Ant Lord in the Star Realm

The day was bright and breezy.

Their wings only just grown rigid, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple couldn't wait to copy Ink Orchid—dominant throne had only just entered the Xianglan Mountain range, and the two of them were already kicking off and fluttering into the air in a hurry.

Dominating Throne flying high above suddenly picked up speed, tilting down, dropping rapidly, overtaking Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple, soaring past the mountain ridge, and coming down toward the forested land below.

"Ink Orchid!"

Dragon Cypress controlled Dominating Throne to hover at low altitude, head lowered to observe, spiritual power sweeping out, making a rough count.

For the Natural God System and Elemental System, most Origin Force Plants were prolific, and it seemed Cuihua Hanlan was no exception.

The mother plant had already reached nearly two meters tall; in its first batch of divisions, there were as many as twelve shoots, and those offshoots had each grown to over a meter in height.

The second division had started already—with the same triple multiplication as Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed, but starting from a higher base, so the second division turned out thirty-six new offshoots.

One could estimate that the third division would yield one hundred and eight offshoots.

That meant, when Ink Orchid reached the High-Level Warrior stage, Cuihua Hanlan's total offshoots would be as many as a hundred and fifty-six.

Ink Orchid, however, didn't seem very satisfied. "The basic split count is decent, but it's a shame it's just triple-multiplying. Fivefold, or even sevenfold, would be so much better."

"When has anything ever been that easy?" Dragon Cypress replied offhandedly, waving his antennae to chase away the ants below, steering the Dominating Throne to land.

Ink Orchid: "And where are Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple?"

Ink Orchid knew full well.

Not adept at flying, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple had crash-landed on the mountains, where they'd been discovered by the Soldier Ants on guard and chased in a panic—scrambling away with all their might toward this side.

Dragon Cypress straightened his antennae, vigorously waving to issue commands; the chasing Soldier Ants reluctantly turned tail.

—Ink Orchid!

—We're here!

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple greeted them coolly, but looking at the densely packed Soldier Ants clustered around Dominating Throne, their hearts thumped and they crept cautiously toward Ink Orchid.

—Is this the Divine-Given Cuihua Hanlan Seed?

—Wow! So many offshoots!

—Oh! Will it bloom this year?

—How many seeds can each plant bear?

—What's the blossom-fruit cycle, roughly?

—Probably another two years, right?

...

Ink Orchid: "..."

All key questions—none of them answered.

Ink Orchid turned his head to Dragon Cypress and asked, "How's the Night Fragrance God-Given Seed? Any danger?"

"Nothing for now. Tree height's broken through fifty meters."

Dragon Cypress waved his antennae to scatter the gathering Soldier Ants, saying, "We've got to hurry—the moment things are settled on Xianglan Mountain, we'll rush over to help, get all the Night Fragrance God-Given Seed exuviae moved as fast as possible."

"Yeah. It's a super busy year~"

Ink Orchid twisted his head again, looking at Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple. "You two—quit dawdling and go with Dragon Cypress to the South Mountain Restaurant, get some proper rest, and get ready to evolve…"

...

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple in turn used the Dominating Throne to complete another evolution in deep slumber.

Blossoms flourished, marking the season for trade with the Flame Spider Roving Merchants.

Cypress stayed behind to guard the homestead.

Ink Orchid kept watch over the Divine-Given Cuihua Hanlan Seed.

Spiked Cypress and Giant Cypress led the Soldier Ant legion, escorting the Worker Ants and Blue Ants—off they went in grand procession.

Dominating Throne flew at low altitude ahead of the team.

"Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple—three tasks. Pay attention."

"Your orders, Dragon Cypress Ant King."

"First: you can now fully reveal information on the Divine-Given Cuihua Hanlan Seed to the caravans. Tell them everything you know, no need to hold back."

"Noted!"

"But for the Divine-Given Green-Red Kiwifruit Seed and Divine-Given Night Fragrance Seed—don't breathe a word."

"We won't!"

"Second: I need to buy a batch of Six Daos for soul strengthening from Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord. It's expensive—High-Level, Mountain Lord-Level, and Lord-Level Cloud Ant Ant King territories produce it, with each seed selling for 2, 3, and 4 Source Stones respectively."

"I'm planning to spend twenty thousand Source Stones on this, which should make for a pretty sizable deal. Whether you can squeeze down the price is up to you—the difference you save becomes your reward for helping me. Earn more or less, that's on your skill."

"Oh!"

"Whoa!"

"All right!"

"We'll rip Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord off!"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple cheered.

Dragon Cypress lifted a claw to quiet them, continuing, "Third task, also buy ten thousand Source Stones worth of high quality Origin Force Food from them. Memorize this list: 300 Snake Blood Apricot Kernels from Mountain Lord-Level Warrior Territory, price should be 200 Source Stones; 200 Gold Cherries from Mountain Lord-Level Warrior Territory, price should be 150 Source Stones…"

Dragon Cypress rattled off fifty-five Origin Force Food items and their prices.

Then recited the list again.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple locked it all in memory.

By late morning, the group arrived at Rednan Mountain.

Spiked Cypress and Giant Cypress organized Soldier Ants to defend the area.

Fragrant Cypress directed Worker Ants and Blue Ants into the nest to familiarize themselves, resting up in preparation for work.

This year's goods for Seven-Leaf included 200 Divine-Given Azure Seeds, and 235 Divine-Given Gorgon Fruits, packed in two petite Spider Silk Bags.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple each carried a bag, heading out through the Starship Passage.

...

Blue Catalpa hid behind the Starship Passage.

Snakebark Maple peeked from a hill, antennae waving.

Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord noticed right away, called over Natsumi, and hurried up the mountain.

"Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord!"

"Natsumi, you're already a High-Level Flame Spider Warrior!"

"Congratulations!"

"Congrats!"

With pleasantries exchanged, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple handed over the Spider Silk Bags first.

Blue Catalpa: "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, these are our Divine-Given Origin Force Foods for sale this year."

Snakebark Maple: "Please check them over."

Blue Catalpa: "Ink Orchid successfully evolved into a five-stage High-Level Flower Mantis Warrior at the end of winter."

Snakebark Maple: "The very start of spring, we sowed the Divine-Given Cuihua Seed right away."

Seven-Leaf manipulated two strands of Spider Silk, pinching the little pouches for a count. Hearing these words, she was pleased, stowed away the goods, and asked, "Specifics?"

Blue Catalpa: "The first division yielded twelve offshoots."

Snakebark Maple: "Triple multiplication on divisions."

Blue Catalpa: "It hasn't flowered yet."

Snakebark Maple: "Specific yield remains to be seen."

Blue Catalpa: "Normal Cuihua Hanlan flowers in early spring—not sure if the Divine-Given Seed will make it this year."

You two finish each other's sentences, huh~

Seven-Leaf: "Excellent! Understood."

Seven-Leaf quoted, "Divine-Given Azure Seeds: 3,000 Source Stones. Divine-Given Gorgon Fruits: 5,170 Source Stones. That's 8,170 in total. What do you want to buy?"

Snakebark Maple: "Dragon Cypress Ant King plans to push evolution faster and reach Mountain Lord Level soon—so he needs to stock up on more Source Stones."

Blue Catalpa: "We want plenty of Source Stones, cash in hand."

Snakebark Maple: "3,170 Source Stones."

Blue Catalpa: "And a bulk purchase of Origin Force Foods."

Hearing they wanted over three thousand Source Stones in cash, Seven-Leaf was initially displeased. But upon hearing Blue Catalpa's follow-up, didn't refuse outright.

Seven-Leaf: "What types of Origin Force Food?"

Snakebark Maple: "Six Daos!"

Blue Catalpa: "Produced from High-Level, Mountain Lord-Level, and Lord-Level Cloud Ant Ant King territories—any is fine."

Snakebark Maple: "If the price is right, we'll buy in bulk."

Seven-Leaf eyed them, "Do you even have authority to make these decisions?"

Blue Catalpa: "We do."

Snakebark Maple: "Dragon Cypress Ant King said things are expensive—let us decide how much to buy."

Blue Catalpa: "If the price is fair, we'll get more."

Snakebark Maple: "Let's see the goods first."

"Source Stones aren't an issue!"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple chimed in together—their first time as big bosses, acting all flush and cocksure in their inexperience.

Seven-Leaf instantly sensed there was profit to be made here.

Lately she'd heard plenty of rumors—White Ivy had been raking in Source Stones selling Origin Force Honey.

Dragon Cypress Ant King, as White Ivy's partner, had surely made a handsome profit too.

"All right. Let's check the goods first."

Seven-Leaf untied a Spider Silk Rope and started to retrieve items from below.

Blue Catalpa: "Dragon Cypress Ant King gave us an upper limit—maximum three thousand Source Stones worth of goods."

Snakebark Maple: "So don't even think about bribing us with fancy Origin Force Food."

Blue Catalpa: "We're honest insects."

Snakebark Maple: "We don't take kickbacks."

Seven-Leaf: "..."

Natsumi asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King intends to buy three thousand Source Stones' worth?"

Blue Catalpa explained, "He specifically wants ten thousand Source Stones' worth of high-quality Origin Force Food. As for Six Daos, we can choose as we like."

Natsumi: "!!!"

Natsumi's mind spun as she calculated her share of this deal—a bloom of joy in her heart.

These two little rascals aren't so innocent~ Seven-Leaf sped up, excavating the upper layers and digging a large Spider Silk Bag from the bottom, out of which she plucked a smaller pouch and opened it, saying:

"Tiger Thorn Mountain, Divine-Given Tiger Thorn Seeds—these are delicacies even Dragon Cypress Ant King can't bear to eat. Here, each of you take ten and try the flavor."

Blue Catalpa: "Ten?"

Snakebark Maple: "That's too many."

Blue Catalpa: "We can't take them."

Snakebark Maple: "We've seen the world; no temptation is enough to sway us."

Seven-Leaf: "..."

Seven-Leaf asked fretfully, "Did Ink Orchid teach you this routine? Or was it Dragon Cypress Ant King?"

Blue Catalpa: "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, what do you mean?"

Snakebark Maple: "We're not that kind of insect. We're still little—we don't know anything."

All along, these two Little Warriors seemed pretty honest~

Seven-Leaf said crossly, "Enough. Take twenty each, eat up, the both of you. May you burst from eating too much."

Seven-Leaf: "You take my goodies, you'd better buy up all thirty thousand Source Stones worth!"

…

…

…

Dragon Cypress guarded the exit alone.

In the middle of the night,

Natsumi hurried up, laden with bundles big and small, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple trotting at her flanks.

"Natsumi, High-Level Flame Spider Warrior now, huh." Dragon Cypress greeted.

"Just broke through after last winter's slumber."

Natsumi answered, unfastening the Spider Silk Rope from her carapace, unloading three heavy Source Stone bags first.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord said you and Ink Orchid are speeding up toward Mountain Lord Level, so you must be stockpiling Source Stones. That's why we brought more—3,170 in total. Please check."

"Great—"

Dragon Cypress's eyes moved to the Spider Silk Bags filled with Origin Force Food.

Blue Catalpa: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, we picked out your specified goods—no problem at all."

Snakebark Maple: "We also got the two thousand Source Stones' worth of Six Daos—Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord says no haggling allowed."

Natsumi hurried to explain: "The price is set by Six Peaks Mountain—no arbitrary discounting."

"???" Dragon Cypress glanced at Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple in confusion, opened a Spider Silk Bag, fished out a wad of Spider King Silk Scrolls, and asked:

"Natsumi, I owe you twenty-five thousand Source Stones?"

Natsumi: "That's right."

Dragon Cypress promptly counted out twenty-five Spider King Silk Scrolls and handed them over.

The goods were checked.

Transaction completed smoothly.

Natsumi took her leave.

Dragon Cypress dragged over the Spider Silk Bag with the Six Daos for inspection, then looked at Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple with empty claws.

"Aren't you both usually pretty sly? Couldn't even haggle? I give you a chance and this is all you got? Don't bother following me next time."

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple straightened up on hind legs, beat their abdomens with their middle legs, and flared their antennae gleefully.

Blue Catalpa: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, bet you didn't see this coming?"

Snakebark Maple: "We thought up an even better plan."

Blue Catalpa: "We already ate the kickbacks."

Snakebark Maple: "Divine-Given Origin Force Food to boost speed!"

...