Yama Rising

Qin Ye cast his gaze past the second King Yanluo toward the vast sea, as well as the many warships floating on the surface of the sea.

They were like still and silent monuments standing as a reminder of their past glory.

He then cast his gaze toward the World's Gate, at all of the armor-clad soldiers standing as straight as flagpoles in the chilling wind, as well as the city that extended up all the way into the clouds beyond the gate. All of the high-caliber ore here should've been used in construction and research and development, but they were only being utilized as sources of light.

If the new energy resource could reach this place one day, what would that look like?

Was it going to become a mechanical city powered by Yin energy?

After that, all weapons were going to be powered by this new energy resource, and there were going to be labels that read "Made in Cathay" on every single one of them!

It had to be said that it sounded very far-fetched, but also extremely alluring!

He was capable of doing this! In fact, he was the only person with any hope of being able to do this!

Having lived in the mortal realm for so long, he knew just how much an energy resource could transform the world. The panels of advisors of all of the underworlds were also aware that a new energy resource would be the key to the next era, yet their eagerness was rather lacking.

Just as the second King Yanluo said, mid and high-grade underworld emissaries would rather not see the emergence of a new energy resource. Seeing one hadn't been discovered yet, everyone could simply sleep on the matter and turn a blind eye.

This was why everyone was so stunned by the unveiling of the new energy resource during the last international conference.

Everyone was pretending to be asleep, why did he have to wake everyone up?

However, that was only the mindset of the three pillars. As for the other underworlds, they would feel as if this was the only opportunity for them to catch up to, or even surpass the four pillars.

With these underworlds as his allies, he would be able to sell them this technology in exchange for wealth.

Wealth would attract talent, thereby leading to the development of more technology! Ultimately, it was going to be a positive cycle that would constantly reinforce itself over time!

"What would it look like if we could equip this entire place with modern weaponry?" Qin Ye murmured to himself as he turned his gaze toward the vast World's Gate.

How powerful would the Cathayan Underworld become in the wake of such a massive advancement?

It definitely wouldn't be a difficult task to recreate the glory days of the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty!

The second King Yanluo smiled and replied, "If you can accomplish that, then you'll most definitely go down in history. Also..."

He pointed at the World's Gate with a sly expression as he continued, "You don't need to have everything done before you come to them. All you have to do is show them the future, and you'll receive unimaginable reciprocation. What lies beyond the World's Gate is known as the World's Dungeon. It's an extremely dangerous place, but at the same time, you'll find countless resources that don't even exist in the outside world. If you can gain the approval of the three saints, the four guardians, and the six holy disciples, you'll receive resources that will have the three pillars green with envy."

Qin Ye took a deep breath before nodding with a determined expression.

He had no choice but to do this, and in reality, he was very keen to accomplish something like this as well.

This was a being that even the second King Yanluo was wary of, if a weakling like him could take care of it, wouldn't that indirectly indicate that he was the most powerful being in this world? When that time came, an idiot like the second King Yanluo wouldn't even be fit to be his servant!

Of course, Qin Ye didn't dare to articulate any of these thoughts. Instead, he cleared his throat and asked, "What's happened to the Kraken's body?"

"I've already sent it back to Ashmound for you," the second King Yanluo replied before turning and making his way back toward the World's Gate while giving Qin Ye a farewell wave. "Goodbye then. Once I enter this place, I shouldn't be coming out for the next few centuries. I hope you'll be able to bring me news that can satisfy me next time you come here. Otherwise, don't even bother coming in."

"Really?! I can choose not to go in?! (゜▽゜*)"

"... I swear I will kill you right now."

"... It was just a joke, don't take it so seriously! I was just kidding, haha..."

The second King Yanluo vanished on the spot, and Qin Ye looked around to make sure that the second King Yanluo was nowhere to be seen before giving the World's Gate a vicious middle finger.

However, it really didn't accomplish anything, and a few seconds later, he put his hand down again in a defeated manner.

It was exactly because of people like the second King Yanluo in the world, who were busy creating and striving, that he was able to slowly develop behind them.

Only ordinary people had the right to slow down and enjoy life. What excuse did he have to be dissatisfied given that he had the skills to succeed in his role?

It wasn't like he would have to step onto the battlefield in person. At the very least, that most likely wouldn't have to happen. After all, "King Yanluo Deserts Battle" wouldn't make for a very good headline...

He gently slapped his own cheeks with his hands as he heaved a faint sigh. "Looks like there are some really high hopes on me..."

A complex smile appeared on his face before he vanished as a gust of Yin wind and returned to the cruise ship.

"Where would you like to go, esteemed underworld emissary?" the server on the ship immediately asked with a respectful bow.

"Wuyang, Cathay."

………………………………………………….

Cathayan Underworld, Six Origin Diagram Plaza.

The massive plaza was completely empty aside from the Harken, who was slowly moving around on the plaza. The place had become rather different from before.

At the center of the plaza was a pure white world, within which stood the Harken. Every time it took a step, a golden Yin rune would appear beneath its foot. At the edge of the plaza was a vast expanse of blurry space. It was very difficult to describe this scene, it was as if an ink painting had been spread open in the air, presenting an illusory image.

Right behind the Harken were Zu Chongzhi, Lu Ban, and Li Chun, all three of whom were hovering in mid-air, carefully recording every single Yin rune that appeared, before organizing them in the order that the Harken placed them in. Up above, the sky was like a mirror, reflecting everything down below.

This space seemed to exist independently from the rest of the world, and it was incredibly peaceful. All of a sudden, the three scholars looked up with surprised expressions at the figure that had abruptly appeared beside them. After a brief stupor, excited looks appeared on their faces, and they were just about to say something when the figure waved a hand with a smile, before turning to watch in silence as the Harken continued to lay down Yin runes.

After watching for a few minutes, Qin Ye finally couldn't help but break his silence. "What are you doing?"

"I'm setting up the 18 abysses of punishment!" the Harken replied in a grumpy voice. "Neither Ghost King Zhao nor the second King Yanluo are here, who else can do this aside from me? Warden Arthis is pestering the crap out of me every day while you've gone to Hawaii to take a beach holiday! If I don't do this, the Yin spirits are going to explode sooner or later!"

It was clear that the Harken was very displeased.

"... I have to disagree with you there. When did I ever go to Hawaii for a holiday? I was clearly in the new continent engaging in a battle of wits against the other death gods there!"

The Harken swung around with an angry expression. "I don't care in the slightest where you went or what you've done! Just tell me where the second King Yanluo is! This is a job that we were supposed to do together, yet he suddenly ran off somewhere and left everything to me! Does he have no shame?"

I don't think he does...

Qin Ye cleared his throat before replying, "He's most likely not going to appear in the next few centuries. Did he say anything to you before he left? Maybe he told you not to wait for him?"

The Harken thought about this for a moment before imitating the second King Yanluo's voice as it said, "Stay here and don't go anywhere, I'll be right back."

"..." Qin Ye didn't know what to say.

The Harken stood up as it said, "Now that you've come back, I can take a rest. By the way, how did everything go?"

The three scholars immediately turned to Qin Ye with burning anticipation in their eyes upon hearing this.

All of them were aware of what Qin Ye's sudden trip to the new continent entailed.

If he had succeeded, then the resurgence of the Cathayan Underworld was imminent, so his trip was extremely important!

"I succeeded, thankfully," Qin Ye replied with a serious expression, then placed a hand onto his own chest. His chest immediately transformed into a Yin energy vortex, from within which he pulled out a notepad with complex patterns on its surface.

"Are these Xu Fu's notes?" Zu Chongzhi's throat was a little dry from excitement. He was the only true mathematician present, while Zhang Heng was a true physicist, and as such, they were more aware than everyone else of just how significant this notepad was.

It was the key to the next era!

"Yes, I've already taken a look at it," Qin Ye replied with slightly furrowed brows. "A bloodline restriction has been placed on the notepad. I should've anticipated this beforehand, given how cautious and cunning Xu Fu has shown himself to be in the past."

The Harken's brows also furrowed slightly upon hearing this. "Generally speaking, a bloodline restriction can only be undone by the person who set it. The problem is that Xu Fu has forcibly erased all of his own memories. Are you worried that even he won't be able to recall the method to undo the restriction?"

Qin Ye nodded in response.

What was even more troublesome was that if they were to try and access Xu Fu's restricted memories in any way, it would result in the instant death of Xu Fu's soul. This was the last trick that Xu Fu had up his sleeve for escape and revival.

He had approached the Harken as soon as he came back so that they could figure out a solution to this.

What could they do?

The request forms issued by the three major research centers for a meeting had already piled up to half a foot thick, and the pile of "greeting letters"sent by other nations had already well exceeded half a meter in thickness. Of course, the greetings were kept short and concise, while the majority of the content in these letters consisted of questions about the progression of the Cathayan Underworld's new energy resource.

In order to confirm something, particularly something significant enough to determine the direction of an entire era, the nation bringing about the change had to make a series of moves such as determining experimentation sites, assembling research and development teams, establishing a project, setting aside funds for said project...

Only after all of this was done could everyone else be certain that the nation was actually going to do the thing that it proclaimed.

If the Cathayan Underworld were to declare the new energy resource, only to take no follow-up action, it would eventually lose the support of all of the other underworlds, and even the five nations of Northern Europa would only verbally support the Cathayan Underworld.

Integrity was the most important trait for a nation on the international stage, and no nation that had turned its back on integrity had ever ended up better for it. Eventually, they would be shunned and ostracized by their collaborative partners and perhaps even the rest of the entire world.

"Where is Ghost King Zhao?" the Harken asked.

"He's already gone to Westriver Province. I asked him to go and take a look first. When are we going to set off?"

"Right now." The Harken habitually sprang onto Qin Ye's shoulder as it said, "Nothing is more important than this, so everything else will have to wait."

Qin Ye nodded in response, and in the next instant, both he and the Harken vanished as a gust of Yin wind. Several hours later, they arrived before the six paths of reincarnation.

It was still as grand and majestic as ever with flames erupting into the heavens. However, what was different from the last time Qin Ye visited the place was that there were a lot more Yin spirits around.

There were many newly appointed public servants traversing through the karmic fire passageways, and occasionally, an underworld emissary could be seen taking new souls into the six paths of reincarnation. Beside the giant karmic flame lotus, there had even been some houses constructed, setting the base for the construction of a new city.