CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 070: ROVING MERCHANT’S JOURNEY (PART 2)

In the mountain cave where he lived, Ghost Fan had just laid down, his consciousness still blurry, when he suddenly woke up.

"Ghost Fan!" Ink Orchid called out, standing at the entrance of the cave.

"Ink Orchid? Where’s Dragon Cypress Ant King?" Ghost Fan asked.

"The Dominating Throne is flying so slowly; it’s still behind," Ink Orchid replied.

She peeked into the cave and asked, "Ghost Fan, how have you been lately?"

"I’m good..." Ghost Fan said, walking out of the cave.

In high spirits, Ink Orchid said, "Ghost Fan, I’ve brought you some fantastic news."

Delighted, Ghost Fan asked, "Ink Orchid, what’s the good news?"

"Dragon Cypress and I found a Longhorn Beetle Warrior in the north, named Mountain Persimmon, who is related to you," Ink Orchid explained. "It loves Persimmon Trees and has cleared a lot of land to plant many of them."

Ghost Fan was silent. He couldn’t quite bring himself to be happy.

"Alright..." he mumbled.

Ink Orchid continued, "Ghost Fan, we got you the seeds of the Large Fruit Ghost Fan."

"That is good news!" Ghost Fan exclaimed.

"Dragon Cypress and I also added the Divine-Given Seed of the White Rice Tree to our goods," Ink Orchid added. "Dragon Cypress said that because your comprehensive physique enhancement wasn’t sufficient, you’ve sustained many internal injuries during your evolution. The fruit from the Divine-Given Seed of the White Rice Tree can help you recover from these injuries, which will make your next Age Period Evolution much easier. Consequently, the probability of successfully becoming an Evolution Mountain Lord will also be significantly higher."

Ghost Fan was stunned, then joyfully said, "That’s also good news!"

He thought for a moment, then nervously asked, "Is it expensive? The Origin Force Food produced by the Divine-Given Seed of the White Rice Tree must be very costly, right?"

"Yes, it’s quite expensive," Ink Orchid confirmed. "But Dragon Cypress said the priority is to address your health issues, so we won’t profit from this deal."

"Ink Orchid, thank you both," Ghost Fan said, a warmth spreading through his heart. He felt moved, grateful, and eagerly looked up at the blue spot slowly approaching.

Ink Orchid quickly added, "The fruits from the Divine-Given Seed of the White Rice Tree will mature in early summer. Dragon Cypress and I will trade here with you first, then go to White Rice Mountain, and then come back here."

"Uh..." Ghost Fan uttered. "Ink Orchid, you guys have really gone to a lot of trouble."

"No trouble, no trouble at all," Ink Orchid assured him. She scanned the cave stealthily with her spiritual power and asked, "Ghost Fan, have you finished all the Ant King Honey you bought last time?"

"I’ve finished it..." Ghost Fan replied.

As the Dominating Throne approached, Ghost Fan suddenly realized something. He turned, dashed into the cave, and retrieved two metal cans.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, here you go," Ghost Fan said. He activated his Metal Ability, controlling the two cans to float gently and land on the Dominating Throne.

Dragon Cypress opened one to look inside, then packed them away into a Spider Silk Bag. "Ghost Fan, good news," he said. "We’ve found the Large Fruit Ghost Fan Tree Seeds you needed."

"Thank you, Dragon Cypress," Ghost Fan said, delighted.

He showed no sign of surprise; Ink Orchid must have flown over and told him everything already, Dragon Cypress thought.

Seeing this, Dragon Cypress didn’t elaborate further. He took out a petite Spider Silk Bag and said, "Ghost Fan, these are the seeds, just fifteen of them. Be careful and choose the right time to plant them."

Dragon Cypress then took out a medium-sized Spider Silk Bag. "Ghost Fan," he said, "this is a new type of Origin Force Food, worth 2,000 Source Stones. There are also 50 Xianglan Seeds, price unchanged, 400 Source Stones. That comes to 2,400 Source Stones in total."

With a leap, Ink Orchid spread her wings, landing deftly on the Dominating Throne to help move the goods down to Ghost Fan.

"Thank you both..." Ghost Fan said as he opened and inspected them, graciously expressing his gratitude.

Ink Orchid reminded him, "Ghost Fan, you need to return the Spider Silk Bag that holds the Origin Force Food. Making Spider Silk Bags is troublesome, and Dragon Cypress and I are also running low."

"Understood," Ghost Fan replied, taking out his own Spider Silk Bag and beginning to transfer the Origin Force Food.

"Dragon Cypress, how many Ghost Fan Seeds are 2,400 Source Stones worth?" Ghost Fan asked.

"Wait a moment," Dragon Cypress said, then asked, "How many Ghost Fan Seeds do you have left?"

"287," Ghost Fan replied.

So he hasn’t eaten a single one, Dragon Cypress thought. Ghost Fan’s spiritual power has already been strengthened to the maximum. Since he has other Origin Force Foods to choose from, he definitely wouldn’t eat them.

Dragon Cypress further inquired, "What about last year’s yield of Ghost Fan Seeds from the common Life Seed plants?"

"A lot! A whole bagful, I didn’t count..." Ghost Fan answered.

"Don’t you also have nine other types of Life Seed Plants?" Dragon Cypress asked. "Do you have any Origin Force Food left from them?"

"Some are left, but not much," Ghost Fan said.

"I’ll buy the Ghost Fan Seeds and the other Origin Force Foods too," Dragon Cypress stated. "Bring them out for me to see."

Ghost Fan went back into the cave and came out with a large Spider Silk Bag, followed by a pile of hollow wooden sticks.

After inspecting and pricing the items, Dragon Cypress finalized the total for the physique-enhancing Origin Force Foods at a round 1,500 Source Stones.

Ghost Fan had planted ten Common Ghost Fan Life Seeds, and the yield was enormous; in the end, he traded 1,800 of them.

After this trade, the stock on the Dominating Throne looked quite extensive and varied.

Dragon Cypress didn’t forget to remind him, "We’ll also take the Ghost Fan Seeds produced by the Divine-Given Seed plants, Ghost Fan, so make sure you keep them well preserved."

He continued, "Ink Orchid and I are going to a Land of Origin Force called White Rice Mountain, where a Divine-Given White Rice Tree is about to mature. Its White Rice Fruit has pulp that can be made into Ant King Honey. We’ll bring you a jar of it later."

"As for the price," Dragon Cypress added, "we’ll discuss it then."

"Great!" Ghost Fan exclaimed. "Dragon Cypress Ant King, thank you for your efforts."

It’s about making money; ’hardship’ doesn’t even come into it, Dragon Cypress thought.

"Ghost Fan, you’re too polite," he said aloud. Then he asked, "Has the Divine-Given Seed of Ghost Fan flowered this year?"

"It has," Ghost Fan replied. "The flowers have withered, but the fruits are developing very slowly and won’t mature until the year after next."

Ghost Fan volunteered, "I counted twice, and there are a total of 762 fruits in this batch. Dragon Cypress, Ink Orchid, the business techniques you taught me really work; the yield has increased a lot."

Ink Orchid was the first to rejoice. "Really? That’s great! Come on, let’s go take a look..."

Arbors are continuously growing, so their yield will naturally increase. However, using marsh gas pools, burying animal carcasses for fertilizer, and applying additional fertilizer in spring and autumn truly provide significant help to plant growth. The increased yield from the Divine-Given Seed of Ghost Fan also meant they could earn more Source Stones through trade.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid, looking at the tree full of fruits, were as happy as Ghost Fan.

My wealth is my wealth. Your wealth is also my wealth.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid chatted idly with Ghost Fan until late into the night.

They rested for one night on Ghost Fan Mountain and set out early the next morning. Dragon Cypress confirmed the direction and headed straight for White Rice Mountain.

「Eleven days later,」

It was an early summer twilight, with a warm breeze blowing.

On North Mountain, Red Fox lay on its side, guarding under the Divine-Given Seed, while Little Black Rice restlessly crawled all over it. On South Mountain, White Rice was busy working in the woods. Seeing the Dominating Throne fly by, he quickly ran over.

The fruits on the tree wafted a fragrant scent, about to enter their final stage of ripeness.

"Red Fox, the Source Stones have arrived. I’m not too late, am I?" Dragon Cypress asked. He controlled the Dominating Throne to hover near the Divine-Given Seed of the White Rice Tree, taking a close look.

"No," Red Fox responded. "You’ve come just in time. A delay of two or three days, and you might have been too late."

"Good to know I’m not late!" Dragon Cypress said.

Ink Orchid, carrying a Spider Silk Bag filled with Source Stones, flapped her wings vigorously and glided to the ground. "One thousand pieces!" she announced. "Want to count them?"

"Let me count them..." White Rice said, stepping forward to check.

Small Pellet Scolopendra Warrior Little Black Rice jumped down from Red Fox’s head, ran under the Dominating Throne, and vigorously shook his tentacles to get attention. "Dragon Cypress Ant King! Ant Honey!" he chirped.

Dragon Cypress put on the amiable demeanor appropriate for a Roving Merchant. "Little Black Rice," he responded, "have you evolved once? Or twice? You’re growing up fast."

"Ant Honey! Ant Honey!" Little Black Rice exclaimed.

What a little glutton, Dragon Cypress thought.

"Alright, Little Black Rice, hold on," Dragon Cypress said. "I brought the tastiest Ant Honey this time."

Ink Orchid picked a leaf and placed it in front of the Specialized Blue Ants. Dragon Cypress shook his tentacles. The Specialized Blue Ants ducked their heads and spat out a little. Ink Orchid, holding it with both claws, placed it in front of Little Black Rice, who buried his head and ate voraciously.

"Little Black Rice, eat slowly," Ink Orchid said gently. She then asked, "Little Black Rice, what Age Period are you in now?"

"Seventh Age Period," Little Black Rice replied.

Being in the seventh Age Period meant he could advance to a Mid-Level Sphere Insect Warrior by next spring at the latest.

Ink Orchid asked further, "Which Life Seed Plants did you choose?"

"Black Rice Tree..." Little Black Rice replied.

Ink Orchid was momentarily speechless.

Little Black Rice muttered, "Red Fox won’t let me choose anymore..."

Again, Ink Orchid had no response.

Red Fox stated, "We chose two Black Rice Tree Life Seeds; that’s enough. We’re planning to let him cultivate two White Rice Tree Life Seeds."

"White Rice Fruit is quite valuable, and there’s high demand," Dragon Cypress remarked. "Planting two more is a good idea."

Red Fox got to his feet and said to Dragon Cypress, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, you brought quite a lot of goods this time."

"Not that many," Dragon Cypress replied. "After all, the number of Insect Clan Warriors on Cloud Trace Continent is limited."

He then asked, "Last winter, were there any surplus Origin Force Foods produced in the White Rice Territory?"

"Of course," Red Fox replied. "Since we can trade, we definitely kept some..."

Suddenly, Little Black Rice looked up. "I want to eat Origin Force Ant Honey!"

Ink Orchid explained, "Origin Force Ant Honey needs to be bought with Source Stones or traded for Origin Force Food. Little Black Rice, do you have any?"

"Red Fox has!" Little Black Rice declared, running to Red Fox’s side and pestering him.

Red Fox, who doted on Little Black Rice like a grandchild, indulged him. He turned to Dragon Cypress and asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, the fruits of the Divine-Given Seed of the White Rice Tree are about to ripen. Can you give us an estimate now?"

"Let me check again..." Dragon Cypress said. He controlled the Dominating Throne to move closer, focused on a fruit, and scrutinized it carefully.