Chapter 401 - 386: Revival of the Huagi Divine Tree

Purple Tung Insect Nation.

Ink Orchid sensed the Origin Force fluctuation of the Dominating Throne, fluttered its wings and flew up to meet it.

From afar, it saw Yellow Stem seated on the Throne...

—Why is Yellow Stem here?

—Wait! There’s something golden and shiny on Yellow Stem’s head?

Soaring towards the rapidly flying Dominating Throne, getting closer, Ink Orchid focused its gaze, and was instantly so startled that its breath became erratic, its six legs and wings flailed in confusion, tumbling down, rolling over dozens of times before regaining stability.

Its figure turned into a faint cyan remnant shadow, flickering forward in acceleration.

"Dragon Cypress!"

"Yellow Stem? This is..."

Ink Orchid circled around the Throne, asking as if unaware despite knowing the answer.

Yellow Stem replied, "Huagi Divine Tree—"

Dragon Cypress explained calmly, "Huagi Divine Tree came in person to survey the terrain and pick a spot to take root."

"Oh—"

Ink Orchid greeted enthusiastically, "Huagi Divine Tree! The Purple Tung Insect Nation welcomes you!"

"Mm."

Huagi Divine Tree replied shortly.

Ink Orchid knew that since Huagi Divine Tree had already come, the matter of Linnan Divine Tree coming to take root in Purple Tung Insect Nation was certainly settled as well.

Which meant that Dragon Cypress and itself would soon get a second Wood Elemental Talent.

Linnan Divine Tree had high yield and huge profits, so both Dragon Cypress and its own income were about to skyrocket.

Ink Orchid was wildly joyful inside, circling the Throne three times before settling on the left, flying in synchrony.

"Huagi Divine Tree, when will you be reborn?"

Huagi Divine Tree didn’t answer.

Yellow Stem helped respond, "Let’s see how things go first."

Seeing this, Ink Orchid tactfully didn’t press further, but instead asked Dragon Cypress, "Is everything settled? Once my Red Phellodendron Divine Seed matures, I’ll sow it on Huagi Mountain?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes."

Ink Orchid asked, "After I sow my Red Phellodendron Divine Seed on Huagi Mountain, will the Linnan Divine Seed then come to Purple Tung Insect Nation for rebirth?"

Dragon Cypress: "That’s what I intend."

As they spoke, the Dominating Throne drew near the Central Region, plunging rapidly.

Huagi Divine Tree’s vast spiritual power swept forth, scanning quickly, then withdrew and calmed, before decisively declaring:

"As things stand, you two are trustworthy Ant King and Mantis. There’s no need for us to waste time waiting. Once I confirm the location, you get ready and make arrangements for Linnan Divine Tree to come as soon as possible."

Ink Orchid: "Sure! Thanks for your trust, Huagi Divine Tree."

Dragon Cypress: "...That works too."

Dragon Cypress: "To be safe, I’ll need to invite White Willow, White Rice, and Ghost Fan to help out. They all participated in the war against the Termite Kingdom, and have been trained in combat by Quandong Divine Tree. They’re quite reliable."

Huagi Divine Tree: "Suspicious by nature, that Ant King is."

Before Dragon Cypress could retort, Huagi Divine Tree added, "Most insects capable of great undertakings are all suspicious by nature."

Dragon Cypress: "...Being cautious in everything never goes wrong."

Huagi Divine Tree stopped talking.

Yellow Stem mediated, "It’s for the best if Dragon Cypress Ant King invites more trustworthy warriors over, naturally."

Ink Orchid strongly agreed, "Yes. Yes."

...

The Dominating Throne tilted in descent, hovered, slowed, and came to a stop under the White Poplar Divine Seed tree.

"Oh!" Spruce, who was guarding by the pot, saw what was on the Throne and jumped up in fright.

Snakebark Maple, keen and perceptive, noticed it was no trivial matter, asking, "What’s this...?"

Ink Orchid: "Huagi Divine Tree!"

"Ah?"

Snakebark Maple leapt up after her.

Round Cypress and Cypress, who were commanding the ants to prepare a feast, were also greatly startled.

Huagi Divine Tree paid no attention, unleashing spiritual power to briefly envelop the White Poplar Divine Seed, then retracting it in an instant.

"Very good!"

"Looking good."

Huagi Divine Tree gave a terse evaluation, then turned its attention to the steaming, oversized stone pot, and to the freshly cut and skewered meats beside it, asking in curiosity:

"What are you all doing?"

Ink Orchid explained, "This is our Xianglan Mountain Kingdom’s unique way of eating, using Water System Ability to heat fresh water, cook the meat until it’s done, then dip it in ant honey to eat..."

"Oh... eating... quite nice."

Huagi Divine Tree commented perfunctorily, then turned away from the matter.

At the same time, the White Poplar Divine Seed, startled by the sudden, overwhelming spiritual force, nervously asked, "Dragon Cypress, is that a..."

Dragon Cypress: "That’s a tree heart form of a Divine-Given Seed. That’s the Huagi Divine Tree from Huagi Mountain, a being beyond King-Level."

Dragon Cypress reassured, "White Poplar, don’t be afraid. Huagi Divine Tree means no harm; it’s just checking if you’re suitable to bloom this year."

White Poplar: "...Tree heart? Is it also a plant? I’m not scared."

White Poplar: "So am I suitable to bloom this year?"

Dragon Cypress: "Absolutely! Do as you please."

Dragon Cypress waved its tentacles and said, "Spruce, Ink Orchid, Snakebark Maple, Round Cypress, Cypress—if you’re hungry, go ahead and eat first. Yellow Stem and I will take Huagi Divine Tree to survey the terrain for a suitable rooting spot."

With that, Dragon Cypress left, controlling the Dominating Throne to fly up and hover low, heading straight under the Purple Tung Divine Seed tree.

Who could still focus on eating?

Ink Orchid and Spruce flew over to follow.

Snakebark Maple ran along the ground in pursuit.

Huagi Divine Tree sent out spiritual power, enveloped, then retracted, commenting, "A very nice tree."

Dragon Cypress humbly asked for guidance, "Huagi Divine Tree, from your experience, how far off is the Purple Tung Divine Seed from King-Level?"

Huagi Divine Tree: "Very little."

Huagi Divine Tree: "Bring all my exuviae over and let it use some. Wait a few years and it should be able to break through."

"That’s wonderful! Thank you, Huagi Divine Tree!"

Ink Orchid cheered.

"Generous Huagi Divine Tree!"

Snakebark Maple chimed in in jubilation.

Huagi Divine Tree added, "Your White Poplar Divine Seed can also use a small amount, no need for much. The Primordial Energy System and tree species are not matching, so my exuviae will be of limited use to them."

Dragon Cypress: "Thank you for the instruction, Huagi Divine Tree!"

Huagi Divine Tree sent its spiritual power sweeping out for several kilometers, scanning in a circle, and asked, "Is that the Red Phellodendron Divine Seed due north?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes."

Huagi Divine Tree said, "I’m very curious about the ability of that One-Glimpse Fruit. You go northeast, I’ll find a spot to take root close by."

"Okay!"

Dragon Cypress controlled the Dominating Throne and drifted to a halt where Huagi Divine Tree indicated.

"Right here! Yellow Stem, plant me in the earth."

Yellow Stem: "???"

Yellow Stem: "Huagi Divine Tree? Now?"

Huagi Divine Tree shot back, "Why delay something that’s already decided?"

Yellow Stem: "But... no preparation? Your exuviae are still at Huagi Mountain—it’ll take huge effort to transport them."

Huagi Divine Tree: "Dig a ring-shaped trench around my rooting spot, 30 meters in radius, 6 meters wide and 6 meters deep. Backfill the exuviae there. Once I grow big enough, my roots will spread over."

Is this okay? Yellow Stem: "Got it—"

Yellow Stem asked, "And Source Stone...?"

Huagi Divine Tree: "This place is vast with abundant Origin Force, no need for Source Stones."

Saving a fortune!

Yellow Stem responded forcefully, "Understood!"

Spruce, quick-witted, listened in and strode forward, using its claw to clear the last remnants of snow and ice, scooping out a shallow half-meter-deep pit.

Dragon Cypress shrank the Dominating Throne.

Yellow Stem, with Huagi Divine Tree on its head, leapt down gently, went forward, and settled it into the pit, refilling the soil.

Dragon Cypress activated Water System Ability, gathering the surrounding snow, melting it into warm water, and watering the spot.

Origin Force in the vicinity rapidly gathered in the soil, forming a swirling vortex.

After a short wait, a shoot burst through the soil, quickly growing taller, becoming a golden, metal-textured pine sapling.

The sapling grew rapidly; in just a moment it reached one meter tall, and in another moment shot past two meters...

"Don’t stare at it!"

"Stop watching for now!"

Yellow Stem was first to snap out of it, anxiously saying, "Thirty meter radius, quick, measure it, thirty meter radius, dig a ring trench, six meters wide, six meters deep."

Yellow Stem: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, you’ll have some hard work ahead of you these next few days, quickly bringing Huagi Divine Tree’s exuviae over."

"Alright—"

Dragon Cypress nodded up and down with his tentacles in agreement, and then comforted, "Yellow Stem, don’t be anxious, let’s take another look—wait until Huagi Divine Tree is stable first before acting."