“You’re saying these Holy Tree Forest Guardians actually have some connection to the Wood Elves?” Shen Mu raised an eyebrow slightly. This was truly an unexpected statement for him.
Although the Holy Tree Knight Order did have a lineage connection with the Nords, humans were humans, and elves were elves; there wasn't that much of a blood relationship between the two races.
Now that Liu Na was saying these Holy Tree Forest Guardians were actually related to Wood Elves, it truly surprised him.
“No, no, no, Lord Shen Mu, what I mean is that in the eyes of Natural Consciousness, Holy Tree Forest Guardians are the same as Wood Elves. They both seem to be a type of race or profession favored by Natural Consciousness.” Liu Na quickly corrected Shen Mu’s mistake.
In her eyes, the Holy Tree Forest Guardians were indeed all humans, and the Wood Elves were truly elves among the fantasy races.
They really couldn't be lumped together.
“It seems I misunderstood.” Shen Mu reached out and rubbed his temples, a hint of regret on his face, but considering how busy he had been recently without any rest, he understood himself.
Liu Na also pursed her lips and chuckled, “But Lord Shen Mu, I do have some good news.”
“Hmm, tell me.” Shen Mu nodded.
“The Natural Consciousness fragment has detected that these Holy Tree Forest Guardians and this holy white oak have a connection of faith. If I can establish a Natural Ally relationship with this holy white oak, then Natural Consciousness can also, through this holy white oak and me, bestow some nature-based specializations upon these Holy Tree Forest Guardians.” Liu Na said.
“Wait.” Shen Mu’s expression changed slightly, and he looked at Liu Na, his tone curious: “What do you mean by nature-based specializations?”
This was a new term he had heard, though it wasn't entirely new; he had heard it mentioned once before.
But he hadn't understood it deeply.
“It’s like this, Lord Shen Mu, it’s about the specializations of professionals, for example, warriors and archers, they have specializations in using melee weapons and bows and arrows.” Liu Na didn’t understand why Shen Mu wouldn't know these basic things, so she explained seriously: “If the specializations in using melee weapons and bows and arrows can be deeply understood, then one can comprehend some of their own skills from those specializations. If they can align with the professional’s skills, then they will also increase the power and proficiency of the professional’s skills.”
“So that’s how it is.” Shen Mu nodded, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.
Then he looked at the Holy Tree Forest Guardians who were still sitting cross-legged by the pond and asked, “If that’s the case, then these Holy Tree Forest Guardians can also gain bow and arrow type specializations related to Wood Elves, right?”
“Yes, that’s right, Lord Shen Mu. As long as these Holy Tree Forest Guardians can maintain a sincere faith in nature worship, then they can receive blessings from Natural Consciousness.” Liu Na nodded seriously and said, “After all, the Druid professional inheritance I received also came this way; it’s also a kind of blessing from Natural Consciousness to people like us who have peaceful and pure hearts.”
Although Liu Na obtained the true inheritance of a Druid because she received fragments of the spiritual realm mark related to Druids, if she hadn’t maintained a balanced heart and her purity, then it wouldn’t have been easy for her to become a Druid.
After all, for professionals, they can basically be considered extraordinary beings. Even the seemingly simplest warriors actually possess a portion of extraordinary power.
At least for ordinary people, mastering the abilities of a professional means they have been reborn.
At the very least, they are a well-known protector in a local town.
And when converted to the current Blue Star World, if we talk about the levels most Blue Star Humans possess, those levels are only between Lv1 and Lv5.
In reality, when facing a true army, such as Lord Shen Mu’s Swadia Kingdom’s heavy cavalry regiment, they would have no ability to resist or fight back. At most, due to their many combat techniques, they might appear similar to a Tier 4 Swadian Infantry.
But their actual combat power is only that of a Tier 3 Swadian Light Infantry, after all, equipment is also an important factor.
This is also why Shen Mu only values law enforcement professionals and doesn't have many thoughts about other melee professionals. Because he possesses Mount & Blade Soldiers and has become a lord, he stands at the pinnacle of these extraordinary professionals.
After all, if he wanted to, it would be as if he could now recruit Mount & Blade Soldiers with extraordinary power.
How could a lone professional contend with a lord who commands an army?
Therefore, Shen Mu didn’t care about these things at all.
However, he was somewhat interested in Liu Na’s words, looking at these Tier 1 Holy Tree Forest Guardians, the most common members of the Holy Tree Knight Order, whose bows were merely hunting bows with low lethality.
On the battlefield, they were more for harassing enemies; it was truly difficult to shoot and kill enemies.
However, if these Holy Tree Forest Guardians continued to advance and gained more experience, they could become powerful archers within the Holy Tree Knight Order's upgrade system. After all, Holy Tree Assassins and Holy Tree Sharpshooters are both T1-level archers in Pandora, incredibly strong ranged sharpshooters.
This is also the normal upgrade process.
“If they can receive special attention, like the members of the Lake Rat Gang, can they also undergo a special evolution?” Shen Mu stroked his chin at this moment, thinking of the burly Lake Rat Gang members in Deherim.
Those Lake Rat Gang members were recruited and upgraded from Bandits, and because of the effect of the pig-headed soul, they became as strong as they are now.
Look at those Lake Rat Gang Destroyers still wearing chainmail, at the peak of Tier 4, but their true combat power can already rival the Nord Royal Guard.
And it must be known that the Nord Royal Guard is a genuine Tier 6.
They are the strongest infantry in the entire Warband world, on the continent of Calradia.
And because the Lake Rat Gang Destroyers received the boost from the pig-headed soul, in Shen Mu's eyes, they have already reached the level of the Nord Royal Guard.
If these burly Lake Rat Gang Destroyers could be equipped with better weapons, better armor, and better defensive gear, then in terms of actual combat power, he could even feel that even the Royal Guard would not be able to directly contend with these Lake Rat Gang Destroyers.
Combat experience is definitely not lacking for Lake Rat Gang Destroyers. In terms of physique, these two-meter tall Lake Rat Gang Destroyers, full of muscle and fat, like human-shaped giant bears, are even more beyond words; they are far, far stronger than true human beings.
The Nord Royal Guard are still within the normal human range, but these Lake Rat Gang Destroyers, after absorbing the muscle-enhancing effect of the pig-headed soul, have already begun to advance towards the physique of fantasy creatures.
Just look at them now.
The physique and appetite of these Lake Rat Gang Destroyers are already enough to match the food intake of three normal people.
Their formidable combat power also comes from their physique.
Of course, getting back to the main point, the reason why these Bandits, Lake Rat Gang Newcomers, Lake Rat Gang Veteran Thugs, and Lake Rat Gang Destroyers were able to become burly and strong.
It was because they received the beneficial effects of the pig-headed soul.
But now Shen Mu also realized through this effect, what Liu Na told him: if these Holy Tree Forest Guardians could be blessed by Natural Consciousness, they would become highly skilled archers, similar to professionals, just like Wood Elves.
His eyes also showed some interest.
“Then it truly requires these Holy Tree Forest Guardians to learn from you how to perceive Natural Consciousness.” Shen Mu said to Liu Na, “When you meditate, I also hope you share your meditation insights with these Holy Tree Forest Guardians, so they can quickly grasp the greatness of Natural Consciousness you speak of.”
To make his soldiers stronger, Shen Mu didn't care about the process they went through.
“Of course, of course, I will certainly do so, and even if you didn’t say it, I have already taught them how to meditate.” Liu Na pursed her lips and smiled, “They are currently in the process of meditating, and because of your presence, an unusual tranquility has appeared here. Therefore, Natural Consciousness can now freely traverse within your rule power, especially this Holy Light Torch Tower radiating sacred power, and this holy white oak. The sacred power they condense perfectly suits people who revere nature to meditate here, enhancing their spiritual power and their understanding of Natural Consciousness.”
“Hmm, that sounds really good.” Shen Mu nodded with satisfaction and smiled contentedly at Liu Na: “You truly are the Druid companion I chose. With you, I am truly at ease.”
“Of course, we are very willing to serve you, Lord Shen Mu. You have also protected us.” Liu Na, at this moment, respectfully bowed to Shen Mu again.
“Alright, you stay busy here. I’ll go look at other places.” Shen Mu said, looking at the Holy Tree Forest Guardians who were still meditating, then turned and left.
He didn't want to disturb the Holy Tree Forest Guardians' meditation.
This was truly an unexpected pleasant surprise.
Shen Mu used to think that only the Devotees from the Aiden Gaarde Kingdom could research, meditate, and learn spells.
He didn't expect that now, the most proactive Holy Tree Forest Guardians in his Holy Tree Knight Order also possessed such talent and aptitude.
Or perhaps, opportunity.
That truly is wonderful; it clearly allows him to gain more strength and depth.
Ranged archers with professional specializations, who obey his commands and are disciplined soldiers on the battlefield, the role they can play once they grow up will truly be extraordinary.
Just look at the Lake Rat Gang members who received the blessing of the pig-headed soul, and you’ll know.
These Lake Rat Gang members are already the undisputed infantry kings of the entire Castle District. Even the Tier 4 Swadian Infantry and Tier 5 Swadian Sergeant intentionally avoid them when they see them.
After all, in real combat, just by looking at their physique, those Swadian Infantry and Swadian Sergeant can understand that they are no longer a match for these Lake Rat Gang members.
Since they are not opponents, they naturally have to give way. These Swadian Infantry and Swadian Sergeant understand this; only the strong can speak with authority.
What's more, these Lake Rat Gang members have foul mouths, and their usual behavior is quite unruly. Although they have been incorporated into Lord Shen Mu's regular army, they still retain a lot of their former Bandit habits.
Or rather, they were originally a group of Bandits, and only because they were incorporated by Lord Shen Mu were they integrated into the regular army.
Since they were Bandits, there were definitely some subtle conflicts with these regular soldiers from the Swadia Kingdom.
Although it would definitely not escalate to physical conflict, or even verbal conflict between the two sides.
But small provocations would definitely not be few.
These elite, trump card soldiers of the Swadia Kingdom, who had endured all the way to become Tier 4 Swadian Infantry and Swadian Sergeant, were unwilling to see these former Bandits now become stronger than them.
Therefore, they tried their best to pretend not to see their provocations and small actions, or rather, they turned and left before seeing them, not wanting to have too much contact with them at all.
At least in Lord Shen Mu’s Deherim, all of them could maintain a cooperative relationship.
But that doesn't mean these Swadian soldiers are genuinely convinced by these Lake Rat Gang members.
Of course, the reverse is also true; these Lake Rat Gang members also don't respect these Swadian Infantry, believing them to be merely weaklings, though this can't be openly stated due to their cooperative relationship.
Both sides are mutually unconvinced and secretly competing with each other.
Shen Mu, of course, also noticed this, but he didn't express much about it. After all, there will certainly be competition between these different types of soldiers. As long as there's no physical conflict, healthy competition is reasonable and even promotes a virtuous cycle.
Shen Mu was also happy to see them train harder to become stronger.
Walking along the road, Shen Mu also took a turn and looked at the significant changes that had occurred in the Castle District, as well as the towers on the high city walls, and the barracks and large towers inside, all densely populated with soldiers.
His mood was even more joyful.
This indicated that everything in his territory was developing for the better.
Especially with so many soldiers protecting him all around, he was quite satisfied.
“Perhaps I can enjoy a relatively relaxed period next.” Shen Mu smiled slightly at this moment, thinking of his previous efforts and hardships, and couldn’t help but feel a complex mix of emotions. (End of Chapter)