Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 909 - 524: The High Priest Goes East, My Grandson Has the Bearing of a Great Emperor

Chapter 909: Chapter 524: The High Priest Goes East, My Grandson Has the Bearing of a Great Emperor

The end of May brought the continuous spring rain and the joy of all things growing. Along the banks of the Lake Capital City, verdant cypress trees grew in abundance. Under the Great Pyramid of the Temple District, splendid and extraordinary blue jacarandas bloomed. In this late spring brilliance, the eye was filled with lush vitality, with not a trace of decay to be found.

The following day, the High Priest appeared as usual, donned in ceremonial dress, once again presiding over the towering Priest Grand Hall. More than ten Elder Priests, dozens of High Priests, nearly two hundred lower-grade priests and apprentices, all bowed their heads in obedience!

The High Priest first issued a decree ordering the final chosen eight thousand people to immediately set out from the Capital Region and migrate to the Kingdom of the Lake. By this time, the seventy thousand Mexica immigrants promised to Xiulote last July had all migrated; five thousand more than planned. Then, he dispatched ten thousand militia and allocated a batch of stored food to support the Southern Army.

Regarding these actions, War God Elder Azar felt some dissent. Migrating during the spring planting season, delaying the farm work... the High Priest, in his care for his grandson, was indeed a bit biased.

Determined, the High Priest moved without stopping. He issued another decree, recruiting over two hundred priest apprentices who were about to complete their studies from the Capital City’s University of Priests, sending them to the Kingdom of the Lake. Accompanying them were several dozen mid-to-low grade priests affiliated with the High Priest.

All the Elder Priests were somewhat surprised. The destination of the priest apprentices was not a big concern, but the several dozen mid-to-low grade priests, who all held real power within various ranks of the Alliance’s Priesthood groups—it seemed the High Priest was willing to yield these positions to assist the Kingdom of the Lake?

Acap sensed something unusual. He lowered his eyelids, refrained from speaking within the High Priesthood, and immediately severed communication with the envoy from the Holy City.

"At such a juncture, under such circumstances... it seems something significant may occur..."

Next, the High Priest again issued a decree, summoning the envoy from the Holy City Cholula, Elder Priest Queo. After talking with Elder Queo for half a day, he resolutely announced his intention to personally travel east to negotiate "peace and submission" with the Elder Priests of Cholula City!

Hearing this, the Elders of the High Priesthood were all taken aback.

The Holy City of Cholula was actively in conflict with the Mexica Alliance. Going east recklessly, numerous risks were inevitable. Additionally, within the Capital City, the immortal elder was critically ill, uncertain how long he would last. At such a critical juncture, the supreme leader of the Alliance’s Divine Authority was to leave the vital Lake Capital City and venture into the dangerous core of the Telascallan people, enroute to the mysteriously postured Cholula City?

However, the High Priest’s will was as firm as jade, unshakable. In less than two days, he temporarily transferred the highest ecclesiastical duties to Elder Priest Uguel, and with the envoy of Cholula City, started his eastward journey!

His entourage moved quickly, without pause, covering sixty to seventy li in a day.

Elder Queo, who was not yet fifty years old, found it challenging to keep up. He had lived in luxury in Cholula for many years, never having rushed like this before. Yet the High Priest, as the leader of the Alliance’s Divine Authority, was already in his sixties, but continued to stride vigorously and consistently. He walked faster and pushed further with each stride, as if a burning candle, eyes seemingly shining with light!

In early June, the group finally covered four hundred li, arriving at the Southern Army camp beneath Water Valley City. Xiulote received the message, astonished. Barefoot, he ran out of the camp, utterly incredulous, encountering his radiant grandfather. His grandfather stood tall, holding the scepter, smiling at him with authority.

"Honorable High Priest, Southern Route Commander, Xiulote salutes you!"

"Hmm! No need for formalities. I come from the Capital City, heading to Cholula to meet with the Elder Priests."

The High Priest smiled and nodded. He waved the scepter in his hand and calmly ordered the crowd.

"It’s been a tiring journey, let’s rest here for a day. Xiulote, no need for a feast, just a simple reception will do!"

"At your service!..."

Nightfall arrived swiftly; after a simple dinner, all retired to their tents. Outside the main commander’s tent was peaceful, with only several trusted aides patrolling on guard duty. At this moment, no one would dare disturb the rare reunion of grandfather and grandson.

Xiulote, dressed casually, sat below, attentively observing his grandfather seated above.

In half a year without meeting, his grandfather seemed to have aged significantly. He had taken off the divine robes of a priest, revealing a thin, dry stature and a head full of silvery hair. His back was slightly hunched, with aged spots appearing on the skin of his hands, only his eyes gleamed with spirit and radiance, dazzling to others.

"Grandfather... why did you come so quickly, without even a word? You must know, the four states of Tlaxcala are still in conflict, with many hostile tribes scattering about..."

Xiulote glanced at his aged grandfather, feeling some resentment and full of concern. His grandfather was over sixty, yet did not rest well in the Capital City, instead coming to the dangerous battlefield!

"For the negotiations with the Holy City Cholula, sending a young Elder Priest would suffice. Here my large army surrounds them; they can’t stir up much trouble!"

"No worries. When I came, I brought a large unit of Temple Warriors. Everywhere along the route was well cleared by the Southern Army, meeting no hostile tribes."

The High Priest Xutel appeared relaxed, smiling. He looked at his heroic grandson, his gaze full of tenderness.

"On my way here, I saw nearby fields; corn had sprouted new shoots, it seems the spring plowing has already begun?"

"Exactly!"

Upon hearing this, Xiulote’s eyes shone with divine light, feeling somewhat pleased. He took a scepter from the rack in the tent, embedded with an ancient skull, and handed it to his grandfather.

"Look, this is the ’Grim Reaper’s Skull’ I obtained from the Temple of the Death God on the Divine Mountain! With this awe-inspiring divine object, combined with the guidance and teachings of the priests, the rebellion among the southern Tlaxcala captives has greatly diminished. They can now be employed by the Prepecha Warriors for cultivation and farming..."

"The legendary Grim Reaper’s Skull?"

The High Priest reached out to stroke the skull as black as jade, his expression somewhat astonished.

The Temple of the Death God and the Grim Reaper’s Skull, hidden in the Smoke Peak Divine Mountain, have left behind hundreds of years of continuous myths. They are revered miracles and divine objects by both the western Mexica and the eastern Tlaxcala people. The old priest of the temple is also rumored to see through life and death and know the future.

"Yes. I went with Bertade and Nashu, climbed the Divine Mountain, found the Temple of the Death God, and retrieved this skull. I don’t know if this is the legendary divine object. Unfortunately, the old priest inside had already been killed by the Tlaxcala Warriors, leaving only a few obscure prophecies, whose truth is yet unknown..."

At this, Xiulote’s expression showed some regret. However, he had already arranged for priests traveling with the army to process these prophecies and then propagate them among the troops and captives. Naturally, the processed prophecy content was "The Death God has received divine favor and is destined to rule over all Tlaxcala people..."

"Xiulote, tell me the prophecy, let me hear it."

The High Priest’s expression turned solemn, instructing in a deep voice. Then, he listened intently to Xiulote’s recitation, pondering the meaning behind it.

"...Death is at hand, the brightest Morning Star is about to fall.

The immortal gods will consecutively die in their sacred dwelling places!..."

The young man’s recitation was deep and clear, like the cry of a night hawk. The High Priest listened to the cryptic prophecy, stroking the "Grim Reaper’s Skull," his eyes gradually changing.

"...The Death God closes his eyes, touches invisible death, and nurtures life in the midst of death!

Then, He too will die, in the places of the moon and the high mountains..."

Soon, Xiulote finished his recitation and looked at his grandfather with concern. His grandfather fell into long contemplation, and only after a while did his expression return to calm, nodding solemnly.

"Xiulote, my child, you are graced with divine revelation... Do not mention these prophecies to others again. Remember well, do not forget!"

"...Yes, grandfather!"

Xiulote replied earnestly. Then, the two talked about the history of the Temple of the Death God and turned to the current war situation.

"In the past month, I have temporarily halted the legion’s offensives, focused on solidifying the rear, clearing the occupied two southern states, and collecting captured prisoners. Now, the Southern Army has captured 120,000 Tlaxcala people and transported more than 30,000 southwards by water! Among them, Cholula City has handed over 30,000 Tlaxcala people and a year’s worth of food for these people. According to the previous agreement, they still need to hand over 50,000 more!..."

"Oh? Are the old foxes of Cholula willing to hand over eighty thousand people to you?"

Upon hearing this, the High Priest’s eyes flickered, seemingly thoughtful.

"Ha! Grandfather, tens of thousands of the southern army have Cholula partly surrounded in the center, occasionally raiding. The area of Cholula is not large but exceedingly prosperous. It has only about forty miles surrounding the Holy City of Cholula, yet it houses a population of 200,000 from various tribes! Adding in tens of thousands of escaped Tlaxcala tribes, it can be said that the population is at an extreme peak..."

"Now, the City State Army has captured 20,000 prisoners, Cholula City has handed over 30,000, reducing the population by only 50,000. Around the Holy City, it is still crowded, with over a dozen wealthy villages and towns. The warriors and militia of the Holy City barely number over 10,000 and it doesn’t even have an outer wall... it’s just the identity of the Holy City that makes it tricky to attack rashly. Therefore, I’ve encircled it without attacking, intending to harvest enough fruit from Holy Cholula!"

Saying this, Xiulote stood up, his expression confident and sharp.

"As long as the Kingdom of the Lake absorbs over 200,000 southern Tlaxcala people and digests them for two years... the strength of the kingdom will further rise, and I can establish two more legions! After that, I will conquer the Chapala Lake Region, pacify all Tekos tribes, explore and settle along the coast... The future of the kingdom will soon shine brilliantly in the West!"

"Hmm!..."

Looking at his ambitious grandson, the High Priest’s heart surged with complex emotions. He silently experienced a sense of comfort, three parts worry, two parts reluctance... and one part heartfelt sorrow.

"...My grandson truly has the demeanor of a great emperor!... Alas, I won’t see that day..."