Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

He pointed out the window:

"The Forest King you are going to defeat is both the God of Hunting and the King. It is the divine meme of the God of Hunting that has entangled Rome, and it is our destiny. So Shangluo, this is the divinity carried by the Golden Branch - it is the meme of the God of Hunting, the boundless sea of blood and boundless karma engraved in the history of eternity. I have told you everything you may face. No one in the past has been able to bear it. It has caused all bearers to die by the sword and drown in their own blood. I hope you are ready. If possible..." He touched his forehead,

"I mean, if possible, you'd better not have sex, let alone have children. Especially don't do it like Zeus did. This is for your safety. Otherwise, the third birth will directly bring the God of Hunting to the world, and that would be a big joke. If nothing else, he would kill the king and his father. King, you don't want to be stabbed to death by your own son of God, right?"

Chapter 157: Strategy of the Forest King

Titus finished his proposal. The four people sat on the sofa and listened, hearing every word clearly, from giving birth to children like Zeus, to the hunting god coming to the world, to killing the king and father.

All four of them fell silent.

"Scared." Wen Yuan suddenly sat a little to the side.

"Fear."

"Fear."

The other two people also moved to the side.

"What are you afraid of? It won't happen to you. What are you thinking?"

"Hmm," Wen Yuan shook her head. "I was thinking, this kind of difficult project is really more suitable for sword cultivators. Severing karma when encountering it, overcoming obstacles when encountering them, this is indeed an opportunity that only sword cultivators can seize."

The other two nodded as well. They didn't want it at all.

"You don't want it?" Titus was stunned. "Do you know that 84% of Golden Bough bearers are killed by their teammates? You don't want it? This is the Golden Bough, it grants immortality."

"Although this Tianji is extremely powerful, it is filled with murderous aura. Only a sword cultivator can suppress it." Wen Yuan answered truthfully, "So I wouldn't dare to take it even if you gave it to me."

"But this... this can make you live forever. This is an opportunity."

"We can intercept the secrets of heaven ourselves. If we don't build the foundation now, there are still many decades to come. There's no need to rush."

"You really aren't anxious at all." Titus covered his forehead and chuckled dryly. "Sure enough, this is the leisure and composure of Qigong practitioners. You truly have more time than we do. For the Romans, this is an opportunity they're willing to risk their lives for. After building your foundation, you'll become immortal celestial beings, right? In Rome, we need to harness a portion of our divine power to become demigods. Celestial beings and demigods have similar levels of power, and the only chance to become a demigod is to climb the golden branch."

"So in the past, you would all be crowned the King of the Forest?" Shangluo asked.

"That's right. I think the Golden Bough might be useful to you, and that's probably why. A demigod is a transcendent being that possesses divine power. The difference between a demigod and a true god is that 'a demigod possesses divine power, but is not the master of it.' The Forest King is a very powerful demigod, and is second to none in the path of the Hunting God. Because although the Hunting God Diana is not the Hunting God himself, she is most similar to the ancient Hunting God: they both belong to the night, and they are both duals of the Sun God. She also forms the Trinity with Luna, the Moon Goddess, and Hecate, the Underworld Goddess. Hecate is also an Earth Mother Goddess. If you go to the intersection ahead, you will see the statue of the Trinity."

"Huh??" Shangluo and Wen Yuan glanced at each other. They seemed to have seen this thing before. It was still in the basement of the Imperial Prison.

"What are you surprised about?"

"It's okay, keep talking."

"In short, thanks to the antiquity and tenacity of the Huntsman's godhood, the Forest King is one of the most powerful demigods. We once used the Forest King as a trump card, just like a chariot and its driver, fighting by wearing the armor of the Forest King. However, the Forest King's requirements for drivers are too harsh, and those who ascended the throne often did not survive more than ten years. Therefore, we later managed it as a closed project and no longer crowned the Forest King. Rome's current strength has become stretched because the armor ceremony has become increasingly difficult. This may be related to the awakening of the Huntsman. There is a mysterious force competing with us for control of these armors."

"Those of the Eleusinian Mysteries?"

"They do interfere, but demigods themselves can also suffer casualties during missions. For example, one demigod went to Las Vegas on a mission for Helios and hasn't returned yet. That demigod is quite unique. She's not a human in armor, but the real one. Forget about her, though it's a shame, it's not a bad thing that someone can withstand the armor of the Forest King. Esoteric Buddhism teaches that wearing armor leads to improvement. I hope your courage can help you endure that heavy armor. If you can wield it wisely, you'll soon become one of the pinnacles of human combat power."

"If I can, I will." He would have to see it first before deciding whether to take it. But Titus's introduction had given him an idea, and with Apollonia's opinion, he could make a decision.

"Are you asking for my opinion? Yes, it's fine. It's not a big deal. The Forest King is a demigod on the side of Dionysus. While he seems uncontrollable, he's certainly very powerful. And he's a perfect match for you—just ask him how he fights."

He put this question to Titus.

"You've hit the nail on the head, so let me recite a passage from the textbook to you. This was the text I used to read when I was in school."

He cleared his throat and began to recite with the same familiarity as reciting the "Chu Shi Biao":

"In the sacred grove by Lake Nemi, there stands a great tree. Beneath it stands a man, lonely and fearful. He is both a priest and a murderer, his fate determined by the Temple of Diana. Only by killing the current priest can he become a priest. He has slain his predecessors, and his descendants could slay him at any moment. He holds his unsheathed sword, constantly stalking the tree. His eyes are sharp as a hawk, his heart as cold as Austrian steel. He is both the hunter and the prey, awaiting the final decisive battle."

"Is it a sword?" Shangluo asked in surprise.

"Yes, it's a sword. The Forest King uses a sword, and the sword is the seat of his royal power. If you are crowned the Forest King, the Austrian Steel Sword will be yours."

"Vorsteel? What's that?"

"In Cathay, it's called divine chrome. Roman artifacts are all made of it. For example, the Aegis of Aegis, the Spear of Apollo, and the Armor of Achilles are all made of Austenite. Of course, while the material is all Austenite, the divine powers attached to them are different, so the effects are also different. I sometimes wonder what would happen if the Spear of Apollo attacked the Aegis of Aegis."

Nothing will happen. Unless the divine powers clash and destroy each other, there will be an explosion, a huge explosion.

"That spear is in your hand, right?" Wen Yuan came over and asked in a low voice.

"Ah."

"Did you bring it?"

"I have it with me. Do you want to use it?"

"I probably won't be able to use it. But since that sword is so powerful, I suggest you use your spear to block it while operating the armor. I will also be more careful then, as his sword may not be so easy to parry."

"Have you discussed the tactics?" Titus asked.

Shangluo replied, "I know. We have ways to parry his sword. Don't worry."

"Very good. The Forest King is also a sword god in essence. As long as you can block his sword, the problem will be easily solved. Now, the next problem is about those great spring elves."

Chapter 158 The Order of the Heroes' Tour

The second half of the lesson focused on tactics, focusing primarily on a few "strategy points." The real situation is more complex than a strategy on paper. While the Great Spring Elf is the most important, there are many other side quests, but the general process remains the same.

In general, the entire mission is divided into four phases: the introduction phase, the exploration phase, the event phase, and the final phase, which is introduced at the end.

"So, currently, we're in the introduction phase." During the introduction, a densely packed guide was already on the blackboard. Titus finally drew a circle in the gap to explain.

He tapped the blackboard. "This is the introduction phase. Listen, don't take notes yet."

The four people below all looked up. Although not everyone had to go through the entire process, they had to write it all down so that they would know what others were doing.

"The ceremony has already begun, and we're now in the induction phase. The specific process of this induction phase is to have you eat the vermilion fruit that Mayor Kesuo has. As a local, he provides you, the travelers, with 'foreign food,' thereby 'introducing' you into this ceremony. Next, you will enter the exploration phase."

He drew several large circles around the blackboard:

"These strategies, ultimately, are all about how to proceed with exploration. After all, the Forest King is a demigod, and we can't expect our apprentices to fight him alone every time. What sets humans apart from animals is their ability to create and utilize tools. I know the people of Zhendan also face the dilemma of being unable to break through their realms, so just like you build rockets and airliners and develop space programs, we have our own ways to deal with our own problems. These strategies are valuable data."

He tapped on the blackboard:

"Based on the experience of millions of players worldwide, we've compiled these highly feasible exploration options. The true outcome should be determined before the final battle. We must be fully prepared. Waiting until the final battle to determine victory or defeat is too risky. Also, the tasks you receive are prioritized, so please complete them accordingly."

Shangluo had the smallest task, which was to deal with "one of the great spring spirits." It wasn't because Titus hadn't assigned him any, but because the other three had already taken on all the tasks.

There are only four big spring elves distributed in four different directions. It may be too late considering the time, so let Shangluo deal with one.

"You need to score points. The tasks are quite heavy." Lu Liang explained as she marked the necessary tasks on her notebook. She was assigned the most tasks - although Wen Yuan and Han Xingzhi didn't say it, they all seemed to confirm that Lu Liang was the strongest of the three after obtaining the bottled Qi Hai.

"By the way, Lu Liang, what are you practicing? Thunder cultivation?"

"No, I'm actually a Qi cultivator."

"Qi cultivation? What does Qi cultivation involve?"

"As for Qi cultivation, there are all kinds of training. After all, the essence of Qi training is to cultivate Qi, but Qi cultivation places special emphasis on the circulation and movement of Qi. The technique I practice is the 'Qi Jie Dao'. Through high-intensity training, the body forms its own memory, flowing like water, with the mind leading the body. This is very similar to thunder cultivation, after all, I also learned it from my father. However, the 'Qi Jie Dao' focuses more on combat, using 'Qi sensing' to predict the opponent's behavior and intercept his movements before he can."

"Ah, so that's why your father wanted me to come and meet you?"

"Yes." Lu Liang shook his head. "My father thought our situations were similar because we both had a sense of Qi but no true Qi. He thought you might also lack spiritual roots like me, but after careful observation, he found that we were completely different. When I first practiced Qi cultivation, it was also to 'replenish what is lacking'. If you lack Qi, then practice more Qi."

"So, between you and Wen Yuan, who is better?"

"Haha~" Wen Yuan laughed dryly. "When we both had Qi, of course I couldn't beat her. He specially invited Master Jinghai from Wudang Mountain to teach him the way of Qi-interception. They added each other on WeChat and reported their training progress every day. Recently, after he gained Qi Hai, he has made great progress. I don't even dare to fight him."

"Tsk, you haven't tried yet, how do you know you can't beat me now?" Lu Liang glanced at him, his calves already tense.

"You're expensive! You drink a bottle every five minutes of fighting. Can't I admit that I can't beat you? But if you empty Master's bank account, I'll be in trouble too."

"Then don't run. Just stand and fight me. It will be over in 2 minutes."

"It's not a wooden dummy! Why should I just stand there and let you hit me? It's not a ring with a limited range. If I can't beat you, then I can't beat you either? So, does winning or losing really matter? If you want to compete, why not, for example, clear your task list?" He shook the notebook in his hand. "How about we compete on completion?"

"Okay, okay, this is business. How about whoever wins treats us to dinner?"

"Why does the winner have to treat everyone to a meal?" Shangluo asked.

"We won, we won, of course we have to celebrate. How about we make a bet?"

"Okay, okay." Shangluo nodded. He still preferred to eat for free, but there was a problem. He only had one task, and it had to be completed 100% or 0%.

"By the way," he asked Titus, "Mr. Titus, what will happen if we fail to complete the mission of the four great spring elves?"

"Well," he thought for a moment, "actually, the missions aren't too difficult. You just need to remember a few of the settings for the Spring Pokémon. For example, they'll suddenly become trance-like when they see the moon. Use this opportunity to knock them down and then remove their restrictions. Theoretically, you don't need to take on all four. I've reviewed past records, and it seems like it's rare to take on four Spring Pokémon at once. Fighting two will be enough, because the Whitewash will be three times stronger, and two of them can suppress the Forest King."

"So washing white will make you stronger?" Shangluo asked in surprise. He always thought washing white would make you weaker.

"Because after being whitewashed, or in other words, rescued by you, the Great Springs will unleash uncontrollable rage. So rescuing one will suppress the other three, and rescuing two will control the Forest King. This is how we did it in previous quests. Suppressing the Forest King and breaking the branches is the event phase, an inevitable event that occurs every time. This is followed by the final, final phase, which will be calculated based on your completion of the previous quests. Once all four phases are completed in order, the Hero's Tour is over."

Chapter 159 Robin

"Ah, so that's how it is." Shangluo felt relieved. After all, he still had some doubts about his own strength, but he also didn't know where his upper and lower limits were. After all, no one had ever fought him to determine his level. If even failing here wouldn't affect the overall situation, then his pressure would be much less.

But the final pressure fell on Han Xingzhi.

"You. Why are you all looking at me?"

Wen Yuan patted his shoulder and asked, "Want to make a bet?"

"I'm not a winner, so I don't gamble. I'm here for my big brother. But from a calculation point of view, it seems that I probably don't need to treat everyone. Okay, then, how about we go out for dinner next week during the Dragon Boat Festival? Confucius Temple or somewhere else?"

"Why go to Confucius Temple? That's where I live. The roast duck there doesn't even have sauce. It's expensive and tastes terrible. There's a Nanyang Department Store over at Jinjikou. Let's go there. It's super hot out, so let's go and enjoy the air conditioning."

"No problem, our team was fine that day."

Titus looked at them, feeling an inexplicable sense of desolation. Even in Rome, the Golden Bough Ceremony must be performed by the most gifted apprentices. While these were also among the most professional, they were far more composed than the Roman apprentices. It would have been fine before, but even after a thorough explanation of the procedure, they remained so composed.

"Is the Roman era finally over?" he thought to himself. Although Rome, the hegemon of the Western Hemisphere, had grown to hexaploid proportions, it still seemed overwhelmed, especially in the Eastern Hemisphere. Cooperation between the two nations was meant to bridge differences, eliminate duplication of research and development, and unnecessary competition, allowing humanity to advance further. If Rome didn't deserve the title, then its legitimacy in ruling the Western Hemisphere would cease to exist.

But at least for now, they still had a chance. As long as the branch-breaking ceremony went smoothly, Rome's prestige as a world empire could still be maintained. But if something did go wrong, it could be the beginning of the collapse of the Roman Empire.

"Well, everyone," Titus put down his pointer. "I need to make a phone call to consult with the higher-ups regarding Shangluo's plan to be crowned the Forest King. Class is over, let's go have lunch first. The afternoon is free time, so you can read more or relax. We'll begin our operation after nightfall tonight."

Lunch in Rome was similar to dinner. While lunch and dinner were the two most important meals in Roman cuisine, Shangluo felt that breakfast and afternoon tea seemed quite important, at least in terms of the amount of food consumed, and were no less than the main meals. However, lunch was not a banquet; it was served directly in the dining room, eliminating the need for a welcoming ceremony like last night, complete with red fruit.

The dishes on the table looked much more casual. While there were still some banquet side dishes like capers, the main course had been replaced by colorful pizzas, placed alongside a circular saw-shaped pizza cutter. Several pizzas were placed before the four of them, each with a different filling, allowing them to chat and eat. Mayor Cassel himself had only a serving of spaghetti bolognese. Although he had chosen tomatoes for the meat sauce, he still looked unappetizing.

"Everyone, I'm sorry, please help yourself. It's just pizza, so please help yourself. If you're not satisfied, please let me know. I'll ask the kitchen to continue baking."

"Mayor, why don't you eat?" Wen Yuan asked.

"Karin is still in the kitchen. As a father, I can't eat first. You can wait a moment. There's a thick soup stewing."

"Oh~ Is that the soup from this morning? That's delicious."

"That's my wife's soup, a family recipe. Mushroom, cream of mushroom soup. Karin loves it, always has. She's been learning to cook with her mother, and she's been making lunch lately." Despite yesterday's remarks about the "real" Karin, Shangluo could tell from those words that Mayor Cassel himself was quite troubled. As a parent, he was also one of the biggest victims of this incident.

Although the Karin in the kitchen wasn't the real Karin, she had spent more time with the family than the real Karin. If the two really had to be swapped, he himself would find it difficult to decide.

"Did she make this pizza too?" Wen Yuan asked again.

"No, no, the pizza is made by our family chef. And it uses the pizza oven in the backyard. It can't be made in the kitchen. Hmm, why haven't you come yet? I'll go check it out."

He was still worried, so he decided to go out and take a look.

"Ah, Mayor." Shangluo suddenly stood up. "How about I go over and take a look? You can sit down and eat first. I'm not too hungry right now, so I want to go out for a walk."

He wasn't really hungry. The soup he'd had that morning was delicious; he'd eaten the whole thing, along with some bread. Now he wasn't hungry at all.

But he wasn't just out for a walk to digest his food—the mission was about to begin that evening. It wasn't just about the branch-breaking ceremony; it was also about Karin's personal fate. The afternoon was free time, nothing important to do. He planned to talk to Karin, the person involved.

"Okay." The mayor, who was about to stand up, sat back down. "The kitchen is a few doors over. The door is open."

Shangluo pushed open the high-back chair, stood up, and walked out of the dining room.

A light symphony echoed in the corridor, the sound coming from the record player in the kitchen. The corridor was well-lit, with sunlight slanting in and the occasional shadow of a robin passing by the window frame.

It's clear that Mrs. Cassel is a person who loves life. Although her family is a local lord, she is still happy to cook for herself. She only outsources meals that are inconvenient to make in the kitchen, such as pizza.

A "clattering" sound came from the kitchen, it was the sound of a spoon stirring in the pot.

"489, 490, 491" Karin, wearing an apron, held the recipe in one hand and stirred the soup with a spoon in the other, not noticing Shangluo standing at the door at all.

"Ms. Karin?" Shangluo knocked on the door.

"Wait a moment, the soup will be ready soon, almost there." Noticing that the voice seemed familiar, she looked back.

"It's you, I knew it was you. I want to ask you a favor. It's something I can't really talk about with anyone else."