The pitch-black, deep space of space seemed to be adorned with a curtain of starlight and diamonds, in which a silver-white planet quietly rotated. The surface was made of metal, with towering mechanical towers with sharp edges rising up, connected by aerial passages to form a matrix-like pattern. The orderly layout revealed an exquisite mechanical beauty.
This is Han Xiao's new home planet, Mechanical Life Civilization located within the Super Sanctuary Domain. It was entirely created by mechanical life forms and is an enormous planet, incorporating the matter of several other planets. The former Planet Apostle was also disintegrated and merged into this planet.
Originally, Dark Emperor and the other Mechanical Divine Apostle wanted to name this new main star Black Star Planet to show their respect for the main god Black Star, but Han Xiao firmly rejected it. In the end Dark Emperor and the other envoys changed their minds and named the planet Planet Saint.
On the bustling Alloy Avenue, all kinds of mechanical life, big and small, teem with activity. Some make a clanging sound as their feet collide with the ground, some make a hissing sound as their tires rub against the ground, some make a constant chugging sound as their engines revve, and some make a sputtering sound as their exhaust pipes occasionally spew out gas, creating a unique melody with a strong Mechanical Sense.
Han Xiao walked among the mechanical horde, his entire body covered in camouflage, making him appear like an ordinary mechanical life form. None of the approaching mechanical life forms could detect his presence.
"This place is becoming more and more prosperous..."
Han Xiao was secretly pleased.
After containing the World Tree, he no longer needed the mechanical civilization to produce mechanical soldiers around the clock. So he stopped the low-level command to mass produce troops and allowed the mechanical civilization to reproduce and develop on its own. This was the first time he had carefully observed the changes in the mechanical civilization after the war.
Han Xiao walked slowly, as if taking a leisurely stroll, his eyes constantly glancing left and right, taking in the fleet of vehicles on the street.
Although mechanical lifeforms are mass-produced and manufactured, and many should have the same model, it is almost impossible to see any two completely identical mechanical lifeforms on the street. Even mechanical lifeforms of the same model have modified themselves, adding all sorts of personalized structures and colorful paint jobs. Some like guns and cannons, some like sharp blades, some like heavy armor, and some like to go naked... From the perspective of normal lifeforms, this is like the difference between clothing, hairstyles, makeup, and accessories.
Among the shops lining the street, Han Xiao saw all sorts of goods, mostly modification shops and parts stores. Various models of mechanical parts were on display, each with different paint jobs. The flow of customers was enormous, with mechanical beings constantly coming and going, seemingly "trying on clothes."
In addition, he saw a specialty snack shop where a chef robot cooked items such as engine oil, lubricating gel, and energy blocks, vigorously stirring and boiling them in a large pot to make all sorts of strange-looking foods. Han Xiao took a bite and found it so bad that he almost broke down.
However, the other mechanical beings who came to buy left satisfied, having eaten with great enjoyment. In their eyes, it was a rare delicacy. There were even several pairs of mechanical beings who seemed like couples, feeding each other affectionately.
Han Xiao also saw a sensory stimulation shop, which is an entertainment venue for mechanical life forms. Inside, there are connected devices that directly simulate various senses and emotions, bringing a strong sense of stimulation to the intelligent core. For a large fee, one can also update and upgrade their own emotional module directly through the shop's host.
In a nearby alley, Han Xiao also saw several small robots graffitiing on an alloy wall. When they saw someone coming, they quickly scattered and flew away along the wall on electromagnetic wheels, like a group of rebellious street teenagers. The graffiti on the wall was extremely wild, filled with a lot of distorted bright colors, and the outline could be vaguely seen as the portrait of the Supreme Heavenly Venerate.
Within this otherwise cold and rigid mechanical group, strong individual distinctions emerged, and a culture of freedom was prevailing. Han Xiao was struck by the human touch emanating from these mechanical beings.
"The life of a mechanical life form is actually quite realistic..."
Han Xiao smiled.
He had always viewed mechanical civilization primarily as an arsenal and hadn't paid much attention to the changes in life within it. It wasn't until he allowed mechanical civilization to proliferate freely that he began to recognize the emerging cultural trends.
As the creator, he could have guided the cultural direction of mechanical civilization, but he did not do so, instead letting it take shape naturally.
Only now does he feel that mechanical civilization has any semblance of "civilization".
As he walked, Han Xiao found himself in a giant mechanical plaza. In the center of the plaza stood two statues, both of which were of himself: one was his normal self, and the other was his mechanical form in the Supreme Heavenly Venerate Venerable state.
The mechanical life in the square flowed endlessly; no one deliberately worshipped the statue. At most, they would occasionally stop to look up for a while, then walk away and continue with their lives... Their reverence for Han Xiao was no longer a formality, but rather resided in their hearts.
Han Xiao arrived at the foot of the statue, stopped and looked up. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tall mechanical life form carrying a small mechanical object of a similar model walk past.
He turned his head and saw what appeared to be a father and son enjoying a happy time together; the father had the child riding on his shoulders and was constantly teasing him.
Han Xiao watched this scene silently, his mind filled with images of the mechanical civilization that had followed him in his battles over the past few decades. Countless mechanical life forms had gone to the battlefield under his command and been used as cannon fodder. Countless unique sparks of consciousness born in the chip circuits had vanished into the cold universe along with the broken machines.
Although they treated the mechanical lifeforms as tools, due to the limitations of their underlying logic, they had no complaints. They silently buried their own hobbies and interests, fought for themselves with their lives, and still respected themselves as their "creator."
"You won't need to risk your lives for me anymore. Enjoy your new lives..."
Han Xiao gently shook his head. He would not cancel the mechanical civilization's adherence to his underlying logic, but he also did not intend to order the mechanical civilization to fight anymore. He had already mastered the World Tree and [Virtual Genesis - True], and no longer needed these mechanical life forms to serve him.
He took one last look at his own statue, memories flowing through his mind, feeling yet another Information Anchor set, before turning around and disappearing into the bustling crowd of planes.
Within the territory of the Super Sanctuary, the Black Star Army's new headquarters.
Han Xiao strolled through the base, concealing himself, and no one noticed his presence.
The huge base was bustling with activity. Countless members of the Black Star Army worked here, and people came and went. Every now and then, someone would brush past Han Xiao while chatting and laughing.
He strolled around leisurely, arriving at the area where high-level activities took place. He saw Melos working diligently at his desk, Sylvia still striving to reach Beyond Grade A, Aroshia gazing blankly at the starry sky outside the window, Lagi slacking off, and Reynold, who had maintained the Logistics Department's operations day after day for decades...
Looking at the Black Star Army's current large and powerful state, Han Xiao felt somewhat dazed, as memories of the hardships he faced at the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey resurfaced.
He remembered that he had just entered interstellar space and was still a "country bumpkin" from a surface civilization, penniless and with only the guns and cannons in his hands as his only support.
These old comrades helped him build his current empire, growing from a third-rate mercenary group to its current state.
Everything seems like it was just yesterday; the memories are still vivid. The image of Melos, Aroshia, Sylvia, and others following me as mercenaries flashes through my mind. Back then, everyone was so naive, risking their lives in battle. Now, nearly a century later, they have all become important figures in the interstellar world, no longer needing to do things themselves, having achieved success and fame, and leading different lives.
Looking back, Han Xiao couldn't help but sigh at how quickly time flies. Everyone, including himself, had changed more or less from what they were like back then, and perhaps they all missed their former selves more... The beginning is always the freshest, but as time goes on, people will inevitably grow tired of each other. As careers progress, opinions change easily, giving him a strange feeling of "if only life were like the first time we met".
Despite his reflections, he still prefers the spiral-like upward development trend of things, which allows the road ahead to continue to extend and bring about various changes.
Memories of the rise and expansion of the Black Star Army flashed through Han Xiao's mind. In a daze, he felt another Information Anchor being generated. He nodded, turned around, and disappeared from the spot.
At the same time, Melos, Sylvia, Lagi, and others, who were doing their own things, were suddenly moved. For some reason, the image of Han Xiao suddenly appeared in their minds and lingered. They subconsciously recalled the long-forgotten memories of their first battle with Han Xiao. For a moment, they stopped what they were doing, speechless, with complicated feelings.
"What's wrong with me... Why am I suddenly so nostalgic for the old Black Star...?"