Li conjured up a spinning executive chair and plopped down into it, tapping on a blackboard that appeared out of thin air, like it was an early meeting.

"Do you know the difference between your home and mine?" Li asked, crossing his legs.

Zhang Ze rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment before he replied, "Is it the color? My home is blue, yours is gold?"

"Wrong." Li continued tapping on the blackboard, "Let's think big and not get hung up on trivial things like color. Let's focus on the whole universe."

As Li tapped, the blackboard transformed into a colossal golden screen.

Countless streams of data flowed like water, finally settling into icons. Zhang Ze found his home's data closest to him.

All the data points were low, but two particular data points were shockingly low compared to other universes.

One being 1, the other 0.

[Universe Civilization Count: 1]

[Adjacent Civilization Count: 0]

Though the second data point seemed redundant, whether it's noted as zero or omitted, Zhang Ze's home was undeniably sparse.

The kind currently at the bottom of the known universe rankings.

Afraid that Zhang Ze wouldn't understand, Li began to talk about his own home.

During the Amber Civilization's exodus, they explored countless universes.

But save for those universes already destroyed, even the most barren ones hosted at least four or five planets with civilizations.

Li's old home was as bustling as a dumpling feast in comparison.

Before the Amber Civilization ascended to the skies, their closest neighboring civilization lived on a satellite of their mother star.

So close that a long-range telescope was enough to see it clearly.

Thus, initially, both sides regarded each other as heavenly Immortals to be revered.

Naturally, the first thing the Amber Civilization did upon leaving their mother star was to righteously Assimilate their close 'brother' just across the heavens.

During the ensuing forty thousand years of universal unification by the Amber Civilization, they spent almost half of their time interacting with these 'good neighbors'.

Their 'good neighbors' included, but were not limited to, planet-eating insects, red-skinned giant cattle, blue-feathered bird people, iron-masked hunting monsters...

All were peaceful and friendly races.

And it was precisely with the mutual aid from these peculiar 'good neighbors' that the Amber Civilization developed so rapidly and cohesively.

...

Li tapped the armrest of the executive chair, bringing Zhang Ze's attention back.

"I was born during the age of refuge, and never witnessed the Empire's glorious era.

"So stories of the past don't resonate much with me.

"However, a few elders from the old times remained in the fleet, and when they saw your home, they only said one thing."

Zhang Ze, "What did they say?"

Li moved his tongue as if contemplating how to express it in his native dialect.

After holding back for a while, he uttered a string of bizarre syllables.

Zhang Ze didn't know what the word or phrase meant but could understand the tone.

His intuition told him it was either a curse or an exclamation.

Something between "Whoa, amazing" and "Whoa, what the hell".

Zhang Ze scratched his head, "Is it really that strange?"

"Definitely." Li nodded vigorously.

"Besides, let me tell you, the person who first discovered your home was me." Li said proudly.

Li bounced from the executive chair, landing on Zhang Ze's lap.

"After discovering you, we didn't directly interact with you. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Because according to then calculations and observations, Earth Sea was expected to spread to your universe at least three hundred universe years later.

Meanwhile, though your universe was sparse, it was remarkably stable.

So, we decided to take a short rest in your universe, waiting until your civilization became... more unified before making contact.

We'd take time to observe you carefully and incidentally research the anomaly in your universe."

"And then what? How did my home explode?" Zhang Ze asked.

Li sighed, "Because just as the resolution regarding your home passed through parliament, the observers in the fleet issued a warning.

"Earth Sea suddenly surfaced, and its epicenter was near your home.

"For the entire universe's scale, your home became the core."

"You saw what happened after, given the unexpected turn, we could only rescue some people in time."

Li climbed unsteadily onto Zhang Ze's shoulder, simultaneously displaying a crisis management plan before him.

According to what's recorded, for civilizations of Zhang Ze's home's level, the approach was preservation.

After scanning, they attempted to replicate the planet's data as fully as possible, sealing it within a micro-ecosystem box.

Restoration would occur at an appropriate time.

Zhang Ze slightly frowned, "So, Mountain and Sea was originally the ecosystem box?"

"Sort of, not exactly. Just listen and let me continue." Li clapped his hands to signal Zhang Ze to hold off questions.

Li continued, "Though it sounds Wuqing, after fleeing your universe, we put matters about your home behind us.

"We've been through too many instances like this."

"Understand." Zhang Ze spoke softly.

Li, "The second return to your home happened at the end of the refugee era.

"By then, besides changes in life forms, our supplies were close to depletion, and safe universes were few remaining."

To facilitate Zhang Ze's understanding, Li reverted the scenario to that of the small island.

At this point, the small island was nearly engulfed by the sea, with only a few stubborn rocks occasionally peeking above the water.