Yama Rising - Chapter 283
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Chapter 283

Chapter 283

“Monarch vermin?! One that has gained sentience?!” He bellowed back telepathically, “What realm are they in?! Do you know how badly you’ve screwed up this time?! You best believe it when I say I’ll quit if we can’t retrieve Hell’s legacy this time!!”

Arthis was fully aware that the oversight on her part had led to potentially cataclysmic consequences. That said, the appearances of blight vermins were part and parcel of the natural order pertaining to death and decay, just like how it was part of an ordinary course for the dead to be cremated. Furthermore, having been locked up in the depths of the Naraka abyss for hundreds of years, how could she be expected to have thought about such things?

Indeed, sometimes, it was the most ordinary and regular of things that were easiest to take for granted and overlook.

“According to the records of Hell, a monarch vermin would appear in every hundred thousand blight vermins. There was a time when Hell was surrounded and besieged by the joint coalition of several underworlds all at once. Western Hell fell, and hundreds of Infernal Judges perished in the line of duty, giving birth to the appearance of a monarch vermin. The presiding King Yanluo back then personally subjugated the monarch vermin and appointed him as the warden of one of the abysses of Hell… Based on past records, the monarch vermin should be no stronger than an Infernal Judge. After all, the blight vermin have only appeared no more than a year ago. Even if a monarch vermin has appeared, he can never be stronger than an Infernal Judge. In fact, he could even be as weak as a Soul Hunter!”

“So is there a monarch vermin or not?!”

“I’m just guessing…” Arthis sighed, “Blight vermins have already spread beyond Hell’s Gate. The prospects of the situation at Fengdu Necropolis aren't looking good at all. Our best bet right now is to seize and retrieve as much of Hell’s legacy as we can. My guess is that Fengdu Necropolis will be completely reduced to dust within a year’s time.”

“Bloody hell…” Qin Ye scratched his head in great exasperation. Then he drew a deep breath, “Then what are we waiting for?! Let’s pick up the pace!”

Boom! As soon as he finished speaking, Arthis’ hair instantly fluttered menacingly, and she began to chant a mysterious spell. Within moments, almost as though they had heard the summons of an imperial decree, the Yin energy and netherflames in the surroundings rushed over and converged at their feet, transforming into a long bridge made of netherflames that extended straight into the distant Fengdu Necropolis. Instantly, their speed was boosted so much that they dashed forward at speeds comparable to a maglev train, even leaving afterimages in their wake as they continued to dart forward at top speed.

They crossed the Naraka Bridge in no time, yet Qin Ye didn’t have the heart to look back and reminisce over the good old times. The bridge was densely packed with traces of blight vermin. Yet, everything seemed to pale in comparison with the astounding sight that greeted them in the horizon, where an ink-black pillar extended into the sky.

“What’s that?” Oda Nobunaga gasped in shock.

What do we do…

Qin Ye felt as though his heart was on fire. He was swamped with anxiety that was borne out of an innate sense of responsibility over Hell. He had wracked his brain for ways and acted on means to spur the growth in Hell, including writing a paper, leading the charge in the great battle at the Strait of Tsushima and even seized souls for Hell. Having invested so much, how could Qin Ye be willing to now give up on obtaining the legacy of the old Hell to further spur the growth of the new Hell?

“That’s Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s vajra body… It’s also a spirit molt. No… rather, you could call it a divine molt… Who would’ve thought that these blight vermin would even be able to invade Ksitigarbha’s body? This must be the natural order of death and decay that is spurred on by the unstoppable force of the heavenly dao.”

“The old Hell no longer exists because of Lord Ksitigarbha’s sudden ascension into paradise. His great vow has been fulfilled, and Hell has been emptied out. Innumerable Yin spirits now ran rampant throughout the mortal realm, and I’ve been appointed as the next lord and master over the new Hell.”

Such revelation should have been shocking news.

However, Oda Nobunaga was completely unfazed by it. Instead, he simply narrowed his eyes and nodded placidly.

He was a great general, and the sights he had witnessed earlier had already given him an inkling of the news that was to follow. If anything shocked him, it would be the fact that Qin Ye was the next lord and master over Hell.

“I’ve given you my word that I’d help you invade Nippon. This isn’t impossible. In fact, it wouldn’t be a tall order if we can obtain the legacy of the old Hell. Therefore…” He cupped his hands and bowed respectfully, “Lord Nobunaga, I humbly ask you to lend me your assistance. We’ll grab as much of Hell’s legacy as we can. Our safety is assured with the protection of the Book of Life and Death.”

Oda Nobunaga didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned to gaze deeply at the towering pillar, before finally muttering with a hoarse voice, “I can sense a terrifying aura from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s body. I’m afraid that we would be crushed to dust as soon as we draw close to him.”

Fengdu Necropolis was already in sight, and they could tell that the vast city was covered in black spots. In particular, the darkness in the southeastern part of the necropolis appeared no different from a tide that splashed about from time to time, sending darkness spreading everywhere around it.

There was an endless number of blight vermin that was devouring the entire Fengdu Necropolis!

“No, it wouldn’t.” Arthis suddenly interjected, “It might have in the past, but it most certainly wouldn’t now. The blight vermin have already pervaded every bit of the divine molt, and their presence in fact prevents Ksitigarbha’s crushing aura from reaching us. We won’t be turned into dust as long as we act cautiously. Unfortunately…”

She stared at the southeastern part of the necropolis with great vexation, “If memory serves me well, that’s where the Fengdu Necropolis’ chamber of commerce is located. In other words, that’s where all of the most precious supplies of the old Hell are located. If not for the fact that the artifacts there can only be used by an underworld that is minimally a city, I would’ve retrieved them all by now…”

Her words cut deep into Qin Ye’s heart - These are priceless artifacts that have been accumulated through Hell for thousands of years on end… and