CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 042: THE FIRST CUSTOMER OF THE ROVING MERCHANT CAREER

"Cloud Trace Continent?"

"Exactly. It’s the continent where we live, currently in an Origin Force Silent Period. Only certain small areas have the presence of Origin Force, such as the valley you reside in, and Xianglan Mountain and Molan Mountain where Ink Orchid and I live."

"Apart from me and you, are there other insects?"

"Of course."

"The Natural God granted you the Dominating Throne? Have you seen the Natural God?"

"I have never seen it with my own eyes but have dreamed of it. The Natural God guided me and watches over me."

"Do you all have Divine-Given Seeds?"

"Absolutely!"

Ink Orchid interjected, "I have a Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed. Dragon Cypress possesses a Divine-Given Seed from the Creator Civilization called ’Azure.’ It’s a plant that doesn’t exist in the Natural God System, a truly unique existence."

Indeed, a Divine-Given Seed is the best evidence of the Natural God’s favor.

As expected, the Natural God’s power is convincing. Ghost Fan was somewhat taken in, falling silent and quietly processing the newly obtained information.

Dragon Cypress gazed into the distance, observing Ghost Fan’s territory.

The Ghost Fan Tree was originally a small arbor, but the tree from the Divine-Given Ghost Fan Seed had grown to a staggering height of twenty to thirty meters, lush and leafy, bearing green fruits.

In addition, there were exactly ten ordinary Ghost Fan Tree Life Seeds.

It was clear that, like Ink Orchid, Ghost Fan was obsessed, but with Ghost Fan Trees, a woody plant significantly stronger than Orchid Grass.

Living alone, Ghost Fan must have realized the drawbacks of relying on a single plant as a Life Seed during its evolution. Wisely, it changed course. It opted for a variety of cypress, mango, and Huangpi trees as Life Seeds to diversify its sources of Origin Force Food.

Dragon Cypress asked, "Ghost Fan, how many years is the blossom-fruit cycle of your Divine-Given Seed?"

Ghost Fan, having a good impression of Dragon Cypress and somewhat awed by his background, explained enthusiastically in detail,

"As a Mid-Level Warrior, the blossom-fruit cycle was two years. After I evolved into a High-Level Warrior, the cycle extended to three years. This is the third set of fruits since my advancement to High-Level Warrior, expected to mature next autumn."

Dragon Cypress said, "Then next year, we can trade in moderation!"

Dragon Cypress made his intention clear, "I trade with many insects. Whatever type of Origin Force Food you need, just let me know, and I’ll help you get it."

"Trade relationships?" Ghost Fan paused, searched its inherited memories, and asked with excited hope, "Similar to a Flame Spider Roving Merchant?"

What a perceptive beetle!

Dragon Cypress replied calmly, "Yes. I control the Dominating Throne and possess the ability to transport goods like a Flame Spider. Moreover, I can travel between different Origin Force Points, something the Flame Spider cannot do."

Dragon Cypress added, "It’s quite arduous to run back and forth like this, so I charge a reasonable fee for my efforts."

Dragon Cypress continued, "I see you’re having quite a bit of trouble with your growth and evolution due to an unbalanced intake of Origin Force Food. If you continue like this, you’ll certainly fall on the path of becoming an Evolution Mountain Lord."

This wasn’t a scare tactic; it was the reality of Ghost Fan’s current state.

Dragon Cypress suggested with a hint of temptation,

"You’re already a High-Level Warrior. You surely need Origin Force Food that strengthens Metal System Abilities first and foremost. Wooden Darkling Beetle Warriors are known for their ultra-hard carapaces and exceptional defense, so you also need Origin Force Food that enhances your carapace. Additionally, your comprehensive physical enhancement is extremely poor. Strength, speed, endurance, internal organs, and muscle strength are all lacking. You urgently need a series of comprehensive enhancements."

"Yes, that’s right. I really need it."

Ghost Fan agreed repeatedly. Having lived alone all its life and never communicated with other insects, it was unaware of the complexity of insect hearts. It candidly revealed, "After I evolved into a High-Level Warrior, each Age Period has been particularly difficult. I almost die each time I wake from my slumber. I truly worry that I may never wake up from the next one."

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, if possible, please trade as many of the Origin Force Foods you mentioned as you can; the more varied, the better. I’ll trade all the Ghost Fan fruits produced next year with you."

Ghost Fan added, "I also have many fruits from the ordinary Ghost Fan Trees that I didn’t finish this year; those can be traded to you as well."

"No problem!"

Dragon Cypress agreed readily.

A very cooperative big beetle.

Still, with those ten Ghost Fan Tree Life Seeds, it was probably sick of eating Ghost Fan fruits.

Dragon Cypress said, "No rush. No rush. As this is our first trade, we need to discuss it slowly, clarifying each item clearly, to prevent any disputes in the future."

Dragon Cypress spoke unhurriedly, "I was in a hurry when I left and didn’t bring any goods. So, you can bring a few ordinary Ghost Fan fruits over first, and I’ll give you an estimate. We’ll trade and price in Source Stones."

Source Stones? Ghost Fan searched through its inherited memory and understood what ’Source Stones’ were. It hesitated for a moment and then said, "Wait a moment."

Having said that, it turned and burrowed into the adjacent dense forest, running quickly towards the slope where two Woodberry Life Seeds were planted.

Dragon Cypress controlled the Dominating Throne and floated over to follow.

Ghost Fan had dug a cave on the mountainside where the slope was relatively gentle. The area around the cave was filled with ordinary Ghost Fan Trees, and there was also a large open space where Ghost Fan Tree saplings of various sizes grew.

The Dominating Throne hovered at the edge of the clear space, about ten meters above the ground.

Carrying a 1-meter-long hollow stick, Ghost Fan emerged from the cave and trotted over.

The Ghost Fan fruits were stored inside the stick and made a subtle rustling noise as it ran.

"I can’t remember how long I’ve lived here by myself."

Ghost Fan mumbled to itself as it ran to the area below the Throne.

"Cultivating Ghost Fan Trees is the only joy in my life, and harvesting another Divine-Given Ghost Fan Seed is the motivation that keeps me going..."

As Ghost Fan spoke, it removed the dried grass that plugged the hole in the stick and shook the stick hard with its left forelimb.

A Ghost Fan fruit, about the size of a chestnut and nearly spherical with a black, wrinkled shell, fell out.

Dragon Cypress’s gaze, however, was drawn to the neatly stacked wood beside the cave.

"Ghost Fan, have you been sheltering many Wooden Darkling Beetles?"

"Yes. I started sheltering them when I became a High-Rank Warrior... It’s too hard for ordinary Wooden Darkling Beetles to evolve into Origin Force Life!"

"Then your hollow wood is..."

Understanding Dragon Cypress’s question, Ghost Fan explained, "These aren’t bored by insects. I’ve initially mastered Metal Ability, collecting some Metal Gravel from the river, and used it to hollow out the inside to store the Ghost Fan fruits."

"Oh—"

Dragon Cypress understood.

He had thought Ghost Fan possessed such strong spiritual power that it could control Wooden Darkling Beetle larvae, perhaps even directing them to bore into the wood to create these hollow sticks.

Turned out that wasn’t the case.

Dragon Cypress gently waved its tentacles and patted Ink Orchid.

Ink Orchid got the hint, fluttered its wings and glided down to the ground, picked up the Ghost Fan fruit, leaped up, and after a couple of flaps, landed neatly beside Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress took the Ghost Fan fruit and examined it.

Being a native species not cultivated or bred by the Insect Clan, the seed’s shell was especially thick, much like an almond, too tough for his claws to crack open.

His mandibles cracked the shell with force.

The kernel inside was no bigger than a pea.

After scanning and sensing with his spiritual power, Dragon Cypress chewed and swallowed it.

Bitter and unpleasant tasting, slightly toxic.

The Origin Force Attribute was unlike any Origin Force Food he had ever eaten before. Once absorbed by his body, the Origin Force Energy converged towards the brain.

"Pretty good!"

After a long while, Dragon Cypress praised and asked, "Ghost Fan, how many Ghost Fan fruits can one ordinary Ghost Fan Tree produce each year?"

Ghost Fan didn’t understand the implication and answered truthfully, "The earliest and largest one I planted can yield over 400 a year, while the smallest one planted last can only produce about 200 each year."

After all, it’s a small arbor, so the yield is somewhat low.

Dragon Cypress quoted a price, "At your High-Level Warrior stage, I can offer a purchase price of 0.5 Source Stones per ordinary Ghost Fan fruit. Once you advance to Mountain Lord, the quality will greatly improve, and the price could double."

Ghost Fan was not sure if this price was high or low, but the prospect of doubling the price upon becoming a Mountain Lord filled it with happiness and anticipation.

"I’ll take your word for it," Ghost Fan said.