CHAPTER 381: CHAPTER 366: PLANTING THE BAIBAI DIVINE SEED_2

After Dragon Cypress finished speaking, he added: "The Barley Bug Tribe still doesn’t know there exists a Divine-Grade Fruit like the One-Glimpse Fruit in this world. They also don’t know that the White Poplar Divine Seed was beaten back into seed form and replanted on the spot."

White Rice: "Understood!"

Spruce: "Very well!"

Snakebark Maple flicked his antennae fiercely, crackling with electricity, and said: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, leave it to me and rest easy. No insect dares to touch your Divine God-Given Seed—should any come, no matter how many, I’ll electrocute them all."

Ghost Fan hurriedly said: "From my observations, the Barley Bug Warriors are inherently good-natured and are very friendly towards us, as well as the Dragon Cypress Ant King..."

Dragon Cypress: "That’s why I say, if there’s an issue, communicate first."

The insects nodded their antennae in agreement.

Dragon Cypress tidied up quickly and set out.

...

...

...

At the Starship Passage rift on the Cloud Trace Continent side, Natsumi had been waiting for three days in advance.

Silvergrass and Red Peach had also arrived early.

Each more anxious than the last.

Silvergrass turned sideways, extending a middle leg through the rift, resting it on the mud floor.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King! Here he comes!"

Silvergrass suddenly retracted the leg, bouncing and cheering.

—Has he arrived?

—Then they must have succeeded!

—Did they get the White Poplar Divine Seed?

—Judging by the light steps, it must have been a success.

—If all went well, it should’ve been planted by now, right?

Silvergrass, Natsumi, and Red Peach bounced with excitement, analyzing and speculating.

Natsumi squeezed past Silvergrass, extending her long leg to the ground to sense.

Indeed, it was the vibration of the ant colony’s marching steps.

As in past years, Dragon Cypress led the ant colony punctually for trade.

She withdrew her leg and waited patiently.

After a while, Dragon Cypress entered the cave at a brisk pace, leading Areca and Red Moonseed.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

"Did you succeed?"

"The Life-Extending Divine Good?"

"White Poplar Divine Seed?"

Silvergrass, Natsumi, and Red Peach greeted him warmly and asked eagerly.

Dragon Cypress was not one for beating around the bush or wordy explanations; he replied calmly:

"A complete victory! Zero casualties among all participating Insect Clan Warriors. The White Poplar Divine Seed has already developed into a Life Seed; it was sown immediately at the start of spring and has already grown to just over two meters high."

"Wow!"

"That’s great!"

"Fantastic!"

"The Lord-level Termite Kingdom was destroyed just like that?"

"Dragon Cypress Ant King is incredible!"

Silvergrass, Natsumi, and Red Peach cheered.

Dragon Cypress continued: "The Origin Force concentration in the central region of the Purple Tung Insect Nation is extremely high, about... more than 2.5 times that of the Origin Force concentration on the opposite hill, an exceptionally superior Natural Primordial Force environment."

"I used the corpses of the Lord-level Ant King, Ant Queen, and ten Assistant King Termites for compost, and made a substrate soil from the pulverized trunk remains of the original White Poplar Divine Seed, creating the best soil conditions possible."

"I also plan to invest 100 Source Stones a day, supplementing the White Poplar Divine Seed with Primordial Energy Substance using Source Stone dust."

Dragon Cypress: "Referring to the growth of the Red Cypress Divine Seed back in the day, I forecast that the White Poplar Divine Seed can grow over 15 meters tall this year, and over 30 meters next year. With the optimal conditions for Origin Force, soil, and nutrients, by the year after next it should be able to blossom and bear fruit without affecting normal growth."

Using war-dead Insect Clan corpses as compost?!

That was a grave taboo on Ten-thousand Tribes Continent and Wan Country Continent.

As principled, neutral Roving Merchants, Silvergrass, Natsumi, and Red Peach could only rejoice secretly in their hearts, while maintaining a solemn, grave silence outwardly.

Dragon Cypress continued: "I’ve also checked the wild Purple Tung Divine Seed. It stands just over 200 meters tall, already at Evolution King Level, but needs just a bit more opportunity. When I have time, Ink Orchid and I will excavate the northern Insect Clan ruins from the previous Origin Force Era to see if we can find compatible Divine-Given Remains to help it break through."

"Great! That’s wonderful!"

Silvergrass could not contain himself, raising his foreleg high in ecstatic celebration.

Dragon Cypress went on: "Red Peach, the Divine-Grade Night Fragrance Fruit will mature this autumn, and can be delivered next year. The next batch will proceed as normal—three fruits—but I’ll be moving it to the Purple Tung Insect Nation after that, which could delay things by a year or two."

Red Peach: "Got it!"

Natsumi asked: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, what about the Quandong Divine Tree? How are its fruits?"

Dragon Cypress: "All is normal. The fruit matures at the end of next autumn, and can be traded the spring after. Please remind the Aconite Spider King to prepare the Divine-Grade Six Paths Fruit. We’ll barter, with any remaining balance settled after."

Natsumi: "Okay!"

Natsumi: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, so you’ll be relocating the Night Fragrance God-Given Seed to the Purple Tung Insect Nation? The ultra-high Origin Force concentration there could save a lot of Source Stones."

Dragon Cypress: "Yes."

Silvergrass hurriedly asked: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, I remember you mentioned that Huagi Mountain was once the largest tribe of the Cloud Trace Continent, with two Divine Trees..."

Dragon Cypress replied: "There’s also a Linnan Divine Tree, whose Divine-Grade Kunlun Seed grants Wood Elemental Talent. I already thought about what you’re thinking. From the moment the Termite Kingdom was taken, I communicated with Huagi Mountain..."

Dragon Cypress waved his antennae and said: "Huagi Mountain doesn’t dare to give me complete trust, but hasn’t turned me down either. It’s not my personal credibility it doubts, but that it fears I might suddenly die in the evolutionary process..."

Silvergrass quickly said: "That’s an easy fix! Dragon Cypress Ant King, as long as you eat more Divine-Given Origin Force Food that enhances Comprehensive Physique and Life System, you’ll be fine. Ordinary Divine-Given Origin Force Foods for that can be obtained through our caravan’s regular trade."

Dragon Cypress shook his antennae again, saying: "Huagi Mountain still doesn’t fully trust, so I’ll have to achieve Evolution Lord Level before this can be discussed!"

Silvergrass: "Lord-Level?"

Natsumi: "That should be soon, right?"

Dragon Cypress was silent.

Soon, or not, you’ll know in a few years.

Red Peach: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, is there anything else?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes!"

Dragon Cypress said somewhat helplessly: "That Red Phellodendron Ant Queen left behind one more Red Phellodendron Divine Seed, Lord-Level, grown for a hundred or two hundred years, over a hundred meters tall, with Metal System comprehensive elemental enhancement. By all standards, it’s a rather unremarkable small arbor type Divine Seed. Yet, Ink Orchid insists..."

Dragon Cypress asked: "Silvergrass, when you go back, ask the Wormwood Spider King if he’s interested in a deal? Please help buy a Divine-Grade Radiant Fruit, I’ll pay whatever Source Stones it costs! In the future, once I reach an agreement with Huagi Mountain and the Linnan Divine Seed is rooted and bears fruit..."

Dragon Cypress: "The Linnan Divine Seed is very productive—blossom-fruit cycle of 11 years, yielding 5 fruits. The first batch of 5, Ink Orchid and I each take one, the remaining 3... Huagi Mountain offers them to me at 5 million Source Stones each, and I’ll sell them to the Wormwood Spider King at cost, making no profit. In future transactions, Wormwood Spider King will always have a share of one fruit."

"Good!"

Silvergrass bounced with excitement.

"Alright! I’ll go report to the Wormwood Spider King right away!"

Silvergrass said as he turned to leave.

"Wait! Don’t be hasty! You’re just a Little Warrior, don’t make decisions for the Spider King."

Dragon Cypress hurriedly called out: "Huagi Mountain usually only accepts Source Stones in cash for Divine-Grade Fruits, which is a big hassle. Make sure to explain that to the Wormwood Spider King."

Dragon Cypress: "Of course, I’ll try to negotiate with Huagi Mountain to exchange the first batch of Divine-Grade Kunlan Seed from the Linnan Divine Tree for other Divine-Grade Fruits, or to offset the cost with high-quality Origin Force Food."

Silvergrass: "Alright!"

Natsumi and Red Peach were both obviously tempted and just about to speak, but Dragon Cypress raised his claw to interrupt: "I’m still a long way from Lord-Level. The matter of the Linnan Divine Tree will be put aside for now."

Dragon Cypress said: "Last year I obtained quite a few Divine-Given Purple Tung Seeds. Silvergrass, take them back to show the Wormwood Spider King first."

Red Moonseed immediately handed over a petite Spider Silk Bag.

Silvergrass accepted it, opened it, and used spider silk to pick up a seed and inspect it.

Dragon Cypress waited a moment, then continued: "38 Source Stones per seed, no bargaining. Starting next year, I’ll repay the 3 million Zhifeng Grass Fruit debt with Divine-Given Purple Tung Seeds."

Silvergrass: "Good quality, large seeds, the price should be fine, but I’ll still need the Wormwood Spider King’s approval."

Dragon Cypress lightly tapped his antennae and asked: "Any other important matters to discuss?"

No!

Natsumi, Silvergrass, and Red Peach replied in unison.

Dragon Cypress: "Then Natsumi, Silvergrass, Red Moonseed, you take the news of victory to the other side. Don’t keep the three Spider Kings waiting. Red Peach, you and White Ivy Mountain Lord have lots of goods, let’s get trading. The sooner we’re done, the sooner I can get back to the Purple Tung Insect Nation to watch over the White Poplar Divine Seed."

Areca tapped the ground with its foreleg. Little Flame Spider slid off its carapace, crossed the rift, and ran toward Silvergrass.

Red Moonseed followed close behind, going with Natsumi and Silvergrass.

Red Peach handed over a stone slab noting order information and asked: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, anything else?"

Dragon Cypress: "The war expenses were huge, emptying the Xianglan Mountain royal treasury. I’m running short on funds for trade with the Barley Bug Tribe. Go ask White Ivy Mountain Lord for another loan of 500,000 Source Stones..."