Chapter 3380 — Xiaoxiao's Breakthrough Opportunity

Yu Xiaoke had already begun trying to accept the people around Wei Zhao. Though she loved the identity of "Arrow-Brand," in reality, Wei Zhao was simply Wei Zhao.

"Arrow-Brand, my brother and I are tired too. Are there any spare rooms here?" Yu Xiaoke did not want to disturb Wei Zhao; she knew he was surely going to see Wang Xinyan, so she would not add to the trouble.

"Yes, I'll find two guest rooms for you." Wei Zhao nodded, rose to his feet, and arranged rooms for Yu Xiaoke and Yu Dake.

Once everything was settled, Wei Zhao headed toward his own room. Wang Xinyan had been placed there, and now that Wei Zhao had obtained the energy stones, he would naturally tend to her first.

Pushing open the door, Wei Zhao saw Wang Xinyan lying pale-faced on his bed. She seemed even more gaunt than when he had left—though that might, of course, have been his imagination.

Wei Zhao took two energy stones from the jade pendant's space. They had been charging for the past few days. As for whether these two stones could wake Wang Xinyan, Wei Zhao was not certain, for he did not know whether she, in her comatose state, could automatically absorb the energy within the stones.

In any case, Wei Zhao first placed the energy stones beside Wang Xinyan's pillow and then quietly observed, wanting to see whether the stones would gradually dim in color—which would prove that their energy was being drawn away by Wang Xinyan.

In truth, Wei Zhao had originally wondered whether Wang Xinyan might absorb the spiritual qi of heaven and earth from his own body. But that seemed impossible: Wang Xinyan had no mental cultivation formula, and the energy within his body was not pure spiritual qi either, so it could not be converted into the energy Wang Xinyan needed and enter her body. She was different from a spirit beast.

After watching for a while, however, Wei Zhao noticed no obvious change in the energy stones. He therefore took out his phone, preparing to ask Aunt Qing—after all, she ought to know more about such matters.

"Aunt Qing?" Wei Zhao dialed Aunt Qing's number. Given her status in the Ice Palace, she was permitted an independent satellite phone.

"Xiaoyi, how is it? How is that friend of yours—the one whose health you mentioned?" Aunt Qing's caring voice came through the line, warming Wei Zhao's heart.

"Aunt Qing, I've found the energy stones. But I placed them by her pillow, and she still hasn't woken up. And I don't see much change in the stones—it seems she isn't absorbing them?" Wei Zhao asked, somewhat anxious.

"Not absorbing them is impossible. She is absorbing the spiritual qi of heaven and earth around her through her body's natural processes, but the speed and flow are rather slow—you cannot see it with the naked eye," Aunt Qing explained. "Never mind her; even a cultivator using energy stones for cultivation would not see any change in the stones without several days' time. There is nothing strange about it."

"So that's how it is!" Wei Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Then... when will she wake up?"

"That is hard to say. It depends on how abundant the spiritual qi of heaven and earth is around her, and also on how much energy the stones contain and how large they are," Aunt Qing said.

"How large they are?" Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback. "Size matters too?"

"Indeed. The larger the energy stone, the more energy can be extracted from it in the same amount of time. Of course, this also depends on how much energy the stone itself contains," Aunt Qing explained.

"Then what if there were more energy stones? If many stones were placed around her, would that help her wake sooner?" Wei Zhao was delighted by Aunt Qing's explanation.

"Naturally. But energy stones are rather scarce, and very few people would do such a thing," Aunt Qing said. "By the way, Xiaoyi, have you obtained a lot of energy stones?"

"Yes, I brought back a whole cartload from the Paoli clan—the trunk was packed full." Wei Zhao did not conceal it, though he said nothing about the stones' condition.

"So many?!" Aunt Qing was startled. "If that's the case, then if you have spares, I suggest you give a few to Xiaoxiao. She has no level barrier; with energy stones in hand, they could help her rapidly break through to the Great Perfection of late Heaven-rank peak strength!"

"That works too?" Wei Zhao had not expected the energy stones to have such a use.

"It does. It is only that the cultivation world has few energy stones left, and what remains is concentrated in the Five Luminaries Sect. Although the Five Luminaries Sect is..." Here Aunt Qing suddenly fell silent. She did not know how much Wei Zhao knew and did not want him drawn in, lest it bring trouble.

"What about the Five Luminaries Sect?" Wei Zhao pressed. "The Inheritor Plan must be led by the Five Luminaries Sect, no? Wouldn't they give the energy stones to those inheritors to use?"

"If there were surplus, perhaps they would. But right now they must concentrate on raising the strength of a cultivator called the 'Medium,' so he certainly takes priority," Aunt Qing said. "As for Xiaoxiao... the relationship between our Ice Palace and the Five Luminaries Sect is very delicate at present, and I do not know whether we can obtain any in the end. Of course, a small amount—one or two stones—would not be of much use."

"Then how many energy stones would Xiaoxiao need to raise her strength to the Great Perfection of late Heaven-rank peak?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Energy stones the size of a fist—about twenty or so," Aunt Qing said. "From Yellow rank to Earth rank, a single stone suffices. But from Earth rank to the Great Perfection of late Heaven-rank peak, it takes about twenty. The higher the rank, the more spiritual qi of heaven and earth is required—you understand the principle, don't you?"

"I understand. Twenty? Fine, no problem—I'll have thirty sent to you!" Wei Zhao had plenty of energy stones on hand; thirty was truly nothing.

"What?! Thirty? There's no need for that many!" Aunt Qing was startled. "Xiaoyi, if you give them all to me, what about your friend's side?"

"It doesn't matter. I still have more," Wei Zhao said. "Oh, but please don't discard the used energy stones—bring them back to me. I have a use for them."

"Used ones? Does the Paoli clan still need to recover used energy stones?" Aunt Qing was slightly puzzled. "In our Ice Palace's warehouse, there should be over a hundred spent, discarded energy stones. If you need them, have someone take them back as well—they are of little use sitting here with us."