My journey is the starry sea.
......
This is not a grand ambition, but a longing, a yearning—for freedom.
The blue Earth spins on its axis, orbiting the sun.
And the entire Solar System itself orbits the Celestia Stellar System.
The majestic Milky Way galaxy, in truth, is just an ordinary stellar system within the vast universe.
As a child, gazing up at the starry sky:
Especially at night, whenever I saw the stars scattered across the heavens, I always felt small and insignificant. Compared to the vast universe, blue Earth is but a grain in the ocean.
People often imagine, and sometimes speculate.
Amid the endless starry sky, as time flows and ages pass, what brilliance and wonder are hidden in the eternal universe? How distant and dazzling must it be?
It cannot be measured, guessed, or witnessed.
It is a grand tapestry that humanity struggles to reach in a lifetime—but within Andrew Han’s heart, a quiet longing was born... to travel the ends of the earth, to roam the starry sky; rather than merely gazing up, to stand within it.
"Well then."
"Bailey, come out for a moment."
At the edge of Earth's blue atmosphere, Andrew Han dusted off his cyan robe and flicked out a pitiful little Bailey.
This creature is an AI core.
But the key issue is that Bailey looks nothing like an AI core—always clueless, constantly malfunctioning.
"T^T~ Master"
Bailey clutched its tiny paws tightly.
Its fluffy white fur trembled, rabbit-like ears folded back, and its glassy black eyes brimmed with innocence.
Bailey’s form originates from a square-shaped virtual projection.
Simply put, faint energy constructs a three-dimensional field more tangible than a mere projection, manifesting the milky-white Bailey within it. So the high temperatures and erratic, oxygen-free turbulence at the edge of the atmosphere feel to Bailey like a gentle breeze.
But for some reason, Bailey quietly muttered, “Oof, it’s a little cold out here.”
Thump!
Andrew Han took a step forward.
The edge of the atmosphere shook, as if the sun and moon had dimmed. He gently reached out his right hand and placed it atop Bailey’s little head.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” Andrew’s expression was a bit puzzled, his face radiating gentle warmth.
Bailey was nearly in tears, blurting out, “Bailey may be an AI core, but the foundation database determines the higher functions! Without a foundation database, without a star-network, Bailey can’t look anything up!”
There was only one thing Bailey knew for sure.
Void Rift Tier isn’t the point; beyond the Chenriver Empire, there are even higher realms—though not nearly as clear as described by Dan Xuchun of the White-Horn Clan.
“Oh.”
Andrew kept stroking the fluffy little head.
Those rabbit-like ears, formed of energy, stiffened.
“Master, Master.” Bailey wanted to protest but couldn’t quite get the words out. “Once you join Chenriver Palace, Bailey will be able to merge all knowledge through your permissions, and there will never be any more gaps!”
Andrew seemed unconvinced. “Really?”
Bailey grew anxious, earnestly raising its white little paw. “I swear!”
“Heh, if swearing could solve problems, wouldn’t that be nice?” Andrew sneered. “I bet your computing power isn’t even a match for Earth’s most advanced supercomputers. Forget it—just keep some perspective, and stop bragging about how impressive you are as an AI core.”
“But Bailey really is an AI core!”
“Oh? Maybe you’re obsolete.”
.....................