CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 057: WITH YOU, WITH ME

"The soil, climate, and terrain here are particularly suitable for cultivating orchards, ideal for planting peaches, pears, plums, apricots, grapes, citrus, and other fruits with pulp."

"In the future, this place will be our largest production site for Ant Honey. We can also open up a few rice fields to stockpile enough rice to feed the ant population for three years, in case of any major natural disasters..."

After inspecting the area, Dragon Cypress began his next five-year plan.

"OH—"

Ink Orchid felt dejected, his mood low.

"Dragon Cypress, I remember you once said that we are all orphans abandoned by the Natural God. Cloud Trace Continent is like an ocean, and each Origin Force Point is an isolated island. If it weren’t for you, I’d be just like Ghost Fan—a lonely insect, living on an isolated island cut off from other insects."

A strong wave of sorrow surged in Ink Orchid’s Mental Power as he said heavily, "Yet, such islands, where only a single insect lives in solitude, are few and far between."

"Ink Orchid..." Dragon Cypress didn’t know how to comfort him at that moment.

Ink Orchid said, "Dragon Cypress, as we evolve and grow, and our size increases, we will soon be unable to pass through the Starship Passage. We will be forever isolated in Cloud Trace Continent. We’ll never see caravans again, nor meet Spider King Spurge, Melde, or White Ivy. And your good friend Grass Dragon—you two may never have the chance to meet again..."

"That won’t happen. We have the Divine-Given Seed, and the caravans will find a way to connect with us..."

A tinge of sadness arose in Dragon Cypress’s heart as well.

He had thought about the issue Ink Orchid mentioned long before.

The first time he passed through the Starship to enter Cloud Trace Continent, Dragon Cypress had assessed the situation.

The outlet on this side of Cloud Trace Continent was long and narrow. Ink Orchid’s body length was nearing half a meter, and he might not be able to get through after evolving into a High-Rank Warrior.

The Ant King’s body type was relatively small, but Dragon Cypress had grown round and chubby with his current eating habits, and he was not faring much better than Ink Orchid. Without losing weight, he feared he might get stuck as a High-Level Ant King as well.

"Ink Orchid—"

Dragon Cypress earnestly said, "With you, with me, we will never be alone."

...

...

...

After resting for half the night, Ink Orchid’s mood had much improved, and Dragon Cypress also collected his thoughts.

As was their custom, Ink Orchid would head north, and Dragon Cypress south, as they sped off to search for the Divine-Given Seed.

After spending three days in a hasty search, they gathered their things and set off without any harvest.

They headed north, facing the wind.

The Dominating Throne automatically released a pale blue light screen to block the wind.

"Dragon Cypress, let’s name that territory."

"Ink Orchid, you discovered it, so you choose the name."

"How about Jianlan Plain? We’ll name that big river ’Zhanjiang’. Blue River and Zhanjiang."

"Sounds good... But since it’s a plain with only a small mound, it should be called ’Jianlan Plain’."

"Then let’s call it Jianlan Plain!"

Ink Orchid happily accepted the suggestion, saying, "Dragon Cypress, we now have Fragrant Orchid Mountain, Molan Mountain, Southern Sour Jujube Mountain, and Jianlan Plain—four territories. Should we consider nurturing another Ant King or Flower Mantis Warrior?"

Dragon Cypress said, "No Ant Clan. You should shelter some Orchid Mantises and cultivate Flower Mantis Warriors instead."

Ink Orchid asked, "Why not the Ant Clan?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "Every Ant King needs to occupy a sufficiently large territory to secure enough food to sustain its kingdom."

"Yes..." Ink Orchid agreed.

"Then I will shelter more Orchid Mantises. If we succeed in cultivating Flower Mantis Warriors, we’ll arrange for them to live on Molan Mountain. It’s close by, and we can visit them anytime."

Dragon Cypress was silent.

Orchid Mantises were rare in nature and not easy to raise.

It was no simple task to cultivate Flower Mantis Warriors.

In the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, the Flower Mantis Kingdom was formed by many vibrantly colored mantis tribes, but there seemed to be no Orchid Mantis Tribe like Ink Orchid’s.

Ink Orchid, also aware of this, continued, "Dragon Cypress, let’s keep searching. We’re sure to find many Origin Force Points without any Insect Clan Warriors..."

"I remember you mentioned that the caravans are also involved in the insect population trade, didn’t you?"

"Yes."

Dragon Cypress understood what Ink Orchid meant and sighed, "Ink Orchid, first, these insects are quite expensive. Currently, we’re in a state of deficit in our transactions with the caravans. Secondly, we don’t have enough resources to nurture Little Warriors."

Dragon Cypress said seriously, "Furthermore, the caravans bring different insects back to their respective Tribes. There, they are looked after by their elder kin and can play and communicate with a large number of their own kind, allowing them to live well. If we bought them and arranged for them to live alone in isolated Origin Force Points, without any companions to communicate with and no freedom to go anywhere they pleased, wouldn’t that be trapping them?"

"Indeed..."

Ink Orchid, somewhat reluctantly, asked, "Dragon Cypress, can’t we buy insects like you—those that no kin are willing to take in, that the caravans can’t sell?"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Like me? Dragon Cypress said angrily, "The birth rate of Male Ant Kings is extremely, extremely, extremely low, even rarer than a Divine-Given Seed! A true rarity!"

After his outburst, Dragon Cypress softened a little and said, "When we’re more prosperous, ask Melde about it, but don’t hold out too much hope."

"Besides Male Ants, any insect that can find its own kind will be accepted. Even someone like Ghost Fan, who has no Wooden Darkling Beetle Tribe in the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, could settle down in the territory of other closely related Beetle Kingdoms. And if the land permits, they might even develop their own Tribe."

"I see..." Ink Orchid’s elation subsided, and he asked discontentedly, "Then, what about you? Dragon Cypress, what’s your story?"

"Me?"

Why does he keep asking about me? Dragon Cypress was annoyed. Seeing Ink Orchid looking somewhat downcast again, he sighed and explained, "The Giant-Headed Ants don’t recognize or accept me; I definitely couldn’t survive on the Ten Thousand Nations Continent. Giant-Headed Ants are a belligerent species. Even as a Male Ant, there’s nowhere on the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent where I could put down roots. My only way to survive was on Cloud Trace Continent."

"OH—"

Ink Orchid, for some reason, cheered up and said, "How tragic!"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

「Another new day arrived.」

The sky, cleansed by the strong wind, was a flawless azure.

Dragon Cypress estimated the distance and turned west.

He’d been out for so long that he no longer had the inclination to look for rare plants, novel fruit trees, or Starship Wreckage below.

The Dominating Throne was flying four to five hundred meters above the ground.

The Carapace color of Orchid Mantises can change depending on their living environment. Having lived on the Dominating Throne for so long, Ink Orchid was now entirely deep blue.

Ink Orchid spread his wings, lying on his back on the soft cushion. His hindwings and the Carapace of his forewings were not quite blue enough, so he idly added some color to them.

Dragon Cypress gathered his four walking legs and stood firmly on the top of the Throne’s backrest, enjoying the warm winter sun and the gentle breeze.

"Ink Orchid?"

Suddenly, Dragon Cypress flicked his Tentacles.

"HMM~"

Ink Orchid responded languidly.

"Origin Force Fluctuation? Over there..."

Dragon Cypress raised a front leg, pointing towards the southwest, quite uncertain.

"OH!"

Ink Orchid flipped over and stood up, straightening his Tentacles. After a moment’s Perception, he gave a definite reply: "Origin Force Fluctuation!"

"Dragon Cypress, we’ve found another Origin Force Point!"

"There must be Insect Clan Warriors here!"

Ink Orchid kicked his legs and flew off the Throne.

He sped off for a distance, then remembered the warning Dragon Cypress had repeated countless times, and turned back to the Dominating Throne.

"Dragon Cypress, come on, fly faster!"