Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid didn't dwell on the issue, both focusing all their attention on the Divine-Given Seed of the White Wax Tree that was about to ripen on the tree.

Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress, Black Birch, you two stay and stand guard. I'll keep searching—maybe I'll find something else."

Since the Second King said it could be found, then it certainly could be.

Dragon Cypress and Black Birch both tapped their tentacles in unison: Good luck, Second King!

Ink Orchid spread its wings and departed.

Black Birch: "Great King, I've cleared out the weeds nearby."

"No need!"

Dragon Cypress pressed Black Birch down with its claw, saying, "Don't disturb a single blade of grass or tree on the island, so as not to alert that Snow Velvet Spider King and arouse suspicion."

Black Birch thought for a moment, then tapped its tentacle to show understanding.

With a flick of a single tentacle, Dragon Cypress unleashed the Flourish Ability. Then, with a simultaneous movement of two tentacles, used its Water System Ability to create a mist, activating the Tranquility Ability. The green Wood Primordial Energy fused with the water vapor, enshrouding the White Wax Tree.

In the middle of the night, Ink Orchid returned.

There were no further findings.

...

Staying on the island, they waited about ten days. The fruit ripened, and they harvested it.

"Second King, do you want to do it, or shall I?"

Dragon Cypress looked at the seed before him, feeling a bit embarrassed.

It seemed every time his turn for evolution came, he'd get an especially good Divine-Given Seed, but when it was Ink Orchid's turn, it was usually just a regular one.

This just wouldn't do~

Although both had about the same number of Divine-Given Seeds, the gap in profits was widening.

Ink Orchid was already aware of this issue; not counting the Divine-Grade Fruit, the benefits Dragon Cypress got from Divine-Given Seeds were nearly double her own.

"Never mind, I'll let you have it this time—next time anything good turns up, it's definitely mine!"

Ink Orchid waved her claw magnanimously.

"Thank you, Second King!"

Black Birch helped to express thanks.

Dragon Cypress lowered his head, placing the White Wax Tree Divine-Given Seed into his Life Pouch.

Ink Orchid asked, "Dragon Cypress, when will you evolve?"

Dragon Cypress: "Judging by the Cloud Trace Continent season, let's wait until autumn."

Ink Orchid: "Where will you plant it? When will you sow the seed? What about things here on Swinging Leaf Island?"

Dragon Cypress: "White Wax Tree adapts well to its environment. Plant it at White Lotus Lake—leave Black Leaf in charge of it. I'll mostly stay here on Swinging Leaf Island..."

...

They quickly agreed on the arrangements for the coming year's affairs, and set out to return to Swinging Leaf Island.

They wouldn't be heading back to Cloud Trace Continent for now.

Ink Orchid stayed as well, working with Tie Bush to clear forests and open up land in preparation for cultivating Rain Tree No. 1 on a large scale.

Dragon Cypress and Black Birch continued directing the ant colony, digging and building the Underground Water Vein Network.

At the same time, they kept nurturing new ants, steadily expanding the ranks on the island.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed,

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Black Birch set out again, just as before, carefully approaching Blue Island from afar, activating the Scorching Ability at a great distance to observe the island's situation.

The war still hadn't broken out.

The Stone Hunt Blue Ants on the island remained on high alert.

Each round trip took seven days—time lost, but not much.

Returning to Swinging Leaf Island, they worked diligently for another month before Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Black Birch set out once more.

By now, Wanglan Continent had entered winter, but the war still hadn't begun...

Another month passed,

Dragon Cypress assigned Specialized Worker Ants to lead the ant colony, first establishing five sub-nests at the eastern, southern, western, northern points, as well as at the Central King Nest.

They set out again.

Blue Island was in the temperate-cold zone of the continent. Just after a heavy snow, the whole island had turned an expanse of white.

Defenses were even tighter.

Numerous Stone Hunt Blue Ants patrolled the skies, with an Assistant King personally standing sentry atop every coastal peak.

But still, no fight had broken out.

Yet the atmosphere on the island was noticeably tenser.

By the looks of things, battle was imminent.

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Black Birch stayed put, lingering and waiting in the sea 350 kilometers due north of the Mainland.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com