# Chapter 19: Variation and the Death of the Ancient Tree
"You agree then?" Bai Feng asked when he saw Helioptile's expression suddenly become less resistant.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm~
Helioptile nodded frantically.
Seeing this, Bai Feng said happily, "Seeing how sensible you are, I won't hold what happened before against you. Here... eat this." As he spoke, he released his grip on Helioptile's hand, placed it in his palm, and then gave it back the Berry that Helioptile had returned earlier.
"Ay bip~"
Helioptile took the Berry, hugged it, and happily began to nibble. It finished one Berry in no time.
Its Body was very small, only slightly larger than Bai Feng's palm, so it could easily move around on Bai Feng's cupped hands.
"Ay bip~"
After quickly gnawing a Berry clean, Helioptile extended its Small Hand towards Bai Feng again.
"Want more? You're quite the eater!" Looking at Helioptile's small and cute Body, Bai Feng said in surprise, then took out another Berry and handed it to it. "Here's one more for you, but this is the last one. It's not good to eat too much at once."
The Berries Bai Feng took out were not small; each was about the size of an adult's fist. He was worried that if Helioptile ate two at once, its Belly would burst.
"Ay bip~ Ay bip~"
Helioptile didn't know if it heard Bai Feng's words, nodding randomly, and then started eating heartily again.
Seeing Helioptile eating with gusto, Bai Feng turned to Bai Ye and Popplio and said, "Alright, we can go Home now."
"Woo?" Aren't we catching a Pokémon that knows Paralyze Powder Skill?
Popplio asked in confusion.
Bai Feng, holding Helioptile in his hand, said to it, "Here, with this little guy around, it doesn't matter if we don't find a Pokémon that knows Paralyze Powder."
"Woo!" Hmph!
Seeing Bai Feng so happy, Popplio thought he particularly liked that yellowish four-legged lizard and grumbled discontentedly.
After returning, Bai Feng introduced the New Member, Helioptile, to Talonflame, Fletchinder, and the Diglett family.
The Diglett family warmly welcomed Helioptile, but Talonflame and Fletchinder seemed very surprised, not expecting to see Helioptile.
So you managed to sneak in after all!
It turned out that this Helioptile was actually a Frequent Visitor to Fang Xing Mountain. Before, it would try to sneak in and steal things every few days, and each Time it would be caught by Talonflame or Fletchinder and thrown outside.
So Talonflame and Fletchinder were already very familiar with it.
The key was that this little guy was quite stubborn. Every Time it came, it couldn't gain any advantage and would even get taught a lesson, but it still persistently ran over here.
Thinking about it now, could this be Fate?
Seeing the fierce Talonflame, Helioptile was a little Afraid. It shook its two long ears and quietly hid behind Bai Feng's Back.
Bai Feng didn't know that Helioptile and Fang Xing Mountain had such a history. He smiled and comforted Helioptile, saying, "What happened before is in the past. From now on, as long as you're well-behaved, none of us will hold it against you."
Talonflame nodded upon hearing this. Since the Boss said so, it naturally had no objection.
Only then did Helioptile breathe a sigh of relief and walk out from behind Bai Feng.
Just like that, Helioptile became Bai Feng's second Pokémon and settled down on Fang Xing Mountain.
After solving the Hidden Energy Circuit Problem for Bai Ye and Popplio, Bai Feng's Daily Life returned to the Right Track. Every day was either cultivating Fruit Trees or Training Pokémon, using his Leisure Time to study, and every few days helping Bai Ye and Popplio light up their Hidden Energy Circuits.
Life was fulfilling and Busy.
With Helioptile's Electromagnetic Wave helping, Bai Ye and Popplio's "surgeries" were completed very Smoothly each Time, and the lit-up Hidden Energy Circuits increased in an orderly manner.
The Variations this brought to the two Pokémon were very obvious.
First, the Quantity of Energy Cubes they ate every day increased, which indicated that their efficiency in accumulating Origin Energy was increasing. Among them, Bai Ye's Variation was the most obvious.
There was no helping it; its Energy Circuit was too complex compared to Popplio's, where one movement affected the whole Body. The lighting up of the Hidden Energy Circuits caused its entire Energy Circuit to operate at high speed.
For this reason, Bai Feng greatly increased the frequency of sorting, compressing, and purifying Origin Energy for it.
Next was the Variation in appearance. Bai Feng didn't expect that lighting up the Hidden Energy Circuits could actually have a beautifying effect on the two Pokémon.
Bai Ye's figure became more and more well-proportioned and taller. The average height of Pokémon like Gardevoir is generally around 1.6 meters, and Bai Ye was even slightly shorter than an average Gardevoir before.
But since the Hidden Energy Circuits were lit up, it actually started to grow taller.
Can you believe that it could still grow taller after being a Mom for over ten years?
After a period of Time, Bai Ye's height gradually grew to about 1.7 meters before slowly showing no significant Variation.
In addition to height, Bai Ye's appearance also became more and more enchanting. Her bright eyes were like the bright moon in the sky, her short emerald green hair was greener and more vibrant than new Leaves, her floor-length dress was as white as snow, and then there were those long, slender legs...
With this beauty, wouldn't an Old Pervert be captivated?
Bai Feng silently swore to himself that he must protect his increasingly beautiful Mom!
Popplio's Variation was mainly reflected in its Body Condition. Although its dark blue skin also became increasingly clear and blue, its biggest Variation was reflected in its throat.
Before, when Popplio sang, Bai Feng really wanted to cover his ears.
But now it was Different. Its Sound Condition was actually getting better little by little, gradually changing from being tone-deaf to a musical genius.
After a period of Time, its Singing Voice actually became able to give people a refreshing feeling.
At first, this Variation was not obvious, and no one noticed it. Then suddenly one day, Diggersby said, "Popplio's singing is quite nice!" Everyone suddenly realized that Popplio's Vocal Condition had changed.
The sound that left the deepest impression on Bai Feng was the cry of the Milotic he encountered while drifting on the Sea. Although a long Time had passed, that sound was still deeply etched in his mind like heavenly music.
After hearing that sound, Bai Feng felt that any songs or music he listened to later were somehow lacking.
Now that Popplio suddenly had this Variation, Bai Feng began to look forward to its future.
As its Sound Condition got better and better, Popplio's control over the Charm Voice Skill also became more and more perfect.
Now, every Time it uses Charm Voice to control the Water in the Air to water the Fruit Forest, everyone thinks it's using the Rain Dance Skill.
In fact, it doesn't know the Rain Dance Skill at all.
Although Popplio trained Charm Voice for so long to achieve the effect of Rain Dance, and using it is not as convenient as Rain Dance, what it pursues is not just the Skill effect, but control over the Skill.
There is an essential Difference between the effect achieved through the Skill itself and actively creating the desired effect in one's mind by controlling Type Energy.
As for Helioptile, Bai Feng has not yet lit up its Hidden Energy Circuit.
On the one hand, it is too young and seems to have only been born recently, with incomplete Body Development; on the other hand, the Paralyzed State cannot be applied to Electric-type Pokémon, so another way must be found to block Helioptile's Pain Sensation.
Helioptile was very satisfied with its New Life. Bai Feng fulfilled his promise to it before: Berries could be eaten freely, and there was a supply of even more delicious Energy Cubes.
There was no happier life than this.
Helioptile had never seen its parents since birth and was often hungry since it gained consciousness. Not eating for several days was a common occurrence, which is why it often ran to Fang Xing Mountain to steal things before.
This experience made it develop a habit of cherishing Food very much.
For example, one day Bai Feng was performing Fruit Thinning on the Oran Berry Tree that he was giving special care to, which is removing Small Fruits that are not growing well or are too dense to ensure the remaining Fruits grow better.
Unexpectedly, Helioptile ran over at some point. When Bai Feng cut off a Fruit and threw it onto the Ground, it immediately picked it up and put it in its mouth, crunching and chewing a couple of times before swallowing it.
Immature Small Fruits have no taste, and are even a bit sour and astringent, but Helioptile could eat them without changing expression.
By the Time Bai Feng noticed, its Belly was already round and full, and it was lying on the Ground unable to even walk.
Bai Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry about this.
Like Bai Ye and Popplio, after experiencing a Healing Treatment, Helioptile completely fell in love with this Activity. It didn't expect to enjoy this Special Benefit by following Bai Feng.
This further strengthened its Belief in following Bai Feng's Footsteps without wavering.
Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, it was July. The Oran Berry Trees on the Mountain Top began to bloom one after another, and Bai Feng began to consider their Pollination Problem.
According to the contact information Grandpa Fu gave him, he booked that Pollination Agency and agreed on a Time with them. When the Oran Berry Trees began to bloom on a large scale, they would send people with Pollinating Pokemon to help.
When the Oran Berry's Blooming Season arrived, people from the Pollination Agency indeed brought a group of Vivillon to Fang Xing Mountain.
Because the Energy Rating of the Fruit Trees Bai Feng planted was very high, the Flowers they bloomed were very popular with Vivillon.
The people from the Pollination Agency were all experienced hands. From the reaction of the Vivillon, they could roughly judge the Fruit Tree's Energy Rating, so they were very surprised that this Customer actually owned such a High-Quality Orchard.
Professional Pollinating Pokemon and Wild Pokemon are Different; they have all undergone strict Training. They are very disciplined when Pollinating, with regulations on where to start and where to end, unlike Wild Pokemon hitting here and there randomly.
Every three to five days thereafter, people from the Pollination Agency would bring Vivillon to Fang Xing Mountain until most of the Flowers on the Fruit Trees Withered.
This agency's Fee was indeed very fair. After Bai Feng paid the Money, they also enthusiastically expressed that they could continue to cooperate next Time and even give a discount.
High-Quality Flowers are also beneficial for the growth of their Pollinating Pokemon, which is why they were so enthusiastic.
Couriway Town's East District has a good environment and a lot of usable land, so there are many Plantations and Orchards. But most of them are ordinary Planters, and most of the Berries they plant are just sold to ordinary people as Edible Fruit.
Orchards like Fang Xing Mountain that can cultivate a large number of High-Quality Fruit Trees are rare, so people from the Pollination Agency were naturally happy to befriend him.
Moreover, Bai Feng was a Customer introduced to them by Grandpa Fu. As a Gym Leader of the League, Grandpa Fu is one of the most Powerful people in Couriway Town.
One day, Bai Feng rarely took Time to go to Bi Yi Dojo to visit Grandpa Fu, but saw him with a face full of worry. Only after asking in detail did he know that the Ancient Tree Sapling had indeed died after all.
When Bai Feng saw Grandpa Fu, he was taking care of a new Ancient Tree Seed.
"Hope it can sprout Smoothly," Grandpa Fu said while sighing.
This new Seed was obtained by Grandpa Fu from elsewhere. Regarding the death of the previous Ancient Tree Sapling, he had been brooding over it and finally decided to Try again.
Captain Sanders's Research Institute no longer had a second Ancient Plant Seed for Grandpa Fu to "squander". After all, this thing is not easy to Discover, so he asked a friend to get one from elsewhere.
This one is also Different from the previous one; it is no longer a Rindo Berry Seed.
Bai Feng asked upon seeing this, "How did that previous Ancient Tree disappear?"
Grandpa Fu shook his head and said, "I wish I knew the Reason."
"Is that Sapling still here? Can I take a look?" Bai Feng asked.
"It's still here," Grandpa Fu said. After all, a lot of effort was put into cultivating it, so even though the Sapling had Withered, Grandpa Fu couldn't bear to dispose of it. "If you want to see it, go ahead."
Under Grandpa Fu's guidance, Bai Feng indeed saw the Corpse of the Ancient Tree Sapling. It had been completely pulled out of the Flower Bed by Grandpa Fu.
Bai Feng picked up the dried Sapling, Discovering that its Root was indeed very Weak. Although the difference compared to the Root of Modern Fruit Trees was not big, compared to its Developed Tree Diagram, this was a bit insufficient.
Although Pokémon can actively absorb Energy by eating Berries and Pokemon Food, the most Simple method of obtaining Energy is still passively absorbing Energy from the Air through Energy Circuits.
The same is true for the Tree Diagram of Fruit Trees.
Through a period of research, Bai Feng Discovered that Fruit Trees have two ways of obtaining Energy. The Energy here does not refer to the Organic Energy that maintains its life, but only the Mystical Energy stored in its Tree Diagram, the Mystical Energy unique to the Pokémon World.
One is through the upper part of the Tree Diagram (Tree Crown) absorbing free Energy from the Air, and one is through the lower part of the Tree Diagram (Root) absorbing Energy from the earth.
This is Similar to how plants obtain Organic Energy: on one hand using Leaves for photosynthesis, and on the other hand using Roots to absorb nutrients from the Soil.
The Root of the Tree Diagram of Modern Fruit Trees has degenerated, so the main way to obtain Mystical Energy is by absorbing from the Air through the upper part of the Tree Diagram, while the lower part can only serve as Icing on the cake.
The key is that Modern Fruit Trees have Adapted to this way of absorbing Mystical Energy through Evolution, but Ancient Plants cannot. They must obtain Mystical Energy through both methods simultaneously to grow up Smoothly.
Creatures are complex and diverse, containing countless inexplicable Secrets. Don't look at the Mystical Energy and Organic Energy within Fruit Trees as two different things, but they are closely Related. If one side Collapses, the other side will Inevitably be Affected.
Bai Feng suspects that the Reason the Ancient Tree Sapling died is because the Root Development was incomplete, making it unable to absorb enough Mystical Energy from the earth, which in turn Affected its Organic Energy Cycle. That's why it was always Weak and thin, ultimately unable to escape the Fate of Wilting.
Of course, if the Root Development is incomplete, the Fruit Tree's acquisition of beneficial Energy will definitely also be Affected. It should be said it was a double blow!
However, these are just Bai Feng's Guesses; they have not been Verified. He cannot guarantee that his Conjecture is correct.
At this moment, Bai Feng suddenly noticed a very thick Book in Grandpa Fu's arms. On it were the large words "Encyclopedia of Ancient Plants".
He had a brainwave and asked, "Grandpa Fu, can I look at that Book in your arms?"
Grandpa Fu heard this and smiled, "What, are you also interested in cultivating Ancient Plants?" Saying this, he handed the Book in his arms to Bai Feng.
"Consider it a little. After all, I have been researching the cultivation of Fruit Trees. There are always similarities in the cultivation of plants."
Grandpa Fu heard this and nodded, "That's right. As the saying goes, learn by analogy. Learning more Knowledge is Not a bad thing. They will all become nutrients for your growth in the future."
Bai Feng nodded, took Grandpa Fu's Book, and started flipping through it.
The content in this Book is all the Results of Botanists' painstaking research. It even included many Pictures of Ancient Plants.
Most of these Pictures were restored by them based on excavated Plant Fossils. Bai Feng found it really interesting as he looked.
"Grandpa Fu, look here." At this moment, Bai Feng suddenly pointed to a Picture in the Book and said.
"What's wrong?" Grandpa Fu followed Bai Feng's finger and looked over, only to see that Bai Feng was pointing to an Illustration of an Ancient Cheri Berry Tree. "Is there any Problem with this?"
Bai Feng explained as if unintentionally, "Look at its Proportion, the Proportion of the Root part and the entire Tree!"
The Cheri Berry Tree in the Picture has a very Developed Root system, almost larger than its Tree Crown.
After Bai Feng's Remind, Grandpa Fu Instantaneously Discovered the location of the Problem. He picked up that Withered Sapling and compared it with the Picture.
"The Proportion of the Root is wrong!" he muttered to himself.
"That's right. We looked at the Root of this Sapling and thought there was no Problem, but compared to this restored Picture, this Root clearly did not Develop well. If the Root can't grow well, how can this Tree grow big?"
"You're right, that's the Reason!" Grandpa Fu said Excitedly. "The Ancient environment and Modern are fundamentally Different. There must be some Related Factor that Affected the Development of the plant."
Seeing that Grandpa Fu had already Discovered the location of the Problem, Bai Feng didn't say much more. Having this Hint was enough.
Although he cannot be Sure that his Conjecture is definitely correct, Grandpa Fu was originally still in the research Stage, and Trying more is Not a bad thing.
Grandpa Fu helped him so much, he naturally hoped that Grandpa Fu's research could proceed Smoothly.
As expected, after a period of Time, Bai Feng learned from Grandpa Fu's Place that the Sapling he re-cultivated was growing well and was very likely to grow up Smoothly. This Time, Grandpa Fu was full of confidence.
(End of Chapter)