After the work in the Castle District was finished, Shen Mu once again received the Blue Star Humans.
Every day, 20 Blue Star Humans could be promoted to Ten-Man Commander, and it still required him, the supreme lord, to confer the title.
After all, the rule authority of the Mount & Blade System was in his hands; if he didn't nod, no one would be able to get promoted.
The status and identity of a Ten-Man Commander would also be unattainable.
Shen Mu didn't care about this point.
As long as 20 Blue Star Humans came, and then he gave them 200 mount & blade civilian units to level up and pray with, so he could gain more Faith Power, that would be enough.
After all, no matter how well these Blue Star Humans developed, Shen Mu would never truly trust them; he only trusted his Mount & Blade Soldiers in the Castle District who were completely loyal to him.
Of course, the superficial work still needed to be done, as the one brought over was Zhang Bo, who had just presented him with two magic items.
For Shen Mu, although Zhang Bo's two magic items couldn't be compared much in terms of level to Sun Zhiru's magic item that directly related to Faith Power,
it could even be said they were incomparable.
However, Zhang Bo was, after all, a Prophecy-type Mage, and through the Magic Crystal Ball, which had temporarily restored some functions, he could obtain more good things for himself and allow his Deherim to grow faster.
Therefore, Zhang Bo was still quite important in Shen Mu's heart; if truly compared, he might be the number one Blue Star Human in Shen Mu's mind right now.
Even Zhang Caidong and Sun Zhiru couldn't compare.
Just think about it, although Zhang Caidong could command and manage, his role was not as significant as Zhang Bo's, who could continuously bring him magic items or spiritual realm mark fragments.
Sun Zhiru was merely a symbol for him to win over ordinary commoners and lone cultivators from outside the Zhang Caidong faction among the Blue Star Humans.
His role was even less significant than Zhang Caidong's.
It was just that Shen Mu, earlier, for the sake of checking Zhang Caidong, casually arranged Sun Zhiru into a Vice Manager position.
Of course, now he saw that Zhang Caidong was also quite loyal to him and was respectful in everything, which satisfied Shen Mu. So, he let Sun Zhiru develop on his own; after all, with the title of a Vice Manager, things developed quite quickly, and even if Shen Mu didn't interfere, a force capable of rivaling Zhang Caidong, like an opposition party, could form.
“Respected Lord Shen Mu, Mage Zhang Bo has brought 20 Blue Star Humans over, and he requests your audience.”
Just at the door of the meeting room, a Holy Tree Knight walked over, bowed respectfully to Shen Mu first, and then spoke, “Shall I bring Mage Zhang Bo over now?”
“Bring him over,” Shen Mu nodded.
“Understood.” The Holy Tree Knight who delivered the message immediately lowered his head, then stood up and turned to walk out the door.
In a short while, this Holy Tree Knight led Zhang Bo in first.
Behind him followed 20 Blue Star Humans.
“Greetings, Respected Lord Shen Mu!”
Zhang Bo and the 20 Blue Star Humans all respectfully bowed to Shen Mu, placing their hands on their chests in a salute.
It was a very standard etiquette.
“Mm, very good.” Shen Mu nodded, and at the same time waved to them, saying, “It seems you already know the relevant procedures, so we won't waste time. Zhang Bo, step back first, and then the 20 Blue Star Humans, step forward. I will confer titles upon you and perform the transformation into Spiritual Realm Commanders.”
“Understood.” These Blue Star Humans exchanged excited glances, and when Zhang Bo nodded to them, signaling them to step forward, they stepped forward without hesitation.
At the same time, Zhang Bo also stepped back, just as Shen Mu had said; he truly showed great respect at this moment.
Not a single mistake could be found.
Then Shen Mu reached out and performed the Ten-Man Commander transformation for these 20 Blue Star Humans.
‘Buzz!’
A stream of white data, visible only to him, immediately surged from his hand and directly enveloped these 20 Blue Star Humans.
After the white eggshell formed for about twenty seconds, these white data streams completely seeped into the bodies of these Blue Star Humans, evolving into various experiences and knowledge in their minds, as well as the weapons they held.
In short, they transformed into the template of a Swadian Recruit.
“So this is the power of a Spiritual Realm Commander? The power of rules contained within is truly special; so this is the ability to possess a spiritual realm mark inheritance.”
“It’s too strong, it’s too strong! No wonder those Spiritual Realm Commanders are as powerful as superheroes to ordinary Blue Star Humans; it turns out having the power of rules is truly formidable.”
“That’s right, I also felt the power of rules. The power of rules makes me truly powerful.”
“Before, our attacks on those Undead Monsters were completely ineffective; it turned out we were lacking the power of rules. Now that I have the power of rules, it’s as if my body has gained true bones. It has become strong and powerful; this is truly a wonderful feeling.”
These Blue Star Humans whispered among themselves, each one extremely excited, with joy and smiles on their faces and in their eyes.
Their hearts were filled with a sense of exhilaration.
They were truly too excited.
At this moment, their gazes towards Shen Mu became even more fervent because they had gained the identity of a Spiritual Realm Commander and the conferment of Ten-Man Commander, endowed with the power of rules.
It was as if they had received a divine grace, and then they became even more fanatically devoted to the deity.
At least for Shen Mu, he noticed that the Blue Star Humans’ faith in him seemed to have increased.
From being pseudo-believers, they had become shallow believers.
And shallow believers could already be considered true believers.
After all, faith had already been established.
As time passed, Shen Mu would transform these shallow believers into believers with deeper faith.
If he could perform more miracles or wonders during this period, the believers’ fanaticism towards him would also deepen faster.
This was also a very good thing.
“Alright, next, go outside. Each of you will have 10 human soldiers to follow you; I have already arranged everything.” After completing the operations, Shen Mu waved his hand, signaling that these 20 Blue Star Humans could leave.
There was nothing more to say.
It was already a common occurrence, and Shen Mu would not pay any more special attention to these Blue Star Humans. Letting them find Zhang Caidong and join the leveling team was enough.
Once they had transformed these soldiers to a level where they could be upgraded, then they could return for unified upgrades; that would be fine.
However, just as these 20 Blue Star Humans were leaving, Shen Mu reached out and called out to Zhang Bo: “Mage Zhang Bo, please wait a moment.”
“Respected Lord Shen Mu, is there anything else?” Zhang Bo stopped and looked at Shen Mu.
“How have your exchanges been with my mage team in the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower?” Shen Mu inquired.
“It’s been good, Respected Lord Shen Mu. You allowed me to go to the Torch Tower’s library to exchange ideas with them, and I have benefited greatly.” Zhang Bo spoke sincerely at this moment, “I have gained a more solid understanding of some basic magic knowledge, and I have also shared what I know about magic inheritance with those mages. We have exchanged ideas very happily, complementing each other, and I plan to continue going to the library to exchange magic knowledge with them.”
“Mm, that’s excellent. I look forward to your mutual progress.” Shen Mu nodded, feeling very satisfied with their exchanges.
After all, Shen Mu also hoped that some magic knowledge from the spiritual realm mark could be superimposed with the magic knowledge from the Mount & Blade World, thereby enriching the magic knowledge within his Mount & Blade World.
In this way, the magic knowledge in his Mount & Blade World could also provide better feedback, as the system could grant these mount & blade Mages quite powerful spells.
This was like a guaranteed innate spell.
It didn't mean that besides the innate spells the system could grant them, these mages couldn't research the mysteries of spells on their own and comprehend new spells.
Innate spells symbolized spells they could cast whenever they wanted, while the spells they researched, like those researched by normal spellcasters in the spiritual realm mark, also needed to be cast through various magic structures and the like.
If the two were combined, it would not be as simple as 1+1=2.
At least for Shen Mu, as long as they could research these spiritual realm mark spells, his mount & blade Mages, who already possessed magical talent, would experience a significant amplification.
This was also why he agreed to Zhang Bo going to the Torch Tower to exchange ideas with those mages.
Exchange leads to progress.
“Understood. I will also clearly explain everything I know about the spiritual realm mark mage inheritance to my mage colleagues.” Zhang Bo’s face showed increasing smiles at this moment, but also a hint of hesitation, as if he had something he wanted to say but didn’t.
“What’s wrong? Mage Zhang Bo, you seem to have something else you want to say.” Shen Mu noticed his hesitation and proactively asked.
“Perhaps it’s just my own thought, Respected Lord Shen Mu, please don’t be offended, because I have never encountered other spellcasters before, including mages from the spiritual realm mark.”
Zhang Bo hesitated for a moment, still looking like he intended to speak truthfully, then he began: “When I saw those mages in your mage tower, I had a very good impression of them, and after exchanging ideas about the mysteries of spells with them, our relationship became very harmonious. If possible, I hope to earn your affirmation through my more diligent efforts and contributions, and then have a better relationship with these spiritual realm mark mages.”
Shen Mu did not answer Zhang Bo directly; instead, he raised an eyebrow, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: “Alright, I understand what you mean, Mage Zhang Bo. You want to become a Spiritual Realm Commander, and then have these spiritual realm mark mages become your followers.”
Zhang Bo's words clearly indicated this.
And he also knew that Zhang Bo had not discovered that his 10 Eden Guard Believers were actually not spellcasters or mages from the spiritual realm mark.
Zhang Bo had not discovered the true identities of his 10 Eden Guard Believers.
He still regarded them as spiritual realm mark mages.
And because he had seen these spiritual realm mark mages, he was eager to establish a deeper relationship with them.
And the so-called deeper relationship was actually a soul-level contract, a soul-level connection, and then the forging of soul-level resonance, with both parties progressing together, and then turning these Eden Guard Believers into his followers.
That was it.
“Yes, that’s right. Please forgive my presumptuous thought.” Zhang Bo lowered his head at this moment, as if he was very embarrassed and presumptuous. He bowed and placed his hand on his chest in a salute: “But I will prove my worth with my efforts, Respected Lord Shen Mu, please give me such an opportunity.”
“Of course, I will give you such an opportunity. You are very good, Mage Zhang Bo.” Shen Mu smiled and nodded, agreeing to his idea.
“This is truly a great honor, thank you for your generosity and kindness.” Zhang Bo was extremely surprised at this moment, bowing deeply once again: “After I finish researching the mysteries of mages recently, I will diligently use the Magic Crystal Ball to detect the surrounding magic fluctuations, and I will definitely demonstrate my value to live up to your trust and such kind and generous actions.”
“Mm, very good. I look forward to your performance.” Shen Mu smiled and motioned for Zhang Bo to leave; there was nothing more to discuss. After all, he had made this promise, so now it was up to Zhang Bo’s performance.
Anyway, it was about conferring the title of Ten-Man Commander, but how to confer the title of Ten-Man Commander on Zhang Bo made him feel a bit awkward, as he currently only had some templates from the Swadia system, and none from the Eden Garde system.
He couldn't just confer Zhang Bo, a Prophecy-type Mage, as a warrior, could he?
That would be out of place.
So Shen Mu only gave Zhang Bo a promise, but he didn't give him anything concrete yet. He also needed to research more deeply to know how to obtain some templates for spellcasters from Eden Garde.
Of course, Shen Mu still had a lot of time. At most, it would be another two or three months, or even half a year or a year; it didn't matter if he gave it then.
In Shen Mu's view, time was still on his side. (End of chapter)