...

Just as the tactics were being laid out, there was a commotion outside, Blue Wing flashed in.

"Dark Maple Dragonfly King, leaders, Butterfly King Jacaranda brings reconnaissance news, the Stone Hunt Blue Ant Army has retreated."

"???"

The aura in the grand hall momentarily stalled.

—Retreated?

—We were just discussing the preparations for battle.

White Crystal Butterfly King was the first to react, asking: "Shall I personally go out to sea and take a look?"

Dark Maple Dragonfly King: "Be careful!"

White Crystal Butterfly King flew away.

"..."

All the insects looked toward Mountain Pepper Ant King.

Mountain Pepper Ant King: "Stone Hunt Blue Ants are cunning, do not relax! I will continue to arrange tactics..."

Mountain Pepper Ant King continued to explain, analyzing the various tactical formations the Stone Hunt Blue Ant Army might use in concentrating their forces to attack the island, and the allied army's strategies for counterattacks...

Accelerating the speech to finish.

Each busy organizing troops for battle.

Dragon Cypress returned to the lowland, activated the Whirl Beast ability, the water pool rose up, transformed into Cloud Mist Giant Ant, dashing towards the heavens.

"Great King?"

Silver Cypress questioned.

"Dragon Cypress? What's the situation? I've just heard the Stone Hunt Blue Ant Army has retreated?"

Ink Orchid inquired.

"Don't rush. Be ready. Wait for news."

Dragon Cypress briefly responded, instinctively preparing to activate the Scorching Ability to observe, only to find the view completely obstructed by wind and snow.

The bitter cold wind roared.

The clouds over Yu'e Island turned into falling snowflakes.

The Red Ring Hornet army lined up, entire bodies ablaze, dispersing thick clouds.

Only the situation within the island was visible, outside the island, blizzards danced wildly with the gale, the view completely blocked.

Led by White Crystal Butterfly King, five fearless Saint Butterfly Tribe warriors vanished into the wind and snow.

In the deep night,

White Crystal Butterfly King led a Butterfly King out of the wind and snow.

News quickly reached Dragon Cypress: reconnaissance confirmed, Stone Hunt Blue Ant Army had retreated.

Jacaranda, Rainbow Parasol Tree, Bin Yu Butterfly King tracked high in the sky, biting onto them, any news would be relayed immediately.

News spread across the island.

The tense and burdensome atmosphere eased.

The next morning,

The wind weakened, snow ceased.

Butterfly King Jacaranda returned alone, bringing news, Stone Hunt Blue Ant Army had returned to Blue Island.

The war came to an end.

A celebratory atmosphere filled the island.

Dragon Cypress dared not delay a moment, Cloud Mist Giant Ant swooped down, landing, leading Ink Orchid straight to the palace of Dark Maple Dragonfly King.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, Mantis King Ink Orchid..."

"Dark Maple Dragonfly King, Ink Orchid and I are here to bid farewell. We have killed a Kirin Beast Ant King, and fear retaliation. We must swiftly return to Rainbow Return Island and prepare for defense."

"Understood..."

Dark Maple Dragonfly King activated Nightfall Ability, raised a shield to isolate spiritual power detection, saying:

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, if Blue Island wants to retaliate against you, it must send Kirin Beast Ant King, or, we could secretly gather a batch of elite soldiers, laying an ambush on Rainbow Return Island..."

Dragon Cypress shook its antennae and said, "Every move in Wave Tree Bay is hard to escape Blue Island's intelligence channels."

Dark Maple Dragonfly King: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "Dark Maple Dragonfly King, closely monitor Blue Island's main forces. If there's any unusual movement, send the fastest Dragonfly Warrior to notify me promptly. As long as it's not millions of Stone Hunt Blue Ant Army besieging us, I can still handle a single Kirin Beast Ant King."

Dark Maple Dragonfly King: "Alright——"

Dark Maple Dragonfly King: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, there's one more thing. Our Wave Tree Bay United Kingdom previously placed a bounty of 1 billion Source Stones on the Kirin Beast Ant King, with an additional purchase quota of 6 Divine-Grade Fruits..."

——That's right!

——1 billion?

Ink Orchid's antennae trembled, and its eyes gradually began to shine.

Almost forgot about this!

Long ago, Flash Butterfly Warrior Jacaranda mentioned that Wave Tree Bay United Kingdom raised a lot of funds as battle rewards, and killing an Ant King, Assistant King, or Sea God Horn Beetle Warrior on the battlefield would earn substantial rewards.

The Source Stones awarded are not ordinary, they're special Spider King Scrolls, exchangeable for Divine-Given Origin Force Food with any Flame Spider Caravan.

Prices in the Southern Hemisphere are high, but converted to Northern Hemisphere prices, it's worth seven or eight hundred million, right?

Rolling in money!

Ink Orchid looked around: Where's the Source Stone?

Dark Maple Dragonfly King: "The rewards are delivered in the form of special Spider King Scrolls. Due to the enormous amount, they are deposited with the Snow Velvet Tycoon, and distributed by the Snow Velvet Tycoon. Including the Divine-Grade Fruit quota, whatever you need, just contact the Snow Velvet Spider King to reserve."

The early summer of the coming year in the Southern Hemisphere, the early winter of the current year in Northern Hemisphere chronology.

Ink Orchid enthusiastically nodded its antennae, praising: "That's convenient indeed!"

Dragon Cypress also agreed: "No problem!"

Dragon Cypress hesitated for a moment and couldn't help but say: "Dark Maple Dragonfly King, 1 billion is not a small figure. This amount is reasonable for a bounty on a single Kirin Beast. But this time there were three, two remain. What about the remaining bounty funds..."

Dark Maple Dragonfly King chuckled: "No need to worry at all. This great war resulted in a complete victory for our Wave Tree Bay Alliance, especially since we even killed a Kirin Beast, an unprecedented achievement that strongly demonstrates the strength of the allied forces. With strength, anything is negotiable. News of this has spread quickly across Zhibai and Wanglan Continents, and there are many tribes and kingdoms willing to fund us."

——That's indeed the case!

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid both nodded their antennae.

There are seven thousand kingdoms on the Wanglan Continent.

There are ten thousand tribes on the Zhibai Continent.

If a few hundred thousand, or a million Source Stones could be offered to solve a crisis threatening the continent, most normal Insects would be quite willing.

Dragon Cypress considered for a moment and said, "Then I'll safely accept this 1 billion bounty. Dark Maple Dragonfly King, you're busy. Ink Orchid and I shall take our leave first!"

...

The Giant Ant flapped its wings, flying above the sea of clouds.

Ink Orchid: "..."

Ink Orchid worriedly said: "Ant, Rainbow Island is in danger! If the Kirin Beast Ant King attacks, are you sure you can handle it?"

Dragon Cypress: "Hard to say... Cypress, what do you think?"

Cypress was puzzled, "Great King, what should I say?"

Dragon Cypress: "Silver Cypress, tell me."

Silver Cypress: "The Great King is mighty! The Great King is bound to win!"

Dragon Cypress sighed and said: "If Giant Cypress or Black Birch were here, they would have determined that the Kirin Beast Ant King wouldn't attack Rainbow Island."

"Firstly, I used the Dead Water Vortex Beast and the Ant King's head to successfully scare off the Kirin Beast Ant King, and it even forgot to take away its companion's head, indicating a lack of courage and fighting spirit. Or, this could be interpreted as caution."

"Secondly, after the first-wave island attack failure, they gathered forces, unwilling to retreat, yet hesitating to advance, further indicating indecisiveness within their decision-making hierarchy. Or again, interpreted as caution."

"Thirdly, the Kirin Beast Ant King comprehended 'Kirin' for about a century, perfectly hiding, and even I couldn't see through it, showing tremendous disguise and patience, again interpreted as caution."

Dragon Cypress: "Consider it from the perspective of a cautious, patient Insect. They are certainly flustered and puzzled about what kind of Ant Clan we are. How could we mimic the 'Sea Beast' with devouring properties, capable of countering 'Kirin'? If the Ant King can do it, can the subordinate Assistant King as well? What about other Ant Kings in the same clan? Was it by chance, or did a clan or group mutate?"

"Moreover, the three flying Sea Beasts above the sea of clouds witnessed that the battle killing the 700-meter Kirin Beast Ant King wasn't by me, but by the suddenly appearing Second King. What kind of Insect is this? What capability does it possess? How could it be so strong? The Second King blasted the Kirin Beast, precisely targeting and beheading the Ant King with a single strike, causing the most fear to the Kirin Beast Ant King."

Dragon Cypress: "These are critical issues. Before uncovering these mysteries, Blue Island wouldn't dare act rashly."

Ink Orchid: "..."

Cypress: "..."

Silver Cypress: "The Great King is right, but, Great King, what if the Kirin Beast Ant King brings several Sea Beasts to attack Rainbow Island, how should we respond?"

Dragon Cypress: "That would be a fierce battle. It won't happen in the short term. In the coming years, the Second King and I will remain stationed on Rainbow Island and should not leave lightly. During this period, undoubtedly, Insect Clans of various kinds will either visit or secretly observe. Those openly visiting are not allowed within 30 kilometers of the island. Covert observers harbor malicious intent and must not be allowed to remain!"