Meridians.
His neural engine processor is calculating if it's possible to mimic this organ, this vascular system for Qi.
He needs a sample. Because he does not have enough data to be exactly sure that Meridians mimic like a vascular system, like blood vessels or it mimics like a nervous system. Instead of transporting fluid like substance, it is transporting electric signals, a conduit of energy.
He needs a sample or rather a test subject.
His eyes turned to Lin Feng. Calculating variables super fast.
A moment later, a decision has been made. A plan has been formulated in his neural engine processor.
He stood up and stood behind Lin Feng who was in deep meditation.
T-800 heat sensors, x-ray sensors and other neural engine, data based artificial intelligence sensitive sensors were observing everything inside Lin Feng.
His sensors are not picking up anything tangible but he could see its influence. Like Dark Matter, whose presence is inferred by its gravitational effect on visible matter.
The Qi was invisible but its influence was absolute. He detected minute thermal spikes and bio-electrical surges tracing specific pathways along Lin Feng's spine. These were not physical veins, but electromagnetic corridors guiding the energy.
[System Hypothesis: Meridians are magnetic containment fields for ionic energy.]
The T-800 correlated the data. If his nanobots could align to generate similar micro-magnetic channels within his chassis, they could mimic this biological function. He did not need flesh. He needed precise geometry and conductivity.
The construction of an artificial Meridian network could begin.
He also sat down, took a meditative position. He would need every processing resource available to him.
So he reduced everything to minimal and diverted everything to processing this hypothesis. Before he could commit the nanobots to modify or create something, he would need a simulation model to make sure his calculations are correct.
After several trials and calculations, one mathematical model, one design worked flawlessly.
It was not only based on observation but also on all the trash and foundational books he scanned and processed about Qi, Meridians and Cultivation.
After 100,000 simulations and not a single failure, he was ready for the physical test. But he didn't commit everything on this, afterall, this is still a simulation.
The real life test would bring more variable and data to weigh upon. So he only commit to easiest and almost non-invasive method.
He chose his nose, or rather his fake respiratory system before he could commit constructing 108 pores channels and all the other meridian points.
In fact, he is not a human so he would not need such a complicated system, he could optimize it tremendously but that is a later part.
He guided his nanites, but the respiratory system was too wide, meridians are tiniest on an invisible level, only Spiritual Sense can sense them.
So inside the walls of the tube, mimicking the airways and lungs, he guided the nanites to create microscopic pathways on the walls to act as vacuum to suck and filter the invisible Qi.
Millions of nanites followed the command as they built a lattice of microscopic pores mimicking the conduit, the meridians.
The first test was ready as it completed the pathway.
T-800 paused and then took a deep breath. His artificial lungs expanding like a balloon until it reached its max capacity.
The internal energy detection sensors spiked showing the increase in output but that was the goal, the goal was how to control his new form of energy, this Qi like he can control the electricity, his internal battery and nuclear power source.
Technically he cannot control electricity too but he has some form of control over it on how much output and distribution efficiency he can divert to specific systems.
But this Qi is too universal, a fascinating form of energy. And meridians are a very sophisticated and optimized organ which can channel, process and execute this Qi energy is any form or function needed.
If he has the emotions then yes, this would have been a fascination for T-800. But, even he or his neural engine processor cannot deny the sheer structural perfection of such an evolutionary design.
His Terminator body was a natural attractor of Qi from the start but he couldn't detect it directly like meridians do and could not control it like in those trash foundational books have mentioned it.
This test would find out if his mathematical model, the nano level magnetic design he has created based on meridians would work or not.
One Pass.
Two Pass.
Three Pass.
…
203 Pass.
…
4768 Pass.
…
5000 Pass.
[5000 Pass - Failure rate 100%]
His mathematical model, the magnetic mesh, didn't work as it worked in the simulation but he did gather a large amount of data from it.
And all of the data pointed to one conclusion.
He is missing a key ingredient.
He opened his eyes.
Lin Feng was sitting away from him, his face full of self disappointment and sadness.
"What's wrong?" T-800 asked.
Lin Feng was not sure how to answer, how to say that he failed, again. Deep inside, he has already accepted that he is a failure and a trash.
But T-800, his master Tie Yuan has asked, deep inside he has already accepted Tie Yuan as his master, his teacher so he cannot disobey, also he is very afraid of T-800.
"I am a failure…master." He sniveled, trying to hold back himself from cried out like a pathetic child.
T-800 visual sensors looked deep in Lin Feng and an idea formed in his neural engine processor.
"Come here…" T-800 called Lin Feng to him. "strip...and lie down in front of me on your stomach."
Lin Feng trembled at that command. He almost cried out but deep down accepted his fate. He deserves this beating after such a great master taught him and he failed him.
He obeyed with heavy heart but deep fervor and acceptance that he deserve it for wasting his master time and the chance given to him.