Huagi Mountain, the ice and snow still had not completely melted.

The orange-red warm sun.

Yellow Stem and Spruce lazily sprawled on a huge boulder on the ridge, silently watching the Dominating Throne approach from afar.

Spruce: "It should be spring in the south by now, right?"

Yellow Stem: "About that. The diligent insects are busy turning soil, fertilizing, and sowing seeds at this time."

Spruce: "Coming to Huagi Mountain at this time, did they find a Source Stone Mine?"

Yellow Stem: "Or perhaps a tribe's ruins yielded something."

Ink Orchid saw the two insects basking on the ridge, left the Throne, fluttered her wings, and swiftly drew near.

Yellow Stem stood up.

Spruce also stood up.

"Yellow Stem. Spruce. Great news!"

Ink Orchid circled and landed, full of excitement, and said: "We've found a Source Stone Mine!"

As expected!

Even though they had guessed, upon hearing the definite news, Yellow Stem still couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart, his wings fluttering instinctively.

"Is it on the southeastern coast?"

"Yes."

"A rich mine or a poor mine? Is it big or small?"

"Poor mine. A micro-sized deposit."

"Oh…"

Yellow Stem's enthusiasm was dampened more than half, and he asked, "Has it been surveyed carefully? About how much can be mined out?"

Ink Orchid: "10 to 15 million."

"..." Yellow Stem was greatly disappointed, choked up and speechless.

The Knowledge Hall held detailed records on all kinds of Source Stone Mines.

This yield—truly micro among the micro.

Ink Orchid: "Yellow Stem, Spruce, that's not so little. Should we consider awakening the Quandong Divine Tree?"

Ink Orchid: "If we have the Soul-Setting Fruit to assist, attacking the Termite Kingdom will be a sure thing!"

A Divine-Grade Fruit that bestows Soul Ability~ Spruce couldn't hide his excitement and chimed in cleverly:

"It's not that the Soul-Setting Fruit makes it a hundred percent success, but it definitely increases our odds by a great margin."

Spruce and Ink Orchid both looked at Yellow Stem.

Yellow Stem's eyes flashed with green light, his mind spinning at high speed.

The Dominating Throne flew closer and docked in front of the boulder.

"Yellow Stem. Spruce."

Dragon Cypress greeted them, looking a bit anxious, and asked: "Ink Orchid told you the details about the Source Stone Mine, right?"

"More or less——"

Yellow Stem's gaze fixed on the Stump Ant Nest, his spiritual power swept across, and he immediately became solemn.

The nest was packed with worker ants of all sizes.

What did they need the worker ants for?

Only one reason…

Yellow Stem quickly shifted his gaze and asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, last time you said, for the Dominating Throne to fly from Huagi Mountain to the southeastern coast, it takes about eight days?"

Dragon Cypress: "That was the third Source Stone Mine at the coast. This time, it's the second Source Stone Mine inland, a bit closer, about six days to get there."

Yellow Stem: "A round-trip takes twelve days?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes."

Yellow Stem: "The Dominating Throne can only carry five thousand Source Stones each trip?"

Dragon Cypress: "I'm now evolving each year by one Age Period; after reaching Mountain Lord Level, the Throne's speed and carrying capacity will get a qualitative boost."

Yellow Stem waggled his tentacles, "Even if you evolve to Evolution Mountain Lord Level and double your capacity and speed, carrying ten thousand each trip, one trip in six days… It would still take six thousand days to transport ten million Source Stones… how many years is that?"

Dragon Cypress: "That calculation isn't accurate. It won't take anywhere near that long."

Dragon Cypress: "The Throne's flying speed depends on my spiritual power. I'll try to buy Origin Force Food that enhances soul and spiritual power. The Throne's carrying capacity might relate to my Strength. Specifically, after the spring trade with the Flame Spider Roving Merchant, when I evolve to High-Level Ant King at Age Period 7, I'll test it and we'll know."

Dragon Cypress paused after speaking, becoming somber, and slowed his speech: "Yellow Stem, I'm guessing there are still some emergency Source Stones left at the bottom of Huagi Mountain's Treasury, right?"

Yellow Stem shook his tentacles, without replying.

Seeing he hadn't flatly denied it, Dragon Cypress continued: "I recall you said before, each time the Quandong Divine Tree blooms and bears fruit, even if only three fruits are kept, it still takes ten years to mature?"

Yellow Stem: "Yes."

Dragon Cypress: "So we're short on time. We could do this: use the emergency Source Stones first to awaken the Quandong Divine Tree, sow it, restore it to its peak, and let it bloom and fruit as soon as possible."

Dragon Cypress: "During that time, I'll transport as many Source Stones to Huagi Mountain as I can. However much is used, before the attack on the Termite Kingdom, I guarantee I'll ship it all over to make it up to you, ok?"

Yellow Stem stood still, unmoving, struggling in thought.

Dragon Cypress: "The costs to awaken the Quandong Divine Tree and for blooming and fruiting are all covered by me and Ink Orchid. Out of three Soul-Setting Fruits, I get one, Ink Orchid gets one, and Spruce gets one."

Yellow Stem: "Soul-Setting Fruit, 4.5 million per fruit, two means nine million. That's our fixed price here at Huagi Mountain—in the past, now, and forever, never changing."

Dragon Cypress: "If you insist on calculating like that, fine."

Dragon Cypress: "Let's calculate the cost of awakening the Quandong Divine Tree then… how many Source Stones will it take?"

Yellow Stem: "During the Origin Force Silent Period, we've only awakened and sown the Banner Divine Tree, so we can only estimate using its requirements."

Yellow Stem: "Sowing requires five million. Normally, an average of three to five hundred Source Stones a day are needed to supplement Origin Force, let's say four hundred, so a year is 146,000, at least ten years—at least 1.46 million."

Yellow Stem: "While Soul-Setting Fruits mature, each one needs 800,000 to 1 million Source Stones, three will be 2.4 to 3 million Source Stones."

Yellow Stem: "Total cost is about nine million."

Yellow Stem: "To be honest, the Quandong Divine Tree is less evolved than the Banner Divine Tree, its size is also smaller, so actual expenses will be less."

Dragon Cypress: "Then you all at Huagi Mountain deserve to earn that extra."

Dragon Cypress: "When we attack the Termite Kingdom, Ink Orchid and I seek profit, but you… you're after your life. We each get what we need."

Yellow Stem: "Yes. I don't want to die of old age at High-Level Warrior stage."

Ink Orchid added: "Yeah, we're all insects on the same spider silk rope."

Dragon Cypress: "So it's settled?"

Yellow Stem wobbled his tentacles: "This is extremely risky, I can't make the decision alone—I need to ask the Huagi Divine Tree."

Dragon Cypress: "Then you…"

Dragon Cypress lifted his foreclaw, pointing to a distant mountain peak.

Yellow Stem: "If I go like this, who knows if it'll work or not, but getting chewed out by the Huagi Divine Tree is a guarantee."

Dragon Cypress: "So you mean…?"

Yellow Stem asked: "Have all the Source Stones been mined out?"

Dragon Cypress: "I left a Command Ant in charge of mining."

Dragon Cypress understood what he meant and said: "I can take you to the second Source Stone Mine for a look. If you see the Source Stones with your own eyes, you'll feel reassured, and you'll have something to report to the Huagi Divine Tree."

Yellow Stem: "I can't just leave Huagi Mountain easily."

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid both turned their gaze on Spruce.

Yellow Stem: "Spruce will go with you."

Dragon Cypress: "Alright!"

Dragon Cypress tapped his tentacles, pointed to Round Cypress beside him, and introduced: "This is the first Assistant King of the Xianglan Mountain Kingdom, named Round Cypress. He has a steady disposition, thorough in his work, and is my most capable lieutenant."

Dragon Cypress: "Awakening the Quandong Divine Tree will require plenty of preparation, right? Round Cypress and the worker ants can help."

Yellow Stem thought for a moment and said: "First we need to select a good spot for sowing and dig a big pit."

Yellow Stem: "You can have your ants start digging the pit first."

Dragon Cypress: "Sure! This is exactly what we ants are best at. Where do you think the spot should be?"

Yellow Stem raised a claw and pointed to the north-east of Huagi Mountain, saying: "Over there, on the flat ground at the foot of the mountain. I'll take you all over."

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