Chapter 1297 - 781: I'm Just Collecting Rent~_2

North of Xianglan Mountain, at the dirt square, Dragon Cypress was engrossed in diligent practice.

Danger, enemy attack pheromones suddenly spread crazily among the patrolling Ant Army.

On the mountaintop, Rainbow Mulberry, standing guard, was the first to notice something amiss. He flapped his wings, soared into the sky, and used his Scorching Ability to observe.

Giant Cypress and Rainbow Tea also received the alert, and they emerged from the nest one after another, employing Wind System Ability to soar and observe.

"Rainbow Mulberry?"

Giant Cypress inquired.

Rainbow Mulberry stood on a cloud, stretched his neck, while his beak pointed in a direction, "Over there, on the highway, a Big Spider seems to have come for a visit."

"Oh——"

Giant Cypress instantly understood, turned his head, and used spiritual power to call out: "Great King! The Spider from the Melde Chamber of Commerce has come to urge lease payment, right?"

"Oh——"

Dragon Cypress stopped his actions, took a breath, and instructed: "Everyone, stay sharp, let's feign ignorance together. First lock up these exceptionally clever Origin Force Plants: Bicolor Mulberry, Fragrant Orchid, Black Yellow, Junior Orchid, Cold Orchid, Snow Orchid, Elephant Foot King Orchid, Rift Leaf Orchid King."

"Got it!"

"Received!"

"Ant bastard!"

"Ant, how dare you!"

"..."

The crowd of trees clamored, agreeing as numerous Origin Force Barriers shot up sky-high.

Dragon Cypress didn't look back. Inside the Short-Handled Horn Tree, the meditating Artist traversed space, transforming into a mass of white clouds carrying Dragon Cypress airborne, bringing Giant Cypress, Rainbow Mulberry, and Rainbow Tea to the border of the Territory to check things out.

Chairman Pond Silk!

The old Spider even personally came over.

Dragon Cypress accelerated closer, waving his Tentacles to disperse the Ant group congested at the border with Pond Silk.

"Dragon Cypress Ant King!"

"Chairman Pond Silk!"

"Eh~ this is a flying bird Alien Clan Warrior?"

"Yes, Umbrella Bird Warrior Rainbow Mulberry."

"This is my subordinate, Assistant King Giant Cypress, and this is Rainbow Tea..."

Meeting, brief introductions.

Dragon Cypress directly asked: "Chairman Pond Silk, did you come for the lease renewal of the Azure Star System?"

"Indeed——"

Pond Silk switched to a professional tone and explained: "According to the lease agreement signed by both parties, there are still one hundred years until the lease expires. I came a hundred years in advance to ask and confirm whether to renew the lease?"

Pond Silk: "I need a clear answer."

"If the lease isn't renewed, I will list the vacant Origin Points to seek other tenants; if it is renewed, you need to pay the rent a hundred years in advance, or pay part of the deposit."

"Understood!"

"Of course, we'll renew it."

Dragon Cypress raised his claw, bent his head, smoothed out his Tentacles, and, somewhat embarrassed, said: "But Chairman White Ivy is not here..."

"Chairman White Ivy isn't here? Off on an interstellar merchant journey?"

Pond Silk asked casually: "It's fine to confirm the renewal; it's okay to wait two years."

"It's not that—"

Dragon Cypress said: "Chairman White Ivy is traveling in the interstellar, broadening his knowledge, going to distant Star Domains to search for Divine-Grade Fruit that resonates with the Star Core, preparing for a breakthrough to the Planet Realm."

Dragon Cypress said with worry: "Before departure, it was agreed he would return in 2000 years, but now it's already been 2200 years, and we are worried."

"Journeys..."

Pond Silk paused for two seconds.

It's understandable.

Divine-Grade Fruit cannot, like Origin Force Food, be processed into gene concoctions that can be stored long-term. This severely limits transportation and circulation.

Many Insect Clan Warriors, after accumulating enough assets, will make a long journey to those distant Star Domains, even to Dawn, the Lizhu Star System, in search of Divine-Grade Fruit that plays a crucial role in their evolution.

Moreover, the earlier such journeys are undertaken, the better.

Pond Silk couldn't say anything, seeing Dragon Cypress and his party not only worried but also somewhat anxious, he was moved, trying to suggest:

"Dragon Cypress Ant King, isn't the Azure Star System jointly leased and operated by your Xianglan Chamber of Commerce and White Ivy's White Ivy Chamber of Commerce?"

Dragon Cypress answered honestly: "No. It's my Xianglan Chamber of Commerce independently renting and operating, guided by Chairman White Ivy."

"Guidance? What guidance can a spider provide?"

Pond Silk continued to ask: "The leasing funds are ready, right?"

Dragon Cypress replied: "Ready."

Pond Silk asked again: "They're all in your Chamber's account, right?"

Dragon Cypress answered in detail: "My territory's revenue is in the Xianglan Chamber of Commerce account. The Primordial Crystals earned from trade cooperation with Chairman White Ivy are in the White Ivy Chamber of Commerce account."

Pond Silk: "..."

Pond Silk asked: "With White Ivy absent, are there other insects in their Chamber authorized to access funds?"

Dragon Cypress: "Yes."

Pond Silk was relieved upon hearing this, and sincerely advised: "Then the long-range journey of Chairman White Ivy has nothing to do with your lease renewal at the Origin Points! You're an independent Ant King, with your own Chamber of Commerce power; there's no need for you to consult White Ivy for everything. You should learn to make decisions yourself."

Dragon Cypress: "Chairman White Ivy said that during lease renewal, you can bargain and save tens of billions."

"..."

Pond Silk's brain suddenly seized up, hesitated for two seconds, and asked: "So... what do you mean?"

Dragon Cypress: "I'm waiting for Chairman White Ivy to come back and haggle!"

Pond Silk: "..."

Pond Silk paused for another two seconds and asked: "Can't you bargain yourself?"

Dragon Cypress: "I can't. Chairman White Ivy is the professional. He is a Flame Spider, and knows best how to deal with Flame Spiders."

"That's not unreasonable..."

Pond Silk felt troubled and asked: "So what now? Chairman White Ivy isn't here, and the lease term is about to end."

Dragon Cypress: "So I'm also anxious."

"Don't worry. I'll help you think of a way."

Pond Silk pondered, asking: "Dragon Cypress Ant King, aren't you going to invite me to your Territory as a guest?"

The white cloud hovering over Dragon Cypress's head churned, stretched, and touched the ground, transforming into a hundred-meter-long Ice Centipede.

"Chairman Pond Silk, please!"

"Excellent——"

"The water system biomimicry ability of Dragon Cypress Ant King has reached an extraordinary level!"

Pond Silk praised with a sentence, swiftly landing atop.

Dragon Cypress, Giant Cypress, Rainbow Tea followed closely, with Rainbow Mulberry circling low in flight.