Ghost Fan led the elite combat team, racing forward at full speed.

"Stop!"

Spruce shouted excitedly, "Ink Orchid did it! The White Poplar Ant King and Red Phellodendron Ant Queen have been beheaded."

Mountain Persimmon, who was running at the end of the team, also called out, "Everyone, look back! All those termites chasing us have collapsed!"

Looking back, not far behind, the ant swarms that had been chasing them like mad just a moment ago suddenly froze in place, then slowly all curled up and slumped to the ground.

White Willow, who had been scouting from above, spiraled down and landed on Ghost Fan's carapace, giving a brief report: "Ink Orchid succeeded, the Ant King and Ant Queen are dead, the ant horde is crippled."

—We did it!

—Victory?

—That's it? I haven't even gone all out yet.

—Ghost Fan, Mountain Persimmon, are you two unhurt? I haven't even used an ability!

—Quiet! Calm down! Everyone, don't celebrate too soon.

—What do we do next?

—Retreat?

—Keep fighting?

The tense nerves of all the insects relaxed; everyone started chattering all at once.

...

Southern Stone Bridge battlefield, corpses were strewn everywhere.

On the Giant-Headed Ant side, more than half of the melee Soldier Ants were dead or wounded, the legion scattered and out of control, blindly rushing left and right across the battlefield.

The First Blue Soldier Legion, commanded by Spiked Cypress, was almost wiped out.

Facing two or three thousand Lord-Level Termite Soldiers and tens of thousands of fearless charging Worker Ants from the Termite legion, the second and third Blue Soldier Legions led by Giant Cypress and Cypress were desperately holding the line.

The Dominating Throne floated in midair.

After all, a full Great Rank gap—in front of his eyes, Dragon Cypress saw his Giant-Headed Ant army on the verge of total collapse, and anxiety welled up in his heart.

Suddenly, the charging Termite grand army froze, then fell, curled up in pain.

At that moment, Dragon Cypress sensed a Soul-Setting lock from Ink Orchid in the direction of the Royal Palace.

Dragon Cypress activated his Soul-Setting Ability, reverse anchoring.

He received a message from Ink Orchid.

—Surprise attack succeeded!

—Both the Ant King and Ant Queen are dead!

Dragon Cypress waved his tentacles, passing the message to Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, Cypress, and issued commands:

—Spiked Cypress, gather the Soldier Ants.

—Reform the battle lines, counterattack with all force.

Soul-Setting Ability connected to Spruce.

Spruce asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, what now? Do we regroup as planned?"

Dragon Cypress controlled the Dominating Throne to descend, moving closer to observe the state of the Termite grand army.

The backlash from the Soul Bond was severe—almost all termites had lost the ability to act.

Dragon Cypress: "Regroup at Southern Stone Bridge! Together, kill the Assistant King! Seize the White Poplar Divine Seed in one swoop!"

...

"Dragon Cypress Ant King's command! Proceed as planned! Seize the Divine God-Given Seed!"

Spruce stopped using his Soul-Setting Ability, waved his tentacles jubilantly, and raised his forelegs to point out the direction.

Ghost Fan waved his tentacles and called out, "Move! Let's meet up with Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

White Willow ascended vertically into the sky.

The team changed direction and formed ranks, dashing off.

"...Hold on a second."

Spruce hesitated, calling a halt, "Latest update: Ink Orchid has ambushed and killed the Lord-Level Assistant King, White Fir!"

Ghost Fan stopped in his tracks.

The team paused.

—Ant King, Ant Queen, and both Lord-Level Assistant Kings all killed?

—That leaves only the eight Mountain Lord-Level Assistant Kings?

—Now what do we do?

Spruce contacted Dragon Cypress.

...

Dragon Cypress received the same news, and after a moment of thought, issued orders:

—Ink Orchid and White Willow, go clear out the three Assistant Kings guarding the Red Phellodendron Ant Queen's Life Seed Garden.

—Ghost Fan leads the team, continue as planned.

...

Spruce: "Stick to the plan, same target, the White Poplar Divine Seed! Move!"

Ghost Fan: "Charge!"

Ghost Fan led the team, guided by Spruce, directly toward where the White Poplar Divine Seed took root.

When they arrived at Southern Stone Bridge, Spiked Cypress had also regrouped scattered Soldier Ants, re-integrated the remnants of the First Legion's Blue Soldiers, and formed a makeshift mixed legion, trailing closely behind the airborne Dominating Throne, charging straight for the White Poplar Divine Seed.

Giant Cypress and Cypress, meanwhile, commanded the Second and Third Blue Soldier Legions, crossing the river canal and methodically slaughtering the paralyzed termites on the battlefield.

Spruce: "Kill the Assistant King first!"

Spruce used his Soul-Setting Ability to scan the battlefield, his tentacles pointing the way, "Ghost Fan, that way!"

"Kill!"

Ghost Fan ignored the half-dead Soldier Ants and Worker Ants on the battlefield, leading the charge like a battering ram, heading straight for the hiding Assistant Kings in the rear.

...

Once it was confirmed that the opponent's Lord-Level Assistant Kings were dead, and the Mountain Lord-Level ones mortally wounded, Spiked Cypress no longer had any misgivings, charging at the forefront of the Ant Army, right behind the Dominating Throne, racing across the battlefield and through the dense orchards.

Ahead, an enormous tree, over a hundred meters tall, came into view.

The Dominating Throne sped up, tilting and smashing into the ground.

The Mountain Lord-Level Assistant Kings guarding the White Poplar Divine Seed Tree panicked and retreated.

Dragon Cypress leaped up, swiping a claw.

The Mountain Lord-Level Assistant King was torn in half by formless, razor-sharp Primordial Energy.

Dragon Cypress landed back on the throne without another look, ignoring the nearby termite soldiers who struggled to rise and charge crazily at the throne. His gaze locked onto the giant tree ahead.

The White Poplar Divine Seed, fully aware of its fate, sent forth waves of spiritual power filled with terror, fury, threats, and a torrent of other emotions.

The mixed Ant Army vaulted over the barricading stone wall and caught up, Spiked Cypress at the very front. With Mandible Teeth tearing, he was the first to bite a termite soldier to death, waving his tentacles: Kill! Kill! Kill!

Spiked Cypress commanded the Ant Army to quickly clear away the remnants under the White Poplar Divine Seed Tree, then formed ranks to surround the Divine-Given Seed.

Dragon Cypress scrutinized closely, sensing in detail, confirming that the tree before him was indeed the White Poplar Divine Seed. There were still nine oval green fruits, each about seven or eight centimeters long, hanging from its branches.

Divine-Grade Baihe Fruit!

Dragon Cypress leapt up and plucked the fruit hanging from the lowest branch, burying his head to inspect it.

Dried fruit!

The primordial energy was highly condensed, the shell inside hard as iron, and the fruit was not far from being ripe.

Since it hadn't undergone the full maturation process, the fruit only contained semi-finished Life System Primordial Energy inside—there would be no strengthening effect.

—What a pity!

—What a pity!

—Truly a shame!

—If it had ripened, just selling it for Source Stones would net six or seven million at least!

Dragon Cypress was full of regret, but didn't hesitate long; he tossed the green fruit aside, then looked up, focusing his gaze and spiritual power on the towering tree ahead. He connected his consciousness to the Divine Mark on his forehead and channeled streams of Origin Force to activate it.

A surge of Primordial Energy erupted.

In the darkness, the golden-red glow of Primordial Energy bathed Dragon Cypress in light, countless filaments of Primordial Energy spiraled outward, winding around the trunk of the White Poplar Divine Seed tree.

The 'Heaven Returning Glimpse' ability conferred by the One-Glimpse Fruit was triggered; the Primordial Energy transfer was completed in a heartbeat.

Orange Primordial Energy lines spread along the White Poplar Divine Seed's trunk, crawling up to shroud the branches and down to envelop the roots.

Whoosh~ hiss~ hiss~

Amidst the wailing, horror, and hatred pouring from its spiritual power, the hundred-meter-tall giant tree ignited, flames soaring into the sky, blazing through the night.

"Great King—"

Spiked Cypress exclaimed in alarm.

Dragon Cypress waved a claw, motioning him to stay back.

The Dominating Throne lifted off the ground, gliding upward until it reached the treetop.

At the peak, within the orange-red flames, a pure white flower bloomed.

Withered.

Fruiting.

Oval fruit grew at breakneck speed, swelling in size.

The evolutionary level of this White Poplar Divine Seed was Lord-Level—far greater than the Red Cypress tree before, and almost at its peak state.

Heaven Returning Glimpse's effect endured much longer, lasting until Ghost Fan's team finished off the remaining four Assistant Kings and arrived on the scene, as the orange-red flames gradually died down.

The branches and leaves were burned to powder, drifting away, leaving only a bare trunk behind.

At the top of the trunk, an oval fruit, six or seven centimeters long and four or five centimeters thick, formed.

Dragon Cypress stepped forward and lifted his claw to pluck it.

He inspected it, scanned it with his spiritual power, confirmed it was genuine, then opened his mandibles and swallowed it, sending it into his Life Pouch.

After 23 years of scheming, his wish was finally fulfilled.

Now, in possession of a life-extension-type Divine-Grade Divine-Given Seed, he stood among the continent's most esteemed Insect Clan Warriors.

Dragon Cypress worked hard to calm the roiling excitement in his chest.

The Dominating Throne sank swiftly, landing on the ground.

—They did it?

—Divine-Grade?

—Victory is certain!

—Dummy, we already won!

—Congratulations to the Great King! The Great King is mighty!

—Congratulations to Dragon Cypress Ant King!

—The Divine-Grade Baihe Fruit will be shared by all!

—Congratulations, congratulations!

Ghost Fan, Spruce, Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, and the rest swarmed up, chattering excitedly, cheering and hopping up and down in celebration.

"That's right—everyone gets a share of the Divine-Grade Fruit."

"Congratulations to all!"

Dragon Cypress responded calmly with a couple of words, then waved his claw to issue an order: "The battle isn't over yet. Spiked Cypress, Ghost Fan, lead your teams into the Royal Palace and retrieve the corpses of the Ant King and Ant Queen."

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