Attempting to reach the pinnacle of a field without a guide is as difficult as finding your way alone in a starless night in a vast wilderness. This is not only a challenge of knowledge but also a test of mental strength and endurance. First, you lose the compass of efficiency. Every direction must be tried and errored on your own, every trap must be stepped into firsthand. Valuable time and energy are heavily spent on dead ends already validated by predecessors, resulting in slow progress and immense frustration. The deeper dilemma lies in cognitive limitations. You cannot distinguish what is core and essential, easily circling in superficial knowledge or falling into a bottleneck of self-righteousness without realizing it, lacking that "mirror" that reflects your own shortcomings. Ultimately, this is a prolonged battle with self-doubt. Without affirmation and guidance from mentors, every setback may shake your faith. That lonely exploration in darkness requires not only extraordinary insight and resilience but also a bit of luck, to chance upon the right door to the summit before being completely swallowed by confusion.