Chapter 42: A Theory That Leads to Despair

"There is no end!"

These four words exploded rapidly across the live stream's bullet chat.

"This [Spacetime Spiral Theory] has no so-called end at all!"

"Emperor Qin Shi Huang didn't have the strength to create the Elixir of Immortality at all; everything was created by Jiang Zhe from a certain cycle!"

"I see, there has never been an end; no matter how Jiang Zhe travels through time, he can never reach the end of time!"

"Right, even if he reaches the end of time, the final crossing will just lead into the next [Spiral Cycle World]."

"My god, this theory is terrifying!"

"..."

Even ordinary people realized a sliver of the truth dwelling within the universe.

Human survival, human development, human destruction...

This has always been an infinitely repeating process.

There is essentially no ultimate [end]!

For a moment, all viewers—young and old—stared blankly at their televisions, at a loss.

...

In the lecture hall of Shanghai University of Science and Technology.

It was pin-drop silent.

Professor Hua Yunfeng, Professor Feng, and the graduate students in the audience all looked pale, as if they had accepted the truth.

They all knew—

Jiang Zhe's theory not only negated the process of human effort but also negated the definition of life itself.

In the past, people were born, lived brilliantly or lived in disappointment, and that was a person's life.

But Jiang Zhe's theory directly told everyone in a roundabout way:

"[You live, but it is just living; there is no definition; eventually, at some point in the future, all of this will repeat itself in a cycle world.]"

"[Therefore, there is no meaning to your living at all!]"

"[Everything is just circulating and sticking to old ways, nothing more!]"

Since people, objects, the world, and the universe are all in a cycle, how can humans find the value and meaning of their own existence?

These words rang in the ears of everyone present like a great bell.

Staring at the large screen, Professor Hua Yunfeng couldn't help but swallow hard. "He has negated our meaning as humans; everything seems to be shrouded by a giant computer, running according to a preset program."

"When we are born, when we grow up, when we make choices at the crossroads of life..."

"And when we change our choices at those crossroads..."

"All of it is predestined!"

Professor Feng looked horrified, his heart filled with immense shock.

As a professor of physics, he naturally understood a certain logic and truth—

In fact, an absolutely straight line cannot be found in the world, nor can an absolutely perfect circle!

Behind this, of course, it means that the end of a line might also twist and then curve back.

This also meant that Jiang Zhe was correct on this point: a Time Loop, a Spiral Spacetime structure.

When time is subjected to a force from a higher dimension, it is possible for it to form a loop.

With an infinite radius, time might be seen as a straight line; just like Earth, people on the ground cannot feel that the Earth is round.

Under this condition, time can be like the Earth: after completing one circle, the same events repeat. It's more like a man-made satellite; in the low, medium, and high orbits of Earth, satellites in their respective orbits will revolve forever.

At this moment, Professor Feng was dazed, and even his breathing stopped for a moment.

He had chosen to believe in Jiang Zhe from beginning to end.

He also believed that Jiang Zhe had made a mistake.

But...

The facts told Professor Feng that this time, Jiang Zhe was not wrong.

Gradually, Professor Feng's expression turned solemn:

"There is no perfectly straight line in the world; when the scope expands enough, it becomes a circle; even for time and space, it is the same."

"All things are circular; it is the most stable form of an object."

"Even the entire observable universe and unobservable universe might eventually be spheres!"

"In the end, it verifies Jiang Zhe's theory—[Time Loop], then [Time Sphere], then [Spiral Spacetime], and finally the advanced form of [Spiral Spacetime]: [Spiral Cycle Universe]."

Leng Fei, sitting below the podium, looked bewildered.

He hadn't wanted to come, but as soon as he arrived, he heard such a truth.

After a long pause, Leng Fei cursed, "To hell with it! My parents told me that the more you know, the less happy you are. Dammit, I wouldn't have come if I'd known!"

People like Leng Fei weren't just students; even people like Professor Li felt the same way.

Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss!

In the dormitory building of Shanghai University of Science and Technology.

Professor Li took a deep breath, then with a smile, picked up the remote on the table and turned off the TV.

"Alright everyone, stop watching. If you watch more, you'll start questioning life and the world."

"This is a truth we shouldn't know; it will affect our teaching."

"Although I also believe Jiang Zhe's level is so high that none of us can compare, let's disperse, disperse."

As soon as he said this, the science and philosophy professors present woke from their stupor.

"We can't watch anymore, we really can't."

"I only kept watching to find out where the Elixir of Immortality came from; in the end, it just negated my entire life's work!"

"This is just like when I first studied Quantum Mechanics; this theory is disgusting and yet impossible to refute."

"Time Loops, cycle world loops—these aren't those low-end [Parallel Universes]!"

"But I can accept it; at least Jiang Zhe can make someone like me, who considers myself a big shot, fully convinced. This evening's gathering wasn't in vain."

Situations like these with the professors were happening in most places across the country.

...

In the leadership conference room of the Television Station.

Old Zhao stared at the large screen in shock.

Old Wang's pleasantly surprised voice came through the walkie-talkie from time to time.

The viewership broke 2.5 million, then 2.8 million, and just now, the number of people online broke the 3 million mark.

It might be fine for ordinary people, especially for Old Zhao and Wang Guosheng.

But for Wang Lin on the scene, his face was already pale, and his breathing was heavy.

Seeing Wang Lin's expression, Old Zhao asked with concern, "Little Wang, what happened?"

Wang Lin shook his head repeatedly, his eyes wide, with fear in his heart.

"No end. Everything I've done has no meaning. Every ending I've ever hoped for is a starting point; all my starting points are also ends."

"No meaning. This world, this life, has no meaning at all!"

Though they didn't know what had happened, everyone saw that Wang Lin's state was getting worse.

He was in an extremely negative state!

Seeing this, Xiao Shiyi quickly stood up and changed seats to sit by Wang Lin.

"You're not in a good state today." Xiao Shiyi looked at the leader, Old Zhao. "Leader, I'll take him to the lounge first."

Old Zhao nodded. "That's fine, take him down first. There's only one last Q&A anyway. When Jiang Zhe finishes the broadcast, you can head back together."

"Okay."

And so, Xiao Shiyi led Wang Lin out of the conference room.

"What exactly happened?"

In the hallway, Xiao Shiyi couldn't help but ask with concern:

"Is it just because of the Spiral Cycle Universe?"

Wang Lin responded with a pale face:

"It can't be changed. Nothing can be changed."

"Old Wang and I depend on each other."

"But my mom died tragically under the tires of a truck a few years ago, and it was all because of me."

"That night, my mother and I had a fight about my college applications. I ran away from home in the middle of the night. My dad was on the night shift, so only my mom went out to look for me."

"I was on the opposite side of the road, and she was on the other. She saw me and shouted for me not to be stubborn, saying she was willing to let me major in biology. But I was in a fit of rage, and I turned back and said: [I don't want to see you again, never again!]."

"Then... a red truck drove by..."

Hearing this, Xiao Shiyi already knew what had happened. "It's all in the past. Don't think about it; it's no use."

"Old Xiao, I..."

"I always fantasized that maybe in a dream, if I had been a little more obedient, a little better, maybe it wouldn't have been like this."

"Until Jiang Zhe's theory appeared. What you don't understand is that there's a deeper meaning in his theory!"

"Meaning? What other meaning?"

"If no people from other cycles arrive in our cycle's world, then everything in our world is looping, looping, looping infinitely!"

"Can you imagine that everything I'm doing now—arguing with my mom, my mom dying under that roaring truck—can you really imagine that in a number of years, I will do all of this all over again? Even if I can't witness it with my own eyes, just thinking about the possibility makes me feel weak, powerless, and angry!"

After saying this, Wang Lin's face became even paler, and he felt a sense of indignation.

Yes, after seeing Jiang Zhe's explanation, Wang Lin immediately thought of his mother who had died because of him.

The thought that in the future of futures, he would have to experience all of this again—an unchangeable reality—made a sense of powerlessness spontaneously arise.

Having heard everything, Xiao Shiyi's expression was solemn. He couldn't truly empathize, but he could imagine the scene of witnessing a loved one's death; it must be desperate!

In the end, he just gently patted Wang Lin's back and led him back to the lounge.

...

In the studio.

Both the scene and the other end of the phone were silent.

After a long time, Jiang Zhe broke the silence. "Leader from the Education Bureau, are you satisfied with this answer?"

"Satisfied, satisfied, very satisfied. Thank you for your answer, Teacher Jiang."

Actually, when she said this, the female leader's voice was trembling.

Or rather, only scholars and professionals in this field understood the true meaning within Jiang Zhe's theory.

90% of people felt this theory was quite surprising and novel.

Only that 10% of professionals knew exactly how powerful this theory was—they all felt powerless, just like Professor Hua Yunfeng, Professor Feng, Professor Li, and Wang Lin.

And she, was she not feeling the same as Wang Lin?

"Alright, let's take today's final connection!"

Following the "Beep, beep, beep!" sound, the magnetic voice of a middle-aged man soon came from the other side.

"Hello, host. I am the boss of a company. After being bombarded by the previous two questions, you have successfully made me fall in love with paradoxes and science, and you've also stimulated my long-dormant IQ."

"I only have one question now, which is: under the condition of no external influence—is the world we are in now always a fixed destiny? Will everything in the future cycle worlds remain unchanged, with everything re-enacting itself? Meaning, there are no variables in the future, is that right?"

This question immediately brought those dazed science viewers, philosophy viewers, and professional professors back to their senses.

This was also what that 10% of people cared about!

The simple and easy-to-understand version of this question was: [In your theory, without the influence of external forces or outsiders, is the future forever unchangeable?]