Seeing Lin Yi's expression grow increasingly strange, as though he had a long-held sarcastic remark ready to burst out, Lu Zhao hurried to explain. Although he did not understand why Lin Yi lacked even such basic common knowledge as "minerals can hold supernatural power," he said, "I was only making a comparison... And technically speaking, it isn't that rare minerals necessarily contain supernatural power. Rather, substances containing supernatural power are more likely to turn into minerals over time."
Minerals... contained supernatural power? Lin Yi narrowed his eyes. What a novel concept. It suddenly sparked his interest.
Yet he did not find it all that absurd. After experiencing so many absurd things, even greater absurdities seemed to have become normal.
Besides, this was not without precedent.
Otherwise, why would entities contaminated by supernatural power turn into "stone"?
Sculptures, Night-Walking Species, and so on-weren't they all stones, in terms of how they manifested?
Stones containing supernatural power...
Minerals...
Lin Yi suddenly felt a spark of inspiration flash through his mind. It connected some very subtle things and lines of logic, but he could not sort it out just yet.
"But..." Lin Yi began slowly, "if that jadeite in your hand counts as a 'spirit stone,' doesn't the thing in my hand count too? What are you after, trading spirit stones for spirit stones?"
Lu Zhao said, "They both contain supernatural power, but there are differences between spirit stones."
"Mine is better?" Lin Yi asked.
If mine isn't good, what makes you think you can trade for it?
But if mine is better, why should I trade it to you?
Lu Zhao actually grew less anxious. He was not afraid of Lin Yi asking questions; he was afraid of him asking none. So he said, "It's actually difficult to establish a clear standard