Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 651 - 574 Silver Cypress Year 1
...
"Dragon Cypress, have you finished planting the cypresses?"
"No. Still need to finish at Xuelan Mountain and Banlan Mountain."
"What about Fragrant Silk Island..."
"We'll see about that next year."
Dragon Cypress originally planned to spend three years to quickly finish developing Fragrant Silk Island, then start the Silver Cypress Tree breeding project here on Cloud Trace Continent.
Now, the work has switched between the two places, which is about the same.
Dragon Cypress: "This time I came back to Xianglan Mountain just to check if the Cypress Divine-Given Seed has matured. Since that's the case, I won't linger—I'm heading back to Xuelan Mountain to continue the work. There are still tens of thousands of culled cypresses to be cleared, lots to do."
"Oh——"
Ink Orchid: "Transplanting in the spring next year?"
Dragon Cypress: "Of course."
Ink Orchid: "If I remember correctly, the Divine-Grade Fruit granting Fire Element Talent will be delivered next spring."
Dragon Cypress: "You remember right."
Dragon Cypress then asked: "Ink Orchid, you've been staying at Xianglan Mountain for nearly three and a half years, do you want to switch to another place?"
"Switch!"
Ink Orchid: "I'll switch to..."
Ink Orchid hesitated twice, then said: "I'll just go to Molan Mountain. I'll take care of Senior Orchid Mantis."
Dragon Cypress: "As you like."
As they spoke, the Dominating Throne slowly descended, docking at the entrance of South Mountain Ant Nest.
Dragon Cypress greeted Azure, informing them of the visit, and that he would take the King Cypress Divine-Given Seed and Ink Orchid with him.
The King Cypress Divine-Given Seed was too special—Dragon Cypress was worried that if he left it in the treasury, Spiked Cypress and Silver Cypress would sneak it out for a peek and mess it up. He had to carry it with him to be at ease.
Azure would pass along the news of Dragon Cypress's return and departure to them.
Not lingering,
the Dominating Throne took off again, heading straight for Molan Mountain. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
...
The second batch of Great King Molan Divine-Given Seeds finished their third round of fruit-swelling this spring. Two more rounds are needed—so, in 16 years, it will be mature and ready for harvest.
Senior Orchid Mantis is lively, so Ink Orchid stayed to keep it company.
Dragon Cypress rushed alone to Xuelan Mountain.
Busy all the way through the depth of winter, finishing the task and wrapping up.
Dragon Cypress shuttled back and forth again,
delivering Black Birch, Black Leaf, and Black Cory back to Xianglan Mountain.
Then picked up Round Cypress, Cypress, and Black Sophora from the Purple Tung Insect Nation and brought them back to Xianglan Mountain.
Then fetched Black Peach, Tie Bush, and Ink Orchid back to Xianglan Mountain.
Dragon Cypress was about to hold an important meeting to decide the kingdom's future development.
The current twelve Assistant Kings:
Round Cypress, Spiked Cypress, Giant Cypress, Cypress, Fragrant Cypress, Silver Cypress; Black Cory, Black Leaf, Black Birch, Black Peach, Black Persimmon, Black Sophora.
Except for Giant Cypress staying behind at the Purple Tung Insect Nation, the other eleven Assistant Kings gathered at Xianglan Mountain.
At the ridge, Shandong Reservoir, they first held a grand celebration banquet.
All gathered to celebrate the kingdom's successful cultivation of the extraordinary King Cypress Divine-Given Seed.
Eating, drinking, and chatting almost done,
Dragon Cypress jumped onto the Dominating Throne and solemnly declared: "After decades of hard work planting Silver Cypress Trees, we've finally reaped our first abundant returns—though we did rely on Zhibai's top-level bloodline..."
Dragon Cypress continued: "There's no doubt—the Silver Cypress, this plant species, has limitless potential for cultivation—one of a kind. It's worthy of being raised to the emblematic species of our Xianglan Mountain Kingdom. Today, I formally announce and confirm: from now on, and in the future, and even far into the Outworld, our Xianglan Mountain Kingdom will focus on the 'Silver Cypress' as our central species—intensively cultivating it and adopting it as our kingdom's emblem and symbol."
"Great King is wise!"
Spiked Cypress immediately raised its forelegs to lead the cheer in response.
"Great King valiant!"
Silver Cypress cheered and echoed.
All the ants followed with cheers.
Dragon Cypress waved his forelegs up and down, signaling for silence, and continued: "I've always thought that the way we record time by carving symbols is too cumbersome and vague—some dim-witted insects lose track of how many years have passed, even forget how old they are. This can't go on. It needs to change. I heard that in Shanglu, the Dulai Flame Spider Kingdom uses the 'era' and 'year' format to keep time. It's a good system. Whether it's thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of years, they never get confused."
Dragon Cypress: "We in Xianglan Mountain will also institute the era and year system. One era is the length of an Origin Force Reincarnation cycle—that's eighteen thousand years. That's the rhythm by which the Natural Divine Law oversees the world's operation. Even if we don't understand the profound secrets, borrowing it can't be wrong. The years simply count how many years have passed within the current era."
"The first era will be named 'Silver Cypress'. Starting from next spring, next year will be Silver Cypress Year 1, the year after will be Silver Cypress Year 2, the year after that Silver Cypress Year 3, and so on, up to Silver Cypress Year 18000. When an era ends, we give it a new name and begin the next new era, and continue in this pattern."
Dragon Cypress: "With this system, we won't lose our way in the endless river of time whose source and end are unseen."
Dragon Cypress: "Black Sophora, in the future, you'll stay here in Xianglan Mountain permanently. The Great King is appointing you a special post—specifically in charge of keeping the years. Each year, you'll carve a mark on the cauldron to record it."
Black Sophora: "Understood, Great King."
Black Sophora: "Great King, on the cauldron?"
Dragon Cypress lifted his claw and pointed at the golden, shining metal cauldron: "I reforged it and specially asked Ghost Fan to fortify and reinforce it. From now on, after meals, put the cauldron away, hide it in the treasury. Don't let those specialized ants touch it and arbitrarily carve marks on it. This is everyone's eating vessel—the Assistant Kings are also not allowed to doodle on it, including me, including you two, Ink Orchid and Tie Bush."
"???"
Ink Orchid had a vague sense of being targeted.
"...Oh."
Tie Bush looked gravely at her own pincers.
Black Sophora: "...Got it."
Dragon Cypress: "Also, as the kingdom grows larger and responsibilities increase, we'll gather Black Birch Trees, cut planks, and carve symbols to record major events."
