Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"There are radishes everywhere in the fields outside?"

"Yes."

"The radish in the cafeteria?"

"Yes! What else could it be?"

"That's a spiritual object?! Isn't that a huge pile?! Those radishes are piled up like a mountain, and hundreds of thousands of tons of radishes are sent back every year. Is that a spiritual object???"

"Let me correct you," Wen Yuan said sternly, "that's not an ordinary radish. It's a 'Fairy Root Radish,' a natural spiritual creature. The purpose of the San Francisco Garrison is to cultivate those Fairy Root Radishes in the New World, which is rich in spiritual energy."

"What does the court need so many radishes for?"

"Of course they're for eating. Haven't you been eating them since you were a child? That's the nutritious lunch everyone has had since elementary school. You think it's ordinary, maybe because you eat too much. Actually, all those radishes are spiritual things, immortal root radishes. Every radish has the effect of strengthening the muscles and marrow, so eating them from a young age can nourish your body. The earlier you eat spiritual things that strengthen the muscles and marrow, the better for your body. That's why we give it to every schoolchild; it's compulsory education. The court has money, and it's willing to spend money on its own people. As long as you're a citizen within the capital, everyone can eat it from a young age."

"Oh my god. Is this still my old, stingy Ming Dynasty?"

"What did you say?"

"Ah, nothing, go on."

"In short, that radish itself is an immortal root. When you ate the radish, did you feel the turbid energy flowing down your meridians and out from the place where the five grains are reincarnated?"

"You mean farting?"

"Tsk, that's no ordinary fart. Some people don't fart even after eating it, which means it's useless. That's because their spiritual roots are not strong enough to expel much foul air. But if you keep eating it, it will be effective every time you eat it. It can slowly clear out the foul air accumulated after birth and slowly shape the body into an innate body - so the radish lays the foundation for everyone. The court doesn't want anyone to fall behind, and everyone has the opportunity to achieve immortality. Only those with special opportunities will be selected and cultivated."

He pointed at himself. "For example, me. Of course, you should count too. You just didn't undergo the inspection on time. Otherwise, you would have been a craftsman by now. But you stayed in the radish producing area, so it seems that you ate more radishes than others. It's just that you didn't use them."

"Wait." Shangluo suddenly remembered something. "I finished repairing the generator that day, and those old fitters took me upstairs and ordered a lot of radishes."

"They're really nice people. Everyone gets a ration of immortal roots, but extra meals are very expensive. They're worried that you'll lose your zhenqi, so they're taking you to eat a bunch of radishes. Didn't they eat any themselves, and keep urging you to eat more?"

"So that's how it is. So they are all monks?"

"They're all in the Qi Training Stage, a bit weaker than me, but the military artisans assigned to this crucial location must be quite skilled. It's just that they haven't made any progress in all these years, and it's probably impossible for them to even reach the Foundation Establishment stage. So I hope you'll eat more—eh, can't you feel it? It's insane! You can even feel the machine talking, but you can't sense their cultivation? I find it increasingly strange. How on earth did you catch on to the divine secrets? Did Heaven give you a special treat?"

"I don't know. What about these pills of mine..." He looked at the ones in his furnace, "Can this be repeated? I'm wondering if I can make more."

"I'm afraid not. Alchemy is a unique process, and each person refines their own elixir. If it were repeatable, then once one person successfully establishes their foundation, wouldn't everyone else also have established theirs? On the path to immortality, everyone has their own destiny, and it's not easy to seize someone's destiny. It's getting late, so wrap these elixirs in oil paper and let's go back first. Master is waiting to see you, huh? What's going on? My eardrums suddenly hurt."

[You can't leave. Phaethon, fetch me the immortality elixir from the Chinese alchemist.]

An unfamiliar voice entered Shangluo's ears. Unlike Apollonia's, this voice was majestic, grand, and even had a burning intensity that was almost tangible.

[Helios! It's you!] Apollonia's light met the fiery breath, [This time I won't let you...]

Apollonia's voice stopped abruptly.

"If I can shoot you down once, I can shoot you down a second time, Apollonia. Do not resist in vain, come home with me. Thor, Aten, Amon, and the Ra brothers are all waiting for your return. You are grounded until the end of this plan."

Chapter 33 Phaethon

"Run! Run!" Shangluo stood up. The burning voice had suppressed Apollonia. Now was the time to run.

Although Wen Yuan couldn't hear the sound, he could read the real danger from Shangluo's face - this was no joke.

Without hesitation, he asked in the most time-saving way: "Where to run? I can go down from the outside of the wall. Can you come with me?"

"I can't walk. I can't climb walls."

"Ah, that's okay." Wen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. "Calm down, calm down. If you can't run away, then there's no need to run. Just conserve your energy. I'll stay here with you. This is my mission. But what about your pill?"

"You should ask them that. They're here just for the pills. How about eating them all in one gulp?"

"Taking pills carelessly will kill you. I told you to try before because I could wait for my master to come and look after you. He'll try to help you resolve any problems. It's better not to take any pills by yourself now, unless you plan to destroy them by taking them."

"Destroy?" Shangluo hesitated.

[Don't hesitate. I won't delay your opportunity. I simply want to witness the miracle of Aurora's magic. Mr. Shangluo, please wait for my messenger.] The fiery voice once again assaulted Shangluo's senses, leaving him frozen in place.

"What's going on?" Wen Yuan asked. "The voice that made you want to run is speaking to you again?"

Shangluo could only nod. "He used a very 'polite' tone to urge me to stay where I was. He said he just wanted to witness the 'Asiatic alchemy'."

"Tsk." Wen Yuan looked up at the sky. "Some people did want to spy on the Dao machine before. That's perfect. We might as well just stay put."

As they were talking, messy footsteps were heard from the suite outside.

The balcony door collapsed, and a dozen bald men in suits rushed in, raising their guns and aiming.

"Hey, relax, relax. Look, we are professional hostages." Wen Yuan raised his hands first. "I have a gun on my waist. Come on, take it away. The person behind me is unarmed. You can rest assured."

The bald men who entered were stunned. They had broken into houses many times before, but this was the first time they had seen such a "professional hostage." They knew the kidnapping procedure perfectly, and even cooperated by disarming themselves to prevent any unnecessary conflict between the two sides.

The bald men looked at each other in bewilderment, but they were wearing sunglasses. Wen Yuan's behavior had a psychological impact on them, and no one dared to step forward to grab the gun.

"Tsk, how can you be so unprofessional." Wen Yuan took out the gun with the speed of a cowboy, then bent down at lightning speed and slid the gun along the ground to prevent the muzzle from hitting the ground and causing an accidental discharge.

Before the bald men who were whispering to each other could react, the guns were at their feet.

No one dared to lower their heads to pick up their guns. Everyone continued to point their guns forward. The more Wen Yuan showed her "sincerity," the more frightened they became.

"Put down the gun." A familiar voice suddenly came from behind.

Palca, the ruler of Chichen Itza, appeared behind the crowd. He had already changed out of his traditional cotton attire and into a slim-fitting suit.

The suit, or western dress, was a popular style in the Roman Empire. Unlike the traditional loose clothing of the Romans, this suit was derived from the narrow clothing of the Germanic people and was considered a "barbarian custom." However, the Romans did not care about barbarian customs; they simply loved wearing them. This style of clothing has now become the casual attire of Roman senators, distinguishing them from the toga they wore on formal occasions.

"I'm sorry, this is my first time doing this, so I'm not very professional." Parka bowed deeply to the two people before him. "But I had a compelling reason, and Mr. Shangluo, you should know the reason. Mr. Wenyuan, you saw through my plan from the first time we met? That's why you demonstrated force against me."

"I just felt the need to show you because you really don't look normal."

"Then I still advise you all to remain calm and don't move. I know these unprofessional Mayans can't stop you two, as this is their first time too. But please go downstairs. You'll understand once you get down there."

Downstairs, black luxury cars lined up at the hotel entrance. Directly opposite the entrance was an extended "Imperado" sedan, with exaggerated rear wheels, ensuring the ultimate comfort for guests sitting in the back seat.

The spacious sofas are designed for passengers to relax in a reclining position, which was the favorite of the Romans. The carriages are also equipped with bulletproof steel plates and bulletproof glass when they leave the factory to cope with the "complex environment" within the Roman Empire.

The group took the elevator downstairs. Neither side spoke a word as they exited the hotel lobby. The cauldron of elixirs was also carried behind, along with the large cauldron, but it was covered with a white cloth.

The Mayan who had been standing guard at the door had already opened it and gestured for someone to come in. A faint golden light shone through the door.

"Mr. Shangluo, please get on this car. The other one, please get on the one behind."

"This is the only thing that won't work." Wen Yuan stepped forward and held onto the car door. "I have to stay with him. Otherwise, how can I know if you can guarantee his safety?"

"I swear by the River Styx. If you follow my instructions, I will guarantee your safety and give you freedom." Helios' voice echoed from the void. "I hold no ill will towards you. I simply wish to witness the magic of China."

"Are you sure?" Shangluo looked up at the sky.

"I cannot break any oath I swore to the River Styx. Otherwise, I will suffer the repercussions of karma and be abandoned by fate. So, you can rest assured."

"Okay." Shangluo patted Wen Yuan on the shoulder and conveyed these words to him.

"Then, be careful." He didn't say much, but chose to trust Shangluo's judgment and walked towards the car behind.

After sitting firmly in the car, Shangluo raised his head and saw the person he was going to talk to.

In the extended sedan, he and the other man were more than two meters apart. A white lion lay prone on the carpet between them. The lion was dozing with its eyes half closed, showing no sign of rudeness even at the stranger's entrance. Its head rested against the front seat, its slender hands stroking its mane.

A golden ponytail cascaded down her shoulders, and her well-tailored suit revealed a deep black. A two-meter golden spear lay across her knees—noticing Shangluo's arrival, the spear's owner withdrew her hand from stroking the lion's mane and raised her wine glass.

She took a slow sip. The wine in the glass was as clear as a ruby and as sparkling as a Mediterranean summer.

"So, my father has talked to you?" the girl asked him.

"Yes. So you are Phaethon?"

The girl nodded slightly and placed the glass aside. "Well, let's get started, Apollonia's Contractor. My father wants to discuss a business deal with you."

Chapter 34: Spear of the Sun God

"Why should he talk to me?" Shangluo asked, "You guys are already in control of the situation. You could have avoided negotiations."

"The sun will witness everything in the world. Helios, the god of oaths, will never take anything by force. Those immortal elixirs were born in your hands, and they belong to you. To take something from you, I must get your consent."

"Then why did you kidnap me?"

"Because you violate the laws of nature. Just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, everything in the world will come to an end, even the sun god is no exception. And you, you alchemists, are violating the most basic order of the world - you will not die equally with everyone else. My father wants to know why."

"What about you?" Shang Luo asked him, "Miss Phaethon. It seems you're not mortal either? As a transcendent, your very existence is an example of the breakdown of fairness. When you said 'equal death', what position did you take?"

"I swore an oath to the Styx—the Great Styx. Once this world is restored to its former state, everything we have taken from the Styx will be returned with interest. Even the sun god himself will sink into the Styx, returning to eternal silence. There should only be one sun in this world." She pointed upwards. "That is the only sun that should remain."

"Oh, then what are you going to do to me? Silence me with your spear?"

"Your time has not yet come," Phaethon replied. "You should live your life peacefully, just like everyone else. This world has always belonged to humans, to you, not to me. Therefore, we ask you to cooperate with the experiment, so that we can find out the truth about the magic of China. If you cooperate with us, you can leave safely. The time for you to reclaim your extraordinary power can be postponed."

"What if I don't agree?"

"Hmm, that's a good question." Phaethon stroked the white lion's head. "Have you heard the story of Icarus? The son of the great master Daedalus, he once challenged the height of the sky and the sun's rays with his wax wings. That's why he drowned, his wax wings burned through by the sun's rays. So..."

She slightly raised the tip of the golden spear in her hand: "This is the spear that once pierced Ikaros. I don't mind wearing another one - of course, you won't die. I am not qualified to judge mortals, that is an earthly matter. But I can judge you as a transcendent."

"But am I really a superhuman?"

"Aren't you?" Phaethon was stunned.

"Do you want...what's that called? Take my pulse?" Shangluo stretched out his hand.

"Wait." Phaethon put the spear aside.

"Lolo, move aside." She patted the white lion's head, and the dozing white lion tilted its head and fell on the ground to continue sleeping.

Stepping over the white lion, Phaethon reached out and grabbed Shangluo's wrist.

She was stunned again. "No? How come there's nothing at all? You Zhendan people clearly eat magical radishes cultivated by alchemy every day, so how come there's not a single drop of ignition element in your blood?"

"Why do I feel like you are scolding me?"

"Sorry. Sorry." She took several steps back and returned to her original position. Her voice was only half of what it was before. "I'm sorry. I always thought you were a superhuman, so I treated you like that. Please forgive my rudeness. But!"

She raised her head. "I still hope you can help us find the source of this magic. Otherwise, we will have to use some coercive measures on your friend. You don't want to see his years of hard work go to waste, do you?"

"So has the situation changed from before? Where is your respect for mortals?"

"But we are doing this for a greater future for all mankind!"

"But what does that have to do with me? You're not only trying to kidnap me physically, you're also trying to kidnap me morally. Did the Styx River allow you to commit a criminal offense? The Jinyiwei all know to carry their credentials when enforcing the law. Where are yours?"

"This this."

[Mr. Shangluo.] The silent Helios finally spoke, [Please forgive our offense. If you wish to leave, you may exit the vehicle now.]

"My friend is in your hands, how can I leave alone?"

"I'm glad to see the light of humanity in both of you. My strength has increased. If you remain in the car, can I assume you're willing to trade with us?"

"That's it."

"Then, if you will assist us in studying the secrets of alchemy, I will not only release your friend, but also grant you a wish. Any wish will do. Don't question my ability. I will credit the Great Styx and put it on my account."

"Why do you speak in the same tone as Apollonia?"

You people of Aurora often say, "If you're not from the same family, you won't marry." Apollonia often agrees with me, but she's always too young. She doesn't consider things from the longest-term perspective of humanity, nor is she prepared to sacrifice everything for her mission. In this respect, she's even worse than Phaethon. So, Mr. Shangluo, do you accept this offer?

"I can't decide on my own," Shangluo replied, "I need to discuss it with my friends. After all, I don't have the right to hand over power that doesn't belong to me. I just happen to know the recipe for the elixir."

"Of course, of course, we can discuss this. Then, let's meet at the place. I have things to attend to. Phaethon, entertain our guests. Also, take care of the tail behind you. You're being followed."

"Tail?" Phaethon glanced out the rear window, her expression suddenly changing. Pressing the button beside her, she opened the skylight and used the white lion as a footrest to poke her head out.

Several black cars, without any markings on them, were following behind, keeping a distance of 150 meters.

"It doesn't seem to have anything to do with me." She returned to her previous seat. "It's those Mayan creditors, the United Fruit people."

"They are in your way. Aren't you going to run them through with your spear?"

"I said I wouldn't use the Spear of the Sun God against mortals. But that's not necessarily true. I don't have a very good temper."

After he finished speaking, she picked up the intercom:

"Stop the convoy."

"But Miss Phaethon!" Parka's voice came from the other end of the intercom. "They are creditors! They are here to inquire about the sale of the hotel I sold yesterday."

"Repaying debts is a matter of course. Didn't you win money yesterday? Why don't you pay it back?"