A Sudden Revelation

In the depths of the ocean, Du Chen and his companions sliced through the water like swiftly coursing arrows. Deboning, at Du Chen’s side, amplified his speed with battle qi, while Gode and Hawkins surged ahead. Behind them, only faint silhouettes of Gode’s five hundred personal guards remained visible, and as for the Sea Tribe army, even after abandoning their supplies, they had fallen so far behind as to be out of sight.

As they pressed forward, Du Chen learned from Gode why his army was present here. Hawkins, too, finally understood why the nearby region, supposedly garrisoned by only eight thousand soldiers, now harbored an entire, fully-formed elite legion!

It turned out that March Third was approaching. Every year on March Third, Mount Tianshan hosts the Battle Qi Convergence; the mountain peak erupts with five-colored battle qi, exuding an awe-inspiring power. Below the mountain, the ocean was never tranquil either. Roughly a month before the annual March Third Battle Qi Convergence, the mountain base and mid-section of Mount Tianshan, deeply submerged beneath the waves, would undergo significant anomalies. These abnormalities would unleash massive natural disasters upon the Sea Clan.

Gode's current expedition, bringing Gigantic War Sacred Artifacts and an elite legion, was precisely to prevent the natural calamities caused by Mount Tianshan! He hadn't expected to coincidentally stumble upon Hawkins' conflict with Du Chen!

Among the group, everyone except Du Chen was a high-tier Battle God of eight or nine levels, possessing incredibly swift speeds. While Du Chen’s Lotus Pedestal was comparatively slower, with Deboning’s assistance, he was just barely able to keep pace with the others.

Soon, Du Chen and his companions surfaced, with Mount Tianshan only a few miles away.

Gode dramatically swung the serrated saber in his hand, casting a quick glance at Deboning, and declared, "I'll lead the charge!" He brandished his saber, ready to rush forward.

"This impetuous youth!" Du Chen hastily stopped Gode, stating with a serious expression, "While we are indeed here to rescue Roxane's child, we absolutely cannot act rashly! Your Highness, is there a way to first ascertain the situation on Mount Tianshan?"

Gode offered an awkward smile, thinking to himself, *I've led armies for years; surely I know to scout out the enemy before engaging? But... isn't His Eminence Brook here? I just wanted to seize the chance to show off a little...*

Du Chen saw through the youth's thoughts and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. *This kid, you call him dumb, yet he commands troops with a masterful ebb and flow, occasionally displaying flashes of cleverness. So why does he act like a child whenever he's in front of a top-tier expert?*

As Du Chen pondered, Gode retrieved a folding periscope from his armor pouch, holding it out with both hands towards Deboning. However, Deboning took it and immediately handed it over to Du Chen.

As the periscope landed in his hand, Du Chen's brow furrowed, then he suddenly broke into a grin. He passed the periscope to Hawkins. "Take a look, Your Excellency. Do you recall earlier when I mentioned that quite a few individuals with golden hair and blue eyes, holding infants and attended by Level Nine experts, exist? Well, there's just such a person on Mount Tianshan right now!"

Hawkins peered through the periscope and instantly let out a heavy snort!

The night was hazy, and figures stirred on Mount Tianshan, appearing exceptionally eerie. Although there weren't many people, only around two dozen, their agile movements and sturdy physiques clearly indicated they were not amateurs! At the very summit, Brockman, with golden hair and clad in white, stood against the wind, cradling an infant. His elegant and extraordinary demeanor truly befitted his status as a Divine Grant Earl! Tendon-Severing stood by Brockman's side, coldly observing the two dozen individuals as they moved two large, cloth-covered crates!

The little infant in Brockman's arms was now awake and playing very happily with a small box, about the size of an adult's palm.

"Papa!" The child called out to Brockman in a milky voice, causing His Excellency the Divine Grant Earl to look utterly bewildered, caught between laughter and tears. He could only give an ambiguous grunt in response, then complained to Tendon-Severing, "What in the world is this about?"

Tendon-Severing wanted to laugh but held back. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "While Tyran Beast infants possess a degree of sentience shortly after birth, they are still no match for adult Aberrant Beasts. So... since you were the first person he saw, he must have taken you for his father, right?"

Brockman was dumbfounded, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Unfortunately, he didn't know that Du Chen had faced a similar situation when he adopted Beibei as his goddaughter.

Tendon-Severing added, "My Lord, this is for the best. Since this Tyran Beast has already recognized you as his father, when he comes of age, he will undoubtedly serve Marshal Francis and Lord Philip with unwavering loyalty!"

Brockman shook his head. With a wry smile, he said, "Well... never mind. Let's just call him Homan!"

"Homan, Homan!" The little one called his own name in a milky voice, slowly opening his large eyes, cooing and smiling at Brockman. Then he patted the small box in his hands—the Sacred Artifact Box Du Chen had "given" to Brockman, the Sacred Artifact Box containing the Beast Emperor's Seal!

"Papa, box, not fun! Bad thing inside!" Though Homan was newly born, he already possessed some of the Tyran Beast's innate talents!

Brockman froze, then took the Sacred Artifact Box for a careful inspection, but found nothing amiss. The box was still the same, with numerous tiny holes, yet not a single one was the correct keyhole!

From a distance, Hawkins retracted the periscope and muttered, "That golden-haired, white-robed man possesses considerable strength, roughly on par with His Highness Gode! However, the expert standing by his side projects a faint and elusive aura; I cannot discern his true power!" After a moment of thought, he added, "Furthermore, the two dozen people transporting the crates are no pushovers either. Nevertheless, once His Highness Gode's personal guards arrive, we are absolutely confident we can eliminate them!"

Recalling the scene on Mount Tianshan he had just witnessed, Du Chen rubbed his nose and said, "Heh, I've met that man a few times; his name is Brockman, a visiting scholar from the academy! For him to come to Mount Tianshan under the cover of night, he's likely orchestrating some grand operation! However, our objective is Roxane's child! As for how to proceed, I do have a suggestion..."

"Prince Gode, Your Excellency Hawkins, you have both seen my sacred artifact, and it should be considered quite extraordinary! Therefore, I propose that once the personal guards arrive, the two of you, along with the guards, launch a frontal assault on Mount Tianshan. Meanwhile, Brook and I will conceal ourselves within the sacred artifact to secretly retrieve Roxane's child. More specifically..."

Under the overarching goal of retrieving the Tyran Beast infant, Du Chen still harbored some private motives—he didn't want to confront Brockman directly. If Brockman were to survive and report Francis's direct interference with the organization's plan, it would likely provoke a fierce retaliation! To manipulate from behind the scenes and never appear in front—this was Du Chen's unwavering creed!

Gode was the first to agree with Du Chen's suggestion. Deboning remained silent, and Hawkins could only nod in assent.

A short while later, Gode's five hundred personal guards arrived. After filtering out the Fishkin unsuited for land combat, a full three hundred elite warriors remained. Du Chen stood upon a lotus, gripping the Lotus Azureveil Shield in his left hand, and with a mighty swing, he commanded, "Commence!"

On Mount Tianshan, Brockman asked in surprise, "Homan, is there something strange about this box? Can you explain it more clearly!"

The little one, having only recently been born, could hardly articulate a complex explanation. He pouted in thought, then suddenly cried out, "Papa, bad guys are coming! Lots and lots of bad guys!"

This little Tyran Beast's Nature Sense was actually three parts more terrifying than Beibei's mental probes! And this was precisely why he became one of the most crucial targets for that mysterious organization's "Dazzle" plan!

"Prepare for battle!" Brockman roared fiercely. With one arm holding the child, he gave a light shake with the other hand, and a flash of light appeared on his fingers as five slender finger sheaths instantly adorned them.

Looking down the mountain, Hawkins, true to his renown as a valiant beastman, was the first to burst from the water, striding upon the waves. Gode followed closely, with the hand-picked Sea Clan warriors, skilled in land combat, trailing just behind him!

"It's the Sea Clan!?" Brockman shot a glance at Tendon-Severing.

Tendon-Severing immediately soared into the air, shouting to the two dozen individuals moving the crates, "Gentlemen, you belong to the Yakun Battle Zone and are not under my direct command. However, at this critical juncture, we are gathered here together, awaiting the organization's reinforcements! Therefore, from this moment forth, Lord Brockman Seven Tails assumes command over you!"

Someone put down a crate and declared, "Understood, but we also have our mission. Your Lordship must ensure that, no matter what, these two crates are delivered to Marshal Francis tonight!"

"Good, I promise!" Brockman shouted across the distance to the charging Sea Clan army, "Brave Sea Tribe Warriors, we are merely passing through... Dammit, Tendon-Severing, kill them!"

Hawkins surged to the mountaintop, completely ignoring Brockman's words and immediately began to kill. This made Brockman realize there was no room for negotiation tonight, so he hastily ordered Tendon-Severing to intercept Hawkins. Afterward, he clutched Homan tightly, his gaze sweeping across the ocean surface.

*Dammit, why are the Sea Clan attacking us!? No one in the organization has ever offended the Sea Clan!*

Brockman wanted answers, but there was no one to give them. Gritting his teeth, he held the child close and plunged fiercely into the fray!

From afar, Du Chen watched the battlefield with a smile, then chuckled, "Gode isn't completely stupid after all; he knows to attack Brockman in the name of the Sea Clan. This way, Brockman will never realize our true target is the child in his arms, and thus won't use the child to threaten us! Ha, and his command of battle is truly excellent! Brook, perhaps you should consider taking him as a disciple?"

Deboning, lost in thought, hesitated for a long moment before an "Oh" escaped him, realizing he should answer his young master's question. He said, "Young Master, the Church Canons decree that the Secret Techniques of us four Saints are passed down through generations and are never to be divulged! Gode's potential and abilities are indeed impressive, but for me to accept him as a disciple, unless..." He paused, then continued, "Unless he joins the Holy Church, but given his status as a Sea Clan Prince, that is highly improbable!" With that, Deboning gazed at Mount Tianshan and fell back into deep contemplation!

Du Chen pursed his lips, cursing inwardly, *Where do all these rules come from!? However, now that I bear the title of Yetha's Emissary, it's naturally not good to directly order Deboning... Wait!* *Make Gode join the Yessar Church!? Or perhaps...*

Du Chen slowly lowered his head, rubbing his nose in thought. An idea, impossible to suppress, began to take root and sprout in his heart...

"Dammit, why didn't I think of this sooner! This is an extraordinary good deed!"