Six Months

“If you have no beloved, touch the grape on my left. If you do, touch the one on my right!”

Phil's solemn expression left Du Chen no room for complacency. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, he touched the grape on her left. “A beloved? Of course not, and likely not for a very long time!”

With a soft 'plink,' the grape dissolved into droplets that scattered across the ground. Phil offered a faint smile, yet it was steeped in melancholy. “Answer my next question: How old are you? Have you reached twenty? Have you savored the good life? Are you no longer attached to this mundane world? Are you mature enough to embark on this path of no return?” Two more grapes shimmered into existence beside her hand. “If you haven't reached twenty, touch the grape on my left. If you have...”

Du Chen was speechless. Phil's methods were simply... *sigh*. Was there something wrong with his mother's mind? In this world, individuals wielding Level Nine Power were typically at least fifty years old. Why would she ask if he was twenty? He couldn't fathom it!

Yet, Du Chen still didn't fully grasp the implications of Phil's actions. Otherwise, his thoughts wouldn't be amusement, but terror! Phil's Water Curtain Splendor Wheel was far too formidable. To create such an interactive image, even His Excellency Zigurd, the Dean of Battle God Academy, renowned as “Eternal Glory,” would likely struggle at his peak!

Yet, Phil was doing all this while casually eating grapes...

Du Chen, brimming with suspicion, slowly extended his hand. “Between my two lives, I'm well over thirty, but in *this* life... I suppose I'm still sixteen.” He touched the grape on Phil's left.

“The next question, and the last, but most crucial one!” Phil's voice suddenly sharpened. “When you are viewing this image, is it before or after the 13th of May, 1279, Fallen Gods Era? This date is profoundly significant, for on that day, something of immense importance will transpire, affecting you, me, and the Saint Sigurd Cain family!”

Du Chen's confusion deepened. He pulled out his pocket watch. It was precisely 11:30 PM on November 13th, 1278, Fallen Gods Era. Less than a day had passed since the Battle God Assembly and his venture into the Auerbach Grand Canyon. The date Phil spoke of was precisely six months away!

“Alas,” Phil sighed softly after Du Chen made his choice. “Since you have chosen thus, I will tell you what to do. Beside this image, there should be a ring, inlaid with a Fire Diamond!”

The ring was still on Du Chen's hand.

“Take this ring and seek out the descendants of the Saint Dak family. They will instruct you on the path forward!”

As she spoke, Phil's voice grew progressively fainter. With the final word, a soft 'whoosh,' Phil's image vanished, dissolving into a pool of clear water on the ground, leaving no trace of anything extraordinary!

“The Saint Dak family?” Du Chen stared at the clear water for a moment, then, frowning, sought out Deboning and the Grand Matriarchs. “Esteemed elders, has any of you heard of the Saint Dak family?”

To his surprise, not a single one had!

Du Chen turned his gaze to Deboning. “Brook, have you heard of any significant events that might befall the Saint Sigurd Cain family on the thirteenth of May next year?”

Deboning remained oblivious.

Lily spoke, “Francis, did your mother leave you some clues? If you require assistance, we can help you investigate!” She added enthusiastically, “All of us sisters are nearly finished with our transformation and are eager to travel the continent, broaden our horizons, and adapt to this era a millennium removed from our own!”

The Grand Matriarchs were leaving!? Had all his efforts over such a long time been in vain!?

Du Chen's heart pounded with urgency, and he could no longer concern himself with other matters. However, he also understood that while he had procured a complete set of forged documents for the Grand Matriarchs, along with Mercenary identities affiliated with the Newin River territory, ultimately, Lucy and Lily, despite holding him in extremely high regard, were neither his subordinates nor his servants. Du Chen had offered the Grand Matriarchs immense help from start to finish, but they, in turn, had also assisted him!

Did helping someone rebirth automatically guarantee their fealty!? Such logic seemed absent from this world!

At its core, Du Chen and the Grand Matriarchs currently shared a close friendship, with perhaps a hint of distant kinship. However, the Red Phoenix Battle Formation was a heroic legion from the Era of Fallen Gods, direct subordinates of a deity. With Du Chen's current standing and resources, while he could ask them, as friends, to undertake extremely perilous tasks, he could not outright recruit the Grand Matriarchs. Not unless Du Chen reached the renown and stature of the Goddess Julie herself. Otherwise, who would willingly call their distant grand-nephew's many-times-great-grandson 'Master'!?

After a moment of thought, Du Chen smiled. “Esteemed seniors, if you wish to understand this era, I naturally support you. Furthermore, I will immediately prepare for all your expenses...”

Lily, somewhat embarrassed, said, “How can this be? Francis, you gave us sisters a new lease on life. How could we possibly accept your money again...”

Du Chen waved his hand, cutting her off. “Lady Lily, there's no need for politeness. You are the personal commander of the Goddess Julie's forces, and thus, should be considered a demigod worshipped by the Holy Church Temple!” He joked, “Even if you refuse to take money from a friend, then... consider this an offering to a demigod. Would that be acceptable?”

The Grand Matriarchs were all amused by Du Chen, but he immediately followed up, “However, if you wish to understand what the Battle Gods have become over the past thousand years, I do have a suggestion. The best place to comprehend the evolution of Battle Gods is, naturally, the Battle God Academy, famously known as the 'Cradle of Battle Gods'!”

Lucy looked troubled. “We know Battle God Academy is the best place to understand the Battle Gods' changes, but we want to experience the world, not sneak into Battle God Academy hidden within your Precious Lotus Scripture...”

Lily quickly interjected, “Exactly! I heard from Peter that Battle God Academy's administration is extremely strict. You can't even get onto Battle God Isle without proper identification. Francis, you're not planning to make us 'undocumented residents' on Battle God Isle, are you?” She, too, was joking.

Du Chen revealed a congenial smile, pleased with his scheme. “Rest assured, ladies, if you wish to enter Battle God Academy, I will take care of everything! Harry, prepare paper and a pen for me!”

Harry waddled over with his corpulent body, then beckoned and shouted, “Damn it, Andy, have you no spatial awareness at all? Hurry over, lie down, and serve as a table for Master! Otherwise, tomorrow's breakfast is canceled!”

With a swift dart, Andy sprang before Du Chen, then lay down with a fawning grin.

Du Chen first drew the Holy Church's unique secret mark on the stationery, then wrote: “Clerics of the Holy Church Examination Office, the Battle God Academy entrance exams are now in the grading phase, are they not? Then, by whatever means necessary, arrange for one hundred and two female students to be enrolled. Ensure their identities and backgrounds are all impeccably handled, with no room for error—White-Robed Archbishop, Francis's Command!”

“Alright, Harry, take this letter and send it out once we reach a major city!” Du Chen casually tossed aside the quill, only to notice the Grand Matriarchs' expressions of utter astonishment!

But Du Chen didn't dwell on it. Keeping the Grand Matriarchs close was a genuine victory. He let out a sigh of relief and turned to sample his son's roasted potato chips.

Lily whispered, “Sister, we're going to be students? Good heavens, *thousand-year-old* female students?”

Lucy nodded. “Forget it. It's already quite remarkable that Francis could make such arrangements. Let's not make things harder for him, but...” She looked up at the starry sky, a wry, helpless smile on her face. “Students? Ha! After a millennium, sister, we're going back to school!”

The following morning, Du Chen prepared everything. He purchased a carriage and horses from a beastmen village near the dense forest and hung the family crest of Francis, Earl of Newin Territory, Lanning Empire—a Water Lily—from the carriage roof. Then, with an air of grandiosity, he set off for the Grand Canyon.

As a foreign envoy, Du Chen naturally encountered no obstruction in visiting the beastmen's Sacred Land and even received an audience with the Beast Emperor. However, the Grand Canyon had just suffered a cataclysmic change the day before and was now sealed off. Du Chen could only lament being “too late” and observe the Auerbach Grand Canyon from a distance.

The Beast Emperor, being in a foul mood, made a perfunctory appearance and then departed. Ultimately, it was Du Chen's Senior Brother, Sonora, the son-in-law of McAllen and Eminence Number Four, who hosted him!

Du Chen, leading the Grand Matriarchs, solemnly paid respects at the site where the Goddess Julie fell in battle. Yet, at this very moment, deep within the Grand Canyon...

The Ape Elder, leading fewer than two hundred Crimson Mausoleum Guards, knelt in the deepest recesses of the mausoleum. The sculpted wall had already opened.

Beast Emperor Rebadon knelt beside him, raging, “Elder, last night, the Golden Behemoth Battle Array followed the secret passage and located Susanna's pasture. The entire pasture, without a single survivor! For those whose bodies weren't found, the Beast Emperor's Hunt Order has been issued!” He furiously pounded the ground. “But where is the Beast Emperor’s Seal!? Damn it, it must have been done by that fiend's accomplice!”

The Ape Elder's expression was peculiar, showing neither grief nor anger, but rather a hint of delight. “Whosoever covets the Beast Emperor’s Seal shall surely die within six months! This is the curse of the Supreme Father God! I believe the Supreme Father God will certainly punish that despicable thief who stole the Beast Emperor’s Seal!”

He raised his arms, letting out a fanatic's cheer. “For a thousand years, no matter how powerful or mysterious the adversary, the Supreme Father God's curse has never failed! Your Majesty, the Beast Emperor’s Seal *will* return, for whosoever covets the Beast Emperor’s Seal shall surely die within six months...”