The moment Dragon Cypress was promoted to a High-Level Ant King, the Azure Divine-Given Seed and the Southern Gorgon Divine-Given Seed followed suit, their Life Level sublimating as they ascended to a High-Level.
The Azure Divine-Given Seed, being an Arbor, showed no obvious change, and any transformation would not be discernible in a short period.
The transformation of the Southern Gorgon Divine-Given Seed, however, was tremendous. Overnight, the parent plant withered, only to regenerate five more robust and luxuriant broadleaves within a mere two to three days.
Eighteen offshoots followed suit. Their leaves turned yellow and wilted, then new Leaf Buds sprouted, growing into fresh green leaves.
「...」
Dragon Cypress and Round Cypress continued to lead the ant colony in constructing the reservoir dam, adding one layer a day, and it was quickly completed.
The work on the most critical reservoir project was finally finished.
After a spring rain, the water level rose.
It was a bright and clear sunny day.
Round Cypress, accompanied by Worker Ants, was in the orchard loosening the soil, weeding, and tending the Nursery.
Dragon Cypress suddenly found himself with nothing to do. Out of boredom, he too led some Worker Ants around the reservoir where Southern Gorgon had taken root, digging here and patching there, repairing and reinforcing the edges.
The past few years had been hectic, but with the work finally finished, the entire ant colony grew somewhat idle and relaxed.
Work commenced late in the morning and ended at twilight.
The Dominating Throne hovered over the water, communicating with Southern Gorgon, imparting basic knowledge to help it recognize and understand the world.
Southern Gorgon's territorial awareness was extremely strong. Ink Orchid's mere approach immediately triggered its intense anger, prompting threats, intimidation, and attempts at expulsion.
This was a common trait among all Divine-Given Seeds of the Natural System: they rejected all Origin Force Life apart from members of the Insect Clan with whom they had a bond.
Moreover, Southern Gorgon seemed especially belligerent.
Dragon Cypress told it, "In North Mountain, there's another Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seed that sprouted alongside you, named Northern Gorgon."
Southern Gorgon asked, "Is that so? Quickly arrange for Worker Ants to dig a water channel. I'll go over and destroy it."
Dragon Cypress didn't dare tell it about the nearby Azure Divine-Given Seed.
Quietly, he led the Worker Ants to reinforce the reservoir dam once more.
Apart from its innate rejection of Origin Force Life, there were no other major issues.
Southern Gorgon was like a newborn Insect Clan Little Warrior.
It was gluttonous, knew Source Stones were valuable, and always clamored for Dragon Cypress to give it some.
Once it gained some understanding of the world, it became like Ink Orchid in her youth, fond of hearing all sorts of novel accounts and interesting stories from the distant Ten-thousand Tribes Continent.
Even the tales of Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid's trade with Roving Merchants on the Cloud Trace Continent captured its attention. It was curious and constantly pestered them to find out exactly how many Source Stones they had earned.
Under this subtle influence, Southern Gorgon also became a bit of a little miser.
「...」
Time flowed serenely during the lush spring.
"Dragon Cypress~ Dragon Cypress~ Dragon Cypress..."
Suddenly, in the dead of night, Dragon Cypress was roused from his sleep by the calls of the Southern Gorgon Divine-Given Seed.
"Southern Gorgon?"
"I think I've produced offshoots, come and see."
"!!!"
Dragon Cypress's spiritual power spread out, sweeping over the bottom of the pond. He noticed that on the rhizomes of fifteen of the peripheral offshoots, five new buds had formed.
"That's right, you've produced offshoots," Dragon Cypress confirmed.
"Dragon Cypress, will I be able to bloom after the offshoots grow?" Southern Gorgon inquired.
"Yes, you will," he replied.
"When will they be fully grown?"
"It depends on the weather. Perhaps ten days to half a month."
"What's the weather like today?"
"The moon is hazy. It's a cloudy day."
「...」
Dragon Cypress had witnessed Northern Gorgon's third set of offshoots last year, so everything was within expectations, making the experience less exciting.
Southern Gorgon was also somewhat garrulous.
He took a Source Stone, ground it into powder, fed it to Southern Gorgon, said a few calming words, and lay back down.
「The next day,」
He summoned a group of Soldier Ants to station nearby, and Dragon Cypress also stayed on watch around the clock.
The offshoots' stolons grew rapidly, spreading and extending.
Two days later, seventy-five stolons had reached suitable locations, taken root, and sent out Leaf Buds.
Another three days passed, and the Leaf Buds broke through the water's surface, their leaves gradually unfurling.
A spring rain was followed by sunny late spring weather.
Having received ample natural light, the new offshoots developed at an accelerated rate.
Two days later, the second broadleaf had matured. After another two days, the third one matured...
「...」
"Great King!"
"Good news!"
On a misty early morning, Giant Cypress, who had risen early to patrol the mountains, ran to the edge of the reservoir. Waving his tentacles to convey the message from afar, he excitedly shouted, "Great King, the Azure Divine-Given Seed has bloomed again!"
"Hmm?"
"It has bloomed!"
It's only late spring— Could it be… the Azure Divine-Given Seed bloomed early?
"Yes! Great King, I've seen it bloom before. I recognize it; I can't be mistaken."
"Let's go have a look!"
It was common for the Evolution of a Divine-Given Seed to lead to earlier blooming and delayed fruiting, so this was not surprising. The Dominating Throne slowly approached the pond.
"Azure?" Dragon Cypress called out.
"...Dragon Cypress," Azure responded.
"Dragon Cypress, I think you can build a reservoir for me. Our fish are increasing, and the pond is no longer sufficient."
"Oh! Okay..." Dragon Cypress agreed, albeit reluctantly.
The Azure Tree was currently over 15 meters tall and had already grown 21 broadleaves of various sizes.
The largest broadleaf on the lowest level, about 3.5 meters in diameter, was less than a meter above the water surface.
Azure was rooted in the lowest part of this valley. How could a reservoir be built here? If it only accumulated water half a meter deep, wouldn't that just create a marshland?
The Dominating Throne hovered beside the Azure Divine Seed Tree.
Dragon Cypress surveyed it up and down, lost in thought.
A plant from an alien Civilization, distinct from any Natural System plants.
Having evolved to a High-Level Life Level, Azure had only sprouted flower buds from its first to sixth broadleaves, counting from the bottom up.
When Dragon Cypress was a Mid-Level Ant King, its first to fourth broadleaves had blossomed and borne fruit.
Now, he had basically grasped the pattern.
—For every Great Rank of Life Level advancement, the number of broadleaves on the Azure Divine-Given Seed that flowered and fruited would increase by two.
—Mountain Lord Level with eight leaves? Lord-Level with ten leaves? King-Level with twelve leaves?
—But now, the number of Azure's leaves had already reached twenty-one...
—Could it be that above the King-Level...
Dragon Cypress shook his head, dismissing those distant possibilities. He swept his spiritual power across the scene, taking inventory.
The broadleaves grew wide and large, corresponding to an increased yield.
The six broadleaves had a total of 570 flower buds, which, barring any accidents, would produce 570 Azure Fruits.
This yield was not low.
"Giant Cypress, take one hundred Specialized Soldier Ants and guard this place," Dragon Cypress ordered.
"Yes! Great King!" Giant Cypress responded resoundingly.
Dragon Cypress turned back to Azure and asked, "Azure, do you need top-dressing?"
Azure responded, "...I need a reservoir."
Dragon Cypress said, "I will bring some Swamp Water for you."
Azure asked, "What about the reservoir?"
Dragon Cypress replied, "Build..."
「...」
The early-rising Ink Orchid flew over. Seeing Dragon Cypress busy next to the Marsh Gas Pool below the hill, she accelerated, dived, slowed down, and landed steadily on the Dominating Throne.
"Dragon Cypress, what are you doing with the Swamp Water?"
"Azure's flowering season has arrived early."
"Oh! That's great!"
Ink Orchid kicked her legs and flew quickly to the Azure Divine-Given Seed.
Dragon Cypress filled twenty Bamboo Tubes with Swamp Water, and the Dominating Throne carried them to the base of the Azure Tree.
"Dragon Cypress, 570 flowers!"
"I've counted them."
"But Azure doesn't seem very happy."
"...It also wants a reservoir."
"Then build one for it. We'll have to build it sooner or later anyway."
"Currently, the trunk height of the Azure Divine-Given Seed is insufficient."
"Then just store less water."
Ink Orchid asked, "Dragon Cypress, what else do we need to do next? Clearing new fields, setting up orchards?"
Dragon Cypress replied, "That's not urgent."
Ink Orchid exclaimed, "Then build the reservoir!"
Dragon Cypress said, "I have a plan."
He explained, "The High-Level Specialized Worker Ants are currently being cultivated. I'm waiting for them to mature. My plan is to first build two mountaintop reservoirs at the eastern and western ends of our mountain Territory, right next to the peaks. These will serve to store water for the reservoirs downhill, as a precaution. At the same time, we can raise fish in them, diversifying the Territory's food sources."
"Yay!"
Ink Orchid thought for a moment and suggested, "Then you could at least get the foundation for Azure's reservoir built."
Dragon Cypress thought, ...I can't reason with you all.
Frustrated and resigned, he agreed, "Fine! I'll listen to you."
Ink Orchid was delighted and proposed again, "Dragon Cypress, with so many reservoirs already built and more planned, we should name them for easy reference."
"I've already got that figured out. The reservoir where the Divine-Given Northern Gorgon Fruit Seed has taken root is called 'Northern Gorgon Water Reservoir'; the one where Southern Gorgon has taken root is 'Southern Gorgon Reservoir'; the one where Azure has taken root is 'Azure Blue Reservoir'; and as for the two new reservoirs..."
Dragon Cypress stated, "The one below the western mountain peak will be named 'Shanxi Reservoir,' and the one below the eastern mountain peak, 'Shandong Reservoir.'"
Ink Orchid was momentarily taken aback, then said, "Correct answer!"