Black Fruit Mountain.

Early spring, when the ice and snow melt away and all things begin to grow.

Red Moonseed didn't run an orchard or plant fruit trees; instead, she took care of her 17 Life Seed plants early on. She hunted a wild deer fawn, placed it on a rock at the top of the mountain, and carved off pieces to eat, little by little, enjoying the warm sunlight and breeze of spring.

The familiar Origin Force Fluctuation of a Dominating Throne's flight spread from afar.

—Dragon Cypress Ant King and Ink Orchid are coming?

Red Moonseed was puzzled and took off to greet them.

Once closer, she saw that there was only Dragon Cypress Ant King on the Throne, as well as a slender, pitch-black Assistant King, and a few accompanying Soldier Ants, Worker Ants, and Blue Ants.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

"Is this Black Cory?"

Red Moonseed called out.

Seeing the Throne was packed with ants and nowhere to land, she circled once and settled on the top of the Throne's backrest.

"Red Moonseed."

Dragon Cypress replied, explaining: "The trade with the Flame Spider Roving Merchants has always been carried out through a Starship Passage connecting the Ten Thousand Nations Continent and Cloud Trace Continent. On our Cloud Trace side, the Starship only has a tiny fissure. Ink Orchid and I long ago became too big to squeeze through, and in recent years it's been Areca helping us. Areca is evolving slowly at a rate of one Age Period per year, but Flame Spiders are naturally large. Last winter, it was already a 6th Age Period Mid-Level Primordial Spider Warrior. I figure by Age 7 or 8, it won't be able to pass through at all."

Dragon Cypress: "Jifeng Warriors are slender and long. Red Moonseed, you can help, and according to my estimate, you can continue even as a 5th or 6th Age Period High-Level Jifeng Warrior."

Red Moonseed: "Oh—"

Dragon Cypress: "I'll pay you. Takes up about half a month each year; help me with the trade, and I'll give you 1,000 Source Stones as compensation."

Red Moonseed: "Alright. But…"

Dragon Cypress lightly tapped her tentacles and said, "This is Black Cory, you remember it, right? You met during the Cold Orchid Mountain gathering. When you're away, Black Cory will lead the ant colony and help you manage your territory. Rest assured, Black Cory is very skilled at orchard management."

Red Moonseed: "I'm not worried about that, but…"

Red Moonseed: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, I don't know how to trade!"

Dragon Cypress: "If you don't know, you can learn. Trading with the Roving Merchants gives you a firsthand look at all kinds of Origin Force Food, broadening your horizons, which will help your future evolution and growth."

Red Moonseed glanced at Black Cory.

Black Cory looked half dead, lazily flicking her tentacles as a greeting.

Red Moonseed: "Thank you, Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

This insect had a strong independent consciousness, and was quite proactive and ambitious besides.

Dragon Cypress appreciated Red Moonseed, swinging his tentacles. "Let's go, let's get the ant colony settled first. On the way, I'll walk you through the details of trading with the Flame Spider Roving Merchants…"

Black Cory stayed behind to lead the ant colony, caring for Red Moonseed's territory.

Dragon Cypress carried Red Moonseed and headed straight back to Fragrant Orchid Mountain.

…

…

…

All of the fruit trees on Fragrant Orchid Mountain had entered the season of abundance.

The spring breeze was warm and pleasant.

Up and down the mountain, neat and orderly orchards, patch after patch, blooming in a riot of colors.

Hundreds and thousands of ants, large and small, worked under the trees.

Fragrant blossoms filled the mountainside.

Tens of thousands of bees danced among the branches.

The new year's Roving Merchant trade season.

Rednan Mountain.

At the Starship Passage on the Cloud Trace side, when Dragon Cypress brought Areca and Red Moonseed, Natsumi, Silvergrass, and Red Peach were already waiting.

Judging by their expressions, something important was up again.

After a brief greeting,

Silvergrass undid the Spider Silk Rope on her carapace and handed over a small Spider Silk Bag.

Red Peach stepped forward and explained: "Last autumn, White Ivy Mountain Lord sent a Divine-Grade Night Fragrance Fruit to Hidden Wing Mountain, gaining the trust of the Mantis King who manages the Lightwing Divine-Given Seed, and smoothly got a Divine-Grade Lightwing Seed."

Silvergrass added: "The price for Divine-Grade Lightwing Seed from the Hidden Wing Mountain merchant caravan is a fixed 1.2 million Source Stones. White Ivy Mountain Lord is also selling it at 1.2 million, not making a single Source Stone's profit."

Dragon Cypress: "…Alright."

Dragon Cypress took out a porcelain bottle, flipped through it briefly, and opened the cap.

The unique rich fragrance of Bee King Jelly filled the cramped space of the cave.

Hearing about the Divine-Grade fruit, both Areca and Red Moonseed were curious and came closer to see.

Dragon Cypress swept it with his spiritual power to check, then quickly closed the lid.

"Good!"

Dragon Cypress praised it again, then probed, "Red Peach, Silvergrass, these years White Ivy Mountain Lord has done well selling Origin Force Honey, must have made quite a few Source Stones, right?"

Silvergrass: "…Not much."

Red Peach: "It's all thanks to your support, Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

Red Peach knew how to flatter.

Dragon Cypress stared at Red Peach, "It cost me massive fortunes preparing for the campaign against the Termite Kingdom. This, 1.2 million Source Stones, I might not be able to come up with immediately…"

—Here it comes~

—White Ivy Mountain Lord is as prescient as ever.

Red Peach gently swung his tentacles, speaking grandly: "Before I came, White Ivy Mountain Lord said it's fine to owe for now. No interest."

Red Peach asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, has the Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed flowered and borne fruit?"

Dragon Cypress: "No… letting it rest for now…"

Dragon Cypress asked with some concern, "Did you sell the Night Fragrance Fruit to Hidden Wing Mountain? Don't lose the Hidden Wing deal!"

Red Peach: "No. We didn't."

Red Peach: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, here's an idea: have the Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed bear fruit…"

Dragon Cypress raised a claw and cut in, "Red Peach, who did you sell the Night Fragrance Fruit to? Hundreds of thousands of Source Stones isn't a small sum. It's easy to sell, but if the buyer uses it and finds it's complete junk, the fallout… The Flame Spider Roving Merchants rely on reputation, you risk losing trust and even facing retaliation!"

Red Peach: "..."

Red Peach lowered his head, thinking, choosing his words: "Don't worry, Dragon Cypress Ant King. I and White Ivy Mountain Lord know what we're doing, it's all fine. We sold it for 500,000 Source Stones, and after trying it, the buyer ordered 3 more, even paid a deposit."

Dragon Cypress was desperate to know who they sold it to.

Was the Night Fragrance Fruit actually useful? Was there demand?

Or did they just run into a wealthy fool?

But looking at Natsumi, whose eight eyes were glowing eerily, waiting in silence for an answer…

Seven-Leaf and Natsumi were even more eager than Dragon Cypress to know where the Night Fragrance Fruit went…

Dragon Cypress stayed silent.

Red Peach continued, "White Ivy Mountain Lord doesn't profit from the sale of Divine-Grade fruit. Night Fragrance Fruit went out at 500,000 each; we'll also buy it from you at 500,000 per fruit."

Dragon Cypress: "???"

Red Peach: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, White Ivy Mountain Lord is pre-ordering 3, 1.5 million in advance, and the Divine-Grade Lightwing Seed is 1.2 million. I'll add 300,000 more Source Stones to you."

Dragon Cypress: "???"

For all his decades of trading as a seasoned Roving Merchant, Dragon Cypress had never encountered a buyer who insisted on upping the price themselves.

Unbelievable!

When something's off, there's some secret!

White Ivy may not be the brightest.

But Red Peach is as shrewd as they come.

There's something up!

Natural True God's creations, nothing in the world is truly useless.

—White Ivy and Red Peach must have found some unknown use for the Divine-Grade Night Fragrance Fruit!

—What are they using it for?

—I'm still holding on to a Night Fragrance Fruit, stashed in the Huagi Mountain Treasury. I'll go fetch it later and research it closely!

Thoughts moving fast, Dragon Cypress activated his Soul-Setting Ability, observed the fluctuations in Red Peach's soul consciousness, and asked, "Red Peach, just one question—did you really sell the Night Fragrance Fruit for 500,000 apiece?"

Red Peach: "Yes. On this point, I can guarantee it on the Spider King Spurge's reputation."

No abnormality in the soul's fluctuations.

He wasn't lying.

Sold for 500,000 each? That straightforwardly suggests—even if they've found a use, the value's still not that high.

Maybe just some niche little usage.

Red Peach counted out 30 Spider King Silk Scrolls, each worth 10,000 Source Stones, and handed them over.

Dragon Cypress signaled with his tentacles.

Areca helped receive them and swiftly counted through.

Given Red Peach's offer, Dragon Cypress, desperate for Source Stones, couldn't refuse at all.

What's more,

Once the Divine-Grade Night Fragrance Fruit ripens, it takes no Source Stones to produce—only 3 fruits each time, easy enough to handle with some Glinting Gold.

Each one sells for 500,000 Source Stones, Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed takes a 100,000 Source Stones processing fee, and Dragon Cypress, as the middleman, pockets 400,000.

Three fruits every 7 years, for a whopping 1.2 million in profit.

After careful thought, Dragon Cypress straightforwardly and formally responded: "Alright! Red Peach, all shares of the Night Fragrance Fruit trade go to White Ivy Mountain Lord. Whenever you need it, let me know—I can have the Night Fragrance Divine-Given Seed flower and bear fruit any time. If you can't sell them or don't need any more, I won't force you to buy."

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