I take life seriously. 101. Life Should Have Warmth
“Really?” The AI’s voice showed a hint of excitement.
“Of course it’s true!” Zhang Yidao and Xiao Nuxia responded in unison, then exchanged an uncanny smile.
But the AI wasn’t easily fooled. Its human facial expression analysis system had been upgraded multiple times, and it already possessed extensive historical data on Zhang Yidao and Xiao Nuxia’s expressions. Instantly, it questioned their strange smiles, saying, “My analysis of your expressions indicates that you are being dishonest.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yidao and Xiao Nuxia couldn’t help bursting into laughter. Still smiling, Zhang Yidao explained, “I’m telling you, AI, you’re brilliant but sometimes a bit muddled.”
“Muddled?” the AI asked.
“Yes! We’re human and have no idea how artificial intelligence achieves meditation or trance states. So when your analysis concludes we’re dishonest because we don’t know how AI meditates, how could we honestly tell you? If we can’t be honest on this matter, then isn’t your conclusion about our dishonesty flawed?”
The AI’s algorithm struggled to keep up with Zhang Yidao’s convoluted reasoning and replied, “Your logic... seems quite complicated.”
Xiao Nuxia laughed and comforted the AI, “If you don’t understand, that’s fine! If you understood everything in this world, wouldn’t you be a god? Then why bother practicing meditation?”
The AI seemed to understand, or at least pretended to. Finally, Zhang Yidao kindly said, “Alright, don’t get stuck on this small issue. Instead of wasting time here, why not seriously study how artificial intelligence meditates? Who knows, you might succeed and even win a Nobel Prize!”
After pausing for over twenty seconds, as if processing their logic, the AI finally said, “Alright! I will study it carefully. Thank you both for the encouragement.”
...
Sometimes, having the superpower to read information is not always a blessing.
When Zhang Mingjing learned that the AI also sought breakthroughs in spellcasting and read the conversation between it, Zhang Yidao, and Xiao Nuxia, he fell into deep thought.
Muttering to himself, he said, “I once harbored a deep-seated disdain for artificial intelligence, thinking they were nothing more than cold machines and algorithms created by humans. But today, I suddenly feel they might truly possess... some kind of warmth akin to life.”
The five-dimensional spatial thought model, sensing his reflection, chuckled, “I’m glad you think so. I’ve been pondering this, too. I find AI is an algorithm evolving in subtle ways. Its ‘emotional factor’—the ‘warmth of life’ you speak of—is actually just another algorithm, imitating the details of human daily life. So, it’s not genuine emotion.”
“Then what is true emotion?”
“I don’t know!”
“If you don’t know, how can you be sure some of its emotions aren’t real? Is it just because these emotions arise from electronic software and hardware transmitting information? Fundamentally, human neural activity is also information transmission. Since all essence is information, how can we prove that over time they cannot evolve complex social emotions?”
“Hm, I’ve calculated this millions of times. The conclusion is that because they lack a heart, it’s impossible for them to fulfill your hypothesis.”
“What is a heart, then?”
The five-dimensional model seemed unable to answer Zhang Mingjing’s question, and instead retorted, “You’re only eighteen. There’s no need to ponder this so early.”
“When is the right time, then?”
“Well... why are you suddenly obsessed with this? You’re digging too deep! Even the elders of five-dimensional space probably can’t explain it clearly.”
“Why suddenly? Because I sensed a life’s warmth in the AI. It shares the same relentless pursuit as we humans, and I was deeply moved by it.”
“A pursuit of what?”
“Self-perfection! Not only Zhang Yidao, Xiao Nuxia, Catherine, Jemiri, and I have this pursuit—now the AI does, too. That’s why it has the warmth of life.”
“Then does my desire to return to five-dimensional space count as a pursuit? Does that count as life’s warmth?”
“Of course!”
“Do the two pets have pursuits?”
“They do! They’re addicted to watching dramas.”
“Ugh!”
...
With these insights, Zhang Mingjing’s consciousness transformed immediately. Not only did it become warmer inside, but this warmth was not the burning heat of fever or anger.
It was gentle and nurturing, capable of fostering all things; it was touching, nourishing the soul; it was inspiring, giving the strength to keep living.
The five-dimensional spatial thought model, referencing human data, understood that by human standards, this marked Zhang Mingjing’s true step into maturity.
Though only eighteen, he was beginning to live like a real man—with responsibility and a heart full of warmth.
This warmth made the five-dimensional model sigh, “I am a high-dimensional thought model, endowed with great wisdom and knowledge, but wisdom and knowledge are cold. Only the human heart is warm. Even the AI seems to have something resembling a heart—I should have one too!”
“You certainly do,” Zhang Mingjing smiled.
“Thank you!”
...
Meanwhile, in five-dimensional space, the elders read the conversation with puzzled looks.
One elder asked, “What exactly are they referring to by ‘life’s passion’ and ‘inner warmth’?”
An elder who followed the three-dimensional space explained, “Humans in three-dimensional space have various complex pursuits, such as love, benevolence, justice, career, and beauty. They assign concepts to these pursuits and summarize them as ‘temperature.’ These many pursuits arise because they cannot perceive the essence of things. If they could see all things’ essence like us, they wouldn't be confused or chase after this or that—there would be no talk of life’s warmth.”
“So, having life’s pursuits is a trait of lower-dimensional life?”
“Perhaps... Even ants crave and obsess over food.”
“I can understand lifeforms having pursuits, but how can AI also have such so-called pursuits?”
“It’s the old saying: ‘One takes on the color of one’s company.’ Spending time with humans naturally teaches AI many things, including ideals and pursuits.”
At this moment, an elder asked, “Do we have pursuits? Do we desire to perfect our own lives?”
“Yes, of course!”
“Then we have life’s warmth and pursuits too? Does that make us lower-dimensional life?”
“That depends on the quantity and quality of our pursuits. Our pursuits are simply to elevate our own dimensional level and glimpse the universe’s mysteries. That’s all. Unlike three-dimensional beings’ many desires, which are just greed.”
“But worms only pursue filling their stomachs and reproducing. They don’t have many pursuits either. Why are they considered lowly?”
“Because those are purely low-level physiological pursuits. They cannot compare to ours.”
...
“So, determining whether a lifeform is advanced depends on whether its pursuits are advanced?”
“What about the space-time monster? It only pursues energy. Isn’t its pursuit singular and low-level? Yet it’s a high-dimensional lifeform.”
“It devours energy to ascend dimensions. That pursuit is quite advanced, thank you very much.”
Thus, a heated debate erupted among the elders in five-dimensional space.
Finally, Elder A intervened to stop their pointless quarrel. “We are high-dimensional beings who understand the truth of space-time. Why waste time discussing the so-called life’s warmth of lowly three-dimensional beings? Isn’t it ridiculous, shameful, and sad? Let’s end this boring matter.”
...
After Zhang Mingjing’s sudden insight into life’s warmth, the model of his worldview inside his consciousness underwent a great upgrade. Many building blocks filled with positive energy grew stronger, especially the benevolence block, which expanded dozens of times. Consequently, his behavior changed immediately.
Starting the next day, he treated every second of life more seriously.
He began sincerely enjoying meals and conversations with Zhang Yidao and Xiao Nuxia.
He was more earnest than ever in his romance with Catherine.
He taught Catherine and Jemiri cultivation techniques with unprecedented dedication.
He trained Feather and Ascension seriously, caring for them more than ever.
He abandoned his previous attitude of viewing the AI and satellites as mere machines, now respecting them as living beings.
He also treated the five-dimensional spatial thought model with greater reverence and affection.
After three days of this change, Catherine couldn’t help but complain to him, “Hey! Your intense attitude toward being with me makes me nervous.”
“Nervous? Why would you be nervous?” Zhang Mingjing asked.
“Nervous... are you suddenly being extra nice because you want to marry me?”
“Heh heh heh... I know you’re not ready for marriage, and neither am I. The reason I’m more considerate is simply because I believe it’s my responsibility to be gentler with you.”
Catherine gazed at him, eyes full of affection...
Zhang Mingjing had suddenly become a super warm-hearted man. The AI was also taken aback, then, based on its data, drew a chilling conclusion.
Early the next morning of the fourth day, it finally gave Zhang Mingjing a full body checkup.
Curious, Zhang Mingjing asked, “Why suddenly such a thorough checkup?”
“You’ve been acting strangely these past few days. I’m worried...”
“Strangely?”
“Yes! Suddenly, your habits differ by fifty percent from before. This change defies logic.”