Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 418, Section 27. The Curse of Greed? The Curse of Greed? No, we should call it the "Curse of Surplus Value"! - Bonus Chapter [35]

(Bonus chapter for the "Taoshuke" brothers [3/5])
There are many ruins in the Kasanglang jungle.

The most famous of these is called "Duyang Ruins," which is the ruins of the palace of an emperor of the Mogu who ruled Pandaria before the establishment of the Pandaren Empire.

Why would the Mogu emperor build his palace in the relatively harsh environment of the Krasarang Jungle?

The answer is micro-management!
It is said that Emperor Duyang was ambitious and eager for glory. In order to conquer the lizardman bandits who had been causing trouble on the border of the empire, he disregarded the opposition of his court officials and launched a personal expedition. However, he underestimated the harsh environment of the Kassanlang Jungle, resulting in heavy casualties among the Mogu soldiers.

That was supposed to be the end of it, but then his army discovered the Fountain of Youth there.

In order to seize this "strategic resource," Emperor Duyang continued to mobilize a large army to conquer. After he inexplicably "died of illness" despite having the "Fountain of Immortality" in his possession, his son, Emperor Duyang II, continued to preside over the great purge of the lizard people.

As a result, this Du Yang II can be described as a prime example of someone who is both incompetent and loves to play.

His massive troop deployments caused widespread resentment within the Mogu Empire, leading to numerous slave uprisings across the land. He himself was assassinated by lizardmen assassins, and his sudden death left him no time to arrange his affairs, directly plunging the empire into turmoil.

Then comes the unfortunate appearance of Raofi, the last emperor of the Mogu.

That period also saw the Pandaren rallying other slaves to revolt. It could be said that an assassination by the Lizardmen in the jungle directly triggered a change of dynasty in Pandaria.

However, the natural environment of the Krasarang Jungle was too extreme, so the Pandaren Empire maintained a loose rule over the area after its establishment. The lizardmen gathered in the jungle, and the Pandaren, having learned from the Mogu's experience, did not launch a major attack on them, but merely established the fortified town of Zhujiaji to keep an eye on them.

After the Zhuhe Temple was established in the jungle, the local lizardmen rarely attacked the temple. It wasn't that the lizardmen worshipped the Zhuhe Celestial Venerable so much, but simply because they hoped that the Celestial Venerable would suppress the Fiend of Bewilderment here, which would also benefit the lizardmen.

This thing is said to be a "biological experimental weapon" of the Mogu. They are cold-blooded animals and extremely brutal. They have no systematic civilization, but they have emotions and can be influenced by Sha.

Therefore, the most important thing for an emperor is to be steady and cautious.

Unless forced into a corner, don't do something as foolish as "leading the army in person." If things go well, you'll end up studying abroad like Emperor Baozong; if they go wrong, you'll end up like Emperor Duyang II.

The Pandaren history records this event in detail, but unfortunately, because the Krasarang Wilds is considered a "foreign land," even a wandering scholar like Zhou Zhuo dared not casually come here to pay homage to the ancients.

But the ruins left by Emperor Duyang still lie deep in the jungle, and a group of Mogu descendants left behind from the expedition still hold this place.

Those guys are elusive, following a leader called "Broye the Earthbreaker," who is said to be planning a "restoration movement" here.

They do not recognize any Mogu emperors other than the Emperor of Duyang, and even after Thor's resurrection ten thousand years ago, these guys did not go to Kun-Lai Summit to join in the celebration.

At this moment, Diakum rode the Luna Reindeer through the complex jungle environment as if it were flat ground. He approached the ruins of the Duyang Dynasty and then sensed the aura of evil energy.

Old Anzu's intelligence was as accurate as ever: the Lightforged Chapter's partners, Hot Sand and its goblins, had become "carriers" of some kind of Sha energy.

And he's not one of the Seven Deadly Sins of Pandaria!

It was a unique form of Sha energy, which most likely had not appeared on a large scale in Pandaria before.

"These guys are really outrageous."

The guard riding the deer muttered under his breath:

"How persistent must this negative will be to 'become a demon on the spot' in Pandaria? Let's just say, even if someone truly has a flawed mind, it would be very difficult to create a real, entrenched Sha energy in such a short time, right?"
Could this Hot Sand really be a 'demonic' genius?

The great stag beneath him let out a mocking sound; clearly, it didn't consider the goblin to be a genius.

Wow, that's what makes this deer different from the other sacred warhorses. Not only can it carry Diakum in fierce mounted combat, but it also has its own thoughts.

Perhaps it was due to the magical power from the moon goddess that it retained a portion of Malorne's wisdom.

This creature even knows to actively call upon moonlight to conceal its presence when near ruins, but it's not a professional at that. When it comes to truly stealth, the legendary Kaher from the Abyss in Diakum's "mount stable" is the real silent stealth master.

The vigilantes were there to fulfill the "mutual assistance" agreement with Prince Resand.

He had assumed that this audacious goblin, who had come to steal the Fountain of Youth from the restorers of Duyang, would surely be captured and beaten, but to his surprise, he witnessed a "strange sight" as he approached the ruins.

Hot Sand stood on a broken pillar in the ruins, his left hand on his chest and his right hand raised high at a 45-degree angle, delivering a strange "speech" to the group of Mogu thugs surrounding him.

What's even more absurd is that the mogu thugs who were supposed to kill it were actually listening quite attentively.

"That 'restor', who is your leader, has deceived you with a ridiculous claim that he will lead you to rebuild the empire of Emperor Duyang, but how many years has it been?"
Brave Mogu warriors, how many years have you been hiding in the Krasarang jungle with this ridiculous Restorationist?
The former imperial warriors have been reduced to bandits fighting with the lizardmen for territory, and the pandaren don't even bother to send out a large army to hunt you down!

More importantly, aren't you curious why your leader has been able to live from the time of Emperor Duyang until now?

Hot Sand's eyes were bloodshot, and its condition was visibly bad.

Streaks of black and white malevolent energy surrounded it, and even dangerous "malevolent energy armor" appeared on its body, indicating that the hot sand was being assimilated by the malevolent demon.

But its spirit was extremely high, and even its voice became extremely sharp. While shouting, it allowed the black and white evil energy on its body to spread outward. This cunning creature was actively using the evil energy to interfere with the mind in order to survive the Mogu thugs.

It screamed:

"That bastard deceived you. He claimed to have received the blessing of the Emperor of Duyang, but in reality, it was just the effect of the 'Fountain of Youth'! Look! I, an outsider, have revealed the secret of the restorers to you."

That guy should have died long ago. He's only alive because he used the Fountain of Youth to kill other Mogu and prolong his life! Do you know how much life a Mogu can gain after he kills him?

Fifty years!
At least fifty years!

I heard from the Pandaren of Zhuhe Temple that you had a legion more than a thousand years ago, but now, all that's left of you is this small number.

Aside from the warriors killed by the lizardmen, the other Mogu died under mysterious circumstances. Don't you ever think about that?"

Hot Sand took the bottles and jars hanging from its body and threw them to the surrounding mogu thugs, waving its fist and shouting:

"If you don't believe me, go and try it and see if I'm right. These jars contain the Fountain of Youth that I stole, cough cough, and managed to get."

Give it a try!

"I am giving you the Fountain of Youth, which was once exclusively possessed by 'Earthbreaker' Broyer. It is a legacy left to the Mogu by Emperor Duyang, and every Mogu is entitled to inherit it. You are all entitled to enjoy this 'power of immortality.'"

At this point, Hot Sand changed its tone, becoming even more fervent. It opened its arms and shouted amidst the black and white intertwined evil energy:

Good things should be shared, right? Anyone who dares to infringe on your interests should be beaten to death!

That bastard killed so many of your brothers, don't you feel any anger?

think about it!
Having absorbed the lives of so many Mogu warriors, how powerful must Broye's life force be?
Go kill him!

He shared his life with everyone present.

You can all become strong.

You've been living like savages in this jungle for thousands of years. Don't you want to leave and enjoy the outside world? Let me tell you, the continent of Pandaria is right on the golden shipping route in the South China Sea, and massive amounts of wealth pass through here every day.

Warriors, as long as you use your power wisely, I can guarantee that you will live the most luxurious life in the world in a short time, and each of you will be able to enjoy the same luxuries as Emperor Duyang.

Your leader can only provide you with a savage camp and unpaid hard labor. You can't even control your own life and death. Why should you follow him?
You need to learn to choose more suitable leaders.

Yes!

I!
Prince Ressa of the Ressa Foundation, I will sign a very good contract with you.

Let's work together to accomplish great things and make your name known in the South China Sea shipping lanes. I'll take care of your logistics, and you just need to do what you do best. Stop being slaves to your masters.

Slavery is so damn outdated. Why don't you follow me and start some goblin capitalism?

Work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. The rest of the time is yours to do. I'll even give you one day off a month. Play however you want.

There are even staff dormitories in Hot Sands Port for you. You only need to pay basic rent to get shelter from the wind and rain. After work, you can go to the pub to have some fun. I'm so happy for you!

I'll give you a basic allowance to guarantee you a share even if you don't do anything. As for how much you earn, that depends on your abilities. Prince Resand never mistreats hardworking employees. If you work under me for three years, you'll even receive a pension.

Go out and ask around; I'm a well-regarded figure in the South China Sea!

The Mogu thugs clutched the fountain of youth in their hands, staring at each other. The goblin's Mogu language was terrible, but the meaning he wanted to convey was quite clear.

These Mogu bandits, who had lived as savages in the jungle for thousands of years, were unsure whether to listen to this goblin, but they were certainly interested in the "secret" their leader had kept hidden away.

Hot Sand keenly noticed the Mogu thugs' hesitation and wavering. Seeing that the time was right, he drew out his voice and hypocritically advised, "Of course, I might have misunderstood your leader. Maybe he's been covering up the existence of the Fountain of Youth just to protect you?"

Go and talk to him.

Oh, whatever you do, don't bring weapons! And whatever you do, don't start a firefight!

The leaders of the mob exchanged glances, each taking a handful of the Fountain of Youth to try it out, while the Mogu mobs dispersed to various locations as ordered.

As Diakum watched with interest, angry roars soon echoed from all over the ruins.

Before long, the mogu captains with bloodshot eyes rushed over, called their brothers, grabbed various heavy weapons, and ran to "explain the pros and cons" to their leader.

They conducted experiments on small animals around them and realized they had indeed been deceived.

Having narrowly escaped death, Hot Sand sat down on a pillar with a guilty conscience after seeing the last Mogu leave. It wiped the sweat from its forehead and looked expectantly into the depths of the ruins.

Judging from its appearance, it's clear that it's hoping those Mogu people will actually join its ranks.

This guy is reckless.

Even in this state, they still think about making a quick buck from these dangerous half-giants.

"Where are your other servants?"

Diakum emerged from the forest, and upon seeing him, Hot Sand let out a joyful shriek. The guilt in the man's eyes vanished instantly, like a fox finally meeting its tiger.

It stood on the pillar and shouted loudly:

"Come quickly, my friend. With your military support, I'm even more confident in recruiting this group of Mogu. They're not very bright, but they're extremely loyal, powerful, and well-trained."

What a fine warrior! What a fierce dog!

All I need to do is take them out of this godforsaken place, and I'll immediately have a top-tier military force in Azeroth. To hell with the Kul Tiras fleet! I'm going to have my own elite legion too!

They will protect my Fountain of Youth business, and all the kings and nobles of the world will kneel at my feet, all for that one bottle of the Fountain of Immortality.

I can name any price, and they have no choice but to accept it.

Is there any better business in the world? We'll soon be able to buy the whole world.

“But something is wrong with you, Hot Sand. Tell me, where are your other servants?”

The vigilant stepped forward, looked at it, and said:
"Was it that voice in your head that made you do this? What was it saying to you?"

"A voice? What voice? Isn't that my own inner voice?"

Hot Sand's eyes widened, and he shouted excitedly and wildly:
"I saw the wealth that no one cared about, I saw the profits waiting to be harvested by me, and I could feel the surplus value that was not being used properly!"
Yes.

This world is full of fools who are ambitious but can't realize their potential. What I need to do is give them a chance and make them work for me willingly!

Their victory will be my victory, just like planting my own field of leeks and then, at the right moment, wielding a sickle to cut them down.

No no no no!
I will design a more perfect set of rules, so that they will reap what they sow, and then offer up their most precious possessions with eager smiles, just to receive my reward.

It will keep operating, even without me.

My body will decay, my life will come to an end, but the system I leave behind will continue to operate; it will not tire, it will not soften, and it will not fall into slumber.

Those profits, wealth, and power will make the whole world my playground; as long as the ideas I leave behind continue to develop and expand, I will achieve immortality.

The hot sand waved its hands, passionately describing its desire, and shouted:

"The others? Everyone else has scattered. They also want the Fountain of Youth, and they want to steal my money! They're all a bunch of thieves!"

“You are seriously ill, but I don’t believe that the infection by the evil spirits can bring about such a miraculous effect.”

Diakum grabbed Hot Sand's wrist and instantly entered Void Form. The moment the Dark Empire's Blade was drawn, Hot Sand let out a chilling scream.

"No! Keep that thing away from me, my ambition and my desire. Greed, listen to me, Diakum, greed is not a bad thing! It makes us confident, it makes us hungry and clear-headed, it speeds up our efficiency and makes the whole world run in a better way."

Don't take it away; I need it to continue to inspire me.

The goblin pleaded, but the shimmering black dagger pierced its body the next moment. No blood flowed out; it seemed that the blade, surrounded by three faint black and white lights, had penetrated something deeper.

The demonic creatures on the hot sand screamed in agony.

Perhaps it could be called the 'Desire'?
This thing doesn't have the same visibly terrifying destructive power as other Sha, but Diakum is certain that if Hot Sands were to bring it from Pandaria into the South China Sea, it would probably create something even more "terrifying" in no time.

Hmm, residual value and stuff like that, doesn't sound like something protected by the Holy Light.

the most important is
"You can do all those things you just claimed to do without it! This thing will only make you more fanatical, make you abandon your proud composure, and turn you into a gambler of fate."

The Watcher drew the blade of the Dark Empire and said to Prince Hot Sand, who had just regained consciousness while slumped against a stone pillar:

“You have your own ‘art of the deal,’ and I believe you can make history without these underhanded tricks. Now, are you calm?”

Hot Sand rubbed its forehead, then slapped itself hard across the face, saying with deep regret:

"I must be fucking crazy!"
I actually promised those Mogu people compensation.
What the hell!

They don't need any compensation!

Given their previous living conditions, I only need to treat them like ordinary employees, and that will be enough to make them grateful.

Yes.

They lived in the era of slavery, and I shouldn't give them so much all at once. Favors must be given gradually, and rewards must be given step by step, otherwise it will only breed a group of insatiable people.

Thank you, my friend.

Hot Sand rubbed its swollen face and said to Diakum with a look of resistance:

"Take that thing away. You're right, it only affects my ability to make the right judgments and causes me unnecessary profit losses. I could have squeezed 100 points of residual value out of these mogu thugs, but this thing only gives me 85 points."

"That's unbelievable."

"Uh."

Diakum glanced at the Dark Empire Blade in his hand and sighed:
“I take back what I just said, Hot Sand. You’re hopeless. You should leave Pandaria as soon as possible. Your mind is too cluttered with distractions. Staying here will only lead to trouble.”

"No rush, I need to go to the Emerald Forest."

Hot Sand waved his hand and said:
"Pandaria has fertile land that yields a harvest every day, which means this continent is destined to become the food trade center of Azeroth in the future. I have to monopolize this business before potential competitors emerge."

Ha, even the noblest High Elves can't go without food. Perhaps I should think of a way to create a food crisis to raise food prices, and then take the opportunity to dump my produce.

Do not!
"I might have to take down other grain-producing areas first, like the Fertile West."

"Swish"

A sharp blade of light danced in Diakum's hand. The Watcher stared at his partner and said quietly:
"Come on, look at this beautiful knife, and repeat what you just said."

"I was wrong."

Hot sand makes you kneel instantly.

It pointed to its head and screamed:

"It must be that thing wasn't completely cleaned up. It turned into a little devil and is tempting me to think dangerously. My partner, since I started working with you, I've held myself to extremely high moral standards."

I even gave my employees a raise!
Voluntarily raise your salary!

You know, I've reformed, really.

(End of this chapter)