As Qin Jia looked into the distance in front, he could see a forty to fifty-metre beautiful red tree. With an improved eyesight of a True Qi realm cultivator, if he observed clearly, a layer of fire elemental Qi could be seen floating around the tree with the naked eye. It was the Blazing Parasol tree.
The bark of the tree had an enchanting reddish-orange coloured vein patterns on it, these veins could be seen going deeper into the trunk. There were flames burning the bark at those veins. Small flames were also burning on the branches and the twigs. Embers covered the ground around the Blazing Parasol Tree.
The wide leaves of the tree were deep red with strong fire Qi flowing among them. Fire Qi in the environment was constantly absorbed by the leaves in significant amounts with a terrible suction force.
.
.
There were nearly three hundred and fifty to four hundred fruits hanging on the tree. Some of those fruits had a mild cherry red colour. They were small, about the size and shape of a newborn babies fist. It was said they are super sweet in taste. These fruits have a small seed in them that have a small chance of successfully sprouting. The rest of the fruits were still growing and will take more than a century to just take shape before ripening.
This tree will take fifty years for its flowers to bloom, which will also become a valuable resource.
Two to three hundred fruits for every four hundred years will be a very good investment opportunity, considering a fifth grade spirit tree. The sects could just plant a garden of Blazing Parasol trees and enjoy constant supply of Flame Baby fruits, a fifth grade spirit fruit.
But the process for a Blazing Parasol tree to grow is too difficult.
Even from thousands of seeds, a single seed might not germinate. If one plants a seed near to this very Blazing Parasol tree, the seed will have more chances to fail to germinate, even though the environment supports the tree.
The Blazing Parasol Tree needs an environment with a very high concentration of fire Qi. But this is not the fixed environment for the seeds of Flame Baby fruit tree to germinate. If conditions permit they might germinate in a colder environment and also during the times when the weather and seasons make the fire Qi less distributed in the environment.
The soil covering the planted seed needs to absorb the yin Qi, to stimulate the seed and the land below the seed needs to have a huge source of fire Qi. This process will take decades when the area is undisturbed.
In snowy regions and near water bodies, they couldn't exist even with the presence of a fire Qi source, as the amounts of yin Qi will be too much for the seed.
There were Blazing Parasol trees that had grown extremely fast near deserts and unique volcanic regions with the presence of yin resources. The time it took for the fruits to ripen also decreased drastically. The appearances of these trees are simple anomalies as many variables usually disturb similar places.
No one was successful when they planted a second seed in these areas or when they planted a seed in the original location of a dead Blazing Parasol Tree.
These trees couldn't be transplanted from the area where they are located after they were germinated. They die when their connection to the fire Qi source is severed.
Blazing Parasol valley was unique in the sense, there were the records of the presence of another Blazing Parasol tree in its history, and because of which the valley got its name. But this valley is an area with only above the normal amounts of fire Qi, the tree here and its fruits grow and ripen at a moderate speed.
.
.
If these Flame Baby fruits are consumed, a fire element type cultivators body transforms into a more compatible physique for fire cultivation. The true qi they have and when they have soul energy, these energies could be ignited to deal more damage, with the latter having a lethal effect.
And thus with its rarity and effects, the Blazing Parasol tree became extremely sought after. The Phoenix Jade Palace had no choice but to share the Flame Baby fruits with other sects and the big clans.
.
.
"Take this Star Yin flower. Eat it before you go near to the Blazing Parasol tree, it reduces the impact of the flame attacks from the tree. For a fire element cultivator like you this flower will be an extra shield." Lan Yue handed a silver-grey flower with a metallic texture to Qin Jia. She had already distributed these flowers to others in her team.
"Thanks." Qin Jia stored it in his storage bag.
"Please be careful when picking the fruits. These Blazing Parasol trees have intelligence that is comparable to an average human adult. They are one of the most intelligent species among the fifth grade life forms. Only their slow movement and the demanding seed germinating process stopped us from exterminating them. The flames on the tree can be controlled by it to create a barrier; to defend and attack." Lan Yue explained to Qin Jia. "We will be throwing the pollen dust from the Star Yin flower to irritate it. The pollen dust will stop the Blazing Parasol tree from igniting those vein patterns on its trunk. You will be picking the fruits after we spread the dust on it."
"Fine." Qin Jia asked. "Pollen dust? Why do you need it? How much do you need to cover that tree?"
"Lots of it. All sects participated in gathering it. It is a laborious task to gather enough pollen dust in a short period of time just after calculating the ripening period." Lan Yue replied. "If the Blazing Parasol tree ignites those veins, the entire tree will be covered in flames in a few breaths. The fruits might be damaged in the process."
"Okay I understand. How should we deal with those, who compete with us for the fruits? Is there any strategy?" Qin Jia asked.
"There is no strategy. Everyone present will be our opposition, there is no, one particular contender. It will be chaotic." Lan Yue replied. "I will point out important cultivators whom you need to be careful of."