Bai Ye remained silent. Had the crucial moment passed him by?
What was the difference between this and that damned incomplete Sunflower Manual he possessed?
Bai Ye asked, "Then, regarding leaving the World Battlefield?"
"That has nothing to do with him; it's my own speculation and investigation," Yimi replied. "Have you ever considered how we can actually leave the World Battlefield?"
Bai Ye looked confused. "Hm?"
The reason for Bai Ye's confusion was that there was an official answer to this question: the God Stone.
Yimi pressed on, "Is there a definitive statement that collecting enough God Stones will allow us to leave the World Battlefield?"
Bai Ye's expression shifted to one of sudden realization. So, Yimi doubted this.
This was a question Bai Ye could answer for Yimi: No!
In fact, it was perfectly normal for Yimi to have such doubts, as there was no "official" proof that one could leave the World Battlefield by gathering God Stones.
Indeed, one could not leave.
However, God Stones were essential for leaving!
This was because God Stones were actually the key to the Central Region!
Within the Central Region stood a Central Tower, also known as the God Tower, the core of the World Battlefield. Only by taking enough God Stones to the Central Tower could one enter.
And at the very top of the Central Tower lay the world of the gods.
It was normal for Yimi to be unaware of this. Bai Ye himself only learned of it after collecting enough God Stones in his previous life. Therefore, Yimi's current doubts were understandable.
In fact, Bai Ye had harbored similar doubts in his previous life.
But this time, he was resolute, having visited the Central Tower and understood the function of the God Stones.
However, Bai Ye couldn't articulate this, unable to explain that damned "restart."
But Bai Ye quickly found a new direction.
"Do you know about the Hidden Dragon Society?"
"I do!" Yimi responded. "Are you suggesting that the Hidden Dragon Society originated in their own world, and the founder was someone who left the World Battlefield, is that it?"
Bai Ye countered, "What's wrong with that line of thought?"
Yimi elaborated, "The World Battlefield opens every ten years. Regardless of what happened in the previous decade, new chosen ones will enter the World Battlefield in the next. So, the first question is, did someone actually leave the World Battlefield in the previous decade?"
As Yimi spoke, he crouched down and drew two circles on the ground with a stone.
"The first circle represents the World Battlefield that opened in the previous decade, and the second circle represents the one that opened in the second decade."
"The World Battlefield opens once every ten years, no earlier, no later. This means that no matter what happened in the previous decade, it doesn't affect the opening of the World Battlefield in the next decade, right?"
"Given this, to be more precise, regardless of whether anyone survived and left the World Battlefield in the previous decade, the World Battlefield in the next decade would still open, correct?"
Bai Ye nodded. "That's correct, but what are you trying to say?"
Yimi explained, "My point is that we cannot determine whether someone successfully left the World Battlefield in the past based on its subsequent openings."
"As for the Hidden Dragon Society, they indeed claim that, but can anyone confirm that their founders were truly individuals who returned from the World Battlefield? There's no evidence, is there?"
"Furthermore, if people could leave the World Battlefield every time, it's unlikely to always be people from the Supernatural World, right? What about other survivors? Why aren't there organizations like the Golden Lion Society, the Qilin Society, or the Phoenix Society?"
"Frankly, the situation with the Hidden Dragon Society is just what they themselves say. Who knows what the real story is?"
Bai Ye propped his chin on his hand, finding it difficult to argue.
If one were to approach this issue with absolute skepticism, then Bai Ye himself couldn't definitively say if leaving the World Battlefield was possible.
After all, in his previous life, although he had entered the Central Tower with God Stones, he had returned before reaching the top.
That damned "restart"!
Therefore, Bai Ye believed he had reached the final step, but whether stepping across it would lead to leaving the World Battlefield was something he had no evidence for.
However, the issue was that if one questioned everything, this would become an endless cycle. Unless one left the World Battlefield, there would be no answer, because everything was subject to doubt.
Bai Ye looked at Yimi. "What are your thoughts?"
Yimi replied, "I believe we should start from the essence of everything."
Bai Ye inquired, "For example?"
Yimi explained, "Why does the World Battlefield exist? If this is truly a creation of the gods, what is their purpose?"
Bai Ye mused, "That's an interesting, though not entirely novel, question. In my world, many believe it's just a game of divine mischief, perhaps out of boredom, seeking entertainment."
"Perhaps," Yimi conceded. "Before encountering the God's Disciples, I might have thought the same, or rather, I wouldn't have cared."
Bai Ye asked, "And after encountering them?"
Yimi continued, "I couldn't think that way anymore. The gods have a motive. Otherwise, why would they need God's Disciples? Why would they instruct them to seek certain things?"
Bai Ye frowned, finally understanding Yimi's point.
After a moment of thought, Bai Ye stated, "If the World Battlefield is truly just a game of divine mischief, then things might be simpler. We just follow the rules, collect enough God Stones, head to the Central Tower, beat this game, and we'll naturally be able to leave..."
"But if this isn't a simple game of mischief, then things become far more complicated."
"Exactly, which is why we need the truth," Yimi gritted his teeth. "Only by understanding the meaning behind the God's Disciples' search, why the gods need those items, and what the World Battlefield truly is, can we possibly return home."
Bai Ye acknowledged, "A solid line of reasoning, but..."
Yimi prompted, "But?"
Bai Ye countered, "Have you considered that by going to the Central Tower, you might obtain the truth?"
Yimi paused, then replied, "That's one approach, but it's a very difficult one."
Bai Ye then asked, "So, your method is to confront the God's Disciples?"
Yimi admitted honestly, "That was an accident."
"Hm?" Bai Ye asked curiously, "How much of an accident?"
Yimi elaborated, "The Origin Stone I obtained earlier, my friend asked me to place it by his corpse before he committed suicide. He said I wouldn't survive holding the Origin Stone, and I wasn't sure if the gods would bring him back to life. I didn't want to see a stranger in his place next time, nor did I want him to suffer so much."
"So, I did as he asked!"
...