It was another Roving Merchant trading season, at the transition from late summer to early autumn.

「Ghost Fan Mountain.」

All of Ghost Fan's Life Seed Plants were in their non-flowering and non-fruiting period. With little to do in the Ghost Fan Territory, Ghost Fan leisurely lay on the riverbank. Woodberry was busy on his own in the Maple Poplar Forest, digging holes under the trees and applying autumn fertilizer.

"Ghost Fan! Woodberry!" Ink Orchid called out. She was the first to arrive, carrying her Spider Silk Bag. Upon landing, SHRRIIIP! She tore it open and took out the Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot...

The Dominating Throne plummeted from high in the sky, decelerated, flew horizontally to approach, then landed and came to a stop. Dragon Cypress, also carrying a Spider Silk Bag, leaped down and landed.

They exchanged greetings.

Dragon Cypress asked, "Ghost Fan, how are you doing?"

It replied, "Very good."

Dragon Cypress inquired, "Do you have enough Origin Force Food?"

It answered, "It seems I'm still a little short."

Dragon Cypress responded, "Then I'll lend you another 5,000 Source Stones' worth of high-quality Origin Force Food."

Dragon Cypress asked another question, "And Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed?"

It said, "It's full of vigor and vitality. It's already impatient and has been urging me to hurry up and enter slumber for Evolution."

Dragon Cypress exclaimed, "That's great!"

Ink Orchid chimed in, "That's wonderful!"

Ink Orchid added, "Ghost Fan, we also obtained an Outworld Civilization Artifact that can help a Divine-Given Seed break through its Evolution. It's called 'Glinting Gold,' and we can lend it to Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed to use..."

Ink Orchid explained the artifact's function and usage method in detail to Ghost Fan and Woodberry. Dragon Cypress opened his Spider Silk Bag and took out Glinting Gold to show it to Ghost Fan.

There's actually such a treasure from an Outworld Civilization?

That Outworld Civilization must be incredibly powerful!

Ghost Fan and Woodberry were shocked and overjoyed. Ghost Fan was so stunned it even forgot to say thank you.

Woodberry, slightly more composed, asked, "Ink Orchid, by what you're saying, with this Glinting Gold, Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed won't need Source Stones for its Evolution?"

Ink Orchid replied, "It might depend on the situation. I'm not sure. Things were rushed this time, so we definitely still need to prepare enough Source Stones."

Ink Orchid added, "Dragon Cypress and I brought four large bags of Divine-Given Remains and 4,000 Source Stones."

Dragon Cypress handed the items to Ghost Fan and said, "Let's go. First, let Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed try it."

Ink Orchid instructed, "Using Glinting Gold is very simple. The Divine-Given Seed just needs to touch it with its spiritual power, and its consciousness can control it to integrate into the trunk. After fusion, any excess nutrients, Energy, and Origin Force can be stored inside Glinting Gold..."

The group arrived in the center of the mountain hollow.

After more than ten years of growth, Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed, which was just over 30 meters tall when Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid first saw it, had grown to nearly 40 meters in height. Especially this year, having rested from flowering and fruiting and having consumed a large amount of Divine-Given Remains, it had suddenly shot up nearly two meters.

Ghost Fan, holding Glinting Gold, stepped forward to communicate with its Divine-Given Seed. Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, and Woodberry watched from over forty meters away.

After a short wait, they saw Glinting Gold float from Ghost Fan's claws, touch the main trunk of Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed, and seep into the wood as if it were melting ice.

After another short wait, Ghost Fan turned and scurried back.

"Success!" it exclaimed. "The Divine-Given Seed says it's okay! It says it now has more strength than it can use, so this is perfect for storing it."

Dragon Cypress said, "...That's good."

Ink Orchid echoed, "...That's excellent."

When they first met, Ink Orchid had brought up the issue of names. Ghost Fan (the ant) was named Ghost Fan, and its Divine-Given Seed was also called Ghost Fan. This often made communication awkward. However, it wasn't a major problem. If all went well, Ghost Fan's designation would change to "Ghost Fan Mountain Lord" this winter.

Dragon Cypress said, "There are still four bags of Exuviae from a Divine-Given Seed of a certain poplar species on the Throne. Bring them down for Ghost Fan's Divine-Given Seed to use."

Ink Orchid added, "And the Source Stones! Woodberry, you help carry them too! We'll store them in the cave for now."

「The second trading stop: Scarletlight Mountain.」

They arrived a bit late this year. The fruit of Mulberry's few Life Seed Plants had already ripened and fallen, much of it wasted. A minor problem, a small loss.

They left a team of Worker Ants and Blue Ants to guard and continue the harvest.

「Continuing to the third trading stop: White Rice Mountain.」

After a summer of growth, White Rice's Divine-Given Seed had surpassed 40 meters in height, and its growth momentum showed no signs of weakening. Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid stayed to observe for two days.

「Returning to Scarletlight Mountain,」 they retrieved the Worker Ants and Blue Ants. The Dominating Throne then assisted Mulberry in its Evolution to its fifth Age Period.

Mulberry's injuries had healed, and its Comprehensive Physique was sufficiently enhanced. From then on, it could evolve steadily at a rate of one Age Period every two years. Its Evolution through the younger Age Periods would no longer require the Dominating Throne's assistance.

Thanks to a series of measures—such as thinning its flowers and fruits, irrigating it with Divine-Given Remains, and increasing the investment of Source Stones—the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed grew lushly, accumulating vigor. It was expected to break through to the Evolution Lord Level in as little as two to three years, or at most, a decade or so. The Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed was wild and sentient, but it had not yet developed spiritual power. Thus, it couldn't use Glinting Gold, nor could it communicate. Dragon Cypress needed to start preparing as soon as possible and stockpile a batch of Source Stones for it.

「After bidding farewell to Mulberry,」 the Dominating Throne ascended straight into the sky, only switching to horizontal flight once it was above the clouds.

Ink Orchid keenly noticed they were heading south.

"Dragon Cypress? Where are we going?"

"To the seaside."

"And then?"

"We'll follow the coastline eastward."

"To the southeast coast? To find a Source Stone Mine?"

"Let's go over and see what the situation is first. Thousands of years have passed; who knows if the geography has changed."

"Exactly. An endless sea, full of water... how could the coastal area be a desert?" Ink Orchid had never understood this.

Dragon Cypress was equally perplexed. The map from the Huagi Knowledge Hall recorded it as such, leaving no room for doubt. They would only know for sure after seeing it with their own eyes.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid had traversed the coastal route once in their early years and didn't plan to follow the coastline strictly this time. They headed out over the ocean, flying high above the water, straight east.

It should have been early autumn, but the southern tropics lacked distinct seasons. A blazing sun hung overhead.

After flying for two days, Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid encountered a spectacular scene. Below them, dark clouds churned and roiled, pierced by booming Lightning. Torrential rain and wild winds whipped up waves twenty to thirty meters high. Waterspouts sucked seawater high into the sky, spiraling rapidly towards the coast.

We are so insignificant. Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid felt a sense of awe and trepidation.

After the storm passed, the Dominating Throne turned north, returned to the continent, and flew eastward, properly keeping to the airspace above land.

Beyond the mountainous forests lay plains, woodlands, and grasslands. Continuing east, they encountered semi-desert mountains with crimson peaks and Rocks. Further east still, the mountains undulated, filled with bizarre rock formations. No plants were visible; the searing sun baked the earth, and not a trace of moisture could be detected in the dry air.

It was indeed a forbidden zone for Life: no plants, no animals, no water sources.

Ink Orchid changed her Carapace to a pure white with a metallic luster; she wasn't afraid of the blazing sun. Dragon Cypress, however, was struggling. His black Carapace absorbed heat, making him feel like he was roasting—already three-tenths cooked.

This delighted Ink Orchid. The Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot could finally be put to good use!

Ink Orchid chopped up Mangoes picked from Mulberry's orchard, mixed them with fresh water and Origin Force Ant Honey, and made delicious ice blocks.

"Dragon Cypress! Have an ice block."

"...Thanks." Dragon Cypress took it and bit into it eagerly.

At midday, when it was hot enough to kill an Insect, munching on such an ice block now and then brought indescribable relief.

Dragon Cypress waved his Tentacles, pointing at an Ant Nest below.

Ink Orchid understood. She took some Common Ant Honey, mixed it with water, and made six ice blocks. She tossed them into the Ant Nest to cool the accompanying Worker Ants and Blue Ants, and also to humidify the Ant Nest.

"Dragon Cypress, when will we start looking for the ore deposits?" Ink Orchid asked.

"No rush." Dragon Cypress quickly finished his ice block, took the Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot, made a pot of fresh water, then turned it into a large ice block. He held it against his forehead to cool his somewhat sluggish brain.

"How do we even look for a Source Stone Mine?"

"I don't know."

"Then where are we going?"

"East. We'll take a look around first."

Feeling much better, Dragon Cypress stood at the edge of the Stump Ant Nest and gazed into the distance. All around were mountains of crimson and dark brown, their peaks scattered irregularly, not forming any ranges. He had no idea where to even begin searching.

Dragon Cypress said, "Ink Orchid, keep an eye out for Origin Force Fluctuations. Let's find a Land of Origin Force to stop at first, and then we can search around there."

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