Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 709 - 592: Planning_3
Snow Velvet Spider King: "Very well, Red Peach, tell White Ivy Spider King that there's no need to rush about the share quantities. We can negotiate as we trade. Once we've proven the strength of our caravan and established mutual trust with Red Crow Mountain, we'll talk details."
Red Peach: "Thank you for your guidance, Snow Velvet Spider King!"
Snow Velvet Spider King gently waved its foreleg and said, "Red Peach, make a trip back and report to White Ivy Spider King. See if it has any more questions..."
...
After the talks concluded, Snow Velvet Spider King was sent off.
Dragon Cypress headed straight back to Xianglan Mountain.
North Mountain.
Ink Orchid was busy rustling its orchid grass in the forest, sensing Origin Force fluctuations, and looked up at the sky.
"Great King, what's the good news? You look so delighted."
"Ink Orchid, good news! The Divine-Grade fruit you need to grant the Strength System talent is here."
"Ah? Really?"
At these words, Ink Orchid jumped up in excitement and sped over to Dragon Cypress.
"Where did it come from?"
"White Ivy Spider King found it—Divine-Grade Dragon Bamboo Fruit!"
"Wow! I knew it! White Ivy Spider King really is the most amazing Flame Spider Roving Merchant!"
Ink Orchid asked, "Dragon Bamboo Fruit? Is it related to the Dragon Bamboo Continent?"
Dragon Cypress: "Most likely, yes..."
Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid, big news! In the northwestern desert of Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, there's actually a hidden super kingdom, similar to Shanglu Ancestral Land..."
Dragon Cypress repeated the story of White Ivy being invited to trade at Red Crow Mountain.
Ink Orchid's reaction was identical to Dragon Cypress's earlier response—shocked, ecstatic, and confidently exclaimed, "Our King Cypress Divine-Given Seed is also a Law Divine Tree!"
"No doubt about it! Didn't we already guess that before? Now we just know its proper name—Law Divine Tree."
"Exactly! And Dragon Cypress, from the descriptions, Ghost King Sophora's 'Ancestral Divine Power' and King Cypress's 'Adaptive Evolution' are somewhat similar."
"Both are bloodline-level enhancements. Ancestral Divine Power is a comprehensive physical boost—double the brute force and resistance. Adaptive Evolution is about the body's flexible adaptation to the environment. Each has its wonders, could even complement each other."
"Wow! Oh! Right!"
Ink Orchid's eyes sparkled, "Does this mean our Divine-Grade Wangbai Seed is worth three hundred million? And can only be exchanged for other Divine-Grade fruits?"
Dragon Cypress said solemnly, "I'm afraid... that's about its value!"
"Oh——"
"We're rich!"
Ink Orchid cheered again and asked, "Law Divine Trees must be super rare, right? I've never even heard of them before. I'm pretty sure most Flame Spider Roving Merchants have no idea, and neither do the Huagi Divine Trees."
Dragon Cypress: "Of course. They're a hundred million times rarer than Divine-Grade Divine-Given Seeds. According to Snow Velvet Spider King, Law Divine Trees arise in two ways: some are random, some are fixed..."
Dragon Cypress repeated what Snow Velvet Spider King had said about Law Divine Trees.
Ink Orchid was stunned again, her eyes flashing with intelligence, and said gravely, "Dragon Cypress, we have to figure out a way to eat more Ghost King Sophora Seeds!"
"Eat more?"
Dragon Cypress was speechless for a while, then sighed, "We'd be lucky just to get one."
Dragon Cypress: "Snow Velvet Spider King needs us to deal with Blue Island. Judging by its attitude, it's trying to get me a share. I guess Snow Velvet's idea is for me to eat a Ghost King Sophora Seed first, then attack Blue Island, and after conquering it, take the Wild Divine-Given Seed as payment."
Dragon Cypress: "As for the Shanglu Fruits yielded by Shanglu Divine Tree, Snow Velvet Spider King probably means to use Wild Divine-Given Seeds to trade for those as well."
Dragon Cypress: "You and I don't plan to establish a tribe or leave a legacy. Snow Velvet Spider King believes we've already got enough Life Seed Divine-Given Seeds. Any extra can be used to trade for valuable things we need."
Ink Orchid: "Extra Divine-Given Seeds? What do you mean extra? As long as we can take them, the more the better, right?"
Dragon Cypress tapped a tentacle in agreement.
More than a hundred years earlier, Dragon Cypress had explained its philosophy to Ink Orchid—life evolution depends on Origin Force and Origin Force Food. Out in the Outworld, Divine-Given Seeds will absolutely be among the most reliable treasures, guaranteed to hold value.
You can definitely take as many as you want.
How could we possibly trade them away?
Suddenly struck by a thought, Ink Orchid said, "Another question, Dragon Cypress: In the next few centuries, we'll definitely collect more Divine-Given Seeds than we need! Can we take Divine-Given Seeds with us?"
Dragon Cypress: "No insect has ever tested that. In the future, we can find one to test it."
Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid, after we become Insect Kings, not every Divine-Given Seed can become a Life Seed with us anymore... Only the top-level ones?"
Ink Orchid: "I've thought about this too, but that's probably way too hard. Besides, what if we miss out on a Divine-Grade one? What then?"
Dragon Cypress: "Yeah~ That is, in fact, a killer problem."
Dragon Cypress's mind raced, suddenly shifting gears, and gravely said, "Ink Orchid, we've got to find a way to get our hands on those Ghost King Sophora Seeds as soon as possible. With enough power, only then can we have a shot at seizing Divine-Grade Divine-Given Seeds from Blue Island! At least we need to get one, preferably the one that grants Wind System talent."
Ink Orchid tapped her tentacle in agreement, suggesting, "Dragon Cypress, what if we contact White Ivy Spider King privately and offer Wangbai Seeds in exchange? I think Red Crow Mountain won't refuse."
Dragon Cypress: "..."
The King Cypress Divine-Given Seed's blossom-fruit cycle is just as long. Even Xianglan Mountain Kingdom's own insects don't have enough to eat—where would there be spares to trade...
Dragon Cypress's thoughts quickly turned again, "Let's see how things go first, but it's worth considering! We could even do a continuous long-term exchange over centuries."
Dragon Cypress: "King Cypress Divine-Given Seeds belong to us. There's plenty of time and opportunity in the future; they'll eventually be produced, and sooner or later everyone can have some. Ghost King Sophora Seeds are different—miss this chance, leave the Origin Force Star Realm, and there might never be another opportunity."
Dragon Cypress: "On the flip side, from Red Crow Mountain's perspective, they're definitely thinking the same. If you and I leave the Origin Force Star Realm, they'll never get 'Wangbai Seeds' again. Two Law Divine Trees with complementary abilities—this is a mutually beneficial trade that can last."
Ink Orchid's eyes lit up, praising, "Ant is clever! Let the Assistant Kings have the Ghost King Sophora Seeds first and awaken Ancestral Divine Power!"
Dragon Cypress: "That's right."
Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress, have you calculated our lifespan carefully? Counting all the known Life-Extending Divine Goods, how many more years can we stay in the Origin Force Star Realm at most?"
Dragon Cypress: "No... sigh..."
Ink Orchid tilted her head, "Ant, how old are you this year?"
Dragon Cypress: "150."
"You're already that old?"
Ink Orchid furiously set her brain to work, calculating.
—Generally speaking, Insect Kings live 800 to 1000 years; at 500 to 600, physical functions begin to decline.
—Using 550 years as an average, both Dragon Cypress and herself have around 400 years of prime left.
—Currently known Life-Extending Divine Goods: White Poplar Fruit 90 years, Moon Peach Fruit 100 years, Heart-Change Lotus Fruit from the Southern Hemisphere 100 years.
—If all are eaten, that's 290 years of extra life.
Ink Orchid concluded, "Dragon Cypress, at most we could linger in the Origin Force Star Realm for another 690 years!"
Theoretically, yes.
But——
Dragon Cypress has a whole bunch of Assistant Kings under him, plus a Blue Crab Warrior named Tie Bush...
And many friends from Cloud Trace Continent. Everyone's been discussing leaving together, looking after each other...
If we want to extend life, then everyone needs a boost—the demand for Life-Extending Divine Goods would be enormous.
Should Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid contribute resources to help the insects of Cloud Trace Continent trade?
First, whether they're able to is a question.
Second, with so much time, whether others are willing to wait is another question.
Plus, in 690 years only 17 Ghost King Sophora Seeds will be produced. Snow Velvet Spider King, White Ivy, and Red Crow Mountain themselves all need them. Any remaining share available for trading won't even come close to meeting the demand of the current Assistant Kings.
Dragon Cypress: "It's not an urgent matter anyway. Let's observe for a few years, see what happens, then decide."
Dragon Cypress: "Ink Orchid, let's plan slowly — you and I must consume every known Law Divine Tree: Shanglu, Ghost King Sophora, and King Cypress. As for the Assistant Kings, we'll see."
Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress, about the Assistant Kings under your command—either give them all some, or none at all. If you play favorites, you'll just destroy unity within the Kingdom."
"Second King, wise as always~" Dragon Cypress's head ached.
