Yama Rising

The letters of invitation sent out by the Cathayan Underworld fell short of instantly summoning all nations to its borders, but they had definitely stirred up the entire underworld.

In response to these letters, reply letters quickly came flocking to the Cathayan Underworld from other underworlds.

"The Red Moon Federation will be sure to attend the international trade conference."

"The Semitic Underworld will be sure to attend the international trade conference."

"The Hopi Underworld will be sure to attend the international trade conference."

Over 10 of the 34 nations had instantly replied, while the rest were still waiting and watching.

All of them were focusing their attention on the three pillars, more specifically, the Prometheus plan.

The last clash had taken place 10 years ago, and it had already been an extremely fierce one. There was no way that the three pillars were going to pass up this opportunity.

On the last occasion, they had tried to strip the Cathayan Underworld of its forbidden arts supervision rights. If it were to be discovered on this occasion that the Cathayan Underworld didn't possess power befitting of its status, then the three pillars would most likely pounce with full force during this international trade conference!

However, the three pillars remained silent this entire time.

Time flew by very quickly, and three months went by in the blink of an eye. These three months had been extremely peaceful, but all of the nations in the underworld were looking on in tense anticipation, waiting for the next big development.

On the three months and 15 days mark, the three pillars made their intentions known one after another. Firstly, it was Anubis who confirmed that the Aegyptian Underworld would be attending the international trade conference in the Cathayan Underworld in three months.

After that, the Hindustani Underworld and the Argosian Underworld both expressed the same intention as well.

"What on earth are they playing at?!" At the Kailasa Temple, all of the consortium representatives were in a complete panic.

The temple was already packed to the rafters with Yin spirits, all of whom were renowned figures in world economics that excelled in their respective fields. All of them were earning monthly salaries in excess of 100,000 in their respective professions, and they had all gathered in this place in anticipation of the drastic changes that were about to sweep over the entire world.

10 normal-looking elderly men had replaced Khilok, Kana Fujii, and the others. However, despite their ordinary appearance, no one dared to oppose them, and even Khilok and the others had to treat them with the utmost respect.

These were the chairmen of the top 10 consortiums!

One of the elderly men scanned his gaze over the reports laid out before him with a grim expression as he said, "There has been no notification issued at all. Our sources have already confirmed that no notification has been issued through any medium, whether it be newspapers, announcements through Yin energy screens, nothing!"

Another elderly man was also staring intently at the reports. Thus far, no one had taken a side yet. While it was indeed always wisest to make decisions at the last moment with all information made available, making a last-second decision to pick a side was far less impactful than joining a side earlier.

The fact that the chairmen of the top 10 consortiums were all present was a clear indication that what they were about to do next was going to shake the entire world!

They were very confident in their own instincts, and their instincts told them that the ruler of the Cathayan Underworld was preparing for a final showdown with the three pillars. Even if he didn't initiate the showdown, the three pillars would force him to take a stand. There was no way that the three pillars would be willing to see the Cathayan Underworld return to its former status as that would deprive them of some of their entitled benefits and political power.

The higher the stakes, the more important it was to remain calm and objective.

The elderly man finally looked up from the reports and said, "Why is it that no notification was issued beforehand, but they're intentionally making a massive deal out of the announcement made by the ministry of foreign affairs?"

A bald elderly man wearing a kimono adjusted his own black-rimmed glasses, and his appearance was completely unremarkable. Kana Fujii was standing respectfully behind him as he said in a grim voice, "It's because the three pillars also have a trump card of their own."

"What trump card are you referring to?"

"I'm referring to an energy resource," the bald elderly man replied, and as he did so, a visible layer of goosebumps were raised on the back of his hand. He took a deep breath before continuing, "Perhaps it's not a complete energy resource, but they had to have at least taken a significant step in their research and development. Don't forget that this is the international trade conference, everyone..."

An enlightened look appeared on the faces of all of the Yin spirits present upon hearing this.

The international trade conference was tied directly to the GTO, which oversaw the international energy resource market!

If the three pillars had developed a new energy resource, then they would immediately apply to enter the international energy resource market. In doing so, they would completely steal the limelight away from the Cathayan Underworld during the international trade conference, and if the Cathayan Underworld really was in its weakest state in the past several thousand years as everyone suspected, then it would be completely powerless to retaliate!

The wheel of history had already been set into motion, and something had to be crushed under it as a sacrifice.

This upcoming international trade conference was going to be an extremely perilous affair, but rather than fear, all of the consortium chairmen were brimming with excitement. If a powerhouse nation of the world were to fall from grace, that would open up countless business opportunities!

Alternatively, if the Cathayan Underworld were to complete its resurgence and seize back all of its lost political power, then that would also present a vast array of business opportunities!

An elderly man in a white Arab robe set down his coffee cup as he said, "If their trump card really is an energy resource, then we'll know about it very soon. Of course, we won't be able to find out any information as they know that their people can't resist the temptation of our money, so they've kept all information pertaining to the Prometheus plan strictly confidential to us. However, if they want us to stand on their side and invest in other nations using our funds in exchange for the support of those nations, then they'll have no choice but to tell us the truth!"

Right at this moment, several Yin spirits rushed into the room, led by a Caucasian man with blue eyes and blond hair. As soon as he entered the room, he made a dismissive gesture, and the rows of private Yin soldiers in the room instantly departed, leaving only the 10 consortium chairmen and their entourages behind.

The Caucasian man then extended a deep bow as he reported in an excited voice, "I have a letter from the three pillars, stating that 10 days ago, the researchers of the Prometheus plan successfully discovered the proton and electron Yin runes. In two more years at most, their new energy resource will be completed!"

All 10 of the consortium chairmen instantly stood up in unison.

An elderly Caucasian man who was around 180 centimeters tall, wearing a suit and a monocle, stepped forward as he urged, "Keep going!"

"Yes... They're going to apply for a new energy resource patent during this international trade conference, and they're making preparations for their new energy resource to enter the international energy resource market. At the same time, the GIPO is going to lead the way to found the world's biggest energy resource company with multiple nations as shareholders!"

Boom!

All of the Yin spirits present were completely rooted to the spot as if they had been struck by lightning.

After a long while, the elderly man in the kimono raised a trembling hand to his own face to cover his eyes. "This is an extremely timely piece of news! Shiro!"

"I'm here, My Lord."

"Tally up all of our Sacred Treasure Consortium's usable liquid capital right away!"

"Yes!"

The elderly Arab man drew a sharp breath as he mused, "This is a significant show of determination! They would rather make the entire world rich and grant all other nations increased political power and speaking rights than allow the Cathayan Underworld to return to its former status!"

Thus, that same question arose once again: what choice was everyone going to make?

The Sacred Treasure Consortium had already made its choice, what about the rest of the consortiums?

All of the consortium chairmen exchanged glances with one another, and they knew that they couldn't sit on the fence any longer.

It was time to make a choice!

……………………………………

Qin Ye was standing on the top floor of the Aurogon's Eye, which was situated on the Six Origin Diagram Plaza of Everburn. Secretary Jiang quietly approached him before reporting, "Yanluo Qin, the three pillars have responded, declaring that they'll attend the international trade conference. Immediately after that, the remaining 18 underworlds also expressed their intention to attend the conference. Thus far, all of the world's underworlds have agreed to attend."

Qin Ye nodded in response, then waved a hand to dismiss Secretary Jiang.

"Everyone's coming... Great!" He heaved a faint sigh of relief, then cast his gaze toward the Harken, who was nibbling on sunflower seeds off to the side with a bored look on its face. "The fact that these replies have only come in three months after we sent out our letters of invitation indicates that there's most likely been a decisive breakthrough in the Prometheus plan."

"Doesn't that play right into your hands?" the Harken asked as it rolled its eyes in response. "You'll be able to crush their hopes even more comprehensively now."

Indeed...

Qin Ye cast his gaze outside, looking at the vast city of Everburn beyond the Six Origin Diagram Plaza, and a series of emotions surged through his heart at once.

Several universities had already been set up during the past few years, and under the illumination of the lights, all types of professional knowledge were being imparted in these havens of education.

In the south part of the city, a university town spanning an area of several hundred acres had just completed construction at the end of the previous year. That was the actors union, the directors union, and the screenwriters union, surrounded by three arts academies, and that was the place receiving the most enrolment applications at the moment.

To the east, there stood a building that was over 200 meters tall, extending all the way up into the clouds. That was the Cathay Central Television Building, overseeing all of the nation's television channels, and it had close to 100 levels, providing a workplace for all of the major regional television channels. Once construction was completed on all of the television towers across the nation, Cathay Central Television would finally be able to carry out its work.

It had only been 16 to 17 years since he had obtained the fragments of King Yanluo's Seal, and he had already achieved something that would've been completely unimaginable to him at the beginning of his journey.

However, it still wasn't enough!

"There's still no premier superpower nation in this world, but we are about to change that!"

He took a deep breath, and his voice rang out across the entirety of Everburn like rumbling thunder. "Everyone, heed my call!"

His voice erupted through the heavens, and even the clouds in the sky began to recede out of the city like the falling tide.

Outside the city walls of Everburn, tens of thousands of elite troops were already raring to go.

Behind them were countless transportation vehicles that were carrying all types of daily necessities and drawn by Yin beasts, forming a line that was several hundred meters long.

Behind this line was a massive entourage, forming a line that stretched for over a kilometer a length.

Among the entourage were chefs, scholars, and people working in all types of occupations. It could be said that this entourage included everyone that there should be in a city.

This was the first international conference that the Cathayan Underworld was hosting since Qin Ye's inauguration, and he wasn't going to allow anyone to drop the ball!

He couldn't help but smile at the size of this formidable entourage. The city was empty, as it should be. After several years of tireless work from Zhao Yun, the Heavenly Pillar City had finally completed construction four months ago. After a month of clean-up and three months of organization, it was time to fill this city!

Qian Duolai was standing at the forefront of the entourage, and he cupped his fist in a salute as he said, "Please give us your instructions, Yanluo Qin."

Qin Ye took a deep breath before declaring, "Set off for the Heavenly Pillar City! Let's give a warm welcome to all of our international friends!"

Come! Let's see who's going to come out on top as the ultimate victor! This battle will decide the fate of the entire world for the next few centuries!