Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 428 The Holy Land of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun - The Temple of the Blazing Sun and the Generous Tradition of Female Knights

After inspecting White Castle, Su Li immediately led his team to the Sacred Grounds of the Sun Goddess, the Temple of the Blazing Sun, located on the Crimson Plateau. This was also a major reason for his trip to the Crimson Plateau.

It is said to be on the Crimson Plateau, but its actual location is closer to the northern part of the Green Hills, and it is located in a valley.

This temple is the largest holy site of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun, which has been built at great expense over a long period of time in the Black Forest Territory!

Su Li arrived here in the last few days before the end of the year, hoping that the effects of this temple would take effect at the beginning of next year and then greatly benefit the territory for the rest of the year.

Upon arriving with his entourage, Su Li, facing the welcoming priest Rong En, asked with great curiosity, "My Patriarch, it seems the Church of the Sun Goddess has a particular fondness for valleys? The Sunfire Knights have chosen Silver Spring Valley as their base, and the Light Arrow Knights have chosen Silver Valley. And your greatest holy site, the Blazing Sun Temple, is also located in this valley. What is this valley called?"

“Sacred Valley, Lord,” Priest Rong En replied calmly. “We love the valley so much because it is related to the birth and fall of the goddess.”

“As you know, our church believes that goddesses are deities who rose from mortals. On this point, the Church of Ridemar has a very sharp conflict with us. Because their church believes that only Emperor Ridemar himself rose from mortal to deity.”

Su Li nodded; he remembered that. There were sharp disagreements on this matter, but for the sake of harmony within the empire, both sides tacitly agreed not to bring it up in the other's presence.

After all, the divine authority of these two deities is too similar; both are gods of war. If it weren't for the vast difference in their temperaments—one advocating loyalty and perseverance, and the other advocating calmness and wisdom—they would probably have engaged in a fierce battle.

Su Li asked curiously, "So the goddess was born in a canyon?"

"No, not at all. According to the account in 'Verona Violet,' when the goddess was born, an egg-shaped rock split in two, and the baby Violet crawled out from the broken crystal. A poor but kind shepherd couple found the baby crawling on the grass and took her home to raise her."

"Violet's childhood was poor and difficult, which was made worse by the successive deaths of her adoptive parents. After her adoptive parents died, Violet was adopted by her uncle and aunt. But the latter were indifferent to her and only thought about how to squeeze the most gold coins out of her."

"This heartless couple forced Violet to work day and night, and eventually sold her to a local duke as a slave. The duke was not a kind master, and the goddess suffered all kinds of humiliation under his hands, and was finally forced to pick up a jeweled spear and pierce the cruel nobleman's heart with it."

"Before taking up her spear to protect herself, Violet was a staunch pacifist—like her sister Shaya. But driven by this experience, she resolved to become a warrior who would eliminate all injustice in the world, a goddess who would establish a unified southern kingdom through glorious and just wars, and spread civilization and order within its borders. From then on, she never parted with her sword and spear, and quickly gathered a group of like-minded comrades from various city-states."

"You'll know what happened next. During her ten-year military career, the soldiers won all twelve battles under Violet's wise leadership, setting a model that is still being reviewed and studied by various human nations as a classic example."

"But opposing her was the brutal aristocratic system of the old world. In the final battle, Violet was impaled on the ground by a bloody spear, just as she had slain countless enemies with it before. However, the mortally wounded Milmidia dragged herself into a secluded valley, where she rested in the arms of her sister, who shed tears of grief and love. This land was thus made sacred, blessed by Violet's blood and Shaya's tears—the revered temple of the Church of the Sun Goddess was built here."

At this point, Rong En turned to look at the Corona Church and asked with a smile, "Lord, do you know why the Flame Sun Knights are the wealthiest knightly order?"

"Is it related to the Temple of Venerable Ones?" Su Li immediately realized the key point.

"Yes. Violet's priests advocated that believers should make a pilgrimage to the Holy City at least once in their lives. The motives behind this claim are questionable, as the road from the Empire to the Temple of Venerables is fraught with danger, and the Flame Sun Knights are happy to provide protection—provided that pilgrims donate to the Knights before setting off. To ensure their safety, prominent Imperial nobles often hire an entire legion before their family's journey to the Temple of Venerables. It is through this lucrative business that the Flame Sun Knights have become the wealthiest human knightly order in the history of the Old World, much to the chagrin of the Eagle Knights in the north, who have long coveted the Flame Sun Knights' seemingly inexhaustible wealth."

Should one make a pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime?
Su Li glanced thoughtfully at the tall and magnificent Cathedral of the Blazing Sun in front of her.

He couldn't help but think of that country with a cloak over its head, the richest country in the world. It was also famous for its annual pilgrimage festival, which earned it enormous wealth.

If the Blazing Sun Temple in the Black Forest Territory could become as famous throughout the empire as the Cathedral of Eternal Flame and the Temple of Reverence, attracting a large number of believers, then the territory could probably earn a great deal of wealth from it.

The Church of the Sun Goddess and the bishops of the territory were clearly moving in this direction when they were building this holy site.

The style of this temple building was very much in line with the characteristics of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun from the very beginning.

Accompanied by Priest Rong En, Su Li stepped into the Valley of Holy Light, where the Temple of Blazing Suns was located.

A sturdy stone watchtower stands at the valley entrance, guarded by knights of the blazing sun, clad in gold and red robes. A smooth stone path—the "Pilgrimage Road"—stretches inward from the valley entrance.

“My lord, please look,” Rong En said, pointing to the cluster of buildings scattered throughout the valley. “We built them according to the terrain, taking into account both defense and sunlight. The main hall is located at the highest point, so it can fully receive the midday sun.”

Su Li nodded. The complex ascended from the valley floor, layer upon layer, until the main hall was situated on a spacious platform halfway up the mountain, seemingly receiving the sunlight. The overall layout cleverly utilized the mountain's terrain, ensuring both defensive capabilities and allowing the main buildings to be bathed in ample sunlight, making it very characteristic of the Church of the Blazing Sun.

They proceeded along the pilgrimage route. On either side of the road were sturdy stone barracks and training grounds, where knights could be seen conducting their daily drills; the clanging of weapons and the shouts of commands echoed through the valley. A clear stream flowed through the valley floor.

“That’s Tear Creek,” Ron explained, “symbolizing the tears that the goddess Sharya shed for Violet.”

The road gradually ascends, leading to a spacious platform halfway up the mountain—Radiant Plaza. The plaza's surface is paved with polished golden sandstone, reflecting a warm light in the winter sun. In the center of the plaza stands a massive bronze brazier, within which burns a roaring sacred fire. Directly in front of the plaza is the main hall of the Temple of the Blazing Sun.

The main sanctuary is not as large as the Cathedral of Eternal Flame, but its location against the cliff makes it appear exceptionally imposing. The core of the sanctuary may be slightly smaller than the main sanctuary of Eternal Flame, but its location on a hillside platform creates a powerful visual impact. Its most distinctive feature is the enormous dome inlaid with gold and fiery red glass.

At midday, sunlight streams through the stained glass, casting a flowing, fiery golden-red glow throughout the temple, creating a sacred atmosphere where "the temple itself is the source of light," perfectly echoing its name, "The Blazing Sun." A massive golden flame emblem also graces the center of the dome. The temple's interior is soaring, with walls adorned with large murals depicting the goddess's journey from mortal to fallen and sanctified form, highlighting the final scene in the valley. A main altar houses a statue of the goddess.

Rong En guided Su Li to one side of the main hall: "Lord, please come this way."

They passed through a side door and entered a relatively secluded courtyard—the Courtyard of Sacred Tears. It was unusually quiet here, with only the soft murmur of the small spring formed by the Tear Stream. In the center of the courtyard were no grand buildings, only a meticulously tended garden, where white sacred lilies bloomed tenaciously even in the depths of winter. In the center of the garden stood a bronze statue: a sorrowful goddess (Saya) embracing another gravely wounded goddess (Violet). The atmosphere was solemn and serene.

“This is the heart of the Holy Land,” Ron said softly, “symbolizing that the goddess rests here, that the holy blood has soaked the land, and that Shaya’s tears have turned into streams. The holy lilies bloom eternally here.”

Su Li silently gazed at the statue and the lilies, then nodded. He could sense the special significance and somber atmosphere of this place.

Leaving the Courtyard of Holy Tears, Ron led them to visit other functional areas: the Pilgrims' Hall near the valley entrance, which was specially set up to receive pilgrims and contained simple rooms for food and lodging as well as an altar for accepting donations; and a small crystal shrine in a secluded place, which housed a huge natural crystal, symbolizing the rock that broke at the time of the goddess's birth.

“The Pilgrims’ Hall is still quite basic,” Ron said candidly, “but we have reserved space for expansion. As the number of pilgrims increases in the future, it can be expanded into a more complete reception area.”

As Su Li listened, he carefully observed the layout and defensive structures of the temple. The watchtowers, the stone walls at the valley entrance, the fortifications built against the mountain, the sturdy foundation of the main hall itself, and the firing ports all indicated that this was not only a holy site, but also a fully functional military stronghold.

"The defense is very well thought out," Su Li commented.

“Yes, my lord. Holy Radiance Valley is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the architecture itself incorporates defensive designs. The Knights are stationed here, which not only protects the holy land but also serves as a barrier in the southwest of the territory,” Ron replied.

"The base includes command areas, such as the Sun Wheel Operations Hall, the Holy Radiance Strategy Room, training grounds, barracks, and armories. The architectural style is consistent with the main temple, but it places more emphasis on practicality and defense."

"To further enhance its appeal, we have also constructed a historical gallery within the temple to display the history, achievements, honors, and important artifacts of the Hessian Territory and the Knights of the Church, such as replicas of your swords from previous reigns, fragments of flags from major battles, etc. The design emphasizes glory and heritage. We believe this is a crucial factor in attracting pilgrims."

This is obvious. If there's anything that distinguishes the Temple of the Blazing Sun from the Cathedral of Eternal Flame and the Temple of Reverence, it's that the followers of the Goddess of the Blazing Sun on this land, or rather, Su Li, the chosen one of the Goddess of the Blazing Sun, have truly led their troops to victory after victory. He is the epitome of the chosen knights of the Goddess of the Blazing Sun. Su Li stopped and looked at Rong En, saying, "My Patriarch, while the Temple of the Blazing Sun is indeed magnificent and opulent, in the end, it's nothing more than the result of my territory investing tens of thousands of gold crowns and the dwarves providing the outcome. I think you should know that my demands on the Holy Land go far beyond these and economic values."

To be honest, if the goal is economic value, then the return on this investment is far too low.

The territory has invested nearly 5 gold crowns in the construction of this holy site. With such a large sum of money, any investment in the economy would yield a higher return.

Rong En smiled and said, "Of course, my lord. The more important significance of this holy land is undoubtedly its ability to strengthen military capabilities. The reason we built this holy land so magnificently is to draw upon the light of the goddess and let it shine here."

"After a great deal of divine blessing was bestowed upon this holy land, our military capabilities have been significantly enhanced, and the Radiant Goddess Knights stationed at the temple or recruited from the Black Forest have been significantly strengthened."

"For example, morale is boosted. When fighting within the Temple's influence area, the basic morale of Knights units is greatly increased, making them less likely to be defeated. This influence area extends from the Grey Mountains in the north to the Black Pine Forest in the east, to Flash Spear City in the west, and to the southern end of the Mirror Swamp in the south."

"Bathed in the sacred light of the holy land, the knight's melee skills and defensive abilities are blessed by the goddess, gaining enhanced melee capabilities. When fighting against the forces of chaos (especially Tzeentch and Khorne), vampires, undead, Skaven, and other enemies of order, they can gain additional damage bonuses or resistance increases, reflecting the goddess's hatred for the power of destruction."

kindness?
Su Li was very satisfied with the result.

In strategic simulations, he typically dislikes military buildings whose effects are limited to a single province, always feeling that the return on investment is not worthwhile. But in this harsh reality, the regional military enhancement brought about by the Temple of the Blazing Sun is of immeasurable value.

This practically means that on this vast land covering the core region of Blacksend and surrounding strategic locations, his Blazing Sun Knights will gain a decisive advantage as long as they engage in battle. Their soldiers' resilience, melee combat efficiency, and special attack capabilities against the most abhorrent and devastating enemies have all undergone a qualitative leap.

In this world where darkness and war have never truly ceased, no land can remain peaceful forever. Hordes of monster warbands roam the wastelands, savage beastman tribes lurk in the depths of the forests, and cunning goblin camps entrenched in abandoned mines and underground tunnels, not to mention the eternal threat from the Church of Chaos. In the border princely territories, war is the norm.

The existence of the Temple of the Blazing Sun provides a powerful shield for the Black Forest Territory in this chaotic land, while also forging a sharp spearhead. Within the territory, its followers can effectively combat evil. More importantly, if powerful external enemies invade, such as the Nightwalkers or the Chaos Warbands descending from the Gray Mountain Range, their side can achieve victory more easily.

Moreover, the effects of this holy site go far beyond that. Rong En continued, "With the existence of this holy site, the recruitment and replenishment speed of the Knights will be significantly improved. As the headquarters and spiritual home of the Knights, the temple can significantly increase the size of the various Knights of the Church of the Goddess of the Sun. At the same time, the recovery speed of wounded soldiers (replenishment rate) of Knights troops operating in this area will be increased."

"It can also unlock elite knight units exclusive to the church, such as the Knight of the Righteous Spear."

Su Li became very interested in this and asked, "What is the Knight of the Spear of Justice?"

"This is a special order within the church. Their function is to be a knightly order dedicated to protecting Violet. They are much larger than the Flame Sun Knights, and their members are all paladins and holy knights who serve the church."

"The knights of this order are scattered throughout the Old World, often operating under different names. Subordinate orders include the Knights of the Starshine Shield and the Knights of the Cold-Blooded Titans. These smaller knightly orders are all devoted worshippers of Violet, paying homage to the Grand Order and potentially being summoned to battle by their glorious leader, just as the Temple of Margarita (the largest church of Violet's Church) summoned them to fight against the Arabs. In that war, the Knights of the Spear of Justice charged ahead, fighting valiantly."

"The leader of the Spear of Justice is known as the Glorious Leader. At this time, the Glorious Leader is an Imperial man named Juan Franco. It is said that he firmly controls the Knights, and he is once again watching Araby."

This information greatly interested Su Li. He didn't need the territory to have another powerful knightly order like the Spear of Justice. The Eternal Light Knights were able to join the territory entirely because of Princess Phyllis's intervention.

Normally, it would be quite good for a territory to obtain a branch similar to the Knights of Starlight Shield.

If the Temple of the Blazing Sun could attract a Star Shield Knights to guard the Temple of the Goddess of the Sun, it would be of great significance to him.

At that time, the territory will have three knightly orders of the Church of the Sun Goddess: the Sun Crown Knights, the Light Arrow Knights, and the Star Shield Knights.

If a war were to break out between Su Li and the non-human faction of Nightwalking Corpses, the Church Knights would probably handle it for him without Su Li needing to deploy many secular troops!

He felt that once the territory grew stronger, the size of these three knightly orders would easily exceed 2000 people next year!
With the addition of the elite troops of the Black Forest Territory, it would be easy to muster 5000 elite infantry and cavalry.

With 5000 elite infantry and cavalry, to be honest, as long as the opponent is not a legendary force, a single major battle should be enough to crush their army, and the rest can be dealt with swiftly and decisively.

For example, the Green Dragon Eliria's legion, despite its large size with 20,000 to 30,000 monsters, only has about 1000 unicorns, a few hundred human-skin wolves, and some troll and ogre mercenaries as its main force and elite. The number of threatening units is no more than 3000. The rest are cannon fodder such as gnolls, kobolds, goblins, goblins, and dryads.

When things are going well, they can cheer and make a good impression. But when faced with the knights' earth-shattering charge, they crumble instantly.

Even after defeating the main force of the monsters, the Knights' power and the area-of-effect damage of the Sunfire Horse Armor can still rout them.

So Su Li turned to Hilde and said, "This Blazing Sun Temple was built at great expense, so let's make good use of it. Let's cultivate more elites and believers for us, and absorb more immigrants from the northern part of the empire."

Hilde nodded heavily and said, "No problem, my lord. We are already operating this temple with all our might to cultivate believers in our territory. With the blessing of this temple, the number of militia in our territory is increasing day by day."

"As you know, for any true believer in the Goddess of the Sun, military training is as delightful as prayer, and the clash of weapons and the call to arms are nothing short of a sacred choir."

"In addition, there is a library and a lecture hall in the temple, where priests preside over debates on war strategies, and any citizen is welcome to come and listen and speak."

"The ceremony here is very unique. If you are interested, my lord, you are welcome to come here often."

"Huh? What do you mean? Is there some special ritual?" Su Li asked curiously. He knew Hilder very well and knew she wouldn't make things up without a reason.

Hilde looked up at Su Li and whispered in his ear, “Violet’s lecture hall is usually decorated with ribbons depicting goddesses, classical heroes associated with them, and shield-bearing maidens. They usually carry classical weapons, and their only clothing is a white cloth wrapped around their waist.”

"Many citizens of the Empire considered this immoral, almost sinful. But the Church does have nuns who wear only a white sash around their waists preaching on the rest days, and devout believers meditate, ponder difficult problems, or pray to Violet for inspiration."

He only had a white cloth wrapped around his waist?
Violet's female knight?!
Su Li's eyes lit up immediately, and she said, "Interested, interested! Lectures are great, I want to listen to more lectures!"

Doesn't this mean that female knights would also piously and generously expose their bodies?
If it's just wrapped in a white cloth, that would be quite a sight.

The knight's tall, slender legs are on full display.

However, Su Li had to put this matter aside for the time being; even if she wanted to see it, it wasn't now.

Currently, his focus is still on the Spring Bringing All Things Ritual. With the increase in knights and troops in the territory, the demand for food has also increased significantly as combat power has improved.

He must ensure the success and smooth running of this spring-birth ceremony to guarantee a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

(End of this chapter)