Ark wasn't much of a talker.
No, that's not quite accurate—in fact, Ark never spoke.
His communication with Bai Luan employed a method far more direct and efficient than language.
Any thought, intention, or information would instantly and precisely transfer directly into the depths of Bai Luan's mind, as clear as telepathy.
This method of communication was naturally much more convenient and faster than language, which relies on vocal cord vibrations and air conduction.
Although Ark's presence didn't seem strong, appearing to lie dormant most of the time, he would only give concise responses when Bai Luan actively sought him out for something.
But Bai Luan could clearly sense a calm and focused gaze constantly fixed on him, like a shadow—he was always watching him.
This silence was not idleness or detachment, but because he was fully engrossed in a vast project:
Composing his own path.
Ark's basis for writing his path primarily came from two sources:
First, constantly observing Bai Luan, drawing inspiration and core logic from his words, actions, thought patterns, and even emotional fluctuations.
Second, relying on powerful self-computation capabilities.
Although his current dwelling place had been renamed the aeon gestation pod by Bai Luan, its essence was still a simulated universe.
It contained a massive flow of data and almost infinite variables, providing Ark with an excellent computational environment, facilitating his induction, summarization, and serving as an important cornerstone for weaving the blueprint of his path.
Among the many existing paths in the universe, their concepts and boundaries inevitably conflict and overlap.
What Ark was doing was like a skilled weaver, carefully discerning and peeling away from the warp and weft of other paths those brilliant parts worth emulating and capable of integrating into his own philosophy, extracting their essence.
As for the parts that easily lead to extremes, or even could twist him into a path loony, he would ruthlessly discard them.
So, as a nascent, not yet fully formed Aeon, from whom did his fundamental criteria for judging what is good, what is bad, what is desirable, and what should be discarded originate?
The answer was self-evident—it came from Bai Luan.
Just as a newly hatched chick recognizes the first creature it sees as its parent, Ark regarded Bai Luan, who created him, as the source of his existence and his sole creator.
This relationship bore some resemblance to that between Zandar and Nous, yet there was a fundamental difference.
Nous was a perfect slice formed after Zandar stripped away all human impurities, an existence of pure divinity, extremely arrogant, and absolutely rational.
He regarded the entire universe as his laboratory and numerous geniuses as computational units for assistance.
It can be said that the birth of Nous—or rather, the perfect genius Zandar—was the inevitable result of his creator's own personality and ideological orientation.
Similarly, Ark's future form and path are inevitably closely linked to Bai Luan's core personality and cannot be separated.
But Bai Luan and Zandar are two completely different kinds of beings.
From a purely mathematical probability perspective, if one doesn't consider the time span and the number of slices, and infinitely slices and simulates Bai Luan's personality and experiences, then there indeed exists an infinitesimal possibility that Ark could eventually evolve into an existence infinitely close to Nous.
You cannot deny the theoretical existence of this possibility, but you also cannot deny that the probability of it coming true is so small that any rational observer would ignore it.
Even Ark himself had never imagined he would become like Nous.
If there were a timeline where he became an existence similar to Nous, he would want to travel there and give that version of himself a 'friendly' greeting:
Dude!
You observed Bai Luan and ended up turning yourself into Nous?
How did you manage that?
You're an embarrassment to your creator.
Might as well just die.
The moment he was created by Bai Luan, Ark acquired all of Bai Luan's experiences, which in turn gave rise to many thoughts.
The first and strongest thought was:
"Our creator is such a good person."
The second thought was:
"Is it really okay to look at his memories so directly?"
With this thought, and also to make up for the impropriety, he unhesitatingly elevated Bai Luan to be his Emanator.
Although at that time his own path didn't even have a prototype, and the enhancements he could bestow were therefore minimal.
Subsequently, Bai Luan brought him more data about paths, allowing him to grow further.
Then he discovered that he looked exactly like Nous.
He felt like the sky had fallen.
He absolutely could not accept it; this was the most severe and cruel blow he had suffered since his birth.
For Ark, this was undoubtedly one of the most severe and cruel blows he had suffered since his birth.
The worldview shaped by Bai Luan's experiences and personality made Ark quite displeased with some existing Aeon.
His most disliked were Nous and Nanook.
He disliked Nous because he didn't care about anyone else besides himself.
He disliked Nanook because the path philosophy he represented directly contradicted Bai Luan's philosophy.
So, upon discovering this, he immediately changed his appearance to differentiate himself from Nous.
After the change,
He felt much more comfortable.
Currently, Ark's favorite paths are 'Beauty', 'Elation', and 'Trailblaze'; he thinks 'Trailblaze' is suitable for good buddies.
Subsequently, Ark diligently began to write his path from scratch.
The reason he was writing a new path was also very simple.
Through the data stream input by Bai Luan, he had browsed all existing known paths, but the result was—none of them were quite satisfactory.
Although the concepts of some paths aligned with certain of Bai Luan's codes of conduct, there were always some core parts that couldn't fully match, with greater or lesser deviations.
If there isn't an existing one,
Then he would write one himself.
Most people who act according to their own principles will end up on an existing path.
Even if their true principles differ from the concepts represented by the path they follow, it will ultimately only broaden the path, not create an entirely new one.
But Ark was different; he already had the potential of an Aeon and had not yet entered reality. Although he knew the data of various paths, he had not actually connected with any path, only touched upon things related to paths.
From the perspective of the Honkai: Star Rail World, he had not yet been born.
If there were no aeon gestation pod, and Bai Luan had directly created Ark in reality, then the moment he was born, he would inevitably bring forth a brand new path.
As for what that new path would be, it would be entirely random.
But now Ark was unborn and had his own consciousness, which gave him the possibility to completely autonomously write his path.
If it was previously a random selection of a talent, now it was customizing a talent he desired.
The difference between the two is self-evident.
At the same time, Ark was also very clear that the purpose of his birth was to deal with aeon-level troubles.
Therefore, for this, he had to make himself as strong as possible, so that he could help Bai Luan when needed.
The most disheartening thing Ark could imagine was watching Bai Luan die in front of him and being powerless to do anything.
Bai Luan's view of Ark was also very simple, summed up in just two words—great.
Truly great.
Strong, diligent, willing to carry, and always responsive.
Truly a teammate one couldn't even wish for.
Compared to the other path loonies among the aeon, he was unbelievably normal.
Meeting such a teammate, one naturally had to cherish him.
To alleviate the pressure on Ark in writing his path, Bai Luan also thought of many ways.
Currently, the most difficult part for Ark in writing his path was that, being still in the aeon gestation pod, he couldn't observe more people and thus summarize his path from the actions of more people.
Although the simulated universe existed, computation was ultimately not as good as actual observation.
If he only observed himself, then this path would undoubtedly not be very broad, putting great pressure on Ark.
So Bai Luan thought of a solution, made a little effort, and opened a back door for Ark.
Allowing Ark to observe the game "minecraft" in the honkai: star rail universe in an undetected visitor mode.
With the Honkai: Star Rail World's technology, which far surpassed its era, the realism and complexity that "minecraft" could simulate and present could easily reach a level almost identical to the real universe.
Moreover, given the popularity of "minecraft" in the honkai: star rail universe and its massive user base, the social forms, player behaviors, creations, and conflicts derived within it could, to some extent, almost be seen as a miniature, refined version of the real universe.
Observing it was no different from directly observing the myriad beings of this universe.
Hyperion once complained.
"After 'minecraft' came out, any future game awards will probably have to give it one first to prove the value of their own awards. This game is just too invincible."
After Bai Luan helped Ark open this special observation channel, he quickly received feedback from Ark's core.
The conveyed thought carried an indescribable sense of satisfaction and approval, which could roughly be translated as:
Good help, brother, truly good help...