Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

Lu Liang walked behind him and put his hands on his waist: "Sink your waist down, sink down. If you don't move properly, the meridians will not be in place. Yes, stay in this position."

Shangluo stood with his feet slightly wider than his shoulders. It was the first time he had ever done such a standard horse stance. This movement was so inhumane, and the more standard it was, the more uncomfortable it was.

"and then?"

"Then you don't notice your legs are sore, but a warm current flows out from your dantian, offsetting the fatigue in your knees."

“Will it ever feel this magical again?”

Shangluo felt it carefully. There was only carrot soup and braised pork ribs in his stomach, and two braised lion heads.

Then it was gone.

Lu Liang leaned over and said, "You still don't feel anything. That shouldn't be the case. That's a big problem, because even if you have a Qi Sea, you can't use it until you reach the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"Is there any such thing?"

"You've seen Wen Yuan before, right? He's considered a leader among Qigong practitioners. But have you ever seen him release his spiritual energy? You may have seen even more powerful Qigong practitioners, but they can only contain their brilliance within their bodies. Only after breaking through the Foundation Establishment Stage and entering the Heavenly Man Realm can one release their true qi. Otherwise, the spiritual energy in the body will only circulate for a short time."

"Is there any difference between true qi and spiritual energy?"

"In theory, they're the same thing, but what belongs to a person is called true qi, and what doesn't is called spiritual qi. As for the specific difference, we all went through compulsory education, so let's be frank: spiritual qi can't do work, only true qi can. So, the immortal root radish won't explode no matter what, unless the radish becomes a spirit. But people will explode. You'll know the details once you truly get started, which will probably be tomorrow. As for the power of true qi, I'll demonstrate it to you."

Without warning, she dodged sideways and launched a kick, her knee hitting Shangluo's lower abdomen directly -

"Ah!" Shangluo screamed subconsciously, but he immediately found that he didn't feel any pain.

Lu Liang's knee stopped less than an inch in front of his lower abdomen, firmly resting there. Her other foot was firmly planted on the ground, and her whole body was motionless.

When they first met, Shangluo was already surprised by the fact that he could kick three times per second. But the fact that he could control the explosive movement of his entire body with ease seemed to have entered a higher realm.

“How did you take it back???”

"To be able to control one's movements freely—that's what martial arts really are. Because no matter how fast you kick, it's not as fast as a bullet. The purpose of martial arts is to develop control over your body. A duel is not a dance. True martial arts aren't about form, they're about victory or defeat. The ultimate goal of all martial arts lies within sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. Therefore, a true warrior should learn and master all weapons, including vehicles. A gentleman is not born different; he excels at making use of things."

"Ah, Master Lu, you seem to have become even more powerful! You're much more powerful than at the beginning!" Shangluo could truly sense that Lu Liang's entire spirit and energy were completely different. Originally, she had been brimming with explosive power, but now she had entered a state of "divine power and concentrated color," making everything seem effortless, even reminiscent of the two captains on the rocket ship.

"Want to learn? Maybe next time. Maybe next time I can teach you how to drive a chariot. But you seem to have another guest right now—Wen Yuan! How long have you been there?"

"Ah! Sorry! Sorry! I just don't dare to come in, squad leader, can I come in?" Wen Yuan poked half of his head out from behind the wall.

"Come in! What's the point of hanging outside the wall? There are tourists outside. Who are you looking for? Shangluo or my dad?"

"Look for them all."

"Then you guys go ahead and chat. I'm going to help my dad wash the dishes. Also, don't touch my wooden dummy!"

"Yes! I will never move!" Wen Yuan stood there with her legs together, watching her leave.

"Ah, Wen Yuan, what happened to her? Why did she become so powerful all of a sudden?"

"She became like this after eating the radish. Squad Leader, she simply lacks spiritual roots and cannot absorb spiritual energy. However, her meridians are unobstructed, so eating the radish still allows her to practice 'Refine Essence into Qi'. She could have defeated five of me before the radish was digested. If it weren't for her damaged spiritual roots, she might have been able to directly become a disciple of the four generals."

"I seem to have heard a saying that cultivating immortality goes against the will of heaven, so the karma of a Qigong practitioner will be reflected on their offspring, and the offspring of Qigong practitioners are often unable to cultivate immortality. Are there many people like her?"

"There are many. For example, I am one of them. Did you see that?"

Shangluo looked up and down at the acquaintance in front of him - although they had not known each other for long, he and Wen Yuan were already very familiar with each other.

"Do you have any question?"

"I'm sorry!" Wen Yuan bowed immediately. "I should have told you earlier. Have you noticed that ever since you met me, you've been in constant trouble. You've been targeted while refining pills, even drinking cold water makes your teeth ache, and you almost had an accident on a plane. This might be because... because I'm unlucky."

"There's such a thing as that? Does it count as bad luck?"

"If you're as unlucky as me, you can probably count it. Luck is also a part of strength. I'm the kind of person who will never win at rock-paper-scissors. For example, we can give it a try."

After 8 times.

"Really? You can't win?"

"Some say it's because of my father. My father was once hailed as the next celestial being after General Bai Feng. He even attempted to establish his foundation earlier than General Bai Feng. But he died unexpectedly while building his foundation. Some say his bad luck was passed on to me after that accident. So I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"You don't need to apologize." Shang Luo shook his head. "Even if it's true, it's not your decision. You don't have to bear the moral condemnation for the inevitable. Relax."

"It's my fault for not telling you sooner, so I wanted to do my best to help you. I got this for you this morning! Look, this is intel on each team in the Formula One South Zhili Qualifiers! It includes the Wuhu Rockets' amazing engine, the Shangyuan Longxiang team's one-piece cast shell, and more. Although it's all from public information, I've categorized each team's winning points for you. Come on! You'll definitely win!"

As he spoke, he handed the heavy brown paper bag to Shangluo.

Shangluo thanked him, but besides thanking him, another question popped up in Shangluo's mind:

"By the way, Wen Yuan, how did you know I was going to participate in the competition?"

"Everyone in the Jinyiwei knows about it."

"How did your news spread so quickly???"

"Well, we have a relatively convenient way to communicate. Everyone is looking forward to your harvest tomorrow and is very excited. Although he didn't say it explicitly, my master is probably the one who is looking forward to it the most. He really hopes that you can get a prescription so that Lu Liang can also awaken his spiritual roots, because the medicinal properties of radish will eventually fail. Anyway, please. We are all on your side and we will do our best to help you."

Chapter 66 Path

It was dark, and dinner was similar to lunch, and it was still cooked by Lu Huaiyang.

After dinner, a tent was set up in the yard with two camp beds and gas lamps.

"The Jinyiwei's house really has everything." Shangluo just watched Lu Huaiyang take out a lot of things from the house like a magic trick and set up a tent outside.

There was actually a guest room in the house, but it was only one, and today, two people were staying there. Since Wen Yuan didn't want to sleep on the sofa, Lu Huaiyang pulled out the camping tent they always had at home. With the tent already pitched, Shangluo decided it would be safer to have someone stay with him, so he joined them. Just like camping.

As for pajamas, a change of clothes, toothpaste and toothbrushes, etc., since Confucius Temple is right next door, you can buy them within a few steps, so it's not a big problem. Living in the city is convenient in this way.

After showering in Lu Huaiyang's bathroom, Shangluo returned to the tent with his hair loose. Wen Yuan, who was lying on the bed next to him, was reading a book, her hair also freshly washed.

"Eh? Why don't you have long hair?" Wen Yuan wore a hat all day long, so he hadn't noticed her hairstyle. Now he realized that Wen Yuan actually had short hair.

"After all, I am a reserve guard, so I don't need to keep my hair."

"Oh, it's so nice not to have to grow my hair. It's hard to take care of long hair, and I have to comb it together every morning."

"It's a pity that Lu Yue hasn't come back yet, otherwise you could ask her to teach you."

"Lu Yue? Who is that?"

"Lu Liang's sister is still in junior high school. They're about to graduate and are on their graduation trip. My master never let her practice martial arts since she was a child, which is great! Without martial arts, life would have fewer worries and more freedom."

Suddenly, he put down the book and said, "Speaking of this, I think you might be worried. But don't worry, I haven't revealed your secret."

"Do you mean?"

"Weapon Spirit. I haven't told my master about this either. After much thought, I think it's best for you not to tell anyone else. As for me, you can rest assured. Has my master mentioned this to you? Our family has been members of the Imperial Guard for generations, and the confidentiality regulations have been memorized since childhood. In addition, those of us who practice thunder magic must act uprightly and be upright. This is our Dao heart. If we go against the Dao heart, the heavens will not bless us. Well, I'm already unlucky enough. If you see me doubly unlucky one day, it probably means I've done something wrong."

"Forget it then. If your bad luck gets doubled, I'm afraid I won't be able to see you again."

Wen Yuan laughed helplessly, "That's true. If my situation gets super doubled, I'm afraid I'll be dead. Sigh, the path to immortality is truly cruel and merciless."

"What exactly is Lu Liang's situation like? Are there many cases like hers?"

"Actually, it's not uncommon. This includes many people who can't become Qigong practitioners. They face the same problem as Lu Liang—a lack of spiritual roots. In other words, the spiritual energy can't take root in her body, but simply travels through her meridians before dissipating. Warriors in the past would use this time to circulate the spiritual energy for several cycles, thus keeping the meridians as open as possible and maintaining their innate physique. Lu Liang is very hardworking."

As he spoke, he sighed:

"My parents passed away when I was young. My grandfather was very busy with his work at the Ministry of Rites, so it was usually my master who looked after me. Lu Liang was very powerful since she was young. She was the ace of the Wutai Mountain Training Institute. In the fifth grade, her spear was knocked off during the armored martial arts performance, but she rushed forward and knocked down four of the opponents with her fists. I awakened my spiritual roots in the second year of junior high school, and my strength has gradually increased since then. As for Lu Liang, I can feel that she is working harder and harder, but unfortunately, there is no further improvement. But as long as she eats the radish, the results of her past training will be revealed. Some people say that I am unlucky, but I think she is the one who is truly unlucky. She really only lacks the spiritual roots, the most critical spiritual roots. She put in 4% of the effort, but only lacked the spiritual roots of 99%, so she failed to become a Qigong practitioner."

"Is Lu Liang not considered a Qigong practitioner yet?"

"Yes. So she might not even be able to join the Imperial Guard. This is even more cruel for a child like her who was born into a Qigong family. Once you have seen the sea, you will never be impressed by the water. It's okay for ordinary people not to see it, but she has seen it since she was a child, and can only watch this world belonging to Qigong practitioners drift away from her. Even a loser like me has become like this, but she is the only one who can't. Do you know why I dare not see her? It's not just because of homework. If I don't hand in homework, she will kick me at most. But..."

He looked up at the sky. "She can't beat me now. She can't beat me. Her kicks won't even hurt me. I can see her movements clearly. I can see which levels she's hitting. The critical point has finally arrived. 99% of my efforts have been left behind. My acting skills are not good, and I'm really afraid she'll see through it. So I really don't want to make her angry, because I'm afraid that when she kicks me like before, she'll find that I can dodge it, that I can keep up with her movements, that I've surpassed her. It's too cruel, really too cruel. But the effect of radish on her is getting weaker and weaker."

Shangluo fell silent. It was still spring break, and when he saw Lu Liang in the morning, she was hammering wood. In the afternoon, as the sun grew brighter, she was still training outside. All this effort was just for the sake of a fleeting immortal fate.

She could still use radishes to gain strength. But Lu Huaiyang had also said that the immortal root radish was becoming less and less effective for the meridians of adults. And Lu Liang would eventually grow up.

"There are far more people like this than her, right?"

Wen Yuan nodded. "Perhaps this is why my master didn't let his youngest daughter practice martial arts. He didn't want to see what happened to Lu Liang repeated on Lu Yue. The Daoist Ancestor showed us the way and opened the way to heaven. This road is truly cold and ruthless. If you could meet the Daoist Ancestor, could you ask him what all this is all about? After the Qigong practitioner comes the celestial being, and after the celestial being comes what? When can one truly live forever and see for a long time? This is not just me, it's a question many people want to ask the Daoist Ancestor. However, the Daoist Ancestor never meets us, only letting the Emperor convey his meaning. Some even wonder if the Daoist Ancestor doesn't exist at all. I once asked General Bai Feng, General Dongshou, General Ziying, and General Wanguan. I asked them all, but they just shook their heads and didn't comment. I'm not the only one who has raised such questions."

"Then tomorrow."

"Yes. Tomorrow, everything will be revealed. When you come out, everyone will have a lot to ask you. Everything depends on tomorrow morning. You can bring new information. You won't lie to me, right? You won't?"

Chapter 67 Dao Ancestor

“Tomorrow” has arrived, and it is today.

The camp bed was a bit hard, but it provided good support for his spine, allowing him to sleep well last night. When he opened his eyes, Wen Yuan, who was in the next bed, had already left.

"Going to practice so early? What a Qigong practitioner." He muttered.

"No, Lu Liangcai went to practice martial arts. I'm having breakfast outside." Wen Yuan poked her head in. "You should get up soon too."

"Ah."

Somehow, Shangluo wasn't nervous at all—perhaps because the situation was so huge that getting nervous was pointless. His entire body was numb, and it went all the way around him, back to where it started.

"I say, Miss Apollonia, you seemed rather quiet yesterday?"

[Scared. Scared.]

"Why are you so scared in front of people other than me? Are you socially anxious or something else?"

Because I'm not familiar with them. And I'll never be able to become familiar with them. You're the only one who can hear my voice.

"Then what are you afraid of?"

I fear the unknown, because I don't understand who Daozu is. He shares the same origin as Shen Ji, yet he is far greater and more complete. You will meet him soon. Go have breakfast.

Breakfast time passed surprisingly quickly. Lu Huaiyang had already left the house long before, as he had some preliminary work to do. Before leaving, he left two 50-cent notes on the table, asking Shangluo and Wenyuan to buy their own breakfast.

The only decent thing to eat at Confucius Temple was breakfast. Since breakfast only had a few options, you could become quite creative with it. Shangluo, like always, had steamed glutinous rice wrapped in fried dough sticks with sugar filling. The combination of carbs, carbs, and carbs instantly perked him up, and paired it with glutinous rice dumplings, it was even better.

"Are you full?" Wen Yuan, who was sitting across the table, suddenly asked him.

"Why do you sound like you're sending me off?"

"Well, I saw you were eating a lot, and I thought you might have just awakened your true energy. I also ate a lot suddenly at that time."

"Not so fast, just eating some carbohydrates to get me in the mood. I feel a little complicated right now, like I'm standing in front of the delivery room waiting for my own birth."

"What a weird metaphor, but I kind of understand it."

"By the way, where's Lu Liang?"

"We occupied her yard, so she had no choice but to go out to practice in the morning. Logically, she should be back by now, but maybe she didn't want to come back - after all, she's not a member of the Imperial Guard, so she can't go with us."

"Then when do we set off?"

"I don't know either." He looked down at his watch. "Actually, it's mainly to wait for the emperor to wake up, because the access control of that door is in the hands of the emperor. No one can get in unless the emperor opens the door. It's half past seven now, the emperor should have just..."

"The Emperor is ready." Lu Huaiyang suddenly appeared at the door. "Have you finished eating? If you're done, leave. The Emperor has already gone to open the door—I've never seen him get up so early."

"Ah, right away." Wen Yuan stuffed the steamed buns into her mouth, while Shangluo opposite her was drinking soy milk.

"Then you guys eat quickly. The car is at the door. I'll get in and wait."

After wiping his mouth with a tissue, Shangluo followed Wen Yuan out of the gate - there was an iron wall blocking their way, which was not there yesterday.

"This way." Lu Huaiyang waved from one end of the iron wall, signaling Shangluo to go around to the back. Only then did he see clearly that it was an armored vehicle, and it was incredibly large. The vehicle almost filled up Wuyi Lane, and the only way to pass was to move sideways.

"Is this what the Jinyiwei's special car looks like?"

"This Dangkang armored personnel carrier, borrowed from the Imperial Guards, was specially dispatched for you. It's guaranteed to keep you safe even if it runs over a landmine. Traffic police are waiting outside the Confucius Temple. As soon as we get on the highway, they'll be there to clear the way, ensuring you can get all the way to the Grand Palace without getting stuck in rush hour traffic."

Lu Huaiyang was right. They hadn't stopped at all along the way. The APC's seats were surprisingly spacious, each one incredibly wide, with enough space between them for one or two more people. The vehicle's body was as smooth as if gliding on ice, with no bumps or jolts along the way.

Half an hour later, the transport truck stopped.

The car door opened, and the back door faced the inscription "Xia Ma Fang".

"Get out of the car, we're here."

The Xiamafang (Dismount Arch) stands amidst the greenery, and it has remained the same from beginning to end. This was the entrance to the Xiaoling Mausoleum and is now also used as one of the entrances to the Grand Palace.

Why the imperial palace was built next to the mausoleum is a difficult question to answer. However, it seems to align with Emperor Taizu's vision, as the palace and mausoleum in the Zhongdu Imperial City were already adjacent, separated only by a wall. The Xiaoling Mausoleum now serves not only as the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu, but also houses the mausoleums of all previous emperors. Even the emperor himself would no longer be able to carve out separate plots of land in Yujing.

"The place we are going to is Xiaoling Mausoleum?"

"It's next to me." Lu Huaiyang led the way. Walking into the tree-lined avenue of Xiamafang, a road appeared before them. A passenger car used for playing Chui Wan in the wild was already parked there.