Chapter 308: A Delicate Trade and the Secrets of the Territory

Plants sensitive to Devastation Element are those which lack resistance against it. Exposed to an atmosphere containing the Devastation Element, their Devastation content rises quickly, turning them into Red Lantern or Devastation-evolved varieties.

After the great evolution of life on Blue Star, even vegetables like carrots, cabbage and lilies became Devastation-sensitive species, willingly disappearing from the human dining table.

What Xia Qing wanted to find was a successfully evolved, non-sensitive carrot variety. “I was hoping some Lords might discover a non-sensitive, evolved carrot within their territory.”

Assistant Xiao Liu was an exceptional customer service rep, her voice warm and reassuring, putting people at ease. “I hope to find such an evolved carrot too, Miss Xia. But reality keeps letting us down. The reason our territory spent so many Credits building the lab was to breed carrots that could grow in a normal atmospheric environment.”

When Xia Qing didn’t respond, Xiao Liu offered a direct trade. “Miss Xia, according to our stats the Green Lantern egg hatching rate is 70%. The survival rate for the chicks is about the same, so you basically need two eggs for every chick that makes it. How about we trade two eggs for a pound of carrots?”

Xia Qing had her Yi Stone, which could create a Devastation-free environment perfect for growing sensitive carrots. But she didn’t have enough Yi Stone to use it so freely.

“Assistant Liu, what I want is a carrot variety that can grow directly in my territory. Your carrots can’t meet that need.”

Xiao Liu kept it polite. “Miss Xia, if it was a carrot you could plant straight in your territory, the price wouldn’t be this low.”

Xia Qing’s reply was just as courteous. “I understand. But at five hundred Credits per pound, trading carrots that are only good for eating as veggies is still far too costly for me. Sorry.”

Sensing the deal falling through, Xiao Liu switched tactics. “Could we buy two Green Lantern eggs directly with Credits, say, at 750 Credits per egg?”

Having just refused Tang Huai, Xia Qing wasn’t about to strike a deal with Territory Nine either. “Sorry, I only want to trade Green Lantern, Yellow Lantern, and Green Lantern carrot seeds—and I need to check the quality of the Green Lantern and Yellow Lantern myself.”

Xia Qing had no intention of swapping for a bunch of Iron Soybeans that wouldn’t steam soft, boil tender, pound flat, or even stir-fry.

Seeing Xia Qing’s resolve, Xiao Liu finally put the right cards on the table. “Our Green Lantern soybeans won’t be ready for another half month. At 20 Credits per Green Lantern seed, would you accept 70 Green Lantern soybeans in exchange for two eggs?”

Not everyone was as generous as Idol Zhang San, who’d swap top-quality seeds by the pound. Green Lantern seeds really did go for that price, so Xia Qing agreed. “In half a month, I should have over a dozen eggs. Could I trade a few more for extra Green Lantern soybeans?”

“I’ll have to check. Please wait a moment, Miss Xia.”

While Xiao Liu wondered who to consult, the entire Lords’ chat channel went silent—everyone was waiting to see how the trade would turn out.

Three minutes later, Xiao Liu finally replied. “Green Lantern seeds don’t germinate well and we do lose some to Devastation Rain. I get why you’d want more, Miss Xia, but our seeds are limited—we can only offer you up to 350.”

Three hundred and fifty was already way more than Xia Qing had hoped for, so she thanked them wholeheartedly.

No sooner had the deal been settled, and before Xia Qing could even get up, she got a call from Zhang San. “Xia Qing, the day before the trade I’ll give you ten eggs. You use those to swap for seeds with Territory Nine.”

Xia Qing felt her heart sink. “Third Brother, is there something wrong with the eggs my hens lay?”

After her chickens started laying, Xia Qing used her home Yi Element Tester. The Yi Element content was just two parts in ten thousand—she hadn’t spotted any problem.

Zhang San answered lazily, “The chickens you raise are healthier. Your eggs have four beneficial trace elements at higher levels than mine, and they taste better too.”

If Xia Qing’s eggs were superior to Zhang San’s, there could only be one reason: the Pure Spring Water at her place. Looks like until the secret of her spring water got out, she couldn’t openly trade anything raised with it—crops, livestock, or even anything born from them.

Since Zhang San didn’t ask why her eggs were so good, Xia Qing simply thanked her Idol for her generosity. “Thanks, Third Brother.”

Zhang San, in a good mood, offered another suggestion. “Just in case, from now on, whenever you trade eggs, use ones I gave you.”

“Got it. Thanks again, Third Brother.” This way, Idol got tastier eggs to eat, and Xia Qing got to keep her lead on animal quality over other territories—a win-win. After the egg talk, Xia Qing brought up cameras. “Third Brother, could you spare me another camera? Four just aren’t enough.”

Right now, Xia Qing had four cameras set up—one on the High Slope Toon Tree, two at either end of the farmlands south of the Reservoir, and one back home.

After Da Ya left, Xia Qing used her phone to check the feeds. Turns out, the Toon Tree cam was too far north to cover all of the Lower Slope Greenhouse. If she shifted it south to the High Slope greenhouse, she’d lose the view of Green Lantern Orchard and the Northern Barrier.

So Xia Qing wanted to trade with Zhang San for another camera, to be installed on the edge of the Lower Slope Greenhouse. That greenhouse held her Pure Spring, the most important asset in her territory, and needed extra protection.

With his territory already under monitoring and a dedicated guard, Zhang San wasn’t too concerned about the extra cameras. He agreed right away. “Sure, I’ll have Ji Li bring it over later.”

“Thanks, Third Brother.” Call ended, Xia Qing turned—and caught herself nearly drooling at Old Goat sprawled nearby. Having grown up on spring water, Old Goat was guaranteed to taste way better than your average Green Lantern sheep…

Sensing Xia Qing’s hungry stare, Old Goat shot up with a squint, ready to throw down again.

After testing and confirming her shoulder muscles felt better since their last wrestling match, Xia Qing wasn’t in the mood to keep fighting. She stood up to head home, but then heard something from the High Slope to the north. She pulled out her phone and activated the High Slope camera.

The High Slope camera was mounted five meters up on the Green Lantern Toon Tree, 250 meters south of the Northern Barrier. With perfect camouflage in its hidden spot, a non-evolved observer would never spot it from the barrier without a telescope and a lot of patience.

Spinning the camera with her phone, Xia Qing quickly caught sight of Tang Huai, hands jammed in his pockets as he stood atop the barrier, kicking the tree over and over.

Looks like Tang Huai really did have something for her.