Chapter 551: Hypothesis
Thales was completely immersed. He continued to write:
“When we research an unknown thing, the most effective method is analogy, analogy in the physical sense. We have always been using this method, such as comparing the firmament to a pot lid, and electric current to water flow.
“Regarding waves, we can also make analogies. The most widely known wave existing in nature is the sound wave.
“When we hypothesize how waves transmit energy, we cannot make baseless blind guesses. We can completely observe how sound waves move.
“After a sound wave is emitted from a sound source, it transmits through the air to a person’s ear. The eardrum will vibrate with the sound wave, and then it is transmitted through the nervous system to the brain, and the person can distinguish the sound.
“If someone is whispering, it’s very hard for a third party to hear, because the sound is too small, which means the energy is too small.
“However, even with sufficiently large energy, the human ear might not necessarily hear it, because there is also a frequency limit.
“Regarding the so-called frequency, ‘frequent’ means repetition, and ‘rate’ means the number of times; frequency is the number of repetitions. We know the famous sound wave wizard Bett proposed a sound wave unit: one time per second is one Bett, which is the unit of frequency.”
Recalling the writings he had read about sound waves, Thales continued to write: “Different creatures have different sound wave reception frequencies. Just like cats can hear a frequency range that human ears cannot receive. Based on this, Mr. Bett invented several sound wave emission and reception spells. The most important concept here is resonance.
“Why can’t humans hear it, but cats can? Because of resonance.
“The so-called resonance is to make one part of an object vibrate first, and then drive other objects to vibrate, thereby achieving the purpose of common vibration.
“However, resonance also requires other conditions. Just like swinging on a swing, the swing’s oscillation and the force applied by the person pushing the swing both have periodicity. Only when the frequency of pushing and the frequency of the swing’s oscillation form a certain proportional relationship will the swing swing higher and higher.
“That is to say, the pushing force must conform to the swing’s oscillation, otherwise it will only stop.
“Besides resonance, waves also have two properties: diffraction and interference.
“The so-called diffraction: Suppose someone hides behind a big rock, but he can still hear the sound coming from in front of the rock. This is diffraction, because sound waves can bypass obstacles and continue to propagate.
“The so-called interference: When two trains of waves meet, an interference phenomenon occurs where you affect me and I also affect you. The result of interference will change depending on factors such as the meeting point, amplitude, frequency, and wave speed of the waves.
“Water waves, rope waves, spring waves, and sound waves are all caused by mechanical vibrations. I call them mechanical waves.
“Here I predict that electricity, magnetism, and light should all be waves, because electromagnetism possesses the basic property of a wave, which is that it is a method of energy transmission.
“And a wave needs a medium. Perhaps what we consider a vacuum is not a true vacuum. There is a certain propagation medium unknown to us filling the entire world and even the Astral Void outside the world.
“In its extremely microscopic state, our world might also be composed of infinitely small waves. I believe the smallest unit of the world is also a wave!”
Thales rolled up the magic paper and mailed Thoughts on Waves to the journal Wisdom of Spells. If it was unquestionable that the paper Magneto-Optic Effect should be published in Magic, then Thoughts on Waves was more of unconstrained analogy and imagination, lacking any solid empirical foundation.
Such magnificent imagination could only be discussed as a hypothesis. If it weren’t for Thales’s numerous achievements in the field of electromagnetism, Leyden probably wouldn’t have published this article even if he saw it.
After the article Magneto-Optic Effect reached the editorial department of Magic, following a preliminary discussion by the editorial wizards, it was forwarded to the Legendary Wizards of the Astrology School: Bayen, Warren, and Bruce. Without a doubt, they gave this paper extremely high praise. This was an epoch-making work. There were myriad connections among electricity, magnetism, and light!
Before Bayen had time to marvel at Thales’s wisdom, the paper Thoughts on Waves was also mailed to his window. Originally, papers published in Wisdom of Spells didn’t need to go to Bayen. It was just that he had notified the Academic Committee that he wanted a copy of every paper by Thales.
“This Thales is actually so prolific? It’s too unbelievable. I am really old. The world of astrology changes with each passing day.”
Stroking his beard, Bayen sighed. He couldn’t help feeling an indescribable sensation—like the joy of seeing the rise of a younger generation, yet also the powerlessness of feeling like he was about to be overtaken while running.
“I have to keep up with the pace of the times at all times. Academic changes are simply changing with each passing day; a slight lack of attention and I’ll fall behind. I don’t know what Lord Ace is busy with either. Actually, Thales’s achievements are enough to win the Ace Magic Award, but since Lord Ace doesn’t appear, we don’t have the authority to award it either.”
While sighing, he opened this article. Staring at it for a long time, his face suddenly turned bright red, and even the beard he cherished so much was blown up by his breath.
“The world is composed of waves? This is simply rebellious and unorthodox! How could this world be a wave? Then aren’t we constantly fluctuating? How did we solidify into physical entities? The foundation of matter must be particles; the atomic hypothesis is the best form. As for electromagnetic waves, this is possible, but for the entire world to be a wave, impossible!”
Bayen unceremoniously wrote down his comments: “Rich imagination, and the hypothesis regarding electromagnetic waves also holds a certain possibility. However, the judgment of the microscopic world is full of fantasy and impractical. This paper lacks empirical evidence, is highly original, and extremely controversial. Recommended to be reprinted in Magic for widespread discussion.”
As a Legendary Wizard, Bayen naturally had the qualification to influence whether a paper was reprinted. Thus, Thales’s thoughts on waves were seen by all wizards. The wizards of the Elemental School fiercely criticized this absurd idea one after another, talking about Thales’s unorthodoxy.
Some wizards even wrote articles directly saying: “Thales’s research and contributions to electromagnetism are unquestionable. But he is too arrogant, actually daring to speak wildly about the foundation of the world. If the world is a wave, then isn’t our composition constantly fluctuating?”
There were also supporters who wrote articles: “Of course the world could possibly be a wave. If the world is particles, does it mean the world itself is discontinuous and fragmented? I think the wave hypothesis is very suitable. The world is very likely composed of waves. If we can find electromagnetic waves, it will further corroborate this point.”
And this made the discussion even more public, because it involved the fundamental layer of the world, whether the world was continuous or fragmented. Coupled with the fact that Ace had once agreed with the atomic theory, it made the wizards take sides even more. Many wizards’ mental imagery worlds were established based on the atomic theory. If shaken at this level, wizards would die—a large number of people would die!
Even if the concept of the atom was blurred during construction, most people also constructed their mental imagery worlds based on the preceding element types, which similarly caused fierce conflicts.
Thales was not a Legendary Wizard. He chose to remain silent. As to whether the world was a wave or a particle, it was actually a hypothesis. Even if it was proven that electromagnetism was indeed a wave, it could only prove that this energy transmission method of electromagnetic waves existed. As for generalizing it to the whole world, it indeed lacked empirical basis.
This debate eventually ended with nothing settled. Both sides stuck to their own arguments, but planted the seed for major disputes later on.
For the next three years, Thales stayed indoors, immersing himself in research. His focus was pondering what magnetic lines of force were, and how magnetic lines of force should exist.
…
At this time, outside the world.
Ace had completely upgraded the entire Eye of the World. This incomparably huge world-class megastructure, overall comparable to the Celestial Realm, entwined by Magic Net threads, hovered at the top of the Wizard World. Originally, it was a ring-shaped structure.
To add the function of batch astral projection to it, Ace nested another ring inside it. The two rings were roughly perpendicular. Inside was a spherical mana fluctuation, and at the very center was a dream astral projection core manufactured imitating the astral travel core.
The entire Eye of the World had four functions. First was detecting and scanning all existences within a distance of three thousand worlds around it. Second was recording star maps and coordinates. Third was creating dream information flow clones to achieve jump-style searching for worlds. Fourth was constructing channels and providing the functions of mutual communication and collective projection.
This was a powerful world-class megastructure integrating detection and projection invasion into one. The entire building was a detection center and a command center.
Looking at this concise structure with satisfaction, Ace burst into uncharacteristic loud laughter.
“This will be a brand new day. From today onwards, the Wizard World Cluster will bare its fangs and claws to all worlds. We will become the plunderers of various worlds, spreading the glory of wizards across thousands of worlds, colonizing thousands of worlds!”
After saying this, Ace said with a slightly weaker aura:
“Of course, for the current plan, wizards cannot project to Level 2 Worlds. It’s best to only project to Level 1 Worlds. This is the safest way, and there won’t be a situation of being counter-killed. If we discover a suitable Level 2 or Level 3 World, we can use the Kaya World as a springboard, projecting from the Kaya World to the other world. If there is really any danger, the Kaya gods, Giant Tree gods, devils, and demons should be very happy to resolve it.”
A wicked smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, while also filled with expectations for the future ascension of the Wizard World Cluster. As long as this world continuously enhanced its foundation, it would definitely be able to ascend to a higher astral layer in the future, that is, the place where Level 3 Worlds exist.
At that time, wizards might give birth to a large number of existences comparable to True Gods. Even in the Kaya World, they would be an extremely important faction.
This was also Ace’s plan. The Wizard World was the retreat, and the Kaya World was the place to contend for supremacy. It was just that the strength of the High Tower Wizards was truly not worth mentioning in Kaya, hence taking this curved route.
“Actually, every layer of the Astral Plane could be called a Heaven, and the layer where each level of world is located is which Heaven. For example, here is the Second Heaven of the Astral Plane. Sounds a bit like the profound fantasy from my previous life, haha.”
His gaze sharpened, and then he said with expectation: “I wonder if we’ll encounter those profound fantasy or even Xianxia worlds similar to the illusions of my previous life. If that kind of world really exists, they might really call the astral layers a certain Heaven.”
Looking around at the endless void, Ace suddenly generated this expectation, or rather, an expectation for worlds familiar to his hometown in his previous life. If wizards really encountered cultivators or even immortals, what kind of situation would it be?
Inside the world. Ace had just returned to the Central High Tower of the Celestial Realm when the rotating chairman Bayen found Him.
“His Holiness Ace, I have some matters to report.”
Bayen bowed slightly and said in a low voice.
Ace made a gesture of support to Bayen and said loudly: “No need to be so polite. We are all members of the Supreme Council. You are the rotating chairman; we listen to you.”
Bayen didn’t dare to take these pleasantries seriously and said respectfully:
“Lord Ace, during the few years you were upgrading the Eye of the World outside the world, two more Legendary Wizards have been born. They are Bruce and Leyden. Both are representative figures of the newly emerging electromagnetism, waiting for your reception.
“There is also Thales. His contributions are actually greater than the previous two. It’s just that because he is indeed young and lacks accumulation, he hasn’t advanced to Legend for the time being.
“The Legendary Wizards of the Supreme Council unanimously agreed that he should receive the first Ace Magic Award, so we are submitting our Council’s preliminary proposal to you.”
As he spoke, Bayen reached his hand to the side. The space perturbed for a moment. He pulled out a scroll patterned with mysterious patterns from his mental imagery world and handed it to Ace.
Ace looked at it briefly, learned of Thales’s research contributions, and said without hesitation:
“First arrange for my meeting with His Excellency Bruce and His Excellency Leyden. Then we will pick a good day to present the award to Thales. He is well-deserved. But the time has to be three months from now. I need time to craft Legendary magic items for Thales.”
In Warren’s Wizard Tower, Thales was meditating. Since arriving in the Celestial Realm these few years, he actually hadn’t formally meditated many times. The several rewards from the Great Source had already made his strength progress by leaps and bounds. During this past year, besides pondering what magnetic lines of force were and what kind of existence form they should be, he was constructing the foundational meditation spell model for himself.
That spell model was modified based on the phantom of the heaven-bestowed spell model. The entire spell model had both electrical sparks and invisible magnetic perturbations. But because he hadn’t thought some things through clearly, Thales had never finalized the spell model.
During normal meditation, he still used the most popular astrological meditation method, visualizing the sun to draw mana.
Actually, visualizing the sun in the Celestial Realm was not as good as directly going near the sun in the Human World to visualize. He was already a Level 2 Wizard and could survive for a long time in orbits farther from the sun.
And indeed, there was such a group of wizards who built so-called meditation orbital stations specifically to receive solar irradiation, meditating in the orbital stations to draw solar mana.
This was also one of the benefits of the Wizard World. If it were in the Kaya World, wanting to visualize the sun up close was simply an impossible thing.
At this time, Warren walked in, took Thales’s hand, and said: “Lord Ace has returned. He has determined to award you the first Ace Magic Award. Badges, Legendary magic items—not a single one is missing. Many wizards in the Supreme Council envy you. Let’s go, come with me to attend the Supreme Council meeting.”
Thales asked somewhat puzzledly: “Teacher, what am I going to the Supreme Council meeting for?”
Warren said: “Lord Ace reformed the threshold of the Supreme Council. Originally, one had to be a Legendary Wizard to enter the Supreme Council. Now, as long as one is a Legendary Wizard or a Level 3 Arcane Scholar, they can become a member of the Council. You are the only Level 3 Arcane Scholar who is not a Legendary Wizard. It’s simply prepared just for you.”
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