Spring was brilliantly bright.
On the west slope of the Azure Blue Reservoir, Dragon Cypress commanded Large Worker Ants to climb up two Silver Cypress Trees, their Mandible Teeth gnawing and clipping off their branches.
"Dragon Cypress, what are you doing?"
"Cutting down two cypress trees to clear space. I'm going to plant Life Seeds."
"You've evolved again."
"A 7th Age Period High-Level Ant King. My new Life Seed is Coarse Torreya, a close relative to the Red Torreya and also a slow-growing species."
"Oh—"
The two perfectly fine cypress trees were being cut down, which made Azure's heartache. After silently observing for a while, he asked, "Dragon Cypress, yesterday you flew over with the Dominating Throne carrying Source Stones, but you left as soon as you got close."
"I was testing the transport capabilities of the Dominating Throne."
"How did the tests go?"
