The Divine-Given Seed of Green Shura Spruce had started producing long ago, with comprehensive Wind Element Ability enhancement, a two-year blossom-fruit cycle, and considerable yield.

But Yellow Stem is not an easy insect to fool; stingy and calculating, it refused to sell to Dragon Cypress, choosing instead to dry the seeds, store them in Spider Silk Bags, and hoard them in the Tribal Treasury. It intended to save them for when Spruce evolved to Evolution Mountain Lord Level and awakened Wind Element Ability for use.

Ink Orchid's evolution to Evolution Mountain Lord Level was a joyous and momentous occasion in its insect life.

Dragon Cypress spent ages reasoning with Yellow Stem before it reluctantly agreed, selling 2,000 seeds at the unit price of five Source Stones apiece.

Early winter season,

Dragon Cypress traveled north alone as a roving merchant piloting the Dominating Throne, returning fully loaded.

After returning to Xianglan Mountain and resting for seven or eight days, it itself plunged into deep sleep.

…

…

…

In the royal chamber deep within the Ant Nest.

Dragon Cypress awoke from slumber.

Shed its old shell for a new one.

Age Period 2 Mountain Lord.

After reaching Evolution Mountain Lord Level, its size was essentially fixed; no further size increases would accompany Age Period evolution.

Rather relaxing.

Dragon Cypress picked up a wooden dish, took the ant honey it had earlier placed on the Throne, and buried its head in eating, finishing off three large jars in succession. It felt its physical strength almost fully restored, and its power had markedly increased.

Its spiritual power unfurled, extending down the tunnels.

The spiritual power had also grown nicely, surpassing 160 meters—already not far from the Evolution Mountain Lord Level's 200-meter limit.

Correspondingly, the strengthening from the Divine-Given Ghost Fan was near its limit. If it continued eating the same amount, the resulting improvements would diminish greatly.

"At current spiritual power strength, the Dominating Throne can make a full circuit flight between Desolation Plains, Huagi Mountain, and the second Source Stone Mine in about five days."

"But... let's talk about delivering Source Stones to Huagi Mountain after Age Period 3!"

Dragon Cypress pondered, shifted its spiritual power, and communicated with the Throne.

No changes in the function of producing Ant Eggs.

Dragon Cypress retracted its spiritual power, opened the large Metal Case, and spat out the prepared Divine-Given Red Cypress Seed, then immediately placed the Divine-Given Black Yellow Seed into its Life Pouch for nurturing.

It infused Origin Force, closed the large Metal Case, and tidied up.

"Giant Cypress."

Dragon Cypress gently shook its tentacle in summons.

"Great King! Here I am!"

Giant Cypress, standing by the cave mouth, had long sensed the movement inside. Upon hearing the call, it turned and entered the royal chamber.

"Great King, would you like to hunt?"

"Go bring back some fresh meat."

"Great King, should I notify Round Cypress and arrange a celebration banquet?"

"No need. Wait until Ink Orchid evolves, we'll celebrate together then."

"Ohhh—"

Giant Cypress left, disappointed.

...

Well fed and rested for a day.

Dragon Cypress directed the Worker Ants to haul out the Source Stones from the treasury of the Ant Nest.

Testing its strength.

The Dominating Throne could now quite effortlessly carry 40,000 Source Stones.

The upper limit was 42,000 Source Stones.

Accordingly,

the Rend ability was further enhanced.

During the Age Period 1 Mountain Lord phase, the focus was on strengthening power, with only minor improvement in Water Element Ability.

Another practical test of the Dominating Throne's flight speed—

it required just a bit more than half a day to fly from Xianglan Mountain to Southern Sour Jujube Mountain; less than a full day to reach Ghost Fan Mountain.

To fly from Xianglan Mountain to Scarletlight Mountain, if departing early in the morning, arrival would be by midnight.

Henceforth, during idle times, it could drop by Ghost Fan Mountain or Scarletlight Mountain to chat with Ghost Fan or Mulberry and while away time.

...

Now it was Ink Orchid's turn to evolve.

Dragon Cypress called back all Fragrant Cypress, Cypress, Silver Cypress, Black Cory, and Black Leaf from various Origin Force Points, and also retrieved Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple from their territories, as nothing was happening there.

Xianglan Mountain entered the highest lockdown state.

Ink Orchid moved into the ant nest's depths, into Dragon Cypress's royal chamber, lying atop the Dominating Throne, and—at a rate of 500 Source Stones per day—used Origin Force Food to begin the final sprint.

The door panel was sealed over the entrance, with Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple standing guard to the left and right outside.

Giant Cypress and Spiked Cypress led Soldier Ants and Blue Ants to guard the Shanxi Reservoir and the mountain fortress.

Round Cypress and Silver Cypress led the ant group to guard by the Northern Gorgon Water Reservoir, with 10,000 Source Stones in reserve.

Fragrant Cypress and Cypress led the ant group to stand watch near the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed, also with 10,000 Source Stones on standby.

The Divine-Given Cuihua Hanlan Seed had begun growing later; breaking through to Mountain Lord Level, it was the most prone to issues. Three years in advance, Glinting Gold had already been handed over to it…

Still uneasy, Dragon Cypress took Black Cory and personally led the ant group to guard beneath the Shandong Reservoir.

Another Black Leaf led a team comprised of Soldier Ants and Worker Ants, patrolling around and observing changes in Ink Orchid's Common Life Seed Plant. At all times, it was ready to respond and provide flexible support.

All preparations were complete.

Five days later,

At twilight, waves of Origin Force Fluctuation came from deep within the ant nest—Ink Orchid had entered slumber and the Evolution State.

The next day, the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed also began rapidly absorbing Origin Force.

By noon, the Northern Gorgon Divine-Given Seed had also entered the Evolution State.

Cuihua Hanlan followed closely.

Under Black Cory's direction, Worker Ants, gripping Source Stones, approached each sub-plant, scraped off and scattered the powder, and puffs of Origin Force erupted across the slope.

Four days later,

The Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed broke through first and successfully evolved into Mountain Lord.

Six days later,

Northern Gorgon completed its evolution.

Cuihua Hanlan, too, reached the final juncture—its frenzied absorption of Origin Force lasted a full day.

"Great King!"

Black Cory reported: "Source Stones... almost gone."

Dragon Cypress stood on the ridge, observing the activities below, feeling quite sure that the state of the Divine-Given Cuihua Hanlan Seed was stable, with fluctuations in spiritual power and a clear consciousness—evidently, it was not encountering any evolution difficulty.

This one was just like Southern Gorgon—unless it faced a truly critical moment, it would not touch the Origin Force and energy stored in its Glinting Gold reserves.

"Forget it. I'll go get some more."

Dragon Cypress, rather irritated, tossed out a line, took two Specialized Worker Ants, returned to the ant nest's treasury, and fetched another 2,000 Source Stones.

Late at night,

Cuihua Hanlan's Origin Force absorption spiked again, lasted awhile, then suddenly subsided and gradually settled.

At the center of the thicket, the mother plant rapidly withered, while the surrounding splits began to show yellowing at the leaf tips.

Dragon Cypress slowly approached, immediately encountering intimidating, furious mental power fluctuations.

Very lively.

Quite the temper, too.

Fortunately, nothing went amiss.

Dragon Cypress heaved a sigh of relief. "Black Cory, have the Blue Ants water Cuihua Hanlan and wash the Source Stone powder into the soil."

"Understood, Great King!"

Black Cory replied decisively.

Dragon Cypress didn't meddle further, and jogged off toward the main nest of the range.

...

"How is it?"

Dragon Cypress lowered its spiritual power as much as possible and asked.

Blue Catalpa: "Stable."

Snakebark Maple: "Normal."

Dragon Cypress buried its head, peering through the chink of the door panel's upturned edge. On the Throne, the faint teal glow of the Primordial Energy Light Cocoon illuminated the whole cave.

Ink Orchid, in slumber, inhaled and exhaled in great gulps, swallowing Origin Force in quantity; the glow of primordial energy flickered on and off, plunging the cave into regularly shifting light and shadow.

The Dominating Throne constantly fed Origin Force to the Light Cocoon.

"How's it going?"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple questioned in return.

Dragon Cypress: "Stable. Normal."

Dragon Cypress waved its tentacles. "Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, you two have been standing guard here for days. You must be tired. I'll take over. Go to the restaurant, eat something, and get some proper sleep."

"Alright—"

"Okay—"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple truly couldn't keep it up and agreed to leave.

In the South Mountain Restaurant, niches hewn in the stone wall held gourd bottles filled with ant honey.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple each took a bottle, hastily ate a bit, then had just lain down when, from deep in the cave, a violent Origin Force Fluctuation suddenly erupted, forming a vacuum and spreading rapidly.

The Origin Force in the South Mountain Restaurant was almost entirely sucked away in an instant.

"Ink Orchid woke up?"

"Succeeded?"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple exchanged glances: Run!

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