Chapter 136: Initial Domain

But what really made Lin Yifan feel uneasy was that the elf race could be reborn after death—what a bug!

He didn't know whether it's just how their race is, or because the whole race has evolved to a higher Life Tier, thus causing this bug?

Obviously, Ai Xi Er couldn't answer his question.

And thinking about this now is still too far off for Lin Yifan.

They are still trapped in the District, constantly facing the arrival of disasters; instead of worrying about the chaos, they should think about how to survive the disasters and become stronger.

Since they can't be killed, there's no need to waste effort on that side.

Lin Yifan decisively made a decision, throwing the pile of storage bags in front of Ai Xi Er, "I accept your deal; open these storage bags!"

Ai Xi Er heard this and immediately let out a sigh of relief, saying gratefully:

"Thank you. Rest assured, I will never renege on my promise!"

After speaking, she began opening the storage bags one by one, which was exhilarating.

Seeing this, Lin Yifan couldn't help but feel speechless and said:

"I killed your companion and cruelly tormented you, and you still thank me? Shouldn't you hate me to death?"

"There's nothing to hate," Ai Xi Er shrugged, saying calmly:

"You just arrived in this world, so your understanding is shallow. In fact, this is a survival‑of‑the‑fittest world; the strong have a voice, and the weak are like ants that the strong can crush at will."

"Although our elf race is now indigenous, the elders say that ten million years ago our race also came from another world, because all races in this world originated that way."

"Some powerful races occupied the best Districts and resources, growing ever stronger. Our elf race is weak, so we can only hide in barren mountains and foul waters, occasionally lucky enough to open an Instance to gain some resources."

"For a weak race like ours, being crushed by the strong is normal; if every strong being harbored hatred, our race would have been wiped out long ago."

"Besides, we won't die completely; after a few years we can be reborn, merely resetting our Life Tier to zero and starting evolution anew. That's better than a one‑time death. If you spare me, I can save decades, so how can that not be a favor!"

At this point, Ai Xi Er lifted her head and, with earnest words, said to Lin Yifan:

"I know you may look down on me, but I still want to advise you: when you someday leave the Initial Domain, you must learn to endure when you can."

"Otherwise, your lives will be very difficult!"

Lin Yifan furrowed his brows into a river‑shaped frown; deep down, he absolutely disagreed with this attitude.

Because to him, living isn't everything; dignity matters too.

But from Ai Xi Er's perspective, it seems fine.

It's all just about survival; the weak have only the weak's way of survival.

Nevertheless, Lin Yifan doesn't want to end up in that situation.

He doesn't want to become fish meat to be slaughtered, nor be pressed to the ground, slapped, then nonchalantly forgive the offender, even thank them for sparing his life.

So, he will become a strong one!

Lin Yifan's gaze grew steadily resolute as he looked down upon Ai Xi Er and said:

"Thank you for the reminder, but your way of survival holds no reference for me; living is important, but how to live is more important."

"If living has to be so miserable and stifled, I'd rather die in a spectacular blaze."

Ai Xi Er shook her head, laughing wryly: "Your Human race truly has this common trait in every generation!"

"Perhaps that's why you can become strong!"

Lin Yifan neither agreed nor disagreed, but recalling Ai Xi Er's mention of the Initial Domain, he remembered his earlier thoughts on the Newbie Trap and asked:

"You just said we're now in the Initial Domain; what exactly does the Initial Domain mean?"

"The Initial Domain is the region where you new Survivors reside," Ai Xi Er said openly and cheerfully:

"There are many domains in this world; I don't know the exact number. Our elf race's region is the Intermediate Domain. Generally, beings from the High Domain cannot enter the Low Domain."

"However, whether High Domain or Low Domain, they occasionally open Transfer Nodes to other domains. When people from other domains enter this one, it's considered entering an Instance; with luck, one entry can fill your bowl to the brim."

"But entering other domains also has a time limit. For us entering your domain, the limit is 12 hours. We were supposed to loot Treasure Chests and resources, but we found the incredibly precious Qingling Fruit here, so we stayed."

"We didn't expect that this morning a bird snatched one, and tonight you, a Demon God, showed up—what bad luck!"

"That bird is my friend," Lin Yifan smiled and said:

"It was because Mao Mao brought me that fruit that I came here; honestly, if you hadn't hurt Mao Mao, I might not have come."

"Wait, that bird got injured?" Ai Xi Er widened her eyes, saying in disbelief:

"But we didn't hurt that bird at all—no, we simply couldn't hurt it. Our combat power is weak; we only have ranged bow and arrow shooting."

"However, the bird's feathers are extremely tough; our swords can't harm it, otherwise we wouldn't let it take the fruit."

"It wasn't you who hurt Mao Mao?" Lin Yifan frowned, picking up a Feather Arrow that had fallen, examined it, and indeed found its arrowhead differed from Mao Mao's.

"It really wasn't you who hurt it; if not you, then who would?" Lin Yifan's expression turned sour.

Ai Xi Er thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps someone from another domain entered this area; that bird is special, at least we can't hurt it."

After speaking, he pushed the entire pile of storage bags to Lin Yifan, including the one in his own hand, and said:

"All the storage bags have been opened; per our agreement, you should let me go."

Lin Yifan reached out and felt the pile of storage bags; indeed, they were all opened.