The Ancient One's Assessment

With curiosity and anticipation, Lin Hai and Gwen arrived at the Ancient One's quiet courtyard.

The pines and cypresses were as green as ever, and a faint sandalwood fragrance hung in the air. Compared with the cool austerity elsewhere in Kamar-Taj, this place held a serenity untouched by worldly concerns.

"Lin Hai, Gwen." The Ancient One's gaze passed over them and settled on Lin Hai's face. A hint of teasing entered her voice. "What brings you here? Lin Hai, I haven't finished working on the Dark Spear. If you've come to collect it, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

Lin Hai and Gwen hurriedly bowed.

The Ancient One's teasing did not trouble Lin Hai. He knew perfectly well that the Dark Spear had once been the weapon of Pluto, a dimensional Demon God, and held extremely pure and dangerous energies of darkness and death.

As the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One was already doing him an enormous favor by agreeing to purify and reforge a Demon God's weapon. How could he be so ungrateful as to press her for it?

Lin Hai gave a wry smile. "Please don't tease me, Ancient One. I came to see you about something else, not to ask for the Dark Spear."

The Ancient One raised an eyebrow, apparently unsurprised, and motioned for him to continue.

Lin Hai and Gwen told her everything: how the idea had arisen, how they had gathered materials, their initial scientific processing and research, the technical obstacle they could not overcome, and their decision to seek her help. Gwen added details where needed.

What Lin Hai could not quite read was her reaction. For most of their account, the Ancient One remained gentle and composed, listening intently and only occasionally interjecting with a question or two.

"Is the energy circuit you