Daily Life in the Countryside After Being Reborn

Chapter 885: Chapter 30: The Twin Cliff Pines

~Thanks for the red envelope of New Year’s money from "Lehana," this month should be the concluding month for this book, hehe, please look forward to it~

After Locke gained a firm footing, the first thing he saw was a dead Cliff Juniper, a variant of the pine tree.

Judging by the dead pine tree, one can imagine that years ago, it was once a big tree with a crown reaching three to four meters and a height of nearly five meters. Especially, this tree was growing in such a harsh environment at the bottom of a seaside cliff with almost no soil quality.

The tree roots were embedded into the rocks, with dark crevices in the split rocks, and below the cracks, only the sounds of constant waves crashing could be heard.

"It’s unbelievable that such a tree could grow in a place like this. How could Mr. Hu be so confused? After discovering this tree, he should have reported it to the government immediately to protect it in time," Locke sighed. Like Xiao Xian, after the initial astonishment, he quickly noticed the traces of bee activity on the pine tree.

Still maintaining a semi-complete tree shape, on the highest dead branch, hung an old beehive missing a corner, black in color.

Xiao Xian, nimble and light-footed, climbed skillfully a few times and plucked the old beehive. The beeswax inside had already dried out, and a substance similar to sea salt had formed on the surface. A gentle scrape with a hand caused the beeswax to peel off, revealing some viscous liquid inside.

"It’s honey. Could this be the taste?" The brownish liquid smelled sweet, and the liquid on Xiao Xian’s hand looked very much like honey.

Locke tasted a bit, his eyes sparkling, and without hesitation said, "This is the honey. Did Mr. Hu really use this pine tree to cultivate bees? It’s such a pity. If we had come earlier, perhaps this pine tree could still be saved."

From the cliff to the pine tree, Xiao Xian and Locke also discovered some fallen, split water pipes, a few rusty shovels, and several scattered bags of soil, all of which seemed to have been left by Hu Song.

The environment on the cliff was too poor, with insufficient water and soil. Before Hu Song had his accident, he must have frequently come down to take care of the pine tree. After his memory deteriorated due to the accident, the tree lacked care and withered away.

Even though the true reason for the Queen bee’s honey production has been found, the outcome was not as hoped, leaving Locke somewhat disappointed.

"Professor Ke, don’t be too upset. I found a few pinecones nearby that you can take back to the lab for research. With your research capabilities and the good environment of the Underground Botanical Garden, I believe that in a few years, similar Cliff Junipers can definitely be planted successfully," Xiao Xian comforted Locke. Upon reconsideration, Locke also found this reasoning sound.

After the two left, a few lead-gray seagulls perched on the dead pine tree, preening their feathers.

"Xiao Bai, take a look, isn’t this sea area somewhat special?" The returning female voice startled the seagulls into flight.

From atop the cliff, Xiao Xian took a few leaps and stood again in front of the pine tree. On her way back to the research center, she found an excuse to part ways with Locke and hurried back to this area by the cliff.

There were hardly any people coming to the abandoned farm, so Xiao Xian boldly released the White Flood Dragon.

"Little Master, the sea in the United States is different from the sea in China. Besides, it’s already confirmed that the pine tree is dead; what’s left to see underwater? It’s not like another pine tree is going to grow from the sea bottom," Little White Jiao grumbled, reluctant to jump into the sea; it had always lived in freshwater, and the salty water might ruin its beautiful scales.

"If you haven’t soaked in seawater, can you still call yourself a Jiao? Stop shivering, down you go," Xiao Xian said with irritation, and kicked the White Flood Dragon into the sea.

The sea wind howled, and the silvery-white figure of the Little White Jiao flashed and disappeared.

Xiao Xian waited for a few minutes, but there was still no response from the Little White Jiao.

"This Xiao Bai, itchy for a spanking again, I’ll have to go down myself," Xiao Xian grumbled, releasing the Spiritual Rhinoceros Scissors, and flew down, her silhouette more graceful than a seabird under the azure sky and sea.

The Spiritual Rhinoceros Scissors sliced through the sea surface, enveloping Xiao Xian in a bright white spiritual energy, cutting through the sea and isolating the water that surged back, forming a sealed Spiritual Energy Shield.

"The oxygen inside the Spiritual Energy Shield won’t last for an hour, need to hurry up and get back up," Xiao Xian urged the Spiritual Rhinoceros Scissors to lead the way, controlling the Spiritual Energy Shield and her body to move downward.

She hadn’t told Locke that when they saw that Cliff Juniper, what appeared before her eyes was: Dual-nature Cliff Juniper, subterranean species, a tree split into two, with terrestrial and aquatic sides.