Chapter 139: Excited Civilizations

No one continued to delve deeper into the topic of lifespan.

Both civilizations, at this stage, tacitly refrained from bringing up related matters again.

After completing the previously agreed-upon tour of the universities within this Stellar City on Ganymede,

this meeting between the two civilizations reached its main focus.

This university was merely a location chosen for the meeting schedule.

For this exchange focused on theoretical fields, whether it took place within the university or in a conference room somewhere in the Stellar City made little difference.

At most, the university atmosphere fit this kind of academic and theoretical discussion better.

After stopping inside a hall-like room in this university,

both the Stuo Civilization delegation and the Human Civilization delegation focused squarely on the theoretical exchange itself.

Considering the meeting process between the two civilizations had been mutually agreed upon beforehand,

many important scholars and core researchers in fields like theoretical physics and mathematics were present within both delegations.

Like on the Human Civilization side, though Professor Qiu Yiming, head of Research Institute 011, led the delegation, it also included heads of research teams from the Physics Institute and Mathematics Institute of the Negentropy Research Institute.

These core researchers and scholars would be the ones directly participating in this theoretical exchange in physics and mathematics between the civilizations.

Of course, these core researchers within the delegation were only the visible participants.

In reality, both for Human Civilization and the Stuo Civilization,

the entire exchange process was relayed back live to their respective civilizations’ home bases.

When needed, all relevant researchers and scholars from both civilizations were participants in this theoretical exchange.

This was a theoretical exchange at the civilization level.

…

During this Human Civilization and Stuo Civilization meeting, it was the most important aspect.

Qin Yu, as the head of the Negentropy Research Institute, naturally paid close attention throughout the theoretical exchange in physics and mathematics between Human Civilization and the Stuo Civilization.

Apart from the live feeds directly relayed from Ganymede,

the Brain Intelligence Project’s Strong Artificial Intelligence also gathered and relayed back to Earth all theories obtained from the Stuo Civilization and information gathered during the exchange.

The whole exchange in physics theory and mathematics

started from the shallow, more basic, or classical level.

Researchers and scholars from both civilizations behaved cautiously.

While ideally, for such theoretical and academic exchanges, complete openness and unreserved sharing would yield the best results,

achieving that level of trust between the two civilizations was extremely difficult.

With little prior contact or exchange between them in these areas,

neither side clearly knew which parts of their own civilization’s knowledge and theories held immense value for the other.

Furthermore, they had to consider: if they unwittingly gave away their civilization’s biggest bargaining chip,

would the other side still be “so kind” and openly share undiscovered areas they hadn’t yet touched upon?

This was true for Human Civilization, and the same went for the Stuo Civilization.

Thus, both civilizations tentatively started, cautiously sharing bits of their theoretical knowledge in physics and mathematics.

It was basically like squeezing toothpaste back and forth: one side squeezed out a little, then the other side did the same, all while constantly deciding whether to switch the theories or problems being discussed right then.

But,

very soon, as the exchange progressed with back-and-forth, gradually becoming deeper,

the mathematicians and theoretical physicists within both delegations clearly became visibly excited.

Because, as anticipated,

as the discussion went deeper, covering a wider range of theoretical knowledge,

both civilizations quickly heard and saw theoretical knowledge and research approaches they hadn’t grasped before.

For the mathematicians, physicists, and scholars in the Human delegation,

there were many moments when the theories presented by the Stuo Civilization made their minds struggle to process at first,

but then, by following the novel line of thought provided by the Stuo Civilization, different from anything within Human Civilization,

it was as if a previously undiscovered part of their minds and thinking suddenly felt illuminated.

Bear in mind, being part of this delegation meant having been selected from relevant institutes of the Negentropy Research Institute. They themselves were authorities in their fields within Human Civilization, deeply immersed in research for years, with significant achievements of their own.

Yet, at this moment, they still felt a sense of sudden clarity and refreshing novelty.

How had they never discovered the existence of these theories and approaches offered by the Stuo Civilization before hearing them now?

This feeling of suddenly opening a new door in their thinking – how could it not be exhilarating?

Conversely, scholars from the relevant fields within the Stuo Civilization felt much the same way.

On many Stuo scholars, the ‘Resonance Horns’ atop their heads trembled slightly, an outward sign of their inner excitement.

Similarly, what were ordinary, self-evident, and well-established theories for Human Civilization

could be entirely novel for the Stuo Civilization.

Through this step-by-step exchange,

researchers from both civilizations could clearly sense a significant difference in the thought logic between the Stuo Civilization and Human Civilization.

This difference meant that even though both had developed to the stage of Stellar Civilization,

many theoretical variations remained between them.

It wasn’t about one being right and the other wrong.

For instance, during the current exchange,

mathematicians from both sides mentioned a problem already solved by both civilizations,

yet even though both had solved it,

they discovered during the exchange that each civilization had used two completely different methods to prove and solve the problem.

Both paths to solving the same problem were correct.

Combining both lines of thought gave both civilizations new insights into that already-solved problem.

Similarly, a particular method or mathematical tool in the hands of the Stuo Civilization might have only solved that one previous problem.

Now, Human Civilization learned about it and realized it could also address another issue,

one that the Stuo Civilization hadn’t even perceived or discovered yet.

The opposite was also true.

This was likely the significance of the theoretical exchange between the two civilizations.

If one had to summarize the emotions of the researchers from both the Stuo and Human civilizations at that moment in one phrase,

it would probably be:

“This problem – it could be thought of this way? Solved like this?”

At most, the difference was that

the Stuo Civilization had experienced this kind of moment before.

As a whole, it was truly the first time Human Civilization had experienced something like this.

The theoretical exchange between the two sides naturally grew more intense by this point.

If,

on regular days, researchers digging into their respective fields were like searching for a special shell in an ocean of truth,

then the current state was like suddenly discovering there was another sea behind them.

……

In fact, not just the researchers present at the exchange,

but Qin Yu himself, who was monitoring the process remotely from the rear,

felt a sense of refreshing novelty upon seeing the theories and research approaches provided by Stuo Civilization—concepts Human Civilization hadn’t grasped before.

Even though he possessed the ‘Super Brain’, he had to admit, he was still barely, somewhat, human.

There was a clear, human-like inertia in his way of thinking.

Perhaps this mental inertia didn’t stop Qin Yu from achieving numerous research breakthroughs and steering Human Civilization in his desired direction.

But right then, the Stuo Civilization’s different thought processes and perspectives offered Qin Yu a novel feeling.

Looking at the world through their theories was like seeing the same world,

but suddenly from a brand-new angle. It felt rather magical.

Meanwhile, at the venue where the two civilizations’ delegations met,

the physicists, mathematicians, and scholars from both sides continued their exchanges in a state of high excitement.

Scholars from both delegations likely rarely experienced moments of such explosive inspiration.

The discussions completely shed their earlier slow and painstaking pace.

Scholars from both sides engaged fervently, their hearts fired up.

It was almost certain that after this theoretical exchange,

physics and mathematics textbooks back in Human Civilization would become thicker.

Across various research and academic fields, a heap of previously unseen theories and new concepts would likely burst forth like volcanic eruptions.

Judging by Stuo Civilization’s reaction, the novel theories and research ideas offered by Human Civilization were probably having a similarly powerful effect.

By Earth time,

the delegations began their exchange around noon, in the meeting room of the university within Ganymede’s Stellar City.

Then, sustained by the collective frenzy and excitement, the exchange continued from midday late into the night by Earth time.

It was finally brought to a close for the day by Professor Qiu Yiming, head of Research Institute 011.

Stuo Civilization individuals broke their rest into short segments spread throughout the day, each lasting only a few minutes.

Human Civilization delegates, however, still needed proper sleep.

More importantly, both civilizations required time to digest and organize the avalanche of new theories and knowledge shared across countless fields during the day.

Upon parting, the researchers from both sides seemed reluctant to stop.

After all, mathematics and physics, even at the purely theoretical level,

were two colossal disciplines, covering an enormous body of content—

impossible to exhaust in a single day.

Fortunately,

there was still time allocated for further meetings later, with the schedule focused entirely on academic exchanges in the theoretical realms of physics and mathematics.

Naturally, the Human Civilization delegation had their rest quarters within the Stellar City.

The Stuo Civilization delegation didn’t strictly need dedicated resting space.

However, while the humans rested, the Stuo delegation didn’t linger within the Human Stellar City.

Instead, they chose to return to their ship docked at the Stellar Port.

The Human Stellar City had ample space to house the Stuo delegation.

But providing areas suitable for the Stuo individuals’ immediate survival required Stuo Civilization to share information about their environmental needs.

This information itself was somewhat unique. Additionally, Stuo Civilization was also understandably hesitant to place full trust in the safety of Human facilities just yet.

After concluding the day’s session with Stuo Civilization, the Human delegation would certainly need to discuss the proceedings further with their superiors back home.

Stuo Civilization likely did the same; contacting their own command obviously wasn’t something they wanted overseen by Humans.

Returning to their own civilization’s ship was also part of their pre-arranged itinerary.

…

Following this,

the Stuo Civilization delegation remained on Ganymede for about half an Earth-month, adhering to the pre-agreed meeting schedule.

Considering this was the first face-to-face meeting between the two civilizations—which still carried unforeseen potential risks—

the entire itinerary was confined solely within the bounds of Ganymede’s Stellar City.

Human Civilization did not arrange for the Stuo delegation to visit other areas of Human habitation.

Furthermore,

apart from a brief interlude coinciding with Human Civilization’s New Year celebrations—during which the Human delegation invited the Stuo to experience the festive atmosphere—

the remainder of the meeting was devoted to continuous exchanges across various branches of mathematics and theoretical physics.

“… Honorable Sies, does Stuo Civilization have a concept similar to ‘festivals’?”

“We do. Commemorating moments vital to our collective memory appears to be a trait common to all sapient beings with memory and a sense of time.”

“In Stuo Civilization, we observe the ‘Migration Festival,’ marking the moment we departed from our homeworld. During its celebration, we recreate imagery depicting that pivotal departure event.”

“Later, when the Stuo Migration Festival arrives, we would be honored to extend an invitation to our Human Civilization friends.”

“Thank you for the invitation, Honorable Sies. If the opportunity arises, we would love to attend.”

After that, the core of the delegation’s time was focused on the substantive exchanges in mathematics and theoretical physics.

Fifteen days,

of course, was insufficient for two civilizations to exhaustively share or understand each other’s theoretical frameworks within such vast disciplines.

Beyond just discussing existing problems and established theories,

once each side began assimilating the novel approaches and concepts introduced by the other,

a fascinating shift occurred: in the latter stages, scholars and researchers from both sides started posing new questions and even proposing entirely novel theoretical conjectures.

The sheer value stemming from the collision of ideas between two distinct civilizations was proving to be staggering.

Essentially, the fifteen days served to give each civilization a broad overview of the other’s landscape in physics, mathematics, and related fields,

allowing for more in-depth exchanges on particularly divergent theoretical perspectives.

As the fifteen-day exchange period concluded,

the researchers from both sides were filled with a sense of wanting more.

“Friends of Human Civilization, delivering the perspective of our Sacred Decider, we propose that our civilizations henceforth maintain continuous exchanges in theoretical disciplines like physics and mathematics. We firmly believe this mutual sharing will fill gaps in each other’s understanding and elevate our theoretical research to entirely new horizons.”

“Honorable Sies, friends of the Stuo Civilization, speaking for Human Civilization, we wholeheartedly echo this desire to sustain communication, cooperation, and exchange with Stuo Civilization at the theoretical level. We too believe cooperation in fundamental research promises a win-win outcome. Both our civilizations stand to gain valuable new research approaches and unique insights, thereby mutually propelling the advancement of our respective theoretical endeavors.”

Much like during the Stuo delegation’s arrival,

both Human Civilization and Stuo Civilization performed their respective traditional farewell gestures.

Following the agreement to maintain ongoing theoretical exchanges in physics and mathematics,

the Stuo delegation leader, Sies,

extended an invitation in return—an act of reciprocal courtesy.

“Thank you, Human Civilization, for inviting Stuo Civilization to meet and view your city.”

“Our Sacred Decider likewise wishes to invite Human Civilization to send a delegation to visit one of Stuo Civilization’s cities.”

After a moment’s pause, Professor Qiu Yiming, leading the Human delegation, accepted:

“Thank you for Stuo Civilization’s gracious invitation. We shall come as planned.”

This possibility had been foreseen long ago. The decision announced by Professor Qiu was,

as expected, the outcome finalized in advance by Qin Yu and the heads of the various institutes under the Negentropy Research Institute.