"Two Black Thorns chased each other, flickering wildly in the Dead Sea.

Ni Ge's eyes widened: "Self-aware Black Thorns are so powerful."

Zhou Yi didn't see anything, so he asked why.

The Mud Tree People raised a hand and pointed ahead: "You see, although they are flickering, they've remained near us without leaving. It means that the awakened Black Thorns have deliberately sealed the way, preventing the other Black Thorns from escaping."

"After awakening self-awareness, the strength of Black Thorns has increased. Mud Tree People cannot achieve such perfect control."

The two had only exchanged a few words.

Then the outcome was decided.

Or more accurately, both sides ran out of energy and released their Light Core Body state.

Our Black Thorn nailed the target Black Thorn to the ground with its long spikes, subduing it.

Zhou Yi went over and saw that the second Black Thorn was still struggling, but its movements were weak, clearly exhausted.

Ni Ge wrapped the Black Thorn with the vines on his body and placed it on the recycling platform.

Entering the earth platform, the Black Thorn became still as if a switch in its body had been pressed.

Only then did Ni Ge breathe a sigh of relief.

He opened the shell of the Black Thorn and first allowed the vines entwined around his body to enter and explore.

One minute later.

Ni Ge turned around and said, "There's no danger inside, we can go in and take a look."

Zhou Yi followed him into the shell.

Inside, the pedicelled fruit flesh wall still emitted a faint glow.

But at the center of the fruit flesh, something resembling two wing-like white flowers had grown, two of them. Around them were strands of purple whiskers, and below was a long branch with small and delicate leaves.

The upper half of this flower is no different from other flowers we see daily, slightly larger than a human palm.

Below it is a thick and soft tuber root, with dense and long roots, which are firmly rooted in the flesh of the fruit's inner wall.

Zhou Yi enabled [Alert] vision, but he couldn't discern anything.

The Mud Tree Person next to him seemed to have understood something.

"So it's the [Life Extension Flower]."

He introduced to Zhou Yi: "This is a very special companion plant."

"A companion plant is a type of plant partner that Mud Tree People need to choose and symbiotically implant into themselves."

"Some companion plants can fight and explore. The [adventure vine] on me is one of this type."

While saying this, Ni Ge tugged at the vine on his body.

"Some are good at protection or healing. The [Life Extension Flower] is one of these."

The Mud Tree Person pointed at the white flower: "In its youth, it requires the blood of Mud Tree People for nourishment."

"The flower is like its brain, controlling its own growth, and can capture and absorb various energies around it. When it does not need to absorb blood from the companion, it enters maturity."

"Then it becomes useful."

"When the companion's life weakens or the body is sick or even necrotic, the Life Extension Flower will take over part of the biological functions. It can help the companion absorb energy, obtain water from the air, assist breathing, and even produce blood."

"With its presence, the lifespan of the companion can be greatly extended. This is also the companion plant that the Mud Tribe of Shell City can configure, because they need a long time to accumulate experience and technology, their bodies are not as good as ours from the Mud Tribe, they need to be healthy and long-lived to cultivate better plants."

Ni Ge finally concluded: "So it's called the Life Extension Flower."

Zhou Yi was constantly amazed.

The legendary plants that could extend life turned into reality within the Mud Tree Civilization.

He thought for a moment.

This kind of life extension artifact, if taken back to Maria Hospital, the hospital would have an absolute competitive advantage. To save lives, I'm afraid people would be willing to spend any amount of money for a chance at extended life.

Zhou Yi asked, "Can it be transplanted?"

"It can. After entering maturity, its Vitality is very strong. Just don't damage the flower, and it's very docile by nature, after all, it's meant to serve the naturalists in Shell City."

"If you want it, just take it away."

Ni Ge looked at Zhou Yi: "But it's of no use now."

Zhou Yi didn't understand: "Why do you say that?"

"Every Life Extension Flower is a personalized organism. It must first symbiotically coexist with the companion for a long time, gradually adapting to the companion's body, and then slowly transform into corresponding organs."

"In its thick roots, it will grow mirror organs of the companion. This is the key to the Life Extension Flower's life-extending ability."

The Mud Tree Person pointed at the white flower: "Although the shapes are different, the functions are the same. I don't know the specifics because this is something that Shell City excels at."

"I only know that if you want the Life Extension Flower to work, it has to be bound to you from a young age, through long-term mutual integration, to finally develop into a structure that matches the companion. If it's switched to another individual, it's completely useless."

Zhou Yi inwardly thought it was a pity.

It turns out that each person can only use one flower; this thing is not readily usable.

It could only be taken back to Da Vinci for medical research.

He then focused on another issue: "Since the Life Extension Flower is a companion plant, it means that there must be another Mud Tree Person from Shell City here, right? Why haven't we seen them? Where are they?"

"He is here."

Ni Ge said: "It's just that he was eaten by the Life Extension Flower."

"Ah?"

""

Zhou Yi was startled: "Isn't this thing supposed to extend life? How can it eat its companion?"

"It also has its limits."

Ni Ge looked at the white miraculous flower: "The Life Extension Flower can forcibly prolong the lifespan, the only thing it cannot replace is the brain. The Life Extension Flower can't create an exact replica of the brain to substitute for the companion. If the brain is damaged and dies, it can't do anything about it."

"Another scenario is if the companion dies suddenly due to a powerful external force, it can't help either. After all, it's just a plant tool that helps normal Mud Tree People survive a bit longer, allowing those from the Mud Tribe to extend their lifespan by about 1/3 than usual."

"But it can't bring the dead back to life, nor is it a tool for eternal life."

"If the companion dies, it cannot be activated and will eventually choose to absorb and consume it, maintaining its own survival."

The Mud Tree People pointed to the plant: "You see, there should be only one flower originally, because of natural growth, the Life Extension Flower only has one brain. But now there are two, because it consumed its companion, resulting in a secondary development."

Zhou Yi felt a sense of relief in his heart.

As long as it wasn't the type that actively devours its host, it was okay.

The Life Extension Flower and its companion have a symbiotic relationship. If one of them dies accidentally or irrevocably, then this relationship comes to an absolute end.

Ni Ge checked the inside of the fruit shell: "We haven't found any other Mud Tablets or seeds. Normally, the Mud Tribe would carry a significant number of seeds... If there are none, there is only one possibility, that they were consumed by the Life Extension Flower to replenish nutrients."

He then squatted down and prodded at the roots of the flower: "The roots are deep, the flower is tapping into the energy of the Black Thorn's flesh. No wonder this Black Thorn is so strange."

The Mud Tree People's fingers skillfully poked and pulled up each root, eventually pulling out the entire Life Extension Flower, beneath which were deep and dense little holes.

He skillfully wrapped the roots into a bundle, then came out and found a clump of mud to patch over the hole.

"This will be fine, just take it back, plant it in soil, as long as it can get sunlight, it can continue to grow. But now it's somewhat useless, at this stage in our place, it's mainly used as a commemorative tomb."

Under Zhou Yi's gesture, Yuan Xiao took hold of the plant.

Ni Ge said: "I'll give it a test flight, see if there are any other issues."

The new Black Thorn gradually flew up, circling around twice.

The Mud Tree People came down with a relaxed look: "There's some internal damage, but the main body is fine, after some time for repair, it can heal naturally. Black Thorn is quite durable."

"For Mud Tribe Explorers, not having Black Thorn is like a bird without wings, or a plant without mud and light, nothing can be done."

"You help me, I help you."

"I'll join that company you mentioned."

Mr. Zhou extended his left hand and shook hands with the other's exaggeratedly large palm.

"Welcome."

...

After returning to Sand Port, the first thing the Mud Tree People did was plant trees.

"Sky-reaching Tree needs a specific method to plant, especially important in the early stage."

He traveled all the way to the Dead Sea outside Yalong Bay, where he found seeds guarded by samurai crabs.

"This location is not bad, Sky-reaching Trees need to grow in the Dead Sea, they just need to be soaked in energy."

"But it needs special mud."

"The place where I was prospecting earlier, I found the right kind of mud, it's not just any soil that will do. Soil is different from mud, soil is dry and can also be used to grow some plants, but without mud, soil can't function."

Ni Ge described the mud he was talking about.

"Mud is sticky, very viscous, somewhat like resin, raw mud can repel birds and insects. After processing, it becomes a great fertilizer, containing a lot of high-quality energy deposits."

Mr. Zhou discussed and verified with him in detail and then realized.

The mud mentioned by the Mud Tree Civilization refers to Light Amber.

It was found in the territory of Duke Destructive, because there was a Light Amber Mine, which was what he was after.

Luckily, that wasn't a problem.

There was another Light Amber Mine near Shell City.

Mr. Zhou immediately contacted Duke Beidu, stating he would purchase from him.

Duke Beidu agreed cheerfully: "Mr. Zhou, you also own half of the mining rights, just take it at cost."

Subsequently, boxes of Light Amber were delivered to Yalong Bay.

The Mud Tree People first built an earthen pedestal with mud, then dug a very deep hole inside it, and poured Light Amber as mud into it.

First, ensuring the mud fully wrapped around the seed.

Then, Ni Ge would go 'eat dirt' every day – by chewing the soil and mud used for planting the tree, to discern if the nutrients were sufficient and being stably absorbed by the seed.

On the seventh day, the seed sprouted from the soil and grew at an incredible speed.

However, Ni Ge showed a pained expression: "It failed... my luck wasn't good enough."

"It's grown, hasn't it?" Zhou Yi was perplexed.

"No."

The Mud Tree People shook their head: "This is not a Sky-reaching Tree, it's a Pan Tree. Pan Tree is a reversionary form of Sky-reaching Tree; it cannot compare to a Sky-reaching Tree."

"Sky-reaching Trees can support a sky world above the Dead Sea, allowing tens of thousands of people to live upon them. Pan Trees are much inferior; they grow in a spiraling fashion but don't have enough strength or height... The only use is for producing ash-absorbing fruit."

"Ash-absorbing fruit? Can you eat it?"

"You can eat them, they're a common fruit that Mud Tree People have been eating from a young age, everyone eats them, the taste is passable, and they're highly productive, able to replenish strength and fill stomachs."

Ni Ge was somewhat disheartened: "The location might not be good, I have to try somewhere else."

Zhou Yi, however, brightened up at the thought.

This was a tree that could grow in the Dead Sea, producing fruits from Otherworld, and with good yields. It could further expand the company's crop varieties.

What a great find!

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