Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"Hey, young man from the Imperial Guard, here's your iced cocoa." Parka brought a cup of iced cocoa and placed it in front of Wen Yuan. The table was already full of cups of cocoa.

"Are you the king of Chichen Itza? Nice to meet you." Wen Yuan directly pointed out his identity.

The same office, still as deserted as yesterday. After displaying her Imperial Guard badge downstairs, Wen Yuan was led directly here. After all, the public presence of the Imperial Guard was bound to cause panic among those around them—the mere sight of them meant something major had happened nearby.

"You know me?"

"I came here on a mission, so I'm aware of your intelligence. You are the ruler of Chichen Itza, or, in your language, the Cuha'agar of Chichen Itza. When your father passed away, you left behind a debt-ridden Chichen Itza. You were forced to interrupt your studies in Nanjing and return to the still-undeveloped Chichen Itza to govern. However, accustomed to city life, you couldn't stand the pre-modern life in the jungle, so you reached an agreement with United Fruit and began a drastic modernization drive. After some unforeseen events, you were expelled by the other city-states as the instigator of all this, leading to your exile here. It has been 29 years now."

Wen Yuan briefly recounted Parka's life up to that point, recounting it with alacrity. The entire process proceeded without a single pause, a fluent flow that Parka himself probably couldn't have managed.

"."

Parka walked behind the desk, pulled out a chair and sat down, facing Wen Yuan.

"Yes, I am Cuha'aja of Chichen Itza."

"Well, and we also know that you sold the imperial edicts required for tribute to United Fruit at a price of 520 million taels per year." Wen Yuan spoke again before Parka could continue.

"You know this too?" Parka was stunned for a moment, his eyes constantly looking around.

"Don't look for it. We haven't sent any intelligence personnel to you. The Jinyiwei are not that idle. As for the source of the intelligence, I can only say that I have nothing to say. As for the private sale of imperial edicts, it depends on whether your subordinates cooperate." After saying that, Wen Yuanmi took a sip of cocoa.

Parka immediately sat up straight. "Respected Imperial Guard, what work do you need my cooperation with? I noticed you're not wearing the Feiyu uniform, so you're probably not coming for me. I know that when the Imperial Guard enforces the law, there must be a senior official wearing the Feiyu uniform present."

"Hmm." Wen Yuan put down the cup. "As expected of someone who studied in Nanjing, you know a lot. The cocoa here is exactly as described in the newspapers, very authentic."

"So, what is the purpose of your trip?"

"Looking for someone. Is there a Han Chinese who is slightly shorter than me and holds a Jinyiwei badge staying here? I need you to give a clear answer. Remember, don't try to deceive a Jinyiwei."

"No."

Wen Yuan leaned forward. "Oh, since your selling of the imperial edict is still under investigation, I suggest you remain honest. We have the right to launch an investigation into you at any time. Now, let me ask again, is he here?"

"No." Parka answered without hesitation.

"That's it—well, that's all I wanted to ask. If there's nothing else, I'll go back to my room. I'm your guest."

After saying that, Wen Yuan stood up and was about to leave, still holding her cup of cocoa in her hand.

"Wait a minute!" Parka also stood up. "Do all of you Jinyiwei have special skills?"

"Why do you ask? Did he show you something?"

"No, no." Parka's head shook from side to side like a rattle.

"Then I have it. Why, do you want to see mine too?"

Parka hesitated for a moment, then nodded and replied, "We need help. Since the Royal Guards know about our situation, they should understand that we were victimized by United Fruit."

"Everything was normal at the time, and the Ministry of Rites had already issued its approval. The entire process was normal. It was you who pawned the imperial edict afterwards, which is the true violation of Ming Dynasty law."

"But there must be something fishy!"

"I can't make a decision in your favor just because something's 'strange'. The law relies on evidence. This case was closed decades ago, and you need sufficient evidence to overturn the decision—and it's useless to ask me. Although the Jinyiwei will send people to attend the trial, the trial is ultimately the job of the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court. If you truly have an objection, you should find an official to submit it to the cabinet. Whether it will be discussed in the court or reviewed through administrative procedures will be decided later."

Wen Yuan gave a clear answer. He had no ability to solve this incident which happened before he was born, but he still gave a solution based on what he knew.

"I don't know anything else." Wen Yuan held up a cup of cocoa. "After all, even though I'm a centurion, I don't get this title through military merit. It's a hereditary position. I haven't officially joined the Imperial Guard yet, so I can only offer you the best advice I can based on my experience. From a personal perspective, I support you. But I can't do anything based on personal feelings."

"Yes, thank you very much."

"As for your desire to see my 'special skills', I don't know what he showed you, but forget about it."

As soon as she finished speaking, Wen Yuan stretched out her right hand, holding the glass, and suddenly shook it. The force from her wrist sent the cocoa in the glass soaring into the air. The cocoa flew straight up, leaving no residue in the glass. The glass was cleaner than after five washes in the dishwasher.

Taking a step back, Wen Yuan held the cup out in front of her again—the falling cocoa fell back into the cup. It swirled around and around, the cocoa surging like a raging sea. With another sharp flick of her wrist, the liquid in the cup suddenly calmed down, as smooth as if nothing had happened, not a single drop leaking out.

Parka stared blankly. He couldn't understand what was happening when Coco flew up into the sky, and when he fell back into the cup, he was already in a huge shock.

This kind of control over the body is so superb that it can be called "supernormal". It is not something that can be achieved by one person, unless he is as skilled as the oil seller.

Even more outrageous, the Jinyiwei before him looked like a mere child. Even if he'd practiced holding a cup since birth, it wouldn't have been enough. This level of control simply wasn't something someone his age could develop, as it required not only manual dexterity but also a foundation of physical fitness. Parka didn't think it was possible for a Jinyiwei to spend their days doing nothing but practicing tossing and catching water in a cup.

Chapter 28 Monk

Parka was stunned: "What is this?"

"Qi Jin, entry-level Qi Jin—I'm not showing off this to show off, but to tell you not to have any bad intentions when the Jinyiwei are present. Among the Jinyiwei, I'm just a novice, not a strong one. Although I'm alone, I don't think you, or you guys, can stop me."

"I understand. Thank you for your reminder."

"Don't thank me. I was just displaying my protective colors like a red mushroom to avoid any misjudgment on either side."

"Yes! Yes! I understand."

"Oh, right." He looked Parka in the eye. "Two things. First, tell him this: it's not your own power, so use it with caution. Second, this cocoa is good. Bring me another cup and send it to my room."

"Wow." Shangluo was surprised after hearing Parka's retelling. "With his skills, why doesn't he use it to mix drinks? He just swirled a glass of cocoa in the air without even spilling it?"

"Indeed, the Imperial Master and I truly share the same vision."

"By the way, he also asked me to tell the Imperial Master, 'This isn't your own power, so use it with caution.'" Parka repeated it word for word.

Shangluo sat on the couch, while Parka sat upright opposite him like a subordinate.

"Sure enough, he finally caught up."

He had guessed early on that the Jinyiwei would definitely chase after him, but he didn't expect it to happen so soon.

"Master, may I ask if there is any grudge between you and the Jinyiwei downstairs?" Parka seemed to have been holding it in for a long time before he uttered this sentence.

Although he was now obviously more inclined to believe Shangluo, since both of them were Jinyiwei, he couldn't get involved. When he was studying in Nanjing, he knew that Jinyiwei was not to be messed with.

"Hey, that guy in front of me is starting to hesitate," Apollonia reminded him. "You can actually go back. The worst that can happen is you'll be captured by the Imperial Guards."

"We've already divined, so just go ahead and do it. It's too late to turn back now. If you want to turn back, you might as well not have come in the first place."

Besides, there's the issue of money. Aside from the Jinyiwei chasing me, everything else is going smoothly. I should take this opportunity to settle the accounts, refine the elixir, and put an end to it all. The longer the night, the more trouble I'll cause.

"Anyway, it's not just for me, it's also for Old Shang, so let's just go for it. The divination results seem credible, so I'm going to believe it for now."

"Why do you sound like you don't know him well? Never mind. I respect your decision. Since you don't want to cause trouble for others, let's resolve this together. After all, at least half the responsibility lies with me. What are you going to do now?"

"Investigate, help them with the lawsuit, and then get a reward. This is the fastest way to make money. For a country as big as Maya, 270 million is expensive, but it's not out of reach. If there's any skill best suited to investigating a case, it's divination. Wouldn't it be easy to figure out the whole story with divination?"

"Yeah, that makes sense. But that Jinyiwei is also living downstairs now. As you can see from the previous description, he has almost supernatural physical strength. If he comes to capture you, you probably won't be able to escape - so your plan may be ruined."

"Yes, but I'm more curious about where the Jinyiwei got their abilities."

"I don't know," Apollonia's voice trailed off. "Could it be a monk? Or some other divine power? Don't forget, we all sensed a certain dangerous aura from that Captain Lu Huaiyang before."

"So what you mean is"

It's possible that all of the Jinyiwei are cultivators, at least in the Qi training stage. For some reason, they chose to pledge their loyalty to the imperial court. Alternatively, the Ming court has bestowed upon them extraordinary abilities. If so, I have reason to believe that there are even more profound and unfathomable forces within the imperial court.

"Actually, I can feel some of this from myself. However, it seems that what I'm good at is different from theirs."

Shangluo looked at his hands. He had always felt that the "power" he controlled couldn't be a simple "gift." His life hadn't changed since Apollonia's arrival; it had been changing at some point in the past.

“When did it all start?”

When did your 'Qi feeling' arise?

"It all started when others believed I possessed a 'Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart'. I was kidnapped to fix you because I displayed a talent for repairing complex machinery. But no matter what, I have to consume the Foundation Establishment Pill first."

He looked at Pal in front of him and said, "Your Excellency, I have something to tell you truthfully."

"Please, but you can say whatever you want."

"Did you know that the Jinyiwei has a South Town and a North Town? Right now, the open and covert fighting between the two has reached a fever pitch. For him and me, that suspect is extremely important. Whoever catches him first will achieve a great feat. He'll probably do everything he can to stop me, including framing me. Don't offend him, and protect yourself. But don't tell him anything either—if he doesn't ask, don't tell him."

"Yes." Parka nodded. "I would have done the same thing even if you hadn't told me. After all, you are our Grand Master. I thought he had similar abilities, so I had been planning to hire him as Second Grand Master. Now it seems I've decided not to. Compared to you, he's not as easy to get along with."

"So, have you done what I asked?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Parka nodded repeatedly. "What you want are some common medicinal herbs. I've already asked someone to buy them for you. The pharmacy also gave you a clay pot for stewing herbs. I've brought all of those for you. And a gas tank for you to use in refining the elixir."

"A gas tank won't work. It doesn't have spiritual energy. It needs cassia wood. And a clay pot won't work. We need copper."

"Bronze? Bronze?" Parka thought for a long time. "How about a bronze tripod? The imperial court gave us a tripod to defend our territory, and I still have it with me."

"That's great! Lend it to me. And go find some laurel wood, as I need it to burn the fire in this tripod."

"Do you need the alchemy boy to fan you?"

"I can do it myself... In short, the secrets of heaven cannot be revealed. After I have been in seclusion for a day and my magical power has reached perfection, I will naturally be able to see through the secrets of heaven and help you answer your questions and resolve your doubts."

Chapter 29 Alchemy

Realgar, cinnabar, orpiment, alum stone, malachite, and a bronze tripod with a long history.

Cultivating immortality requires a combination of wealth, companions, and the right path. With Chichen Itza's help, these small parts were gathered in less than half a day. The most challenging part, however, was the cinnamon wood. Parka chopped down a single decorative cinnamon tree on the spot to create the fuel for the alchemy.

Now everything was ready. Everything needed to refine the "Foundation Building Pill" was now laid out on the balcony, waiting for him to start the furnace.

The afternoon sun shone overhead, making it the hottest time of the day. But the wind on the rooftop balcony was also strong—a strong wind that blew away the scorching summer heat but also brought with it the dry, astringent smell unique to the desert.

"Then, let's get started."

Shangluo took a deep breath and scanned everything around him with his spiritual sense.

On the empty balcony, he sat cross-legged on the central cushion in meditation. To his left, realgar, cinnabar, orpiment, alum stone, and indigo were ground with a small steel mill. To his right, cinnabar wood, shaved into strips, still smelled of fresh wood, and a small bamboo sword.

The cauldron stood before him. It was a gift from the imperial court to the Maya when they granted the city-state. The Maya were princes, and they were granted seven cauldrons, one of which was this.

The tripod stands 53.8 centimeters tall, has a belly depth of 27.2 centimeters, a mouth diameter of 47 centimeters, and weighs 34.700 kilograms. It is an exact replica of the unearthed Maogong Ding, and its interior features inscribed bronze inscriptions by renowned masters. This type of tripod reflects the prevailing trend in epigraphy at the imperial court at the time, when replicas of these large ancient tripods were a popular practice.

Generally speaking, this tripod is about the same size as the big black pot used in hotels, but it is thicker and heavier.

Hundreds of years had passed since the imperial decree. This bronze tripod should have shimmered with gold, but due to lack of maintenance, it was rusted and covered with a thick layer of copper rust.

Logically speaking, this tripod was a cultural relic. It held not only cultural but also political significance. Losing the imperial edict was understandable, as it was common for others to handle it. But losing the tripod, a symbol of the Mandate of Heaven, was a crime of grave disrespect.

However, for Shangluo, this heavy weapon can only be placed on a pile of firewood and burned, which is no different from an ordinary black pot.

Now all that’s missing is a fire.

Taking out a windproof lighter, Shangluo ignited the kindling beneath the cauldron. The fire ignited, and the unseasoned cinnamon wood emitted black smoke. Wherever the flames reached, centuries of copper rust burned to a charred black, then flaked away, revealing the gleaming copper beneath.

Before taking the foundation-building pill to restore himself to the "innate" realm, Shangluo planned to restore this cauldron to the "innate" realm first.

"Okay, it's almost done." Shangluo began to add the first and most important medicine: Huachi.

According to previous plans, he needed to inject his blood containing spiritual energy into the cauldron to act as a "Hua Chi" to contain the medicinal properties of the elixir.

But Shangluo had no intention of simply opening a hole for himself. The blood needed as a solvent wasn't just a few drops; it would have to be several hundred milliliters or more. Alchemy required precise timing; there was no way he could add blood drop by drop like filtering coffee.

So after breakfast, he had the doctor draw his blood and inject it into a blood bag. The blood had been kept in the refrigerator until now and was still cold.

Using scissors to cut open the packaging of the blood bag, he injected a whole bag of 400 ml of blood into the large cauldron.

The fire beneath the cauldron was only a slow fire. The blood that had just touched the cauldron wall hadn't yet boiled, but the strong smell of rust had already risen, and even wisps of red steam could be vaguely seen rising.

Shangluo did not stop, but added realgar, cinnabar, orpiment, alum stone, indigo, and a bunch of yellow, red and blue powders into the blood, and then used a bamboo knife to stir the mixture in the cauldron.

The ore mixed with blood quickly turned into a deep red mineral mud. The pot suddenly boiled, and the smell of burning mixed with the smell of rust rose up, and together with the pungent smell of burning cinnamon wood, it rushed into the nose.

"Cough cough cough!" A coughing sound was heard.

"Huh?" Shang Luo was stunned. This wasn't him coughing. He knew there would be this smell before refining the elixir and had already put on a gas mask. "Is that you?"

Do I have a nose?

"Who's that? Wait. Who's over there?!"

There was no one else on the empty balcony, but the coughing sound was clearly coming from the front.

"It's me." A black hand suddenly appeared on the wall in front of the balcony. Then, a head wearing a helmet appeared outside the balcony.

"Captain Wen? Why are you here?" Shangluo recognized him immediately. This was Wen Yuan, the man who had driven him home that day. He was Lu Huaiyang's apprentice.

"Hello." Wen Yuan waved at him, seeming a little embarrassed.

"It's him!" Apollonia became alert. "He also has the aura of a divine machine! But he's not the owner of the aura; he's borrowing it! He's that Lu Huaiyang's apprentice!"

Apollonia's alertness was extraordinary. This was because Lu Huaiyang was the most formidable opponent she had ever encountered. Everything related to Lu Huaiyang would put her on high alert.