"Hehehe"
Yan Mo smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming with an indifferent arrogance. This arrogance was well-deserved; after all, she had a powerful husband who kept them all at bay, leaving the others to passively endure their situation.
A wisp of green smoke escaped her lips as she observed the arrival of the Tianjin God and the Three Gods. Their presence was amusing; once upon a time, these so-called heavenly deities looked down on her kind. But now, that attitude had shifted, and she found it entertaining.
"Tell me," Ebisu, said calmly. "What is it that you intend to do? Or what does the god from another world behind you want?"
"Huh"
"Ah, worthy of being the God of Heaven!" Yan Mo replied gently. "My proposal is quite simple: let Hell return, and the battle between Heaven and Earth shall reignite, sparking the divine conflict once more."
She paused for effect. "I propose a wager. If my side loses, I will return Hell and relinquish my identity as King Yan Mo, allowing it to become a realm without a ruler. So, what will you offer in return?"
In truth, Yan Mo was merely stalling for time. She was waiting for her husband to fully integrate Hell into the Underworld, preparing for his return after three millennia. Once he achieved the status of a Primordial God, the dynamics would shift entirely.
At that point, everything would be easier. Her conditions, whether understood or not, were inconsequential to her. She had already achieved her goal, establishing her dominance. Yan Mo smiled confidently, her demeanor unbothered.
"Hoo"
"Everyone! Will you accept this gamble? If you refuse, things will remain as they are. I could decide the fate of Hell based on my whims. If I choose to let it fade, it will vanish without a trace."
Her words hung heavy in the air, causing the gods to scowl. Ultimately, they faced an undeniable truth: they had no choice but to comply. They could only endure; refusal was not an option.
In this gamble, Yan Mo held absolute power.
"The concubine agrees!" Amaterasu finally conceded, though her expression remained frosty. "I offer the Eight-Foot Qiong Gouyu and the Eight-Foot Mirror for this wager."
"Not enough!" Yan Mo responded coolly. "Amaterasu, don't assume I'm begging you. This is merely an opportunity I present. If you fail to grasp it, the biggest loss will fall upon you. For me, holding a piece like the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds is nearly the same, but I seek more from you. Raise the stakes."
Amaterasu's face darkened. She hadn't expected her two divine artifacts to be dismissed so readily. Confusion mingled with frustration in her gaze.
Meanwhile, Ebisu remained composed. He grasped the underlying complexity of the situation. The stakes of this divine conflict were far greater than they initially appeared. There were hidden agendas at play, especially concerning the god backing Yan Mo.
After a moment of contemplation, Ebisu spoke again, "Yan Mo! Just tell us what you want. Whatever bet you propose is acceptable to me. After all, you're talking about Hell, one of the Four Realms of our world."
His assertion made the faces of the three Imperial Gods even grimmer. Although they were supposedly the current rulers of the gods, they were trapped in a situation they couldn't control, facing the reality that their failures had led them here.
"Good!" Yan Mo beamed. "Since we're clear, I won't waste time. I require both artifacts, of course. Additionally, if I win the battle between Heaven and Earth, I want the origin of Gaotianyuan. That is a fair bet."
The gods fell into stunned silence. They hadn't anticipated such a demand. Yet, after some consideration, it made sense. Hell represented one of the Four Realms, so an equivalent stake would indeed be the origin of Gao Tianyuan, the divine realm among the Four.
Gao Tianyuan was a treasure trove. It absorbed the faith of countless beings, enhancing the powers and cultivation of any god within. For Yan Mo to request its origin was a significant demand, as it would allow her to integrate Gao Tianyuan into the Underworld, boosting their divine forces.
"Can!" Ebisu declared, nodding seriously. "In that case, we should sign the contract of the gods!"
"Hehehe"
Yan Mo's smile was enigmatic. "Ebisu, you seem to have overlooked something crucial. For me, it matters little whether this game continues or ends, but do you truly have the qualifications to bargain?"