Yama Rising

However, that still wasn't enough.

Even though the Cathayan Underworld was still in a period of recovery, it was still a nation, after all, and having exchanged souls of certain top-tier researchers and scientists with the mortal realm, it had naturally prepared appropriate backup plans.

During the past half a month or so, they hadn't just been preparing for this debate, the current panel of advisors of the Cathayan Underworld had also been hard at work.

As such, Qin Ye was well aware of how much fury would be directed at the Cathayan Underworld if all of the scientists present were to realize that they were being swindled.

A major difference between the underworld and the mortal realm was that the former had a reincarnation system. As a result, important Yin spirits could choose when to be reincarnated into the mortal realm. If these scientists wanted to return to the mortal realm, the death gods of their respective nations would naturally do everything in their power to convince them to stay in the underworld, but it was an unspoken rule that these scientists couldn't be forced to stay against their will.

Due to the fact that no one was sure when patent-holding scientists would leave the underworld, a new regulation was released by the Coalition of Underworlds 200 years ago, stating that all scientists would retain the rights for their own patents until they left the underworld and entered the cycle of reincarnation.

Large sums of patent fees were enough to make all scientists who held important patents extremely rich, and the favorable research and development environment of the underworld provided further incentive for scientists to stay.

Thus, Qin Ye knew that they had to be able to endure this press conference, but they couldn't afford to turn all of the scientists against them. It was inevitable that they were going to be attacked once all of the scientists realized what was happening, but at the very least, they had to remain on amicable terms with all of these scientists.

As he was reading out Lu Ban's section of the report, a messenger bird was quietly released, and it flew up into the air before landing on the watchtower that he had been resting in earlier.

The messenger bird dissipated into a gust of Yin wind that passed through the gaps around the window before being caught by a hand.

The hand belonged to Zhao Yun.

The messenger bird transformed into a vortex, and Qin Ye's voice rang out from inside it. "Ghost King Zhao, prepare that thing and bring it in at an opportune moment."

Instead of immediately giving a reply, Zhao Yun took a deep breath before asking, "Are you sure? That thing can't even be described as a trump card. If we reveal it to the world, far too many questions would follow, we could even arouse suspicions from the Coalition of Underworlds! According to the eighth sub-clause of the 17th clause of the laws of the Coalition of Underworlds, research into weapons of mass destruction is strictly prohibited. Even if they're beneficial to the underworld, detailed statistics must be reported so that research and development teams can determine their degree of danger. All weapons of mass destruction developed prior to the inception of this rule are ignored, but as a result of this rule, no further weapons or Yin runes of mass destruction have been developed in the past few centuries after the development of first-generation forbidden arts. In light of that, is it really wise to present this to everyone? Even if we're utterly humiliated here, once we successfully develop the new energy resource, all will be redeemed anyway."

After a few seconds of silence, Qin Ye's decisive voice rang out in response. "I'm certain. At the very least, we have to ensure that we remain on good terms with the academic world. I'm already reading the report for the second backup plan, and I'm sure you can imagine the storm that's going to hit us once they realize that we've pulled the wool over their eyes. If we turn all of these scientists against us, the majority of the physics-related patents in the world would become unavailable to us. We may only be meeting these scientists for the first time, but we have to ensure that this isn't the last time. Also, that thing isn't completely a weapon of mass destruction, it's distinction is rather unclear, so trust me on this one."

After that, the Yin energy vortex quietly dissipated, and Zhao Yun took a deep breath before looking behind him.

There was no one else aside from him in the entire watchtower.

Behind him stood a square box that was around three meters tall and just as wide. The entire box was constructed from Yin jade, and the Yin energy inside it was so intense that it was enough to send chills running down one's spine.

It was giving off a familiar scent of the sea, as well as a hint of light that didn't belong to the underworld.

"Are we going to have to use this trump card, after all?"

Zhao Yun placed his hand on the massive Yin jade box and was silent for a moment before a carefree smile appeared on his face.

"So what? We are the Cathayan Underworld, the most powerful of the four pillars, we don't need to answer to anyone!"

……………………………………………………

Lu Ban closed his report before giving Zu Chongzhi a slight nod.

The second segment of the report had lasted 30 minutes, and all of the consortium and national representatives were thoroughly engrossed, but all of the scientists were clearly feeling far from pleased.

This was the Great Revelation Debate, the most prestigious occasion in the academic world, and they had come all this way to the Cathayan Underworld just to be treated like idiots!

In their eyes, this was a complete waste of time, and they no longer even wanted to be here.

Aristotle swept his gaze across all of the scientists present and murmured to himself, "The Cathayan Underworld has made a foolish decision. These scientists are just about ready to erupt!"

He leaned back in his seat in a relaxed manner as he said with a faint smile, "Suddenly moving onto the second part of the presentation will indeed alleviate the pressure on their scholars, but they've severely underestimated the thirst for knowledge that these scientists have. Then again, Cathay has always been lackluster in the scientific fields, so it's only to be expected that they think they can get away with this. They may have bought themselves some time, but all of the scientists are staring at them like vultures, and they won't rest until they receive answers to their questions! If the Cathayan Underworld is unwilling to bow its head and admit its faults, then the entire scientific world is going to completely turn on them!"

The silence in the venue was only the calm before the storm.

When they erupt again, they're going to do so with the fury of a volcano!

"The only thing that can save them is concrete evidence of the existence of their new energy resource," Diophantus mused. "However, if they had something like that, then they wouldn't have prematurely concluded the first part of their presentation, which clearly has some type of problem. Looks like we're in for a good show today. This is the first time I'll be seeing one of the four pillars denounced by the entire academic world! From this day forth, they'll be known as scam artists to the entire world!"

On the main stage, Zu Chongzhi and Lu Ban's eyes met, and the former gritted his teeth before picking up the first part of the report again. "There's no doubt that the future of the new energy resource is a glorious one, and the first step to that glorious future is to prove its existence!"

He cast a glance toward Qin Ye as he spoke.

After the second part of the report had been read to capture the interest of all of the national and consortium representatives, Qin Ye had already returned to his own body, and at the sight of Zu Chongzhi's gaze, he gave a slight nod in response.

In a situation like this, it was important to constantly adapt and think on the fly. Seeing as they had no choice but to bring out all of their trump cards, then that was what they were going to have to do!

This was already the best that they could do, and the rest would be decided by fate.

Zu Chongzhi looked down at his script and was just about to continue when a scientist suddenly stood up as he said, "Mr. Zu."

His voice was very calm, but there were clearly some emotions bubbling under the surface as he continued, "This is the first Great Revelation Debate since the conclusion of the Cathayan Underworld's seclusion, and it's only the second Great Revelation Debate in the Cathayan Underworld's history after the invention of underworld gunpowder. Throughout all of history, there have only been 12 Great Revelation Debates in total, and every single one of them has heralded the arrival of a new era. Today, all of us have come from all corners of the world to this island in the middle of nowhere to attend this press conference in this crude venue, and we only have one objective!"

His voice was growing louder and louder, and right in front of everyone's eyes, he looked straight into Zu Chongzhi's eyes as he said, "We want to know the truth behind the new energy resource! Stop wasting time with your pointless words! While it's true that this press conference is held for everyone, this is not just a press conference, it's a debate to decide the authenticity of the next big thing in the field of physics, and it could potentially define the next era of the entire underworld! You are one of the four pillars, please don't bring disgrace to that title!"

After that, he extended a slight bow before sitting back down. The representatives of the 10 consortiums didn't seem to have heard that at all, but all of the national representatives had turned their attention toward Zu Chongzhi, waiting for his response.

As expected, the storm had arrived, after all.

After staying silent for half an hour, someone had finally spoken up on behalf of all of the scientists present, and this was an ultimatum! If the Cathayan Underworld didn't want to be denounced by the entire scientific world, then it would have to face this storm head-on!

"May I ask your name?" Qin Ye suddenly asked, right as the scientist sat back down onto his chair.

"He is Pieter Zeeman," Archimedes replied in the scientist's stead. "He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1902 for his discovery of the Zeeman effect, which relates to radiation in magnetic fields. Yanluo Qin, you may be the ruler of one of the four most powerful nations in the world, but the academic world transcends beyond politics."

Aristotle smiled as he chimed in, "This is a debate among the academic world, and the entire world is watching."

The implication behind his words was very clear, he was warning Qin Ye not to to use his status as King Yanluo to exert pressure on the scientists present, lest he be struck by backlash from the entire world.

"I was just curious," Qin Ye replied with a smile and impeccable etiquette, but he then lowered his head for an instant as a hint of killing intent flashed through his eyes.

Never place trust in the conscience of politicians as most of them didn't have any, and Qin Ye was quickly walking down the path of no return...

"Please directly answer our questions," Pieter Zeeman reiterated, yet right after his voice trailed off, another voice instantly rang out like thunder across the entire venue.

"What a joke!"

There were only two death gods present, namely Archimedes and Aristotle, and they immediately looked up into the sky.

The voice was very calm, but their souls were shaking in their bodies at the mere sound of it! It was as if they were being scrutinized by a formidable beast that could take their lives in an instant!

"That's Ghost King Zhao!"

Before they had a chance to react, Zhao Yun continued in an implacable voice, "You should be honored to have been invited here by the Cathayan Underworld. Since when did the Cathayan Underworld become open to criticism from the likes of you? We are doing a great service to the world in our willingness to share a part of the new energy resource, and only releasing the new energy resource after it's been completely developed is our right! We don't need you to worry about whether our research and development has hit any hurdles, and it's up to us whether we want to release the new energy resource! Who are you to be directing accusations at us?"

In the sky above, Zhao Yun was standing in mid-air, and a huge Yin-jade box with Yin runes all over its surface was revolving around him. His red cape was flapping in the wind alongside his long black hair, and his Yin energy weighed down upon the entire venue like an insurmountable mountain, giving him the appearance of a divine deity who had just descended into the mortal world!

"Ghost King Zhao!" Archimedes finally rose to his feet as he said, "These are the rules of the world! Are you going to turn your back on the entire world?!"

"General Zhao." Qin Ye also put on a feigned expression of disapproval as he said, "You can't say that, it is an honor for our Cathayan Underworld to be holding such a prestigious event."

Some things could be said by Zhao Yun, but it would be far too unbefitting of someone of his status to say something like this.

"Yes, my Lord." Zhao Yun cupped his fist in a respectful salute before turning his gaze toward everyone else in the venue. "You want to see the truth?"

The massive Yin jade box suddenly fell onto the ground with a resounding boom as he spoke.

"This is the truth that you want to see!"