Ant Lord in the Star Realm

Chapter 758 609 Refinement Divine Inscription

Dragon Cypress replenished his Origin Force. With Primordial Energy at full capacity, he could consecutively cast his Refinement Ability thirty times, transforming thirty cypresses, each over 10 meters tall, into Blue Refinement Beads.

Once his Primordial Energy was exhausted, he relied on the Dominating Throne to recover. He would be back to full capacity in less than half a day.

Dragon Cypress was an ant with strong self-control. He braved the wind and rain, setting out early and returning late every day, fixed on condensing 150 Blue Refinement Beads. Late into the night, he would also practice both his Vortex Worm and Hydra abilities.

Dragon Cypress's training also placed particular emphasis on technique. Different abilities, at different stages, required different training methods.

After casting the Refinement Ability, while recovering with the aid of the Throne, he would calm his spirit and reflect.

To practice the Vortex Worm ability and conserve Origin Force, Dragon Cypress started small and gradually increased their size. Initially, he created tiny Vortex Worms, 10 or 20 centimeters long, controlling them to crawl on land or swim in water.

Gradually, as he became more familiar with the ability, he steadily increased their size, creating Vortex Worms one, two, or even three meters in length. He progressed incrementally. Only after reaching a certain realm of mastery did he consider developing the Vortex Worms' size towards gigantic proportions.

Practicing the Hydra Power focused on control. Dragon Cypress designed three types of exercises:

The first involved controlling the picking of fruits, selection of seeds, and choosing of saplings. Through such delicate tasks, he honed his precision control.

The second involved having Ink Orchid unleash attacks while he used his tentacles to block, thereby training his agility.

The third involved wrapping his tentacles around trees to uproot them, strengthening their toughness.

...

「Golden Autumn Season.」

After Dragon Cypress evolved to King-Level, the first batch of King-Level fruits produced by some God-Given Life Seeds matured and were harvested.

The income of the Xianglan Mountain Kingdom skyrocketed.

...

「Year 83 of Silver Cypress.」

The Divine-Grade Leilian Seed arrived, intended for Cypress.

Cypress had remained at the 9th-Age Period Lord stage long enough. After some preparation, she fell into a slumber to evolve.

Xianglan Mountain entered a state of high alert.

Silver Cypress and Giant Cypress led heavy troops to guard the Shanxi Reservoir fortress.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid personally guarded the north and south entrances to the Main Nest.

The entrance at North Mountain required Black Birch's assistance to prevent the ant colony from freely entering or exiting the Ant Nest.

「Two days later,」

At twilight, an Origin Force fluctuation emanated from deep within the Ant Nest, gradually intensifying.

It created an Origin Force vacuum, but the Dominating Throne quickly adjusted and suppressed it.

The Assistant King's breakthrough to King-Level was relatively simple. It required absorbing only half the Natural Primordial Force of an Ant King and involved no fetters from God-Given Life Seeds, making the Origin Force pressure during the breakthrough process nearly zero.

One million Source Stones had been prepared, but it seemed they wouldn't be needed.

The Origin Force fluctuations continued late into the night before quickly subsiding.

「After five days of calm,」

A fierce outbreak occurred.

「Then, calm returned for another five days,」

And another fierce outbreak occurred.

The process was similar to that of a typical Insect Clan Warrior evolving to King-Level: a forceful absorption of Origin Force every five or six days. After a full nine such occurrences, calm finally returned.

Through the perception of the Soul-Setting Ability, Cypress's dormant Soul Consciousness awoke.

...

"Great King—"

"Second King—"

Cypress drooped her tentacles.

She felt weak from having slumbered for a month and a half to evolve, and also emotionally disappointed and dejected.

Ink Orchid tentatively asked, "What about your Thunder System Talent?"

Cypress replied, "I haven't awakened it..."

Ink Orchid queried, "Then you must have gained Thunder System potential, right?"

Cypress replied despondently, "Not that either..."

If she had gained the Talent Potential, she could have eaten another Divine-Grade Leizhe Fruit and definitely awakened the Thunder System Talent.

But she hadn't even gained the Talent Potential...

That meant it was impossible.

Fragrant Cypress, Silver Cypress, Giant Cypress, Black Birch, and Black Sophora, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, were also dismayed and dejected.

As a result, the Assistant King could only follow an evolutionary path limited to a single Talent system.

Ink Orchid: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Ink Orchid consoled, "It's alright, Cypress. We've now confirmed that the Multi-Element path isn't viable for you. Next, we'll try the Strength System, Life System, and Soul System."

Silver Cypress quickly interjected, "Second King, Cypress has already tried once! Let's switch! I'll do it! Let me test!"

The Second King's tentacles twitched, sparking with electricity.

Silver Cypress shrank back, pressing close to Dragon Cypress. "Great King, what do you think?"

Dragon Cypress countered, "And what do you think?"

Silver Cypress said, "Black Birch evolved to a 9th-Age Period Lord quite a few years ago. We can arrange for Black Birch to try!"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Comparatively speaking, Divine-Grade Fruits that bestow Elemental Talents were more abundant, cheaper, and easier to procure.

Those for the Life System were only somewhat more expensive.

Divine-Grade Dragon Bamboo Fruits, which bestowed Strength Talents, were highly valued by Red Crow Mountain. Even Ink Orchid hadn't had a chance to consume one yet and would have to wait.

As for Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruits, which bestowed Soul System Talents, they were even rarer. Considering their production rate, only one became available every ten years and could only be acquired by trading a Wangbai Seed.

If the Assistant King could awaken Soul, Strength, and Life System Talents, then trading a Wangbai Seed might be worth considering...

Dragon Cypress said, "Next year, I'll negotiate with a Caravan. I'll have them bring a Divine-Grade Fruit that bestows Life System Talent for Black Birch to try. Let's give it a shot."

"Yes, Great King!"

Black Birch responded resolutely.

Cypress took a White Refinement Bead and swallowed it. Her Physical Strength began to recover rapidly.

Seeing she was almost recuperated, Dragon Cypress inquired, "Cypress, what about your abilities? How many did you awaken?"

Cypress replied, "Great King, four!"

On her newly grown Carapace, six blue, ring-like patterns were visible along her abdomen.

Dragon Cypress asked, "Did you smoothly comprehend the Refinement Ability?"

Cypress replied, "Yes, Great King!"

Dragon Cypress persisted, "Anything else?"

Cypress said, "Great King, I also comprehended an underwater stealth ability similar to 'Water Escape'."

"That ability is very practical!"

Dragon Cypress commented, then asked, "What else?"

Cypress said, "One Defensive Ability, and one offensive ability..."

Dragon Cypress beckoned, and they went out of the Ant Nest together to test her abilities at the Shandong Reservoir.

Cypress stood firm on the embankment. Her two tentacles straightened, extended forward level with her body, and pressed together. Water System Primordial Energy gathered. Then, her tentacles slowly parted and swept backward.