Ant Lord in the Star Realm-Chapter 625 - 565: Red Crow Pattern_3

"Thank you, Snow Velvet Spider King!"

"Many thanks, Snow Velvet Spider King!"

"Generous Snow Velvet Spider King!"

Red Peach, Heliotrope, and Column Spotted all expressed their joy and gratitude.

Dragon Cypress directed the Worker Ants, handing over the goods to them one small bag at a time.

The packing was completed.

Snow Velvet Spider King courteously said, "Red Peach, Column Spotted, would you two step aside for a moment."

Red Peach and Column Spotted turned and moved away.

Dragon Cypress also tactfully led Fragrant Cypress, Black Persimmon, and Black Sophora out.

Snow Velvet Spider King activated the Primordial Energy Shield and fixed her gaze on Heliotrope, falling silent.

Heliotrope glanced left, glanced right, looked up, looked down, and said nothing.

They stalemated for a few seconds,

Snow Velvet Spider King took the initiative to ask, "Heliotrope, over on the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, what have the Steward Spider Kings of the Flame Spider Kingdom decided after their discussions?"

Heliotrope: "...When I left, Aconite Spider King didn't tell me."

Heliotrope: "However, I have heard some rumors. Previously, the Divine-Given Seed of Wujia Wood would produce a Divine-Grade Fruit each time, and all qualifying Spider Kings within the tribe would bid for it. But at last winter's gathering, I heard it said that the bidding for the Divine-Grade Five-Plus Fruit would be canceled."

After Heliotrope finished speaking, he cautiously kept his eyes on Snow Velvet Spider King, gauging her reaction, and in return asked, "Snow Velvet Spider King, what about your end? Regarding the transport of 10 billion Source Stones, what did the Shanglu Divine Tree say?"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "..."

Snow Velvet Spider King was quite fond of this little fellow, Heliotrope.

The Flame Spider Roving Merchant trade, apart from routine business, occasionally encountered enormous-value deals critical to the caravan's survival and growth.

Such negotiations typically involved the caravan leader and the tribal leader or the Insect King in charge of trading, with truths and deceptions intertwining—a true test of a spider's wisdom and nerve.

At such a young age, Heliotrope showed no sign of stage fright; this little guy had a true leader's bearing.

Snow Velvet Spider King answered unhurriedly, "The Shanglu Divine Tree has only agreed to send a Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit produced four years from now to the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent."

Heliotrope: "Just one?"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "The rules in Shanglu are: every time a Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit is produced, the Shanglu Divine Tree names several Spider Kings to come forward and answer questions. In truth, this questioning is a form of trial. In the end, the Shanglu Divine Tree awards the fruit to whichever spider responds most satisfactorily and earns its recognition. If no one answers well enough, the Shanglu Divine Tree will fly into a rage and destroy the fruit."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "As for this side, the Shanglu Divine Tree can't question and test in person, but the rules can't be completely broken; when a Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit is produced here, only one is dispatched and assigned for distribution. The Shanglu Divine Tree never makes any promises to any insect. In this world, no insect has the right to demand a promise from the Shanglu Divine Tree."

Snow Velvet Spider King: "As for the second, third, fourth, and fifth fruits demanded by the Aconite Spider King, they'll have to wait for the next batch, the batch after that, or even further batches—the Shanglu Divine Tree will decide according to its own judgment."

Snow Velvet Spider King paused, then changed the subject: "Of course, since the Shanglu Divine Tree has agreed to give the first Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit four years from now to the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent, that certainly means there will be a second, third, fourth, fifth, and possibly more. We all are descendants of the Shanglu Divine Tree; it won't show favoritism to anyone."

Heliotrope: "...Understood."

Heliotrope: "Then I'll go back and report to Aconite Spider King?"

Snow Velvet Spider King: "Go ahead."

...

On the Wan Country Continent,

in the trade square where the Dulai Flame Spider Tribe's caravan paused and gathered, this year's atmosphere was rather unusual.

At the ancestral land of the kingdom, the five Steward Spider Kings—who hadn't ventured across the continent in a long time—were traveling with the caravan of Aconite Spider King.

No doubt about it—something major was underway.

The spiders all tactfully kept their distance, though curious, they couldn't help but sneak glances this way now and then.

Aconite Spider King's group was also watching out for activity atop the hill.

Heliotrope emerged from the tunnel entrance, exchanged brief greetings with Seven-Leaf, Melde, and the others, then scurried over the hill and quickly made for the plaza.

As soon as he approached—swish, swish, swish—six Primordial Energy Barriers rose up at once, enveloping Heliotrope inside.

"Aconite Spider King!"

"Goldendrop Spider King, Blue Thistle Spider King, Spider King Pickerelweed, Pollia Spider King, Sheathed Spider King."

Heliotrope turned around, greeting each Spider King in turn.

Aconite Spider King asked, "How did it go?"

Heliotrope: "Snow Velvet Spider King said, the rules over at Shanglu are: each time a Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit is produced..."

Heliotrope relayed Snow Velvet Spider King's words verbatim, without changing a syllable.

Aconite Spider King turned and consulted the elderly Steward Spider King of the Dulai Flame Spider Tribe: "Spider King Pickerelweed, what do you make of it?"

Spider King Pickerelweed asked the Steward Spider King of the Round Purple Flame Spider Tribe: "Goldendrop Spider King, you decide."

Goldendrop Spider King: "This is a haggling game, a classic Flame Spider Roving Merchant negotiation style. The Shanglu Divine Tree is a plant, the Ancestor, a transcendent being whose word is unbreakable. If it says yes, it means yes; if it says no, no—there is no haggling back and forth with the Shanglu Divine Tree."

Goldendrop Spider King: "Since there wasn't an outright rejection, it means the Shanglu Divine Tree has already agreed to our request. The story Snow Velvet Spider King spun is just another way of holding us to ransom, making us send as many resources as possible back to Shanglu."

—How incisive!

The spiders were unanimously in agreement.

Aconite Spider King: "So then, should we..."

Goldendrop Spider King: "The Divine-Grade Divine-Given Seed of Wujia Wood and the Divine-Grade Divine-Given Seed of Black Bitterwood are too valuable; keeping them on our side isn't reliable, and in the future, some unforeseen accident might happen. They ought to be sent back to the Shanglu Ancestral Land."

Goldendrop Spider King: "The One-Glimpse Flower concerns the tribe's reputation; reputation is as valuable as life itself, so it definitely can't be sent away."

Goldendrop Spider King: "As for ordinary Divine-Given Seeds, let's select twenty to send back first. As for Source Stones, we can send ten billion back. The map from the previous Origin Force Era showing the location of the source stone treasury in the Thousand Trees Continent can also be sent back."

Goldendrop Spider King: "But not sent immediately, nor in a single shipment. After we receive the first Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit in four years, we'll begin, sending things in batches. The Divine God-Given Seeds are the priority, Source Stones next, and only then the ordinary Divine-Given Seeds last."

The spiders all agreed.

Aconite Spider King looked to Heliotrope and asked, "Did you understand all that?"

Heliotrope: "Understood."

Aconite Spider King: "You know how to reply, then?"

Heliotrope: "I do."

Heliotrope: "Aconite Spider King, Goldendrop Spider King, esteemed Spider Kings, there's just one small matter more. Last year, when Snow Velvet Spider King reported the situation to the Shanglu Divine Tree, the Shanglu Divine Tree actually deduced from just a few words that Aconite Spider King is a calm, upstanding, exceptionally wise spider. The Shanglu Divine Tree designated that the first Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit would be used by Aconite Spider King."

Aconite Spider King was stunned. "I knew it! The Shanglu Divine Tree knows all—nothing escapes it."

"..."

The other four Spider Kings glanced silently at Spider King Pickerelweed.

Spider King Pickerelweed: "..."

Five Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruits, one for each of the five branches of the Flame Spider.

The five elderly Steward Spider Kings present were the chosen representatives of each branch; Spider King Pickerelweed was the most respected steward of the Dulai Flame Spider Tribe.

Clearly, Aconite Spider King was dissatisfied and meant to fight for the Shanglu Fruit that rightfully belonged to the Dulai branch...

This sudden turn...

Such a cunning fellow...

Aconite Spider King pressed the point, "Heliotrope, you're sure it was the Shanglu Divine Tree who named me for the first fruit?"

Heliotrope: "It's true!"

Aconite Spider King: "No, no, you go back and tell Snow Velvet Spider King to ask the Shanglu Divine Tree to reconsider—it's not proper. In terms of age and seniority, I'm not qualified yet."

Heliotrope: "Alright!"

Heliotrope ventured cautiously, "The Shanglu Divine Tree's word is law, the Ancestor's will is not to be questioned..."

"..."

The spiders all fell silent.

Spider King Pickerelweed, completely unruffled, said, "That means five Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruits aren't enough to go around. Heliotrope, go and negotiate again with Snow Velvet Spider King. If one is reserved as an appointment for Aconite Spider King, then we'll need six to be enough. The resources of the Flame Spider Kingdom in the Ten-thousand Tribes Continent are pooled by all five branches—none should be overlooked. We've each sent our finest Spider King here, and it would be inappropriate for any to lose out."

Aconite Spider King echoed, "Spider King Pickerelweed is right; five Divine Fruits won't be enough then. Heliotrope, go and discuss it again with Snow Velvet Spider King, and please ask her to appeal to the Shanglu Divine Tree..."

...

Dragon Cypress continued regular trading with Red Peach and Column Spotted; goods were exchanged non-stop.

Heliotrope ran back and forth relaying messages between both sides, making over a dozen trips before things settled down.

Snow Velvet Spider King departed.

Dragon Cypress couldn't resist calling out to Heliotrope and asking, "Heliotrope, I heard all five of your Flame Spider Kingdom's elder Spider Kings are here? What matter has you running back and forth so much?"

Heliotrope replied with difficulty, "Dragon Cypress Ant King, I really can't say. It's extremely important—if it gets out, I'd be torn apart by the five great Spider Kings in no time."

—Is it really that serious? 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Dragon Cypress's curiosity burned even greater.

He could guess a little—certainly something about the 'Divine-Grade

Gromwell Fruit'—but couldn't figure out the specific details.

Red Peach, Column Spotted, Fragrant Cypress, Black Persimmon, and even the naive Black Sophora all glanced at Heliotrope in curiosity.

Heliotrope groaned, "I really can't say! I'd die for sure if I did~"

"Enough, enough."

Dragon Cypress waved his claw, warning, "Column Spotted, behave yourself. Don't trouble Heliotrope. If anything goes wrong, just wait for Melde to take care of you..."