Chapter 38: Missing (Please Vote for Recommendation, Monthly Ticket)_1

"Isn't it obvious!" Sixteen looked at Jiang Yu as if he was looking at an idiot: "Everything that happens on Earth every moment of every minute, gets 'Branded' onto time and space.

"All of these are information! As long as it is information, there will be convergence, there will be a source."

Jiang Yu smacked his lips, was the world of children always so hard to understand?

Seeing that Jiang Yu didn't understand, Sixteen explained: "For example, one minute ago you were smoking, so the information of you smoking is now 'Branded' onto the time of one minute ago.

"The smoke just now caused an increase in the nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in my room, that's the manifestation of the information of you smoking being 'Branded' onto space.

"Because you smoked a cigarette, the chances of you developing lung cancer increased by one ten-thousandth, that's how the event of smoking has changed your fate."

Jiang Yu unconsciously lit another cigarette: "Sorry, your understanding of time, space, and fate amazes me, I needed a smoke to calm down."

"It's an honor to amaze you," Sixteen said with a smile, and continued, "Relatively speaking, the efficiency of observing an event's information from a spatial perspective is very low, and it's easy to miss some key information.

"Let's take your smoking as an example again, the nicotine and carbon monoxide will gradually be diluted by the air, and after several minutes, only professional detection equipment can prove that you have just smoked.

"As time passes, the key information of that cigarette in space will gradually disappear.

"However, the 'Branding' in time and fate will never vanish, as long as I can 'flip through' to the minute you were smoking, I can always understand all the information of you smoking that cigarette.

"Sadly, all observations made by humanity are at the spatial level."

Jiang Yu nodded: "I understand what you mean now. For example, if we want to know the process of the Sun's formation, If we could observe from a temporal level, we could just rewind back five billion years and watch it live.

"But now we only have the observational ability at a spatial level, we can only observe the current Sun and keep making subjective guesses.

"Guesses will always be guesses, the process of the Sun's formation remains only in our theories."

Sixteen smiled happily: "Exactly, that's what I mean.

"Although this universe produces a vast amount of information every moment, I believe that behind these pieces of information there must be an 'Information Convergence Point'.

"Time and fate converge there, it dictates the normal trajectory of time, determining the fate of all matter, life, everything from the very beginning.

"Our observation of this 'Convergence Point' is very one-sided, we have only used its appearances to summarize a set of laws and theories, yet we know nothing of its essence.

"But it must exist, if it didn't, the fate, time, and space of the entire universe wouldn't be as orderly as they are now!

"Just like the cigarette you're smoking, if there were no cigarettes in the world, there would still be nicotine and carbon monoxide, but they would rarely form the combination that excites your brain in a natural environment.

"Imagine if there were no 'Information Convergence Point,' time and space would be in chaos."

Jiang Yu quietly finished the cigarette in his hand: "You remind me of the debate on ideology between the East and the West.

"People from the East have always believed in 'seeing is believing,' while Westerners think 'seeing can be deceiving.'

"This has put Easterners at a disadvantage in modern science, because the main achievements of modern science can't be 'seen to be believed.'"

Seeing that Sixteen was listening intently, Jiang Yu smiled and said, "This is my expertise. I need to make sure you understand the premise, so you can understand what I am trying to say."

Sixteen nodded.

Jiang Yu continued: "The main achievements of current science are essentially on a theoretical level.

"Take electrons for instance, up to this day, not a single physicist has seen the true form of an electron. There are some structural diagrams and conceptual images, but those are not the true appearance of electrons.

"But just because you can't see electrons doesn't mean you can deny their existence! This is the Western ideology, providing them favorable conditions in creating modern science."

"Many people, including those from the East, criticize 'seeing is believing,' but I think it shouldn't be criticized; it is precisely the advantage our ideology has bestowed upon us.

"It makes Easterners more pragmatic and steady. No matter how exquisite the theory of electrons may be, without ultra-high voltage technology, won't there still be a lot of loss during transmission!"

Jiang Yu looked at Sixteen, "The form of existence of the 'Information Convergence Point' you mentioned is both substantial and ethereal, right?"

Sixteen thought for about ten seconds before saying, "Your explanation is quite interesting and hits the nail on the head.

"I understand what you mean. The tangible and intangible you're talking about are not tangible and intangible in the physical sense, and have nothing to do with the 'uncertainty principle.'

"Rather, it's on a conceptual level—no, 'conceptual' isn't precise enough.

"In any case, it's a higher level of reality and unreality, which is more like a kind of ethereal spiritual or consciousness description...

"Sorry, I really can't find the vocabulary to accurately depict it."

Jiang Yu smiled and said, "The way that can be spoken of is not the eternal Way.

"Be aware that 'not the eternal Way' should be read as not, the eternal Way, not as non-eternal, Way!"

Sixteen pondered for a full half minute, then revealed a smile, "The use of 'eternal' here is truly brilliant! The ancients were clearly aware that many things can be understood but not conveyed in words."

"Many people never understand the three words 'not the eternal Way' in their lifetime." Jiang Yu said with a smile, "You are the smartest child I've ever seen.

"Sorry, calling you a child isn't meant to belittle you."

Sixteen smiled and shook his head, "Today's conversation is also the most exhilarating one I've ever had; I never thought the collision of ideas could be so pleasurable."

Jiang Yu had already moved from "cheering up a child" to being deeply engaged in the conversation.

He asked Sixteen, "Why do you engage in this kind of thinking and seeking evidence? In my view, you have put a lot of effort into this issue.

"If it's just out of curiosity, it doesn't seem enough to support the immense energy you've put into it."

Sixteen fell silent; after a few minutes, he replied, "Because I've realized that I seem... to be lacking something.

"This feeling is quite strange; it's not a physical absence like missing a hand or a foot nor is it a conceptual absence like intelligence or emotional intelligence.

"I also don't know what aspect it is that's lacking.

"So that's why I began to search."

Jiang Yu understood him, "You think that by finding the source of destiny, you can know the part that is missing?"

Sixteen nodded.

"You seem to have complicated the issue."

But Sixteen said earnestly, "No, I haven't found this sense of absence in any human books or ideologies.

"It itself must be an extremely complicated issue."

Jiang Yu lit another cigarette, "I'll think from a different perspective to see if I can help you find some clues."

Sixteen nodded happily again.

After contemplating for about ten minutes, Jiang Yu finally said, "I think I understand what you're missing, but I need your cooperation to prove my guess with an experiment."