Chapter 106: Chapter 48: The Sun Goddess’s Gift and the Descending Splendor of Divine Grace

The combination of flowers and swords is a distinctive feature of the Sun Goddess. As the God of Tactics and Strategy, her most grand celebration is the triumphal celebration after a war.

The knights and followers who worship the Goddess would carry a beautiful statue of Her Majesty Violet, adorned with flowers, human skulls, and gold, in a parade, enjoying the cheers and colors from the territorial army, people, and civilians.

In this world, flowers symbolize beauty, gold represents wealth, and human skulls signify the purity of humanity. It not only proves that one remained uncorrupted and pure until death but also represents noble sacrifice.

The Flame Sun Knight Order within the Sun Goddess Church is the most renowned order that robustly combines flowers and reality. Their knights are always dressed in the most ostentatious and luxurious battle armor, charging forward fearlessly on the most perilous battlefields.

Thus, on his return journey, Su Li prepared four types of offerings for the Goddess, including a wreath woven from beautiful flowers blooming at the intersection of spring and summer, four pounds of web from the Anaric Giant Spider, a goblin-crafted golden dagger, and the powerful giant wolf under the chief of the Broken Toe Tribe.

Overall, these were the great rewards of this battle. How could one demonstrate the strong defeat of enemies without showing the divine spirits the precious items harvested?

This has always been the case throughout history, boasting about one’s army’s scale and power before embarking on a campaign to boost military prestige and morale.

After victory, praising how strong and formidable the opponent was to showcase one’s own glory and triumph.

Once Su Li selected the spoils, the knights of the territory and the followers of the Sun Goddess followed Su Li to the front of the Sun Goddess Convent. Each knight, armor glistening like daylight, knelt on one knee before the divine statue, devoutly praising the Goddess’s brilliance and divine grace.

Hilude and Knight Oerstein personally held the offerings and, along with Captain Rong’en, followed Su Li into the convent, piously placing the offerings on the goddess’s altar.

After Su Li first knelt on one knee, Hilude and Knight Oerstein knelt at his sides, reverently listening to Su Li’s proclamation to the Goddess:

“Praise to the just and generous Sun Goddess, great Her Majesty Violet. You are the embodiment of tactics and strategy, your brilliance guiding us to courageously forge ahead in battle, undaunted by the risks. Thank you for granting us strength, allowing us to clear obstacles and defeat formidable foes in this fight. We will forever follow your guidance, defend our faith, and protect our homeland.”

At this moment, Captain Rong’en slowly approached the altar, holding a dazzling golden long sword, he touched each offering and then said in a loud voice: “Today, we are not only celebrating victory but also declaring the greatness and selflessness of the Sun Goddess. The offerings we present symbolize the victory and glory we achieved in battle. May the Goddess accept this heartfelt tribute, and may her radiance always illuminate our journey!”

With Captain Rong’en’s proclamation, in an instant, the fragrance of flowers intertwined with golden light, a sacred brilliance descended from the sky, penetrating the entire top of the convent and enveloping the altar.

At this moment, the entire territory heard the transcendent holy choir from the Divine Kingdom, akin to angels praising the divine spirit’s mercy and generosity, and like thousands of devotees fervently praying to the divine spirit.

Golden light began to spread from the convent outward, from the convent to the castle, from the Northern Highlands to the riverside plains, all were shrouded in sacred golden light.

From the knights kneeling outside the castle to the armed attendants sorting the spoils, and the half-elves cooking, all showed great, uncontrollable joy.

A miracle indeed! Most people might not witness it once in a lifetime.

Su Li widened his eyes in surprise; the miracle truly descended.

Bright golden light continuously infused the altar where offerings were placed from the convent’s dome.

When the golden light faded, the offerings on the altar had disappeared, replaced by a golden-bright eagle shield.

A cheer immediately erupted within the convent; the golden eagle symbolizes the Sun Goddess, and this Goddess has bestowed divine grace!

Although Captain Rong’en is the leader of the Battle Pilgrimage Group, this scene of divine grace descending is the first he has ever seen. His eagle-like sharp eyes were filled with shock and joy.

He then walked forward, sincerely lifted the golden eagle shield with both hands, and solemnly handed it over to Su Li.

“Respected Pioneer Lord, when I touched this eagle shield, I clearly heard the Goddess’s teachings to the Priest.”

“This eagle shield is named ’Radiance of the Scorching Sun.’ When your army equips shields, they will reflect brilliant light under the blazing sun, reducing the probability of enemy long-range damage hitting your soldiers by at least thirty percent.”

“When activated on the battlefield, during the ensuing period, the shields equipped by your troops will transform into magic weapons. Upon parrying the opponent’s attack in melee, they will completely reflect damage back to them in magical form. However, in the ensuing battles, they will lose interference ability against ranged arrows. This passive ability will only be reactivated upon a substantial victory and after praying at the convent.”

Su Li immediately grasped this sacred shield, and the powerful divine power flowed through the shield’s eagle emblem. As he held the shield, a strong sense of weight filled his body.

Although the divine spirit had not revealed the defensive capabilities of this shield, Su Li had a feeling that if an enemy were to strike this shield directly, the retaliatory divine power would cause the opponent great pain, akin to a two-legged flying dragon crashing into Knight Oerstein’s Blazing Sun Divine Shield.

Su Li then handed the shield to Hilude with a beaming smile and said, “Hang this shield on the wall of our castle hall, to declare the divine grace of the Sun Goddess to all. We are a territory blessed by divine grace, and this is our medal of glorious victory!”

Hilude nodded joyfully, took the shield with both hands, and clasped it to her chest. However, she didn’t rush out immediately, instead smiling as she said, “I’ve already heard the cheers of the people outside. Lord, please step out of the monastery first and accept the knights’ adoration and cheers.”

Hilude had a point, and Su Li laughed heartily, nodding as he said, “Let’s go. You all come out with me. Today’s honor was earned by all of us together.”

The three of them certainly agreed with pleasure and followed Su Li as they turned and headed towards the monastery doors.

When they stepped out of the monastery, crossing its ancient doors, the sunlight greeted them from outside, brightening the whole world cheerfully, while waves of enthusiastic cheers echoed from below the high slope.

Numerous knights raised their longswords high, cheering excitedly at Su Li. Surrounding them, a large number of the territory’s subjects celebrated with floral wreaths and clay pots filled with clear water, celebrating the army’s triumphant return and the divine grace received by the territory.

Everyone, be they soldiers or commoners, was greatly inspired by the sacred glory of the territory today, cheering and rejoicing.

Philis was pushed forward by the Minister of the Seal amidst the crowd, coming forth as the territory’s purest and most beautiful maiden to present a wreath to the Lord.

Her exquisite cheeks were flushed with excitement and tinged with shyness from being in the spotlight, but more than anything, she was joyful over the triumphant return of the army and the divine protection.

Cradling the wreath, she approached Su Li, her voice slightly trembling with nervousness, “Lord, I… I present this wreath to you on behalf of the people. Everyone in the territory will remember your glory and merits today for generations. Your splendor and achievements will spread far and wide.”

“We sincerely pray that the Goddess will forever favor you and that divine grace will be as it is today. May the doves of victory and the laurels of honor always accompany you.”

She was so nervous that she forgot an important blessing. When the sun rises, dawn shines, divine grace descends, and beer fills the cups, that’s when the priests should chant hymns. The territory’s greatest hymn is the Bauhinia hymn, and you are the most glorious warrior. Your victory fills us with hope.

But at this moment of happiness and excitement, no one minded this small slip. Flowers, beauty, knights, and heroes wove together into the most romantic scene.

The setting sun’s glow spilled across the land, casting the knights’ armor and the flowers on the ground in golden light. With the joy of victory, everything was breathtakingly beautiful.

After Su Li placed the wreath Philis gave on his head, he immediately bent down and lifted the astonished young maiden into a princess carry, laughing as he announced, “Seizing this moment of joy, I must also solemnly declare my love for you. From the moment I first saw you, I have been deeply in love with you. Though time and seasons change, this love will remain eternal, standing strong across ages until the end of days.”

“I invite you to become my third Lady Courtier, to live in my castle and to share in the glory of the Bauhinia Clan.”

Hearing this soul-stirring declaration, the maiden covered her gaping mouth with her jade-like hands, her eyes widening in disbelief. The Lord had publicly confessed his love to her, a farmer’s daughter!

Even in her dreams, as a young girl full of longing, she never dared imagine such a romantic moment.

She was just a farmer’s daughter, a commoner without awakened extraordinary abilities, who couldn’t even marry a knight as a principal wife. To become the Lord’s courtier, especially being publicly announced as one, was the most perfect outcome anyone could imagine.

How could she possibly refuse such a declaration? How could she reject such a moment brimming with flowers and romance?

While the territory’s knights and commoners looked on in amazement, remembering the incomparable beauty witnessed last night, they all could understand the Lord’s excitement. Which man wouldn’t act impetuously for such an exceptional beauty?

After all, this was a man’s most successful and exhilarating moment, one that should be enjoyed with vigor and unconstrained joy.

The women of the territory were also deeply moved, especially Hilude and Avril. The Lord had just solemnly announced Philis as his third Lady Courtier, effectively confirming their positions publicly as well.

This was undoubtedly a moment of happiness and joy for everyone involved!

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