon Cypress was seething inside, suppressing the urge to grab this troublemaker and give him a beating, but instead praised him: "Spiked Cypress, you're clever now, that's a good question."

Dragon Cypress explained: "Last winter, Ink Orchid and I discovered a massive Land of Origin Force ruled by the White Poplar Ant King and the King of Termite—brutes to the core, enslaving other Insect Clan warriors…"

Dragon Cypress detailed the White Poplar Ant King, the White Poplar Divine Seed, and One-Glimpse Flower Divine Seed, then finally delivered the punchline:

"When we have 3,000,000 Source Stones, we'll buy a One-Glimpse Fruit. In the future, once we defeat and kill White Poplar Ant King and grab its White Poplar Divine Seed, it'll be Nature God's reward for us rescuing all the poor, enslaved Barley Bug Warriors."

"The White Poplar Fruit we produce will first and foremost go to the members of our Xianglan Mountain Kingdom, with each of you getting three Divine-Grade Fruits, extending your lifespans by ninety years."

"In the Natural Star Realm, lifespan is the most precious thing. With more years, you all have plenty of time to evolve to higher levels."

Dragon Cypress vigorously waved their tentacle and shouted: "Our goal is King-Level!"

"Long live the Great King!"

Spiked Cypress led the chorus.

"King-Level!"

"Wipe out the Termite Kingdom!"

"Seize the White Poplar Divine Seed!"

...

Everyone took up the call.

Dragon Cypress nodded with satisfaction. This big pie should keep those five motivated for half a lifetime.

Dragon Cypress raised a foreleg for quiet and instructed:

"Fragrant Cypress, you command the Blue Ants to refine Ant Honey."

"Round Cypress, Cypress, you two command the Blue Soldiers to boil water and make soup."

"Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, take soldiers into the jungle to hunt for some fresh food for our banquet."

"Ink Orchid, let's go down the mountain and check how the Azure Tree is doing."

...

The Dominating Throne carried Ink Orchid, Blue Catalpa, and Snakebark Maple down the mountain.

Azure Blue Reservoir.

In the shallow water zone directly west, five Azure Saplings had already broken through the water's surface. The first leaf was just unfurling, only four or five centimeters across, with the second leaf bud still developing.

The miniaturized version of the Deep Blue God-Given Seed looked almost identical, except for the leaf veins—regular Azure Tree leaf veins were a deep blue-green.

"Wow!"

"Are these the plants from an Outworld Civilization?"

"Relatives of the Deep Blue God-Given Seed?"

"Then their fruit must taste amazing, right?"

"Of course! And totally one-of-a-kind!"

Ink Orchid, with Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple, hopped down to the shore, staring at the young Azure Trees and chattering away in excitement.

"Dragon Cypress!"

Azure had probably watched too many animals—its consciousness was becoming more like a 'lively animal' than a 'quiet plant', so it took the initiative to greet Dragon Cypress, asking:

"Dragon Cypress, I remember you said you found a hundred Azure Tree Seeds in total?"

"Yes."

"Why did you plant only five?"

"Because I'm not sure if Xianglan Mountain's environment suits the Azure Tree's growth."

"But I'm growing just fine, aren't I?"

"You're a Divine-Given Seed, a powerful Origin Force Lifeform. You adapt to natural environments far better than your ordinary peers."

"Ooh——"

Azure was quick on the uptake too, understood what Dragon Cypress meant, thought for a few seconds, and said:

"They're doing great. The season is right, you could plant all the other seeds now."

"No rush…" said Dragon Cypress. "There aren't many seeds, and we can't afford any mishaps. Winters at Xianglan Mountain are pretty cold. Let's do a one-year trial run. If they make it through this winter, we'll plant the rest next year."

"Alright——" Azure sounded a bit disappointed.

Dragon Cypress gave instructions: "Azure, I'll send you twenty Specialized Blue Soldiers, twenty High-Level Specialized Worker Ants, and thirty High-Level Large Worker Ants to command. Take good care of your kin—no problem, right?"

Azure beamed, "Of course, no problem!"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple, a couple of shameless flunkies, started relentlessly flattering Ink Orchid, bantering back and forth.

Dragon Cypress couldn't stand it anymore and said: "Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, I'll send you two back to Kiwifruit Mountain first thing tomorrow. Better save your energy to do real work when you're back at your own territory."

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