Chapter 500: The highest glaciers and volcanoes, the ancient temple of the God of Death
The spring breeze in April comes from the Caribbean Sea in the east, carrying a moist and warm atmosphere. The spring plowing season is approaching, and black smoke from burning fields is burning everywhere in the Mexica Valley. At this time, when you climb up and look far away, you can see everything.
Fundus of sight. Even outside Shuigu City on the east side of the mountains, one can see from a distance the wealth and prosperity on the west side of the mountains.
However, the east side of the mountains is full of desolation, with dead silence and despair. From the northernmost sacred place of the Tlaxcala Alliance to the southernmost mountain pass fortress group, there are more than three hundred miles in between.
There are burning towns, desolate farmland, lying corpses, and tribes abandoning everything and fleeing into the mountains.
The long wind was strong, blowing the hunting clothes. The mountains were far away, shining on the vast snow-capped peaks. At this moment, Xiulote stood on the edge of the Popocatépetl volcano, looking up at the peak of 5,400 meters above sea level.
Heartfelt admiration.
"The height of the Smoke Peak is like a pillar connecting the Kingdom of God, reaching straight into the sky! And only here in the entire Mexica Alliance can you see the glacier!"
Yes, Pocatepetl volcano is also known as Smoke Peak. It is the second highest peak in Mexico and the fifth highest peak in North America. It is a full 5426 meters! Its altitude is so high that it can not only be seen in the tropics
To the ice and snow, you can also see the spectacular volcanic glaciers at the top!
Shulot looked up for a long time, looking at the peaks that covered the sky and the sun, and sighed at the majesty of the natural wonders. Months of hard work seemed to disappear in an instant, leaving only the openness of the sky and the earth.
Yesterday, he took five hundred elite warriors and walked 30 miles west from Shuigu City to the foot of the spectacular Pocatepetl volcano. Afterwards, he camped at the foot of the mountain and stayed for one night. And early this morning,
He left three hundred heavily armored warriors to garrison, and only took two hundred leather armored personal guards to climb to the heights of Yanfeng.
Everyone climbed all the way for four or five hours, from the altitude of 2000 meters in Shuigu City to the altitude of 3500 meters halfway up the mountain. It was full of spring at the bottom of the mountain, but it was cold winter on the mountain. However, even in this cold place, it was only a few steps away from the top of Yanfeng Peak.
The glacier is nearly two thousand meters long!
"call!..."
Shulot took a deep breath and felt the lack of oxygen and cold on the high mountain. Then he slowly exhaled, leaving a long trace in the air.
"Bertard, is the Temple of Death of the Tlaxcalans located here?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Bertard nodded solemnly, with a strange light in his eyes.
"The God of Death and Rebirth, the Lord of Fire and Thunder, the oldest temple of Shulotel, the God of Death, is not far from here!"
"Very good! Keep leading the way! Let the warriors disperse and be careful!"
Shulot looked serious and nodded slightly.
The fighting in the Eastern Expedition has come to an end, and the area around Shuigu City has just been pacified. The South Route Army is organizing outside the city, waiting for the follow-up supplies of food and grass, and transporting the young and strong prisoners. The army is temporarily stationed, and the king has a little leisure, and has a few more days to relax.
This mountainous area has been cleared several times by the army. Although there is still the hidden danger of the Tlaxcala tribe hiding, the number is definitely less than a hundred people, and there is not much risk. At this time, Bertard made a suggestion to let
Shulot came to the sacred Temple of Death to worship and listen to the prophecies of the old priest of Death.
Hearing such a suggestion, Shulot hesitated for a moment and nodded happily. Because, in the Pocatepetl volcano, the status of this temple of the Death Temple is really special and extremely mysterious!
The Mexica people and the Tlaxcala people share the east and west sides of the Pocatepetl volcano. They are brothers by blood and have similar cultures. They have many gods in common, the most special of which is,
It is Shulotel, the God of Death. And the origin of Shulotel, the God of Death, is in the Pocatepetl volcano! In the oldest mural records, He was not the God of Death at first, but an ancient volcano god.
With the name "God of Death", Shulot had a very special feeling towards this oldest temple of the God of Death, as if he was inexplicably attracted to it.
From the perspective of practical interests, climbing the sacred Smoke Peak, worshiping such a temple, and listening to the prophecies of the death priest... These actions can add a more fearsome divinity to his reputation!
In the Chinese and American worlds that believe in gods and attach great importance to omens, such a mysterious divinity will be of great benefit to the king's rule.
At the same time, this temple of death also has an extremely sacred status in the hearts of the people of Tlaxcala. Perhaps it can become an opportunity and a bond to win over the hearts of all tribes in Tlaxcala.
"Phew! This faint breath...is it the Stone of the Dead?"
Shulot walked for a moment and stopped. He sniffed the tip of his nose, feeling a little surprised.
"Yes! Your Highness, there is a huge deposit of Stone of the Dead here. There are bottomless cracks in the deposit. Legend has it that it is connected to the abyss underground and will emit a lot of smoke. And every once in a while, the Smoke Peak will completely erupt.
! It will spit out burning lava and shoot out smoke and dust all over the sky, connecting the underground abyss of death with the living world!..."
Having said this, Bertard looked in awe and lowered his voice.
"And the ancient temple of the God of Death is hidden near the mine of the Stone of the Dead."
Hearing this, Xiulote nodded slowly. The Popocatepetl volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It erupts almost every few years. And once every half a century, it erupts.
Great eruption! In Aztec mythology, the 52-year cycle of reincarnation is actually closely related to the great eruption of Popocatepetl volcano.
The mountains are vast and the trees are green. At this height, the mountains are already covered with coniferous forests adapted to the cold. And in the gaps between the large forests, there are a few khaki sulfur mines, constantly exuding the smell of volcanoes.
Bertard led dozens of warriors and searched around the sulfur mine for a full two-quarters of an hour. Only then did he feel refreshed and found a few clues.
"Your Highness, these are the footprints of the past month. They were probably left by the old priests in the temple. They will come here every once in a while to take the Stone of the Dead, ignite the sacred blue fire and gray smoke, and pray to the God of Death.
Burning sacrifice!”
"Stone of the dead, burning sacrifice?..."
Hearing this, Shulot frowned. Burning sulfur and absorbing poisonous smoke every day? These priests of the God of Death may not live long.
"...Well, just follow this footprint and go like this...Huh? Why are there more than a dozen different footprints?"
Seeing this, Bertard's face darkened and he waved his hand. The two hundred guards grasped the copper axe, took off the long bow, and were always on guard. Everyone carefully followed the footprints on the ground and walked for several miles through the mountains and forests.
, only to find a low and dilapidated temple.
The temple has only two entrances and two exits, is not large in area, has an extremely ancient style, and the carvings are mottled and old, as if it has gone through hundreds or thousands of years. It is hidden deep on the top of the mountain, deep in the pine forest, and seems to not want people to know about it.
Outsiders are not welcome to visit. On the walls of the temple, a row of weathered skulls hang densely.
Shulot looked carefully and saw that the bones of these skulls were somewhat black, much like the traces left after long-term poisoning. He pondered in his heart and had some guesses about the origins of the skeletons, but he was not sure.
"Woo!...Woo!"
A long gust of wind blew through the hole in the skull, bringing with it a sharp and penetrating "wow" cry. Everyone present was used to seeing death, so they didn't care about it, but only heightened their vigilance.
The warrior captain Bertard looked at the temple for a while, and suddenly his pupils shrank. Then, with a "dang" sound, he pulled out the bronze sword from his waist, and stepped in front of His Highness!