Chapter 19: The Hum of the Initial Condenser
Another period passed in the glittering cave, no longer measured by days but by cycles of training, work, and enforced rest. Tian Heng dedicated most of his time to the painstaking and meticulous work on the components of the "Initial Ether Condenser."
Shaping the crystal lens was the hardest task, requiring extraordinary patience and precision. Two shards shattered under the pressure of his clumsy tools before he finally succeeded in shaping a third piece with the correct concave form, its surface not perfectly polished, but sufficient for the initial purpose.
He then moved on to the other components. He bent and fastened a piece of the internal metal plate from the deactivated guardian to form a small cylindrical resonator chamber. He carefully arranged smaller crystal shards around an opening in this chamber to serve as a primitive ether-suction system. As for the conductive silver wires, he cut and directed them with painstaking precision, following the broken lines in the partial schematic, deducing the missing connections based on his limited understanding of energy flow principles gleaned from the core database.
The containment unit presented a challenge. The black glass-like material he had extracted from the guardian seemed suitable for containment properties, but it was incredibly fragile. He did not dare to attempt to shape it significantly, so he built a simple support structure around it using other metal pieces to protect it as much as possible.
The most difficult part was the regulation circuit. Without precise manufacturing tools or the ability to drill printed circuits, he resorted to a very primitive solution. He used some of the small gears and servo motors salvaged from the guardian's joints, connecting them with the silver wires in an attempt to replicate a simple mechanical-electrical regulation mechanism that could control the ether flow into the condensation unit. It was a desperate attempt to mimic the function of an advanced design using mechanical scraps.
Throughout this process, Lilith silently watched as usual. At times, when Tian Heng struggled to fix a small piece or apply precise pressure, he would gesture sharply to her, and she would step forward, using her long fingers with sharp nails to hold the piece steady for him in an unexpectedly firm manner before retreating once more to her role as silent guardian. He did not comment on her help, nor did she thank him—she was simply another tool he used when needed.
Finally, after hard work spanning several "days," the primitive components were ready. Tian Heng began to assemble them carefully. The resulting device resembled nothing of the polished and advanced vault technology. It was a rough assembly of metal scraps, crystals, and wires, barely holding together, and looking dangerously fragile. But it was a manifestation of his will and his first attempt at creation.
He placed it carefully on a flat rock. It was time for the test. According to the initial schematic, the device required a very small initial energy boost to activate the primitive regulation circuit and start the process of drawing and condensing the surrounding ether. He decided to use his own internal energy for this task, testing his ability for precise control now that he had reached the "Ether Gatherer" level.
Taking a deep breath, he instructed Lilith to step back and watch for any signs of danger. Then he extended his hand and directed a faint, highly controlled stream of ether from his dantian towards the designated input point of the regulation circuit.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, some of the wires flickered with a faint light, a small gear squeaked, and the entire device began to hum softly, vibrating gently. The small crystals in the suction system began to glow faintly, seeming to slowly draw in the surrounding ether.
Tian Heng watched intently. A minute passed, then two. Slowly, painfully, a tiny point of light, resembling a sparkling silver dew drop, began to form inside the black glass containment unit. It grew at an incredibly slow rate.
The device was working! At least partially. But soon, problems began to emerge. The mechanical regulation circuit began to vibrate more strongly, some wires noticeably heated up, and the glass containment unit began to show fine hairline cracks under the pressure of the condensed ether, no matter how small.
[Core, analyze the performance of the initial condenser. Identify the main failure or inefficiency points.] Tian Heng quickly sent the command.
[Performance analysis: The condensation process is active at 0.04% of theoretical efficiency. The primary reason for inefficiency: The primitive regulation circuit is unable to maintain a stable flow or accurate calibration. The containment unit is experiencing critical structural stress. The self-energy consumption of the device is high relative to the output. Recommendation: Shut down to avoid catastrophic failure.]
With a mental command, Tian Heng cut off his initial energy flow, and the device gradually stopped working, leaving behind a very small silver droplet of semi-liquid ether, glimmering inside the cracked containment unit before it slowly dissipated.
It was not the success he had hoped for, but it was not a total failure. He had created a device that worked, albeit very poorly, from almost nothing. He had proven the principle. But it also proved, without a doubt, that he urgently needed the precise knowledge contained in the data tablets and better manufacturing capabilities available from the central core at higher energy levels.
Tian Heng looked at the now silent, primitive condenser, then at Lilith, who was staring at the device with clear curiosity for the first time. Reaching 15% energy had now become more urgent than ever. Should he risk trying to enhance the energy again, perhaps with better control this time? Or should he return to the main hall first to replenish his meager supply of water and food, considering he had become a little stronger now?