Aztec Eternals

The climate at the seaside is unpredictable, it was cloudy and showery just now, and now it is raining and sunny again. A beam of golden sunlight fell on the temple of Baishi through the scattered clouds, like a blessing from the sun god. On the walls of the temple, the reliefs of snake gods flashed golden light, lifelike, as if they were swimming, showing wonders.

When the Totonak people in the city passed the edge of the temple, they would bow their heads devoutly and salute to the majestic temple. And under the temple of the pyramid, the prosperous market is bustling, full of stalls and bamboo sheds selling goods. Shouts of various accents came and went, and foreign merchants in various costumes came and went to this huge city-state market, at least thousands of people!

"Hey! What a big city!"

Chihuaco boarded the shore and looked at the scene in the city. His eyes widened, a little surprised. Such prosperity reminded him of the capital of Chin Cong Chan in the kingdom. However, the buildings and murals of this city-state were engraved with many gods that he had never seen before, which made him a little vigilant amidst awe.

"There are a lot of sculptures of gods and spirits, and it feels different from that of Feathered Snake City. There is a big snake over there, and a snake den here."

Ticaro nodded with a smile, looked at the familiar scenery, recalled the many times of trade here in the past, and answered leisurely.

"Haha! Captain Qi is really sharp. Hidden Snake City is famous for its snakes. Many snake gods are enshrined, and there is also a tradition of raising snake pets. Not only do we believe in the Feathered Serpent God, Kechalcoatl, but we also believe in corn people. The serpent sun god, Itzamana, the northern Mayan feathered serpent god Kukulkan."

"Huh? Your Feathered Serpent God is different from the Feathered Serpent Gods of other ministries on the seashore?"

Hearing this, Chivako was slightly taken aback, a little strange.

"Tikalo, when you prayed in the past, did you pray for that 'Ketalcoatl' or 'Kukulkan'?"

"What about this?"

Ticaro raised the corner of his mouth, suddenly remembering the oath of allegiance he made in front of His Highness a long time ago. He suddenly laughed happily and preached triumphantly.

"Neither! The main god of our family is actually the snake god, It Sumner. Only by making an oath to Him can we not break it!"

"Snake God"

The old militiaman scratched his head, a little dazed. These Mayan gods, he had never heard of them before. Ticaro changed the subject and spoke confidently.

"Captain Qi, let me tell you that the world is vast, and Hidden Snake City is the real world! The ministries of the Mexican highlands and the Mayan lowlands meet here, exchanging knowledge and Special products of the two regions. And we wandering Mayan merchants are the messengers who communicate with each other under the guidance of the snake god."

Speaking of this, Ticaro sighed a little. He glanced in the northeast direction, where there was the glory of the family, as well as the ancestral land of ancestors and gods. It's just that now, all of this is being looked down slightly by Ti Kalo, suppressing the emotions in his heart, and turning his head to look to the south.

"...800 miles to the southwest, there is the Oaxaca Valley of the Zapotec people, which is also connected by waterways. And to the southeast, it is the various tribes of the Mayan Highlands. Merchants from each tribe will trade here and exchange what they have. ! Respected two captains, respected priests of the main god, there is a huge wealth flowing here, and there are also gods from the ancient era, let's enter the city now!"

The fleet in the lake docked on the shore, and seven long boats came up with forty or fifty people at once. Warriors and sailors, each with weapons, with bulging waists and jewels in their arms. The exploration fleet needs supplies and purchases. The captains and sailors also want to buy something for themselves, um, with the fleet's gems.

Everyone is gearing up, ready to fight. Chivako was wearing a straw hat, a short jacket, and a short spear for self-defense, very simple. At first glance, it looks like a militia.

A group of people entered the city gate guarded by Totonac warriors, and did not attract much attention. They just paid the fee for foreign merchants to enter the city, a bag of cocoa beans. Then, they merged into the crowd, like hundreds of merchants from various ministries, into the torrent of wealth!

The flow of people came and went, stepped on the wide dirt road, and went straight to the central market. Soon, under the guidance of Ticaro, everyone arrived at the square market under the temple pyramid without taking a detour. The noisy atmosphere immediately came head-on, bringing the cries of thousands of people, which made people's ears ringing for a while.

Chivako opened his old eyes wide, touched his straw hat, looked at the prosperity in front of him, and sincerely admired it.

"The venison sellers, the turkey sellers, the meat beetle sellers, the pumpkin sellers, the bean sellers, the cornmeal sellers, and the pottery, stone implements, and grass clothes. The folks here have spirits on their faces, It's a good day!"

".Well."

Hearing this, the corner of Ticaro's mouth twitched. He looked around, everyone else was looking for strange fetish objects, only old man Qi, looking at these soil objects without oil and water, this is really.

"I'm really ignorant!"

Ticaro sneered secretly, while his eyes scanned several places in the market. Then, the corners of his mouth raised, with confidence in mind.

"Haha! The villagers are living a good life, but they didn't get it by selling soil. That's because, the legend of the gods and objects here has attracted countless foreign businessmen to come here!"

With a smile on the corner of the Mayan merchant's mouth, he pointed to the market.

"Look, the ancient relics are buried in this land, leaving behind countless relics. The stalls on this ground, these local villagers, will sell some ancient relics dug out of the ground. It's just that the gods are rare, If you want to find the real gods from the many ancient relics, then you have to rely on the blessing of the gods!"

Afterwards, Ticaro smiled lightly and proposed again.

"Hidden Snake City is a sacred commercial city-state. Fighting is strictly prohibited in the city. There are warriors patrolling it. It is very safe. Why don't we just spread out and find our own destiny!"

"Okay, the Lord God bless you! Old man Qi, let's separate and see whose luck is better!"

Pu'apu couldn't wait, rubbed his hands together, and looked at the old militiaman expectantly. The old militiaman glanced at Puap, then at the excited crowd, and nodded helplessly.

"Okay! This afternoon, let's go shopping in the market separately. Don't forget the supplies of your ships, and don't reveal your wealth and spend too much. Gemstones. This place is far away from the Kingdom and the Alliance, so be vigilant. For the ship The safety of the team, no matter what, we can't stay in a city-state for too long!"

"Well, before the moon comes out, you must return to the ship. We will sail into the sea tomorrow afternoon at the latest. If the time is delayed, the fleet will not wait!"

Hearing this, everyone's faces were serious, and they nodded obediently. Ticaro's eyelids twitched, feeling anxious.

"Just leave for an afternoon? Leave tomorrow? No, I have to hurry up."

Soon, the fleet and a group of people dispersed separately and went to various places in the market. Puap reached out and touched a bag of gems in his arms, with a confident smile on his face. Then, he raised his spirits, widened his eyes, and went to hundreds of stalls to find the predestined fetish that belonged to him!

Mayan merchant Tikalo strolled in the courtyard, smiling, looking at the familiar scenes around him. He walked very slowly, and gradually fell behind others, consciously or unconsciously, watching everyone's actions.

The main god priest, Thomas, had a clear purpose and acted decisively. Holding the sacred "Ali Sutra", under the blessing of the main god, he swept the surrounding vendors sharply. After a while, he found the target, strode forward, came to a stone mirror booth, and searched carefully.

Among the piles of ancient stone mirrors, a hand-sized, simple and solemn black red stone mirror engraved with divine patterns quickly fell into his eyes. And on the edge of the stone mirror, there is permeating cinnabar red and gold patterns on it, making it even more extraordinary.

Tomato's eyes froze for a moment. He pursed his lips, stared at the divine pattern on the ancient mirror for a moment, and clenched the scriptures in his hand. Afterwards, the pious priest of the main god stared at the young Totonak vendor sitting on the ground with majestic eyes. He stretched out his finger and asked in a deep voice.

"This, very old, black and red with gold patterns, thin sliced ​​stone mirror, how do you sell it?"

The ancient Hidden Snake City is now the city-state of the Totonak people. The Nahua language of the plateau is also spoken here, but a lot of Mayan vocabulary is integrated. The kingdom's fleet and the market here can still communicate normally, even talking and making gestures.

Hearing such a loud and powerful voice, the young peddler's heart skipped a beat. His eyes moved slightly, quickly looking at the clothes of the visitor. Afterwards, his eyes suddenly focused on the book in the hands of Priest Tomat, and he immediately took some care.

"Well, my lord priest, what do you offer in exchange?"

"Gem. Very good gem."

Priest Tomat stretched out his hand and flashed the gemstone in the lake in his hand. The pure Huaguang fell into the eyes of the young peddler, making his eyes light up. He swallowed involuntarily, and smiled.

"My lord priest, your eyesight is really sharper than an eagle's! This fetish of the second ancient city has divinity that foreshadows the future, and it deserves to be yours."

Priest Tomat had no expression on his face and interrupted the young peddler.

"How to sell?"

"...As long as ten, the gemstone in your hand. This mirror that can pass on to future generations, bless the family, and be blessed by fate, is yours!"

Priest Tomat shook his head, resolutely. He stared into the eyes of the young peddler, and drank in a low voice with the majestic tone unique to the priests in the lake.

"A gem!"

"Uh, my lord priest, this is a rare fetish! To meet you is a fateful encounter."

"A gem!"

"Ah, at least seven gems are needed. My lord priest, think about it, you have such a fetish, and in the eyes of other priests, you are a person blessed by God, after that."

"A gem!"

". No way! Gems have a price, but fetishes are priceless. I sell the fetish, which is also the guidance of the gods. I want to find a divine master for it. The fetish cannot be dusty, and at least five gems are needed to lower its value! "

Hearing this, Priest Tomat's eyes were filled with anger. He pressed the surface of the scriptures, his momentum was as majestic as a god. He stared intently at the young peddler in front of him, his eyes were as sharp as a knife, bringing great oppression to him. His voice was decisive, as decisive as thunder.

"A jewel! The Lord God has revealed to me that although this mirror is ancient, it does not have any divinity! Because, the Lord God said: All the divinity in the world can only be bestowed by Him!"

".Your...my lord priest is right!"

Sweat gradually broke out on the forehead of the young peddler. He glanced at the copper ax on the priest's waist, fearing that the other party would draw out his weapon, so he hacked him to death on the spot. If the priests respected by various ministries kill people in the name of gods, even if they are the commercial city-states that protect merchants, they will not criticize them too much.

"However, I have old mothers and young children at home, so I will point out and buy some cornmeal and eggs for them. At least two gems!"

"Um"

Priest Tomat lowered his eyes, pondered for a while, and chanted in a low voice.

"The Lord God is watching us and giving light to those who are lost! Say to me: Praise the Lord God Vitzilopochtli! He rules all things and is omnipotent!"

"ah?"

The young peddler was stunned for a while, tongue-tied and stuttering.

"Uh, praise the Lord God for 'feeding the radish'! He rules all things and is omnipotent!"

"Praise the Lord God! He has given me gems!"

The hawker's eyes lit up instantly, and he prayed earnestly, with hope rising in his heart.

"Praise the Lord God! He has given me gems!"

"very good!"

Priest Tomat nodded in satisfaction. He took out three gems from his pocket and handed them to the vendor.

"Ah! Three? Thank you, Lord Priest!"

The young peddler was overjoyed and hurriedly put the gem into his pocket. Then, he picked up the simple stone mirror, respectfully, and handed it to the strange priest in front of him.

"My lord, your magic mirror."

"No, this is just an ordinary mirror, without divinity, but with very ancient divine lines."

Priest Tomat shook his head and stared at the peddler with bright eyes.

"And these gems are not given to you by me, but by the Lord God!"

".Well."

"Say, praise the Lord God! He gave me gems, and led me away from the darkness of the lost way, and gradually walked into the light!"

"Ah?...Dark Lost?"

Hearing this, beads of sweat appeared on the young peddler's forehead again. He hesitated for a while, but for some reason, he followed the priest and prayed in a low voice.

"Praise be to the Lord God! He gave me gems and led me away from the darkness of the lost way, gradually stepping into the light!"

"Very good! My child, the benevolent Lord God is watching and leading you! What's your name?"

Priest Tomat nodded in satisfaction, stretched out his hand, and stroked the young peddler's hair benevolently.

At this moment, the young peddler froze in place inexplicably, without any evasion, as if he had been hit by a body spell. He raised his head, looked at the soft eyes of the priest in front of him, and listened to the gentle voice of the other party, as if he really felt the warmth of the main god.

"I, my name is Stone Mouse, a mouse born in a stone, without parents."

Hearing this, Priest Tomat frowned, gave the Stone Mouse a meaningful look, and shook his head.

"You don't have parents, but you have the blessing of the Lord God! The Lord God is the sun in the sky, bringing the light to all living beings, no matter what their background is, as long as they convert to the right path! My child, from now on, your name will not be Shi Rat, but called the White Rat. The Lord God grants you light, even if you are in the abyss, you will still see the hope of salvation!"

The stone mouse was in a trance for a moment, and changed its name inexplicably.

".Yes. My name is White Rat. Praise the Lord God! Even if I am in the abyss, I will still see hope!"

"Very well! Day Rat, my boy, we shall meet again!"

Priest Tomat smiled kindly, picked up the magic mirror, rubbed the hair of the white mouse again, turned and left. A few steps away, Tikalo opened his mouth wide, looking at all this, almost dropped his jaw in shock.

"This preacher priest of the Lord God is really evil!"