CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 385: GREAT AMBITION

The situation at Huagi Mountain? To understand further?

Dragon Cypress’s thoughts raced; its tentacles quivered slightly, but it quickly calmed down and stared at Yellow Stem, waiting in silence.

Yellow Stem said leisurely, "In the previous Origin Force Era, our Huagi Mountain nurtured more than a hundred Wild God-Given Seeds, and even the number of top-level Wild God-Given Seeds reached double digits. However, considering there may not have been enough Source Stones for them to endure the long Silent Period, over time, they all left with the Tribal Warriors."

Yellow Stem: "The three Divine Trees—Huagi, Quandong, and Linnan—remained. Besides them, a third so-called ’Jinhe’ Divine God-Given Seed also stayed behind."

Dragon Cypress: "!!!"

There was actually a third Divine God-Given Seed hidden!

This was completely beyond Dragon Cypress’s expectations.

So this was the once-greatest Great Tribe of the Cloud Trace Continent?

Massive waves surged in Dragon Cypress’s heart.

More shocking was the double-digit number of top-level Wild God-Given Seeds.

A dozen? Several dozen?

How wealthy Huagi Mountain must have been at its Peak Period!

Yellow Stem explained in an unhurried manner: "The Jinhe Divine-Given Seed was cultivated by the Tribe, mutated from a Fuzzy Flower Tree variant called the ’Golden Fuzzy Flower Tree’. The Divine-Grade Jinhe Fruit grants a Metal System Ability named ’Jinhe Pattern’, an enhanced metal strengthening ability with considerable practical value."

Yellow Stem: "We at Huagi Mountain sold it to the Flame Spider Roving Merchants at a price of two million Source Stones per fruit. Their caravans would sell it at a price between two million to two and a half million Source Stones."

Yellow Stem: "The Blossom-Fruit Cycle is nine years, with eight fruits produced each time."

Yellow Stem: "The unit price is slightly low, but it is generously productive. Dragon Cypress Ant King, I still offer it to you at two million Source Stones per fruit; deal with it as you see fit."

By looking at the price of an ability-granting Divine-Grade Fruit, one could tell that the abilities it bestowed were decent, though not as formidable as those of a ’Zhifeng Fruit’.

However, the money-making potential of this Divine-Given Seed was impressive as well.

Dragon Cypress pondered and gently tapped its tentacle, saying, "Agreed!"

Dragon Cypress asked, "When will it be revived?"

Quandong Divine Tree: "Ink Orchid’s Red Phellodendron Divine Seed will be sent over."

Yellow Stem: "When there’s time, Cloud Trace and I will move the exuviae of the Jinhe Divine-Given Seed out; Dragon Cypress Ant King, come help when convenient. Transport it first to the Purple Tung Insect Nation, choose a site, dig a pit, and bury it to prepare accordingly."

Dragon Cypress: "Alright!"

Dragon Cypress asked, "And what about the Linnan Divine Tree?"

Yellow Stem shook its tentacles, troubled.

Quandong Divine Tree: "It’s quite troublesome!"

Quandong Divine Tree explained slowly: "All large tribes’ Insect Clan Warriors have their division of labor and collaboration models; Huagi Mountain is no exception. Roughly divided into three main sections: the senior Stewards who handle communication and dealings with outgroups, trades with Roving Merchants, Tribal Warriors, and wealth management; the Warriors dedicated to tribal defense and external warfare; and those exclusively in charge of cultivation of and operations in the Forest Sea."

Quandong Divine Tree: "Among us three Divine Trees, each is in charge of one main section. I oversee the management of the Forest Sea."

Quandong Divine Tree: "The Linnan Divine Tree is responsible for tribal defense and external warfare. It selects and trains warriors, promotes outstanding ones to leadership positions, and, in the outbreak of large-scale wars, is also tasked with major decision-making and command."

Quandong Divine Tree: "The Linnan Divine Tree has not personally gone to battle, but it has developed a domineering and brutal temper—fierce, violent, and quite difficult to communicate with, especially toward outgroups..."

After Quandong Divine Tree finished, fine rainbow-hued metallic spikes grew from the branch near the ridge.

The spikes flowed and contracted like water, transforming into elongated metal tentacles, swaying and extending toward the ridge.

Suddenly pausing, they rapidly contracted, liquefied, and seeped into the branch, vanishing.

Quandong Divine Tree: "The Divine Object Level Glinting Gold from the Outworld Civilization also granted us a certain offensive capability. I’m not worried about anything else; I am concerned the Linnan Divine Tree might cause trouble over in the Purple Tung Insect Nation."

Quandong Divine Tree: "Of course. Such externally gained combat power is extremely limited. Firstly, there are range restrictions. The metallic tentacles can extend from the trunk, branches, and roots, with a maximum range less than a hundred meters. Secondly, in terms of fighting strength, it’s very laborious even against Lord-Level Insect Tribe Warriors. That’s also the main reason I insisted you should only come when you reached Lord-Level."

Dragon Cypress’s spirit was chilled with solemnity.

Back then, the first time it found Huagi Mountain, Ink Orchid sensed an extremely dangerous aura emanating from deep underground.

Later speculation was that it came from the exceptionally evolved three Divine Trees.

So that’s how it was...

Quandong Divine Tree: "After serious discussion between Yellow Stem and myself, we’ve thought it through and there are only two solutions. First, after this fruiting, I immediately condense the Tree Heart and wither and revive, migrating to the Purple Tung Insect Nation. Let the Linnan Divine Tree awaken and take root in Huagi Mountain. It may scold Yellow Stem constantly, but is unlikely to act insanely and harm Shield Grasshopper Warriors."

Quandong Divine Tree: "Second option, with the consent of the Huagi Divine Tree, have it revive together and also take root in the Purple Tung Insect Nation. If you plant the two together, close by, the Huagi Divine Tree can keep the Linnan Divine Tree in check."

Dragon Cypress thought the second option was better.

The Divine-Given Bestowed Floral Banner Pine Seed produced by the Huagi Divine Tree strengthened farsightedness, a type of visual enhancement.

That’s a not-inconsiderable improvement effect.

Crucially, as a ’Divine Tree’, it was a being beyond King-Level and, as a top-quality Great Tall Tree in both yield and quality, its money-making potential was naturally strong.

Even at the lowest estimate, it could bring Huagi Mountain hundreds of thousands or even millions of Source Stones in revenue each year, right?

The second solution increases revenue.

The first solution, with the Linnan Divine Tree reborn at Huagi Mountain, would cost an extra five million Source Stones and delay the Quandong Divine Tree’s flowering and fruiting.

But,

By the second plan, out of the three Divine Trees of Huagi Mountain, two would be rooted in the Purple Tung Insect Nation, with another Divine-Grade Jinhe Divine-Given Seed there as well.

Almost all of Huagi Mountain’s core strength would have migrated to the Purple Tung Insect Nation; if anything unexpected happened...

Dragon Cypress felt it was hard to offer advice; looking at Yellow Stem, it appeared deeply concerned.

Quandong Divine Tree: "Since we’re discussing everything today, Yellow Stem, go to the underground Treasury and awaken the Huagi Divine Tree, explain the situation, and let it make the decision."

"Oh—"

Yellow Stem got up unwillingly, walking slowly down from the rock, heading toward the peak.

...

...

...

Deep underground beneath Huagi Mountain.

Yellow Stem carefully passed through the tunnel and entered the Treasury where the Huagi Divine Tree slept, gathered courage, and sent out a pulse of spiritual power to summon it.

"Huagi Divine Tree——"

"You again? Yellow Stem?"

"...It’s me."

Yellow Stem rapidly explained, "That Dragon Cypress Ant King has successfully conquered the Termite Kingdom! He seized the White Poplar Divine Seed and planted it in the Purple Tung Insect Nation last year; this year it bloomed."

Yellow Stem: "At the center of the Purple Tung Insect Nation, there’s a vast area with a radius of two to three thousand meters and an Origin Force Concentration 2.3 times that of Huagi Mountain. At the invitation of the Dragon Cypress Ant King, Quandong Divine Tree and I have discussed and agreed to send the Jinhe Divine-Given Seed there to take root..."

Yellow Stem had already organized its wording along the way.

It recounted the Quandong Divine Tree’s plans in one breath.

Right after, it proceeded to describe in detail all the matters concerning Xianglan Mountain Kingdom, the Purple Tung Insect Nation, and recent trades with the Roving Merchants.

After finishing.

Yellow Stem paused, waited for a while without reply, and tentatively said, "Please let the Huagi Divine Tree decide!"

The Huagi Divine Tree retorted, "Yellow Stem, as the only current Steward Shield Grasshopper Warrior of Huagi Mountain, don’t you have any opinion of your own?"

Yellow Stem: "...Yes."

Yellow Stem: "I don’t know where the end of the Origin Force Silent Period on Cloud Trace Continent lies. I hope that, within the time available, I can stockpile limitless resources for Huagi Mountain. But I dare not fully trust any Divine Tree to leave Huagi Mountain..."

Still, no independent opinion~

The Huagi Divine Tree sighed softly and said, "Great Tribes, great events, and major decisions are rarely perfect on all fronts. More often than not, it comes down to weighing risks and benefits, assessing gains and losses. As the decision-maker for Huagi Mountain, you must first possess long-term vision and deep thought, and show courage and grand ambition."

The Huagi Divine Tree: "Perhaps you are lacking a bit in perspective and experience, or maybe your innate temperament doesn’t suit you to be a Leader."

Yellow Stem: "...I have learned."

The Huagi Divine Tree: "That Dragon Cypress Ant King is quite formidable, very capable in handling affairs."

Yellow Stem: "...I am inept."

The Huagi Divine Tree: "There is no need for self-abasement. It may simply be that you’ve entered your senescent period; your character has been affected by physical state, you ruminate too much, and have lost some of your edge."

Yellow Stem: "That’s exactly it!"

The Huagi Divine Tree: "Since I have awakened, I will go personally to the Purple Tung Insect Nation and have a look."