Early summer, the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed completed its annual harvest.

After that, Mulberry also successfully evolved from a High-Level warrior in the third Age Period to the fourth Age Period. The Blattidae Clan had tough lives; its broken leg had mostly healed, and with one more molting evolution, recovery would be almost complete.

This year, quite a few need to leverage the Dominating Throne to break through the great realm. Pretty busy.

Dragon Cypress then headed straight to Ghost Fan Mountain.

With the Dominating Throne's assistance, Ghost Fan completed the evolution from an eighth Age Period High-Level warrior to a ninth Age Period.

He sent Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple back to Kiwifruit Mountain, picked up Silver Cypress on the way to Xianglan Mountain, and brought the news of Red Fox's death to Ink Orchid…

...

Twilight.

By Black Lotus Lake, under the shade of trees.

White Willow and Black Cory gathered with the ant group around the stone pot to eat.

In the distance, that familiar Origin Force fluctuation, stirred up by the flying Dominating Throne.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King is here!"

White Willow cheered and shot vertically into the sky to greet him.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King! Where's Ink Orchid?"

"Things are hectic at Xianglan Mountain, so Ink Orchid isn't coming over."

Ink Orchid's mind was too fragile. Upon hearing the definitive news of Red Fox's passing, she became as dispirited as Black Rice and stayed at Xianglan Mountain to mourn.

Dragon Cypress inquired, "White Willow, are you holding a celebration banquet too? What's the happy occasion?"

"Nothing—"

"Did you finish all the Origin Force Ant Honey I gave you last year?"

"No. It feels like I'm close to evolving, so I don't dare eat too much."

"Good! You can evolve now."

Dragon Cypress piloted the Dominating Throne and descended toward the lakeside.

White Willow followed him down and introduced, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Black Cory has completed evolution from Specialized Worker Ant to Assistant King! Black Cory is now a mid-level Assistant King in the first Age Period!"

"Assistant King" is the general term for command ants and bees among the Ant Clan, Bee Clan, and Termite Clan. Beneath this, each species has its own specific name.

The command ants of the Giant-Headed Ant are classified as "Intelligent Worker Ants" and "Gigantification Soldier Ants," but Black Cory is an exception, not part of those categories.

However, calling command ants like Black Cory "Assistant King" is quite apt, as it can command all types of ants, just like an Ant King.

"Great King!"

Black Cory greeted him, taking the initiative to report: "Fifth evolution, consumed 55 mid-level Black Lotus Seeds produced by White Willow's territory, body length dropped to about 35 centimeters, Origin Force food utilization at roughly 65%."

"Sixth evolution, consumed 37 mid-level Black Lotus Seeds from White Willow's territory and 9 high-level Lotus Seeds from Ink Orchid's territory. Origin Force food utilization surpassed 80%, body length..."

Black Cory's body is now only about 25 centimeters long. Its physique and Origin Force aura have fully transformed into that of a command ant.

For most Origin Force Life, their efficiency in utilizing Origin Force food is around 80%. As they evolve and specialize, efficiency can increase further.

After six rounds of regressive molting evolution, Black Cory has completed a class leap, becoming a mid-level Assistant King in the first Age Period.

Dragon Cypress picked up a metal can full of Origin Force food from the Dominating Throne and placed it in front of Black Cory, saying:

"Black Cory, try lifting this."

"Oh—"

Lift it? Black Cory froze for a moment, understood Dragon Cypress's meaning, stepped forward, raised it with his two front feet, and lifted the metal can high.

He looked rather strained.

"Alright. You can put it down now."

Dragon Cypress had made a rough assessment in mind.

Black Cory evolved from a Specialized Worker Ant and inherited the Strength Talent, but compared to a first Age Period mid-level Gigantification Soldier Ant specialized for battle, its strength is a tier lower.

But still a bit stronger than a mid-level Intelligent Worker Ant of the first Age Period.

Black Cory's mandibles are also more developed than those of Intelligent Worker Ants but still far inferior to those of Gigantification Soldier Ants.

He has some basic self-defense, but virtually no fighting power to speak of.

"Not bad—"

Dragon Cypress commented, then asked, "What about the remaining Black Lotus Seeds?"

Black Cory: "I ate 13, with 20 left, stored in the ant nest warehouse."

"Bring them to me later. I have other uses for them."

Dragon Cypress instructed, "Black Cory, I've brought you two cans of Origin Force Ant Honey for the next half-year's rations. At the mid-level Assistant King stage, evolve once every six months, steadily."

"Understood, Great King." Black Cory used all six legs to lie atop the metal can, struggled to twist open the lid to inspect, then contentedly sampled a bit of the ant honey.

——I can evolve too!

Black Cory's mind surged with emotion. He screwed back the lid and glanced at the Throne.

The Throne carried a large contingent of Worker Ants and Blue Ants.

Black Cory asked, "Great King, are you preparing to open up new ground at Southern Sour Jujube Mountain?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes."

Black Cory: "What about Round Cypress?"

Dragon Cypress: "You don't have urgent matters, do you? You go help first. Relocate the Worker Ants, Soldier Ants, and Blue Ants stationed at Black Lotus Lake to work there. At the end of the year, I'll credit you with 1,000 Source Stones as pay."

Black Cory straightened its tentacles and replied sonorously, "Understood, Great King!"

Black Cory warmly invited, "Great King, are you hungry? Have some meat!"

"I'm not hungry."

Dragon Cypress asked, "How are the five Azure Tree Seeds sown at Black Lotus Lake? How many have germinated? How many have grown?"

Black Cory lifted a foreleg and pointed nearby, saying, "All have germinated, no weak seedlings, all growing normally."

Dragon Cypress walked at a relaxed pace.

Black Cory hurried to keep up.

By the lakeside, in a patch of shallow water protected by stone and clay, five Azure Saplings had grown to about thirty centimeters high, their first broad leaves pressed close to the water's surface, and their second leaves had just unfolded.

Dragon Cypress looked at them, silent for a long time.

"Great King, how is it?" Black Cory probed tentatively.

"Not bad—"

Dragon Cypress waggled his tentacles.

The five Azure Saplings sown in Azure Blue Reservoir had all reached forty centimeters, sporting a third unfolded broad leaf. Their stems were thicker, and leaves even more lush.

By comparison, the five that Black Cory managed were practically weak seedlings.

Azure Trees like heat and humidity; as such, Black Lotus Lake's climate should be even more suitable for their growth…

It definitely wasn't due to Black Cory's mismanagement.

It was the influence of the Water System Primordial Energy Field from the Deep Blue God-Given Seed.

Azure possesses an extremely strong spiritual power, and within its range, plants thrive and animals grow robust.

Dragon Cypress had always kept an eye on this, but never took special notice. This flourishing was partly due to nourishment from water system primordial energy, and partly thanks to the ecological system elaborately crafted by Azure's command ant group—still within acceptable bounds.

But seeing these five "fragile" Azure Saplings at Black Lotus Lake, a storm surged in Dragon Cypress's heart.

——The Deep Blue God-Given Seed can affect Natural God System creatures, but its influence is limited.

——Its effect on Azure Trees is profound.

——Is it because of kinship? Probably not just that.

——What of its influence on other lifeforms from Creator Civilization? It can't be small.

——But removed from the Water System Primordial Energy Field of the Deep Blue God-Given Seed, they're reduced to their original state, just like the five Azure Saplings here by the lakeside.

——When human civilization destroyed Creator Civilization, did they only take the Deep Blue God-Given Seed? Why?

Dragon Cypress arrived at a possibility: [At its peak, the Deep Blue God-Given Seed's Water System Primordial Energy Field covered the entire Creator Civilization—Azure was its Protector and Manager]

Reduced to zero and reborn, Azure lost its memory, but instinctively continues its old duties.

Dragon Cypress also figured out a problem unnoticed before.

When Azure built its ecological system, it showed a distinct preference for or aversion to animals and plants, selectively conserving or eliminating them.

Now the reason is clear.

Azure favors animals and plants more affected by the Water System Primordial Energy Field.

Azure dislikes those minimally affected, or not affected at all, by the field.

"Azure seems to be developing its own 'Creator Civilization' from scratch~"

Dragon Cypress sank again into deep thought: What is civilization?

"Great King?"

Black Cory grew anxious seeing Dragon Cypress staring wordlessly at the lake for so long.

"...It's nothing."

Dragon Cypress returned to himself, gathered his thoughts, and instructed, "Black Cory, fill your stomach first. We'll rest at Black Lotus Lake tonight and set out tomorrow morning."

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