Ant Lord in the Star Realm

Chapter 227 Help Me Deceive a Heart


Dragon Cypress understood very well what Yellow Stem meant. It really wanted to awaken the Quandong Divine Tree, make it bloom just once, condense just three Soul-Setting Fruits—enough for itself, Ink Orchid, and Spruce, each to eat one.

Gaining the Soul-Setting Ability, being able to sense souls and perceive the movements of all Origin Force creatures within a certain range—it would allow Ink Orchid to carry out assassination plans while avoiding defenses and precisely locking onto the positions of the White Poplar Ant King and the Red Phellodendron Ant Queen. The success rate would soar.

Secondly, it would facilitate battlefield information transfer and communication.

Thirdly, if they end up outmatched, both itself and Spruce could move precisely, avoid pursuit, and make a clean getaway.

Launching a surprise attack on the Lord-Level King of Termite and the Ant Queen—the Soul-Setting Ability bestowed by the Quandong Divine Tree was extremely practical.

Dragon Cypress also realized, after succeeding and getting the White Poplar Fruit, Yellow Stem wanted to keep evolving. Its ambition wasn't limited to Mountain Lord Level.

Yellow Stem was mulling over the idea: if the conditions allowed, it could grow a few Soul-Setting Fruits for sale, trade for resources to evolve to Lord-Level or even King-Level, then amass a cache of Origin Force Ant Honey for the next generation of Huagi Mountain, and stockpile a big haul of Source Stones.

Dragon Cypress was very supportive of Yellow Stem's ideas, but at the moment, their abilities were limited—at the very least, they needed Mountain Lord Level strength to even consider it.

...

Twilight.

The setting sun in the west painted half the skyline red.

At the entrance of Huagi Mountain, Yellow Stem and Spruce stood side by side, seeing off the Dominating Throne as it departed.

"Leaving in such a rush. And heading south."

"Must be aiming for Night Fragrance Mountain."

"Let's hope they find some Source Stones."

"Hope so—"

Yellow Stem shook its tentacle, said no more, looked up at the sky deep in thought. After a long while, it withdrew its gaze.

"Spruce, stay guard at the entrance."

"Okay."

"If Dragon Cypress Ant King and Ink Orchid come back, have them wait outside first."

"Got it."

Spruce positioned itself, blocking the cave entrance, twisted open the metal can lid, bent its tentacle, dipped it, then cupped the food and licked it with both claws.

Yellow Stem seemed hesitant, stood in place a few seconds, then turned and darted into the passageway, hurriedly passed through the Knowledge Hall, followed the spiral tunnel down, arrived at the treasury where Origin Force Food was stored, picked up a Spider Silk Bag filled with 1,000 Source Stones, exited the treasury, carefully continued downward.

At the bottom of the spiral tunnel was yet another square cave, covered in all sorts of pictographs and symbols—a hall recording all kinds of information.

Each of the four corners held a golden metal plate, about 1.8 meters wide and 1.2 meters tall.

On each metal plate, a drawing of an arbor was carved.

Yellow Stem walked up to the metal plate carved with the "Huagi Tree," lifted a claw and placed it on it, then poured in Origin Force.

A hazy golden Primordial Energy light halo lit up. The metal plate split, retracting into the stone walls on either side, revealing a tunnel entrance.

Yellow Stem grabbed the Spider Silk Bag and walked in, straight ahead, soon arriving at an oval cave lined with Source Stones.

Seamless black metal walls surrounded it.

At the center—a green jade pedestal carved in the shape of a pine cone.

On the jade pedestal lay an egg-shaped metal sphere, faintly glowing with weak golden light in the darkness.

The egg-shaped metal sphere was slowly absorbing free-flowing Origin Force from around. The golden light gradually dimmed, then brightened again, oscillating with a steady rhythm, light and dark alternating.

This was the Huagi Divine Tree!

The Source Stones piled on the ground were three meters thick, not many in number—exactly ten million, a minimum quota; they couldn't be touched before Origin Force revived on Cloud Trace Continent.

Yellow Stem stood nervously at the entrance, holding its breath, waiting quietly.

After a long, long time, the golden light on the sphere went out. Origin Force from all around rapidly gathered towards it, making the air swirl dramatically, buzzing loudly.

A deep and ancient Mental Power emanated from within the metal sphere,

"What's your name?"

Yellow Stem was startled and overjoyed, hurriedly replied, "Yellow Stem, warrior of the new generation of the Shield Grasshopper Tribe of Huagi Mountain, pays respects to Huagi Divine Tree!"

"Has Origin Force revived?"

"…No."

"How old are you this year?"

"Around 50."

"Around 50? You can't even tell your own age? Looks like another muddle-headed bug?"

"Before, I'd already given up on evolution…"

"Before? Did something happen for you to awaken me?"

"I have two very important matters to report."

"Speak."

"First, a very special Ant King has come to Huagi Mountain, named Dragon Cypress. It found an Outworld Civilization artifact from the Starship Wreckage crossing the western boundary barrier, called the 'Dominating Throne'. It can absorb Natural Primordial Force for energy storage, and fly across areas of Origin Force Vacuum. Dragon Cypress Ant King has brought trade to Huagi Mountain, is rather shrewd, bringing a wide variety of high-quality Origin Force Food, and even Source Stones."

"Second, this Dragon Cypress Ant King discovered a massive Land of Origin Force, called the 'Purple Tung Insect Nation'…"

Yellow Stem detailed the matters of the Termite Kingdom and the White Poplar Divine Seed, then opened the Spider Silk Bag to reveal the Source Stones inside.

"Huagi Divine Tree, look, these are Source Stones the Dragon Cypress Ant King brought. It obtained them via Starship Passage, trading with Flame Spider Roving Merchants. But the number is very limited…"

Yellow Stem then described the deals Dragon Cypress made with the caravans. Finally, nervously added:

"Huagi Divine Tree, I have two requests for your instructions, and one question to ask."

Huagi Divine Tree: "You plan to awaken Quandong."

Yellow Stem: "Yes."

Huagi Divine Tree: "Now that Source Stones have arrived, go find Quandong yourself."

Yellow Stem: "Alright!"

Huagi Divine Tree: "Anything else?"

Yellow Stem: "I want to evolve to King-Level after obtaining a Divine-Grade Fruit to extend my life. I need resources, so I plan to use three or four stored Divine-Given Seeds…"

Huagi Divine Tree: "Approved."

Huagi Divine Tree: "You have a question?"

Yellow Stem: "It's the same old Source Stone problem. Huagi Mountain is desperately short on Source Stones. I want to ask if you've ever heard of, or can deduce, any places on Cloud Trace Continent that might still have Source Stone Mines?"

The Huagi Divine Tree thought a moment, then said, "The southeast coast. It's all solid rock there, barren and dry—a no-man's land for life. Source Stone Mines are scattered there, few and far between. Some destitute Flame Spider Roving Merchants, wandering Beast Clan warriors and poor but unyielding Insect Clan warriors form teams to prospect and mine in the wasteland. If you want to search, try heading south to the hot regions with the harshest living conditions. The odds are greatest that Source Stone Mines have survived there to this day."

Yellow Stem: "!!!"

Yellow Stem: "Got it!"

Huagi Divine Tree: "Take me up the mountain—I want to see if the sky out there has changed yet…"

...

All mysteries had been unraveled.

Dragon Cypress felt its own perspective had suddenly soared high above the drifting clouds.

Yet, upon careful reflection, it was useless, brought no real benefit—at least, not for quite some time.

Bidding farewell to Huagi Mountain, the Dominating Throne soared high in the sky.

The sun set and darkness fell.

Dragon Cypress gazed at the pitch-black nightfall, lost in thought.

"Dragon Cypress, what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing much."

"I bet you're cooking up a way to trick a Divine-Given Seed from Yellow Stem."

"Trick? Ink Orchid, do I look like that kind of ant to you?"

"You do!"

"I do not—"

"Help me trick one, too."

"Fine—"

Dragon Cypress snapped, "Ink Orchid, you really think Yellow Stem is that easy to fool?"

Ink Orchid: "Not easy at all."

Ink Orchid: "That's why you're racking your brains right now on how to do it."

Not wanting to hear any more excuses, Ink Orchid immediately changed the subject, asking:

"Dragon Cypress, where to now?"

"South."

"Where to? Night Fragrance Mountain? Xiaoyang Mountain? Chuisi Lake?"

"Night Fragrance Mountain first. Let's move quickly—if all goes well, we'll check all three spots before autumn's roving merchant trade."

"Okay!"

"You should get some rest."

"Alright—"

Ink Orchid was quiet for a while, then suddenly stood up, pointed its claw at the dark night sky, wings flapping hard on Dragon Cypress' back, shouting:

"Look!"

"A light!"

"Ugh! It's gone again!"

"Huh???"

Dragon Cypress was baffled.

Ink Orchid: "There was a light, just now~"

Dragon Cypress: "Ant Clan possess specialized Heavenly Eyes for perceiving light sources."

Ink Orchid: "You didn't see it?"

Dragon Cypress: "No."

Ink Orchid: "You were spacing out."

Dragon Cypress: "Maybe."

Ink Orchid: "Last time, when Mulberry was evolving to Age Period 3 High-Level Warrior—remember, the time it almost went really badly—I saw it again then."

Dragon Cypress: "I didn't see it then, either."

Ink Orchid was annoyed and demanded, "Dragon Cypress! You don't believe me?"

Dragon Cypress: "I do. I'm just stating facts—I really didn't see it."

Ink Orchid: "..."

Ink Orchid flapped its wings, smacked Dragon Cypress hard three times on the back. "Rest!"

Ink Orchid moved away from Dragon Cypress, just lay down to sleep, then suddenly leapt up, fluttered its wings in shock and confusion.

"Dragon Cypress!"

"What now?"

"Origin Force Fluctuation!"

"Huh???"

Ink Orchid pointed towards the north with all its might, "Huagi Mountain! That's from Huagi Mountain! Super intense Origin Force Fluctuation!"

Super intense?

I didn't notice anything~

But Ink Orchid's perception never misses~

Dragon Cypress stood up, eyes shining, thought for a long while, then lay back down.

"It must be Yellow Stem up to something—but certainly not awakening and sowing a Divine Tree. It's not the type to be that reckless."

"Oh—"

Ink Orchid pressed, "Then what is it doing?"

"No idea."

Dragon Cypress: "The end-of-autumn/early-winter roving merchant trade—let's check it out then, won't we? You should get some rest."

"True—"

Ink Orchid didn't want to rest at all. It turned, rearranged its spot, stared blankly at the half-moon hanging on the eastern skyline for a while, and then asked:

"Dragon Cypress, where did all those departed Insect Kings and Wild God-Given Seeds go?"

"Outworld."

"What is Outworld like?"

"I don't know."

"Take a guess."

Dragon Cypress: "Maybe it's a world of enormous scale, without Divine Force Barriers dividing up contintents, without alternating silences of Origin Force…"

Dragon Cypress: "Or, maybe, Outworld has a lot of planets just like the one under our feet, not only with Insect Clan Civilization, but all sorts of other civilizations. Civilizations at war with each other. The weak ones all get wiped out; those that survive are either strong or desperately poor."

Ink Orchid: "Oh…I thought the same~"

As soon as Ink Orchid heard the weak would be wiped out, it became worried, staring sadly at the silver moon for a while. Then suddenly, its mood brightened, and it declared:

"There is no end to evolution, no edge to the world, no finish line to life. Dragon Cypress, you and I will surely become Insect Kings and leave here together to see the Outworld."

Dragon Cypress replied calmly, "Maybe."

"It's certain!" Ink Orchid stood up, waving its tentacles to cheer, "We're gonna strike it rich! Strike it rich…"

Dragon Cypress: "How is it you're getting rich?"

Ink Orchid: "We'll find Source Stones soon! Trust me!"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress was speechless for a long time, then said, "You really should go hang out with White Ivy."

Ink Orchid: "Yes."

Ink Orchid: "Why?"

Dragon Cypress: "Aren't you both equally clever—"

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