Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 410 Dante the Ascetic Saint and the Harvest of Extraordinary Plants
Although the appearance of Nurgle's Chosen and the Chaos Warband is a significant event, given the current strength of the territory, Su Li doesn't need to personally handle most of the information gathered today. This includes not only Sharya's decree, but also the relics of Griffin Cliff, the appearance of nature spirits, the threat of Nightwalkers, and so on.

Basically, Su Li only needs to distribute this information; it doesn't take more than three sentences in total.

However, there are two things that Su Li really needs to pay attention to personally: the visit of the Saint of Blazing Sun and the whereabouts of the Ether Gold.

He leaned back comfortably, sinking deeper into Suna's plump and soft embrace, and then asked, "Have you heard of the deeds of Dante Slok, the ascetic saint of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun?"

The reason Su Li didn't ask Hilder directly was because Hilder must have heard of her. This chosen goddess loved reading and was well-versed in various church texts. She was basically familiar with the deeds of all the chosen goddesses of the Sun Goddess Church.

This, in turn, diminished its reference value, preventing Su Li from gaining a deeper understanding of the fame of this ascetic saint, Dante.

Su Na was lazily combing Su Li's hair with her fingertips when she heard this, her movements paused slightly, and a knowing smile appeared on her full red lips. She blinked her watery eyes and said, "Cousin, are you testing my doctrine, or do you really want to hear this silly woman talk?"

Her voice was slightly husky with a hint of coquettishness, then she became serious again, "But speaking of this Lord Dantin Slok... in the Empire, especially in the lands that worship the Goddess of the Sun, his story is like a song around the campfire, sung even in the most remote villages. He is not some vague figure that only exists in the holy scriptures, but... a living chosen priest."

"Dantin Slok... His life was a blazing doctrine written in blood, iron, and fire. He was not a messenger sent by the gods, but more like a piece of ordinary iron that was repeatedly hammered by the chaotic darkness, but was tempered into steel in the furnace of faith."

“He was born in ‘Anvil Keep’ in the northern border of the Empire—no good place.” Suna’s fingertips unconsciously traced cold lines on Su Li’s shoulder. “It’s right next to the Cursed Wasteland, sealed off by ice and snow and the vicious winds from the Chaos Wastes for half the year. His father was the best blacksmith in the keep, and his mother died of a cold plague when she gave birth to him. The shadow of Chaos never left that fortress. When he was ten, a ‘Carnival Raiders’ group of northern barbarians and Sorcerer cultists attacked the outer mining villages. His father led the militia in resistance and was cleaved in the chest by a barbed sword coated with deadly poison. His sister was kidnapped and never heard from again. Little Dantin and the remaining villagers hid in the cold cellar, listening to the screams and blasphemous laughter outside, smelling the sweet, pungent smell of corrosion and blood in the wind… That despair was etched into his bones.”

"He was rescued and adopted by a priest of the Church of the Sun who was passing through the area. Violet's priest saw in his eyes a light that was not completely extinguished by despair, a light as hard as cold iron. Instead of studying the scriptures in the safe seminary, Dante chose the path of a wandering monk and made an 'ascetic vow'—he saw himself as a piece of iron to be forged by the will of the Sun into a shield and a sword of protection in the face of the endless suffering of chaos."

“His asceticism was a weapon against chaos, not a performance,” Suna said with admiration. “He walked barefoot, his feet calloused and frostbitten, not to display pain, but to feel the pulse of the earth and discern the ‘stains’ left by the corruption of chaos. He carried a heavy anvil—his father’s heirloom, a symbol of his responsibility to his deceased loved ones and his determination to forge a world of order. The cold, fine iron chains wrapped around his waist, with heavy iron balls at the ends, dragged with each step, reminding him of the world’s weight and the power of chaos to pull at the soul. He accepted meager food from his followers, but more often subsisted on moss, clean snow water, and resilient roots, just to prove that the power of the spirit can transcend the lack of the body.”

“His legend was written in blood and wisdom,” Suna continued, her eyes gleaming with admiration for the saint’s wisdom.

In the purification of Blackwater, the town was suspected of being infiltrated by the Tzeentch cult, causing widespread fear and suspicion. The townspeople, gripped by terror, became fanatical and cruel. Dante Slok entered alone. Instead of preaching in the town square, he silently observed, interviewing the poorest and most marginalized. He astutely discovered patterns in several seemingly unrelated, bizarre deaths and thefts that aligned with Tzeentch's numerical occult principles. In a public debate, facing a Tzeentch wizard masquerading as a venerable scholar, Dante didn't use flowery language, but rather rigorous logic, detailed testimonies gathered from the townspeople, and a profound understanding of the darker aspects of Tzeentch doctrine. He gradually exposed the wizard's lies, forcing him to reveal his twisted true nature in a fit of rage. Ultimately, in anger and fear, the townspeople tore the exposed cultist apart with hoes and pitchforks. Dante set fire to the contaminated meeting place and purified the desecrated well source with a prayer in the blazing sun.

During the defense of Stone Peak Pass, the orc warband "Bonecrushers" held the pass, and the Imperial army suffered heavy losses in the face of a strong attack. Dantin Slok joined the pass's defenders. Using his rudimentary understanding of the customs of the northern orc tribes, he discovered internal factionalism within the orc group, with several minor leaders resenting the Great Warboss, Glenba Shattertooth. Instead of directly instigating conflict, he used his familiarity with the pass's terrain during an orc night raid to guide a small squad of elite soldiers in a surprise attack on the tent of Glenba Shattertooth's most trusted but also most hated lieutenant, creating the illusion that the lieutenant had been killed in a "despicable sneak attack." Meanwhile, using crude paint and animal hides, he forged an extremely crude (in line with orcish intelligence) "plan" pointing to another orc leader as a "traitor," deliberately letting the orcs find it. As a result, a bloody infighting broke out among the orcs, and Glenba Shattertooth was cut down in the chaos. Dandin Slok seized the opportunity, leading the defenders in a counter-offensive, coordinating with Imperial reinforcements from within, and routing the leaderless orcs. With unparalleled courage (leading from the front lines), precise timing, and profound insight into and exploitation of the enemy's weaknesses, he revealed to the world the superiority of the Sun Goddess's doctrine.

"The Siege of the Sunlit Monastery was his most celebrated battle. The Sunlit Monastery, located in a border princely territory, was besieged by a force of Khorne berserkers. The abbot was killed, and the remaining monks and refugees prepared for martyrdom in despair. Dantin Slok miraculously arrived through the blizzard. He brought no reinforcements, but he brought an iron will and the purest practice of his faith. He organized the last line of defense, using an anvil as the core of a makeshift fortification, and whipping the berserkers who tried to scale the walls with cold chains. Day and night he led the monks in prayer, prayers not for miracles, but..." A spiritual bulwark uniting hearts and minds, resisting the whispers of Khorne. At the last moment before the monastery gates were about to be breached, he stood before the broken doorway, a blacksmith's hammer burning with a faint holy flame (more like it was soaked in grease and burning), challenging the Khorne Champion, roaring the doctrines of the Sun Goddess, drawing the opponent's attention to him. At the cost of his own life, he defeated the Khorne Champion, forcing the remaining Khorne army to retreat. In this battle, he used only a few dozen exhausted monastery guards and followers to repel nearly a thousand Khorne warbands, thoroughly establishing the doctrines of the Sun Goddess in the south.

Suna gently stroked Su Li's forehead: "Cousin, this is Dante Slok, the 'Ascetic Saint.' He didn't walk by miracles, but earned the name 'Saint' through the extreme perseverance of mortals, the wisdom to see through chaos, the fearless sacrifice, and the unwavering practice of his faith. Every debate he made was a truth verified with his life; every question he posed was like a hammer striking the soul, forging the purest steel of faith."

Su Li rested his head on Su Na's soft legs, his fingertips unconsciously caressing her smooth skin. It seemed that how to attract this ascetic saint was the main thing he needed to consider today.

"Hilder." Su Li's voice wasn't loud, but it received an immediate response. Almost the instant his words fell, steady footsteps echoed at the door. A Goddess's Chosen Knight, clad in dazzling armor and bearing the Bauhinia badge of value on her chest, entered.

"My lord, you summoned me? What are your orders?"

Su Li nodded: "First, send a few capable dwarves to the third stall on the right at the intersection of Warhammer Road and Ekert Commercial Street. Bring back the Ether Gold at all costs."

"And then comes the most important event of the day: the ascetic saint Dantin Slok will finally arrive in the Black Forest Territory today." Su Li's voice was steady, his gaze fixed on Hilde with absolute trust. "His visit is the Sun Church's recognition of the Black Forest Territory, and also the Goddess's examination of our faith. You are in full charge of the reception arrangements."

Hilde raised her head slightly, her handsome face full of sharpness: "Has our expeditionary knights finally received their reward? We have heard of the great name of this chosen priest. His 'The Road of Steel' and his military strategy 'The Tempered War Strategy' are essential classics for church believers."

Her tone was full of deep understanding and respect for this senior.

"Very good, I trust you to handle things."

Su Li didn't linger in bed any longer. He had finished his morning exercise and it was time to get up and handle some official business.

Su Li pushed open the heavy oak door and walked out of the room side by side with Hilde. The warm autumn sunlight poured in instantly, carrying the fresh scent of the courtyard's plants, a stark contrast to the languid and enchanting atmosphere inside. He didn't move immediately, but subconsciously stopped under the eaves, his gaze naturally turning towards the depths of the courtyard, looking at the sacred wisteria tree that held immense significance for the entire Black Forest Territory.

Hilde stopped beside him in unison, her eyes following his gaze. Her sharp eyes softened slightly when they met the tree.

The sight before one's eyes is enough to make anyone who sees it hold their breath.

That fantastical wisteria tree was now thriving, laden with fruit. Its gnarled and powerful trunk, like a weathered giant, was firmly rooted in the sacred soil. And cascading down its thick branches was an endless, surging purple waterfall!

Thousands upon thousands of wisteria blossoms, like the most magnificent tassels, cascade from the high branches, almost touching the ground. Each cluster is composed of countless delicate purple flowers, the purple not a single shade, but transitioning from a deep, almost inky violet to a soft pale purple, and finally to a light purple with a dreamlike silvery sheen at the tip. Sunlight penetrates the layered petals, refracting and dancing within the cascade of blossoms, forming a flowing, translucent purple-gold halo, as if the entire tree is radiating a faint glow blessed by the goddess of the sun. A rich yet not cloying fragrance permeates the air, carrying a crisp, sacred aura that is refreshing and soothing, enough to cleanse the soul of its dust.

However, this unparalleled sea of ​​flowers is not its only glory at this moment. Among the drooping flower spikes, hidden beneath the lush, feathery leaves, abundant fruits proudly proclaim the harvest. These are the pods of the Blessed Wisteria, each about the length of a forearm, plump and full, displaying a warm, jade-like deep purple hue with golden veins. They hang heavily from the branches, bending them slightly, like countless full chalices bearing life and hope. Sunlight falls on the pods, reflecting soft golden rays, echoing the cascading purple blossoms above, creating a magnificent and vibrant, sacred scene.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing the entire sea of ​​flowers and orchard to sway softly, whispering like countless devout believers in quiet prayer. Purple petals drifted down like fine snowflakes, swirling and reflecting a mesmerizing light in the sun, eventually carpeting the grass beneath the trees like a purple velvet blanket. Meanwhile, the heavy bean pods rustled gently in the wind, producing a crisp, melodious sound, like the delicate chimes of wind chimes.

Su Li was utterly delighted. The existence of each extraordinary spiritual plant greatly enhanced the fantasy level and financial scale of the Black Forest Territory.

Su Li asked cheerfully, "Did the Blessed Wisteria Tree and the other spirit trees have a good harvest?"

Hilde nodded immediately, her handsome face showing respect for the bountiful harvest: "My lady, the Holy Wisteria Tree's harvest this season far surpasses last year's. Last year's pods were good, but some were still shriveled, while this year's are all round and plump, brimming with the essence of life, and their medicinal effects are undoubtedly superior." She paused, her voice carrying a hint of certainty and emotion at witnessing a miracle: "Its effects have been well-proven in Knight Olsen."

"You may have heard of Sir Olsen. He was a northern immigrant who fought for the Empire in the Nord Territory for half his life. After retiring, he settled in our territory and bought a small manor on the outskirts of Bloodpine Forest. He was already on his deathbed in the dead of winter, and the doctor predicted that he wouldn't make it past early spring. His family had even made preparations for his funeral." "So last year, he used his life savings and sold off a large portion of his ancestral property to barely manage to buy a Blessed Wisteria pod with the help of his children."

"After taking it, the effects were nothing short of miraculous. His body, which had been depleted by old injuries and aging, was rejuvenated in just one cycle. His withered skin regained its luster, his cloudy eyes became clear, and he was even able to pick up his beloved warhammer and swing it a few times again. This was by no means a final burst of energy before death. The most senior doctor in the territory, Sharya, confirmed that his life essence had been steadily and miraculously replenished and extended."

"In the nearly eight months since taking the medicine, Knight Olsen not only organized his life's martial arts experience and personally mentored several promising young knights in the territory, but also, in a state of vigorous health, witnessed his youngest grandson being knighted as a probationary knight. Just three months ago, in the early morning, this old knight, dressed in his most solemn formal attire, chose a spot for himself in the family cemetery, then peacefully sat on a bench under a wisteria tree, passing away peacefully amidst falling petals, his face content and without regret."

"This incident caused a sensation at the time and aroused great discussion in the territory."

"Three months ago?" Su Li raised an eyebrow, cautiously confirming, "Isn't that right around the time of the Sunshine Festival? Are you sure... it's the real situation? And not Dean Oliver's propaganda?"

After all, based on Su Li's understanding of Oliver, this iron-fisted prime minister would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

It's entirely possible that he secretly fabricated such an effect and case to promote the prize's effectiveness.

Hilde immediately shook her head and said, "No, Dean Oliver wouldn't set up a story that's so easy to expose. I thought the reason this example was so sensational was because the fame of the consecrated wisteria pods was rising at the time, which is why this case attracted more attention."

"However, regardless of whether it's true or false, the key is the effectiveness of the Blessed Wisteria Tree. If the fruit of the Blessed Wisteria Tree can prolong life, then even if this case is false, it will eventually become true. Otherwise, even if this story is true, it will eventually be considered manipulation of public opinion."

That makes sense; temporary public opinion and exaggeration might lead to a surge in sales.

After all, scams, health products, and even illusory talismans can be sold everywhere, but the key factor in the end is still the effect of the wisteria pods.

If it had no effect, people would probably have come knocking on my door demanding an explanation within the past year for this kind of life-extending product.

Su Li hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Hilde, do you think we made a mistake back then? I feel that the Blessed Wisteria Tree pods were sold for far too cheaply. Compared to a year's lifespan, only 200 gold crowns are bound to raise suspicions."

The value of this fruit should be increased by 5 to 10 times! Only when it is unbelievably expensive will people have more faith in its effects.

Even if they harbor doubts by then, they won't show it. With their minds firmly set on something, they might even be able to live a little longer.

Hilde smiled slightly, looking tenderly at Su Li's profile, and said, "My lord, it's already very expensive. Even last year, it was an old knight like Sir Olsen, who had served the empire for many years, who used his life savings and sold a lot of his property to buy one."

"The value of the fruit has nearly doubled this year, and even the knights in the ruling class dare not dream of it. Only the great knight families, large landowners, wealthy merchants, and lords could afford to produce a full 200 gold crowns!"

Two hundred gold crowns—that's the kind of wealth a farmer would accumulate by not eating or drinking, working 400 days a year without getting sick or resting.

But who can go a year without getting sick? Especially in this dark and desperate world, plagues rage, viruses run rampant, and goblins and gnomes attack and poison everywhere.

After paying heavy taxes, a farmer's wealth was almost entirely depleted; he might carry only a few copper coins with him.

Saving up 200 gold crowns to extend the lives of one's parents is virtually impossible.

In fact, if you look at the world from the perspective of commoners and farmers, rather than from the lord's point of view, the despair is even more intense and devastating. Finding a few silver coins is enough to excite the whole family. Finding a few gold coins, however, brings fear and anxiety, keeping them restless day and night.

He was both bewildered about how to use such a large sum of money and trembling with fear, lest the owner come knocking on his door. After all, such a large sum of money must belong to some very important person.

Therefore, Su Li distributed about a third of these expensive fruit pods as spoils and prizes last year, which truly benefited the entire territory.

Hilde continued, "After all, we are not in the Empire. The pods of the Blessed Wisteria Tree are not worth a fortune as soon as they come out. Your choice last year was the wisest decision at the time."

"Moreover, the value of the pods from the Blessed Wisteria Tree will significantly increase as our territory's strength expands. The stronger our territory becomes, the more people will be affected by the value and effects of these pods."

"When we become electors or emperors of the empire, the effect of this pod will truly be worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Su Li turned her gaze away from the distance and looked at Hilde, smiling as she said, "You're the best at comforting me."

Su Li was certain that no matter the actual situation, Hilder would find an explanation and direction to put his mind at ease. However, Su Li truly couldn't find any way to refute what Hilder had said.

So he stopped investigating and instead asked, "What about the other spiritual plants?"

Hilde calmly said, "The Stardew Oranges also had a bumper harvest. However, unlike the pods of the Blessed Wisteria tree, Ms. Ingrid almost monopolized more than 90% of the berries from this shrub by herself. There were more than 80 of them."

More than 80?

Su Li took a deep breath. It seemed that this year's harvest was indeed much better than last year's, with more glistening fruits on every tree.

Hilde continued, "More importantly, we discovered that we may have misjudged the value of the Stardew Orange. Compared to the orange itself, these oranges may be merely decorations; the true value of the spirit plant lies in itself. The fact that it grows there is invaluable in itself."

(End of this chapter)