Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

Shangluo got out of the car by himself. The Jinyiwei at the gate of Yuxi Palace looked at each other and raised their hands first - they didn't know what had happened before, nor did they know what Shangluo had obtained.

Shangluo took out the key to Yuxi Palace.

The two exchanged another glance. They had been mentally prepared for this, as Daozu had only met him and Zhu Xianxun. Today was Shangluo's first time coming alone; it was a historic moment.

Without hesitation, the two of them made this historic event happen: in addition to His Majesty the Holy Emperor, Shangluo was to meet the True Lord Feixuan, the Emperor Zhongxiao, the Emperor Wanshou, and the Emperor Rigong Taidan Yanguang Yuming Taiyang alone.

They immediately made way for Shangluo to enter.

Shangluo, with his white hair, walked in, and the two of them exchanged another glance—it really happened. This was how the historical moment arrived, quietly and without warning.

Shangluo also used the key to open the door of Yuxi Palace and found that Zhu Xianxun was not there.

"Ah, Daozu?" He held the door and peeked in. He was still a little uncomfortable without Zhu Xianxun by his side.

"Come in. I won't treat you to tea. Just pull up a stool and sit down."

Shangluo pulled up a stool—he was the only one in the empty hall. The alchemy furnace above was blazing, and a person was soaking in the vat. Although Daozu was kind to him, he felt a chill after just a short while.

"Sit next to the alchemy furnace. It's warm over there."

In the empty hall, Shangluo carried his stool up to the alchemy steps and placed it next to the alchemy furnace. It was indeed much warmer here.

"I once had a grandson. Back then, he was called the Little Prince by others. I loved him so much that I sent a capable man named Feng Bao to be his companion. I sent him some food and clothes, but I rarely held him. Then one day, he was standing in front of the door with Prince Yu and Princess Yu. He grabbed Princess Yu's sleeve and hid behind her. My grandson was afraid of me. Oh, later, when we got to know each other better, I realized that he was looking for a place to hide from the wind because the ice bucket in Yuxi Palace was too cold."

"Cough" Shangluo almost couldn't hold it in, he knew that this was talking about the young Emperor Wanli.

"Is the air conditioner on outside? It's on pretty high."

"This is Lan Fang's habit. They always turn the air conditioner up to full blast, all day and all night long."

"We had our troubles back then, but we also had our conveniences. Using an ice bucket was just as cool, and you could even freeze some fruits and vegetables in it. I don't think air conditioning is necessary because I have an ice bucket. I don't need a washing machine, because I have hundreds of people dedicated to doing laundry. I don't need a radio or a television, because all they show on TV are opera troupes. Every day I watch Yan Song, Yan Shifan, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and others fighting on stage. That's much more interesting than watching an opera troupe—do you think it's interesting?"

"It's quite interesting for the audience. But for the people in the play, it's not so interesting. It's the same with washing machines. It's convenient to have someone wash your clothes, but it's not so interesting to do the laundry for others."

"So, I called you here to tell you something that's not so interesting. When I saw you coming in, you felt a chill, and it reminded me of that little boy. There are some things I shouldn't tell you at this age. I wanted to wait until you were 20 years old to let you know. But unfortunately, the tree wants to be still, but the wind does not stop."

"Is it because of Rome?"

"What happened in Rome is ultimately an external matter." Daozu denied Shangluo's speculation. "However, the changes in Rome are also an opportunity—an opportunity to let you know about this matter. What I want to talk about is the internal affairs, the most important matter at the moment, and the matter of heaven."

"Are you talking about the spirit stone on the moon?"

"What do you think of those spirit stones?" Daozu asked him.

"Hmm," Shangluo thought for a moment, "the rocket program has been progressing smoothly. I believe we will be able to land on the moon in my lifetime. When I have more professional knowledge, I also want to participate in it myself and go to the moon myself to dig up a shovel of spirit stones for everyone. I think this is a good thing."

"But it's not enough." Daozu gave a straightforward answer.

Not enough. Two cold words fell.

Not enough—even Shangluo was unfamiliar with the word. Living in this age of feasting and entertainment, where scarcity was virtually nonexistent, he hadn't heard the word "not enough" for a long time.

Although he had encountered people like Lu Liang who practiced hard but failed to make any progress, Shangluo still helped them solve their urgent problems as soon as possible.

But now, Shangluo also knows that troublesome problems may be waiting ahead.

"Not enough," he repeated. "How much? Not enough in total?"

"The total amount is enough, but the time is not enough. Even if there is a Water Dragon connecting heaven and earth, and a spacecraft connecting earth and moon, the amount mined is simply not enough for the billions of people in the capital. The total amount is enough, and it will be enough sooner or later, but it will take at least 120 years for everyone to enter the realm of heaven and man. In other words."

Daozu's voice paused:

"You know what this means, don't you? It means that once we start distributing the spirit stones, we'll have to face a difficult decision: we have to decide who will die. The crowing of the rooster illuminates the sky; the blast of the morning horn brightens the world. Just before dawn, before the transition between yin and yang, it's the coldest time of the year. The court isn't ready to deal with it."

"The court, do you know this?"

"The imperial court was fully aware of this, but they turned a deaf ear to my warnings. The arrival of the Qilin child has overwhelmed them with joy. They believe an era of 'technological explosion' is imminent, and that they can use technology to shorten these 120 years of setbacks."

Shangluo fell silent, unsure of what to say. It was inevitable that this would cause unprecedented upheavals. The word "scarcity" would return to everyone, and this time, it would be more cruel than ever: many would watch helplessly as the door to eternal life closed before them, collapsing in the darkness before dawn.

"So, what do you think?"

Shangluo thought for a moment and said, "From my perspective, it's still too difficult to answer this question. If we start planning, some people will tragically die before the arrival of the spirit stones. But if we don't mine, everyone will die. This is a difficult decision."

"So, what do you think we should do?"

"I don't know. But I do know one thing: mining is a must. But the timing and method of mining, as well as the distribution of spirit stones, all need to be carefully studied. Our prosperity has been hard-won, and I don't want to see it all shattered before my eyes."

"This is the problem I want to tell you. The cabinet, and the entire Ming Dynasty, are not prepared. This is our heavenly tribulation. As long as we can get through this, it will be fine. Qilinzi's arrival has made their vision unclear, but I am glad that Qilinzi himself sees it very clearly. I asked you to think about the spiritual network before so that you could practice. However, the tribulation in Rome has already arrived. In order to prevent the tribulation from striking here, I have no choice but to ask you to think about these difficult problems in advance. Help me find a solution. I also want to provide you with a few bottles of milk from time to time."

Chapter 243 Daozu's Question

"I'll try my best to find a solution." Shangluo nodded. This wasn't just for himself, but also for the bottles of Wangzai milk and the many people who had treated him to meals.

"Well, I have another errand for you. The culprit behind these current circumstances is Rome's doom. Rome's catastrophe has arrived, and this is a serious matter. It seems you have a position in Rome, but you don't owe them anything. As fellow Taoists, it's only right for us to ask for their advice."

"So, should we care?"

"Spiritual stones and cultivation are our calamities, and Rome's calamity is also destined for them. You must have heard the old saying - it's better for me to die than for my fellow Taoists. Rome's calamity is Rome's business, and has nothing to do with us. As fellow Taoists, it is our duty to stand by and watch, and even asking is a favor. We are already busy with our own affairs, and there are countless calamities waiting ahead. We all have our own paths to follow. This is not the time to sell favors."

"Ah!" Shangluo understood. "What you just said to me is because you're afraid that I might show mercy and kindness and want to save everyone?"

"I know you have a kind heart."

"My kindness has limits. If my dog at home wags its tail at me, I will of course pet it. But if a stray dog runs around outside and dies without knowing its owner, it has nothing to do with us. Countless stray dogs die outside every moment, but I'm not going to be as ruthless as a bodhisattva and save every one I see. If even dogs are like this, then family members and outsiders are even more different. I know who gave me the Wangzai milk. There's no karma between me and the Romans."

"I knew Qilinzi was clever. I'll leave this mission to you: just like the Wolong paying his respects to the emperor at Chaisangkou, go and ask for me whether Roma is dead or not. If so, how did he die? Was it a sudden death or a joyous funeral? Should the body be collected and a ritual performed? Find out everything. Just consider it an errand."

"Okay." Shangluo agreed. Daozu had treated him to a delicious meal, so running an errand for Daozu was no problem at all—although this errand was very important.

"Then inform the emperor. Tell him yourself and tell him that it is my will."

"So, this is the situation." Shangluo explained to Zhu Xianen on the phone.

Zhu Xianxin breathed a long sigh of relief. There was still some noisy sound coming from the phone, and it was obvious that it was not quiet on his end at all.

"Phew, we finally have a backbone. Wait a moment, I'll call out, don't hang up." Zhu Xianxun's voice rose a little, "Everyone! There is a decree from Yuxi Palace! Everyone calm down! Listen to the decree first!"

The other end of the line suddenly fell silent. Shangluo also heard many sighs of relief. With the decree, they felt reassured.

"Okay, tell me, what's your intention?"

"The Taoist master told me to go to Rome to pay my respects and ask when he will die or whether he will die. He will wait until I finish asking before making a decision." Shangluo repeated the original words in detail.

"Well, we have to continue arguing. First, come to the Huagai Hall. No, come to the Jinshen Hall. You know where it is, right? Behind the Fengtian Hall is the Huagai Hall, and behind the Huagai Hall is the Jinshen Hall."

"I'll be there right away." Just before hanging up the phone, Shangluo could hear the hustle and bustle on the other end starting again.

Jinshen Hall, the rearmost of the three main halls. Fengtian Hall, the largest, is now used for regular court sessions, though the emperor rarely attends directly. He listens in the Huagai Hall behind Fengtian Hall. Previously, messages were relayed by human voices, but now he listens to live audio feeds. Regular meetings are presided over by the cabinet ministers. After court sessions, he also holds small meetings with the cabinet in the Huagai Hall.

When he wasn't in a meeting, he wouldn't go home directly. After all, he had to work, and his office was in Jinshen Hall, and he didn't get off work until 5 pm.

Shangluo drove his car all the way to the Grand Palace's Xihua Gate, where the Imperial Guards were already waiting. He switched to a larger vehicle, and the guards escorted him to the three-story Sumeru throne in the main hall—then entered through a small door. The air conditioner blared down on him.

"Huh?" He had just realized that the Sumeru thrones in the three main halls were empty. Inside were corridors, offices, and lounges. There was also a front desk and reception area. There were two vending machines next to the small door he had entered, and a group of councilors in bright red official uniforms were sitting and eating lunch.

He did not stay in the corridor, but turned a few corners, walked to the bottom of the Jinshen Hall, and then took the elevator.

There are three floors in the elevator. The third floor needs to be unlocked with a key because the elevator leads directly to the westernmost room of the five bays of Jinshen Hall.

When I reached the third floor, Zhu Xianxun was waiting at the elevator entrance with his hands behind his back.

"Come here." Zhu Xianxun came up and grabbed his arm, walked through the west side room, the main room, through several curtains, and walked into Zhu Xianxun's study in the east side room.

He sat behind his desk and turned sideways to talk to Shang Luo who was sitting on the sofa next to him:

"The Romans have concluded their discussions. They thank Daozu for his kindness and are ready to receive you. You can enter directly through the Glazed Tower and exit through the Lighthouse of Alexandria."

"Is the Roman Emperor in Alexandria?"

"Yes, they started moving to Alexandria some time ago, but the Senate is still in Constantinople. Daozu said nothing else besides asking you to go and take a look?"

"He also said that this was a disaster for Rome and that we should not care about it."

"That's exactly what I thought. Daozu is a cold-natured person. He doesn't like to meddle in other people's affairs. Most of the elders also hold the same opinion."

"The elders don't argue about this, do they?"

"Why are you arguing about this? This is completely Rome's internal affairs. Whether Rome is divided into several parts or Rome suddenly dies, it has nothing to do with us. Daozu asked for details, which is unusually enthusiastic of him. Most likely, it's because you are here, so he gave you some face."

"What are the elders arguing about?"

"It's about our own rockets. The cabinet is now divided between radicals and conservatives. The radicals believe we should launch a rocket to the moon as soon as possible. The conservatives think that launching a rocket alone is too conservative. Rome is currently suffering from a stroke. Colombia's split from Rome may mean they want to go to the moon and compete with us for spirit stones, and they will definitely launch again. So regardless of Constantinople's response, we should immediately install cannons on our rockets and starships, and carry space fighters, so that we can immediately destroy them once they enter lunar orbit."

"This is too fast!"

"They were the ones who jumped the gun first, and I'm very unhappy about it. If they succeed, it would be a huge blow to our reputation. We had already arranged the press releases before the quarrel. This matter needs to be explained, and the Water Dragon needs to do a special report. The Pontianak Space Center just found out about it, and I called them. Zhang Xuanling, the astronaut's General, did his morning exercises until noon before he ate a mouthful of hot dry noodles, and he spat it out before he finished it. When you go to Rome, be stern and force them to give a clear explanation. This matter is not over. By the way, I still need to study the feasibility of adding more cannons to the starship this afternoon. Go pack your things, and you can go to Alexandria now."

"Is this the right time?"

"There's no need to wait for the night of Alexandria. The day of Alexandria has already dawned. Or rather, the day there will never dawn again. We can teleport there anytime now."

Chapter 244 Dragon

After exiting the Jinshen Hall, he looked up at the sky. Although it was autumn, the afternoon sun was still a bit warm, so the air conditioner was still on. While the architecture itself hadn't changed much, the Jinshen Hall and many of the main halls were now entered through small doors on the side, not from the front. The halls were no longer divided into five rooms, but rather layers of partitions.

This brought many unexpected results. For example, it protected Zhu Xianxi's privacy, made him more mysterious, and made his work more convenient. But the reason for doing this in the first place was simply to turn on the air conditioner.

"Well, modern civilization has really changed a lot of things." Shang Luo looked up at the sky. "Family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs, even 'I' may not know everything."

What are you mumbling about?

"I'm thinking, the challenges of modernization are truly daunting. Many changes in human history began unexpectedly. Speaking of exams, it reminds me of a question I took when I was a kid: 'In the 19th century, the advent of railways broke the habit of people basing their sleep schedules on sunrise and sunset. The advent of train timetables gave humans the concept of precise timekeeping for the first time.' How do you pronounce that poem? It's called 'Today's Farewell,' which I've memorized."

My heart spins like a wheel, a single moment a thousand turns. Seeing the wheels galloping by, my heart grows more anxious. Ancient times also had mountains and rivers, ancient times also had boats and carriages. Boats and carriages carried us through parting, yet we felt free to move. Today, boats and carriages combine to bring about my sorrow. Knowing that this moment will pass, why not even a moment of preparation? — This poem?

"That's the one. Before trains started running on time, almost nothing in society required precision down to the second. The modern civilization represented by the railways has truly changed the world. For example, even the Emperor himself, in accordance with food safety regulations, must wear antibacterial clothing before entering food production workshops. Even the Daoist Ancestor has become unable to reach certain areas."

But why? As someone who has personally experienced this era, I don't have that many feelings.

"Because of modern times. Society, once run by humans, has gradually become incomprehensible. The railway system is a precise machine, relying on safety regulations and natural laws to operate, and humans themselves are an integral part of it. This system has no mouth, yet it can speak; it has no feet, yet it can move. Even the emperor cannot order the railway system to kowtow, because it has no knees, and it cannot kneel."

[Why does this sound like a description of some terrifying god?]

"This is one of the modern gods, no different from the Zeus of the various city-states of Athens. Sometimes I wonder if you are a modern god, like the god of a railway system or something."

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden? Hey, hey, hey, do you not trust me?"

"It's not that I don't trust you, Miss Apollonia. Even if I don't trust myself, I don't think you're a bad person, because you look so confused and don't seem to have any conspiracy."

【Then why are you asking me? 】

"You have to ask yourself! Can you trust yourself? Have you ever split off into anything without knowing it? Did you turn Apollonia into a dark one? Helios has a lion, what about you? Now things are getting complicated. I have to make sure I don't suddenly fail halfway."

Ah, this. Ah, this.

Apollonia fell silent

Ahhhhh. This, this, this.

"You really don't know it yourself, right?"

[Ahhh! You hit me hard! I don't know what's going on! What if I'm not the real person, but a replica? What should I do?]

Apollonia was in an existential crisis. She was so panicked that Shangluo could hear the sound of her head banging against the keyboard.

hum-

A sound of chimes came from the mountains.

"I don't know everything about family, state, and world affairs. But I'm not old and confused."

"Daozu, did you hear that?"

"Of course I will know if you are talking about me."

[Wuwuwu Daozu, what should I do? Am I a dummy?]

"What is a human being?" Daozu asked her back. He was not only asking her, but also asking Shangluo.

Shangluo thought for a moment and asked, "Is man the most intelligent creature in the world?"

"As the name suggests, only those with spirits are human. The Sunlight Envoy transformed into a white lion, but the white lion is not a primate; it is merely a beast. In other words, anyone who has fallen into a form or is an outsider is necessarily an undeveloped beast, not the most intelligent of all creatures."

Apollonia finally felt relieved. "So I have intelligence, I'm thinking, so I must be my true self. Ah, ah~ Fortunately, fortunately. I was so scared just now."

For a moment, she actually thought she might be a replica. Now she is finally relieved.

[But I still wonder if I have a lion or something out there too.]