this infinite world

——Living things can never understand things beyond their own cognition.

Just like when humans in the wild saw lightning striking down trees, they would not think it was a natural phenomenon, but rather thought it was the thunder from the angry gods.

Just like when ancient people saw an iron bird flying in the sky, they did not think it was a means of transportation called an "airplane", but rather thought it was a mount of the gods.

The current situation that Ichi is facing is the same - in his worldview, "Emperor" and "Inner Universe" are enough to explain everything and all the secrets in the world. Because he cannot understand things beyond his own cognition, nor can he understand what "creator" and "observer" mean, naturally he cannot understand the existence of Dr. Manhattan, and what kind of impact this "watchman" from outside the multiverse has on this universe.

He had no way of understanding what kind of battle involving the end of the era and rebirth had taken place in the small Silent Hill plane of the last era.

He also couldn't understand why Yang Yun suddenly mentioned "Chi You", a name he had an impression of but had never heard of in the new era. Because high-level saints could not retain their corresponding selves in the restarted era, and that man had already bet all his past on the previous era, remaining in that small universe... and this was a link that Yi Qi had missed.

So, everything has changed.

"Yiqi, do you think that each of the eighty reincarnations you have experienced is the same story?"

Facing the puzzled look that Yi Qi finally revealed, Yang Yun took a step forward and asked seriously, "Do you think you have experienced eighty different eras, or have you experienced one era over and over again eighty times?"

"Probably, it's the latter."

There was no need to hesitate about this question, and Yi Qi was not the type of person who hesitated. Even though he was quite puzzled by what Yang Yun said, the young man's belief was obviously not easily shaken: "Maybe there will be some changes, surprises, sadness, doubts, or anger... But small things can be changed, big things cannot be reversed. No matter what, this multiverse is still just a stagnant pool of water."

"Even if there are some insignificant changes, so what? It's just like a breeze blowing ripples and causing a few wrinkles."

"For you, this is how you view the 'reincarnation' you have experienced."

Yang Yun nodded first, then shook his head: "But I am different. For me, every reincarnation is a completely different and new experience."

"That's just because you haven't experienced enough." Yi Qi replied calmly.

"Maybe. After all, including this time, I have only experienced one restart and two reincarnations. Of course, I can't compare to your rich experience."

Yang Yun did not waste his words trying to convince the other party, but calmly expressed his own views. Because he also knew that in terms of what he had seen and the life experience, Yi Qi in front of him had more than a million times more experience than himself: "But what I want to say is that reincarnation does not only represent the end of the old era, but also symbolizes the beginning of a new era." "Just like the story becomes more perfect with each rewriting, the restart of the era must be the same... Since the story is not finished, then just finish it."

"…It sounds like you have the same idea as me."

After a few seconds of silence, Yi Qi finally spoke. This was also the longest silence he had ever had since he appeared. "So, you plan to join my plan and join my side?"

"No, although I don't know how to do it 'absolutely right', I think what you want to do is only a temporary solution and not a permanent solution."

Yang Yun rejected Yi Qi's invitation... or rather, his persuasion to surrender, and shook his head and said, "After all, just like the story you told me, 'the sky is round and the earth is square, and people are outside'. The solution to the problem lies 'outside' rather than 'inside'. Otherwise, Nong would not have left this multiverse and gone to the outer plane -"

“—but he failed.”

Yi Qi did not listen to what Yang Yun said, but interrupted him directly. For the first time, this young man's voice revealed an emotion that could be called "boredom". "This multiverse cannot function without someone. Since he disappeared, failed, and cannot return to our multiverse, the rest of us should continue to move forward, rather than stagnate and wait for the end to come..."

"——So, I will use my own way." This time, it was Yang Yun's turn to interrupt: "After all, you are not the only one who carries the past and the future."

"The universe is still running, life is still going on, and the remaining people should shoulder their responsibilities and continue to explore, fight, and survive... What a coincidence, I have had the same experience as you and came to a similar conclusion."

"...Before you brag, you must have the corresponding awareness."

Yi Qi stared into Yang Yun's eyes and slowly uttered a number: "In my opinion, you are just a puppet with no past and no future, just like me before. How can you, who is not even a 'saint', shoulder the future of the entire multiverse?"

"If you want to take responsibility, you must first have the corresponding strength, otherwise it will only be empty talk. But now that all the saintly positions in this multiverse are occupied, how can you open the door to sainthood——"

"If you don't become a saint, you will end up being an ant. I know this too. But it just so happens that I didn't understand until today why Chi You stayed in the old era and why he was willing to sacrifice himself to fight me, as well as what he left for me..."

As Yang Yun said this, he stared at the wreckage of the "Silent Hill" world in his inner world and took a deep breath: "Since you said that I can't bear the future of the entire multiverse, then now I will show you what I have shouldered so far..."

"The weight of the past." (End of this chapter)