Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 460 The Legendary Ring - The Ring of Eight Winds and the Crisis Has Only Just Begun

A deafening cheer echoed through the vast elven tomb, like a triumphant anthem, washing away the lingering scent of death. Sunlight, no longer obstructed by the gray mist, streamed through the shattered dome, gently caressing this ancient, scarred land, illuminating the faces of every surviving warrior, a mixture of exhilaration and exhaustion.

With the complete annihilation of old Jasper, the hearse carrying the small black box ceased operation. The terrifying suction of the Devouring Magic Wind disappeared, the box closed automatically, and fell into the charred wreckage, where it was carefully retrieved by a quick-thinking dwarf engineer—this wondrous artifact from Lustria had successfully proven its value in this battle.

Without the guidance and command of their legendary master, the remaining undead army became utterly headless. Those undead, suppressed by the spear of order and drained of their life force by the little black box, now appeared incredibly sluggish and bewildered, even in their most basic actions.

"Clear the battlefield!" Hilder's voice was weary yet incredibly resolute. She deactivated her divine general form; the golden divine grace of the blazing sun had dimmed somewhat, but its majesty remained undiminished. "Battle priests! Prioritize healing the wounded! Mage groups and ranged units, coordinate with the power of the Spear of Order to purify the remaining undead! Air cavalry, clear out any scattered targets on the perimeter! Be quick!"

The orders were executed swiftly. The surviving soldiers displayed astonishing efficiency.

Despite his injuries, Bradley persisted in using the Spear of Order to guide the golden light it continuously emitted. Wherever the golden light touched, the bewildered elven skeleton warriors, zombies, and tomb guardians crumbled and turned into harmless bone dust, like snow exposed to the scorching sun.

The dwarven helicopters roared, tearing apart the scattered undead trying to gather or escape. Gryphon riders swooped down like falcons, precisely picking off any stragglers. From the moment the legend fell, the battle became a one-sided purge, like autumn leaves swept away by the wind.

The priests of the Church of Sharya moved throughout the battlefield, golden holy light constantly shining, its warm glow soothing the wounds and dispelling the deathly aura that had seeped into their very bones. Precious healing potions were used without reservation on the few dozen valiant warriors who remained.

Halfling scouts and dwarven craftsmen moved cautiously through the ruins. They first salvaged the completely shattered remains of old Jasper's legendary bone staff, especially the broken fragment of a black and green gemstone, which contained a powerful source of death and was a top-tier research and spellcasting material.

Next, they began to deal with the desecrated elven coffins—battle priests chanted requiem hymns, purifying the coffins of death with holy light, while mages attempted to repair the cracks in the crystal coffins, allowing the remains of these dead to return to peace. The elven bones scattered on the ground were also carefully collected, ready for reburial.

The cleanup after the battle was quickly completed. As the military commander, Orstein personally reported to Suli: "My lord, the situation in this battle is somewhat complicated. We have cleared out most of the remaining Nightwalkers, but we have not found any trace of Mhava. He may have taken some undead soldiers with him while we were fighting Old Jasper, including that terrible dwarf warrior."

The dwarven commander, Gerson Grayrock, gritted his teeth in anger: "Damn scum, how dare they desecrate the souls of our dwarven ancestors! We dwarves will not forgive them! I'll take men and take a helicopter to chase after them right now!"

After saying that, without waiting for Su Li to stop him, he led a large number of dwarf helicopters and chased after them in the direction of the exit of the Valley of Memories.

Watching Gerson Grayrock lead the dwarven helicopter squadron roaring towards the valley entrance, Su Li frowned slightly but did not stop them. The dwarves needed to vent their anger, and Mhava was indeed a potential threat.

He turned to Orstein and said in a deep voice, "Yes, arrange for a squad of griffin riders and horse eagle riders to follow at a distance, maintain distance, and provide vision and early warning. They must not engage in battle without my order. Mhava has absorbed some of Old Jasper's power, and his condition is unknown. Gerson and his men may suffer losses."

"Understood, Lord!" Orstein immediately turned and relayed the order to his adjutant. Soon, a squadron of elite air cavalry also took off, maintaining a safe distance, trailing far behind the dwarven helicopter formation.

Having dealt with the pursuit, Orstein collected his thoughts, his face regaining its triumphant glow, and began to formally report on the great gains of the battle. He took out a mithril box imbued with dwarven runes and radiating spatial fluctuations, and carefully opened it.

"My lord, the initial inventory of the spoils of war is complete, and the harvest is far greater than expected!" Erstein's voice was filled with excitement. "In this battle, we annihilated Old Jasper's elite forces, and their weapons, equipment, and amulets were all of extremely high quality. Apart from some items that have dissipated over time, among the remaining equipment are two sets of rare-grade armor, three rare-grade weapons, amulets, over 200 sets of perfect-grade equipment, and more than 2000 elite-grade or higher items such as amulets, rings, and gems!"

Upon hearing Erstein's report, Su Li's eyes widened in shock: "There are more than five pieces of rare-grade equipment alone!?"

This is a rare piece of equipment, used by a chosen knight.

Orstein nodded heavily: "This number is confirmed, my lord! After all, those monsters were the powerful elite forces that old Jasper had accumulated over hundreds of years. In this tomb, he also pulled out a large number of elite elves, all of whom possessed a great deal of powerful equipment in their lifetime. Although some of it has weathered away with time, what remains is extremely valuable. Even if nothing was left behind, the vibranium in the equipment would still remain. We found hundreds of kilograms of various precious materials in the undead corpses."

"Besides these precious ancient equipment and materials, we discovered this while clearing the core area where Old Jasper finally perished—"

As he spoke, he carefully took a ring out of the box.

The ring is made of a strange material, neither gold nor stone, and has a deep, dark color that seems to have absorbed all light, yet within it flows an indescribable eight-colored shimmer, like a bound, miniature magical storm.

The ring was covered with ancient, intricate, and seemingly self-growing arcane runes. These runes were not static, but rather slowly flickered and flowed like breathing, emanating a chilling magical energy.

The gemstone is set in a multifaceted crystal that resembles a solidified rainbow vortex. Inside the crystal, eight pure energies representing different magical winds (heavenly blue, light gold, metallic silver, life green, beast brown, shadow purple, death gray, and chaos color) seem to be eternally rotating and merging, forming a miniature, stable energy core.

“My lord,” Orstein’s voice carried the awe a warrior held for the mysterious power, “we found this in the ashes of old Jasper. The archmages accompanying the army identified it and believe it is very likely the core of the old bones’ control over the immense magic power—the Ring of the Eight Winds, which miraculously survived the purification.”

"According to our intelligence, this ring greatly enhances the wearer's perception and affinity to the 'Eight Winds of Magic.' The wearer becomes like a living, miniature 'magical node,' able to more easily perceive, attract, and gather the eight wind energies of magic that are free in the surrounding environment. When casting spells, the speed at which the required wind magic is mobilized is doubled, the power of spells is significantly increased due to the purer and more abundant energy, and the magic consumption is greatly reduced. Even for wind magic that the wearer is not originally good at or that is incompatible with (such as the death wind used by a life mage), the increased affinity can effectively reduce the difficulty of casting spells and the risk of backlash."

"The ring itself is like a bottomless 'well of magic,' which can passively and continuously expand the wearer's inner magic reserves by at least 4% to 5%. At the same time, it also has a refining effect, acting like an invisible filter to continuously purify the wearer's own magic, making it more concentrated and efficient, greatly enhancing the ability to engage in prolonged battles or cast super-large spells."

"Furthermore, the arcane runes flowing on the ring can accelerate the wearer's 'mind-magic' link. The process of constructing spell models and guiding the flow of energy is greatly simplified, as if the magic responds as soon as the mind moves, achieving an acceleration effect that is almost 'where the mind goes, the spell is created.' This effect is particularly significant for high-level spells or combination spells that require complex manipulation and precise calculations."

"Finally, the rotating eight-colored energy at the core of the ring is not chaotic, but operates in a delicate balance. This allows the wearer to obtain a certain degree of internal stability when simultaneously guiding or using multiple magical winds, reducing the risk of spells going out of control or the wearer suffering magical backlash due to conflicts between multiple wind energies. This is not immunity, but rather provides a powerful buffer."

Orstein emphasized this point, looking at Eliria: "The masters unanimously agree that the power of this 'Ring of the Eight Winds' originates from pure 'arc' and 'dominance.' It enhances control over the winds of magic themselves and has no essential connection to death magic. Old Jasper used it to wield the winds of death, but it can also be used to wield the winds of life, the winds of heaven, or any other element! It is a true legendary magic amplifier applicable to any powerful spellcaster, and its value is immeasurable!"

“Most importantly,” he added, his eyes gleaming with excitement, “the ring’s high-elf runic art imbues it with adaptive properties. It automatically adjusts the ring size and energy output mode based on the wearer’s race, physique, and core magical attributes. Lady Eliria, as a great green dragon, has a natural and profound connection to the winds of life (Giron), and her dragon magic is exceptionally powerful. If she wears this ring, not only will her life-based dragon magic receive an unimaginable boost, but her adaptability to other wind magic (such as the metallic wind that strengthens scales, or the heavenly wind that accelerates flight) will also be greatly enhanced! Her magical power will reach a whole new peak!”

Orstein respectfully presented the mithril box containing the "Ring of the Eight Winds" to Su Li: "My lord, this is a strategic weapon. Please make your decision."

Su Li's gaze was deeply drawn to the swirling eight-colored vortex at the core of the ring. He could sense the vast yet orderly magical power contained within it, like a great vortex. This ring was practically a divine artifact tailor-made for Arielia!
Without hesitation, he took out the ring. The ring felt cool to the touch, and the eight-colored shimmering light within accelerated its flow, as if responding to his touch. Su Li turned to his loyal green dragon companion, his voice gentle yet firm: "Ariria, you have rendered outstanding service in this battle. Without you, our chosen ones would hardly have been able to descend from the heavens so quickly. This 'Ring of the Eight Winds' can only truly unleash its power to control the eight winds with your powerful life force and dragon magic. It belongs to you." Ariria lowered her massive emerald head, letting out a dragon's roar filled with expectation and power. She could clearly sense the immense power within the ring, resonating with the magical winds of the entire world, especially that comforting emerald green (the wind of life).

Su Li gently tossed the ring toward Ariria's forepaw. The instant the ring approached, the ancient arcane runes on the band suddenly lit up, and the band itself gracefully extended and adjusted as if it were alive, perfectly fitting at the base of one of Ariria's claws, which resembled a giant emerald pillar.

Om-!
An invisible, powerful magical pressure emanated from Arielia! The life force surrounding her instantly transformed into a tangible emerald mist, so dense it was almost dripping with water!
Even more astonishingly, the glimmers of other magical winds—the starlight representing the winds of heaven, the cold silver light representing the winds of metal, and even the primal brown specks representing the winds of beasts—seemed to be summoned, emerging from the void and joyfully swirling and merging around her massive dragon body! Her emerald scales shimmered with a dreamlike glow under the eight-colored glimmers, and the magical pressure emanating from her entire dragon body suddenly increased several levels!

Arielia stretched her dragon wings comfortably, feeling a connection to the winds of magic that had never been so clear and strong. The flow of dragon magic was incredibly smooth, as if she could manipulate the heavens, create all things, or tear the earth apart in an instant! This "Ring of the Eight Winds" made her feel as if she had become a moving, living source of magic! In terms of magic alone, her power was already comparable to that of a legendary dragon.

Seeing the female courtier acquire such a fitting treasure filled Su Li with joy. Old Jasper's legacy had ultimately become an even stronger cornerstone for protecting the Black Forest Territory.

The gains from this battle, from strategic victory to material treasures and the promotion of vassals, are unparalleled! The foundation of the Black Forest Territory has become even more solid and profound in this baptism of blood and fire!
The remaining spoils will need to be offered in a triumphant sacrifice back in the territory to receive divine favor. Having defeated a legendary-level evil force, offering powerful spoils will undoubtedly yield an exceptionally strong divine blessing. Su Li will at least receive another triumphant ceremony, and if the Goddess of the Sun is generous enough, the territory might even give birth to its first legendary-level knight!

After sorting through all the spoils, Su Li led everyone out of the tomb, their gazes involuntarily drawn to the image of the Sacred Tree of Aetherarian outside, radiating a soft glow.

Hilde took out the [Life Amber], which was as warm and smooth as jade and exuded a powerful life force. Under the radiance of the sacred tree, the amber seemed to resonate with it, emitting an even more gentle yet powerful fluctuation.

She solemnly handed the Life Amber to Su Li and introduced it, saying, "My lord, this is a treasure we obtained from this sacred tree, and it is also the hope for the future of our territory. With just two of these Life Ambers, we can cultivate a Chosen One powerhouse."

"According to old Jasper, the only problem we face now is that we don't have enough bloodlines to take these amber lives when the two moons are in the sky."

Su Li solemnly accepted the [Life Amber] from Hilde's hand.

It feels warm to the touch, carrying a gentle warmth that exudes a vibrant life force, as if holding a heart that is still beating strongly. Inside the amber flows a pure green-gold radiance, like a forest at dawn, with countless fine, plant-vein-like golden threads flowing slowly within, emanating a vast, yet gentle and inclusive, life-giving aura.

Just by holding it in his hand, Su Li felt a surge of pure life energy flow into his body through his arm. The fatigue from commanding the battle earlier seemed to be washed away by a clear spring, and his spirit was refreshed. Even the flow of the Divine Grace of the Blazing Sun within his body seemed to be smoother!
"Such immense power..." Su Li murmured in amazement, his eyes reflecting the life force flowing within the amber. This small crystal contained enough energy to alter the balance of power!
“Two ambers are enough to create a Chosen One…” He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the wounded but determined Chosen Knights around him, then towards Hilder who was directing the cleanup of the battlefield in the distance, and felt the magical fluctuations on Eliria's body that were even stronger due to the “Ring of the Eight Winds”, before finally settling on Thranville—the newly promoted Chosen Ice Valkyrie.

A clear and inspiring blueprint unfolded in his mind.

With this amber, and with potential future acquisition methods, the Chosen-class combat power of the Blackwood Territory will no longer be a rare and unattainable miracle! He can use it to cultivate loyal core generals, such as knights who have always worked hard and made great contributions and have great potential; or to exchange it for a deeper friendship and more advanced technology from the Dwarven Kingdom; or even, at a critical moment, to provide a second amber for a promising new star like Thranville, helping her to go even further!
"This is more than just a fruit," Su Li's voice carried a heavy sense of responsibility and lofty aspirations, "It is the cornerstone of our Black Forest Territory's future prosperity! It is a seed of hope that can support a chosen power of an Elector!"

He carefully placed the amber into a specially made magical container lined with soft mithril velvet, keeping it close to his body. Then, looking at everyone, he said, "Old Jasper's words may not be conclusive. Bloodline... there will always be a way. With two moons in the sky... we need to study the records of the elves more deeply, and investigate the patterns of this sacred tree image."

He gazed sharply at the phantom of the sacred tree, its light softly radiating in the sunlight: "The secrets this place holds far exceed our imagination. Not only can it produce amber of life, but it can also preserve images that transcend time and space, and perhaps... it even hides more information or passages left behind by the elves when they retreated. Orstein!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Organize a team to conduct a detailed survey of the entire Valley of Memory, ensuring safety, especially the structure of the Sacred Tree area and the mass grave. The mage contingent should focus on studying the remaining elven runes and the magical fluctuations in this image. We need to understand as much as possible about this place!"

"Yes, sir!" Erstein immediately accepted the order and left.

“Alright,” Su Li took a deep breath, the joy of victory and the prospect of the future making him energetic. “We can’t stay here any longer. The wounded need better treatment, and the spoils need to be transported back to Blackhamburg for proper handling. Hilde, Thranville, assemble the team! Let’s get out of here!”

"Yes!" Everyone agreed in unison.

The team quickly assembled. The wounded were carefully placed on makeshift stretchers and transported by strong warriors or dwarven helicopters. Valuable spoils—including rare equipment, rune fragments, and bone staff remnants—were meticulously packed and escorted by air cavalry. Bradley sheathed the Spear of Order and Law once more; its divine radiance was temporarily concealed, but it remained a worthy possession. Eliria's massive body, empowered by the Ring of the Eight Winds, radiated an even stronger aura of life and magic, becoming the team's most solid support.

Led by Su Li, the team, laden with victory and spoils, began their journey along the path they had come from, heading towards the exit of the Valley of Memories. Sunlight streamed down from the shattered dome, illuminating the way ahead. Each person wore a weary yet satisfied smile, discussing their thrilling victory and the bright future ahead.

However, as they walked hopefully toward the entrance to the Valley of Memories—a place once shrouded in thick, inky fog, now thinned by the great battle and the purification of the spear of the Law of Order—the scout squad at the front suddenly stopped and uttered sounds of surprise and doubt.

"What's going on?" Hilde asked, frowning.

"Steward...Lord!" A halfling scout stumbled back, his face filled with disbelief and terror. "The exit...the exit is gone!"

"What?!" Su Li's heart sank, and he quickly walked to the front of the line.

Ahead, what should have been the place leading out of the valley and connecting to the foothills of the real world was now a completely different scene!

The path we came from has vanished!

Instead, there are three ancient elven stone paths that have never been seen before, winding in different directions!
These stone paths are paved with polished white moonstone, inlaid with long-faded mithril patterns. Strange, luminous moss and ferns with star-like leaves, never seen before, grow along the way. The air is no longer cold and damp, but filled with the freshness and tranquility unique to ancient forests, and one can even faintly hear the ethereal sounds of elven harps and birdsong from afar.

"Where...where is this?" A young soldier looked around in confusion. "Have we gone the wrong way?"

“Impossible!” The experienced scout captain’s face was grave. “We came in from here! I remember that uniquely shaped boulder!” He pointed to a rock covered with vines next to him, but at this moment the shape of that rock seemed to have changed subtly.

(End of this chapter)