Xianglan Mountain.

Late Autumn Season.

North Mountain Restaurant.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid sat around the stone pot, eating leisurely.

Outside the Ant Nest, not far off where the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed was rooted on a slope, Silver Cypress was commanding a massive group of Soldier Ants, forming three tight circles.

Worker Ants under Fragrant Cypress climbed all over the nearby woods.

At the Evolution Mountain Lord Level, the blossom-fruit cycle of the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed extended from 2 years to 3 years, with blooming moved forward to early spring and fruit ripening likewise earlier by about a month, from winter to late autumn.

After reaching Mountain Lord Level, the first batch from the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed was about to ripen.

280 clonal shoots, each producing a constant, unchanging 11 Orchid Seeds.

Total yield: 3080 seeds.

The kernels were still on the smaller side; the final unit price depended on the quality.

...

Fruit-Scented Orchid was the first Divine-Given Seed of Xianglan Mountain, having once helped Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid through their most difficult, weakest period.

Both had deep feelings for it, and waited together at the North Mountain Restaurant.

Late at night,

The waiting ant colony began to grow restless and cheer.

The Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed absorbed Origin Force at accelerated speed.

"It's starting!"

Ink Orchid darted out of the restaurant.

Dragon Cypress stood up without haste, strolling out of the cave.

Fragrant Cypress was waving its tentacles, issuing uninterrupted commands, guiding Worker Ants carrying Source Stone to guard every clone at the ready and in position.

They didn't have to wait long,

The Natural Primordial Force soon couldn't keep up with the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed's rate of absorption.

Fragrant Cypress shook its tentacles, giving orders.

The Worker Ants began to scrape the Source Stones with their mandibles, scattering powder.

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Spiked Cypress stood by silently, observing.

It went on all night,

Until the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed calmed down. Bathed in morning sunlight, the seed pods turned from green to yellow.

They waited through another whole day.

The seed pods split open.

Fragrant Cypress directed a medium-sized Worker Ant forward to pick one and deliver it to Dragon Cypress.

Peeled open,

The kernels were slightly smaller than regular Pine Nuts, but with a high degree of Primordial Energy concentration.

Dragon Cypress pinched it, briefly admiring, then popped it into its mouth.

Spiked Cypress carefully raised a claw, pinched one too, and threw it straight into his mouth. "Not bad. Not bad. Great King, I think it could fetch 20 Source Stones per grain."

Dragon Cypress replied to Spiked Cypress with a swing of its tentacles—a triple rapid-fire flick.

"How is it?" Ink Orchid asked hopefully.

Dragon Cypress: "Bargain with the caravan. We can probably sell it for 15 Source Stones each. They should be able to resell at 18 to 20 Source Stones per grain."

Ink Orchid: "So this year's income would be..."

Dragon Cypress: "46,200 Source Stones. Subtracting the 3,000 Source Stones spent during fruit ripening, that's a net income of 43,200 Source Stones. Averaged out, the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed brings us 14,400 Source Stones in income each year."

Ink Orchid: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "That's already pretty good."

Ink Orchid looked a bit dejected, sighing, "It's the Origin Force Honey trade that's really driving the kingdom's rapid development."

Dragon Cypress gently shook its tentacles. "The profit from Origin Force Honey trade has its limits, but the growth potential of Divine-Given Seeds is limitless. The rewards from Divine-Given Seeds will grow in sync with our own growth and evolution. If the trend continues, once we reach Evolution Lord Level or even King-Level, just the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed alone will bring in forty, fifty thousand—even over a hundred thousand."

Ink Orchid listened, a little comforted, and asked, "Dragon Cypress, anything else for autumn? We haven't searched the abandoned Land of Origin Force for Divine-Given Seeds in years."

"The Divine-Given White Rice Fruit hasn't been harvested yet..."

Dragon Cypress thought a moment. "Then let's set out earlier this year—head to Jianlan Plain first..."

...

The next day,

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid set out early for Jianlan Plain.

The Dominating Throne parked by the riverbank, Dragon Cypress rested.

Ink Orchid spent the whole day flying swift patrols over the area.

Nothing found.

They went to White Rice Mountain, waited two days, and completed the Divine-Given White Rice Fruit harvest.

Straight after, they set out again, reaching Areca Rainforest to check on the cultivation progress. Ink Orchid made another swift search circuit.

Heading further north, they went to Red Cypress Mountain and spent a day searching—no results.

Still further north, into the continent's far east—Cicada Orchid Mountain, Xuelan Mountain, Banlan Mountain, and then Hulan Mountain: all four Land of Origin Force sites with no insect inhabitants were combed through meticulously...

Always when searching by chance you make discoveries, but when you spend focused time and effort looking, you turn up empty-handed...

Hulan Mountain,

The Dominating Throne floated slowly above the snow-capped peaks.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid lay side by side along the Throne's edge, observing and surveying the land.

A massive mountain range stretching several hundred kilometers.

Hulan Mountain was just a small segment of the vast range, with only two immense mountains within this Land of Origin Force.

The mountains below were colossal, with gentle lower slopes. As elevation changed, the distribution of plant types was clearly stratified, dominated overall by pines, cedars, and cypress.

Both the geography and soil here were very similar to Huagi Mountain—it's prime territory for large-scale cultivation of Huagi King Fir and Nine-Leaf Huangqian.

Dragon Cypress planned to begin the development of this Land of Origin Force next year.

Many fine pines and cedars already grew here; 50% could stay, and the other 50% could be developed into managed woodlands. Mixing old-growth forest and ant-cultivated groves would minimize pests and disease while reducing management workload.

After a thorough inspection, Dragon Cypress had a rough plan in mind.

They headed straight to Huagi Mountain,

Seedlings of Huagi King Fir and Nine-Leaf Huangqian, cultivated with help from Yellow Stem and Spruce, were already over a meter tall—one or two more years, and they'd be ready for transplanting.

Next, they checked on the Desolation Plains development. Black Cory had completed 12 Ant Nests, while White Rice had reinforced the soil and rock with hardening work.

Dragon Cypress intended to cultivate the Desolation Plains as well, so he asked White Rice to use the 'Soil Improvement' ability on some of the barren, hard plots whenever he had downtime.

They'd agreed beforehand it was just a small favor, but...

White Rice ended up laboring on Desolation Plains for a year straight, nearly driving the insect mad...

Dragon Cypress hurriedly sent him back to White Rice Mountain.

Together with Black Cory, they first returned to Black Lotus Lake to rest. Next year, they'd go open up Hulan Mountain—double pay, 2,000 Source Stones per year.

...

Having circled all of Cloud Trace Continent, it was now early winter.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid quickly packed up and set out, heading straight for Silver Cypress Mountain.

The cold wind howled.

Halfway up the mountain, in an orchard dedicated to the Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Seed, Mountain Persimmon was keeping guard under the tree, elytra spread, occasionally beating its wings with a loud buzz to scare off birds drawn by the fruit's aroma.

"Mountain Persimmon!"

Ink Orchid detached from the Throne, sped closer, circled in the air, and unleashed the full intimidating presence of a Mountain Lord Level Flower Mantis Warrior, causing flocks of birds in the nearby forest to scatter in a panic.

Ink Orchid landed beneath the Divine-Given Tree and looked up, scrutinizing it.

The terrifying Mountain Lord aura~ made the Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Seed shiver with fright.

"...Ink Orchid."

Mountain Persimmon greeted them. "You and Dragon Cypress Ant King are late again."

"Oh—"

Ink Orchid exclaimed, "Are all the Divine-Given Persimmon Fruit ripe already?"

What are you looking at? Mountain Persimmon: "..."

Mountain Persimmon: "Four days ago it absorbed a large amount of Origin Force, costing 1,200 Source Stones. The day before yesterday, the fruit fully matured... I've been keeping watch under the tree waiting for you to come harvest."

"Oh—"

Ink Orchid: "It's Dragon Cypress who got the timing wrong!"

Mountain Persimmon: "...That's right."

Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress will be here soon. Let's start picking!"

Mountain Persimmon: "Alright!"

...

By the time Dragon Cypress piloted the Dominating Throne over in a panic, Mountain Persimmon and Ink Orchid had already finished picking the Persimmon Fruit and had them stacked neatly beneath the tree.

"Mountain Persimmon! Ink Orchid. How did it go?"

Dragon Cypress called out, asking casually.

Ink Orchid was holding a Persimmon Fruit, happily munching away. "It must be because some Divine-Given Seed remnants were used—the quality is even better than those sent by Seven-Leaf Lord."

Mountain Persimmon curled a tentacle around one Persimmon Fruit, offering it to Dragon Cypress. "Dragon Cypress Ant King, have a look!"

At the moment, Mountain Persimmon owed 88,000 Source Stones, all relying on the Divine-Given Persimmon Fruit harvest to repay his debt.

Dragon Cypress took it, inspected it, bit into it.

The Sky-Blue Persimmon is famed across the continent as the premier top-level plant seed; not only is it excellent for strengthening and high-yield, it also has superb quality and flavor.

When fully ripe, its pulp is delicate, sweet, and fragrant, without the astringency of other persimmons.

"Nice! Delicious!"

"The fruit pulp is also rich in Primordial Energy, the strengthening effect is outstanding."

Dragon Cypress praised it heartily, then spat out the Persimmon Seeds.

He finished an entire fruit in one go.

Counting the Persimmon Seeds—six per fruit, plump kernels, thin shell, ample nut inside.

Dragon Cypress smacked his lips, commenting, "The fruit's pulp is worth 100 Source Stones! Each Divine-Given Persimmon Fruit Seed is worth 50 Source Stones, and with 6 seeds, that's 300 Source Stones. All together, each Persimmon Fruit can sell for a sky-high price of 400 Source Stones!"

"Wow!"

Ink Orchid gasped.

"!!!"

Mountain Persimmon's slender tentacles waved excitedly.

Dragon Cypress swept his spiritual power over the ground. "This time exactly 100 Persimmon Fruit were produced. Mountain Persimmon, you keep 20 for yourself. I'll take the remaining 80—for 32,000 Source Stones."

Mountain Persimmon: "Okay!"

Mountain Persimmon: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Ink Orchid, I still owe you 56,000 Source Stones."

Dragon Cypress: "That's right."

Ink Orchid: "Mountain Persimmon, don't rush to pay it back...you can borrow more if you need. Once you evolve to Mountain Lord Level, a single batch from the Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Seed will pay off all your debts, and then some."

Paying off all at once! Mountain Persimmon nodded vigorously in agreement.

Dragon Cypress: "Mountain Persimmon, next spring, your Life Seed Plant can take a break from flowering and fruiting. Next autumn I'll come earlier to help you break through to Evolution Mountain Lord."

Mountain Persimmon replied stoutly, "Okay!"

Dragon Cypress set down the planks, directing the Worker Ants and Blue Ants to get started refining the Divine-Given Persimmon Fruit on the ground.

With this batch of Divine-Given Fruit that enhances Carapace Toughness, Mulberry and Spruce too can evolve to Mountain Lord Level next year.

White Willow, Black Rice, Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, and Cypress the year after.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple will have to wait until the year after that.

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