Lin Mu remained seated within the mobile courtyard, the faint hum of the spatial channel flowing endlessly around them like a silent river through the void. The Saintess stood across from him, her presence calm and unhurried, as if time itself had slowed in deference to their discussion.
What had begun as curiosity had now grown into something far deeper.
Lin Mu broke the silence first.
"If these fundamental constituents exist," he said, "then there must be some way to classify them. At least conceptually."
The Saintess nodded slightly, clearly having expected this line of thought.
"That was precisely what the ancients attempted," she replied. "Though their classifications varied greatly depending on era and school of thought."
Lin Mu leaned forward, his eyes sharp with focus.
"I know metals fit this idea well," he said. "Iron, copper, gold. Those are obvious. But even among metals, there are distinctions."
He paused, then continued.
