Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 511 The Beast Taming Achievements of Black Forest Territory: The New Fantasy Zoo and the War Bear Cavalry
The first animals to be successfully domesticated and adapted to were the war bears!

However, these are not the northern war bears of Kisliv, which are bound to ice, snow, and the Ersun faith. The war bears of Blacksene Territory mainly originate from a unique, more ferocious and robust black-maned war bear found in the forests on the southeastern slopes of the Grey Mountains.

They are robust, with a shoulder height generally approaching two meters, bulging muscles, and their bodies covered with thick, needle-like black fur, except for a tuft of white fur in a V-shape on their chest. Their claws are even thicker and longer, with a slight armor-piercing ability, and their roars are deep and intimidating.

Nourished by the environment of the Tree of Life and trained by the secret scriptures, these Blackmane War Bears are more intelligent and have a relatively stable temperament than their wild counterparts (though still extremely wild), showing unwavering loyalty to their chosen knights. They possess exceptional endurance and load-bearing capacity, and are highly adaptable to forest terrain.

The first experimental squad of War Bear Knights has been formed. These handpicked, exceptionally robust human knights are clad in heavy plate armor, a hallmark of Blackforest, crafted by master dwarven blacksmiths. All armor is of the highest quality, etched with powerful protective runes. They wield extra-long, armor-piercing spears or heavy warhammers specifically designed for bear-borne combat. Their mounts—Blackmane War Bears—are also clad in specially reinforced Sunfire armor, inlaid with the Blackforest's Bauhinia emblem.

Despite numbering only ten, this nascent Blackforest Blackmane War Bear Knight squad already exuded a chilling aura of oppression. They conducted basic charge and coordination training in the enclosure, the low growls of the war bears mingling with the shouts of the knights, each stomp of their paws sounding like rolling thunder, showcasing an astonishing potential combining strength, endurance, and terrifying impact.

This is just the beginning. As research into the Titan Codex deepens and the Tree of Life continues to provide benefits, Lin Yuzhen and its colossal beast companions will undoubtedly become an increasingly powerful trump card in Su Li's hands.

The military power of the Black Forest Territory is making rapid progress towards diversification and monstrosity.

In Forestwhisper Town, the War Bear Knights completed another deafening mass charge drill. The heavy hooves (or rather, the clatter of claws) gradually subsided like thunder, and the dust they kicked up slowly settled. Ten knights, controlling their armored war bears, restlessly thrashed about, emitting low, satisfied snorts, clearly enjoying the release of their power.

Su Li stood on the viewing platform, his eyes filled with approval. He clapped softly, his loud voice echoing throughout the animal training arena:

"Excellent! Like a mountain collapsing, like a tsunami! What an invincible iron cavalry!" He spared no praise. "From this day forward, you will be the sharpest bear claws and the strongest bulwark of Blackforest Territory! I bestow upon you the title—[Wrath of God's Hammer War Bear Knights]! May your heavy armor, like a warhammer, crush all stubborn enemies in Blackforest Territory!"

"For the Lord! For the Black Forest Territory!" Ten knights stood upright on the bear's back, punching their breastplates and making a resounding vow. The war bears beneath them seemed to understand, letting out a powerful growl in response.

After praising him, Su Li turned to Edmund, the steward of the pasture who was accompanying him on the observation tour, and asked with concern, "The establishment of the Knights of the Wrath of God proves the value of the secret manual and the effectiveness of your work. Edmund, how is the taming of the other monsters going? Are there any new developments?"

Edmund, with a tired yet excited smile, bowed and replied, "Thank you for your recognition, Lord! The success of the Knights of Wrath of God has indeed greatly boosted morale. As for the other monsters, although there has been progress, the difficulty and risks are quite different."

As he led Su Li toward the quarantine zone deeper within the hunting grounds, he reported:
"We have primarily tested three relatively 'basic' behemoths so far, based on the danger assessments in the Codex and the resources surrounding the territory."

"First, there are the war mastiffs. I'm sure you're familiar with them; your Jinya is a powerful lion mastiff. Using fragments of knowledge from the secret manual about 'group obedience enhancement' and 'blood energy activation,' we've successfully improved the innate aggression and obedience to commands of a new batch of lion mastiff cubs. We expect to be able to equip our infantry cavalry with the first batch of mastiff warriors in six months—these heavily trained giant mastiffs will be able to effectively charge enemy light infantry lines and even tear apart lightly armored targets."

Edmund pointed to the giant dogs in the kennel in the distance, which were almost the size of calves and had fierce eyes.

Su Li's eyes suddenly lit up. The strength of the War Mastiff Beast? He knew it all too well!

Every morning, when that enormous golden figure waddled after him, nuzzling his palm affectionately with its massive head for breakfast, Su Li felt more deeply than anyone else the almost terrifying power enveloped in tenderness.

Jin Ya, or rather, the name he prefers to use in private—Golden Tooth—is indeed the most underrated of all his battle pets.

Eliria is a noble green dragon, born with the power to soar through the skies, indestructible scales, and a breath that can incinerate everything. His Highness Deathclaw has inherited the legacy of an ancient griffin spirit, and is now a noble yet ferocious chosen griffin, its claws and beak capable of tearing apart whelps, making it the ruler of the skies.

In the shadow of these two, Goldtooth, who always sat quietly beside his throne, seemed rather "ordinary." This might also be related to the overly "ladylike" name that Hilder gave it—Goldtooth, which sounds more like an elegant lady than... a true war beast.

But if you ask Su Li, the name "Gold Tooth" is more fitting and better reflects the ruggedness and directness of this dark world!

As a lion-mastiff, the king of the war mastiff clan, Golden Tooth's size far surpasses all its kind. Its shoulder height nearly reaches the chest of an adult man, its massive body muscular and streamlined, exuding explosive power. Its thick, long fur is a dazzling golden-brown, with only the mane on its neck and chest being a darker color, making it as majestic as a lion.

Its enormous head, thick snout, and astonishing bite force are most striking features. The four gilded fangs, which gleam with a cold metallic luster and protrude from its lips like short daggers, are the origin of its name "Golden Fangs." They are not decorations, but natural weapons for tearing through armor.

Its terror lies in its silent intimidation. When it patrols the courtyards or corridors of Hessenberg with steady steps, even the proudest Hessenberg knights will subconsciously tense their backs and feel a chill rise from their tailbone.

Being stared at by its amber eyes, calm and almost ruthless, felt like being targeted by a predator from the ancient wilderness. The knights had no doubt that once the lord gave the order, or if anything was deemed a threat to Su Li by Golden Tooth, this seemingly quiet behemoth would transform into a golden storm of death in the next second.

Its pounce is powerful enough to overturn armored warhorses, its claws can easily tear through fine plate armor, and its four gilded fangs are said to have easily crushed the shoulder armor and bones of Chaos warriors who attempted to assassinate them! It does not need to breathe, it does not need to fly; what it possesses is the purest, most savage, and most effective physical destructive power.

This strength, far surpassing its peers, naturally stemmed from Su Li's unreserved investment. Various extraordinary foods produced in the Black Forest Territory—energy-rich steel wheat bread, specially made smoked fish, and even the occasional Firefly Rabbit—were all part of Gold Tooth's daily diet. More importantly, its collar always bore a dragon bloodstone treated by a dwarven rune master, continuously absorbing its contained power, subtly enhancing its physique, strength, and ferocity.

It could be said that Goldtooth is the "White Wolf" of Blackwood Territory! Like the White Wolf Knights of the northern Empire who devoutly worship the wolf god Yurik—these powerful knights must venture alone into the perilous icy plains to tame a mighty white wolf as their life-or-death companion. A White Wolf Knight is always seen with his warhammer and giant wolf; they are both knights and the deadliest hunters.

Now, the Black Forest commander has his own "War Mastiff Knights"!
Imagine if the foot knights of the Black Forest Territory were all equipped with a war mastiff enhanced by the technology of the Titan Codex, which, while not as fierce as the Golden Tooth, would be just as loyal... How terrifying would the fighting power of this force be?

They will become a mobile jungle of steel and a storm of fangs. In complex streets, dense forests, and rugged mountainous terrain, this combination of knights and war mastiffs will have a greater advantage than traditional cavalry. The war mastiffs can pounce on enemies and tear apart formations, while the knights can focus on delivering fatal blows with their weapons. A perfect blend of offense and defense, swift as the wind, and ferocious as a wolf!
Such a force possesses combat power and deterrent force that is almost comparable to the renowned and steadfast White Wolf Knights of the Empire! In fact, with the support of the various extraordinary resources of the Black Forest Territory, it might even be superior!
"Excellent!" Su Li's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement. "Emond, the breeding and taming of war mastiffs must be one of the highest priority projects! I want to see organized units of 'mastiff warriors' in my army as soon as possible! Resources are not a problem; just report to me what you need!"

He couldn't wait to see the Black Forest Territory's warhound knights surge towards the enemy like a tidal wave on the battlefield, their gilded fangs and knights' sharp blades gleaming as they tore apart any obstacle that dared to stand in the way of the Black Forest Territory!

Edmund nodded slightly, guiding Su Li's gaze to an open area of ​​sky on the other side of the beast-taming enclosure. There stood many tall perches, where large birds of prey, far exceeding the size of ordinary birds, perched, their sharp eyes scanning the area below, occasionally emitting piercing cries. "My lord," Edmund said, pointing to the birds of prey, his tone tinged with the enthusiasm of a researcher, "the second type of beast we've tamed in our ranch—the Steel-Feathered Falcon. They are not ordinary war eagles, but a rare, mutated giant eagle from the depths of the Black Forest. The edges of their wings gleam with a metallic sheen under certain light, and their beaks and talons are far harder than their kind."

He explained in detail: "We chose them precisely to perfectly complement your Green Knights. The Green Knights are skilled in archery and woodland guerrilla warfare, and are highly mobile, but they lack sustained high-speed mobility and air superiority."

“Imagine, my lord,” Edmund described the future, “a Green Knight, no longer confined to traversing the forests, but riding a mighty steel-feathered falcon, soaring through the skies! They can rain down death with absolutely precise archery from heights unreachable by their enemies. They can easily conduct deep reconnaissance, outflank and flank, attack the enemy’s vulnerable rear-line ranged units, artillery positions, and even disrupt the enemy’s spellcasting.”

He became more and more excited as he spoke: "These are no longer simple horse archers, these are true sky archers! The ultimate advanced form of horse archers! They will have unparalleled tactical flexibility and attack range. Whether supporting the front lines or carrying out special hunting missions, they will play an unimaginable role."

"Of course, the taming process is extremely challenging." Edmund returned to reality. "Steelfeather Falcons are proud and crave freedom. The chapter on 'Sky Familiars' in the secret manual provides the key. We need to establish a deep trust and spiritual resonance between the knights and the falcons, rather than simply conquering them with force. Currently, we have successfully facilitated the initial partnership between two of our best Green Knights and two Steelfeather Falcons, and they are currently undergoing training in coordinated flight and aerial shooting."

Su Li looked up at the magnificent birds of prey, and in his mind, he could already picture the Green Knights riding their falcons, drawing their bows and nocking arrows in the sky, the arrows falling like meteors into the enemy ranks with pinpoint accuracy. This would undoubtedly greatly enhance Black Forest Territory's air superiority and tactical versatility.

"Sky Archers... Excellent!" Su Li exclaimed. "This is a good idea, and we must proceed steadily. We must ensure the safety of the knights and their mounts, and prioritize cultivating their teamwork. I want to see this aerial force become the sharp arrows that soar through my Black Forest Territory as soon as possible!"

To be honest, the Green Knights were an anomaly among knights, which meant their size was unlikely to be large. So Su Li only gave a brief evaluation before shifting his attention to other areas.

What is the third kind of beast?

When Edmund heard Su Li ask about the third type of beast, his expression became somewhat peculiar, a smile that mixed with a sense of accomplishment and a hint of helplessness. He led Su Li around several enclosures, towards an area near a river with gently sloping terrain. The fences here were taller and sturdier, but the atmosphere was no longer as wild and restless as before; instead, it seemed... rather "leisurely."

“My lord,” Edmund pointed to the interior of the enclosure, “this third type is less a ‘beast’ and more a ‘workhorse of immense strength’ that we have found. They are not for combat, but to completely solve the logistical nightmare for our army, especially for future long-distance expeditions or when deploying troops to complex terrains such as swamps.”

Following his gaze, Su Li saw several enormous creatures standing in the enclosure. Their size was comparable to small houses, even reminiscent of miniature mammoths, but their appearances were completely different.

This creature is called the armored yak. ​​They have a sturdy and heavy body like a yak, covered not with long hair, but with huge, hard, dark brown natural horny plates. These plates have rough edges and coarse bristles growing at the seams, providing amazing defense.

Their heads are enormous, with a pair of thick, forward-curving horns resembling giant battering rams on top. Their nostrils are large, occasionally exhaling white mist carrying the scent of grass. Most striking are their four legs, as thick as stone pillars, and their broad, sturdy hooves, capable of supporting their astonishing weight and easily traversing muddy, rugged terrain.

Their eyes were gentle and dull as they slowly chewed the large amount of hay the herdsmen fed them, making satisfied mooing sounds, deep and muffled like drumbeats.

“Shelled oxen,” Edmund explained, “we discovered a small community in a secluded valley where the Grey Mountains meet the border princely territory. They are extremely docile, or rather… lazy. As long as food is plentiful, they are hardly interested in anything, including getting angry. The Codex classifies them as a ‘degenerate subspecies of ancient pack animals,’ but their load-bearing capacity has not degenerated at all.”

His tone was tinged with amazement: "Our tests show that an adult yak can easily carry more than two thousand kilograms of supplies! That's equivalent to the load that would take at least four heavy horse-drawn carriages to pull! And they have incredible endurance; they can walk for a long time with just a short time to eat and rest."

He pointed to the test platform being loaded next to him: "Look, we've specially made large pack animals and crates for them. Imagine, my lord, a transport caravan of twelve armored oxen can carry the provisions, arrows, tents, and even disassembled siege equipment parts needed by an army of thousands for several days! They can traverse dense forest paths that wagons cannot pass, wade across shallow waters at the edge of swamps, and deliver supplies directly to the hands of soldiers on the front lines!"

Edmund lowered his voice slightly: "While taming them isn't difficult—you can lure them over with good fodder—the biggest challenge is... their appetites are equally astonishing, and their growth cycle is quite long. So far, we've only successfully lured and captured these five adults and a few cubs. Expanding the population will require time and a large investment in feed. Their advantage is that if they eat their fill before setting out, they can go without food for up to half a month."

From this perspective, it does indeed inherit the perfect advantages of pack animals, somewhat similar to how a camel, after drinking its fill, basically doesn't need to drink water when entering the desert. It's just that one saves water, and the other saves food.

Looking at these docile giants that resembled mobile fortresses, Su Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why do I feel like I've seen this before? Are there other variants among the descendants of these ancient pack beasts?"

“Yes, my lord.” Edmund bowed slightly respectfully and said, “Your judgment has always been so discerning. They have a distant relative, the Uros cattle.”

"Those fierce mounts raised by the mountain people?" Su Li was certainly very familiar with these powerful cattle; they were the mounts of the Zani people, the mountain people.

The Zani are a collection of various pastoral tribes living on the slopes and hills of the vast Black Mountains (the Grey Mountains being a branch of the Black Mountains). These tribes are numerous and complex, each with its own name and traditions, but the differences between them are of little significance to the border princely farmers of the region, who refer to all mountain people as Zani and consider them a single, uncivilized, and savage race.

Zani warriors like to raid lowland farms in droves, wearing furry coats and horned helmets to display their masculinity. These mountain tribes are rarely willing to unite for a common cause; the only thing that can unite them is the threat of hunger.

The Uros cattle are a type of domesticated animal that provides them with everything they need for life: mounts, transportation, meat, leather and coarse wool for tents and clothing, and for fighting.

As the Zani population increased, so did the need to gradually increase livestock numbers. This led to a scarcity of shrubs for grazing, forcing the tribes to seek fertile southern lands, more suitable for pasture, and to begin raiding border farms. To achieve this, Zani tribes would coalesce and form large alliances, potentially threatening the various border principalities and settlements. When the time came, the Zani tribal chiefs would consult among themselves, elect a great chief to lead them to the lowlands of the border princely territories.

Even so, they do not fight like a well-trained army, nor do they remain forever united in a large tribal alliance to obey the great chief until they have to face a considerable force. So usually a small group of raiders riding fierce male Uros bulls will launch a surprise attack.

Although the mountain people were ultimately repelled by the armies defending the principality, their herds ravaged all the farmland along the way. This chaos inevitably became exploited by various local bandits, who used every opportunity to plunder and pillage. Like most nomadic peoples, the mountain people had their own shamans, especially sorcerers and shamanic healers, who were not all charlatans or incompetent men. They were certainly better at fortune-telling and finding omens in dreams than the powerful. Rumor had it that they were intelligent enough, unless a dizzying optimism led them astray.

A smile, a mixture of admiration and relief, appeared on Edmund's face. He bowed slightly and replied, "Your Excellency's insight is indeed profound. These docile beasts are indeed of the same lineage as the fierce and warlike Uros cattle we captured. They are different subspecies of ancient pack animals that evolved in different environments. However, due to their enormous appetites, the mountain people's meager resources simply cannot sustain them."

(End of this chapter)