Chapter 1146 - 179: Sun Goddess Church Holy Land · Radiant Sun Sanctuary and the Generous Female Knight Tradition

Chapter 1146: Chapter 179: Sun Goddess Church Holy Land · Radiant Sun Sanctuary and the Generous Female Knight Tradition

After inspecting the White Castle, Su Li and his team arrived at the Sun Goddess Sanctuary, the Radiant Sun Temple, located on the Blood-red Plateau. This was an important reason for his journey to the Blood-red Plateau.

Though said to be on the Blood-red Plateau, the precise location is near the northern region of the Green Hills, and actually within a valley.

This temple is the largest sanctuary of the Sun Goddess Church, built at great expense over many years by the Hesse Territory!

Su Li arrived here in the last few days before the year’s end, hoping that the temple’s effects would take hold at the beginning of the next year, thereby benefiting the territory for the entire year.

After arriving with his team, Su Li was greeted by the Rong’en Priest, and curiously asked, "My Shepherd Leader, it seems the Sun Goddess Church has a particular fondness for valleys? The Corona Knight Order’s base is in Silver Spring Valley, and the Arrow of Light Knight Order’s base is in Silver Valley. And your largest sanctuary, the Radiant Sun Temple, is also in this valley. What is this valley called?"

"Saint Solstice Valley, my Lord," the Rong’en Priest calmly replied. "We favor valleys because it is related to the goddess’s birth and fall."

"As you know, our church believes the goddess was elevated from a mortal to a divine spirit. On this point, there is a very sharp conflict with the Redema Church, because they believe that only Redema the Human Emperor was elevated from a human to a divine spirit."

Su Li nodded, remembering this. There is a sharp conflict between the two sides on this matter, but for the sake of the Empire’s harmony, both sides tacitly avoid mentioning it in each other’s presence.

After all, the divine authority of these two spirits is very close, both being Gods of War. If it were not for the significant difference in their dispositions, one awakening loyalty and fortitude in people and the other advocating calmness and wisdom, the two sides might have already come to blows.

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

"Not exactly. According to the ’Bellona Violet,’ when the goddess was born, an egg-shaped rock split in half, and the infant Violet crawled out from the shattered crystal. A poor but kind-hearted shepherd couple found the infant crawling on the grass and took her home to raise her."

"Violet’s childhood was marked by poverty and hardship, which worsened after the consecutive deaths of her adoptive parents. After their passing, Violet was transferred to her uncle and aunt, who were indifferent to her and only focused on extracting as much gold coin from her as possible."

"This heartless couple forced Violet to work day and night, eventually selling her cheaply as a maid to a local grand duke. The grand duke was not a kind master; the goddess suffered various insults at his hands and was ultimately forced to pick up a decorative long lance, fatally piercing the cruel noble with it."

"Before picking up the lance to protect herself, Violet was always a staunch pacifist—much like her sister Shaya. However, driven by this experience, she resolved to become a warrior eliminating all injustices in the world, a goddess who would establish a unified southern kingdom through glorious and just warfare, spreading civilization and order within its territory. From then on, she was never without her longsword and long lance, and quickly rallied like-minded comrades from various city-states."

"The subsequent deeds you are aware of. During her decade-long military career, warriors under Violet’s brilliant leadership won all twelve major battles, now revered as model engagements and repeatedly studied as classic case studies by human nations."

"However, she was opposed by the entire Old World’s brutal aristocratic system. In the final battle, Mirmidia was pierced to the ground by a bloodied lance, akin to how she had previously speared countless enemies. Yet, severely wounded, Mirmidia dragged herself into a secluded valley, where she rested in her sister’s embrace as the latter shed tears filled with sorrow and love. This land became sacred, blessed by Violet’s blood and Shaya’s tears, and the Sun Goddess Church’s revered temple was erected here."

At this point, Rong’en turned to the Crown Church and asked with a smile, "My Lord, do you know why the Flame Sun Knight Order is the wealthiest knightly order?"

"Related to the revered temple?" Su Li immediately grasped the key point.

"Yes. The priests of Violet advocate that every believer should make a pilgrimage to the Holy City at least once in their lifetime. The motives of this proclamation are questionable because the road from the Empire to the revered temple is fraught with peril, and the Flame Sun Knight Order is willing to provide protection—as long as the pilgrims make donations to the knightly order before setting off. Nobles of status in the Empire, to ensure their safety before making a family pilgrimage to the revered temple, often hire an entire legion. The Flame Sun Knights have thus become the wealthiest human knightly order in Old World history through this lucrative business, much to the dismay of the northern Eagle Knight Order, which has long coveted the Flame Sun Knights’ seemingly inexhaustible wealth."

Would making a pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime be necessary?

Su Li thoughtfully glanced at the tall and magnificent Radiant Sun Great Cathedral ahead.

He could not help but think of that land covered by a piece of cloth, the wealthiest nation in the world, which was also famous for its annual pilgrimage festival, amassing vast wealth.ⅇℯ𝚕.