Chapter 148: Cosmic Blockade

"Beep, beep, beep!" A series of sounds rang out.

This time, the person speaking on the other end of the phone was a somewhat youthful-sounding young man, seemingly a minor.

"Hello, Teacher Jiang. I'm a middle school student, and I'd like to ask about the Dark Directive."

"I heard you say before that the Dark Directive is the theft of a portion of the world's permissions. I thought about it carefully afterward and realized that there is no 'Light Directive' as an opposite to the Dark Directive."

"What I want to ask is: how high is the probability that we are living under the Dark Directive?"

"After all, while studying chemistry recently, I learned that the periodic table of elements mastered by humans has 118 elements. Most elements appearing after that are heavy elements that can only be synthesized; it's very difficult for stable elements to appear anymore."

"Could I say that our periodic table of elements has been strictly restricted?"

"Once it's restricted, our human technology tree will come to a standstill..."

"Not just any standstill, but that technologies derived from elements beyond this periodic table will never see the light of day."

"..."

"Teacher Jiang, are you listening?"

The person on the other end talked to himself for a while, only to find that Jiang Zhe wasn't interacting at all.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Jiang Zhe's face. "Naturally, I'm listening. Your question is essentially: are we humans living under the control of the Dark Directive? Much like a Brain in a Vat, our human technology is blockaded by the periodic table of elements, and no new technology will emerge for many years to come. At the same time, you're also asking what the probability is that we are living in a [Brain in a Vat]."

"Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly it, Teacher Jiang."

Actually, the male student was right.

Human science and technology are indeed based on the periodic table of elements.

Or rather, all technology is inseparable from new elements. Currently, everything after element 118 consists of newly synthesized elements.

Synthesized new elements cannot exist for long; naturally, new technologies cannot emerge.

Take element 115, the anti-gravity element: Moscovium. It can be synthesized and can counteract the gravity of all things, but it cannot exist for long.

A few seconds after being synthesized, it annihilates within the world.

Take element 118, Oganesson. It is currently the heaviest element known to man. Oganesson's existence is extremely brief, lasting about 0.9 milliseconds—that is, nine-ten-thousandths of a second.

Elements like these that cannot exist for a long time cannot bring newer technologies to humanity.

In other words, all of human technology is developed within the 94 natural elements and the twenty-plus synthetic elements.

As a result, future technology will eventually reach a limit!

This question left many experts and viewers lost in thought.

"This student's question is quite good. Our technology is indeed developed from these elements."

"There are currently only 118 elements in the entire universe—94 natural elements: hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron... the last ones are all synthetically produced."

"This question could actually be phrased as: [The universe has blockaded the number of natural elements, forcing all biological life in the universe to be restricted to this technology tree.]"

"Wait, big shots upstairs, if that's really the case, wouldn't it mean that we humans might be the most advanced intelligent civilization in the entire universe?"

"That's uncertain. If there are aliens in the universe, they would also discover the 94 natural elements. As for the synthesized superheavy elements that follow, we humans currently find it very difficult to stabilize them. Unless aliens have other methods to stabilize those synthesized superheavy elements, only then could they develop technologies like anti-gravity engines or light-speed engines."

"So you're saying we humans could actually create the weapons and engines from sci-fi movies, but we just can't stabilize those superheavy elements yet, right?"

"Yes and no. Actually, the physical materials needed to support that kind of technology are also an issue, like space elevators. Currently, materials that can support a space elevator are extremely scarce. If the materials were sufficient, our Xia Country could build one. To put it bluntly, it's still caused by insufficiently advanced technology. Natural elements are limited, and we can't create stronger, more stable physical materials."

"Basically, it's like this: [Human technology is very weak. We need new materials, but there are none. We need new elements, but there are none. Superheavy elements are so damn heavy they can't exist for long. Currently, all technology is based on the 94 natural elements, and many others like nuclear weapons are new technologies brought about by synthetic stable elements.]"

"This... I see!"

A question from a middle school student actually sparked a massive discussion among the big shots in the livestream room.

Just then, Jiang Zhe pondered for a long time before finally giving an answer:

"The Dark Directive is likely improbable."

"The reason we aren't living under the Dark Directive is that the future of humanity is actually visible."

"We can't build anti-gravity engines, and we can't build sub-light-speed engines."

"Achieving the [Dark Directive] is actually very demanding. One of the most important reasons is that quantum computers would need to be widespread for civilian use worldwide."

Reaching this point, he pursed his lips. "What I mean is, decades or even many years after this technology fully emerges, people with ill intentions will be born. Those people with ill intentions will change the perception of a portion of humanity, thereby controlling their future."

"Let me give a simple example."

"One day in the future, when quantum computers are exceptionally mature, humanity faces a sudden, catastrophic disaster."

"Well, the Earth becomes no longer suitable for human survival, and yet humanity lacks the capability for interstellar travel to leave Earth."

"At that time, if humans want to protect themselves, they can only seek other methods."

"The only current method is: [Cloud Network]."

The Cloud Network was not unfamiliar to the audience and experts.

It is equivalent to a second new world for humanity, or it can be seen as a brand-new [Holographic Game World].

Things that couldn't be achieved in reality in the past will one day be born in the Cloud Network world for gamers worldwide to enter and play.

On the other hand, it is humanity's [Civilization Fortress]. When a world is about to perish and human technology cannot withstand natural disasters, humans across the globe will enter the [Cloud Network World] as a secondary means of survival. This is one method of survival.

"It's about using global resources to create an era-transcending [Quantum Computer] that can transfer all of our Quantum Consciousness Information into this massive [Cellular Network]. It's equivalent to: the flesh is weak, mechanical immortality."

"At that time, if a national government wanted to play with the [Dark Directive], that country would likely refresh the [Quantum Consciousness Information] of all humans."

"Because the destruction of the real world has only downsides and no benefits for us humans."

"So, countries around the world would say grandly: [For the sake of all humanity, we, the Permanent Five, have decided to deprive you of the news that the outside Earth has long since been destroyed. From now on, humanity will no longer realize that the Earth is gone. You can live and procreate, continue to work, continue to innovate, and continue to work 996]..."

"Then, all human memories concerning the real world would vanish."

"The remaining memories would be no different from experiences in the real world; the difference being that we would no longer have information that the real world has perished."

"In this way..."

As he spoke to this point, Jiang Zhe's expression suddenly turned serious, and he abruptly fell silent.

At this moment, even he became uncertain about the answer.

With that, he spoke no more.

"What's going on?"

"Why did Teacher Jiang stop talking?"

"No reason, other than the fact that by the end, even Jiang Zhe himself wavered on his own answer."