Ant Lord in the Star Realm

Chapter 765 611 Bad News? Good News!_3

Dragon Cypress continued explaining: "When meat is refined, it becomes a milky white round bead, named the 'White Refining Bead.' It is very hard, slightly brittle, and easily broken. It can be stored for a long time without rotting. If kept sealed, it can definitely be preserved for a very long period. However, it must not touch water or become damp; once it meets water, it will quickly dissolve and then spoil easily."

Finally, Dragon Cypress added: "The ultimate ability of the Creator Civilization has been quite well inherited by both the Blue Soldiers and the Blue Ants. Unfortunately, they are unable to inherit the Divine Mark, and can only produce the generic 'Refining Beads.' Generic Refining Beads are suitable for most types of Insect Clan."

"Not bad!"

"Truly perfection."

"No particular taste."

"Even the aroma of food is refined away?"

"That's not really a problem. When using them, just dilute with water, or blend in some sweetness or meaty flavor."

"That works as well."

The five Spider Kings examined and tasted, full of praise.

Spider King Carpetgrass's eight eyes flashed with light, and he said: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, does this refinement ability turn the excess matter into nothingness?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes. This is similar to the 'Origin Fire' granted by the Divine-Grade Festoon Fruit."

The minds of the five Spider Kings whirled, each faster than the last.

Snow Velvet Spider King rushed to ask: "Then your 'Vortex Worm' ability—are you planning... to be able to highly imitate the 'Sea Beast Devouring' ability?"

Dragon Cypress: "That's right. I intend to combine the seven abilities—Vortex Worm, Hydra, Refinement, Freezing, Twilight, Heart of the Ant King, and Water Escape—into a super ability that can rival 'Ying': Vortex Beast Devouring."

"If it succeeds, I'll take this ability as my core and continue evolving. It might even be possible to integrate other suitable Elemental System abilities as well."

"!!!"

The five Spider Kings looked at each other.

Blood Root Spider King: "A truly ambitious Ant King… However, you seem to be underestimating the difficulty of combining abilities."

Snow Velvet Spider King asked: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, what stage are you currently at with this 'Vortex Beast Devouring'?"

Dragon Cypress: "The combination of Vortex Worm and Hydra is about halfway done..."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "How many years has it taken?"

Dragon Cypress: "Five or six years maybe. Feels like I'm almost there. I'm also trying to combine the refinement ability as well, and I've started to get a sense of the process."

"... ..."

The five Spider Kings fell silent: five or six years spent, and not even the first step completed?

Snow Velvet Spider King: "My suggestion is to stick with your original plan for now—condense a Divine Mark of the Heavenly Frost Remnants Realm first. The Divine-Grade Rosy Fruit has been delivered."

Dragon Cypress: "That's what I plan to do, too."

Dragon Cypress: "Snow Velvet Spider King, you seemed like you had something to say just now, but didn't finish."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Yes. This time, we braved the journey because we have something very important to take care of. Originally, we were going to secretly handle it ourselves. Now, it seems we'll need your help, Dragon Cypress Ant King."

"This involves some core secrets of Shanglu. It's not something just any insect can help with, and not even a single Spider can decide…"

Having said this, Snow Velvet Spider King looked at Blood Root Spider King, "Am I right? Is this Dragon Cypress Ant King trustworthy?"

Blood Root Spider King replied curtly: "Yes."

Spider King Water Orchid: "He's fine."

Spider King Carpetgrass: "I have no objections."

Fork Pillar Spider King: "Snow Velvet, stop pretending—just say it."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, as you already know, there is a Law Divine Tree in the Shanglu Ancestral Land— the Shanglu Divine Tree. What you may not know is that the Shanglu Fruit grants a spatial ability, using the carapace as a vessel to open up an independent space…"

As Snow Velvet Spider King spoke, a faint gray-white Divine Mark Print in the shape of a Shanglu Grass Leaf lit up on his forehead. Three Spider Silk Bags appeared out of thin air, gently landing in front of Dragon Cypress.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, these are your Divine-Grade Fruits."

Dragon Cypress: "...Thank you."

As expected, just as speculated, it really was an independent space opened up on the carapace which could store items.

Dragon Cypress fell silent.

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Our main purpose in coming here this time is to transport a Shanglu Fruit to the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent. The competition for chief among the Dulai Flame Spider Tribe is exactly for this."

Dragon Cypress: "Oh—"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Simultaneously, from the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, we also need to ship a large batch of Source Stones, to be brought back to the Shanglu Ancestral Land for stockpiling, so the Tribe may endure the long Origin Force Silent Period."

Dragon Cypress: "Snow Velvet Spider King, do you mean that you need my help transporting the Source Stones?"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Not exactly. For many years to come, one hundred million Source Stones in physical stock will be delivered every year. Dragon Cypress Ant King, please help by receiving and storing them. South of Xianglan Mountain, isn't there a Red Banyan Mountain branch nest? Looks large enough to me. You can open up a treasury there and help stockpile the Source Stones."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "The original plan was for us old Spiders to come fetch them. But now, with north-south routes cut off, we can't make the trip every year, so we'll have to keep them with you for the time being."

One hundred million?

One hundred million Source Stones in physical stock every year!

This was completely beyond Dragon Cypress's expectations. After some hesitation, he didn't press further.

Shanglu had another God-Level Creation, named 'Huan.'

For the Flame Spider Clan to endure the Origin Force Silent Period, this must be related.

It can be inferred that, roughly, 'Huan' consumes massive amounts of Source Stones, providing shelter for Flame Spider Warriors to survive in an Origin Force vacuum environment.

"No problem!"

Dragon Cypress agreed cheerfully, asking: "Snow Velvet Spider King, what's the total amount to be shipped?"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "A round number—ten billion."

Dragon Cypress: "!!!"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Your help comes with a generous reward. These three Divine-Grade Fruits are your compensation, plus a Divine-Grade Silver Leaf Fruit and a Festoon Fruit—one each. Dragon Cypress Ant King, five Divine-Grade Fruits—surely generous enough?"

Snow Velvet Spider King was indeed magnanimous.

Dragon Cypress: "Extremely generous! Thank you, boss!"

Dragon Cypress asked: "Snow Velvet Spider King, a hundred million Source Stones is an enormous amount. How are they going to make it through the Starship Passage between the Ten Thousand Nations Continent and Cloud Trace Continent? Stone Slab Wheelcarts? Carted over load by load?"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "The Flame Spider Kingdom branch at the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent side already began the arrangements long ago. Two absolutely reliable Insect Kings are handling the transportation, one of whom you know—Red Peach Mantis King."

Dragon Cypress: "Uh—"

Dragon Cypress: "Red Peach was traveling the continent as a roving merchant with White Ivy Spider King at the age of three—definitely trustworthy!"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Shipping will begin next year, avoiding the other Dulai Flame Spider caravans. The shipment will arrive in early spring—you just need to arrange the Ant Army for receiving and transportation, Dragon Cypress Ant King..."