The spring rain falls in a light, pattering drizzle.

The Dominating Throne soars above the clouds. Ink Orchid reclines comfortably atop the Stump Ant Nest, basking in the slightly bug-warming sunlight.

Dragon Cypress, meanwhile, lies at the edge of the Stump Ant Nest, staring absentmindedly at the thick clouds below: How do clouds turn into rain? If clouds can become rainwater, why do they still hang so high up in the sky? Where do clouds come from? And why can lightning flash within them?

Dragon Cypress feels there's definitely a need to go to the Huagi Knowledge Hall again, settle down, spend some time, and study further.

"Dragon Cypress, we're here."

Ink Orchid suddenly rolls over, scoots closer, peers down as well, and seriously reminds, "Find a place where the clouds are thin to descend, and be careful not to get struck by lightning."

"Oh——"

Dragon Cypress manipulates the Dominating Throne to tilt and pierce through the clouds, falling under the pull of the land toward White Rice Mountain below.

Ink Orchid is about to kick off and fly ahead to go greet White Rice and Black Rice, but her wings freeze halfway through the motion.

"Dragon Cypress! Look! Something's wrong…"

Dragon Cypress has consumed plenty of Origin Force Foods to enhance vision; his farsightedness is no worse than Ink Orchid's, and he notices something amiss as well.

The wild Divine-Given White Rice Seed is covered in yellow-green new shoots, the branches madly sprouting and growing.

The Dominating Throne plunges downward at high speed.

Getting closer, things come into sharper focus.

Where are the fruits?

The White Rice Tree's Divine-Given Seed flowered and bore fruit last year… so where are the fruits?

This is clearly not normal.

White Rice and Black Rice are standing guard beneath the tree.

Dragon Cypress's thoughts spin as he controls the Dominating Throne, steadily decelerating.

Ink Orchid leaps lightly, spreads wings, darts closer, circling down to land.

"White Rice. Black Rice. What's going on right now…?" Ink Orchid sounds a bit unsure.

White Rice: "This spring, all the fruits on the tree suddenly wilted."

White Rice's psychic intent is laced with intense panic, lost and at wit's end. Seeing Ink Orchid arrive, he hurries to ask, "Ink Orchid, do you know what's going on?"

Ink Orchid: "The Divine-Given White Rice Seed is growing at an incredible speed!"

It's a situation anyone with eyes can see.

White Rice: "..."

White Rice cranes his head to look upward. After years of acquaintance, he still finds Dragon Cypress Ant King more reliable and knowledgeable.

In stark contrast to White Rice's panic and anxiety, Black Rice is excited, waving his slender antennae with exuberance and cheering:

"It's the Red Fox! Red Fox isn't dead! Red Fox really has merged with the Divine-Given White Rice Seed!"

Ink Orchid wants to say: It was you all who buried the Red Fox's corpse under the tree, providing the Divine-Given White Rice Seed with Primordial Energy nutrients, causing it to grow rapidly—maybe it's even about to undergo Evolution.

But seeing how sure and happy Black Rice looks, she just can't say it.

"...Strange."

The Dominating Throne descends slowly and parks. Dragon Cypress leaps to the ground, looks up, and expands his spiritual power to enshroud and examine the area.

The Rice Tree is a shrub or small arbor, with ordinary Rice Trees reaching only about 3 meters in height.

The first time Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid arrived at White Rice Mountain, when they first saw it, the Divine-Given White Rice Seed was about 20 meters tall.

Dragon Cypress brought advanced fertilizing and management techniques to White Rice Mountain, as well as Source Stones. Over the past decade or so, the Divine-Given White Rice Seed has been growing steadily.

Especially last year, its growth surged, jumping to around 25 meters in height.

Dragon Cypress hesitates and says, "Is the Divine-Given White Rice Seed about to evolve into Evolution Mountain Lord Level?"

White Rice is overjoyed at these words, "Evolve into Evolution Mountain Lord Level? Dragon Cypress Ant King, you know so much—explain it clearly to Black Rice and me? We don't understand anything."

Dragon Cypress: "Before a wild Divine-Given Seed undergoes Evolution, it accumulates energy, typically showing this by stopping flowering and fruiting, or by letting the existing flowers and fruits wither and fall off to reduce Origin Force and nutrient consumption. Other signs include sending out a lot of new branches, speeding up sunlight absorption, and accumulating energy."

Dragon Cypress immediately continues: "But there's something off… The Divine-Given White Rice Seed has only been growing a little over a hundred years, right? Normally, a wild Divine-Given Seed takes more than three hundred years to possibly evolve to Evolution Mountain Lord Level."

This knowledge partly comes from Melde, who explained it to Dragon Cypress and Grass Dragon; and partly from the Huagi Knowledge Hall, where the records are even more detailed.

However, Dragon Cypress has never witnessed a wild Divine-Given Seed's Evolution firsthand, and isn't familiar, nor very clear about it, making him sound uncertain.

Black Rice, full of confidence, says, "It's Red Fox! Red Fox merged with the Divine-Given White Rice Seed, so it's evolving! Red Fox and the Divine-Given White Rice Seed will evolve to Evolution Mountain Lord Level together! Red Fox's wish will come true within the Divine-Given White Rice Seed!"

That was Red Fox's deathbed lie to comfort you~

Dragon Cypress: "…"

Dragon Cypress can't bring himself to expose this lie head-on, so he stays silent.

"Whatever the case, we should be prepared, just in case." Ink Orchid jumps onto the throne, pulling down two large Spider Silk Bags that were originally meant to be shipped to Scarletlight Mountain.

"Here's 1,000 Source Stones. White Rice, Black Rice, keep these on hand. If the Divine-Given White Rice Seed actually undergoes Evolution, it will likely suffer from a shortage of Origin Force. Keep these for emergencies."

"Alright!" White Rice accepts solemnly, deeply worried.

The chances of a wild Divine-Given Seed successfully evolving to Mountain Lord Level are even lower than for an Insect Clan Warrior—ten die, one survives.

"Thank you!"

Black Rice expresses his thanks with delight, and with a rasping tear, opens the other Spider Silk Bag to find it filled with dark powder and withered branches. "Ink Orchid, what's this?"

Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress and I dug this out of the Xinghu Lake Ruins, site of the Fine-Lined Mayfly tribe from the last Origin Force Era. It's the exuviae of the Divine-Given Fruitful Dragon Cypress Seed. We've tested it; it really helps the growth of Life Seed Plants, and also benefits Divine-Given Seeds."

"We'll sell it cheap—one bag for…"

Ink Orchid turns to throw a questioning look at Dragon Cypress: We hadn't considered selling this before—how should we price it?

Dragon Cypress gently wiggles his antennae, speaking in a deep tone, "This is not for sale. If you need it in an emergency, we can give you a few bags."

Dragon Cypress repeats Grass Dragon's words: "It's a matter of principle. First, if the remains of Divine-Given Seeds could be traded and priced, then all insects with God-Given Life Seeds would have to live in fear, wary of being killed and looted by other Insect Clan Warriors."

Dragon Cypress: "Second, Divine-Given Seeds are also wise lives favored by the Natural God; profiting from their corpses could provoke the Natural God's wrath."

White Rice and Black Rice both approve, nodding their antennae: In that case, give us a few extra bags~

Dragon Cypress: "I can give you some extra, but there's something else…"

White Rice: "What is it?"

Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid and I discovered a huge Land of Origin Force. Growing there is a peak Lord-Level Divine-Given Purple Tung Seed, originally called 'Purple Tung Insect Nation,' inhabited by insects of various tribes, all living in harmony and comfort. Later, a pair of termites appeared named White Poplar and Red Phellodendron—the King and Queen of Termites…"

Dragon Cypress describes the situation in full detail, finally saying, "White Rice, Black Rice, if you agree to help, not only will Ink Orchid and I give you exuviae from the Fruitful Dragon Cypress's Divine-Given Seed, we can also give you two White Poplar Fruits that extend life, once it's done."

Ink Orchid encourages too: "White Rice, Black Rice, you're about to have a wild Evolution Mountain Lord Level Divine-Given White Rice Seed. With 90 more years of life, Lord-Level is within reach!"

"Alright! We'll help!" Black Rice agrees merrily.

"Is it dangerous?" White Rice hesitates, nervously flicking his antennae.

Dragon Cypress: "I'd never risk my and Ink Orchid's lives. We'll invite lots of Insect Clan Warriors to join; only when complete safety is ensured will we act."

"That's true——" White Rice reluctantly, yet resolutely, nods his antennae.

"Alright, then it's settled."

Dragon Cypress waves his claw. "Dig two shallow pits and bury the Divine-Given Seed's exuviae."

...

This Spring, the total value of Origin Force Food sold by White Rice and Black Rice was just over 4,000 Source Stones.

If the Divine-Given White Rice Seed really is about to evolve to Evolution Mountain Lord Level, a reserve of 1,000 Source Stones may not suffice.

The other 3,000 Source Stones intended to be shipped to Scarletlight Mountain were also left behind, just in case.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid set out overnight, traveling day and night back to Xianglan Mountain, reloading Source Stones and Fruitful Dragon Cypress Divine-Given Seed exuviae, and then made for Scarletlight Mountain in a straight shot.

The wild Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed has also sprouted lots of new branches, swaying and vigorously growing.

The effect is promising. Increase the investment.

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