Chapter 1 You Want Time Travel?

"You want time travel?"

Liu Feng looked at Lin Xian, "What era are you planning to go back to?"

"I don't know."

Lin Xian shook his head, "I haven't decided yet."

"Then what are you planning to do when you go back?" Liu Feng asked again.

"I don't know."

Lin Xian shook his head again, "I haven't thought about the specifics either."

He spread his hands, "You're asking me so much now, but I don't have any concrete ideas. It was only an hour ago when I received your call that I learned about the entangled-state space-time particle recharging."

"My head has been filled with enough things in this one hour, and I don't have a specific plan at all. But the core idea is..." Lin Xian raised his right hand, extending one finger: "First, time travel is a must because our main purpose is to completely consume this entangled-state space-time particle. Only by going back and forth, returning to this era, will the entangled-state space-time particle be completely consumed, leaving no future troubles."

"To be on the safe side, we also don't know when this entangled-state space-time particle will be stolen by the enemy, so... when we create the time machine, we must use it as soon as possible."

"Do you understand, Liu Feng? This is what I call the first principle. It doesn't matter what era we travel to or what we do. Our main purpose is to consume the particle and prevent the enemy from continuing to send time travelers from the future to hinder us."

"Then," Lin Xian extended a second finger: "Second, while satisfying the first condition, we must definitely find a way to travel to the most suitable era. But here we face a question: 'Is the time we travel back to the past something we can freely choose? Or are there other restrictions, such as only being able to reach specific points in time, only being able to pass through specific space-time rifts?'" Therefore, discussing what era to travel back to and what to do is meaningless now when we don't even have a sketch of a time machine, and don't even understand the theory of time travel."

"These specific things can be discussed after you have thoroughly researched the principles of time travel... It's very likely, I guess, that the time we travel back to the past cannot be freely decided by us."

Having said that.

Lin Xian extended a third finger: "Third, we currently know very little about entangled-state space-time particles. Although from my perspective, entangled-state space-time particles are almost invincible, and can even violate the laws of space-time. But in fact... what is the truth?"

"If things are really as simple as we think, then of course I would like to try to change history. But... are the laws of space-time really as easy to violate as we think?"

"Just like Huang Que said in the beginning, we still haven't figured out the meaning of 'history being locked' and the 'thousand-year stakes.' It is still unknown whether the fixed history that has already happened can be changed."

"What's even more terrifying is, if I travel back to the past and rashly rewrite history, causing the timeline to shift and deviate, will I still be able to return?"

"This kind of concern is not superfluous. This kind of awkward situation happened to Lin Yuxi and Number 17. They traveled from their own timelines, but halfway through, due to unexpected changes, the timeline changed, deviating from the original space-time. Then, tragedy struck."

"The return ticket is still there, but the original future world is gone: It was fine when they came, but they couldn't go back later."

Lin Xian didn't want to repeat the same mistake and let this happen to himself. What if he really couldn't go back?

He didn't want to live in that strange and ancient era for the rest of his life.

Therefore, just like he said before, consuming the entangled-state space-time particle is the primary goal. Other plans are secondary. It's good to gain a little if you can, but you must ensure that you can return successfully.

Liu Feng listened to Lin Xian's words, lost in thought.

"Well..." he said, rubbing his chin, "I didn't expect you to think so thoroughly and in such detail. Even I didn't consider how to return to the present space-time."

"You're right, Lin Xian, even if the entangled-state space-time particle can ignore the laws of space-time and change the course of history. But... once the timeline changes, will you still be able to return? This is indeed a question that must be considered."

Having said that.

Liu Feng squeezed forward, pushed Lin Xian away, and picked up the manuscript on the experimental table, "Let me take a look at this manuscript first."

He pulled a chair over, sat in front of the experimental table, and concentrated on studying the theoretical principles of time travel left by Emperor Gao Wen, as well as the construction ideas of the time machine.

Lin Xian didn't disturb him either.

He leaned against a side experimental table to rest.

Now, the sky outside has begun to dawn. Although they both stayed up all night, neither of them felt sleepy. Lin Xian's mind was also filled with various thoughts, while Liu Feng was focused on examining the manuscript. Neither of them spoke.

Finally... as the fiery red sun rose from the horizon, and the first ray of sunlight illuminated the earth, Liu Feng sighed.

He slowly stood up from the chair.

He silently walked to the window, opened the curtains, and said with a sigh, "Too genius."

"What?" Lin Xian came back to his senses and asked.

"This manuscript."

Liu Feng turned his head, pointed to the manuscript he had just finished reading, and exclaimed, "Genius-like ideas! Genius-like thinking! The person who wrote this manuscript is definitely a true peerless genius! Tell me, Lin Xian, where did you get this manuscript from? If you really know such a smart genius, you should invite him to our laboratory!"

"If he joins us, I believe that the mysteries of the Sorrowful Einstein painting, the truth of the cosmological constant, and the construction of the time machine... all can be solved easily! This person's scientific mind is definitely above mine!"

Lin Xian nodded, "That's right, I believe that too." Emperor Gao Wen, his greatness goes without saying.

Perhaps he simply thought Gao Wen was amazing, but outsiders watch the excitement, while insiders watch the details. Presumably, only a scientific researcher like Liu Feng truly understands how terrifying Emperor Gao Wen's academic level is.

"But... it can't be done." Lin Xian spread his hands helplessly, "If the author of this manuscript could be brought to the laboratory, it would really be like adding wings to a tiger. No, it could be said to be winning without lifting a finger."

"But, you should give up on that idea now. The original author of this manuscript can't come no matter what." In the current 2024, not to mention Gao Wen... I'm afraid Gao Wen's grandfather's grandfather hasn't even been born yet.

Guess.

According to the theory of dragons begetting dragons and phoenixes begetting phoenixes.

Which lineage of top scientists will Gao Wen be a descendant of?

Could he be a descendant of Gao Yan, the president of the Dragon Academy of Sciences?

It's possible.

Although Gao Wen and Gao Yan don't look alike at all, considering that there are ten generations between them, it's normal that they don't look alike.

Speaking of other people with the surname Gao.

Instantly.

Lin Xian's mind thought of a hippopotamus.

"Gao Yang?"

Thinking of his fat, laughing childhood friend, Lin Xian exclaimed, "Impossible, impossible..." He shook his head.

"How could Gao Yang, this inferior gene that pollutes the human gene pool, possibly breed a top genius like Emperor Gao Wen?"

If that were the case.

It wouldn't be as simple as smoke rising from the ancestral graves. A volcano would have to erupt on Gao Yang's future grave.

But no matter what.

Emperor Gao Wen was born in 2182 AD, which is still a long time away. No matter how much he prays to gods and begs his ancestors, he can't bring Gao Wen under his command.

"So, Liu Feng."

Lin Xian sat on the chair, crossed his arms, "This manuscript about the principles and applications of time travel can only rely on you. Now that you've finished studying it, can you tell me what's on it?"

Liu Feng nodded, picked up the manuscript, flipped back to the front page, and explained to Lin Xian, "This manuscript explains the principles of time travel in great detail. It clearly explains the concept of space-time rifts. This shows that you were right, Lin Xian, time travel is not arbitrary, you must find the right space-time rift to travel."

"The manuscript mentions that there are generally two situations that create space-time rifts..."

"The first is when the world line jumps and changes, and the space-time curvature changes. Continuous space-time will fold and create space-time rifts."

"I can't believe... this person has even explored the theories of space-time curvature and world lines. He's really too powerful." Lin Xian silently listened, recalling when he opened Gao Wen's hafnium alloy safe in the Fifth Dream, the password was 00000042. Coincidentally, the world line curvature and space-time clock reading of the Fifth Dream at that time were also exactly 0.0000042.

Lin Xian suspected it at that time.

Emperor Gao Wen must have researched the minimum value of space-time change, the concepts of space-time curvature and world lines, and even... dabbled in the cosmological constant 42.

Therefore, he cleverly designed the safe password as this string of bizarre numbers.

"What about the second situation?"

Lin Xian asked.

Liu Feng flipped the manuscript back a few pages and continued, "This genius wrote that the second situation that creates space-time rifts is more complicated and less clear... He said that it seems that every 24 years, a large number of space-time rifts appear concentrated at that time point."

24 years.

Lin Xian suddenly grasped the key point. Every 24 years, a large number of space-time rifts appear. Then... isn't that the time interval when Chu Anqing and those thousand-year stakes turn into blue stardust and disappear?

Could it be.

Is there some connection between these two things?

Lin Xian recalled the pile driver at the construction site.

Each time the heavy hammer falls, it drives the steel pile into the ground a bit, and at the same time, several cracks, either deep or shallow, naturally appear on the ground. Could it be.

The reason why there are so many time travelers during this period is because Chu Anqing turned into a thousand-year stake and fell not long ago, so there are space-time rifts everywhere?

"I understand." Lin Xian said softly, "In short, we can understand that every time space-time is damaged, or the world line is forcibly reversed, more or less space-time rifts will appear."

"This principle has been explained clearly. What else is revealed in the later manuscripts? I'm more concerned about whether we can specify the time of travel, and... how long will it take to build the time machine?"

Liu Feng shook his head, "Don't expect anything from the later information. The owner of this manuscript got stuck in his research direction. He said that there should be a kind of energy particle that can travel through space-time. Relying on the energy it contains, it can directionally traverse space-time rifts, send back time travelers, and arrive at a limited number of selectable time points. But currently, there is no way to prove the existence of this kind of energy particle. Therefore, the final completion of the time travel theory still lacks the last link."

"Isn't this talking about space-time particles! But obviously, this genius didn't get space-time particles, and the research progress was stuck there. As for the construction of the time machine... that's even more of a fantasy. There are no drawings in this manuscript at all, basically all are assumptions and hypotheses."

Liu Feng closed the manuscript.

Looking at Lin Xian, "So, this peerless genius ultimately failed to research the time machine." Liu Feng chuckled twice, lamenting his bad luck, "Sometimes it's really a pity, missing each other. You see, we have entangled-state space-time particles and also have the ability and wealth... but we just can't research it. And this genius is basically only one step away from successful research, but is stuck because of space-time particles."

"But the good news is, I can still understand the theory on this. If I follow the pattern, I think... maybe there will be some breakthroughs in a few years. In ten years, maybe the most primitive version of the time machine can be built."

"A few years?"

Lin Xian exclaimed, "No, no, how can we wait so long? Can't you think of a way?"

Liu Feng spread his hands helplessly, "What way is there to think of... A few years is my optimistic estimate. Because currently there is only theory, no drawings, so it's almost like I have to build a time machine from scratch."

"This is really too difficult, too unrealistic. If I could hand-craft this thing, I would have won the Nobel Prize long ago. If you want to use the time machine as soon as possible, unless you can find the relevant engineering drawings, then it can be built quickly."

Sigh.

Lin Xian sighed softly.

Where can he get Liu Feng the engineering drawings of the time machine? Even if he goes to the dream world to find Emperor Gao Wen again, it will be useless.

First of all, Emperor Gao Wen is not interested in things like time machines. It's completely just playing around. Not to mention, Gao Wen doesn't have space-time particles, so he is destined to be unable to conduct in-depth research.

Secondly, Gao Wen's white moonlight in his heart will always be technological products in the field of hibernation.

Especially now, he has not found Ms. Du Yao, and there is no way to resolve Emperor Gao Wen's knot in his heart. This leads to the fact that even if he meets Emperor Gao Wen in the unexplored Eighth Dream and obtains his notebook, the research on it will probably still be brain nerve stimulation helmets, and there will be no change from before.

Finally, and most importantly.

The future world of the Eighth Dream must have become unrecognizable. Whether he can find Emperor Gao Wen is another matter.

So... is there no way?

Lin Xian rubbed his eyes.

Could it be.

Will he really have to wait a few years or ten years before he can use the time machine?

"? That's not right!" Lin Xian suddenly discovered a blind spot. He pointed to the space-time clock and said, "Liu Feng, look, even if I showed you the space-time travel theory manuscript, the numbers on the space-time clock haven't changed at all."

Liu Feng turned his head and took a look.

Indeed.

The reading on the space-time clock is still 0.0000168. He shrugged, "There's nothing surprising about this, right? We've discussed it a long time ago. The reason why the space-time clock reading doesn't change and the world line doesn't jump... the fundamental reason is that the anchor point that cannot be undone hasn't formed yet: We must wait until the anchor point that cannot be undone has formed before the world line curvature will change."

"No, no, no."

Lin Xian waved his hand, "Do you remember the last time I went to the Dragon Academy of Sciences to send the micro-nuclear battery manuscript? At that time, after I shared the manuscript with them, the reading on the space-time clock changed." "I think this is reasonable. Just like you said, you have already seen this manuscript, and you already have a relatively clear theory in your head, and you can explore and manufacture the time machine in a few or ten years."

"Then logically speaking! This anchor point that cannot be undone should have already formed! This is exactly the same as the situation with the micro-nuclear battery manuscript last time!"

"So, this is not a problem with the anchor point." Lin Xian stood up, walked to the experimental table, and patted the square space-time clock. "This shows..." On the original 0.0000168 world line, a time machine already exists! So it doesn't matter whether Liu Feng sees the manuscript or invents the time machine! Lin Xian looked at Liu Feng and continued to explain, "You should be able to understand if I say it this way, right? On this world line, even if you don't invent the time machine, someone else will invent it, because you seeing the manuscript has not broken through the elasticity of space-time at all."

Liu Feng understood what he was saying.

But he couldn't figure it out.

He frowned, "But such an advanced scientific research project, and it also requires space-time particles as research assistance, can someone else really handle it? Who do you think it would be?"

Suddenly.

Lin Xian thought of the question Copernicus asked at the Genius Club gathering a few hours ago. Copernicus also wanted to build a time machine. Although Einstein ultimately refused to answer his question, refusal is also considered a half-acknowledgment that the technology of the time machine is in the hands of several members present. Lin Xian is not sure whether Copernicus will suspect him.

But this does not affect Copernicus continuing to ask this question at the August gathering. He only needs to remove the requirement of "the closest time," and Copernicus will most likely directly obtain the name "Gao Wen" from Einstein.

Thinking further, Copernicus will naturally take the hibernation capsule to 2200 to find Emperor Gao Wen, intercept this century genius, and have him build a time machine for him, in order to continue to achieve his future closed loop.

"Hiss... what a persistent ghost." Lin Xian scratched his head.

But at least this is not all bad news.

If it is true that on the 0.0000168 world line, a finished time machine actually exists.

Then he enters the Eighth Dream.

Maybe he can find the engineering drawings of the time machine in the dream.

That way..."Wouldn't he be able to reverse intercept Copernicus?"

"There's a chance."

Suddenly, Lin Xian's thoughts became clear.

If his guess is correct.

Copernicus will have to intercept Emperor Gao Wen in 2200 before he can obtain the time machine. But he can steal the time machine drawings from the future 600 years in advance, and manufacture the time machine in 2024.

Then.

It will be the moment of his counterattack!

He will use entangled-state space-time particles for time travel in 2024... Not only can he completely consume entangled-state space-time particles, shattering Copernicus's dream: And he can also look back at the future from a more distant historical node, gain intelligence advantages, and help him counter-kill Copernicus!

"Old man, you've lived too long, it's time for you to die." He recalled what Copernicus said to him in the Fourth Dream: "A real hunter never personally enters the hunting ground." Lin Xian snorted, "A hunter, one day... will become prey."

Eighth Dream.

0. 0000168 world line.

The destruction of entangled-state space-time particles, the mutual interception of time machines, the pull between historical and future time scales, this is Lin Xian's excellent opportunity, and also Copernicus's final swan song. The grievances between the two of them will be decided in this encounter!

"I'm leaving."

Lin Xian stood up and walked towards the door of the laboratory.

"Ah? You're leaving now?" Liu Feng was a little surprised.

He was just talking, how could Lin Xian leave as soon as he said he would?

Every time he comes and goes in such a hurry, "Where are you going?"

"To find the engineering drawings of the time machine for you." Lin Xian replied, already walking out of the back door of the laboratory.

"Huh?"

Liu Feng was shocked by these fierce words, "Hey!"

He shouted at the door, "Where are you going to find this thing!" "Dreaming, are you?"