CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: EASTWARD! EASTWARD!

Dragon Cypress commanded the Specialized Blue Ants to prepare a jar of "Ant King Honey" right in front of Ghost Fan, worth 1,000 Source Stones.

Two jars, 2,000 Source Stones.

He spent 1,296 Source Stones and then took 72 more Ghost Fan Seeds to make a total of 350 seeds.

That left 704 Source Stones.

Just in time, the two large clusters of Woodberry Life Seed fruits that Ghost Fan had planted were ripe.

The strengthening effect of Woodberries was on their tentacles’ olfactory capability.

Such strengthening effects also had certain uses.

Woodberries also tasted particularly good.

Dragon Cypress directly purchased this year’s output of the two Woodberry Life Seeds for a total price of 704 Source Stones.

All were harvested and refined into Ant Honey, which he took back for his own consumption.

...

Ghost Fan said, "Dragon Cypress, what I mainly need is to strengthen my Comprehensive Physique, especially Origin Force Food like the Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds."

After its initial joy from receiving and tasting the two jars of Ant King Honey, Ghost Fan’s expression turned solemn, and it spoke with lingering fear, "During the summer, I went through a Molting Evolution and slept for a very long time. When I awoke, I had nearly exhausted all my strength. I couldn’t even move in the cave for an entire day. I was so close, just a little bit more, and I might not have woken up."

Had it Evolved once already?

Dragon Cypress certainly didn’t want his only client to die from a failed Evolution. He had even hesitated over whether to use the Dominating Throne’s support function to help it pass this trial.

Since it had pulled through on its own, that was for the best.

Dragon Cypress said, "Ghost Fan, you’ve eaten a large batch of physique-strengthening Origin Force Food this year, and your physical condition has significantly improved. Your next Evolution won’t be as dangerous."

"Yes..."

Ghost Fan continued, "But I am now a 6th Age Period High-Level Warrior, and I have to consider advancing to become a Mountain Lord in the future. If I can’t get enough strengthening in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Age Periods, evolving into a Mountain Lord will still be dangerous."

Ghost Fan appeared simple and honest, and its Mental Power communication wasn’t smooth, making its movements seem somewhat clumsy. However, its mind was very clear, even clever.

Ghost Fan understood its current state well and knew what it needed.

Dragon Cypress solemnly promised, "For this year’s Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds, we will reserve 50 for you. I’ll do my best to ensure a steady supply of various high-quality, physique-strengthening Origin Force Foods."

Dragon Cypress also cautioned, "Keep your Ghost Fan Seeds safe. You’ve already eaten enough; don’t eat any more. Those are the most valuable goods you trade with us."

Ghost Fan exclaimed, "I understand!"

It’s good that it understands.

All trade matters were settled, but the Ghost Fan Seeds were not yet completely dried. There was no rush to leave, giving them a chance to chat more with Ghost Fan.

Turning the conversation to casual chatter, Dragon Cypress asked, "Ghost Fan, have you tried the ’Marsh Gas Pool’ I taught you last year?"

Ghost Fan replied, "I have! It works very well! The Divine-Given Ghost Fan Seed says it likes to eat it."

"Of course," Dragon Cypress said, "I noticed you haven’t really excavated your water reservoirs... Didn’t you have a dry season here this summer?"

Ghost Fan replied, "No. There were countless heavy rains, though. The river channels were blocked once by branches and mud brought down by mountain floods."

Ink Orchid immediately chimed in, "We encountered another drought this year. It was only thanks to the water pool Dragon Cypress dug that we got through safely."

A thought crossed Dragon Cypress’s mind, and he asked, "Ghost Fan, how are the Keg Vine Seeds I asked you to help plant doing?"

Ghost Fan replied, "Out of the six seeds, four survived and have grown rapidly, with vines reaching over ten meters long."

Ghost Fan then asked, "Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, how about the ones you planted?"

"Let’s not talk about it," Dragon Cypress waved his tentacles.

Ink Orchid said mournfully, "This summer, they all died of drought..."

...

...

...

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid spent a day at Ghost Fan Mountain, rested for the night, and then reluctantly departed the next morning, heading east to explore.

「After traveling some distance,」

On the Throne, Ink Orchid was still happy about the successful completion of their trade.

Ink Orchid asked, "Dragon Cypress, how much did we make from selling Ant King Honey this time?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "No profit. We even took a slight loss."

"Ah? A loss? Why?"

"The Southern Sour Jujube Fruits are hard to sell, so I gave them to Ghost Fan at a low price. But this isn’t exactly a loss, since we couldn’t have finished the leftovers ourselves anyway."

"Alas—" Ink Orchid sighed, consoling itself. "It doesn’t matter! Dragon Cypress, we’ll definitely find other Insect Clans!"

Ink Orchid asked, "Where are we going now?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "Straight east, until we reach the Divine Force Barrier on the eastern edge of Cloud Trace Continent... or until half a month has passed."

"Oh! Eastward! Eastward!"

Ink Orchid, thrilled and eager, said, "Dragon Cypress, quickly have a Specialized Blue Ant refine a few Ghost Fan Seeds so we can taste them."

"Hmm—"

Dragon Cypress took one, cracked open the thick husk, and fed the kernel to an empty-stomached Specialized Blue Ant.

The Origin Force Food produced by the Divine-Given Seeds of a High-Level Wooden Darkling Beetle Warrior was not to be underestimated.

Dragon Cypress was somewhat concerned that the Specialized Blue Ant wouldn’t be able to refine it.

His concern was soon dispelled.

It was doable.

Just at a slower pace.

Dragon Cypress cracked open another seed and arranged for another Specialized Blue Ant to refine it.

It took half a day to complete the Refinement.

Before resting at night, he had the satiated Specialized Blue Ants dilute it with some Common Ant Honey.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid each consumed the equivalent of one seed.

It took them half the night to fully digest its Origin Force.

At the Mid-Level stage, eating one such Origin Force Food per day was appropriate. Any more would be too much for the body to absorb completely and would be a waste.

Dragon Cypress estimated that he only needed to consume about 30 seeds to advance to the 3rd Age Period.

He would have to be careful with his intake. Attempting to go into a deep evolutionary sleep suddenly in the vast wilderness devoid of Origin Force was potentially lethal.

...

「Traveling by day and resting by night, they headed straight east.」

They searched for rare plants along the way and picked various delicious fruits. Soon, nine of the Specialized Blue Ants were full, leaving one empty-stomached Blue Ant responsible for refining the Ghost Fan Seeds.

「Focused on their journey,」

Three days later, they encountered the ocean and had to fly north for a day before turning east once more.

「The appointed 15 days quickly elapsed.」

Due to the slow flying speed of the Dominating Throne, they did not see the Divine Force Barrier on the eastern side of Cloud Trace Continent.

Their luck wasn’t good. They didn’t find a Land of Origin Force or discover any rare plants.

It was a journey with nothing gained.

In total, the expedition had now taken 45 days. It was deep autumn, and the Origin Force Food planted in their Territory was about to ripen, so they had to hurry back.

Ink Orchid had been away from its Territory for over two months and was eager to return.

Dragon Cypress took control of the Dominating Throne and turned it northward to drift.

「Beneath the cloudless skies of a harsh autumn midday,」

Dragon Cypress was regularly supplementing the Ant Eggs and Larvae in the Bamboo Tube with Pheromones to stimulate differentiation...

Ink Orchid, who had been lying on the edge of the Throne observing the forests below, suddenly stood up.

"Dragon Cypress, Origin Force Fluctuation! Over there!"

Ink Orchid lifted its foot, pointing in the direction.

It was the fourth time it had found a Land of Origin Force, and it was much more composed than before, not fleeing the Dominating Throne in a desperate hurry as it had done previously.

"Dragon Cypress, stop worrying about the Larvae for now! Hurry up, faster!" Ink Orchid urged.

The Dominating Throne accelerated, heading in the direction from which the Origin Force Fluctuation had come.

「By twilight, they reached the perimeter.」

An endless forested plain lay before them, with a large river flowing tranquilly through.

They didn’t rush in but instead hid in a grove of trees.

「Only late at night did Dragon Cypress direct the Dominating Throne to set off, flying 50 meters above the ground, circling the perimeter first.」

Then, they crossed from south to north.

Overall, the area was approximately elliptical, about five kilometers in length, with an average abundance of Origin Force.

They conducted another thorough search. No traces of Origin Force Plants or Insect Clan Warriors living there were found.

They weren’t as lucky as they had been at Southern Sour Jujube Mountain, where they previously found a Wild God-Given Seed.

It was a Land of Origin Force with nothing in it.