Chapter 669

As soon as he cleared the trial of the divine inquisition, Qin Ye's surroundings immediately became blurry and hazy, almost as though he was slowly but surely being pulled into a different realm altogether. Moments later, with a soft swoosh, the clouds of roiling Yin energy around him vanished into thin air, revealing the fact that he was right back where he started - back on Black Mambas boat.

Black Mamba was also standing by his side. Qin Ye finally heaved a sigh of relief, Whats next?

Since the divine inquisition is over, well have the results before us in three days time. Black Mambas eyes narrowed, Everything, including whether to march for Khuree, and how many troops to send, depends entirely on the Plumed Serpent Gods instructions. Well soon find out

Qin Ye nodded, and then quipped curiously, Why did the rules of the game change towards the end?

Black Mamba shook his head, Im not sure. But, if I had to hazard a guess, there must have been something about you that had caught the attention of the Plumed Serpent God.

Qin Ye frowned. The results were indeed baffling.

And so was the Plumed Serpent God himself. According to what he knew of the Alkebulan Underworlds, the Plumed Serpent God was an existence on similar footing as the Harken itself. However, could the Harken do what Quetzalcoatl had just done and allow its powers to be felt across thousands of miles?

It was impossible. So on what basis could it judge the veracity of Qin Yes words?

His character?

And if the Plumed Serpent God could achieve something like that, then he would probably be an entity in the same league as the Second King Yanluo himself. Naturally, such a powerful entity would never have been wounded so seriously by Forbidden Arts.

As if sensing the doubts on his heart, Black Mamba smiled and explained, Lord Quetzalcoatl is the first Alkebulan Mythic Spirit we know of, and there is none before him. However, he is by no means the original Mythic Spirit either.

He has never told us what happened before. However, records of the title Plumed Serpent God was in fact first discovered in the Central Usonian region, otherwise known as the New World of the Earth. Thats a land that is rich in resources, and for all intents and purposes unified as far as its underworlds are concerned. Theyre ruled by three systems of beliefs, under the Aztec, Incan and Mayan Mythologies. These three powers are now living in harmony. We had once speculated that the Plumed Serpent God was the loser of the tussle among the various mythologies of the Usonian region, and it was for that reason that he decided to come here to the Alkebulan Continent.

Qin Ye raised his brows slightly and listened intently. His mind was already filled with other thoughts.

Black Mambas attitude was changing.

Black Mambas attitude is slowly but surely changing. He would never have told me about these things before. It almost feels as though hes trying to make up for his past transgressions against me.

This must be in some way related to the disclosure of my identity as a successor to the throne.

He shelved these thoughts for the moment and continued to take in everything that Black Mamba was saying. Black Mamba continued, The Plumed Serpent God first appeared through the possession of a persons body in a country that no longer exists, Ancient Ghana. It then became known as the patron god of its capital back then. Due to its serious wounds back then, it was well known that a virgin sacrifice had to be offered up once every year. Then, some time later, a virgin chosen to be the next sacrifice managed to kill the Plumed Serpent God in his weakest, human form. This caused the land to dry up, and the vein of gold on which the nation was built upon to be completely cut off. Ancient Ghana slowly faded into obscurity, before eventually becoming buried in the depths of the desert.

Afterwards, legend had it that the Plumed Serpent God had in fact departed from Ancient Ghana, manifesting in other forms as he appeared in other tribes, instigating the birth of Mythic Spirit after Mythic Spirit. However, nobody has seen his true appearances.

Qin Ye raised his brows, Lord Black Mamba, didnt you once personally receive its guidance as well?

Theres no need to speak with such formalities around me. Black Mamba smiled genially, I wasnt aware that you were a successor to the throne before. But now that your identity has finally come into light, theres no reason why we shouldnt treat each other as equals.

Qin Ye smiled faintly. It was a privilege.

Yama-Kings were living legends of the netherworld. How many civilizations, legends and myths had there been since the start of time? There were no more than a hundred subsisting belief systems remaining, just over 20 underworlds, and a hundred or so Yama-Kings. They were entities that stood at the top of the food chain. And yet, a creature at the top of the food chain was willing to bow down and stand beside an Abyssal Prefect merely because of his identity as the successor to the throne of another underworld.

This was the gravitas of Hells namesake.

Black Mamba continued, Unfortunately not, because every time it instigates the birth of another Mythic Spirit, it does so through the use of oracles that echo directly in ones mind. Speaking of which, was the change of regime also triggered by an oracle delivered by the Second King Yanluo?

No. Qin Ye didnt bother concealing these things because their disclosure right now would only serve to pave the way for his own appearance in the form of Hells ruler in future, The Second King Yanluo would never tell anyone that the task which theyre undertaking is in fact one of the tests. It is only when one is done with the task that they would learn that they were being put through a test as such. Ive already been through four such trials, and this might well be the fifth.

The boat sailed quickly through the river, shuttling between the realms of the Yin and the realms of the Yang. Meanwhile, the fish in the waters, regardless of predator or prey, would all retreat madly to the side.

Black Mambas eyes gleamed wildly, and he licked his lips, If memory serves me well, youd also mentioned that the quickest ones in Hell would already have cleared half of the trials, havent they?

Qin Ye turned to Black Mamba and nodded softly with a smile, And theyre probably dealing with the sixth trial as we speak.

Silence.

Black Mamba didnt say another word. Over the last 20 days of their interactions, he had already changed his assessment of Prefect Qin from childishness, to maturity, and then to that of complete astonishment. It was a magnificent transformation that could even be described as a metamorphosis.

When I first met him, I couldve sworn that his first impression was bland and naive, almost as though he was a newbie in international affairs. But as time went by, he slowly played his cards better and better, forcing me to eat right out of the hook, line and sinker hed placed before my eyes - and even do so in delight at that. And the final scene of astonishment was naturally that of the revelation of his identity before the gathering of Mythic Spirits.

Who wouldve thought that this lonesome traveler from Hell is actually one of the stronger contenders for succession to Hells throne?

He was only trailing by one trial behind the rest. Who was to say for certain that he couldnt rise up above the competition and pull ahead of the pack in the final stretch?

And as for his identity, there was naturally nothing suspicious about it. Otherwise, the Plumed Serpent God would never have made its appearance in the divine inquisition and forced him to disclose his own identity. Furthermore, there was no reason to doubt the Plumed Serpent Gods assessment of the veracity of his words.

One could only imagine how the other Mythic Spirits would treat Qin Ye the next time they met each other.

And to that end, how could Qin Ye pass up the opportunity to lay the groundwork for their future interactions?

After all, a potential successor to the throne would be viewed in a completely different light from a regular Abyssal Prefect!

Are you in a hurry to return? Black Mamba turned and asked casually.

Qin Ye nodded slightly, Since Im in charge of this matter, Ive got no choice