The Dual Curse

“Whosoever possesses the Beast Emperor’s Seal shall perish within six months?” Sherine’s anxious expression was no jest. Du Chen’s gaze fell upon the ‘toy’ before him. This Beast Emperor’s Seal was palm-sized, neither metal nor stone, but rather resembled pure, natural jade meticulously polished. However, its body was golden, and its heft was extraordinary. From its color and weight, it lacked the gentle warmth, smoothness, and translucent lightness of jade artifacts. Its upper part was carved with a golden lion roaring heavenward, its eyes filled with a haughty disdain, while the lower part was a common square base for a jade seal, yet bore no inscriptions.

“To be precise, it should be: Whosoever approaches the Beast Emperor’s Seal shall perish within six months!” Sherine snatched the Beast Emperor’s Seal from Du Chen’s hands, gripping it with both hands, and slammed it down on the table with a ‘thud.’ “Stop looking at it! Quickly tell Auntie, where did this thing come from!? And how long have you had it!?”

Du Chen’s eyes darted between Sherine’s anxious face and the Beast Emperor’s Seal. Perplexed, he stated with surprise, “A month ago, during my study tour on the McAllen Great Plains, I rescued an old Daobet man. This is what that old man gave me to express his gratitude for saving his life!”

Though Sherine was not an outsider, Du Chen could never tell her, *Auntie, this thing was stolen by your nephew after he dug up someone’s ancestral grave!*

“A Daobet? How could a Daobet possibly obtain the Beast Emperor’s Seal!?” The lie Du Chen hastily fabricated in his urgency was far from flawless. Yet, in Sherine’s eyes, he had always been an extremely ‘kind’ and good child, so she harbored no excessive doubts. Her delicate brows furrowed tightly as she rubbed the Beast Emperor’s Seal incessantly with both hands, several blue veins faintly visible on her slender hands, clearly agitated by worry.

*Thud!* Sherine lifted the Beast Emperor’s Seal slightly, then brought it crashing back down onto the tabletop. “Francis, is that Daobet man still alive now? Alas!”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Sherine sighed, shaking her head with a bitter smile as she murmured to herself, “No, he couldn’t possibly still be alive! By now, he has probably bled out and died…”

Du Chen’s heart constricted sharply. *Bled out and died…* Damn it, according to Cherry, a Daobet who barely escaped with his life, the Daobet tribe remaining on the Great Plains suffered incessant vomiting before their deaths. The strong could last a while longer, but the weak would instantly bleed out and die! Was this thing truly cursed? Du Chen’s face paled. He quickly seized the opportunity while Sherine’s gaze was fixed on the Beast Emperor’s Seal to secretly circulate his Lotus Internal Force to mask his reaction, then chuckled, “Auntie, perhaps you are mistaken? While I don’t know what the Beast Emperor’s Seal is, based on what you’ve said and inferring from its name, it should be the sacred treasure of the beastmen, and it also carries a terrifying curse that can bring death to people, correct?”

Sherine’s heart stirred. She vaguely realized what Du Chen was about to say. She abruptly picked up the Beast Emperor’s Seal and stared at it intently, but her brows remained tightly furrowed, her slightly sickly pale complexion still黯然 anxious.

Du Chen brought Sherine a drink, then picked up his adorable Beibei. He winked at his daughter, who was bewildered and confused, unable to understand their conversation, and chuckled, “Auntie, talk of curses is merely the superstition of ignorant commoners. In the eyes of a Battle God, a curse is but a delayed burst of battle qi. Since the power of a curse originates from battle qi, then a genuine Beast Emperor’s Seal must surely exhibit fluctuations of Elemental Primal Force. But look, this thing doesn’t have the slightest energy fluctuation… Heh, I think it’s very likely just a perfect replica of the Beast Emperor’s Seal. That is to say, this is actually a forgery crafted by a master artisan, isn’t it?”

This artifact originated from Auerbach’s Imperial Mausoleum, making it an undeniably genuine article. However, after his initial shock, Du Chen immediately realized that the Beast Emperor’s Seal indeed carried a curse, a fact proven by the dozens of Daobet lives. Yet, while Du Chen didn’t fully understand the specific process of the curse, one thing was beyond doubt – enveloped by Master Grape’s personally imparted Lotus Holy Light, even the curse of the Beastkin Supreme Father God Auerbach would have to roll far away from Du Chen! The difference in magnitude was simply too vast!

Sherine also considered this point. She caressed the Beast Emperor’s Seal, her troubled expression easing slightly. “Yes, upon seeing this thing just now, Auntie’s mind was clouded with worry and I didn’t examine it closely. As far as Auntie knows, the Beast Emperor’s Seal and the depths of Auerbach Grand Canyon both harbor incredibly terrifying curses. Anyone who contracts such a curse cannot escape. Those with weaker cultivation would succumb to the curse within days, and even powerful Battle Gods couldn’t endure for more than six months! But this thing bears no trace of Elemental Primal Force, so it must be a very high-grade counterfeit!”

Despite her words, Sherine’s sorrow did not diminish much. She mused, “But you have the chance to explain to Auntie that it’s a fake, and Auntie will examine it carefully. I just fear that *they* won’t have such inclination or patience… Francis, Auntie advises you, destroy this thing, or else it may someday bring you monumental trouble!”

Du Chen asked curiously, “Auntie, this is merely a counterfeit…”

“You don’t know, the Beast Emperor’s Seal’s curse comprises two distinct parts!” Sherine sighed. “The true Beast Emperor’s Seal is hidden in Auerbach Grand Canyon; this is no secret to those with discerning eyes. And there’s another legend about the Beast Emperor’s Seal: He who obtains the Beast Emperor’s Seal shall command the Great Plains!”

*He who obtains the Beast Emperor’s Seal shall command the Great Plains!* Du Chen’s spirit was stirred, and as he frowned in thought, he quickly understood Sherine’s meaning, promptly saying, “He who obtains the Beast Emperor’s Seal shall command the Great Plains! While this is merely a legend, for a long time, many have probably coveted the Beast Emperor’s Seal, yet no one seems to have succeeded… Does this mean the Beast Emperor’s Seal is not easily acquired, is that right?”

Sherine nodded. “Indeed. The Beast Emperor’s Seal’s curse has two layers. The first layer is the curse inherent in the depths of the Grand Canyon and the Seal itself. Anyone who touches the Beast Emperor’s Seal or ventures near the depths of the Grand Canyon has already been afflicted… However, this curse, which is a delayed manifestation of battle qi, doesn’t pose a significant threat to truly formidable Battle Gods. Therefore, the true killing blow of the Beast Emperor’s Seal’s curse isn’t its inherent battle qi-delayed Secret Technique, but rather…”

Sherine shook her head. “It’s the endless, relentless pursuit! A pursuit from the Saint Baton Family, one of the five Godslayer families, inheritors of the vast majority of divine power from the ancient Godslayer hero, the Undying Death God Lynch Baton!”

“The Undying Death God, Lynch Baton!?” Du Chen’s heart pounded wildly.

A family inheriting divine power… Damn it, he had inadvertently provoked a family of divine inheritors! Du Chen hadn’t heard of the Saint Baton Family, but he knew that his Maternal Grandfather, Baelanger, who likewise inherited divine power from his ancestors, was a mythical figure capable of contending with the Pontiff and the Dragon God! The strength of this Saint Baton Family… was thus imaginable!

Forcing a laugh to conceal his panic, Du Chen chuckled, “This is merely a counterfeit, how could it…”

Sherine solemnly waved her hand, cutting Du Chen off. “You don’t know, the Saint Baton Family… they are madmen, utter madmen! They believe only in strength! With the Saint Baton Family’s methods, once they discover you possess something identical to the Beast Emperor’s Seal, they will likely kill you first, and only then slowly investigate whether the Beast Emperor’s Seal is genuine!”

Du Chen’s smile was stiff. “How can there be such a family! Do they completely disregard reason?”

“In their eyes, strength is the only reason. If you possess strength, even as an enemy, you are a respected foe! If you lack strength, you are merely an ant to be crushed at will!” Sherine’s brows remained tightly furrowed.

“That’s why Auntie says they are utter madmen! Damn it, who made this counterfeit Beast Emperor’s Seal!? Damn it, whoever created such a bane truly deserves death…” The usually dignified Sherine cursed incessantly. “Francis, have you heard about the events in Auerbach Canyon on the Great Plains? Someone disturbed the mausoleum of God Auerbach, and rumors say many things were lost from within. Under such circumstances, if the Saint Baton Family discovers you hold something resembling the Beast Emperor’s Seal… with their mindset of revering the strong and trampling the weak like ants, they will definitely come looking for trouble!”

Sherine’s gaze lingered on the Beast Emperor’s Seal. “Thankfully, we discovered it early. Destroying it quickly should still be enough!”

Destroy it? That was a good idea! But… Du Chen made up his mind, then asked, “Auntie, could you tell me more about the Saint Baton Family? I’m afraid someone may have already seen Beibei playing with this counterfeit… Learning more now is always beneficial!” For a powerful family that might well become his adversary, Du Chen was determined to uncover everything!

“Very well, knowing more will also benefit you. But Francis, do not casually tell others what I say, for reclusive Godslayer families strongly dislike being known by worldly people!”

Sherine slowly began, “Years ago, before the Godslayer War, humans and Fiendkind were originally sibling races, but they clashed over dominion! Both races were overlords of the Three Continents, and once they went to war, they swiftly dragged all major races into the conflict, leading to countless casualties among Titled Battle Gods in the unprecedented Godslayer War…”

Du Chen suddenly noticed a hint of domineering aura emanating from his petite and unassuming Auntie Sherine.

“During that war, almost every Titled Battle God from every race participated; experts and masters emerged en masse. One could say that for a time, countless powerhouses and intellects gathered like clouds. Among them, the most outstanding heroes distinguished themselves during the war, becoming leading figures in the later stages of the conflict. Your ancestor, God Sigurd, was one of them!”

Sherine smiled, a bitter one. “But Auntie will say something that might be disrespectful to God Sigurd: the ‘Records of Gods and Fiends’ state that while God Sigurd held the position of Grand Marshal of Cavalry in the Human Holy Alliance, Einz War Zone, a Lieutenant-General of the Third Star… above him were Generals, Marshals, and even the supreme leaders of the Holy Alliance! At that time, the Marshal and Chief of Staff of the Einz War Zone were a pair of brothers. The younger brother was named Auerbach, titled ‘Holy War.’ He later became the Beastkin Supreme Father God Auerbach! And his older brother, Lynch Baton, titled ‘Undying Death God,’ governed the Einz War Zone and was foremost among the Holy Alliance’s three Marshals! Back then, these two brothers were inseparable, campaigning together across the battlefields and forging an illustrious reputation. But their descendants followed different paths…”