Chapter 490 - 470: Heavenly Frost Divine Tree

The Huangqian had already spent two years as a 9th Age Period High-Level Shield Grasshopper Warrior, fully prepared.

Dragon Cypress escorted it back to Huagi Mountain for recuperation.

With the spring weather warming, they’d soon hurry to Huagi Mountain, where the Dominating Throne would help it break through.

1st Age Period Evolution Mountain Lord Level Shield Grasshopper Warrior.

Awakened Water System Talent.

...

Evening,

Lakeside at the foot of the mountain.

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, Spruce, and Huangqian sat around a giant stone pot, eating together.

Dragon Cypress asked at the right moment, "Mountain Lord Huangqian, now that you’ve survived the life-and-death ordeal, you can activate the Divine-Given Seed now, right?"

Huangqian grew wary upon hearing this, "That’s the plan."

Dragon Cypress: "Which plant do you plan to choose as your first God-Given Life Seed?"

Huangqian: "There really aren’t many Divine-Given Seeds left in Huagi Mountain’s treasury, not much to choose from. I can only pick the Nine-Leaf Huangqian."

Dragon Cypress: "Not bad. Not bad..."

Ink Orchid had already eaten two Divine-Grade Fruits—Spotted Thicket and Night Fragrance—during its 6th Age Period stage, so it couldn’t eat more.

But in three years, the Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit would be delivered.

Ink Orchid was eager to evolve into 7th Age Period Mountain Lord.

Dragon Cypress wanted to help Ink Orchid borrow another Divine-Given Seed, but judging from Huangqian’s attitude, it seemed impossible to borrow one now.

The last time they borrowed the Thunder Oak Divine-Given Seed, who knew when they’d be able to return it.

Dragon Cypress felt a bit embarrassed to borrow again, too.

Ink Orchid, following the conversation, skipped the topic and asked, "Huangqian, how many abilities have you comprehended?"

Huangqian said gloomily, "Only three."

"..."

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Spruce all fell silent.

What do you mean ’only’ three?

Is three supposed to be few?

We all know each other so well, is there really any need to be so modest?

But seeing Huangqian’s expression, it didn’t seem fake—he really didn’t look too happy...

Ink Orchid pressed, "What abilities? Want to show us?"

Huangqian waggled its tentacles, and the boiling water in the pot leapt two or three meters high, transforming midair into the shape of a fish, flipping in the air before landing gently back into the pot.

"The first is Water Control. This is a basic ability that comes with awakening the Water System Talent."

Ink Orchid nodded its tentacle, "True. Dragon Cypress can do it too."

Spruce asked, "And the second?"

Huangqian looked up to the sky.

Sharp-angled, razor-edged, pristine white thin ice sheets appeared out of thin air and drifted down slowly.

Huangqian: "The second ability is a Racial Talent—Frostfall. I can control it, fire it as an attack; it’s a combat ability for offense."

Ink Orchid praised, "Impressive, Huangqian! That’s something Dragon Cypress can’t do."

Huangqian: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Spruce asked, "And the third ability?"

Huangqian: "The third is also a Racial Talent, called ’Frost Thorn’."

As Huangqian spoke, a chill surrounded it, its carapace rising with a layer of frosty blue color.

Spiritual power swept to examine—it turned out to be a thin, sturdy layer of ice only 0.5 millimeters thick.

Ink Orchid lifted a claw, tapping at it with its toe tip.

Tap with some force.

Tap with all its strength.

Primordial Energy gathered at its toe; it raised a foreleg, accumulating force...

Huangqian jumped in fright, leaping away, "Ink Orchid, do you have a problem with me? Just say it directly."

Ink Orchid: "Is this a defensive ability? Pretty strong. I wanted to test its durability."

Huangqian: "A top-level Water System Defense Ability, even stronger than most carapaces. But I just evolved to the Mountain Lord level, it’s not strong enough yet. Later, when I eat Origin Force Food specializing in comprehensive Water Element Ability enhancement, the ability will strengthen even more. Its complete form is a dense layer of frost thorns."

Ink Orchid: "Oh——"

Ink Orchid sighed sincerely, "Just evolved to Mountain Lord level and already mastered three abilities—amazing!"

Dragon Cypress asked with curiosity, "Huangqian, how come you have two Talent Abilities?"

Ink Orchid wondered too: "Huangqian, I remember you said your Shield Grasshopper Tribe mutated before, that your Talent Ability is in your eyes."

Huangqian: "Before reaching Mountain Lord level, I really only had a not-so-impressive visual type Talent Ability..."

Huangqian: "Every Divine-Given Seed has its own Origin Force Field, and there’s a small chance that it induces mutations in ordinary insects living nearby. The more evolved the Divine-Given Seed, the stronger its field, and the greater the chance of mutation."

Huangqian: "Our Shield Grasshopper Tribe underwent three mutations—the first was under the Huagi Divine Tree, where we gained better distance vision."

Huangqian: "The second time was under the Quandong Divine Tree, where our visual ability strengthened again, able to see into souls; it was said we could discern the black and white, the good and evil of intelligent beings—but really, it wasn’t reliable. Dragon Cypress Ant King is as black as they come, but I actually saw him as white."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress complained, "Huangqian, I never saw you as one to crack jokes~"

Huangqian ignored Dragon Cypress and continued, "Actually, in our Huagi Mountain, there used to be another ancient Divine Tree called ’Heavenly Frost Divine Tree’. Previously, it was the Heavenly Frost Divine Tree that managed tribal warfare. Later, it left the Origin Force Star Realm, bequeathing its divine item Glinting Gold to Linnan Divine-Given Seed, giving rise to today’s Linnan Divine Tree."

Huangqian: "It was under the Heavenly Frost Divine Tree the Shield Grasshopper Tribe underwent a third mutation: whenever one awakens Water System Talent, one’s sure to gain both the Frostfall and Frost Thorn Talent Abilities."

After finishing, Huangqian once again lamented, "So, strictly speaking, upon evolving to Mountain Lord level, I’ve only understood the most basic Water Control ability on my own. In the peak period of Huagi Mountain, an insect like me would just be suitable for odd jobs watering and fertilizing the fields."

"..."

Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Spruce fell silent again.

That being the case, Linnan Divine Tree didn’t say anything wrong—Huangqian really was kind of useless.

Ink Orchid had a sudden thought and said, "Huangqian, you’ve been planting grass around Linnan Divine Tree, raising common Shield Grasshoppers on a large scale. Are you planning..."

Huangqian: "That’s right. Hoping to see the Shield Grasshopper Tribe undergo a fourth bloodline metamorphosis under the influence of Linnan Divine Tree’s energy field."

Huangqian: "According to the pattern, if it happens, the Shield Grasshopper Tribe will gain a third—Wood Element Talent Potential, and from then on, newly born Shield Grasshopper Warriors will have the chance to awaken Wood Element Talent."

Huangqian: "It’s extremely hard. Huagi Mountain has been working on this for thousands of years, and we’ve never once succeeded."

Ink Orchid marveled again, "Truly impressive!"

Dragon Cypress: "If you do succeed, does that mean a Divine Tree would voluntarily hand over the divine item Glinting Gold?"

Huangqian: "That’s a sensitive topic—I wouldn’t dare to ask. But first, you can rule out the Huagi Divine Tree and the Quandong Divine Tree—they’re both waiting for the ancestor who left the Shield Grasshopper Tribe to return."

Of three Divine Trees, two are out—so that means only Linnan Divine Tree is left.

But Linnan Divine Tree is the most valuable Divine-Grade of Huagi Mountain, certainly can’t be allowed to leave.

Besides, the Jinhe Divine-Given Seed bestows Metal System Ability—the Shield Grasshopper Tribe has no Metal System Talent Potential and isn’t suited to replace Linnan Divine Tree’s position.

Huangqian: "Discussing this now is meaningless—it’s an issue for the next Origin Force Era. In the next Origin Force Era, if Huagi Mountain regains its former flourish and the Shield Grasshopper Tribe finally acquires the Wood Element Talent Potential, maybe, when other Divine-Grades are born, a Divine Tree might consider giving up its place."

The Quandong Divine Tree’s spiritual power floated over.

All the insects twitched their tentacles, hmm-ing and ahh-ing, not daring to speak further.

Huangqian naturally changed the subject, saying: "The Orchid Mantis possesses potential for Water, Wood, Earth, and Wind systems. It probably isn’t an original form, is it?"

Spruce chimed in, "Ink Orchid, your ancestors must’ve been pretty affluent too, huh? Maybe even stronger than Huagi Mountain once."

Ink Orchid: "I don’t know... maybe..."

The idle chat went on late into the night.

They left early the next morning.

This spring there’s a lot to do—transplant Blue Ice Cypress saplings to White Lotus Lake, ask Blue Catalpa for help, and graft Black Peach No. 1 at Molan Mountain...