Chapter 37: Arrow of Time

Since I can't figure out what's going on right now, I won't think about it; thinking too much only adds to the trouble.

It would be better to recall the ideas I suddenly thought of.

As for the artificial intelligence Prince's Mansion, I'll just treat it as an accident.

Ye Cang then returned to his seat and sat down, casually taking another look at that pile of Rubik's Cube fragments.

This look made Ye Cang unable to help but raise his eyebrows.

The metal originally used to make the Rubik's Cube was a highly inert metal, but now those metals had turned into ordinary alloys.

However, Ye Cang didn't care; since they had all turned into ordinary alloys, there was nothing worth studying or looking at.

Immediately, he took out a notebook and a pen, preparing to write down the ideas he had thought of at that time.

But before he could even start writing.

The system suddenly spoke.

【Oi! I have some fresh Gene Optimization Technology here, do you want it?】

【If you want it, I'll send it to you immediately! The loop is complete now~】

Ye Cang, holding the pen, felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing the system's words.

Fresh Gene Optimization Technology?

But Prince's Mansion said its data was...

The moment he thought of this, Ye Cang understood!

Its data was stolen by the system and then destroyed!

Since the system could steal Prince's Mansion's data, it meant that the two of them very likely came from the same era.

Which is the future!

Looking at it this way, this system was sent to him by his future self, and then his future self discovered that the data in the system was missing.

So he had the Prince's Mansion send it over!

At this moment, Ye Cang finally understood what the system meant by a loop.

Time Loop!

You have to know that any concept involving time is very difficult to explain clearly with language; most of it can only be understood intuitively and cannot be put into words.

Fortunately, his case wasn't too complicated and could be explained clearly.

Seeing that Ye Cang hadn't spoken for a long time, the system couldn't help but remind him.

【Speak, speak!】

【Are you mute or what? Why aren't you saying anything for so long!】

Regarding the system's words, Ye Cang couldn't help but push up his glasses, then smiled and said: "System, shouldn't you tell me the things you've been hiding from me?"

"Being so secretive like this doesn't seem to have much point!"

【Ah? What things am I hiding from you?】

The system's voice sounded very confused.

【I don't have anything to hide from you. You are my host; I have no need to hide anything from you, at most I just mock you a couple of times.】

Looking at the system that was still playing dumb, Ye Cang didn't dawdle and laid his cards on the table.

"You really are one who won't give up until you reach the Yellow River; you want to see a thousand miles further, so you climb to a higher level! Since you won't say it! I will!"

System:???

No, who was his Chinese teacher? What kind of nonsensical poetry is this, is it even used correctly here!

Before the system could speak.

Ye Cang continued: "System, you must have been sent by the future me! That Prince's Mansion was sent by the future me to supplement your data!"

"I have already seen through your identity now!"

"I just didn't expect that the future me would be so powerful, actually becoming the Pangu Civilization."

"However, I don't understand why the future me wouldn't give me something powerful? Why insist on sending you back?"

After hearing these words from Ye Cang, the system felt somewhat helpless.

【Can't figure out why I was sent back, is that it?】

【If you want to know, I'll tell you!】

Ye Cang's eyes lit up, "Tell me quickly, why? I'm especially curious right now!"

But the system's next words made Ye Cang not believe it one bit.

【Let's just say, is there a possibility that your guess is wrong?】

【I wasn't sent back by the future you, and I have absolutely nothing to do with the future you? The loop I mentioned isn't a Time Loop either?】

【All of this is just your speculation; to put it bluntly, you're overthinking it!】

"No, impossible!" Ye Cang said with an incredulous look, "I get it, you are Wangwudao!"

"You are lying to me, you are confusing my judgment, you don't want me to discover this secret!"

"Right!"

Regarding Ye Cang's current state, the system returned the words he had just said to it right back to him.

【How the tables have turned; I'm returning the words you said to me right back to you now!】

【You really are one who won't give up until you reach the Yellow River; you want to see a thousand miles further, so you climb to a higher level!】

Ye Cang:...

Oh, my God, look at this terrible choice of words.

Why would he say such terrible things to the system? It sounds so awkward.

But even so, Ye Cang still didn't believe the system's words.

"No, I still don't believe it!" Ye Cang said, "Everything must be based on evidence!"

"What evidence do you have that you aren't a future version of me sent back here?"

The System smiled confidently after hearing this.

【Evidence? Of course I have it. Have you ever heard of what is called the Arrow of Time!】

The Arrow of Time?

Regarding this concept, Ye Cang expressed that he did not want to know; as he had said before, anything involving time was never a simple matter.

But the System did not give Ye Cang a chance to speak.

【Seeing you aren't speaking, I know you don't understand the Arrow of Time. Let me explain it to you simply.】

【Before explaining the Arrow of Time, I need to add a framework to the Arrow of Time, otherwise it will be very troublesome to explain!】

【This framework is dimension, three dimensions!】

【In three dimensions, the concept of the Arrow of Time exists, which is that time is irreversible! Sending me from the future to the past requires traveling through time; think carefully, isn't this a reversal of time?】

【Of course, time is not absolutely irreversible, unless you can become a four-dimensional being, understand?】

【Hmm, the Arrow of Time also represents other things, but those are too far away from you; I'll tell you when there's an opportunity in the future!】

After listening to the System's explanation, Ye Cang sighed.

He had actually guessed wrong, damn it!

So it wasn't his future self who had sent him the System.

The System sensed Ye Cang's disappointment and began to comfort him.

【Alright, guessing wrong is no big deal. At least this was a hearty deduction, even if it was wrong!】

This comfort from the System made Ye Cang roll his eyes significantly.

Its comfort was worse than not comforting him at all.

Let it be; although there are more and more doubts and questions now, he believes that as he continues to learn, these questions and doubts will be resolved sooner or later!

There is no need to dwell on it now!

Dwelling on it too much now will only affect current matters!

Moreover, his current matters are very numerous and very troublesome!

Thinking of this, Ye Cang picked up his pen again, preparing to record the ideas from that time.

But the System interrupted him once again.

【I say, are you really not interested in Gene Optimization Technology?】

【This is the Gene Optimization Technology you have been longing for!】