Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1438 - 992: Merriment Here, the Strategist Walks into the Trap
"Praise the Chief Divine! The Kingdom has vanquished Cloud Serpent Mountain City, and with it, the Alliance’s sworn enemy is exterminated! Come, join me for a drink, in celebration of the Divine King!"...
"Yes!... Praise the Chief Divine! Celebrate the Divine King! Celebrate His Highness!"...
The night was vast, and the bonfire blazed. In the Divine Descendant’s Palace within Hidden Serpent City, a new master had arrived, heralding a grand feast not seen in ages. Xiulote, with a gentle smile, held a cup of copal resin wine, seated high upon the grand Holy Tree Throne. Below him, numerous military generals, temple priests, and tribe chiefs sat on small bamboo mats, their status easily distinguished at a glance.
The so-called "Copal" is a sacred resin used for sacrificial rites in the Highland, Seaside, and even among the various Maya tribes, known as the holy "Blood of the Tree"! This resin is secreted by various fragrant trees of the tropical olive family, forming clusters that lie between amber and agarwood, with scents varying according to the heritage and blending of each region. In the Seaside’s epic traditions, as far back as the ancient Olmec Era, there was a practice of burning copal resin during sacrificial ceremonies.
Copal resin can emit a strong fragrance when burned, also serving in rituals to guide the priest’s soul to communicate with the ancient ancestors of all gods. Therefore, throughout all tribes in Central America, copal is expensive and highly sought after.
The Seaside tribes, located in the tropical jungle, are one of the primary original production areas of this "Blood of the Tree". And the resin chalice in Xiulote’s hand is a divine object from Hidden Serpent Holy City, unearthed from a large, ancient resin fossil excavated centuries ago. With this chalice, one naturally bears a subtle fragrance while drinking, as if communing with the ancient tree spirits!
As for the Holy Tree Throne upon which Xiulote sat, it is also considered one of the legacy divine objects of Hidden Serpent Holy City. Originating from a "Holy Wood" tree over a thousand years old (similar to South American Palo Santo), it was crafted from its heart and naturally carries a relaxing fragrance.
In Seaside legend, it is said to be a divine gift from the Feathered Serpent to the first followers, possessing magical cleansing and healing effects. Now, these precious divine objects, symbolizing heritage and divinity, have fallen into the hands of the Kingdom of the Lake with the fall of Hidden Serpent Holy City!
"Praise the prince of Divine Revelation! You have unified the Seaside lands, becoming the first common king of the Seaside tribes!... Let our Seaside priests offer dance and song to you!"
As everyone indulged in the revelry, the High Priest of Golden Bay, Iwood, stood with flushed face, eager to present a dance to the king. Hearing this, the Papu Priest quickly rose to agree and voiced his colored praise.
"Indeed! Indeed! Honorable Highness, you are the divine sun of the Seaside, shining with golden brilliance! Let us pray and sing of your generosity and compassion, just like praising the divine mountain at dawn!"...
"Haha! Good!... Respected Seaside priests, you are all learned sages. Sing for me a hymn of the Olmec ancestors!"...
Listening to the rainbow-like praises, Xiulote’s lips curled into a smile, feeling a great satisfaction in his heart. These Seaside priests, with some Olmec heritage, are much more eloquent than the straightforward Highland priests. Now was a time to relax, and he was delighted to hear the songs of praise, enjoying this harmony between sovereign and subjects.
"Uh... good! Let me begin!"
The Papu Priest, undaunted, danced with his hands and feet, using a melodious priestly tone to first chant the opening.
"In the era of the five suns, the ancestors of the Olmec rose in sacred radiance! That was the first flame, igniting the towering Divine Tree. Then, the blue snake wandered the deep sea, the Golden Eagle soared over the towering highlands, and the Black Wolf ran across the vast land!"...
"And I, in the heavenly destiny of the Five Gods and Five Elements, saw the immortal black light... It traverses several cycles from the ancient era to this very moment, shining upon my most loyal heart, dedicated to my supreme king!"...
Hearing the Papu Priest’s colorful and magnificent compliment, High Priest Iwood’s eyelid twitched, feeling a shiver down his back. Compared to Papu, born of a High Priest, his literary talent was notably inferior. He pondered for a while before speaking with difficulty, constantly shifting the direction of his hands, striving to exalt.
"The six ancestral rivers originate from the original Ancient Saint City, flowing to the endless four directions of the world! Countless Jiao People tribes, one near the West, one near the South, one near the East, and one far in the East... and two dispersed great rivers, one far, far North, and one far, far South!"...
"And wherever they may be, they are the bloodline of our Jiao People ancestors, our long-lost brothers. Though they have forgotten, they are destined to return, and rekindle faith in the singular Chief Divine, ruled by the sole king of Divine Revelation!"...
"Haha! Good! Very good! Continue!"...
After the two high priests finished, the gazes of the many priests collectively turned towards the downcast Old Witch Doctor, Kani. Xiulote raised an eyebrow, curious, and focused his attention on this uniquely featured, yet always low-key old priest.
"Papu, who is he?"...
"Your Highness, he is Kani, the most extraordinary sage among many priests! He possesses a legacy divine object, able to predict fortunes, never failing!"...
"Oh?! Possesses a divine object, skilled in prophecy?"
Upon hearing this, Xiulote’s face froze, and he surprisedly sized up the old Witch Doctor, Kani. Then, he stroked his chin and smiled meaningfully.
"Witnessed by the Chief Divine! Wise Kani, please continue to complete this song of praise... I must implore you to foretell and divine for me the not-so-distant future!..."
"Uh... this! I..."
Hearing the King’s command and feeling the gaze of everyone, old Witch Doctor Kani’s heart trembled, his back instantly drenched in sweat. He had never intended to speak of any future ’divination’ before someone like Xiulote, who excelled in ’prophecy’! But seeing the King’s half-smile, he knew he had no retreat...
After a moment of hesitation, old Witch Doctor Kani, holding the ceramic plate he always carried, gritted his teeth hard. Recalling fragmented words from memory, he once again took a great risk to perform a major divine dance.
"The end of the Era’s cycle begins anew, the noonday sun reflects the newborn dawn, forging the Divine Artifacts of the world in fire! The Golden Eagle and the Black Wolf, one before the other, sweep across the various tribes under the sky, also ruling the sky, the earth, and the sea!... The twin suns in the sky burn the world, until the Golden Eagle descends into the high mountains and the Black Wolf stands alone at the peak, where only a truly unique black glow will appear!..."
"And the end of an Era is always accompanied by disaster, the newer and broader the Era, the deeper and more terrifying the destruction! The beginning of this Fifth Epoch will bring black shadows and white calamities, coming from the distant Eastern Sea, bringing unprecedented roars and deaths!..."
"However, the black light is immortal and undying, the grasses and trees of the world will eventually continue to grow. In the trial of the divine disaster in the final days, the roots of the Divine Tree will eventually spread, uniting the withered vegetation into one... Until the divine disaster passes, when the plants blossom again, they will meld into one, thriving like never before!..."
"Hmm?! The Golden Eagle descends into the mountains, the Black Wolf stands alone at the peak? Unprecedented roars and deaths? After the divine disaster, all tribes unite as one?!"
On the Holy Tree’s Throne, Xiulote’s expression fluctuated, instantly becoming solemn. His gaze was deep, staring intently at the wise Kani, not speaking for a long time.
There could only be two possibilities for the other to sing such a prophetic ballad! One is truly having the ability of prophecy, or possessing a mysterious Divine Object. The other possibility is being exceedingly intelligent, having deduced his intentions from the prophecies spread by the exploration fleet. And regardless of which one it is...
Xiulote pondered for a long time, watching the cold sweat break out on old Witch Doctor Kani’s forehead, his limbs trembling slightly, before suddenly bursting into laughter.
"Good! Very good! What a wise Kani, indeed extraordinary!... Ecatl!"
"Family Head?"
"Witnessed by the Chief Divine! To encounter such a wise person, I am very pleased! Come! Bestow upon him the Divine Object goblet in my hand!..."
"Yes, Family Head!"
"Ah! Thank you, Your Highness of Divine Revelation! Such a Divine Object can only be owned by someone truly noble! And an old man like me dare not..."
"Haha! Witnessed by the Chief Divine! In my life, I most admire wise people and most enjoy listening to the teachings of the wise..."
Xiulote smiled slightly, interrupting the old Witch Doctor. Then, he squinted his eyes, looking at the reverent and bowed old Witch Doctor, speaking softly yet deciding his fate.
"Respected Wise Kani! From today on, please stay by my side, to converse and teach at any time!..."
Upon hearing this, many Priests’ eyes were filled with envy. However, old Witch Doctor Kani’s knees went soft, and his once calm voice began to tremble.
"Ah?! Ah this!... Your Highness... I still have the duty of compiling history..."
"No matter! By my side, you can still compile epic sagas, and can even compile them better!..."
Xiulote, with a playful demeanor, sized up the nervous old Witch Doctor. His face was adorned with a smile, but his voice carried an undeniable authority.
"Just as well, you can accompany me back to the magnificent Lake Capital City... to behold the Alliance’s Heritage Tablet, the epic collection... and to truly witness the noonday sun and the figure of the Golden Eagle!..."
