41: It's just a game.

As Jiang Huai recounted, Lin Ye's eyes widened in shock. He found it difficult to process the horrifying news.

As old events were brought up, Elder Jiang's eyes showed an unconcealable nostalgia. He squinted slightly, as if recalling something.

"That war was incredibly brutal. Hundreds of billions of Undead were torn to shreds like ants by the Alien Species from the rift. Only a few rising powerhouses were able to barely survive in that slaughterhouse."

"But with the appearance of powerful foreign species, even this most basic survival became a laughable wish."

"We also understood the proverb 'when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.' Various civilizations and races in the universe also sent God-level Experts to the front lines to help the Undead."

"But, the Alien Species... there were too many... and they were too strong!"

"All those God-level Experts were defeated, and many even died directly on the battlefield."

"With the defeat of the Undead and the powerhouses of various races, those Alien Species faced no more obstacles. They advanced unimpeded, surging towards all corners of the universe."

"When we received the news, we were already prepared to die in this disaster, having assembled early at the Resistance Post." Jiang Huai recalled that battle, still feeling lingering fear.

"Just as our surviving civilizations were about to face this massacre, the entire universe... was paused." Jiang Huai recalled the scene from back then, showing fear for the first time.

"Yes, you heard right, it was literally paused. Matter stopped moving, time ceased to flow, and everything was like a single frame pulled from a movie."

"We could feel everything, but we could do nothing..."

"A voice echoed throughout the entire universe. It was a language that had never existed in the entire universe, yet we clearly understood its meaning."

"It said: 'It's only 0 to 1, the game isn't over yet. Take your trash and get out!'"

"Just like that, all the Alien Species returned to the rift."

"Hahaha! Isn't it funny... The cause of this disaster... was actually just a game, just a game!... Wuwuwu!"

Jiang Huai could no longer maintain his previous composure. He let out a self-deprecating laugh, his face, twisted by anger, eventually dissolved into uncontrollable sobs.

"My master, my comrades, my..." Jiang Huai clenched his fists, punching the hard titanium alloy wall repeatedly, as if that was the only way to mask his pain, until blood continuously flowed from between his knuckles.

Gao Zhiyuan said nothing, merely suppressing his emotions, gulping down alcohol until the empty bottle shattered in his hand...

Lin Ye watched the scene before him, maintaining silence. He didn't offer comfort, nor did he say any inappropriate pleasantries. He simply watched these two elders, who carried all the pain of an era.

They needed to vent these emotions.

"Is this the truth of this world? It's truly cruel!"

At the same time, Lin Ye himself was slowly processing this information, and his agitated mood gradually calmed down.

When Jiang Huai's sobs subsided and Gao Zhiyuan's breathing slowly normalized, and the room fell back into dead silence, Lin Ye finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear and calm.

"Perhaps you have experienced the darkness of that era and hold no hope for the future."

Lin Ye's steady words showed no fear for the future.

"But I think, since it's a game, we might not necessarily lose. If it were a guaranteed loss, that Supreme Being wouldn't have needed to send the Alien Species back, right?"

"Last time, perhaps due to various reasons, we failed. This time, let's fight for a victory!"

After hearing Lin Ye's words, Jiang Huai and Gao Zhiyuan inadvertently felt ashamed.

"Hahaha! It seems we've been lectured by a young man! 'Fight for a victory!' What a great line!" Jiang Huai didn't expect Lin Ye to remain so optimistic after hearing about this cruel situation, and his old face couldn't help but flush.

"Damn this game! I don't believe those Alien Species can keep winning!" Gao Zhiyuan was also encouraged by Lin Ye's words. After finishing his last sip of strong liquor, he was filled with heroic spirit.

Seeing that the two seniors' emotions had recovered, Lin Ye then asked them, "Do you two know about the Void God Realm?"

"The Void God Realm?! Where did you hear about that?" The recently calmed Jiang Huai instantly became agitated again. Even Gao Zhiyuan couldn't hold his liquor bottle steady, and it shattered on the ground.

"After I completed my promotion trial, the one who brought us in informed all of us that we could enter after reaching Tier 1 and spending ten thousand gold coins." Lin Ye told them truthfully.

"That Supreme Being? Really... sigh..." Elder Jiang didn't know what to say after hearing this.

But since this batch of Undead already knew, Elder Jiang had nothing to hide and began to explain the information about the Void God Realm.

"After that initial batch of Undead was defeated, in order to cope with the subsequent crisis, the Void God, the Lord of the Star Dome Civilization, first created the Void God Realm and opened it to all civilizations and races."

"The Void God Realm was initially created to avoid the next disaster, by migrating all civilizations from the real universe into this virtual universe, the Void God Realm."

"However, this action ultimately angered that Supreme Being. It killed three God-level Experts of the Star Dome Civilization as punishment and issued a warning to the entire universe: if such actions occurred again, this universe would lose its qualification as a chessboard and would face destruction."

"Later, the Void God Realm became a communication platform between various civilizations and races. Only those who obtained certain qualifications could enter."

"Now, even the method of entry has been deciphered by that Supreme Being? Is this the powerhouse who uses the universe as a chessboard and all races as chess pieces!" Jiang Huai marveled at this.

"Are there any benefits to entering the Void God Realm?" Lin Ye was more concerned about the convenience and help the Void God Realm could offer him.

"Benefits? Of course there are benefits! Since the Void God Realm is called the 'Crossroads of Civilizations,' it means you can trade with other civilizations. For weaker races and lower-level civilizations, they can obtain technologies and knowledge only available to advanced civilizations through trade."

"If you are a genius, when you grow to a certain extent, Blue Star may no longer be able to help you, and might even become a cage restricting your development."

"Among the first batch of Undead, there were a few monstrously talented powerhouses. Unfortunately, because Blue Star could not provide them with more assistance, by the time advanced civilizations discovered them, it was already too late; their optimal development period had passed."

"But now with the Void God Realm, you can acquire resources that Blue Star doesn't have, and you can spar with other geniuses in the universe. Your growth will no longer be hindered by the backwardness of your civilization."

"If you shine to a certain extent in the Void God Realm, you might even attract the attention of advanced civilizations or even supreme civilizations, who could offer you special training."

"Lin Ye, with your abilities, I believe the Void God Realm is your stage!" Jiang Huai undoubtedly highly affirmed Lin Ye's capabilities.

To be able to kill an Alien Species of the Flame Monarch's caliber before even reaching Tier 1 was unheard of even among the first batch of Undead.