novelraw Chapter 784 - 618: Divine-Given Black Lotus Seed
Chapter 784 - 618: Divine-Given Black Lotus Seed
The White Poplar Divine Seed took root on the western side of Xianglan Peak, which was originally the place where King Ant Goldna's Divine Seed was rooted.
It's located between the King Cypress and the Azure Tree, allowing it to communicate with the Divine-Given Seeds on both the northern and southern sides at the same time.
The tree heart entered the soil; in one day it grew into a small tree ten meters high, and in half a month it recovered to a height of seventy to eighty meters.
The cyan-blue refinement bead brought over from the move was exhausted, and the growth speed suddenly slowed down.
It will rest—no blooms or fruit—for a year, and next year will flower and bear fruit again.
At this point, all the Life Seed Plants of Dragon Cypress have been relocated to Rainbow Island.
Just wait peacefully for the Expedition Year, and keep a low profile to get through it quietly.
The Natural True God's summons only takes away Origin Force Lives that meet the conditions; over on Cloud Trace Continent, Assistant Kings who haven't evolved to King Level and King Level ant swarms don't need to be concerned with.
The exact time of the summoning's departure is uncertain, with a possible discrepancy of over three months either way. Dragon Cypress hunkered down early and didn't move about on Rainbow Island.
...
Silver Cypress, Year 98.
In the somewhat hot early summer, the evening breeze gently blows by, and the willow tree's branches and leaves sway softly in the wind.
On the shores of Black Lotus Lake, pale smoke curls upward.
—This year is Expedition Year. The Great King doesn't dare return to Cloud Trace Continent.
—Left in a hurry and forgot about Black Cory.
—A year off.
Black Cory lies contentedly under the tree, twitching his antennae, directing the ant swarm to prepare the pot for soup.
White Willow dashes through the forests and along the lakeshore on the hunt, bringing back all kinds of prey.
Nighfall approaches,
The Worker Ants set out large plates made from Keg Vine Seeds, Blue Ants drizzle on sweet ant honey, and a lavish dinner is ready.
Black Cory and White Willow sit facing each other, eating.
"Black Cory, we've finished all the work in the orchard."
"Yes. We won't need to manage much for the next two or three years."
"Are you still going to Southern Sour Jujube Mountain next year?"
"It's almost over. The Second King is about to become a Lord at the age of 9, isn't he? Once the Second King advances to Insect King and moves away, there won't be anything left at the Southern Sour Jujube Mountain."
"Yeah—"
White Willow suddenly paused, worrying: "The Dragon Cypress Ant King should be okay, right?"
Black Cory wasn't certain and twitched his antennae before saying, "The Huagi Divine Tree's prediction could be wrong, but the Shanglu Ancestral Land's experience can't possibly be; nothing unexpected will happen."
"Then let's just wait for news."
White Willow tilted his head and asked, "Black Cory, now that the territory's work is done, what should we do tomorrow?"
Black Cory: "..."
Black Cory: "Of course, we rest!"
After eating and drinking their fill, doing nothing, thinking about nothing, lying motionless on the mountain just to enjoy the view—that's the most comfortable kind of day.
"The lotuses on Black Lotus Lake are about to bloom."
Black Cory turned his head to gaze at the lake.
In the moonlight,
Under the water,
White Willow's Black Lotus Life Seed, its flower bud-topped stems, were rapidly growing; by deep night, they would silently break through the water's surface.
At Evolution Lord Level, White Willow's three Black Lotus Life Seeds had grown into a sprawling, thriving patch. Each lotus leaf, spanning over a meter in diameter, overlapped and layered at different heights, swaying with the cool breeze and brushing against each other with a gentle rustling.
The silver moon poked through the eastern skyline. Its reflection cast on the lake, fragmenting as the ripples spread.
Black Cory looked somewhat dazed.
Unknowingly, he'd already settled by Black Lotus Lake for two hundred years~
But most of the time he was working for the Great King on Southern Sour Jujube Mountain~
Still, the hard days were about to end~
Black Cory looked back, slow and unhurried, savoring dinner at ease.
Chatting idly, in snatches and starts.
...
Until late in the night,
Black Cory, full from eating, stood up and called, "White Willow, let's go for a walk and digest."
"Okay—"
White Willow flew out first, turning into a black shadow, circling the lake at high speed.
Black Cory led a squad of Soldier Ants on a leisurely walk along the lakeshore.
White Willow hovered low, sometimes landing atop Sea Blue Trees or Azure Trees planted near the shore to examine the growth of the fruit—looking very much the expert.
"White Willow!"
Black Cory suddenly jumped up, raising his claw emphatically and pointing toward the surface of the lake ahead.
"White Willow! There! That lotus! Is there an Origin Force fluctuation?"
"Huh?!"
White Willow looked, following the direction indicated by Black Cory's claw.
On the lake surface, scattered black lotus buds were poking out of the water.
Four or fifty meters from shore, a newly formed flower bud radiated a faint Origin Force fluctuation.
"That's right!"
White Willow cried out in delight, "There's a Divine-Given Seed about to be conceived!"
A shadow flickered and whirled in the air, looped once above the shore, and landed in jubilation, beating its wings in excitement.
"Black Cory! You're amazing! You sensed it from all the way over here!"
"..."
Black Cory's wild joy quickly settled, and after a moment's thought, he said happily, "White Willow, we're about to strike it rich! The Divine-Given Seed of the Black Lotus is no ordinary thing."
"Yes!"
White Willow was swept up in excitement again, beating her wings to shoot straight up, flitting in quick loops circling the bud three times, then landing by the shore once more.
"Black Cory? Is it really worth a lot?"
Black Cory tilted his head back, thinking, and said, "If the Divine-Given Black Lotus Seed can specifically allow a Specialized Ant to evolve into an Assistant King like me, or raise the chance for ordinary insects to evolve into Insect Clan Warriors, then its value… is simply priceless!"
"Wah~ Oh~"
White Willow cheered again, soaring near vertically, rolling twice in midair, then landing smoothly.
"We're rich~!"
"..."
Black Cory waggled his antennae and gave the order.
Summon all Blue Soldiers from the Land of Origin Force, organize into squads, garrison the shore, rotate patrols into the lake—guard at all times.
Black Cory and White Willow stayed on the lakeshore, never leaving its side.
...
Rainbow Island.
Xianglan Peak Main Nest.
Dragon Cypress lay in the King Nest, quietly waiting.
Until midsummer in the Northern Hemisphere,
Dragon Cypress keenly sensed, high in the skies, a faint Primordial Energy Power sweeping past; it halted for a heartbeat, then moved away.
The God-Given Life Seed also sensed it, and was the first to let out a cheer.
They had smoothly evaded the Law's detection.
Surviving this one meant it would be fine in the future as well.
"Dragon Cypress! Dragon Cypress! It's safe now!"
White Poplar's spiritual power surged into the Ant Nest, joyfully calling out, while drawing back its spiritual power and intent to remind: "Round Leaf Keg Vine just said—the ants are timid."