Oval-shaped pinecone.

The shell is a whole piece, more than 1 centimeter thick, exceptionally hard.

Inside the Knowledge Hall, on the Dominating Throne,

Dragon Cypress gathered Primordial Energy at his toes, carefully, grinding bit by bit. It took half a day to cut it open.

The extracted kernel was just over 10 centimeters long, with surging Primordial Energy highly condensed. Its appearance wasn't much different from a pine nut and it carried the unique light fragrance of pine.

Divine-Grade Fruits that bestow abilities can't be eaten in parts, nor can they be consumed over several times. Otherwise, the full ability cannot be obtained.

Dragon Cypress dared not be careless, hurriedly glanced at it twice, then swallowed it in two bites.

The kernel entered his belly, was digested very quickly, and the slightly cool Origin Force quickly fused into the bloodstream, spreading throughout his body.

His jet-black carapace lit up with a layer of snowy-white halo.

The blue ringed patterns on his abdomen flickered with faint blue light in sync with Dragon Cypress's breathing, making the vast cave alternately bright and dim.

The Primordial Energy equivalent to 300,000 Source Stones spread throughout his body, and matched his body very well. Only a tiny portion escaped, most was absorbed at a steady rate by his body.

Dragon Cypress lay motionless on the Dominating Throne.

The four-day-and-night long strengthening ended, and the Primordial Energy from the Soul-Setting Fruit was finally exhausted.

Dragon Cypress's mind was muddled, with unprecedentedly intense Age Period Evolution symptoms.

He couldn't fall asleep directly.

Dragon Cypress forced himself up, quickly opened the prepared Ant Honey by the Throne, and began to devour it to replenish his physical strength.

While eating, he could barely hold on, gradually lost consciousness in a daze.

...

Awakened from slumber.

Shed the old shell, put on a new one.

Age Period 3, Mountain Lord.

The evolution was rushed, leaving his strength somewhat depleted, and his six limbs weak.

He opened a jar of Ant Honey and ate to replenish himself.

Spiritual power expanded, spreading along the entrance passageway.

Ink Orchid was guarding alone outside the cave.

On a nearby slope, there was no trace of Yellow Stem and Spruce.

——Maximum distance is around 175 meters.

——At Age Period 2, Mountain Lord stage, after consuming 1000 Divine-Given Ghost Fan Fruits, my spiritual detection range only increased by about 15 meters.

——Evolution level imposes limits; for a Mountain Lord Level, spiritual power caps at 200 meters, and 175 meters is already near the limit.

——Moreover, I've consumed too many Divine-Given Ghost Fan Fruits, and this Divine-Given Origin Force Food has almost no effect left for further strengthening.

——If I want to further strengthen my spiritual power, I must switch to another Divine-Given Origin Force Food.

——Perhaps if I can get a Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit, I won't need to waste Source Stones to strengthen my spiritual power.

Dragon Cypress pondered and weighed his options, thoughts turning, immersing his mind and focusing, antennae upright in perception.

One large and two small, three blurry, orb-like silhouettes appeared in his soul consciousness.

The large one was at the cave entrance, motionless—that's Ink Orchid!

The two small blurry shadows were down the distant foothills, moving about—Yellow Stem and Spruce.

The Soul-Setting ability granted by the Soul-Setting Fruit!

Is this the soul?

Dragon Cypress was a little astonished, quickly calming his mind, observing the movement patterns of the "souls" of Yellow Stem and Spruce.

Soon he had a judgment: [The weather's been hot lately; they must be drawing water to irrigate the Life Seed Plants on the slope]

Dragon Cypress's mind twitched, shifting his intent, sensing in the direction where the Quandong Divine Tree took root.

Nothing at all.

Sensed again, this time into the depths of the Huagi Mountain Treasury.

Still no findings.

——The Soul-Setting ability isn't 100% accurate either~

Dragon Cypress thought for a moment, then let it go.

The Huagi Divine Tree, Quandong Divine Tree, and Linnan Divine Tree all fused with Glinting Gold at the Divine Artifact Level, able to even shield from the Natural Law; they can certainly also evade detection from the "Soul-Setting" ability.

This ability is rather mentally taxing; just a few sweeps made me somewhat spiritually fatigued.

Dragon Cypress shifted his focus, withdrew the ability, and expanded his spiritual power to call out: "Ink Orchid~"

"Awake?"

Ink Orchid ran quickly, bursting into the Knowledge Hall.

"Dragon Cypress, how is it? Did you gain the Soul-Setting ability?"

"Of course! It went very smoothly! It's very useful!"

Dragon Cypress: "How many days did I sleep?"

Ink Orchid: "Evolved? Should be 7 days."

Dragon Cypress: "No wonder~ I'm a bit hungry~"

Ink Orchid: "I'll go fetch you some food!"

...

After eating and drinking his fill, and repeated tests,

Dragon Cypress clarified three issues: First, Soul-Setting ability's max sensing range is about 4.5 kilometers; second, the farther the distance, the fuzzier the soul's impression; third, sensing range is determined by soul strength, not spiritual power.

Spiritual power is like the "limbs" of the soul, as antennae and eyes are to an Insect Clan Warrior's body.

The Soul-Setting ability's remote communication function requires finding another insect who also consumed the Soul-Setting Fruit to verify.

This insect can only be Ink Orchid.

Test again in autumn.

...

Dragon Cypress rested for two days, fully recovering from his evolutionary weakness, then entered the Knowledge Hall again and used the One-Glimpse Fruit.

With prior experience, he succeeded easily, a "Heaven Returning Glimpse" Primordial Energy Divine Pattern condensed on his forehead.

For the next seven or eight years, he will not undergo Molting Evolution.

He won't select a Life Seed yet, and may as well wait for the White Poplar Divine Seed, to absorb it into his Life Pouch and nurture a Life Seed as soon as he gets it.

...

Yellow Stem and Spruce had just irrigated the Life Seed Plants on the mountain, when the weather suddenly turned cloudy and rain fell all night.

They didn't seem embarrassed or bothered at all.

Clear skies returned; as usual they got up early, tended the wild grass on the mountain, drove away birds and beasts, ensuring the Common Shield Katydids grew and reproduced safely.

The daily life of most Insect Clan Warriors is this monotonous, day after day, year after year, repeating the same labor.

...

It was time to bid farewell and leave.

Dragon Cypress went into the forest, hunted wild boars, deer, and other large animals to bring back, cooked them by the lakeside at the mountain's base, inviting Yellow Stem and Spruce to eat and drink in celebration.

During the chat,

Yellow Stem purposefully steered the conversation.

——How's the progress on reclaiming Cold Orchid Mountain? When will it be finished?

——Which Land of Origin Force will you develop next? Hulan Mountain?

Yellow Stem, naturally following the topic, asked: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, with your current spiritual strength, piloting the Dominating Throne, can you make a round trip between the Desolation Plains, Huagi Mountain, and the Second Source Stone Mine in five days?"

Dragon Cypress: "If I work a little overtime at night, it's no problem."

The Soul-Setting Fruit had been eaten and the ability gained; it was also time to pay up.

Dragon Cypress went on: "I'll take Ink Orchid back to Xianglan Mountain, then start transporting Source Stones here."

Yellow Stem waved his antennae: "No rush, no rush. The Source Stones are there; we're not in a hurry."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Ink Orchid: "..."

Even Spruce looked quite speechless.

Yellow Stem, unfazed, followed up: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, during your Age Period 2, Mountain Lord stage, you didn't use any strength-enhancing Origin Force Food?"

Dragon Cypress: "No. With my current strength, I can only transport 40,000 Source Stones per trip."

Yellow Stem: "That's quite a lot already. It's fine. No rush. We have plenty of time. Let's move them bit by bit."

Dragon Cypress: "Alright. Owe you 9 million Source Stones. I promise to deliver all of them before the campaign against the Termite Kingdom."

Dragon Cypress continued: "Yellow Stem, there are two more things I'd like to discuss with you."

Yellow Stem: "Go ahead."

Dragon Cypress: "First. The two Spider Kings, Aconite and Spurge, don't really trust us, and are requesting that at next spring's trade, I bring them a Soul-Setting Fruit for direct inspection."

Dragon Cypress: "I've already eaten mine, and Ink Orchid plans to use hers in late autumn, so that only leaves…"

Yellow Stem, uncharacteristically forthcoming, agreed: "You can borrow the Soul-Setting Fruit allocated to Spruce from us. Come get it during the winter roving merchant trade."

Dragon Cypress: "Good!"

Dragon Cypress: "Yellow Stem, second, for the next batch of three Soul-Setting Fruits..."

Dragon Cypress raised his claw to his forehead: "I've already used one to trade with the Flame Spider Caravan for a One-Glimpse Fruit."

Dragon Cypress: "Of the remaining two, I plan to trade them for a portion of Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit, at 12 million Source Stones per portion. Specifically, after consumption, the soul will undergo sublimation, rising one major tier above life itself. For example, I would have a Lord-level soul at the Mountain Lord stage..."

Yellow Stem nodded solemnly, antennae twitching: "After using Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit, your Dominating Throne flight speed can double, shuttling rapidly among Origin Force Points. Whether managing territory or roving merchant trade, both will be much faster and convenient."

Dragon Cypress: "Exactly! Which is why I need it very much."

Yellow Stem: "But, two Soul-Setting Fruits are worth 9 million Source Stones..."

Dragon Cypress: "I'll repay with high-quality Origin Force Ant Honey and Bee King Honey."

After a moment's thought, Yellow Stem agreed: "Alright! But, for the next batch after that, the Soul-Setting Fruit must be exchanged for Source Stones, cash on the spot."

Yellow Stem spoke seriously and sincerely: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Ink Orchid, we've been friends for many years now. I'm very happy to help you. But I hope you can understand me, too. My thoughts are simple: before everyone leaves, or our lifespan is spent and we die of old age, I wish to stockpile enough Source Stones for Huagi Mountain to ensure the Shield Grasshopper Tribe's legacy never fades. The tribe's legacy is my foremost duty, above my own evolution, above my own life."

Dragon Cypress: "Understood!"

Ink Orchid: "Yellow Stem, don't worry. Dragon Cypress and I will do everything we can to help you!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.