Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"Because... you want to find the place where you can best see the essence of things, right? Find the most suitable place for investigation. This world is actually quite vast, with many places across the three continents, but the Heavenly Court has not yet established a clear understanding of them. Therefore, I intend to use the arcane to seek answers."

"Divination?"

[I've tried, but divination isn't very effective. You need to at least establish a baseline state before you can calculate the variables that follow, and I haven't been able to do that yet. However, there is another artifact that can do that.]

"Spear of the Sun God?"

"Yes. But... wow, I really can't figure out how to use this thing, so I asked its previous owner to come and ask her. You can ask Phaethon, and you can also ask her how she found you back then."

Phaethon didn't hide anything and answered directly, "Because the threads of fate are gathered here like a cocoon. I thought you were plucking the strings of fate, trying to stir up trouble. Later I realized that you were just being swept up in it."

"The thread of fate? Is that some abstract metaphor?"

"No, it's a figurative expression. There really is such a thread."

"Try it." Shangluo untied the bundle and pulled out the Spear of the Sun God from it.

"Wait." Phaethon raised his hand. "It's yours now. I can't use it. Unless you're willing to lend it to me. That's the rule."

"Okay." Shangluo took a step forward with the spear in his hand, holding the handle and handing it over. Phaethon also reached out and grabbed it with him.

"Then what?" Shangluo asked.

"After friendly negotiations on an equal footing, Shangluo (hereinafter referred to as Party A) and Phaethon Eurysia Helios (hereinafter referred to as Party B) have reached the following agreement regarding the loan of the 'Spear of Apollo': Party B promises to use the Spear only with Party A's permission and only for purposes permitted by Party A. During the period of use of the Spear, Party B will not violate Party A's instructions in any way. If Party B violates this agreement, it will be terminated immediately, and Party B will lose the right to use the Spear of Apollo. Party A reserves the final right of interpretation of this agreement. Do you, Shangluo, as Party A, agree?"

“What a hassle.”

"That's the rule in our house. The final right of interpretation is yours, so you can change it as you please. Are you willing to lend it to me?"

"I am willing."

"." Phaethon said nothing, but just looked up at him.

"Huh? Did I say something wrong?"

"If you say more than a few words, you'll die. Speak more completely. This sentence is ambiguous."

"Okay, I'm willing to lend you the Spear of the Apollo. Is that okay? Of course I'm willing. Why would I hand over the spear if I'm not willing?"

"Alright. No problem." Phaethon took the Spear of Apollo from his hand and waved it in the air. "Why does it seem heavier?"

"Because it's constantly charging. Can you lift it?"

"It's a bit strenuous, but it's okay. Move aside." Phaethon turned around with his spear, drew a circle on the ground, and said, "Step outside the circle."

Shangluo and the surrounding heavenly soldiers took a step back.

"Huh" Phaethon took a breath:

"This is the power of all forces, breaking through all that is strong and resilient! This is how the world was created, and through this, miracles can be achieved. This is the unwavering truth. I declare that the great work of the sun is here completed!"

After reciting the words, she thrust the spear tip into the ground and half-knelt. Within the circle, a brilliant light shone. Spider-web-like cracks spread from the point of penetration.

The crack extended into the empty space outside the tower, stretching into the distance - but what was shattered was not the floor tiles of the Tower of Babel, but the barrier between reality and magic.

"Hold it." Phaethon, who was half-kneeling on the ground, looked up and asked.

"After holding it, should I ask a question? My question should be 'I want to know the key information that will allow me to gain insight into the future of this world.'"

"No need to ask. This isn't that guy's Delphi Oracle. You can't ask questions like you would on papyrus. Just hold it, and the fabric of fate will answer your questions. When you hold it, come inside the circle, and everyone else stay still."

"Yes." Shangluo stepped into the circle and grasped the other end of the Spear of the Sun God.

With a snap, like a shattered mirror played back in reverse, everything returned to normal. Only the spear tip penetrated the ground of the Tower of Babel, leaving an indelible mark on the entrance to the South Gate of Heaven.

However, the mark was more than just a pit. It was filled with a blue "liquid," but the "liquid" wasn't a solid substance; it was merely an illusion. The illusion wasn't just confined to the pit; a straight thread stretched out, extending all the way to Shangluo's chest.

"What is this?" A string connected to him made him feel creepy.

"That on the ground is the anchor point, the mark you left. The blue represents the rhythm of sympathy. The other end of the line is the answer."

"Are there any other colors?"

"Yes. Blue represents the law of sympathy, green represents the law of contamination, and red represents the law of causality. Different lines represent different modes of connection. The blue law of sympathy indicates that there is some kind of symbolic connection between A and B beyond distance, like Guan Gong and his statue. The green law of contamination means that A is part of B, or vice versa, and the two have at least had physical contact, like E. coli. Red represents events, which are generally related to people. You had doubts just now, right? It's simple. Start from this anchor point and follow the lines all the way to find the answer."

“So what this means now is…”

"Blue means that there is some connection between the object on your body and the answer you are looking for. But there is no actual contact between the two, and there is no direct causal relationship. Well, generally blue has the most sympathetic links. It's of little value, but you can definitely find it if you keep chasing. If there are green or red ones, it means there will be a major breakthrough. However, the sympathetic link is continuous, and you can definitely go down by following the blue line. But green or red Red may be a dead end, or an endpoint. On the contrary, the sympathetic link cannot exist apart from reality, so it must not be the end of the problem in itself, it must be linked to an actual object or event."

"I have a question. How long is this line? How many sections are there at most?"

"Ha, you thought you would encounter something like Apollonia, right? No, these lines are not headless. Because according to the law of six degrees of separation theory, the 'normal' maximum distance for a sympathetic link between two objects , it is six floors, there are rarely seven floors, and it is almost impossible to have eight floors. So if you look for six or seven at most, you will definitely find the answer - but the premise is that you go in the right direction."

"Is it possible that I'm going the wrong way?"

"Yes. Green and red can be dead ends, leading to parts of the problem, or the cause and effect of the problem, rather than the problem itself. But even dead ends can provide crucial information that can help you determine which path is correct. I was able to find you so quickly because after I asked, a blood-red cause and effect connected me directly to you. Ha, the result is truly a major cause and effect! I've received my retribution. This time, you're asking for key information related to 'the direction of this world,' right? Then the next clue should be in your arms. What's in your arms?"

"Wait, this is...eh?" He took out the thing:

"Ball number two? So what does that mean?"

"You have to ask questions and get his permission before you can proceed. Oh? Did the connection come straight out? He seems to be completely subconsciously obeying you, so there's no need to ask. So, what's the next direction and which continent?"

"That's the Water Tribe's Continent. So that's how it is. Now we can lock onto it step by step. This thing is really useful."

"So it seems I was right to stay. That lazy Apollonia is completely incapable of action, so even if she were given it, she wouldn't be of any use. The Spear of Apollo must be put into action. Come on, let's get moving. The information you want is right there. But one question seems to have been answered—the Water Serpent is probably closely related to this future. Is the Water Serpent currently absent? The Water Serpent's absence is the key factor that leads this world to a certain future."

Chapter 422 Mechanisms

"Can I try this system?"

"Of course. It sounds like there's a path or something, but you'll learn it the moment you start. There's absolutely no learning curve. Using human cognition to cover up unknowable reality—that's the function of the Spear of Apollo, and the same goes for the base of the Lighthouse system."

"So this thing is a game mechanic???"

"Well, it's better to say that all games are a kind of simulation of reality, behind a veil. All games try to use a fictional operating interface to help you understand reality. Everyone hopes to find the meaning of reality in fictional stories, because it's a Homo sapiens instinct. People love playing Heroes' Tour not because it allows you to fight monsters and monsters, but because good friends—hosts and players—can use this system to create wonderful stories. And the Spear of Apollo in your hand."

She tried to weigh the Spear of Apollo again:

"It doesn't seem much lighter. This time the charge was quite solid. In short, the Spear of Apollo can make chaotic cause and effect 'readable'. These are the colors, symbols, and silk threads you see now. Ancient alchemists and sorcerers could only see meaningless spells, codes, and heavenly books. But with the help of modern technology, they are readable. These lines are not auxiliary lines you draw when doing geometry problems. These silk threads are cause and effect themselves. Here, the appearance and essence of symbols are integrated. Through them, you can clarify the cause and effect of all things and find the storyline you want."

"Wait, so Tianyi Guiren is also a product of modern technology?"

"Yes," Phaethon nodded. "If you've read strange stories like those from Liao Zhai, you'll notice they're different from the historical examples of soldiers turning beans into soldiers—they can communicate, act like Taoist children or assistants, and perform very specific and complex tasks like we do now. Moreover, they can perform the magic known as the 'Eight-Nine Mysterious Arts.' In the future, perhaps you will be able to comprehend higher beings, perhaps even understand the Way of Heaven and become part of it. In short, this is a breakthrough achieved in recent decades. Our progress in this area is similar, but we're heading in different directions. You're moving upward, and we're moving downward."

"So when I held the spear earlier and made my demands, I was essentially looking for a theme for the script? A storyline?"

"Smart, as expected of you. This is the key to our situation." Phaethon handed the Spear of Apollo back. "In fact, many of the scripts for 'The Hero's Pilgrimage' were found this way. What's more important to us is finding a way to solve real-world problems. The oracle of Delphi can usually guide us on long-term issues, but problems like 'The Forest King of Lake Nemi will erupt next month' can only be solved through practical action."

"You found it?"

"Well, not entirely. I can't do everything myself. There are other demigods leading the team in Rome. But whenever there's a break in any leads, or a tricky 'mechanical' anomaly, I'll go provide reinforcements. When I first met you, I thought you were a great demon, an alchemist exiled from Cathay for a crime. I just said the thread wrapped around you resembled a cocoon. Well, that was based on our current relationship."

Shangluo blinked: "What if I don't consider it?"

"The demon from Pansi Cave is just like that."

"Do I look like you?" Shangluo pointed at his own face.

"I didn't see you at the time. If I had seen you at first sight and had a first impression, I probably wouldn't have taken action directly."

"Then what you did at that time was not very proper. It wasn't just me, the Jinyiwei were there too."

"We and Aurora don't have an IFF system because we never fight together. Who knows who you are and who knows you're real? Tsk, actually, a lot of things could have been avoided back then. Why did I get so carried away and throw myself into it? In the end, you got the advantage. I even mortgaged the Spear of the Apollo to you. So, there was something wrong with your quest line back then! You should have observed the situation first and waited there for a while. If you had waited a little longer until I arrived, maybe we could have talked things out directly."

[If I wait any longer, I won't be able to eat the Foundation Establishment Pill~~ I suggest you don't tell her. She still doesn't know this detail.]

"I wouldn't say that unless I was crazy—By the way, have you changed your clothes yet?"

[It’s almost there, reading in Yaochi. 】

"Where is Yaochi???"

[Upstairs. Almost done.]

Phaethon looked at him and asked, "You and Apollonia, are you talking?"

"Well, she's almost well. She said she was changing clothes in Yaochi."

"That means she's changing in the upstairs lounge. There's an infinity pool upstairs, and you can reach out and touch the clouds outside. The view is quite beautiful. Maybe we can have a barbecue upstairs when it opens to the public."

"Hey, shouldn't Yaochi be holding a Peach Festival? What's the point of holding a barbecue party?"

"It's all the same. The peaches here might be meat dishes. There are quite a few mushroom beasts down there."

"By the way, how's the situation down there?"

"The lid was already closed before you arrived. We're currently injecting a high concentration of phlogiston, which is expected to speed up time inside by 365 times. As we speak, several days have probably already passed. Once the phlogiston levels stabilize, you can enter."

"Aren't you coming?"

"You didn't invite me. I'm here to debug the Spear of the Sun God."

Shangluo looked at her: "What if I invite you?"

"Then you have to pay overtime. Pay according to the time you work."

"Good man, you're going to charge a day's wages for four minutes, right?"

"Of course, this is calculated based on my experience time. If it's calculated based on the outside, wouldn't it mean I'd have to work in there for a year to get one day's wages?"

"Alright." Shangluo waved his hand. "Your salary is so little anyway, and the overtime pay isn't much either."

"Ah, I was hit hard. Do you realize now that I only have such a small salary? You only give me 2 taels a month. Do you know how much silver a housewife's monthly salary is converted into? Ah, but I owe you, and I still have to get the right of residence, so I can only bear it. Forget it, I will debug this magic circle again to see if there is any flaw." As she said, she half squatted down to observe the ground, and started to work overtime on her own.

[Tsk, tsk, tsk, poor Roman, she didn't even know that submitting a petition to the county government could solve the problem.]

"Hmm?" Shangluo heard Apollonia's words. As always, she was communicating with him in her head. But this time, there seemed to be another voice superimposed on her, and from a different direction. The voice came from behind him.

Wait a minute, it will be ready soon

Chapter 423 I’m out!

He looked back and saw nothing.

"Ah! What's that look on your face? Can't you see such a big person in front of you?"

Facing the back, Shangluo heard the voice and finally recognized it - Apollonia was standing in front of him, only a head shorter than him, and dressed like

"Sorry, sorry." Shangluo quickly squatted down, "I thought you were a flower basket."

"What flower basket? I'm wearing a toga, the formal attire of a Roman citizen. And why are you squatting down? Do you look down on me? Stand up!"

"My neck feels a little sore when I talk with my head down. Okay, I'll just stand."

To show his respect to Apollonia, he stood up and lowered his head slightly so that he could see Apollonia's face clearly.

"It's no surprise. You and Phaethon really do look alike."

She was a miniature version of Phaethon. While her features were similar, she was shorter, her slightly curly black hair crowned with a golden laurel wreath, making her head seem even smaller. Her enormous white toga with red trim had been completely tailored—they weren't meant to be tailored. Like Eastern formal wear, the toga emphasized the garment's opulence with generous volume. But Apollonia was so small that it barely held her clothes. When Shangluo turned around, he mistook her for a flower basket.

But you can tell from its appearance that it has never been pinched.

"You're thinking I'm a flower basket again! Ah, if I had known earlier, I would have pinched my height. There was no reference just now, how could I have known I would be so short!"

"Can you still pinch it?"

"It's not like you can just make a dough figurine. This seed algorithm can only be used once, and it's gone once you use it."

"Well, then stop hiding behind me. Come meet your little niece?"

Although she was a little niece, Phaethon was not much shorter than Shangluo. In other words, she was a head shorter than Phaethon.

Silently, she walked behind Phaethon and poked the back of her head with her finger.

"Tsk, whose kid are you? Don't bother me. My sister is busy with something important." Before she finished speaking, she suddenly turned her head because she saw a face that looked like her own:

"Who are you???"

"Well, it's me."

"You have grown up"

“I wish I could grow up a little bit more.”

The two looked at each other for a while.

"Yeah!!!" Apollonia jumped up with a high five in the air. "I'm out! I'm out! I'm finally out of that ball! Woohoo!"

Apollonia cheered like a newly born Monkey King, and she hugged Phaethon, who lifted her up. However, the toga she was wearing was too loose, so Phaethon pulled it up with all his strength, pulling it out like a carrot. The carrot skin was pulled out, but the carrot remained in its place.