Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 334 The Flourishing Sericulture Industry and the Powerful Iridescent Silk
As silk is a key industry for the territory's future development, Su Li attaches great importance to it, so he and Fandral personally inspected the silkworm house on the Ring of Maidens.

The silkworm house is located in the right tower of the monastery courtyard. Honeysuckle vines climb the stone and wood monastery, filling the building with greenery, which is very much in line with the style of the Dawn Goddess Monastery.

Upon opening the door, two priestesses from the silkworm house, wearing Leia's crowns, immediately curtsied slightly to Su Li: "May the morning light forever grace your robes, my lord."

Their turquoise chiffon robes, with silver threads rippling with their movements, revealed beautiful legs beneath high-slit skirts as graceful as morning waves, and their slightly bowed chests revealed a dazzling expanse of white skin, their curves full and alluring.

Su Li couldn't help but take a few more glances, then asked Fandral, "Your church is growing very rapidly. I don't think I've seen these two nuns before?"

Fandall smiled broadly and said, “My lord, you have truly discerning eyes. But just as the Mooncrown Tree has grown strong, our church has also grown along with the territory. Let me introduce you to these two, Sister Katrina and Sister Lolita, both members of the Sisters of Rhea.”

“Rhea’s daughter?” Su Li raised an eyebrow and said, “I don’t remember your church having such a religious order.”

Fandral nodded: "Just as I just told you, the Church of the Sun Goddess is not the only sect that has risen to prominence and grown in the territory. Our Church of Dawn has also grown and expanded in number during this rise."

"The Sisters of Leia are one of the orders that joined our territory during this period. Of course, don't misunderstand, the Sisters of Leia are completely different from the Church of the Sons of Yurik. They have this name because all members of their order are women and they focus more on things related to women."

"For example, in their religious order, priestesses and devout believers are inviolable. The well-being of families, children, crops and livestock is of utmost importance, as is the sanctity of life and love."

"They place greater emphasis on reproduction. In their rural communities, it is believed that the first calf born to a village animal must be sacrificed to Leia. Fish and wild animals are also forbidden because they belong to Mannan and Tal respectively."

"They also believed that all love that brings satisfaction is sacred. They protected their lovers from the opposition of others, provided, of course, that the two partners respected each other. Another important activity of the Daughters of Rhea was that the priestesses officiated at weddings in the countryside—and sometimes in larger towns. The wedding ceremony was a symbolic union of two people, and the specific practices varied from place to place in the Old World. Most commonly, the priestess would bind the wrists of the newlyweds with mistletoe as they pledged their faith and devotion. According to them, anyone who saw Rhea walking outdoors would find new love before the next summer solstice."

Love and beauty are words that bring joy to anyone who sees them.

Regarding this, Su Li wants to say, really, go fall in love. Sometimes, a gentle woman's love, her caring concern for her lover, and her tenderness and consideration are a very beautiful source of emotion for a man.

Of course, love is wonderful, but it can't put food on the table.

After a knowing smile, Su Li asked, "Besides presiding over love affairs, what other production activities do they engage in?"

"It mainly involves production that women can engage in, such as silkworm rearing and silk reeling, childcare, textiles, and medical care. For example, the silkworm beds and silkworm trays in these territories are taken care of by them."

After speaking, Fandral and several nuns led Su Li to the silkworm bed and said, "These are the moonlight silkworms that the nuns have been taking care of."

Su Li glanced around and found that most of the Moonlight Silkworms had already spun their cocoons, with only a small number of plump white silkworms still eating mulberry leaves in the cocoon, making a rustling sound.

Sister Katrin explained, “My lord, the Moonlight Silkworms produce a large quantity, with three batches per year: spring, summer, and autumn. We are currently harvesting from the spring batch. The climate is mild, and the mulberry leaves are fresh and abundant, resulting in the highest quality silk. It is known as premium silk, with uniform fineness, good luster, and high tensile strength, used in high-end silk weaving. Many of our Dawn Church communities hold spring silkworm festivals to pray for a bountiful harvest using silk.”

Su Li looked down at the important assets of these territories and asked, "How is the growth of this Moonlight Silkworm?"

Sister Katharina's face shone with intellectual radiance as she gracefully replied, "Silkworms go through about five instars in their life. From the first to the third instar, they are mainly fed tender mulberry leaves and kept at a suitable temperature to help them develop."

"When silkworms reach their 4th or 5th instar, their appetite increases dramatically, requiring a large amount of mature mulberry leaves. At this time, diligent young women need to constantly provide them with fresh mulberry leaves to ensure a sufficient food supply. The rustling sound you hear is the sound of silkworms eating. Basically, after covering the silkworms with mulberry leaves, they will finish eating them in a morning or afternoon. Ordinary silkworms eat very quickly, while the Moonlight Silkworm eats several times faster than ordinary silkworms. Someone must specifically pick mulberry leaves to feed them."

As they were talking, Sister Lolita took a stack of mulberry leaves from a basket and fed the silkworms.

Under Su Li's watchful eye, the Moonlight Silkworm devoured the thick pile of mulberry leaves in less than ten minutes.

Su Li was greatly amazed and said, "Nature's creations are truly wondrous! They are so small, yet they eat mulberry leaves so quickly? Is the feeding speed of ordinary silkworms also like this?"

"Yes. Although the Moonlight Silkworm is an extraordinary creature, it only eats a little faster than ordinary silkworms. They eat extremely fast, so only very hardworking young women can raise them."

Su Li smiled and said to Fandall beside her, "Then this Moonlight Silkworm is quite similar to the doctrines of your church: diligence, beauty, and dedication."

"Shh~" The Lolita girl beside him put a slender finger to her lips, gesturing for Su Li to be quiet, and then whispered, "My lord, a batch of silkworms here have entered their dormant period. They are about to molt, so we need to keep the environment quiet."

Su Li did not find her actions rude or presumptuous. Su Li had always held true technical personnel in high esteem, and he encouraged everyone to speak frankly about their work. Even the shepherds and dwarves could speak freely, and Su Li had never punished or reprimanded them for their rudeness or disrespect.

Since he genuinely didn't know about the silkworm's molting period, he immediately lowered his voice and asked, "How is the silkworm production these days?"

Sister Catherine explained softly, “By the end of the fifth instar, the silkworms will stop eating and look for places to spin their cocoons. We provide them with trays and bundles of straw. The Moonlight Silkworms have already begun to spin cocoons in large quantities, with each cocoon producing approximately 800 to 1200 meters of silk. Ordinary silkworm cocoons, due to processing losses, can only yield about 500 to 800 meters of continuous silk during the reeling process. However, the cocoons of the Moonlight Silkworms are very soft and smooth, so we don't experience much loss during the reeling process. Currently, we can generally extract more than 1000 meters of raw silk.”

Then Katrina led Su Li to another silk reeling room, took out a stack of raw silk from a wooden box and handed it to Su Li.

The raw silk was very white and soft, not much different from perfect oriental raw silk. Although it felt excellent to the touch, Su Li was a little puzzled and asked, "I don't seem to see anything special about this raw silk, except for its top-notch texture."

Katrina smiled and said, "Do you remember what this raw silk is called?"

"Rainbow silk?"

"That's right, this silk only shows its unique effect under sunlight."

Fandall then used his oak cane to push open the stained-glass blinds of the silk reeling room. The bright spring afternoon sunlight poured in like liquid gold, and the stack of snow-white silk suddenly shimmered with a seven-fold rainbow halo on his palm!

"Wow!" Everyone inside couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at the same time.

Even the Dawn Sisters, who had already witnessed this beautiful scene, couldn't help but marvel at its exquisite beauty.

This is truly a literal, magical effect. When the silk is taken out and shines with a soft glow in the sunlight, anyone can immediately tell its exceptional quality!
Su Li handed the roll of silk back to Sister Lolita, who was standing nearby, and then asked, "What are the effects of this rainbow silk?"

"First of all, it has an extremely powerful healing effect. Even without any weaving or embroidery, simply spinning it into silk and binding it to any wound can immediately stop the injury and stop the bleeding. It also has extremely strong resistance to corruption and purification capabilities against things like Chaos Corruption and Skaven Plague. This raw silk is basically a symbol of cleanliness, purity, and advanced healing. Witchers especially like to carry this raw silk to fight against the corruption of evil and to prevent wounds from worsening."

"And its strongest ability is undoubtedly high-level weaving and embroidery. Top-level weavers can use rainbow silk to embroider various top-quality silks and embroideries. Nobles and priests who wear rainbow silk can greatly enhance their resistance to chaos corruption and their own charm."

"For example, the divine spell 'Divine Revelation Leader' of the Church of the Sun Goddess can become even more powerful with this effect."

"Without a doubt, this is clothing that only high-ranking church officials, bishops, or secular lords can wear. It is extremely expensive; a set of gold-embroidered silk may cost more than 1000 gold crowns."

hiss~
1000 gold crowns?

That's comparable in value to stockings made from the silk of the Queen of Anariki's giant spider.

However, hunting is never as stable as farming. The silk of the Queen of Anarek is extremely rare. Even with the help of an intelligence system, Su Li has a hard time finding this monster hiding in deep pits and underground caves.

But Rainbow Spider Silk can be produced reliably! Compared to Anarric Giant Spider Silk, which requires wasting an intelligence slot and involves huge risks, farming for silk is undoubtedly more desirable and appealing.

That's the charm of farming—it allows you to acquire more wealth more steadily.

When the topic of the spider silk came up, Su Li asked, "By the way, you just talked about so much, but why didn't you mention anything about military matters?"

The empire, at its core, was a nation founded on chivalry, and martial virtue flourished there. How to enhance the army's combat effectiveness was a matter of utmost concern for any lord.

Katrina frankly spread her hands and said, "There's no way around it, my lord. Silk isn't naturally suited for the battlefield. Therefore, the military applications of Rainbow Silk are very limited. Its greater value lies in the development of your territory. When ribbons flutter from the Blessed Wisteria and Moon Crown Trees, your territory will be dazzling with gold and emerald, fragrant with silk, and adorned with flowers, enhancing everything from the economy and sanitation to public order." "If you insist on mentioning any military effects, then one is that when officers wear Rainbow Silk sashes, they emit a calming glow in the sunlight, slightly reducing the likelihood of panic among soldiers within a 10-meter radius. Furthermore, when Rainbow Silk is added to the silk lining of the Legion's eagle banner, the silk will automatically shrink and repair itself when the banner is damaged, preventing it from tearing completely. Soldiers will see it as a sign of the goddess protecting the banner so it will never fall."

After listening, Su Li finally admitted that the primary function of this rainbow silkworm silk was indeed for domestic affairs and production. Its military applications, aside from showcasing its magical properties, were practically negligible.

However, there are endless possibilities in domestic affairs. Thinking of the town of Black Forest filled with the fragrance of silk and the dazzling sight of gold and jade, Su Li felt that even the value of prostitutes would increase.

There's no way around it; everyone is inextricably linked to the power they belong to. When a power is strong and glorious, even prostitutes and scoundrels in one territory will feel a strong sense of pride and contempt for other regions.

The cultural role cannot be ignored. Just like within an empire, the provinces in the central heartland always considered themselves to be at the forefront of trends and art, looking down on all other provinces.

What would happen in this situation? Would the other provinces of the empire harbor widespread hatred towards the Central Province? Of course not. The commoners and knights of the other provinces might grumble a few words about the Central Province within their own provinces, but most people would still flock there to seek more opportunities.

Terrabheim was the Paris of the world, leading the culture and art of the entire empire.

Su Li felt that his Black Forest Town could also develop in this direction. Leaving aside the possibility of leading the entire empire, at least it could occupy a cultural and religious high ground in the northern border princely territory. Then it could attract a large number of knights and believers from all directions.

Then Su Li asked, "What's the production volume of this rainbow silkworm silk?"

卡特琳亚立即回道：“目前我们的产量大概在1斤左右。这个春季我们主要在繁殖月光天蚕，估计到下个丰收季，这个产量就能翻2～3倍了。我们争取在今年实现总产量超过10斤生丝。然后明年生丝产量达到50斤。”

Su Li nodded and said, "Silkworms have a relatively short lifespan, so let's make the most of their vitality to grow. We need to develop the silk industry as soon as possible. Are you able to make silk clothes?"

Katrina shook her head: "We have no problem reeling silk. But the embroidery and tailoring after the fabric is made still require specialists. We need more embroiderers, tailors, and fashion designers, which are not areas where our Church of Dawn excels."

"However, this pound of raw silk is not enough to make any silk robes. You can take it to your courtiers and have them make stockings first."

Do you need embroiderers or fashion designers?
Su Li nodded and said, "No problem. This is indeed not an area of ​​expertise for your Dawn Church. I will have Dean Oliver of the Provincial Council resolve this issue."

Su Li then instructed Fandall, "The agricultural inspection ends here for now. You will now focus all your efforts on overseeing the entire harvest in the territory. I will concentrate my energy on the Smooth Sports Festival."

Both the iridescent stockings and the upcoming Glorious Arena are related to the territory's cultural endeavors, and Su Li attaches great importance to this aspect.

The Glorious Arena, in particular, is a cultural symbol of Su Li's territory that he has been working hard to create.

If the event goes smoothly, then all the knights who traveled and visited the region, no matter how much time has passed, will immediately recall this grand and lively festival and the unforgettable spectacle when they talk about the Black Forest.

Fandall solemnly replied, "My lord, please rest assured, I will do my utmost to handle the agricultural affairs of this harvest season and ensure that the territory is prosperous and the people are well-fed."

Su Li nodded and then said, "Then I'll leave it all to you."

He then took the Rainbow Silk and went directly to the Gem Pool. Seranville had been cultivating there for some time, and Su Li needed to check on this beautiful female courtier.

She is one of Su Li's biggest pillars for future stability. As long as she doesn't die young, she is destined to grow into a legendary Ice and Snow Valkyrie. That's quite a feat, enough to become a symbol and emblem of a powerful force.

It's no exaggeration to say that with her command, the legion could easily defeat enemies two, three, or even four times its size without using too many tactics.

The Death Claw was Su Li's signature. When they saw him descending from the sky with Ariana to the vicinity of the Gem Pool, the guards didn't ask any questions.

The guards here have become exceptionally tight. There's no way around it; the camps of mercenaries, travelers, and adventurers are located below the Rainbow Terraces, about ten miles away.

If we don't set up checkpoints and take strict precautions, these dishonest guys will definitely come and steal something.

Upon seeing Su Li arrive, several water sprites emerged from under the lotus leaves, lotus flowers, and water plants.

"Oh, the human lord is here again~"

"What is he doing here? Is he going to take our jewels again?"

"Why do you say again?"

"Because he always takes away a lot of things every time he comes! Last time it was jade and gemstones, the time before that it was ether gold, the time before that it was laurel jewels, and so on..."

"Alright, Lucy, stop going on and on. We're all speechless. Let's guess what he's going to take this time!"

These kids are so innocent and naive! It made Su Li, an old man, a little embarrassed. So this is how the people at the Gem Pool see him? They're practically thieves who never leave empty-handed!

But with such a gem pool right in front of him, it would be strange if Su Li didn't have any ideas, right?

Wealth, when placed in a pool of jewels, is nothing more than a few pretty stones. Only when it circulates does it become true wealth.

Vidag was also drawn to the chattering of the little ones as she barefoot washed the gems in the gem pool, decorating her beautiful home.

However, it wouldn't be accurate to say she was barefoot, because she only covered three private areas with beautiful flower vines, making her look like a flower fairy with her beautiful legs glistening and translucent.

She truly uses a figure that's just over a meter tall to showcase a curvaceous bust, a slim waist, and long legs.

Su Li had to force himself to stop his wild thoughts. Seeing such an alluring body, he could understand some people's fascination with lolis. Especially since this was a legally recognized loli, Su Li couldn't help but want to try something different.

He'd tried slender, long-legged mature women, beautiful legs adorned with slender branches and plump fruits, dashing knights, and even a 3-meter-tall giant! Hilde indulged him greatly, using her bloodline energy to adjust her height, lying prone on the bed, obediently letting him torment and ravage her as he pleased. Frankly, this was a contrast that Su Li quite liked.

During his training with Hilde, Su Li most admired her three heights: 185cm, 260cm, and 3 meters. The first, needless to say, was Hilde's normal height. As a valiant female knight, her legs were longer than Su Li's life in this form. Coupled with her stunning beauty and heroic demeanor, she was simply a perfect goddess, giving Su Li an overwhelming sense of conquest.

At 260 meters, Su Li could perfectly utilize the physical advantages enhanced by the Dragon Blood Stone, allowing him to cultivate with unbridled ease. The 3-meter height, however, gave Su Li an unparalleled experience, as if he had conquered a powerful female giant.

Humans may have an innate thrill of hunting large prey, an urge that begins in infancy. From nobles hunting wild boars and tigers to commoners fishing at the beach, all these practices stem from this instinct and pursuit.

Hilder can be said to have fulfilled almost all of Su Li's fantasies since childhood.

But this kind of 1-meter-tall legal loli is a feeling that Hilder just can't provide for Su Li.

Fortunately, Su Li didn't have any particularly strong feelings about this, and quickly suppressed her inner thoughts before asking, "Vidag, has the Gem Pool been relatively peaceful lately?"

Upon hearing Su Li's voice, Vidag flew out of the gem pool and came to Su Li, basking in the sunlight, and said, "It's been relatively peaceful lately, but I have a premonition of the strengthening of Tar's divinity, and a storm is about to break."

“Hey, what treasure is that your servant holding? It’s so beautiful, radiating a rainbow-like light, and it matches the gem pool perfectly.”

Su Li had forgotten about this. The Gem Pool is located below the Rainbow Waterfall. From a distance, the rainbow light is the landmark of the Gem Pool.

He turned to look at the iridescent silk in Ariana's hand, which also emitted a beautiful iridescent light in the sunlight. No wonder Vidag took a liking to it at first sight!
(End of this chapter)