Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1648 - 1175: The Gathering of the Clans, Negotiations Deciding Maya’s Fate (Part 2)

"..."

As the envoy from the Chel Divine Authority Tribes departed, the Temple was once again filled with a tense, silent undercurrent. The remaining clan envoys exchanged glances, all showing signs of surprise. Who would have thought that the Chel Divine Authority Tribe, known to be loyal to the Cocum Clan, would choose neutrality?

Tia'j Kin pursed his lips, his expression somewhat complex. For the past fifty years, since the Xiwu Family conspired against the Mayapan Royalty and the remnants of Cocum fled, the Chel Divine Authority Tribe had been the most reliable ally of the Cocum remnants. And three years ago, after the Xiwu Prince was killed, the Xiwu Clan sent troops for a frenzied revenge, and the escape of the Cocum remnants to the Northern Coast also relied heavily on the full support of the Chel Divine Authority Tribe.

Yet, after he formally announced the conversion to the Highland Main God, the Chel Divine Authority Tribe, centered around the Heavenly Water Priesthood, cooled off significantly. Undoubtedly, as the Highland priests arrived with the Highland corps, the Highland Main God's strong attempt to dominate the Maya was already threatening the foundation on which the Chel tribes stood upon—the "Divine Authority" of the Lowland Maya!

In the current situation, the Chel tribes maintaining friendly neutrality, allowing military passage, was already a kind of compromise for the sake of the centuries-long alliance...

"Witnessed by all the gods and our ancestors! This ancient saint's skull is indeed a true divine object. The two Cocum Divine Descendants are indeed the last continuation of the Royal Family..."

The envoy from the Kapoor Clan, Kinich Kapul, stood up and gave a slight bow to Tia'j Kin, far less ceremoniously than Amuchel did.

The Cocum remnants were long sheltered on the land of the Kapoor Clan, and over several decades, the Kapoor Clan had lost its reverence for the Royal Family. In reality, the Kapoor Clan strictly restricted the Cocum remnants, requiring that every generation of Cocum clan leader must marry a noble lady from the Kapoor Clan, and forbidding the Cocum remnants from raising the banner of the Mayapan Royal Family again. From the actions of the Kapoor Clan, it was evident that they harbored clear covetousness and ambitions for the bloodline of the Serpent Divine Descendant and the legitimacy of the Mayapan Royalty. Yet unexpectedly, they were suddenly interrupted by these Highland Mexica people...

At this thought, Kinich Kapul turned around without expression, using a more formal etiquette to bow to East Sea Marshal Bertade. Bertade raised his brow and returned the gesture with a smile.

"Greetings to you! Mighty, brave, and leopard-like in appearance, Great Highland Chief!..."

"Greetings to you! Honorable, ancient Canul Divine Descendant, may the Chief Divine protect us!..."

Kinich Kapul's formal bow was not for anything else but out of acknowledgment that this group of barbarian warriors from the Highlands was simply too formidable! In less than a year, this group, wielding terrifying thunder fire, ferocious and hideous, with cruel sacrificial practices, had swept through the entire Western Maya Coast, subdued the Putun barbarians, overpowered the Canul Lineage, and even reached the territory of the Wei Yu Clan on the Northern Coast!

The Kapoor Clan, whose symbol is the serpent spear and which worships the Maya War God B'uluch Chabtan as their Chief Divine, is a clan state that places the most emphasis on warfare among the clans. They truly held a genuine respect and awe for such formidable power. But precisely due to the dread from the Highland barbarians, the Kapoor Clan maintained a neutral observant attitude, unwilling to easily get involved.

When the Highland barbarians began attacking the Xiwu Clan's dependencies and the jungle enemies with whom they had been clashing for many years, the Kapoor Clan not only refrained from joining the fight but also quietly pulled back their forces, easing the eastern front pressure on the Xiwu Clan...

"Witnessed by the War God and ancestors! The divine object is real, the Divine Descendant is true, and the Highland Sun War God is indeed a respectable and valiant Great Divine Spirit!..."

Kinich Kapul spoke in a loud voice, with unwavering focus. On one hand, he affirmed the status of the Highland Main God in the Maya Lands, showing flexibility in the faith boundaries. On the other hand, he announced the Kapoor Clan's continued neutrality and their temporary non-involvement in the Mayapan restoration war.

"However, regarding the revival of the Mayapan Royal Family and the renewal of the master-servant covenant...this is a matter of utmost importance! The Kapoor Clan needs to wait for the auspicious day of the new year to inquire with divination from all gods and ancestors in the Divine Realm, only after receiving sufficiently clear divine responses can a decision be made!..."

After finishing, Kinich Kapul again bowed, respectfully to Bertade, and perfunctorily to Tia'j Kin. Then, without waiting for the two to respond, he promptly turned and left.

"..."

Seeing Kinich Kapul leave, the envoy from the Tes Tribe, "Wild Boar" Tes Xin, hurriedly stood up. Being a vassal of the Kapoor Clan, the Tes Tribe naturally had no power to make autonomous choices. Nonetheless, before leaving, Tes Xin bowed his divine long head to Tia'j Kin and Bertade, before quickly exiting the Temple.

"Hmm? The Kapoor Clan, which has been clashing with the Xiwu Clan for decades, actually chose neutrality?..."

East Sea Marshal Bertade's expression remained unchanged, though his mind was swirling with many considerations. Very soon, the elder envoy from the Ekab Chiefdom, Moon Mother Divine Descendant Bai Xing Yi Xi also got up to express his stance, with a conservative hostility showing in his narrow eyes.

"Mother of the Moon, Ixchel, shrouds the Maya jungle. She will not allow the Highland spirits to intrude upon the Divine Realm of the gods!... Even if the skull of the Ancient Saint is real, even if the vanished Maya Royalty reappears...the ancient home of all gods, the domain of the Maya Divine Descendants, will not tolerate the invasion of Highland spirits again!..."

"The Ekab Alliance shall stand with the Xiwu Clan to resist the Highland barbarians' invasion! Just like our ancestors did five hundred years ago, resisting the Toltec army from the Highlands together!..."

Upon hearing the Ekab Chiefdom's hostile stance, Mayan merchant Tikalo finally couldn't hold back and stepped forward. He glared, looking at the equally elderly bald envoy from the Ekab Alliance, furiously questioning.

"Damn it! Bai Xing Yi Xi, have you forgotten the grace of the Mayapan Royal Family, conferring upon you the title of Moon Mother Divine Descendant and Yan Island Divine Descendant, and allowing your autonomy?!... More importantly, your Yixi Clan is only one of the two major clans in the Ekab Alliance! Can your decision represent the stance of the Yan Island Clan? Can the priests of the Turum Great Temple allow you to represent them at will?!..."

"Ha! Tikalo, you old fox smuggling Maya Divine Smoke, digging up Divine Descendant tombs, trafficking ancestral ritual objects… and stealing business from the Ekab Alliance! Don't think that by backing the Highland Barbarians and pulling out family Divine Objects you can start pointing fingers at Maya's domains! If you have the guts, take your fleet and head to Ekab Port!…"

Divine Descendant Bai Xing Yi Xi sneered, raising his elongated head higher. He took a deep breath, looked at the Chief Divine's statue, and cursed in the eastern Maya dialect.

"Ha! Another evil god from the Highlands, like the Feathered Serpent Kukulkan and the Rain Divine Chaac brought by the Toltec! Truly sacred ancient clans only worship the oldest Heavenly Serpent and Moon Mother, Cloud Divine and Death God!… The Yan Island Clan and the Yi Xi Clan, both trace their origins to ancient clans from before the Toltec invasions! Our two clans will always stand side by side. Our stance represents the Ekab Alliance. As for the priests of the Turum Great Temple, they detest these Highland evil gods even more!...."

"Pah! What Kapul Clan, what Maya Kuhuajaw! Though I'm old, my serpent eyes are still clear!… You are just puppets manipulated by Highland Barbarians, deception under the feather crown of barbarians and foreign gods!… Alas! What a pity! Such perfect ancient holy artifacts, such sacred Ancient Saint's Skull, will eventually fall into the hands of Highland Barbarians!… The Kapul Clan betrayed the ancient gods, they truly deserve to die!…"

Divine Descendant Bai Xing Yi Xi cast a sidelong glance, cursing, wishing he could snatch the Ancient Saint's Skull right then. But seeing the fierce Highland Samurai in the temple, armed with metal weapons, he sighed and shook his head, regrettably turning to leave.

"Barbarians, ruthless Highland barbarians! Sacrificing the tops of kapok trees to the divine descendants is truly the height of barbarism! How can the divine descendants of the ancient Moon Mother associate with these brutal barbarians?…"

"Damn it! These treacherous clan envoys! They have completely forgotten the four hundred years of grace from the Mayapan royalty!…"

Mayan merchant Tikalo bit his teeth harshly, silently cursing in his heart. At this moment, he was somewhat broken! Although he had long anticipated the coalition of clan chiefdoms had lost their reverence to the Mayapan royalty, he still didn't expect that even with the power of the Highland army and the ancient holy artifacts, no clan would openly support Mayapan royalty's restoration!

Actually, to these Mayan clans that had already established countries, if not driven by circumstances, who would be willing to find another "king" high above them?

"Ah! All gods have flown to the Divine Realm, only the Ancient Saint remains in the human realm… Today, being able to see the legendary Divine Object and witness the Ancient Saint's Skull, even if I immediately embraced the Goddess of Suicide, it would be worth it!…"

In the grand hall, only three clan envoys remained, and the voice that emerged came from the the Corn Clan's Envoy, the Corn Suiyumu.

The Corn Clan (Cochuah) is located southeast of the Xiu Family, directly south of the Kapoor Family, deep within the jungle, with their clan's Chief Divine being both the Corn God and Cloud God called Umkakshu. Due to geographical isolation, they rarely partake in the skirmishes and disputes of the lowlands. Few clans venture deep into the jungle to attack them. This time, sending an envoy probably attracted by the legend of the Divine Object's appearance.

"Honored Maya Kuhuajaw, with such perfect Divine Objects, naturally the Corn Clan believes in your identity…"

Suiyumu lowered his elongated head, tucking his chin in, keeping his arched head straight, performing a rather ancient formal ceremony. Then he smiled, revealing deliberately sharpened, gemstone-embedded teeth, speaking in a warm and harmonious voice.

"Wispy white clouds, the Corn God flies above! The Corn Clan has always stayed away from the disputes of various tribes. We reside deep in the jungle; our clan isn't strong and can't offer much help to you... Hence, the royal war against the Xi Wu Clan, I'm afraid the Corn Clan is powerless to send troops…"

"However, Honorable Maya Kuhuajaw, the Corn Clan wishes to serve you, renewing the ancient royal master-servant covenant…as long as the terms of the covenant remain unchanged and the royalty continues to promise the Corn Clan autonomy…"

"..."

Upon hearing such conditions, Ti'aj Kin pursed his lips and glanced at his clan uncle Tikalo. The Corn Clan deep in the jungle was unwilling to send troops and didn't mention the Chief Divine's beliefs. Their words only expressed willingness to acknowledge the royalty verbally while maintaining the clan's autonomous status, which was, at most, a friendly neutrality. Such conditions…

"With the Sun Supreme God above! Honorable Corn Divine Descendant, your loyalty to the royalty has been witnessed by the Divine and the Ancient Saint!…"

Mayan merchant Tikalo took a deep breath, showing a friendly smile. He likewise lowered his head, tucked his chin in, nodding slightly as he returned the gesture. Then, he gently sighed, smiling as he spoke.

"Ancestral testimony! The Corn Clan's allegiance is naturally accepted by the royalty. Your proposed conditions, the Kapoor Clan also fully recognizes them! However, the formal signing of the master-servant covenant must wait until the royal army crushes the rebellious Xi Wu clan and returns to Mayapan. Before the sacred ancient Maya Royal Palace, under the eyes of the royalty's ancestors, we will renew the covenant!…" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Crush Xi Wu and return to Mayapan?… Renew the covenant then?…"

Suiyumu blinked, slightly stunned, understanding Tikalo's meaning. It was dissatisfaction with the covenant's conditions! Truly waiting for the army to crush Xi Wu and the royalty's return to Mayapan, at that time, the covenant's conditions… Hmm? Does the Kapoor Clan really have such confidence to conquer the powerful Xi Wu Clan? Or do the Highland Barbarians truly possess such strength?…"

"Ah! It is only right! The Corn Clan awaits the royal summons anytime… Divine blessing! The royalty will surely return to the capital city of Mayapan, unifying the sixteen clans!…"

Suiyumu's expression shifted but finally revealed a smile. He smiled, greeting Ti'aj Kin, then Bertade, before slowly, casually departing.