Ant Lord in the Star Realm

"Do bees not make honey in the same way? They eat, they vomit, they eat again, constantly fermenting."

"It's not the same."

"How is it not the same?"

"You're the Ant King."

"So what if I am the Ant King?"

"Disgusting!"

"White Ivy, are you insulting me?"

"Are you trying to get me killed?"

White Ivy said angrily, "Sell this to other insects? If the method of production were known, I would undoubtedly be beaten to death."

Dragon Cypress said calmly, "If I don't tell, how would you know? And if you don't tell, who else would know?"

White Ivy: "Such a novel... delicious food. Other insects will definitely ask about its origins."

Dragon Cypress: "Just say that a Water System mutant bee appeared in the Ten Thousand Nations Continent, capable of brewing special honey from all foods."

Dragon Cypress: "Therefore, this 'Origin Force Honey' can only be sold on the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent. First, no insect can verify it; second, it also prevents unnecessary trouble for me and Ink Orchid."

White Ivy: "Huh..."

White Ivy: "There's some sense to that..."

White Ivy: "But..."

White Ivy hesitated.

Dragon Cypress: "If sales take off, we could sell 100 cans of Origin Force Ant Honey per year. At a low price of 1,000 Source Stones per can, Ink Orchid and I could make 10,000 Source Stones. White Ivy Mountain Lord, you would make 20,000 Source Stones."

White Ivy: "Very profitable!"

Dragon Cypress: "Also, the Azure Fruit can be made into... 'Bee King Honey.'"

White Ivy: "Bee King Honey..."

White Ivy said excitedly, "Now that's real 'Bee King Honey'! There will be absolutely no worries about selling it."

Dragon Cypress: "Make some honey-marinated Azure Fruit too, but use the 'honey' I brewed instead of traditional honey. This way, while selling Divine-Given Origin Force Food, you'll also be promoting my 'honey,' expanding its sales."

White Ivy: "Disgusting, but a very clever Ant King!"

Dragon Cypress looked at White Ivy's Carapace and asked, "How many Metal Cans did you bring this year?"

A thought flickered through White Ivy's mind. A Spider Silk Rope uncoiled, pulling down an Oversized Silk Bag. She placed it in front of Dragon Cypress and said, "We're pressed for time; I only brought 30."

Dragon Cypress: "That's enough for now. But it would be best to make some more."

Dragon Cypress opened the Silk Bag and examined its contents.

He noted that White Ivy had modified this batch of Metal Cans according to his requirements. They were engraved with patterns and markings, and ring clips had been added to the sides for easier handling.

Mimicking the design of an Outworld Civilization, the can's mouth and lid featured a screw thread connection—a significant improvement.

Dragon Cypress bit the lid's ring clip and shook it hard. It was very stable.

Dragon Cypress inserted the claw tip of his left front leg into the can's ring clip and his right front leg into the lid's. Applying a little force, he twisted. The lid loosened. He twisted it gently three more times, and the lid came off.

He screwed the lid back on tightly and scanned it with his spiritual power. It was perfectly sealed, capable of effectively locking in the Origin Force.

"Very nice! Made with care," Dragon Cypress praised, then advised, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, when you transport such cans in the future, you can thread a Spider Silk Rope through the side ring clips, bundling them in groups of 5 or 10. This way, the cans won't shake violently during travel, preventing damage from collisions."

White Ivy thought for a moment and said, "A very practical suggestion! I humbly accept your advice."

Dragon Cypress, in a negotiating tone, said, "This batch of Deep Blue God-Given Seeds has yielded 570 fruits. I will sell you 500. At 15 fruits per can, we'll honey-marinate 20 cans, using 300 fruits. The remaining 200 fruits can be used to make 'Bee King Honey.' White Ivy Mountain Lord, how does that sound?"

White Ivy pondered for a moment, did the calculations, and agreed, "Okay!"

Dragon Cypress nodded his Tentacles and fell silent.

Ink Orchid took over the conversation, asking, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, can Dragon Cypress and I trust you?"

White Ivy: "Of course."

Ink Orchid: "We have a huge secret..."

White Ivy's curiosity was immediately piqued, and she asked enthusiastically, "What secret?"

Ink Orchid: "It's very important."

White Ivy: "Oh!"

Ink Orchid: "Once it spreads across the Ten Thousand Nations Continent, Dragon Cypress and I will inevitably be in mortal danger."

White Ivy: "Uh..."

White Ivy, looking serious, asked, "What secret? What incredible thing did you two find?"

Ink Orchid looked at Dragon Cypress: Lying is your specialty; you do the talking.

Dragon Cypress slowly said, "Ink Orchid and I were playing on the southern seashore when we accidentally discovered a place rich in Origin Force. And there, two Wild Divine-Given Seeds were growing."

"What?" White Ivy jumped up.

Dragon Cypress: "One is a Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed, Mountain Lord Level, and it has been growing for hundreds of years."

Dragon Cypress: "The other is a mutated Golden Light Fruit Divine-Given Seed, which we named 'Scarletlight'. Its mutation enhances Fire Element Abilities. It has been growing for a thousand years and is just a step away from Lord-Level. It blooms and fruits every year, with a huge yield."

White Ivy: "!!!"

In her excitement, White Ivy was at a loss for words and fell into a long, pensive silence.

Dragon Cypress, holding up a Metal Can, said, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, next time you come, you can bring more Metal Cans. Everything else can stay the same, just change the decorative patterns to a Southern Sour Jujube Tree and a Golden Light Tree."

White Ivy solemnly said, "This is truly dangerous! If a Divine-Given Seed has already developed into your Life Seed, its exposure isn't a huge problem; no one can take it from you. But once a Wild Divine-Given Seed is discovered, anyone can fight for it..."

White Ivy: "We must absolutely not let Seven-Leaf know about this. Its character is terrible; it can't be trusted."

Ink Orchid: "Exactly!"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes—"

White Ivy: "Melde's character isn't much better. Don't trust it; just trust me."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Ink Orchid: "..."

Ink Orchid: "White Ivy Mountain Lord, Dragon Cypress and I only trust you, and we've only told you."

"Thank you for your trust," White Ivy said.

She was touched and secretly delighted, screaming inwardly, I'm going to be rich!

Dragon Cypress: "The Southern Sour Jujube and Scarletlight Fruit should be directly made into 'Bee King Honey', leaving only a small amount for honey-marinated samples. Likewise, they can only be sold in the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent."

White Ivy gravely said, "I understand! We absolutely must not reveal their origins!"

Dragon Cypress: "White Ivy Mountain Lord, next time you come, you need to bring more Source Stones. When the Divine-Given Seeds ripen, they need their Origin Force replenished."

White Ivy: "Okay!"

Dragon Cypress: "That's all I have to say for now. White Ivy Mountain Lord, do you have anything to add?"

White Ivy thought for a moment then said, "Not right now."

Dragon Cypress lightly tapped his Tentacle, pointed at the opened can of Origin Force Ant Honey, and said, "This is 800 Source Stones for you. Plus the 700 Source Stone balance from the previous sale of Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds, that makes a total of 1,500 Source Stones."

White Ivy: "What do you need?"

Dragon Cypress: "Give us 500 Source Stones in cash, and another 1,000 Source Stones' worth of Enhanced Carapace Origin Force Food."

Ink Orchid timely added, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, I am about to undergo Evolution to a 2nd Age Period High-Level Flower Mantis Warrior."

White Ivy: "Good—"

White Ivy sighed lightly, "Ink Orchid, does this mean you won't be able to come next time?"

Ink Orchid: "Yes."

They remained silent for a long time.

White Ivy asked, "Dragon Cypress, you're also about to undergo Evolution to a 2nd Age Period High-Level Ant King, aren't you?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes. But I've lost weight, so I can hold on until the 3rd Age Period."

White Ivy suddenly became sentimental.

"Time flies so fast. Grass Dragon is also about to become a 2nd Age Period High-Level Warrior. To think, back then, you were all just tiny Little Flame Spiders and Little Ant Kings..."

Feeling a bit emotional, White Ivy started packing things with her Spider Silk and then quietly pulled more Spider Silk from her abdomen. Her four legs moved rapidly as she began Weaving Spider Silk Bags.