Of the Four Divine Beast Corps, only two were established. Among the Twelve Zodiac Corps, only two had been formed. Adding the newly established Four Absolutes Corps made a total of five. The Hundred Flowers Corps, however, remained a unique exception. It couldn't be formed by selecting existing soldiers and officers. Instead, Hua Mulan would personally choose members from the many immortal cities of Great Yi.
The Hundred Flowers Corps was a special military division.It wasn't yet included in the primary battle formations.
So in truth, there were only five core combat-ready corps.Not six.
Once these five corps were officially conferred and announced in court, a shockwave of emotion spread among the gathered officials.
This was one of the most significant military restructurings since the founding of Great Yi.The establishment of the six major corps signaled that an army of 1.2 million troops was now fully integrated and ready to conduct warfare in the form of corps-level operations—each corps capable of independent battle, or of executing coordinated strikes with others.
Many of the courtiers couldn't help but glance enviously at the generals in the Military Cabinet.To command a corps was the pinnacle of military prestige—a position of true authority. And more importantly, it was a stepping stone to noble titles and peerage.
Only through military merit could one be enfeoffed. That was the foundation of their future—The capital that could eventually elevate them into the ranks of nobility.
So when it was announced that some corps commander positions remained open, a fiery ambition lit up in many eyes.
They knew full well what impact this news would have once it reached the barracks—How many soldiers would now burn with renewed fighting spirit?Even among the common folk, many talented individuals might be drawn in.
Becoming a corps commander in Great Yi—It was an irresistible allure.
At that moment, Master Lu stepped forward and spoke:
"Your Majesty, after three months of intense effort and repeated trials, the communication device has been successfully forged."
Yi Tianxing's expression brightened at the news.
"Excellent! Master Lu, you have rendered a great service. Did you bring the device with you?"
He was genuinely curious about the final product—what form it had taken, and what abilities it now possessed.
Lu nodded with a smile.
"Of course, Your Majesty. Please inspect it."
With a flick of his hand, a jade box appeared.
Cao Zhengchun swiftly stepped forward to retrieve it, placing it reverently upon the imperial table.
At that instant, every official in the great hall fixed their eyes upon the box.
Everyone had long heard whispers that the Heavenly Works Pavilion had been developing a communication device. Rumors said it could replicate the effects of Sound Transmission Talismans, enabling long-distance voice contact—perhaps even visual projection.
But after months without progress—and amid the chaos of the immortal cities migrating—many had dismissed it as overblown propaganda.
No one had expected the matter to suddenly resurface today.
Click!The jade box opened—Revealing the communicator.
It was… an armband watch.
Entirely translucent, glowing with soft crystal-blue light, and etched with mysterious runes. Beautiful and futuristic, it exuded an almost dreamlike allure.
The aura it released was unmistakable—this was not a common artifact but a true magical item.The runes on its surface formed intricate arrays and restrictions, allowing the watch to function with seamless harmony.
"I based its design on a device from humanity's pre-Cataclysm civilization—a watch. It's easy to carry, convenient to use. Once recognized by blood, it integrates into the user's flesh and leaves only a faint rune mark on the wrist. The watch can then be summoned at will," Lu explained.
"Its features include voice communication, scanning, identification of creatures and items, even visual transmission. Other functions are in development."
This was Lu's masterpiece.He had spent nearly every waking moment over the past three months perfecting it.
Countless failures. Countless breakthroughs. Sleepless nights.And at last, the miracle was born.
This device—Was not just a tool.It was a watershed moment in magical civilization.A signal that Great Yi was stepping into a new era.
Yi Tianxing was immediately intrigued.In some ways, this magical watch surpassed even the smartphones of the old world.
"Has it been tested yet?" he asked.
"Not fully, Your Majesty. I intended to present it after trials, but since the court is gathered, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity. I've brought a second unit for demonstration."
"You've planned well," said Huang Chengyan with a chuckle. "Even I didn't know you were so far along."
The officials looked at the wristwatch with burning curiosity.
"Transmission talismans can only send a few words across a thousand miles and then vanish," Wu Yong observed."But this—this wristwatch is permanent, unless destroyed. It could truly change everything in Great Yi."
"Very well," Yi Tianxing declared."Let us test it now."
He placed the watch on his wrist, cut his finger, and let blood drip onto it.
In the blink of an eye, the watch bonded with him.His essence linked with the artifact—and beyond it, to something greater.
"This connects to one's natal star within the StarNet," Yi Tianxing realized."It's the medium between user and StarNet. Without a natal star in the network, the communicator is unusable. It will treat the user as nonexistent."
That was StarNet's fundamental rule—no identity, no connection.
He immersed his consciousness into the artifact.There were multiple functions—voice call, video, scan, identify, and data storage.
Storage, in this case, referred to storing contact IDs—called communication codes.Each person's code was a permanent identifier in StarNet, never to be altered.
Yi Tianxing's ID was simple—just a single number:0.Zero.
It represented his unique position within the StarNet—an identity no one else could ever claim.All other IDs followed in numerical sequence.
"Your Majesty, this is my communication code."
Lu's wristwatch lit up with a soft glow as a white signal dot floated toward Yi Tianxing's own watch.
It passed unobstructed—And appeared in the internal void of the device.
Yi Tianxing sensed his natal star at the center of that void—A bright celestial body.
Nearby, a smaller star flickered to life—Lu's ID.
Like the sun and a distant star, they now orbited each other.
As Yi Tianxing focused, a beam of starlight connected them.The signal had been established.
"Impressive," Yi Tianxing said simply.
He spoke, but used sound isolation to suppress his voice.Yet in the next instant, his voice clearly emanated from Lu's wristwatch.
The officials stared in shock.
"The voice is coming from the device—it's the King's voice! Even though His Majesty muted himself, the message came through!""And there's no delay—it's instantaneous!"
Suddenly, a glow radiated from Lu's watch—A crystalline light formed a mirror-like screen,And within it…
Yi Tianxing's figure appeared.