After an Insect Clan Warrior evolves to the Evolution Mountain Lord Level, their body size stabilizes. Subsequent molting evolutions no longer carry worries about carapace tearing, deformities, muscle tears, lost legs, or broken tentacles.

Within the Wooden Darkling Beetle Tribe, Ghost Fan's size is average—not particularly robust, nor weak. If a sturdier body is desired, one can use 'Gigantification' type Origin Force Food in future evolutions.

The effect of common Origin Force Food isn't obvious; only Divine-Given Origin Force Food can achieve ideal improvement.

...

After eating and drinking their fill, and resting for a day and a night, Ghost Fan walked out of the cave.

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Woodberry immediately went up to greet him.

"Have you recovered?"

"Did you comprehend any Elemental Ability?"

"Ghost Fan, can you produce metal cans now?"

Ghost Fan paused, then answered them one by one:

"Regained some strength, but my body is not in good shape, I'll need to rest for a while."

"At the High-Level Warrior stage I mainly focused on enhancing physique, ate very little Origin Force Food that strengthens Metal System Elemental Ability; currently, I've only comprehended one Metal Ability."

While speaking, Ghost Fan activated the Primordial Energy in his body; a layer of blue-black Primordial Energy coated his deep indigo carapace.

Dragon Cypress understood at a glance—an ability similar to his own Water System 'Hydrology Shield'.

Ghost Fan, at the High-Level Warrior stage, can already manipulate metal, similar to the Water System 'Water Control Ability'.

Ghost Fan now has two Metal Abilities under his belt.

Ink Orchid also saw through it; just like Dragon Cypress's—nothing too impressive.

"Anything else?"

Ink Orchid raised a claw, poked at Ghost Fan's Metal System Primordial Energy defense with her clawtip.

Applying a bit more force, she poked again.

Surprised to find this defensive ability is much tougher than Dragon Cypress's 'Hydrology Shield'.

She withdrew her catching feet, then accumulated force, her clawtip delivering a lightning strike.

Still couldn't break it.

Ink Orchid exclaimed, "Ghost Fan's ability is really strong!"

"Ghost Fan Mountain Lord! Remember to use the honorific." Dragon Cypress kindly reminded, raising his claw, aiming at Ghost Fan's back carapace, channeling power, and delivering a hard jab.

The Origin Force Energy defense was extremely tough. The force rebounded, numbing his claw and making it ache.

"Powerful Metal System defensive ability, plus the indestructible carapace of the Wooden Darkling Beetle Tribe. Ghost Fan, your defense is already sufficient, you just lack a powerful offensive ability now…"

Dragon Cypress said, frowning in concern.

Ghost Fan: "Dragon Cypress, I can now consume large amounts of Metal System Origin Force Food."

After Mountain Lord Level, evolutionary growth is mainly based on Elemental System Origin Force Food, comprehending different elemental abilities.

Depending on racial talent, quality and type of Origin Force Food, individual temperament, comprehension, and other factors, each insect will have different numbers, types, and strengths of abilities gained.

Dragon Cypress: "But here on Cloud Trace Continent we have no Metal System Origin Force Food; we can only buy it from the Flame Spider Caravan…"

Neither Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, Blue Catalpa nor Snakebark Maple had Metal System Talents, so why would they buy Metal System Origin Force Food from the caravan?

Ghost Fan understood Dragon Cypress's meaning, and started to worry too.

Dragon Cypress: "Ghost Fan, in your first Age Period at Mountain Lord Level, eat more Origin Force Food that boosts visual ability and tentacle perception, and also properly strengthen your comprehensive physique, especially speed. Right now you're tough, but not agile enough."

Ghost Fan: "Alright."

Dragon Cypress: "Once I also evolve to Mountain Lord Level, with fewer concerns, I'll explain the situation here on Cloud Trace Continent to the Flame Spider Caravan. Then we'll buy whatever element system Origin Force Food everyone needs."

Ghost Fan: "Deal——"

Dragon Cypress swayed his tentacles, saying, "Before evolution, we prepared 10,000 Source Stones. For Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed evolution, we only used 6,500; there's 3,500 Source Stones left. Pack them up, store them in the cave. In the next month or two, your Common Life Seeds will evolve one after another. Don't be stingy; use them as needed. The toughest part is over—don't trip up now over relatively easy Common Life Seeds."

Ghost Fan: "I'm not stingy!"

Ink Orchid nudged Dragon Cypress and cut in, "Ghost Fan, after evolving to Mountain Lord Level, your Ghost Fan Divine-Given Seed and the Common Life Seeds will enter a rapid growth phase of about five years. The best method is to let them rest and not flower or bear fruit for a year; nurture the tree first, then think about production."

Ghost Fan looked toward Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress twitched his tentacles in agreement.

Ink Orchid: "Don't worry. This is a handy trick we learned from the Huagi Knowledge Hall—very practical."

"Understood. Thank you." Ghost Fan twitched his tentacle in thanks.

Dragon Cypress shook his tentacles and called out, "Woodberry, go pack away the Source Stones. There are still two bags of Divine-Given Remains left—use them directly on the Common Life Seeds. Ghost Fan, go find your Ghost Fan Divine-Given Seed and retrieve the Glinting Gold. Ink Orchid and I need to return to Xianglan Mountain."

...

Southern Sour Jujube Mountain lies far to the south, yet it isn't cold even in winter.

On the mountain, the newly built reservoir had just been completed; Round Cypress led Worker Ants to tidy up the edges.

Down the mountain, Black Cory was commanding Worker Ants to dig water diversion canals, while Silver Cypress directed Soldier Ants in clearing away the excavated rubble.

Up and down the mountain, rows upon rows of fertile terraces.

The reconstruction project of Southern Sour Jujube Mountain had entered its final stage.

"Great King! Second King!"

Silver Cypress ran up to greet, "Great King, you're finally here!"

Dragon Cypress piloted the Dominating Throne over and asked, "Is there still enough food in the Ant Nest?"

Silver Cypress: "We're about to run out."

Dragon Cypress: "Perfect. We're just about to start winter fishing season."

"Great King~"

Black Cory also ran over, calling out mournfully.

—— What happened to the promised shift work?

—— The work's all done and you only show up now~

—— How are things on Black Lotus Lake?

"Dragon Cypress Ant King." Round Cypress arrived just after.

"Enough!" Dragon Cypress shook his tentacles, cutting off the complaints, saying, "You all keep working on the remaining tasks. I'll first send some Worker Ants, Blue Soldiers, and Blue Ants back to Black Lotus Lake."

...

Dragon Cypress made a quick trip back to Xianglan Mountain. Ink Orchid stayed to rest, while Cypress headed to Black Lotus Lake to organize the fishing.

Dragon Cypress was rushing back and forth, transferring Ant groups from Southern Sour Jujube Mountain to Black Lotus Lake and Xianglan Mountain, while also cycling the food-carrying Blue Ants between the sites.

After twenty days, every Blue Ant in the Ant Kingdom had a full abdomen of food stored.

In the meantime, the finishing work on Southern Sour Jujube Mountain wrapped up. They carried out replanting ahead of schedule, spending about ten days to plant fruit seedlings as planned in every plot of reclaimed land.

Southern Sour Jujube Mountain's development was now complete.

Dragon Cypress piloted the Dominating Throne, busy with transportation runs.

Southern Sour Jujube Mountain retained just 100 Worker Ants in large, medium, small, and micro sizes; 120 Specialized Blue Soldiers; 50 Large Blue Soldiers; 50 Specialized Blue Ants; and 50 Large Blue Ants.

The rest of the Worker Ants, Soldier Ants, Blue Soldiers, and Blue Ants—some were shipped to Black Lotus Lake, the majority returned to Xianglan Mountain.

At night.

South Mountain Restaurant.

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, Round Cypress, Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, Fragrant Cypress, Cypress, Silver Cypress, and Black Cory—the entire Ant Kingdom—gathered around the newest, 1.5-meter diameter superlarge stone pot for a grand banquet.

They really had been too busy these past two years; Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid had barely stayed in Xianglan Mountain, and celebrations had been rare.

Dragon Cypress took out 3000 Source Stones worth of Origin Force Food; tonight, the Great King was happy, everyone could eat their fill.

As they ate, they also arranged their tasks.

There was a lot to do.

Who would manage Southern Sour Jujube Mountain afterward?

Cypress would go over for a year, Silver Cypress would stay in Xianglan Mountain for a year of rest.

Who would be sent to open up White Lotus Lake next year?

Round Cypress would go first, building the Ant Nest, digging pools, constructing a Marsh Gas Pool, and next year Fragrant Cypress would take over.

For the first Source Stone Mine on Southeastern Continent, who would take on the task of prospecting?

Only Black Cory could handle that work. Don't rush to refuse—if you find ore, the Great King will give you a commission.

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