World-saving Plan: The Only Savior-Chapter 273 - 157: World Tree? Technology Tree?

"But now, although I know this thing is the Star Network Host, how do I use it?"

Zhang Xiaoman leaned on the tree trunk and opened its attribute panel.

[Star Network Host]

Stage: Primary.

——The main body of the Star Network, used to connect all terminals and provide additional functions.

The Star Network Host was a large tree, a setting somewhat beyond his expectations, but having seen various network novels and movies, it wasn’t too hard to accept.

"But in that case, how can I control it? Could it be that this host actually can’t be controlled?"

Zhang Xiaoman muttered to himself, but just as he finished speaking, his wristwatch, which he had been wearing all along, suddenly emitted a notification sound.

"Detection of Star Network Host deployment completed, owner: Zhang Xiaoman, Initial Machine privileges bestowed, please open to view."

Upon hearing this sound, his attention was immediately drawn to the watch on the inside of his wrist.

This was the Star Network Terminal he had won and never had the chance to use; Zhang Xiaoman habitually referred to it as the Star Table.

Spreading his palm open, he swiped right on the surface of the Star Table, and a beam of light shot out, projecting a three-dimensional virtual interface in the palm of his left hand.

As soon as the interface appeared, a progress bar lit up, followed by a series of notification sounds.

"Initial Machine privileges detected, system reloading..."

"Verifying security protocol..."

"Verification successful."

"Starting to connect to the Star Network..."

"Connection successful."

"Starting to download basic module information..."

"Download successful."

...

"System authorization completed, welcome, Star Lord."

Immediately following, a new screen appeared before Zhang Xiaoman’s eyes, and his Star Table was no longer just a simple communication interface as before.

He lightly scrolled through it with his finger and found various functional modules such as "Information", "Social", "Store", "Tasks", and more—quite practical functionalities.

Zhang Xiaoman casually opened the "Information" section and found it contained some basic data about himself, including "Contribution", "Merit", and other detailed contents.

He then opened the "Store" function, only to see that it was empty, but he noticed an "Add" button in the upper-right corner, guessing it was a feature exclusive to the Initial Machine.

Indeed, after he clicked on add, the item lists from his own System Store and the Gang Store appeared within.

He could selectively add items to the Store, and later the Star Alliance members could purchase them using Contribution Value, and he could set purchase permissions, such as requiring a certain amount of Merit for buying.

While Zhang Xiaoman was engrossed in exploring the new functions of the Star Table, a notification suddenly sounded.

"The Star Network Host is ready, greetings, Star Lord."

Zhang Xiaoman suddenly heard someone speaking to him and instinctively asked, "Who are you?"

The voice immediately responded.

"I am the main program of the Star Network Host, ’Star Rank System.’ You can also call me Star Rank, or rename me if you wish."

"Star Rank System? So, you are that tree?"

Zhang Xiaoman was curious, as for renaming—such a cumbersome task—he passed it over.

In the Star Table, that ethereal voice spoke again.

"If you consider it from the perspective of civilizations below level 4, that would indeed be a correct assumption."

Zhang Xiaoman was stunned: "Level 4 civilization?"

He suddenly remembered the Enlightenment Kaleidoscope he once won, which mentioned in its notes that the equipment was standard for the ’Star Alliance,’ and he had indeed borrowed that name when using the Sect Establishment Order later.

"Does that mean, perhaps somewhere in this universe, there really is a ’Star Alliance’?"

A series of questions flashed through Zhang Xiaoman’s mind, and he wondered if his ’Star Alliance’ had any connection to the Star Alliance described in the Enlightenment Kaleidoscope?

Or maybe, his Star Alliance was just conjured out of nothing by the Sect Establishment Order?

"System, what exactly did you mean by level 4 civilization earlier? Do you know anything about other civilizations in the universe? What level of civilization is Water Blue Star? And what’s your origin?"

He voiced some of the doubts in his mind, eager to know the answers.

On the other end, the Star Rank System, upon hearing his questions, did not pause at all and immediately responded.

"Sorry, Star Lord, your query has no related records; I’ve searched all the information databases but found no such records."

"No records?"

Zhang Xiaoman was stunned, feeling rather disappointed. It appeared either the Sect Establishment Order’s modification wiped the original database of the Star Network, or it indeed was just made out of nothing.

"Well then, Star Rank, can you tell me what your specific functions are?"

"The Star Rank System manages the order of the Star Alliance; I will assist in managing the Star Alliance and handle your operations on the host."

"Oh? So, if I want to operate the host, I just need to tell you?"

"Yes, Star Lord."

Zhang Xiaoman was intrigued and asked, "Then how do I know what operations the host can perform? Is there a directory for this?"

"Usually, most physical interactions can be considered as control commands, but if you are referring to the main system functions, I can provide you with a basic directory according to your request."

Following this, Zhang Xiaoman noticed the projected interface of his Star Table suddenly changed, and a whole string of Star Network System’s functionalities abruptly appeared before him; just looking at the scrollbar, he knew it would take a while to go through everything.

He randomly selected one of the functions and then asked, "What’s this ’Defensive Barrier’ all about? Can you explain it to me?"

"Certainly, Star Lord. The Defensive Barrier is a special barrier activated by the Star Network Host itself; it currently has the ’Protective Shield’ and ’Space Stabilization’ functionality, which you can upgrade in the Gang Store by spending Star Dust."

"It can be upgraded as well?"

Zhang Xiaoman opened the Gang Store to take a look and indeed found many upgrade projects; these were all available after he had bought the Star Network Host.

Items such as upgrades for the Protective Shield range, communication systems, and energy systems had their own pages and could be accessed under the Star Network System’s upgrade option.

Zhang Xiaoman even found many functional module upgrades and purchases, such as upgrading the social module to a more advanced community communication module.

The holographic simulation module could also be bought with Star Dust, after which Star Alliance members could download and install it on their Star Network Terminals.

Initially, when he first saw this great tree, his first reaction was that he had planted a World Tree.

But now, after seeing the upgrade options in the Gang Store, Zhang Xiaoman instantly felt what he’d planted was not just a World Tree, but also a technology tree that could climb the heights of technology.