Ming Dynasty and New Rome and Infinite Magic Machine

Chapter 1740 The Lower Bound
"Sigh." Shang Luo said while tidying up the scattered items in the package, "There's nothing I can do about it, I'm just this busy. I'm used to it."

"So why should I help you with the gestures?" Apollonia asked, carrying a basket and picking up posters, coins, flyers, and other items from the ground.

"Isn't most of what's in here what you wanted?"

[Ah? Is there?]

"Take this flyer, for example. Last time I was walking down the street and I saw someone handing out flyers. I was going to pretend I didn't see them, but you said there seemed to be some discounted potato chips, so you told me to go get some. Turns out it wasn't potato chips, it was laundry detergent—you forgot?"

[Well, that laundry detergent came in a bag anyway. And in the end, I bought discounted laundry detergent.]

"Our budget is tight, but you don't need to be so meticulous about it."

[Speaking of which, why are we cleaning up this place?]

"Is that even a question? We're going to bring some mercenaries over, because they'll be using this route anyway—you don't want them to see this mess, do you?"

Apollonia shook her head sharply: "We must still retain some of our divine dignity."

"I think if we spend the whole day cleaning up here, we'll probably lose all our dignity. Is there an easier way?"

Yes, there is one, at least that's the first one I can think of. And you'll need to summon him to go to the lower realms, right?

"You mean that? Oh, right. Wait a minute, let me see where it is. Hey, where did I put it?"

As they were talking, a round object, about the size of a billiard ball, rolled down to Shangluo's feet.

"You're here. Number Two, how have you been lately?"

"Thanks to you, I've been quietly reflecting here." The billiard ball spoke in a human voice—he was the number two ball.

He is a water serpent from the lower realm, one of the pillars of the world, and his name is [Hidden Water]. He came to the "upper realm" with Shang Luo by sneaking in, and sealing him in this billiard ball-sized container is a form of punishment. However, he is also happy to find a place to cultivate in peace, which is an arrangement that satisfies both of them.

"I'm off to work. I need to go to your hometown; I have some business to attend to. Did you hear what I just said?"

"Yes. Your kindness is something we can never repay. I think my compatriots are also grateful for your tolerance."

“My tolerance is not out of kindness; I think you have great potential.”

That's true; their progress last time was quite impressive.

Furthermore, Shangluo can confirm that they seem to be exercising all self-restraint to avoid causing trouble for the operation of the Tower of Babel.

Since they are so sensible, Shangluo doesn't mind giving them another push and letting them play a greater role. By recruiting soldiers from among them and absorbing the strong to serve the Heavenly Realm, they can also gain some benefits themselves.

Just like Korea in the past, Korea didn't gain its status as the leading tributary state out of thin air. Every year, Korea had to supply auxiliary troops to the royal army; at its peak, it once assembled over 10 light infantry and mountain infantry in a single year. These auxiliary troops had shed blood alongside the royal army, which is why the court truly recognized their status. The Korean king was thus able to act as an ambassador in the capital, coordinating Korea's tributary relations.

Those who did not fight alongside the court could never have a higher status than those from Korea.

Now, Shangluo wants to do the same thing in the lower realm; he wants to recruit soldiers there.

"Understood. Then, I will show you the way."

As the pillar of the world, Sphere Two can open a portal, allowing them to enter the lower realm directly from here— "Hey, wait a minute." Shang Luo asked a question, "If I bring people out later, can I just open the portal outside?"

“Sure. Of course,” Ball Number Two replied. “After all, the environment here is rather... Anyway, I won’t let them see. If anyone comes out, they can just go outside.”

The gate opened, and Shangluo entered through the blue door.

Outside the door lay the azure sea and sky. The environment was just as good as last time; the world, operating at 365 times the normal speed, was filled with phlogiston. Shangluo's body could fully adapt to this change, allowing him to land smoothly and directly above sea level.

Looking up, I saw the Tower of Babel, where the flow of time was gradually slowing down, right before my eyes.

"Um"

"What are you thinking about?" Apollonia landed beside her.

"I was thinking, this could be considered the bottom of the abyss, right? Although for our physical condition, crossing this region with its different time flow should be easy. But for the locals, would it be quite difficult?"

[I think it's certain that if they wanted to climb the Tower of Babel, I estimate that even taking one step would likely result in them bleeding from all seven orifices. Because for their existence, moving towards a place where the flow of time is slower is essentially equivalent to crashing into a wall.]

"So in other words, the soldiers we can recruit must all be top-notch?"

[I'm afraid we really can only overcome this chasm by recruiting some exceptional talents—but in other words, if they can't even adapt to this, recruiting them won't be of any use.]

"That makes sense. Then we can get started. But this place... doesn't seem to be static after all."

In the distance, Shangluo could see warships patrolling.

They were steel warships, with thick black smoke billowing from their chimneys. This world supposedly doesn't have coal; they must be burning something else as fuel, and the smoke seemed quite heavy.

Between the warships and the Tower of Babel stood a towering city wall. The warships seemed to exist solely to protect the wall, while the wall itself repelled anyone who wanted to approach the Tower of Babel.

Hey, it seems they've fenced off the area around the Tower of Babel.

"Interesting. Ball number two, get to work. Go and check out the situation first."

"Yes." As the pillar of the world and the bridge connecting heaven and earth, the second sphere flew out directly—and then flew back, lifting a warship in mid-air, as easily as pulling a rubber duck out of the water.

The crew on board were terrified, but thankfully they didn't suffer any serious injuries. At least Shangluo, standing at the bow, still looked like a human being.

The crew members all prostrated themselves on the ground, muttering incantations.

"Hmm, it seems like things are going well."

How did you figure that out?

"They were excited, but it was joy, not fear. In their eyes, I was a god in the Tower of Babel. This means they felt they hadn't done anything to offend the gods. They were probably preventing unauthorized people from approaching the tower and disturbing our work. Very good, this is a good start. It's just that the sign seems a bit off."

Shangluo recalled that when he last visited, the ethnic group that represented the qi (vital energy) seemed to have the upper hand.

And now, these people have fire as the symbol painted on their warships.

(End of this chapter)