Chapter 451: Fruits of Labour (2)

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw it either.” Qin Ye exclaimed under his breath, before taking the lead and walking down the steps, “And what lies within is none other than Kong Mo’s treasury.”

“Unfortunately, you won’t be able to follow me into the grottos. The Yin energy down here is far too dense for your bodies. Without a formal conferment of title as an Emissary of Hell, you would never be able to survive a trip down there. The only reason why I’ve decided to bring you here is so that you know the resources we have on hand, and you can begin to think about how to integrate the use of Yin spirit stones in each of your industries. The underworld is completely different from the mortal realm, be it considerations in development or in life in general. You have to be able to adapt to these changes.”

“Everyone.” Another Yin spirit interjected before the first Yin spirit could even finish speaking, “Truth be told, it’s not as though we haven’t witnessed the use of Yin spirit stones before. Do you remember the time when a monarch beast entered a 5,000 meter radius of Ashmound in the past? That was the only time when the Soul-Launching Coffin was activated. If memory serves me well, I recall that the military had loaded the Soul-Launching Coffin with a piece of crystal that was one meter long. Come to think of it, that must have been a Yin spirit stone.”

Meanwhile, just as the Yin spirits engaged in discourse about the potential uses of Yin spirit stones in various industries, a jade-green netherflame slowly ran down the ladder, leaving a trail of netherflame that softly illuminated the path down. Then, as the flame spread, it slowly began to turn white!

…………………………………………………………..

The entire pit appeared no different from one of the underworldly abysses in Western mythology, where a circle of spiral steps ran down a five-hundred meter wide pit, replete with iron handrails and iron suspension chains hanging overhead. A groove ran in the wall for the purposes of their antiquated lighting installation, and it soon lit up the entire pit with a soft, eerie glow.

“Do you think Kong Mo would be able to come up with anything like our modern day innovations?” Arthis glanced overhead, “But… that said, I find that the lighting is fairly decent.”

The lighting was soft - neither harsh on the eyes, nor unduly dim at that.

“Were you suggesting that we should consider adapting this system as a substitute for electrical lights?” Qin Ye thought aloud.

Qin Ye froze for a moment, before turning back to glare viciously at Arthis, “So are you saying that all of your remarks made earlier were borne entirely out of the fact that the lighting looked familiar to you?”

Qin Ye’s voice was as frigid as a cold-hearted murderer, “What a pity. I was hopeful that you would finally have attained some measure of spiritual awareness, just like apes evolving into human beings. Unfortunately, you’re just as primitive as a pacific saury.”

“Hahaha… you make it sound as though I used to treat you with respect and awe. Let’s get this straight - it was simply because I couldn’t defeat you in the past! I’ve put up with the endless humiliation for long enough!”

I can’t hear anything~~ Can’t hear anything~~... I don’t hear anything, and I don’t see anything~~...

Qin Ye rubbed his chin for some time before turning back, “General Yang, was this pit only opened today?”

Whilst they spoke, they soon arrived in front of the first chamber. Qin Ye coughed pretentiously, and then…

Empty! Empty!

It was because the entire chamber was completely empty.

“How can this be…” Qin Ye stared at the offering table, completely dumbfounded. It was almost as though his innards were twisted and wrenching about in abject pain.

Qin Ye neither turned around to face Yang Yanzhao nor did he get back up to his feet. Instead, he spoke with a trace of sulkiness in his voice, “Mine.”

“It’s my stuff!” Qin Ye suddenly leapt up, “The stuff originally placed here is mine to begin with, and I’m just taking back what is rightfully mine! How can I just allow that old fogey to abscond with everything like that? Do you understand what I mean?”

Father, I know you’ve mentioned that Lord Qin is a rather interesting leader, but don’t you think you’ve used the term ‘very interesting’ far too loosely this time?!

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Unfortunately, Qin Ye’s dreams and his reality were just as distant as Qin Ye was from his girlfriend. The cruel reality was just as elusive as the beloved woman that was the love of his life.

He was still considerably calm at the start of this journey of despondence. Yet, twenty such chambers later, Qin-Dogballs-Ye’s eyes were fuming with dazzling netherflames. He appeared far more diabolical than the evilest of ghosts.

Nothing. Nothing at all!!!

Qin Ye’s breaths were already ragged and shallow, while his eyes were flourishing with flickering flames. Kong Mo’s actions had stripped him bare of all of his senses and sanity.

How afraid of death do you have to be?! How could you even think of bringing all of your belongings with you just for a stupid little daolord?! Can you please take a leaf out of my book? Have you ever seen a Netherworld Operative tag alongside an Infernal Judge since the beginning, without once shrinking back at all?!

Yang Yanzhao raised his eyebrows quizzically. Without question, he transformed into a nethergale and shot into the chamber.

Qin Ye paced up and down the stairs with great vexation. Arthis frowned, “Calm down. If there’s anything to be had, then everything is fine and dandy. But even if there’s nothing, life still goes on! Besides, what you’ve gained from Ashmound more than sufficiently makes up for all of these things.”

“Lord Qin!! I’ve found something!!”

Just then, he suddenly froze and blinked vacantly, before glancing at the final chamber, and then turning back once more.

In an instant, he vanished from where he was, and appeared right in the heart of the final stone chamber.

It was an ancient scroll.

“What’s this--...” Qin Ye furrowed his brows. It was strange. The scroll exuded a sense of crisis. The danger seemed to emanate from the scroll, and yet… be completely apart from the scroll at the same time.

He inched forward, trying to get a better look at it. But, just then, a bolt of Yin energy flashed like lightning and instantly struck him back. A split second later, Arthis bellowed with fury, “Back off!!”

A tense silence filled the chamber. After a protracted pause, Qin Ye finally pulled himself together and asked Arthis, “What’s that?”

Arthis stared intently at the scroll for a full minute, before finally murmuring, “I’d never thought that I would see something like that here…”

Without missing a beat, she continued with a deep, hoarse voice, “You--... can just take a look for yourself with the Judge’s Glance.”