Ant Lord in the Star Realm

Dragon Cypress: "Have the Flame Spider Caravan slowly sell them at 3,000 Primordial Crystals per piece again?"

Kansui: "That’s right. Delaying their normal trade for a hundred years, this counts as compensation."

"Oh—"

Dragon Cypress had a bit of an idea: White Ivy is a Level Two Chamber of Commerce, she’s already out of loan quota!

So does that mean I can...

Dragon Cypress jolted awake, suddenly understanding this old sly merchant’s intent.

"Chairman Kansui, then should I... take a loan right now?"

"How much?"

"A small three hundred million?"

"An ant with a big heart, greedy, yet cowardly."

"The Xianglan Chamber of Commerce still has 700 million loan quota?"

"That’s right."

"Then I’ll decide based on the situation when the time comes! See you!"

...

Back to Xianglan Mountain.

He woke up all the insects.

Dragon Cypress shared the good news with everyone.

For the next 59 years, they wouldn’t rush to buy Primordial Crystals. They’d save money, pool funds, and then go to Chairman Kansui together to purchase.

They once again came beneath the Night Fragrance God-Given Seed tree.

They tried using another Primordial Crystal.

After half a day,

Night Fragrance had an evaluation result:

"Dragon Cypress, one every three days is suitable. Compared to Primordial Gemstones, the quality is a bit worse, and the effect is also a notch weaker..."

Night Fragrance pondered, then said, "If using Primordial Crystals, it will probably take 500 years to complete the comprehension of the remaining half of the Star Marks Realm."

Dragon Cypress did the math in his head and said, "So that means, we’ll need about 60,000 pieces?"

Night Fragrance: "Seems like it."

"Got it."

Dragon Cypress handed 2,000 Primordial Crystals to Azure, and had Azure command the ant colony to give Night Fragrance one piece every three days.

2,000 pieces were enough for Night Fragrance to use for 16 years.

After that, they could take a breather first.

Dragon Cypress arranged the Territory affairs properly and went into hibernation.

...

...

The 59-year term was up.

"Boss Dragon Cypress!"

"Boss Dragon Cypress!"

"That damned Third Level Star Spider is finally leaving!"

"Wake up. Wake up..."

Chairman White Ivy’s rough shout came from beneath the Short-Handled Horn Tree Divine Seed.

Dragon Cypress woke up, steadied his mind, and flashed over beneath the tree.

Rainbow Mulberry was also busy notifying the other Insect Clan Warriors.

They came one after another and gathered under the tree.

"For this kind of matter, it’s not suitable for too many insects to go."

Dragon Cypress spoke, giving orders: "Ink Orchid will come with me. Chairman White Ivy, same for you, just bring Red Peach and Fish Vine."

"The other insects stay and wait for our good news!"

"Alright!"

"Understood!"

The insects responded.

White Ivy personally piloted the Star Spider and set off.

...

[Time: Era 78 - Origin 120 - Year 388 - March]

The Third Level Star Spider had been docked at the Flying Wing Star 1001 Trade Plaza for a full 100 years.

Departure was imminent.

Dragon Cypress and the others boarded the starship for inspection, and indeed, it was empty; all cargo had been cleared out ahead of time. Also, just as the rumors said, not a single insect was heading to develop in the Dawn Star System.

Everyone greeted Kansui and Chairman Giant Taro in brief, asked a couple of short questions, then went to wait on the high platform at the entrance of the Luoli Chamber of Commerce.

It was obvious that all Flame Spiders in the Venus Star System had received notice from Chairman Kansui; they arrived one after another, in small groups, standing on the steps in front of the Chamber of Commerce waiting.

Scattered among them were a few, similar to Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid, Insect Clan Warriors from non–Flame Spider Tribes waiting as well. Clearly, they had also received some "inside information" and planned to cooperate with the Flame Spider Chamber of Commerce, taking loans from the Luoli Chamber of Commerce and then purchasing Primordial Crystals from them at low prices.

...

Six days later,

The Third Level Star Spider retracted its hatch, departed on schedule, and slipped into the Star Network, disappearing.

Dragon Cypress reacted quickly, called out to White Ivy, and they flashed to stand before the thickest square Star Pillar in the Chamber of Commerce hall to wait.

"Line up!"

"Line up!"

"There is ample surplus stock, no need to fight, don’t waste time. Split into two lines, come to me and Giant Taro separately."

"Those needing loans come to me, line up on my side."

"Those who don’t need loans go directly to Chairman Giant Taro."

Chairman Kansui rippled with spiritual power as he called out, striding quickly into the Chamber of Commerce hall.

"Ant King Dragon Cypress, how much are you borrowing?"

"You’ve got enough Primordial Crystals, right?"

"Nonsense."

"Split it into two, separate loans. One loan of 150 million, interest-free for a thousand years, then repaid over 5,000 years, with a 0.02% annual interest. Another loan of 550 million, still the thousand-year interest-free type! After a thousand years I’ll repay it in full."

Kansui: "..."

Kansui: "The first loan is naturally no problem. The second one won’t do! There’s no such way of playing it."

Kansui: "We can do this instead: I can give you 500 years interest-free, you repay the loan over 500 years, with the minimum 0.02% annual interest, meaning you’ll pay 55 million in interest. Do the math, you all still earn 55 million."

The Shanglu Divine Pattern on Dragon Cypress’ forehead flickered as he asked, "By the rules, shouldn’t it be a thousand years interest-free?"

White Ivy chimed in, "Yeah, yeah. That’s the Chamber of Commerce rule!"

Kansui said impatiently, "If it were a Flame Spider, then yes, that rule indeed applies. But unfortunately, the borrower is an ant; there’s no such rule."

Kansui urged, "Enough nonsense, move it. How many years would it take you to earn 55 million from running your Territory carefully? How many years of trade runs to haul in 55 million? You’d run your legs to the bone and still not make that much. You’re getting money for free and still think it’s not enough?"

Dragon Cypress: "Alright then. Many thanks, Chairman Kansui."

They operated quickly and completed the loan.

Over these years,

Dragon Cypress and Ink Orchid had saved 11 million.

The other Insect Clan Warriors had saved about 2.5 million.

With the 700 million loan credited, they sent it all in one go to White Ivy.

The White Ivy Chamber of Commerce had also accumulated capital of over 10 million.

White Ivy then went to Chairman Kansui and in one big breath purchased 290,000 Primordial Crystals.

After checking and confirming everything was correct,

Dragon Cypress, White Ivy and the group happily ran back to the Territory.

After a burst of commotion, they all gathered in the first-floor hall of the Short-Handled Horn Tree to settle the accounts.

They packed 1,000 pieces into a single bag.

290,000 pieces were divided into 290 bags.

They first took out 10 bags, 10,000 pieces, bought with the Primordial Crystals pooled by all the insects.

They distributed them according to each insect’s contribution.

Then they took out 60 bags, 60,000 pieces.

This was what Dragon Cypress bought with the 150 million loan, for Night Fragrance to use.