Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 414 Mythical Gift: The Golden Holy Water Bottle
While Dandin was swiftly visiting and purifying the rebel strongholds and Chaos Warband around Flashspear City, the Black Forest Territory's army was also sweeping away the wild monsters in the area like autumn leaves in the wind.

On the plains of Flashspear City, goblin tribes, chaos knights, and cult camps within a radius of over 400 miles were extensively destroyed.

In the past, the guild only had a little over 300 members, making it difficult to clear out these monsters. But now, Tiberius and Dietrich have arrived with a force of 1000 men.

The Arbitration Court of Flashspear City naturally had to seize the opportunity to purify the environment around the city and eliminate a group of hidden monsters.

Therefore, Ron, the chairman of the Arbitration Court of Flashspear City, immediately ordered that the Chosen Butcher Sogard lead three armies, including the Free Guild, the Lightguard, and the Blazing Butcher, to join forces with Tiberius.

At this moment, an unprecedentedly powerful mixed legion took shape on the plains: three powerful chosen ones at its core commanded nearly 1500 elite infantry and cavalry from the Blackforest Territory, along with nearly 500 experienced and shrewd hunters and mercenaries from the Free Guild of Flashspear City. This provincial-level legion of two thousand men was like a tempered sword, its edge aimed directly at the putrid hoofprints emanating from the rotten saddle.

The Rotting Saddle is no easy target. As a Chaos Knights order that roams the land raiding and spreading plague, they are masters of guerrilla warfare, their whereabouts elusive, rarely staying in one place for more than a night. Their scouts typically consist of corrupted, swift, prickly-armored squires, who, like the plague itself, silently infiltrate the wilderness.

This time, however, the hunters were equally experienced. The hunters of the Free Guild, along with the keen-sensed priests under Dietrich and Sogard's unique "smell" for the corruption of Chaos, wove an invisible net. They tracked reports of slightly contaminated water sources, clues of mysterious livestock deaths, and the lingering, almost imperceptible, sweet, putrid stench in the air. Scout squads conducted a grid search across the vast plains, using the intelligence network provided by newly converted members around Flashspear City to continuously narrow down the search area.

Ultimately, the clues pointed to a relatively open wasteland northeast of Flashspear City, near the edge of the Sighing Swamp. This area, once home to several abandoned villages, was rich in underground water and had multiple paths leading to a wider territory, making it an ideal temporary nest and contamination point for the Rotten Saddle.

The legion quickly moved to the vicinity of the target. Tiberius, as the chosen one of the Goddess of the Sun, may have looked carefree, but he was actually quite meticulous and led his troops very well to approach the target.

Ahead on the desolate plains, the repulsive figure of the festering saddle was starkly visible. They seemed to have just completed a brief rest and were preparing to move again under the cover of twilight. Gorg's enormous, festering crown reflected a sickly sheen in the fading sunlight, and his six-legged plague-ridden warhorse pawed restlessly, leaving craters that spewed poisonous smoke. Pus seeping from the gaps in the knights' living armor dripped onto the parched earth, sizzling softly. The air was instantly filled with the pungent, sweet scent of death and the stench of decay.

The moment he seized the enemy's position, Tiberius decisively led the entire army to launch an attack!
"For the Goddess! For Blackwood! Crush these rotting maggots!" Tiberius's roar was like a battle cry. He led the half-griffin knights in a thunderous charge, their heavy iron hooves shattering the silence of the wasteland. Brilliant golden light shone on the knights' armor and lances, forming an unstoppable wedge of light that plunged into the flank of the loosely packed marching column, its saddles gleaming.

Sogard let out a wild battle roar, like a tiger unleashed, leading the Blazing Butchers and some of the most valiant Lightguard infantry, following closely behind the knights' charge. Like a heavy warhammer, he slammed down on the enemy ranks disrupted by Tiberius's charge. The massive axe in his hand gleamed with the light of holy runes, each swing carrying the power to tear through space, its target the Plague Knights and their mounts who were trying to regroup.

The hunters and mercenaries of the Free Guild, like a nimble pack of wolves, roamed the perimeter. They used precise crossbow bolts to target the relatively vulnerable joints and eyes of the Plaguehorn warhorses, while the dwarves used explosive charges and muskets to harass the rear guard of the Rotten Saddle, preventing them from forming an effective counter-attack formation, and specifically targeting cult followers and Nurgles attempting to cast corruption spells.

Gorg roared in fury, the festering hole in his abdomen gaping wide, spewing out a deadly cloud of "Rotting Breath" mist, attempting to halt the Sun Knight's charge. However, Tiberius charged ahead, his Holy Light Shield withstanding the corrosive mist's corrosive power without slowing him down. Gorg swung his Plague Scythe to meet the attack, clashing violently with Tiberius's giant axe, unleashing a deafening roar and a shockwave of energy.

Dietrich's purification field was fully deployed, acting like an invisible dam, greatly suppressing Gorg's corruption spells and the effects of "Desperate Breath." Sogard, on the other hand, moved with impunity, his axe specifically targeting the weak points in the Plague Knights' living armor. The energy erupting from the Holy Flame runes had a devastating effect on rotting flesh; often, a single blow would cleave man and horse in two, pus and entrails burning fiercely in the Holy Flame.

The battle instantly intensified. On the wasteland, golden light clashed fiercely with filthy pus and blood. The charge of the Sun Knights tore through the enemy ranks; the infantry phalanxes of the Blazing Butchers and the Light Guardians clashed with the Plague Warriors, halberds thrusting and greatswords slashing; Holy Flame Throwers relentlessly burned swathes of enemies; and the hunters of the Free Guild precisely targeted their prey at the edges.

Soon, the dwarven cannons and war machines arrived on the battlefield. Doglin roared, "Let those rotting carcasses taste the dwarven steel and fire!"

With a roar, the three dwarven heavy mortars and two war wagon fortresses swiftly adjusted their firing angles. These mobile fortresses were masterpieces of dwarven engineering. Thick steel plates covered their bodies, and their axles were exceptionally sturdy, allowing them to speed across the rugged wasteland.

A heavy mortar at the front of the vehicle fires cavitation ammunition, making it invaluable for clearing dense hordes of corrupted infantry and igniting plague-ridden warhorses. Firing ports on both sides of the vehicle allow dwarven musketeers or human crossbowmen to fire outwards. More importantly, the vehicle itself is a sturdy mobile fortress, providing immediate protection for infantry and forming a temporary defensive line.

boom! boom!
Two specially designed "cavity shells" pierced the twilight silence with a sharp whistle, landing precisely in the heart of the Plague Knights' ranks and in front of their reserves. A deafening explosion erupted, searing flames bursting forth, and a powerful shockwave carrying scorching fragments swept across the battlefield! Plague knights directly hit were blasted to pieces, horse and rider, splattering filthy flesh and pus everywhere; the surrounding warhorses, impacted by the flames, neighed in terror and pain, their formation instantly thrown into chaos. Knights not directly killed were also briefly thrown into disarray and sensory impairment.

Almost simultaneously, the cannibalistic mage Fire Stomach unleashed his full power! Explosive magic wove a sea of ​​deathly fire across the wasteland ahead, completely blocking the Rotting Saddle's frontal charge and its attempts to spread to the flanks. The Light Guard infantry, relying on their wagon fortifications, used halberds and heavy crossbows to slaughter enemies struggling in the flames or trying to approach.

Gorg, recovering from the initial shock of the bombardment, roared furiously. He attempted to rally his elite knights, untouched by the fire, for a counter-charge against Dietrich's position, trying to tear through the barrage. However, as they drew near, the heavily armored dwarven forces deployed in front of Dietrich's lines launched a fierce attack, relying on their wagon fortifications—a feat the corrupt riders could not easily overcome in a short time.

Gorg was caught in an unprecedentedly fierce battle. Tiberius's giant axe, fueled by the rage of the White Wolf's vengeance and the purifying power of the sun, inflicted excruciating pain on his corrupted body, fused with the Leech Lord's technology, with every clash. His living armor sizzled and emitted billowing black smoke as it was scorched by the golden light. Dietrich's purifying domain acted like invisible shackles, making it difficult for him to mobilize sufficient chaotic energy. Meanwhile, Sogard's ferocious and precise slaughter was rapidly whittling down the elite guards around him.

Besieged on all sides, morale crumbled. The roaming tactics that the Rotten Saddle had been so proud of proved ineffective against overwhelming force and a masterful encirclement. The Plague Knights were cut off and surrounded, their six-legged steeds neighing in terror and retreating before the dense array of halberds and the bursts of cannon fire.

Gorg made a final struggle, his rotting stomach churning violently, preparing to unleash a powerful, corrosive shockwave. In that instant of distraction as he gathered his strength, Tiberius seized the opportunity, his giant axe slicing away at a tricky angle, gleaming with blinding light, and slamming into the gaping, festering hole in Gorg's abdomen!
"Ugh—!!!" Gorg let out a heart-wrenching howl, a mixture of pain and blasphemy. The light of the Sun Goddess poured into the core of his corrupted power like molten lava. The Nurgle in his stomach screamed shrilly as it turned into blue smoke in the holy light. His massive body convulsed violently, and the seven enormous blisters embedded in his helmet burst one after another, pus gushing out like a waterfall.

Just as Gorg was frozen in agony, a ferocious figure crashed down like a meteor! The Chosen Butcher, Sogard, seized this fleeting opportunity. He leaped high, his massive axe, imbued with divine purifying power, carrying a resolute will to sever all evil, and slammed down with a piercing whoosh!

Target—Gorgna's hideous head, fused with a crown of ulcers!
Snap—Pfft!
Like splitting open a ripe, rotten melon, the holy runes reacted violently with the filthy pus and blood, erupting in blinding white light and nauseating smoke. Gorg's head, bearing an expression of astonishment and eternal agony, along with his festering crown symbolizing Nurgle's "gift," shattered and separated completely under Sogard's giant axe! The headless, massive body swayed, spewing out a final torrent of filth ignited by holy light from its abdominal opening, before crashing to the ground, splashing up a large swath of mud mixed with pus, blood, and scorched earth.

The Chosen One has fallen!
The remaining will of the Rotten Saddle collapsed instantly. Without the support of Gorg's power, the Plague Knights and their mounts began to rot and disintegrate at a visible rate. Pustules shriveled and burst, rotting flesh peeled away like mud, revealing stark white bones, ultimately turning into bubbling, foul-smelling swamps. The corrupted pustule-armored servants collapsed to the ground, becoming lifeless heaps of rotting flesh.

"Burn all filth! Leave no survivors!" Tiberius's ferocious command echoed across the battlefield. The Blacksword army and the Blazing Butchers began a meticulous search of the wreckage, ensuring no survivors or remaining corrupted creatures escaped. The Free Guild's hunters stood guard on the perimeter, shooting down any corrupted entities that attempted to escape and were no longer human.

On the wasteland, raging holy flames soared into the sky, reducing the last traces of the decaying saddle, along with Gorg's filthy skull fragments and headless carcass, to ashes and scorched earth. The stench of decay in the air was completely replaced by the scorching, pure aura of the holy flames. The mixed legions of the Blackforest Territory, like an efficient purifying furnace, wiped this wandering plague of death from the plains of Flashspear City.

The banners of the Blacksin Territory fluttered in the morning breeze as the triumphant army marched across the purified wasteland toward the city of Blacksin. Though weary, the soldiers were of high morale; the filth that had stained them had long since been cleansed by the accompanying Dante and priests, leaving only the mingled scents of gunpowder, steel, and divine aura. Gorg's defiled skull fragments, along with the remnants of his symbolic, festering crown, were sealed in multiple layers of lead boxes, sanctified and engraved with purifying runes, and personally escorted by Tiberius.

The gates of Blacksin City were already wide open, and High-Ranking Attendant Hilde personally led the city's officials and a large, spontaneously gathered populace to welcome them at the gates. Cheers surged like a tsunami, and flowers and golden ears of wheat, symbolizing the blessing of the Sun Goddess, were tossed upon the victorious soldiers. The air was filled with the atmosphere of celebration, a stark contrast to the suffocating stench of the battlefield. After a simple entry ceremony, the three Chosen Ones and the main officers were led directly to the council hall of Blacksin Castle. The atmosphere inside was solemn yet enthusiastic. Su Li sat in the main seat, flanked by important generals and council members of the Blacksin territory.

Tiberius was the first to step forward, excitedly reporting, "My lord! We have not failed you! The Rotten Saddle, that maggot that oozed pus and poison on the Flashspear Plains and blasphemed the goddess's glory, has been utterly crushed and eradicated by us!"

"Get to the point, Tiberius." Su Li smiled. He had specially invited many members of the provincial council and the council to attend this triumphant ceremony. He wanted to show the landowners and knight families in the territory his military might and strength.

A powerful demon god's chosen one could easily defeat him without even him, the lord, having to personally intervene.

This kind of deterrent and awe-inspiring power is actually more significant than a triumphant return.

“Yes!” Tiberius grinned and began to recount in detail, “We joined forces with the dwarf Chosen Sogard from Flashspear City and the best of the Free Guild, forming a formidable force of two thousand. Those festering knights were indeed slippery, but our knights managed to corner them on the wasteland at the edge of the Sighing Swamp!” He gestured wildly as he described the start of the battle: “We caught them off guard! My Gryphon Knights charged and wedged themselves into their flanks, and Sogard’s warhammer followed up by smashing their spines! The bombardment of the dwarven cannons kept them unable to defend themselves!”

He then pointed to his comrades and said excitedly, "That Gorg is indeed a tough nut to crack. He's incorporated the Leech Lord's evil magic, making him incredibly tough. Even if I go head-to-head with him, it'll be difficult for me to gain the upper hand!"

Then Tiberius made a downward chopping gesture, his voice suddenly rising: "But with our combined efforts, we still created an opportunity for Sogard to descend from the sky! That Chosen-class Butcher's Battle Axe, *crack!* shattered that rotten watermelon head with its festering crown, along with its filthy power core, to pieces! The Chosen One fell! The remaining rotting corpses and rotten flesh, like punctured abscesses, instantly turned into a swamp! Dante burned them with holy flames for a whole day and night, leaving them not even ashes! The northeast corner of the Flashspear Plains is now so clean you could grow wheat there!"

“In addition, these are spoils of war from this battle.” Tiberius asked Hilder for instructions, and then a high-ranking personal attendant walked in from outside the door carrying a huge box.

"Gorg is indeed the chosen one of Nurgle. After we sacrificed his remains, we successfully obtained the mythical material [Eternal Holy Water Bottle]."

The Eternal Holy Water Bottle is a water bottle made of gold, and it has to be said that the sisters, Sharya and Violet, both really like gold.

Aside from its gold material, this water bottle isn't particularly outstanding. Its true value lies in the holy water it contains—no ordinary water, but a flowing, liquid light, displaying the purest and softest golden hue. It is without a trace of impurity, its purity surpassing that of any spring in the world. The holy water itself seems to contain boundless life force and purifying power; even in its still state, it radiates a gentle and luminous light, like a galaxy.

This holy water, even if poured out directly, can completely purify a plague-stricken area, turning it into a fertile pasture. If someone drinks it, it can increase their chaos resistance.

A chorus of gasps and exclamations rose and fell in the hall as people gazed upon the treasure. The councilors and generals, whether or not they believed in the goddess Sharya, were all awestruck by the pure beauty and immense power contained within this mythical creation.

"Hiss... This is the gift bestowed upon the fallen Chosen Ones..."

"Just the lingering scent made me feel the lingering pain in my old wound lessen!"

"Such pure holy power... if poured onto the Gate of Chaos, it could probably annihilate it completely!"

Dietrich immediately stepped forward, his eyes fixed eagerly on the water: "My lord! This is a divine blessing bestowed by Sharya, containing the power of life and purification, the highest embodiment of Sharya's doctrine. I beg you to grant it to our Sharya Church, so that we may use it to develop an even more powerful and precious potion, the [Holy Healing Spring]!"

"This is a powerful potion that only a chosen priest can create. It can heal fatal wounds in a very short time and completely save those on the verge of death. Moreover, it can greatly restore the opponent's vitality and stamina. It can allow a god-general to last longer on the battlefield."

He was Sharya's chosen priest, so it was only natural for him to fight for this.

Su Li didn't think much of it and was about to bestow the item upon them. At this moment, Grid calmly stepped forward, but her voice carried an undeniable insistence: "My lord, I understand Pastor Dietrich's needs. But I think this holy water bottle may have greater value in my hands."

"I've obtained a special first-grade rainbow silkworm silk, its material reaching legendary level! This is the product of an evolved Moonlight Heavenly Silkworm. Among 5000 Moonlight Heavenly Silkworms, a few ate the leaves of the Moon Goddess's Moon Mulberry Tree, thus evolving and elevating their aptitude to a higher level. The material it produces is extremely rare, a crucial material for crafting legendary amulets. The pure radiance of the Eternal Holy Water is the key catalyst for refining and activating the silkworm silk's potential. To maximize its effectiveness and create an amulet capable of resisting the erosion of deep chaos, and possibly even reaching the legendary realm, this holy water is indispensable. I also need a sufficient quantity for the enchanting ritual."

Craft a legendary amulet? Or create an even more powerful potion?
Su Li couldn't make a decision directly, so she said to the two of them, "Then you two discuss it yourselves and try to maximize efficiency. I believe that with your meticulousness, you can find the optimal allocation method."

Then Su Li looked at Tiberius and asked, "Are there any other spoils of war?"

“Yes, my lord. First, there’s his disgusting giant scythe, the Plague Scythe. Although Sogard and I chopped it into several pieces, the core material is still intact.” His eyes gleamed. “The dwarven craftsmen have done a preliminary analysis, and it contains a large amount of vibranium! It’s of superior quality, an excellent material for crafting top-tier armor and weapons! More importantly, a considerable amount of aether was also discovered! This aether is enough to serve as the core for forging our next Chosen weapon! Master Sogard has indicated that he will personally oversee the recovery and initial processing of this batch of materials to ensure its purity.”

"Secondly, we decisively defeated this corrupt rider legion, captured their battle flag intact, and offered it as a sacrifice to the Goddess of the Sun. The Goddess of the Sun bestowed upon us a battle flag adorned with a sacred lily."

"This is a legion-level Holy Lily Battle Banner. It allows the radiance of the sun to fall upon the knights. The knights who carry the Holy Lily Battle Banner will burst forth with a dazzling golden light, greatly enhancing their defense and attack power with divine blessing."

"In addition, we also obtained three [Steel Sun] battle banners, which were previously only available to the Sun Knights. Commander Freya lent them to us during the final battle against the Green Knights. The effect is indeed very powerful. Now, three knight squadrons will be equipped with this battle banner."

"Finally, Lady Hela took a large amount of incense burner materials from the ashes of the battlefield."

This surprised Su Li greatly, and he asked, "Does the Nurgle's legion have materials that perfumers can use?"

(End of this chapter)