"Half the answer," Bai Ye said. "I don't know what the World Battlefield is gathering these near-apocalyptic regions for."
"Because different worlds are independent, but they also have chain relationships," Li Jiayi said, taking a piece of paper from the table. "This paper is one world."
Bai Ye nodded and gestured for Li Jiayi to continue.
Li Jiayi folded the paper. "Two worlds!"
Bai Ye looked puzzled but didn't interrupt Li Jiayi, letting him continue.
"Do you think the world has been split in two?" Li Jiayi asked. "It's not like that. The foundation of the worlds is the same. For example, everyone knows about Pangu separating heaven and earth, right?"
Li Jiayi said, "The birth of two worlds could both be because of Pangu separating heaven and earth."
Li Jiayi shook the paper in his hand.
"So, parts of the two worlds overlap, like a folded piece of paper. However, the subsequent extensions might differ, evolving into different civilizations."
"It's like what you saw in Fang Hu. Taiyi Zhenren was inspired by technological civilization and wanted to combine the two, which resulted in a branch of world civilization."
"And those cultivation worlds, in ancient times, they focused on physical training. Later, through immortal techniques and understanding the heavens and earth, they shifted to spiritual cultivation, which is also a branch of world progression."
"But just because their developmental paths are different doesn't mean these worlds are no longer connected. In the end, the source of everything is the same, like a river. It has many branches, but the source must be the source."
"A bit abstract!" Bai Ye exchanged a look with Yimi and said, "But I can barely understand it. Continue."
Li Jiayi said, "If one of your branches is cut off, it's not a big problem. Well, consider it like my fart; if a branch is gone, it means a world is gone, which is also a problem, but it's definitely not as serious as the source being destroyed."
Bai Ye asked, "Did your Chinese teacher die young?"
Li Jiayi asked, "What do you mean?"
"Your expression is poor," Bai Ye said. "Can't you just get to the point?"
Li Jiayi spread his hands. "The reason the World Battlefield appeared is to prevent some branch worlds from heading towards doomsday and perishing, which could then cause problems for the connected source. The trouble would be immense, potentially causing a dozen or even dozens of worlds to collapse."
Yimi asked, "Normally, wouldn't the river branches be polluted if the source is polluted?"
"That's just an analogy. Who told you worlds are really like rivers?" Li Jiayi rolled his eyes. "Are you still listening? If you are, don't interrupt."
Yimi quickly gestured for Li Jiayi to continue.
Li Jiayi continued, "What is the origin of those regions within the World Battlefield? Actually, those regions are the sources of the doomsday. Therefore, the World Battlefield has stripped those regions away."
"For example, where did you first appear?"
Bai Ye replied, "A doomsday region. A company called Umbrella developed a zombie virus, leading to the world's end."
Li Jiayi said, "So, Umbrella's base was the source of the zombie virus outbreak. Therefore, the region where Umbrella's base was located was stripped away. But since it was already a doomsday region, it means the virus's spread was not stopped in the end. However..."
Li Jiayi picked up the paper and shook it.
"This can prevent similar branch worlds from being implicated."
Bai Ye rolled his eyes. "If you put it that way, the World Battlefield is saving the world? Do you know how people in various worlds view the World Battlefield? Fear, dread, terror!"
Li Jiayi said, "I know. You want to talk about the Chosen Ones."
Bai Ye asked, "Is there a problem with that?"
Li Jiayi countered, "But the Chosen Ones were originally people who were supposed to die?"
Bai Ye frowned. "What do you mean?"
Li Jiayi explained, "Take Umbrella's doomsday region as an example. After the zombie outbreak, apart from those who died from the virus, the city conducted large-scale evacuations. However, over two hundred thousand people were still trapped and eventually died."
"The World Battlefield wasn't activated after the fact, but rather in advance after foreseeing the doomsday. Therefore, the deaths caused by the source of the doomsday are also part of the doomsday and would be sent into the World Battlefield together. And these are the Chosen Ones."
Yimi couldn't help but exclaim, "So, we can never leave. All Chosen Ones are destined to die, because we were going to die anyway, right?"
Li Jiayi was silent for a moment. "I can only say that the God's Tower in the central region is real, but I can't say more about it now."
Bai Ye suddenly recalled his past speculation.
Which side was Li Jiayi on?
A Chosen One?
A god?
Or perhaps...
"Do you represent the World Battlefield?" Bai Ye asked. "You are related to the owner of the World Battlefield, aren't you?"
Li Jiayi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Bai Ye asked, "And you claim to be a divine disciple?"
Li Jiayi spread his hands. "From a certain perspective, it's not wrong to understand me as a divine disciple. Of course, I know what you're going to ask next. I'm sorry, that's also part of what I can't say now. There's only one way for you to find out: go to the God's Tower."
Bai Ye said, "Then tell me what you can say now."
Li Jiayi continued, "That's all about the World Battlefield. The most important thing now is Lilith."
Bai Ye nodded, signaling Li Jiayi to continue.
Li Jiayi said, "Lilith comes from a future technological world with highly advanced technological civilization. Then there's the matter of rebirth and destruction. Taiyi Zhenren should have also told you."
Bai Ye nodded. "Mm."
Yimi asked, "What is rebirth and destruction?"
Yimi looked confused. He didn't know.
Bai Ye explained, "It's a bit complicated, but the general meaning is that prosperity leads to decline."
Yimi looked enlightened. Those four words were quite easy to understand.
Li Jiayi continued, "That world experienced two disasters. Countless years ago, a celestial body carrying the egg of life descended upon that world. The celestial body turned into cosmic dust, and the egg of life was buried underground. This life was Lilith. Ancient creatures went extinct, and humanity was born at that time. That disaster was called the First Impact."
"The second disaster originated from a human experiment called s2. The experiment touched upon God's forbidden zone, the domain of gods. Therefore, Adam awakened. Humanity attempted to kill Adam using the Spear of Longinus, which ultimately caused the sea level to rise drastically, the Earth's axis to twist, and natural disasters to erupt. Within a week, the human population was halved, almost to extinction."