The Beast Emperor's Unyielding Wall Resurfaces: The Latter Half of Wolf's Grand Prophecy!

Within the dimly lit crypt, no lamps shone; only a faint yellow glow emanating from the walls illuminated Jamis. He slowly stroked his chin, staring at Xue Ji with a half-smile, which, under the pallid light, lent him a chillingly sinister aura.

Xue Ji bit her lip, lowered her head, and remained silent for a long, long time. Suddenly, she looked up and said coldly, "Xue Ji hasn't seen much of the world, but Xue Ji isn't foolish!"

*Smack!* She violently threw Jamis's secret diagram onto the ground!

Jamis was stunned, scrutinizing Xue Ji suspiciously for a long while. Beside him, Number Eight suddenly chuckled, "Leader, is this your famed coercion and inducement?"

Even Jamis, whose thick skin was legendary, undaunted even by parading naked through the streets, found his face reddening at this remark!

Xue Ji simply closed her eyes, ready to face her fate. "If you mean to kill me, then do it quickly!"

She had thrown away the secret diagram only because she had come to understand one crucial thing: Jamis's final threat was, in essence, a multiple-choice question, or rather, a wordplay. The first option was for Xue Ji to refuse his terms, which would result in Alex becoming Number Ten of the Requiem Death Knights. The second option was for Xue Ji to accept the terms...

But in that second option, what would happen after Xue Ji agreed to join the Requiem Death Knights? Would they truly release Alex? Based on normal logical deduction, Jamis had not explicitly stated so, which implied the Requiem Death Knights would still scheme against Alex!

Jamis had played a cunning word game on this point!

Xue Ji could even imagine Jamis smirking with a lecherous glee after she agreed, "Heh heh, little sister, your first task from this leader is to leverage your influence over Alex to recruit him into the Requiem Death Knights, making him my slave..."

As Xue Ji pondered this, she realized that if her decision couldn't alter Alex's ultimate fate, then why should she betray her master for a meager survival?

Moreover, Jamis had said that she and Alex, having privately pledged their lives to each other, were already linked by a common destiny with Bovin, Charlemagne, and the others – they were 'family'... The implicit meaning of this statement was that Xue Ji could be dealt with in the same manner as Sixth Sister Sherine!

Therefore, there was truly only one answer to this choice: no matter what, Xue Ji would not be killed, but the Requiem Death Knights would also never spare Alex!

Once she understood this, throwing away the secret diagram became a perfectly logical act!

Xue Ji was indeed inexperienced, but that didn't mean her mind was dull! Though this tranquil young girl appeared to be merely closing her eyes to await death, a faint, playful smile couldn't help but touch her lips.

Every one of her actions fell into Jamis's gaze. The Gambler, shamed into anger, urgently cried, "Little sister, if you don't agree, I'll truly order Number Eight to kill Francis immediately!"

Xue Ji was utterly astonished. Jamis had previously referred to names using the vague term "my little brother," which she naturally understood to mean Alex. But now, Jamis had explicitly stated that he was threatening her with Francis...

Why was he using Francis to threaten her? Was Francis related to Xue Ji?

Just a few hours ago, she had seen that rogue's scoundrel-like street manner and had wished to strike him down! Although she eventually let him go for Alex's sake, her impression of that bastard was absolutely dreadful!

It seemed there must be a misunderstanding here. Jamis had mistaken her beloved for their great enemy from Water's Embrace Lake – that ruffian Francis!

*Hehe! *

Thinking this, Xue Ji opened her eyes and smiled faintly. "I reject all your conditions, and I no longer wish to listen to your nonsense! Kill me, and go kill Francis too!"

Jamis was completely dumbfounded. He looked at Xue Ji, then at Number Eight, then suddenly tugged his ponytail, bit it, and stamped his foot dramatically, "You, why aren't you following the script?!"

Xue Ji suppressed a gentle smile, tilting her head askance, pointedly ignoring him!

At this moment, Number Eight quipped, "Leader, it seems your methods are truly outdated... you can't even fool a little girl!" With that, he folded his arms, turned, and walked out of the crypt. "Since Xue Ji has a lover, she is no longer Margaret's lackey, but my wife's sister... Leader, you figure it out!"

"Me, I figure it out? Number Eight, you bastard!"

Jamis stomped in rage, cursing, but Number Eight simply gave him a cold back and vanished, leaving behind one last teasing remark: "I'm off to analyze the battle situation with Xue Ji's eldest brother-in-law! Later, her eighth brother-in-law will come to help you!"

So many brothers-in-law!

Jamis slumped his head dejectedly, observing Xue Ji's expression that clearly declared, "I won't pay attention to you, I'll infuriate you." His face gradually darkened. "It seems I cannot subdue you without resorting to my ultimate move..."

Xue Ji was startled. Did Jamis intend to kill her? Had she been wrong just now? Would he not deal with her in the same manner as Sister Sherine!?

*Never mind,* Xue Ji closed her eyes. *Alex, I cannot wait for you...*

The very moment her eyes closed, Xue Ji's thoughts were interrupted as Jamis executed his ultimate move. He sprang high, his legs crossing mid-air, landing with a resounding thud, hair whipping around him as his hands braced against the ground. It was the Beast Emperor's Unyielding Wall!

"Please, I beg you, join us!!"

Jamis pleaded bitterly. "Truly, your significance to us is even greater than Francis's!"

The situation abruptly reversed; the kidnapper was now pleading with the captive. Xue Ji's beautiful black eyes widened in astonishment, thinking, *Could it be that all members of the Requiem Death Knights are... Battle God Physique Plant-Type Hormone Disorder sufferers?*

Was there something truly special about her, something vital to the Requiem Death Knights? Why was Jamis pleading after his coercion and inducement had failed?

Jamis bowed several times, then looked up, his face bitter, "I'll tell you the truth! Little sister, do you know why we gathered together?"

Xue Ji recalled the tragic love stories of Water's Embrace Lake and couldn't help but answer, "Most of you violated my master's rules, and are now united to seek revenge against Water's Embrace Lake!"

Jamis nodded. "Except for me, that's roughly it! Saint Bovin, Charlemagne, Roland... besides your eighth brother-in-law – Choba, the Crown Prince Reno, who was personally killed by Lionheart King – and Sherine, who has no husband, your other six brothers-in-law are all here with me!"

*Damn, should the Requiem Death Knights be renamed the Brother-in-law Legion!?* Du Chen would certainly think so if he were here!

Xue Ji asked curiously, "You aren't one of my brothers-in-law?"

Jamis stood up, saying solemnly, "I am not your brother-in-law, however... when chaos reigned across the land after the Dispersion of the Divine, what did your master do when Saint Bovin founded the Lanning Empire?"

"My master executed seven gods and quelled the chaotic era... Are you..."

Jamis didn't answer, instead saying, "Three of those seven gods were saved by me and joined us. Those three and your six brothers-in-law combined make up my Numbers One to Nine! My previous identity was Smidge, the Painting God who recruited Charlemagne, and before that..."

He suddenly leaned close to Xue Ji's ear, whispered a name, and then took a small item from his sleeve, flashing it before her eyes!

Xue Ji's expression utterly transformed. Her slightly annoyed look swiftly morphed into profound respect. She bowed respectfully, "My Lord, Xue Ji was disrespectful just now! But since you are... why do you still lead those people to oppose my master?"

"I'll tell you that later!" Jamis waved his hand, putting the small item back into his sleeve, and said earnestly, "Xue Ji, think about yourself, and then think about your sisters and brothers-in-law... Do you think your master was truly in the right?"

Xue Ji paused for a long while, not directly answering, merely stating, "Without my master, there would be no Xue Ji..."

"Good! We won't talk about that!" Jamis again raised the Painting of a Young Girl in his hand. "Use the Heavenly Eye, passed to you by Margaret, to examine this painting!"

Only then did Xue Ji seriously observe the Twilight Girl Portrait. After a long look, her expression was one of confusion.

Jamis prompted, "Divine Emperor Prince's greatest strength isn't battle qi, but astrology and..."

Xue Ji suddenly gasped in realization, "This is the Secret Technique of the 'Resurrection and Inheritance' project, developed through alchemy by Divine Emperor Prince to enhance the Holy Alliance's combat power! It can act as a medium to transfer the power of deceased gods to descendants. It's said that if the user spares no cost, and the deceased's body is intact, he can even..."

"Exactly, he can let us exchange our own lives to resurrect our wives!"

A cold, resentful voice came from outside the crypt. It was none other than Number Nine Roland! He approached Jamis coldly and continued, "We target Margaret not only for revenge, but also... humph, my wife is buried in Water's Embrace Lake's Puppet Prison, her body intact. As long as we defeat Margaret, retrieve her body, and then sacrifice our lives, they can live again!"

This was also the true reason Roland had warned Brockman not to touch his wife and child's graves before he joined the Requiem Death Knights!

Xue Ji fell silent. Roland slowly continued, "Xue Ji, you and your sisters have all undergone the Water's Embrace Secret Technique modification from Margaret. Your physiques far surpass ordinary people, which is why you achieved divinity at such a young age... If your identical physique can assist, the price we pay to revive our wives will be much smaller, perhaps even without sacrificing our own lives!"

"So, so Charlemagne said... I might be the last person who meets your conditions?" Xue Ji said with difficulty, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Jamis nodded. "I'll ask again, do you wish to join us? And resurrect your sisters?"

After a long pause, Xue Ji hesitated. "I won't oppose my master... but I also want my sisters to be resurrected..."

Jamis suddenly smirked with a lecherous grin, "And you want to peacefully live happily ever after with your beloved, right?"

Xue Ji's face flushed crimson.

"How about this!" Jamis casually tore up the Painting of a Young Girl. "I won't force you to wear the Requiem Death Knights' armor and robes, but I can't let you go back either! You'll stay with us, remain neutral when we fight Margaret, but after we win, you must help us resurrect your sisters!"

Roland also added, "In Margaret's eyes, you are our captive! No one but us knows the truth!"

Xue Ji considered it with difficulty, then finally nodded.

This way, at least she wouldn't be forced by her master to kill Alex, right? Xue Ji already vaguely felt Margaret targeting her and Alex – Sword Slave and Dragonfinch were clear evidence!

Perhaps being "captured" was also a good choice?

"Woah! The life of art is always beautiful!" Jamis yelled towards the crypt entrance, "Except for those clashing with Margaret, the rest of you brothers-in-law, your little sister is here, come out... Don't forget your meeting gifts!!"

Xue Ji suddenly asked curiously, "Most of you are here? Shouldn't you be fighting my master's Puppet Army Corps?"

Jamis chuckled. "Your eldest brother-in-law's astrology predicted a 'little guy' more interesting than Margaret appeared near Emerald City! We... hehe, we just want to ask him if he's interested in joining us?"

Just then, a large throng of brothers-in-law came pouring out.

The first one, an old man with yellow teeth, laughed, "Old Eight already told me! Our little brother's wife is here! Haha, from now on, we'll call Francis 'brother-in-law'!"

Xue Ji frowned. "Francis? Brother-in-law? Everyone, the one who gave me the necklace wasn't Francis! Oh, Lord Jamis, why did you threaten me with Francis just now?"

All the brothers-in-law were startled. Jamis looked at Old Bovin, who mumbled, "No way? Besides Francis, who else would know your secret diagram?" He looked suspiciously at Xue Ji!

Xue Ji wondered, *Did the Requiem Death Knights not know Alex?*

*Then I definitely won't mention Alex's name.* These brothers-in-law seemed strange, always trying to recruit people. It was best not to let them target Alex!

This stubborn young girl, intent on protecting Alex, naturally shifted the topic to one that would better capture the attention of the brothers-in-law.

"Oh, I once saw an organization dressed similarly to you, in black armor and red robes... They seemed to possess a Battle Qi Inheritance Secret Technique too, but it was a lock!"

Indeed, Old Bovin's expression changed. He hurriedly took a crystal ball from the sack on his back, calculated like a Charlatan for a long time, then slowly shook his head.

"I can't figure it out, Gambler. Could it be... that others from the Requiem Death Knights also escaped that Great Catastrophe?"

...

"Daddy, Great Catastrophe!" Beibei tilted her head curiously, her big eyes blinking.

"The Master never cares about catastrophes!" Anya said coolly, pouting.

"This grandpa here is a rabbit, but I've seen many Great Catastrophes!" bunny-grandpa declared boastfully, with an air of ancient swagger!

"Great Catastrophe... Master, Andy has a new dream, which is to go to the toilet first..." Snow Wolf had just eaten Beibei's "delicacy," and this was already his ninth request to use the toilet.

Besides Deboning, who was guarding the door outside, Du Chen and his entire family gathered by the window, staring at the open box and the several small items within.

Just then, Arthur, having received the message, entered—he was a descendant of Wolf, and needed to know about the contents of the box, because... this box was related to Wolf!

Arthur chuckled at the peculiar expressions of everyone present, then asked, "Francis, what catastrophe has you all looking like this?"

Du Chen's face was grim. He slowly picked up the first item: a letter, or rather, a will!

"This was left by Miki Goddess... Remember I told you about our ancestor Wolf passing through Bog Island after leaving the Ains people and obtaining the Essence of Earth?"

"Of course, I remember. Ancestor Wolf was ambushed and killed by Sea King Yoda, but was saved by a mysterious force, and finally escaped by detonating the Essence of Earth on Bog Island!"

"That mysterious force was a top-secret unit under the Holy Alliance's General Staff, and its commander was the Goddess of War and Wisdom, General Miki!" Du Chen slowly explained, "At that time, the Holy Alliance had a plan to destroy the Fiendkind with fourteen Raging Fire Scorcher Cannons..."

Arthur rubbed his chin. "That's not right! The sinking of Lans Island and the defeat of the Fiendkind were in Heroic Era 819, but Wolf's journey south to the Skylands was in 812. There's a seven-year gap. Did the Divine Emperor plan the final battle seven years in advance? And there should only be thirteen Raging Fire Scorcher Cannons!"

Du Chen shook his head. "Listen to me... That day, Miki Goddess led her troops to ambush the Fourteenth Raging Fire Scorcher Cannon, but along the way, she learned of Wolf's journey south. Out of longing, Miki Goddess visited her old lover en route, and coincidentally encountered Wolf being ambushed by the Sea Clan... You know the rest. They were trapped on Bog Island, but also obtained what was inside that Purple Satchel, learning why the Sea King ambushed Wolf!"

Du Chen took out the second small item from the box. "Here, this is it!"

It was a book, titled... *Art of Artifact Annihilation*!

Arthur's heart stirred, and he quickly said, "Did someone use the *Art of Artifact Annihilation* to lure Sea King Yoda to kill Wolf?"

Du Chen nodded, continuing, "Subsequently, Miki and Wolf were trapped on Bog Island. During this confinement, Wolf obtained the Essence of Earth and also pondered an interpretation of that prophecy..."

"'When the Dispersion of the Divine occurs, a power surpassing sacred artifacts will be born in the heart of the earth'—the War of Fallen Gods can also be understood as 'the Dispersion of the Divine occurring,' with 'the heart of the earth' being Bog Island, and 'the power surpassing sacred artifacts,' Wolf understood as the *Art of Artifact Annihilation* appearing on Bog Island!"

Arthur quickly said, "That is indeed an interpretation consistent with Wolf's circumstances at the time, and then what?"

Du Chen shrugged. "Then Wolf used the Essence of Earth to replenish his greatly depleted body, continued his astrology, and derived the latter part of the prophecy..."

Beibei looked up and smiled. "'When the Dispersion of the Divine occurs, a power surpassing sacred artifacts will be born in the heart of the earth, becoming the only way to save the Great Catastrophe. Gods may live, or die. The answer lies in the place of a thousand torrents where everything began...' Uncle Arthur, this is the Great Catastrophe we were talking about! We're trying to figure out what the Great Catastrophe refers to!"

Saying this, the little one playfully looked at Arthur. "Uncle, we already know what the place of a thousand torrents is, can you guess? You must be very familiar with this place!"

Arthur smiled proudly, squinted, pondered, then burst out laughing, "I understand! The complete prophecy says—to save the Great Catastrophe, take the power surpassing sacred artifacts to... Mount Wanliu!"

Du Chen abruptly stood, staring at Arthur in astonishment!

Beibei was shocked. "How did you guess it was Mount Wanliu?"

Arthur smiled somewhat smugly. "In ancient Skylands language, Mount Wanliu means 'place of a thousand torrents'! This is something all linguists on our Azure Heaven Continent know!"

"Heh, haha!" Du Chen slapped his forehead and laughed. "Wolf pondered this riddle for a long time, but you guessed it in seconds!"

"Heh heh, different regions, different cultures. Many difficulties for the Ains people are actually known by children in our Skylands..." Arthur also joked, "Francis, you continue. What did Wolf do next?"

Du Chen sighed with a smile. "Wolf then understood his goal was Mount Wanliu. However, he was an excellent astrologer but not arrogant. Prophecies, we might think we understand them correctly, but they might have another true interpretation... What if Wolf misunderstood, and something else matching the prophecy happened? So after escaping, Wolf gave the *Art of Artifact Annihilation* to Miki, instructing her to hide it back on Bog Island!"

Arthur nodded solemnly. "Exactly! Your obtaining the *Art of Artifact Annihilation* on Bog Island today also aligns with all the clues in the prophecy!"

Snoopy suddenly raised his rabbit paw. "From my understanding of Old One, Old One actually believed he hadn't guessed wrong, but he lacked the confidence to face the Great Catastrophe, so he put the *Art of Artifact Annihilation* back in the heart of the earth, hoping that if he failed, future generations would also have a chance to act according to the prophecy, thus averting the Great Catastrophe! Old One said this situation is called 'creating prophecies through human effort'!"

Time had passed, and it was hard to fathom which of these two thoughts Wolf had at the time.

But one thing was certain: Wolf then went to the Skylands, but his purpose was no longer just to apologize to Margaret; he also added... Mount Wanliu!

Du Chen glared at Snoopy and continued, "What happened after Wolf went to Mount Wanliu is for you, Arthur, to investigate! As for Miki Goddess, she still had military orders. After parting with Wolf, she returned to the Holy Alliance headquarters to plead guilty to the Divine Emperor..."

"Plead guilty?" Arthur was startled. "What crime did Miki commit?"

"When Miki Goddess's troops rescued Wolf, they were still carrying the Raging Fire Scorcher Cannon. She hid the cannon in a Confidential Location and assigned troops to protect it before rescuing Wolf. But after everything concluded... the Raging Fire Scorcher Cannon and that entire troop disappeared. Precisely because the Fourteenth Raging Fire Scorcher Cannon went missing, the opportune moment was lost, and the Holy Alliance only destroyed the Fiendkind seven years later on Lans Island using thirteen Raging Fire Scorcher Cannons... This was a crime punishable by death!"

Arthur frowned. "Strange, if Miki had the strongest Raging Fire Scorcher Cannon, why didn't she use it against the Sea Clan, but hid it instead?"

"That's because you haven't witnessed the cannon's power firsthand. Once it fires, it's almost impossible to hide from the Fiendkind! Miki, for the sake of the bigger picture, dared not use her ultimate weapon then! Alright..." Du Chen leaned back on the bed, grimacing, "You know the rest. Miki was demoted and, during the post-war territorial divisions, she voluntarily requested Bog Island... until today! Ouch, I'm exhausted, and I'm still an injured person!"

Arthur smiled, tossed the *Art of Artifact Annihilation* to Du Chen. "I won't disturb you, Mr. Patient! I'll immediately inform my trusted subordinates to return to the Skylands and investigate Mount Wanliu!"

Du Chen caught the *Art of Artifact Annihilation* and shook it. "Don't you want this?"

Arthur shrugged. "I'm no Battle God, sacred artifacts hold no appeal for me! Besides, you can bear the burden of this troublemaking item for us brothers! Haha!" With that, Arthur walked out!

But just as he reached the door, he heard Deboning's cold voice from outside, "Prince Yonker, my Young Master has not yet woken up, it's inconvenient to receive you!"

Then another voice called out, "Hmph! Brook, is it? We're not here to visit Francis, but to arrest him. Move aside!"

Arthur peeked through the crack in the door, then whipped around to Du Chen, whispering, "It's a tall, strong woman, with a golden bird on her shoulder!"

*Sword Slave and Dragonfinch came?*

*So fast! *

Du Chen rubbed his nose, the Precious Lotus Scripture expanded and retracted, gathering Snoopy and all his items. Then he lay back on the bed. "Arthur, tell Brook they can come in, but everyone remember, since the danger seven days ago, I have never woken up!"

Beibei's cheerful expression immediately turned worried and heartbroken. Tears streamed from her big eyes as she pulled the blanket over Du Chen, crying sorrowfully, "Wuwu, when will Daddy wake up? It's been seven days, and his tummy is all shriveled from hunger..."