Faced with Friedrich and Schwartz's startling inquiry, Su Li merely smiled faintly and did not reply.
Eloquence is silver, silence is golden. Sometimes, a silent response is more profound than a boastful discussion, leaving them with an impression of inscrutability.
Upon seeing Su Li's calm smile, the two became even more convinced that Young Master Suli indeed had the capability to help other knights breakthrough.
Otherwise, how could Hilude's cultivation progress be so rapid? This was a girl with no prior cultivation foundation, yet just two days after meeting Young Master Suli, she had achieved two consecutive breakthroughs in her cultivation path!
They had all heard that every night, Young Master Suli took Hilude back to his room to guide her in the knight's cultivation method.
Previously, they thought this was just an excuse for a romantic affair, but now it seemed that nothing of the sort happened between Young Master Suli and Hilude.
Hilude must have been diligently cultivating every night; otherwise, there is no way to explain how she managed to breakthrough so quickly.
Reve and Sophie exchanged silent glances. If Young Master Suli truly had such a profound knight's cultivation method, then they could not fall behind and should actively seek out Young Master Suli for guidance.
Reve, who was on good terms with Hilude, immediately pulled her aside and asked in a low voice, "Sister Hilude, what exactly is Young Master Suli's special cultivation method? Could you guide us a little?"
Hilude's face flushed red, and she lowered her head, softly saying, "I can't say. You should go ask Young Master Suli yourself. I think, sister, with your charming cuteness and extraordinary charm, Young Master Suli will surely be willing to help you cultivate."
Extraordinary charm? Sophie pricked up her ears; why would knight cultivation relate to charm? Could it be that extraordinary charm is an advantage in knight cultivation?
In that case, she definitely has a huge advantage. She is fully aware of her allure to men, especially with her rosy cherry lips and wine-red wavy long hair, making her irresistible to men. If Young Master Suli were to guide her, wouldn't she quickly breakthrough to the elite level!
Su Li did not pay attention to the tumultuous thoughts and emotions of his subordinates because his attention was focused on the gradually arriving elite knights—twelve apprentice knights and three official knights, gathering a total of seven elite-level knights, including Connor, the chief knight beside Bauhinia Earl.
The knights willing to join Su Li's team and venture to the Border Prince's Territory for exploration largely came from knights' clans where they had no inheritance rights. Their status was not high, but they generally had a father or brother who was an elite knight. Managing to invite seven elite knights was reasonable, but their determined attitude surprised Su Li, as he never expected they would have such faith in him. Su Li had thought that persuading three or four elite knights would be quite an achievement.
Connor approached Su Li and asked, "Young Master Suli, what is happening in Bauhinia Castle that you need to summon so many elite knights to fight?"
With a light smile, Su Li replied, "It's nothing major, I just have my eye on a talent and need to use some strong persuasion."
Connor furrowed his brows, sensing that things might not be as simple as Young Master Suli claimed.
Through these few days of observation, he had long recognized that Young Master Suli was far from ordinary—every move appeared calculated, and only when the results unfolded did others realize the depth of his plans.
Especially now, this was the first time in three days that Young Master Suli had formally recruited a knight, indicating it was definitely not simple.
Yet, Su Li had no intention to explain; seeing Connor not opposing was enough for all the elite knights to follow Su Li to the military camp, where they met Knight Oerstein.
This knight, now 37 years old, was in his prime for an elite knight whose lifespan could reach at least a century. With a robust and powerful stature, standing over 2.2 meters tall, he towered a head above Su Li. Even tall knights like Frederick could only reach his chin.
This physique alone was already imposing; his face reflected a distinguished fierceness, with bushy brown beard gracing his resolute features, and eyes sharp and majestic like a lion's. Beside him accompanied a formidable Lion Mastiff Beast, with a massive size comparable to a lion, a species of War Mastiff variant. Its golden fur enhanced its defense, while its innate bloodline allowed its roar to bolster allies' combat power.
In this world, many factions favored raising War Mastiff units, which tend to roam as packs in the wilderness. They are naturally brutal, bloodthirsty, with strong musculature and sharp teeth, born as killers. Trained, they even charge unhesitatingly at a long lance phalanx.
This intentional cultivation led to various War Mastiff breeds, such as Poisoned Battle Mastiffs and Hunting Fang War Mastiffs, with the Lion Mastiff being particularly powerful, preferring solitary hunting, thus becoming stronger. A few enjoy forming herds, where they reign as monarchs. Any knight taming a Lion Mastiff Beast is undoubtedly elite.
As this man and beast appeared together, an overwhelming pressure swept across, hard to believe that Knight Oerstein was only an elite knight.
Seeing so many elite knights around him, he slightly furrowed his dense brows and asked, "Young Master Suli, there should be no intersection between us. Why such a grand gesture to find me—what do you want?"
Su Li, surrounded by several knights, walked forward with a faint smile and said calmly, "Knight Oerstein, you must have heard I am about to venture to the Border Prince's Territory, thus have the right to recruit followers from Bauhinia Castle."
Oerstein replied coldly with impatience, "Never heard of it, nor am I interested in anything to do with you."
These knights were all quite hot-tempered, and the elite knights following Su Li crossed their arms, ready to watch the spectacle of the recently famed Young Master Suli receive a cold shoulder.
The Enchanting Demon in this world still featured slender waists and ample hips, contrary to the monarchs' persistence seen in Su Li's previous nation's tales.
Therefore, Su Li needed not that kind of persistence. He simply stated lightly, "I believe Knight Oerstein will find this interesting. Bauhinia Castle is not a place for you; only with me to the Border Prince's Territory can you achieve your dream of breaking through to Champion Knight, and perhaps even Divine Chosen Knight in the future!"
"What?"
"Breakthrough to Champion Knight?"
"Divine Chosen Knight possible!"
Upon Su Li's words, the surroundings burst into an uproar, with all the elite knights staring in shock as Su Li was about to leave.
The lure of Champion Knights to elite knights was well known to all present.
Even with one in ten thousand of hope, numerous elite knights would risk themselves like moths to a flame.
And Divine Chosen Level Knights—that was the lifelong dream of all knights!
For Young Master Suli to potentially help Oerstein break through to elite knight—if anyone else had said this beside Young Master Suli—all elite knights would scoff!
However, Young Master Suli had performed so many miracles these past few days that everyone was moved at heart—what if, just what if it were true?