CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33 MIDSUMMER

Under the anticipating gazes of Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid, Azure did not usher in a new round of rapid growth. Only its three existing leaves grew a bit thicker, and the fourth broad leaf was still reluctant to unfold.

Many unidentified Larvae and Water Scorpions appeared in the small pond.

The most outrageous thing was that, at some point, a frog had bypassed the defense of 12 Soldier Ants. It jumped into the pond to lay eggs, and a large group of tadpoles hatched.

Towards these intruders in its Territory, Azure behaved very friendly, even somewhat happy.

The tadpoles would develop into frogs, which Ink Orchid was not happy about.

The pond had just been fertilized; Dragon Cypress was reluctant to drain the water to catch them.

The Larvae and Water Scorpions would turn into mosquitoes and dragonflies and fly away.

As for the tadpoles, they would deal with them once they turned into frogs.

There was too much to be busy with, up and down the mountains.

Every morning and evening, they had to inspect the Hatchery, leaving Pheromones behind.

Harvest grass to replenish the Marsh Gas Pool.

They had to tend to the few Cypress Life Seeds on the mountain by loosening the soil and fertilizing them. It was important to make the most of early summer’s not-so-hot weather for them to grow taller.

The Nursery for sowing ordinary seeds needed meticulous care, for common plants were much more fragile than Origin Force Plants.

Below the mountain was a large pond, which occupied most of Dragon Cypress’s time and energy. After about twenty days, it was finally dug out.

The sun became scorching.

For eight consecutive days, there was no rainfall, and the stream in the ditches noticeably diminished.

Dragon Cypress led the ant colony, working overtime. With Ink Orchid’s help, they managed to dig the irrigation canal in time and fill a large pond with water.

Azure’s growth needed abundant sunlight, and it thrived in high-temperature and high-humidity climates.

Under the blazing sun, its growth rate actually sped up considerably.

The fourth broad leaf unfolded, and the plant’s height neared two meters, with the main stem at the bottom of the pond reaching about 5 centimeters in thickness.

The first broad leaf was about 0.6 meters in diameter and exceeded half a meter in height.

The small pond, designed with a water depth of 0.5 meters, was filled to the brim.

Only then did Dragon Cypress feel somewhat relieved and continued digging. On the west side of the small pond, he then dug another large pond with sides of about six meters and a depth of around 1.5 meters.

However, there was no longer such a rush as before.

Dragon Cypress adjusted the work schedule. The ants left the Ant Nest to work as dawn broke, returning when the mid-morning sun became too harsh.

In the afternoon, they would come out to dig for a while when the sun went down and would stop working when it became dark.

During leisure time, Dragon Cypress would either sit by the small pond, telling stories to Azure and teaching it some basic knowledge. Alternatively, he would retreat into the Ant Nest on the mountain, focusing on consuming and digesting Origin Force Food.

With many plants bearing ripe fruits this season, Ink Orchid’s enthusiasm for finding Divine-Given Seeds never waned, tirelessly roaming up and down the mountains every day.

「At twilight,」

Dragon Cypress led the Worker Ants out of the nest to work.

Ink Orchid arrived, flying leisurely with a bulging Spider Silk Bag in tow.

With a flicker of thought from Dragon Cypress, the Dominating Throne expanded a bit.

Ink Orchid descended directly onto the soft cushion.

"Dragon Cypress, have some fruit."

"Uh—"

Ink Orchid opened the bag, took out a bunch of raspberries, and gave it to Dragon Cypress, then took out another bunch and tossed it to the ants below.

A Worker Ant approached, touched it with its Tentacles, licked it, then turned and walked away.

Dragon Cypress didn’t like vegetarian food either. However, the Dominating Throne’s blue light scan always indicated a nutritional imbalance. Even when he ate a mix of various animals, it still showed an imbalance. I should try some fresh fruit.

"Dragon Cypress, do Giant-Headed Ants not like raspberries?"

"They do eat them."

"Then why didn’t that Worker Ant eat them?"

Dragon Cypress waved his Tentacles, commanding the Worker Ant that had just ignored the raspberries to come back and eat them, and then ordered a few nearby ones to help.

Seeing this, the nearby Worker Ants turned tail and fled.

Most of these fruits weren’t fully ripe, and the unripe ones were incredibly sour.

Dragon Cypress rummaged through the Spider Silk Bag, took out two more bunches, picked through them, and tossed the unappetizing ones down.

"Hahaha..."

Seeing this, Ink Orchid giggled foolishly.

After laughing, Ink Orchid said seriously, "Dragon Cypress, I’ve already searched all over Xianglan Mountain and haven’t found any new Divine-Given Seeds. I’m thinking, maybe we should go over to Molan Mountain and look?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "The dry season is about to start."

Given that Ink Orchid had already found one Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed and an Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot, Dragon Cypress raised all six of his legs in approval of its treasure hunting.

"Ink Orchid, we can arrange it like this. I’ll send you over there with the Dominating Throne, and you can take your time searching Molan Mountain. I’ll head back to Xianglan Mountain to manage the Territory for you. After 15 days, I’ll come to pick you up."

After thinking it over for a long while, Ink Orchid agreed, "That works!"

Ink Orchid then began to give instructions, "Water the ordinary orchids sparingly; just a little during particularly dry times is enough. For the Orchid Life Seeds, you need to use your spiritual power to check the soil underground. If it’s exceptionally dry, water them thoroughly in their vicinity, making sure the water seeps deep down..."

The next day, early in the morning, they packed up and set off.

Dragon Cypress had a strong sense of direction and, having been there once, recognized the way to Molan Mountain. He guided the Dominating Throne in a straight line.

Traveling day and night, they reached their destination in just one day.

He also brought 10 Worker Ants on this trip. They spent another day helping Ink Orchid dig a cave on the mountain range to live in.

With everything arranged, Dragon Cypress traveled straight back to Xianglan Mountain.

Unexpectedly, the sky this Midsummer was not as clear as last year’s; dark clouds often obscured the sun.

As the clouds gathered, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rumbles of Thunder, a torrential downpour ensued.

The second large pond downhill, which they had just begun to dig and was less than half a meter deep, was flooded.

Dragon Cypress couldn’t be bothered to dig drainage ditches. He instructed the Worker Ants to start digging a third large pond on the south side of the small one.

As a result, after only two days of digging, just as an outline was emerging, another torrential rainstorm lasting the entire night struck.

Murky mountain torrents, carrying withered branches and fallen leaves, surged down, submerging both large and small ponds. The floodwaters only began to recede after a whole morning.

This year, there was no drought, nor was there a dry season.

The Life Seed Plants in the Territory didn’t need much care, making for a rather leisurely scorching Midsummer.

Soon, the agreed-upon 15 days with Ink Orchid had passed, and Dragon Cypress set out after some simple packing.

After flying continuously for a day and a night on the Dominating Throne, Dragon Cypress arrived at Molan Mountain.

"Ink Orchid?"

Approaching the cave, he found the entrance blocked with thorny branches.

About to release his spiritual power to scan the area, a swift thought occurred, and he quickly withdrew his spiritual power again.

Ink Orchid didn’t have the habit of blocking its cave when going out.

Upon sensing the Origin Force Fluctuations around the area, it was evident that Ink Orchid was undergoing Evolution inside the cave!

That was close! If it had been disturbed, the consequences would have been dire.

Dragon Cypress quickly maneuvered the Dominating Throne away.

Upon closer inspection of the branches used to seal the cave, the leaves were slightly wilted from the heat. However, there were no signs of dryness, and the cuts still looked fresh.

It has been asleep for no more than a day.

Ink Orchid probably timed this, most likely entering its slumber last night.

It has consumed a lot of Origin Force Food that strengthens Comprehensive Physique. Evolving from the second to the third Age Period is a small matter, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

Dragon Cypress calmly stood guard at the cave entrance.

The principle by which the Dominating Throne assisted in rapidly completing the evolution slumber was by providing ample Origin Force.

Without the Dominating Throne’s assistance, it would have to slowly draw the Origin Force needed for its Evolutionary Metamorphosis from the natural environment.

「Four days later,」

「In the middle of the night,」

Sudden, intense Origin Force Fluctuations emanated from within the cave—a sign of entering the final stage. These lasted for some time before settling down.

Another day passed, and the Origin Force Fluctuations inside the cave returned to calm.

"Dragon Cypress?!"

"Ink Orchid, you’re awake? You must be hungry. Go sort through your Inherited Memories first; I’ll go get something to eat and be right back."

Dragon Cypress pushed aside the withered branches blocking the entrance and peeked inside. He then controlled the Dominating Throne to enter the cave, let Ink Orchid rest on it, and went out on foot to hunt for food.