Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"Yes, that's how I see it. And the Romans didn't need humans to control their stuff, which meant they could just pop up like mold or cockroaches if you weren't paying attention. In the end, they might even surpass human capabilities and become unmanageable. Our relationship with Doudou is much simpler. You can treat Doudou the same way you treat your own brother. Doudou can enhance our work, but it won't ultimately replace humans, because there's no barrier between us and Doudou like there is between humans and machines—humans can understand Doudou, but in principle, it's almost impossible to understand machines. That's why I think those people in the weaving bureau who can understand machines are so amazing."

"Now that you mention it, I think they're pretty amazing. They're like pediatricians."

"Eh? What do you say?"

"A normal person would tell the doctor about their condition. But pediatricians' patients are unreasonable and I have no idea what they are saying. That's why I think pediatricians are really amazing."

"Speaking of which." Yanqiu thought for a moment, "What do those three talented people in your class usually do?"

"In" Shangluo thought for a moment:

"They are worshiping the gods."

"..." Yanqiu touched his forehead. "Even I don't worship them, because our sect's thunder magic comes from Ancestor Sa, and I know Ancestor Sa. So they are really powerful. What they pursue is a realm with no end in sight. Just like Zhenyuan Daxian, he doesn't need to worship the tangible Three Pure Ones, he worships the intangible heaven and earth."

"Can you really understand it that way? Now that you put it that way, I think they're pretty amazing too."

Shangluo wondered if he should be nicer to them next time, perhaps offer them some Wangzai milk. It wasn't that their hands looked soft; they weren't. It was a sign of respect for the technicians. Yes, it was respect.

"But compared to them, I think you're quite impressive." Yan Qiu looked at him. "You seem to be introducing some of the Roman practices. Originally, Daozu wouldn't allow it. But since the one Daozu appointed, Chishijun, thinks so, let's give it a try. You want to copy my acting skills? I wouldn't allow it to others; this is my livelihood. But since this is your request, and for the sake of technological development, I think we can give it a try. Just think of it as me donating blood for charity. Where do I insert the needle?"

Wait a minute, about one o'clock

Chapter 409 Getting Started

"Is this okay?" She put on her glasses as Shangluo asked.

"Wait a minute." He switched the channel and asked Apollonia, "Is this all right?"

[Wait a minute.] She switched channels and asked Escape Water: [I don't quite understand your tricks, little snake. Is this all right?]

"Wait a minute." The Hidden Water thought for a moment. "Actually, I don't quite understand it myself. I didn't mean to exchange the pill yesterday. Even 'smuggling'—I don't quite understand the meaning of this word, but the Creator said it was smuggling—I didn't mean to do that. By the time I came to my senses, I had already left my body and was in the Creator's hands. Then, for some unknown reason, I ended up in the heavens."

Are all snakes really stupid?

"Eh?" Shangluo's voice rose a little, and the meaning was self-evident.

You're talking about me, aren't you? You think I'm stupid? That's your feeling. It's because I have so much to think about, and everything I do requires thorough thought. For example, I haven't figured out how to use Helios's power, so I can't use it as I please. But snakes are truly blind and foolish. Many of their actions aren't intentional. They cast magic naturally without even having to think about it—the moment they think, it creates problems. Think about it from another perspective. Why does it feel so guilty?

"Because the murder was really his intention to kill?"

That's it. Magic born of instinct hardly felt like it carried any causal consequences, so it didn't quite understand what smuggling meant. But the murder was its own decision, and it immediately felt guilty, afraid, and intrigued. This introspection made it less foolish, and thus it fell from the position of the great snake of that world. Its fall to the elixir of its present state was also reasonable.

"By the way, who is leading the Water Department now?"

It's a new water snake. Just like the fire snake, as long as humans exist, there will always be snakes. When it fell from the Great Serpent's position, a new Great Serpent naturally emerged. It's just as foolish, and looks the same—but based on recent observations, the new water snake seems to have gone into hiding, too, and has no intention of facing its people.

"When we go back for a return visit, let's go take a look at it. But it's weird that this guy is always called Escape Water. Hey, do you have any suggestions? I'll give you a code name. You don't need to use your real name during your sentence. .”

"Please feel free to do as you please. I accept everything."

"Then let me think about it. I'll call you Ball Number Two."

[Eh? Why is it ball number two?]

"Because the number two billiard ball is blue. It's the same size and weight as the billiard ball, and the same color as the second billiard ball, so it's called the number two ball. Number two ball?"

"Yes!" Ball No. 2 replied.

"Since you don't know how to use your abilities, that's easy. Just try to 'feel' her state of mind and try to imitate it. I'll have Yan Qiu actually perform it. If you think it's time to stop, just let me know."

"No problem. Please begin. Miss Yanqiu, could you please sing a line?"

"Let me think about it. You suddenly asked me to sing a verse, and I thought about it. This is the best one."

She stood straight, feet together, feet spread apart, hands at her hips, in a standard stage-stepping gesture. Then she began to move her left foot—but before moving her body, she moved her shoulders first. As she stepped forward, she curled her instep, revealing the sole of her boot, and then took a steady, firm step, completing the stage step. With this step, her entire aura shifted. Then, she positioned her hands, twirled her fingers, and began to sing:

"long--"

"That's it!"

"Huh?" Yanqiu was stunned by his shout. Phaethon, who had been sitting next to her, was also stunned: "Why don't you let her finish singing? She's so impressive."

"Wait. That seems to be enough."

"I just sang one word and that's enough?"

"Your posture and aura are more important. Wait, see if I sing it right."

Shangluo pinched the silver pill in his hand, took a step forward, placed his hands firmly, pinched the pill, and began to sing:

"Long sword~~Long bow! Sitting on Jiangdong. Chariots flow like water, horses spurt like dragons, see the mountains and rivers in sight! A chorus of flutes carries the fragrant wind, a thousand flags and banners hold up auspicious clouds. Sutai is high and covered with brocade, Guan will stay in the upper palace tonight!"

"Good boy!" Yan Qiu was completely stunned. "Good boy! Good boy!"

"What did he sing?"

"He sang the piece I was about to sing. When I was a kid, I learned Kunqu opera, and this was the first piece I learned. It's an adaptation of the "Hunting" scene from the play "The Washing Silk Story" in the "Wu Yue Chunqiu." The tune is "Drunk in Taiping." This scene depicts King Fuchai of Wu, full of vigor and ambition, with thousands of chariots and horses rolling across the plains. During this performance, everyone sang along to cheer him on, so it's easy to learn right from the start. Sometimes our teacher would have us sing a solo piece of "Long Sword and Large Bow" or "Drunk in Taiping," meaning we'd sing this section over and over again."

“Then he sang.”

"Amazing! His posture is amazing, his pronunciation is also amazing! There's absolutely no problem at all. He can just put on some clown makeup and go on stage to play King Fuchai of Wu."

However, Shangluo struck a pose again, this time firmly leaning forward:

"With long swords and great bows, we gallop with courage! We display extraordinary prowess in the battles. With whips and reins in hand, and horses at our side, we brave the hardships of thousands of miles. We display our military might and command our might, expand our territory, and secure peace. We must achieve military exploits today!"

"I" Yanqiu was stunned, "You can do this too!"

"what is this?"

"This isn't Kunqu opera, but the Peking opera version of 'The Washing Silk Story: Hunting'. I learned it later to change my mindset. I later pursued a career in acting, not in a troupe. So I had to adapt to the styles of different operas. So I learned every version of 'Long Sword and Big Bow'."

Shangluo made another appearance, flicking his sleeves:

"Suddenly, I heard the Emperor announce that my loyal minister had arrived at the Meridian Gate! That day, as I was walking down the street, I happened to encounter a little naughty boy crying sadly."

"Eh? What is this?" Phaethon asked in a low voice.

"This is the Peking Opera 'Beating Yan Song', which I also like very much, so..." Yanqiu's mind suddenly buzzed: "Wait, wait for the rest!"

However, Shangluo was already immersed in the play, not stopping for a moment: "I asked the naughty boy why he was crying, and he said that the old villain Yan Song had killed his entire family! I urge the naughty boy, stop crying, stop wailing! Master Zou is your avenger. Standing on the golden steps, watching with your eyes, there sits the wise emperor Jiajing!"

"No, no, no, no! You can't sing the latter part! You can't sing it!" Yan Qiu covered his mouth with her hand. "You can't sing the latter part of 'Fighting Yan Song' in Yujing! There are people above! There are people above! Shang Tianjun, please put away your magical powers! If you get into trouble in the future, don't say you learned it from me!"

"Ah, this." Shangluo put the pill away. "Sorry, sorry, I just think this part is very catchy. I want to sing it as soon as it comes to my lips."

"Because 'Fighting Yan Song' is really easy to sing, I hum a few times while brushing my teeth this morning. I get it, it's really flawless. I admire you, I admire you. As expected, Lord Shang Tian, your magical powers are truly formidable. I'm completely impressed."

"Um, sorry, I won't use your body shape to sing everywhere later."

"I understand. I trust you, otherwise I wouldn't have asked you to copy it. And we can't argue—but I haven't studied this script yet. Do you want me to study it again?"

"That's not necessary," Ball Number Two muttered. "We've already received permission from Miss Yanqiu for our actions. She's shared her knowledge without reservation, so I can help you learn exactly the same."

"Uh..." Shangluo thought for a moment. Although he could choose not to learn, he still bowed to be on the safe side.

"Then please teach me another lesson, sir."

Chapter 410: Godlike

"Shangluo, are you ready? Then we can start. Wait, are you okay?" Zheng Shijie asked.

"It's alright."

Zheng Shijie still didn't believe it: "Are you okay?!"

"It's okay, it's really okay."

"Then why are you walking so fast? My goodness, you walk like a gentleman, like a gentle man in a mansion. Why haven't I seen you walk like this before? You walk better than Brother Ye."

"Huh? Is that how he usually walks?"

"He walked like this when he was the crown prince. I felt strange when he was recognized as the crown prince. I don't know how others knew it."

"So it wasn't an accidental encounter between you and him then?"

"Of course it was. How could it be such a coincidence? I heard the prince and I were in the same school, so I was planning to look for him and see if I could get to know him. But it turns out there was no need to look. He was the one walking around with such a radiant glow every day. He must have had so many people watching him since he was little that he didn't even care about the looks they cast at him. Back then, he wasn't down to earth at all. He was like someone who came from heaven. He was simply 'radiant and divine.'"

“That looked so different from now.”

The Zhu Xianxi that Shangluo knew was nothing like that. He was a person Shangluo didn't know how to describe, but he was indeed a good person. Besides being a good person, he was also very capable.

But Shangluo didn't think he was "as brilliant as a god" at all. He was too lazy to even use a teacup to drink tea, and he just drank from the spout of the teapot.

"He only became like this after college. Well, actually, it was after he fell in love. It's true that love can really make a person grow. Honestly, it was only after that that he started showing any interest in others. Before, he was indifferent to everyone, but it didn't seem genuine; he just did it out of politeness and good manners. Now you can see it, right? He's internalized those good manners instead of just superficially. He's a good, clear-minded person now, just a little silly now and then. Well, how's that?"

He asked Shangluo, "Did you learn anything? Since you two are fellow disciples and we might be working together for a long time in the future, I think it would be better to provide you with more information."

"Thank you, it's very rewarding. And this time... This time, it's considered a national name. Are you thinking of ways to send us funding?"

"To be honest, I did think so at first. But the gait I saw just now seems to indicate a different situation. Have you ever learned it seriously? If I remember correctly, you haven't learned it?"

"You know me quite well?" Shangluo noticed the key point in his words. "Not only do you know that I haven't learned it here, you also know that I haven't learned it in my 'homeland' either?"

"Yeah." Zheng Shijie nodded. "But I don't know too many details. As I said before, everything I know is what I heard from Brother Ye. If he didn't tell me, I wouldn't know anything. If you really want to know, go back and ask him. But you... your little cousin, you haven't been seen for many years since you came here, but it's unlikely that you have learned Peking Opera or Kunqu Opera. Where did you learn it?"

"Don't worry about that. Let me show you."

"Come on, let's go." He clapped his hands and stepped aside: "Attention all units, prepare to start!"

Click, click, click, click! Each unit put down their bottles of Wangzai milk and prepared to begin—though they called it each unit, this crew had only brought the bare bones. There weren't many people, and the equipment was borrowed from the studio. When it came time to actually shoot the feature film, they would have to return to Lan Fang's headquarters in Pontianak; this was just a screen test. But Guo Xing himself was already there, the one with the final say. The shoot itself became less important, unless Guo Xing wanted to watch the replay afterwards.

Compared to the filming itself, the crew and the studio's specialized equipment are more like part of the "set," as the on-set environment also requires adaptation. Some people are usually very lively, but the moment they're on camera, they seem instantly captivated. Others, on the other hand, are usually as lazy as a salted fish, too lazy to even turn over a sheet all day, but the moment they're on camera, they're like gods.

He had never seen Shangluo on camera, but he always looked very comfortable in everything he did, so there shouldn't be any problems.

"What do you think?"

Later, he confirmed it with the director.

"Shang Tianjun thinks there should be no problem. Just the way he is..."

"What's wrong with him?"

"You seem too professional, like a veteran performing artist. I'm starting to feel a little guilty. Let's get started. Check the microphones, get the key light, backlight, and fill light ready, and get the reflectors ready. Are you all set? Script supervisor, clapboard!"

"Script 21, audition for alternate No. 1, first test shoot, go!" The script supervisor slapped the board and retreated out of the camera, leaving behind Shangluo - and a huge crowd of people.

While the scene is a tranquil winter day, it's anything but clean. Three headlights illuminate from three directions, with key light, backlight, and fill. Two people hold reflectors nearby, creating the challenging conditions of "warm but not overpowering winter sunlight." A long, traditional lantern extends from four or five meters away, capturing the sound just off-camera.

Due to time constraints, Shangluo only had a very simple backdrop in front of him - a glass plate, a display stand, and a bottle of Wangzai milk.

He stood in front of Wangzai Milk behind a glass plate. While the stage manager clapped the board, he also held the elixir and practiced his Qigong:

Without any movement, he just stood there, looking at the bottle of Wangzai milk. There was nothing wrong with this action, because it was written in the script and this was how the shot was meant to be seen.

However, Zheng Shijie, the director, and everyone present behind the camera were stunned - including Shangluo himself.

The glass reflected his eyes, which were filled with a shimmering, autumn-like beauty. Although the room temperature was 26°C and the light still felt a bit warm, just by standing there, the chill of winter permeated the atmosphere, stunning everyone.

Everyone could see he was glowing. Like a crystal at the center of a stage, he radiated the aura of a performer. This radiance made anyone who saw his eyes involuntarily dodge, for it was so dazzling.

Ah, this. Ah, this.

"Ah, this, this, this, how is this going to end? What should I do, what should I do? I can't stop it anymore. Even I'm scared of myself when I act it out." He panicked, frowning slightly, looking to the side without moving. However, the light in his eyes also changed with it -

"Stop!" Director Cai called backstage. Shangluo immediately let go of Shedan and returned to normal.

Backstage, Zheng Shijie and Director Cai were both looking at Shangluo on the screen. Although he had withdrawn his gaze, the flash of light from before still lingered in their minds.

"Isn't this a little off?" Zheng Shijie wondered. "His smile and frown look a little familiar, yet not awkward. It fits his identity perfectly, yet with a subtle hint of femininity. It's just the right balance, truly..."

"It's absolutely perfect!" Director Cai was stunned. "Guo Xing! You've found a treasure! I've always admired your business acumen, but now I admire it even more!"

"That's not the acting I'm looking for. I'm not looking for the winter sunshine, I'm looking for the summer sunshine. By the way, isn't this different from the script we discussed last night? The script said she was bringing milk to her parents. This is not the look she gives to her parents."

"No, no, no, it's not him who has the problem, it's me. What I wrote is different from what he performed, so there must be something wrong with me."

"Huh? Think about it carefully, you said it yourself. I didn't ask you to change the script this time, you said you had a problem."

"I'm so ashamed of myself!" Director Cai slapped his head. "Compared to his performance, my feeble writing skills are like the glow of rotten grass, no match for the bright moon in the heart of heaven. But I'm willing to give it a try. In front of Shang Tianjun's brilliance, even a rotten grass like me can be transformed into something magical. Guo Xing!"

"No, no, no, just call me boss, that's what we agreed on before."

"Guo Xing! Please let me stay in the crew! If I can't finish filming this play with Shang Tianjun, I think my directing career will end here! I will never make any progress in my life!"

"You're crazy, aren't you? But it seems... it seems to be very powerful. Its shape is as graceful as a startled swan and as gentle as a swimming dragon."