CHAPTER 377: CHAPTER 364: NO BETRAYAL_2

White Rice, Ghost Fan, Mulberry, and Snakebark Maple all hurried over as well.

Everyone was mainly concerned about the state of their own territories, so Dragon Cypress explained in detail to each of them, and then arranged the upcoming tasks.

Dragon Cypress: "Once the Ant Nest renovation is complete, everyone help dig river canals for a few more days. First, excavate the river canal that will define the common territory of the Barley Bug Tribe, so the reinforcement can be finished as soon as possible."

"Alright."

"No problem."

The gathered insects agreed.

Dragon Cypress: "When that’s done, the timing should be about right. I’ll escort everyone back to their territories."

——Okay.

——Alright.

——Oh.

The insects responded.

White Rice asked, "Can’t you do any work during the northern winter?"

Dragon Cypress: "That’s right. In the north, winter can freeze water into ice. Even the northern insects have to hole up inside caves to rest."

Dragon Cypress: "With four or five dozen more Barley Bug Warriors all of a sudden, there aren’t enough metal cans for the Roving Merchant trade within Cloud Trace Continent. White Rice, Ghost Fan, you two rest up at your territories for a few days, then head to Jianlan Plain. There’s a big river there, and you can sift sand along the banks to collect metal gravel. Work together with Areca to craft metal cans."

Dragon Cypress: "Start by making a batch of small cans, following the same style and specs as the Flame Spider Roving Merchants’. Add Orchid Grass patterns and markings for the Giant-Headed Ant and the Flower Mantis Warrior. I’ll buy them at a high price of 50 Source Stones per can."

White Rice did a quick calculation in his mind, waved his tentacles, and said energetically, "No problem!"

Ghost Fan chimed in, "Alright."

Dragon Cypress: "About profit sharing... It’s not really for me to decide, but here’s a suggestion. For each can made, White Rice and Ghost Fan, you each get 20 Source Stones, and Areca takes 10."

White Rice: "...Fine."

White Rice asked, "Is the metal gravel content high along Jianlan Plain’s riverbank? How many can we make in a day?"

Dragon Cypress: "I checked it out myself; the content’s very high. If you and Ghost Fan work together, you’ll have no problem collecting enough gravel for four or five metal cans a day. That works out to two or three thousand Source Stones a month."

Dragon Cypress: "Make 500 small cans for the Roving Merchant trade. Also, as I mentioned before, there are the large, square metal cans—400 needed. Wait until Areca evolves into a High-Level Warrior to manufacture those. The price for those can go as high as 500 Source Stones per can. There’s no rush for those; over the next few years, you can slowly sift along the Jianlan Plain riverbanks during the downtime in winter. It’s a good extra income project."

"Alright!"

White Rice responded in a light, cheerful tone.

This insect is very pragmatic—if the reward’s right, it’s up for anything.

"...Okay." Ghost Fan’s territory income is already high, so it’s not that motivated to work for Source Stones.

Dragon Cypress tapped its tentacles and turned, saying: "Everyone knows Ink Orchid has nurtured a Sea Blue Tree Divine-Given Seed, planning to sow it on Southern Sour Jujube Mountain. My idea is, Ink Orchid goes to plant it in winter, then guard and accompany it there for a year. But, I also plan to sow the White Poplar Divine Seed in the Purple Tung Insect Nation, and it has to go into the soil right at the start of next spring. So, Spruce, Snakebark Maple, I’ll need you two to come help out for a while...next spring."

Spruce: "Alright—"

Snakebark Maple: "Is there payment?"

Dragon Cypress: "Of course, monthly. I’ll give you 1,000 Source Stones per month..."

Just as they were talking,

White Willow suddenly dropped from the sky, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, Fuzzy Flower Mountain Lord and the others are coming."

The three Barley Bug Tribe Mountain Lords—Mountain Thorn, Magnolia Bark, and Fuzzy Flower—came hurrying over.

Dragon Cypress’s destruction of the Termite Kingdom brought the biggest changes—not just freedom and land, but also roving merchant trade and the flow of Origin Force Food.

Even though the Purple Tung Insect Nation covers a vast area, it’s ultimately an Origin Force Isolated Island, and those trapped there are eager for trade.

After greeting each other,

Dragon Cypress jumped onto the Dominating Throne, took down three big bundles of Spider Silk Bags, and handed them to the three Barley Bug Mountain Lords, saying:

"These are small gifts for the warriors of the Barley Bug Tribe. Spider Silk Bags woven by Flame Spider Warriors: waterproof, fireproof, insect-proof, moisture-proof, Origin Force-conserving, and can extend the shelf life of Origin Force Food. Mountain Thorn Mountain Lord, Magnolia Bark Mountain Lord, Fuzzy Flower Mountain Lord—distribute these to your tribal warriors first."

"Many thanks, Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, so generous!"

The three Barley Bug Mountain Lords expressed their gratitude.

Dragon Cypress knew what they cared most about was trading, so it hopped onto the throne, took down a large Spider Silk Bag filled with metal cans, opened it for display, and said:

"This is White Rice Ant King Honey. From the White Rice Mountain Lord’s territory, brewed from Divine-Given White Rice Fruit produced from the White Rice Divine-Given Seed."

All kinds of Divine-Given Seeds currently in Cloud Trace Continent had already been introduced in detail at the last gathering.

Introductions aside, seeing the real thing in person made the three Mountain Lords—Mountain Thorn, Magnolia Bark, and Fuzzy Flower—unable to suppress their excitement.

Barley Bug Warriors have the Life System talent. Among them, the Divine-Given Origin Force Foods—White Rice Fruit, Black Fruit Huckleberry, and Green-Red Kiwifruit—greatly benefit their growth and evolution.

Dragon Cypress: "The Divine-Given Origin Force Food produced in Cloud Trace Continent should first and foremost satisfy our own Insect Clan Warriors in Cloud Trace Continent. But since output is limited, my plan is to give priority to supplying High-Level Warriors, so everyone can smoothly evolve to Mountain Lord Level."

Mountain Thorn Mountain Lord: "That’s how it should be."

Magnolia Bark Mountain Lord: "Dragon Cypress Ant King is right."

Dragon Cypress: "High-quality standard Origin Force Food will be supplied amply, and Divine-Given Origin Force Food I’ll distribute as appropriate. This is our first transaction year; High-Level Warriors go first. Next spring, after trading with the Flame Spider Roving Merchants, I’ll trade with all the Mountain Lords."

The three Barley Bug Mountain Lords nodded their tentacles in understanding.

Dragon Cypress: "Alright then, it’s settled."

Dragon Cypress: "Is the harvest finished?"

Fuzzy Flower Mountain Lord: "We’ve already finished harvesting more than half the Origin Force Food so far."