Chapter 299 - 295: Who is the Insect that Cares About You the Most

Early morning.

Areca set out alone, running along the Starship Passage. Midway, he suddenly stopped.

In the deep darkness of the passage, eyeballs of various sizes glimmered with red and yellow Primordial Energy.

"Areca?" Natsumi called out.

"Areca, don’t be scared. It’s us," Red Peach soothed.

"This early? What a diligent little fellow," Grass Dragon praised, then teased, "Or maybe Dragon Cypress couldn’t wait and sent Areca out early."

Areca was startled by the sudden encounter but quickly regained his composure. He questioned, "How did you all come together? Isn’t Spider King Spurge’s caravan supposed to arrive three days later?"

Grass Dragon turned unusually solemn, stating seriously, "This year’s matter is significant, so we came three days early. Spider King Spurge arranged for us to travel together."

Following him, Red Peach added gravely, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, White Ivy Mountain Lord, and Mountain Lord Melde are all waiting for our reply. Areca, let’s go together. You head over first."

"Oh—" Areca turned around.

Natsumi: "Areca, did you bring the Little Flame Spiders as promised?"

Areca: "Of course, exactly 100 of them..."

「...」

Dragon Cypress had been guarding the Starship Rift. He was slightly surprised watching Grass Dragon, Natsumi, Red Peach, and Areca approach together, but he quickly composed himself.

He offered a brief greeting.

Grass Dragon quickly untied the Spider Silk Rope binding the cargo on his back, saying, "As you wished, I successfully bid for and brought over the One-Glimpse Fruit. It was exactly 3,600,000 Source Stones; Melde didn’t make a single Source Stone of profit from you."

Red Peach and Natsumi helped unload the layered cargo from Grass Dragon’s back.

"Stop!"

"Don’t touch!"

"I’ll do it myself!"

Grass Dragon took out a Spider Silk Bag from the very bottom, opened it, removed a Metal Can, and then opened the can.

A rich aroma wafted out. Inside was a snow-white paste of Bee King Jelly.

Grass Dragon handed the Metal Can towards the rift. "Dragon Cypress, check this."

Dragon Cypress scanned it with his spiritual power. Inside the can, preserved in Bee King Jelly, was a round nut with a golden-red shell, seven or eight centimeters in diameter. Within the shell was the kernel. A majestic and profound Origin Force Energy was highly contained and concentrated within it. The nutshell bore glowing red Original Energy Patterns that flickered intermittently.

Dragon Cypress: "No problem!"

He reached out a claw, quickly took the item, and immediately put the lid back on.

Grass Dragon instructed, "Although the One-Glimpse Fruit is a nut and absorbs Origin Force on its own, it still can’t be preserved for long. The Fruit Pulp inside is very fragile; it can only be stored for a maximum of three more months."

Dragon Cypress: "There’s plenty of time!"

Grass Dragon: "There’s a particular way to consume it. Crack open the nutshell and eat all the Fruit Pulp in one go. You cannot eat it in parts, nor can you eat only half. Otherwise, you won’t form a complete Primordial Energy Divine Pattern, and thus, you won’t acquire the complete ’Heaven Returning Glimpse’ ability."

Dragon Cypress: "Got it."

Grass Dragon: "Once the Primordial Energy Divine Pattern is formed, theoretically, it won’t dissipate if not used. However, impacts from battles or other reasons might cause damage. Especially during Molting Evolution, the Primordial Energy Divine Pattern will be shed along with the old shell..."

Dragon Cypress: "Oh..."

Yes!

He suddenly realized.

This was a significant oversight I hadn’t considered!

"Got it!" Dragon Cypress solemnly promised.

Grass Dragon: "There are no other precautions. You owe Spider King Spurge 3,600,000 Source Stones, with a yearly interest of 3%. Don’t even think about defaulting."

Dragon Cypress: "..."

Don’t you already know? It’s impossible to pay the interest; the principal doesn’t even need to be repaid.

Dragon Cypress looked at Natsumi again.

Natsumi and Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord might not yet realize the purpose of the One-Glimpse Fruit, at least not for certain.

Dragon Cypress twitched his tentacle and said, "I won’t default. I’m not that kind of ant."

Grass Dragon: "I trust you."

Grass Dragon: "During your 9th Age Period as a High-Level Ant King, stop eating Divine-Given Origin Force Food. Strengthening yourself too much might actually hinder your breakthrough."

Dragon Cypress: "...You don’t need to teach me."

Grass Dragon: "There’s nothing else. Spider King Spurge arranged for the three of us to come together to escort the ’One-Glimpse Fruit’. Let’s hurry up with the trade and get back to report to Spider King Spurge soon."

3,600,000 Source Stones was a considerable amount, even for Spider King Spurge.

As for Seven-Leaf, Melde, and White Ivy, although their businesses were flourishing, the goods on their carapaces combined might not amount to 3,600,000 Source Stones.

Natsumi: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, I wish you a smooth evolution to Mountain Lord Level."

Red Peach: "White Ivy Mountain Lord and I also wish you an easy and successful evolution. Once you’re over this mountain, it’s all smooth forest ahead."

Dragon Cypress: "Thank you!"

Dragon Cypress: "Natsumi, Red Peach, please thank Seven-Leaf, Melde, and White Ivy Mountain Lords for their care over these years. Also, please help me thank Spider King Spurge and Aconite."

Dragon Cypress looked at Grass Dragon.

This is the most crucial evolution of my life; surely you’d say a few words of congratulations?

Grass Dragon chuckled, "Dragon Cypress, do you know who truly cares about you right now?"

Dragon Cypress: "Of course, it’s Spider King Spurge."

Grass Dragon: "Ha-ha!"

Dragon Cypress chuckled too. If Dragon Cypress were to suddenly die, Spider King Spurge would suffer a devastating loss of 3,600,000 Source Stones.

Red Peach: "That joke isn’t funny at all."

Natsumi: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, what do you need to purchase this year?"

Dragon Cypress: "I’ve told Areca everything. Is Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord still waiting? Areca will go over to you in a bit."

Natsumi: "Areca, hurry and bring all the Little Flame Spiders over."

"Okay—" Areca quickly left.

Switching to a serious tone, Natsumi probed, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, can you tell us now what exactly you’re doing with the One-Glimpse Fruit?"

After speaking, Natsumi quickly added, "It’s definitely not for relocating the Divine-Given Scarletlight Seed, right?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes—"

Dragon Cypress: "Let me tell you the truth. I plan to revert a wild Red Cypress Divine-Given Seed, which is only at Mid-Level Evolution, back to its seed form and claim it as a Life Seed."

"Ah?"

Natsumi was stunned.

This is different from what we guessed!

Grass Dragon and Red Peach were also stunned. After a moment, they exclaimed in admiration.

Grass Dragon: "Red Cypress is a natural Top-Level Plant Seed, right? Pure strength enhancement? A Top-Level Great Tall Tree! As a Life Seed, it produces Origin Force Food of both superior quality and quantity."

Red Peach: "A Divine-Given Red Cypress Seed is even more incredible!"

Grass Dragon: "Do you have ordinary Red Cypress Tree Seeds? Sell some to me."

Red Peach: "I could also cultivate two Red Cypress Life Seeds."

Dragon Cypress: "Forget about the seeds. They’re not for sale. Red Peach, once you evolve to Lord-Level, you can come to me for two seeds to use as Life Seeds, but not now."

Dragon Cypress paused, then said, "As for the Divine-Given Cypress Seeds that this Red Cypress Divine-Given Seed will produce in the future... we can discuss the specific distribution shares next year, after it’s successful."

"Sounds good!"

"No problem."

Grass Dragon and Red Peach responded eagerly.

Natsumi: "...Alright."

Areca returned, leading its ordinary Native Breed Flame Spiders.

Natsumi extended its foreleg and quickly tapped the ground.

The Little Flame Spiders became restless.

Areca also used its foreleg to tap the ground, sending messages.

The Little Flame Spiders moved in groups through the Starship Rift, climbing up Natsumi’s front leg and onto its carapace.

「...」

Watching Natsumi, Red Peach, and Areca leave, Grass Dragon asked doubtfully, "Dragon Cypress, a Divine-Given Red Cypress Seed?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yeah. We’ll talk about it next year."

Grass Dragon:

???

Grass Dragon: "Alright. Focus on your evolution."

Grass Dragon reminded, "Melde has also come over, specifically to transport the One-Glimpse Fruit."

Dragon Cypress: "Sounds good. Then I’ll purchase a batch of Origin Force Food from Melde to eat after I advance to Mountain Lord Level. I need to enhance my strength, focus on strength. Let Melde pick out 50,000 Source Stones’ worth for me."

Grass Dragon: "Sounds good."

Grass Dragon: "I’m a 7th Age Period High-Level Flame Spider Warrior, and I’ve started as an independent Roving Merchant. Dragon Cypress, guess how much my starting capital was."

Dragon Cypress: "100,000?"

"Wrong!"

Grass Dragon, imitating White Ivy, had made a Stone Slab, on which he had carved the needed quantities of various types of Origin Force Honey.

He handed the Stone Slab to Dragon Cypress.

Grass Dragon, brimming with enthusiasm, said, "200,000! Quick, turn all of it into Origin Force Honey for me."