Ant Lord in the Star Realm

The Zeqi Caravan walked slowly into the plaza.

The Spider King Spurge chose a spot, spat out a Life Seed, let it take root on the ground, and coldly eyed White Ivy unloading goods from its carapace to the side.

This little spider, well, you could call it dumb…

It just had too much stuff; the carapace couldn't hold it all, so it unloaded it right by my side. No one would dare steal something in front of a Spider King.

But then again, maybe it's clever…

Couldn't it just say straight up if it needed help?

The Spider King Spurge hated this type that thought they were cleverest.

And that little spider called Grass Dragon…

Grass Dragon quickly picked its spot, spat out a Life Seed, let it root, and rushed toward the hill in a panic, only to be stopped by the Aconite Spider King next door.

White Ivy, just about to get moving, was also frozen in place, unable to budge.

"Spurge, I have a few things to discuss with you. Let those two little ones from your caravan listen in too."

Aconite Spider King led Seven-Leaf over.

White Ivy and Grass Dragon were terrified.

The Spider King Spurge, who was just about to finally catch a break, stood up and asked, "What's happened?"

"Nothing—"

Aconite Spider King: "That Dragon Cypress Ant King, it discovered a Primitive Flame Spider colony on the Cloud Trace Continent, and there was even a Primordial Spider Warrior…"

…

Starship Passage,

Grass Dragon arrived with heavy steps.

"Where are Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple?"

"They're quite unhappy with you."

"So this is that Primordial Spider Warrior? Areca?"

"Hello, Grass Dragon."

Areca, following beside Dragon Cypress, greeted it.

Grass Dragon tapped the ground with his foreleg, emitting a high-pitched sound: How old are you?

Areca tapped the ground in return with its foreleg: Three years.

"The way we communicate is the same. Truly an ancestor!"

Grass Dragon marveled.

Dragon Cypress corrected him: "The Primitive Flame Spider is the ancestor of all Roving Merchant Flame Spiders."

Grass Dragon begrudgingly replied: "…That way of putting it isn't wrong either."

Dragon Cypress: "There's another version?"

Grass Dragon: "Nope."

Dragon Cypress: "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord asked Areca about the 'ancestral land.' What does it mean?"

Grass Dragon: "I just heard Aconite Spider King mention it. It roughly means—all the Flame Spiders on the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent actually migrated here from another continent. Legend says, a long, long time ago, the Flame Spider Tribe originated in a place called 'Shanglu.' There was a divine stone there called 'Huan'—a divine artifact gifted by the Natural True God, able to keep the Flame Spider Tribe from getting lost in Origin Force Reincarnation."

Gifted by the Natural True God?

Heh~heh~

Dragon Cypress didn't buy it.

Dragon Cypress himself once claimed that the Dominating Throne was given by the Natural True God.

Only Ghost Fan, Mountain Persimmon, and White Willow believed wholeheartedly.

The slightly smarter White Rice and Red Fox didn't quite buy it.

Huagi Mountain's Yellow Stem and Spruce didn't believe at all. Deep down they knew these were just Outworld Civilization treasures they'd picked up.

Dragon Cypress asked, "'Shanglu'—is that the name of a place or a whole continent?"

Grass Dragon: "No idea."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Dragon Cypress: "Then how did that legend get passed down to you?"

Grass Dragon: "Don't know. When Aconite Spider King speaks, a small spider like me can only listen, never dare to ask."

Grass Dragon looked at Areca, saying, "Aconite Spider King wants the discovery of Primitive Flame Spiders to be reported to the 'ancestral land' of the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, to summon the Spider Kings of the five great tribes, and if everyone agrees, to bring in a batch of Primitive Flame Spiders, letting them live in the Flame Spider Kingdom on the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent."

Areca looked over at Dragon Cypress.

"Welcome a batch of Primitive Flame Spiders to the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent? Is there some special meaning in that?"

Dragon Cypress didn't really get it.

Grass Dragon: "Aconite Spider King says—only with Primordial Spiders is the Flame Spider Kingdom complete."

Complete? Bullshit.

Dragon Cypress shook her tentacles, still not understanding. After thinking it over, she said, "This Primitive Flame Spider colony is still pretty small right now."

Grass Dragon: "With the Primordial Spider Warrior's protection and some care, the colony will grow quickly."

Dragon Cypress: "Don't bother telling me that."

Grass Dragon turned to Areca.

Areca hesitated: "…I do have deep feelings for my own kin… I can't bear to leave them… I don't want any rewards…"

Grass Dragon: "..."

Grass Dragon: "I'm only the messenger. Don't worry, if the Spider Kings decide on something, rewards are guaranteed."

"Alright—"

Dragon Cypress agreed straightforwardly, then asked, "How much Origin Force Honey do you want this year?"

"Still the 100,000 Source Stones worth. My carapace can only carry that much."

Grass Dragon undid the Carapace Spider Silk Rope and started unloading goods, sighing deeply:

"Last year, those eleven metal cases for seed storage were taken away by Spider King Spurge right after."

"Taken away?"

"Just 'kept safe for me for now.' Spider King Spurge said it's to avoid trouble, and will return them when you level up to Evolution Mountain Lord."

"..."

"Dragon Cypress, did you and Ink Orchid dig up a God-Given Seed Tree Heart from the last Origin Force Era? Divine grade? Spider King Spurge already suspects as much."

"…Guessed wrong."

"Spider King Spurge might guess wrong, but I know you too well. I'm one hundred percent sure—it has to be a Divine God-Given Seed!"

"You don't know me at all. We're not that close."

Dragon Cypress found it odd, and asked seriously, "You came for something? You're acting all aggressive."

Grass Dragon: "Hidden Wing Mountain—you know it? Biggest tribe in the southeast of the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent."

Dragon Cypress: "Stone Pattern Kingdom? Happened to hear of it."

Grass Dragon: "Exactly! Stone Pattern Kingdom. There's a wild Hidden Wing Wood God-Given Seed, at King-Level. When its fruit ripens, they don't pick it—just let it drift away on the wind."

Grass Dragon: "Last autumn, White Ivy brought Lupine and me, we managed to sneak inside, and got acquainted with a Stone Pattern Mantis Warrior who's a steward at Hidden Wing Mountain, named Lord Heartwing. He ordered a huge batch of Origin Force Honey from White Ivy."

Grass Dragon: "How about trading Divine Grade fruit? Interested?"

Dragon Cypress: "!!!"

Grass Dragon: "White Ivy can run interference."

Dragon Cypress: "White Ivy?"

Grass Dragon: "It's OK, I'm also on it. You don't have to trust White Ivy, but surely you trust me?"

Dragon Cypress: "It's you I don't trust!"

Dragon Cypress was tempted, and asked, "What type of Divine God-Given Seed does Hidden Wing Mountain have?"

Grass Dragon: "Asked around, but only heard it's of the Life System."

Dragon Cypress: "Longevity extension?"

Grass Dragon: "Not sure. This autumn's trade, White Ivy Mountain Lord can try asking Lord Heartwing. If there's a Divine Grade swap…"

Dragon Cypress understood what Grass Dragon meant.

The Divine-Grade White Poplar Fruit—Spider King Spurge must get a share, Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord also has to have one. He also wanted to get two Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit, and planned to ask Seven-Leaf's help to bid for a One-Glimpse Fruit.

The White Poplar Divine Seed's blossom-fruit cycle lasts sixteen years, Mountain Lord Level only yields six fruits, Lord-Level just nine...

But, he still held something more precious—the trading rights to the Soul-Setting Fruit from Huagi Mountain's Quandong Divine Tree.

And there was also a Night Fragrance God-Given Seed, also Divine Grade. In this world, there are always a few insects who don't believe in fate and are willing to spend some Source Stones for a try.

Dragon Cypress, after some thought, said slowly: "There is indeed a Divine Grade one… and it's also of the Life System… specifically for longevity extension, called White Poplar. The blossom-fruit cycle…"

"Longevity extension?!"

Grass Dragon was overjoyed, promising: "Great! That's a near-certainty! Just wait for my good news!"

Dragon Cypress reminded, "Warn White Ivy not to go blabbering everywhere."

Grass Dragon: "Don't worry, we know what we're doing. When negotiating with Hidden Wing Mountain, we'll say it's a Divine-Grade God-Given Life Seed from a certain Bee King of the Youlian Kingdom, so it won't bring you trouble."

Grass Dragon: "Your own evolution is progressing smoothly?"

Dragon Cypress: "Very stable, about to reach the age of eight…"

…

Melde isn't coming this year.

The trade with Grass Dragon was wrapped up in half a day.

Dragon Cypress arranged for Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, and Areca to go with Grass Dragon to call on White Ivy Mountain Lord and meet Red Peach.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were about to evolve into High-Level Warriors, and wouldn't be able to pass through the Starship Rift, so they said goodbye to White Ivy.

Reluctantly parting.

The three little ones—Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, and Areca—ran back and forth with Red Peach, carrying over mountains of Origin Force Food.

They also hauled bales of Origin Force Honey, all tied together with spider silk ropes.

This year, White Ivy also brought 50,000 Source Stones in cash, and it took six days of hard work to move everything.