I Don't Know Him!

After departing the Saint Sigurd Cain Estate, Du Chen fabricated an excuse, instructing Harry to take Beibei and the promising young disciples to rejoin his classmates. He further informed Harry that he would meet them later at the orchard. Subsequently, he and Deboning feigned an exit from the city, vanishing into the outskirts of the Lanning Imperial Capital, their method of disappearance, naturally, being the Precious Lotus Scripture.

The Shieb, still pining for Andy, located Du Chen's classmates in the embassy district. Yet, before Harry could even utter a word, Annie impatiently blurted out: "Mr. Harry, I've heard a rumor: Francis publicly swore an oath that as long as even a single person in his dominion suffers from cold or hunger, he will never marry. Is... is this truly real? I heard it from others, but I demand *you*, Francis's own butler, tell me with your own lips!"

Annie's face was etched with anxiety, a deep worry gnawing at her heart. *Heavens, if Francis truly made such an oath, what am I to do?! I've already informed my family!*

Harry's answer, however, finally transmuted Annie's anxiousness into dread. "Indeed, Miss Annie. My benevolent master, for the sake of his people, truly did swear such an oath!"

Having spoken, Harry observed Annie's flustered expression, a silent hesitation in his own gaze.

Little Beibei, ever the precocious one, chirped with a grin, "Don't worry, Big Sister! He's lying! Papa!"

Annie froze. Beside her, Porter chuckled, "Classmate Annie, you needn't worry. This is merely a wordplay Francis devised to ward off marriage proposals!"

"How so? Classmate Porter, quickly, tell me!" Annie urgently fixed her gaze on Porter.

"How many people reside along the Newin River? After the succession of natural disasters and man-made calamities, the common folk have fled their homes. Now, across eight hundred *li* of territory, there remain only three hundred thousand registered commoners. And how vast, pray tell, is Classmate Francis's wealth?" Porter, observing Annie's agitated state, couldn't help but chuckle. "Alas, let me put it this way: if Francis wishes to avoid marriage, he merely needs to enroll any single starving or freezing commoner into his dominion's civil registry. Then, under the solemn witness of His Holiness the Pontiff, no one can—or rather, no one would *dare*—force Classmate Francis into marriage! Conversely, should Francis one day genuinely encounter a maiden he desires to wed, he would simply need to thoroughly vet all three hundred thousand registered commoners and provide free clothes and food to all those suffering from hunger and cold. In that scenario, wouldn't there be no impoverished folk enduring hunger and cold left within his territory? Given Classmate Francis's immense wealth, even gifting each of the three hundred thousand commoners a single Gold Coin would be an effortlessly achievable feat! In short, the dominion belongs to Francis, and the records of the civil registry are also under Francis's control. According to the laws of the Holy Church and the Empire, no one can interfere! Thus, whether Francis wishes to marry or not rests entirely in his own hands!"

Witnessing Annie's dawning smile of realization, Porter buried the latter half of his thoughts deep within his heart. *This oath not only serves to reject marriage proposals but also garners immense renown, simultaneously deepening his ties with the Holy Church. Furthermore, it, to a certain extent, deters the King of Lanning from meddling in the internal affairs of the dominion. Beyond that, within the divine authority... Francis, if only my father had such a devoted strategist as you by his side back then, he wouldn't have met such a fate... Alas!*

At this moment, Annie, having picked up the ever-affectionate Beibei, smiled and declared, "Alright, let us proceed to the orchard to await Francis. Oh, and speaking of which, where is Professor Jemison? He wouldn't have..."

"Indeed, Professor Jemison has gambled away everything again!" Sem strode in, his face contorted in disdain, and indignantly stated, "While I was preparing my luggage outside, I happened to witness the casino's enforcers dragging him over. What are we to do? I absolutely refuse to pay off his gambling debts again! Never!"

"Neither will I!"

"Precisely, absolutely not!"

Jason's reply was the most classic: "Who's Jamis? Do we even know him?"

This immediately resonated with everyone: "Right, who *is* Jamis? We don't know him at all!"

The students, laden with their luggage, exited the ducal embassy. Stepping outside, they immediately spotted Professor Jemison being escorted by a group of burly men. Even though he had gambled away everything save for his undergarments, Jemison still wore a wide grin, his long ponytail swinging with a flourish! "Greetings, my dear students! I know, I know, you're all probably unwilling to support my artistic endeavors any longer! But, I can't seem to find my little brother, Francis. Is he here? I'm sure he'll help me!"

The students, heads bowed, ignored Arges entirely, as if no one genuinely recognized him, and one by one, they boarded the carriage. *Their teacher gambled away everything and was dragged here by debt collectors – how utterly humiliating! No, who the hell knows whose teacher he is! Certainly not ours!*

In the end, it was Annie whose heart softened. She lowered her head and quietly said, "Francis will be at the orchard. If you wish for him to help you settle your debts, then go to the orchard!" Having said this, she too hastily boarded the carriage.

Jamis turned back and waved at the burly men escorting him. "Come, follow me to the orchard! Oh, it's no trouble, don't think you can't collect your debt just because Francis is an Earl! Come, come, come! I, Professor Jamis, will certainly repay all my gambling debts!"

The burly men were dumbfounded, shaking their heads in unison, yet they followed Jamis towards the orchard.

Time, at times, truly flies. It felt as if only a brief moment had passed when the group arrived at Du Chen's orchard.

Upon reaching the orchard gate, Jamis casually declared, "Oh, by the way, even if Francis refuses to help me settle my debts, I have another friend here who will surely save me..."

"Jamis, quickly, save me!" Jamis suddenly heard a loud cry. Following the sound, he looked to see old Bovin hanging from a fruit tree on the mountainside, his linen robe tattered and his face covered in grime. Below, a dozen burly servants surrounded him, prodding at his clothes with bamboo poles. "Fr-Francis is too cruel! He set a trap to ensnare this old man..."

"Heh, Mr. Bovin, the master has given his orders: you may stay for free, but consuming the fruit will require payment! And the master said, if you don't pay, hmph! You're ours to deal with as we please! Because the cost of those fruits will be deducted from our wages!"

Jamis's eyes widened. Witnessing old Bovin's pitiful state, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he mumbled, "This is the Lanning Imperial Capital, isn't it... Francis... you're truly ruthless!"

"Heh, Mr. Jamis, your gambling debts..." Someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

"Strip him bare! Hanging him from a tree can even be a tourist attraction, a new scenic spot! We can charge admission to offset our wages! Benevolent Lord Francis just bestowed our salaries upon us, and we absolutely cannot let this old geezer squander them away!" the servants bellowed.

"I've already given you plenty of Votive Papers! You can use them to seek divination from me to settle your debts!" old Bovin wailed, his face drawn in misery.

"Bah! You old charlatan! Your astrology is utterly useless! Brothers, let us continue!"

"Votive Paper!" Throughout the Three Continents, there existed fewer than seven such 'Votive Papers' in total. Each 'Votive Paper' was valued at no less than ten thousand Gold Coins, for it could summon the mysterious 'Divination God' to perform a single act of prophecy! Yet, here in a most ordinary orchard, in the hands of more than twenty servants, there were at least two hundred such papers, with each servant possessing over ten!

This was the chaotic scene Du Chen encountered upon arriving at the orchard. He cast a glance at old Bovin, who was being tormented by the burly servants, and his brow furrowed! *He had already resorted to such a humiliating method, yet he still couldn't force old Bovin to reveal his secrets? It seems he would have to employ even more ruthless tactics next time!*

He then spared another glance for Jamis, who was grinning at him, before abruptly tilting his head back to admire the drifting white clouds in the sky, appearing utterly carefree.

A leader among the casino's burly enforcers stepped forward, respectfully approaching Du Chen to recount Jamis's situation.

"Eh?" Du Chen's eyes widened, and he gazed at everyone in feigned astonishment. "What are you speaking of? You wish for me to help him with his gambling debts? What could possibly be the reason?! Oh, I mean to say, who *is* he?!"

Everyone present was dumbfounded.

Du Chen, feigning an aggrieved tone, said, "Gentlemen, surely you have heard my name before, have you not?"

The burly man nodded. "Of course we have heard of you! You are Lord Francis, the Earl, renowned as Saint John's Virtue! You are also the most benevolent individual, always willing to help others!"

"I am indeed most willing to help others, but he claims to be my teacher. Do you honestly believe I would have such a tutor?" Du Chen abruptly raised his voice. "These are all my classmates; ask them if any of them recognize this naked, undergarment-clad, effeminate old gambler!?"

"No, we don't recognize him! Of course not! How could we possibly know such a person!"

The students abruptly clustered around Du Chen, each mimicking his gesture of looking up at the sky, not a single one acknowledging Jamis.

Even the soft-hearted Annie pouted, "Gentlemen, as we stated before, none of us recognize him!"

"Hey, I can vouch for him, I know him! He's Francis's teacher, he's my friend! I'm also Francis's teacher!" old Bovin, still suspended from the tree, shouted.

Du Chen shrugged. "You see? They are friends. This old man is an Eminence who wouldn't even spare a servant's wages. Would my classmates and I possibly have such a teacher?!"

The burly man nodded, then nodded again. "We were truly muddled. How could an Eminence such as yourself have a teacher like him? And how could the Battle God Academy employ such a person as an instructor! Our sincerest apologies!" As they spoke, they closed in around Jamis!

Jamis, quick as a flash, darted in front of Du Chen. "Francis, are you truly unwilling to help me settle my gambling debts?"

"Sir, I do not recognize you! Who might you be?!" Du Chen said with feigned innocence, his classmates immediately echoing his sentiment.

"Do not force my hand!!" Jamis's voice was laden with grievance.

"Sir, I truly do not recognize you. Who are you, pray tell!" Du Chen continued with his feigned innocence.

"Hmph!" Jamis sneered, then suddenly, with a flick of his wrist, he tore off the hair tie from his long ponytail. His verdant green hair cascaded freely, unbound and untamed by the wind.

In that very instant, Jamis's aura transformed!

His green hair fanned out in the gentle mountain breeze, yet remained impeccably ordered, like the war banner of a seasoned warrior billowing before a strike, radiating an awe-inspiring presence! Jamis subtly lowered his head, his formerly jovial, irreverent cerulean eyes now fixed coldly on Du Chen.

In that moment, Du Chen vaguely recalled that this was the very demeanor the gambling-addicted teacher adopted when he painted: utterly focused, his face calm as still water, a master's presence that regarded the changing world as naught!

Step by step, Jamis advanced on Du Chen. "I will give you one last chance: help me settle my gambling debts, or else... you shall witness my unique Secret Art—the Beast Emperor's Unyielding Wall!"

"The Beast Emperor's Unyielding Wall?! You old gambler, have you gone mad?!" Old Bovin, still suspended from the tree, his face contorting wildly, couldn't comprehend it. Had Jamis lost his mind? Was he truly about to unleash the Beast Emperor's Unyielding Wall over such a petty matter of gambling debts?!

A peculiar smile curved Jamis's lips. "During the Cataclysmic Battle of Fallen Gods, Beast Emperor McAllen stood firm against insurmountable odds, single-handedly facing thirteen Titled Battle Gods at the cliff's edge. This technique of mine was born from the Beast Emperor's ultimate Secret Art, forged from the moment he faced utter despair, yet managed to turn the tide and attain an invincible position..."

Du Chen watched Jamis in astonishment. Had this reclusive Eminence finally reached his limit and decided to act? But...

Deboning took a swift step, positioning himself before Du Chen. His iron hook, without a sound, had already appeared in his hand. Could Jamis truly have reached the pinnacle realm of "Return to Primordial Simplicity," akin to Flaying, a level Deboning himself had yet to achieve—the profound state of perfectly concealing one's aura?!

"It seems you are forcing my hand!" Jamis suddenly leaped upwards!

"No!" Old Bovin cried out in agony, closing his eyes.

After soaring high, Jamis's legs swirled mid-air before he gracefully knelt on the ground, hands braced on his knees. With a sudden dip of his head, his disheveled green hair flew upwards with the motion.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Jamis bellowed!

Everyone wore the same expression... dumbfounded!

*This* was the "Beast Emperor's Unyielding Wall"?!

"Alas!" Old Bovin sighed, then suddenly shouted, "I admit it, I lied just now! I actually don't know him!"

Du Chen, his expression peculiar, shook his head and pulled out a pouch of Gold Coins, slipping it into the burly man's hand. "I've decided to help this unfortunate old man settle his gambling debts! These should be sufficient, yes? Furthermore, shall we agree to forget about today's events? I truly do not know him! Truly! Please believe me!"

The burly man, still in shock, nodded understandingly. "I comprehend. How could an esteemed figure like yourself possibly know him? He has no connection to you whatsoever! And by the way, our casino has never, *ever* hosted this person!"

Having dispatched the debt-collecting burly men, Du Chen weakly waved a hand. His plan to probe these two reclusive Eminences had failed once more. They were utterly shameless, like dead pigs unfazed by boiling water; they could give Fifth Brother a run for his money!

"Professor, I shall pay off your gambling debts one last time. Remember, this is the final instance! Now then, let me inform you of something: I must first inspect my dominion. You and the others should proceed to the Great Plains for now; I will seek you out after a period!"

"You're not coming with us?" Jamis scrambled to his feet, his face etched with fawning smiles. He paused for a moment, then chuckled, "That's fine too, but remember, you absolutely *must* attend the Auerbach Battle God Assembly, or else, your course will be marked as failed!"

Du Chen pursed his lips and commanded the large convoy of carriages and horses, already prepared in the orchard, to set off with the students. He then handed Sem the Deed of Ownership for a property he owned on the Great Plains. Afterward, he, his family, and the dozen promising young disciples boarded the Wyvern Carriage!

With only Deboning at his side, Du Chen secluded himself in a small cabin within the Wyvern Carriage. Gently, he released a small, dark-green box from the Precious Lotus Scripture and placed it on the tabletop.

This was the Sacred Artifact Box left by Phil!

Though called a box, it was not square-shaped. Instead, it was a cylinder, resembling a large, tubular travel canteen. Its top and bottom ends were as smooth and gleaming as if sliced by a blade, even capable of serving as mirrors. Along its cylindrical body, an entire ring of figures was carved, impossibly small and densely packed. Had Du Chen's vision not been extraordinary, he would not have been able to discern the intricate carvings! Moreover, these figures encompassed dozens of races, each clad in battle armor and wielding weapons, appearing as if locked in a life-or-death struggle!

"Interesting!" Du Chen toyed with the Sacred Artifact Box, simultaneously confirming a hidden keyhole on its surface and asking Deboning, "Before I open this Sacred Artifact Box, give me your assessment of it!"

Deboning stared at the box. "From its appearance, it's quite ordinary, indistinguishable from a low-grade storage Sacred Artifact Box! In a larger auction house, one could purchase the 'Right of Mastery' for such a sacred artifact for a mere dozen Gold Coins!"

"If that were all there is to it, I would be quite disappointed!"

"However, as a sacred artifact serving as a safe, its grade is rather high! It's actually Grade Three, and requires a Nine-Star Battle God to forcefully make it acknowledge mastery! Such a high-grade 'safe' is indeed rarely seen!" Deboning gestured towards the carvings of figures and warfare, then suddenly added, "Furthermore, among these figures, there are several whose races even *I* do not recognize! This war relief must depict a battle from many years ago, and these races must surely be extinct by now."

"An ancient Sacred Artifact Box, then?" Du Chen's hands moved like lightning, opening the sacred artifact with exceptional speed.

*Click!*

One end of the cylinder sprang open, revealing, to his surprise, yet another cylindrical Sacred Artifact Box inside! The two sacred artifacts were identical, save for their size...

However, several paper slips slid out from the crevice between the two layers of sacred artifacts. It appeared Phil had also left a few letters within.

Du Chen casually picked up the paper slips, intending to read them... when suddenly, his face drained of all color, turning an utterly bloodless, deathly white!

For Du Chen saw that on the smaller Sacred Artifact Box, besides the war relief, a line of small characters was also carved...