Chapter 69 - 68: A Single Tree Forms a Forest, Weather Forecast
Qin Haonan was startled by Ren Yuanyang’s reaction. "Boss, what kind of tree is this? You’re overreacting a little, don’t you think?"
"It’s something good. We’ll rely on it to protect us from the wind and waves!" Ren Yuanyang replied excitedly.
The three of them froze in unison.
’A single tree can protect us from the wind and waves?’
Meeting their confused gazes, Ren Yuanyang explained, "This is a banyan tree. Ever heard of a single tree forming a forest?"
"I have," Xin Wan immediately answered. "I heard a tour guide talk about it when I was traveling once!"
Ren Yuanyang nodded slightly and continued his explanation.
"Banyan trees. They’re large arbors, growing 15 to 25 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of 50 centimeters. They have a wide-spreading crown and well-developed aerial roots..."
After Ren Yuanyang finished, Xin Wan added, "I remember a tourist spot called ’Single Tree Forest.’ The attraction was a thousand-year-old banyan tree that had grown over 50 meters tall. Its canopy covered more than 100 square meters of ground, and it had so many aerial roots that had burrowed into the soil and taken root, each becoming an independent plant."
After listening, Qin Haonan was still a bit confused. "What does this have to do with withstanding the wind and waves?"
"It’s the same principle as using trees on land to create windbreaks and stabilize sand. With a large enough forest, you can block the wind and waves at the perimeter!" Ren Yuanyang explained.
When the wind and waves hit the trees, the crowns, trunks, and roots all create resistance. One tree doesn’t do much, but enough of them can reduce the waves until they disappear!
Qin Haonan nodded slightly. "If that’s the case, then we could just plant Iron Melon Trees and Diesel Trees, right?"
"In theory, yes. But those are all individual trees. They’d easily be scattered by the waves or get clumped together, making them much less effective at blocking the storm," Ren Yuanyang replied. "Most importantly, every single seed or plant would need to be strengthened by my Mental Energy, which would consume a massive amount of it."
"Huh? Shouldn’t the seeds produced by already-evolved plants be evolved too?" Qin Haonan asked, confused again.
"Theoretically, yes. It’s possible my ability has a flaw," Ren Yuanyang said with a helpless shrug.
"Then couldn’t we use bitter grass to anchor them? That way they wouldn’t drift apart or get clumped together," Lu Jiamei suggested.
"We have a limited supply of bitter grass right now. Besides, trees aren’t like rice paddies in terms of size and weight. The bitter grass might be able to hold rice, but it can’t necessarily hold a tree," Ren Yuanyang said, shaking his head.
’It seems strengthening a single banyan tree is the best option for now.’
The banyan tree’s aerial roots grow from its branches. Even when they take root again and form independent individuals, they don’t need to be strengthened again.
’One strengthening, lifelong benefits!’
With the Mental Energy saved, Ren Yuanyang could strengthen other plants or animals.
And because the aerial roots grow from the branches, the new plants they form are all connected and supported by the trunk system. This means they won’t drift apart or get completely clumped together.
After Ren Yuanyang’s detailed explanation, the other three finally understood the value of the banyan sapling before them.
"Well, in that case, let’s hurry up and plant it!" Qin Haonan urged immediately.
Lu Jiamei frowned slightly. "Shouldn’t we pick a more remote location, then? It’ll be a problem if those big ships find it."
Ren Yuanyang nodded slightly. "That’s true. But in this situation, where is there a remote location?"
Just then, Qin Haonan’s phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at it, then immediately looked up at Ren Yuanyang. "Boss, the app updated! It’s a message from Wang Jun, telling us to check the update!"
Ren Yuanyang paused for a moment, then asked, "What did it update?"
Following Wang Jun’s tip, Qin Haonan pulled up the map in the app and discovered it was now marked with many numbers!
He immediately tapped on the number "7" closest to them, and a message instantly appeared on the screen.
"The wind force in this sea region will gradually increase over the next ten days. In ten days, it will reach Level 7 and will maintain this intensity for most of the time thereafter!"
Seeing this notification, Qin Haonan’s face filled with surprise. "Is this a weather forecast? We need to move, now! We’re right in this area!"
"Is... is this real?" Xin Wan asked, finding it hard to believe.
"Didn’t a lot of people speculate this app came from an Advanced Civilization? An Advanced Civilization should be pretty accurate at predicting wind and waves!" Qin Haonan seemed to fully subscribe to this theory.
"Better safe than sorry. Boss, we should move now. I see a sea region nearby with only Level 2 winds. Let’s go there!" Lu Jiamei also agreed with relocating.
Ren Yuanyang thought for a moment before speaking. "We do need to move immediately, but not to the Level 2 wind region. We’re going here!"
Qin Haonan and the other two stared at the spot Ren Yuanyang was pointing to, completely stunned.
Ren Yuanyang’s finger was pointing right at the center of the Level 7 wind region.
"Ah! Boss, did you misread that? That’s the Level 7 wind region!" Qin Haonan said, looking at Ren Yuanyang in confusion.
"I didn’t misread it. Wasn’t Lu Jiamei just looking for a remote place? The heavens have delivered one right to us!" Ren Yuanyang replied with a smile.
"Huh? It’s remote, sure, but we won’t be able to survive there!" Qin Haonan’s brow furrowed. "After all, this banyan tree hasn’t even grown yet!"
"Don’t we have ten days?" Ren Yuanyang replied with a smile. "Let’s go. We’re leaving now, no time to waste!"
’According to the system’s prompt, the strengthened banyan tree could grow large enough to withstand Level 7 wind and waves within ten days. That was the source of his confidence!’
Seeing Ren Yuanyang’s confidence, Lu Jiamei nudged a stunned Qin Haonan. "The boss must have his reasons. Hurry up and follow his orders!"
Qin Haonan nodded immediately and secured the shipping container with cables. The other small boats were towed by Xin Wan’s speedboat.
Ren Yuanyang had already taken out his own phone. He watched the container while browsing the messages in the regional channel.
"Who was the first one to notice the map change?"
"Is there any point in dwelling on that now? Better to get moving and find an area with less wind!"
"Could the map be fake?"
"Better safe than sorry. Just in case. Without this map’s warning, you might not survive even with a big ship!"
"It must be the Advanced Civilization trying to help more of us survive!"
"Then why don’t they just save us directly? Why go through all this trouble?"
"Who knows. No one knows what they’re thinking. Maybe they’re just doing it for fun!"
"What the hell? What’s going on? I’m actually seeing people heading for the Level 7 wind region. Do they have a death wish?"