Super God-Level Top Student

"Because a good mentor at least needs to know the difficulties of a research direction and inspire their students. This is a problem you'll never be able to solve. From your perspective, it's nearly impossible to find any difficulty. And if you do notice a difficulty, it might be a peak that your students will never be able to reach in their lifetime. Ha ha..."

Edward Whitten laughed as he spoke.

It wasn't a schadenfreude laugh, but rather one tinged with self-mockery; he even quickly added, "Do you know why Dugen can teach so many good students? It's because he himself isn't one of those researchers with great ability and talent, so he's very good at inspiring others.

Even now, his involvement in research isn't that high. More often, he's using his reputation to help secure funding. He's always been dissatisfied with the Fields Medal committee for not awarding him, but in reality, the committee was fair; he didn't have many groundbreaking results."

Actually, I think he won the Wolff Prize mainly because there were former students of his on that year's committee. Everyone basically gave him this consolation prize out of regard for his students' face. So do you understand? You shouldn't waste your time on something that's not your strong suit."

Well, if it had been anyone else making such a comment about Lotte Dugen, it would certainly be considered presumptuous.

But if that person was Edward Whitten, it seemed somehow acceptable.

For someone who pioneered M-theory, saying that a Wolff Prize in Mathematics laureate doesn't have much groundbreaking work, the other party could probably only accept it. At most, they might argue a bit.

However, Qiao Ze merely responded noncommittally: "Is that so?"

"Hmm... But I can also understand the school's thinking. After all, superspiral algebra and the corresponding geometric system were created by you. From this standpoint, it's not unreasonable for you to lead a group of students to study this system. But for you to teach, it really is difficult," Edward Whitten evaluated.

"So?"

"So I think we can collaborate, Qiao Ze. An in-depth, comprehensive collaboration! An all-round collaboration between the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the Xilin Institute of Mathematics. We can mutually send research students for exchange studies and hold academic exchange events regularly. You know, we also have a dedicated Qiao's Algebraic Geometry research team," Edward Whitten offered.

Qiao Ze had heard this suggestion recently, proposed by Roth Dugan.

But last time it was with the Princeton Mathematics Institute.

"In fact, the Xilin Mathematics Research Institute also has a dedicated research team," Qiao Ze stated concisely.

"No no no, Qiao Ze, you are wrong. Your research team works entirely under the guidance of your thinking. Over time, it will become limited. Because they will find it very hard to step outside of your framework of thought and complete the entire theory.

But it would be different if we collaborate. There would be more fresh ideas coming in, and perhaps we could make this framework more complete in ways you haven't thought of yet. I admit you are strong, Qiao Ze, but one person can't possibly consider everything comprehensively, not to mention that much of your energy will be spent on new directions," Edward Whitten said earnestly.

It seemed quite reasonable, but Qiao Ze still asked, "Then how do you ensure that your team won't be influenced by me after joining?"

"Because we're just collaborating, not joining. Most of the time, our research is actually independent. We just have regular exchanges. Even if we send some students to join each other's research team, the mathematical ideas they bring back are limited to discussions and advancements,"

Edward Whitten said, and looking at Qiao Ze's noncommittal expression, continued, "Okay, I admit, maybe we will gain some advantages, but what we research is only theory. Just like we've discussed before, neither of us will be able to rely on this theory to produce world-changing results anytime soon.

Even if we truly found a theoretical way to control the direction of graviton movement, the implementation would be years away. I acknowledge that scientists have nationalities, but pure scientific theories do not have boundaries.

Just like some patentable inventions might be kept secret, but theoretical articles have never been restricted from publication. The impact of mathematical tools only plays a role in mathematical research, don't you think? Qiao Ze."

Qiao Ze nodded slightly, then shook his head.

Edward Whitten was somewhat baffled, uncertain of what this meant.

"Come on, Qiao Ze, no playing riddles, tell me what you think,"

"Actually, I've told you before," Qiao Ze said.

"Oh? When?" This time Edward Whitten was completely confused.

"A long time ago. To put it simply, I am averse to this kind of cooperation, not because of your so-called nationalities of scientists or fear that you'll master the theory first. And speaking of applications, I never considered that you would have a chance to overtake us since you've not done the basic groundwork.

Without material models, powerful industrial capabilities, or revolutionary creative and design abilities, even with all the theory, you can't start on the design. The simplest graviton control system needs a series of advanced materials to complement it, let alone those graviton energy transformation devices."