Azure Sky Fruit

Azure Sky Fruit

In just five days, Ji Xinghuo's group returned to Olympia.

They encountered several battles on the way back, but none were particularly fierce. Whenever Ji Xinghuo stepped in, they were quickly resolved.

They also ran into several Hunting Teams. Their captains were mostly Super Espers, while most of the members were Advanced Espers. Every one of them was a top-tier Hunting Team, clearly headed for Absolute Peak Valley. Seeing Ji Xinghuo and the others returning, some teams even came over to ask for information.

However, Ji Xinghuo and the others did not reveal anything about the Stone Scythe Giant Mandrill. They only said they had found nothing and turned back.

The four of them boarded an airship in the City of Freedom and landed in Olympia.

"We're back!"

Sitting on the Steam Bus and looking at the familiar city districts around them, Chi Zhonglin shouted proudly, "Haha, I made it back alive again, without losing an arm or a leg! The beauties at Secret Window No. 9..."

"Hm?" His three teammates all turned to look at him.

"Uh, uh..."

Chi Zhonglin's words caught in his throat. He explained, "I just wanted to have drinks with them. They're all my friends. It's perfectly normal to drink with friends and catch up, right?"

Ren Mian and Jiangnan Caiyi ignored him.

"Xinghuo." Chi Zhonglin leaned closer. "Want to come along? We brothers can't just fight and kill all the time. We should enjoy life together too."

Ji Xinghuo was rather tempted.

"Don't lead Xinghuo astray," Ren Mian said coldly.

"Brother Chi, I have things to do, so I won't be going." Ji Xinghuo immediately refused in stern terms, looking utterly righteous. "I'll drink with you anytime, but we can drink at home too."

"What's the fun in that?" Chi Zhonglin muttered, but did not press him any further.

Soon, the team returned to the villa.

This hunting trip had lasted twenty Star Realm days, equivalent to more than forty days on Earth. A thin layer of dust had settled over the rooms in the villa.

Jiangnan Caiyi immediately changed into home clothes, took out the cleaning supplies, and began bustling around to clean.

Ren Mian also went into the garden to tend to the various flowers, plants, and trees she had planted.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Ji Xinghuo came out feeling refreshed, only to discover that Chi Zhonglin had disappeared. He had probably already gone out.

"Cai Yi, I'll help you."

The villa was so large that it would take one person a long time to clean it all.

"You should rest, Xinghuo-jun." Jiangnan Caiyi seemed somewhat anxious instead. "This is what I should be doing, and I like cleaning too. It helps me relax."

Ji Xinghuo smiled. "I'm not tired. We'll be more efficient if we do it together."

Seeing that he insisted, Jiangnan Caiyi stopped refusing and thanked him repeatedly. Both of them were Aberrants, quick and capable, and in less than an hour they had cleaned the villa inside and out. The Training Room, strength training room, and Martial Arts Arena were all cleaned as well, looking brand-new.

"I'm going out to buy ingredients, Xinghuo-jun." Jiangnan Caiyi called out before heading out.

Ji Xinghuo went to the garden, where Ren Mian was still examining the flowers and plants.

Every Plant Witch was an outstanding gardener and botanist. The garden, which covered more than five hundred square meters, had been divided into several areas. Multiple greenhouses with different temperatures had been built to create environments suitable for all kinds of plants, and more than a hundred precious species had been planted there.

He entered a glass greenhouse and saw Ren Mian squatting amid a patch of Rejuvenating Sweet Crabapple, trimming away excess branches and leaves.

"Ren-jie," Ji Xinghuo called softly.

"Mhm." Ren Mian looked up and smiled at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I had nothing to do, so I came over out of curiosity." Ji Xinghuo moved closer. Ren Mian did not stop him and continued with her work.

The Plant Witch Class Template was quite unusual. None of its six abilities possessed direct destructive power.

Its core ability, "Azure Vine Heart Root," controlled plant growth.

"Organic Creation" controlled inorganic matter and rapidly combined it into organic matter.

"Light-Eating Reaction" was an Outstanding Ability. It greatly increased the efficiency of plant photosynthesis and gave Plant Witches limited control over light, allowing them to create darkness.

Previously, when Ren Mian had tested his archery, the ability she had suddenly used to interfere with him was "Light-Eating Reaction."

These three abilities complemented one another, making the Plant Witch the master of plants!

The other three abilities were support-oriented.

"Transplant" could move plants elsewhere for cultivation, and could also be used for human organ transplants. Some skilled doctors fused this ability.

It was said that it could even transplant abilities, though that was only a rumor.

"Grafting" forcibly grafted two or more different plants together, granting them more effects. It could also graft plants onto one's own body, allowing the user to gain the plants' abilities.

"Chlorophyll Cell" caused Plant Witches to produce chlorophyll in their bodies, catalyzing plant photosynthesis.

At the same time, they could photosynthesize like plants themselves, directly absorbing sunlight and combining it with the carbon dioxide produced by respiration. By drinking water as well, they could obtain the nutrients their bodies required, reduce their dependence on food, and rapidly recover their stamina.

Ren Mian had clearly mastered every ability in the Plant Witch template.

And that was not all.

This meant that although she was only an Advanced Esper, she possessed at least nine abilities. Besides the Plant Witch's six, she also had "Light-Residing Crystalline Body," "Light Burst," and "Crystal Cluster Projection," all three of which belonged to the Crystalline Light Servant Class Template.

Nine abilities—three times as many as an ordinary Advanced Esper! It was utterly absurd.

Not only her; Chi Zhonglin and Jiangnan Caiyi each possessed five or six abilities as well, far beyond the scope of normal Aberrants.

Ren Mian must have some channel for obtaining Expansion Oddities.

Ji Xinghuo considered how to bring it up, but he was in no hurry. He quietly watched Ren Mian tend to the plants. Surrounded by flowers, the beauty seemed even more delicate and alluring, a sight pleasing to the eye.

He watched her for more than an hour. Whenever he came across something he did not understand, he seriously asked for guidance.

Although Ji Xinghuo was not a Plant Witch, such knowledge was still useful.

Ren Mian carefully answered every question.

Near dinner time, Ren Mian had mostly finished tending to the garden.

She walked over to a tree barely over two meters tall. It was quite unremarkable, resembling an osmanthus tree somewhat. Its branches and leaves were luxuriant, its leaves emerald green, and it gave off a faint fragrance. A small fruit hung from the tree, like an unripe green apricot.

Ren Mian gently plucked the tree's only fruit and tossed it over. "Try it. See if it's sweet."

"What kind of fruit is this?"

Ji Xinghuo asked casually as he tossed the fruit into his mouth.

With a few crunches, he chewed it apart. It was crisp, fresh, and juicy. A burst of sweetness filled his mouth. It was somewhat like a peach, but without a pit.

"It's very sweet!"

He smacked his lips, feeling an endless aftertaste, and could not help looking toward the tree in hopes of finding another fruit. But there was none.

"Tasty, right?" Ren Mian asked with a smile.

"Tasty!" Ji Xinghuo nodded.

"This is the fruit of an Azure Sky Tree. I transplanted it onto this Trifoliate Sweet Osmanthus." Ren Mian pointed at the green tree beside it and said with a charming smile, "Azure Sky Fruit is an Expansion Oddity. Aberrants and monsters below their fourth life evolution can fuse one additional Ability Seed after eating it. Each one is worth thirty million on the market."

"Huh?"

Ji Xinghuo froze instantly.

He had just swallowed thirty million Asia Yuan in one bite. If he had known the fruit was worth so much, he definitely would have savored it slowly and properly appreciated its flavor.

Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit had been nothing compared to this. Still, he was slightly better off than Zhu Bajie—at least he had tasted the sweetness.

Only then did another question occur to him.

"Ren-jie, I can't afford thirty million." Ji Xinghuo looked embarrassed.

"This is a benefit of joining the team. You don't need to pay for it." Ren Mian smiled. "Once you join the team, complete one hunt, and earn my approval, you receive an Azure Sky Fruit. Xiao Chi and Cai Yi have both eaten one already, so don't overthink it."

"That's good, that's good."

Ji Xinghuo sighed in relief, then became overjoyed. "Ren-jie is far too generous. Such a precious fruit is just a joining benefit."

"I've mastered the cultivation method for Azure Sky Fruit. It isn't that precious to me. Each person can only eat one anyway; eating more is useless." Ren Mian sounded completely casual.

"You can't eat it yourself, but you can sell it for money." Ji Xinghuo was surprised.

"I've already sold plenty." Ren Mian smiled faintly. "When your wealth reaches a certain level, you'll realize that many things you want cannot be bought with money alone. Especially when it comes to the needs of high-rank Aberrants, money really is not very useful."

Ji Xinghuo truly experienced what it meant to be filthy rich!

Money was not very useful...

Is that even something a human being should say? It was far too enviable.

Ji Xinghuo looked at the small tree before him and suddenly understood why Ren-jie had casually planted it in the garden without any special protection.

Because she simply did not care.

Ren Mian noticed his gaze. "Azure Sky Fruit is extremely rare. Most people cannot recognize it. If someone can recognize it and steal one, that only proves they have a good eye."

At that moment, Jiangnan Caiyi came over and called, "Sister, Xinghuo-jun, it's time to eat."

"Let's go."

Ren Mian and Ji Xinghuo left the greenhouse and returned to the villa.

Chi Zhonglin had actually returned as well.

After dinner, Chi Zhonglin suddenly said, "Ren-jie, I've thought about it for several days. I still want to fuse 'Bloody Rampage.'"

"Have you made up your mind?" Ren Mian asked.

Chi Zhonglin nodded heavily, his expression resolute. "You said that above the legendary level, Bloody Rampage's power is somewhat mediocre and its potential insufficient. But that is something to consider after reaching Legend. I'm only an Advanced Esper now, still two ranks away from Legend. What matters most at the moment is increasing my strength. Only then will I have a chance to advance to Legend."

"As for its lack of potential, I'm an Unclassed Esper anyway, unrestricted by a Class Template. Maybe I'll obtain other abilities in the future that can make up for it."

"Let's treat this as an attempt. Unclassed Espers need the courage to try."

"Anything is possible!"

By the end, Chi Zhonglin's expression had grown increasingly determined.

"Since you've thought it through, I won't object." Seeing how serious he was, and finding his reasoning sound, Ren Mian agreed.

"Thank you, Ren-jie!" Chi Zhonglin was overjoyed.

"Bloody Rampage's market price is around twenty-three million. We'll value it at twenty million. According to the loot distribution rules, since you're taking Bloody Rampage, you need to give each of the three of us five million Asia Yuan." Ren Mian thought for a moment, then added, "I don't need my five million. Divide it between Xinghuo and Cai Yi."

"Alright, no problem." Chi Zhonglin immediately agreed. "I still have savings on hand, just enough to pay for it."

Ren Mian brought out the Bloody Rampage Ability Seed and handed it to him.

She then took out the crystalline Ability Seed obtained from the cave on Hanging Mountain and looked at Ji Xinghuo. "Do you still want this Aether Sensitivity?"

"Yes."

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

"Then we'll use the same distribution method. Aether Sensitivity is worth two million Asia Yuan. Give Xiao Chi and Cai Yi seven hundred and fifty thousand each. I don't need anything." After saying that, Ren Mian handed the Ability Seed to Ji Xinghuo.

"I'll sell the remaining Ability Seeds."

Ren Mian took the Ability Seeds out with her and returned in less than half an hour.

There were many shops in Olympia City that purchased Ability Seeds. The several dozen Ability Seeds sold for more than eight million in total, not even half the value of Bloody Rampage.

Ren Mian distributed the money among her three teammates, keeping none for herself. She had no interest in money.

Ji Xinghuo received more than nine million in total.

After giving Chi Zhonglin and Jiangnan Caiyi one and a half million, he still had more than seven million left, along with one Aether Sensitivity Ability Seed.

"I'm about to become a multimillionaire again!"

Ji Xinghuo suddenly felt that making money did not seem so difficult. In just over forty days, he had earned back ten times what he had previously spent on weapons and equipment.

Of course, he had not forgotten something.

"Ren-jie, the twenty million I owe you..."

Ren Mian stopped him before he could finish. "Keep this money for now. Use it to improve your strength. Pay me back once you have more money later. There's no rush."

"Alright." Ji Xinghuo did not stand on ceremony.

Especially after learning that Ren Mian was a super-rich woman who could casually sell a single fruit for tens of millions, he no longer felt so guilty about owing her this money for the time being.

Late at night, Ji Xinghuo trained in the Training Room for several hours. While waiting for his Stellar Force to recover, he took some money and went out.

Before long, he arrived at an Ability Seed specialty store.

"Do you have Aether Sensitivity?" After asking, he learned that they did not.

He visited several shops before understanding just how sought-after Aether Sensitivity was. It was usually bought as soon as it arrived, and stock was rarely available. Customers could only place orders.

After wandering around Olympia City for two hours, Ji Xinghuo finally saw an Aether Sensitivity Ability Seed in one store.

This Aether Sensitivity Ability Seed had been obtained from a monster. It looked like a small grayish lump of brain matter.

Ji Xinghuo asked to handle it, and the shop owner readily agreed.

The moment he touched the Ability Seed, the Myriad Stellar Eye interface appeared in his vision.

Ability Seed: Aether Sensitivity

Grade: High Quality

Fusion Success Rate: 83%

Upgradeable: No

The moment Ji Xinghuo saw the information on the interface, he understood. Sure enough, the Aether Sensitivity obtained from that cave had been different!