Master of the Stars

Luo Nan understood tacitly when he met Worker Zhai’s gaze. "Then, let me try."

"Hellooo. I did use my penetrative energy." Crag Burst wasn’t about to give up. He was a bit impolite, for he harbored vigilance deep down. "You were talking to me first, not even mentioning Nanster. Plus, there isn’t much difference when comparing me to Leister. Why can’t I achieve the same result as him?"

Worker Zhai responded gently, "I’m thinking of two reasons. One is that my amplification device is more suitable for mentally enhanced ability users. And you, a typical case of physical enhancement, have a different direction of interference. The second is that the miniature rhombohedron may be similar to our wristbands. There is a level for daily application, and there is a different level for developers."

Crag Burst rubbed his large bald head. He felt that what Worker Zhai said was reasonable, and he turned his gaze toward Luo Nan. Luo Nan nodded and said, "The work Worker Zhai did just now was extremely delicate and precise. He used his mental power and borrowed a bit of electrical current from within the device to realize an amplification of interference in the material plane. But when it comes to you, Brother Crag Burst, you completely destroy the amplification effects."

"So it was like this." Crag Burst nodded his head and looked at Worker Zhai once more, this time with a different meaning in his eyes. "Do you have an affinity for electrons? This is quite a decent ability. It’s especially suitable for a repair technician. You can be considered a tiger that has grown wings. There aren’t any places without electricity these days."

Worker Zhai burst out in laughter. "It isn’t suitable for a repair technician; it’s necessary. If I wasn’t a mentally-inclined ability user who can realize an affinity with electrons, engaging in deeper research would just be wishful thinking."

He cast his gaze at Luo Nan with complicated emotions. "I don’t even dare to think about the level of visual power that people like Mr. Luo possess. Us amateurs who haven’t even started are indeed left in the dust when compared with the Awakened."

"This one here, Nanster, has special circumstances." Crag Burst made way for Nanster as he spoke. He easily added, "I really feel like I’ve seen this toy somewhere before."

Luo Nan didn’t speak. He took a step forward and grasped the metal rod. The tentacles of the miniature rhombohedron within the device cavity had retracted when Crag Burst had let go, and Luo Nan didn’t put out his power in time. The tentacles fully retracted, and Luo Nan didn’t make any further movements.

"What’s wrong?" Crag Burst didn’t understand.

"He should be observing." Worker Zhai Worker Zhai was a precision-slanted mentally enhanced ability user. Even though it was impossible for him to perceive Luo Nan’s actions on the mental plane, he was able to guess the relevant train of thought.

Crag Burst went, "Oh." He felt a bit embarrassed for being suspicious of Worker Zhai just now. He pressed against his earlobe and did a general gesture as a member of the Society. "Let’s add each other as friends."

Worker Zhai laughed wryly and waved his hand. "It’s embarrassing, but it’s impossible for me to add people."

"Huh!? You don’t have an ID on the Psychic Wave Network?"

"I have one, but it’s very hard to use normally." Worker Zhai shook his head again. "I have just that bit of mental power, and I have yet to reach the level that will allow me to interfere with reality at anytime and anywhere. So, I have only been able to wander around the perimeter of the circle for these past few years. I rely on my trade to make a bit of a living. Fortunately, Papercut looks out for me. He frequently introduces work for me."

It was without a doubt that Luo Nan was introduced to Worker Zhai in this way.

Crag Burst asked inquisitively, "It can’t be that bad? I saw that your interference ability was quite precise...."

"That’s because I’m in this workshop. Outside of here, I am no different from a normal person.”

Worker Zhai glanced at Luo Nan. He saw how Luo Nan had yet to do any actions, and he turned back and said, "Psychic Wave Network has expended a great deal of energy in trying to set me up with that Awakening Ritual. But my talent has its limits. Five years have passed, and all I have is a slight increase in my electron affinity ability. I’m quite lacking in other aspects. I need to rely on a ’hearing aid’ to be able to use the HexaEar and access the Psychic Wave Network. Currently, I can only reach the second layer, which allows me to watch videos, listen to the radio, and the like. It’s impossible for me to interact and communicate."

"Hearing aid? Is that something you designed?" Crag Burst was able to grasp a general understanding. This was another amplification device. He was a bit curious. "Amplification devices are of special interest for the people of the Society who work in mechanical and electronic designs. The bigger the scale, the better in regard to four or five dimensions."

"You’re talking about the four dimensions of measurement." Worker Zhai was a man of technical expertise. He always paid particular attention toward such theories. He was about to discuss this with Crag Burst some more when Luo Nan suddenly let out a long breath. Luo Nan’s palm left the metal rod.

The miniature rhombohedron within the device cavity remained in its initial state. The state was a complete reversal of the progress Worker Zhai and Crag Burst just made.

Xue Lei, who was observing from afar, wasn’t involved in Crag Burst’s and Worker Zhai’s discussion. He had been observing Luo Nan’s methods from beginning to end. He was disappointed because of this. "Nanster, is it no good?"

"I want to take it out and try." Luo Nan turned to look at Worker Zhai. "The device doesn’t help me much. It’s amplification direction should primarily be in power. I feel that it’s better to penetrate deeper."

Depth, intensity, sensitivity, and affinity were the four dimensions of measurement that Worker Zhai had just mentioned. Namely, they were the four basic metrics for the Society involving mental power. These metrics didn’t possess any particularly strict logic or scientific foundation. They were primarily established by common agreement, reflecting the vagueness of the study of supernatural powers in the modern era.

Worker Zhai didn’t object. "My specialty is in electronic devices and mechanical design. The issue lies in the internal structure of this little thing. As far as the mental realm is concerned, you have the final say."

Worker Zhai opened the device cavity as he spoke, and the miniature rhombohedron slid out from the vice. He placed it on the outer edge of the workbench.

Luo Nan studied the object a few times before asking, "Worker Zhai mentioned that it isn’t enough for the structure to transform kinetic energy. By that you mean...."

"From the situation clearly shown in the video, the tiny object still has yet to reveal the structures allowing two capabilities—magnetic levitation and energy storage. Plus, I want to know where its power components are located."

Worker Zhai easily drew out a structural drawing on the hologram. It matched with the structure that transformed kinetic energy. "From the perspective of conventional thought, the miniature rhombohedron is like an integrated circuit. There are no problems when it’s used in electronic devices, but to drive a tai chi ball weighing several hundred kilograms, what medium does it use to do this work? The tentacles are a decent choice. It just needs to combine the two parts of the drive and work together. However, I have yet to discover the relevant structural design that does this."

Luo Nan now gained a general understanding. "Worker Zhai, so you’re saying that there should be more of those tentacles that form more structures."

Worker Zhai’s digital pen rapped against the hologram. "Motion, precision, and sufficient sturdiness are needed."

Crag Burst listened to their discussion, and his previous thoughts floated back to the surface of his mind, this time clearer than before. There was just a thin layer of paper blocking them. He rubbed his head hard. "The tentacles, structures, precision.... Oh, how does that happen?"

Luo Nan laughed and asked again, "In other words, the miniature rhombohedron drives the tai chi ball. And it’s very likely that this is accomplished through those tentacles?"

Worker Zhai barely nodded when Crag Burst smacked his own head hard. "Hot damn! A dynamo core!"

Luo Nan didn’t speak any further. He drew in a long breath, and his towering iceberg-like mental power resonated with the heart lantern of the eyes orifice from afar. Invisible thunder crackled and flared, forming what seemed to be the essence of lightning within the depths of the cracks of his eyes. The lightning cleaved down through space.

The miniature rhombohedron inexplicably trembled at the focus of his gaze.

The object couldn’t compare to his external neuron. It also couldn’t compare to Jack’s Deep Sea Type IV Dynamo Core. But it radiated on the mental plane, and the psychic light answered and resonated with the lightning within Luo Nan’s eyes. Indeed, this was the light that exclusively belonged to dynamo cores!