All over the mountains, flowers bloomed—it was another season of the roving merchant trade.

On the hillside, behind the bushes, Areca poked her head out.

Down at the plaza, Natsumi was the first to notice, lowering her telekinesis to remind, "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord. They're here. Looks like Dragon Cypress Ant King has successfully evolved to Mountain Lord Level."

"Looks like it."

"Aconite Spider King, I'll go handle the trade first."

Seven-Leaf gave Aconite Spider King a heads-up, standing up slowly.

"Mhm. Go ahead."

Aconite Spider King stirred, thought for a moment, and warned: "Be sharp. Ask that little Primordial Spider named Areca more questions. Where, exactly, was the One-Glimpse Fruit used? I still think something's off."

"Got it——"

Seven-Leaf and Natsumi replied.

A few years ago, when they saw the metal cases from Outworld Civilizations filled with vast stores of plant seeds, Aconite Spider King was certain that Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid had stumbled upon a relic from some great tribe of the Origin Force Era on Cloud Trace Continent. Coupled with their purchase of the One-Glimpse Fruit, the guess was they'd unearthed a Divine-Given Seed tree heart.

The guess was that it was a Divine Grade item.

Because it was Divine Grade, the Little Ant King and Little Mantis must use the One-Glimpse Fruit—using a Heaven Returning Glimpse to revert it to its initial seed form, to nurture it into their own Life Seed.

But in the end,

they claimed it was a wild Snakebark Maple Divine-Given Seed…

The Snakebark Maple Divine-Given Seed was certainly worth causing a stir.

But, watching the every move of those few Little Spiders from the Zeqi Caravan, Aconite Spider King sensed something more…

As an Old Spider King who'd lived seven or eight hundred years, he was quite confident in his perception.

Aconite Spider King paused, then added: "Ask clearly first where the One-Glimpse Fruit was used. Was it truly a Snakebark Maple Divine-Given Seed? Maybe there's more than one."

Aconite Spider King: "You've already missed your chance, do you know that?"

Seven-Leaf: "Understood."

Natsumi: "We'll dig for more info."

...

Hilltop, at the Starship Passage entrance.

"Areca!"

Natsumi called out enthusiastically.

"Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord. Natsumi."

Areca responded.

"Did Dragon Cypress succeed in evolving to Mountain Lord?"

Natsumi asked routinely.

"All went smoothly."

Areca answered.

Natsumi asked casually: "Did he grasp a Strength System ability?"

Areca answered truthfully: "He did—named it 'Rend,' it's super powerful."

"A one-year-old Mountain Lord grasping a Strength System ability. Dragon Cypress really is something."

Seven-Leaf muttered, untied the spider silk rope that bound the goods to her carapace, operated it, opened a large spider silk bag, and pulled out a petite spider silk bag.

"Areca, did you bring all the Little Flame Spiders this year?"

"Yes, I brought them."

Areca raised her forelegs.

Seven-Leaf handed the petite spider silk bag to Areca.

"Thank you, Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord." Areca thanked her politely, opening it and discovering with delight that this year's little gifts included two Divine-Given Persimmon Fruit Seeds.

Seven-Leaf asked: "Areca, what Origin Force Food does Dragon Cypress need to buy this year? About how much in Source Stones?"

Areca: "Dragon Cypress said Mountain Lord Melde will come this year, so I'm to purchase 100,000 Source Stones' worth from you. Strength System Divine-Given Origin Force Food is the priority—we'll buy as much as there is to help High-Level warriors in their evolution and growth. The rest of the Source Stones, we'll use as needed to buy quality regular Strength System Origin Force Food."

This was almost certainly Dragon Cypress's own words.

An honest little Primordial Spider indeed.

How rare, an honest insect on Cloud Trace Continent.

Seven-Leaf asked: "Did you use the One-Glimpse Fruit yet?"

Areca: "Used."

Seven-Leaf: "On the Snakebark Maple Divine-Given Seed?"

Areca: "Yes. Dragon Cypress Ant King has stored it in his Life Pouch, as his Life Seed at one-year-old Mountain Lord Level."

Seven-Leaf: "Good!"

A top-tier Divine-Given Seed, one with best enhancement, quality, and yield—unseen on the Ten-thousand Tribes or Wan Country continents—was indeed excellent.

The key was its enhancement benefited the Strength System most needed by the Ant Clan.

Six Peaks Mountain and the Six-Spiked Cloud Ants Kingdom were Caowu Caravan's most crucial trading partners.

With a stable trading right to the Snakebark Maple Divine-Given Seed, the caravan's ties with Six Peaks Mountain would grow all the firmer.

In high spirits, Seven-Leaf manipulated the spider silk rope to unload goods, rummaged through them for a swollen small spider silk bag, grabbed it and shook it, saying:

"A thousand Divine-Given Persimmon Fruit Seeds produced in the High-Level warriors' territory, all for Dragon Cypress Ant King, 50 Source Stones each. How many do you need?"

Areca: "Take them all!"

Seven-Leaf took out another small spider silk bag and said, "The Giant Dish Seed bought last time by Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple—the price's the same, 40 Source Stones each. Only 300 available."

Areca: "Take them all!"

Seven-Leaf: "That's all the Divine-Given Origin Force Food I can sell you this year."

Areca: "Alright."

Seven-Leaf: "Buy some more regular Origin Force Food. The quality here is excellent."

Areca: "Okay."

Seven-Leaf: "What kind do you need?"

Areca: "Dragon Cypress Ant King said he needs Strength System. I don't understand it. Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord, please pick them for me."

Seven-Leaf: "…Alright."

Such an honest Primordial Spider Little Warrior almost didn't seem like her own kind.

Concerned, Seven-Leaf asked, "Areca, have Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple, those two little brats, often bullied you?"

Areca: "I don't live with them, so we don't see each other much."

"Oh. That's true."

Seven-Leaf: "If they ever bully you, tell Natsumi. Natsumi will tell Dragon Cypress, and Dragon Cypress will sort them out."

Areca: "They won't."

Seven-Leaf: "Good."

Seven-Leaf: "How is that Wood Tangerine Divine-Given Seed growing?"

Areca: "The tree is five meters tall, and it produced many small flowers at the end of last winter. But Dragon Cypress Ant King says to focus on nurturing the tree first and wait until I evolve into a High-Level Warrior before thinking of fruit-bearing."

"Very good."

"Looks like Dragon Cypress treats you pretty well, too."

Seven-Leaf began picking through cargo.

Natsumi picked up the conversation and asked, "Areca, how's the Native Breed Flame Spider group doing?"

Areca: "About 1,300 adult spiders, 200 subadults, and over 500 Little Flame Spiders under three years old so far."

Natsumi: "Growing great!"

Natsumi: "That many spiders must eat a lot, huh? Does Dragon Cypress Ant King and Ink Orchid help you care for them?"

Areca: "Ink Orchid helps take care of them."

Natsumi: "What about Dragon Cypress Ant King? Did he dig up a relic from an ancient tribe in the Origin Force Era?"

Areca: "No."

Natsumi: "???"

Natsumi: "Then where did those metal cases storing seeds come from?"

Areca: "We dug them up."

Natsumi: "Where'd you dig them up?"

"Cloud Trace Continent."

Areca turned around, raised her foreleg, and pointed behind her at the Divine Force Barrier.

Natsumi: "..."

Natsumi: "Did Dragon Cypress Ant King and Ink Orchid find a Divine God-Given Seed?"

Areca: "Dragon Cypress Ant King doesn't let me say."

"!!!"

Seven-Leaf and Natsumi perked up.

Seven-Leaf: "Not allowed to say? So that means you have?"

Areca: "Can't say."

If there was nothing, he'd just deny it outright.

"Not allowed" and "can't say," meant there was definitely something.

There really was a Divine God-Given Seed!

Seven-Leaf manipulated the spider silk rope, quickly rummaging, counted out fifty Six-Route Seeds, and put them into Areca's petite spider silk bag.

Seven-Leaf: "Go on then."

Areca: "When Natsumi comes over later, Dragon Cypress Ant King will tell her, and there's some very important business to discuss with you both."

Seven-Leaf: "Good!"

Seven-Leaf: "Natsumi, it's not convenient to talk here, so don't ask too much for now."

Seven-Leaf sped up sorting the goods.

"Oh——"

Natsumi's mind raced. After a moment's silence, she couldn't help but ask, "Did Dragon Cypress Ant King and Ink Orchid agree on how to allocate the regular Divine-Given Seeds?"

Areca: "It's settled. Dragon Cypress Ant King said to wait until Mountain Lord Melde and White Ivy Mountain Lord's caravans arrive before announcing it."

Natsumi: "How much of the Snakebark Maple Divine-Given Seed do you plan to give us?"

Areca: "Half."

Natsumi: "Oh!"

Natsumi: "What about the Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seed?"

Areca: "Probably all of it? Or eighty percent?"

Natsumi: "???"

Seven-Leaf couldn't help but ask: "Areca, did you get that wrong?"

Areca: "I can talk about this."

Areca: "Actually, there are two Divine-Given Gorgon Fruit Seeds—Dragon Cypress Ant King and Ink Orchid each have one. Now, everyone's had their fill of Gorgon Fruit. Seven-Leaf Caravan and Luoli Caravan each get one, but we'll have to spare a little for Grass Dragon."

—There's another one?!

—Two of them!

—So Ink Orchid has three Divine-Given Seeds as well?

Seven-Leaf and Natsumi could no longer stay calm.

How many secrets does Cloud Trace Continent hide?

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