The people from the Honglu Temple arrived.
Li Qi turned to look at the Kunpeng, now only as tall as a person: "Senior, we part ways here then. You can return and report to Master."
The Kunpeng seemed to feel particularly uncomfortable in the Tang Kingdom, so she immediately nodded: "Take care, Young Master. By the way, take this with you; it's something left for you by the Grand Invoker."
With that, she flapped her wings and waddled back to her parking spot.
Li Qi took the item handed over to him.
A... talisman? Made of bamboo?
It should be some kind of magical artifact; he would keep it for now.
Looking up again, the Kunpeng was already far away.
She didn't dare take off from where she stood but had to return to her original position before taking off and leaving along the flying path.
Thinking about it, she hadn't taken any detours on their journey, probably to avoid detection.
She soon left Li Qi's sight, returning to report.
Tianxia couldn't be casually explored, but Tiwai Tian might be detected by Zhizhu.
After watching her leave, Li Qi also stepped forward, without bowing his hands together, walking straight ahead.
He couldn't help it, holding a ball-shaped rabbit.
He looked at the two officials in front of him.
Deputy Minister Chen Wei of the Honglu Temple, Rank 8B.
Guest Reception Official Fang Yuanzheng of the Honglu Temple, Rank 9A.
Hmm... quite a modest welcoming party indeed.
But it was normal.
It wasn't the Grand Invoker coming personally; there was no need for grandeur.
Having an official of Rank 8 come to greet him wasn't much, the main purpose being to ensure the Chenji Golden Elixir Method stayed in the Tang Kingdom.
Li Qi walked out and, holding the rabbit, said: "Thank you for coming to welcome me. Please lead the way."
"Young Master, please follow us. We've prepared carriages, ready to depart upon your arrival." Minister Chen Wei spoke calmly, showing no arrogance or servility, a professional demeanor.
However, Guest Reception Official Fang Yuanzheng smiled broadly: "Young Master, please join us. As we tour Chang'an, we can discuss our itinerary."
Li Qi nodded and followed them.
After walking just a few steps, about a mile, Li Qi boarded a vehicle from the Honglu Temple.
This seemed to be an official vehicle, quite spacious, pulled by two beasts unfamiliar to Li Qi, looking fierce and majestic.
The carriage was three zhang tall and four zhang wide, resembling a small house.
The carriage had four colors, not overly decorated but exuding a simple yet grand charm.
Boarding the carriage, other Honglu Temple staff busied themselves driving or attending to tasks, leaving only Li Qi, Chen Wei, and Fang Yuanzheng sitting in the largest room of the carriage.
Indeed, this carriage had rooms of different sizes, one large and two small. The smaller rooms were likely for logistics and defense, not for passengers.
These Honglu Temple officials each had their duties, only the senior and junior leaders accompanying Li Qi.
Fang Yuanzheng seemed responsible for conversation. Just after sitting down, he took out a small square plate, similar to some kind of token: "Young Master, is this your first time visiting Central Plains?"
Li Qi placed Shen Shuibei on his lap, using the table to shield the rabbit, then nodded: "Yes, it's my first time."
"In Central Plains, prosperity is like embroidered brocade. Young Master must see it. By the way, did you purchase a terminal before coming?" Fang Yuanzheng asked.
"Terminal? No, what is it?" Li Qi hadn't heard of such a thing, nor was it mentioned in books, so he asked.
"If not, we'll gift you one. Once you try it, you'll know what it is. Without a terminal nowadays, life in Central Plains would be very inconvenient." Fang Yuanzheng smiled, then handed the token-like object to Li Qi.
Taking it, Li Qi felt it trying to transmit a 'scholarly aura' to him.
Scholarly aura could carry information, and this amount was considerable.
Curiously accepting the aura, thinking it was an instruction manual,
But he was wrong...
At the moment of acceptance, he felt he gained some 'permissions.'
The world before him changed... no, it didn't change; rather, Li Qi could now see these things.
Ordinary users might not see them, only seeing the surface.
But through true Dao resonance, Li Qi saw this terminal connected to a great path.
A magnificent path spanning all of Tianxia!
Countless magical artifacts and terminals were linked into one through that path.
Surrounding magical artifacts, including tiles, walls, and some functions of this carriage, displayed operable screens, controlled by thought alone.
Through these permissions, he could summon vehicles for transportation, control faucets, heat bathwater, and more.
Like smart home systems, but expanded throughout society.
All public facilities in Chang'an could be accessed!
Whether checking public restroom availability, requesting bus stops, or receiving mail deliveries, everything from healthcare, culture, entertainment, to transportation could be manipulated through this terminal.
Moreover, there was information exchange—sharing and receiving messages.
This... super-enhanced version of the internet?
Internet? No, it was real-time, never losing signals, relying on that magnificent path forming an Internet of Things (IoT)!
All terminals and magical artifacts were connected to that path.
And that path could even traverse space, reaching other worlds.
Through this terminal, he could directly browse countless pieces of information, such as today's news popping up.
A writer's book was highly successful.
A new discovery by a powerful Li Dao practitioner was about to be implemented.
A wise man proposed solutions for redundant funds, which could greatly improve efficiency if applied practically.
News about performances, famous artists, concerts.
Major sports events.
New equipment models, and continuous victories from the East Sea battlefield.
Even Li Qi saw himself in the terminal's news feed, announcing the arrival of the Wu Deity Mountain young master for studies in Chang'an, with a few comments below.
Push notifications anytime, anywhere.
An information aggregation terminal.
Besides aggregating information, individuals could apply for social resources directly through certain costs.
From basic food delivery to commercial financial services, reporting emergencies, repairs, etc., different tasks were assigned based on professions, while others could call upon professionals.
Everyone became part of the vast machinery of the Tang Kingdom.
This ultimate IoT monitored countless places, providing convenience to everyone.
Sacrificing some freedom for extreme convenience.
Through this terminal, Li Qi saw that the path granted special permissions to the two Honglu Temple officials, allowing them to directly access certain powers of the path.
Li Qi understood.
This was the essence of 'official positions.'
This path absorbed all the power of Humanism... no, perhaps it was Humanism itself!
Covering areas where willing participants joined, their strength was integrated and redistributed.
Spanning countless worlds, gathering forces from various realms.
Li Qi sensed...
When using the terminal to connect to this path, he was integrated too.
Not forcefully, but if he wanted to use its functions, he had to contribute his strength.
Using public services required payment.
As an outsider, Li Qi still needed to pay, seemingly in some form of currency.
This currency required labor exchanges.
No middlemen, bosses, or exploitation, just pure labor exchange.
Providing services like selling elixirs or helping others refine artifacts accumulated currency within the rules.
Using this currency, one could request services from others.
Through true Dao resonance, Li Qi realized...
Users of this terminal, while requesting services, also provided services to others.
Mutual service?
Under the regulation of that path, it truly seemed to achieve this.
No redundant communication, reducing interaction costs significantly, no management fees, no profit.
Seeing Li Qi's surprised expression, Fang Yuanzheng quickly explained: "I've heard of Young Master's extensive knowledge, so you must understand the purpose of this device."
"In the Tang Kingdom, everyone has a terminal. It was created by the great Mo Dun Ren of Li Dao, using our kingdom's dragon veins to form a channel connecting countless worlds, exchanging resources under rules, utilizing Daoist mechanisms like the Eight Trigrams for information processing. His Majesty called it a contemporary marvel and personally named it 'Universal Pivot.'"
Dragon veins?
Meaning... through true Dao resonance, the path spanning Tianxia wasn't Humanism itself but merely the Tang Kingdom's dragon veins?
Wait, weren't the Tang Kingdom's dragon veins destroyed?
Even Li Qi knew about the rebellion that led to the previous Human Sovereign shattering the dragon veins in a desperate gamble to turn the tide.
How long had it been since then, and it was rebuilt?
While astonished, Li Qi tried inputting some information into the terminal.
For instance, he wanted to check his records.
But upon searching, a message popped up.
"User 'Li Qi,' your medical appointment is registered, with spouse 'Shen Shuibei' scheduled. Deputy Minister of the Honglu Temple specially approved free treatment. Prepare and submit your application. A corresponding clinic will be arranged. If you cancel due to unforeseen circumstances, a penalty of ten percent applies, totaling four million taels of silver plus one Rank 8A world."
Silver!
Li Qi was stunned.
He wasn't surprised by Shen Shuibei's successful registration—he had negotiated extensively with the Honglu Temple for this.
What shocked him was the mention of silver!
In Wu Deity Mountain and Baiyue regions, 'silver' didn't exist in their monetary system.
Yet here it was, used as currency in the Tang Kingdom.
So, the 'currency' he speculated earlier was actually silver.
The Tang Kingdom used silver as currency?
Why? What was the significance?
Arriving newly, Li Qi was filled with questions.
Fang Yuanzheng continued explaining the wonders of the 'Universal Pivot.'
Li Qi couldn't focus anymore and interrupted him: "Mr. Fang, may I ask about this silver?"
Interrupted, Fang Yuanzheng wasn't annoyed but smiled: "Ah, Young Master is still young, haven't seen this before?"
"This silver, like gold, copper, iron, and tin, belongs to the Metal category. Previously known as the five metals, now only exists in Central Plains because of a great figure known as 'Qian Jun.'"
Fang Yuanzheng explained: "Qian Jun excelled in finance, handling myriad affairs daily, promoting circulation. He petitioned His Majesty, collaborating with the Ministry of Household Affairs, Ministry of Works, Imperial Treasury, and Palace Treasury, collecting silver nationwide as currency and mandating its use in transactions with Central Plains. Achieving enlightenment through this, Qian Jun amassed silver as his foundation, currently serving as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, Rank 4A."
"Now, silver serves as currency, supplemented by copper coins, and worlds as high-denomination notes," Fang Yuanzheng said with a smile.
Li Qi couldn't smile.
He instantly recognized what this was.
Silver hegemony!?
Four million taels for ten percent penalty meant total treatment cost was forty million taels.
Forty million taels could secure specialized Humanism healers for a fatal injury of Rank 5.
Silver was a mundane material.
By making silver the benchmark currency for productivity exchange, easily spreading it across countless worlds, even influencing Tianxia.
Thus, controlling silver coinage allowed the Tang Kingdom to tax countless worlds, establishing silver hegemony, using purely mundane silver to easily harvest vast resources.
Consider how absurd it was.
Wu Deity Mountain treated Yang Ning with a sun of Rank 6.
Treating Shen Shuibei required only forty million taels of silver and ten Rank 8 worlds.
In the value system of silver hegemony, forty million taels plus several Rank 8 worlds equaled buying a sun of at least Rank 6, possibly more valuable given Shen Shuibei's severe injuries.
The 'Universal Pivot' benefiting all was Humanism.
Now, this silver hegemony was also Humanism.
Li Qi listened further to the Honglu Temple officials' chatter.
Seeing a glimpse reveals the whole.
Listening to these officials, Li Qi gradually formed a three-dimensional, realistic image of the Tang Kingdom.