novelraw Chapter 795 621 Divine Grade Black Lotus_3
Chapter 795 621 Divine Grade Black Lotus_3
There was nothing unusual noticed in the previous two years.
The Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed is a perennial plant, it does not grow by division, but its underground stem—the "rhizome"—grows in segments.
Between the rhizome nodes, lotus leaves emerge, bifurcating into new stolons that generate new "rhizomes."
It's similar to an arbor, capable of continuous growth, though once it reaches a certain scale, the growth rate slows down.
As time passes and it grows, the rhizome becomes woody, and the soul, primordial energy, nutrition, and energy of the Divine-Given Seed are all concentrated within it.
The lotus leaves that emerge above water still wither and flourish with the seasons each year, serving only as tools to absorb sunlight and Origin Force.
Over three years, the main stem of the Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed has spread continuously, already more than a hundred meters long, with side stolons extending dozens or more than ten meters.
It's already grown into a lush, sprawling patch.
Its temperament isn't very good; when the Dominating Throne descends, all kinds of unfriendly spiritual intent keep transmitting over.
Dragon Cypress flicked its tentacles, sending down ten blasts of the Flourish Ability.
"???"
The Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed's agitated spiritual intent calmed down.
Dragon Cypress piloted the Dominating Throne, drifting slowly to draw close and inspect.
At the rhizome node where the Black Lotus's soul resides, under a broad lotus leaf, sat a nondescript lotus pod.
Taking a closer look, the whole lotus pod had only a single pore, containing a recently developed lotus seed, just the size of a grain of rice.
No traces of aborted lotus seeds could be seen on the pod.
That means it bears just one flower and only produces a single lotus seed each time.
Examining carefully and judging by the Origin Force fluctuations, this is definitely not a Law Divine Tree or Law Fruit.
With a thought, Dragon Cypress unleashed water system primordial energy; from the lake surface, dense green mist rose, fully enveloping the Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed, swirling and not dispersing.
Dragon Cypress turned and said, "White Willow, we can confirm it's Divine Grade, and most likely bestows a powerful ability—a highly valuable Divine-Grade fruit. It's just that the yield is rather low."
Rather low?
White Willow understood clearly and said, "It takes many years to produce a single one."
Ink Orchid said, "Judging by the pattern, it's about five, six, seven, or eight years. At the King Level, at most it wouldn't exceed nine years."
Dragon Cypress twitched its tentacles in agreement.
White Willow asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Ink Orchid, it must be that it grants some kind of brain-related ability, right? What do you two think it could be?"
Dragon Cypress: "This is filled with endless variables, impossible to determine."
Ink Orchid: "Who could guess that?"
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid shook their tentacles in unison.
White Willow immediately asked the most crucial question: "About how many Source Stones could it be worth?"
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid were still shaking their tentacles.
The price of Divine-Grade fruit can vary immensely.
The cheaper ones are worth only one or two million.
The precious ones can reach ten million, or even several tens of millions.
Ink Orchid: "Judging from the heaven-defying effects of ordinary Black Lotus Seeds, it absolutely won't be bad."
Dragon Cypress: "White Willow, the biggest benefit of Divine-Grade fruit is that you can use it to trade for other Divine-Grade fruits you need. For example, that Divine-Grade Thunder Zelkova Seed you desperately need. Then there are the Silver Leaf Fruits and Thunder Firm Nuts that bestow Thunder System Abilities, etc. You can also exchange for Divine-Grade fruit that grants Water System Abilities. By mastering a Divine God-Given Seed, you'll become a noble warrior at the pinnacle of the Insect Clan's world, a leap in clan status."
"...That's true!"
White Willow flapped its wings happily and flew up.
—I'm now among the same class of insects as Dragon Cypress Ant King and Ink Orchid.
White Willow circled once and landed, happily saying, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Black Cory is at Southern Sour Jujube Mountain, and doesn't even know yet that the Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed is Divine Grade."
Dragon Cypress waved its tentacles, issuing orders, arranging a group of Blue Soldiers and Green Soldiers to guard the lakeside.
"White Willow, let's first complete the usual Origin Force Food trade. Then I'll take you with me to Southern Sour Jujube Mountain..."
...
After wrapping up White Willow's autumn trade business, they set out together for Southern Sour Jujube Mountain to share the good news with Black Cory.
After the autumn harvest, there wasn't much left to do.
Dragon Cypress made another trip, returning Black Cory and White Willow to Black Lotus Lake.
...
Every Divine God-Given Seed is extraordinary, and the Black Lotus is anything but simple.
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid paid extra attention.
Dragon Cypress shuttled back and forth four times between Xianglan Mountain and Black Lotus Lake, transporting 600,000 Source Stones as backup.
...
Year 111 of the Silver Cypress, spring.
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid quickly wrapped up various affairs on Cloud Trace Continent, then headed straight for Black Lotus Lake to join Black Cory and White Willow in keeping watch by the lakeside.
They ate, drank, chatted, and waited patiently.
It wasn't until late spring that finally, one morning, with the dawn rising, the Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed in the lake began absorbing Origin Force at an accelerating pace.
The Fruit Expansion has begun!
The first Fruit Expansion took one year!
This is a good omen; the first Fruit Expansion period for Divine-Grade fruit is always a fixed duration.
One year is the shortest period.
For Divine-Grade fruits, regardless of how many expansions, from the second time onward, each Fruit Expansion cycle will gradually shorten as growth and evolution proceed.
For instance, Lord-Level, from the second time on, each Fruit Expansion takes three years, but at King Level, it may be shortened to two years.
If it breaks through to King Level, it may even shorten to just one year.
If the Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed's first Fruit Expansion takes just one year, that means its Blossom-Fruit Cycle can be greatly shortened.
The exact outcome depends on the total number of expansions—the Fruit Expansion count is also always fixed.
Further observation is required.
Black Cory was generous, and before even seeing Origin Force vacuum forming, he was already commanding the ant swarm to break up Source Stones and replenish Origin Force for the Black Lotus Divine-Given Seed.
This went on for two days and two nights.
An extravagant 50,000 Source Stones were invested.
The first Fruit Expansion ended.
The lotus pod swelled, and the Divine-Grade Black Lotus Seed rapidly grew, reaching a length of 2 centimeters, a size larger than ordinary lotus seeds.
Based on the years of Divine-Grade fruit experience of Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid, it's judged that about three or four Fruit Expansions will be needed in total.
The specifics—how many times, how many years each—still remain to be observed and confirmed.
Further observation will tell.
Black Cory went to stand guard at Southern Sour Jujube Mountain.
Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid urgently returned to Rainbow Island.
On the Southern Hemisphere's Fragrant Silk Island, Swinging Leaf Island, and among the Thousand Reef Archipelago, the search for Divine-Given Seeds should not be delayed either.