In the mirror, a lifelike image of the other party could be clearly seen—vivid and flawless.
It felt as if the two were standing face to face, chatting in person. The sensation was uncanny, much like the "Roundlight Art" or the illusionary technique "Mirror Flower, Water Moon", which allowed one to see distant scenes. What's more, they could speak to each other in real time. Not only was it convenient, but it was also utterly revolutionary.
"This is a video call—it's exactly like speaking face to face."
"Incredible. Doesn't this mean that even without meeting in person, people can use the communication wristwatch to talk or even have a video chat, just as if they were sitting across from one another? This is truly astounding. From what I know, Roundlight Art requires locking onto the target's aura to precisely reveal their location, and Mirror Flower, Water Moon works similarly. Without such anchoring, the images are vague and uncertain."
"But this communication wristwatch can accurately locate someone and connect directly to them. Normally, such a feat would be impossible."
Exclamations of astonishment echoed throughout the grand hall.
The appearance of this communication wristwatch had completely shattered their worldview.
Some aspects of it were simply beyond their comprehension.
"Indeed, I integrated the core rune of the Roundlight Art into the wristwatch. Through the StarNet, both parties can be precisely located and easily linked. Using the communication wristwatch, users can even make video calls. Of course, all of this is only possible thanks to StarNet. Without it, the wristwatch cannot function in this way."Master Lu spoke with confident composure.
Everything depended on the StarNet—without it, neither real-time communication nor video functions would be possible.
"Master Lu is truly a peerless craftsman, incredibly innovative. To fuse cultivation runes into such a unique artifact is simply awe-inspiring."
"Indeed. Transmission talismans have existed for thousands of years, but no one thought to evolve them or combine them with Roundlight Art to achieve long-distance video communication. This proves that with a foundation in cultivation runes, it's absolutely possible to create a civilization uniquely tailored to cultivators."
"I have a feeling that the birth of this communication wristwatch marks the beginning of a new era—an era that will begin with our Great Yi Dynasty."
The officials in the hall spoke one after another.
None of them were fools—they could clearly see how, once widely distributed, the wristwatch would bring about earth-shaking changes. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a revolution.
Most importantly, it was all built upon the mysterious StarNet.
Only Great Yi possessed StarNet. It could potentially evolve into a civilizational system unique to the dynasty.
"Master Lu, what materials are needed to forge this communication wristwatch? Are there any special requirements? Can it be mass-produced?"
Yi Tianxing nodded in satisfaction. He was very pleased with the wristwatch.
In essence, it was no different from the cell phones of the previous world—except one came from technological civilization, and the other from a cultivation-based rune civilization. Though the paths differed, the result was the same.
This was the meaning of: There are three thousand paths to the Dao, but all lead to the same destination.
"The materials aren't rare. The primary component is bone crystal, along with some crystal ore. The key is in condensing the runes and integrating the array restrictions into the wristwatch. Normally, forging would require manual inscription of runes, but with the Universal Printer, only inkstones are needed."Master Lu answered after a brief pause.
The most crucial elements were the runes and forbidden seals.
In modern tech, these would be accomplished through complex data and intricate components. In cultivation, they were replaced by runes imbued with Daoist principles and lawful resonances.
"Excellent. Master Lu has rendered great service. He shall be handsomely rewarded—ten bottles of Heavenly Astral Pills (Profound Grade), one hundred thousand Eternal Coins, ten bolts of Cloud Brocade, and one hundred thousand merit points."
Yi Tianxing nodded with approval.
The materials were not rare: bone crystal could be refined directly, and several mines of crystal ore had been discovered in Great Yi's territory. Supply was plentiful. Inkstones could also be self-manufactured. This meant the wristwatches could be mass-produced using the Universal Printer and distributed throughout the celestial cities of the dynasty.
This signified that StarNet was about to become a daily part of every citizen's life—a transition that could happen in a remarkably short time.
This was a contribution opened up by Master Lu, and such merit deserved great rewards.
No one in the hall voiced any objections.
Only envy remained.
The Profound Grade Heavenly Astral Pill could be used by Life Aperture and Life Map realm cultivators to enhance their cultivation or restore true essence. Only the Hall of Merit offered them.
Merit Points were the most valuable currency in Great Yi, capable of being exchanged for any item. In that sense, merit was omnipotent.
"Thank you for the gracious reward, Your Majesty. This communication wristwatch was originally your idea—I merely brought it to life. Without your wild imagination and boundless vision, I wouldn't have thought to create such an artifact."Master Lu smiled humbly.
Cultivation runes had existed for countless ages, yet few had ever thought to apply them to daily life. They couldn't imagine how much change would come from such integration. This was the shackle of old thinking—once broken, the entire world could change in incredible ways.
Yi Tianxing had simply opened the door. The ones to lead the revolution would be the many talents across the world.
"Master Lu, you needn't be so modest. I only provided a suggestion—it is you who made it real. You've done a tremendous job. However, this wristwatch is far too advanced. To avoid overwhelming the public, I believe we should temporarily restrict some features, such as video calls. We can retain basic calling and scanning identification functions for now, and enable the others later. What do you all think?"
Yi Tianxing proposed after some thought.
One step at a time—introducing changes gradually would ensure better acceptance. Sudden technological leaps could cause unnecessary panic.
"It's possible. During forging, we can integrate restrictive arrays. The restriction wouldn't originate from the wristwatch itself but from StarNet. StarNet can suspend certain functions remotely. Temporarily blocking video calls is easily achievable."Master Lu nodded.
StarNet was the core. Once connected, all control could be centralized through it.
Without StarNet's authorization, certain functions simply wouldn't activate.
This was the true strength of StarNet.
"The wristwatches will be handed over to the Heavenly Artisan Pavilion. All necessary materials shall be prioritized. Produce as many as possible in the shortest time. Distribute them first to military personnel—they will receive fully unlocked wristwatches. At the same time, establish the official Great Yi Trading Firm to handle public sales, including unique state-owned items."
"Set a final price after evaluation. While these are magical artifacts, they're also daily necessities. They shouldn't be too expensive, nor too cheap. Xue Jin, what are your thoughts?"
Yi Tianxing turned to Xue Jin.
"Considering the people's purchasing power, a high price would make it inaccessible. However, most citizens, whether through beast hunting or urban labor, can save up a modest sum. As this is both an artifact and a daily essential, I believe 100 Eternal Coins is an appropriate price—affordable, yet reflecting its value."
That was an incredibly reasonable price.
In truth, buying a magical artifact for just 100 Eternal Coins was unheard of. The wristwatch's value was immense, and the price made it accessible—a visible welfare for Great Yi citizens.
"Very well. Let it be set at 100 Eternal Coins. This way, we don't incur losses but still make modest profits."
This was something only Great Yi could accomplish.
Once one unit was crafted, the Universal Printer could replicate it endlessly—no need for manual forging, no inconsistencies. Low cost, high precision, rapid output.
"**That's all. Everyone, go prepare. The six major armies will begin reorganizing. Within one month, excluding the Hundred Flowers Legion, the other five must be fully restructured. One month later—we expand our borders!"Yi Tianxing's final words brought the court meeting to an end.
News of the military reorganization soon spread throughout the land.
In the Heart of the Emperor Palace.
Yi Tianxing looked at the wristwatch on his wrist.
"Xing'er, how many users can StarNet support simultaneously? Will there be any strain?"
"Don't worry, Father. StarNet is linked with the Sea of Luck Clouds, and it's already fused with the entire Great Yi realm. No matter how many use it, it won't cause stress—the more it's used, the more beneficial it becomes to StarNet."Xinghai's voice echoed from the wristwatch.