Fenghuai Mountain.

"Bug King Yanguan! Bug King Yanguan! Bug King Yanguan..."

Lord Spiny Mulberry ran up the mountain while shaking his spiritual power to call out.

—Which mountain's insect is this?

—What's happened that's so urgent?

On the mountainside, under the Divine-Given Seed Tree for Yanguan, Bug King Yanguan, who was resting in the shade, stood up, thought for a moment, and quickly walked back to his dwelling cave.

"Bug King Yanguan!"

"And you are...?"

"I'm Spiny Mulberry, responsible for guarding the mountain pass."

"Gatekeeper Warrior? Did some insects break into Cloud Crown Mountain?"

"No—"

Lord Spiny Mulberry suddenly realized he was overreacting and stammered:

"There's a small caravan led by a Mountain Lord Level Flame Spider, bringing a kind of Divine-Grade Fruit called 'Night Fragrance Fruit.' They insist on seeing you."

Bug King Yanguan stared at Spiny Mulberry. Seeing he said no more, he impatiently asked, "Confirmed it's Divine-Grade?"

Spiny Mulberry: "Divine-Grade! I saw it myself before daring to report to you."

Bug King Yanguan: "Mountain Lord Level Flame Spider Roving Merchant?"

Spiny Mulberry: "A very small caravan. Last year, it was also led by a Mountain Lord Level Flame Spider Roving Merchant, whom I stopped. This year, a Lord-Level Flame Spider Roving Merchant came instead. Judging from the goods on its carapace, it seems quite capable."

Bug King Yanguan: "..."

Bug King Yanguan shook his tentacles vigorously and asked, "They've brought Divine-Grade Fruit—are they selling, or do they want to trade? Is this a one-off deal, or are they hoping to use this to get into our Cloud Crown Mountain for trade?"

Spiny Mulberry: "Uh... it all happened so fast... I forgot to ask..."

Bug King Yanguan: "What type of Divine-Grade Fruit is this Night Fragrance Fruit?"

Spiny Mulberry: "Too rushed... I forgot to ask..."

Hasn't got a clue.

These warriors, who were trained for battle since childhood, mostly aren't too clever.

Bug King Yanguan was speechless with frustration.

Spiny Mulberry: "I think I heard something about it last year... Soul-type? I heard the caravan leader, White Ivy Mountain Lord, say they mostly sell these to Purple Back Mountain and the Banded Assassin Bug Tribe, and that it supposedly matches the Banded Assassin Bug's talent ability perfectly..."

"Soul-type?!"

"And it perfectly matches Spotted Embrace's ability?"

Bug King Yanguan jumped up and scolded angrily, "You idiot! Aren't you going to invite them up here immediately?"

"Oh—"

Spiny Mulberry turned and ran off.

"Stop!"

Bug King Yanguan shouted after him, "You said they were here last year? And you turned them away?"

Spiny Mulberry: "Yes—"

Bug King Yanguan: "When did they come?"

Spiny Mulberry: "During the autumn trade season."

Bug King Yanguan tapped his tentacle lightly and said, "Blocked last year, but came early this year, that shows they're pretty desperate to trade with us. Don't rush, don't rush, you don't need to rush."

Spiny Mulberry: "Understood, I won't rush."

This foolish bug didn't understand at all.

Bug King Yanguan, exasperated, said, "Don't run, just walk at a normal pace back, then bring them over."

Spiny Mulberry: "Got it—"

Bug King Yanguan: "When trading Divine-Grade Fruit, whoever is in a hurry is the one in need, and that puts them at a disadvantage. Right now they're anxious, not me. Got it?"

Spiny Mulberry: "Understood!"

Bug King Yanguan waved a claw and said, "Go on."

Spiny Mulberry turned around and walked down the mountain at a measured pace.

…

…

…

Under the ancient apricot tree beside the straight path,

Melde, White Ivy, and their group waited and waited until twilight, when Lord Spiny Mulberry finally arrived.

White Ivy sprang to his feet, mind racing, and lightly tapped Red Peach with his middle leg.

Red Peach understood, and trotted forward to negotiate.

"Lord Spiny Mulberry, how did it go?"

"Bug King Yanguan invites all of you to Fenghuai Mountain. He wants to see the Night Fragrance Fruit in person."

"Now? Isn't it too late?"

Red Peach raised his claw and pointed at the sky.

Spiny Mulberry immediately sensed trouble; if he didn't bring the spiders up today, Bug King Yanguan would probably tear him apart.

"It is a bit late... so how about we hurry up and go?"

"Oh—"

"I'll go ask White Ivy Mountain Lord."

Red Peach didn't dare mess things up by making it difficult, so he turned and ran to White Ivy, pretending to say, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, Bug King Yanguan is anxious to meet you."

White Ivy exclaimed, surprised, "So eager?"

Grass Dragon advised, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, we shouldn't keep the Bug King waiting."

"Yes, exactly, yes, exactly."

Lupine and Silvergrass chimed in one after another.

Tacky little tricks~ Melde couldn't help but look down on them.

But Spiny Mulberry fell for it, and hurried up, echoing, "Yes, it's not late at all, let's move faster, now is just right to go."

White Ivy agreed with satisfaction, "All right then, Lord Spiny Mulberry, let's pick up the pace."

Spiny Mulberry led the way, jogging toward Fenghuai Mountain.

...

"Lord Spiny Mulberry, is that Divine God-Given Seed that grants Waterwood System hallucination ability located at Fenghuai Mountain?"

Melde struck up conversation.

"Of course."

Spiny Mulberry replied.

"A wild Divine God-Given Seed?"

"Yes."

"I've traveled the continent for nearly a hundred years and never heard of it before—not even its name."

"It's called 'Spotted Embrace,' apparently a mutation of 'Spotted Leaf Sealed Embrace Tree.' I'm not sure of the details, but the Spotted Embrace Fruit it produces is mainly for the tribe's outstanding warriors. It's normal that you've never heard of it."

"Oh! I see. A wealthy Great Tribe like Cloud Crown Mountain, naturally doesn't need Divine-Grade Fruit to earn Source Stones."

"That goes without saying."

"What's the yield? How many years is the blossom-fruit cycle?"

"Um... I'm not too sure... Only a handful of warriors get to eat it..."

Warriors sent to guard the mountain gates usually don't have high status in the tribe.

Melde stopped asking questions.

Traversing the mountains, they arrived at the foot of a majestic peak,

White Ivy, Melde, and their group stopped automatically.

Lord Spiny Mulberry sped up the mountain to announce their arrival, and quickly rushed back down: "Bug King Yanguan invites White Ivy Mountain Lord... and this Lord-Level Flame Spider Warrior to come up."

"My name is Melde."

Melde introduced himself and followed White Ivy up the mountain.

On the southwestern side of the peak, at the mountainside, was a wide stretch of earth and stone in front of a cave entrance.

On soil-stone ability-risen racks climbed a Grape Life Seed, lush and leafy, currently at fruit ripening stage.