Like a Ray in My Night (Part 4)

735 No Idea, Really

Luo Lin nodded again and put this item away as well. Anyway, he knew that their chances of doing something that would make a big difference in such a unique situation were slim. After all, Yan Hong Min had never anticipated such circumstances so what he had in mind when he created these things was naturally very different from what the actual situation was. Coupled with the natural strength difference between levels, there simply was no way to have anything on hand to keep their little junior completely safe. They all knew that so they would take whatever they could, even if it wasn't perfect.

The final item Yan Hong Min handed over looked a bit like a bucket but at this point, neither Luo Lin nor Shen Lei thought much of that. Yan Hong Min always used whatever he could find for his inventions and oftentimes, everyday items were the easiest for him to get. Just one trip down the mountain and he'd already have everything he needed. A bucket was under the least odd things he had pulled out for them to see throughout the years.

Yan Hong Min pursed his lips when he handed this item over. "Well ... this is actually the earliest prototype of the magical box I gave to Mei Chao Bing. You probably know about that?"

Shen Lei arched an eyebrow. "The one that can store all kinds of energies?"

"Mn!" Yan Hong Min felt relieved that they both knew about it. This meant that there was less to explain. "Well, my original idea was storing energy and then being able to release it. Basically as a way to prepare for a bad situation long before it even happens and then having an attack at the ready that might even go beyond your own level."

In fact, back when he originally had the idea, he felt that this could be a great idea for the older disciples of the sect to keep the younger ones safe on missions. Like, just imagine if the magical box could be produced in series and every disciple input their strongest attack into theirs as soon as they reached the next higher realm and then handed the box down to the younger disciples who'd either pass it on if they didn't need it or create their own for the disciples who came after them. It had been the most perfect idea he had ever conceived!

Of course, the practical implementation had been a different matter altogether. The final prototype was so difficult to construct that he was afraid nobody but he could do it. Plus, the materials he used were extremely precious. His Master would probably have a heart attack if he ever found out what exactly had all gone into it. He had always felt that it was worth it though! But anyway, producing more than one of them was impossible. Still, he had learned a lot from creating and upgrading it over the years and, naturally, his original test objects had also produced some interesting ideas to think about. Just like this bucket.

"To do that, you need a way to absorb the energy first though. Like, usually, if it hits something, there'll be an impact and the object would break. So I came up with a way for an object to just ... take in that energy first." He scratched his head, feeling that he wasn't explaining it well. "Anyway, if you point this bucket, it can receive energy without being destroyed."

Shen Lei and Luo Lin looked at the thing that really didn't seem like much and exchanged another glance. This seemed a bit too fantastical to be true even for Yan Hong Min but he had created the magical box so ... maybe this was true after all?

Shen Lei cleared his throat and decided to just make sure. "So this bucket can take in energy and store it?"

"No, no!" Yan Hong Min hastily shook his head and even went as far as waving his hands so these two wouldn't get the wrong idea. "It takes it in but it doesn't store it."

The other two waited but there was no further explanation.

"So ... what happens to the energy then?" Shen Lei couldn't help but furrow his brows. His theoretical understanding certainly wasn't as deep as Yan Hong Min's when it came to spiritual items but ... spiritual energy didn't simply vanish. It was always there and could only be ... moved or transformed into something else. You couldn't just ... absorb it and make it vanish.

"To be honest ... I have no idea."

Shen Lei stared at him in shock. "What is that supposed to mean?" It couldn't be what he thought it was, could he? Was this invention even safe to use?!

Yan Hong Min had the decency to look a bit sheepish when he was asked this directly. "Well ... it means what I am saying: it kind of just absorbs it and then ... nothing. I am not entirely sure where it goes. I suppose there has to be a gathering spot ... somewhere but I wouldn't know where."

He was pretty good with arrays since he oftentimes needed them for his inventions but he also needed to know a lot about all of the materials and many inventions worked by trial and error. There were bound to be a few ... oversights in what he had learned. Especially so since the Teng Yong Sect wasn't one that specialized in creating arrays.

If this was the Li Ren Sect, they certainly wouldn't let a disciple get away with something like this. But here? He was lucky if he found an Elder who shared his enjoyment of learning these things and could discuss with them! If he didn't, all of it relied on him finding some book to study and understand on his own and all misunderstandings he had could only be solved by himself as well.

This bucket had been made as a mere test object a long time ago. He really couldn't recall all of the details and he also hadn't cared so much about the specifics back then. As long as the general absorption worked, he was alright with it so he had moved on to working on the magical box itself after getting this done. Who had time to care where the energy went?!