Yama Rising

Chapter 670: Oracle

Perhaps he wasn’t quite there yet, but he could sense the differences in the manner in which people around him treated him. Wang Chenghao no longer dared to joke with him. Arthis no longer dared to cuss and swear at him. Even the elderly men in Hell were slowly but surely beginning to treat him with more and more respect. He was once a reckless youth that was just feeling his way about, but he was slowly and surely shaping up to become a man befitting of the title King Yanluo of Hell.

But what was most surprising about this was the fact that he hardly felt any sense of rejection for the responsibilities on his shoulder.

Has the Second King Yanluo successfully brainwashed me?

He smiled back in response to the gestures of goodwill brought by the various Alkebulan Underworlds. He was no longer as childish as before, and he naturally wouldn’t drag things out just to relish in the feeling of being fawned over. Instead, he even looked each minister in the eye and addressed them with the utmost respect.

He continued to make small talk with everyone, making eye contact and nodding slightly at each minister from time to time. In fact, he could even sense that he was subconsciously keeping the conversation going. This must be what all politicians were adept at doing…

He made a gesture of invitation, and Qin Ye promptly took the cue from him and cupped his hands respectfully at everyone else, “Apologies, everyone. When the old has gone and the new has come in Hell, I’ll personally see to it that everyone is invited to Hell for a grand reception and banquet.”

“I eagerly await that invitation.” The old man from the Golden Rhino Tribe also responded with a smile, “I wish Prefect Qin success in your ascension. Remember, the Golden Rhino Tribe will always be your most loyal friend.”

None of them were qualified to head into the Grand Hall of the Ancestors. The only reason why they rushed here with their eyes wide open was naturally to make an impression on behalf of their tribe. It was a form of political investment, if you will.

Truth be told, everyone knew full well that Qin Ye would never be able to remember the names of every tribe that had come forward today. Despite that, they couldn’t pass up on such an opportunity either.

Meanwhile, on the carriage. Babulu shut the window and finally sighed softly. And then, he finally turned back to Qin Ye.

“Prefect Qin, I’ve been rude to you before.” He bowed sincerely and continued, “Our tribe was unaware that you were one of the successors to the Second King Yanluo of Hell. That alone, would have qualified you to stay in a place elsewhere, and not that little villa unbefitting of a successor to the throne. There is a strict difference between regular emissaries and noblemen after all. On behalf of the Black Mamba Underworld, please accept our sincerest apologies.”

I haven’t even said a word to you yet, and you’ve already seized the initiative to place the blame entirely on the Black Mamba Underworld, as though you were simply carrying out your duties, huh?

“Mr Qin, I imagine that you’ll have to return to Hell immediately after receiving the divine oracle. The journey to the Grand Hall of Ancestors is only ten minutes. During this time, I’d like to take the opportunity to tell you one final thing.”

Babulu looked Qin Ye straight in the eye and continued, “Regardless of what happens, the Black Mamba Underworld would always remain your most loyal counterpart and friend.”

How bold… Qin Ye’s eyes trembled, and he rubbed his chin with a wry smile on his face.

But… was there a reason to reject their advances?

“Perhaps we’ll have such opportunities in future.”

Soon, the carriage ground down to a halt. Qin Ye got off and immediately surveyed his surroundings.

There were tombstones everywhere.

The tombstones were approximately two-meters tall, and their placement artificially formed aisles between them. Babulu led Qin Ye through one of these paths until he finally stopped before the great hall.

It was square in shape, and was surrounded by 17 gates, all of which were etched with the totem of a colossal beast, including a sunbird, a rhinoceros, a lioness, a hyena, and so on and so forth. That said, not a single Yin spirit could be seen in sight. Furthermore, Qin Ye could already sense the overbearing Yin energy of the Black Mamba Mythic Spirit pouring out from within.

Qin Ye nodded, took a few breaths, adjusted his robes, and then walked in with a grave expression on his face.

Each step he took was devoid of any sound. In fact, not even the shadows in this place appeared to be his. Every time he lifted his feet, the shadows beneath his feet would flutter up like a swarm of bats, shrieking as they scattered into the other shadows around him. The fact that these were the only sounds echoing around these parts made the entire graveyard all the more creepy.

Whoosh…

Qin Ye could see a vividly carved statue placed right at the end of this avenue.

There were obviously no Yin Talismans etched on the statue, but Qin Ye felt almost as though he could see a river of stars drifting about in a zephyr ocean. The shape of the statue, its curves and its form, all seemed to come together to constitute an indescribable sensation.

A long, red carpet stretched from the doorway all the way to the statue. Towards the end, there were three steps that led up to the platform on which the statue was located. And at that moment, there was a figure seated right in front of the statue.

His entire body was shrouded in shadow. As soon as Qin Ye entered, he raised his eyes slightly, “You’re here.”

“Heh…” Black Mamba smiled enigmatically, “Don’t you recognize me?”

This wasn’t Black Mamba!

Just then, it stood up.

However, this moment of shock didn’t last for more than a split second. A moment later, Fate blossomed with a brilliant eruption of light, only to illuminate… a tall figure that had suddenly appeared right in front of Qin Ye.

He had traversed the span of approximately one hundred meters in the matter of just a split second!

Qin Ye gnashed his teeth as he responded, “Should I… feel lucky that I’ve gained the favour of the great Plumed Serpent God?”

Qin Ye licked his lips, “The Plumed Serpent God maintains a lofty status in the Alkebulan Underworlds. If this was truly Black Mamba himself, he would never act with such disrespect to the statue of the Plumed Serpent God. And that’s not to mention the fact that the divine oracle is about to be delivered. Black Mamba would never dare sit so boldly right in front of the most divine being in Alkebulan. In fact, there’s only one entity in all of Alkebulan that would dare to do what you’ve done!”

Black Mamba nodded, “The Harken?”

Silence.

As he did, his scales flared up in unison, and countless white feathers emerged from within, turning the otherwise ink-black god of death as white as the wings of an angel!

“Successor to the throne of Hell… The Plumed Serpent God has already passed away. You may think of me instead as… a part of the Heavenly Dao…”