Mysterious divine smoke wafted out from the sanctuary, gently rising up to the gathering clouds. Looking down from the sky, beneath the towering sanctuaries of the gods stood the magnificent and grand Cholula Great Pyramid, the "man-made mountain" Tlachihualtepetl!
This ancient pyramid, over sixty meters in height and four hundred fifty meters in length and width, was the largest pyramid in the world by volume. It had been expanded six times from the inside out, primarily using mud bricks mixed with granite. On the outermost layer of the pyramid, many areas were covered with soil, planted with various colorful flowers and plants.
At this time, during the summer, artificially planted flowers blossomed on the surface of the towering pyramid, attracting brightly colored butterflies that fluttered among the dark gray bricks. The imposing ancient marvel had transformed into the beautiful "Flower Holy Mountain"!
The main hall of the sanctuary had its wide doors and windows open, and the intoxicating fragrance dispersed with the wind. Acap sat on a soft bear skin mat, inhaling the pleasant and dazzling aroma, looking down at the sprawling sea of flowers beneath his feet. He laughed heartily, his spirit lifted as if he were a deity high in the clouds, contentedly overlooking the mortal world.
After a while, not until the divine smoke in the hearth had burnt out did the young Elder Priest recover from his genuine joy. Stimulated by the divine smoke, his face flushed and his heart raced as he loudly praised.
"This is indeed the finest divine smoke! Momentarily transported to the Divine Kingdom, I felt immense joy, akin to the purest Holy Water. Thank you, messenger of the deities, Priest Leader Petl! What precious Divine Grass have you added to this divine smoke?"
The kindly noble old man laughed heartily, his complexion normal amid the divine smoke.
"Indeed, many precious Divine Grasses have been added, a unique tradition passed down through generations of Cholula Priests! Each portion of this prepared divine smoke is worth a chest of gold and is priceless. This formula for the divine smoke has been passed down from the Toltec Empire era, enduring for six hundred years now!"
Upon hearing this, Acap exclaimed in awe and showed his respect.
Petl smiled complacently, his smile tinged with pride.
"Cholula City has been established for one thousand eight hundred years. Since the decline of the First Holy City Teotihuacan, this place has gradually prospered as the Second Holy City. There are towering pyramid-temples here, numerous smaller temples, tens of thousands of civilians in service, and over a thousand noble priests! Although the two holy cities have similar layouts, their prosperity is as different as heaven and earth. Teotihuacan is where the deities departed, while Cholula is where the deities return, the true holy capital!"
Acap nodded repeatedly, praising with a laugh. Then he shifted his words, his gaze sincere.
"Cholula Holy City, a hub for north-south trade, is famously wealthy, only slightly less so than the Lake Capital City. Cholula’s Flower Holy Mountain is majestic and beautiful, worthy of being ranked among the finest in the world alongside the Great Temple of the Lake Capital City and the Sun and Moon Pyramids of Teotihuacan!"
Hearing this, Priest Leader Petl’s smile faltered.
Cholula Holy City had always been revered, away from the ravages of war. The many priestly families in the city had a heritage of four to five hundred years without interruption, truly the remnants of the Toltec, the "civilized people within the city". In contrast, the Aztec people had come from the distant northwest, from Aztlán, enduring a long migration and countless battles. Like the people of Tlaxcala outside the city, they were also blood-stained wilderness people, the "barbarians outside the city".
For over a hundred years, the Aztec people had settled in the Lake Capital City, claiming to be descendants of the Toltec, the divine-favored Mexica. Thereafter, they waged wars far and wide, intimidating the whole world, forcing other states to change their stance. But the true history, of course, was clearly recorded in Cholula Holy City.
"Acap speaking such words before me is not to demean himself but to broach an alliance. In these two months, the Mexica have tested the waters several times, showing a strong intention to form an alliance."
Petl’s mind whirred rapidly, his smile returning to normal. After weighing his words for a while, he finally spoke with a smile,
"The Mexica Alliance is the successor to the great Toltec Empire, and the Mexica are the chosen Divine Tribe. Cholula Holy City has always respected the will of the deities, and we have long been as one with the Alliance. It is well known that we are all of Toltec blood, what more is there to say..."
As he spoke, Petl shifted the topic back to the divine smoke.
"Elder Acap, although the divine smoke of the Holy Land is exquisite, the Holy Water of the Lake Capital City is equally extraordinary, transcending the mundane. The Mexica’s Pharmacists are uniquely distinguished, renowned across the land. The High Priest Quetzal was an expert among them! Half a year ago, when I heard of his demise, I lamented for several days, wondering when I could taste the Holy Water again and feel the blessings of the deities?"
Acap pondered for a moment, sighing inwardly. The leaders of Cholula were very cordial toward the Alliance, yet they consistently refused to officially form an alliance, leading to no progress once again. His face always smiling, warmly serene, he continued speaking.
"While the High Priest has returned to the Divine Kingdom, the tradition of Alchemy continues. As this visit was hasty...I have already dispatched envoys, bringing them the latest Holy Water, and I invite all the Elder Priests to share in the divine grace when the time comes."
Petl nodded approvingly, genuinely looking forward to it. He continued to extend the topic.
"That sounds wonderful! I hear the great Alliance is reforming religion, increasing the number of priests, participating in managing the nobility’s fiefs. Has the Council of Twelve Priests established religious laws to manage the world on behalf of the deities?"