Chapter 007: Water Usage

Prioritizing the development of root systems to adapt to environmental influences is essential for survival. However, once there is a supply of stream water, the green trees can begin to focus their growth on branches and leaves.

At this time, the height of the green tree is 1.2 meters, while its roots have reached a depth of 6 meters. Externally, it appears to have grown only from 1 meter to 1.2 meters, showing little change; however, the roots have extended from 4 meters to a depth of 6 meters

One month later, the green wood has grown to a height of 1 meter, while its roots have reached a depth of 4 meters, demonstrating remarkable growth.

The streams here are generally only about 3 to 4 meters deep, and during the dry season, they may reduce to just 1 meter or half a meter in depth. This insufficient living space cannot support the needs of large aquatic animals or amphibians. Therefore, there are certainly not many large aquatic animals here

However, Aoki did not exhibit any exaggerated behavior. At this time, perhaps due to the arrival of winter, all the trees were in a state of rest and recuperation. Aoki noticed that they had not revealed any new buds, merely maintaining their existing leaves.

As the days went by, Qingmu discovered that the range of his mental scanning was continuously extending without any deliberate training on his part. Initially, it extended 50 meters in a straight line and 20 meters around him, but now it has grown to 60 meters in a straight line and 22 meters around him. The clearly visible increase in ability has brought Qingmu boundless confidence

Not long after, a batch of leaves began to show signs of wilting. In the end, Qingmu had no choice but to abandon the vehicle to protect the commander. He allocated most of the moisture to the leaves responsible for the trees' transpiration function, ensuring that the minimum supply could be maintained.

At this time, Qingmu's mental strength had grown to the extent that it could extend linearly for 100 meters, while the scanning range around it had expanded to a radius of 30 meters

Having done all this, Aoki still felt it was unreliable and turned his thoughts towards the stream he had been eyeing.

However, as the weather gradually became drier, Qingmu also realized the crisis of survival

Alas! It is not easy to be a tree!" Reflecting on the various difficulties encountered from the beginning until now, Qingmu could not help but exclaim.

Aoki heard the sound of someone speaking

Due to the limitations of the current environment, Aoki can only see the stream and the thickets of trees within 200 meters. Beyond that, the leaves and trunks in the jungle obstruct his view. At this moment, his mental power can only reach a mere 100 meters.

From then on, Qingmu no longer wandered aimlessly, dedicating himself fully to his growth. Until one day, the tranquility of the forest was shattered

The joy of success made Aoki unable to resist drawing water abundantly from the stream

Isn't there plenty of ready-made water there? With such good conditions, why not make use of them? Thus, Aoki decided to guide the tree roots to grow towards the stream, temporarily halting growth in other directions. Given that there is still about a 2-meter height difference between the tree roots and the stream, it is estimated that for the next few months, he will have to work hard to store water and use it sparingly.

Oh! Wow! Ha! Ha! Qingmu felt the refreshing sensation and couldn't help but feel excited, while the trees strangely shook continuously without any wind.

At this moment, Qingmu felt not only an instinctive desire to take root and sprout, but also a strange phenomenon: the tree bulged in some peculiar places, as if something were growing.

When will the mental power be able to break through to cover the entire jungle, then it will be good. Aoki thought of the potential of mental power, and his heart surged with excitement

Photosynthesis has decreased, respiration has increased, the permeability of membranes has been compromised, leading to the loss of substances within the body... A multitude of problems has arisen before Aoki, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted. At this point, Aoki's growth rate has essentially halted, and the stored water is only used for basic consumption.

What is the outside world really like? Are there wild boars? Jungle leopards? Monkeys? Other giant pythons? Moreover, one is completely unaware of their own environment; is it a valley? A ridge? A slope? And, where exactly am I?

If at this moment it is growing a large number of new branches and tender leaves, it will again attract a swarm of insects for a feast, just like last time. Thus, the young tree gradually grows upward, slowly surpassing the other trees nearby

This is a heart that yearns to be unbound. At this moment, Qingmu increasingly hopes to grow rapidly on his own

It is only during the rainy season, when it whimsically decides to come here for a visit out of boredom, that it can be seen by Qingmu

Upon seeing this, Aoki realized that his original thoughts were mistaken

Many insects have gradually transitioned from their previous dormant state to an active one, bringing vibrant vitality to this jungle

The branches and trunk, along with other parts of the tree, are also actively engaged in water storage, striving to absorb more moisture

At this moment, the 10 "whiskers" of Aoki had also grown to half a meter long, resembling the grotesque tentacles found in XXX films. If it weren't for the layer of bark tissue covering their surface, Aoki would certainly find them very repulsive. This is because, before his rebirth, Aoki detested and found the likes of tentacles and grotesque themes the most disgusting.

At this moment, Qingmu was very eager to see the outside world

The arrival of the rainy season brings forth the vitality of all living things, allowing the green trees to experience even more joy. The matters of growth are left to the instinct of the trees to manage. Meanwhile, the green trees delight in the capabilities of their spiritual energy.

Unknowingly, another month has passed. The drought situation has somewhat alleviated, and the frequency of rainfall has gradually increased. It has finally developed into heavy rain every three days and light rain every day. The water level in the stream has risen by more than 5 meters, and many aquatic animals have emerged from their dried-up burrows to welcome the new year

Reflecting on past actions, Aoki realized that his recent strategy of vigorous growth was his most regrettable decision. Moreover, failing to recognize in a timely manner that this was not a tropical monsoon climate zone was also a significant mistake

For example, trees extract moisture from their roots and transport it to their branches and leaves, where the leaves have two primary uses for this moisture. The first is photosynthesis, which consumes water and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and organic matter. The second use is plant transpiration: this moisture is released through the stomata (not limited to the leaves), regulating the temperature difference between the air and the plant, thereby preventing heat damage. This moisture accounts for over 90% of the water absorbed by the plant.

After approximately 2 months, the weather has remained largely unchanged, with high temperatures and little rainfall. However, Qingmu noticed that the plants in the jungle have begun to sprout new branches, tender and yellow, filled with hope and new life

In plants, there exists a system for balancing water supply, which can be simply described as the equilibrium between water absorption and utilization

Although Aoki has already become a tree, when observing poisonous animals such as snakes and scorpions up close through mental power, one still feels a heart racing sensation. It is as if one is still a person, and at this moment, one is stretching their head forward to let them bite.

Aoki knows that a new round of the growth competition has begun

The tropical monsoon climate features consistently high temperatures throughout the year, with winter temperatures generally exceeding 20 degrees, resulting in a significant consumption of water

Errors are not to be feared; as long as you can face them and ensure that you do not make the same mistake again next time

Currently, due to insufficient water supply to the roots, the plants are unable to obtain enough moisture for transpiration, resulting in many leaves beginning to show signs of wilting. This is particularly evident in the case of the green wood, which vigorously sprouted and grew new leaves last month, leaving these leaves somewhat tender and unable to withstand the surrounding high-temperature air

For a giant python with an enormous appetite, the water here is not deep enough and the food supply is insufficient, so it certainly will not establish a territory in this area. This explains why it has been so difficult for Qingmu to spot it over the past six months.

Half a month has passed, and the jungle, which had been experiencing slowed growth, has finally welcomed another rainfall. Aoki, who is well-versed in the soil-root system water redistribution system (abbreviated as HR), will quickly transfer the rainwater from the surface to the depths of the ground through the roots, increasing the total amount of available moisture in preparation for the next rainfall.

After about 10 days, Qingmu noticed that he had grown "whiskers." There were not many of them; upon counting, there were only 10: 5 growing from the branches on the ground and 5 emerging from the roots underground. They resembled the aerial roots of a young banyan tree, yet were somewhat different. Qingmu studied hetushu.com extensively, but still could not understand what these things were.

Aoki did not know what they were actually used for, but their unappealing image was still cast aside by Aoki.

More than half a year has passed, and finally someone has come again? I wonder what kind of person has arrived this time

In the course of a month, it rained only 3 times in the jungle, and the rainfall was not substantial. The jungle, which had nearly exhausted its stored water, eagerly opened its capacity to store water when the rain arrived, conserving it for future use

Finally, after another 2 months, Aoki finally extended his claws into the stream

The great water python, which had long haunted Qingmu's thoughts, finally appeared before him after his tireless waiting. Its cold blue scales, icy vertical eyes, massive body, fierce aura, and bloody maw sent shivers down Qingmu's spine. At that moment, it was lingering in a deep pool with a depth of 10 meters, continuously preying on the fish resting in the depths of the pool.

Finally, I no longer have to deal with the damned water conservation! I wonder what other difficulties could possibly stand in my way. Aoki, full of vigor and pride, felt exceptionally pleased.

At this moment, Qingmu was having a great time, full of enthusiasm. He did not overlook various creatures such as caterpillars, insect eggs, spiders, small birds, venomous snakes, wild chickens, turtles, small fish, moss, catfish, and frogs. Sometimes, Qingmu even took a perverse pleasure in carefully observing some animals in courtship, and of course, he did not miss the mating scenes, truly a "wicked" tree

The plants in the jungle sway gracefully, as if to welcome the arrival of the rainy season

In the past, it rained almost every day, so there was no need to worry about water shortages. However, that is no longer the case, as it now rains only once every ten days or so, making the water supply quite tight.