Astral Cockroach

I wasted so much breath, and you're just staring at those little spiders spinning webs? That's their natural talent, you think you can learn by watching?

Banbu didn't answer Fengling's question, but urged, "Fengling, what kind of Origin Force food do you need? Pick it yourself."

Fengling asked, "Can, can I have Origin Stones?"

Xuemai readily agreed, "Sure!"

Having said that, she quickly climbed onto Chonglou's carapace, grabbed a silk bag, climbed down, opened it, and counted out 100 Origin Stones for Fengling.

"Banbu, what else do you need?"

This time, Banbu seemed much more generous, saying, "Apricot kernels from the Snake Blood Apricot, give me 40."

"Okay!" Xuemai quickly opened the silk bag containing the apricot kernels and counted out 40 for Banbu.

Banbu asked, "Do you have pine nuts from the Five-Leaf Red Cedar God-Given Seed?"

Xuemai said, "Yes, and there are two kinds, medium-high quality and high quality. Both are very reasonably priced. Which one do you want?

Banbu said, "Medium quality is fine."

Xuemai said, "10 Origin Stones can buy 4 pine nuts."

There are thousands of types of God-Given Seeds, with different effects and vague quality definitions, plus individual size differences. It's impossible to have a unified price, which creates room for traveling merchants to trade and make as much profit as their deception skills allow.

Banbu asked, "Xuemai, can I try a sample?"

"Sure." Xuemai quickly climbed onto Chonglou's carapace and rummaged out a delicate little silk bag, bringing it to Banbu.

The pine nuts of the Five-Leaf Red Cedar are dark red, similar in shape to the Torch Oil Pine, but slightly larger.

Banbu picked up one, probed with his mental power, and found the Origin Force to be abundant. He cracked open the shell and tasted it, his antennae twitching slightly, and said, "The quality is not bad, and it turns out to be more cost-effective than Torch Oil Pine pine nuts."

Banbu then asked, "I still have 500 Origin Stones to spend, right?"

Xuemai said, "Yes."

Banbu said, "Exchange them all for Five-Leaf Red Pine pine nuts. Xuemai, give me a discount."

Xuemai said, "Mountain Lord Banbu, I'll give you 210."

Banbu said, "Round it up to an even number, 220."

Xuemai was stunned for a moment, then readily agreed, "Okay."

Having said that, she counted out 220 from the silk bag and gave them to Banbu.

All the transactions were settled.

The Iridescent Flame Spider tribe's caravan didn't have the habit of staying in other insect Mountain Lords' territories for long. Before dawn, they hurriedly set off, heading towards Iron Blade Peak.

This time, Banbu didn't see them off again.

......

The plan went surprisingly smoothly, successfully obtaining 2000 Origin Stones, which were exchanged for 100 Torch Oil Pine pine nuts, 40 Snake Blood Apricot star kernels, and 220 Five-Color Red Pine pine nuts.

All of them were products of God-Given Seeds!

The key is that 100 Origin Stones secured Fengling's labor for the next year, which is incredibly cheap!

Feeling a bit unethical for exploiting a fellow tribe member, Banbu felt a little uneasy, so he separated 10 Five-Color Red Pine pine nuts and gave them to Fengling, saying, "Fengling, the caravan gave an extra 20 pine nuts, and everyone gets a share. I'll give you 10."

Banbu then took out 1 Torch Oil Pine pine nut and said, "Here's a rare, top-quality one for you to try."

"Thank you!" Fengling didn't refuse and readily accepted it.

That night, she witnessed the caravan, the imitation process of the colorful silk bags, and the wealth she had never dared to imagine before.

While Fengling was shocked, she had a clear understanding of the value of God-Given Seeds: she only knew that God-Given Seeds were good and that the condensed fruits were helpful for growth, but the concept of other values was vague. Now it's still confusing, but the annual output of God-Given Seeds can be exchanged for thousands of Origin Stones!

What shocked Fengling even more was Banbu's cleverness. It's still early for the God-Given Seeds to bloom and bear fruit, but he used a clever method to get so many Origin Stones in advance.

Isn't it said that the traveling merchants of the Iridescent Flame Spider tribe are cunning and treacherous? Thinking about it, it feels like Banbu tricked the traveling merchants!

Fengling couldn't help but think of another question: she received 100 Origin Stones from Banbu and has to work for him for a year. Could she also be getting tricked?!

......

The morning of the second day after the caravan left.

Ya Bai and Hei Sang landed on Lizhu Peak, each carrying a snakeskin bag.

"Banbu! Long time no see!"

Hei Sang greeted excitedly, his antennae waving wildly, extremely excited.

Banbu replied, "Hei Sang, Ya Bai, long time no see!"

"Everyone has been busy since the beginning of spring, but now we're finally a little free, so we came to see you and Fengling." Ya Bai explained, then changed the subject and asked, "Banbu, I heard from the caravan that you collected 2000 Origin Stones as a deposit? To order Purple Gold Bamboo Rice and Emerald Bamboo Rice."

Banbu said, "Yes."

Hei Sang jumped up and down, exclaiming, "Wow! Banbu, you're so amazing."

"Don't interrupt!" Ya Bai was never polite to Hei Sang, flicking his antennae and hitting him hard on the head. He continued to say to Banbu, "Mountain Lord Iron Blade said that this is a smarter way of doing business than Princess Chi Jian."

Banbu modestly said, "It was a sudden idea, just trying it out. I didn't expect the caravan to agree."

Ya Bai asked, "Did you exchange them all for Origin Force food?"

Banbu said, "Yes, I need to grow quickly."

Ya Bai tapped his antennae, opened the snakeskin bag, and said, "Mountain Lord Iron Blade sold another batch of Origin Force food, exchanging it for 200 Origin Stones, which are all inside. I'm lending them to you. Origin Stones can guarantee the quality of the fruits produced by God-Given Seeds. Quality is credibility, it's prestige. With credibility and prestige, you can attract more caravans and obtain more wealth through transactions."

"Mountain Lord Iron Blade doesn't have God-Given Seeds, so he can't be considered wealthy. Banbu, the Origin Stones I'm lending you must be returned in full next year, understand?"

Banbu was a little touched, and nodded his antennae, saying, "Understood."

Hei Sang also opened the snakeskin bag he was carrying and said, "100 Mountain Walnuts, 300 Arborvitae Seeds. Mountain Lord Iron Blade said that this is the last batch of aid before the various fresh fruits ripen in summer."

Banbu said, "Understood, please thank Mountain Lord Iron Blade for me."

Ya Bai said, "Banbu, Mountain Lord Iron Blade asked me to remind you that it takes at least 1 month of accumulation for a mid-level warrior to grow. Growth shouldn't be too fast, too much is as bad as too little."

"I understand!"

Banbu packed up his things, went into the cave, and took out 6 Torch Oil Pine pine nuts, giving them to Ya Bai, saying, "Ya Bai, these are pine nuts condensed from the Torch Oil Pine God-Given Seed, top quality, and they enhance fire abilities. One for each warrior on Iron Blade Peak, so everyone can have a taste."

Hei Sang watched silently, extremely excited, his antennae waving wildly again.

Ya Bai hesitated for a long time, but finally reluctantly accepted, sighing, "Banbu, if Ma Yu could see your growth, he would be very gratified."

Banbu said, "I should be grateful for his careful guidance."

After chatting for a few words, Ya Bai prepared to say goodbye and leave.

But Hei Sang refused to leave: "Ya Bai, you go first, I'll stay and play with Banbu for a while."

Ya Bai just thought he was greedy, thinking about the Origin Force food Banbu had just traded for, and scolded, "All you know is how to be playful all day long. Come on, come back with me."

Hei Sang pleaded, "Ya Bai, I'll just play for a while, you go first, I'll definitely be back before dark."

Ya Bai hit Hei Sang's head hard with his antennae, angrily saying, "No, come back with me."

Hei Sang covered his head with his forelimbs and shouted, "Ya Bai, you hit me three times today, I'll tell Mountain Lord Iron Blade when I get back! You're doomed!"

Ya Bai's wings trembled with anger.

Banbu persuaded, "Ya Bai, it's rare for Hei Sang to come here, let him stay and play for a while before going back."

Ya Bai shook his antennae, looked at Hei Sang and Banbu suspiciously, and reluctantly agreed, warning, "Hei Sang, you must be back before dark, otherwise Mountain Lord Iron Blade won't be able to protect you."

Hei Sang was happy and promised, "I'll definitely be back before dark."

Ya Bai received a definite answer and then left.

Watching Ya Bai turn into a black dot and disappear into the sky, Hei Sang happily jumped up, eagerly shouting, "Banbu, where's my Origin Force food? Did you buy the silk bag?"

"Bought it, bought it." Banbu said, "Torch Oil Pine pine nuts, 10 Origin Stones per nut, Five-Leaf Red Cedar pine nuts, 4 nuts for 10 Origin Stones. Which ones do you want? Pick them yourself."