Light's Dawn of Azeroth

Chapter 420, Section 29: Ysera, Your Mom's Calling You to Fight! - Bonus Chapter for "Taoshuke" Brothers [55]

Diakum had originally planned to visit the Pandaren territory of "Half-Mountain" and, if possible, experience the life of the "Pathfinders".

But with such heavy responsibilities, he had no freedom of movement.

Three days after returning to the Temple of the Azure Dragon, he set off again with the Lightforged. The Exodar traversed the mountains and valleys of Pandaria, and finally landed on a rather secluded mountain platform, following the map provided by the Shado-Pan.

Because of its extremely high altitude, the area is shrouded in damp and cold mist all year round, which is why locals call it the "Mist Veil Plank Road".

This walkway is the only natural mountain path connecting the Valley of the Four Winds and Mount Kun Lai. Its famous Ten Thousand Steps are built in the steep cliffs, almost as if a passable road was carved out of the mountain itself.

That passage was built during the Mogu era by enslaving Pandaren artisans, who paid countless sacrifices and poured their blood and sweat into it. After the Pandaren took over the power in Pandaria, they also worked very hard to maintain this road.

They also erected a statue here to commemorate the stonemasons who sacrificed their lives to carve out the walkway.

Therefore, there is a famous scenic spot on the misty boardwalk called "The Stonemason's Folly".

Of course, given the Pandaren's fondness for summarizing anecdotes, Stonemason Fool must have his own little story, but Diakum didn't have time to come here to listen to the Pandaren's stories when he got off the spaceship.

The reason he stopped at this mountain platform was not only to resupply the Lightforgers, but also to accomplish an important task.

Or rather, a "trial".

“Yongchun Terrace is located northwest of Misty Tavern. I will personally take you there in a moment.”

As agreed, Sect Leader Zhu Talan was waiting here with several Shadow Masters. After the two sides met, Sect Leader Zhu solemnly said to Diakum:
"That place is protected by the Emperor's restrictions, which prevent too many people from entering. Based on my previous experience, you'd better go alone, otherwise you might offend the Jinyu Elder and Lord Zhulong who are guarding Yongchun Terrace."

They spent years suppressing demons in the emperor's palace. Although they were determined, the long years made them very indifferent to changes in the outside world.

As for the others, they can rest and do some shopping at the Misty Tavern for now.

Master Zhu pointed to the Pandaren tavern hidden among the pine forests and clouds not far away, and said in a subtle tone:

"The hot springs in the tavern are a unique feature of Pandaria, known for their ability to improve blood circulation, relieve bruises, and calm the mind. The owner here, Lady Guoya, is a highly capable intelligence strategist who also runs a black market business."

If you're planning to take some 'souvenirs' home, then the Misty Tavern is a resting place you shouldn't miss.

The other Lightforged commanders were somewhat dismissive.

This isn't arrogance; it's just that they are indeed very knowledgeable, and Pandaria has been trapped in the mist for ten thousand years, with no communication with the outside world, so the weapons in the hands of the Pandaren are not considered to be of the world's top level.

However, the vigilant nodded seriously and gestured to the twins that they should have a good talk with Madam Guo Ya later and try to build a good relationship.

While Sect Leader Zhu Talan went to prepare some necessary items, Diakum whispered an explanation to the twins and the other commanders:

"That Lady Guoya is the leader of a force called the 'Jade Lotus Gang.' The black market is just an insignificant part of their many businesses. The Jade Lotus Gang has eyes and ears all over Pandaria and is the assassin and intelligence organization on this continent."

Moreover, I am certain that the Jade Lotus Gang holds a much stronger position here than Ravenholdt Manor has in the Eastern Continent.

Once the fog of war lifts, this organization will undoubtedly sweep across the shadowy regions of Azeroth in a short time. The Jade Lotus's ninja masters are not to be underestimated; cooperating with them would be a good option if we want to capture those ethereal bandits.

"I see."

The twins nodded, and Yrel blinked, ready to go on a shopping spree at the Pandaren black market.

However, just as Diakum and Master Zhutalan were about to set off for Yongchun Terrace, the mysterious Lady Guoya appeared on her own initiative. Behind her, a tall, taciturn panda handed two unique weapons to the two of them.

Madam Guo introduced the two to each other in a gentle voice:

"These are special weapons that we recently seized from the Mantid in the Dread Wastes through some 'special channels,' and those heroes only completed the forging of these weapons in recent years."

They call it the 'Demonic Weapon'.

I heard that Zhu He Tianzun was injured by such weapons, which shows how dangerous they are. However, I believe that weapons themselves are neither good nor evil. The mantis demons use them to harm righteous people, but heroes can also use them to uphold justice.

Therefore, these two weapons are entrusted to the two heroes to take to Yongchun Terrace to assist you in overcoming the obstacles.

Diakum didn't reply, but simply reached out and stroked the black and white two-handed great axe. The blade of this thing was covered with a murderous aura that spread like blood vessels, adding to its unique sharpness.

He glanced at the weapon's description; it was actually of ordinary legendary quality, but it had a unique "Demonic" attribute.

The more negative emotions a user harbors and the more fixated they are, the more destructive this thing becomes, and it also has an additional killing effect on creatures of the Order faction.

Upon closer analysis, this should be a "faction artifact" unique to the Void side.

Diakum had no use for the giant axe; he had passed the point where he needed weapons to enhance his destructive power.

Zhu Talan did not refuse Madam Guo Ya's help.

He had challenged the trials of Yongchun Terrace before, and he knew how dangerous the power within that palace was, but the Shadow Sect Leader also knew that this "widow" before him was not so kind.

As he replaced his original weapon with the black and white, insect-limb-like, grimy gauntlets, he said:

"The Jade Lotus Gang must have suffered considerable casualties in obtaining this item. What kind of reward do you want?"

“Once this is done, Yongchun Terrace will be ours. If the Jade Lotus Gang wants to step into the light, it needs a stable headquarters.”

Madam Guo Ya was truly unafraid of angering Zhu Talan; she made an outrageous demand:
"We cannot only consider the present; we must have a long-term vision. In the future, as Pandaria integrates into the outside world, you and the sages of the Golden Lotus will always need wise eyes and ears. We are happy to start 'whitewashing' now and eventually become a branch of the Shado-Pan."

The war in Pandaria may be coming to an end. As the leader, I must consider the livelihood of my brothers in the fight. I hope you can give us poor souls who live in the shadows a chance.

We can also love Pandaria.

We too can become the Shadow Guardians of the Pandaren.

Zhu Talan did not answer immediately; such matters required discussion and research.

However, Diakum, leaning on his black and white giant axe, said to Lady Guoya, who had been secretly observing him:
“There is an organization called ‘Military Intelligence Seven’ on the eastern continent. They are preparing for a war to unify humanity, but they are short of manpower. If you need any of them, you can talk to the lady in black next to me. She can make an introduction.”

Furthermore, if you can procure more Sha-stained weapons for my Shadowwalkers, I can also introduce you to Draenor, where we don't yet have a well-established intelligence network.

Mrs. Guo's eyes lit up.

This was exactly the opportunity she longed for, but she knew that she couldn't discuss the specifics with the top leaders, who were all very busy and had to focus their energy on more important matters.

Such tedious tasks are handled by designated personnel.

Therefore, the leader of the Jade Lotus Gang bowed and made a guarantee:
"If you can create chaos in the Fear Wastes, the Jade Lotus Gang can help you obtain the crafting methods for these Sha-stained divine weapons. Instead of stealing them from the Mantises, why not make them yourselves?"

"There will be an opportunity. Please treat my soldiers well. I'll be right back."

Diakum nodded and disappeared into the mist of the Misty Veil Plank Road with Zhu Talan. Ignoring the "guests" that were faintly visible in the mist, the two quickly arrived at the extravagantly luxurious palace gate of Yongchun Terrace.

This palace was not a luxury enjoyed by the Pandaren emperor, but rather something the Pandaren "inherited" from the Mogu emperor, filled with the overly straightforward and extravagant style of the Mogu.

Even the decorations on the vermilion gate were made of gold.

"Once you push open this door, you can only move forward bravely."

Zhu Talan reminded him:

"Although Emperor Shaohao did not mention Yongchun Terrace much in his notes, based on the research of scholars over the years, we can be fairly certain that the culprit that forced Emperor Shaohao to sacrifice himself to set up the mist barrier, the 'Arrogant Demon,' should be sealed here."

That's why the two powerful figures, Lord Zhulong and the Monkey King, joined forces to suppress it.

His Majesty Shaohao reminded you on the Timeless Isle that you must come here, probably hoping that you would use your unique power to remove the shadow of arrogance from Pandaria.

At this point, Sect Leader Zhu said with some shame:

"We have fought against other evil spirits for many years and have a special mental cultivation method to combat negative emotions, but this 'arrogance' is really hard to grasp. All those with great power have arrogance, and it is an almost insurmountable obstacle."

I have also been stuck on this path for many years, and have never been able to reach the state of 'harmony between man and nature'.

The reason I lost that previous challenge was because of my mindset.

"Don't laugh at me, but I was almost consumed by my own arrogance. I only escaped with my life because Lord Zhulong threw me out of here."

He sighed and said sadly:

"If I cannot overcome this obstacle, I will never have the chance to reach the pinnacle of martial arts in this lifetime."

“You have a long life ahead of you, why worry about this? You will protect me in a moment.”

Dick tore open a rift in the lightless sea and threw the tainted divine weapon into it, handing it over to the swarm to study whether its characteristics could be inherited by the swarm.

He then reached out and pushed open the heavy palace gate. Amidst the deep, echoing sound, a rather elegant royal palace came into view, far more luxurious than any human king's palace.

They've incorporated a natural lake and half a mountain into it.

This royal courtyard holds many secrets, but what Diakum is looking for is on the golden viewing platform in front of the lake. As he stepped onto the Everlasting Spring Terrace, a pressure weighed on his shoulders.

It was as if a pair of eyes were observing and analyzing him.

This guy's strength is absurd. The combined power of the three-headed demons—the ones previously suppressed by doubt, fear, and despair—is still weaker than him. And most importantly...
"The Pride of Arrogance has a vessel!"

Dick squinted and said to Zhu Talan:

“No wonder you couldn’t defeat it before. You’re not only fighting the power of arrogance, but also a wild god enhanced by Sha energy. Even I would find it a troublesome enemy.”

"How is this possible?" Zhu Talan exclaimed in surprise.

"If it had a vessel, then the arrogant evil energy should have erupted long ago. A demon with or without a vessel is a completely different concept."

"How can it be sealed without a carrier?"

Diakum flicked his wrist, and Ashbringer leaped into his hand. Amidst the rows of blades of light, he strode forward, the scorching light spreading outwards. He proclaimed:

"A self-sacrificing god of the wilderness used himself as a cage to imprison the Pride within its body, using his own body as a prison to keep the shadow of arrogance here for ten thousand years, preventing it from escaping the Terrace of Eternal Spring to wreak havoc on all living beings."

This is perhaps why I particularly love the land of Pandaria.

This place not only has the four Celestials who share weal and woe with the Pandaren, but also noble leaders who are willing to sacrifice themselves to protect all living beings, and reclusive individuals who are no less self-sacrificing than them.

It is precisely because these people persevered through the fog that the outside world has been able to leisurely pass through ten thousand years.

Show yourself!

He shouted:
“Shaohao sent me here not only to exorcise the evil demon, Monkey King! He also asked me to come so that his respectable companion could be ‘released’.”

"Tch, what kind of blue-skinned, hairless monster dares to spout nonsense here?"

A sharp, mocking voice rang out from all directions of the royal palace, making it impossible to pinpoint where the creature was hiding. Yet, its voice was filled with a kind of boisterous, cheerful merriment, as if it were treating this as yet another amusing spectacle.

"Hey, isn't this Xiao Zhu? What brings you here to get beaten up again? Wasn't the lesson from over ten years ago profound enough?"

The voice sneered:
"Go away, go away, don't disturb this great master's meditation and enlightenment here. Don't blame me for not warning you, if you go any further, you'll be in the Asura Hell."

"Pretend to be a ghost!"

As soon as the vigilant stepped into the palace square, the great sages of the Jinyu people emerged angrily from the water.

As staunch allies of the Pandaren, they voluntarily stayed here to suppress the evil energy after Shao Hao sacrificed himself, unwilling to let the outside world disturb the peace of this place.

Master Zhu intended to step forward to help, but saw the Vigilant charge into the Jinyu Sage amidst a burst of light. The scorching light obscured their figures, and all that could be heard were screams and the brutal blows of fists.

A dozen seconds later, the light faded, and the vigilant continued forward, his clothes still intact, while the great sages, their faces bruised and swollen, lay on the ground, breathing heavily.

They are the Koi fish people!

They are fish!

Those ten seconds or so were like taking a fish out of the water and leaving it to dry in the sun for days. If you sprinkle some salt on it, it'll become a real "old salted fish".

At this moment, Lao Zhu also realized something.

Oh, so being your protector means helping you clean up the aftermath of these battles, right? What about all the "materials for clearing the gate" that I've been painstakingly preparing these past few days?

Master Zhu inwardly grumbled, seeing that they no longer needed his help, he stepped forward to assist the several Jinyu Great Sages, dragging them to safety. Looking up, he saw Diakum already rushing towards the golden observation deck and warned him:

"Lord Zhulong is right there! He is a formidable rival."

"Ow"

Like an announcer, as soon as Old Zhu finished shouting, a desolate dragon roar rang out from the lake ahead. Amidst the explosion of the swirling water, a golden cloud dragon burst forth and pounced towards Diakum in the storm of thunderclouds and shadows.

The vigilant had no intention of getting entangled in a fight with this guy.

This giant creature looks tough and can fly. Most importantly, the light and shadow surrounding it indicate that the Candle Dragon also has dual powers, capable of brute force but wasting a lot of time.

Therefore, the vigilant decisively chose to "call for reinforcements".

As he twirled his hand, a tender, emerald-green branch of the World Tree leaped out. With a gentle swipe beside him, a dream gate opened, and the roar of the Candle Dragon sounded like a wake-up call, or perhaps a pre-arranged signal.

As Emperor Shaohao's former companions roared and charged down, a colossal dragon, its silver and green hues intertwined, emerged from the dream and bravely met them head-on.

Ysera the Sleeper joins the battle!

She was originally intended as an external aid for Diakum by the World Mother to deal with the major troubles in Pandaria, and her appearance at this time is perfectly timed.

Its Primal Silver Dragon form is extremely adept at close-quarters combat, and coupled with Ysera's power over dreams that can heal all things, seeing the Candle Dragon's erratic state, one knows it desperately needs "psychological therapy."

Then let Ysera gently awaken the sleeping soul with her claws.

The two enormous creatures entangled and fought fiercely, their roars echoing across the wilderness. Ysera was entangled by the Candle Dragon and seemed about to be strangled, but her trident-like tail also wrapped around the Candle Dragon's head. Both exerted their strength simultaneously, tearing apart its scales and spilling dragon blood.

Amidst the deafening roar, the two dragons crashed to the ground, sending bricks and stones flying and shattering, before plunging forward again, creating a chaotic and terrifying battle.

Unfortunately, all of this was left behind by the vigilant.

He had already stepped onto the golden viewing platform, and as he approached the lake, he heard the Monkey King's mocking words:
"You're quite popular, kid, managing to get so many people to fight for you. But I have my own friends too, little Lei Shi. Some bad guys have come to bully your Uncle Monkey King."

"For the sake of me playing with you for ten thousand years, why don't you hurry up and come out to fight?"

"Hey, who dares to bully my friend?!"

The lake waters swirled into a bursting vortex, and a water spirit with a festive panda-like style leaped out, riding the spiritual waters. Judging from its voice, it was a child.

Elemental creatures are just that absurd; even after ten thousand years, this naturally grown essence of spiritual water still hasn't matured into an adult.

But the little Raish in front of her now was not the "soft-voiced but incredibly mean-spirited pushover" that Diakum remembered. Having played with the Monkey King for ten thousand years, one can imagine how unruly she was.

Seeing Diakum charging towards them with his giant blade, the water spirit howled and stirred up a tide in an attempt to drive this "blue-skinned hairless monster" out!

She regarded Yongchun Terrace as her own home, and naturally would not allow outsiders to bully her playmates.

The surging tide swept and engulfed Diakum, but amidst the swirling waters, Little Raish sensed something was wrong.

Not only was that guy not swept away, but a destructive, scorching power was gathering and erupting within his own stream.

The ancient water spirit panicked and was about to summon more water to drive away the enemy when it was hit on the head by the hand of the fire demon that was smashed out by the tearing tide.

"what!"

Shui Ling let out a piercing scream, but in reality, her head was not actually damaged.

Although water and fire are incompatible, the fact that she was born in a secret place like Yongchun Terrace, where energy gathers, shows that she is not a "proper element". Although her energy level is indeed not at the level of an elemental monarch, considering that Little Raish is still young, her power after she fully grows up should not be underestimated.

At this moment, faced with Ragnaros the Lightlord's provocative roar, Little Rasch, driven by his bull-like spirit, simply rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward to fight, no longer thinking about protecting his "Monkey King Uncle".

This scene left the Monkey King, who was hiding behind the pool, feeling quite helpless. He cursed, "I've spoiled you all these years for nothing," before finally making his way out.

A monkey.

Or rather, a large, gray-haired monkey.

Wearing the monk's robe left by Shao Hao, but the wide sleeves were too big for his thin body to support, making him look like a comical monkey in a theatrical costume, with a monkey king crown on his head that had a very "clan style".

Its nearly bald tail wagged back and forth. It scratched the mane on its neck and pulled out a handful of fur, as if it felt that its shedding was the intruder's fault, and glared angrily at Diakum.

The change in its emotions caused a surge of eerie blue malevolent energy to surround it, forming a menacing "back spirit."

"Among all the monkeys in the world, only I am immune to the corruption of the Sha. Only I have suppressed the Sha of Pride for ten thousand years to keep it from running rampant. If it were anyone else in the world, Pandaria would have been a river of blood long ago."

Leaning on the legendary Staff of Fortune, the old monkey, now quite frail, rubbed his aching back amidst the backdrop of the elemental war and the destruction of heaven and earth, and said helplessly to Diakum:

"I would have preferred to perish with it, but you insisted on taking on this heavy burden that could potentially drag you to the underworld, under the command of the meddlesome Shao Hao."

you guy
Is he truly that selfless?

"So, ever since I set foot on Pandaria, you've been hiding nearby, spying on me, haven't you?"

Diakum flicked Ashbringer, letting the holy flames engulf and burn.

He complained:

"If it weren't for Ansu, who is good at stealing and thieving, noticing that someone was watching, I really wouldn't have found you. It's not that I'm really that selfless, but if you think that mere arrogance can defeat me, you're underestimating me too much."

Come, Monkey King, take off your burden!

Shao Hao's last wish was this; please don't make things difficult for me.

Faced with this persuasion, the Monkey King forced an ugly smile, then swung his staff, performing a series of elegant staff flourishes before assuming a martial monk stance. He said:

"I'd love to dump this thing on you, you hairless idiot, and then go off to live a carefree life, but unfortunately, when I saw you, this bastard who's been clinging to me for ten thousand years and thinking about escaping every day doesn't want to leave."

There is something about you that makes it fear you.

So, you know the rules: if you want it, come and get it yourself!

Ps:

This bonus chapter is now complete! Current backlog: 115 chapters.
The next update will be on May 16th.

(End of this chapter)