The water sphere transformed back into a mass of transparent, clean seawater, dropping into the sea with a splash.

——Is this the Sea Beast Devouring? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Zi was again stupefied, exclaiming in amazement: "What a terrifying ability! I realized long ago that ants are not ordinary insects!"

Dragon Cypress beckoned: "Let's go to the island to talk."

Butterfly King Nupur hurriedly interjected: "These are extraordinary times, and there aren't any other matters; we can just talk at sea. The defense of Rainbow Island is known to no insects. But if I and Zi go ashore and something goes wrong afterward, it can't be explained clearly."

Zi: "..."

Are you guarding against me?

Zi folded its wings, drooping its antennae in silence.

"That's true. Ink Orchid and I won't be entertaining then."

Dragon Cypress proactively asked: "Butterfly King Nupur, how many Divine-Grade 'Thorn Clusterberry Seeds' can be exchanged next year?"

Butterfly King Nupur answered: "There are two seeds remaining. Dragon Cypress Ant King, how many do you need?"

Dragon Cypress: "Then two! The Divine-Grade Baihe Fruits will mature seven years later, and I'll reserve two portions for you then."

Butterfly King Nupur: "Great!"

Dragon Cypress: "Currently, temporarily, we need 6 seeds."

Butterfly King Nupur: "Then it'll be the next batch and the batch after that. We'll complete the exchange in three batches. If there's further need, feel free to come to me or the White Crystal Butterfly King anytime."

Dragon Cypress nodded its antennae in agreement, slowing its speech, saying: "The reward for slaying the Kirin Beast Ant King includes 6 Divine-Grade fruits quota. Back then, we left hastily, and I didn't have time to inquire in detail. Butterfly King Nupur, you should be aware, right? How is this quota utilized? How is it chosen? Which Divine-Grade options are available?"

Upon hearing this, Ink Orchid and Zi's eyes simultaneously brightened, their antennae standing upright, listening attentively.

Butterfly King Nupur: "The Divine-Grade fruits available in Zhibai and Bayonet continents can be chosen. Snow Velvet Spider King coordinates among them."

Dragon Cypress: "And the Divine-Grade White Crystal Fruit of the nobility?"

Butterfly King Nupur: "Of course. 20 million Source Stone per fruit, paid with Spider King Scroll issued by Wave Tree Bay Alliance. However, it can't be directly purchased from us; it needs to be processed through Snow Velvet Spider King."

Butterfly King Nupur asked: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, how many do you need? You can pre-order now."

Dragon Cypress pondered for a moment, tentatively asking: "Three fruits?"

"Three fruits?"

Butterfly King Nupur glanced at Ink Orchid, hesitated slightly, and agreed: "No problem!"

Butterfly King Nupur added: "Our Saint Butterfly Tribe pledged assistance valued at 50 million Source Stone in Divine-Grade fruits for the war. Three Divine-Grade White Crystal Fruits exceed the pledged amount. Snow Velvet Spider King will coordinate with other tribes or kingdoms that have similarly pledged Divine-Grade fruits, appropriately compensating our Saint Butterfly Tribe. In such ways, for unpledged Divine-Grade fruits, Snow Velvet Spider King can also assist in acquiring them through exchange."

"Understood!"

Dragon Cypress nodded its antennae, asking: "Butterfly King Nupur, is there any intelligence from Blue Island?"

Butterfly King Nupur: "I acquired some news at Dragon Stride Mountain. Both Kirin Beast Ant King and Kirin Beast Beetle King are diligently honing their abilities, under the surveillance of Scorching Ability reconnaissance. Rest assured, Dragon Cypress Ant King; if something unusual happens, the White Crystal Butterfly King will surely inform you immediately."

Butterfly King Nupur continued: "The situation is dire! In just over a hundred years, three kings who have comprehended 'Kirin' have consecutively appeared, and one Sea God Horn Beetle Warrior who comprehended 'Kirin' as well. This is no coincidence. It's certain that some Divine God-Given Seed has been born on Blue Island, greatly increasing the probability of comprehending 'Kirin'."

"I fear that the Stone Hunt Blue Ant Tribe will rely on the shelter of the Ocean God's Scepter, biding their time, accumulating power. If they nurture two or three such kings, Assistant King, or Sea God Horn Beetle Warriors, I really don't know how to respond."

Dragon Cypress: "Over at Zhibai Continent, it's time for Eddy Scorpionfish Ant King, right?"

Butterfly King Nupur: "Yes. It should be around the same age as One Fruit Bee Queen and the others. By calculation, it's nearing its aging period. But I fear it will abandon its future and life, determined to fight to the end with us."

Zi became lively again, saying: "That's simple then. Dragon Cypress Ant King and Mantis King Ink Orchid can enter Zhibai Continent and kill that Eddy Scorpionfish Ant King."

Dragon Cypress: "Zi's suggestion is good..."

...

After chatting for a long while, Butterfly King Nupur and Zi took their leave.

Rainbow Island returned to tranquility.

Another month later, the Northern Hemisphere entered deep autumn.

Autumn trade.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid returned to the Cloud Trace Continent to inform all the Lands of Origin Force about the Blue Island incident.

...

Purple Tung Insect Nation.

Ink Orchid habitually searched for the Divine-Given Seed.

Dragon Cypress went straight to the Huagi Divine Tree and detailed the situation on the Bayonet Continent, then said:

"For safety's sake, Boss Yellow and Spruce should first hide on Rainbow Island to avoid the next summons from the Natural True God, then return to the Purple Tung Insect Nation and lay low for 30 years. After 30 years, when my kingdom's military strength improves and Ink Orchid's power grows, everyone can safely migrate to Rainbow Island."

The Linnan Divine Tree, dissatisfied and angry, said: "Spruce is fine, but that wastrel Yellow Stem used up 6 Divine-Given Seeds all by itself. As an Insect King, it earns four or five million Source Stones annually, so how much will it lose with all this relocation?"

Jinhe also said: "Ant, you are always facing threats on the Bayonet Continent, unable to find peace or develop properly. This is no solution."

Dragon Cypress sighed: "It's not just me; now, the entire Southern Hemisphere is restless."

Linnan Divine Tree: "Is there a way to get rid of that Kirin Beast Ant King?"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress said: "Currently, if I were to face it, at best, it's a fifty-fifty chance. If it wants to run, I can't catch it."

Linnan Divine Tree: "Haven't you mastered the more powerful Water System Dead Water State? Doesn't that overpower it?"

Dragon Cypress explained: "Firstly, at present, there aren't enough Specialized Blue Soldiers to coordinate with the Dead Water State, so I can't overpower it. Secondly, from my observation, 'Kirin' under Ice State has incredibly strong defenses; the Dead Water State doesn't have the upper hand. On the contrary, my Whirl Beast lacks a strong Water System Defense Ability, making it somewhat at a disadvantage in ground combat. I can only lure it to transform into Cloud Mist State and engage in aerial combat with it."

Linnan Divine Tree, agitated and fiery, said, "You mean to say, you still have some difficulty defeating it?"

Dragon Cypress replied calmly, "You can't say it like that. In defending the island, I still have confidence."

Linnan Divine Tree asked: "What about the Mantis?"

Dragon Cypress: "The Mantis isn't stronger than me. It needs time to grow; for now, it can only hide in the shadows for ambushes or the like."

Linnan Divine Tree angrily said: "Ant and Mantis are both useless!"

Linnan Divine Tree incredulously said: "Then why don't you stay quietly on Rainbow Island? How dare you roam around the Cloud Trace Continent?"

Dragon Cypress: "I came to inform everyone to prevent unnecessary worry. Moreover, based on my observations and deductions, the remaining Kirin Beast Ant King doesn't dare to attack Rainbow Island."

"Firstly, on the battlefield, I used the Dead Water State Whirl Beast and the Ant King's head to successfully scare off the Kirin Beast Ant King..."

Dragon Cypress patiently explained his analysis.

Linnan Divine Tree listened, getting angrier, said furiously: "Ant, you've forgotten that intelligent life forms don't just rely on rational thinking; they also have emotional impulses that can lead to irrational actions."

Dragon Cypress, unhurriedly and calmly, replied: "From what I know, the warfare affairs of the Stone Hunt Blue Ant Kingdom are decided jointly by several Ant Kings, Bettle Kings, and Assistant Kings who have comprehended the Sea Beast Devouring Ability. One or two insects might lose control and act rashly, but the likelihood of a collective losing sanity is minimal. Before they understand the origins and strength of Ink Orchid and me and the specifics of Rainbow Island, they won't take any action."

After Dragon Cypress finished speaking, he shifted the topic, saying, "But I must admit, the current situation is indeed perilous, which is why I've arranged for the Cloud Trace insects not to rush the migration. The King Cypress Fruit is about to mature, and Ink Orchid and I can't move. I also don't want the existence of the Law Divine Tree to be known to other insects in the Southern Hemisphere, nor can I invite other insects for support. If a battle does occur, Ink Orchid and I, working together, have a certain capacity to respond. In addition, the Snow Velvet Spider King will arrive soon and it has to come up with a solution. After all, the inter-realm passage on Rainbow Island can't be exposed, and the Flame Spider Tribe is more anxious than I am."

The Linnan Divine Tree, having lost its anger, said mockingly: "This ant is eloquent."

Aggrieved, the Linnan Divine Tree said: "Huagi, I can't stand these foolish ants and mantises. Think of a way to solve the problem. Otherwise, those two will perish on the Bayonet Continent sooner or later."

The Quandong Divine Tree, who rarely speaks, said: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, by killing a Kirin Beast Ant King on the battlefield, you've made a mortal enemy with Blue Island. Hatred can be temporarily suppressed, but it will never be abandoned. From your descriptions, it can be inferred that the Stone Hunt Blue Ants are not only ferocious and warlike but also skilled at long-term planning. If I were Blue Island, I'd wait until that Kirin Beast Bettle King grows, and with two thousand-meter-long Kirin Beasts, a few Sea Beasts, and a million Ant Army, I'd crush Rainbow Island with a charge."

The Linnan Divine Tree immediately agreed: "This is the most rational yet simplest and most brutal tactical approach. Ant, what do you have to say?"

Dragon Cypress: "..."

The Linnan Divine Tree urged again: "Huagi, speak."

The Huagi Divine Tree remained silent for a long time, then with great difficulty, made an enormous decision, slowly saying: "To deal with the Kirin Beast, we have no methods, but there is an Outworld Civilization Artifact. Dragon Cypress Ant King, you need to pay 3 billion Source Stones upfront."

Dragon Cypress: "???"

Dragon Cypress, his spirits lifted, quickly had a guess as his thoughts raced.