Chapter 1806: Khatabah Emerges from Seclusion! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

The subordinates in the hall quickly departed, leaving Wang Chong behind with his thoughts.

Khatabah?

Wang Chong was far too familiar with this name, but this world was far too different from his memories. The name 'Khatabah' should not have appeared in this era, in this time… and the Hierophant?

Wang Chong had never recalled this kind of title being associated with Khatabah.

But regardless, Wang Chong could sense that a storm was coming.

……

In the distant Arabian Empire, several hundred li from the capital of Baghdad, was a sprawling city of white palaces, but only a few people lived within.

Hamuhad!

In the Arabic language, this meant 'residence of the sagely hero', and this was where the Hierophant, Khatabah, resided. In Arabia, Khatabah possessed a supreme status, a true legend. His influence was far greater than any War God.

As a legendary existence of Arabia, he had numerous disciples and students across the realm. Many Governors and Deputy Governors had originated from his doorstep, and the most famous disciple of all was the Arab War God who Wang Chong had killed in the Battle of Talas, Qutaybah.

But this was far from Khatabah's only contribution. When he first entered the army as a priest, Mutasim III had yet to be born, and the Arabian Empire had been far from possessing the influence it had today. At that time, Arabia was at most a small country that was slightly stronger than its neighbors.

It was Khatabah who made this empire coalesce like never before, rapidly transforming into a frightening war machine that swept over the bordering countries and became the strongest and largest empire in the west.

It was only with the foundation that Khatabah had established that Mutasim III was able to expand the empire to its largest extent, a vast empire of more than ten million square kilometers.

One could say that without Khatabah, there would be no current Arabian Empire. It was for this reason that Khatabah was called the Hierophant and possessed a supreme status. Just like the High Priest of the Temple, he was one of the most powerful and most legendary figures of the empire!

But it was also because Khatabah's vast influence posed a severe threat to imperial authority that both Mutasim III and his predecessor had feared him.

For a very long time now, both Caliphs had done their utmost to exclude Khatabah and keep his influence out of the military.

And Khatabah was far more arrogant than could be imagined. Many people might have been tempted by imperial authority, but Khatabah hardly cared.

Several decades ago, he had increased the size of Arabia to around eighty percent of its current size, upon which he resigned from the military and moved to this place several hundred li to the southwest of Baghdad, establishing the white holy city of Hamuhad. At the same time, he used his influence to make this place a forbidden zone.

Hamuhad covered an area of more than eight hundred square kilometers, but nobody lived there except the twenty-thousand-some elites and the servants and slaves Khatabah had initially brought to serve him. The city was closed to outsiders.

Anyone who tried to enter was executed!

Khatabah then announced that he was entering seclusion. No one knew what Khatabah was doing in there or why he had built Hamuhad. Everyone only knew that the innermost circle of houses in Hamuhad were pitch-black as if they had been burned by fire. Every day, when night fell, large plumes of smoke and countless sparks would rise from the center of Hamuhad.

Moreover, once, when an Arab caravan was passing by Hamuhad on the day when the moon was at its brightest, an inhuman roar like a peal of thunder came from the city. All the horses scattered in fright from the noise, and all the members of the caravan trembled, instinctively feeling immense fear.

More and more incidents like this continued to occur, and many sorts of rumors began to circulate in Arabia regarding Hamuhad.

No one knew what secret was hidden in Hamuhad, but the rumors continued to multiply. Even so, no one dared to risk the danger of infiltrating the Hierophant's holy city.

But now, the gates of Hamuhad were open. An army numbering in the hundreds of thousands extended for several hundred li, serving as an honor guard that lined the road between Hamuhad and Baghdad. Banners flapped in the wind, and a red carpet extended across that entire road.

All of this was to welcome that most revered Hierophant.

”It's been eight hours. The Hierophant still hasn't appeared?”

In the center of Hamuhad, surrounded by numerous nobles and officials, Caliph Mutasim III suddenly spoke. His brow was creased and his dark brown eyes looked into a massive well that was more than twenty meters in diameter.

The insides of the well had been scorched black. The surface was made of bricks that were covered in numerous mysterious characters, and all of the bricks showed signs of being burned.

And while it was called a well, the bottom of the well was completely dry. No one in Hamuhad had ever drawn water from this well, nor was there any means of drawing water from it.

The guards of Hamuhad had said that Khatabah was in this deep well and had not come out for a long time. This made Mutasim III feel an indescribable strangeness.