Spring was brilliantly bright.

On the west slope of the Azure Blue Reservoir, Dragon Cypress commanded Large Worker Ants to climb up two Silver Cypress Trees, their Mandible Teeth gnawing and clipping off their branches.

"Dragon Cypress, what are you doing?"

"Cutting down two cypress trees to clear space. I'm going to plant Life Seeds."

"You've evolved again."

"A 7th Age Period High-Level Ant King. My new Life Seed is Coarse Torreya, a close relative to the Red Torreya and also a slow-growing species."

"Oh—"

The two perfectly fine cypress trees were being cut down, which made Azure's heartache. After silently observing for a while, he asked, "Dragon Cypress, yesterday you flew over with the Dominating Throne carrying Source Stones, but you left as soon as you got close."

"I was testing the transport capabilities of the Dominating Throne."

"How did the tests go?"

"Azure, your judgment was very accurate. After I significantly strengthened and enhanced my Strength, the Dominating Throne's carrying capacity grew accordingly."

"Then you can transport the Source Stones back to Xianglan Mountain."

The Source Stones mined this time were mostly to be transported to Huagi Mountain.

Dragon Cypress did not respond.

Azure persisted, "Dragon Cypress, where is your Dominating Throne? You came down the mountain on foot."

Dragon Cypress replied, "Ink Orchid is undergoing sleep Evolution."

Dragon Cypress changed the subject, saying, "Azure, your fruit will mature this year."

Azure replied, "That's right."

Dragon Cypress said, "Then this year, ordinary Azure Trees can keep their fruits. I want to make the purest Azure Bee King Honey."

Azure replied, "Understood."

Azure asked, "Dragon Cypress, your Water Stone Banyan and Azure Tree Life Seeds can bloom this year. Do you want to keep some of the fruit?"

"No need."

Dragon Cypress stated, "I am about to evolve to Mountain Lord Level; let them rest from flowering and fruiting, so they can follow me in ascending sooner rather than later."

Dragon Cypress added, "Azure, next year when you blossom, don't keep the fruit either. Save up Strength for Evolution."

Azure replied, "Alright…"

...

Dragon Cypress and Azure chatted idly.

The branches of the two Silver Cypress Trees had all been pruned, leaving only two bare trunks.

Dragon Cypress himself went up the tree with a Spider Silk Rope, tying it at the top.

Specialized Worker Ants approached, their Mandible Teeth gnawing at the trunk.

Another group of Specialized Worker Ants, carrying Spider Silk Ropes, dragged the tree trunks down, sawed them off, and carried them away.

Meanwhile, a large number of Worker Ants excavated, removing the roots.

Lastly, they refilled the hole with Humus mixed with the exuviae of Dragon Cypress's bountiful Divine-Given Seed.

They planted the Coarse Torreya Life Seeds.

They gathered spine-covered vines to construct protective barriers.

It took a whole day to finish everything.

Dragon Cypress stood by, waiting for the Life Seeds to take root and sprout.

...

Dragon Cypress also faced a minor issue: the sudden surge in Strength often caused him to inadvertently apply too much force.

The solution was to work more, exercise, and use his Strength more often.

Just in time, the Ant Nest in the mountains needed to expand its Treasury to store Source Stones, and Dragon Cypress personally dug with his claws.

Yearly, a large number of wooden tags for selling Origin Force Honey needed to be prefabricated. Dragon Cypress personally carved the patterns. This was technical work that exercised the most delicate control of minuscule forces at his fingertips.

Tranquil spring days passed.

Ink Orchid successfully completed her Evolution.

Round Cypress, Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, and Silver Cypress took turns using the Dominating Throne for sleep Evolution.

All affairs of Xianglan Mountain were settled.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid set off to Zikui Mountain. They loaded twenty Spider Silk Bags of Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube exuviae at once and delivered them to Southern Sour Jujube Mountain for the Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube Seed.

Then, they loaded another twenty Spider Silk Bags of Divine-Given Mulberry Tree exuviae and delivered them to Scarletlight Mountain.

...

「Twilight.」

In front of Areca's dwelling cave, ordinary Primordial Spiders were neatly lined up in a long queue that extended deep into the jungle.

A seven or eight-meter-long giant snake corpse lay across the ground.

Areca's forelimbs, Pincer Limbs, and Mandible Teeth worked in unison, vigorously cutting off chunks of flesh from the corpse and passing them to the waiting Primordial Spiders in line.

Mulberry lay nearby, watching with interest, feeling somewhat envious.

Primordial Spiders inherently possessed self-awareness, were intelligent, and capable of communicating with each other. As the only warrior of the Primordial Spider community, Areca had naturally become their leader. The leader could command the regular Primordial Spiders to line up and receive food one by one. Unlike his own common Nine-Star Roaches, which were chaotically driven by instinct, they would swarm over food, competing and fighting, even brawling upon seeing it.

Just when he was utterly absorbed, a familiar Origin Force Fluctuation arrived.

Instinctively, Mulberry stood up, slowly turned around, and looked towards the north.

"Mulberry, what's the matter?" Areca asked casually.

"The Dragon Cypress Ant King is coming," Mulberry replied, pointing a claw to the sky.

"The annual spring trade with the Roving Merchants?" Areca paused his actions.

"No, it must be something else. Dragon Cypress usually only comes over when the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed ripens in early summer."

Mulberry flicked his Tentacles and called out, "Let's go wait under the tree."

After a moment's thought, Areca tossed aside the python corpse and sprinted forward. He climbed up Mulberry's middle leg to his carapace and onto his forehead, where Areca's Pincer Limbs rubbed together to produce sound waves.

The Primordial Spiders who had been lining up swarmed forward, engulfing the python corpse.

"..."

Mulberry was momentarily stunned. Coming to his senses and carrying Areca, he headed toward the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed.

After waiting for a while under the tree, the Dominating Throne appeared in view.

Ink Orchid dismounted from the Throne, racing over.

"Mulberry."

"Areca, you've reached the 5th Age Period?" Ink Orchid greeted him, landing and eyeing Areca, who sat atop Mulberry's forehead.

Areca replied, "Yes."

Mulberry said, "He just went through a Molting Evolution a few days ago and slept for three days. Areca needs some Divine-GivenFruit-scented Orchid Seed and White Rice Seed. It would be best if there were some Ghost Fan too."

"No problem!"

Ink Orchid agreed promptly and explained, "The Divine-GivenFruit-scented Orchid Seed matured this winter, and I'll save some for you then. As for the Divine-Given White Rice Seed, it should be ripe by the end of autumn, right? It's not certain yet. And for the Divine-Given Ghost Fan, you'll have to wait three to five years."

Having said that, Ink Orchid climbed the trunk of the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed tree, gently patting it with her Tentacles and scanning with her spiritual power, thoroughly inspecting it.

"In superb condition."

Ink Orchid commented, adding, "Dragon Cypress has brought another 20 bags of Divine-Given Mulberry Tree Seed exuviae over. Use them when you get the chance, Mulberry."

"Alright—"

Mulberry answered, bowing his head as Areca gently leaped down to the ground. Areca ran along the buttress roots of the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed, climbed up the trunk, and approached Ink Orchid.

"Areca, the spring trade with the Roving Merchants is coming up. Do you want to come with me and Dragon Cypress to visit the different Origin Force Points and meet other Insect Clan Warriors?" Ink Orchid asked.

"Yes!"

"Then ask Mulberry to take care of your Life Seed Plants."

"...Alright."

Areca turned around and looked at Mulberry.

Mulberry, somewhat helplessly, agreed, "Fine then."

...

The Dominating Throne flew in, circling the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed once before landing and docking beneath the tree.

"Mulberry!"

"Areca."

Knowing that Ink Orchid had finished explaining everything, Dragon Cypress exchanged simple greetings before starting to unload the cargo.

Ink Orchid jumped down, sprang onto the Throne, grabbed her Spider Silk Bag, and hopped down. She opened the bag to retrieve a Metal Case, then opened the case to reveal 50 Mulberry Seeds inside.

"Areca, here's a lucrative deal for you. Interested?"

Areca: "???"

Areca quickly climbed down the trunk and approached eagerly. "What kind of deal?"

Ink Orchid gently placed the Metal Case before Areca and explained, "This is a Mulberry tree that Dragon Cypress and I found at Zikui Mountain. It can grow as high as 10 meters with white fruits. It's not recorded in the Inherited Memory and is likely a cultivated variant, which I've named 'White Mulberry'. So far, we're unsure what type of enhancement the cultivated Life Seed will produce..."

Ink Orchid continued, "Pick a Mulberry Seed to cultivate as your Life Seed and help us test it. As compensation, this Metal Case is yours. How about it?"

After a brief hesitation, Areca agreed, "Deal!"

Ink Orchid then took a Petite Spider Silk Bag, put the Metal Case inside, and handed it to Areca, saying, "Take it."

"Thank you, Ink Orchid."

Areca accepted it with joy.

Dragon Cypress paused and asked Areca, "Do you know how to weave Spider Silk Bags?"

Areca replied, "...No."

Dragon Cypress said, "Come with me. I'll take you to various Origin Force Points for fun and to meet other Insect Clan Warriors. I'll teach you along the way."

Areca: "???"

Do ants know how to weave Spider Silk Bags?

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