Chapter 110 Theories

"Damn you, you little traitor!"

Qiqi's loud shout reverberated in the hallway, alarming Ikasa, and Chu Kuang. They rushed to the store room and saw an opened jar in Luo Qiqi's hand and another one on the floor.

Ikasa rushed to the girl's side and took the jar away from her. He vigilantly scanned the surroundings for any sign of intrusion. His eyes fell on the lock whose link was sliced in two.

Combining this clue with the jar on the floor, he understood who the mischief maker was. There was only one being powerful enough to slice the lock in two and at the same time greedy for the Energy Infusion Water.

"Moony! Come out. I know you are here."

Ikasa sternly said, looking at the space near the jar on the floor. The little fox appeared with its ears and tail drooped. Its innocent eyes begging to be forgiven.

"You little thief! If you wanted a jar of water, you should've come to me. Why did you break into the storeroom?"

From the current situation, Ikasa thought Moony had broken into the storeroom and Luo Qiqi had discovered him. His admonishment for the fox was justified. But the Fox felt wronged when he saw Luo Qiqi holding back a snicker while standing behind Ikasa.

It immediately pointed at her and growled, as if to express 'she was the one who incited me'.

After spending a month with the little Fox, Ikasa and others could understand some basic noises and gestures the little fox made. He turned his attention to Luo Qiqi.

Her laughter immediately stopped and she removed the palm covering her mouth. Looking closely at her face, he noticed her wet chin. Suddenly his sixth sense activated and he could see her entire body glowing.

"Qiqi! Did you also drink Energy Infused Water despite my repeated warnings?"

Ikasa inquired in a grave voice upon seeing her body filled to the brim with energy. She immediately avoided his eyes and meekly answered, "No."

Her reluctance to meet his eyes let him know she was lying. But he still wanted an answer. He narrowed his eyes and his voice hardened, "Luo Qiqi!"

"I am sorry, Big Brother…. Sniffle…. I was greedy because I wanted… sniffle…. To taste this sweet water again."

She broke down under his intense glare. Ikasa's stance softened but he did not console her right away. He first took a look at the jar he had taken from her.

'This is about one-third empty. That means she consumed around 30 drops! How is she still fine?'

Concern took over his anger. He crouched until he was at eye level with the crying girl. Gently caressing her hair, he wiped her tears with his other hand.

"Qiqi, my little darling, are you okay? Are you feeling full, like you might burst? If you are feeling any type of discomfort in your body, tell your big brother. I won't blame you."

His soothing voice calmed her sobs. Moony also approached and rubbed its tail on her calf, comforting her. She answered Ikasa's question with slight hesitance.

"I feel good. After drinking it, I felt like cultivating a lot."

With her answer, his rapidly beating heart returned to normal. Once he knew she was fine, he began to grill her for details.

"Did you drink one-third of that jar by yourself?"

"I spilled a little but yes. After drinking, I immediately performed the exercises of our Cultivation technique. It felt amazing! You should try it too, Big Brother!"

Once she saw Ikasa's anger disappear she returned to her cheeky self quickly. Ikasa shook his head, wondering if her earlier crying was just an act. Still, her experience opened his eyes to a new possibility.

'Does that mean the limit of 10 drops per person is false? No, Qiqi only felt better after she exercised according to Around the Body in 80 Breaths. It means it is the result of my cultivation technique.'

His eyes fell on Chu Kuang, standing at the door. His curiosity was ignited upon seeing a person who could test his theory.

Chu Kuang had yet to use the top-grade manual. He was a pinnacle Path Forger who used a mid-grade cultivation technique. In Ikasa's eyes, he was the perfect person to test his theory.

Even if he drank an extra drop of Energy Infused water, it would cause him some discomfort and not cause him to explode like what happens to some low-level Path Forgers.

Ikasa grabbed another Jar and led everyone out of the storeroom. He sent Luo Qiqi and Chu Kuang to the grounds while he rushed to his bedroom to print a single-use Top Grade Manual.

Soon, he was back in the grounds with a brand new manual in his hand.

Luo Qiqi was explaining her experience with excitement to the friendly bald uncle.

"...and then when I exercised, I felt like I was breathing through my whole body. It was wonderful!"

Ikasa's arrival stopped their chatter. Chu Kuang looked at the young man with some apprehension.

"Uncle Chu, drink a drop of water from the jar and perform your martial cultivation art."

The thing he was worried about came to be. His young master was really asking him to be a test subject. Ikasa noticed the gloom on his face and quickly assured him.

"Don't worry, Uncle Chu. Nothing will happen to you. You are already a Pinnacle Path Forger. A single drop of Energy Infused Water won't harm you."

Chu Kuang believed in Ikasa's sincerity and drank the drop with faith in his words. Soon, his body turned hot. He began to perform his poses trying to absorb the vast energy unleashed in his body.

Ikasa observed as the energy traveled through his body and superimposed upon the energy paths of his Spirit. A lesser number of Energy Paths cleared meant he was having trouble absorbing the energy rampaging in his physical body.

Seeing the bald man's face contort in pain, Ikasa handed him the book.

"Uncle Chu, use it."

As soon as Chu Kuang opened the book, a light flashed and entered his body. It became a beacon for the rampaging energy. As more and more energy gathered around it, the dot of light became brighter and brighter.

Soon after, it began its journey, a cocoon wrapped around Chu Kuang, obscuring him from Ikasa's view. Unbeknownst to Ikasa, the dot of light began to dim as it passed through numerous uncleared Energy Paths.

Instead of just creating a rudimentary path, the light cleared the Energy channel until it was at the Intermediate realm of Path Forging. The excess work meant the light was about to fizzle out before it could clear all the Energy Paths.

At this time, the little Fox who was watching bumped into the jar in Luo Qiqi's hand, splashing it on the Energy Cocoon. The splashed water was absorbed by the cocoon. With the infusion of more energy, the dimming light became brighter.

Though it was the crudest method of absorption where less than 10% of the energy was absorbed, it helped complete the cycle in Chu Kuang's body.

"Why did you do that, Moony?"

Luo Qiqi admonished the fox. Ikasa also looked disgruntled at the fox's sudden actions. He hoped it would not have any adverse effects, not knowing that the action had in fact prevented a mishap.

Ikasa anxiously awaited for Chu Kuang to come out while the fox and Luo Qiqi quarreled in the background. Every moment that passed seemed like an eternity and he was gripped with anxiety and guilt. His worries grew when Chu Kuang did not appear even after half an hour.

'The standard time taken by this technique is around 23 minutes. Only when an Energy Rain occurs does the time exceed 30 minutes.'

After the Energy Rain in Sal City, Ikasa started to note the standard time and time under the Energy Rain for his techniques. It was so he could detect if any accidents happen and be prepared to respond to them.

As his mind went through the instances where he used the Top Grade Manual, his eyes fell on the empty jar lying near the cocoon. An outrageous idea flashed through his mind.

'Is splashing Energy Infused Water equivalent to creating artificial Energy rain?'

This was the only plausible explanation for why the time had been extended. As he arrived at this conclusion, the energy vortex began to fade away. Like fat and bald butterfly, Chu Kuang emerged from the energy cocoon.

Ikasa rushed to his side to check on his condition. He may have theories but actual confirmation was needed to assure his heart.

He looked at the thinner Chu Kuang with concern. He was the one who had subjected him to the experiment. Thus, guilt from seeing his suffering gnawed at his heart.

'No wonder doctors usually do not operate on the people they care for. Next time I choose to experiment, I'll pick someone who I don't care about.'

Ikasa thought while Chu Kuang stretched his slightly thinner body. He checked the state of his Energy Path and he looked doubtful.

"Is there some problem Uncle Chu? Are you still feeling pain?"

He asked, carefully scrutinizing the man's body. Chu Kuang shook his head vigorously, indicating he was fine.

"No, Master. I am in much better condition now. Your manuals are worthy of praise. It's just that I did not regress as much as others. Should I be worried?"

Ikasa was surprised at his claim. As soon as he sensed the recultivating Chu Kuang's realm, he received a wonderful surprise.