Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

"That's enough, that's it." He raised his hand to stop Shangluo from saying the second half of the sentence, because the first half was already scary.

He lowered his voice again, "Shangluo, next time you mention this situation, could you please use more euphemisms? Use metaphors or analogies, and don't eliminate too much uncertainty."

"Ah, I understand." Shangluo nodded and chanted: "I came to ask Dao Wuyu. He said, 'The clouds are in the blue sky and the water is in the bottle.'"

Titus was stunned for a moment. "Professional! Right, right, that's it! Then let's practice. What did you eat today?"

Shangluo replied: "I have cultivated my body to resemble a crane."

"You didn't eat breakfast this morning? What did you eat yesterday?"

Shangluo replied: "Two boxes of scriptures under a thousand pine trees."

"That's quite a lot to eat. Are you going to eat at lunch later? You ate a lot yesterday, but not today. There must be a reason."

Shangluo replied, "I came to ask Dao Wuyu what he said."

"You don't know either? Who arranged for you not to eat today?"

Shangluo replied: "The clouds are in the blue sky and the water is in the bottle."

"Oh, so it was arranged by the higher-ups. Then I won't take it upon myself to treat you to tea."

"." Now it was Shangluo's turn to be silent. "Do you really talk like this normally?"

"That's impossible. Even the wisest of men can make mistakes. Limited consciousness is simply no match for the infinite mystery. That's why we built the Causal Barrier. Within the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, all the holy lies are completely hidden within the barrier. Conversation is free there, and there's no problem. Going out is a bit troublesome, so we generally don't go out casually."

"If, I mean if," he asked tentatively, "if someone talked like this all day long, what kind of state would he be in?"

"Hmm," Titus thought for a moment. "Let me try to explain it to you. From the perspective of information theory, information is used to eliminate uncertainty. However, the semantics of what was just said are extremely ambiguous. It doesn't eliminate uncertainty at all. It's up to the recipient to understand. If someone keeps talking like this, then there's a possibility that eliminating information uncertainty is a burden for them. It sounds like a very profound state of mind. They must be burdened with enormous karmic consequences."

"What if he suddenly said 'no'?"

"Yes and no, 1 and 0, this is the ultimate information, eliminating all uncertainty. It must be a huge burden for this senior. The person who can make him give so much must be someone very important to him. Perhaps a family member, a disciple, an heir, or something like that."

"I understand."

Titus nodded. "Is that senior your elder? Or your master?"

"I think so, right?"

"Little brother Shangluo is really lucky to have such a gentle mentor who is as warm as the sun."

“Is that so??” It was the first time Shangluo heard someone comment that the person in Yuxi Palace was “warm”.

“Ah.” Titus took a deep breath—even though the airport was filled with the smell of engine oil, he took three deep breaths as if he was in a forest oxygen bar.

"The air in Aurora is so sweet. It smells like sunshine."

"You can breathe fresh air even with a gas mask on?"

He pointed to the breathing holes of the mask: "This mask has holes now. I wear it just in case. Do you see the bottle behind me?"

He knocked on the cylinder, making two "dong dong" sounds.

"The contents of this bottle are a burden we have to bear. We'll discuss the details during class. You're taking the Defense Against the Occult class, right? We'll discuss it in the car. We need to find a relatively enclosed space."

Standing in front of the silver dragon, Raven looked up at the tall car lights.

"When I was sitting in on the meeting in Antioch a while ago, I knew the Silver Dragon would win the bid. Our plans are too conservative. A vessel capable of connecting human civilization would have to be something this great. So, does this vehicle have three rows of private compartments?"

"Yes. Just like a cruise ship, passengers are seated in comfortable, enclosed spaces and are guaranteed not to be disturbed during long journeys."

"When we get on the bus, can I stay alone with Shangluo?"

Chapter 108 Mystic Defense Class

"You guys want to take the course in the car? Great, that won't waste any time."

"Didn't he eat breakfast? Won't he faint from hunger if he hasn't eaten yet? Can he have something for afternoon tea later?"

"No." Lu Huaiyang shook his head. "He's in danger right now. We plan to temporarily boost his strength, but before that, he needs to be free. He can't eat anything. Is he very hungry?"

"He seems a little hungry. Is there anything he can use to keep him going for a while so he can finish the class?"

"Indeed, there is." Lu Huaiyang turned around and found Shangluo's location, and handed him an oil-paper bag that had been prepared long ago.

He sat down in the private room, clutching his oil-paper bag. Titus and he were the only ones there. Tea and snacks were already set out: a cup of strong tea and four butter-filled snails. Butter-filled snails were a perfect treat for the Romans, a uniquely shaped pastry filled with cream. They were called "cream puffs" in Rome. The Romans were content with just butter-filled snails and strong tea.

Even the Roma defenders would smile when they saw the snacks on the table.

The people opposite had already started eating, and Shangluo also opened the oil-paper bag that Lu Huaiyang handed to him.

When he opened it, he was also very surprised - he should be in the fasting period now. Eating radish during the fasting period was fine, but what else could he eat?

After opening it, he understood.

Wrapped in the oil paper package was a transparent ampoule with five words written on the label: Glucose Solution.

"Haha. Hahaha, what a joke. You're eating glucose during the fasting period, right?"

In theory, this makes sense. Glucose is quickly digested and absorbed into the stomach, preventing any damage to your previous fasting gains. Isn't this very user-friendly?

"It's so humane." He reluctantly opened the ampoule, made sure there were no glass shards, and drank all the glucose.

I have to admit, it was like I hadn't eaten anything, but my mind seemed much clearer than before.

"By the way, Apollonia, is this guy reliable?"

[The Inner Guards are just as reliable as the Imperial Guards, so you can rest assured. They are the perfect people to teach this 'Occult Defense Class', as they have the most extensive practical experience in the occult.]

"Ok."

He watched Titus across from him finish his four butter-soaked snails, and then watched him finish his tea.

"Well then, the class begins."

After eating and drinking, Titus sat up straight and took out a small light bulb from his bag.

The object looked very strange at first glance, its surface a dazzling array of multicolored black. He could hardly imagine that he could read so much from the blackness with just one glance.

「Ah! That’s it! So they really did it!」

"Which one?"

Titus stood up as he spoke, held the light bulb against the ceiling, and twisted it hard.

With a snap, the whole room went dark. A darkness as thick as oil enveloped the entire table.

"Okay." He clapped his hands and sat down.

As if he saw Shangluo's doubt, he explained:

"This is a blacklight, used to create a small artificial night. It's an inconspicuous little gadget. Unlike the inner sage path of Aurora, which seeks inwardly for the origin, the Roman path extends outward. We strive to observe the six ultimates of the universe and thus achieve the perfect kingdom of light."

"Oh~ This thing is so interesting."

"This little toy is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the magic of Zhendan. The manufacturing method has already been shared with you at the 'Technology Synchronization Conference' held in Alexandria. However, you didn't seem too interested, so it probably won't be of much use to you. But it is very useful to us, because night only falls after dark. With a black light, we can create a small night in any secret room that is not directly exposed to sunlight. Hmm, a very convenient little invention."

Shangluo tried to lift his head. Sure enough, the tiny bulb only created a "tiny" cone of darkness. As soon as he looked up, the darkness vanished. From the outside looking in, the scene was rather eerie—as if a piece of space had been "taken away." Within the area covered by the blacklight, a standard cone appeared, every detail within shrouded in darkness.

Lowering his head, he walked back into the night.

"Okay, let's start class." Titus snapped his fingers in the darkness. A small, warm flame appeared between them, illuminating the small tabletop and the half-finished cup of strong tea.

However, it wasn't just flames that appeared. Where the wall used to be, a picture appeared on the side, with the words "Occult Defense Class" written on it.

Shangluo now understood that the curtains should be drawn before the movie.

"How convenient!" Titus sighed. "In the past, this kind of arrangement could only be performed at night. Back then, we had to wake up at the owl's wake for class. Now, all we have to do is turn on a light bulb. Times really change quickly. So, this magic you're seeing now is an imitation of 'film projection'. Just think of it as playing film, except now it's projecting the images I need."

He snapped his fingers again, and the screen jumped back a frame: What is the Defense Against the Occult class?

A line of words appeared on the screen.

"So, little brother Shangluo, tell me first, what do you think of the Defense Against the Occult class?"

"To defend against threats in the dark? For example, carefully placing mirrors in the house, or avoiding arranging furniture at sharp angles. Or perhaps, hanging a mahogany sword in the house?"

“No, none of them.” Titus snapped his fingers—and the entire scene burned to ashes.

"Mystical defense simply doesn't exist! The reason I just explained: even the wisest of men can make mistakes. Limited consciousness is simply no match for the infinite mystery. In a place shrouded in mystery, your every action, even every word, could potentially trigger a terrifying chain reaction. Therefore, defense is impossible! The only way is to proactively attack, attack, and attack again! Use offense instead of defense. Only by constantly eliminating the prying eyes in the darkness can we ensure human safety. Just as China was plundering the land, Rome's conquests never ceased. So..."

He paused. "I came to you today specifically to ask a favor. You may have heard some clues last night: our operation on the shores of Lake Nemi has suffered a major setback. None of the Delphic apprentices have successfully crossed the barrier of darkness and reached the 'Forest of Ritual'. The Golden Bough has sprouted again, and we must complete this heroic pilgrimage and seize the Golden Bough. If we succeed, you can bring it back. If I remember correctly, the Golden Bough is treated as a fairy root in Zhendan. It can be used to make elixirs."

Chapter 109 Extraordinary Enfeoffment System

"Spiritual creature?"

"Yes. I remember that the ingredients of the Golden Branch were believed by you to be Taiyi, Beidou, Sun and Moon, Hebo, and so on. I didn't quite understand it, but it's said to have great effects. You should be able to refine it into an elixir, right? I heard that you had a wealthy Qigong practitioner named Zheng who spent a lot of money to buy a Golden Branch once, and then refined a foundation-building elixir to become a celestial being. I was puzzled. Isn't the Zhendan immortal method all about fate? Even 'good fortune' at that time was still fate. I don't quite understand it either, but anyway, the purchased Golden Branch can also be used to build a foundation."

"Is this thing so powerful? Is it precious?"

"It's very precious, only available once per generation. Aside from the one bought by that rich man last time, we've taken all the other Golden Boughs ourselves. But it seems more practical to give them to you. Our people can't reach the realm of 'celestial beings' with the Golden Boughs; they can only become forest kings for a generation. That was the original purpose of the Golden Boughs. And now we're getting our comeuppance. It seems our 'good fortune' has been somewhat depleted by that sale. Without the old Boughs to guide the way, no one in this generation has been able to reach the Lake Nemi sacrificial site. Oh, by Mithra."

He clasped his hands together and said, "Luckily you suddenly arrived there yesterday. I was wondering if the Jinyiwei had sent you there specifically to save the situation. You alone are enough. With you as a participant, this heroic tour will be complete. As long as you can participate, the Golden Bough will be yours."

"Wait, can I ask what the Heroes' Parade is? Also, will you definitely give me the Golden Bough?"

"These two are the same question—as long as you understand what the Heroic Procession is, you'll know who owns the Golden Bough. The Heroic Procession is similar to your monastic life, a way to gain power. You can think of it as a ritualized war. This ritual was first initiated by Alexander the Great. His Eastern Expedition was a 'Heroic Procession' for Hercules. He dressed as Hercules and, like Hercules, hunted lions. And, like Hercules, he paraded his opponent behind his chariot. Today, we've simplified it to the 'Armoring Ceremony.' There's no need for large-scale wars anymore, just taking risks."

He pointed at himself and then at Shangluo:

"Adventure only requires a small team. Enter the mythology at night, don the armor of gods or demigods, and experience the experiences of those extraordinary beings. Experiencing similar causes will yield similar results. The results are the fruits of war. The Golden Bough is a victory, and so is the Blood of the Hydra. By gaining victory in the Heroes' Tour, we can continuously expand the boundaries of human civilization. The fruits of war are also spoils of war, and of course they must be distributed among those who have made contributions. It is this kind of 'supernatural feudal system' that supports Rome. Those who are qualified to participate in the Heroes' Tour can be 'enfeoffed' with extraordinary powers. If you participate, then this generation's Golden Bough will be granted to you—of course, from a ritual perspective, it's not a fiefdom for you, since you're not a senator. It's a sharing of the spoils, a sharing with our allies in China."

"I can participate because of the old branches? Then why don't they give the old branches to others?"

"Alas," Titus sighed deeply. "Those you see are the second team of the Hydra Army. The Golden Bough Ceremony requires not only challengers, but also some... well, there are performers in costumes at the amusement park, right?"

"So they are NPCs?!"

"I don't quite understand what NPC means. Is this a new term? Anyway, it's a cast member who needs to cooperate with you to complete the game. The ceremony of picking the Golden Bough is very complicated and requires the cooperation of many people. But the Golden Bough ceremony must be completed, because since we started the ceremony once, we must complete every ceremony afterwards, otherwise something terrible will happen."

"what happens?"

He thought for a moment, "Are you sure you want to listen? I should tell you everything. But this is very important, and I dare to explain it only under the cover of darkness. Before I speak, you must swear an oath on the Styx River. This is very important. But there is no spell, all you have to do is say 'I swear'."

"Apollonia," Shangluo lowered his voice, "Should I ask?"

Apollonia was silent for a long time. It seemed that she had made a decision:

"Okay. You'll eventually get to this point. Swear, you need to know this too."

After a brief ceremony, Titus spoke of the things that needed to be sworn to secrecy even in the dark of night:

"If the ritual fails, we will lose the Sacrificial Forest of Lake Nemi forever. At the same time, the true myth will descend upon the world. A kingdom of priest-kings will truly emerge in the Sacrificial Forest on the shores of Lake Nemi, and they will capture people for blood sacrifice. Those challengers and participants who fail to escape will become part of the myth. Then, the fun will get really good. We've even unleashed something more powerful before."

"For example, gods?"

"No, no, no, no, absolutely no gods were released. Absolutely not. I'm talking about Jack the Ripper."

Combined with Apollonia's words, Shangluo already knew the answer. They had definitely released the gods due to failure, but how the gods who returned from the mythical era to the sunlight became divine machines was another question. It was probably impossible to answer even by asking.

But the information about the Ripper interested him:

"So the Ripper, he escaped from the ritual?"

"Not exactly. He's a 'new myth' that we haven't even begun to analyze. Because there's no historical god called 'Jack the Ripper.' That poor Archaeus, he wasn't a fighter at all, just a Roman noble listed in the Golden Book. We just know he liked taking pictures, and then suddenly one day he became 'Jack the Ripper.' Now, we have to perform a ritual on him. Malaka! We don't even know what the elements of the ritual are. It's not like the Golden Bough, where you can even find someone to play the role of the staff. We have to figure it all out from scratch."

"Could it be that he liked taking pictures, so he took a picture of himself, which aroused the suspicion of other individuals and led him to fall into the darkness? And there might be more than one individual."

"Hmm??? How did you know the latest developments in the case? We just discovered there are three of these individuals."

"I heard it, I heard it. It's an urban legend."

"Yes, yes, yes! It's an urban legend!" Titus suddenly raised his voice. "For some reason, the astrologers in Delphi discovered a bunch of confusing stories in the Akashic Records. It's like a storm! It's completely disrupted our old conversation sequence. I heard that the Delphic astrologers are so desperate that they've started seeking help from powers beyond the night, and even actively embraced the sun. In short, our situation is very difficult. The golden bough is your reward. Please help us complete the bough-breaking ceremony. If the Priest King shows up, it will be a big trouble!"

Chapter 110 Willing Power

"What's the reward, the golden branch?"

"That's right," Titus confirmed. "So, are you willing to participate?"

"Wait a moment, I'll consult a professional. Can you turn off the lights? Otherwise I won't be able to communicate."

Titus snapped his fingers, and the blacklight came back on. Just as Apollonia used the button as a trigger, he used the specific action of snapping his fingers as a trigger for casting a spell.