CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 072 ROVING MERCHANT PART (FOUR)

White Rice always has to question everything, and argue about everything.

But it really knows too little, so in the end, it bought all the Common Ghost Fans at a price of 1 Source Stone each.

Since White Rice bought so many Common Ghost Fans, there was no need to sell it as many Ghost Fans produced by Divine-Given Seed. Dragon Cypress’s thinking is simple: keep as much good stuff as possible for itself and Ink Orchid.

Mental Power Enhancement has an upper limit,

Take Dragon Cypress as an example: if the strengthening limit with Common Ghost Fans is 20 meters, then with Ghost Fans produced by Divine-Given Seed, the limit may become 25 meters.

Divine-Given Seed boasts a super high quality that Common Life Seed can’t compare to—that’s one reason it can fetch such a high price.

Dragon Cypress: "White Rice, the total price of Origin Force Food you sold is 2,300 Source Stones, the Origin Force Food for comprehensive body strengthening cost 3,200 Source Stones, and the Ghost Fans cost 3,600 Source Stones."

Dragon Cypress: "You owe us 4,500 Source Stones."

"Yeah..." White Rice looked at Red Fox.

Red Fox: "Put it on my tab."

Dragon Cypress immediately turned around and said to Red Fox: "Cash Source Stones, 1,000 pieces, a can of Origin Force Ant Honey worth 1,000, 8 Xianglan Seeds for 64 Source Stones, plus White Rice’s 4,500 Source Stones. Red Fox, that means right now you owe us 6,564 Source Stones."

"That’s right." Red Fox lifted its paw and pointed at the Rice Tree Divine-Given Seed, saying:

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, you’ve brought pretty good types and quality of goods this time, but it seems you didn’t bring enough."

To this sort of doubt, Dragon Cypress brushed it off simply: "Next year! I’ll be sure to bring more next year!"

Dragon Cypress naturally changed the topic, chatting casually:

"Last winter, Ink Orchid and I found a new Land of Origin Force in the north—there was a Longhorn Beetle Warrior there, and it’s got a brand new tree species called ’Silver Cypress.’ The strengthening effect is ’Body Structure Optimization.’ Next year I’ll bring you some over so you can get a taste of it."

"Body Structure Optimization?" White Rice searched its inherited memory, then said, "That sounds pretty nice. Pair it with Giant Cypress?"

Dragon Cypress: "Right, Giant Cypress plus Silver Cypress together work wonders. Add a bit of Southern Sour Jujube, and the result will certainly be even better. As long as you have a heart that yearns for the blue sky, you can definitely fly."

Dragon Cypress took the opportunity to promote: "I’ve got the last 100 Southern Sour Jujube Seeds, selling at a discount, 20% off, only 800 Source Stones."

Southern Sour Jujube Seeds were already cheap, and now with a discount...

White Rice was tempted on hearing this, and looked to Red Fox.

Red Fox thought it over and said, "Since it’s cheap, let’s buy some."

"Okay..."

This sold already? Ink Orchid was stunned, but happily agreed and went to help fetch the goods.

Dragon Cypress saw White Rice take the items and calculated: "7,364 Source Stones."

Dragon Cypress took out Golden Pine Nut, Giant King Fir Pine Nut, and Large Fruit Hemlock Pine Nut, saying, "Let me gift you three Top-Level Plant Seeds as well..."

...

The Rice Tree Divine-Given Seed is still another seven or eight days from full maturity.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid didn’t want to waste time waiting, so they rested at White Rice Mountain for the night, and set off at dawn the next morning, searching due west.

They flew west for three days, then turned south, circling back to White Rice Mountain.

It was as if their luck had run out—they got nothing.

...

In the eastern sky, the golden morning sun appeared.

North of White Rice Mountain,

The 1,000 Source Stones Dragon Cypress brought, Red Fox and White Rice only dared spend 500 of them, keeping the other 500 for the next Blossom-Fruit Cycle.

The Rice Divine-Given Seed fruits from White Rice had fully matured.

The rich fragrance of fruit hung between the trees.

Red Fox and White Rice unleashed the aura of Origin Force Creatures with all their might, to scare off the ignorant birds and beasts attracted by the aroma.

Black Rice also stood atop Red Fox’s head, frantically shaking its tentacles.

On the snowy, glistening fruits, dewdrops still clung, refracting beautiful colors in the morning light.

Ready for harvest!

Ink Orchid was in charge of picking fruit.

Dragon Cypress directed nine Specialized Blue Ants to start chewing and refining.

Take it slow—once a batch is refined, pick another batch.

This time, the fruit pulp and seeds were collected separately.

Dragon Cypress took all the fruit pulp—783 fruits, price 3 Source Stones apiece, for a total of 2,349 Source Stones.

The unit price for White Rice Seed was 2 Source Stones each, and 3,915 of them were produced. Dragon Cypress only took 2,507 seeds.

The sum for White Rice fruit pulp and White Rice Seeds added up to exactly 6,564 Source Stones.

That worked out well since Red Fox needed to keep some White Rice Seeds to feed Little Black Rice.

From dawn till late night, the harvest was completed.

In the end, Dragon Cypress gave Little Black Rice a can of Origin Force Ant Honey worth 1,000 Source Stones.

Goods were checked, accounts tallied—neither side had objections.

The first "bulk" transaction of Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid’s roving merchant career ended in Completion.

At last,

Dragon Cypress said: "That metal can—we’d originally priced it at 100 Source Stones. But since this deal was so big, consider it a freebie, a gift for Little Black Rice."

Ink Orchid: "Little Black Rice, keep the can safe, don’t break it. Next time you want to eat Ant Honey, remember to bring the can!"

"Got it..."

Little Black Rice was still too small, standing on top of the can, waving its tentacles in response.

Dragon Cypress reminded: "Red Fox, you need to keep an eye on it—each time after eating, remember to put on the lid, otherwise Origin Force will leak out..."

Red Fox: "Understood! Dragon Cypress Ant King, Ink Orchid, you two went to so much trouble."

Red Fox was pretty satisfied with this transaction.

"No trouble at all."

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid were polite.

Dragon Cypress: "We’ve all been busy the whole day, let’s get some rest..."

...

They rested half a night at White Rice Mountain, then set out early the next morning.

This time their route was adjusted about 30 kilometers from before—they picked the right direction and made a straight line towards Ghost Fan Mountain.

On the Dominating Throne cushion, Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid spread out the freshly collected White Rice Seeds to dry.

"Dragon Cypress, how many Source Stones will you sell White Rice Seeds for?"

"Five to a pack, selling for 13 Source Stones."

"Oh——"

This gets a little complicated~

Ink Orchid did some mental math, hesitated for a while, and said: "A single White Rice Fruit’s buying price is 13 Source Stones...so we earn the money for the fruit pulp?"

Dragon Cypress: "That’s right."

Ink Orchid: "And how about the pulp, how do we sell it?"

Dragon Cypress: "4 Source Stones."

"Then..."

Ink Orchid totally lost track, and asked: "Dragon Cypress, so how much did we actually earn from this deal?"

"A lot!"

Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid, it’s not over yet. There’s another deal at Ghost Fan. Let’s settle up afterwards."

White Rice Fruits—after sampling 13, the remaining 770 went through refinement and just filled the belly of one Specialized Blue Ant.

Dragon Cypress then portioned out about 2,000 Source Stones’ worth at the price of 4 Source Stones each, added a bit of Hundred-Fruit Ant Honey for flavor, and made a can of ’White Rice Ant King Honey.’

...

Four days of blazing sunshine, White Rice Seeds were dried and bagged.

Hot, southern summer.

The Dominating Throne flew low to the ground.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid each balanced a green leaf on their heads, lying at the edge of the Dominating Throne, poking their heads down to look below.

It was as if their luck was completely spent—they still got nothing.

After 11 days, they returned again to Ghost Fan Mountain.

It was already the hottest time of the year.

There had just been a gale, heavy rain, then a mountain flood. The branches and mud swept down from the mountain formed a blockage in the riverbed.

Ghost Fan struggled in the water, using its spade-shaped mandibles to push mud up onto shore.

The Dominating Throne moved into the mountain hollow.

Ink Orchid spotted it at once and rushed over.

"Ghost Fan, you’re clearing the stream?"

Ghost Fan looked up from the muddy water.

"Yes. If I don’t clear it in time, with another heavy rain, the water will flood into the territory and cause a flood disaster."

"Oh! So all the rain ended up here. Our Fragant Orchid Mountain might be in a drought right now."

Ink Orchid said: "Ghost Fan, let us help you!"

"You two really don’t need to trouble yourselves..." Ghost Fan felt embarrassed.

Ink Orchid: "It’s no trouble. Dragon Cypress can use the Dominating Throne as a crane—way more efficient than you alone."