Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 628 - 566: Soul-Intoxicating Fruit_3

The Snow Velvet Spider King added: "If any Little Flame Spider Warriors are willing to return to Shanglu to develop, that would be even better."

Column Spotted: "..."

Column Spotted: "Normal Little Flame Spiders are certainly no problem! I can make that call myself. Thank you, Snow Velvet Spider King!"

Column Spotted: "But no way for Flame Spider Warriors, our caravan is in a period of rapid ascent, resources aren't lacking, but we're desperate for Flame Spider Warriors."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "...Alright then!"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Then it's settled: normal Little Flame Spiders, I'll take them back to Shanglu and arrange for them to join the most prosperous top-level caravan of the Dulai Flame Spider Tribe."

Heliotrope: "..."

Heliotrope wanted to speak but held back.

The Snow Velvet Spider King does things a bit rashly~

You really have no idea what sort of spiders populate their caravans~

If something goes wrong, it might actually ruin the best top-level caravan of the Shanglu Dulai Flame Spider Tribe~

The Flame Spiders are a bloodline-obsessed species, all hoping to continue, develop, and strengthen the bloodline of their own community.

Heliotrope couldn't point it out—if she wrecked White Ivy and Melde's plans, that would be a blood feud.

Dragon Cypress also kept silent.

The Snow Velvet Spider King left, happily bidding farewell.

The trade continued.

...

The transaction with the Flame Spider Roving Merchant ended.

Dragon Cypress simultaneously completed the Source Stone delivery for Huagi Mountain.

The Dominating Throne carried Ink Orchid, touring the continent and searching for Divine-Given Seeds.

Drifting along, they arrived at the Purple Tung Insect Nation.

Just as they entered the Land of Origin Force, Ink Orchid kicked off, leaping from the Throne and beginning her work.

Dragon Cypress put away the Dominating Throne and instead took wing in flight, circling low to inspect the transplanted Silver Cypress #3 for the spring.

Round Cypress was currently directing the ant colony in their busy work, and Black Sophora was helping as well.

A few quick questions,

Dragon Cypress headed to the center of the Land of Origin Force...

"Linnan Divine Tree!"

"Ivy!"

Dragon Cypress called out.

Ivy was climbing up and down the main trunk of the Linnan Divine Tree, undergoing intense physical training.

Linnan Divine Tree: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "Linnan Divine Tree, early this morning, why did Black Sophora go off to work? How's its combat training going?"

Linnan Divine Tree: "..."

Linnan Divine Tree, for once, said calmly and evenly: "Ant, haven't you noticed? The big-headed ant tribe you breed divides their ants into Combat Soldier Ants and Worker Ants—two completely distinct types. Even though the Dominating Throne has given rise to all kinds of mutations, the essence hasn't changed. Even your all-rounder Assistant Kings still retain this innate group instinct."

Linnan Divine Tree: "The Black Leaf, Black Birch, and Black Persimmon, evolved from Combat Ants, clearly have a prominent talent and fighting spirit for war. Conversely, Black Cory, Black Peach, and newly-arrived Black Sophora, evolved from Worker Ants, though they can command Combat Ants, fundamentally lack the will to fight and have no competitive spirit."

Linnan Divine Tree summed up: "Don't make trouble for me. I can't teach these ants. Just looking at them annoys me, get it out of here."

"Uh..."

Dragon Cypress was at a loss for words.

No wonder when I questioned Black Sophora earlier, the guy just stammered~

Dragon Cypress explained: "Linnan Divine Tree, what you said just now, I already understand. Precisely because of this deficiency in nature, I sent Black Sophora over hoping under your guidance, it could overcome its instincts and gain some grasp of fighting and warfare. I definitely wouldn't purposely send Black Cory, Black Peach, or Black Sophora to the frontlines—just want them, if territory faces war or attack, not to totally panic."

Linnan Divine Tree was unmoved, unwilling to continue, and said coldly: "I don't teach trash."

Dragon Cypress thought for a moment and said: "Didn't you teach Yellow Stem? Just have Black Sophora do whatever training you gave Yellow Stem—while you're at it, throw in some instruction on military command."

Ivy: "..."

Linnan Divine Tree: "..."

Linnan Divine Tree exploded in anger. "Don't mention that loser Yellow Stem!"

—What's up now?

—Got mad again?

—Isn't Yellow Stem at Huagi Mountain? Why drag him into this?

—Linnan, calm down.

Jinhe, Purple Tung, Night Fragrance, and Huagi's spiritual power all gathered over.

Dragon Cypress yielded, saying: "The pioneering effort in the Southern Hemisphere will finish very soon. When it's done, I'll settle long-term in Purple Tung Insect Nation to focus on raising Specialized Green Ants."

Dragon Cypress added: "The deal for Divine-Grade Ink Fruit is done, Linnan Divine Tree—I'll supply you with Red Crow Pattern again."

Jinhe Divine-Given Seed immediately said: "Supply me, too!"

Night Fragrance said bluntly: "Ant, supply me as well. Interest."

Purple Tung Divine-Given Seed said weakly: "I could use a bit more too~"

Jinhe urged: "Linnan, what's the big deal? It's just one Assistant King, just teach it while you're at it, right?"

Night Fragrance: "Linnan Divine Tree, you've been working hard."

Purple Tung: "Linnan Divine Tree, could you please work a bit harder for us?"

Linnan Divine Tree fumed: "You scoundrels! A bunch of unambitious trees..."

Huagi Divine Tree, in a rare move, took the initiative to ask: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, what's the plan for this year's work?"

Dragon Cypress: "As usual: quickly finish the search for Divine-Given Seeds on Cloud Trace Continent, then Ink Orchid and I will rush over to Wanglan Continent to keep developing Swinging Leaf Island. According to my plan, we'll be done in two or three years, then move on to Fragrant Silk Island, just a simple pioneering job."

Huagi Divine Tree: "And the Flame Spider Roving Merchants? Has any news about Huagi Mountain leaked?"

Dragon Cypress: "No news out."

Dragon Cypress: "That's what I want to talk about. That Snow Velvet Spider King's communications with the Flame Spiders from Ten-thousand Tribes Continent are extremely odd..."

Dragon Cypress recounted in detail the abnormal phenomenon of nearly three years, and analyzed: "First contact, Snow Velvet Spider King insisted I stay out of it, which is understandable: perhaps it needed to tell the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent Flame Spiders about Shanglu, the Shanglu Divine-Given Seed, Divine Stone Sphere, and so on—typically tribal secrets. But last year, and this year, he still wanted me to avoid it, even banned fellow Little Flame Spiders from knowing—now that doesn't add up."

Night Fragrance: "Divine-Grade Fruit transaction?"

Dragon Cypress: "There's Divine-Grade Fruit trading, but it's all open, I know the gist. With every year, Little Flame Spider Heliotrope running back and forth over a dozen times—definitely not just simple Divine-Grade trading."

Linnan Divine Tree: "We've already speculated the secret of the Shanglu Divine-Given Seed. But there's also a Divine Stone Sphere—no information at all; could it be related?"

Huagi Divine Tree: "Most likely tied to the Divine Stone Sphere."

Huagi Divine Tree: "If our guess is right, Divine-Grade Gromwell Fruit is far too valuable for the Flame Spider Roving Merchants. When they meet, the Flame Spiders from Ten-thousand Tribes Continent must try everything—ask, or exchange—to get Divine-Grade Gromwell Fruit from Shanglu's Flame Spiders. I figure, much of their negotiation is about this."

Huagi Divine Tree: "Plus, with the matters regarding the Divine Stone Sphere that we know nothing about, just gives both sides even more to communicate and negotiate."

Dragon Cypress: "Makes sense! That's my assumption as well. Looks like we're on the same wavelength—very likely the case."

Huagi Divine Tree exhorted: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, you must remember, don't try to pry into these secrets. They have nothing to do with you, you won't benefit; you might just violate taboos on accident. There's no need. The best way is to not take part, ignore it, act oblivious, and downplay your presence."

Dragon Cypress: "I understand..."