Compared to the Stone, the Blood Rhizome seemed more practical and versatile. Larry figured that when he eventually traveled to the Dark Continent, he'd come across many magical plants with unique effects.
There had to be a reason those plants only grew there and not in the Six Continents, it likely had to do with the environment. He recalled that once, Netero's son, Beyond, had brought back an alchemical plant from the Dark Continent, which hinted at the mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
This wasn't just a symbol of his successful return from the Dark Continent, it was also a hopeful prize he was eager to cultivate. He hadn't brought back the alchemical plant simply to use it; that alone wasn't impressive. His real goal was to grow it on a large scale.
Only by producing it in quantity could it truly become valuable. Unfortunately, due to changes in the environment, there was no suitable place on the six continents to cultivate this plant. As a result, the alchemical plant he had painstakingly brought back essentially withered and died.
But with the blood rhizome in his possession, he knew he could solve this problem. The blood rhizome could absorb a significant amount of his aura, not a bad thing at all.
In fact, the more energy it absorbed, the stronger its effects would be, which meant a higher success rate when cultivating plants. In the future, when he returned to explore the Dark Continent, he planned to store the harvested plants inside Gengar's stomach and use the blood rhizome to nurture them there.
On top of that, the blood rhizome also boosted the strength of Pokemon, acting like a "miracle seed." Right now, he didn't have any plants that needed cultivating, nor did he have other grass-type Pokemon, so he let Ferrothorn wear it first.
"How is it?" Pyon leaned in quietly, and even Larry could detect a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"Good," Larry replied with a firm nod, a smile spreading across his face. This harvest had exceeded all his expectations.
Originally, he had only bought the plant because he noticed a aura attached to it and found it interesting. Who would have thought it would turn out to be such a powerful tool for enhancing mental focus?
Although he didn't say much, Pyon could tell from Larry's expression that this harvest was truly impressive. Seeing Larry so happy, Pyon smiled quietly, covering his mouth in delight.
Besides the blood rhizome, Larry also bought some local medicinal herbs based on the old man's recommendations. These included dragon beard grass, which was said to prolong life, and ironwood powder, used to treat bruises.
The most unique item was the blood fruit, a rare medicinal material found only on Yoshi Island. It was the fruit of the blood tree, a special plant that took many years to grow on the island.
It takes a full twenty years for a blood tree to grow from a seed to the point where it starts producing fruit, and then another ten years before it officially bears fruit. So, that's twenty years for the tree itself and an additional ten for the fruit to appear. The number of fruits it produces depends on the size of the tree, but usually, it's only a handful, rarely more than ten at a time. The blood fruit itself looks a lot like an apple but is much redder, bright and vivid, like fresh blood. Its skin is soft, similar to a tomato's, but despite that softness, it's surprisingly tough and not easy to break.
The fruit gets its name not just from its deep red color but also from its incredible ability to restore blood. As the name suggests, the blood fruit has a powerful blood-replenishing effect.
If an ordinary person suffers severe bleeding, just eating one can replenish their lost blood within moments. It's almost like a life-saving miracle.
Many people die from heavy bleeding during surgeries or accidents, but having a blood fruit on hand is like having an extra life. Because of its rare quantity and amazing effects, each fruit is extremely valuable, definitely not something ordinary people can afford. Only high-ranking nobles or those with plenty of money, like V5-level individuals, can use them freely.
For the old man, this blood fruit is his treasure of the stall and the most precious item he has. Larry, who isn't short on cash, didn't hesitate to pay for it and listened carefully to the old man's explanation.
The blood tree only grows on Yoshi Island, and this is connected to the island's Red Rock. With Pyon standing nearby as proof, Larry knew the old man's words were true and that the blood fruit's effects weren't exaggerated.
No matter how many you have, it's never too many, although Larry probably doesn't need them. After all, with the blood rhizome he just got, he wondered whether the blood fruit would have any effect on Pokemon. It's great for quickly restoring a large amount of blood in humans, but could it also help Pokemon recover from serious injuries in a short time?
'Can this method match the effect of Happiny's egg-laying skill?' We'll only find out after giving it a try later.
After finishing their shopping at the herbal medicine stall, Larry and Pyon moved on to another vendor. This one dealt in fossils, but unlike other shops, it had a unique way of buying and selling, something called "gambling on stones."
The name might sound familiar, especially if you've been to Earth, because it's pretty much the same concept. You pick the stones yourself, then cut and polish them to see what's inside. On Earth, people gamble for Jade or gems, but here, on Yoshi Island, the gamble is for valuable fossils.
Yoshi Island is famous for its fossils, with several large fossil valleys scattered around. Some stones are excavated right on the spot, while others are kept intact and brought to towns and cities for this gambling game.
If the stone turns out to have no fossils inside, or only a few that are badly damaged, you lose your money. But if the fossil inside is intact and in good condition, it can be sold for a pretty good price. Fossils here aren't cheap, especially those from Yoshi Island.
You can find all kinds, from moles to dragons, and naturally, the rarer the fossil, the higher the value. Of course, even though fossils are the main attraction, some stones might also contain minerals or gems, so there's always a chance of something unexpected.
The stall was noticeably larger than the old man's herbal medicine stall next to it. It was set up in a circle, displaying stones of various sizes and shapes.
Several people stood around, each holding something like a magnifying glass, carefully examining the stones' lines, cracks, and other details. They were so focused, some almost pressed their faces right up to the stones to get a better look.
Larry glanced at these serious, well-equipped older folks and then turned to Pyon. Maybe, as an Information Hunter, she'd be interested in trying this out?
But she shook her head. "No, I'll just watch you play."