Time crystals are a discovery proposed by the Mu Continent.
Time crystals are an open system that maintains a non-equilibrium state with the surrounding environment, exhibiting the characteristic of broken time translation symmetry.
A classic example of spontaneous symmetry breaking is: suppose there is a sombrero, and a small ball is at rest at the top of the hat. When the ball slides from the top of the hat to the brim, it has an equal probability of falling in any direction, and at this point, the system has rotational symmetry. Once the ball falls, it can only fall in one direction, which breaks the original symmetry of the system. This breaking of symmetry is not determined by physical laws but is caused by the instability of the ball itself, which is spontaneous symmetry breaking.
Time crystals are similar; they transform space into time, allowing them to repeat periodically in time, thus achieving a perpetual state akin to a 'perpetual motion machine.'
Since time crystals continue to move in their ground state, they can be used to transmit information. When matter is at absolute zero, the surrounding matter is in a stationary ground state, while time crystals continue to move in a lower energy ground state.
Due to having a periodic structure in spacetime, a time crystal can spontaneously break the symmetry of time translation, performing non-translation motion in space. The composition of time crystals involves the interrelated motion of 'spatial' non-local particles, which is the 'extra dimension' of energy particles beyond 'localized space.'
In other words, the existence of time crystals also reveals the significance of 'super extra dimensions.'
In other words, because of the existence of time crystals, it is theoretically possible to observe information from both the past and the future simultaneously in super-dimensional space.
Even seeing the past from the future, or the future from the past, the entanglement of past and future can be realized through time crystals.
Regarding this knowledge, Chen Ran had to thank 666.
Previously, 666 injected 'knowledge genes' into Chen Ran's body for its own learning. Although the existence of these genes wouldn't allow Chen Ran to learn all knowledge at once, they did present a certain special 'instruction' in his brain.
As long as someone mentioned a knowledge point, it was equivalent to this instruction being activated, thus unlocking related knowledge.
He looked at Elysia and said, "How did you come to mention this to me?"
"If it's about discussing academic matters with me, I don't think that fits your style. Or is it that the time crystal told you something about the X-10 experiment?"
Elysia blinked and said, "Hmm, let me think about how I should tell you."
"You can understand it as symmetry."
Elysia said, "No matter where you are in space or time, the principles of physics apply equally. You can conduct a physical experiment, perform certain tests, and then take this experimental equipment to any direction within an arbitrary short distance, or wait for any duration before conducting certain experiments again. In all these experiments, you should get the same results. In this case, time and space are said to be perfectly symmetrical."
Chen Ran's pupils slightly constricted.
"Are you trying to say that fate cannot be changed?"
"Is that so? After all, you've verified it 666 times." Elysia suddenly smiled: "Alright, don't look at me with that kind of eyes; I actually don't know that much."
"To be precise, didn't you tell me that you can jump through time?"
Elysia looked at Chen Ran and paused: "And I only learned about the existence of time crystals after that."
"However, academically, I can't compare to you, so I won't get entangled in these things with you."
She said, "I still have many questions to ask you about time jumping."
Chen Ran was lost in thought.
"I thought you weren't curious about these things."
Since the appearance of the Fifth Herrscher, Kiana and Raiden Mei's conversation was overheard by Elysia, and Chen Ran confessed about time travel.
Elysia didn't ask for details about time travel.
Whether it was the original future or the altered future, she never inquired.
At that time, Chen Ran was actually a bit nervous, fearing that Elysia would leak the secret.
Later on, he became so busy with everything that he forgot about Elysia's related matters.
Chen Ran was too busy.
Elysia blinked: "So, can you tell me why you're standing here now?"
"Uh, what do you mean by 'why'?"
Chen Ran paused and continued: "Actually, I don't know much. If you ask me why I traveled through time, I probably can't give you an answer."
"However, if you want to know about your future self, I can say a few things."
Elysia blinked again: "No need for that. Knowing too much can lead to worry, right?"
"The time crystal told me some vague information. To be precise, it's a reflection that exists in my mind." Elysia covered her mouth, thinking: "More specifically, it might be that my future self told me some vague information. Sigh, it's really hard to guess."
Chen Ran seemed to understand.
The future Elysia?
Whether in the future or the past, Elysia was always a Herrscher.
So, relying on the Herrscher Core, it was possible to convey information from the past.
Even using similar principles, people could stand in the present and glimpse information about the future, and from there calculate some outcomes fifty thousand years later.
Although Chen Ran didn't know the specific principles, he guessed it was related to Honkai.
And theoretically, what Elysia could do, Seele could also do.
He just needed to ensure that the current Seele had the same Stigmata or let the future Seele become the Herrscher of Death.
That was still quite simple… or not.
No matter the era, implanting Stigmata and becoming a Herrscher was not an easy task.
The current Bronya was still lying in Cocolia's orphanage.
——
Fifty thousand years later.
Saint Freya.
Wendy looked at the woman who had entered unannounced, her eyes filled with a hint of vigilance.
"Elysia, how did you end up here?"
Wendy didn't expect that the woman she encountered in the Elysian Realm would actually come out.
She couldn't help but frown.
In the Elysian Realm, Wendy and Elysia didn't have much interaction; during her limited visits, the people she interacted with the most were Mobius and Vill-V.
"Ah, is this the room where you and Chen Ran live? It's a bit cozy." The 'Elysia' in front of her smiled brightly, causing Wendy to frown even more.
"Wait, you're not Elysia."
Even though this woman looked almost identical to Elysia, Wendy still sensed something was off.
She cautiously raised her gun: "Who are you?"
'Elysia' blinked: "What are you talking about, Wendy? Take a good look at my face."
Wendy shook her head: "I can't pinpoint what's different about you, but a fake is still a fake."
She took a deep breath and said, "Elysia is special; not just anyone can imitate her."
"Did I really lose to my intuition?"
When Wendy saw the true appearance of the visitor, even her gentle nature couldn't help but show a hint of annoyance.
"Lord Bishop, can you not do this?" She looked at Otto, who was still wearing 'Elysia's' clothes, and said, "You're making me, a Valkyries of Schicksal, want to leave Schicksal immediately."
The Schicksal Archbishop turned out to be a cross-dressing enthusiast, and he even infiltrated while dressed as a woman…
If Anti-Entropy found out, the internet would probably be flooded with Otto's cross-dressing photos.
And given Otto's repressed personality, he might even turn them into wallpapers.
Otto sighed: "I wanted to use this appearance to find the Lord of the World Serpent. Oh, by the way, did I not tell you? The Lord of the World Serpent has already come out of the Sea of Quanta."
Wendy's pupils slightly constricted.
After coming out of the Sea of Quanta, Chen Ran had told her about what happened there, including Bronya's condition.
Chen Ran didn't have time to return to Saint Freya, so he went back to fifty thousand years ago in Anti-Entropy's orphanage.
Due to the corrective nature of time and space, the things he did in reality would leave no trace.
Saint Freya no longer had a teacher named Chen Ran, and Theresa didn't think it was a problem. Many students were also not surprised that the biology teacher had changed.
Wendy initially thought that having someone erased from existence was a cruel thing.
But now, she had become numb to it.
The current issue was how to stop the Otto in front of her from pulling off some stunt.
She said softly: "Although I don't understand much, I can assure you, Lord Bishop, if you go to meet the Lord of the World Serpent like this, I estimate it will lead to an all-out war between Schicksal and the World Serpent."
"Hahaha, if it were the Lord of the World Serpent from fifty thousand years ago, I would believe your words."
Otto said: "But now, I'm just thinking about testing how calm Kevin can be."
After Chen Ran entered the Sea of Quanta, Otto was also using the Cosmic Juggernaut he had just acquired to spy on the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta.
So, he easily obtained relevant information.
In fact, when Chen Ran went to the Schicksal Headquarters to retrieve the Gem of Serenity, he had also mentioned Kevin to Otto.
As for how Kevin came out of the Sea of Quanta and what means he used, Otto didn't care about that.
What he was more concerned about was another matter.
Project Stigma.
This plan was one for humans to coexist with Honkai, and the simplest part of the plan, which was also the easiest to implement, was to turn humans into Stigmata bearers to coexist with Honkai.
However, he was puzzled as to why this plan was realized so easily, and why Kevin had to wait for fifty thousand years.
He didn't know, which was why he wanted to inquire.
However, before dealing with Kevin, he needed to know what kind of person Kevin was, which is why he came to Saint Freya.
Wendy was a good entry point.
To this, Wendy could only roll her eyes.
"The Kevin I know is just the one from fifty thousand years ago. As for the Kevin fifty thousand years later, I can only say I have no impression."
"I suggest the Bishop find a woman named Natasha, Natasha Cioara. Although she just left the World Serpent not long ago, she might have changed her mind because of Sirin."
Wendy was also concerned about Raven.
Due to the shift in history, Raven left the World Serpent after Sirin did not become a Herrscher.
But after Sirin became a Herrscher again, who knows where Raven is, or if she sacrificed herself in Siberia.
Perhaps she might have died directly.
"I will consider your suggestion." Otto smiled and said: "Oh, by the way, besides that, I also have another piece of news."
Otto paused and said: "After Chen Ran took the Gem of Serenity, he asked me to find Kevin for a transaction. This transaction is related to both Sirin and Kiana, and involves the global connection."
"When the time comes, I would like to invite you to accompany me, after all, the Lord of the World Serpent is not easy to deal with."
Wendy's pupils slightly shrank.
She remembered that in the Elysian Realm, Vill-V had once said that Kiana was the last piece of the puzzle for the global connection, and that Kiana had gone missing in that era.
So, is it this time?
Wendy couldn't help but frown.
"What are you thinking?" Otto asked curiously.
Wendy said: "I was pondering the Herrscher of Finality. Lord Bishop, do you think we can defeat Finality?"
Otto was puzzled: "Why do you ask this?"
"Although I don't know why my thoughts jumped to this, I want to say that since Chen Ran learned that the era he was in would be destroyed, he would definitely find a way to preserve that era."
Wendy paused, organizing her words: "But since we are still here, it means that destruction is an unchangeable outcome, right?"
Otto nodded: "Yes, it's like a lake suffering from continuous drought. Perhaps some lucky fish fry are taken away and survive until the next rainy season, but it doesn't change the outcome of the lake drying up."
"That era is like the dried-up Amber, Honkai is the continuous drought, and Chen Ran and a few others are just the lucky fish."
He made a fitting analogy.
"So, the humans of that era are like fish, having no means against the drought." Wendy took a deep breath and said: "But I really want to know, what is Honkai's judgment on the drought? Or rather, what is the logic of the Herrscher of Finality's Destruction civilization?"
"Every person's actions will have motives; the previous civilization era could not have failed to consider the motives of the Herrscher of Destruction, otherwise, there wouldn't be someone like me, a unique Herrscher."
"And if it's to wipe out all life, then why do we still exist?"
Otto just smiled at this.
"Have you ever thought that this might already be the struggle that era made with all its might?"
"I remember that Chen Ran went missing after the battle of Finality, which you mentioned."
His words reminded Wendy.
"Of course, it's also possible that fate was meant to be this way, that everything is a program running perfectly."
Wendy took a deep breath.
"Oh, I thought it was a loophole in the Herrscher of Finality, but it seems I was overthinking it."
"When do we set off?"
"Wait a bit longer; I still need to convince another person." Otto said: "Kiana Kaslana, her participation is indispensable this time."
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