Chapter 196: They're right around Earth

Zhou Qing, standing by the side, said with a sudden realization, "Why didn't I think of that? It's not that they don't exist, but that they do, and we just can't detect them."

Zhou Qingqing chimed in, "Exactly, it makes sense that way; some of Earth's mysterious incidents would be explained. But there's still a problem: their advanced methods would surely detect Earth's communication methods. Even if they saw them, why wouldn't they reply?"

Just as Zhou Qingqing was asking this privately, Jiang Zhe gave the answer directly:

"As for why advanced civilizations don't reply—no, it's not that they don't reply; it's that they might have replied, but we just didn't receive it!"

Replied, but not received?

In an instant, the curiosity of the massive audience was piqued once again.

"It's like this: if the other party sends a traditional signal, wouldn't it take countless light-years to travel?"

As soon as he said this, the audience and experts nodded one after another; it was indeed so.

If they received Earth's traditional radio signals and then sent back radio signals themselves...

Impossible. They wouldn't use radio signals because radio is too slow. They would definitely know that after sending a signal, it would take many years to be received by Earth.

Perhaps the original group of scientists on Earth would have long since passed away with time. By the time the signal reached Earth, that group of people would be gone. Who would the signal be for—ghosts?

Jiang Zhe nodded seriously and explained:

"Exactly, it's just as everyone is thinking—"

"They know that backward communication methods take many years. By the time the alien civilization sends a signal back, our generation would have long since turned into a handful of dust."

"Therefore, the other party wouldn't use a communication method comparable to Earth's civilization; instead, they would use a more advanced communication level to send it back to Earth."

"However, here comes the problem."

"With their advanced communication methods, our Earth science doesn't have the technology to crack those faster-than-light signals!"

"Since we don't have the technology to crack such signals, we naturally assume there are no alien signals in the universe, and the signals we send out will naturally go unanswered."

"So, do you all understand now?"

"It's not that there are no alien civilizations, but that even if they exist, we can't detect them!"

"In other words: could you expect a two-year-old child who has just entered a technological society to successfully operate a cell phone right now and use a software platform to book a ticket to find a strange uncle or aunt on the other side of the ocean?"

As the series of analyses concluded, these explanations clearly exceeded the understanding of the public and the experts.

It wasn't that the aliens didn't reply, but that they did, and Earth's level simply couldn't receive it.

Because [Time] is the limit of this dense Bright Forest of the universe.

Most species have a limited lifespan.

Only intelligent civilizations that have entered the [Immortality] stage can ignore the ravages of [Time].

Jiang Zhe had explained earlier that a Level 1 civilization could achieve Consciousness Immortality. Even with just Consciousness Immortality, the attribute of [Time] loses its effect on advanced civilizations.

When those immortal aliens receive a strange extraterrestrial signal, they would have only three solutions.

[1]: Reply, but use traditional methods to reply to Earth's signal. Based on the fact that Earth's civilization only has signals that travel at the speed of light, Earth's civilization would eventually receive their kind greetings many years later. This is because the time parameter attribute is negligible to immortal aliens; they can wait, no matter how long it takes.

[2]: Reply, but use advanced methods to reply to Earth's signal. Based on the alien civilization having communication methods that exceed the speed of light, whether Earth's civilization eventually receives the signal is not something those aliens need to consider.

[3]: Ignore. All signals that are of no help to their civilization are ignored, maintaining a default state of peace.

Just then, Jiang Zhe gave another answer.

"Of course, I also cannot rule out that no alien civilization has actually replied to us."

"Why is that?"

"Because there is absolutely no need for an alien civilization to reply."

"Because as I said before, the universe is a Bright Forest. As advanced civilizations gradually increase in number, some will surely start wars, right? Not every civilization will be good, will they?"

Instantly, the livestream became lively.

"Right, I've been wanting to ask this for a long time."

"Definitely. Not every civilization will be good; there are bound to be those who don't follow the rules."

"I suspect those who don't follow the rules are most likely those who have just stepped into a Level 1 civilization. They have the capital to be arrogant, having surpassed most lower civilizations in the universe. Only after they've been immersed for a while will they realize there's always someone better and a higher heaven above."

"Hey, hey, hey, we haven't even found an alien civilization yet, and you're talking like this. Why does it feel like I'm listening to a sci-fi story..."

"..."

Listening to the broadcast of the bullet comments, Jiang Zhe nodded silently. "Yes, without rules, there is no order."

"Su City has Su City's rules, Xia Country has Xia Country's rules, Earth has Earth's rules, the Solar System has the Solar System's rules, and the Milky Way Galaxy has the Milky Way Galaxy's rules."

"Intelligent civilizations naturally have their own rules as well."

"Judging based on the origin and developmental patterns of intelligent civilizations."

"Then the civilizations that govern the entire universe must be high-level civilizations. They have enough strength to restrict some of the civilizations that commit evildoings within the universe."

At this point in his narration, Jiang Zhe raised a finger again and said seriously, "Just like bad people, they are everywhere. Even on a universal scale, evil civilizations will be born."

"Since evil is spawned, its opposite, the light, will naturally appear as well."

"For example, if Earth exists in the form of nations, then the universe is very likely composed of small groups based on certain galaxies. After all, there are so many galaxies!"

"Within the small group of the Milky Way Galaxy, there must be a strict hierarchy."

"What kind of system?"

"A system that respects natural laws, where advanced civilizations must not interfere with the development of lower civilizations, nor can they participate in the wars of lower civilizations."

"When a certain civilization is on the brink of extinction, a helping hand can be extended and warnings given when necessary."

"Regarding warnings, after the United States launched the first [Peace Bomb] last century, a bunch of UFOs emerged from the seabed to warn their navy, scaring the sailors into jumping overboard. Unfortunately, there were casualties, but they were [sailors who didn't know how to swim and drowned]. The UFOs didn't attack anyone throughout the incident. This news became a major headline at the time; I'm sure astronomy and UFO enthusiasts are familiar with it."

"Also, everyone is likely familiar with the incident in 2004 where the Navy and Air Force of the United States' [Nimitz] aircraft carrier strike group collectively encountered the [White Pill] high-speed alien aircraft, right?"

These reports—while the first one might be unfamiliar to many, the 2004 incident where the [Nimitz] aircraft carrier strike group collectively encountered the White Pill alien aircraft has become well-known in recent years.

Many informed experts and members of the public went online to search for information and recall the events.

On November 14, 2004, David Fravor, a fighter pilot from the United States' Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group, investigated a suspicious radar target near the coast of Southern California.

Fravor reported that he witnessed a small, white, oval-shaped object resembling a pill capsule hovering over a stretch of ocean; he estimated it was about forty feet long.

Fravor and another pilot, Alex Dietrich, later said in interviews that a total of four people successfully witnessed the flying object for about five minutes.

Fravor also said that when he circled down to approach the object, the flying object immediately mimicked his flight path and climbed in the opposite direction until it disappeared.

Soon, the viewers who found the information were all dumbfounded.