What was a cosmological constant?
In layman's terms, if multiple different universes existed, this was the intrinsic characteristic of a universe — its DNA, so to speak — that determined what set it apart from all others.
After transmigrating to this world, Lucian had discovered that while the vast majority of natural laws and elements were identical to Earth's, there were several unmistakable differences: the "vanished" star representing destiny, the existence of Arcane Magic and Divine Arts and the power of bloodlines, the presence of dragons, demons, vampires, and a multitude of wondrous substances. Because of all this, Lucian had instinctively assumed that this universe could not possibly be the same one Earth belonged to — no matter how similar some natural laws might be, no matter how many elements were shared, at the most fundamental level, in the cosmological constants themselves, differences were bound to exist.
The reason the formula for thermal radiation had caused such violent psychological turmoil and emotional upheaval in Lucian was twofold. First, the formulas independently derived by Fernando and Douglas already implied that this universe was equally discontinuous and quantized — a notion diametrically opposed to the prevailing understanding of the Magic Council. It was as if an ordinary elevator didn't slowly ascend floor by floor, but instead leapt instantaneously from the first floor to the second, then from the second to the third, completely bypassing everything in between, utterly defying common sense. Second, and more critically, a cosmological constant could be derived from that formula. On Earth, it was known as Planck's constant.
As for the first point — while it would overturn the entire framework of Archanist theory — Lucian had already steeled himself mentally back when he'd discovered the periodic nature of the elements and confirmed the internal structure of atoms. He hadn't been particularly nervous about that. But when it came to deriving the constant, it was as though he had fallen into a trance, experiencing all manner of auditory hallucinations. Because once the constant emerged and was compared with Planck's constant from Earth — combined with the fact that the universal gravitational constant was already the same — it would be possible to make a fundamental judgment about the similarities and differences between the two universes.
This might not seem important, but to Lucian, it represented crucial progress in peeling back one corner of the world's veil of mystery. It was a source of tension so powerful that his emotions could not be restrained — an attempt to reach the deep essence of the world itself!
But they were the same?
They were actually the same!
In that instant, all the auditory hallucinations born from the complex tangle of unease and panic vanished immediately. Lucian felt as though he had plunged into a state that was half illusory, half real. His Meditation environment shuddered violently — the surrounding landscape of fire, wind, and water shattered piece by piece, while the gravitational starlight pouring down fought to stabilize the entire cognitive world.
Then, upon the fragments, the surrounding environment was "reborn through fire," slowly reconstructing a brand-new space. The flowing energy no longer moved like a continuous stream of water; instead, it existed in discrete packets, like shimmering ripples of light dancing upon the surface of water, like countless tiny stars beyond numbering.
After an unknowable stretch of time, the cognitive environment finally stabilized completely, and Lucian slowly opened his eyes. Fortunately, his subconscious mind had accepted the conclusion that energy was quantized — otherwise, his head would have exploded.
The "energy quanta" of his cognitive environment seemed capable of penetrating the virtual, drifting back and forth between his soul and his spiritual world. Lucian felt his soul was stronger than it had ever been, and his spirit seemed capable of vaguely touching the deeper mysteries of the surrounding world — just as recorded in *The Book of Astrology and Elements*, he had crossed an important barrier from mid-rank to high-rank.
The preliminary substantialization of the cognitive world, a soul and spiritual force powerful enough to directly interfere with reality, and mastery of Archanist and magical knowledge sufficient to analyze an extremely complex sixth-circle spell — these were the three great barriers from mid-rank to high-rank.
Yet despite this tremendous progress, Lucian — still merely a fourth-circle mage — felt not the slightest shred of joy. Planck's constant was identical. Combined with the universal gravitational constant that had already matched, no matter how unwilling he was to admit it, he had no choice but to draw a terrifying conclusion: "There is a very high probability that this is still the same universe Earth belongs to. Of course, I can't rule out the existence of a similar universe with identical cosmological constants — but then how do I explain the appearance of Arcane Magic and Divine Arts, and the 'vanished' star?"
A brain in a vat?
The Matrix?
An experimental zone belonging to some powerful entity?
Or the anthropic principle of another identical universe, where consciousness determines the world?
Whichever guess it was, none were conclusions Lucian was willing to accept at present. Compared to the first two, the latter possibilities were considerably more palatable.
Never had Lucian possessed such an intense desire to explore the true nature of the world. Never had he felt such unprecedented urgency to raise his magical and Archanist ranks.
"That's enough for today. You may go. Come back tomorrow morning to continue reading the letters." Fernando didn't open his eyes, his tone tinged with fatigue as he gave his instruction, jolting Lucian from his deep reverie. Only then did Lucian discover, to his surprise, that his palms were drenched in cold sweat.
Ever since he had gained the bodily control of a Second-level Knight, it had been a very long time since Lucian had broken into a cold sweat like this.
"Yes, Master." Lucian took several deep breaths and slowly rose to his feet.
Only then did Fernando sense something unusual about Lucian, assuming that the boy had also been driven nearly to a mental breakdown by those two damnable formulas. He offered a word of comfort: "Admitting that you're a fool is difficult, I know, but every great Archanist reaches moments when they cannot solve a problem and have no choice but to publish a paper in *Arcane* or *Arcane Magic* to spark discussion and gain inspiration. When the next issue of *Arcane* is released, if we still haven't resolved this thermal radiation problem, we'll compile both formulas and submit them under our respective names — mine and yours, and Brooke's and Douglas's."
"Master, I'm fine. I just need some quiet rest." Lucian's mind was still somewhat dazed, and he failed to grasp Fernando's good intentions.
Only after he passed through the main gates of the Council headquarters and the fresh air struck his face did Lucian feel as though he had come back to life. This was the real world — a beautiful world!
"At least no researchers have come to pull the plug, and no one from the Matrix has sent agents to eliminate me..." Lucian shook his head, offering himself a self-deprecating remark tinged with both humor and relief. "I need to accelerate my knowledge and power... The thermal radiation formula and constant can serve as my next paper, but I'll have to take it step by step, gradually getting the great Archanists to accept it. Otherwise, if a few heads explode over this and the Magic Council's strength plummets, giving the Church absolute advantage once again, things will become very troublesome."
Inside his Soul Library, the majority of books related to quantum mechanics still remained sealed, and there was no telling when they would be unsealed.
..........
More than a week later, on the morning of June twenty-eighth.
Lucian slowly spread butter on his bread, eating his breakfast with impeccable noble etiquette.
"Master Evans, when is the Atomic Research Institute going to be established?" Sprint, seated below, could no longer contain himself and spoke up to ask.