Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"So, do you have proof that this was done by United Fruit?"

"No. Although the banana blight outbreak was strange, it's hard to say it was a deliberate act. But there must be something wrong with them, definitely. When a murder occurs, the biggest beneficiary is naturally the most likely suspect. United Fruit was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary. They took over almost the entire Maya region without any obstacles, making it another area of the world controlled by a company."

He glanced at the ceiling. "The Lan Fang Company, the East India Company, and now United Fruit. I wonder who's next."

"Wait a minute." Shangluo raised his hand. "Isn't there a problem here? Back to the beginning of it all. What did United Fruit need so many bananas for? The demand must have been ridiculously large to drive you bankrupt. But didn't you wonder at the time? Why did United Fruit need so many bananas?"

"On the one hand, bananas are indeed an inexpensive, high-energy food, rich in vitamins and minerals. United Fruit has promoted a large number of banana-based foods worldwide. Even drinks like banana milkshakes are still very popular in Beijing today. On the other hand, United Fruit proposed a plan, which I call the 'New Dawn' plan. The fundamental reason they developed and acquired bananas was for this plan."

"what's the plan?"

Parka's face suddenly darkened. He glanced outside, seeing no one else there. Then, lowering his voice, he said, "Theoretically, I shouldn't tell anyone. This is a plan known only to the rulers of the Mayan city-states. But now that you're my Grand Master, I won't hide it from you. Are you familiar with the theory of 'Infinite Divine Machine'?"

"Huh?!" Shangluo was startled by the word. This was the first time he had heard it from a "human" outside of Apollonia. Even the British who worshipped Apollonia had never mentioned the "Infinite Divine Machine."

"Have you heard of it?"

"I'm not sure. First, what do you mean by 'Infinite Divine Machine'?" He wanted to get some new information from Parka. His knowledge of the "Divine Machine" had always come from Apollonia herself, and a single piece of evidence wouldn't stand up.

"It's a perpetual motion machine, or a semi-perpetual motion machine," Parka replied. "It can provide almost unlimited energy, allowing humanity to reach limitless possibilities."

"But what do bananas have to do with the Infinite God Machine?"

"Bananas are rich in a radioactive isotope called potassium-40, and radiation itself is an inexhaustible source of energy. United Fruit hopes to harvest the potassium-40 in bananas to create a sustainable energy source. The half-life of potassium-40 is 12.5 billion years. If potassium-40 were used to create a radiation-dependent battery, it could operate continuously for 12.5 billion years, forever. This would be a discovery that would revolutionize human civilization."

"Does it have to be a banana?"

"Yes," Parka replied solemnly. "This is the result of scientific calculations. The potassium-40 content in bananas is 20 times that of citrus, 100 times that of watermelon, and comparable to that of durian. Furthermore, the growing cycle and yield of bananas are much longer than durian, and the flesh is easier to extract. So, after scientific comparison, United Fruit chose bananas as the cornerstone of the Infinite Divine Machine."

"Are you sure they're not lying to you? Isn't this a little outrageous?"

"For a moment, I doubted them, thinking it was a scam. But I discovered that after taking over Maya, United Fruit continued to expand banana production relentlessly. If it was a scam, shouldn't it have ended by now? And not only hasn't it ended, it's intensified. The entire Maya region has become a giant banana plantation, with endless bananas shipped out every year. A small portion is shipped around the world as food, but the vast majority goes to United Fruit's headquarters in Bermuda. I heard they're conducting experiments on Project New Dawn there. I also heard..."

His voice dropped even further. "I heard no outsiders had ever entered the Bermuda banana factory. And there were often inexplicable disappearances in the waters and airspace surrounding the factory, all of which eventually became unsolved cases. I guess they, like those bananas, fell into the bottomless pit of United Fruit. It's terrible, truly terrible."

"Wait a minute, let me think about it."

He called out to Apollonia: "Miss Apollonia, why is this happening?"

[I don't know. I really don't know. How would I know what the other divine machines were doing? Otherwise, I wouldn't have been shot.]

"So there really might be a magical machine in Bermuda?"

It's certainly possible. And this sinister style is very much like Helios's. But he's actually in Rhodes Island, not Bermuda—though it's not surprising that he has a base there.

"Does Helios often wander around like this? He doesn't do anything for us?"

[Of course. I think he was the one who shot me in the back. No god is more sinister than him. If it's really him... hey, how about we set him up here?]

"Wait, that's your personal matter. I just want to take care of things on the ground for now."

Undercurrents are surging in Las Vegas, the largest city in the Neutral Zone. I don't think the ruler of Chichen Itza is simply looking to open a hotel here; he must have some ulterior motive for bringing his trusted aides to reside permanently here. Since he trusts you so much, why not lend him a hand? With his help, the debt you owe the court will be a small price to pay, my great Grand Master. They might even build a pyramid in your honor. And most importantly, you can ask them for help with the Foundation Establishment Pill; it requires several ingredients that are quite troublesome. Having someone to help you out is a welcome change.

Chapter 25 Foundation Building

At night, on the upper floors of the Chichen Itza Hotel.

This was the so-called "Prince's Suite." As Chichen Itza's "State Master," he certainly had the right to live here. Even the King of the Realm only lived downstairs.

"Grand Master? Grand Master?" the attendant at the door asked. "If there's nothing else you need, I'll be leaving first."

"I'm fine here, you can leave." Shangluo waved his hand and waited until the door was closed before he lay down on the couch.

"Goodness, why do I feel like I've arrived at Chechi Kingdom? And somehow I've become the Imperial Master?"

If you can truly help them restore their country, you can become their ancestor, not just their Imperial Master.

"If it's just about reviving their regime, I don't think it's too difficult. How could such a coincidence happen in this world? If we use divination, can't we solve the case? But will just investigating the case be enough? There's a more practical problem before us."

Shangluo stared at the ceiling. "The Mayans are quite happy growing bananas. Every year, no matter how many they plant, they can sell them. Do you think the bald man downstairs can provide them with such a stable life? Can he buy bananas unconditionally like United Fruit? If not, and the banana harvest fails again, there won't be another United Fruit to back it up. To avoid a humanitarian crisis, we'll have to report it to the imperial court. What then?"

He spread his hands and said, "As long as the court reports this and punishes them, the rulers of these city-states will be expelled. The court might establish another one, but it's likely to turn the land into a government. Is this really the outcome they want? Therefore, I will not do anything outside of my duties."

[You're not going to care anymore?]

"I'll only take care of as much as they pay me. I won't interfere in matters beyond my authority. I'll only do what's worth the salary. Besides, the most important thing right now is to build my foundation. Nothing else matters. What's the point of being a Mayan Grand Master? What's the point of me being the Mayan King? All the palaces have been turned to dust. Look at how many emperors from the First Emperor to the Jiajing Emperor used all means to cultivate immortality. If I can succeed here, wouldn't I be more powerful than them all?"

[Okay, let's get down to business. You, form a seal. Perform the Beidou Jue.]

"What is Beidou Jue?"

A hand seal. You do this, then that, then this again.

Under Apollonia's guidance, Shangluo placed his hands back to back, fingers intertwined, and formed a majestic "Northern Dipper Technique." There was a gap between his ring and index fingers. This position made his hands uncomfortable, and after a while, both went numb, and he even felt like he had lost control of them.

[Okay, you're learning pretty quickly. Remember this feeling, and then find a pen.]

Shangluo spread a piece of paper on the table, absorbed water with a convenient brush, and then practiced the "Beidou Jue" he had just learned. His hands began to feel numb again and became uncontrollable.

"What should I do next? Just stay still? But I can't do anything. I can't even move my hands. They're shaking."

Just shake it up. You know the story of monkeys, typewriters, and Shakespeare? Given enough time, even a monkey could type out the complete works of Shakespeare. Or, to put it another way, random input can also produce meaningful content. And the date I've chosen for you will produce this random result.

"Okay, I'll trust you for now."

Shangluo did as he said.

Beidou Jue, hold the pen, close your eyes.

He felt nothing. He only felt his hands moving unconsciously due to the numbness. And whenever he focused his attention on his hands, they naturally stopped moving.

The writing process was extremely slow. He could feel the tip of his pen resting on a single character for ages. After half an hour of hesitation, it seemed he had only just written a single line.

[Okay, I'm done. This is so tiring. When you're distracted, that's when I'm fully focused.]

Shangluo opened his eyes - there were really words on the paper, and it did generate meaningful content.

Realgar, cinnabar, orpiment, alum stone, and malachite are all powdered, bathed in a pool of water, and made by burning cinnamon wood.

"That's it?" Shangluo looked at the line of words.

[Yes, that's it. Any questions? This is the foundation-building pill recipe I spent a lot of effort searching for.]

"No, I have a question, a logical one: if finite things are added together, is it possible to get infinity? Sulfur and mercury are both finite things, and they are everywhere on this earth. The same goes for alum and bluestone. These ordinary things are finite, but the path to immortality is infinite. The elixir that can lead to the path of immortality must also share a corner of the Great Dao - it must share the spiritual light of the Dao. So I think the key lies here."

He pointed at the last few words: "Huachi, what does it mean? If the previous ones are all finite things, then Huachi must be a spiritual object with spiritual energy. Literally speaking, Huachi should be a spiritual liquid. Where can I get a spiritual liquid like Huachi?"

"Hmm, wait a moment." Apollonia thought for a moment. "This isn't a separate price, because I need to help you understand what the Foundation Establishment Pill is. So I'm going to search for where I can get the 'Hua Chi'."

A second passed, a minute passed, five minutes passed.

[Numb.] Apollonia's tone was filled with helplessness, confusion, and loss.

"how?"

"I don't know. I can't find any relevant information. But that recipe is definitely effective. It's definitely not some random heavy metal. And Huachi is probably a spiritual liquid. So, let's review this. What was your original question?"

"My question is: 'Lead me on the path to immortality in the mysterious sense, and achieve true immortality by going through the stages of Qi training, foundation building, golden elixir, and Nascent Soul.' This is my request to you regarding the foundation building pill."

[That's the problem.] Apollonia's voice became more emphatic. [You want the Foundation Establishment Pill, don't you? The Akashic Records gave you a useful answer. It must be useful, because our needs have precisely pinpointed this formula. Then, perhaps the key lies within you.]

She paused:

Therefore, we may have underestimated the realm of external alchemy. This entire process may be part of alchemy. Even if we accurately locate the recipe, it may still take time for the right time, right place, and right people to be successful. But now, perhaps it has already happened. The Akashic Records don't specify time, but they say that time can be controlled by ourselves.

Chapter 26 Foundation Building Pill

"So, what exactly is the Foundation Establishment Pill? If I mix these things together, can I make a pill?"

I guess this is also part of fate. The Foundation Establishment Pill can be many things, just like there are many paths from Yujing to Rome. But fate has determined that what you need most is this recipe, which can lead you to the path of cultivation. Therefore, you can definitely use it—if there are no external ingredients in the recipe, then there is no need for them. So, the Huachi, perhaps, is right there in your body! Because you have spiritual energy, your Huachi also has spiritual energy. In other words—

She raised her voice: [You are now a cultivator in the Qi Condensation Stage! Or at least, your spiritual energy is sufficient to support the refining of the Foundation Establishment Pill.]

"Don't tell me. I've been wondering why I'm the only one who can hear your voice, and why I'm always so sensitive to 'qi'. Maybe I was born with a Taoist body, and I'm just one step away from building my foundation. If I traveled to the world of immortal cultivation, I might be a genius in cultivation. Miss Apollonia, what do you think of Hua Chi now?"

[Hmm... the most spiritual energy in the human body should be blood. It contains no impurities, pure energy. While it could be saliva, I think it's more likely to be blood. I suggest you use a needle to draw a tube of your own blood, and then use it to make the elixir. You have a special physique, and the spiritual energy contained in your blood should be far greater than that of ordinary people.]

Shangluo was silent for a while.

"Although it sounds a bit outrageous, I think it's worth a try. But Miss Apollonia, I have a question. Can this Foundation Establishment Pill really succeed? What is the success rate? Also, is what is refined truly a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

【Huh? Let me think about it.】

Apollonia reacted: "When you made your request, I didn't guarantee success. But please believe me, this is the 'most likely' outcome. In other words, if you demand a '100% success' elixir, you'd probably need more than just your own precious materials. This recipe is the perfect one for you, though the chances of success are limited. But rest assured, I will provide after-sales service until you complete your foundation building."

"So I should have my fortune told before I eat?"

"Right? You can have your fortune told before you eat it. Don't worry about the sulfur and mercury, just eat it and it's done. As long as the fortune-teller says it's okay, then it's fine. It's free, it's after-sales service."

"So that's how it's used, but I always feel like mine is no different from Benimaru's?"

"The Red Pill is much more stimulating than this. I advise you not to take it. It's not a legitimate medicine, and what you're practicing is a legitimate Golden Elixir. It will only harm you, not others."

"Okay. I'll give it a try." For the sake of the Foundation Establishment Pill and the sake of building the foundation, these difficulties can be overcome.

The next morning, breakfast.

"Grand Master, how did you sleep last night?"

"not bad."

The room was indeed quite nice, worthy of being called a prince's suite. In fact, the suite was a five-room layout, but it was not built independently on the ground, but was arranged in a high-rise building according to the etiquette.

Besides the central main hall for receiving guests, there were four surrounding rooms. While it was inconvenient to use, requiring one to run across the entire room to the door to use the restroom, these "princely suites" were not designed for convenience; they were intended for entertaining important guests.

Shangluo felt that the standard was too high for entertaining him, and he was a little uncomfortable living alone in such a big room.

"I'm glad you're fine with it. Is there anything you need?"

"Speaking of which, I have a recipe here."

Realgar, cinnabar, orpiment, alum stone, and cinnabar. Shangluo handed Parka the cinnabar formula he had modified the day before.

"National Master, this is unacceptable! This is a secret technique of the immortals! How can you give it to me?"

"It's okay. After you read it, help me collect everything written on it." Shangluo also felt that this thing was probably excerpted from an ancient book, so there was no need to keep it secret. The previous part was not important, what was important was the "Huachi" at the end.

But is the Huachi really his own blood? Or is it something like saliva? Or does some kind of spiritual pool really exist somewhere between heaven and earth?

No matter what, we still have to collect all the recipes mentioned above.

"Okay, okay." After looking at the prescription, Parka nodded repeatedly. "These are all easy-to-collect herbs. Are you feeling unwell lately and need to take medicine?"

"Well, my stomach has been feeling a bit upset lately. I've been eating too many radishes. You know, the menu in San Francisco is all about radishes."

"Then I'll bring you these medicines before tonight." At this point, Parka began to ask his own questions: "How have you predicted the fate of the Maya and the future of Chichen Itza?"

"No rush. Your country has been destroyed for decades anyway, so you don't care about a day or two, right? I do have a question for you. If you get my divination results, but they are unfavorable, you will not be able to save the country at all. Then what will you choose?"

"Do I have to answer?"

"Yes, this is also part of divination."

Parka was silent for a long time. He looked around. Everything that was left of his homeland was in this hotel. And soon, all of it would become the assets of the new shareholders.

"I choose to believe in the will of heaven. Heaven will always give us a glimmer of hope. So even if you, Imperial Master, predict an unfavorable outcome, I will still go to restore my country without hesitation. After all, I even gave up playing marbles for this."

"So that's how it is. I'll remember that." Shangluo nodded.

He could understand this sentiment. Chichen Itza had been the last Mayan city-state to resist. The most difficult days were over, and the New Dawn Project merely replaced the leadership of Chichen Itza; ordinary Mayans had not been killed in the process.

However, Shangluo also knew that perhaps now was the most difficult time: when resisting Spanish colonization, the princes and nobles who rebelled had everything going for them, especially at the right time and with the right people. But now, was it really necessary for them to restore their rule?

Shangluo wasn't interested. But he did want to enlighten this man—the key wasn't him, but what United Fruit was actually trying to do. If everything United Fruit did was part of some conspiracy, some evil purpose, then expelling United Fruit would surely be just.

Observe the light of the country and make use of it as a guest to the king.

Shangluo thought of yesterday's "Guan Fu Zhi Gua". Perhaps their way out also lay in "Guan Fu".

"By the way, Imperial Master." Parka suddenly interrupted him while he was thinking, "Your colleague is down there. Do you have time to see him?"

"Colleague? Which one?"

"He's a Jinyiwei, about your age. He showed his badge the moment he entered and asked if you were here. Isn't that a coincidence? There are so many hotels in Las Vegas, and he chose this one for you. It seems that people of great skill can attract each other. Imperial Master, do you want to see him now or wait until after breakfast?"

Chapter 27 Transforming Strength