Genius Club

Chapter 1408: Chapter 49: What Is 42

"And the Black Hand behind the Millennium Stakes on Earth should already be in the second stage. They calculated 42 long ago and understand the truth of 42, so naturally, they know how terrifying the true power of 42 is."

"They definitely want to quickly grasp the power of 42 and gain the strength to rival the truth of the universe, but this isn’t something achieved overnight; I believe that to grasp the true power of 42, either the universe’s collective effort is required for research, or... a truly great [Cosmic Genius] is needed."

"Alas, I always find it quite puzzling."

Jask looked at Lin Xian and VV:

"42 is merely an ordinary number, anyone can write it anywhere, but can such a number really harbor immense destructive power behind it? What exactly is the principle?"

"Knowledge."

Lin Xian said:

"Knowledge is power, it’s as simple as that old adage. When Einstein proposed the mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc^2, he didn’t expect such a simple and elegant formula to become the mushroom cloud that shook the world."

"So, 42 might be the same, before understanding it, it’s just an ordinary number; only after comprehending it can one truly realize what 42 signifies and what terrifying power it contains."

...

Listening to Lin Xian, Jask nodded.

If 42 is likened to the mass-energy equivalence formula, it indeed becomes much easier to understand.

However.

Given the current situation, is it really possible to understand and master the cosmological constant 42?

Jask shrugged helplessly:

"I’m not trying to be a downer, but look, over there you have Liu Feng and Gao Wen, both unparalleled geniuses, and even after centuries of joint research, they’ve only managed to calculate the cosmological constant result of 42 with various hints, and there are almost no achievements in understanding 42."

"Of course, I’m not saying that they’re incapable, Mr. Gao Wen is indeed the most brilliant genius I’ve ever met, and I have great respect for him. Over the years, he has helped me solve many research difficulties."

"But even such geniuses have failed to understand the truth of 42... and despite Einstein’s brilliance, he only reached the point of calculating 42, then was at a standstill."

"Under such circumstances, could there really appear a genius smarter than Gao Wen and Einstein, who can thoroughly understand 42? Is it possible that the limit of humanity is its inability to understand and master 42—it’s the tragedy of an entire civilization."

"No."

Lin Xian closed his eyes.

Lin Xian recalled the image of an old man and a young child struck by a truck;

Recalled the old house walls covered in the number 42;

Recalled the unparalleled genius even praised and admired by Emperor Gao Wen;

Recalled the mysterious man existing only in legend, never once met—the father of Big Face Cat—

Chen Heping!

"There is indeed one person...who accomplished it."

Lin Xian said softly:

"At least that person is different from Einstein, Liu Feng, and Gao Wen. He not only calculated the cosmological constant result of 42, but also understood the truth of 42 ahead of everyone else!"

Thoughts traced back like rays...

Lin Xian suddenly realized.

Perhaps, all the truths and answers had already been revealed within The Second Dreamland.

He was just an ordinary elementary school math teacher.

He studied the ancient text "Introduction to the Cosmological Constant" for decades, and after calculating the result 42, he secluded himself for several months.

He not only wrote the number 42 into every small brick seam but ensured every stroke never overlapped.

This must be deliberate; there must be hidden meaning!

Chen Heping, at once, comprehended the cosmological constant 42.

Behavior became absurd, mental breakdown ensued.

Lin Xian still remembers the scene of Big Face Cat mimicking Chen Heping’s nervous breakdown:

Expression blank.

Gaze unfocused.

The whole person seemed as if bewitched, holding onto arm after arm relentlessly, voice trembling, repeatedly muttering that phrase:

"[42...is everywhere.]"