Yama Rising

The entire hall immediately fell silent in the wake of Zhao Yun's response.

All of the scientists' mouths gaped open slightly as they exchanged astonished glances with one another as if they were unable to believe their own ears, immediately following which came a flurry of hushed chatter.

It had been far too long since they had seen the Cathayan Underworld adopt such an aggressive stance, but it didn't seem out of place in the slightest.

After all, the Cathayan Underworld had acted exactly like this for over 1,000 years, and upon seeing this familiar aggression from the Cathayan Underworld, their first instinct wasn't to protest in outrage. Instead, their souls shuddered in fear, and everything they were about to say instantly got stuck in their throats.

In the second row, Kana Fujii concealed her mouth behind her fan as she cast a stunned gaze toward Zhao Yun, while Khilok tightened his grip around his armrests as he leaned forward slightly. All of the consortium representatives shuddered ever so slightly as if they had been pricked by needles, and they all exchanged fleeting glances with one another before looking away again.

The entire hall had fallen completely silent.

After a long while, Archimedes turned to Aristotle and said in a low voice, "Back when the second King Yanluo was in power, he ruled with an iron fist, and that was the time when the Cathayan Underworld's relationship with the rest of the world was at its very worst. The second King Yanluo was able to dominate the entire world with his power alone, but unrest and dissatisfaction toward him had been brewing throughout the entire duration of his time in power. I think the second King Yanluo was also aware of the drawbacks of his political style as well, which is why he chose the third King Yanluo. The third King Yanluo is meant to erase the bad taste he left in everyone's mouths. In other words, he's supposed to clean up the mess that the second King Yanluo left behind. As such, I don't think the third King Yanluo is going to be so aggressive. During the rule of the second King Yanluo, imports and exports dropped sharply by 46% compared with when the first King Yanluo was in power. I'm sure they're well aware of the drawbacks of such an aggressive political style as well. After all, no one wants to see another Hitler arise in the world."

Aristotle pursed his lips slightly as he said, "That's also the impression that I get from the few instances of interaction I've had with the third King Yanluo thus far. He incorporates both aggression and guile into his political style, which makes him easier to accept than the second King Yanluo, as evidenced by the attitudes of all of the other nations during the conference for the re-signing of the treaty on the non-proliferation of forbidden arts. However, why is he suddenly changing his style at a time like this?"

Could it be that the Cathayan Underworld was going to return to its old ways? That definitely wasn't good news for the rest of the world!

Furthermore, they had already prepared such a big occasion to exert pressure on the Cathayan Underworld, what were they supposed to do now? Should they continue to apply more pressure or back down from the challenge?

Several seconds later, Archimedes raised his head with a determined expression as he said, "We can't back down! Regardless of whether it's the change in the Cathayan Underworld's political style or the new energy resource, either one of those will have a significant impact on the rest of the world! If the Cathayan Underworld returns to its aggressive ways and holds the trump card that is the new energy resource, then the balance of the entire world will be tilted severely in their favor! We have no choice but to forge ahead here!"

In the blink of an eye, complete silence had descended over the entire hall, and all of the Yin spirits present were in deep thought. After a long while, the melodious chime of a clock rang out, echoing throughout the entire hall, and Archimedes took a deep breath before making his way onto the main stage.

A lion was carved onto the left side of the lectern on the main stage, while an eagle was carved onto the right, and the two were connected together to form a stone platform that was five meters in length.

This represented freedom and allegiance. No one wanted to return to the ancient times, where the underworld had been a world of war and bloodshed.

He stood on the stage as he swept his gaze throughout the entire hall, and he feigned a nonchalant expression as he briefly met Qin Ye's gaze, only to be met by a calm gaze from Qin Ye as well.

Both of them seemed to be quite calm and placid, but in reality, the meeting of their eyes was like a clash between swords.

"I'm very happy to see everyone again here for another reunion after 10 years," he said with a smile. "You've all heard my opening address countless times before, so I won't waste any more of your time. All I want to say is that the subject of energy resources is an eternal topic of discussion in the underworld. It's true that its development has been suppressed somewhat. For high-grade underworld emissaries, it doesn't matter whether an energy resource exists, but for normal netherworldly citizens, an energy resource would be a long-awaited blessing. Unfortunately, high-grade underworld emissaries are the decision-makers in this world."

He paused momentarily as he took a deep breath, and the veins on the back of his hand were bulging as he gripped onto the stone lectern.

Following that brief opening address, it was time to transform this energy resource conference into a battlefield!

All of the Yin spirits seemed to have sensed something, and they unconsciously sat up straighter in their seats. Archimedes took a moment to collect his own thoughts, then continued, "Under these circumstances, the Cathayan Underworld, one of the four pillars, has finally presented a new energy resource to the entire world through its tireless efforts. On behalf of all of the low and mid-grade underworld emissaries, as well as all of the netherworldly citizens out there, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Cathayan Underworld and its research and development team."

According to common etiquette, there should've been some applause here, but that didn't happen.

The tsunami was about to strike, and no one was in the mood to clap.

"According to international underworld regulations, basic data and progress reports pertaining to all projects that will affect the entire underworld for the next century must be released periodically to the rest of the world. During this energy resource conference, there will be a total of three scientists releasing their theses and some data, but due to the practical circumstances, the World Energy Resource Research Organization has taken the initiative to make some small changes."

He spread open his arms as he continued, "I'm sure that the report that everyone wants to hear the most comes from the Cathayan Underworld, so all other reports will be pushed back. As we all know, once the new energy resource arises, the entire world will face unprecedented changes, and a report on this new energy resource is more than worthy of the honor of getting the ball rolling here. Ghost King Zhao, do you have any objections?"

Everyone immediately turned toward Zhao Yun with intense looks in their eyes.

Just now, Zhao Yun had gently tapped his table. It wasn't very loud, but it was extremely attention-grabbing nonetheless.

Is it about to begin? All of the Yin spirits waited with bated breath for what Zhao Yun was about to say.

"I do have an objection," Zhao Yun replied. "Our Cathayan Underworld hasn't prepared an academic report."

Archimedes's smile remained unchanged as he said, "But this is a duty that your Cathayan Underworld must uphold. International laws are not to be broken. Allow me to remind you that the one who proposed this law was the first King Yanluo, and he had proposed it in order to maintain the power balance of the underworld in the wake of the development of biological weapons. Also, we don't need you to release all of the detailed data on the project, all we need to see are some important scientific parameters. With these parameters alone, it won't be possible for us to extrapolate the materials that you used, nor the sequential steps in your research and development. There is no academic conflict here, nor the possibility for patent theft."

An authoritative tone crept into his voice as he concluded, "As one of the four pillars, you owe this duty to the rest of the world."

Zhao Yun finally stood up, and upon seeing this, Kana Fujii licked her lips, which were slightly dry and cracked from anxiety, while Khilok was also biting firmly down onto his own lower lip. The representatives of the top 10 consortiums were all extremely tense and anxious.

"Firstly, there's one thing that our Cathayan Underworld must make clear." Zhao Yun made a grabbing motion, and a scroll appeared out of thin air before falling into his grasp. "Following a discussion held among our top officials, it was decided that once the new energy resource is developed, we won't be exporting it to other underworlds unless they need it. In other words, this will be a domestic energy resource used exclusively in the Cathayan Underworld."

Dead silence.

It was a very short statement, but it was like an asteroid crashing into Earth, sending shockwaves sweeping through the entire hall!

The shockwaves were so powerful that everyone, including even Archimedes, Aristotle, and Osiris were stunned into complete silence.

Three seconds later, the entire hall erupted into a frenzy.

"What the hell are you saying?!" Franklin slammed his armrest as he sprang to his feet while staring at Zhao Yun with a stunned expression. "Do you realize what you just said?! The new energy resource is the key to the next era! You have the ability to develop it, and you have a duty to make it available to the entire world! How can you keep it to yourself?!"

"I beg to differ," Qin Ye countered in an indifferent voice. "This is our nation's energy resource, and we can do with it as we please. If anyone has a right to teach me how to run my nation, it's certainly not you!!"

Thump!

He slammed his hand down onto the table in front of him, and his mid Yama-King level Yin energy erupted forth in a frenzy. However, immediately thereafter, another burst of Yin energy also erupted into the heavens as Osiris also sprang to his feet. "Esteemed Yanluo Qin, this is the territory of the Aegyptian Underworld, so I would request that you..."

Before he even had a chance to finish his sentence, he abruptly shuddered, and the table in front of him shattered without any warning before he was sent flying back like a cannonball!

"What right do you have to interrupt our King Yanluo when he's speaking?!" Zhao Yun's voice was like rumbling thunder, causing the entire hall to tremble and buzz. "If you want to speak to Yanluo Qin, then get Anubis to come here! Who do you think you are?!"

It had to be said that politics in the underworld was far more crude and primitive than in the mortal realm.

The existence of cultivation directly resulted in this contrast.

Osiris's expression twisted with fury beneath his bandages, making it look as if countless insects were crawling beneath his shroud. At the same time, countless Yin runes began to give off golden radiance from his bandages, and he said in a cold voice, "I was only going to issue a friendly reminder. Don't you think it's inappropriate to be using brute force during an international conference like this?"

"What are your nation's intentions?" a scientist asked in a loud voice. "Is this how you fulfill your obligations to the rest of the world as one of the four pillars?"

"You were the ones who created the rules of the world, yet you're renouncing them yourself now? This is utterly ridiculous!"

"Yanluo Qin, as the ruler of one of the four pillars, you should be taking it upon yourself to help the entire underworld advance, not hinder its development!"

"Your decision has let down the entire scientific world and the entire world in general!"

"Please reconsider, Yanluo Qin! The new energy resource is the key to the next era! We have no intention of stealing your research and development outcomes from you! We are simply following international regulations and asking you to perform your duties!"

"The development of the new energy resource must be supervised by the rest of the world! We have to know whether your nation is developing something else, perhaps even weapons!"

"Yanluo Qin, according to my knowledge, trade between the Cathayan Underworld and the rest of the world has dropped by close to 50% during the past 1,000 years! Are you really going to fall back into your old ways and be renounced by the entire world?!"

"Silence!!" Right at this moment, a thunderous roar rang out from the main stage, and Archimedes's Yin energy swept through the entire hall like a wave of darkness, drowning out all voices aside from those of Zhao Yun and Osiris.

"Everyone, this is an international conference, not an open-air market!" He turned his gaze toward Qin Ye as he said, "Yanluo Qin, please restrain your nation's death god."

A derisive sneer appeared on his face. "Why should I? Who was the one that instigated this? I came to attend this conference to answer everyone's questions, not to be harassed!"

His voice was like rumbling thunder, and all of the scientists present gnashed their teeth together viciously.

You're being harassed? What a load of bullshit! All we're asking is that you perform your rightful duties! You're the one who's holding the entire world under duress!

Archimedes opened his mouth to say something, but wasn't able to muster up any words in the end.

What Zhao Yun had just said had transformed the entire complexity of the situation, and as a result, this really was harassment!