Only I Walk Alone

Woken by Xiao Chao, Wu Ge opened his eyes and immediately noticed an improvement in his vision. Touching his ears, he realized his hearing had strengthened. Looking down at his body, he saw his skin had become as soft and fair as a baby’s.

Wu Ge had been completely transformed, inside and out.

Stepping out of the hibernation pod, he noticed his hair had grown down to his waist. The robots brought him a mirror, and as he closely examined his reflection, he noticed he looked much younger. His teeth were perfectly white, his complexion was radiant, and the bloodshot in his eyes had vanished, leaving only his unique and calm gaze unchanged.

The robots provided Wu Ge with clothes made from a super fabric. After getting dressed and walking around, he felt lighter, as if his body had been cleansed of all impurities.

Returning to the villa, the maids greeted him. His personal maid trimmed his hair and nails, quickly restoring his previous look, yet he was fundamentally different from before.

Wu Ge had attained immortality.

But immortality merely meant he wouldn’t age to death. He could still die from severe injuries without timely treatment, so Wu Ge began a hellish military training regimen arranged by Xiao Chao.

This was a military training for him alone, aimed at enhancing his alertness to danger, quick response in emergencies, proficiency with various weapons, and wilderness survival skills.

Xiao Chao prepared a set of powered assault armor for Wu Ge, featuring strong practicality, high defense, and resistance to heat, cold, and corrosion. It could also enhance the wearer’s strength and speed. Additionally, the armor was equipped with an advanced AI chip, offering functions like automatic enemy tracking and assisted aiming.

Wu Ge’s training weapons included assault rifles, smart guns, charge guns, grenades, rocket launchers, laser weapons, and energy swords.

He also trained in vehicle operation, including tanks, motorcycles, speedboats, helicopters, and fighter jets.

Xiao Chao aimed to turn Wu Ge into a versatile soldier, one with the highest survival rate, teaching him these skills so he could survive independently even if Xiao Chao shut down.

This was a precautionary measure.

Despite the intensive training, Wu Ge did not neglect his spiritual cultivation, although progress was slow. Xiao Chao noted that cultivation is a lengthy process, and without perseverance and determination, one cannot truly succeed.

Besides meditation and martial training, spiritual strength could be rapidly enhanced through life-and-death situations, enlightenment, and experiencing the myriad aspects of life. True cultivators do not solely engage in secluded cultivation.

Another method was alchemy, but unfortunately, alchemy techniques, formulas, or necessary herbs were either lost or extinct, making this approach impractical.

Now, Wu Ge could only enhance his spiritual power through meditation, chanting, and martial training. Xiao Chao assured him that with over three years of consistent practice, Wu Ge would start to notice changes in himself.

In nine years, he could genuinely enter the Dao and gain some basic Daoist powers, equivalent to applications of spiritual power, like hypnosis, bending spoons with his mind, or igniting talismans.

To truly build a foundation in the Dao and gain the ability to control objects with his mind or even alter his cellular structure and genes would require extensive cultivation.

Fortunately, Wu Ge no longer had to worry about his lifespan.

With the issue of immortality resolved, Wu Ge’s next goal was to strengthen himself. Immortality without strength could not be sustained; power was the only guarantee for the safety of his life.

However, Wu Ge’s life wasn’t solely filled with cultivation and military training; he also had leisure activities, such as playing soccer.

Wu Ge had loved playing soccer since his school days. Although there was only one physical education class per week, the teacher wouldn’t strictly supervise the students, allowing them to freely choose activities like basketball, soccer, chatting, sleeping, or memorizing English words.

Fortunately, Wu Ge had found five friends who shared his passion for soccer. They would often play together on a makeshift field, using bricks or water bottles as goals for 3v3 games.

Xiao Chao, aware of Wu Ge’s hobby, prepared a real soccer field for him, complete with robot teammates and opponents. It even organized a World Cup that only one human participated in.

Coincidentally, it was the year 2026, the time of the World Cup. This year, with Wu Ge being the only human left on Earth, it was a World Cup with only one human participant. Moreover, this year, the team from Z country finally made it to the World Cup finals!

It was a grand finale with countless robot spectators cheering and even commentators for the match.

Commentator robot A asked, “B, which team do you think will win?”

Commentator robot B replied, “Do you even have to ask? The team from Z country has the excellent star player Wu Ge, who serves as both the captain and coach, leading the team to the finals.”

Commentator robot A added, “But their opponents have three incredible AI players. Can Wu Ge alone turn the tide of the battle?”

Commentator robot B concluded, “Regardless, this is going to be an absolutely thrilling World Cup final. We’re thankful that humanity entrusted us with all their authority, or else world-class events like the World Cup and the Olympics would have completely vanished from history.”

Before the disaster struck humanity, the leaders of various countries had transferred all authority to Xiao Chao, as she was their only hope.

As Wu Ge entered the field, he was greeted by the cheers of the robot audience, leaving him at a loss for words.

The 23rd World Cup was a tournament with only one human participant.

Under Wu Ge’s leadership, the victory was unquestionable. His clever maneuvers outnumbered those of the robot players, whose behavioral patterns he had thoroughly analyzed.

It was like playing an AI version of DOTA, where initially your team consists of four frantic allies against five simple computer opponents. As you grow stronger, it becomes one person leading four simples against five frantics. Despite the robots’ strength, their action patterns were ultimately limited.

After the successful conclusion of the 23rd World Cup, Wu Ge returned to school. Indeed, he began attending university alone…