Dragon Cypress was in great spirits, the Dominating Throne skimming low over the Swamp Forest.

Ink Orchid clutched the spider silk bag containing the Soul-Setting Fruit tightly, terrified of any mishap, equally excited and energized, heart racing uncontrollably.

A Divine-Grade Fruit worth five million Source Stones!

Ink Orchid had never eaten something so valuable before—just have to hold out three or four more months, and it'll be ripe to eat in the autumn.

"Dragon Cypress, the Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed's fruit also ripens this year. Shouldn't we bring it some Divine-Given Remains as a gift on the way?"

"The Night Fragrance Fruit isn't in a hurry to mature."

"I think we really should bring it a present."

"No need. It's not that delicate."

"Oh~ alright then."

Ink Orchid: "The Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed can help us earn Source Stones too."

Dragon Cypress: "I'll thank it for that."

Ink Orchid: "..."

Cold-hearted, unfeeling, rotten ant~

Ink Orchid, annoyed, spread its wings and gave Dragon Cypress's back a thump.

...

The Dominating Throne entered the Land of Origin Force at White Lotus Lake, heading straight for the Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed.

Dragon Cypress activated the 'Soul-Setting' ability. From afar, its soul consciousness sensed a highly condensed soul presence.

The soul shapes of Origin Force Plants were quite different from those of Insect Clan Warriors.

Insect Clan Warriors' souls were round clusters.

Worker ants and soldier ants in the ant colony had very weak, tiny soul clusters.

The Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed's soul was an oval strip, bristling with countless tendrils; upon closer inspection, the number of tendrils matched the number of its branches.

Plants and animals—on the soul level, there were huge differences.

Dragon Cypress quietly withdrew its ability.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King! Ink Orchid!"

Night Fragrance called from afar, its spiritual power sweeping over Ink Orchid's spider silk bag, asking, "Did you get the Soul-Setting Fruit?"

"Got it!"

Ink Orchid replied, opened the spider silk bag, took out the metal can, opened it, and showed the Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed.

"What powerful Primordial Energy~"

Night Fragrance's tone had a bit of envy to it.

Ink Orchid quickly replaced the lid.

Dragon Cypress asked, "Night Fragrance, your fruit ripens in autumn?"

Night Fragrance: "That's right—"

Dragon Cypress: "Do you need Source Stones to supplement your Origin Force?"

Night Fragrance: "Just two fruits. The Origin Force stored by Glinting Gold is enough."

"That's good~"

Dragon Cypress was just asking out of routine—even if it did need Source Stones, it was never going to hand any over.

The Dominating Throne floated slowly to a stop beneath the tree, looking up for a close inspection.

The two Night Fragrance Fruits had also nearly fully formed. Dry fruits, both long and sharp at each end, spindle-shaped, roughly 18 centimeters long, their orange-red smooth shells regularly marked by dark brown tendril-like Primordial Energy patterns.

Sweeping with spiritual power, the Night Fragrance Fruit's shell was no thinner than the Soul-Setting Fruit's, and even more impervious to spiritual probing—it was impossible to sense the seed within.

Dragon Cypress lowered its head, withdrawing its spiritual sense.

Night Fragrance: "Dragon Cypress, that Primordial Energy pattern on your head, is that... a One-Glimpse Fruit?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes."

Night Fragrance: "An extremely uncomfortable ability for a tree."

What are you so afraid of?

This thing is hardly cheap!

No insect would use it on you~

Dragon Cypress: "Yes. Even the Quandong Divine Tree is wary of it."

Night Fragrance: "Is the Quandong Divine Tree bearing fruit again?"

Ink Orchid answered quickly, "It will rest for a year and fruit again next spring. The next batch of three Soul-Setting Fruits—Dragon Cypress is going to trade them with Aconite Spider King for Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit!"

Night Fragrance: "Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit?"

Ink Orchid eagerly explained: "Six Peaks Mountain, Six Paths Wood—it's a cultivated variant; the trees are either female or male..."

Ink Orchid stayed behind to chat with the Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed.

Dragon Cypress beat its wings, taking off, circling low to patrol, then went into the branch nest to check things out.

Mountain Lord Level Specialized Ants were big, with large heads—each of them especially smart. Even without a Command Ant, under the guidance of written commands, they could also lead the colony to keep the orchard in perfect order.

Dragon Cypress was quite satisfied—and even more impressed by its own cleverness.

Dragon Cypress returned to the Throne, waggled its antennae, and said, "Night Fragrance, Ink Orchid and I are on our way back from Huagi Mountain to Xianglan Mountain. We stopped by to check on you. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Night Fragrance: "Alright. Come earlier in the autumn..."

...

The Dominating Throne took off, ascending, flying straight south.

Ink Orchid took out its rose halo again, clipped it to its claw and played with it. Suddenly, its antennae twitched, stood up straight, and Ink Orchid shot up with a startled cry:

"Dragon Cypress! Stop here, quick!"

"Primordial Energy fluctuation from a Divine-Given Seed! Over there!"

Dragon Cypress: "???"

Dragon Cypress: "!!!"

Didn't I just patrol that area?

Ink Orchid's keen perception of Divine-Given Seeds was not to be doubted.

Dragon Cypress kept silent, following Ink Orchid's direction, making their way to the south-facing shady slope of the mountain.

The terrain here was excellent, carved into large tiered fields, with rows upon rows of Cypress and holly trees interplanted.

Could it be the birth of a Cypress Divine-Given Seed?

These orchards here were all planted with Giant Cypress and Silver Cypress!

Dragon Cypress was ecstatic.

But the next moment...

Ink Orchid let out a joyous cry:

"An orchid?"

"Wow!"

"Dragon Cypress, slow down!"

"Don't bring the Dominating Throne down! It's right below us, under the tree—be careful not to crush it."

"Oh! Oh! Oh!"

"This is great!"

"It's another Orchid Grass Divine-Given Seed!"

Ink Orchid hopped and danced in delight.

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress maneuvered the Dominating Throne to hover low and gently reverse.

At the orchard's edge, on the sloped ground, a large patch of pinkish-white orchids bloomed.

Spiritual power scanning back and forth twice, Dragon Cypress locked onto one of them.

Faint Primordial Energy fluctuation—definitely a Divine-Given Seed in the flowering stage!

Another orchid~ The fire of passion just kindled in Dragon Cypress's heart cooled off instantly. Speechless, not wanting to say a word, it shrank the Dominating Throne a bit and landed at the nearby ant path.

It walked through the woods to check it out up close.

Ink Orchid cheered for a while, then suddenly calmed down and asked in confusion, "Dragon Cypress, what kind of orchid is this?"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "Aren't you supposed to be the expert?"

Ink Orchid: "I have no idea~"

Ink Orchid turned in a circle, looked all around, and then asked, "There are so many orchids planted here! Who planted them for me?"

Dragon Cypress: "...No idea."

Ink Orchid: "Then who's responsible for this section of forest?"

Dragon Cypress: "Fragrant Cypress, Round Cypress, and Cypress have all been here..."

"Some Ant King you are—you know nothing about anything!"

Ink Orchid was dissatisfied.

——I never made arrangements for them to plant Orchid Grass, did I?

Dragon Cypress was silent.

Ink Orchid waved her forelegs, urging, "Quick! Quick! Quick! Dragon Cypress, bring a few Worker Ants over and take care of this."

Dragon Cypress left to fetch two medium Worker Ants, gave precise orders, and they eliminated the competitors around the orchid that was nurturing the Divine-Given Orchid Seed.

Ink Orchid checked repeatedly but still couldn't identify the species of Orchid Grass.

"This is a new hybrid variety!"

"It must be."

"Name it?"

"Be my guest—"

"Obviously it used Snow Orchid..."

Ink Orchid pondered a moment and said, "The flower is smaller than Snow Orchid, and whiter too. How about Small-Flower Snow Orchid? White-Flower Snow Orchid? Never mind, I think Snow Orchid is a nice name—let's call it Snow Orchid!"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress, you've evolved to a third-cycle Mountain Lord and still haven't selected your Life Seed."

Dragon Cypress: "You keep it for yourself after you evolve to your second cycle."

Ink Orchid exclaimed happily, "Then I won't be shy about it!"

Ink Orchid celebrated for a while more, then questioned again, "Who hybridized this new variety of Orchid Grass? Who planted it here? Shouldn't we allocate the proper rewards to the Command Ants?"

Indeed!

To manage the kingdom, rewards and punishments must be clear.

Dragon Cypress: "This Snow Orchid Divine-Given Seed will definitely be divided up among Round Cypress and the rest according to our rules."

Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid, you stay here. I'll go back to Xianglan Mountain and ask who bred it and who planted it. Whoever deserves a reward must be rewarded."

Ink Orchid: "And get another Command Ant over here to help!"

"Understood!"

Dragon Cypress returned to the ant trail, piloted the Dominating Throne back into the air, and made a detour to the lakeside on purpose.

"Dragon Cypress?"

The Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed sent a questioning spiritual thought.

Dragon Cypress pointed with a claw and explained, "Ink Orchid discovered a freshly blooming Orchid Grass Divine-Given Seed, just starting to form. Ink Orchid will be staying at White Lotus Lake for the year."

Night Fragrance: "Uh..."

Night Fragrance: "Congratulations! Insect Clan Warriors favored by the Natural God."

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