CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 027: SEEING MELDE AGAIN

In early spring, Ink Orchids transplanted near the Ant Nest blossomed, their faint fragrance wafting gently.

When the Molan Flowers withered, a multitude of other flowers bloomed furiously.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid figured out the timing, packed their bags, and set off aboard the Dominating Throne.

Leisurely, they flew through an entire day and half a night.

The Dominating Throne absolutely could not be exposed, so Dragon Cypress hid it in a room deep within the Starship.

Leaving the Starship in the early morning, they stood on a hill and looked out.

Already, numerous caravans had gathered, interacting and trading, creating a lively scene.

The caravan led by Spider King Spurge was not among them.

Another long three-day wait ensued, and then a caravan arrived fashionably late.

Just like last year, upon arrival, Spider King Spurge first released his Life Seed. He planted it in the soil, where it quickly grew into a tall and conspicuous Zeqi Grass.

Other Lords and Mountain Lord Level Duoluo Flame Spiders also released their Life Seeds, planting them around the Zeqi Grass and forming a temporary trading circle.

The caravans began to move.

Melde looked towards the hill and spotted Dragon Cypress hidden in the bushes, staring straight in his direction.

Just as he was about to call out, he saw the Little Ant King turn, go over the hill, and hide behind the slope.

The little fellow clearly saw me. Why run?

Confused, Melde slowly turned and said, "Spider King Spurge, I saw that Little Ant King named Dragon Cypress. The fellow saw me and turned to run. I’ll go ask what’s going on."

"Go ahead," Spider King Spurge cautioned. "It’s traveling with a Flower Mantis Warrior and bringing good things. Move farther away to talk, so the other Spider Kings don’t notice."

Good things? A Flower Mantis Warrior?

That little fellow is still so alert!

Melde quickly grasped something and left the caravan, slowly heading towards the slope.

「...」

"Melde!"

"Long time no see!"

On the slope behind the hill, Dragon Cypress vigorously shook his tentacles to greet him, then flapped his wings to take off, landing on Melde’s back.

"Dragon Cypress, you’re in your 8th Age Period? Last year, Spider King Spurge told me you had evolved only one Age Period in a year. I was worried about your growth."

Melde’s spiritual power unfolded, scanning around. He spotted Ink Orchid hidden behind a cluster of vitex under the slope, and a Spider Silk Bag next to Ink Orchid.

He was immediately shocked when he perceived the items inside the Spider Silk Bag.

Melde suppressed the shock and excitement in his heart, quickened his steps down the slope, and asked, "Dragon Cypress, is that a friend you met on the Cloud Trace Continent?"

"Yes. It’s called Ink Orchid," Dragon Cypress responded, taking the initiative to introduce, "Ink Orchid was born in a mountain rich in Origin Force on the Cloud Trace Continent. I also moved there to stay with it, and we help each other."

"Oh!" Melde said. "A Spider King’s spiritual perception can reach beyond a thousand meters. Let’s move farther away to talk."

"Sure!" Dragon Cypress asked, "Melde, how is Grass Dragon? What Age Period is it in now?"

When they were part of the caravan, Little Flame Spider Grass Dragon was Dragon Cypress’s best friend.

Melde replied, "Grass Dragon is doing well. It molted and evolved once at the end of last autumn; it’s now a 2nd Age Period intermediate warrior.

"The year before last, I heard you were rejected by your Ant King kin and had to survive alone on the deserted Cloud Trace Continent. Grass Dragon was depressed for a long time.

"Last year, when Spider King Spurge told me that you had only evolved from the 4th to the 5th Age Period in a year, Grass Dragon was also worried about your growth..."

「...」

「Far from the hill, close to the Divine Force Barrier in a small grove.」

Dragon Cypress glided to the ground, standing between Ink Orchid and Melde, and made the formal introductions.

"Ink Orchid, this is Melde. He has been like an elder to me, holding an excellent reputation on both the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent and the Ten Thousand Nations Continent. He is also a Dulai Flame Spider Roving Merchant you can absolutely trust."

"Melde. Hello."

As a Mountain Lord Level Flame Spider, Melde’s size was truly massive, making Ink Orchid appear somewhat intimidated as it cautiously greeted him.

Dragon Cypress continued, "Melde, this is Ink Orchid. It possesses a Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed."

A Divine-Given Seed, indeed!

Melde, who had already discovered the Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds within the Spider Silk Bag, exclaimed in surprise and asked with confusion, "I can’t understand, where did you find them? Isn’t it said that the Origin Force of the Cloud Trace Continent hasn’t recovered?"

"Indeed, it hasn’t..." Dragon Cypress explained. "The place we live is called ’Xianglan Mountain.’ It’s on a mountain range seven to eight hundred meters high. There’s a small stretch there, about four to five kilometers long, where Origin Force is abundant. Ink Orchid originated from there, and the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed was also found there."

"I see..." Melde said. He then asked seriously, "How can there be such a place? Have you searched for others? Are there many places like this on the Cloud Trace Continent?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "Ink Orchid has flown along the Divine Force Barrier, searching far to the south and north, but hasn’t found a second such location."

So it’s an exception?

Melde instead breathed a sigh of relief. He muttered, "If the Origin Force of the Cloud Trace Continent were to recover, it would mean that the Ten Thousand Nations Continent and the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent are about to be depleted. No insect hopes to encounter such cataclysmic events in their lifetime..."

Melde quickly collected his emotions and asked enthusiastically, "The enhancement effect of the Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed should be comprehensive endurance, right?"

"Yes," Dragon Cypress confirmed.

"That’s quite valuable!" Melde then asked, "How many seeds does a single plant produce? How many offshoots are there? What’s their multiplication rate?"

Dragon Cypress answered methodically, "A single plant produces 11 seeds. It initially splits into 7 offshoots, progresses to 21 offshoots as an intermediate warrior, and currently has 28 offshoots."

He continued, "Last spring, thanks to the Origin Force Food that Spider King Spurge credited to us, Ink Orchid was able to break through and advance to intermediate warrior, harvesting an additional batch of Orchid Seeds."

Melde said, "Spider King Spurge told me about it. He was worried about your slow evolution... I’ve been worried about you for a long time too..."

Melde changed the subject. "Dragon Cypress, do you also have an Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot? Did you find it?"

"I found it by the river during the torrential rains at the end of last summer," Dragon Cypress replied.

Melde said, "Then it must have scattered from the Starship, originally buried in the river sand, and been washed out by the downpours. Dragon Cypress, the Natural God is watching over you."

Melde asked, "Dragon Cypress, did you bring it here to sell?"

"Yes," Dragon Cypress said. "I plan to exchange it for Origin Force Food to speed up my evolution."

He added, "First, let’s talk about the Divine-Given Seed! Ink Orchid is prepared to sell 200 Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds. Melde, you name a price."

"Alright!"

Upon hearing of the formal trade, Melde collected himself, reverted to his cunning merchant nature, and turned to Ink Orchid. "This batch of Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds is of inferior quality, worth about 4 Source Stones each. But, since you and Dragon Cypress are friends, I can offer 5 Source Stones each for them. Ink Orchid, what do you think?"

Ink Orchid looked at Dragon Cypress.

Melde always likes using these tactics. However, this year’s batch of Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds really is only worth that price.

Dragon Cypress nodded his tentacles.

"Okay!" Ink Orchid said.

Ink Orchid opened the Spider Silk Bag, first took out its own 100 Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds, then took out another 100 from Dragon Cypress’s petite Spider Silk Bag.

Melde watched with curiosity but refrained from asking.

Dragon Cypress took the initiative to say, "Ink Orchid has a Divine-Given Seed. I sold the Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot and borrowed some Source Stones for it. This will help it grow and evolve faster, in order to ascend to High-Rank Warrior sooner. Later on, it will repay me with Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds."

This was a lie he’d just made up.

"Oh!" Melde suddenly realized and, without any doubt, praised, "A win-win choice! A smart decision!"

Dragon Cypress said, "Melde, give an estimate for the Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot now."

Melde said, "The coating has completely come off. It’s only worth 5,000 Source Stones."

Dragon Cypress protested, "Melde, isn’t that too low? Have you forgotten? When I traveled with the caravan, you once sold an Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot with a worn coating."

"Ah! Right..." Melde replied. "Then 7,000 Source Stones!"

Dragon Cypress countered, "Melde, I remember that pot sold for twelve thousand Source Stones."

Melde replied, "That pot only had part of its coating gone; the rest was relatively intact, and the patterns were still there. Yours has completely lost its coating; it’s smooth, with nothing left."

Dragon Cypress argued, "They are both flawed items; there isn’t much difference. Even if there’s a slight difference, it’s still worth ten thousand Source Stones."

Melde knew Dragon Cypress was quite knowledgeable about these things. He reluctantly conceded somewhat and said, "Correct, it can be resold for ten thousand Source Stones. However, I also need to make a corresponding profit, so I can only go up to eight thousand Source Stones. Dragon Cypress, you’ve been with me for a year. You understand the rules of the caravan and the market conditions even better than I do."

Dragon Cypress urged, "Melde, this is a big deal! You could make a bit less. How about nine thousand Source Stones?"

The old schemer and the young schemer then entered into an intense round of bargaining.