Black Lotus Lake boasted an excellent geographical location. Surrounded by mountains on all four sides and with a climate conducive to insect life, it was a Fengshui Treasure Land highly suitable for fruit tree cultivation. The development potential here was enormous.

Sending Black Cory there would definitely not be a loss to him.

「...」

Dragon Cypress began to select ants from the Ant Nest.

10 High-Level Specialized Worker Ants, 30 Large Worker Ants.

5 High-Level Specialized Soldier Ants, 10 Large Soldier Ants, 10 Small and Tiny Soldier Ants.

10 High-Level Specialized Blue Soldiers, 20 Large Blue Soldiers.

2 High-Level Specialized Blue Ants, 3 Large Blue Ants.

Inside the Ant Nest, there were many ants that Dragon Cypress had cultivated during his Mid-Level Ant King period. These were gradually being replaced by higher-level ants and were slowly transitioning from the front lines to internal logistics within the Ant Nest.

With fewer logistics tasks, most of these ants no longer participated in labor. Full from eating, they either lay down to rest or formed groups to stroll around leisurely.

Dragon Cypress was by no means stingy with the Mid-Level worker ants and soldier ants.

50 Mid-Level Specialized Worker Ants, 80 Large, Medium, Small, and Tiny Worker Ants.

20 Mid-Level Specialized Soldier Ants, 50 Large, Medium, Small, and Tiny Soldier Ants.

10 Mid-Level Specialized Blue Ants, 30 Large and Medium Blue Ants.

At first glance, the numbers seemed substantial, but in reality, most were small-bodied Mid-Level ants, which the Dominating Throne took away in one trip.

「Black Lotus Lake.」

Before the Dominating Throne even entered the Origin Force-covered area, White Willow swiftly flew to meet it.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King! Black Cory!"

White Willow flew in reverse to keep pace alongside the Throne, excitedly asking, "Did Black Cory evolve again?"

Black Cory gently waved his tentacles to greet White Willow.

Dragon Cypress helped answer, "Yes."

White Willow stared at Black Cory scrutinizingly, looking slightly disappointed, and said, "He seems to still be a worker ant."

Dragon Cypress explained, "He needs Black Lotus Seeds. It is expected that after four to seven more instances, he can evolve into an 'Assistant King,' second only to me."

"Oh—" White Willow's spiritual power swept over the Stump Ant Nest. Overjoyed, she asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, spring is coming. Are you coming here to establish the Nursery and sow Southern Sour Jujube?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "Yes."

White Willow asked, "Will the diligent Black Cory stay behind to lead the worker ants?"

Dragon Cypress paused. "..."

Then, he said, "White Willow, I have a proposal for you. I would like to rent the mountainous and plain forest land surrounding Black Lotus Lake to establish a specialized nursery base and also to plant various kinds of fruits. I plan to leave Black Cory at Black Lotus Lake, in full charge."

Dragon Cypress continued, "Strictly speaking, it wouldn't be considered renting but cooperation. As compensation, Black Cory will manage your territory for free."

"Yes! Yes!" White Willow executed a challenging leftward roll followed by a rightward roll, cheering in agreement.

The Dominating Throne passed over the Ridge and landed at a branch nest on the slope.

Dragon Cypress put down the wooden board.

Black Cory, waving his tentacles, directed the ant colony out of the Nest, lined them up, and led them down the plank towards the ground.

The vast majority of ants were coming to Black Lotus Lake for the first time. They were arranged to enter the local Ant Nest first to be marked with pheromones and assigned to Soldier Ant Chambers, Worker Ant Chambers, Blue Ant Chambers, Blue Soldier Chambers, Food Storage Rooms, Garbage Dumping Areas, and so on.

Black Cory suddenly became efficient, quickly categorizing and settling the ant colony.

"Let's take a walk nearby."

Dragon Cypress jumped down from the Throne and led the way on foot, taking Black Cory and White Willow for a stroll around the slope.

"Black Cory, you first need to clear this area into terraced, flat plots like on Xianglan Mountain. Dig irrigation channels, build up ridges, and be ready to sow the Southern Sour Jujube seeds as soon as spring arrives..."

Dragon Cypress pointed things out, planned for Black Cory, and gave detailed instructions on how to proceed.

This went on from mid-afternoon until dusk.

Finally, Dragon Cypress looked up at White Willow, who was flying slowly at a low altitude, and said earnestly, "White Willow, there is one more major issue."

White Willow asked, "What issue?"

Dragon Cypress said, "White Willow, Black Lotus Lake is your territory. The Divine-Given Seeds that emerge from Black Lotus Lake should all belong to you, right?"

White Willow hesitated, "...Yes!"

Dragon Cypress continued, "But... if... just in case... in the future, when we cooperate to cultivate fruit trees, and Divine-Given Seeds are born among them, who will they belong to? High-quality plants are more likely to produce Divine-Given Seeds."

White Willow circled and landed, tilting her head in thought.

Dragon Cypress stated, "I provided the seeds, technology, and the ant colony to participate in the labor."

He added, "Black Cory is responsible for command and management."

He concluded, "The land belongs to you, White Willow."

White Willow tentatively asked, "Shall we distribute them evenly among us?"

She's quite perceptive. Dragon Cypress thought.

Dragon Cypress affirmed, "Yes! That's more or less what I meant."

He elaborated, "When we establish orchards and cultivate fruit trees, any Divine-Given Seeds born there will be nurtured as Life Seeds by either me at Xianglan Mountain or by Ink Orchid. The resulting profits... you, I, and Black Cory will share them equally."

Dragon Cypress quickly added, "I will also provide you and Black Cory with an additional generous compensation."

"Oh!"

"Great!"

White Willow agreed, then questioned, "Dragon Cypress, does this only apply to fruit trees cultivated on land?"

The Blackwing Damselfly Warriors were not adept at moving on land, but they possessed Water System Talent and could manage reasonably well on water. The Gorgon Fruit and lotus that White Willow planted in water were growing quite well.

Dragon Cypress clarified, "What you manage on your own, White Willow, of course, belongs entirely to you. Those uncultivated areas, and any Divine-Given Seeds born from wild plants there, also belong to you."

White Willow exclaimed, "Understood!"

She cheered, "Great! That's fantastic!"

Dragon Cypress confirmed, "Then it's settled."

He then explained, "Black Cory currently still falls into the category of Specialized Worker Ants. Let's start by having him establish and manage two nurseries as a trial. In the future, if he successfully evolves and undergoes Metamorphosis into a Command Ant, I will assign more worker ants to him for large-scale land reclamation and planting."

White Willow said, "Got it. Don't worry, Dragon Cypress. With my supervision, Black Cory won't slack off at all."

Dragon Cypress thought, "..."

You know this guy slacks off?

Dragon Cypress said, "Good. It's almost dark. Let's rest. Tomorrow morning, I will personally use my claws to fell a few bothersome Great Tall Trees nearby."

「...」

Ink Orchid returned to Xianglan Mountain and first found the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed, showing off the Rose Halo, the treasure it had found on this trip.

Ink Orchid then found the Northern Gorgon and flaunted the Halo.

Then it found Azure and flaunted the Halo some more.

After that, it separately found Fragrant Cypress, Cypress, Spiked Cypress, and Round Cypress, flaunting the Halo and generously letting them play with it for a while.

Lastly, it arrived at the Southern Gorgon Reservoir, stood by the shore, and brazenly flaunted the Halo at the Southern Gorgon.

With the help of the Dominating Throne, it underwent one Molting Evolution and then handed over the nurtured Black Lotus Life Seed to Dragon Cypress.

Then it plunged into the forest and disappeared. Ink Orchid started tinkering with its Orchid Grass again.

「After a light rain, the busy early spring began.」

Dragon Cypress immediately planted the Black Lotus Life Seed nurtured by Ink Orchid in the Azure Blue Reservoir, arranging for Spiked Cypress and Giant Cypress to take turns leading Blue Soldiers to guard it until it took root and sprouted, and the mother plant was initially established.

On the mountain and below, various Life Seed Plants were the first to sprout flower buds; some of them still required flower thinning, a technical task that Dragon Cypress had always personally supervised, commanding the worker ants.

This year, a large number of fruit tree saplings needed transplanting, which was the responsibility of Round Cypress, Fragrant Cypress, and Cypress.

There were also more than thirty types of plant seeds that needed sowing and seedling cultivation; Dragon Cypress personally took charge of commanding this.

The nurseries currently under development and the orchards that had been cleared and planted needed weeding, soil loosening, and fertilizing.

All sorts of tasks made for an overwhelmingly busy period.

Inside the Ant Nest Hatchery, seven Specialized Worker Ants receiving special care spun cocoons and emerged via Feather Transformation.

What came out were ordinary worker ants.

Dragon Cypress had anticipated this result. Black Cory was a mutant exception.

This spring, at Ghost Fan Mountain, the Ghost Fan Divine-Given Seed blossomed.

Dragon Cypress calculated the time, and once his own tasks were finished, he set off alone.

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