Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 911 - 526: The High Priest Heads East, The Marvel of Tlachihualtepetl

Chapter 911: Chapter 526: The High Priest Heads East, The Marvel of Tlachihualtepetl

Outside Cholula City, the twelve priestly families spread out two miles from the city in a line. They held high ancient feathered banners, wore the equally ancient garments of the Toltec people, and carried themselves with elegance and grandeur. Beside the priests were a large number of priest apprentices holding divine objects, and ceremonial retainers bearing ritual implements high.

Further out, two hundred young maidens of Cholula, holding flowers, awaited respectfully with grace; over a thousand temple warriors wielded war clubs, vigilantly guarding the outermost perimeter.

At the very center of the crowd, adorned in ancient Rain God sacrificial robes, wearing a heavy black lustrous stone crown, and wielding a turquoise scepter, was the Cholula priestly leader, Petl.

To the ancient Toltec people, the Feathered Serpent Divine was the most important Chief Divine, with the Rain Divine being the second Chief Divine. Together, they ruled over the sky, earth, and humankind. However, after the religious reformation, the Mexica Alliance rejected the Feathered Serpent Divine, so Petl deftly adjusted his beliefs, donning the Rain God’s stormy sacrificial robes. Within the alliance, the Rain Divine was the first subordinate god, only second to the War God.

The old fox Petl squinted his eyes, gazing towards the horizon in the South. On the vast plains, the Mexica legion’s scout teams were faintly visible. They were like exposed weapons, constantly revealing an intimidating threat. And to the west of the South City was the towering mountain range of the Divine Mountains, where one could glimpse the icy peaks glimmering in the Smoky Summit.

"Damn Queo!... I sent him to persuade the High Priesthood, to sow discord among the priest elders, yet how did he end up summoning the High Priest?! I sternly warned him not to provoke those two old geezers!..."

Petl appeared outwardly calm, though internally engulfed by dark clouds, wishing he could hammer Queo dead with the scepter.

He had just returned from the North, having discreetly arrived in Cholula City barely three or four days ago after securing a promise from the Mexica King. Elder War Leader Wezil had already returned from the South, reporting the negotiation result of "handing over tens of thousands of Moth citizens for reconciliation with the Southern Army corps."

Everything proceeded as he had planned, though not perfectly, yet sufficient for Cholula City to safely navigate this crisis. An even brighter future seemed within reach, but now an unexpected and difficult variable had emerged...

"Hoo, hoo-hoo!"

After a quarter, the melancholic sound of clay xun wafted from the southern horizon, drifting toward the Holy City. Instantly, Petl composed himself, the priest elders ceased talking, tidying their ornate ancient ceremonial attires. Soon, on the distant fields, a procession emerged, drawing nearer.

Under the escort of two hundred Mexica warriors, an elder clad in sacred robes, crowned with a stone diadem and holding a scepter, moved solemnly like a divine being, slowly approaching.

The priestly leader Petl adjusted his feather crown, striding out from the ranks. He approached the elder with a smile, nodding politely as a gesture of greeting.

"Xutel, my old friend, it has been more than ten years since we last met..."

The High Priest remained expressionless, silent. He stood erect, eyes radiating a bright light like the Morning Star, raising his divine staff before lowering it horizontally downward.

"..."

Petl immediately froze, his expression darkened, anger rising within him. As the priestly leader, he naturally understood the meaning of this gesture. This was a ritual of "divine" meeting, signifying the "Master" meeting the "Subordinate" divine. At this moment, the High Priest’s gesture represented the Chief Divine!

The old fox’s face fluctuated between pale and grim. He had held dominion over divine authority throughout the Eastern Holy City for twenty years, while the Western Holy City High Priest was merely one of the two leaders of the Mexica Alliance’s priesthood factions. Over ten years ago, he had met the High Priest, demanding the "Master-Subordinate Ritual" as a Chief Divine. Yet today, times had changed, and the divine hierarchy had reversed...

"Hmm?"

The High Priest, with a slight smile, focused on his old companion whom he hadn’t seen in over a decade.

"..."

Clenching his teeth, Petl lowered his head. He lowered his divine staff, then aligned it horizontally upward.

"Ding!"

The two gem-encrusted divine staffs collided heavily, emitting a crisp, resonating chime, symbolizing the meeting of divinities. Petl then struggled onto one knee, offering a bow, rising again.

"Hmm!"

The High Priest smiled, nodding in satisfaction.

"Petl, after more than ten years, the reunion of old friends is indeed a delightful affair!"

"Ahem, esteemed High Priest, the reunion of old friends brings me exceptional joy as well."

Petl forced a smile on his face, then extended his hand, gesturing toward the welcoming crowd.

"The twelve priestly families have long awaited your arrival outside the city, with divine objects and ceremonial escorts present. Allow the musicians to perform the divine music, the maidens to dance with flowers, and present them to you!"

"Oh? What a grand ritual of welcoming the venerable one! Such ancient rites can only be carried out in the Holy City of Cholula."

The High Priest gazed in admiration, commenting with a tinge of nostalgia. Then, restraining his expression, he sternly remarked,

"Cholula City has not yet yielded to the Alliance, thus a foe rather than a friend! Avoid those decaying formalities!... Let us proceed directly to the divine sanctum on ’Man-Made Mountain’ Tlachihualtepetl to discuss an outcome!"

"...Yes."

Petl’s expression showed a mix of emotions. After a while, he lowered his head, suppressing all dissatisfaction, replied kindly with a smile.

"High Priest, as you say."

Subsequently, Priest Leader Petl instructed those around him to disperse the welcoming crowd, ensure the warriors maintained vigilance in the outer city. Meanwhile, the elders of the twelve priestly families all headed to the divine sanctum for discussions with the High Priest of the Alliance. After arranging everything, he stepped forward, respectfully assured.

"Esteemed High Priest, your guard warriors shall remain in the outer city. Your safety will be guaranteed by the Holy City of Cholula, a few close attendants will suffice!"

"Oh?"

With a smile on his lips, the High Priest glanced at the deferential Petl. He nodded slightly, giving a few instructions, then left behind two hundred Mexica warriors, taking only the shadowy Cevali and a few attendants, heading towards the Inner City.

The Holy City of Cholula was quite vast, lacking an outer city, only having the Temple District’s Inner City. The walls of the Inner City were seven to eight meters high, constructed with sturdy stones, reinforced with adobe mixed with mortar, like a small fortress. At this moment, a thousand Cholula temple warriors stood guard on the walls. They knelt uniformly on the battlements, laying down their weapons, devoutly saluting the priestly retinue passing through. These temple warriors had served Cholula for generations, the priests’ most reliable force.

Beyond the Inner City’s defenses, the massive Cholula Pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, measuring 450 meters in length and width, rising 60-70 meters high, stood majestically on a nearby high hill, steadfast like the mountains!

In the Navajo language, Tlachihualtepetl means "man-made mountain," the sacred man-made mountain!

The High Priest halted upon entering the Inner City, squinting his eyes, scrutinizing this ancient Great Pyramid, as if glimpsing the bygone Toltec Era.

"Esteemed High Priest, Tlachihualtepetl is the abode of the Navajo gods, universally acknowledged as a holy dwelling!"

The priestly leader Petl, with pride, narrated.

"After the Teotihuacan people colluded with the Volcanic Demon and were abandoned by All Gods, Cholula City began to rise, and Tlachihualtepetl was constructed accordingly! Under the divine protection, the Great Pyramid continuously expanded, built over the Toltec Era, taking six centuries to complete six hundred years ago!..."

"Tlachihualtepetl is the most magnificent pyramid in the world, the holiest blessing from All Gods! Cholula City, under the blessings of All Gods, has experienced the Teotihuacan Period, Toltec Era, and now the Mexica Era! It embodies the essence of the Navajo world and the hearts of the various tribes’ citizens, an unparalleled sacred land in the world!..."

Saying this, Petl’s gaze deepened, looking towards the High Priest, implying something profound.

"Esteemed Mexica High Priest, regardless of the changes in the world, regardless of the rise and fall of city-states, the Holy City of Cholula has persisted for a thousand years, enduringly immortal! Its steadfast standing here, intertwined with the fate of the ancient priestly families, under the protection of All Gods, shall continue for another millennium!"

"Oh? Continue for a millennium, enduringly immortal?... Truly a great and holy spectacle!"

Hearing this, the High Priest’s face radiated a brilliant smile. He admired the towering "man-made mountain," genuinely voicing his praise! Then, turning back, his mouth slightly curled as he gazed at the old fox before him, posing a soul-piercing inquiry.

"Petl, the sacred man-made mountain is built of stone and adobe, enduring winds and rains, standing tall and firm. It has no life, no desire, hence it can be immortal. But can the hereditary priestly families, beings of flesh and blood, driven by mundane desires, also not be immortal?"