CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 071: ROVING MERCHANT’S JOURNEY (PART 3)

High-Level Warriors of the Insect Clan and Ant Kings have lifespans of around a hundred years. The lifespan of the Beast Clan exceeds that of the Insect Clan. A High-Level Red Fox Warrior, for instance, can live for more than a hundred years. The Red Fox was already very old; he must have been over a hundred years of age.

When the Red Fox found the White Rice Divine-Given Seed, it was just a little tree, two to three meters tall.

The White Rice Divine-Given Seed was just over a hundred years old.

Wild God-Given Seeds grow slowly. The White Rice Divine-Given Seed was currently only at the High-Level Stage, and its Origin Force Fruits were one grade lower in quality than those nurtured by the Insect Clan’s Life Pouches.

Overall, the fruit quality of the White Rice Divine-Given Seed was similar to that of Ink Orchid’s Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed, perhaps just slightly higher.

The White Rice Tree was a berry plant, and its fruits were much larger than Orchid Fruits.

The Origin Force was primarily concentrated in the seeds.

Ordinary White Rice Fruits contained many seeds. However, after it evolved into a Divine-Given Seed, the number of seeds per fruit was reduced to five. Each individual seed was larger, about the size of a mung bean.

Dragon Cypress had a rough estimate in mind. After a careful assessment, he was confident he could set a price, but he was in no rush.

Dragon Cypress said, "Rice Trees are high-yield plants. This White Rice Divine-Given Seed is no exception. How many fruits did this batch produce in total? Red Fox, have you counted them?"

Black Rice answered quickly, "We counted! 783 fruits."

Red Fox raised a paw and gently patted Black Rice’s head.

"This yield is really high!"

Dragon Cypress remarked, then continued, "I can offer 13 Source Stones per fruit..."

"Source Stones are fine," White Rice, who was counting Source Stones, looked up and said with dissatisfaction, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, isn’t the price you’re offering a bit too low?"

Dragon Cypress turned and searched, taking out a petite Spider Silk Bag containing eight Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds.

Ink Orchid held it up and placed it in front of the Red Fox.

Dragon Cypress said, "I am always very cautious when pricing the Origin Force Fruits of Divine-Given Seeds. These are Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds. They sell for 8 Source Stones each. You can take a look and use them as a reference."

Dragon Cypress explained in detail, "The White Rice Fruit has abundant pulp with healing properties, worth 3 Source Stones. The White Rice Seeds themselves are small, valued at 2 Source Stones per seed. Since each fruit contains 5 seeds, that’s 10 Source Stones for the seeds."

The Red Fox’s paws were somewhat clumsy as it opened the Spider Silk Bag.

Black Rice picked up a seed and stuffed it directly into its mouth.

White Rice picked out a seed to scrutinize.

Dragon Cypress complained, "From Xianglan Mountain to your White Rice Mountain, it takes 15 days to get here and another 15 days to return. A round trip takes 30 days. One White Rice Fruit for 13 Source Stones—if the pulp and the seeds are sold separately, it amounts to a sale price of 15 Source Stones. Spread over the journey, Ink Orchid and I only make 1 Source Stone per fruit as a service fee."

Ink Orchid added, "The White Rice Divine-Given Seed has a Blossom-Fruit Cycle of three years. We only earn these Source Stones from it once every three years."

The Red Fox had no hope of further evolution, so it was clear he planned to hand over management of the White Rice Divine-Given Seed to White Rice. Red Fox swept his spiritual power over the Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds, said nothing, and calmly watched White Rice.

White Rice hesitated before swallowing the Orchid Seed it was holding.

Black Rice lay down next to Red Fox, its tentacles drooping drowsily. As a Little Warrior in its 7th Age Period, digesting a Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed would be a bit of a struggle for it.

"Fifteen Source Stones," White Rice said slowly. "Dragon Cypress Ant King, the enhancement effect of the White Rice Tree Divine-Given Seed is greatly beneficial for evolutionary breakthroughs and healing battle injuries. You collect them for 15 Source Stones, but couldn’t you sell them for 17 Source Stones just as easily?"

"That won’t do!" Dragon Cypress vigorously shook his tentacles, saying, "Our trade primarily relies on the practicality of the goods for pricing. Rarity and demand are only secondary criteria. If we set the price of Divine-Given Seeds too high, it would be extremely unfair to those Insect Clan Warriors who don’t have Divine-Given Seeds."

"White Rice, forgive my frankness. This Wild Rice Tree Divine-Given Seed grows slowly. Its output and quality are ultimately limited and unlikely to improve. As you and Black Rice rapidly evolve and grow stronger, its yield will gradually become insufficient. Surely, you wouldn’t want to have to buy other Divine-Given Seeds at prices far exceeding their actual effects in the future, would you?"

This reasoning was clear and righteous.

"’I understand...’ White Rice had nothing more to say."

Dragon Cypress asked, "Red Fox, what do you think?"

Red Fox said, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, I hope that you will keep your word and offer us other Divine-Given Seeds at a reasonable price as well."

Dragon Cypress replied, "Of course!"

And so, the price was settled and confirmed.

Red Fox pointed to the petite Spider Silk Bag and asked, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, are there only eight Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds?"

Dragon Cypress explained, "Last year’s harvest was pre-ordered long ago. These eight seeds are just samples. For this year’s harvest, we can arrange 50 seeds for you."

Red Fox narrowed his eyes and remained silent.

White Rice asked, "Isn’t that a bit too few?"

Ink Orchid said, "I am only a Mid-Level Warrior right now, so the yield from my Divine-Given Fruit-Scented Orchid Seed is very low. However, I will soon advance to High-Level Warrior. By then, both the yield and quality will improve, and I should be able to barely meet everyone’s needs."

"’That makes sense...’ White Rice asked, ’Are these eight Orchid Seeds a gift?’"

"’That won’t do!’" Ink Orchid stated firmly. "That will be 64 Source Stones. Every transaction, no matter how small, must be clearly accounted for."

What a stingy Orchid Mantis.

"’Alright then.’ White Rice had nothing more to say."

Red Fox said, "Little Black Rice wants to eat Ant Honey with Origin Force. Dragon Cypress Ant King, can you brew some for it?"

Dragon Cypress turned to fetch a Metal Can and said, "Ant Honey with Origin Force can be stored in this type of can."

Dragon Cypress then picked up a bag filled with Origin Force Food. He said, "When the White Rice Divine-Given Seed ripens and Ant King Honey is brewed, I can mix a top-level can of Ant Honey for it that comprehensively enhances physique."

"’Good!’" Red Fox pointed to the petite Spider Silk Bag in front of him and said, "There are still six Fruit-Scented Orchid Seeds left; mix those in too."

"’No problem!’"

Dragon Cypress tentatively asked, "Shall we prepare a mix priced at 1,000 Source Stones? That should be enough for Little Black Rice until it reaches its 8th Age Period."

"’Agreed!’" Red Fox replied.

Dragon Cypress began meticulously selecting ingredients, pairing them, and calculating the price.

After showing his selections to Red Fox and getting confirmation, he commanded the Specialized Blue Ants to start the Refinement.

Dragon Cypress continued, addressing White Rice, "White Rice, all that’s left here is Origin Force Food for strengthening comprehensive physique, valued at 3,200 Source Stones."

White Rice replied, "I’ll take all of it... Can you also brew it all into Ant Honey for me?"

Dragon Cypress said, "I’m afraid that won’t be possible this time."

Ink Orchid helped to explain, "We don’t have enough Metal Cans for storage. But we will have more next year."

"’Alright then...’ White Rice conceded."

White Rice then took the initiative to say, "Last End of Autumn and through the winter, my Territory also harvested a batch of Origin Force Food. We have a lot left over. Are you interested in buying it?"

Ink Orchid exclaimed, "Of course!"

Dragon Cypress urged, "Quickly, bring it over and let’s have a look."

"’Wait here.’ White Rice turned and plunged into the forest."

With a mature and stable Red Fox elder guiding it, the Life Seed Plants chosen by White Rice were quite good.

They went through negotiations, pricing, counting the items, and calculating the total.

After a flurry of activity, the total price came to an even 2,300 Source Stones, which Dragon Cypress paid.

Ink Orchid opened a large Spider Silk Bag and enthusiastically said to White Rice, "These are ordinary Ghost Fan seeds. Their effect is also to strengthen spiritual power. Roughly 20 of these can equal one Ghost Fan seed from a Divine-Given Seed, and they’re cheaper."

"’How much are you selling them for?’ White Rice asked skeptically."

Dragon Cypress replied, "1 Source Stone each."

Ink Orchid added, "The yield of Ghost Fan Trees is very low. A Ghost Fan Tree Life Seed belonging to a High-Level Wooden Darkling Beetle Warrior, one that has grown for over 20 years, produces less than 400 seeds a year."

White Rice said, "The yield can be that low? Perhaps that Wooden Darkling Beetle Warrior isn’t taking proper care of it?"

Being naturally suspicious, White Rice added, "Let me try one first..."