Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence-Chapter 277 - 134: Five Ring Magic of the Religious Holy Image, Undying Grasp, and Giant Tongue Whip
Su Li patted the faceplate of Death’s Claw covered with heavy harnesses, soothing it: "Good, listen well, I will personally lead you into battle this time."
Though Death’s Claw’s mind was not yet mature, its intelligence was high, so upon hearing this, it excitedly raised its head and called out before obediently following the Hesse Guard Knight away.
Only then did Su Li turn towards Oerstein, Constantine, and Rong’en, who welcomed him from the tent, and asked: "Can someone tell me what’s with this rainbow? I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that a rainbow just happened to appear over our camp."
Rong’en pointed to a marble religious holy image in front of the main tent and said: "It’s also considered a manifestation of a miracle, a means used by the Imperial Army to boost morale before battle, as well as an important transportation route."
This holy image was not a sculpture of the Sun Goddess holding a golden longsword, but rather a Druid holding a scepter, with a thick beard.
Upon hearing this, Su Li asked: "Is it really a miracle? What effect does it have?"
Rong’en explained: "This is a religious holy image we purchased for 300 Golden Crowns, with priests from the Tal Church fervently praying in the monastery, and they have inscribed a powerful Druid Five Ring spell·Rainbow Bridge on it."
"The effect, once activated by a crystal, can form a Rainbow Bridge in the sky. It’s said that soldiers who see this Rainbow Bridge will find it easier to land critical strikes in the next battle. Additionally, Knights with a Wood Attribute can transport up to one team of people and supplies via the Rainbow Bridge."
Five Ring spell?
This is equivalent to a Divine Chosen level Druid unleashing magic with all their might.
Evidently, most territories do not have Druids of this level, so the priests in the church perceive the Divine Grace in the monastery and slowly inscribe the arcane magic ring of this spell into the religious statue.
When in use, a Spiritual Crystal is used to activate it, ensuring the magical power forms a complete circle of the magic ring within the religious stature, thus releasing a powerful Five Ring magic. The effect is somewhat similar to magic scrolls from the elves.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages, hard to declare a winner. While magic scrolls are convenient to use, carry, and can be thrown during battle at any time, low-tier mages cannot create high-ring magic scrolls exceeding their power.
Religious holy images are not convenient to use, but they suit the populous and devout population of the Empire, and in monasteries, even low-tier priests can, through devout prayer and meticulous carving, create high-ring spell holy images far beyond their abilities after consuming significant time and effort.
Such time and effort make a religious holy image naturally valuable and worth as much as 300 Golden Crowns!
Su Li felt the expense, but he didn’t care much; military state tools are never cheap.
In such cases, he’s purchased 15 similar religious holy images for his territory, spending a total of 4,500 Golden Crowns!
The army does not consider costs or expenses; they only think about how to win.
Being able to slightly increase the soldiers’ critical strike chances, applicable to the entire army, for 300 Golden Crowns is a given, even 500 would be paid without hesitation by Su Li.
He disregards the cost; he only wants to win!
Su Li then said to Commander-in-Chief Oerstein: "My dear Commander, how are the battle mobilization and preparations going?"
Oerstein immediately replied: "Lord, we have assembled 3,500 elite infantry and cavalry here and transported lots of supplies, food, and arrows."
"As long as the Green Dragon’s legion appears, we are confident in utterly smashing its evil minions."
Su Li nodded satisfactorily, saying: "Then it’s all yours, my Commander. I look forward to you bringing a glorious victory and adding luster to the family banner."
As for military deployments, Oerstein and Rong’en in charge let Su Li only delve briefly into it; soon, he exited the main tent to head towards the Sun Goddess Monastery built atop the camp for prayer.
In the Empire, piety is reflected in all aspects; thus, a small monastery must be constructed within such large military camps and permanent fortifications.
Located on a high platform to the right of the command tent, constructed with stone and timber from the mountain, this monastery was not large, with simple facilities and no furniture inside — mainly an empty praying place, yet well-managed and featuring the iconic Goddess statue in front of its doors.
So, it adequately meets the prayer needs of stationed troops.
Though Su Li favored the Knight’s training, in a world with divine spirits, he wasn’t absurd enough to bring a female knight to train inside the monastery in front of the Goddess statue.
Moreover, with battle approaching, he aimed to be more than a pushover on the battlefield.
Thus, after dusk, he kept praying here.
In this world, prayers often worked (depending on the individual); the stronger a knight’s strength, the higher the likelihood of receiving a response from the divine spirits.
While for most people, prayer only offers psychological solace, those favored and loved by the divine spirits can gain a divine blessing effect before a battle through prayer.
When Su Li prayed until midnight, with devout and sacred chants, he felt the descent of mysterious power twice, receiving two divine blessing effects upon himself.
One was [Goddess Cloak·added physical protection for Knights, safeguarding against evil forces (curse-type magical effects greatly reduced, with weakened defenses and speed limitations difficult to effect)]
