Dragon Cypress sent the worker ants who had finished their jobs back to White Lotus Lake, and on the way, loaded 15 bags of Divine-Given Remains from Xinghu Lake, bringing Round Cypress back together to Xianglan Mountain.

Then he set out again, taking Fragrant Cypress and a team of worker ants, soldier ants, Blue Soldiers, and Blue Ants, heading to Kiwifruit Mountain.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were already 7th age-period mid-level Sky Ox Warriors; at the very start of spring, they had sown the nurtured Green-Red Kiwifruit Life Seeds, which had now grown into half-meter-high seedlings.

The number of ordinary Green-Red Kiwifruit Life Seeds reached 10 vines; the two earliest-planted main vines were now over 25 meters long, and guided by wooden stakes, the branches and sub-vines climbed up the mountainside, spreading in lush abundance.

The Divine-Given Green-Red Kiwifruit main vine grew along the ridge and now exceeded thirty meters. With its soul consciousness awakened and scale expanding, its temper had skyrocketed; as Dragon Cypress controlled the Dominating Throne and drew closer, this guy immediately erupted, sending waves of angry, threatening, and repelling mental power fluctuations. In great condition—very active.

In the woods, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were clearing land, starting to build their very own orchard.

Kiwifruit Mountain was developing rapidly, full of vitality and prosperity.

Fragrant Cypress stayed behind to help watch over the territory.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple followed along to Xianglan Mountain to begin this year's spring trading.

There was a lot going on, so Dragon Cypress started giving instructions on the road.

A large batch of high-quality Strength System Origin Force Food needed to be purchased.

Dragon Cypress wanted to test whether the carrying capacity of the Dominating Throne matched what Azure had guessed: that it would increase as his own strength increased.

…

…

…

Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf was very certain: the Origin Force Honey that White Ivy and Dragon Cypress pumped out sold better every year—they'd made a lot of Source Stones.

However, the Source Stones Dragon Cypress earned could only be spent with her or Mountain Lord Melde.

With annual procurements reaching tens of thousands of Source Stones, the profits rivaled, if not exceeded, those of Lord-level warriors from the great tribes.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid had become one of Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord's most important trading partners—and not just important, but with limitless future growth potential.

Natsumi, who drew commission based on trading volume, was equally excited.

At the Mountain Foot Trade Square, Natsumi's gaze was glued to the far-off hills.

Under the shrubs, Blue Catalpa poked their head out.

"Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf—"

Natsumi quietly reminded with telekinesis.

"Aconite Spider King, I'm taking Natsumi over for the deal." Seven-Leaf looked calmly up the mountain and notified the Aconite Spider King at her side.

"Mhm—" Aconite Spider King replied succinctly.

Seven-Leaf got up and set out, heading straight for the hillside.

...

At the Starship entrance, before they even got close, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were already waving their tentacles energetically in greeting.

"Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf!"

"Natsumi!"

"Did you bring enough Liudao Seeds?"

"Dragon Cypress Ant King is getting more and more outrageous."

"He actually gave us a procurement credit of up to 100,000 Source Stones."

"Told us to buy as we wished."

"We're still young and don't know much."

"Isn't this a bit too hard on the bugs?"

Seven-Leaf stumbled, nearly tripping.

"100,000?" Natsumi exclaimed.

"One hundred thousand." Blue Catalpa confirmed.

"The usual—20,000 Source Stones' worth of Liudao Seeds," said Snakebark Maple.

"The remaining 80,000 Source Stones' quota is for buying from Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf and Mountain Lord Melde," Blue Catalpa added.

Seven-Leaf understood what these two little rascals meant, strode forward, untied the spider silk rope, opened the big spider silk bag on top, took out the petite spider silk bag inside, and handed it over.

"Here, have some snacks. Take them and eat."

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple took a simultaneous step back, wiggling their tentacles.

—We are mature Sky Ox Warriors now.

—We're not gluttons.

Seven-Leaf: "..."

The first time Seven-Leaf met Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid, she thought the two were a bit sly—unreliable, shameless.

These two little devils were ten times worse.

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid at least had limits—they'd only pick out worthless little trinkets.

These two Sky Oxes had no limits; they only picked the good and expensive stuff.

Seven-Leaf skillfully manipulated the spider silk rope, unloaded the spider silk bags from her carapace, rummaged underneath, took out another big spider silk bag, opened it to pull out a small spider silk bag, then counted out six dark-red peach kernels, poured them into the previously prepared petite spider silk bag, then handed it over again with an unamused tone:

"Take it, already."

"Too kind to refuse!"

"If we don't take it, wouldn't that be disrespecting Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf?"

Blue Catalpa naturally lifted a claw to receive it.

Snakebark Maple handed over the Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seeds they were selling to Seven-Leaf this year, then turned around, sidled up to Blue Catalpa, and they inspected this year's haul together.

Ten Divine-Given Tiger Thorn Seeds, ten Divine-Given Mountain Cherry Fruits, six Divine-Given Black Emperor Peach Cores.

Not much in quantity, but all Divine-Given Origin Force Food, and all helpful for Blue Catalpa's and Snakebark Maple's current evolution and growth.

Natsumi's four legs worked fast, sorting the goods. "Blue Catalpa, Snakebark Maple, what kind of Origin Force Food do you want to buy? Have a look first."

Blue Catalpa: "Strength enhancement!"

Snakebark Maple: "Divine-Given Dragon Cypress Seeds, Giant Plate Fruits, Ortho Fruit—Divine-Given Origin Force Foods like those would be best."

Blue Catalpa: "Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf, if you don't have it on your back, you can ask down the mountain. Price isn't an issue. Dragon Cypress Ant King urgently needs a batch right now."

Snakebark Maple: "Also need the matching ones for strength enhancement."

Blue Catalpa: "No limit on quantity."

Snakebark Maple: "The higher quality the better."

"Divine-Given?" Natsumi's actions paused and she asked, "Not getting any ordinary Origin Force Food?"

Blue Catalpa: "We'll take those too."

Snakebark Maple reiterated: "Strength enhancement and auxiliary types—muscle strength, toughness, life force, and so on."

Blue Catalpa added, "Actually, it's still Comprehensive Physique Enhancement, it's just that the focus is more on strength this time."

Snakebark Maple: "As for quantity…"

Blue Catalpa: "Let's see how many Divine-Given Origin Force Foods we can get first."

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple cracked open Black Emperor Peach Cores and started eating.

Natsumi turned to Seven-Leaf.

"Don't ants already have Strength Talent? What's Dragon Cypress up to? At High-level Ant King, why's he still boosting strength?"

Seven-Leaf muttered as she pulled out a big spider silk bag, fished out a small spider silk bag, and said:

"What a coincidence! I actually hoarded some here. Divine-Given Giant Plate Fruits from the High-Level Ant King's territory of the Woodbreaker Ant Clan—40 Source Stones each, take a look."

Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf took one as a sample and handed it to Snakebark Maple.

Giant Plate Tree is a high-yield great tall tree—a natural top-tier plant—but it's picky about its habitat, only found in large cultivated areas on the neighboring Ten Thousand Nations Continent.

Rather famous as a plant.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple were seeing it for the first time; they pinched and probed it like pros, tapping their tentacles and commenting.

"Quality's decent."

"The grains are a bit small."

"Other than the shell, there's just a tiny bit of flesh."

"Isn't 40 Source Stones each a bit expensive?"

"35 Source Stones each would be more reasonable."

Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf said with indifference: "40 Source Stones each—no bargaining. And there's not a lot to go around, I can only sell you 300."

After she finished, Seven-Leaf counted out another three and tossed them into Blue Catalpa's petite spider silk bag.

Blue Catalpa: "In that case…"

Snakebark Maple: "Well, we'll let Dragon Cypress Ant King make the call, then."

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple each cracked one open to taste.

Blue Catalpa: "Tastes good."

Snakebark Maple: "The key point is the purity of strengthening effect."

Blue Catalpa: "So selling at 40 Source Stones each isn't unjustified."

Snakebark Maple: "Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf is generous!"

Natsumi: "..."

Seven-Leaf: "..."

Seven-Leaf quickly counted out 300, packed them into a petite spider silk bag, and then asked proactively, "Want any Divine-Given Black Emperor Peach Cores?"

Snakebark Maple: "Sure, we'll take some."

Blue Catalpa: "Some's good too."

Seven-Leaf went straight in and sorted out 60, packed them into a petite spider silk bag, shook it, and said, "From the territory of Mountain Lord-level Purple Ground Beetle Warrior—50 Source Stones each, also non-negotiable. For these two Divine-Given Origin Force Foods, that's 15,000 Source Stones in total."

"Anything else you need?"

Natsumi was sorting the spider silk bags holding ordinary Origin Force Foods and signaled them to pick.

Blue Catalpa: "Can we get a few more Divine-Given Origin Force Foods?"

Snakebark Maple: "Price isn't an issue."

Blue Catalpa: "Dragon Cypress Ant King saved up tens of thousands of Source Stones' worth of Spider King Silk Scrolls and is itching to spend them."

Natsumi perked up instantly.

Seven-Leaf's ears perked up too, and she asked, "Strictly strength enhancement? What about the others…"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple wiggled their tentacles: only Strength System for now!

Snakebark Maple reminded: "Mountain Lord Seven-Leaf, you can go down the mountain—ask Aconite Spider King or other Flame Spider Roving Merchants."

Blue Catalpa: "Just take a trip down, deliver the goods up here, and you can make as much as you like."

Snakebark Maple: "So long as Dragon Cypress Ant King needs it, he never skimps on Source Stones."

Seven-Leaf pondered for two seconds and then turned to instruct, "Natsumi, go down and ask Lord Pueraria, see if there are any Divine-Given Fenghuai Seeds available."

"Okay!" Natsumi answered crisply, then turned and scampered downhill.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple exchanged glances, laughing to themselves.

This old spider is finally willing to sell us some truly good stuff.

Seven-Leaf was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "How's Dragon Cypress Ant King lately?"

Blue Catalpa: "Pretty good."

Snakebark Maple: "He'll sleep and evolve into a 7th age-period High-level Ant King once spring trading is done."

Seven-Leaf was thoroughly confused. "He's just an ant, so why the sudden obsession with strength?"

Blue Catalpa: "No idea."

Snakebark Maple: "Doesn't affect his evolution, anyway."

Blue Catalpa: "Just costs a few more Source Stones."

Snakebark Maple: "Dragon Cypress Ant King isn't short on Source Stones."

Blue Catalpa: "He doesn't even eat the cheap Origin Force Food anymore."

Snakebark Maple: "Only eats the most expensive."

Blue Catalpa: "It's a nouveau riche mindset, you know. We're too young to get it."

...

The more they spoke, the more outrageous it all sounded.

Seven-Leaf lost her patience, lifted her foreleg and pointed at the spider silk bag filled with ordinary Origin Force Plants in front of her, and said:

"There are expensive ones in here too—pick those first. If it doesn't add up to 30,000 Source Stones, you two can forget about walking away on all six legs today."

"Oh——"

"No problem——"

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple started picking and choosing.

Not long after, Natsumi came running back. "Borrowed Fenghuai Seeds—300 of them, Mountain Lord-level, Lord Pueraria gave us a deal at 50 Source Stones each."

Seven-Leaf lightly tapped the ground with her foreleg and said to Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple, "Did you hear that? That's the price I paid for these—50 Source Stones per seed, I'm not making a single Source Stone off you. Passing it along at cost to Dragon Cypress."

Blue Catalpa: "Uh..."

Snakebark Maple: "Such tricks!"

Blue Catalpa: "That's just the game Snakebark Maple and I always play."

Snakebark Maple: "Natsumi, your spider-heart is too dark!"

Blue Catalpa: "And here we always treated you as a friend."

Snakebark Maple: "But you treat us like fools."

Blue Catalpa: "30 Source Stones each."

Snakebark Maple: "Absolute max price…"

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