In the blink of an eye, five years have passed.

During these five years, the canopy of the Jianmu tree has completely covered the entire Dongcang Town, but the houses and streets beneath the canopy are no longer veiled by its shadows.

This is because the joyful demon spirits, flapping their wings, have hung Xiguang Bells on the hanging branches of the Jianmu.

The delicate bells gently sway with the breeze, scattering melodious ringing sounds and radiant light over all the places sheltered by the Jianmu.

And in the places where the Xiguang shines.

The Five Grains growing on the rooftops are kissed by the joyful demon spirits, and the flowers of joy bloom.

They have long forgotten the wandering Old Mr. Qiu, striving to absorb the Compassion force flowing from the earth, bearing their own bountiful fruits.

Under the protection of the Jianmu, there are no distinctions between the four seasons.

So as long as they have enough spiritual power and vitality, it's a never-ending production; harvesting seven or eight times a year is not an issue at all.

The Bamboo Wood Ants are transporting these matured crops, moving them into the granaries constructed by Li Ye. The food can be described as being piled up like mountains.

The matured "bountiful fruits" are no different from fruits that originally grew, even bearing some peculiar "longevity" aura due to the blessing of Compassion.

Though that aura is quite subtle.

Yet, the Bamboo Wood Ants responsible for transporting these fruits benefit from it.

Originally, the life span of a Bamboo Wood Ant was about three years; it was only due to the exaggerated knowledge transmission capability of the ant colony that they managed to make building various structures and objects instinctive.

Now, the batch of ant colonies that should have died have extended their lives due to the lack of exchanges with the outside world, and naturally have developed some "spirituality" that ordinary ant races do not possess.

"Unexpectedly, it's you who've benefited the most."

Li Ye lowered his eyes, watching those Bamboo Wood Ants carrying back the Five Grains, transformed into carts that did not require human propulsion, laden with abundant harvests.

The original Bamboo Wood Ants were hardly different from ordinary ants.

Yet now, the Bamboo Wood Ants are becoming exceptionally large—almost growing to the size of a palm, with three or four Bamboo Wood Ants being enough to form a cart.

[Name]: Compassion Bamboo Wood Ant

[Emotion]: Craving, Craving, Craving

[State]: Special Bamboo Wood Ants that have symbiotically bound with Ten Thousand Sinking Bamboo, they dwell in a place imbued with Compassion Divine Power, gradually absorbing some power of "longevity."

They have an intense craving for "longevity."

"Craving longevity, huh."

In Li Ye's view, though they are still diligently working, the flames of desire for longevity are growing even stronger.

The blazing flames.

So bright that Li Ye felt even his divine sense was scalded.

All this is because they have lived longer, gaining their own wisdom; the longer they live, the more they fear death. Compared to the previous blurred existence of an ant's life, they now seem reborn.

Naturally, they don't wish to die anymore.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, murmuring, "Because the life span has been extended, so a desire for longevity has arisen.

This Compassion power, it truly is extreme.

Even I..."

In these five years, he has been working hard to cultivate more Wuyou Grain Storehouses, refine his Divine Power Skill, and ponder how to resolve this matter more swiftly.

Also, he ponders why the sect is willing to retain Compassion.

Judging by the current situation, Compassion seems akin to an "Evil God," answering requests but bringing only troublesome matters.

Yet, upon closer thought, if the power of Compassion could be applied reasonably, it could not only increase the yield of Spirit Plants but also cause Spirit Beasts to mutate.

He considers whether Compassion's power can be reasonably harnessed?

Since the Bamboo Wood Ants have such a desire for longevity.

Then, let the Bamboo Wood Ants partake in some of Compassion's blessings. If the Bamboo Wood Ants' desires can suppress Old Mr. Qiu's longing for longevity, perhaps Compassion would abandon Old Mr. Qiu?

According to his hypothesis, it should be possible, considering that compared to the complex thoughts of the Human Race, the Bamboo Wood Ants have thoughts that are much simpler and purer, filled with only the longing for longevity.

He thinks it won't hurt to try.

Double-pronged approach, so to speak.

On one side, continue to imprison Old Mr. Qiu with isolation, while on the other, use the enormous ant colony to share Compassion's blessings.

Eventually, one of them will succeed.

Determined to act, he then focused his mind on the Bamboo Wood Ant colonies constructing their nest.

Currently, the Bamboo Wood Ant nest is quite luxurious, reaching dozens of meters high, with countless tunnels inside and an independent nest for each Bamboo Wood Ant, and stockpiles of food heaped at the bottom.

Moreover, those individual nests contain some favorite decorations that the Bamboo Wood Ants retrieved, indicating that they have developed their independent preferences and discernment of good and evil.

Otherwise, given the nature of the Bamboo Wood Ants, they would never place useless decorative objects inside their nests.

"Having plans for oneself gave rise to desires."

"This is indeed a good thing."

Li Ye nodded, but this time, he did not perform the Emotion Song.

Instead, with a wave of his hand, the Xiangyun Zither appeared, and his slender fingers gently brushed over it.

The sound of the zither, like drizzle, began to slowly resound.

The rain and the zither's melody intertwined around each Bamboo Wood Ant's nest, as if separating them into independent spaces, allowing the Bamboo Wood Ants inside to experience the isolation and solitude brought by the rain.

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