Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

However, although this was somewhat regretful for Su Li, it was something that most civilians and ordinary people had to look up to as a shining existence. Their brilliance illuminated the lives of their peers.

Just as mentioned earlier, any knight of the Empire who managed to break through to the elite tier was without exception one who had stood out from a young age, being part of that distinguished group.

From a young age, they were the children mentioned by parents as exemplary. In schools and training camps, they always occupied the top spots, their brilliance illuminating countless peers and making it difficult for ordinary people to reach their level.

Only a knight who is one in a hundred, always outshining peers, would break through to become an elite knight.

Listening to Knight Stephen’s remarkable life, Selanweir couldn’t help but feel yearning and asked, ”Respected Priest, how can one become a Goddess Knight full of radiance like you, bathing in the Divine Grace and feeling the glory of the Goddess?”

”Good question!” A profound and resonant voice came from the direction of the Great Cathedral’s steps, and everyone turned towards the sound to see a middle-aged knight in black gilded plate armor striding to the edge of the steps in the bright sunlight of high noon, his eyes vigorously looking at the people below.

He wasn’t wearing a helmet, sporting a mane-like masculine brown hair, with a rugged beard extending from his chin to his ears. A scar slanting across his left cheekbone split his resolute face in two; the muscles under the scar taut with his speech, looking exceptionally strong and determined. His eyes bore a majestic gaze like a lion’s, clearly showing him to be a knight of high standing.

As everyone became astonished by the middle-aged man with lion-like majestic eyes, he proactively spoke, saying, ”Welcome Bauhinia Knights and the Chosen Hilude to the Eternal Flame Cathedral.”

Stephen quickly recognized the dignified knight above and immediately bowed respectfully, saying, ”Greetings, Bishop Hector. May the light of the Goddess’s glory always shine upon you.”

Then he introduced to Su Li, ”This is the Dean of the Eternal Flame Cathedral and also the Grand Master of the Flame Sun Knight Order’s Border Prince’s Territory Headquarters, Bishop Hector Gots.”

Su Li immediately, along with all the knights behind him, paid respects to the powerful Dean and knight, then asked, ”Why is Dean Hector here?”

Hector smilingly replied, ”I am here specifically waiting for you. Come quickly, Bauhinia Knights, I’ll lead you into the church to worship.”

Su Li raised his head in astonishment, asking, ”Dean Hector knew about our arrival?”

Hector lifted his hand and pointed at the air where pure lily petals were floating, saying, ”Listen, the resonant sound of the brass bell in the wind—this is the Awakening Bell on the Great Cathedral’s dome. Whenever a Chosen One of Her Majesty Violet arrives, the Awakening Bell moves without wind, and twelve resonant peals will spread across the entire headquarters stronghold with the wind. Under Divine Grace, representing the Goddess’s purity, the Holy Lily blooms instantly on both sides of the Holy Corridor, extending from the Great Cathedral to this entry point. Beautiful petals rise with the wind, filling the air.”

Su Li looked up, indeed seeing a vermilion carpet laid under the Holy Corridor and on both sides, blooming with dreamlike Holy Lilies. Countless petals floated with the wind, making the entire cathedral seem bathed in a shower of flowers.

However, Su Li soon felt something amiss. He touched his chin, suspiciously looking at Dean Hector, asking, ”Are you sure the bell only rings twelve times? I feel like it’s been ringing continuously since we came in... could it be broken?”

Even Dean Hector’s expression couldn’t remain steady; the bell’s incessant ringing was indeed peculiar, clanging on endlessly, causing training knights to be alerted and emerge from the training grounds to the Holy Corridor and Pious Square in front of the church, gazing at the church top.

”What is happening? Why does the Awakening Bell keep ringing? How long has it been, could it be that many divine chosen knights arrived at headquarters today?”

”Is it a monkey? Maybe a monkey climbed up and keeps hitting it. Or has the Chaos Evil God contaminated it?”

”Could the Goddess be trying to give us a warning?”

Su Li also brought a few followers to the square, standing at the back of the crowd to look towards the church dome above, where the suspended brass Holy Bell gently swayed in the wind, its resonant sound not seeming corrupted by Chaos nor having monkeys or rat people climbing it.

After about five minutes, the resonant Awakening Bell finally slowed to a stop, and by then the courtyard was already blooming with flowers, surrounded by the fragrance of Holy Lilies and the beautiful rain of petals throughout the fortress cluster.

Dean Hector looked up at the Awakening Bell, pondering and contemplating for a long while before turning to Su Li, saying, ”Bauhinia Knight, this is the Goddess’s inspiration and high expectations of you. Your future accomplishments are destined to be unparalleled. I’ve lived over 200 years and have never seen the Awakening Bell ring for so long.”

”Ah?” Su Li was stunned, asking, ”So, the Awakening Bell rang for us?”

”Of course.” Bishop Hector affirmed with conviction, ”Without a doubt, today the visitors to the cathedral who are Chosen are only you—this is your honor. Perhaps the Goddess is also reminding us to entrust some opportunities to you.”

Su Li waved towards Hilude, saying, ”Coincidentally, I have something to give to the Flame Sun Knight Order. This is the head of the rat people Chosen, Quiklik; Dean, would you accept it on our behalf?”