Chapter Twenty-Five: Foundation Establishment

Night fell over the upper levels of the Chichen Itza Hotel.

This was the so-called "Sovereign’s Suite." As the "Grand Preceptor" of Chichen Itza, he was naturally entitled to stay here. Even the sovereign himself resided on the floor below.

"Grand Preceptor? Grand Preceptor?" a servant asked from the doorway. "If you have no further needs, I shall take my leave."

"I have nothing further here. You may withdraw," Shang Luo waved his hand. Only after the heavy doors were shut did he lie down on the couch.

"Good grief, why does this feel like I’ve ended up in the Kingdom of Chechi? How on earth did I become a Grand Preceptor?"

[If you can truly help them restore their nation, never mind being a Grand Preceptor—you could be their founding ancestor and they wouldn't complain.]

"If it were just about restoring their regime, I don't think it would be too difficult. But how could things be such a coincidence in this world? Couldn't we just perform some divination to solve the case? But is solving the case enough? There is a far more realistic problem staring us in the face."

Shang Luo stared at the ceiling. "The Maya are quite happy growing bananas; they sell every bunch they produce every year. Do you think that bald uncle downstairs could provide them with such a stable life? Can he purchase their bananas unconditionally like the United Fruit Company? If he can't, and the harvest fails again, there won't be another United Fruit Company to bail them out. When that time comes, to avoid a humanitarian crisis, it will inevitably be reported to the Imperial Court. And then what?"

He spread his hands. "Once it's reported to the Imperial Court, the Court will pass judgment, and the lords of these city-states will all be kicked out. The Court might establish a new one, or perhaps they’ll replace the native administration with direct rule. Is that really the outcome they want? Therefore, I will not do anything outside the scope of my duties."

[You don't intend to manage it?]

"I do only as much as I am paid for. I do not meddle in matters outside my jurisdiction; I only do work that aligns with my salary. Besides, the most important thing right now is foundation building; everything else is irrelevant. A Maya Grand Preceptor? What if I were made King of the Maya? All those magnificent palaces have turned to dust. Look at all the emperors from the First Emperor to the Jiajing Emperor—how many went to desperate lengths in pursuit of immortality? If I can succeed here, wouldn't I be more impressive than all of them?"

[Fine, then let us begin the main task. You, form the mudra. Form the Big Dipper Seal.]

"What is the Big Dipper Seal?"

[A hand gesture. First do this, then that, and finally, this.]

Under Apollonia's guidance, Shang Luo pressed the backs of his hands together, his fingers intertwined, forming a grand and imposing "Big Dipper Seal." A gap was left precisely between the ring fingers and index fingers of both hands. This posture was incredibly uncomfortable; after holding it for a while, his hands went numb, and he even felt as if they no longer belonged to him.

[Good, you learn quickly. Remember this feeling, then find a pen.]

Shang Luo spread a sheet of paper on the table, dipped a convenient calligraphy brush into water, and formed the "Big Dipper Seal" he had just learned. His hands began to numb and lose control again.

"What next? What am I supposed to do? Just stay like this? But I can't do anything; I can't even move my hands. They’re starting to shake."

[Shaking is exactly what you want. Do you know the story of the monkeys, the 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 produce meaningful content. The time I’ve chosen for you will produce this random result.]

"Fine, I'll take your word for it."

Shang Luo did as instructed. Big Dipper Seal, holding the brush, eyes closed.

He felt nothing. He only felt his hands moving involuntarily due to the soreness and numbness. Whenever he focused his attention on his hands, they naturally stopped moving.

The process of writing was agonizingly slow. He could feel the brush tip remaining on a single character for a long time. After fumbling about for half an hour, it seemed he had only written one line.

[There, it’s finished. Exhausting... When you were distracted, that was when I was fully focused.]

Shang Luo opened his eyes—there were indeed characters on the paper, and they had generated meaningful content.

*Realgar, cinnabar, orpiment, alum, and zengqing. Grind them all to powder, bathe them in the Flowery Pool, and burn them with cassia wood.*

...

"That’s it?" Shang Luo stared at the line of text.

[Yes, that’s it. Is there a problem? This is the foundation-building pill recipe I spent so much energy retrieving.]

"No, I have a question—a logical one: Can finite things added together ever result in something infinite? Sulfur and mercury are finite substances; they are everywhere on this earth. The same goes for alum and zengqing. These mundane things are finite, but the path to immortality is infinite. A pill that can lead to the path of immortality must 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 to the last few words: "Flowery Pool. What does that mean? If the preceding ingredients are all finite, then the Flowery Pool must be a spiritual substance filled with spiritual energy. Literally speaking, the Flowery Pool should be a type of spiritual liquid. Where am I supposed to find a spiritual liquid like the Flowery Pool?"

[Hmm... wait a moment.] Apollonia pondered. [This doesn't count as an extra charge, as it is necessary for me to help you understand what a foundation-building pill really is. So, let me search for where one can obtain the 'Flowery Pool.']

One second passed. One minute passed. Five minutes passed.

[I'm stumped.] Apollonia’s tone was filled with helplessness, confusion, and disappointment.

"What is it?"

[I don't know. There is absolutely no information to be found. But that pill recipe is definitely useful; it is certainly not just some random heavy metal concoction. And the Flowery Pool is likely indeed a spiritual liquid... Let’s review. What was your original question?]

"My question was: 'Guide me toward the path of cultivation in the xianxia sense, and achieve true immortality through the stages of Qi Refining, Foundation Building, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul.' That is the requirement I proposed to you regarding the foundation-building pill."

[That is the problem.] Apollonia’s voice deepened. [You wanted a foundation-building pill, didn't you? The Akashic Records gave you a useful answer. It must be useful because we precisely located this recipe. Perhaps the key lies within yourself.]

She paused.

[So... we may have underestimated the realm of external alchemy. This entire process might be part of the alchemy itself. Even if we have precisely located the recipe, I fear it can only be refined when the time, place, and people are all in harmony. But perhaps, right now, it already is. The Akashic Records didn't specify a time; it said the timing is something we can control ourselves.]