Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 395 A World Like a Mountain of Shit and the Origins of the Green Knight

After the dwarves' good news came back, Su Li had Hilde call Durmst to his side.

This chosen one of Mor has been elusive lately, never showing his face or reporting on his work. Su Li even suspects he's gone off somewhere to travel and have fun.

So Su Li waited for him in the conference room. When Hilder led him into the conference room, he quickly bowed and greeted him: "Greetings, Lord. May divine grace shine upon you forever."

Su Li stared into his eyes, not letting him get up, and said irritably, "Demster, you'd better explain what you've been busy with lately. It's been over a month, almost two months, and the dwarves have already cleared out and reclaimed the Frostfang Mountains. I asked you to investigate those green ghost cavalry under Blue Mirror Lake, and you still haven't figured it out? What, is that little Blue Mirror Lake more complicated than the Frostfang Mountains?"

Demst argued vehemently, "My lord, this is perfectly normal. You must understand that our human knowledge of the deep sea and great lakes is far less than that of the mountains and the sky."

"Of course, thanks to the effect of our Crimson Pearl, our exploration in Blue Mirror Lake has also yielded results."

"Therefore, please allow me to introduce you to a wandering knight of the Church of Mor."

Su Li still remembered the wanderers of the Church of Mor. It could be said that Demst built the Stromgarde Watch Gate to attract wanderers.

So he asked, "Has the influence of your holy land already begun to manifest?"

“Indeed, my lord.” Durmst maintained his bow, but his voice carried an obvious hint of pride. “This wanderer is one of those who came to Stromgarde under the influence of our Holy Land. He is not a knight-errant known for his sword and shield, but a ‘seeker’ who walks the Forgotten Lands, deciphering the whispers of death, one of the most unique ‘tomb scholar’ and ‘friend of the dead’ under Mor’s command. His name is Carlos Vidal, or, more commonly known as—‘The Voice of the Tomb’.”

"The Voice of the Ancient Tomb?" Su Li raised an eyebrow, showing some interest in the title.

It's worth noting that within his territory, there truly is an extremely ancient tomb, possibly over 5000 years old, that has never been excavated or buried. It's the elven mass grave in the Valley of Memory.

An ancient tomb over 5000 years old—I can't even imagine what's inside.

If there really is such an expert in excavating ancient tombs, it will not only affect the outcome of the battle for Blue Mirror Fortress, but will also greatly help the future development of the territory.

So Su Li patiently waved to Demst and said, "Then please take a seat and introduce this Voice of the Ancient Tomb to me."

“Thank you, Lord.” Durmst immediately straightened up, then quickly pulled out a chair and sat down at the table, near Su Li. His expression became focused, but the story he told was full of suspense: “The legend of Knight Carlos begins with his extraordinary childhood. He was born in a remote village near an ancient cemetery. It is said that even as an infant, he could giggle at an empty corner, as if playing with unseen beings. As he grew older, he would often sneak into the ancient tombs, which the villagers considered forbidden territory, and sit quietly by the tombstones for most of the day. At first, the villagers thought he was possessed, but later they discovered that he seemed to be able to ‘hear’ and ‘feel’ the whispers and echoes left behind by the sleeping ones.”

Durmst's tone held a hint of longing: "This is not a curse, but a rare talent bestowed upon him by Mor—an innate connection to the world of the dead. An old Mor priest in the area noticed his difference and took him as an apprentice. Under the guidance of the priest and the church, Carlos learned how to control this talent, how to distinguish between harmless echoes and resentments that truly needed soothing, and by the time he became a novice knight, he had mastered the divine spell, the Words of Mor."

At this point, Durmst's expression became extremely exaggerated: "A trainee knight! I even suspect he's Mor's illegitimate son. You know, most Mor knights only receive Mor's divine grace during the training phase. Even I went through countless battles before obtaining my first divine spell after entering the formal knight stage. This guy, being able to master the divine spell 'Mor's Words' while still a trainee knight, is simply unheard of!"

No wonder Durmst's expression became so exaggerated, his tone practically overflowing with envy. You see, most of the gods in this world are greedy and stingy; even the most generous, the Dawn Goddess Rhea, only bestows divine magic during the formal stages.

It's no wonder that Durmström wondered if he was Mor's illegitimate son, given that this knight Carlos received divine blessings even during his apprenticeship.

Is it really okay to be so hypocritical about one's own god behind his back? I'm afraid only those neurotic knights of Mor would do that.

Durmst, however, found nothing amiss and continued speaking eloquently, saying, "His faith did not stem from dogma, but from an innate understanding and closeness to the world of the dead. He swore an oath to become a bridge between the living and the dead, to decipher the stories buried by time, to soothe lost souls, and to protect those undisturbed resting places. Therefore, he chose to become a 'wandering knight,' walking with the tenacity of a knight between the oldest and most dangerous ruins and tombs, fulfilling his unique mission."

Su Li nodded: "So this knight is quite suited to the responsibilities of a wanderer."

“That’s right, Lord!” Durmst nodded vigorously. “Knight Carlos is our church’s top ‘tomb explorer’ and ‘secret excavator.’ His core abilities are not battlefield combat, but insight and communication.”

"If he weren't not bad at combat and his strength wasn't improving so slowly, currently only at the elite level, given Mor's favoritism towards him, he could probably easily break through to the Chosen God level."

"But I think his weakness is insignificant to the territory. Because our territory has all sorts of opportunities, it is easiest to make up for his shortcomings and quickly raise his strength to the level of God-chosen."

That's for sure!
Su Li smiled and nodded. In the Black Forest Territory, as long as you have value, Su Li can relatively easily help them improve their strength. Reaching the God-Chosen level might be difficult, requiring waiting for an opportunity. However, reaching the Champion level definitely doesn't present any major bottlenecks. It all depends on whether the territory is willing to invest in you and whether you can demonstrate sufficient value.

In this regard, all the knights in the territory have already formed a deep-rooted impression.

The five chosen knights and dozens of champion knights of the territory strongly corroborated all of this.

That's right, five chosen knights!
In addition to Lion King Orstein, War Saintess Hilde, Raven Ruler Demst, and Holy Healer Dietrich, the territory gained another knight during this period of rest.

That is the Radiant Saint, Knight Ronne.

In fact, the promotion of Priest Rong En was a natural progression, and it was within everyone's expectations.

He was already a chosen knight before he abandoned the Sharya faith, but after he abandoned medicine for the army, he was burdened by the goddess's curse, and his strength diminished.

During the war in the Black Forest Territory, he received Sharya's forgiveness, which allowed him to quickly recover his strength.

Before Black Forest Territory attacked Blue Mirror Territory, he was already a high-ranking champion knight. During this period of rest and recovery, he successfully accumulated enough strength to break through to the Chosen God stage.

In fact, Su Li didn't offer him much help; it was all due to his own cultivation.

But clearly, the rest of the territory doesn't see it that way!

In the eyes of all the knights in the territory, their lord possessed powerful abilities that could help them quickly break through ranks and continuously improve their strength.

Otherwise, how could a small border colony like the Black Forest Territory, with at most the strength of a baron, have so many Chosen Knights! Five Chosen Ones! That's quite a lot even at the ducal level.

Moreover, apart from Demst, the other four of them all broke through in a short period of one and a half years after pledging allegiance to Su Li.

If this were a coincidence, none of the knights would believe it.

One or two is a coincidence, three or four is still a coincidence? Now there are five Chosen Ones! Clearly, there is some special opportunity involved.

Therefore, the knights firmly believed that by following their lord, they would surely gain their own opportunities and achieve rapid breakthroughs. Even Durmst, the Chosen of Mor, was no exception. He continued to explain in detail: "Knight Carlos's abilities are outstanding. First, his perception of the aura of death and traces of souls is unparalleled. He can sense even the most subtle, deliberately concealed echoes of death, like the most sensitive hound tracking a scent. This allows him to accurately locate hidden tombs, forgotten battlefields, and... areas like the bottom of Blue Mirror Lake, filled with intense and distorted soul energy. The activities of the Ghost Riders in their lakebed lair might appear to others as merely the abnormal flow of cold lake water, but to Knight Carlos, it is a 'noisy' vortex of souls, its core as clear as a torch in the night. This is the key to how quickly we were able to pinpoint their lair after using the Crimson Pearl to penetrate deep into the lake—all thanks to Knight Carlos's guidance!"

"Secondly, and most importantly, is his enhanced ability, which can be described as an enhanced version of the [Words of Mor]. This is not a simple psychic art, but a divine gift bestowed upon him by Mor, a rare talent for deep communication with the spirits of the dead. He does not need complicated rituals; often, he only needs to touch an ancient tombstone, an artifact, or even just stand in a specific place and quietly sense it to establish a connection with the remaining, not yet completely dissipated, spiritual consciousness."

“Through the ‘Words of Mor,’” Durmst emphasized, “Knight Carlos can ‘listen’ to the last grievances, unfulfilled wishes, or crucial fragments of information they witnessed in life. He can not only understand them, but also guide the conversation, soothe their resentment, and even help lost souls find their way home. This communication allows him to unearth truths buried by the dust of history, lost clues, and even warnings of danger from the mouths of the deceased. This ability is crucial for exploring the bottom of Blue Mirror Lake—imagine how much intelligence we could gain about the enemy's lair structure, weaknesses, and even the manipulators behind it if we could communicate with the souls killed by the Ghost Riders or bound to the bottom of the lake?”

Su Li had already developed a strong interest in this knight: "Therefore, he is not a sharp sword for charging into battle, but a beacon and key to illuminate the darkness and unravel the mystery for us."

“Absolutely correct, my lord!” Durmst confirmed with delight. “Knight Carlos’s combat prowess lies more in his extensive experience in surviving ancient tombs and his knowledge of dealing with undead traps. He is familiar with various ancient mechanisms, curses, and the characteristics of the undead, and can lead his team to avoid danger. As for combat, he is better at using the environment and his knowledge to maneuver or protect himself than to directly confront a large army. But in terms of exploration and intelligence gathering, he is an irreplaceable treasure!”

"Where is he now?" Su Li asked expectantly, as this perfectly aligned with his next step: to conduct in-depth investigations and gather intelligence on the Ghost Nest.

Durmst quickly replied, "I'll wait outside the meeting room, sir. Sir Carlos... he spends most of his life with ancient tombs, and his demeanor is a bit eccentric. I hope you won't mind."

“No problem.” Su Li waved his hand and said, “I always have extra patience for talented people, let him in.”

At Su Li's signal, a middle-aged Mor Knight was quickly led into the conference room. His equipment leaned more towards that of an explorer: a light and sturdy leather armor overlaid with a dark travel cloak bearing the Mor insignia, and a bulging tool bag at his waist containing various probes, rubbing tools, and small holy symbols. His weapons were more like symbols and tools—a ceremonial short sword engraved with runes to appease the dead, and a walking stick with a tip inlaid with a deep blue crystal that could sense the fluctuations of souls.

He stopped about three steps away from Su Li, and instead of bowing immediately, he tilted his head slightly and lingered on Su Li for a few seconds, as if confirming something.

Then, with an almost rigid elegance, he placed his right hand on his chest and performed a standard knightly salute, though his voice was low and calm, lacking inflection, as if reciting an ancient inscription: "'Voice of the Tomb' Carlos Vidal, by the will of Mor, heeds your call, my lord."

He raised his head, his gray eyes staring directly at Su Li, and added in a completely flat tone: "Your soul fire is very stable, Lord. There are no signs of it being disturbed by vengeful spirits recently, very good."

This opening remark caused Hilde, who was standing to the side, to raise an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. Su Li, on the other hand, looked at him with great interest and did not mind this strange "greeting".

“Welcome to Stromgarde, Sir Carlos.” ​​Sue cut to the chase. “Demster told me you discovered the lair of those green ghost riders at the bottom of Blue Mirror Lake, and that you seem to…know their origins?”

Carlos did not answer immediately. He slowly took a flat object wrapped in oilcloth from the leather tool bag at his waist.

He then untied the tarpaulin, revealing a palm-sized, irregularly edged, and clearly fragmented stone slab. The slab was dark in color, covered with a thick layer of scale and some kind of dark green moss-like deposit, but one could vaguely see extremely ancient, rough lines and several illegible symbols carved on it.

He placed the stone slab flat in his palm and offered it towards Su Li, but he didn't actually hand it over; he was just showing it to her.

"My lord, the answer lies not in my mouth, but in the silt at the bottom of the lake, in the sighs of the dead, and on this... forgotten fragment of the 'boundary marker'." He paused, his finger lightly tracing a blurry symbol on the stone slab that resembled three crossed spears. "Through the [Words of Mor], I listened to several ancient, almost vanished souls lingering in the deepest part of the lake. Their fragmented memories are like scattered pearls, and this fragment of the boundary marker, corrupted by ghostly power, is the thread that connects them."

Carlos's gaze seemed unfocused, as if traversing time and space through black fragments: "My lord, the reason for this cavalry may be quite different from what you think. They are not ordinary vengeful spirits, nor are they evil creations, but rather some kind of existence similar to the Green Knights. It all goes back to a very, very long time ago, so long ago that this land was still in its infancy, and the positions of the stars were different from today... This place once faced a calamity powerful enough to tear the world apart. As for what it was, the remnant soul's memories could no longer clearly describe it, leaving only fragmented words such as 'chaotic rift' and 'apocalyptic judgment'."

He gently brushed his fingers across the symbol of the three crossed spears on the stone slab, and this time, the symbol seemed to glow with a faint, extremely dim green light under his fingertips.

“A great knightly order forgotten by posterity—responding to an ancient oath and the call of the Holy Knights.” Carlos’s voice remained flat, but the content carried an epic solemnity. “They were not the army of any kingdom, but rather a group of the purest and most fearless knights of the time who volunteered. They knew they would not return, yet they stepped into the chaotic rift of Blue Mirror Lake without hesitation.”

"Their mission was not to suppress the rift itself—that transcends mortal power." Carlos's grey eyes seemed to reflect the eerie light at the bottom of the lake. "Their mission was simply to construct a spiritual dam with their own souls, lives, and an eternal oath of guardianship, sealing the corrupting power emanating from the 'chaotic rift' deep within the lake, preventing it from polluting the earth and all living beings. They succeeded. The price was... that they all slumbered beneath the icy lake waters, their souls merging with their mounts, transforming into immortal spirits, like the emerald forest rooted at the bottom of the lake, becoming the 'gatekeepers' of that dam."

"Wait a minute, are you talking about the Holy Knights?" Su Li's eyes lit up. The Holy Knights were the most powerful knights in the empire, but they were always elusive and rarely seen.

Now that he had finally heard the name again, Su Li was overjoyed, even more so than he was interested in Blue Mirror Territory and the Green Knights themselves.

Carlos shrugged, with a hint of dry humor: "Yes, if you heard me right, and I'm not mistaken, then I mentioned the Holy Knights."

Su Li immediately asked, "So these ghosts at the bottom of the lake saw the Holy Knights and followed them into the Chaos Rift to fight?"

“Yes, my lord. Although their memories are unclear, there is no doubt that it was the influence of the Holy Knights that turned them into beings almost like heroic spirits.” Carlos shrugged. “It is obvious that they are a dam protecting the secrets and dangers at the bottom of the lake. It is not appropriate for us to simply disperse them all with the Gate of Watch. This could easily lead to the breaking of the seal on the Chaos Rift, and then trigger a world-ending crisis.”

Upon hearing this, Su Li frowned and couldn't help but sigh deeply.

This dark and hopeless world is fraught with hidden dangers capable of destroying it. Black Forest Territory possesses the remains of a necromancer dragon comparable to a Holy Knight, while Blue Mirror Territory holds this sealed chaotic rift.

This world is practically a program built from countless mountains of excrement, and the biggest rule for programmers is: never try to modify a program when it's barely running.

Even deleting a single symbol could cause the entire mess to crash. Even if you rewrite the symbol, it might not make the program work again.

Therefore, what Carlos said almost completely disrupted Su Li's plans.

He originally intended for the Church of Mor to use a power similar to the Watchtower to fight against the ghostly cavalry beneath Blue Mirror Lake.

At that time, the caster, with their profound understanding of the essence of the soul and their guidance of Mor's divine power, will construct an invisible barrier within a specific area, solidified purely from soul energy. This barrier has almost no effect on the material world; the wind can pass through it, arrows can pierce it, and people can walk freely. But for pure soul entities—such as those green ghosts—it's like hitting a wall of sighs!
With this similar ability, the knights of the Sun Goddess are adept at luring enemies into a predetermined battlefield. When the ghosts collide with this barrier, it's like hitting an unbreakable shield of souls. As they rush into the Wall of Sighs and the Gate of Watch, their spirits crumble and the entire army dissipates.

But these optimistic expectations have clearly vanished with Carlos's introduction.

The Holy Knight may have erected a boundary marker here, and he himself doesn't know where he went after crossing the Chaos Rift. These Green Knights, however, were influenced by him and transformed into Ghost Riders, still sealing the Chaos Rift, blocking the Chaos Corruption on the other side. If they were all purified and extradited, who knows what kind of catastrophe would ensue?

Su Li frowned and asked, "What if we can't purify these Green Knights? Are we just going to be helpless?"

He truly did not want to act recklessly and lawlessly, breaking some ancient seals and unleashing destructive demons.

But he absolutely did not want a heroic spirit from an unknown era to hinder his great cause of unifying the Blue Mirror Territory.

Fortunately, Carlos gave Su Li a very reassuring answer at this moment: "My lord, it is indeed not advisable for us to purify them all, but that does not prevent us from dispelling them. I have spoken with the ancient souls at the bottom of the lake, and these green knights are not invincible."

(End of this chapter)