Genius Club-Chapter 589 - 18: The Real Invitation (Two-in-One Large Chapter)_6

Recalling the eerie manner in which he had received the invitation alongside the space-time rift and the jumbled events of 00:42, everything fused into one chaotic blend.

Lin Xian increasingly felt that the Genius Club might be far more formidable than he had imagined.

They had even figured out the space-time coordinates.

Thus, the act of sending an invitation through the mirror and through a space-time rift might not be out of the ordinary.

Lin Xian turned off his phone’s browser.

He wouldn’t waste this one and only chance, his single thread of hope to join the Genius Club.

He had only one chance to experiment.

Therefore, he wouldn’t attempt it lightly until he was absolutely certain of what space-time coordinates were.

"I need to consult with a professional."

Holding the golden badge, Lin Xian spoke softly.

...

The next day.

East Sea University, Rhein United Laboratory.

"Liu Feng, what exactly are space-time coordinates, and how do you understand them?"

Lin Xian didn’t tell Liu Feng about the Genius Club’s invitation or the matter with the mirror; he directly asked for his understanding of space-time coordinates:

"Does every different space-time have a different code?"

Liu Feng pondered for a while, then shook his head:

"I don’t think so."

"Think about it, people from each space-time have no communication, nor a way to communicate. Each space-time thinks it’s the main space-time, the original timeline—how would you code that? There’s no starting point."

He picked up a piece of chalk and walked to the blackboard, drew several divergent rays starting from one point:

"In the theory of world lines, the choice at each node diverges into different timelines, leading to different futures, creating different possibilities... Under this theory, the very first timeline is generally named the α world line."

"Then, if on the α world line, due to some actions and behavior, the future is altered, it might shift to the second world line, which is the second possible future, usually referred to as the β world line."

"Similarly, the third possible future is the γ world line; similarly, if other possible futures could diverge, they would be the δ world line."

"These four Greek letters, alpha, beta, gamma, delta, don’t really have any special meaning, they just differentiate the several world lines. If you prefer simplicity, they could even be directly called the First World Line, the Second World Line, the Third World Line, the Zeroth World Line, and so on."

Lin Xian nodded.

He understood this point without needing Liu Feng’s explanation.

Wasn’t he naming the different future Dream Worlds the same way?

The First Dreamland, the Second Dreamland, the Third Dreamland, the Fourth Dreamland were actually perfectly consistent with the theory of world lines.

"So, you think, these alphas, betas, or the First, Second, are space-time coordinates?"

"No, no, no."

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Liu Feng waved his hand:

"It couldn’t be that simple; these are all subjective names, lacking universality. Think about it, what is the concept of coordinates? Similar to latitude and longitude, each coordinate point is unique. Just like the latitude and longitude of East Sea City, which are North Latitude 31 degrees and East Longitude 121 degrees."

"These are the coordinates of East Sea City! Unique on Earth, a one-of-a-kind, mention these coordinates, and it corresponds only to East Sea City. This uniqueness and accuracy fit the definition of coordinates."

"So, if you really want to discuss the concept of ’space-time coordinates’, I think, their manifestation probably should also be similar to latitude and longitude, definitely unique, precise, and mentioning the coordinates should immediately locate a specific space-time without any controversy or deviation."

"That’s what I think as well." Lin Xian said:

"But if we want to know the space-time coordinates of a certain space-time, what should we do? We don’t need the specifics, just any space-time will do. Just like with latitude and longitude, I mention a set offhand, as long as it’s within range, those coordinates definitely exist on Earth."

"Exactly." Liu Feng agreed:

"if you want to casually know the coordinates of a certain space-time, then we just need to find the arrangement, naming, and combination rules of space-time coordinates. As long as you know the rules and scope, any coordinate number you come up with, that space-time absolutely exists, just like latitude and longitude."

"For instance, if I say right now, South Latitude 22 degrees, West Longitude 43 degrees, which country or city is that? Lin Xian, do you know?"

Lin Xian shook his head:

"I don’t know, but it definitely exists on Earth."

Liu Feng ran to another experiment table, took out a globe, spun it halfway, and pointed to the location in South America:

"Found it, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro."

"So, you understand now, right? If your goal is just to describe a random space-time coordinate, then you just need to understand the definition, rules, and range of space-time coordinates. That’s enough."

"I know this concept, you don’t need to explain it to me."

Lin Xian spread his hands:

"So, what should we do? How can we know the rules defining the Space-Time Coordinates?"

Hmm~

Liu Feng smirked, walked back to the experiment table, and patted the Space-Time Clock that still displayed 0.0000000:

"I think this Space-Time Clock might be able to help you!"

"Because its function is to test the curvature of space-time, right? Just like every latitude and longitude must correspond to a specific place on Earth..."

"[Every space-time curvature must correspond to a specific space-time!]"

...

Lin Xian turned around, looking at the Space-Time Clock he had always viewed skeptically:

"Your statement isn’t very rigorous, is it? If every seven decimal places represent a space-time, can’t we just make them up? For example, 0.1234567? Would that count as a space-time coordinate?"

"I’m not sure," Liu Feng shook his head solemnly:

"It might be, it might not be. Because we don’t know the pattern of space-time curvature yet, how many digits after the decimal point, or what the minimum value is."

"But I think calculating and analyzing the Space-Time Coordinates using the curvature is a good idea. So... are you in a hurry to know the answer? If not, why don’t we wait until the numbers on the Space-Time Clock change someday."

Lin Xian looked at Liu Feng.

Without a sound.

He slowly exhaled through his nose...

Anxious.

How should I say this.

He definitely was anxious, eager to correctly answer the three questions from the Genius Club and then attend the Genius Club’s gathering.

But this kind of thing, obviously, cannot be rushed.

Because he only had one chance to try and must ensure it’s absolutely correct.

"Is there no other way?"

Lin Xian stroked his chin, pondering:

"We can’t bother Huang Que again, can we?"

The solver of a bell must be the rattler, Huang Que had given hints about the Mirror Puzzle, perhaps she could provide some hints about the Space-Time Coordinates too.

Only...

Thinking back to the day when an invisible force choked Huang Que in front of his eyes, subjected to backlash by the Space-Time Law, her body turning transparent and in pain...

He couldn’t bear it.

He had already received too much help from Huang Que, and because he had not understood her hints in time, he let down a lot of good intentions.

More critically.

He didn’t want to make Huang Que suffer from Space-Time Exclusion again because of his matters; her health was already very bad.

"Forget it, Liu Feng, let’s solve this problem ourselves."

Lin Xian raised his head:

"We can’t trouble Huang Que anymore."

"Ah, about Huang Que—" Liu Feng was only half through his sentence when the sound of high heels clicking at the door interrupted him:

"Were you looking for me?"

Lin Xian turned around.

He saw the vibrant Huang Que, with blue earrings sparkling in the sunlight, arms crossed, leaning against the door frame just like the first time she came to this lab, smiling towards them:

"Lin Xian, long time no see."

Lin Xian looked at her with a complex expression, observing the Space-Time Traveler standing in the sunlight, whose eyes seemed to have dimmed:

"It’s strange, why is it that every time I want to see you, I can see you immediately."

Upon hearing this, Huang Que lowered her head and chuckled:

"Isn’t the reason obvious, Lin Xian?"

She lifted her head, her right index finger brushing a stray hair back behind her ear:

"Because I... have always been waiting for you."