A colorful butterfly fluttered over, hovered four or five hundred ters away, and looked at the Snow Velvet Spider King.
"Snow Velvet Tycoon?"
"Snow Velvet Spider King."
"Weren't you spying on ?"
"I was. But it wasn't spying—just watching the battle and caught a glimpse of you by accident. The Fla Spider Kingdom doesn't take part in the war, but that doesn't an we ignore it. Many old spider kings in Shanglu are waiting for to go back and report on the battle."
"New ability? Ultra-long-range visual reconnaissance?"
"You are..."
"Poinciana. Jacaranda. It's an honor, Snow Velvet Tycoon."
"Snow Velvet Spider King!"
The Snow Velvet Spider King corrected sternly, clearly annoyed at being called the tycoon by another insect—far too vulgar, a desecration of its sacred character and lofty ideals.
"Snow Velvet...Spider King..."
Butterfly King Jacaranda asked urgently, "Snow Velvet Spider King, is there a new Divine-Grade on the continent? Ultra-long-range reconnaissance ability?"
The Snow Velvet Spider King replied indifferently, "Yes. The Divine-Grade Xuelan Seed, nurtured to beco the God-Given Life Seed. The warrior nurturing it is still a lord, the blossom-fruit cycle is long, and the yield is extrely low. The first batch has already been used up; the next batch will be out thirty years from now. For the war with Blue Island this ti, there isn't enough. If there's a next great war, it should be of use."
Butterfly King Jacaranda: "..."
Butterfly King Jacaranda: "What's the ability granted? Can you tell a bit about it?"
Snow Velvet Spider King: "Nothing much. Just as you said, it's an ultra-long-range vision ability."
"Oh—"
Butterfly King Jacaranda felt suspicious, watching the towering column of water supporting the Snow Velvet Spider King.
Everyone knew the planet beneath their feet was round, the sea curved; with just a visual ability alone, at this height, it should be impossible to see two hundred kiloters away.
—Because I'm flying in the sky?
Butterfly King Jacaranda looked back, not quite convinced.
The Snow Velvet Spider King managed nearly all Divine-Grade fruit trade across the continent, had consud countless, with abilities beyond counting.
But Butterfly King Jacaranda didn't dwell on it, instead saying warmly, "Snow Velvet Spider King, why not co to the rear of our allied army and spectate? We'll keep you inford of the situation on the battlefield at all tis."
Snow Velvet Spider King: "No need. The Fla Spider Roving rchants don't participate in war. I don't want to cause misunderstandings and bring trouble. Watching from here is enough for ."
"Alright—"
Butterfly King Jacaranda explained proactively, "Currently, both sides are probing and waiting. The Stone Hunt Blue Ants are trying to lure us deep into the island for battle. The Three Fruit Bee Queen's order is to seize the outer islands, establish defense bases, and completely encircle Blue Island. All the current landings are feints."
"Oh—" The Snow Velvet Spider King understood imdiately what the Wave Tree Bay Allied Forces intended.
Blue Island's west side bordered the Divine Force Barrier, while its east, south, and north sides were ringed by islands large and small—thirty-four of them, dozens to hundreds of square kiloters, plus eight major islands of several thousand or even tens of thousands of square kiloters each.
Clearly, the Wave Tree Bay Allied Army planned to capture the islands, use them as strongholds, surround the Stone Hunt Blue Ants, and cut off their sea supply routes.
Blue Island itself was just a deep-sea island of over 300,000 square kiloters—nowhere near enough to sustain the surging millions of soldier ants.
Behind the Wave Tree Bay Allied Forces sprawled the 40-million-square-kiloter Bayonet Continent, and further back was Zhibai Continent's remote support. Their logistics were plentiful, so the allied army had no worries about food.
The two sides had been facing off across the sea for three to four months; another two or three months of blockade, and Blue Island's stores would be exhausted for sure.
And every so often, they'd send in bees with Fire System Abilities, set the orchards on fire, destroying the island's crop production...
—Nice idea, but would the Stone Hunt Blue Ants just sit and wait to die?
The Snow Velvet Spider King offered no comnt, and instead asked, "Where is the One Fruit Bee Queen? If there's ti, I need to visit her. War is war, but we can't let our territory's production slack off."
Butterfly King Jacaranda: "Er..."
—Damn profiteer!
Butterfly King Jacaranda cursed inwardly, but politely replied, "The Wave Tree Bay Allied Forces are split into five grand armies. The One Fruit Bee Queen, the Mountain Ant King, and the Betel Green Butterfly King command the first, second, and third group armies respectively, leading the main attack from the east. At present, the One Fruit Bee Queen is directing the army to secure Sea Pine Island."
Snow Velvet Spider King: "...Understood."
Snow Velvet Spider King: "Then I'll visit her on Osmanthus Peak next early sumr."
Butterfly King Jacaranda: "Shall I inform the One Fruit Bee Queen?"
Snow Velvet Spider King: "If you happen to see her, you can ntion it, but there's no need to go out of your way."
Butterfly King Jacaranda: "Alright."
Butterfly King Jacaranda: "Well, the war goes on, so I'll return to monitoring the frontlines..."
Butterfly King Jacaranda shimred and departed.
After a while,
Dragon Cypress erged from the sea, piloting the Dominating Throne, and slowly approached.
"Snow Velvet Spider King, did you find out anything useful?" Ink Orchid inquired.
Snow Velvet Spider King: "Nothing—"
Snow Velvet Spider King said succinctly, "The rough plan of the Wave Tree Bay Allied Forces is to conquer the islands around Blue Island, encircle it, and cut off its sea hunting routes."
Snow Velvet Spider King comnted, "Nothing new with this tactic. As far as I know, in past allied sieges on Blue Island, this plan was used at least three tis—and failed every ti."
Snow Velvet Spider King: "This ti, I don't know what new tricks the One Fruit Bee Queen and the others have co up with, but I'm not optimistic."
Ink Orchid thought quickly, worrying, "That's not a smart move. If Blue Island's Stone Hunt Blue Ants work together and launch a tsunami, wouldn't those islands be subrged in an instant? The Ant Clan that can't swim or fly—wouldn't they be wiped out?"
Snow Velvet Spider King: "Earth for water. As soon as they capture the islands, first thing they'll do is use Earth System Abilities to build defenses. Maybe this ti there's a new Earth System Ability or so new defensive design. Let's just wait and see."
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