The island was dotted with hills and lakes, shaded by lush trees, and dominated by porous caverns, with flat ground being quite rare. Though the scenery was pleasant, it was hardly suitable for human agriculture and labor.
Zhu Erniang focused her inspection on several rifts. To human eyes, these were rugged, barren wastelands offering nothing beyond solid rock and ocean winds—places where an ordinary mortal could plunge to their death with a single misstep. Yet Zhu Erniang gave them a genuine verdict of "very good."
These subterranean cavities were interconnected, damp, and dark, yet far better ventilated than the Demon Nest, making them ideal for propagating mycelial mats and breeding aphid cattle.
There was freshwater on the island, as well as the clay that burrow spiders required.
The more intricate and varied the terrain, the broader the range in which burrow spiders could thrive. Mortals might only view Pansi Island as a flat expanse, but to an arachnid swarm born to climb, this was a three-dimensional kingdom spanning multiple levels from top to bottom!
This place was far larger than Zhu Erniang's territory in the Demon Nest Swamp, superior even to the eastern gorges of the Mou Kingdom, and the two sisters would have the entire island to themselves.
They quickly settled on a valley at the island's southern end. Shrouded by dense jungle, the deep sinkhole here was impossible to discover without stepping right inside. A freshwater stream flowed to the north, while to the south lay an eddying cove about two zhang deep. The seawater grew tranquil upon entering the cove, naturally gathering shoals of fish and providing an ideal fishing ground for the burrow spiders.
The two spider demon sisters made a swift patrol, wandering back and forth through the various fissures and cavities, before speaking in unison:
"This is the place."
Zhu Daniang, being straightforward by nature, joyfully told Zhu Erniang, "Sister, we have a home now."
This place appeared thoroughly fit for long-term habitation. From now on, no one would succeed in driving them out.
Zhu Erniang pointed at the largest rift. "In you go!"
The spider molts filed inside one after another. Further inward lay a colossal, water-carved karst cavern capable of easily accommodating even the largest immortal molt.
"This place is truly splendid." Zhu Erniang did not hold back her satisfaction. "What other conditions do you have?"
Able to communicate with Zhu Daniang in real time, she had already heard all about the Yangshan Archipelago from her elder sister. Naturally, the lad would not insist on giving her an island for no reason; the two parties had already settled on several terms.
Finally, down to business. He had known all along that there was no need to beat around the bush with a pragmatic great demon like Zhu Erniang.
He Lingchuan straightened his expression. "Aside from our previously agreed exclusive agency for spider demon merchandise, I have an urgent matter at hand for which I need your help, Erniang."
"Mm, speak." As a tenant now, Zhu Erniang was naturally inclined to show a touch of politeness to her landlord.
He Lingchuan briefly explained the severe labor shortage for the palm harvest season before saying, "This autumn harvest is of vital importance. Please help me, Erniang!"
"Done," Zhu Erniang agreed readily. "Just like the other agreements, payment will be in profound crystals."
Monsters living in the wilderness had no use for silver. She had already settled with He Lingchuan beforehand that he would act as the agent for the spider nest's goods, but the final settlement would be paid out to her in profound crystals.
In the past, when she traded with humans in the Demon Nest Swamp, it had been barter; here, however, she only wanted profound crystals.
He Lingchuan was overjoyed. "As expected of Erniang, decisive!"
This was effectively hiring the burrow spiders.
The others found it bizarre. How could this giant spider possibly solve a labor shortage?
Yet no sooner had the thought crossed their minds than a rustling whisper reached everyone's ears from within the rift, resembling wind blowing through fallen leaves.
But how could there be fallen leaves inside a karst cavern?
Then, dense swarms of burrow spiders emerged from the rift.
The largest were as big as galloping horses, while the smallest were not even the size of a human palm.
The scene resembled an erupting fountain, the very color of the bedrock swallowed up by the black-and-white patterned spiders.
A fountain made of spiders!
Confronted by such a spectacle, everyone except Dong Rui and He Lingchuan could not resist retreating two steps, a chill gripping their hearts.
So many burrow spiders!
It turned out Young Master He had not recruited just two of them, but an entire massive nest numbering in the thousands and tens of thousands!
A faint white mist also drifted from the rift, refusing to disperse in the wind and growing steadily denser.
A single glance told He Lingchuan and Dong Rui that the mirage demon had come as well!
It had accompanied Zhu Erniang upon leaving the Demon Nest Swamp, and had followed her all the way here.
The two exchanged a glance, neither speaking a word.
The fewer people who knew the secret of the mirage demon, the better.
Ignoring the humans entirely, the spiders bypassed the crowd and pressed on. Some set about cutting branches and foliage, some sprayed webbing, and others carried debris out from the rift in their jaws to discard it.
The moment they arrived, the thorough cleaning of their new nest began. Their division of labor was remarkably precise and their coordination seamless, not falling short of worker ants in the slightest.
Watching this, the onlookers came to an understanding, roughly guessing what the spiders were capable of. Sure enough, He Lingchuan rubbed his hands together and said, "Then I leave the palm harvesting on Longji Island and the other three islands to you, Erniang."
These six islands were all uninhabited areas once covered in yin fiend energy; the hired hands had adamantly refused to step foot on them.
Dong Rui screamed in his heart at the sheer shamelessness of it. They were only developing fourteen islands in total, yet this rogue was handing nearly thirty percent of them to the burrow spiders—especially Longji Island, which was ridiculously massive.
Reading his expression, He Lingchuan rolled his eyes.
What of it? The exclusive agency agreement he had signed with Zhu Erniang was effectively a consignment deal: he would only pay—or rather, disburse profound crystals—after selling her goods.
This saved him from tying up his own capital or getting stuck with surplus inventory.
He had no choice—he was broke! He had to pinch pennies in every way possible and take every advantage he could get.
Zhu Erniang, on the other hand, had no objections. She had no need to consider inventory, much less cash flow.
As long as He Lingchuan ultimately paid in profound crystals, it was fine. The lad's credit was actually quite dependable, slightly better than that of other humans.
The burrow spiders' ability to scale mountains and harvest fruit far outstripped that of humans. For palm trees one or two zhang tall, the larger spider demons would not even need to climb; they could simply shoot a strand of silk upward, stick to the fruit clusters, give them a shake, and tear down the branches heavy with ripe fruit.
However, the burrow spiders could only harvest; they had no way to press the fruit.
Aside from weaving cloth, the burrow spiders were incapable of overly delicate tasks.
"Have your subordinates prepare the boats."
He Lingchuan clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "Many thanks, Erniang! Shall we start this evening?" Harvesting across the Yangshan Archipelago was already proceeding in full swing, and not a single day could be wasted.
This prehistoric great demon possessed over ten thousand spider offspring. Once put to work, they would greatly relieve the manpower deficit. The labor she freed up for He Lingchuan could then be reassigned to other tasks.
Zhu Erniang huffed. She had barely just moved in, and this He boy was already champing at the bit. What outrageous nerve!
Yet she could not be bothered to complain. Together with her elder sister, she burrowed into the rift to arrange their new home.
He Lingchuan turned around, energized, and said to the crowd, "Let's head back as well!"
***
Two days later, Min Tianxi—formerly the Second Channel pirate chieftain, now the Second Channel captain—requested an audience with He Lingchuan, claiming he brought good news.
Chapter 928