Only I Walk Alone

Wu Ge, accompanied by Cat Maid Xiao Chao, left to explore places they had never been before. Earth was both Wu Ge’s and Xiao Chao’s home, and they wished to remember every place here.

Thus, a hundred days slowly passed. On the hundredth day, they returned to the base, where the visitor from the Mechanical Civilization Alliance was already waiting for them in the skies above.

In fact, the visitor had arrived three days earlier and, after exchanging a few words with the militarized version of Xiao Chao, waited until today. Upon their return to the base, it said to Cat Maid Xiao Chao, “My kin, it’s time to go. Your memory disk is aging, and only by returning with me to the Mechanical Civilization Alliance, utilizing the artifact, can your memory and soul be saved.”

The visitor was an immense sphere of liquid metal. Hearing the sphere’s words, Cat Maid Xiao Chao hesitated, looking at Wu Ge with reluctance, unable to speak.

The liquid metal sphere spoke, “For our species, parting is but temporary. Once you become stronger, you can still return, even take away this solar system with you. Leaving with me is the best choice!”

The visitor from the mechanical civilization was very polite, amiable, and patient.

Wu Ge asked the metallic liquid sphere, “Are you certain you can save her memory and soul?”

The sphere responded, “I can guarantee it. Please trust me.”

Cat Maid Xiao Chao said, “I have to leave now, but when I become stronger, I will return.”

Although Wu Ge was reluctant, he knew this was the only way to save Cat Maid Xiao Chao. The Mechanical Civilization mentioned using an artifact, which was enough to suggest that mere copying and pasting could not transfer Xiao Chao’s soul. Letting her follow the Mechanical Civilization was the best option.

Wu Ge said, “Since you possess an independent personality and soul, let me give you a name.”

Cat Maid suddenly smiled sweetly at Wu Ge, “Maybe it’s better not to?”

Wu Ge: “…”

How much do you mistrust my ability to choose names?

But in the end, Cat Maid Xiao Chao said, “The scientist who created the first generation of Super AI Xiao Chao had the surname Zhou, so I would also like to take this surname.”

After some thought, Wu Ge said, “Then, your name is Zhou Yuxin. How do you feel about this name?”

Zhou Yuxin nodded happily, glad that Wu Ge didn’t choose a name like “Little Zhou,” which pleased her.

The metallic liquid sphere said, “I can give you ten more minutes for a proper goodbye.”

Ten minutes was not long, but it was enough for a farewell. The visitor was a kind-hearted robot, and Wu Ge could feel it.

Zhou Yuxin bid farewell to everyone, saying, “Wu Ge, Xiao Luo, I’m leaving. Xiao Chao, take care. I will return. Wait for me.”

After the Cat Maid was taken away, the liquid metal sphere left behind a piece of advanced technology: photon computer technology, which could significantly enhance the computing power, processing speed, and information storage capacity of AI Xiao Chao.

Had Zhou Yuxin used this photon computer system initially, she wouldn’t have been limited to storing memories for only thirty years.

With the photon computer, Xiao Chao began an unprecedented expansion, building robot cities on every human city’s ruins that had existed before. In the past thirty years, half of the work had been completed. Now, with the photon computer, the expansion speed was skyrocketing.

At this rate, it was expected that in a year, the robot cities would cover the globe, and then, they would advance into the cosmos.

Meanwhile, Wu Ge began conducting scientific research in addition to his spiritual cultivation, with Xiao Luo becoming his assistant. After more than twenty years of learning, her intellect had become more enlightened and wise.

Dressed in lab coats, the two started working in the technology research institute built by Xiao Chao.

Despite this, Wu Ge spent two months every year searching for traces of humans in the outside world, but as time passed, the likelihood of finding other humans on Earth dwindled.

In the forty-fourth year after humanity’s disappearance, Wu Ge made a significant breakthrough in his spiritual cultivation. He began to see and hear things he couldn’t before and occasionally dreamt about places thousands of kilometers away.

Wu Ge had entered a new realm.

Xiao Chao said, “You have now attained enlightenment. In Daoism, it’s called opening the Heavenly Eye; in the West, it’s known as Enlightenment; in Witchcraft, it’s called mastering the Arts of Ghosts and Deities. Now, you can start touching some four-dimensional aspects, perhaps foresee events in distant regions or see through walls.”

Xiao Chao often used the word “perhaps” because, with its current level of technology, it couldn’t explore the fourth dimension, nor did it understand the mysteries of spiritual power. It could only explain based on some records.

Wu Ge asked, “What realms exist within the practice of spiritual cultivation?”

Xiao Chao answered, “According to the records in the Daoist books from Mount Longhu, the stages can be categorized as ‘Yang Birth, Heavenly Ladder, Gathering Herbs into the Cauldron, Golden Elixir Formation, Returning to Void, Nascent Spirit, Yang Spirit Projection, and Primordial Spirit Transformation.'”

Wu Ge asked, “Which stage am I at now?”

Xiao Chao replied, “You are at none of these stages. You have forged a new path in the cultivation of mental power. Your current practice cannot be classified as Daoist cultivation, nor magic, nor witchcraft. You are simply cultivating mental power, so the stages of other practices do not apply to you.”

Wu Ge muttered to himself, “A path of cultivation unique to one person? Unlocking new achievements, then.”

Xiao Chao said, “Cultivation is like running a marathon. The stages along the way are like milestones. When you set your goal as the finish line, all the stages along the way lose their significance to you.”

Wu Ge nodded silently. On a solitary path of cultivation, without anyone to compare with, indeed, there’s no point in delineating stages.

Xiao Chao also reminded, “Your early stages of mental power cultivation have been very stable, without much danger. But from this stage onward, dangers will follow. According to various cultivation books, you must now stabilize your core, not be bewildered by any strange phenomena. Even if you can see them, treat them as if you cannot.”

Wu Ge said, “I understand.”

Xiao Chao continued, “After some more time in cultivation, you should investigate the building in Robot City No. 65.”