Silver Cypress Year 198.
Dragon Cypress finally succeeded in integrating the Moon Spots ability into the Vortex Beast Devouring.
On the surface of the Vortex Beast Divine Inscription, a dense 'scale armor' appeared, an essential reinforcement; the Vortex Beast gained a defensive ability, improving by threefold.
There is also a 'Frost Nourishing Remnant Realm' in the Water System, which can bring a qualitative transformation to the whole Ant Kingdom.
Dragon Cypress focused on practicing this ability.
The Metal System Ability was not urgent for the time being.
According to Ink Orchid, that Eddy Scorpionfish Ant King combined 'Flash Strike' with Wind System and Water System abilities, successfully integrating it into the Kirin Beast, allowing the Kirin Beast to gain the ability to 'Flash Strike' almost a kilometer instantly.
Whether it's the Kirin Beast or the Vortex Beast, due to their large size and the large number of ant armies they carry, they both face agility issues in ground combat movement.
Integrating Flash Strike into 'Vortex Beast Devouring' can partially solve this problem.
Dragon Cypress also began to ponder this thoughtfully.
...
Silver Cypress Year 199.
At the sixth age period, Ink Orchid's Earth Dragon Strangulation, Grass and Tree Weaving, and Forest Concealment all three Wood Element Divine Inscription abilities reached completion.
During the winter in the Southern Hemisphere, took turns returning to Rainbow Island, entered deep sleep evolution.
After ten days, woke up from sleep.
Rainbow Tea and Rainbow Mulberry stood guard at the entrance.
Rainbow Tea peeked through the doorway, seeing Ink Orchid successfully completing the Molting Evolution, cautiously pushed open the metal door panel.
"Second King is awake!"
"Congratulations, Second King~"
"Second King, have you successfully comprehended the Earth-Wood Elemental Form?" Rainbow Tea inquired.
"Of course~" Rainbow Mulberry helped answer.
"Second King is invincible!" Rainbow Tea marveled.
"The strongest warrior in the Star Realm!"
Rainbow Mulberry chimed in, then urged: "Second King, quickly show us."
Rainbow Mulberry evolved into an intermediate warrior, reaching a wingspan of one meter, influenced by the Bicolor Mulberry, and always hanging out with Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, White Rice, and Red Moonseed, not very reputable companions.
"..."
I haven't even spoken a word~ Ink Orchid waved its tentacles threateningly, used the Soul-Setting ability to sweep through, and quickly walked out of the Ant Nest.
After eleven years, the height of the Short-horned Divine Seed Tree surpassed 200 meters, and its trunk diameter exceeded 50 meters. The trunk was opened for holes, fitted with a metal gate, and simply remodeled internally to become the new dining hall of the Xianglan Mountain Kingdom.
Dragon Cypress led many insects to advance the banquet celebration.
"Ink Orchid is awake!"
"Mantis King Ink Orchid!"
"Second King!"
"Second King, have you comprehended the Earth-Wood Elemental Form Ability?"
Ink Orchid didn't waste words, the Earth-Wood dual-system Primordial Energy fluctuation turned the pink-white carapace to yellow-brown, covered with wood grain patterns.
"I first condense the Earth-Wood Form Divine Inscription, then combine it with the Ink Orchid Form and Gold-Water Form Divine Inscriptions, making the Soul System the core, gathering the complete Ink Orchid form of all seven systems element."
After Ink Orchid finished speaking, it paused, then continued in a teaching tone: "I also comprehended some other abilities, but they're not important. My core abilities are just two, Ink Orchid Form and Great Ink Orchid, and these two core abilities also perfectly integrate, just like the main trunk of a tree. The height and size of the tree rely on the main trunk; everything else just enriches this big tree's branches and leaves."
"The essence of abilities lies in the usage of Primordial Energy. The understanding, combination, training, and perception of abilities are like countless rivers and valleys, converging into a river, and ultimately, merging into the boundless ocean."
"..."
All insects were stunned.
The trees joining the fun were even more incredulous.
—Is this still the Second King we know?
All eyes and spiritual power were directed at Dragon Cypress.
Bicolor Mulberry: "Vulgar mantises do not possess such profound cognition, thinking, understanding, and language expression. Honestly, who taught you these words? Was it you, fat ant?"
"...It wasn't me."
Dragon Cypress explained: "These words were spoken by the Shanglu Divine Tree to the Snow Velvet Old Spider. The Snow Velvet Old Spider told me. I then told Ink Orchid. Ink Orchid picked it up and changed it a bit..."
—Ha!
—I knew it!
—The down-to-earth Second King won't change!
—Ink Orchid, not demonstrating abilities? Maybe, eat first?
...
Ink Orchid, annoyed, waved its tentacles, a series of electric sparks brushed toward Dragon Cypress, "Will you die if you say a little less?"
"Stop eating! All of you stop eating!"
"Come! To the beach! I'll show you the newly comprehended super ability!"
"My Sea Feather Star, Fire Feather Star, and Earth Feather Star automatically combined into one ability! The Bionic Ability of Seven Systems Element! Named 'Seven-Colored Feather'..."
...
The number of allied armies stationed on Blue Island exceeded 150 million.
Under the heavy siege, the land of Octagonal States remained shrouded in thick fog, and the Stone Hunt Blue Ant Kingdom's resistance will still not collapsed.
Cutting off all food sources, the island should only have the Ant King, Assistant King, Beetle King, and a handful of Soldier Ants and Worker Ants left.
Both sides were waiting, waiting for the final battle.
...
Silver Cypress Year 200.
End of Autumn.
The wind was cool.
Dragon Cypress, as usual, led the ant army out to sea to fish in the southern waters of the Thousand Reef Archipelago.
At twilight, the army stopped to rest near the reef.
On the Ice Boat, the accompanying Specialized Blue Ant spat out preliminarily refined liquid food.
Dragon Cypress and Black Sophora activated their Refinement Ability to make standard-sized White Refining Beads.
While busy,
Dragon Cypress paused, looked up toward the distant skyline.
A giant multicolored cloud mist butterfly flapped its wings, bustling along.
"Great King, Purple?"
"Hmm."
Dragon Cypress's heart stirred, flapping wings, rising into the air to meet it.
"Great Leader Dragon Cypress! Good news! Mantis King Ink Orchid sensed the Origin Force Fluctuation of a Divine-Grade Fruit maturing in the land of Octagonal States! Confirmed to be of the Water System."
"Good!"
"Great Leader Dragon Cypress, should we declare war?"
"I'm afraid, soon."
Dragon Cypress pondered a bit, and said: "Purple, notify Black Birch and Rainbow Parasol Tree on Golden Scale Island, have them immediately lead the army back to Rainbow Island. Inform Yellow Heart and Yellow Vine, the two Assistant Kings, to transport all the stored White Refining Beads to Blue Island; unless something unexpected happens, the decisive battle should be this winter, so, the troops stationed on Zhibai Continent can all withdraw to Wanglan Continent."
