Verification

After taking the energy stone into his hand, Wang Tianyu's heartbeat quickened considerably.

Su Pengfei gave Wang Tianyu half a day off, saying that the match just now had been mentally exhausting. He told Wang Tianyu to rest properly for the afternoon and come back for training tomorrow.

Su Pengfei's leave was exactly what Wang Tianyu wanted. He had already been desperate for time to verify the matter of the energy stones.

Wang Tianyu slipped the energy stone into his pocket, then put his hand into the pocket as well.

These energy stones were extremely valuable. Leaving aside their inherent worth, the mere possibility that they could bring the system back to life made them priceless treasures.

If not for his concern that there were too many eyes and ears in the martial arts building, Wang Tianyu would have loved to start trying right now.

"Driver, East City Imperial View."

Wang Tianyu hailed a taxi outside the building.

"Driver, please hurry. I have something urgent to deal with when I get back."

The yearning in his heart grew stronger and stronger, and Wang Tianyu could not help urging the taxi driver.

The driver in the front seat glanced at Wang Tianyu through the rearview mirror, then said, "Handsome, this is the city. There are surveillance cameras everywhere, and traffic is heavy too. Even if I want to go faster, I can't."

Although the driver was already driving right at the speed limit, and even sped through some places without surveillance cameras, Wang Tianyu still felt it was too slow.

The driver was already doing his best to hurry, so Wang Tianyu did not make an unreasonable fuss.

Wang Tianyu looked out the window, forcing himself to shift his attention away from the energy stone.

Yet as he watched the scattered buildings outside, his attention was barely diverted at all.

Finally, amid Wang Tianyu's immense anxiety, the taxi slowly stopped at the entrance to his residential complex.

He handed the driver the fare he had prepared long ago, then jogged all the way home.

"Hurry up! Why hasn't this elevator come yet?"

Looking at the elevator stalled on the seventh floor, Wang Tianyu kept pressing the button.

The elevator stayed on the seventh floor for a long time. It only arrived at last when Wang Tianyu was about to start cursing.

When he opened the door, there was no one at home.

His parents were still at work, and Wang Mengmeng was still at school.

Without even taking a sip of water, Wang Tianyu shut the door and drew the curtains.

Sitting on a stool, Wang Tianyu carefully took the energy stones out of his bag.

He took one from the pouch. Under the light, the energy stone glittered with an unusual radiance.

It can work. It definitely can.

Staring at the energy stone in his hand, Wang Tianyu silently encouraged himself.

"Breathe in! Breathe out!"

After taking a deep breath, Wang Tianyu no longer restrained the impulse in his heart.

Once he let go of that impulse, Wang Tianyu felt his body relax. A warm sensation began to emanate from the energy stone.

The warm sensation started in his palm and slowly traveled up his arm.

It felt very comfortable, as though someone were massaging him with their fingers.

The warm current flowed slowly through Wang Tianyu's body. As it moved, its temperature grew lower and lower until it finally vanished completely.

When he sensed the warm current disappear, Wang Tianyu opened his eyes as well.

Looking at the energy stone in his hand, Wang Tianyu drew in a surprised breath.

The beautiful, glittering energy stone no longer looked as it had before.

What remained in Wang Tianyu's hand was no longer that shining energy stone, but a pile of white powder without the slightest gleam.

"How did the energy stone turn into this? Could all the energy inside have been absorbed?"

Its very name gave some clue: energy stones should have been formed from condensed energy.

Now that these energy stones had changed from crystals into powder, it was very likely that all the energy within them had dissipated.

Ignoring the powder in his hand for the moment, Wang Tianyu began examining the system.

"Basic Cultivation Method": Level Twelve. (Cannot be upgraded)

"Basic Fist Technique": Level Two. (Can be upgraded)

"Energy Points": One.

"It really works! It actually succeeded!"

Looking at the changes on the system panel, Wang Tianyu's suspended heart finally settled.

The energy points had changed from zero to one, while Basic Fist Technique had changed from cannot be upgraded to can be upgraded.

All these changes showed that the energy stones truly were connected to the system.

The energy stone had turned from crystal into powder, and the system's data had changed as well.

The appearance of these things confirmed Wang Tianyu's initial guess.

That was, energy stones could increase the system's energy points!

There was an exchange ratio between energy stones and energy points: one energy stone equaled one energy point.

"Let's try it again."

Wang Tianyu prepared to try once more. After all, the conversion between energy stones and energy points had only been carried out once.

"Is there a limit to the absorption of energy stones? Will the exchange rate between the two gradually decline?"

Wang Tianyu still needed to verify these things one by one.

He still had nine energy stones in hand, enough to complete his tests.

Wang Tianyu did not casually throw away the energy stone powder in his hand. He put it into a bag.

Though the powder appeared to have lost all value, Wang Tianyu did not discard it carelessly.

His understanding of both energy stones and the system was still very limited, so being cautious could never be wrong.

After putting away the powder, Wang Tianyu picked up another energy stone.

The same warm current appeared. Once it settled in his body, the energy stone in Wang Tianyu's hand turned into powder once more.

"Basic Cultivation Method": Level Twelve. (Cannot be upgraded)

"Basic Fist Technique": Level Two. (Can be upgraded)

"Energy Points": Two.

Seeing the words on the system panel, Wang Tianyu's mood improved even further.

"Let's try again!"

Wang Tianyu had no intention of keeping these energy stones.

For one thing, the energy stones were too valuable, and Wang Tianyu had no good way to keep them safe.

For another, Wang Tianyu needed to verify whether the system had any limit on its absorption of energy stones.

If there was no limit, then his strength could continue rising steadily.

With the system's help, Wang Tianyu had no doubt that he could become a powerful martial artist.

Though energy stones were extremely valuable, and Wang Tianyu could immediately gain a vast fortune by exchanging them for money, he had no intention of doing so.

These energy stones were like an early investment. Wang Tianyu would not be stingy with them.

Once I become a martial artist, what money can't I earn back?

Having silently made up his mind, Wang Tianyu picked up another energy stone.

Very soon, all ten energy stones had turned into powder in the plastic bag.

After putting away the powder, Wang Tianyu finally confirmed the system's absorption principle.

One energy stone could be exchanged for one energy point.

After ten energy stones disappeared, the energy points in Wang Tianyu's system had become ten.

Moreover, the system seemed to have no upper limit for absorbing energy stones.

At least, there was no limit at the number ten.

"Mom, I'm going out to eat. Don't make dinner for me tonight."

Wang Tianyu had not been home long before Mother Wang brought Wang Mengmeng back.

Since there was a dinner gathering that evening, Wang Tianyu would not be eating at home.

"Alright. Remember to come back early, and don't drink too much."

Wang Tianyu had grown up. He had his own social circle and friends.

Mother Wang was a very open-minded person, and she would not interfere too much in such matters.

"I know, Mom."

Wang Tianyu smiled. His mother's concern made him feel very warm.

"Brother, I want candy. Bring some back for me, okay? Mom never buys me any."

Wang Mengmeng leaned close to Wang Tianyu's ear and spoke cautiously.

Wang Mengmeng's voice was very soft. Even though she had leaned right up to Wang Tianyu's ear, he could barely make out what she was saying.

Wang Mengmeng loved sweets, but Mother Wang was afraid that too much sugar would be bad for her teeth, so Wang Mengmeng rarely got to eat candy.

"Too much candy is bad for you. How about I buy Mengmeng some fruit instead?"

Wang Tianyu also leaned close to Wang Mengmeng's ear as he spoke.

"Mm, okay then."

Wang Mengmeng agreed readily.

"Then I'll bring Mengmeng lots and lots of fruit later."

The siblings' whispering caught Mother Wang's attention.

"What are you two doing?"

"Mom, nothing. I'm just playing around with Mengmeng."

Wang Tianyu had no intention of exposing his little sister's tiny scheme.

"Nothing, Mom."

After saying that, the siblings exchanged a knowing smile.