"Ink Orchid, it's noon." Dragon Cypress pointed to the candle-yellow winter sun directly overhead. "I'm hungry."
"Oh."
"Alright."
Ink Orchid said, "Dragon Cypress, have you been eating stored dried meat all this time? That's not good; it's not fresh. I'll hunt for you."
With that, she leapt up and flew away, flapping her wings.
Dragon Cypress: "..."
Having already acquired two Ant Eggs, Dragon Cypress was eager to dig out the Hatchery.
However, Ink Orchid was so engrossed in the stories that even a gentle hint to leave couldn't send her away.
On Cloud Trace Continent, it was likely just the two of them: Ink Orchid and himself. Having a partner for daily interaction and mutual support was quite nice, so Dragon Cypress couldn't bring himself to directly ask her to leave.
After a while, Ink Orchid returned, carrying a rock squirrel with a broken neck.
Her Catching Feet contracted and sliced like scissors, severing a hind leg.
"Dragon Cypress, eat!"
"Oh~ okay~"
Dragon Cypress hadn't eaten fresh food in a long time.
The mantis and the ant dined together.
All ten Stone Orchid Seeds, which strengthened the digestive system, had been consumed. Dragon Cypress's appetite had improved, and his food intake had slightly increased.
But given his current small size, he only managed to eat a thin strip of meat.
Ink Orchid, on the other hand, was a veritable glutton. She devoured the entire rock squirrel, which was comparable to her in size, except for the one hind leg.
「Twilight.」
Ink Orchid departed, seeming somewhat reluctant to leave.
Communicating via Mental Power, Dragon Cypress had told stories all day. By evening, he had no energy left to continue digging the Ant Nest. He lay on the Dominating Throne and slept soundly through the night.
「The next day.」
Just as the sky began to brighten, Ink Orchid came over again.
"Dragon Cypress. Morning."
"Morning..."
Dragon Cypress asked, "Ink Orchid, you were planning to go north to search for Divine-Given Seeds today, right?"
"I was. I was just passing by your place..."
Ink Orchid, seemingly oblivious to Dragon Cypress's underlying meaning, said, "Dragon Cypress, yesterday you told stories about the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent all day. You haven't told me about the Ten Thousand Nations Continent yet."
Dragon Cypress replied, "The Ten Thousand Nations Continent is entirely composed of Ant Kingdoms, Bee Kingdoms, and Termite Kingdoms. There's not much to tell."
Ink Orchid persisted, "Then you can tell me more about Outworld Civilization Artifacts."
What a crafty insect, Dragon Cypress thought, momentarily at a loss for words.
Dragon Cypress collected his thoughts. "Alright, then I'll tell you about one of the most powerful Outworld Civilization Artifacts. It was about four thousand years ago..."
Dragon Cypress had personal experience traveling the continent.
When the caravan camped for rest, Melde would tell everyone stories—all sorts of strange and fascinating tales.
When caravans met, they would also exchange information, recounting their own encounters or interesting news they had heard.
Dragon Cypress's mind was brimming with stories.
Ink Orchid listened with rapt attention to any story he chose.
Before they knew it, another morning had passed.
"Dragon Cypress, you must be hungry by now? I'll go find you something to eat."
It was noon, and Ink Orchid voluntarily headed into the forest to hunt.
An unfortunate hibernating frog had somehow been disturbed and dug up.
"Dragon Cypress. Eat."
Ink Orchid tore off the fattest hind leg and placed it before Dragon Cypress.
Judging by her demeanor, she doesn't plan on leaving this afternoon either.
"Thanks..."
Dragon Cypress felt a pang of frustration but slowly opened his mouth to nibble.
"Ink Orchid, why aren't you eating?"
"I ate yesterday."
"Hmm???"
"When I eat my fill, I don't get hungry for three days."
"Three days?!"
"Yes, a full meal can last me three days."
"Why? Do Orchid Mantises have such a Talent Ability?"
"No..."
Suddenly, Ink Orchid remembered. Realization dawned, and she vigorously flapped her wings, saying proudly, "Dragon Cypress, I have a Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed! Its strengthening effect is Comprehensive Endurance."
Dragon Cypress: "???"
Dragon Cypress exclaimed, "A Divine-Given Seed?!"
Ink Orchid confirmed, "Yes! Yes! A Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed!"
Dragon Cypress: "!!!"
This is incredible!
Dragon Cypress was shocked, his Tentacles quivering.
The enhancement effect of Comprehensive Endurance, a subordinate major branch of Comprehensive Physique, was something he urgently needed. It was also an extremely valuable enhancement for all members of the Insect Clan.
No wonder she had been so persistent in searching for Divine-Given Seeds. She'd already found one!
However, on Cloud Trace Continent, Origin Force was only thinly present near the Divine Force Barrier. A little further away, there was no Origin Force at all. So how could a Divine-Given Seed come into existence? It didn't make sense.
Dragon Cypress asked doubtfully, "Ink Orchid, where did you find it?"
Ink Orchid replied, "On the great mountain where I live."
Ink Orchid seemed somewhat apologetic. "I discovered it during my 5th Age Period. I only planted it the year before last, so this year's yield of Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds was still very small. After harvesting them, I ate them all immediately. Dragon Cypress, I didn't know you lived here before..."
Ink Orchid reassured him, "Dragon Cypress, it's alright. Next year, there will definitely be more Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds. I can share some with you then. Divine-Given Seeds are very powerful! I've calculated that eating just twenty or thirty can allow one to complete an entire Age Period's worth of growth!"
Dragon Cypress was stunned for a good while before he calmed down.
Dragon Cypress said, "Is that so? That's truly wonderful. Thank you in advance, Ink Orchid."
Dragon Cypress asked, "Ink Orchid, how did you find it?"
Ink Orchid explained, "Many Fruit-Scented Orchids already grew on the great mountain where I live. I found it when I went to check on them."
Dragon Cypress: "..."
Her luck is simply too good!
Dragon Cypress asked again, "Is the Origin Force Concentration very high where you live?"
Ink Orchid replied, "Yes, it is."
Dragon Cypress fell silent for a long moment before asking, "How does it compare to that hill we visited on the Ten Thousand Nations Continent the day before yesterday?"
Ink Orchid said, "It's even higher."
How is this possible?!
Dragon Cypress was shocked once more.
Unbound Natural Primordial Force flowed and permeated with incredible strength, always following the immutable law of diffusing from areas of high concentration to low concentration.
Dragon Cypress had initially thought Ink Orchid's home was merely a place where the Divine Force Barrier was weak, allowing a larger amount of Origin Force to seep through, resulting in a slightly higher concentration.
But if it was even higher than on the Ten Thousand Nations Continent, then it couldn't be a normal phenomenon.
Dragon Cypress asked, "Ink Orchid, is the mountain peak where you live far from here?"
"Far..."
Ink Orchid tilted her head, then quickly corrected herself, "Not far! Not far! Not far at all!"
Ink Orchid eagerly invited, "Dragon Cypress, would you like to visit my Territory? The great mountain where I live is huge. I think you should come see it. If you find it suitable, you could consider relocating there! If we lived together, we could... chat every day!"
Without a second thought, Dragon Cypress agreed. "Alright! I'll go see your Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed!"
Ink Orchid was even happier than Dragon Cypress and urged him, "Then let's set off now!"
Dragon Cypress replied, "No rush. Let's eat first."
Mantises are not particularly skilled flyers.
Winged Male Ants aren't much better either.
Ink Orchid was rather plump and couldn't fly fast.
Dragon Cypress was even slower, and still too weak in his current 5th Age Period.
Predatory birds might be lurking in the mountain forest, posing a threat to Dragon Cypress's safety.
Ink Orchid led the way, flying a certain distance before circling back to wait for Dragon Cypress.
The large mantis and the small ant flew for the better part of the afternoon.
Finally, a vast mountain range stretching to the southwest came into view.
"Dragon Cypress, we're here!"
Noticing Dragon Cypress was tiring, Ink Orchid said guiltily, "It's just a little far."
'A little far'? This is very far!
And to think Ink Orchid arrived at my territory right at dawn... She must have set out in the middle of the night. Is she so captivated by the stories that she finds the long flight too troublesome, hence her enthusiastic invitation for me to move here?
SIGH.
"Ink Orchid. Let's take a break."
Dragon Cypress descended, landing on a huge boulder atop a hill to survey the surroundings.
Ink Orchid landed beside him and asked, "Dragon Cypress, are you digging a cave deep into the mountain to raise the Ant Nest's temperature, to make it easier to hatch Ant Eggs in winter?"
She even secretly saw my Dominating Throne and Ant Eggs!
Dragon Cypress admitted, "Yes..."
Lifting her forelimbs, Ink Orchid pointed into the distance. "During winter, the southern side of the great mountain is relatively warmer. You can build your Ant Nest there!"
"I live on North Mountain!" Ink Orchid added.
"Okay!"
Dragon Cypress agreed readily, simultaneously sensing the flow of Natural Primordial Force in the surroundings.
They were already close to the mountain range, but the diffusion of Origin Force wasn't significant; it felt rather weak.
"Ink Orchid, is the Origin Force Concentration on your mountain peak very high?" Dragon Cypress asked again.
"Is it considered very high?" Ink Orchid had no concept of this and was unsure.
Dragon Cypress pressed, "But it's only concentrated on the mountain peak where you live? The rest of the mountain range is poor in Origin Force."
Ink Orchid confirmed, "That's right."
Strange! This defies all logic.
Dragon Cypress was utterly baffled.