Southern Sour Jujube Mountain.

The Dominating Throne, loaded with 5,000 Source Stones, wobbled as it docked beneath the Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube Seed Tree.

Dragon Cypress stood atop the throne, looking up, observing.

After applying the King-Level Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Remains and a brief half-year of growth, the wild Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed showed remarkable changes: its trunk was much thicker, the leaves a deep green, and the tree was full of vitality.

According to the records of the Huagi Knowledge Hall, only in such a state can a wild Divine-Given Seed continue to grow and evolve.

—When there's time, haul more remains over here.

Dragon Cypress withdrew his gaze, making up his mind.

Silver Cypress, garrisoning this auxiliary nest, sensed the Origin Force fluctuations, and hurried over under the guard of soldier ants and blue soldiers.

"Great King!"

"You're finally here~"

"All the food is gone~"

"I'm about to starve to death here~"

Silver Cypress whined as he ran.

Dragon Cypress swept his spiritual power over, saying nothing.

Silver Cypress's belly was round and bulging; he had clearly eaten his fill.

The accompanying soldier ants and blue soldiers also had food in their stomachs.

All around Southern Sour Jujube Mountain was a dense Forest Sea, rich in flora and fauna—there's simply no way to starve to death.

"Great King, did you come to pick me up?" Silver Cypress asked hopefully.

"You just want to go back to Xianglan Mountain and mess around with Spiked Cypress." Dragon Cypress mercilessly exposed his intentions.

Cypress and Giant Cypress had already told Dragon Cypress: Spiked Cypress had secretly taken Silver Cypress into the forest to hunt more than once.

"No, I didn't——"

Silver Cypress suddenly got anxious, climbed up the Southern Sour Jujube Mountain's trunk, leaped hard, and landed on the throne's soft cushion. Its gaze was immediately drawn to the five large Spider Silk Bags neatly lined up on both sides of the Stump Ant Nest.

"Source Stones!"

"Great King, could it be that…"

Silver Cypress's antennae stood straight up.

Dragon Cypress: "We found a Source Stone Mine, a micro-sized deposit. I've got to quickly resolve the Ant Kingdom's food problem, then get over there."

Silver Cypress: "Oh!"

Silver Cypress: "Great King, I can help!"

"You can't help."

Dragon Cypress set down the Spider Silk Bags full of Source Stones, neatly arranging them close against the Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube Seed's trunk.

"Silver Cypress, head to Black Lotus Lake and take charge of this year's winter fishing."

"Oh——"

"Next year, you'll switch with Cypress. You'll stay at Xianglan Mountain, Cypress will come to Southern Sour Jujube Mountain."

"Yay!"

"If you dare run around with Spiked Cypress again, I'll smack you to death."

"I didn't…"

Dragon Cypress didn't bother wasting words. He unloaded the five Source Stone bags from the throne and placed them by the trunk of the Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube Seed.

He then set down a wooden plank and waved his antennae to issue orders.

Soldier ants, return to the nest.

Blue soldiers climbed up the throne along the plank.

Inside the mountain ant nest, hungry blue ants received word, hurried to the tree, and followed up into the nest.

Dragon Cypress didn't linger, and set out directly.

...

"Dragon Cypress Ant King."

"Where's Black Cory?"

The Dominating Throne hadn't even entered Black Lotus Lake yet, when White Willow came to greet him. "Didn't you say you'd be done in half a year?"

Dragon Cypress: "What I meant was, if I didn't find the Source Stone Mine, I'd be done in half a year."

"So...you mean…?"

Hovering parallel to the Dominating Throne, White Willow froze in midair, then sped up to catch up, exclaiming, "You've found a Source Stone Mine?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes. Black Cory is busy mining right now. He'll be back in three to four months. I'm giving Black Cory a share—he's really striking it rich this time."

"Oh——"

White Willow spun midair in a somersault, cheered, then quickly became anxious, asking, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, you're not tricking me this time, right?"

Dragon Cypress, annoyed: "White Willow, when have I ever tricked you?"

White Willow: "..."

Dragon Cypress explained, "A lot happened this year. Ink Orchid and I found a Land of Origin Force in the Southeastern Continent's rainforest, discovered a primitive Flame Spider colony, and encountered a 3rd Age Period Primary-Level Flame Spider Warrior…"

Dragon Cypress recounted this year's continental exploration harvest to White Willow.

...

Silver Cypress stayed at Black Lotus Lake and began winter fishing.

Dragon Cypress did not stop and continued north.

The Dominating Throne entered Xianglan Mountain; Dragon Cypress suddenly became unhurried, slowing down, lowering altitude, and drawing near the Azure Blue Reservoir.

"Dragon Cypress."

Azure called out, "You're so happy—did you dig up Source Stones?"

You can sense my mood?

Or am I just that obvious?

Dragon Cypress collected himself and said, "Yes. Found a micro-sized vein. After a thorough survey, preliminary estimates are over ten million Source Stones."

Azure: "This is truly huge news!"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes! This time we're truly rich. In this world, there is nothing more profitable than mining Source Stone."

Azure: "So where are the Source Stones? Didn't you bring some back on the way?"

Dragon Cypress: "Brought five thousand, dropped them off at Southern Sour Jujube Mountain. Later, they'll be used by the Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube Seed, or taken to Scarletlight Mountain for the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed."

Azure mulled for a few seconds, then said, "The Dominating Throne can't carry too many Source Stones."

Dragon Cypress sighed: "Yes. By my estimate, anything above six thousand is overloaded—it wobbles and can't fly fast."

Azure: "Is it really far? Then how are you going to haul 10 million Source Stones back to Xianglan Mountain?"

Azure is getting smarter and smarter.

Dragon Cypress was quite gratified and answered, "It's pretty far. But after I evolve to Evolution Mountain Lord Level, the Dominating Throne can fly faster and its carrying capacity will increase greatly. It shouldn't be a problem."

Azure paused, uncertain: "Dragon Cypress, I have a feeling...the Dominating Throne and you are one."

Dragon Cypress: "???"

Dragon Cypress: "One?"

Azure: "It's like your antennae, your wings, your legs...feels like a part of your body."

Azure continued slowly: "I think you misunderstood. The various abilities of the Dominating Throne are tied to the strength of your abilities, not just your life level."

Dragon Cypress's mind sharpened.

"Azure, you mean…"

"The Dominating Throne's carrying capacity seems to be related to your strength—the stronger you are, the greater its carrying power."

Azure wasn't very confident, and emphasized, "It's just a vague feeling."

Dragon Cypress's thoughts raced, recalling carefully.

The Giant-Headed Ant's talent is strength, which grows with its evolution.

At the High-Level Stage, he had been focusing on comprehensive physique enhancement, upgrading evenly, without paying special attention to strength growth.

"Azure, what you're saying makes sense! Let me give it a try!"

Azure continued, "Dragon Cypress, also, the Dominating Throne's defensive ability seems to be directly related to your own defensive ability."

Defensive ability? What defensive ability?

Dragon Cypress's mind spun; a faint blue Primordial Energy Shield appeared over his body. "Azure, you mean this? The Hydrology Shield?"

Azure: "Yes. The Hydrology Shield."

Dragon Cypress: "...It really is!"

The Hydrology Shield he cast as well as that released by the Dominating Throne were equally fragile—one poke with the claw tip would break them.

During the High-Level Warrior stage, Dragon Cypress had only eaten a small amount of Origin Force Food to strengthen water system ability. Water Control, Hydrology Shield, Boiling Water—these three abilities barely improved.

Correspondingly, the Hydrology Shield released by the Dominating Throne never changed either.

This just verifies Azure's "vague" feeling.

Dragon Cypress buried his head in thought.

Azure said the "Dominating Throne and you are one."

That's worth pondering.

All along, Dragon Cypress had thought the Dominating Throne's abilities were fixed, and as he evolved, its locked abilities were unlocked one by one.

Azure means that the Dominating Throne also has growth properties, starting from zero, and growing as Dragon Cypress evolves.

Thinking it over, it really does seem that way.

Dragon Cypress: "Got it! I'll try it in the future!"

Dragon Cypress: "Azure, take a break. I'm going back to the mountain to tell everyone about the Source Stone Mine discovery."

...

Dragon Cypress returned to the mountain, passing on the news; everyone rejoiced.

According to Xianglan Mountain tradition, a banquet was held to celebrate.

It was now the late winter season.

The ant nest was out of food.

The next day,

Dragon Cypress sent Cypress and a batch of blue soldiers to White Lotus Lake, putting Cypress in charge of organizing the winter fishing there to restock the ant nest.

Dragon Cypress then shuttled back and forth among Southern Sour Jujube Mountain, Black Lotus Lake, and Xianglan Mountain, transporting blue ants.

After two busy weeks, everything was settled.

Then he set off for Scarletlight Mountain.

The Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed was blooming; he collected nectar, pruned flowers and fruit, and picked Golden Light Fruit.

Once finished, he returned to Xianglan Mountain.

Drizzle pattered and the mountain springs tinkled, playing the melody of spring.

After deep consideration and discussion with Ink Orchid, Dragon Cypress set the Dominating Throne off for White Lotus Lake, bringing Round Cypress and a large number of worker ants and blue ants, all heading to Huagi Mountain fully loaded.

Dragon Cypress guessed that the Huagi Mountain Treasury definitely had Source Stone reserves, just not easily touched.

Now that they'd found a Source Stone Mine, could they perhaps maneuver to awaken the Quandong Divine Tree? Maybe get several Soul-Setting Fruits?

Yellow Stem would certainly be thrilled.

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