CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 055: LOW PRICE HANDLING

The Life Level of the Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed should be equivalent to the Mountain Lord Level.

During the early stages of fruit maturation, the process of absorbing a massive amount of Origin Force lasted only one day and night.

The next day, facing the gentle breeze and sunshine, the emerald green fruit began to deepen in color.

Three days later, a brownish-yellow hue appeared near where the fruit attached to the stem.

A light fragrance from the fruit wafted through the air.

Birds and small forest animals, attracted by the scent of the Origin Force Food, came to forage.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid patrolled around the massive tree, flying and releasing the distinct aura of Origin Force Creatures to intimidate, drive away, and kill those reckless predators.

Five days later, the fruits turned thoroughly brownish-yellow, and the fruity aroma became rich.

After one more day, the surface of the fruit dulled, showing dark brown spots—a sign of full maturity.

"Dragon Cypress, can you now determine how much a single fruit is worth in Source Stones?" Ink Orchid asked hopefully, picking one for Dragon Cypress.

"Of course..."

Dragon Cypress quickly ate the Fruit Pulp. After cracking open the Fruit Core, he swept it with his spiritual power, inspecting and appraising it repeatedly before saying, "Selling to a caravan, an entire fruit would be worth around 13 Source Stones. The Fruit Pulp alone, which tastes excellent, is worth 3 Source Stones, and the Fruit Core 10 Source Stones."

Ink Orchid asked, "And buying from a caravan?"

Dragon Cypress replied, "An entire fruit would be worth around 15 Source Stones. Its specialized type leans towards rarity, so the price fluctuates. If sold to those Insect Clan members renowned for their flying ability, 18 Source Stones would not be out of the question."

Ink Orchid said, "Over three thousand fruits! That could sell for a lot of Source Stones..."

Ink Orchid heaved a long sigh.

The fruits were valuable, but they could not be sold to caravans, nor were there other insects on the Cloud Trace Continent that could buy them. With such a large quantity, Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid surely couldn’t eat them all.

What to do with them in the end? Let them rot?

These were Divine-Given Seeds!

The mere thought made her heart bleed.

And thinking about how they still owed White Ivy 2,000 Source Stones without knowing how to repay it... Ink Orchid felt miserable.

Dragon Cypress said, "Ink Orchid, the fruits are ripe. Hurry and pick them."

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid busily picked the fruits, either flying around the tree or crawling.

Below the tree, on the Dominating Throne, seven hungry Specialized Blue Ants also began to get busy.

A Southern Sour Jujube Fruit is an elliptical berry about 4 centimeters in length, composed of Fruit Pulp and a Fruit Core.

Mainly, the Origin Force Material is concentrated in the Fruit Core.

The Fruit Pulp also contains a small amount of Origin Force Material and is sour-sweet with a light fragrance when fully mature—tasting excellent.

The task of the Blue Ants was to consume the fresh Fruit Pulp and refine it into ’Ant King Honey.’

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid spent an entire day picking all the fruits, gladly eating the fresh ones while tallying their harvest.

It was exactly 3,477 fruits, not one more, not one less, as Ink Orchid had counted before.

It took another full four days, with the cooperation of the seven Specialized Blue Ants, to refine all the Fruit Pulp into honey.

A common problem with wild tree species—large Fruit Cores and little Fruit Pulp.

Ultimately, it only filled the abdomens of three Blue Ants. Some leftovers were put into the Metal Can belonging to Ink Orchid.

Ordinary Ant Honey, blended with a mix of various fruits, dried fruits, and a small amount of animal meat, was brewed and filled into a can. They prepared to market it to Ghost Fan.

The sun had been strong for the past few days, mostly drying out the Fruit Cores, which were then packed into a Spider Silk Bag.

Estimating the time to be right, they set off for Ghost Fan Mountain.

Timing it just right, they arrived in the morning.

The Ghost Fan Divine-Given Seed had also been harvested only a few days ago; neatly arranged on a flat, freshly cut wooden plank, they were laid out under the sun to dry.

Ghost Fan stayed close by.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King! Ink Orchid!"

From a distance, Ghost Fan vigorously waved its tentacles in greeting.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid didn’t possess its formidable spiritual power.

The Dominating Throne descended quickly.

"Ghost Fan!" Ink Orchid eagerly called out.

"Ghost Fan, have we arrived too early?" Dragon Cypress greeted him half-jokingly.

Familiar with each other, they didn’t need to be so cautious. They simply controlled the Dominating Throne to land on the ground.

"Not early. Not early," Ghost Fan hurriedly shook its tentacles.

Ghost Fan was a Wooden Darkling Beetle, and its diet consisted mainly of wood, a trait of its species. Being solitary, it also appeared especially naive and clumsy in its physical movements and use of telekinesis during communication.

Seeing its appearance, Dragon Cypress couldn’t joke anymore and seriously asked, "Have the Source Stones been used in time? How is the quality of these Ghost Fans?"

Ghost Fan responded, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, following your guidance, I crushed the Source Stones in time and used them for the Ghost Fan Divine-Given Seed, and it absorbed them all."

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, have a look first." Ghost Fan cautiously pinched a Ghost Fan seed from the wooden board with its claw tip and handed it to Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress took it, scanned it with his spiritual power, and then added, "Source Stone powder contains many special Origin Force Materials necessary for the growth of Origin Force Plants; you shouldn’t waste even a tiny bit."

The quality was slightly better than expected, but not enough to affect the price.

Ghost Fan, somewhat nervously, asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, what’s your offer in Source Stones?"

Dragon Cypress said, "18 Source Stones per piece. Ghost Fan, what do you think?"

Is it that valuable? Ghost Fan failed to hide its emotions at this moment, jumped for joy, and cheerfully said, "That’s great!"

Ghost Fan didn’t understand that negotiating prices was an option in trading.

Since the seller had no objections, the price was set.

Dragon Cypress continued, "Ghost Fan, let’s finalize our trade at the end of the spring season. The total amount, principal and interest, you owe me and Ink Orchid is exactly 5,000 Source Stones, right?"

Ghost Fan said, "Yes!"

Dragon Cypress said, "5,000 divided by 18... comes to about 278. You give me 278 Ghost Fans."

Ghost Fan tried to calculate, felt overwhelmed, then chose to trust Dragon Cypress and solemnly said, "I will repay with 278 Ghost Fans."

Ghost Fan said, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, this year I harvested 637 Ghost Fans! After repaying 278, I still have..."

Dragon Cypress said, "You still have 359."

So many left! Ghost Fan slightly lifted its head, looking towards the Dominating Throne.

On the Throne, Ink Orchid quickly held up a Metal Can, pitching, "Ghost Fan, this is Ant King Honey made from the Fruit Pulp of the Divine-Given Southern Sour Jujube! It’s super delicious, flavored using our secret method. Would you like to try some?"

"Ant King Honey?"

The mention of ’honey’ immediately made Ghost Fan crave it.

Wood had no taste, and occasionally it ate meat, but the taste was worse, quite gamey. But dipping it in Ant Honey made the taste much better.

Ink Orchid said, "Ant Honey is made by blending it with ordinary Origin Force Food. Ant King Honey, however, uses the Fruit Pulp of a Divine-Given Seed. It’s on another level in both taste and enhancement effects."

Ink Orchid removed the lid, and a mixture of sweet fragrances spread out.

Its tentacles quivered, and saliva began to flow uncontrollably.

"Ink Orchid, how much are you selling it for?"

"Very cheap! 1,000 Source Stones per can. The usual rules apply: you must return the can to us after it’s finished."

Dragon Cypress timely interjected, "Despite the abundant yield of the Southern Sour Jujube Divine-Given Seed, its enhancement effect is quite average. Ink Orchid and I can’t finish it ourselves, and it doesn’t sell out when we market it. So, we’re letting it go at a low price."

That’s right! I was so caught up in the taste, I forgot about the enhancement effects! Ghost Fan suddenly realized but then joyfully said, "1,000 Source Stones isn’t expensive; I’ll buy it. The membranous wings of Wooden Darkling Beetles are naturally weak; enhancing them would be good."

After speaking, it spread its elytra, revealing the brown membranous wings beneath, and said somewhat gloomily, "When I was very young, I was able to fly. But with each Evolution and growth, my body became heavier, and I couldn’t fly anymore."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Ink Orchid: "..."

Since he put it that way...

Ink Orchid, holding up an Oversized Spider Silk Bag containing Southern Sour Jujube Cores, said, "Ghost Fan, maybe you’d want to take some more Southern Sour Jujube Cores!"

"I don’t need those..."

Ghost Fan asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, are there two Specialized Blue Ants storing a lot of Ant King Honey? Could you sell me some more?"

Dragon Cypress happily agreed, "Of course!"

Dragon Cypress asked, "Ghost Fan, do you still have that Metal Can from last time? Bring it here, and I’ll mix some for you."