Chapter 519 - 499: Snow Velvet Spider King (Part 2)

In fact, Dragon Cypress cared about the Fey Oil Divine-Given Seed on Fragrant Silk Island just as much as Ink Orchid did.

The reason was simple,

Ink Orchid was still three Divine-Given Seeds short of Evolution Lord Level. Currently, the Black Peach No. 2 and Mutant Blue Ice Cypress seedlings being cultivated could each reliably yield one, which meant Ink Orchid only needed the one from Fragrant Silk Island to complete the set.

Once Ink Orchid gathered all the Divine-Given Seeds for Evolution Lord Level and harvested a few more, then it would finally be Dragon Cypress’s turn to evolve.

The Divine-Grade Mountain Pillar Fruit granting Earth Talent would be delivered next spring.

Whether it would work out, they’d know once the lord reached its second Age Period of evolution.

Dragon Cypress didn’t say anything on the surface, but inside he was pretty anxious.

...

End of summer on Cloud Trace Continent.

Correspondingly, on Molan Continent, it’s already the end of winter.

Feeling reassured, Dragon Cypress set out once again, emboldened.

Easily passed through the Leafcutter Island sea tunnel.

Travelled a hundred kilometers underwater in the deep sea, then soared straight up, heading directly for Fragrant Silk Island.

Upon nearing the island, he dove down vertically back into the deep sea.

Flame Spiders liked to move at night—at night they were at their most active.

Dragon Cypress deliberately chose a day under dazzling sunshine and approached the island quietly at noon.

Keeping a distance of about thirty kilometers.

Activating his Soul-Setting Ability for perception, he detected no insects in the nearby sea area.

Advanced twenty kilometers closer. Now ten kilometers from the island, he triggered the Soul-Setting Ability again, instantly covering the whole island.

Not here!

Wait, something’s off!

At the northern edge of the island, on the boundary of his Soul-Setting perception, deep underwater, there was a soul fluctuation.

It felt very familiar.

Still that same Flame Spider Roving Merchant.

It had migrated down into the deep sea, lying hidden.

"I..."

"Does this spider have some sort of brain fever or what?"

"Not going back to the kingdom for the tribal gathering?"

"Is it challenging me, trying to outwit me? Not that bright, huh~"

Dragon Cypress felt secretly annoyed but helpless and quietly withdrew.

—Could it really be worried I’d steal the Divine-Given Seeds on the island? Those are three massive trees, how would I even steal them?

—So why is it lying in wait for me? There must be a reason.

—The Leafcutter Island passage is a race-critical secret; no spider qualified to know and guard this would be an idiot. On the contrary, it’s clever.

—And it can’t be poor, no Spider King is poor.

—So what is it after?

Dragon Cypress’s thoughts flashed by. Suddenly, he understood.

Currently, the other side knew nothing about him, except—very likely—that he possessed a "Soul-Setting Ability."

It must have realized this Soul-Setting Ability comes from a Divine-Grade Fruit.

It’s interested in the Soul-Setting Fruit.

"So, is this a chance to try making contact?"

Dragon Cypress hesitated for a second, then resolutely dismissed the idea.

No need to take the risk.

He redirected his thoughts. The Dominating Throne shifted direction, heading southwest, toward the Mainland.

...

The Snow Velvet Spider King’s form slowly surfaced above the sea, scanning the surroundings in confusion.

"Did I guess wrong?"

"Again, coming from the west..."

"Eighteen days in between—did it go back to its nest or what?"

"The first time, too, it came from the west..."

The Snow Velvet Spider King drew a conclusion: The other party lives in the west!

Another conclusion: It is absolutely impossible to evade the perception of that ability; no matter how artfully one hides, a bit of caution from them and they’ll sense you from twenty or thirty kilometers away.

"Again and again, it tries to get onto the island."

"Is it just plain curiosity?"

"Or is there something on the island attracting it?"

"Or, maybe it’s just close by, can pop over here in a day or two, and I’m the one being a fool, soaking in the sea all this time..."

"From a kingdom on the west side of Bayonet Continent...?"

"Could its true purpose not be the island at all, but just to come check whether I’m still around..."

A sudden unsettling suspicion crept over the Snow Velvet Spider King—like it was being played by another insect.

With a strand of spider silk, it stretched into the water, dragged up a fish over two meters long.

Walking on the water, it hauled its catch onto shore, up the mountain, and all the way to the reservoir.

Quickly cleaned out the insides.

The ground soil writhed, forming a long Earth-Stone staff that skewered the fish from mouth to tail, shaping a rack of stone and dirt to support it.

The spider silk sliced open the skin and flesh.

A strand slipped under the flesh, channeling Origin Force—an orange-red flame sprang up.

Earth-stone moved the fish, automatically turning it—grilling.

Belly full and thirst sated,

it was finally time to head back to Shanglu for the tribal meet-up.

The Snow Velvet Spider King was still uneasy about the three wild Divine-Given Seeds on the island.

Thinking it over, there was nothing on the island worth coveting except for those Divine-Given Seeds.

"Just worried that mysterious Insect King might have some weird ability to dig up a Divine-Given Seed and haul it off back to its territory."

At last, the Snow Velvet Spider King came to the Fragrant Silk Tree. The ground writhed; an earth-and-stone spider of equal proportions rose from the soil, waved its front legs, then carved a blooming Snow Velvet Grass symbol into its forehead.

—On Bayonet Continent, surely there isn’t an insect that doesn’t recognize my Snow Velvet mark? Especially among Insect Kings.

—On Bayonet Continent, is there anyone who dares steal my Snow Velvet’s property? No.

Snow Velvet Spider King pondered, uncertain, and finally left, still uneasy.

...

...

...

Dragon Cypress traveled in stealth through the deep sea.

Estimating the distance as he went.

Guessing he was about two hundred kilometers from Fragrant Silk Island now, he hovered at the ocean floor and waited quietly.

After thinking things over, he suspected the Flame Spider Roving Merchant’s patience must be running out—it ought to have left by now.

Its departure time should be after nightfall.

Dragon Cypress waited patiently until dark.

Set out.

In the dead of night, he approached again from the western side of the island.

At fifty kilometers out, he activated Soul-Setting Ability for a scan.

Safe.

At thirty kilometers, another Soul-Setting check.

Safe.

At ten kilometers, another Soul-Setting scan covering the whole island—the Flame Spider wasn’t there.

Nor anywhere in the nearby sea area.

Snaked along the seafloor, looped around to the south, and performed another Soul-Setting scan of the surrounding waters.

Still nothing.

Just as expected—that Flame Spider Roving Merchant was gone.

It could keenly detect the gaze of the Soul-Setting Ability, but had no way to block or evade it.

Proceed with confidence—land on the island.

Headed straight for the Fey Oil Fruit tree.

The ordinary fruits had long since ripened and fallen, either eaten or naturally rotted away.

Scanning with spiritual power, he instantly locked on a deformed fruit that was half-rotted.

Faint wave of Origin Force.

Still there!

Dragon Cypress quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.

Wild Fey Oil Fruit has a thick, mildly toxic skin—ordinary insects wouldn’t dare bite it.

Malformed fruit—jungle critters didn’t want it either.

The Flame Spider Roving Merchant hadn’t done a thorough search of the island either.

The thing had luckily survived.

Dragon Cypress hopped off the Throne, went over, picked it up and inspected it, muttering about his luck again.

The part of the fruit touching the ground was already rotting, the seed inside was beginning to sprout.

If he’d waited a few more days, it would have rooted and sprouted on its own.

He quickly extracted the seed and stored it in a large metal case.

With the task done, Dragon Cypress looked up towards the mountain reservoir, gently waving his antennae to catch any strange scent in the air.

Familiar—the smell of charred meat.

Dominating Throne took to the air, skimming low, landing near the reservoir embankment to investigate.

Scattered fragments of fish bones on the ground.

Bits of burnt skin and flesh.

The Flame Spider Roving Merchant had feasted before leaving.

It was a large sea fish.

Cooked before eating.

Even traces of seasoning lingered.

"Quite the lifestyle connoisseur, that Flame Spider."

Dragon Cypress muttered internally, his eyes glinting green.

This spider is anything but simple!

Dragon Cypress’s gaze turned to the nearby spider sculpture, formed by Earth-Stone Ability, noticing the Snow Velvet Grass symbol carved on its brow.

—Snow Velvet Spider King?

—What’s the meaning of leaving this mark?

—Is it a warning to me?

—So it is worried I’ll steal the wild Divine-Given Seeds from the island after all.

Dragon Cypress fell silent, speechless.

Now it’s certain: Snow Velvet has at least awakened Earth, Water, and Fire Elemental Talents!

The Illusory Color Flame Spider had awakened Water Elemental Talent.

That means the Snow Velvet Spider King’s Earth and Fire Talents came via Divine-Grade Fruits.

Definitely a spider worth befriending.

Divine-Grade Fruit that grants Earth Talent—I might need one for myself.

Divine-Grade Fruit that grants Fire Talent—could consider getting one as well.

It surely holds other kinds of Divine-Grade Fruits, too.

Dragon Cypress felt very tempted.

He’s even considering taking a risk to meet this Spider King in person...