In the Hundred Yue Domain, mountains stretched endlessly, crisscrossed by rivers and streams that flowed without end.
A middle-aged cultivator descended from afar, transforming into a streak of light before landing within a mountain range. In the blink of an eye, he entered the cave dwelling he had opened. Inside, luminous pearls lit up the halls as bright as day. Though the cave was small, it contained all the necessary chambers: a library, a secluded meditation room, an alchemy chamber, a forging chamber, and more.
This cultivator's name was Liu Jing, and his cultivation had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm.
Although he was a rogue cultivator, his fortune had always been favorable. Within a hundred years, he had broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm, which spoke of no small talent. If he had joined a sect and gained access to abundant resources, reaching the Yang God Realm, or even the True Spirit Realm, might not have been impossible.
Yet over these years, one deep regret weighed on his heart.
When the Myriad Worlds fused together, he had been separated from his family. Scattered across the realms, he had no idea what had become of them. Only through a faint sense in the dark did he know they still lived. His greatest wish now was to find them and reunite at last.
After all, if they could not set foot on the path of cultivation, or if their talents were lacking, their lifespans would be limited.
Time was already pressing—if he did not begin searching soon, it would only become harder later.
"This wristwatch… I wonder if it is truly as miraculous as the rumors say."
With trembling hands, Liu Jing took out a wristwatch. At first glance, it carried a science-fiction-like metallic sheen, radiating silvery light. The entire device was made of metal—yet what kind, he could not tell. It was clearly not a naturally occurring substance of heaven and earth, but a newly synthesized alloy forged from various materials.
Indeed, this was the truth. After repeated upgrades, the wristwatch had come to be crafted from a newly synthesized treasure material—Starlight Mithril, a memory-metal imbued with starry attributes. It could absorb starlight and connect more efficiently to the Star Network, greatly increasing transmission speed.
Since its discovery, Starlight Mithril had immediately replaced the old materials, fueling a new generation of wristwatches. These were not only far stronger in function, but also much harder to destroy. Each contained a Star Spirit, akin to a spiritual artifact's spirit, split from the Star Network's mother matrix and fused with an intelligent core. Every Star Spirit could serve as an auxiliary mind, assisting its user in various operations—even explaining the basics of the Star Network itself.
The price of a single smart wristwatch outside of Great Yi was far from cheap.
Top-grade: 1,000 Eternal Coins
Mid-grade: 600 Eternal Coins
Low-grade: 300 Eternal Coins
The difference lay in the intelligence of the Star Spirit.
Low-grade: dull, only responding passively to commands.
Mid-grade: intelligence comparable to an eight- or nine-year-old child.
Top-grade: intelligence no less than an adult, and in computation, far beyond. A true portable assistant, capable of pointing out flaws in daily life, correcting them, and even deducing techniques in alchemy, forging, and more with ease.
In the Hundred Yue Domain, many such wristwatches were being sold. The price was exorbitant, and Liu Jing had paid over 3,000 Eternal Coins for a top-grade one—truly a profiteering markup in the outer regions.
Yet despite the cost, demand was insatiable. Buyers flocked endlessly.
He strapped it to his wrist.
Immediately, he felt a faint sting, like a mosquito's bite, as a drop of his blood merged into the device. A stream of light radiated from the watch, and a formless attraction surged forth.
In the blink of an eye, his consciousness appeared in a vast starry sky, standing upon a tiny star beneath his feet.
Instinctively, Liu Jing understood—the star represented himself. Yet it was tiny, barely a few feet across.
Before him, a glowing sphere of light appeared.
"I am the intelligent Star Spirit of the Starlight Wristwatch. Please select my form, either from the basic templates of the Star Network, or from your own memories."
The lightball flared, forming a virtual screen filled with templates—elves, beasts, birds, dwarves, deities, winged folk, ghosts, and countless others. It encompassed all races under the heavens—surely something for every taste.
"This one."
Liu Jing, his eyes alight with curiosity, chose the image of a small elf. Instantly, the lightball shifted, becoming a thumb-sized, radiant fairy—adorable and perfect, inspiring instant fondness.
"Please give me a name, Master!"
The tiny elf flitted joyfully around Liu Jing, her voice crisp and melodious, brimming with liveliness.
"You shall be called Xiaoyue."
Liu Jing spoke with warmth.
"Thank you for the name, Master! Xiaoyue finally has a name—how wonderful!"
The elf squealed with delight, even flying to kiss his forehead. Her vivid spirit left her nothing like a mechanical construct.
At once, Liu Jing felt a bond with her, and his distance toward the Star Network vanished. Instead, his expectations grew.
"Since this is Master's first login, please know that the Star Network has both Outer Net and Inner Net. You currently may only access the Outer Net. Now, please register your information and condense your Life Star. In the Star Network, every being may only create one account, bound to the aura of their True Spirit. Impersonation is impossible. Even in death, the account remains, though the Life Star becomes a dead star."
Guided by Xiaoyue, Liu Jing began entering his name, cultivation realm, and personal data, all infused into his Life Star. Sensitive details like his true name could be hidden, replaced with an alias.
When finished, his consciousness sank into his star. Inside was an independent space—at first only about thirty square meters in size.
This was the private space of an Outer Net registrant.
By contrast, in Great Yi, even ordinary citizens had an initial private space of one hundred square meters—another clear distinction between Inner and Outer Net.
Still, these spaces could be expanded.
"Master, this is your private virtual space. You may decorate it as you wish—make it luxurious, magnificent, or plain. No one may enter without your permission. The Star Network respects all privacy. However, some advanced decorations are not free—they cost money."
Liu Jing experimented, though he could only manage simple adjustments. Fancier designs required payment.
"In the Star Network, the currency is called Star Coins, or Virtual Eternal Coins. These are condensed from spiritual power. Even if you do nothing, you gain a small amount daily. But through meditation and cultivation, you can produce far more. Some specialize in this—they are called Star Refiners, selling the Star Coins they produce for profit. Star Coins can be exchanged 1:1 with Eternal Coins."
Xiaoyue explained.
Money, it seemed, was vital even in the virtual realm.
Liu Jing raised his gaze.
In the distance, he saw three massive star rings encircling the endless void.
The closest, largest one gleamed bronze. Deeper within, a second ring shone silver. At the core, the innermost ring blazed gold.
"These rings represent the three great regions of the Star Network. Bronze is the Outer Net, Silver is the Inner Net, and Gold is the Core Hub. Each ring contains a vast virtual community. The three communities are isolated—those of the Outer Net cannot cross into the Inner Net, but those of the Inner Net may enter the Outer Net."
Xiaoyue continued.
Liu Jing's heart trembled slightly. He knew well: absolute fairness never existed. The separation of Outer and Inner Net was both fair and unfair, depending on perspective. But even as it was, this opportunity was already a blessing beyond measure.
(End of Chapter)