Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 473 - 453: Selling it Cheap to You

Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, Flame Spider Kingdom.

The Revolve Spider King led the caravan back on schedule to the Dulai Flame Spider territory to attend the annual tribal assembly.

Flame Spider Roving Merchants of the Dulai Flame Spider, scattered far and wide, gradually returned during this season.

The coastal rainforest, usually quiet, had grown increasingly bustling.

Spider King Spurge’s trading circle.

At this moment, numerous other caravans of Flame Spider Roving Merchants were already waiting here.

Lord White Ivy led her team into the square.

"Lord White Ivy!"

"Lord Melde!"

A group of Flame Spider Roving Merchants stepped forward, greeting them warmly.

The Origin Force Honey trade had been ongoing for several decades, gradually forming a relatively stable supply circle for Origin Force Food.

Year by year, White Ivy and Melde had expanded their operations. The annual turnover of Origin Force Honey now exceeded 20 million Source Stones, and the number of participating Flame Spiders increased annually.

"White Whale Lord, Lord Knapweed..."

Melde courteously greeted many Lord-Level Flame Spiders.

White Ivy issued orders with a serious expression, "Red Peach, Lupine, you are in charge of purchasing goods. Grass Dragon, Silvergrass, you handle distributing the transport. Be quick about it; don’t make the elders wait too long."

"Got it."

"Rest assured, Lord White Ivy."

Red Peach and Silvergrass responded resolutely.

"Understood."

"Please rest assured, Leader."

Grass Dragon and Lupine also agreed earnestly.

White Ivy then said, "Melde! Don’t you dare slack off. Go help Red Peach with the accounts."

Melde stammered, "I..."

I’m just greeting everyone! Where am I slacking off? White Ivy, you just wait!

Melde, though inwardly fuming, responded, "...Yes."

"Hurry up, hurry up!" Grass Dragon urged.

"Everyone, please form a line here and come forward one by one," Lupine called out, waving its forelimbs.

The caravan’s work arrangements were complete.

It felt great to be a leader.

White Ivy hopped and skipped towards Spider King Spurge in the center of the square.

Looking left and right to ensure no other spider was paying attention, she then composed herself and walked forward with steady, slow steps.

Seeing that Spider King Spurge wasn’t looking her way, White Ivy ’accidentally’ let slip a hint of her Wood Primordial Energy Aura...

Spider King Spurge abruptly turned and looked over.

White Ivy quickened her pace.

"Ah, I just Evolved. I can’t quite control my Strength yet..."

Spider King Spurge asked, "A Wood Element Talent? Where did you Evolve?"

White Ivy replied, "In the Green Torreya Kingdom, at Yuezuo Mountain. My luck wasn’t great; I only comprehended one Wood Element Ability."

"..."

Spider King Spurge didn’t want to speak. After a few stifling seconds, it still asked, "What Ability?"

Without wasting words, White Ivy’s eight eyes sparkled with a green Primordial Energy light.

Spider King Spurge said indifferently, "Barely passable."

Barely passable? It’s incredibly powerful, alright?

"...Yes." White Ivy was inwardly fuming but plastered on a respectful tone. "Spider King Spurge, my most, most, most revered elder..."

Spider King Spurge impatiently lifted a foreleg as if to strike, rudely interrupting, "Less nonsense. If you have something to say, say it directly."

White Ivy began, "Spider King Spurge, I have something good, destined for Huagi Mountain. Could I trouble you to keep it safe for me...?"

"Oh? Something good? Let me see!" Spider King Spurge’s interest was piqued.

Spider King Spurge was well aware of the current strength of White Ivy and Melde’s caravan. Apart from a Divine-Grade Fruit, there was nothing else they would deem ’something good’ and ask it to safeguard on their behalf.

As if deliberately, White Ivy unhurriedly untied the Carapace Spider Silk Rope binding her goods, removing bags filled with Spider King Silk Scrolls one by one.

A medium-sized Spider Silk Bag, if filled with 10,000-denomination Spider King Silk Scrolls, was worth exactly one million Source Stones. If filled with 1,000-denomination scrolls, it was worth 100,000 Source Stones.

White Ivy meticulously arranged the bags, displaying them proudly.

Childish, Spider King Spurge thought, looking on with a cold, sidelong glance.

"Only 17.5 million Source Stones left. This Evolution almost bankrupted me," White Ivy lamented, digging out two small Spider Silk Bags from the very bottom and handing one over first.

Spider King Spurge took it and opened it. Inside was a shimmering golden Metal Can, its greenish-blue metal surface elegantly carved with designs of Luoli Grass and White Ivy Grass.

This was the type of Jinhe Fruit sent to Yuezuo Mountain for the Golden Peach Beetle King. The Golden Peach Beetle King had specially helped create this exclusive Metal Can, bearing the insignia of White Ivy and Melde’s caravan. The can’s surface also featured fine, dark gold patterns, making it even more exquisite and luxurious.

Spider King Spurge unscrewed the lid, swept its spiritual power over the contents, then quickly resealed it. It paused, stunned for two seconds, having roughly understood.

"You Evolved at Yuezuo Mountain?" Spider King Spurge asked.

"Yes," White Ivy replied.

Spider King Spurge rattled off, "Yuezuo Mountain? The Sun Burying Beetle Tribe? Metal System Talent? Exchanged for Jinhe Fruit?"

"I guess so," White Ivy replied.

"’Guess?’" Spider King Spurge snapped. "Speak to me properly!"

Annoyed, Spider King Spurge brought a claw down on White Ivy’s head with a THWACK! and snatched the other Spider Silk Bag. It opened the bag to check.

Both were Life-Extending Divine Goods!

Judging by the Origin Force Fluctuation, they should increase Life Span by a hundred years.

Spider King Spurge understood at a glance. One had been exchanged for Jinhe Fruit, while the other was undoubtedly bartered for White Poplar Fruit.

"What’s the name of the item?" Spider King Spurge asked.

"Moon Peach Fruit," White Ivy answered.

"This is for Huagi Mountain?" Spider King Spurge inquired.

"Yes," White Ivy said. "I heard a Shield Grasshopper Warrior on Huagi Mountain is on the verge of death and urgently needs it."

The sharp rap on her forehead made White Ivy compose herself. She said seriously, "Huagi Mountain only needs one. Dragon Cypress said it doesn’t need one for now. However, let’s send both over. We can confirm with it again. If it truly doesn’t need the second one, I’ll find a trustworthy Spider King and see if I can exchange it for another Divine-Grade item or sell it at a high price."

Upon hearing this, Spider King Spurge instantly became wary.

As an old spider that had been in trade for hundreds of years, it sharply sensed that White Ivy’s words were a carefully crafted ploy.

These little brats are trying to trap me.

Spider King Spurge’s gaze fell on the Spider Silk Bags in front of it, filled with Spider King Silk Scrolls.

So that’s it.

White Ivy wasn’t foolishly flaunting her wealth before it; she had a hidden agenda.

17.5 million... just 2.5 million short of a round 20 million... The price of the Moon Peach Fruit is clear... Naive.

Spider King Spurge silently critiqued in its mind and asked, "Sell it at a high price?"

"Of course, it’ll be a high price," White Ivy asserted.

"How high?" Spider King Spurge pressed.

White Ivy exclaimed as if suddenly realizing, "Oh! Right! My most revered Spider King Spurge, it’s old and desperately needs the Moon Peach Fruit..."

"Five million!" White Ivy declared.

Spider King Spurge raised its foreleg high. Believe it or not, I could squash you!

"Three million," White Ivy quickly amended.

Spider King Spurge manipulated its Spider Silk Ropes, shoving the Spider Silk Bag containing the Moon Peach Fruit into the bottom of its carapace cargo.

"We go way back," White Ivy wheedled. "How about a little cheaper? 2.9 million."

Spider King Spurge looked on coldly, saying nothing.

"Out of respect for all your care over the years," White Ivy continued, "a bit more off... 2.8 million. That’s the lowest I can go."

Spider King Spurge turned to the side, refusing to look directly at her.

"Fine, forget it then. At three million each, there are plenty of old spiders eager to buy them," White Ivy mumbled. She also manipulated her Spider Silk Ropes to tidy up the Spider King Silk Scrolls on the ground, then suddenly proposed, "Spider King Spurge, how about this? I have 17.5 million here. Sell the item to you for 2.5 million, making it a round 20 million. Everyone’s happy."

"Heh, heh." Spider King Spurge sneered coldly. "White Ivy, such a clumsy trick might deceive dull Little Warriors below Mountain Lord Level, but those at Mountain Lord Level and above won’t fall for it."

"Spider King Spurge, what are you talking about? I don’t understand a word," White Ivy said, her eight eyes wide with feigned confusion.

"’Still playing dumb?’" Spider King Spurge retorted. "’Do you take me for a fool too? With you, there’s no need to pretend.’"

Spider King Spurge asked irritably, "The Moon Peach Fruit for Huagi Mountain... is it Melde’s?"

"Yes," White Ivy replied. "It was a condition for him to secure the stable trading rights for the Divine-Grade Jinhe Fruit."

"And the other one is yours?" Spider King Spurge asked.

"Of course," White Ivy confirmed. "My Moon Peach Fruit is for the Dragon Cypress Ant King. Nowadays, all of Melde’s and my trades depend entirely on the Dragon Cypress Ant King. If it leaves, Melde and I are finished. I hope it can stay on the Cloud Trace Continent for another hundred years, or at least not leave before we do."

"Not bad," Spider King Spurge said. "You still know your place and can read the situation."

Spider King Spurge offered a rare compliment, then paused before saying, "Dragon Cypress is still too young. A Life-Extending Divine Good like this is best used after it turns 100. You don’t need to send it over; it won’t accept it."

Spider King Spurge mused aloud, "Two White Poplar Fruits, worth 1.5 million Source Stones, exchanged for one Moon Peach Fruit..."

White Ivy interrupted, "You can’t calculate it like that! Never mind the cost. Just tell me if the item itself is worth 2.5 million Source Stones."

Spider King Spurge fell silent for a moment, then said earnestly, "White Ivy, you know best. These descendants of mine are all foolish spiders, capable only of petty cunning and lacking true wisdom. I’m buying this Moon Peach Fruit for myself to consume..."

Is it trying to haggle or insult me?

White Ivy chuckled, "Then this foolish spider will sell it to you cheap for 2.5 million Source Stones, how about that?"

"..."

Spider King Spurge stated firmly, "Two million. That’s the prevailing price on the continent. Juniors have no business profiting from their elders’ Source Stones."

White Ivy quickly retorted, "In that case, how about the cost price of 1.8 million, as a sign of my filial respect, Elder? But you must pay with high-quality Divine-Given Origin Force Food, calculated at its acquisition price. Elders have even less reason to profit from juniors’ Source Stones, right?"

Spider King Spurge fell silent.

The 2.5 million price was a bluff. Flaunting the Spider King Silk Scrolls was just to confuse me. From the very beginning, her target was 1.8 million in Divine-Given Origin Force Food. These little ones have certainly grown sharper!

Spider King Spurge pondered, a nagging feeling that something was still amiss. It looked up at Melde in the square, who was busy organizing the purchase and transport of goods...

Melde was constantly peeking over at them...

Spider King Spurge suddenly realized.

The Moon Peach Fruit for Huagi Mountain is White Ivy’s. And this Moon Peach Fruit being offered to me is Melde’s. Melde covets my inheritance, but he’s too young, his Evolution level too low. He needs Time to grow. But Melde can’t be too obvious, or it would cause resentment from me and the other spiders in the Caravan. So, he had the gullible White Ivy act as his mouthpiece. And they even came up with such an elaborate scheme. Their true goal is to sell this Moon Peach Fruit to me. Even if I didn’t offer a single Source Stone, those two would find a way to stuff this Moon Peach Fruit down my throat.

Then why insist on a high price? To ensure I wouldn’t resell it to other Insects?

Spider King Spurge reconsidered. No, that wasn’t quite right either.

I do indeed need Time to cultivate a qualified heir. I need a Life-Extending Divine Good; I can’t refuse it. Their plan aims to kill two birds with one stone. White Ivy wants to sell this Moon Peach Fruit to me at a high price, to make a profit off me. Meanwhile, Melde also achieves his goal of buying more Time to grow.

Spider King Spurge untied the Carapace Spider Silk Rope from its back and asked, "White Ivy, what types of enhancement-type Divine-Given Origin Force Food do you need?"

White Ivy chirped, "Wood Element!"

"To be sent to the Cloud Trace Continent?" Spider King Spurge asked.

White Ivy replied, "I’ll keep some for myself and send a portion over."

Spider King Spurge finally said, "Alright, I’ll use Spider King Silk Scrolls to pay then. 2.5 million, as you said."