Chapter 473: Four Forbidden Arts

A beast that was approximately 20 meters in size lay on the ground, radiating golden brilliance all around like a bright sun in the dark crevasses of Limbo. It was incomparably dazzling and majestic.

This was the sight that Qin Ye was greeted by as soon as he arrived in Limbo.

He was stunned to see that the colossal beast that Harken was had condensed so much! That said… he could tell that the Yin energy radiating from its body was still just as intense!

The terror that filled Qin Ye’s heart was no longer something that a prey experienced when faced with a predator. Rather, it felt more like the terror and despondence of complete suppression, as though the entire realm of Limbo was now under the control of the single presence before his eyes. It felt as though the single bat of the Harken’s eyelid could cause meteors to fall from the sky and crash directly on him.

The Harken remained silent.

Just then, the Harken’s eyes flickered wildly, and its nose twitched slightly. Then, it whipped its head around and stared directly at the sack in Qin Ye’s hands.

“Ahem…” The dignified divine creature of Hell interrupted itself mid-speech and pointed at the bag, “What’s that?”

Majestic, huh?

How dare you summon me to Limbo? Look at you now, wagging your tail all so eagerly at me, almost as though you’re begging me for mercy, huh?!

With that, he untied the drawstring of the sack.

Then, there was a series of loud chewing sounds. The Harken’s face was still filled with an expression of sobriety, but his tail was wagging so much that it looked no different from the propeller of a plane! It even kicked up a sandstorm of dust and debris behind it!

Bloody hell… this is the clash between two prideful, arrogant beasts! Arthis couldn’t help but roll her eyes in her heart.

Qin Ye smiled and nodded - That’s great. Now that you’ve had a little treat from me, I hope you’ll look upon me a little bit more favourably. With that, Qin Ye cleared his throat, “Lord Harken, I wonder what business you might have with me today?”

Boom!

Holy crap… It feels so good that I can’t even breathe…

A moment later, one man and one Harken locked eyes, as though in a tense confrontation. Then, the Harken finally relented with a casual remark, “As far as the contents of that sack is concerned... the more, the better.”

Qin Ye took his seat somewhat begrudgingly - An entire sack of catnip for only the right to sit in front of the Harken? What am I to you? A kiwi fruit?

Qin-kiwi-Ye’s eyes immediately flickered wildly.

That’s a Yama-class strike!

“But…” The Harken promptly delivered the bad news that came along with the good, “There’s no way I can properly determine the location of this strike. Whilst I may have recovered somewhat, it’s still not to the extent that I can do as I freely will.”

It’s worth it!

The Harken continued, “I’ve summoned you today because I want to explain to you how a True Infernal Judge is different from any other Emissary of Hell. The fact that you’re concurrently also the next successor of the King Yanluo of Hell means that these differences would be limited to merely internal changes, but also external changes that affect the entire underworld!”

The Harken’s voice rumbled with sonorous majesty, “Arakshasa might be powerful as far as Judges are concerned, but there are a multitude of things in Hell that not even Judges have access to. So, today, I’d like to personally explain to you the kind of changes that have occurred.”

He… was no longer in Limbo right now!

To think that the Harken is able to drag me straight into an illusory realm without any fluctuations of Yin energy… Qin Ye once again learnt something new about the terrifying powers of a Yama-class Yin spirit.

“An Emissary of Hell can only be known as a True Emissary of Hell if they command an office or jurisdiction that is commensurate with their current cultivation rank. To that end, jurisdiction here doesn’t refer to territorial jurisdiction, but the submission of a corresponding number of Yin spirits. The Yin spirits consolidated in Qufu when you took command of it is equal to the total output of Yin spirits across Eastmount over the last hundred of years. Furthermore, the Yin spirits are variegated, each contributing in various ways, whether politics, economics, military or the humanities. This was why the Heavenly Dao recognized you as a True Emissary of Hell when the Battle of Qufu was about to be won.”

BOOM!!!

“These are--...?”

“Only Infernal Judges are able to make contact with Yin talismans, and only True Emissaries of Hell are able to perceive them. Yin talismans are the building block of all things in the netherworld, just like atoms are the most basic building block of all things in the mortal realm. Whether you, I, or any other part of Hell, everything is entirely constructed out of Yin talismans.”

Qin Ye’s hair instantly stood on ends, and his entire body shuddered!

The Harken’s illusory claw continued to draw in the air. It moved slower and slower, but the number of Yin talismans that converged on its fingertips only increased more and more! Five minutes later… it appeared as though a radiant sun had formed right at its fingertips! It was a dazzling sun that was formed out of Yin energy!

Furthermore, countless Yin talismans were still pouring over from all directions, almost as though… it was a milkyway of Yin talismans!

Qin Ye’s perspective flickered for a moment, and it zoomed straight down onto a city below. There, he watched from a bird’s eye view as the massive sun collapsed right onto a city below, causing the city to be obliterated in its entirety. Countless bursts of Yin energy shaped like skeletons drifted up from the ground, and all creatures below were instantly annihilated. Even the clouds above the city were all swept away. Shortly afterwards, his perspective drew back further from the ground, until he could see an entire province.

“Bloody hell…” He gasped in horror, “Is this… a nuclear weapon?!”

“Forbidden art of the Cathayan underworld - Immortal Sanction.”

“Forbidden art of the Argosian underworld - Spear of the Divine Oath.”

Even Harken couldn’t help but speak about these forbidden arts with a quiver in his voice, “This was but a simulation, and yet I’ve already consumed much of the Yin energy at my disposal. Kiddo… do you understand what this means?”

Seconds later, his entire body trembled as he blabbered back, “Isn’t this… a netherworld treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons?!”

What kind of position did the nations who possessed nuclear technology hold on the global stage?

They were the lords of their respective regions!

Why was Cathay still considered the voice of the East Continent?

Certainly, these were contributing factors.

And that was the fact that they possessed nuclear weapons!

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Even if Yin talismans could serve no other function, the fact that they could be harnessed for the creation of such terrifying arts of mass destruction could already justify sinking substantial expenses into its research and development!

Cathay… no longer had access to such forbidden arts or even the use of Yin talismans.

For the first time in a long while, Qin Ye felt chills run down his spine. 150 years later, when the Array of the Nine Gods collapses, I’m afraid what lies in wait for us might not simply be armies of the other underworlds arrayed against us.

We might potentially be faced with the threat of several forbidden arts all at the same time!

1. These refer to China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.