Chapter 48: Aether Sensitive

It took Ji Xinghuo and his team only five days to return to Olympia.

They encountered several fights on the way back, none too fierce—Ji Xinghuo handled them easily.

They also met several hunting teams on their journey. The team leaders were usually super extrahumans, and the team members were mostly advanced extrahumans—all first-class hunting teams heading to Peak Valley. Seeing Ji Xinghuo and his team returning, some teams even approached to ask for news.

However, Ji Xinghuo and his team didn’t reveal anything about the Stonescythe Juggernaut; they simply said they hadn’t encountered it and decided to return.

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

“We’re back!”

Sitting on the steam bus, looking around at the familiar city districts, Chi Zhonglin shouted proudly, “Haha, I’ve returned alive once again without losing any limbs! Ladies of Secret Window Nine…”

“Hm?” All three teammates turned to look at him.

“Er…uh…”

Chi Zhonglin got stuck and explained, “I just wanted to drink with them. They are all my friends. It’s normal to drink and share feelings with friends, right?”

Ren Mian and Jiangnan Caiyi ignored him.

“Xinghuo,” Chi Zhonglin leaned closer, “why don’t you join us? Between brothers, life isn’t just about fighting; we should also enjoy it.”

Ji Xinghuo was quite tempted.

“Don’t lead Xinghuo astray,” Ren Mian said coldly.

“Brother Chi, I have other things to do, so I won’t go,” Ji Xinghuo immediately declined firmly, “I can join for a drink, but I can do that at home too.”

“That’s less fun,” Chi Zhonglin muttered, but he didn’t persist.

Soon, the team got back to the villa.

Having been gone for twenty Star Realm days—equivalent to over forty Earth days—the rooms in the villa were covered in a thin layer of dust.

Jiangnan Caiyi immediately changed into house clothes, grabbed tools, and started cleaning busily.

Ren Mian went into the garden to tend to her various plants and trees.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Ji Xinghuo came out feeling refreshed but found Chi Zhonglin was already gone; probably had gone out.

“Caiyi, let me help you.”

It would take a long time to clean such a large villa by one person.

“Rest, Xinghuo,” Jiangnan Caiyi insisted somewhat anxiously, “This is something I should do, and I like cleaning. It relaxes me.”

Ji Xinghuo smiled, “I’m not tired. Working together will be more efficient.”

Seeing his insistence, Jiangnan Caiyi no longer refused and repeatedly thanked him. Both being extrahumans, they were quick and efficient, cleaning the entire villa, including the training room, strength exercise room, and martial arts field, in less than an hour. Everything looked brand new.

“I’m off to buy groceries, Xinghuo,” Jiangnan Caiyi said and left.

Ji Xinghuo walked to the garden where Ren Mian was still examining the plants.

Every plant witch is the best gardener and botanist. The 500-square-meter garden was divided into several areas with multiple greenhouses at different temperatures, creating environments suitable for a variety of rare plants.

He entered a glasshouse and saw Ren Mian squatting among a patch of “Rejuvenating Sweet Pear Trees,” pruning excess leaves and branches.

“Ren Jie,” Ji Xinghuo called softly.

“Hmm,” Ren Mian looked up and smiled at him, “What brings you here?”

“Nothing much, just curious to see what you’re doing,” Ji Xinghuo moved closer, and Ren Mian didn’t stop him; she continued her work.

The plant witch’s professional template is very peculiar; none of its six abilities has direct lethal power.

The core ability “Verdant Heart Root” controls plant growth.

“Organic Genesis” controls the rapid transformation of inorganic matter into organic compounds.

“Light Devouring Reaction” is an exceptional ability; it significantly enhances the efficiency of photosynthesis in plants and grants the plant witch a slight mastery over light, creating environments of darkness.

Ren Mian had used “Light Devouring Reaction” unexpectedly to interfere during her archery test.

These three abilities complement each other, making the plant witch a master of plants!

The other three abilities serve supporting roles.

“Transplant” can move plants to different locations for cultivation and can also be used for human organ transplants. Some skilled doctors integrate this ability.

It’s said that it can even transfer extrahuman abilities, but that’s just a rumor.

“Grafting” forcibly fuses two or more different plants together, achieving more effects and allowing the grafting of plants onto oneself to gain plant abilities.

“Chlorophyll Cell” allows the plant witch’s body to produce chlorophyll, catalyzing plant photosynthesis.

Simultaneously, the body can engage in photosynthesis like a plant, absorbing sunlight and combining it with exhaled carbon dioxide and water, obtaining nutrients needed by the body, reducing dependence on food, and quickly restoring energy.

Ren Mian clearly had mastered all the abilities of a plant witch template.

And not just these.

It means although she’s just an advanced extrahuman, she has at least nine abilities. In addition to the six plant witch abilities, she also has “Light Crystalline Body,” “Light Burst,” and “Crystal Cluster Projection,” all from the crystalline light servant’s professional template.

Nine abilities—that’s three times the number of a normal advanced extrahuman!

That’s simply outrageous.

Not just her—Chi Zhonglin and Jiangnan Caiyi also have five to six abilities, far exceeding the average for extrahumans.

Ren Mian likely has some sources for expanding the capacity.

Ji Xinghuo pondered how to start the conversation but wasn’t in a hurry, quietly watching Ren Mian tend to the plants. A beauty among the flowers, she appeared even more charming and delightful.

He watched for over an hour, earnestly asking questions whenever he didn’t understand something.

Even though Ji Xinghuo wasn’t a plant witch, this knowledge was useful.

Ren Mian always took the time to provide detailed answers.

As dinner approached, Ren Mian had almost finished tending to the garden.

She walked over to a tree barely two meters tall. The tree was ordinary-looking, somewhat resembling an osmanthus but more lush and green. It emitted a light fragrance and bore a small fruit resembling a green apricot. It appeared unripe.

Ren Mian gently plucked the only fruit and tossed it over, “Try it; see if it’s sweet.”

“What fruit is this?”

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

Crunching it quickly, the fruit was crisp and juicy. A sweet flavor burst in his mouth, slightly resembling peaches but without a pit.

“It’s sweet!”

He smacked his lips, finding the aftertaste lingering and irresistible, then looked up at the tree trying to find a second fruit but couldn’t find any.

“Tastes good, right?” Ren Mian asked with a smile.

“Delicious!” Ji Xinghuo nodded.

“This is the fruit of a Blue Sky Tree I grafted onto this Tri-Leaf Sweetgum here,” Ren Mian pointed to the green tree beside them and chuckled, “The Blue Sky Fruit is a capacity-expanding wonder. Extrahumans or monsters below four lifetimes of evolution can fuse another species into themselves after eating it. One such fruit is worth thirty million on the market.”

“Ah?”

Ji Xinghuo was instantly stunned.

He had just eaten a fruit worth thirty million Asian Yuan. If he had known its value earlier, he definitely would have savored it more thoroughly.

It was just like Zhu Bajie eating the ginseng fruit—though at least he had tasted its sweetness, slightly better than Zhu Bajie.

Then he remembered an issue.

“Ren Jie, I can’t pay thirty million,” Ji Xinghuo said, looking embarrassed.

“This is a team benefit; you don’t need to pay for it,” Ren Mian explained with a smile, “You joined the team and completed a hunt that earned my approval; you get a Blue Sky Fruit. Both Xiao Chi and Caiyi have had theirs; don’t worry too much.”

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Relieved, Ji Xinghuo was delighted, “Ren Jie, you are too generous. Such a precious fruit, and it’s just a team benefit.”

“I’ve mastered the cultivation of the Blue Sky Fruit; it’s not too precious for me, and each person can only eat one. Eating more has no effect,” Ren Mian seemed very casual about it.

“You can’t eat any more, but you could still sell them for money,” Ji Xinghuo remarked, surprised.

“I’ve already sold many,” Ren Mian smiled faintly, “When you have a certain amount of wealth, you’ll find that many things you want can’t be bought with money. Especially the needs of high-ranking extrahumans, money really isn’t that useful.”

Ji Xinghuo truly realized what it meant to be immensely wealthy!

Money isn’t that useful…

Is that even something a human would say? It sounded too enviable.

Ji Xinghuo looked at the little tree in front of him and suddenly understood why Ren Jie casually planted it in the garden without any special protection.

Because she didn’t care about it.

Ren Mian noticed his gaze, “Blue Sky Fruits are very rare, and most people wouldn’t recognize them. Anyone who can spot and steal it deserves it.”

That moment, Jiangnan Caiyi came over and called, “Sister, Xinghuo, it’s time for dinner.”

“Let’s go.”

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

Chi Zhonglin had also returned.

After dinner, Chi Zhonglin suddenly said, “Ren Jie, I’ve thought about it for a few days, and I still want to integrate ‘Bloody Fury.'”

“You’ve made up your mind?” Ren Mian asked.

Chi Zhonglin nodded firmly, “You said that beyond the level of legend, the might of Bloody Fury appears mediocre, lacking potential. But that’s for the future, beyond the level of legend to consider. Right now, I’m just an advanced extrahuman, two ranks below legend. The most important thing is to increase my strength, then consider advancing to legend.”

“As for lacking potential, I’m an extrahuman with no class anyway; unrestricted by any professional template, I might find other abilities to compensate later.”

“This is just a trial. An unclassed extrahuman should be bold in trials.”

“Anything is possible!”

Towards the end, Chi Zhonglin’s expression grew more resolute.

“Since you’ve thought it through, I won’t oppose,” Ren Mian saw his seriousness and that he had good points, so she agreed.

“Thank you, Ren Jie!” Chi Zhonglin was ecstatic.

“Bloody Fury’s market price is around twenty-three million; let’s settle for twenty million. According to our loot distribution rule, since you’re taking Bloody Fury, you should give each of us three million Asian Yuan,” Ren Mian thought for a moment and then added, “I don’t need my share; give it to Xinghuo and Caiyi.”

“Okay, no problem,” Chi Zhonglin agreed immediately, “I have enough savings to cover it.”

Ren Mian handed over the species of Bloody Fury to him.

She also took out a crystalline species she obtained in a cave on Suspended Mountain and looked at Ji Xinghuo, “This is Ether Sensitivity. Do you still want it?”

“Yes.”

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

“Then let’s use the same distribution method. Ether Sensitivity is valued at two million Asian Yuan. Give Xiao Chi and Caiyi 750,000 each; I don’t need mine,” Ren Mian finished and handed the species to Ji Xinghuo.

“I’ll sell the rest of the species.”

Ren Mian left with the species and returned in less than half an hour.

There are many shops in Olympia City that buy species. She sold dozens of species for a total of over eight million, still less than half the price of Bloody Fury.

Ren Mian divided the money among the three teammates, keeping none for herself as she had no interest in money.

Ji Xinghuo got over nine million in total.

After giving Chi Zhonglin and Jiangnan Caiyi 1.5 million, he still had over seven million left, along with an Ether Sensitivity species.

“I’m about to become a millionaire again!”

Suddenly, Ji Xinghuo felt that making money might not be so hard. In just over forty days, he had earned ten times the money he’d spent on purchasing weapons and equipment.

Of course, he hadn’t forgotten one thing.

“Ren Jie, I owe you twenty million…”

Ji Xinghuo hadn’t finished his sentence when Ren Mian stopped him, “Keep that money for now, use it to enhance your strength. Pay me back when you have more money later; there’s no hurry.”

“Okay,” Ji Xinghuo agreed without fuss.

Especially knowing Ren Mian was a super-rich woman who could make tens of millions just by selling a fruit. This money really didn’t matter to her, and he felt less guilty about owing it temporarily.

At starry night, Ji Xinghuo spent a few hours in the training room. During the period of star power recovery, he took some money and went out.

Shortly after, he arrived at an extrahuman species specialty store.

“Do you have Ether Sensitivity?” Ji Xinghuo inquired and learned, to his surprise, they didn’t have any.

He visited several stores and finally understood how in demand Ether Sensitivity was—it was almost always bought as soon as it arrived in the store and was seldom available in stock; only pre-orders were possible.

After wandering around Olympia City for two hours, Ji Xinghuo finally saw Ether Sensitivity in a store.

The Ether Sensitivity species, obtained from a monster, looked like part of a brain, a small dusty clump.

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

As he touched the species, the interface of Infinity Star Pupil popped up in his vision.

【Species: Ether Sensitivity】

1: “Quality: High-Quality.”

2: “Fusion success rate: 83%.”

3: “Upgradeable: No.”

4: Once Ji Xinghuo saw the information on the interface, he understood immediately. Indeed, obtaining the Aether Sensitive in that cave made it unique!