Yama Rising

Chapter 529: Hell's Legacy (2)

“I’m only doing this because the atmosphere in this place is far too tense… The best way to go about moral education is connection and proper engagement of the students…” Qin Ye muttered sheepishly. What the hell is wrong with this man?! How can he be so easily aggravated? This is a conversation between two King Yanluos, is there really a need for everything to be so somber and grave? I’m seriously doing my best to liven the atmosphere around here, so can you please stop being a downer on my parade?!

“Faith stems from belief.” And then, he appeared to suddenly change the topic, “Myths were born because there were just far too many things that math and science simply couldn’t explain. Myths and faith are two sides of the same coin, and faith is incidentally the foundation of all underworlds out there! The best proof of this is the disappearance of countless underworlds since the beginning of time. Some were besieged and razed to the ground, either by way of being overrun completely, or perhaps with the death of their god. But more often than not… they fell to the test of time.”

“Yanluo Qin, now, I’d like you to think about the current situation in Cathay. Do you think that time’s on your side? No… the situation surrounding Hell is as imminent and critical as it gets! This is one of the main reasons why I’d spared no punches in forcing you to come to the realization of what exactly your function as the King Yanluo of Hell is. The fact that you weren’t able to conceal your identity from the mortal realm puts your cover at risk, but it is likewise a prime opportunity for you!”

Qin Ye’s breaths grew ragged at once.

Something told Qin Ye that Xu Yangyi was going to segue straight into the core of this topic.

Qin Ye paused, and then began to scrunch up his face in deep thought.

Cathay was still reeling from the effects of the cultural revolution. Cathay had risen from the ashes of it all, abandoned everything that it deemed to be of little value to its development, and turned to believe fully in science. Unfortunately… it had gone a little bit too far.

There was no one left to tell the stories of myths and legends.

“Do you understand it now?” Xu Yangyi tapped gently on the rim of his teacup, “For too long, Cathay has languished in its state of feudal governance. Given its intense desire to keep with the times, Cathay has subtly decoupled society from its cultural heritage, including its belief in myths and legends. I’ve personally seen some visions of the future in the instant that Hell collapsed. Had I halted the process of collapse back then and allowed things to go on as they had been, I’ve got no doubt that Hell would undoubtedly cease to be considered one of the four superpowers of the netherworld in no more than 500 years’ time.”

“You’re just exaggerating, aren’t you?” Qin Ye responded softly, “Sure, Cathayans might turn to medical science and medicine when they fall sick or grow old, but they’d likewise also make their trips down to the temples to pray for blessings.”

“I’ve got to admit that the western underworlds are doing far better than us in this regard. While we are languishing in cultural disconnect, their religions and faiths are growing stronger than ever. In fact, I can even sense that… Thanatos is already showing signs of another breakthrough…”

“This would constitute immense merit to the continuation of Hell. So long as you can succeed in this… such an achievement might even propel you straight into the ranks of a Yama-King!”

Qin Ye frowned, “What difference does it make? I’m the lord of the entire Hell. What does it matter if I treat Ashmound City or the City of Salvation as the core of Hell?”

“The first city of Hell is also the embryo of Hell.”

Xu Yangyi chose his words carefully, “Are you aware that… back during Bo Yikao’s era, there were only two divine artifacts of Hell - the Judgment Pen, and the Book of Life and Death.”

Qin Ye nodded softly, and then everything clicked in place, “Are you saying that… these artifacts… were all forged using an entire city?!”

“Some other conditions would have to be met for the development of such artifacts, but believe me, there are some things I can see and have seen that you still can’t. There currently already exists many ‘primordial’ level existences in the underworldly city back in the City of Salvation. But you don’t have to be too concerned about these things for now. In future, once you become a True King Yanluo of Hell, I’ll return to Hell once more.”

Silence.

A split second later, Qin Ye coughed dryly and revealed a flattering smile, “About that… I couldn’t help it… couldn’t help it…”

Qin Ye nodded.

“And to that end, nuclear weapons have to be built upon the fission and fusion of Yin Talismans, which in turn are highly dependent on the existence of faith.” Xu Yangyi finally concluded, “Therefore, faith is the most important ingredient in the continuity of the Cathayan myths and legends.”

“This is also the most important function of the King Yanluo of Hell. In fact… you can say that it is the only function that is unique to the King Yanluo of Hell!”

Once was more than enough.

“You can say that.” Xu Yangyi nodded affirmatively, “Infernal Judges don’t have their own functions, but Emissaries of Hell from the ranks of advanced Abyssal Prefects and upwards would have their own unique functions. You can think of them as various aspects that govern the law of the land, such as how seawater’s function is to nurture life, or how large trees constitute the foundation of an entire ecosystem.”

After pondering for several more minutes, Qin Ye got to the nub of the issue, “So, how am I supposed to go about developing and promulgating faith? By creating miracles?”

With a wave of his hand, countless stories of myths and legends appeared in the void around them. He pointed at them and continued, “And the core of faith is belief… and an encounter with god!”

Qin Ye glanced at the various popular titles of the myths and legends that have been promulgated through time. And then, his eyes brightened, almost as though he’d finally grasped something, “Manifestation of a vision?”

Qin Ye rapped the table with great realization.

No wonder I started hearing the prayers of people as soon as I became an Infernal Judge!

“The appearance of your name on the ancient artifacts is already a miracle in itself. Seize the opportunity and ride the wave, and you’ll be known throughout the mortal realm as a living myth!”

“There are limitations as to the number of prayers you can answer. You’d have to pick the ones that are most significant, or the ones made by supplicants of the highest status and influence, or the ones most likely to be celebrated, or the ones with the greatest impact. Thus, what’s more important is actually the second point that I’m driving at - revealing a true miracle.”

Qin Ye shook his head, obviously hoping to obviate the need to think for himself.

“Of all myths and legends, at least 99% of them comprise at least two parties, or two sides.”

Qin Ye frowned. He didn’t understand what Xu Yangyi was getting at.

“For instance… a powerful evil ghost emerged from the abyss and ravaged a city, and the King Yanluo of Hell appeared when all hope was lost, trampling on the evil ghost and banishing it to the pits of Hell where it belonged. What do you think of… this script?”

He finally understood what Xu Yangyi was getting at!

This was the means of promulgating myths that Xu Yangyi was getting at!

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