From the Soul Motion Machine onwards, the Mechanized Douluo

Chapter 5 Why is the Light Dim? [Please add to your favorites! Please vote!]

"Hmm, you mean, this thing can keep spinning when infused with soul power?"

In the inner room of Chen's Blacksmith Shop in Soto City, the rough-looking man Chen Lin reached out and examined the 0.2 generation soul engine, about the size of his head, in his hand. As he poured his soul power into the gap, the axle in the middle of the 0.2 generation soul engine began to spin rapidly, accompanied by a burst of silver light.

"Huh! The effects are different even though the soul power level is different!" Chen Hong looked at the soul power machine that burst out with different colors in Chen Lin's hand, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"But this is just amazing! Oh ho ho ho! So many unknowns and mysteries exist in this world! All of them are my naming rights!"

Chen Lin looked at the Soul Motion Machine that was spinning in his hand, a look of shock flashing in his eyes. Although he had long known that his son was exceptionally talented and had been intelligent since childhood, he still did not expect that this kid would give him such a big surprise.

However, watching as the soul engine slowly stopped rotating as he ceased injecting soul power, Chen Lin still asked, somewhat puzzled, "I know what you want to see. This soul engine can be seen as a power source, converting power into other things through gear connections. But, Hong boy, have you considered this?"

"Old Deng, stop keeping me in suspense!"

"Tsk, you bastard, fine, what I'm trying to say is that you use soul power to make the soul engine rotate and provide power to move other things. But have you ever thought about the issue of kinetic energy wear and tear? With the same amount of soul power, a soul master can move objects at will, while a soul engine needs to consider wear and tear. Don't you always talk about the conservation of energy?"

"Your soul engine's... you know, energy conversion efficiency... next time, don't use so many complicated names. Even if the efficiency is high, it still adds an intermediate process to the use of soul power, increasing the loss. It's not as direct as a soul master using soul power directly."

"Huh?" Chen Hong's initially nonchalant expression slowly turned to surprise. He stared incredulously at Chen Lin's stubble-covered face, tanned from years of working in the furnace, and exclaimed, "Old Deng! It's been a month! You've been secretly studying all this time! Didn't you scoff at what I was saying?"

Chen Lin rolled his eyes at his precocious son, blew a breath into his nose, and ignored Chen Hong's teasing. After all, he was the head of the family; he had to save face too, you know?

"I noticed the problem you mentioned a long time ago! But have you considered this?" Chen Hong took the Soul Engine from Chen Lin and gestured with his hand on the outer shell, saying, "Do you think there's a material that can store Soul Power? If so, wouldn't this power source be able to operate independently of the Soul Master?"

"Materials for storing soul power?" Chen Lin paused slightly upon hearing this, then stroked his beard, seemingly lost in thought, and exclaimed in surprise, "I don't know about metallic minerals, but I know of something that can definitely store soul power!"

"Huh? What is it?" Chen Hong was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected to get inspiration from Chen Lin.

"A soul bone!" Chen Lin chuckled.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Chen Hong said, somewhat annoyed. "That thing has no universal value whatsoever. Besides being used for theoretical experiments, how can it possibly be mass-produced?"

"You brat, you have no manners again!" Chen Lin slapped Chen Hong on the head, then snatched the Soul Motion Machine from Chen Hong's hand amidst the latter's displeasure, placed it in front of him, and pondered it repeatedly, saying, "But what you said makes a lot of sense. If we can really find something that can store soul power, then putting aside your Soul Motion Machine, the technology of storing soul power alone will be enough to make us two go down in history."

"With your Soul Motion Tool, perhaps we can truly restore the glory of Soul Tools?" Chen Lin's tone was filled with emotion, and his eyes sparkled with anticipation for the future.

Although we are not born with high soul power, and each generation is weaker than the last, who says that only those with high talent in soul power cultivation can leave their mark on history? Who stipulates that only those with noble bloodlines can have an impact on the world?

As a craftsman, Chen Lin still harbored certain aspirations to become a master craftsman. He used to think that he might only ever reach the Soul King level, but the appearance of his son, Chen Hong, gave him the ambition to pursue a higher realm.

Chen Lin's only regret was that he hadn't left his son with a high enough starting point, nor with a bloodline possessing high-level innate soul power. However, seeing that Chen Hong was intelligent enough and that his soul power talent didn't have such a serious negative impact on him, Chen Lin felt a little more at ease when facing Chen Hong.

"Old Deng! Don't make unrealistic expectations; unrealistic expectations will only lead to disappointment!" Chen Hong reminded Chen Lin, then dropped a bombshell: "The true purpose of the Soul Motion Engine is not simply as an external power source, but rather it has the theoretical potential to replace the individual Soul Power of a Soul Master!"

"Old Deng! Humans have limits, but matter has no limits!"

The bright sunlight outside the window shone through the gauze curtains onto Chen Hong's face, adding a unique radiance to this ten-year-old boy.

Chen Lin stared blankly at his son. The sunlight outside the window, reflected through the gauze curtains, seemed to add a colorful feather coat to him, instantly making the originally bright room seem extremely dark. At this moment, Chen Lin realized that his son seemed to be radiating a kind of brilliant starlight called confidence and vitality.

The sunlit world seemed to fall into darkness because of his arrival. This was not the darkness he brought, but rather he showed the world what light and hope truly are.

Good and evil, right and wrong, are not inherently present, but are ultimately defined, established, and perceived through repeated comparisons.

"Then I have high hopes for you. If you need any help, just call your old man anytime. I still have some influence in Soto City." Chen Lin stared at Chen Hong for a long time before finally speaking slowly.

Chen Hong looked at his seemingly foolish father with some oddness and continued, "I came to see you this time because I wanted to use your connections to contact the Soto City Martial Soul Branch Hall."

"Oh? Is there something wrong?" Chen Lin slowly composed himself and asked curiously.

"A soul-guided mithril mine has been discovered in Baiyun Village. I named it; it's a metal that can be used to make soul tools. You should know its value, right?"

"This is a serious matter. Wait a moment, I'll pack up and go find Bishop Soto!"

(End of this chapter)