Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 406, Section 15. Oh, Pandaria is currently only at the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' version!
The twins' screams echoed continuously from their room.

Interspersed among the noise were strange pleas for mercy such as "Please let me go," "I can't take it anymore," and "It's too painful," causing the Lightforged living nearby to frequently peek out and exchange glances, all thinking the same thing.

Although the Vigilant's private life with the three highly respected Eredar ladies has long been the subject of gossip during every lull in the battlefield, no one dares to bring it up in public yet.

All four parties involved value their public reputation, and they have consistently maintained a very proper relationship in public.

But what happened today?
So you're completely giving up on pretending?
Or is it that the residual energy of the Doubtful Spirit really needs the Vigilant to use the "Holy Lance" spell to remove it?
Hmm, isn't this a bit too extreme?

Of course, the reality wasn't as juicy and sensational as these gossipy folks imagined.

That was merely the Vigilant attempting to control the power of the Sha. He was indeed using this method to help the Geminis undergo a "mental trial" in order to free them from unnecessary mental strain.

However, judging from the twins' reactions, it's clear that Diakum will need some time to master this set of Void Mystic Arts from the strongest Old God, Y'Shaarj.

Moreover, the Lightforged are indeed not in a good position to gossip right now.

Their first battle on the Pandaria landed in Pandaria and ended in complete victory, annihilating the Mantid and Mogu Death Knights without a single casualty, but they still suffered a near "total annihilation".

Marlaad frowned as he looked at the group of Lightforged in the room, lost in doubt and self-doubt. He felt this was a very troublesome matter.

Because theoretically, this is simply impossible!

“Every Lightforged has undergone the ‘Trial of Virtue,’ and to be reshaped by the Holy Light proves that you are all warriors of light with unwavering will! I don’t understand why this Sha can bypass the blessing of the Holy Light and harm the warriors’ hearts?”

Marad, leaning on his gleaming golden "Holy Balrog Hand," stood as a sentinel protecting the warriors who were clearly unable to fight. When asked about his condition, Nuboton, whose "illness" was currently the mildest, shook his head and said:
"'Unwavering will' and 'unaffected' are two different concepts, Marad. Clearly, the Sha have their own set of rules for eroding the mind, and a simple iron will is useless against them."

Because 'stubbornness' and 'firmness' can also be a kind of 'emotion'.

And you can’t deny that almost all the veterans of the Lightforged Chapter have 'psychological problems'.

Although they have turned to the path of 'Twins of Light and Shadow', the series of effects brought about by the eternal war have become habits or even instincts. They are very loyal and fanatical, and they are not afraid to sacrifice themselves in battle. They are fearless when fighting demons.

However, they also become indifferent as a result, caring little about anything outside the group, and finding it difficult to cooperate well with fellow believers who do not share the Holy Light faith.

Some even regard the military doctrines of the Holy Light Legion as gospel.

We've been stationed in Stormwind for several months, but haven't conducted any missionary work. The veterans have become accustomed to war and find it difficult to interact with ordinary people; these are all unsettling potential threats.

The wise shaman hesitated for a moment, then whispered:
"Most importantly, Commander Diakum doesn't intend to treat the Lightforged Chapter as a purely military unit; he clearly has higher expectations for us. So, in my opinion, this collective self-doubt isn't necessarily a bad thing."

If they cannot break through their stubbornness, they will find it difficult to truly accept the balanced core of light and shadow.

"Think about it again. If it were just a regular expedition, would the Vigilantes really need to bring all the veteran soldiers of the Lightforged Chapter?"

"Hiss, now that you mention it, it's true."

Marad frowned and nodded. He glanced at Nuboton again and whispered:

"But why aren't you affected by the Sha? Iriel is completely dejected right now; she's even come to the point of feeling like a useless piece of trash. I've been affected too, but you..."

“I am not a Lightwalker, and I do not have your fervent beliefs. I knew the truth that all power has two sides when I came into contact with the elements.”

The shaman explained:
"Clearly, the power of the demons is more effective on those who are more stubborn, and they can exploit any kind of stubbornness. Many Holy Light warriors turn their hatred for demons into a pillar of their hearts, which seems unbreakable. However, once the pillar forged by hatred collapses, they will be completely ruined in an instant."

That is not the right way to unite morality!

Hatred is a negative emotion, a virtue of evil energy. It is incompatible with the Holy Light and will not bring us lasting enhancement.

We should learn from those who take precautions and transform those beautiful things into a defense for our hearts.

"Well said, stranger."

The awkward Eredar language echoed from outside the wall. Under Marlad's wary gaze, Elder Stone Step, a wandering scholar from the Azure Dragon Temple, dressed in a scholar's robe and carrying a large book, walked over.

He saluted the two powerful warriors with the Pandaren's salute, then stammered:
"Even with the assistance of the Wise Celestials, I still haven't fully mastered your complex language. I've come to tell the Vigilant Saint about the past and present of Pandaria. May I enter?"

"Of course, the vigilant is waiting for you."

Marlad bowed, and then he and Nuboton escorted the gentle-looking pandaren to the courtyard.

As they arrived at the door, the tightly closed door opened automatically. Diakum stood in the doorway to greet Elder Stonestep, and behind him, the pale and extremely weak twins leaned on their staffs, forcing a smile.

The two sisters looked as if they had been tortured, but the doubt and confusion in their eyes disappeared as a result.

Their eyes were very bright, as if they had been wiped clean of dust, like stars in the sky.

"Seeing one's true nature and returning to simplicity is like the rising sun, sweeping away the dust and haze."

Elder Shi Bu looked at the twins with amazement, stroking his very refined mustache, and said with a smile:
"It seems that the two ladies have just overcome their inner demons, and are now more determined than before when they were just pretending to be persistent."

"It made you laugh."

Diakum replied in Pandaria with a hillside farmer's accent:
"My warriors have fought demons for years, and their hearts have accumulated too much gloom. Pandaria is a blessed land for them. I believe that when they leave here, each of them will have gained something."

Shi Bu laughed and entered the room with the unique traveler's journal.

Dick beckoned Marlaad and Nuboton to come in as well, indicating that they need not worry about the warriors' condition. The four of them sat separately, and the elder of the traveling scholars placed the notes he had brought on the table. With a gentle rub, a wisp of jade smoke landed on the notes.

Like some ancient form of drama.

As the pages of the journal were turned, the smoke formed various historical images recorded in the book, thus vividly interpreting the history of this ancient continent for the guests. The scholars were always very good at making dry history interesting.

They consider this part of "historical heritage".

Like children of other races, the panda children are lively and active. If the knowledge presented is not vivid enough, it will be difficult to attract them to remember the history that must be remembered.

With nothing to do tonight, Elder Stonestep decided to begin with the oldest legends of Pandaria.

The other four listened attentively, but Diakum was very familiar with this history.

What he really cares about is what happened ten thousand years ago that led to Pandaria becoming such a "chaotic" situation.

He listened patiently, and soon Elder Shi Bu began to recount the arduous journey of Emperor Shao Hao in subduing the evil demons and saving the world. This story was exactly the same as the one Dick remembered, except for an unexpected twist at the end.

"Emperor Shaohao merged himself with the continent beneath his feet at Yongchun Terrace. The various trials he had undergone along the way had brought him to the legendary state of 'unity of heaven and man.' When he was performing his mission to save the world, he encountered interference from the final evil spirit."

That's 'pride'.

The emperor realized that his experiences had instilled arrogance in him, but it was too late to exorcise the demons. He could only sacrifice himself to become the eternal mist barrier, isolating Pandaria from the outside world.

Our ancestors thought this arduous journey was over, but after the fog rose, the real threat suddenly appeared!
According to records, it was a 'black lightning bolt' that descended from the sky and landed in the tomb of the ancient tyrant of the Mogu, the Lightning King.

That terrible tyrant has been resurrected!
Not only him, but also the terracotta army under his command that made the world tremble.

Stonestep manipulated the smoke to create a grim battlefield scene, in which a tall Mogu wielding a giant axe unleashed chilling lightning, sweeping across the Pandaren monks led by the Celestials.

"At that time, even the bravest pandaren thought we were doomed, but Emperor Shaohao's soul did not stand idly by. He had become one with the land he loved, and transformed from the wind to engage in a final battle with Thor."

It was a terrible battle that lasted for three days and three nights!

The battle between the two shook Kun-Lai Summit, and it is said that the mountain collapsed, exposing the secret palace of Thor and the Mogu, which was also the target of the Thunder King.

He has hidden a legion there that can sweep across the world.

To stop this catastrophe, Emperor Shaohao entered the cave with the King of Thunder. No one knows what happened inside, but neither our emperor nor the Mogu emperor ever came out again.

They've simply vanished.

At this point, Elder Shi Bu changed to a cold and gloomy tone.

He emphasized:

"But the Mogu were not discouraged; they firmly believed that Thor was still alive!"

Some warlords and wizards claimed to hear their emperor's commands in their dreams. Horrible things followed: the stone golems turned to flesh and blood in a short time, and the dead mogu were resurrected by a chilling power. Undead legions were assembled by these warlike warlords. They believed this to be the 'blessing' of the Thunder King and waged war across the continent in his name.

At the most dangerous time, the alliance of Pandaren, Jinyu, Hozuki, and even Yawi was suppressed in the Jade Forest's Heavenly Zen Temple.

That was the closest the Pandaren civilization ever came to extinction.

However, just when we were in dire straits, an unexpected 'friend' came to our aid.

"Mantis demon?"

Diakum asked a question, and Elder Shi Bu stroked his beard and nodded, saying:
"Yes, those mantis demons that were blocked outside the Panlong Ridge were at the start of their cruel 'Great Reincarnation' once every hundred years. Without the protection of the Black-Clad Warriors, they easily crossed the Panlong Ridge."

Thousands upon thousands of mantid swept across the land that once belonged to us, but had been taken over by the Mogu undead army.

The Mogu would not tolerate the Mantid; they considered them defeated adversaries.

The dead spared their forces to fight the mantis demons, but the ferocious mantis demons were very organized. They successively opened several demon seals, which were the power of the evil god 'Dominator' that they worshipped.

With the enhancement of the evil energy, the mantises that year were almost unstoppable!
Ironically, when the dead of winter arrived that year, the Mogu were even forced to form a temporary alliance with us to fight against the already formed Mantid army.

According to records, it took both sides ten years to drive the Mantid back to the Dread Wastes from the north and south. After that battle, Pandaria was in ruins and in need of rebuilding. It took our ancestors nearly three hundred years to emerge from the shadow of chaos.

The three powers on this continent are not friends, but we have been forced to coexist in an awkward way.

For thousands of years afterward, the war between the three races never ceased. The Pandaren and Mogu fought together against the Mantid, but when the Mogu invaded the Dread Wastes, the Mantid High Queen also sent a messenger to contact us to fight against the forces of death together.

The three parties have reached a strange 'balance', and none of them can completely eliminate the others.

Especially for us and the Mantid, if either side is completely wiped out, the remaining side will face the terrifying undead army alone. The Mogu are adept at capturing souls, and the 'blessing' of death makes them even more powerful. If the living do not unite, the dead will devour everything.

The traveling scholar sighed and said:
"This is the current situation in Pandaria, very complex and intertwined, with each side intertwined with the other."

Jade Forest, Valley of the Four Winds, and the eastern part of Kun-Lai Summit are Pandaren and their allies' territories.

The Dread Wastes, the Mantid Plateau, and the Krasarang Jungle are mostly Mantid territory.

The Mogu warlords and their undead legions roam the mountains of Kun-Lai Summit and the Mantid Plateau, and their undead spirits are said to roam in every hidden tomb across the continent. It is also said that they have powerful fortresses left behind by Thor in the archipelago in the northwest of the continent.

They don't need food, water, or even living space.

If it weren't for the internal strife and infighting among the resurrected Mogu kings from different dynasties, this war would probably have ended long ago.

The four commanders exchanged glances.

The situation in Pandaria was indeed more complex than they had anticipated; even the currently chaotic eastern continent seemed orderly in comparison.

The three-way war here lasted for a full ten thousand years, with alliances and betrayals becoming the main theme of Pandaria.

"But how did you manage to avoid being affected by the evil spirits?"

Saloras asked curiously:
"Isn't it said that experiencing any intense emotional fluctuation in Pandaria could lead to Sha infection? It's understandable that the Mogu are the dead and not afraid of these things, and it's also understandable that the Mantid are unaffected, but you Pandaren seem to be minimally affected?"

"Because of the teachings and protection of the Four Heavenly Gods, because the warriors fight against the demons in their hearts every day, thus forming a special tradition, and also because of the protection of Emperor Shaohao."

Shi Bu explained:
"Although Emperor Shaohao disappeared along with Thor, his power has remained on this land. Most importantly, the Mantis Demon has released four Fiends, and they have gathered the power of the Fiends together using some kind of secret method."

This is said to be in order to resurrect their ruler.

Furthermore, the Mogu wizards would also use spells to dispel the Sha's tyranny.

However, there have been rumors that the reason why the Sha of Pandaria are not as active as before is because there is some kind of 'sacred relic' in Kun-Lai Summit.

In fact, our monks regard such negative effects as a test of their mind, especially the heroes of the Shado-Pan, who have always pursued the state of "a clear mind that can stop war with martial arts," and their lives are spent fighting against evil spirits.

The reason you are so severely affected is simply because it is your first time encountering these dangerous things.

I believe your holy light will protect you.

To be honest, Diakum didn't quite believe this explanation. The Pandaren, trapped in the Mist Barrier, didn't have a deep understanding of the Six Forces, but the Vigilant knew very well that the weakening of the Sha's influence might not be some kind of "suppression."

"Death and the void are both negative forces, but they are incompatible with each other."

The vigilant tapped on the table and said:

"Ten thousand years ago, the Force of Death left something in the 'heart' of Pandaria, and that thing's power to abhor the Void dispelled it."

The mantids' gathering of the Sha wasn't solely for the purpose of resurrecting Y'Shaarj; they might also have been doing so to 'protect' the Sha from being destroyed or suppressed by the Death Force.

"Ok?"

In his astonishment, Elder Shi Bu plucked out a lock of his beard.

He stared at Diakum in astonishment and said:

"You said that ten thousand years ago, the Force of Death left something on our continent? What do you mean by that?"

Dick then recounted the secrets of the War of the Ancients that they knew so far to the Pandaren elder, and briefly explained the conflict of the six Forces. The elder listened, somewhat bewildered, and after a dozen seconds of silence, he said:
"You mean Thor's sudden resurrection, the Mogu's turning to death, and the disappearance of Emperor Shaohao were all orchestrated by a great demon lord? That evil force from the underworld has been hiding right under our noses for ten thousand years?"

"Yes."

Diakum said seriously:

“We need to go to Kun-Lai Summit! There’s an important node in the Universe of All Things left by the Titans there. In their system, that place is called the ‘Naracsha Engine,’ which is an important facility that directly connects to the Star Soul’s body.”

That's exactly why we're here.

This world desperately needs to have those dark tentacles of death uprooted; only then can He be healthy.

"This is amazing."

Elder Shi Bu rubbed his furry ears and said:

"The Supreme Star Soul, the World Mother, the conflict of the Six Forces, the trap of the Death Force—these are all concepts we have never heard of before. But we must say that, compared to the answers we have drawn from the blind men and the elephant over the past ten thousand years, the news you bring may provide a more accurate explanation of everything that has happened in Pandaria."

I must submit these important findings to the Travelling Scholar Headquarters immediately!

In addition, Kun Lai Sanctuary is a key military location where the three sides are engaged in combat.

It is guarded by Shadowkhan heroes and Blackguards; you must obtain permission if you intend to go there.

If you're not in a hurry, I'll extend an invitation to Master Zhutalan right now. He's the current military commander of the Pandaren and the most powerful Grandmaster Monk among them.

He wields the Dragon Staff left behind by Emperor Shaohao, possesses extraordinary martial arts skills, and has received the true teachings of the Four Heavenly Gods. It is said that he is only one step away from the realm of 'unity of heaven and man'.

This matter is far too important; it requires the personal approval of Sect Leader Zhu Talan.

"Okay, we'll wait here."

Diakum nodded and personally escorted Elder Stonestep out of the room.

It was already late at night when the moon was bright and the stars were few. Just as the two were saying goodbye, a vortex like quicksand suddenly appeared, and then Chromie jumped out, holding a staff that was taller than herself.

The dusty, battered bronze dragon looked as if she had just fought some powerful monster. With a unique mix of anticipation and joy, she called out to Diakum:

"I've found the island you were talking about!"
It really is isolated outside the timeline, how amazing! Oh my god, the Balrog King really did escape there! That guy is unwilling to accept defeat and is gathering the fire bull cultists on the island to prepare to build a large army for a counterattack.

Moreover, I even saw a Kun (a mythical fish) on the island!

"Huh? What are you saying, you little black-haired brat?"

(End of this chapter)