Xia Huanao followed Mu Zhishui back into the laboratory. He looked up at the ceiling and nodded in understanding. "So that's how it is. No wonder all the abnormal gases in the lab were dealt with so quickly. Looking at the speed, there's still plenty of power left."
Seeing Xia Huanao staring at his ceiling in a daze, Mu Zhishui explained, "This was recently renovated. What do you think? Not bad, right?"
Xia Huanao nodded continuously. Yes, how could it be wrong? The entire ceiling, from one end to the other, a space of dozens of square meters, was filled with ventilation fans. Even someone without trypophobia would be scared. Such a large number of ventilation fans could change all the air in the entire laboratory in just a few dozen seconds.
"Stop dwelling on the ventilation fans. Let's continue making discs. It turns out that combining electric and poison attributes together is not a very good choice."
Xia Huanao agreed. Although electric and poison energies didn't conflict, electric energy was clearly quite unruly.
"Have you tried other combinations? There's no need to waste time on my electric-based disc. What if you burn it out?"
In response to Xia Huanao's question, Mu Zhishui pointed to a trash can beside him. "Don't worry, I have experience. As long as you don't input two completely conflicting energies into the disc, there's no risk of burning it out."
Xia Huanao followed Mu Zhishui's instructions and looked into the trash can. At the top were two discolored discs. Although they were already blackened, Xia Huanao could still vaguely see red and green on them.
Xia Huanao squatted down to examine them carefully. "This should be a fire and grass type disc, meaning you did two experiments, right?"
Mu Zhishui nodded and crossed out a deduction in his notes. "That's right. I've done two experiments. The first was to balance grass energy within a fire disc, and then the entire disc burned from one point, and rescue failed. The second time, I added fire energy to a grass disc, and the whole disc was ruined, with no space for rescue."
Xia Huanao stood up. "So what experiment do you want to do next?"
Mu Zhishui took a colorless disc from the disc rack beside him. "Let's try this next. Add ghost-type energy to a normal-type disc. These two attributes really have nothing to do with each other; they don't react at all. It should be able to be balanced in stably."
Xia Huanao agreed. "I think so too."
The two of them conducted the next experiment together, attempting to add ghost-type energy to a normal-type disc. Mu Zhishui, having performed similar experiments several times, was proficient and quickly completed the experiment. Looking at the disc in front of them, which stored two energies simultaneously, Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui clapped their hands excitedly. "We succeeded."
Success in an experiment was indeed exciting, but problems followed: in an already balanced system of two energies that didn't interfere with each other, would adding a third energy lead to unpredictable dangers?
It was like a chemistry experiment where adding A and B to a test tube resulted in no reaction, but if catalyst C was added, it would be a completely different story.
Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui had the same considerations, and because of this, the selection of the third energy became very troublesome.
Xia Huanao looked at Mu Zhishui, who was still researching, and a wonderful idea suddenly struck him.
If adding a third energy to an existing energy balance was dangerous, why not construct a system with multiple energy balances from the start? Even if they interfered with each other and fought for dominance, as long as they didn't cause chaos or explode, it would be fine.
With this thought, Xia Huanao found a laptop that wasn't in use and began to calculate. For a moment, only the sound of typing and the quiet breaths of the two people filled the laboratory.
Time flew by in the laboratory, just as it did in the mountains. Over an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Mu Zhishui wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. "Alright, the third attribute's energy has finally been added. However, the calculation volume for the subsequent additions will be even greater."
As he spoke, Mu Zhishui turned to look at Xia Huanao. Xia Huanao, who had been relatively active, had been silent for so long that something was clearly amiss. Xia Huanao was still busy. After a long while, he crumpled the papers in his hand into a ball and threw them aside. "Damn it, I'm done. What kind of work is this?"
Mu Zhishui rarely saw Xia Huanao's mood so flustered and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Xia Huanao spread his hands. "Originally, I planned to create a circle, placing the eighteen attributes in pairs within the circle. The corresponding two attributes would have a type advantage over each other, and adjacent attributes would not react. But I haven't gotten any results after calculating this far, so I'm quitting. How about your side?"
Mu Zhishui pointed to the disc and asked, "Are you telling me you didn't hear any of what I just said?"
"The third attribute has been added. Let's rest for a while before adding the fourth."
"Is that so. I'm worried that by the end of the experiment, I'll be like this, completely unable to achieve balance. By the way, haven't you considered achieving balance first, and then experimenting with adding?"
Mu Zhishui shook his head. "That's why you're a trainer and not a researcher. Although you can theoretically create a balance, in reality, when adding the attribute energy, it's highly likely to not follow the theory."
Xia Huanao understood. "I see. So it's better for me to stay out of specialized fields."
As they were talking, Mu Zhishui looked Xia Huanao up and down. "I know you must have some kind of cheat to be able to provide me with detailed information on creating attribute voids. But your cheat should be limited to things that already exist in the world. For example, Xiao Yi's multiple evolutions are outside its scope, right?"
Mu Zhishui said the most terrifying words with a smile. Xia Huanao broke out in a cold sweat. Of course, the system couldn't remain indifferent. After a long time, the system, which hadn't shown itself, secretly asked Xia Huanao, "What should we do? Shall we... get rid of her?"
Xia Huanao's mind raced. He smiled and gave Mu Zhishui a thumbs-up. "Impressive. You're just like me. So, what are you trying to say?"
"What am I trying to say? Of course, I want you to develop self-learning capabilities as soon as possible. Do you know how mentally taxing this is? I'm already losing hair."
Xia Huanao smirked. "Is that so? Then, if there's a possibility, I'll try my best to figure something out. But speaking of which, I never expected someone like you would also think of using a cheat."
Mu Zhishui stretched lazily, loosening his muscles. "What are you saying? If I have a cheat, wouldn't I use it? This isn't like cheating in a game. On the path of scientific research and invention, using such a cheat feels pretty good. I'm rested enough, let's get back to work."
Mu Zhishui dived back into his busy work, while Xia Huanao assisted him and chatted with the system, which hadn't appeared for a long time.
The system asked Xia Huanao, "By the way, how did she guess my existence?"
Xia Huanao replied without thinking, "Look at where we both came from. In a place like that, you're commonplace. Anyone with a little imagination would have guessed."
"Really? But she didn't try to dissect you?"
"No, as I said, we're cut from the same cloth. Systems are hard to come by, so why not try? Besides, do you really want me to die here?"
The system turned its head away. "Well, that, um, haven't I been declining in importance recently?"
Xia Huanao glanced at the system. "Mainly, you haven't given me anything new. Xiao Shitou winning the championship was completely within expectations."
"What about when Xiao Shitou retires?"
Hearing this, Xia Huanao's hand trembled, startling Mu Zhishui, who was conducting an experiment. "What's wrong?"
Xia Huanao shrugged. "Xiao Shitou is retiring."
"Oh, that's normal. It's been over twenty years, he should rest. As for the subsequent anime, I can't see it anyway, so even though it's regrettable, it is what it is."
Xia Huanao thought, "That's true. What could I possibly see on Spirit Monster Planet? System, do you have any other news? For example, when will Spirit Monster Planet have its next Pokémon outbreak?"
The system replied, "I don't know. That's not within my scope of work. You'll have to ask Arceus and Mew. Calculating the evolution of Spirit Monster Planet is too complicated."
The system's words were cut short as Xia Huanao stopped its operation. "Alright, alright. That's enough. Do you have anything new to say? If not, I'm going back to work."
The system thought for a moment, then glanced at Mu Zhishui, who was busy. "I actually do. Have you used 3k disks?"
3k disks, a download tool Xia Huanao used frequently in his previous life. However, the system's intention was definitely not for Xia Huanao to complain about how terrible 3k disks were, but to draw Xia Huanao's attention to another key point: compressed files.
Xia Huanao's mind was sharp. In an instant, he constructed a new creative system in his mind. After a brief explanation to Mu Zhishui, he went to the side to experiment. Working together would be faster than Mu Zhishui struggling alone.
Of course, another reason supporting Xia Huanao's decision was that in Mu Zhishui's laboratory, creating a compressed file of attribute energy was much simpler than making an attribute energy disc...
As days turned into nights, several hours passed. Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui simultaneously put down their work, looked at each other, and asked in unison, "Time to get off work, right? What do you want to eat?"