Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

The three snakes looked down at the vast sea of mushrooms. The last remaining people of this race were here.

"I, the Land of Terror, grant you a form akin to that of a god. It lacks the strength of a god's body, but its distinct skin prevents moisture loss. Its complete internal organs allow you to savor divine roast duck, and its keen senses allow you to distinguish between Yingtian roast duck and Shuntian roast duck. May you harness the power of action afforded by this form, and no longer be terrified by the challenges of fate."

"I, the Water of Seclusion, grant you a soul akin to that of a god. It won't be as powerful as a god's soul, but the world's earth, fire, water, and wind will respond to your small hopes. The very origin of the world will be connected to you by a tenuous yet unbreakable thread. When you cry out 'Where are the humans?' out of despair, may you harness the power of your soul and no longer retreat out of fear."

"I, the Escaped Qi, grant you divine-like emotions. It lacks the tangible power of a body or soul, but it is the gift closest to divine power. This gift allows you to empathize with the joys of others, as well as their sorrows. While there's an unbridgeable gap between us and the power of the gods, at least we can experience our own joys. Everyone, take a good look at this world with your own eyes. Remember the teachings of 'How to Use the Forum', and let us coexist in this world in amicable harmony."

Suddenly, the sea surged, and a churning heat wave surged out from the Sea of Bitterness. That was the golden blood once left by the God's left hand, now reappearing in the form of a snake.

"You're back again?" The escaping spirit looked at the golden snake on the sea, with a golden flame without temperature burning on its body.

"You are the most depraved among us. You bare your fangs against the gods, and you unleash the secret fire upon your own people. We have a new destiny. We no longer need you, and there is nothing you can do."

The fire snake grinned, flames emanating from its mouth. "I don't need to do anything. All things are born from fire, and the gift of fire is rooted in the hearts of all people. That is - death and decay. You give 'eyes to look at the world carefully,' but all things will eventually wither. You allow everyone to possess a small part of the world for a moment, but they will eventually die, carrying their memories with them. They will eventually follow the path of foolish anger. Just like the gods themselves, they will eventually fight over 'Can Salty Tofu Pudding Be Eaten?' and even greet each other's mother goddesses."

After saying this, he turned to the mushroom man:

"My fellow men! My gift has already been given! When you lament the fickleness of fate, when you lament the aging of your flesh, when the world abandons you once again, you still feel angry! Forget all you have, for all will eventually decay. As long as this cage remains, you will eventually walk the path of the fire of foolish anger."

The invisible fire serpent decayed, just as it said it would.

"Is it really gone?"

Everyone looked at the three snakes that gave them new life.

The Hidden Water looked at the Bitter Sea: "It's gone but only temporarily. It will come back."

"So, has God truly forgiven us?"

The snakes looked at each other.

They knew that the actions of the gods could not be forgiven or hated because they were not worthy of it.

The gods imposed punishment, and with that came imprisonment—but none of this had anything to do with the fungus-people. This was a punishment for the snakes, a confinement for them. Those fungus-people had never entered the gods' field of vision.

The snakes were silent. They knew the question, but they had no answer.

The snakes also had their own questions - why did the gods suddenly choose judgment instead of destruction in the end?

But no matter how many problems there are, the time to set off has come.

"Everyone, let's get going. I hope we won't see each other again from now on."

"Hmm," Shangluo said as he watched the footage coming from the scene, "It seems to be getting interesting. The fire snake isn't dead."

The Snake of Foolish Rage cannot die. As it says, as long as death and decay exist in this world, there will always be someone who will resort to rage. The Snake of Fire will never die.

"Does this mean that we can always obtain snake pills from it?"

「Oh~~Good idea. This is an inexhaustible treasure trove.」

"But this is too slow now. We need to make some adjustments later. Let's go home. When we get home, we should think about what to do with these three pills."

After the meeting, Shangluo took all three pills back home. This was his world, his home turf, and the others were there to help. So, after the meeting, Shangluo naturally had the final say on how to spend the Foundation Establishment Pills.

"I do have another question. If you could truly obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill through their rage, would you increase their suffering?"

"I wouldn't do that on my own initiative," Shangluo replied. "I think those snakes were also pondering this question—why, at the last moment, I chose judgment instead of destruction. Because they already possessed spirituality and became sentient beings. When they were still fungi, everything they did was based on the instincts of lower life forms, no different from ants. They didn't know life, so how could they know death? But when they became sentient beings, I saw them live, and I couldn't bear to see them die. So, I judged them. There's no need to worry about them from now on, don't harm them, just let them grow naturally."

"Are you letting it go? That's a shame, it could have been used to produce medicinal pills."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk." Shang Luo shook his head. "I told you, they're 'sentient beings.' Don't underestimate their desire for self-destruction—I don't need to add to their suffering; they'll bring endless pain upon themselves. All I have to do is speed up the progress of time. Have the former young generals prepare and get to work. First, put the lid on the can, remember to drill a few holes, and then help them speed up the progress bar."

How fast can it be increased? I'll figure out how to increase it.

"One day in heaven is one year on earth. Add them at the rate of one day in the outside world equals one year in the tank. I don't even need to urge them; they'll soon lure out the fire snakes on their own. Have the former young generals record it. The first murder, the first betrayal, even the first war. These all need to be recorded, and they are all very valuable observation materials. We just need to observe quietly, and then from time to time, rescue them from the fate of being burned by the fire of foolish anger, and take the snake pills as rewards. Good, good. I am truly a kind person."

Chapter 393 Foundation Building Pill

"Oh? You're back. Did it work?"

"Okay, okay. Ah~~ I'm so hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

“We have steamed buns.”

"Thank you, thank you. You've worked hard." Shangluo sat on the sofa and started to eat the steamed bread. He didn't even drink water. He just ate it with relish.

"Is this thing really that delicious?" Phaethon sat on the small sofa next to him and broke off a piece to taste.

The taste can't be said to be comparable to delicacies from land and sea, but at least it's pale in comparison.

It has no flavor at all, because it really only has a pinch of seasoning that even a dog can't smell.

But Shangluo ate up most of the steamed bread in a short time, without leaving even a single crumb.

"Ah, well, as long as you're happy." She prepared dinner for herself. It was also a steamed bun, but she poured herself a glass of milk and a tube of salty peanut butter. Then she sliced the bun, taking a bite of the one soaked in milk and a little of the one with the peanut butter squeezed in.

It tastes much better this way. First of all, the base of this steamed bread is delicious. It becomes soft and fragrant when soaked in milk, and it becomes fragrant and soft when spread with peanut butter.

At the same time as Shangluo, she finished her midnight snack.

"By the way, weren't you full? I saw you were stuffed when you took the photo."

"It seemed like it was still a bit more edible after it digested, so I cut off a small half for a snack."

"." Shangluo looked at her, "You seem to be able to eat more than you look."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Good! Very good. If you eat too little and have too much to do, there's no hope. You do so much work, you'd better eat more."

"By the way, how are things going over there?"

Shangluo reached into his bag and took out three snake pills, each the size and weight of a billiard ball. The pills landed on the table with a thud.

"This is?"

"Foundation Pill."

"Oh, it's the Foundation Establishment Pill. Wait! What is this???" She immediately got furious.

"Foundation Building Pill."

"You took out a bunch of Foundation Establishment Pills all at once! Isn't it true that only one Foundation Establishment Pill is produced in a generation? How did you take out so many at once?"

"I'm Xiangrui, so it's normal for Xiangrui to take out three at once."

"Ah, that's not surprising, that's not surprising."

She looked at the three foundation-building pills and said, "By the way, can you handle it?"

"Of course. This is originally mine, and I asked them to come and keep the peace. Besides, although this thing is precious, it can be said to be a priceless treasure, but they trust me and feel that leaving it to me to handle is not necessary for them to interfere."

Phaethon was silent for a moment. "Perhaps this is the difference between you and me. Although Victoria and I have a good relationship, she wouldn't let me decide something so important."

"That's nonsense. You get carried away so easily that I don't trust you. And my judgment is time-tested. You still need to do a 360-degree backflip in the snow."

"I don't know what this metaphor means, but I roughly understand it. So, ah! Lord Chishie-kun, what are you going to do with these treasures?"

"Let me make a call first." He dialed Guoxing's number, which Guoxing had given him before.

One minute later.

"Wait! Wait! Give me half an hour!"

"Just give it to your assistant?"

"Assistant? I'm coming to ask for it, kowtow every three steps and bring a big red candle! This is the Foundation Establishment Pill! If it weren't already midnight, I would have set off at least two million firecrackers. Even though it's already night, I still have to set off one million."

"No, no, no! If someone didn't know, they would think you were going somewhere to get married."

"Wedding? You're closer to me than my own brother now! If you were younger than me, I would have kowtowed and called you big brother right there. No, no, no—I'm sworn brothers with you on behalf of my dad! You're my uncle! This is a foundation-building pill! No matter how politely you thank me, it's never too much."

"No, no, no, no, no." Shang Luo shook his head. "I didn't give you the Foundation Establishment Pill and the national surname out of friendship. Do you remember what we talked about at the beginning?"

"You said you wanted to test the medicine? But this doesn't require any testing. My uncle told me that this is a foundation-building pill personally certified by Ancestor Sa. Do you still need me to test it?"

"We agreed before that I'd give you one no matter what. Even if you don't need to try it now, I won't change my mind. I said I'd give you one, so I'll give you one. Think about it on your way here. There are three flavors: white, blue, and yellow. Which one do you want? I'm going to hang up now. I need to contact someone."

"Good fellow." Phaethon exclaimed, "That's Guo Xing, right? He's the commander-in-chief of Lan Fang. Why don't you acknowledge him as his master?"

"Look, look, this is why you still have a lot to learn. If he really swore brotherhood with me, I might accept him, but I won't have more friends. He wants to recognize me as his uncle all of a sudden? I don't have a nephew that old. Can I give him New Year's money? Although this is a big favor, and it is indeed no exaggeration to say that any courtesy is not excessive. But I will not accept inappropriate gifts, because inappropriate gifts must be returned. We will be friends for a long time in the future. If he keeps calling me uncle, does he still want to be friends?"

"That makes sense!" Phaethon clapped his hands. "Why haven't I learned that?"

"And I'm not giving it to him for nothing. First of all, he's a sponsor of the Thunder Department. If I give him something, he'll continue to give back to us and help us with a lot of chores. Secondly, I need him to do some advertising. This is celebrity-level advertising, something you can't even hire."

"Advertisement? What are you going to advertise for?"

"Wait, I need to make another call to confirm." He dialed the number:

"Hello, senior brother?"

"All right?"

"Well, all right."

"Wait, wait." He gulped down a mouthful of water. He was eating. He could hear the sound of him putting down his chopsticks and changing rooms.

"How's it going? What's the situation? I've generally heard what General Fu said, but I still need your opinion. Did you get the Foundation Establishment Pill safely?"

"Yes. There is still some follow-up work to be done, and we need to maintain surveillance and management. However, now there is the issue of disposing of the Foundation Establishment Pills - Brother, do you want one?"

"Ah, you called to ask about this, right? Give me a moment to think about it."

Two minutes later.

"Hey, Shangluo, I've thought about it carefully. I don't want it anymore—you can probably guess what I would choose, right?"

"Well, I was going to call and ask anyway. So why don't you want it?"

"That's yours. I don't have anything to offer you in return, so I won't take it. Besides, I'd rather refine the Foundation Establishment Pill myself. I'm confident I can do it. So, take care of it yourself and don't worry about me."

After a brief greeting, both parties hung up the phone.

"Alright." Shangluo clapped his hands. "Then I have two to use. I'll keep one of them—even though I won't be using it right now, but I'll keep one as a backup, just in case."

He glanced at Phaethon, and... He also looked at the ceiling.

I'll likely encounter many things and people in the future. It's only right to keep a Foundation Establishment Pill as a backup. This thing can give those who are about to die a second chance. But as a backup, one is enough.

"And the other one, hehehe~~~something exciting is coming."

"Why are you laughing?"

"After having Guoxing advertised this, this pill is, of course, a bounty! A prize! The first season of the Myriad Aspects Gate is about to begin! Only with a significant prize can all Qigong practitioners participate. This is the first and crucial step in establishing the Thunder Department's prestige in the world of cultivation. Through this step, the Thunder Department and I, the Lord of the World, will make our official debut. Also, we can select a talented individual, a high-end combat force, to help share some of the pressure. With this step, a virtuous cycle can begin, and the foundation for 'Heavenly Court leading the extraordinary world' can be laid. Excellent, excellent. Being able to use a mere tangible object to launch a massive campaign is truly a bargain, and the timing is perfect. At another time, even ten or eight Foundation Establishment Pills wouldn't be enough to achieve this effect."

Chapter 394 Snake Pill

"Oh! Is this the Foundation Establishment Pill? It looks very appetizing. Should I take it before or after meals?"

"That's not it. That's a steamed bun. This is it."

"Isn't this billiards?"

Zheng Shijie was stunned. Although he had vaguely guessed when Shangluo told him there were three colors, he had never expected the Foundation Establishment Pill to be the size of a billiard ball.

He poked it with his finger. The foundation-building pill rolled an inch on the table, making the buzzing sound of a billiard ball rolling on the table.

He swallowed, it seemed a bit

"Speaking of which." He suddenly looked up. "Why are you here too? Are you trying to rob me? And why did you bring so many soldiers with you?"

He looked at Zhu Xianxun—Zhu Xianxun had arrived before him. Now, there were more than twenty Jinyiwei standing at the door and on the roof. Lu Huaiyang stood in the courtyard, still holding his sword, looking at the moon.

"Haven't you heard that prescription drugs should be taken under the guidance of a doctor?" He looked at Zheng Shijie, "So as an alchemy cultivator, I, as a professional, want to tell you some precautions when taking the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Then why don't you eat it yourself?"

"As an alchemy practitioner, I must consume the foundation-building pills I refine myself. This is my bottom line. Also, if you get a stitch in the side and are half dead from eating it, the two of us can still save you here."

"Even Shangluo can't be saved?"

"Shangluo can guarantee to save you, but he can't guarantee that if something goes wrong, he can save you and preserve the efficacy of the medicine at the same time, because he is not a professional in the field of elixirs. He is an elixir expert, so you have to come to me for elixirs. Speaking of which, we graduated from the same school, so you should know a little bit about it, right?"

"We're studying chemistry in school, not alchemy, boss. Who has a Daoist master teaching us every day like you? I've invested millions of taels and haven't seen a single splash."

"Okay, it seems I've come to the right place. Well, sit down first." He had been sitting on the sofa from the beginning. He gestured to Zheng Shijie to sit opposite him, not to sit in Shangluo's seat.

After he sat down, Zhu Xianxun said: