CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 374: CLOUD CROWN MOUNTAIN, THE THORNY GATEKEEPER WARRIOR

Ten-thousand Tribes Continent.

The Beautiful Shield Bug Kingdom was located amidst endless plains and forests.

On the plains rose up ridges of mountains, and seventeen different Ji Bug tribes lived along these mountains in various sizes.

The mountain chain inhabited by the Beautiful Ji Bug Tribe was rather famous—every peak was broken cleanly in half, and fragments of the severed summits could still be found scattered at the foot of the mountains.

No matter how mighty an Insect King, it was impossible to break a mountain peak; it seemed to be the work of Divine Power and thus was called the "Divine Break Mountain Range."

Cloud Crown Mountain was located at the eastern end of the Divine Break Mountain Range, and the concentration of Natural Primordial Force here reached roughly twice the continent’s average—an incredibly abundant region.

Rumor had it there was also a large Source Stone Mine, but because the tribe was so closed-off, no Source Stones ever left the Beautiful Ji Bug Tribe, so the rumor could not be confirmed.

Just like most of the continent’s top Insect Tribes, Cloud Crown Mountain scheduled roving merchant trading for the harvest season of autumn each year.

The weather was dreary with endless drizzle.

At the mountain pass leading into the range.

On the broad, straight avenue of the forest sea on the plains.

One after another, caravans from the five great Flame Spider Tribes—Lilacs, Illusory Color, Grape Hydrangea, Diaphus, and White-Legged—lined up and waited.

The numbers couldn’t compare with Hidden Wing Mountain, but almost every caravan here was a top-tier, major caravan led by a Spider King.

Lupine, Grass Dragon, and Silvergrass grew timid looking at the impressive display before them and glancing up at the Dragonfly Warriors circling overhead, hearts full of retreat.

White Ivy and Red Peach, on the other hand, didn’t care in the slightest—hopping and skipping at the front, pausing now and then as if conducting an inspection, sizing up the caravans parked along the road.

"Eh!"

"Isn’t that...?"

White Ivy stopped in front of a Diaphus Flame Spider Caravan, peered carefully, and then scampered toward the Spider King at the head of the group.

"Revolve Spider King?!"

"...That’s me."

Revolve Spider King glanced her way, a bit baffled: Who are you?

Where did this Little Spider come from?

And even brought along a Little Golden Mantis?

Revolve Spider King looked back, quickly understanding.

Yet another bunch of foolish Little Flame Spiders dreaming of sneaking into Cloud Crown Mountain.

But,

Where are your goods?

You all just ran over here with empty carapaces?

"Revolve Spider King, when does the trading start?"

"Two days? Three days? The weather’s bad, might be delayed a day or two."

"Ohhh—"

White Ivy blinked, then warmly suggested, "Revolve Spider King, let’s go together."

Revolve Spider King: "..."

The Lord-Level Flame Spider behind Revolve Spider King couldn’t stand it any longer, asking, "Which line of spiders are you with? What are you doing here at Cloud Crown Mountain?"

White Ivy: "Spider King Spurge’s line. I’m White Ivy."

White Ivy?

That name sounds familiar!

"Origin Force Honey?"

"That’s right."

"So where’s your honey?"

"Sold out."

"Then why have you come here..."

"Seeking a trade."

"Oh..."

The Lord-Level Diaphus Flame Spider Roving Merchant fell silent.

Revolve Spider King grew impatient, waving his pincer limbs to shoo them off: "Every Flame Spider Warrior caravan entering Cloud Crown Mountain is registered. We can’t help you."

We didn’t ask you for help, did we?

Who needs your help?

"Let’s go!"

White Ivy led the way, jogging, directly bypassing the long queue of waiting roving caravans and heading to the mountain pass checkpoint.

Three Lord-Level Beautiful Ji Bug Warriors, leading ten Mountain Lord Level Beautiful Ji Bug Warriors, stood in a strict formation, all acting as if a plague of insects was approaching—on high alert.

Seeing White Ivy and crew approaching, one Lord-Level Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior stepped up to block their way in the center of the road.

"Hello."

White Ivy politely introduced herself: "We are the White Ivy Trade Caravan. I am White Ivy, a roving merchant from the Diaphus Flame Spider Tribe, specializing in high-grade Origin Force Honey and Bee King Honey."

Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior: "..."

The Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior scrutinized White Ivy, his gaze sweeping past her to eye those behind.

One old, Mountain Lord Level Flame Spider with two young Mountain Lord Level Flame Spiders, one High-Level Flame Spider... and a Gorgeous Gold Mantis tagging along?

Empty carapaces all around—for all the world, they looked like a bunch of bankrupt, down-and-out roving merchants banded together.

"Origin Force Honey?"

The Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior questioned.

White Ivy: "And Bee King Honey."

White Ivy added with pride, "All Origin Force Honey and Bee King Honey circulating on the continent today is sold through our caravan."

"Ohhh—"

The Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior failed to give White Ivy the enthusiastic reaction she expected, responding coldly and showing no sign of letting them pass.

White Ivy: "May I ask your name?"

"...Spiny Mulberry."

The Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior replied, not particularly willing.

"Lord Spiny Mulberry!"

White Ivy unfastened her Spider Silk Rope, took down a medium-sized Spider Silk Bag, and offered it forward: "This is our caravan’s most popular Azure Bee King Honey. A single fruit from an Outworld civilization, not found in the Natural God System, unique in all the world, produced by a Superior Divine-Given Seed, possessing an unrivaled sweet fragrance!"

"..."

Lord Spiny Mulberry didn’t so much as twitch, making no move to accept it.

"Superior Grade!"

White Ivy emphasized.

Lord Spiny Mulberry was unmoved.

White Ivy withdrew the Spider Silk Bag, pulled out a Metal Can, unscrewed the lid to display it.

A whole large can—price: 10,000 Source Stones!

Lord Spiny Mulberry: "If every roving merchant who came by handed me a little benefit and got a free pass, Cloud Crown Mountain would descend into chaos. The tribe trusts me, giving me the weighty duty of guarding the mountain gate. If I accepted gifts and let others pass at will, wouldn’t I betray the tribe’s trust? How would I maintain my standing in the future?"

As Lord Spiny Mulberry spoke, his mental power turned stern.

"...Principled!"

White Ivy withdrew the Azure Bee King Honey with visible disappointment, lowering her mental power, and said, "We’re not asking you to let us through. Please just help report to the Lord or Insect King in charge of trade at Cloud Crown Mountain. I have major business to discuss with you all."

"White Ivy—Mountain Lord!"

Lord Spiny Mulberry emphasized the title "Mountain Lord," pointing back at the long line—four or five hundred meters—of Flame Spider Caravans: "Which of the caravans here isn’t here for big business?"

White Ivy: "...Fair point... But..."

White Ivy pointed with her claw toward a distant grove: "It’s inconvenient to talk here. Let’s go over there."

Spiny Mulberry spoke solemnly: "That area is Cloud Crown Mountain’s Stone Spot Forest Sea. No outsiders allowed."

"..."

White Ivy gave up trying to argue, doing her best to keep her tone light and friendly: "I’ll come back later, then."

She turned, waving a foreleg to lead her group away.

There were plenty of roving merchants from the Diaphus Flame Spider Tribe in the lines behind.

Many spiders recognized "White Ivy, the honey merchant."

White Ivy didn’t want to get tangled up with these caravans. After walking a distance, she veered off into the roadside woods, taking a detour until they reached a hill two or three kilometers away.

Standing atop the hill, she gazed into the distance.

"My most respected White Ivy Mountain Lord..."

Lupine called out cautiously.

White Ivy: "Rest here. Wait two or three days. When all the caravans have entered, we’ll head over."

Grass Dragon: "The gatekeepers are professional warriors, trained in strict combat disciplines since childhood—stubborn to the core, utterly inflexible."

Lupine: "I’ve long heard from spiders it’s impossible to get into Cloud Crown Mountain!"

Red Peach: "Isn’t that even better? The harder it is to get in, the bigger the rewards once you do."

Not necessarily!

Silvergrass said, "They’re all big caravans—if we do squeeze in, our cut will be tiny."

Lupine agreed, "Yeah. Our caravan’s overall evolution level is far too low."

Silvergrass added, "Even the Beautiful Ji Bug Warriors guarding the gate won’t give us the time of day."

"Quiet! Quiet!"

White Ivy withdrew her gaze, declaring, "Divine Grade trades are the biggest slice! Anything below Divine Grade is just petty dealing."

"That’s enough discussion. Rest here!"

White Ivy spat out a Life Seed, planting it in the ground.

Red Peach slipped into the forest to forage.

...

The rain cleared.

Three days later, at dawn.

On the straight road across the plains, the caravans began to move forward slowly.

Each caravan leader carried a pass crafted from the remains of Divine-Given Seeds, issued by Cloud Crown Mountain.

The front of the plaque was engraved with the Cloud Crown Divine Wood of Cloud Crown Mountain.

The north face held the caravan’s info—leader, members, etc.

The gatekeeping warriors had to inspect each in turn before allowing them through.

The process was so inefficient,

that by late morning, all the caravans had entered Cloud Crown Mountain.

"Let’s go!"

White Ivy, watching from the hill until the moment was right, led her team down, jogging once more to the checkpoint.

Lord Spiny Mulberry immediately stepped out to block the road.

"You again!"

"I want to speak with the Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior in charge of trade affairs at Cloud Crown Mountain."

White Ivy realized that keeping things low-key wouldn’t work and, switching tactics, tried a high-and-mighty approach.

Lord Spiny Mulberry: "I’m just a minor gatekeeping lord, not qualified to meet the warrior in charge of trade affairs."

This Beautiful Ji Bug Warrior was stubborn as an ox, but sharp as a tack.

White Ivy, helpless, lifted a foreleg and pointed at the distant straightway: "Let’s go talk over there."

Lord Spiny Mulberry: "Just to be clear again, as the warrior tasked with guarding the main gate, I will absolutely never accept a bribe."

White Ivy: "Does Cloud Crown Mountain have any contact with Purple Back Mountain?"

Spiny Mulberry: "I personally have no dealings with Purple Back Mountain."

White Ivy took a step forward, coming closer, lowering her mental power: "Have you heard the talk that certain Banded Assassin Bug Warriors from Purple Back Mountain gained a soul system ability highly compatible with their talent by eating a Divine-Grade Fruit?"

Spiny Mulberry backed up two steps, distancing himself, and declared firmly, "Never heard of it."

White Ivy: "Then go ask around."

Spiny Mulberry: "Why should I ask around?"

White Ivy: "Because, that very Divine-Grade Fruit granting soul system ability is what I’m selling."

Spiny Mulberry: "Ohhh—"

Spiny Mulberry: "Show it. If it’s real, I just might help you report it."

White Ivy: "The fruit was harvested this year. It can be collected at spring trading next year. I can deliver it next autumn."

Spiny Mulberry: "Then bring it by next autumn and we’ll see."

White Ivy: "But we’re in a hurry."

Spiny Mulberry: "What’s the rush? You really think a Divine-Grade Fruit won’t sell?"

What kind of bug is this?

White Ivy did her best to suppress her anger: "This particular Divine-Grade Fruit is extremely important for Cloud Crown Mountain. Report it, help broker the deal, and you’ll definitely get something out of it."

Spiny Mulberry was clear and forceful: "First, I need to see the actual item to judge how important it is; second, if I do my duty well guarding the pass, the tribe will provide me with ample resources for my evolution and growth—I don’t need any other benefits."

White Ivy: "..."

White Ivy: "Impressive! Of all the Insect Clan Warriors across the continent, the ones I admire most are those as upright and incorruptible as you."

White Ivy: "All right then, it’s settled. Next year I’ll bring the Divine-Grade Fruit, and next year you’ll report it. See you next year!"