Inside the Stump Ant Nest, for nearly three months, they had been raising Specialized Blue Ants, Large Worker Ants, Medium Worker Ants, and Medium Soldier Ants.

Dragon Cypress had originally planned to personally lead this group of ants to prospect at the third Source Stone Mine, where Source Stone was most likely to be found.

Black Cory finished prospecting the first Source Stone Mine and was assigned to the second Source Stone Mine.

The situation changed, so a slight adjustment was made.

Dragon Cypress sent Black Cory to the third Source Stone Mine, found a shaded valley location, and together led the ant colony in excavating, establishing a temporary ant nest, then had all accompanying ants move in.

The Stump Ant Nest was cleared out.

The Dominating Throne temporarily stopped producing Ant Eggs.

They set out empty, heading straight for Scarletlight Mountain.

...

The cave where Mulberry lived was located on the southern side of the mountain range. Ahead was a stretch of sloping ground, and further beyond lay a natural tropical primeval forest, through which a small river meandered.

Mulberry had driven off and hunted all predators in the forest that threatened the ordinary Nine-Star Roaches, sheltering over a million of its kin.

Ordinary Nine-Star Roaches fed on fresh fruits and decaying branches and leaves, but could also eat meat.

Usually, they didn't require much care. Occasionally, a few fruits were tossed at the cave entrance, or if a large animal was encountered, it would be hunted and brought back to the territory, and whatever couldn't be eaten would be chopped up and thrown to them.

At dusk.

Mulberry picked up ripe, naturally fallen mangoes from the mountain orchard, carried them back to the cave in a Spider Silk Bag, chopped them up one by one, and tossed them at the entrance.

In front of the cave, Nine-Star Roaches shaped like ladybugs crawled all over the ground, squeaking noisily, feasting in revelry.

"Hm?"

Mulberry's tentacles stood up straight, carefully sensing.

A familiar Origin Force fluctuation was rapidly approaching.

Dragon Cypress Ant King had arrived?

Didn't they say autumn was especially busy this year, and roving merchant trade was paused?

Mulberry stood up.

The ordinary Nine-Star Roaches around hurriedly scattered.

Mulberry tiptoed a few paces forward, raised its head to look toward the eastern sky, waited a while, and a blue dot appeared in its field of vision.

Waved its tentacles.

The gathered Nine-Star Roaches retreated like a tide.

The Dominating Throne quickly approached and docked.

"Mulberry!"

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid called out.

"Dragon Cypress. Ink Orchid. Weren't you mining Source Stone?" asked Mulberry with curiosity.

"...Yes. That is, we were prospecting."

Dragon Cypress explained, "Ink Orchid and I discovered a Land of Origin Force. It's near the southern coast, with a tropical rainforest climate, home to a large number of Native Species Flame Spiders. We found a 3rd Age Period Primary-Level Flame Spider Warrior."

Ink Orchid continued, "Its name is 'Areca.' Right now, there are just two Areca Tree seedlings. It lives there alone, rather lonely and also in some danger. Dragon Cypress and I thought, why not move it to Scarletlight Mountain to keep you company."

Dragon Cypress: "A very clever little fellow."

Ink Orchid: "We'll provide the Origin Force Food needed for its evolution and growth."

"Native Breed Flame Spider—"

Mulberry searched its Inherited Memory hard, exclaiming in surprise, "From the Primordial Spider Tribe that branched off into the Flame Spider Roving Merchants?"

Ink Orchid: "Yes."

Mulberry: "A truly impressive tribe!"

Mulberry: "Are there many ordinary Primordial Spiders? Will they eat up all my kin?"

Ink Orchid: "They won't. Native Breed Flame Spiders have received the wisdom blessing of the Natural God. Even the ordinary Primordial Spiders are quite intelligent. Tell them not to prey on Nine-Star Roaches and they simply won't."

Dragon Cypress: "They can even help clear away other insects that compete with the Nine-Star Roaches for survival."

Mulberry: "That's good then. I have no objections."

Mulberry: "After they move here, where will they live?"

Ink Orchid lifted a claw and pointed to a hill eastward, saying, "Over there, on that hilltop."

Dragon Cypress: "Scarletlight Mountain can support three warriors living here. In the future, if you or Areca raise Little Warriors, you can settle down on the western hill. Long term, if Scarletlight Mountain can't accommodate you, we can always send you to Areca Rainforest."

Ink Orchid: "The newly found Land of Origin Force is called Areca Rainforest."

Mulberry: "Great!"

Mulberry grew excited, asking, "Is it far from Scarletlight Mountain? When will you move them over?"

Dragon Cypress: "It's a little distance, a four-day journey. No rush."

Ink Orchid: "We'll first pick out a suitable residence for Areca and clear a plot for its Life Seed to take root."

Dragon Cypress: "I'm making a trip to Zikui Mountain to transport a batch of Mulberry Seed Blessed by the Tree God exuviae for you and Areca's Life Seed Plant. Also, I'll try using some on the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed to see the effect..."

Dragon Cypress also discovered that the Scarletlight Mountain forest harbored many predatory animals that threatened the ordinary Nine-Star Roaches and Flame Spiders. Simply put, it was better to return to Xianglan Mountain, mobilize five hundred Soldier Ants, and personally lead a thorough sweep of the whole Land of Origin Force.

…

…

…

Flame Spiders sleep by day and hunt at night.

Areca Rainforest.

The Dominating Throne landed and docked.

Dragon Cypress swept with spiritual power.

Areca was sprawled asleep inside its den, snoring.

Ink Orchid, holding a Spider Silk Bag, landed with a leap and went to the entrance, tapping the ground with her foreleg. "Areca? Wake up!"

Areca woke up with a start.

Ink Orchid: "Alright. It's set. Mulberry is really looking forward to you coming to Scarletlight Mountain for company."

Ink Orchid opened the Spider Silk Bag, took out a Metal Can, unscrewed the lid, and said, "Origin Force Ant Honey to enhance comprehensive physique. This can is enough for you to complete evolution for two Age Periods."

"Thank you~"

Areca soon snapped out of its drowsiness and asked, "Are we relocating right now?"

Dragon Cypress asked, "Have you got the count? How many ordinary Flame Spiders are willing to come with you?"

Areca: "All of them—"

Dragon Cypress set down a wooden plank, saying, "I've cleared out the Ant Nest. Let them know to come over, we can take everyone in a single trip."

Ink Orchid put away the Origin Force Ant Honey, saying, "We'll head out late at night. We'll travel overnight and rest by day. This whole can is for you—eat it slowly on the way."

Areca: "Okay—"

Areca slipped into the jungle, going door to door to pass on the message.

The news spread layer by layer, and it wasn't long before crowds of Flame Spiders, families in tow, gathered beneath the Dominating Throne, climbed up the plank to the throne, and entered the Stump Ant Nest.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid, moving carefully, dug up Areca's two Life Seeds with their clinging soil, wrapped them in Spider Silk Bags, and secured them properly.

After a short rest, they set out after nightfall.

...

Areca's personality was completely unlike Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were lively and restless, always chattering.

Areca was calm and steady, had formed the habit of observing and reflecting, and spoke little.

Dragon Cypress preferred insects like Areca. On the journey, he patiently explained the current circumstances of Cloud Trace Continent, the general state of Ten Thousand Nations Continent and Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, and taught some rules and anecdotes about the roving merchant trade.

Ink Orchid also enthusiastically explained all sorts of tropical planting techniques not found in the Inherited Memory to Areca.

After four days of flight, they arrived at their destination, Scarletlight Mountain.

Areca gazed at the massive, mountain-sized Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed, deeply awed for a long while.

Ink Orchid warmly introduced everyone. After Mulberry and Areca got acquainted, all hands joined to immediately plant the two Areca Life Seed saplings and settle the migrating Flame Spider colony.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid stayed another four or five days, taking care of all arrangements, making sure everything was in order before finally leaving at ease.

It was already late autumn.

Heading north to Zikui Mountain, they transported fifteen bags of Mulberry Seed Blessed by the Tree God exuviae and finally returned to Xianglan Mountain.

In the orchard west of Southern Gorgon Reservoir, Cypress, Fragrant Cypress, and Spiked Cypress, along with masses of Soldier Ants, Worker Ants, and Blue Soldiers, waited under the Chestnut Bean Trees.

The Chestnut Bean God-Given Seed was entering its final stage of ripening. From the Origin Force aura, the strengthening effect still seemed to be for tentacle scent—it looked like everyone guessed wrong, and no variation had occurred.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid stayed, rested and waited a few days, completed the harvest, sun-dried the crop, stored it in extra-large Metal Cases, then excavated a special Treasury deep in the Ant Nest to store it.

Winter roving merchant trade in the north could not be suspended.

Packed up and set out.

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