Ant Lord in the Star Realm

The mountainside was ablaze with flowers in full bloom, signaling the annual time for trade with the caravans.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid made quick preparations and set off three days in advance.

This year, they were selling 700 Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds to the caravan, and a jar of Origin Force Ant Honey worth 1,000 Source Stones, to be used by White Ivy as a promotional sample.

It was better to be safe than sorry, so Ink Orchid hid deep within the Starship.

Dragon Cypress went ahead to survey the hillside.

Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord spotted Dragon Cypress first and rose unhurriedly, took a walk, casually ascended the mountain, crossed the hill, and went straight to the forest behind it.

After a long wait, Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid, carrying a petite Spider Silk Bag, hurried over.

"Are you two being overly cautious?" Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord said half-jokingly, then added, "High-quality Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds, and you're really only allocating 100 to me?"

Dragon Cypress replied half-seriously, "We need to eat some ourselves, and the portion for Melde and White Ivy is only 600 seeds."

Ink Orchid opened the Spider Silk Bag with a RIIIP, looking expectant, eager, and said naively, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, please set a price for the Xianglan Seeds first!"

This Flower Mantis Warrior was anything but honest.

Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord became wary.

This was the first batch of Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds produced after Ink Orchid evolved into a High-Level Flower Mantis Warrior. To evolve from a High-Level Warrior to Mountain Lord took over ten years, during which the quality of Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds would not change much. This meant the pricing now would affect the trades for the next ten or more years. Indirectly, it would also affect future pricing and share distribution after Ink Orchid ascended to Mountain Lord. He couldn't set it too high; if the purchasing price was too high, the profit margins would shrink. Nor could he set it too low; if the price was too low, when Ink Orchid evolved to Mountain Lord Level, the reallocation of Xianglan Seed shares would surely diminish his own portion.

Seven-Leaf carefully manipulated two Spider Silk threads, took the bag, and examined a seed closely, saying nothing for a long time.

Seeing the other party not quoting a price, Ink Orchid said softly, "Last year, White Ivy Mountain Lord said it could offer up to 12 Source Stones per Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed."

Seven-Leaf responded, "Last year I also inquired with White Ivy, and it offered a price of 11 Source Stones per Azure Seed, not the 12 Source Stones you told me."

"UHH—" With the lie exposed, Ink Orchid felt slightly embarrassed.

Dragon Cypress calmly said, "It's White Ivy that has deceived you!"

Seven-Leaf remarked irritably, "You two stop playing these tricks on me. I, Seven-Leaf, have traveled far and wide for many years; there's no way you could fool me."

HEH HEH.

Dragon Cypress said, "Then please make an offer."

Seven-Leaf said, "10 Source Stones per seed."

Seven-Leaf continued, "I can tell White Ivy Mountain Lord that I'm purchasing at a unit price of 11 Source Stones. You can go try to rip off White Ivy. Melde has deep pockets; it can afford it."

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid were both speechless.

This joke wasn't funny at all.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid remained silent.

Seven-Leaf said, "After all, herbaceous plants are somewhat inferior in quality compared to arbors. These Orchid Seeds, when resold, go for 12 or 13 Source Stones each at most. With such a small quantity, I can hardly make any profit, but I can't make a trip for nothing, right?"

Dragon Cypress's tone suddenly became sincere. "Understood, understood. It's not easy for the caravans, traveling over mountains and through rivers, braving the wind and rain; they definitely need to make a profit. Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, we'll accept your offer: 10 Source Stones per seed."

Seven-Leaf said, "Thank you for your understanding."

Seven-Leaf put away the Spider Silk Bag and said, "That's 1,000 Source Stones. What do you need in exchange? Six Path Seeds?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "Six Path Seeds are way too expensive; we don't need them for now."

Dragon Cypress said, "My Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seed plant is due to mature next year, and I need to set aside 1,000 Source Stones for it."

That's exactly what I was planning to ask about! Seven-Leaf was delighted to hear this and praised, "Did the Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seed plant blossom as scheduled early last summer? What an incredibly intelligent Ant King, to be able to manage time so precisely!"

Seven-Leaf paused for a moment, then said, "I can give you the Source Stones. However, you must sell me the agreed-upon number of Gorgon Fruit Seeds."

Dragon Cypress assured, "Of course. Half the share is 232 seeds, and I won't short you even one."

Seven-Leaf was very pleased with Dragon Cypress's attitude and readily said, "Deal! I look forward to next year's trade."

Dragon Cypress mentioned, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, there's one more small matter..."

Seven-Leaf, knowing there would be more, remained silent, waiting for Dragon Cypress to continue.

Dragon Cypress inquired, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, do you have any Sky-Blue Persimmon Seeds? Those produced by Divine-Given Seed plants would be best, but ordinary ones will do."

Ink Orchid shyly said, "The cost of running the Territory is too high, and we're short on Source Stones. We'd like to borrow some more..."

Dragon Cypress added, "Ink Orchid is preparing to evolve into a second age-period High-Level Warrior. I also plan to undergo an evolution next autumn or winter. We urgently need a batch of high-quality Origin Force Food that enhances carapaces."

Ink Orchid added, "The Azure Divine-Given Seed plant will mature next year, and we can repay you in the spring of the year after next..."

Still borrowing? You two are sitting on three Divine-Given Seed plants; how can you be more hard-up than insects without any?

Seven-Leaf had asked White Ivy last year and learned that Ink Orchid and Dragon Cypress still owed over 10,000 Source Stones to Melde and White Ivy.

That amount was not small.

Where did all those resources go, you two?

With his mind racing, weighing the pros and cons, Seven-Leaf hesitated and said, "I just so happen to have some Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Seeds I exchanged from another caravan. I can sell some to you, but as for the price..."

Dragon Cypress urged, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, name your price!"

Ink Orchid happily jumped up. "Just don't be too ruthless!"

... Here we go again, huh? This good cop, bad cop routine... you two must have rehearsed your lines before coming, right?

Seven-Leaf ignored them. He untied the Spider Silk Ropes binding the goods and, manipulating his silk, began to search through them.

The seeds of the Sky Blue Persimmon are oval, flat, and large; one seed is equivalent to five Xianglan Seeds.

The enhancement effect of the Divine-Given Sky Blue Persimmon is no less than that of Xianglan Seeds, and its quality is even higher.

Also a product from a High-Level Warrior's territory, after some bargaining, the selling price was set at 60 Source Stones per seed.

In the end, Dragon Cypress borrowed another 4,000 Source Stones from Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord.

He spent 3,000 Source Stones purchasing 50 Divine-Given Sky-Blue Persimmon Seeds and another 1,000 Source Stones on other types of Origin Force Food that enhanced carapaces.

These were not for Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid's use but were to be taken to Scarletlight Mountain to save Mulberry's life.

They also casually asked Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord for five Sky-Blue Persimmon seeds, which they could give to Mountain Persimmon for planting later.

「Starship Passage.」

Dragon Cypress, carrying a medium-sized Spider Silk Bag filled with Origin Force Food, led the way.

Ink Orchid, shouldering a large Spider Silk Bag packed with Source Stones, followed behind.

"Dragon Cypress, I think Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord is pretty nice; it's a bit more generous than Melde."

"...Yes."

"Then should we consider working with it to sell Ant Honey?"

"That's out of the question."

"Why?"

Dragon Cypress patiently explained, "The reasons are complicated. I'll explain the key points. Flame Spider Roving Merchants not only possess the legacy of the Natural God but also their tribe's ancestral experiences, passed down through generations. They are a rather conservative tribe, strictly adhering to the rules set by their ancestors and cautiously following the wisdom passed down by their elders. Seven-Leaf and Melde are beneficiaries of these ancestral rules. They already earn more than enough and live very comfortably. Why would they want to change? They won't consider it.

"Ant Honey represents a major change, plus it has disadvantages such as the easy dissipation of Origin Force, storage difficulties, and laborious transportation. Seven-Leaf's and Melde's carapaces are already packed with premium goods; they will not agree to cooperate.

"Only someone as destitute and ambitious as White Ivy would agree to cooperate. And only someone less shrewd, like White Ivy, would dare to take risks and try new things."

"Oh—"

Ink Orchid asked, "What about honey-preserved Divine-Given Seeds? And Ant King Honey? Seven-Leaf and Melde can't refuse Divine-Given Origin Force Food, can they?"

"Of course," Dragon Cypress replied. "But White Ivy needs these Divine-Given Origin Force Foods more, to network with wealthy insects and open up sales channels for Ant Honey."

Ink Orchid mused, "Everyone thinks White Ivy is foolish... Will it lose money?"

Dragon Cypress said, "That's a small issue. We can give it some Black Lotus Seeds."

Ink Orchid declared righteously, "Give my share to it!"

... And you think you're so clever?

After finishing the trade with the Roving Merchant and returning to Fragrant Orchid Mountain, Ink Orchid would need to consume a large amount of Origin Force Food to evolve into a second age-period High-Level Flower Mantis Warrior, after which it would no longer be able to enter the Starship.

Dragon Cypress took Ink Orchid on a tour around the Starship, wandering and playing, and looking for any forgotten items, but they found nothing.

「At night,」

They climbed a hill together, hid among the bushes, and looked down on the densely gathered Roving Merchant caravans below.

Ink Orchid gazed with longing towards the bustling Ten-thousand Tribes Continent.

Dragon Cypress comforted her, "With our efforts, the Cloud Trace Continent will inevitably flourish and prosper."