CCTnovel Chapter 734 - 70: The Formation of Territory Cultural Heritage and the Academy
Chapter 734 - 70: The Formation of Territory Cultural Heritage and the Academy
The Hesse Griffin School of Engineering is located on Black Iron Ridge Island, which is over 500 meters west of where the Black Water River and the Brionne River converge, surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs, with only a hundred-meter suspension bridge connecting to the land on the south side. The main body of the island is made of black basalt, and the top has been artificially flattened to form the base of the academy, resembling a steel crown suspended in the clouds from a distance.
The outer edge of the island has a 20-meter high bastion wall, its surface cast with molten black steel and embedded with the Empire’s griffin relief; in the center is a cast-iron Holy Hall, a main fort in dome style: the central spire is 120 meters high, with a bronze gear sundial 15 meters in diameter suspended at the top. The surface of the sundial is engraved with the prayers of the Goddess of Justice, and at high noon, its shadow can cover the entire island. The interior is supported by large arches, with stained glass depicting Hesse Territory’s war history, creating a flowing "Corridor of Epic Light" when sunlight penetrates.
Crossing a broad stone bridge a hundred meters long, upon entering the academy, you can see a marble statue of the Sun Goddess standing over 50 meters tall, holding a Holy Sword and gazing at the blazing sun.
On both sides of the avenue in front of the statue is a forest of marble memorials, each towering a hundred meters high, inscribed with the academy motto "Better to perish in steel flames than to live in corrosion." Behind it are records of the splendid victories and epic triumphs since the founding of the Hesse Territory.
The President Oliver, accompanied by the academy’s lecturers and senior engineers, welcomed Su Li under the statue. They were initially going to take Su Li further into the academy to tour, but Su Li was captivated by the marble memorials.
He, along with Hilude, Lauren, and Vandar, read every inscription on each of the over twenty-meter-high marble monuments.
The first monument recounts the Battle of the Brionne Heights: In the third month of Hesse Territory’s founding, the leader of the Goblin Toe-breaking Tribe, Gorkeir, corrupted by Chaos, led 5,000 tribesmen, including vile goblin raiders and 3 powerful Anaric Giant Spiders, to invade the Black Forest, intending to rush into the vast plains, loot the territory, and set the fields ablaze. Lord, Bauhinia Knight, Su Li urgently mobilized 50 knights and over 130 Armed Attendants from the territory, uniting all forces to engage on the high ground south of the Brionne River. The two armies fiercely battled from high noon to dusk. The Lord, using the Holy Relic of Glory, the Phoenix Wing Talisman, summoned fierce winds, ultimately defeating the enemy in one battle, beheading over two thousand ranks and acquiring the Holy Relic of the Water-Repelling Pearl.
The second recounts the formation of Lake Reiflin in the territory, where a faithful Territorial Knight valiantly sacrificed herself to protect the people of the territory in a war against the Greenskin invasion. Her tears fell on the earth and formed the Holy Land Reiflin Lake, where as long as the people prayed to the lake with sincerity, they could receive the protection and blessings of the Priestess. The lands around the lake thus became more fertile, with bountiful harvests and abundant fish and game.
The third monument narrates how Territory Marshal, Knight Oerstein, bravely fought for a full day and night, successfully slaying a mighty Two-legged Flying Dragon, an achievement witnessed by hundreds.
The subsequent memorials detail the Battle of Khorne’s Chosen Skar, the Battle of the Border Outpost, the Black Water River Battle, the Battle of Bauhinia Castle, the Black Pine Forest Counterattack, and more.
Each battle is thrilling and inspiring, with each account allowing the observers to clearly see the arduous journey and glorious battles since the founding of Hesse Territory!
It is through these thrilling and glorious victories and the bloody struggles led by Su Li commanding the knights that the Hesse Territory has stood undefeated, overawing the land and standing firm on the vast and fertile land of the Border Prince’s Territory at the foot of the Hesse Mountains!
Gazing at the multitude of the memorial forest, Su Li’s heart surged unconsciously. With a sense of heroic ambition, he sighed to the three ministers who followed him since the founding of the territory: "These memorials testify to our journey of ’plowing through thorns with swords and irrigating the wilderness with blood and courage.’ Each inscription is a record of our glory and testimony."
Hilude, also looked up at the inscriptions, her beautiful face filled with awe, and praised, "This memorial forest is truly remarkable. Only when these glorious victories and events are laid out clearly before us do we truly understand that our past year has not been in vain. The entire territory now has its history and shared glory."
This moment showcased what historical depth and cultural identity mean, vividly in the memorial forest.
Every member of Hesse Territory, upon seeing the historical battles and glorious pasts etched on these monuments, would naturally feel a sense of belonging and pride. It was by personally participating in these battles that they built this territory’s glory out of mountains of flesh and rivers of blood, enabling it to stand firm on this land.
By now, this territory was not merely Su Li’s private possession but was the culmination of countless knights and ministers’ efforts, dreams, and even entire lives! It was everyone’s common home.
Suppose, by misfortune, Su Li were to be assassinated by an assassin, with his son barely of age, having no prestige, speaking to the knights in silence. His call raises nothing but an iron-silent heavy phalanx.
However, when faced with foreign invasion, these Knight Clans would still unite, gathered under the Bauhinia flag, jointly resisting the foreign invasion, defending this territory, which embodies everyone’s blood and life!