Why Is the Light Dim?

"So, you mean this thing would keep spinning as long as Soul Power was fed into it?"

Inside the Chen Family Ironworks in Suotuo City, the rough-looking Chen Lin held up the head-sized 0.2-generation Soul Engine in his hand. As he poured his Soul Power into its opening, the central axle of the 0.2-generation Soul Engine actually began spinning rapidly, accompanied by a burst of silver light.

"Huh! Different Soul Power Levels actually produce different effects!" Chen Hong watched the Soul Engine erupt with a different color in Chen Lin's hand, surprise flashing through his eyes.

But this is fantastic! Hoh hoh hoh! There are so many unknown mysteries in this world! I get to name them all!

Chen Lin looked at the continuously spinning Soul Engine in his hand, shock flashing through his eyes. He had long known that his son was exceptionally gifted and clever from a young age, but he had never expected the boy to give him such an enormous surprise.

However, as Chen Lin watched the Soul Engine slowly stop spinning after he ceased supplying it with Soul Power, he still asked in confusion, "I know what you're trying to do. This Soul Engine can be regarded as a power source. Well, it converts power into other things through gear connections. But Hong, have you considered a question?"

"Old man, quit keeping us in suspense!"

"Tch, you little brat. Fine, what I mean is, you inject Soul Power to make the Soul Engine spin and provide power, thereby moving other things. But have you considered the issue of kinetic energy loss? With the same amount of Soul Power, a soul master can directly move objects at will, while a Soul Engine has to account for wear and tear. Don't you always talk about Energy Conservation?"

"Your Soul Engine's... what was it? Right, Energy Conversion Efficiency. Don't come up with so many complicated names next time. Even if that efficiency is high, you've still added an extra step to the use of Soul Power out of nowhere, increasing the loss. It would be more direct for a soul master to use Soul Power directly."

"Huh?" Chen Hong's initially unconcerned expression gradually turned to astonishment. He stared incredulously at Chen Lin's stubbled face, darkened from years in the forge, and exclaimed, "Old man! We haven't seen each other for a month, and you've secretly been studying! Didn't you used to dismiss everything I said?"

Chen Lin rolled his eyes at his precocious son and snorted through his nose, ignoring Chen Hong's teasing. He was still the head of the family, after all. He needed to save face, didn't he?

"I noticed the problem you raised long ago! But have you considered something?" Chen Hong took the Soul Engine from Chen Lin and gestured along its casing. "What if there were a material capable of storing Soul Power? Wouldn't that allow this power source to operate independently of a soul master?"

"A material that stores Soul Power?" Chen Lin froze slightly at that, then raised a hand to stroke his beard, seemingly sinking into thought. He said in surprise, "I don't know about metal ores, but I do know of one thing that can definitely store Soul Power!"

"Hm? What is it?" Chen Hong was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Chen Lin to give him inspiration.

"Spirit Bones!" Chen Lin chuckled.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Chen Hong said irritably. "Those things have no widespread value at all. Other than using them to test theories, how could they ever be mass-produced?"

"You brat, watch your manners!" Chen Lin slapped Chen Hong on the head, then snatched the Soul Engine back from him amid the boy's disgruntled expression. He held it before himself and examined it repeatedly. "Still, you make a good point. If we could really find something that stores Soul Power, then forget your Soul Engine—even Soul Power storage technology alone would be enough to put the two of us in the history books."

"Combined with your Soul Engine, perhaps we really could restore the glory of Soul Tools?" Chen Lin's voice was full of emotion, and his eyes shimmered with longing for the future.

Their Innate Soul Power was not high, and it had grown weaker with each generation, but who said only those with high Soul Power cultivation talent could leave their names in history? Who said only those of noble blood could influence the world?

As a craftsman, Chen Lin naturally harbored some hope of becoming a Divine Craftsman. In the past, he had thought that at most, he would remain a Spirit King for his entire life. But the appearance of his son, Chen Hong, had given him aspirations for greater heights.

The only regret Chen Lin felt deep down was that he had failed to leave his son with a sufficiently high starting point, or a bloodline with high-level Innate Soul Power. But now that Chen Hong was clever enough, his Soul Power talent did not impose such severe negative effects on him. Only then did Chen Lin feel somewhat more at peace when facing Chen Hong.

"Old man! Don't start expecting things on your own. Expecting things on your own only leads to disappointment on your own!" Chen Hong reminded Chen Lin, then dropped another bombshell. "The true purpose of the Soul Engine isn't simply to serve as an external power source. It has the theoretical potential to replace a soul master's individual Soul Power!"

"Old man! People have limits, but matter has no limits!"

The brilliant sunlight outside streamed through the gauze window and fell across Chen Hong's face, adding an extraordinary radiance to the ten-year-old boy.

Chen Lin stared blankly at his son. The sunlight refracted through the gauze window seemed to drape him in a multicolored cloak. In an instant, it made the room, which had been fairly bright, appear incomparably dim. At that moment, Chen Lin realized that his son seemed to be emitting a brilliant starlight known as confidence and vitality from every part of his body.

The sunlit world itself seemed to fall into darkness because of his arrival. This was not darkness brought by him; rather, he used true light to show the world what light was, what hope was.

Good and evil, right and wrong, were not things that existed from birth. They were ultimately defined, established, and perceived through repeated comparisons.

"...Then I have great faith in you. If you need any help, call for your old man anytime. I still have a little influence in Suotuo City." Chen Lin stared dazedly at Chen Hong for a long while before finally speaking slowly.

Chen Hong gave his seemingly dim-witted father a strange look and continued, "The reason I came to find you this time was to use your connections to contact the Spirit Hall Branch in Suotuo City."

"Oh? What for?" Chen Lin gradually composed himself and asked curiously.

"White Cloud Village discovered Soul Guidance Mithril Ore. I named it. It's a metal that can be used to make Soul Tools, and you should understand its value, right?"

"...This is a major matter. Wait here. I'll tidy up and go find Bishop Suotuo!"