Chapter 356: The Knight Order

News of this spread quickly through the upper ranks of Nagrand. Wu Qingsong had the doctor examine all of his wives, and the results revealed that Ram was also pregnant. She was farther along than Xeila.

This surprise made both Ram and Xeila momentarily forget their past tensions as they instinctively embraced each other.

“Meow~ This isn’t fair…” Liuli pouted in disappointment. “I did it first~~”

Still, she hugged Xeila and Ram, offering them her sincere blessings.

Ling, on the other hand, had been quietly shedding tears. If Xeila could conceive Wu Qingsong’s child, and Ram could as well, then didn’t that mean she had a chance too?

It was like a terminal cancer patient, already diagnosed in countless hospitals and having given up hope, suddenly being told that a new treatment could cure them—and witnessing successful cases firsthand.

The fire of hope rekindled, burning even brighter than before.

“How is this possible?” Unlike Ling, Nina remained composed. This was an immense joy for all five of them, but she was well aware that miracles and happiness didn’t just happen for no reason.

So Wu Qingsong told them what had happened earlier, causing several of them to blush instantly.

No wonder he had suddenly taken an interest in certain peculiar matters, insisting on awakening their abilities during those times and even having them maintain their transformations.

“You scoundrel!” Ram huffed.

“Do you not like the result?” Wu Qingsong laughed heartily. “Now, everyone can be at ease, right?”

***

Wu Qingsong disliked having his personal matters turned into public affairs, only to become common knowledge. But as the lord of Nagrand, he had no choice but to accept that outcome time and again.

His marriage was like this, and now even the pregnancies of his wives were no exception.

News of Ram and Xeila’s pregnancies spread quickly. In this world, it was a well-known fact that hybrids could not reproduce. Yet, Wu Qingsong and his wives had shattered that belief, making the idea of Xuanyuan’s real existence and his favor toward Wu Qingsong far more convincing.

At first, people didn’t believe it, dismissing it as an unfounded rumor. But when Ram and, more notably, the visibly pregnant Xeila appeared before them, even the most skeptical beastmen had no choice but to lower their heads and accept that the God of Xuanyuan did indeed exist—and that he was watching over Nagrand.

However, they had no idea that even greater changes were happening in secret.

The magical formation designed by Boulder couldn’t simply be revealed to the public. Instead, Wu Qingsong had Mahaan temporarily step away from firearm design to help him shrink and slightly modify the formation before engraving it inside a split holy emblem. A soulstone was placed inside, and then the emblem was carefully sealed back together.

In this way, the true mechanism of the formation would remain unknown. From now on, people would believe that the holy emblems personally bestowed by Saintess Alice of the Xuanyuan Temple carried Xuanyuan’s Blessing—imbued with divine power.

The first batch of well-trained beastwomen from the Sisterhood—deemed strong enough—were personally granted these emblems by Wu Qingsong. They carefully affixed them to their chests and, under the guidance and demonstration of Nina and Alice, awakened their abilities once more.

At that moment, they were filled with faith in Xuanyuan and devotion to his chosen one, Wu Qingsong—the same emotions they had felt when they were first awakened.

“Congratulations,” Wu Qingsong told them. “Xuanyuan acknowledged your dedication and effort have been. You are all blessed by the divine. From today onward, you are no longer members of the Sisterhood. You are now part of the Order of Xuanyuan’s Chosen Knights.”

“The Chosen Knights?” The name filled the beastwomen with excitement and anticipation.

“From today onward, you are no longer ordinary people. You have been chosen by Xuanyuan to defend the church, uphold justice and honor, protect the weak, and safeguard this world from evil and injustice.

“Loyalty, Faith, Honor, Courage, Justice, Honesty, Compassion, Sacrifice. These are the virtues Xuanyuan expects from you. These will be your mission and creed from this day forward. Remember these principles, and uphold them with your lives and your honor or with the blood and bones of your enemies.”

Looking at the hesitant yet eager beastwomen, Wu Qingsong felt a slight pang of guilt, but he continued.

“Once you swear your oath as knights, you may never withdraw. You may marry and bear children, passing down your lineage and noble duty through generations, but you must never break your oath or betray the knight’s creed.”

“Defend the faith. Aid the suffering,” Nina declared loudly. 

Alice followed her lead, repeating the words again and again.

Wu Qingsong had spent countless hours scouring his memories for the perfect motto, eventually settling on this one. He no longer remembered where he had first heard it, but it felt perfect for this moment.

The beastwomen hesitated for only a moment before realizing what they needed to do. They followed suit, reciting the oath.

“Loyalty, Faith, Honor, Courage, Justice, Honesty, Compassion, Sacrifice! Defend the faith! Aid the suffering!”

“May Xuanyuan guide us, and may the Order of the Chosen Knights always be blessed to safeguard our faith and our people!” Wu Qingsong proclaimed. “In the name of Xuanyuan’s Chosen, I hereby knight you all as Knights of Xuanyuan.”

And thus, on this day, the Order of Xuanyuan’s Chosen Knights was officially established.

Nina was named Grandmaster of the Order, with Liuli and Feya as Vice Grandmasters, Alice as High Steward, Ram as Quartermaster General, and Ling as Standard Bearer. 

Meanwhile, Xeila was appointed High Inquisitor—a title that Wu Qingsong believed would soon carry weight across the Northern Wastelands.

Unlike the Xuanyuan Church, the Chosen Knights would not answer to the Pope, but instead reported directly to Wu Qingsong, Xuanyuan’s Chosen One.

In Wu Qingsong’s vision, once the Knight Order grew in size, it would become the primary force spreading Xuanyuan’s faith across the Northern Wastelands. The knights themselves would be preachers, and their first duty would be to protect priests and followers while punishing beastfolk who opposed the church.

The details of the eight knightly virtues were left to Morin, who would refine them and instill them into the knights’ beliefs. Meanwhile, Nina and Xeila would train them in command, strategy, and combat, ensuring they adapted to their awakened abilities and learned how to operate under different battle conditions. Liuli, Ling, and Feya would join their training whenever possible.

Once their fundamental beliefs were solidified and their training complete, the Chosen Knights would begin spreading their creed among the faithful, recruiting warriors, arming them with firearms, and leading them alongside the priests. 

Their mission was to expand Xuanyuan’s faith by establishing temples throughout the Icy Sea region.

And when they had grown strong enough, they would push westward, deeper into the Northern Wastelands—bringing Xuanyuan’s light to all beastmen tribes.

Time was running short.

The elves wouldn’t stay distracted by the newly emerged Gate of Calamity forever.

Once Nagrand and the Xuanyuan Church caught their attention, what fate awaited them was still unknown.