??Dieng Canyon!


    In a canyon that spanned a kilometre in width ran a stream of water, four hundred metres wide and reaching a depth of two hundred metres. This stream of water trickled down from a massive mountain situated along one of the borders of the Deng Canyon.


    Reaching a height of 18 kilometres, it was a fat mountain as its peak alone resembled a circle that had a radius of 22 kilometres. At the peak of this mountainid ake, bubbling with Phells that had arrived from the Ravaged Federation.


    However, there was nothing for the Phells to target, for this peak was barren. Trees were resembling Decodus Trees stood at the peak, sporting needle-shaped leaves. And unlike Decodus Trees that store water in them, these trees were no different from a trap.


    The roots stretched long and wide, barging into the water source at the peak, theke. Upon absorbing water from theke, the trees leaked out the water through the tips of their needle-shaped leaves, causing water to trickle down the sides of the mountain.


    These individual streams merged into a brook due to they of the terrain and cascaded down the mountain, eventually entering the Dieng Canyon.


    As there was no direct connection between the brook and theke, the Phells were unable to leave the confines of theke. As theke became crowded by the Phells, a group of Zingers arrived at its peak, having been on a long journey.


    Followed by a shriek, they dumped arge amount of Prana Bombs into theke, knocking the Phells unconscious as the Prana Bombs absorbed their Prana from various locations. Some of the Phells exploded upon piercing the Prana Bombs with their needle-like noses, resulting in sshes of water.


    But the Zingers watched from afar, not daring to get close. All they did was continue to throw Prana Bombs into theke until they filled the surface.


    Kirek!


    A Zinger approached 180 metres from theke and spread its Prana around, soon detecting the Prana Bombs it had created. Like a Spirit Weapon, it lifted the respective Prana Bombs through psychokinesis and piled them into a cluster, cackling in joy to see they were all filled with Prana.


    It cracked open a Prana Bomb and consumed its contents, replenishing its Prana, following which it carried the cluster of Prana Bombs with its legs, unfurled its wings and jumped from the side of the mountain, gliding its way to the Dieng Canyon.


    As the mountain remained in proximity to the Dieng Canyon, the Zingers swarmed the ce, for it was pretty safe and efficient to farm for Prana from theke.


    Kiek! Kriek!


    Suddenly, the horde of Zingers at the peak moved away in shock, watching the water on theke swirl around, following which humanoid entities exited. Their bodies of water were strange, rming the Zingers.


    However, just as the Zingers intended to attack the increasing water figures, one of thetter emitted its presence, calming them down.


    Quip n!


    Feeling the presence of the Quip n, the Zingers let go of their sense of rm and were instead excited. Upon sensing the tiny Biome Bombs hanging onto the hips of these water figures, they prostrated on the ground.


    The presence emanating from the Biome Bombs was none other than their Deity''s, the Royal Zinger''s.


    Kriek!


    One of the water figures unleashed a Zinger Shriek, informing all the Zingers of their purpose of visit. It threw a Biome Bomb onto an open space, watching it revert to its original size and reveal an entrance.


    The Zingers swarmed towards the entrance, staring inside to see it packed to the brim with Life Bombs.


    Shriek! Kruakk!


    Finally, the Zingers could replenish their thinning numbers. Immediately in response, Zingers from various colonies came forward, expressing interest in carrying the Life Bombs.


    The water figure selected one of the Zingers and gave it a Biome Bomb. In their miniature form, the Biome Bombs were easy to carry. Other than the one used to disy the Life Bombs, all the other Biome Bombs were in their miniature forms.


    Through a Zinger Shriek, the water figure informed the Zinger of the various colonies it needed to share the Life Bombs with. They were all colonies living close by to its colony.


    [Once you''ve distributed them all, fill the Biome Bomb with Prana Bombs and bring it back.]


    The water figure gave out its orders. The Zinger Queens only gave Life Bombs to colonies in proportion to the number of Prana Bombs they were given. That was the tradition of the Zinger race.


    The water figures were following the same. Only the first batch of Life Bombs was for free, as their numbers hadn''t been replenished in a decade. Following that, these Biome Bombs will serve as transportation trucks for the Prana Bombs that would be taken to the Ravaged Federation.


    The water figures will stay at the peak of the mountain. When they collect enough Biome Bombs filled with Prana Bombs, they would make a trip to a river two hundred kilometres away through a water channel, at the end of which was a small sinkhole leading to the Ravaged Federation.


    Travelling through water was easy for the water figures and the most energy efficient too. They could also camouge with the environment and avoid danger, making transportation feasible. Once they return to the Ravaged Federation through a downward stream, In will make use of them.


    The excess Prana Bombs will be transported through the upward stream heading to the Dralh Sea, using which they''ll transact with the Brimgan Empire.


    Instead of increasing the load on the Biome Lattice, In could take full advantage of the Dieng Canyon. As the region with the most traffic, the Zingers had more than enough avenues to amass an excess amount of Prana Bombs.


    In response to the Life Bombs they would be receiving, they''ll collect Prana Bombs for In''s sake. This way, even by keeping the three Zinger Queens and three Empyrean Zinger Queens safe in his custody, he could maintain the function of the Dieng Canyon.


    There were multiple entry and exit points connecting the Ravaged Federation to the Dieng Canyon. Gradually, water figures began to appear in all the locations, creating a chain of trade between the Quip n and the Zingers. This was why In didn''t bother staying at the Dieng Canyon and instead made his way to the Ravaged Federation. Though it would take time to make a setup, once things get going, he''d be able to control the Dieng Canyon from safety.


    Besides, he could do that while taking advantage of a Major Treasure.


    The round trip from the Ravaged Federation to the mountain and then back to the Ravaged Federation took barely a month. It was because they could ride with the stream currents for both trips.


    So, they didn''t have to use any effort to make the journey and instead could do it passively. However, there was only an upward stream leading to the Dralh Sea.


    There was no downward stream heading into the Ravaged Federation in the region that was direct. Minuscule streams were meandering across the ce before they eventually joined a faraway downward stream.


    Getting to the respective location was dangerous, for at least four races with multiple Gold Grade Pranic Beasts lived there.


    The water figures would be clobbered in a matter of seconds if they were to set foot in the region. In would have to personally make the trip to gain entry. However, he didn''t have the time to do so, hence, the one at the Dralh Sea would have to make do.


    Currently travelling against the current in the upward stream was a massive submarine, one reaching a kilometre in length. Seated within were two hundred Mystic Humans, guarding arge cargo.


    Parute Fruits, medicines, Elixirs, minerals, etc. a variety of resources were being transported through the submarine. Leading the group was none other than Vir, for only he could make the journey fast enough and also had the necessary Prana reserves to do so.


    However, unlike the previous time, the body of Vir leading the submarine was the newly built one. He intended to take advantage of Prana from the Biome Lattice to generate influence from his Minor Treasure of Mystic Human Stamp.


    He could generate influence at its strongest state without having to take breaks for recovery, allowing him to strengthen himself at a faster pace.


    ''I can do this on my own.'' Vir thought as he observed the Phells unable to get close to the submarine, ced at bay by the force of psychokinesis the submarine released on them. ''My skill level has improved.''


    The submarine sped through the water stream, having not been bombarded by the Phells much. Even when the Phells exploded, the damage sustained by the Tratham submarine was inconsequential.


    And the more he journeyed in this manner, the greater his experience umted. ''This is a good training session.''


    It was why he took charge of the trip and nned to do so in the future even after his Mystic Humans grew strong enough to make the trip on their own.


    ''Setting up the trade agreement with the Brimgan Empire took longer than I expected, but it''s still better than nothing.'' Vir thought as the submarine arrived at the Ravaged Federation, seven months after their previous visit.


    ''What is this?'' He frowned upon observing the Biome Bomb positioned on the water surface, forming a ring around the stream of water entering the ocean. An artificial tform had been constructed around the Biome Bomb ring, sporting segment lines all across it.


    ''A puzzle tform?'' Vir thought upon observing the ce. The entire tform was formed by pieces joined together. When necessary, it wouldn''t take long to break the tform into their individual pieces and stash them somewhere else in safety.


    "My Deity!" Nez expressed his confusion upon noticing the puzzle structure of the tform, "Is this ce not under the Quip n''s rule?"


    "Obviously not. The Ravaged Federation is too huge for one person to take control of in such a short time." Vir shook his head, "This tform has been constructed just to receive us. Keep your wits sharpened. If there''s any way we can further take advantage of the Quip n, don''t hesitate to do so."


    "We''re merely trading with each other as it''s beneficial to do so. They''re not our allies."


    "I understand." Nez nodded and watched strings of Prana jut out of the Biome Bomb ring and create a tform to hold the Tratham submarine. Following that, it pulled the submarine onto the tform, away from the ascending stream of water.


    ''I remember this woman.'' Vir thought as he stared at Zhya who hade to greet the Mystic Humans. The submarine''s entrance opened and Vir was the first to step out, cupping his fists in her direction, "I believe this is the first time we''ve met each other."


    "I''m Vir."


    "The pleasure''s mine," Zhya responded in kind, "The pleasure''s ours."


    She then pointed at the house constructed towards the outer edge of the tform, "Please follow me. We''ve made refreshments for your consumption."


    "Where''s In?" Vir asked as he looked around, silently observing the trail of Biome Bombs stretching below the tform, ''Do they head all the way to the ocean bed? Just how much Prana is he amassing that he''s able to expend it like water?''


    "He''s immersed in research, so I apologise for the inconvenience." Zhya said with a smile, "However, I''m the Quip n''s leader, not In. So, it''s only right that Ie to greet you."


    "You''re the leader?" Vir was shocked by the information, taking a second nce at Zhya, ''Her presence seemscking to be the Quip n''s leader. Is there a reason In appointed her as one?''


    ''Yeah, unnecessary thinking is not my thing. Let''s just be direct about it.'' Vir thought and crossed his hands, "I feel that hard toprehend."


    Saying so, he pointed towards the house they were walking towards, "The presence I''m sensing from there is many times stronger than yours. So, howe you''re the Quip n''s leader?"


    "Is there any rule saying that the leader must be the strongest?" Zhya''s lips curled as she stared at Vir, "Is that hard toprehend despite where you hail from?"


    "You were…elected as the leader?" It wasmon sense on Earth, but felt unreal on Sumatra, so much so that Vir found it hard to believe.


    "No," Zhya chuckled as she shook her head, "I was just joking."


    "Only the most capable among us can be our leader." The doors to the house opened as the source of the powerful presence Vir felt walked out. It was Kenzar, the Zinger Guard, stationed close by to protect Zhya.


    Followed by a short bow in respect towards her, Kenzar stared at Vir, "Isn''t that obvious when managing a n?"