After breaking free from the obstruction of the mist, Jaina's team set up camp on a nearby high ground with good visibility. Infrastructure was being rapidly constructed in the camp, while Jaina unrolled an ancient Night Elves map on a newly placed table.
Most of the place names on this map were marked in ancient Elvish, and with the addition of many local Pandaren language annotations and names, even the knowledgeable Jaina found it very difficult to read.
But after careful observation, she roughly confirmed one thing: they were currently in the eastern region of Pandaria, an area named "Jade Forest" by the locals.
Unfortunately, this map was drawn before the Great Sundering, when Pandaria was still part of the ancient Kalimdor continent and not surrounded by the sea as it is now. Therefore, she couldn't use this map to find a suitable port for her fleet.
Moreover, judging from the scenery and terrain they had seen along the way, it was likely that the entire southern region where they landed had no suitable place for large ships to dock. The southern part of Jade Forest was either shallow beaches or guarded by dense stone forests, making it completely unsuitable for long-term ship mooring.
However, solving this problem wasn't difficult. As long as they could find a town of local residents, or even ancient coastal ruins, it shouldn't be hard to find a suitable location to serve as an Alliance port and open up communication with this continent.
Just as Jaina was concentrating on drawing a new regional map based on the ancient map, a magical pocket watch she carried suddenly vibrated. She quickly took out the pocket watch and laid it flat on the table—this was a gift from Arthas, and the magical item they used to communicate.
"Jaina? It seems you've successfully found Pandaria."
Arthas's gentle voice sounded, slightly invigorating Jaina's spirit, which had been fatigued from recent days of sailing. "It's no exaggeration to say this place is a paradise on earth. You should come see it for yourself, and if you did, the time it would take us to find Varian would be even shorter."
"I wish, but I have to take some precautions beforehand," Arthas said with a hint of regret. Pandaria was indeed a peaceful land. Now that the Horde and Alliance wouldn't continue their war on this land, the threat of the Sha would likely be much smaller. "There will be a chance, but don't let your guard down. Pandaria is a land favored by the gods, but precisely because of that, many beings will want to claim it for themselves—if you encounter danger, tell me immediately, and I will be there right away."
"I'll be careful, you too."
After that, the pocket watch's magic fell silent again. Jaina let out a soft breath, and just as she was about to refocus her attention on the map in her hands, she heard shouts from the camp.
"Sentry, what is that in the sky?!"
"It's a snake! A flying snake! Everyone, be careful of attacks from local creatures!"
The sentries' shouts immediately put everyone in the camp on alert. They were all elites who had survived multiple wars and experienced various situations. Being attacked by local wildlife was nothing new to them, so they reacted quickly.
However, Jaina could clearly see with her magic that the creature flying in the sky, seemingly controlling the clouds, was not some flying snake, but a novel creature with a head resembling a dragon, a slender, snake-like body, and sharp claws.
Moreover, the other party did not seem to be wild, because on its back, there was a strangely shaped saddle, and a race that Jaina seemed to have seen somewhere...
"Pandaren?"
Jaina herself was a bit unsure. The Pandaren race had always been mysterious. Although there were rumors and records of them in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, no one knew their exact origin, because no large Pandaren settlements had ever been discovered on continents that had been almost thoroughly explored.
Although Arthas had told Jaina some things about Pandaria in advance, and Jaina knew that the largest indigenous group in Pandaria was currently the Pandaren, the appearance and style of the Pandaren on the back of that strange creature were different from the documented Pandaren she had seen.
"Archers and snipers stay alert, everyone else continue with your work. The other party should not be hostile." Jaina thought for a moment before giving the order. The other party came alone to face an entire camp and did not intentionally conceal their whereabouts. Coupled with the generally peaceful nature of the Pandaren, Jaina only maintained the most basic alert measures in the camp.
Not to mention that she was the strongest and most reliable "security measure" in the entire camp. If the other party was truly hostile and didn't take the entire camp seriously, then their temporarily built simple defenses wouldn't play any crucial role.
Soon, Jaina's conjecture was confirmed. The massive dragon-like, snake-like creature slowly descended into the open space of the camp, accompanied by wind and clouds. The seemingly bulky figure above it, however, displayed movements completely disproportionate to its size, lightly leaping onto the ground without even stirring up much dust.
Jaina skillfully cast an Arcane language spell on herself. This spell could deconstruct the language of intelligent beings and translate it into a language she could understand.
The landed Pandaren lightly adjusted the brim of his round hat, clasped his hands together, and bowed towards Jaina, his tone peaceful yet revealing a hint of sharpness.
"It's been a long time since we've seen outsiders... It seems, as the Supreme One said, the time for change has come," the Pandaren murmured to himself for a moment. "Greetings, outsider. I am Zhu Talan, the Grandmaster of the Shado-Pan, and I have been waiting for a long time."
Waiting for a long time?
Jaina responded calmly, "Hello, Grandmaster Zhu Talan, I am Jaina Proudmoore, Archmage of Dalaran and Lord of Theramore. What do you mean by 'waiting for a long time'?"
"Exactly what it means," Zhu Talan's scarf covered his face, and only a pair of bright eyes were visible under the wide brim of his hat. "Although it's difficult to say, we urgently need your help—believe me, this is also helping yourselves. I will tell you the specifics gradually."
After the Grandmaster of the Shado-Pan said these words, a sense of helplessness arose in his heart. Although he was very reluctant to admit it, the Supreme One was the Supreme One. He had originally intended to resolve this disaster invisibly with the Shado-Pan's own strength, but the outcome was not satisfactory. The Shado-Pan's offensive was blocked outside the Vale of Eternal Blossoms because they encountered an unexpected enemy—the Mogu.
After the fall of the last Mogu Empire, the Mogu had been in a state of disarray. It was for this reason that the Pandaren were able to overthrow their tyranny and establish their own civilization. The chaos within the Mogu had continued to this day.
These half-stone, half-flesh intelligent races were extremely arrogant. They would not obey anyone weaker than themselves. Therefore, Mogu warlords constantly fought among themselves, scattered throughout Pandaria, and were almost unable, and lacked the ability, to unify all Mogu forces to pose a threat to other races.
Although the Pandaren living near the Mogu territories were still often exploited and plundered by the Mogu, they were also able to repel Mogu invasions. Such friction had continued for countless years.
But this time was different. Zhu Talan saw different Mogu clans gathered together for the first time, working together for a common goal. This was undoubtedly an extremely dangerous signal. If the Mogu truly gathered a large army and elected a supreme commander, countless lives would be lost in the wars initiated by the Mogu.
This was not the worst of it. Once the Mogu army swept across Pandaria, the Sha would inevitably be stimulated and awaken again. The awakening of the Sha would in turn stimulate the Mantid outside the Serpent's Spine. With so many disasters happening simultaneously, Zhu Talan dared not imagine what terrible things would happen.
Recently, Mantid activity had increased again, and there was already a shortage of manpower at the Serpent's Spine. The Shado-Pan also had to deal with the Mogu and the potentially resurgent Sha, as well as a group of Naga causing trouble somewhere. The entire Shado-Pan was truly exhausted from dealing with everything.
It could be said that the hope of Pandaria was helplessly placed on these "outsiders" whose true strength Zhu Talan did not yet know.
Although I don't know how you managed to cross the mists and reach Pandaria, we certainly need help right now.
Zhu Talan clasped his hands and bowed to Jaina; he had already briefly explained Pandaria's many calamities to Jaina, but he didn't know how much help she could actually provide.
Upon receiving Zhu Talan's intelligence, Jaina immediately fell into deep thought: The Mogu invasion sounded troublesome, but for the Alliance's military might, it wasn't a particularly difficult matter. Instead, it was the Mantid, who resembled Nerubian, the omnipresent Sha, and the reclusive Naga that worried Jaina more.
However, when Jaina first proposed that the Alliance could assist in sending troops to fight the Mogu, Zhu Talan shook his head helplessly, "Large-scale war? No, that's not what the Mogu and we want—at least, not what we want."
"Because of the Sha?"
Jaina also grasped the key point of the problem, and Zhu Talan nodded in affirmation, "Sha grow stronger from the various emotions brought by war. Even if we win, the battlefield will become a barren wasteland, and terrifying Sha will continuously be born there—Pandaren cultivate themselves not just because we enjoy doing so, but because Pandaria is too unique."
It was precisely for this reason that almost all of the Pandaren's strength against external enemies came from Monks. They communicated with chi and followed the natural way, which allowed them to resist the constantly growing malice and hatred during combat.
The Monks' iron fists were only for repelling evil and protecting their homeland. If not forced, they would prefer to live leisurely in the mountains and markets, rather than defending against Pandaria's various threats on the Serpent's Spine and Kun-Lai Summit.
This gave Jaina a headache. If they didn't send a large army, it would be impossible to defeat the surging Mogu army. However, conflict between two sides inevitably leads to casualties, and the blood and hatred brought by battle and conquest are the best fuel for nurturing Sha.
Before arriving in Pandaria, she had also learned about this unique continent from Arthas, but she hadn't expected such a huge problem to be thrown at the Alliance as soon as they landed.
However, Pandaria was a region they had to secure. They couldn't let it fall into N'Zoth's clutches, otherwise the Titan ruins and countless living beings hidden there would become excellent weapons against Azeroth.
But Jaina quickly noticed another problem, "Wait, Master Zhu, you said the Mogu are constantly embroiled in internal strife, why aren't they afraid of being possessed by Sha?"
"The Mogu have a long history, even dating back to the time of the world's creation in legends," Zhu Talan recalled the clues preserved in ancient books. "They are inherently half-flesh, half-stone beings, making them difficult to be affected by Sha. Moreover, Mogu sorcerers can extract the souls of the dead and make the undead serve them, and even manipulate negative emotions and passive energy. These powers protect them from Sha intrusion."
Unfortunately, the Mogu's magical abilities were innate and difficult to imitate. Furthermore, Mogu magic was seen as utterly evil by ordinary people, dark powers that toyed with the dead. Coupled with the fact that the Pandaren were once enslaved and ruled by the Mogu using these powers, they kept their distance from such dark magic.
However, as an Archmage of Dalaran, Jaina had no such prejudice. In her view, magic itself had no right or wrong; it depended on how it was used. While frequent use of dark magic could indeed corrupt one's mind with negative energy and amplify inner darkness, not everyone was like that.
Arthas was the best example; he controlled countless dead, yet he didn't develop any negative emotions or personality from it…
Wait, if the Mogu could avoid Sha intrusion by manipulating souls, did that mean the undead could also largely be immune to Sha's harm?
"I might have a way to counter the Mogu, but please give me some time; we need to verify," Jaina didn't immediately tell Zhu Talan her thoughts. Clearly, in the Pandaren's perception, the undead were not good. They needed more time to accept the Scourge's existence. "Perhaps Master Zhu, you could provide some locations for the Alliance to establish a foothold. Even if the army isn't useful, we can still supply Pandaria with resources and help you find those Naga."
"Hmm, that would be excellent," Zhu Talan accepted the proposal. Pandaria was too unique; overly aggressive military action would not bring salvation but instead push the continent completely towards destruction. "The area near the Green Dragon Temple might be a good resting place, but the entire Jade Forest—"
Before Zhu Talan could finish, his normally peaceful eyes suddenly sharpened. He stared intently at a human soldier who appeared to be working and patrolling normally, but his vacant eyes and increasingly pale skin warned of something amiss.
Soon, the sound of something heavy dropping attracted the attention of most people in the camp. They looked at the soldier standing still, wondering what had happened to him.
Seeing two other soldiers about to approach and speak, and noticing the dazed soldier's hand already on the hilt of his sword, Zhu Talan roared, "Stand back!"
The shockwave imbued with chi immediately pushed the two unwitting soldiers away. Zhu Talan pushed off and leaped, landing swiftly in front of the dazed soldier. And just as Zhu Talan landed, the soldier's sword was already unsheathed.
However, Zhu Talan was much faster than the soldier. He pushed with his bear paw, directly pressing down on the soldier's wrist, forcing the sword back into its sheath. At the same time, his other palm directly struck the soldier's chest, "Wake up!"
Zhu Talan's series of actions happened in a flash. Most veterans didn't even see his movements. Only Jaina frowned, staring at the soldier controlled by Zhu Talan—she, too, had noticed something was wrong with him.
And just as Zhu Talan struck with his palm, accompanied by the cleansing of chi, an ominous black aura faded from the soldier's body. His vacant eyes regained their sparkle, and his strangely pale skin gradually returned to its normal color.
The soldier looked as if he had just woken from a dream, staring in shock at Zhu Talan's hand on his chest, not knowing what had happened.
"Sha… How is this possible?"
Although he had timely dispelled the evil intent from the soldier, Zhu Talan was still utterly horrified. This was the Jade Forest, a place where the green dragon supreme resided. The Sha should have been sealed perfectly. Why were these outsiders infected by the Sha's power less than a day after landing?
Jaina also came over to the controlled soldier, detecting him with magic. After finding no more abnormalities, she slowly said, "Is this the power of the Sha?"
She was not entirely ignorant of the Sha; Arthas had already educated most of the Alliance's high command about Y'Shaarj. They also knew the characteristics of the Sha, so the first group to land consisted of battle-hardened, mentally resilient, and stable individuals who had passed initial screenings for extreme emotions.
Yet, even so, they were still exploited by the Sha…
"He doesn't seem to have experienced intense emotional changes himself, but that suggests something even worse: the Sha of this land have been watching you since the moment you appeared."
Zhu Talan's voice was terribly low, because if this were true, and the Sha's power could already spread here, then the situation at the Green Dragon Temple and with the green dragon supreme…
....
"Soldiers possessed by Sha?"
Arthas was slightly surprised when he heard this news from Jaina; logically, the Sha shouldn't be so active at this point in time.
However, given Zhu Talan's statements and Azshara's possible intentions, it's likely that the Naga who secretly entered Pandaria are closely related to the Sha's increased activity.
As for the "proposal" Jaina put forward, Arthas did not directly adopt it, because while both the Undead and Mogu have the ability to manipulate flesh and souls, the Mogu are, after all, creations specifically made by the Titan Guardian to manage the Old Gods' prisons, and no one is sure if this is part of the reason they are unaffected by the Sha.
He also didn't have the opportunity to find a Mogu to study the specific structure and abilities of this race; Zhu Talan's one-sided view was certainly not enough to directly deploy the Scourge into combat in Pandaria.
The more important reason is that if the Mogu can directly kill those creatures infected or potentially infected by the Sha to prevent further spread of the Sha, and the Scourge were to do the same, then in a confrontation with the Old Gods, it's unknown how much of the Old Gods' power would be cleared, but the Pandaren and other races of Pandaria would certainly suffer a devastating catastrophe.
This land sealed the heart of the most powerful Ancient God, which has caused the land's uniqueness for millions of years; the terrifying power of Y'Shaarj is evident, considering that even the remaining three Old Gods who are still alive are far less influential on the real world than Y'Shaarj.
Perhaps it's also that the living Old Gods, unlike Y'Shaarj, do not rely solely on their surviving will and instincts to influence the real world; they have extended their tendrils into the less guarded and more easily conquered Emerald Dream.
No matter what, one should never underestimate any Ancient God; even Arthas, when facing these flesh gods almost as old as the history of Azeroth itself, made full preparations before acting against them.
The previous eliminations of Yogg-Saron and C'Thun both involved an element of luck and utilized some unrepeatable methods; the Origin Engine would be very difficult to use to eliminate the distant N'Zoth and heart of y'shaarj without affecting the entire planet's ecosystem, and Azeroth could no longer withstand another impact of infused Stygian, as that would affect the balance of life and death across all of Azeroth, and The Jailer wouldn't even need to make any more plans; he could directly break through the veil and descend upon Azeroth.
"Death, compared to the Void, is a relatively inert force and does not cause excessive damage when facing things other than life, whereas the Void will almost completely annihilate all matter in reality," Arthas, at his current level, already views energy far beyond ordinary people, "Y'Shaarj and the Sha derived from him are more like doing the opposite, transforming ethereal emotions and negative energy into physical forms to influence reality."
Perhaps because its complete body was destroyed by the Titan long ago, and lacking the mass of other Old Gods, it couldn't directly distort reality like Yogg-Saron and C'Thun, the surviving heart of y'shaarj could only influence the real world through this method, but this also gave Arthas new ideas.
Even the Holy Light finds it difficult to completely eliminate all negative emotions within a person, and this is even more true on the battlefield; and looking at the methods of the Titan Guardian Norushen, Titan technology might have a way to completely eliminate the effects of these emotions, but unfortunately, they are currently unable to enter the ancient temple buried deep beneath the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
Although he couldn't send the Scourge to directly sweep away the various threats in Pandaria, that didn't mean sending a small team to disrupt N'Zoth's efforts was out of the question; Arthas thought so, and he had already done so.
-----------------
"Thassarian, I truly don't understand why the great Lich King chose you as the overall commander for this operation."
Black Witch Farina teased the very young-faced Thassarian—in her opinion, although this young man possessed great strength, he hadn't accumulated enough experience yet, but the Lich King valued him greatly, which was something most members of the Scourge envied.
"I am only responsible for obeying orders and completing tasks," Thassarian replied concisely.
"Alright, perhaps I now understand why His Majesty is so fond of you." Farina shrugged indifferently; although she also worshipped the Lich King and was willing to die for him, she wasn't like Thassarian, always executing orders like a robot; she preferred to find some fun while working.
For instance, this time, several of her subordinates behind her carried a huge Mogu corpse onto a makeshift operating table; it was found on a Mogu battlefield, and those strange creatures seemed to even intend to resurrect the bodies of their own comrades.
"We've been here for a while, but unfortunately, we still haven't found a way to enter the Vale of Eternal Blossoms—those old-fashioned Pandaren definitely won't be willing to let us enter the sacred core of their land." Farina sighed while examining the Mogu corpse, "Why can't our methods be more aggressive?"
Aggressive?
Thassarian's indifferent eyes glanced at the physical Sha entities stored in the large glass jars nearby; after these Sha were killed by Scourge soldiers, the Necromancers suppressed them with death energy, preventing their resurrection while preserving them as research material.
As for where these Sha came from, it was because they encountered quite a few "aggressive" Mogu along the way; they did indeed destroy many Pandaren villages, but unfortunately, their speed in suppressing negative emotions seemed a step too slow, so by the time the Scourge members arrived, they were locked in fierce combat with the Sha.
"This land is full of unknowns and risks; I don't want to disappoint the Lich King by being aggressive." Thassarian's indifferent words were very much in line with his current identity as one of the dead, "How are those Pandaren captives?"
The Necromancer beside him scratched his head; they were indeed engaged in research, but they mostly dealt with the dead; killing was their forte, but saving lives was a bit too much to ask.
"Those Pandaren refugees rescued from the Mogu? Their souls are all somewhat wounded; even sending them to the Abbey of Northshire might not heal them." Farina answered Thassarian's question, "In other words, even though they still have basic vital signs, they're basically no different from being dead."
Thassarian hadn't expected a few unconscious Pandaren to be so difficult to handle, which put him in a dilemma; his original intention was to rescue them and then gather intelligence, but now it seemed these unfortunate souls might not even wake up.
"Then let's make the best use of them; at least let us figure out how the Mogu managed to suppress the Sha, and while we're at it, see if we can find a way to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms and the Terrace of Endless Spring."
They were already in the mountains leading to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, but the mists shrouding the mountains seemed to repel outsiders; the scouts and puppets they sent out could only wander around the mountain paths.
While the Scourge explored the secrets of the Mogu and Sha, the Alliance was not idle. After finding a suitable port, the Alliance vanguard quickly set up a camp on the open ground "borrowed" from local Pandaren villagers, serving as their starting point to search for Varian.
"I didn't expect such a picturesque land to exist beyond this great fog."
Even the well-traveled Daelin marveled at the beauty of the Jade Forest. Compared to other places ravaged by war or strife, Pandaria truly was a utopian paradise in a chaotic world, far removed from all worldly conflicts.
"I only hope that all of this will not be tainted by dark forces."
The one who spoke was Uther. This time, he also brought members of the Silver Hand Knights to join the operation. Previous battles had proven that the Holy Light possessed extraordinary power against these monsters derived from the Old Gods.
Daelin nodded, "And Varian is waiting for us somewhere. We must quicken our pace. The unknown is often the most dangerous; no one knows what kind of danger truly lurks behind this beauty."
As the Alliance commanders conversed, the teleportation coordinates set by the mage unit lit up for the first time. Moments later, Jaina's figure appeared in the camp, and behind her was a robed Pandaren.
The Naval Commander also noticed Jaina's arrival. After greeting Uther, he approached Jaina, "How is it? Have you found any valuable clues?"
"No clues about Varian yet, but there is something about the Sha."
Jaina stepped aside, and the Pandaren behind her stepped forward, bowing to Daelin, "May the Green Dragon bless you, brave Naval Commander. I am Lorewalker Zhou Zhuo, and I have compiled and brought some information that you might need."
With that, Zhou Zhuo placed the satchel from his back on the ground, filled to the brim with various scrolls. "Although you may not yet fully understand the writing on them, Ms. Jaina said that with the help of the mages, everyone in the Alliance should be able to understand what is written."
"This will be very helpful. On behalf of the Alliance, I thank the Pandaren for their assistance." Uther stepped forward and returned the bow to Zhou Zhuo, showing his respect. Then, the Lightbringer called two soldiers to carry away the satchel so the mages could translate it.
Zhou Zhuo also volunteered to assist with the translation work and followed the soldiers to the mages' workshop.
After Zhou Zhuo left, Daelin sighed, "Honestly, I've rarely seen a race like the Pandaren. They are inherently peaceful and kind; almost every Pandaren I've met has warmly welcomed our arrival."
This was a very rare situation in Azeroth, as this world had been ravaged by war, and various races maintained basic vigilance toward external contact. A group like the Pandaren was truly exceptionally rare.
"Because this is their way of survival," Jaina explained, "We already have a basic understanding of the Sha and the Old God Y'Shaarj, whose influence might still remain. If they couldn't maintain a peaceful state of mind, the Pandaren would have long been swallowed by the endless darkness."
"Those Old Gods wanted to enslave us, but they didn't expect that it was precisely because of their oppression that we became even more resolute in fighting them and defending our own world." Daelin snorted.
Jaina nodded, then brought up another matter, "Although Varian's whereabouts have not yet been found, both the Green Dragon Temple and the Shado-Pan have reported receiving news that a strange warship ran aground on the beach of the Krasarang Wilds, but the locals who went to investigate found nothing of value inside."
"Krasarang Wilds, where is that?"
"To the southwest of here; it's a lowland area, and you have to go down the mountain path all the way."
Daelin frowned slightly upon hearing this. That beached warship must be related to Varian, and since the ship was already empty, it indicated that Varian and his party should have had enough time to take away supplies and the wounded.
Of course, a worse scenario was that Varian had already been captured, and according to Arthas, the ones who captured them were likely the Naga.
"I remember your squad is in the southern part of the Jade Forest. Have them take the path you mentioned. I will lead people to search the beach by sea."
"I understand, but please be careful, Father. The beaches there have many Murlocs and Naga; it's a very dangerous journey." Jaina reminded her father to be wary of dangers in the sea.
"Trust your father. I'm not yet at an age where I can't wield a sword."
After assigning their respective tasks, Jaina and Daelin quickly left the camp. Uther, meanwhile, led the remaining people to continue reinforcing the defenses, awaiting Alliance reinforcements.
After becoming the least busy person, Uther decided to seek out the Pandaren named Zhou Zhuo and see if he could offer any help.
When Uther found Zhou Zhuo immersed in scrolls, the latter apparently did not notice Uther's arrival. Uther also did not interrupt Zhou Zhuo's work until several minutes later, when he needed to find new paper to record his insights, that Zhou Zhuo discovered Uther standing by his side.
He quickly rose, "I am truly sorry; the books here have captivated me too much—Pandaria has not had external civilizations for tens of thousands of years, and I am very curious about everything of yours."
"No need to apologize. Maintaining curiosity is the driving force for progress and learning." Uther certainly wouldn't be angry about this. Ever since he had Arthas as a student, not only was he teaching Arthas, but he also learned a lot from Arthas.
"Thank you for your understanding. May I ask if there's anything you need from me?" Zhou Zhuo clasped his hands and bowed slightly, "I will certainly tell you everything I know."
These words reminded Uther of the title "Lorewalker" that the other party had used to introduce himself. Although he was unsure what this title specifically represented, from the literal meaning alone, Uther knew it must signify something related to knowledge.
"Can you tell me about this land? In exchange, I can also tell you more about our world."
A joyful expression appeared on Zhou Zhuo's face—scrolls contained a vast amount of knowledge, but stories told by others were sometimes more vivid. "With the greatest pleasure—where should I begin... Oh, Ms. Jaina was very interested in the Green Dragon Temple, but she has many other things to do and no way to learn about the temple's origins. So, I will first tell you about the Green Dragon Temple and the Jade Forest."
"Green Dragon Temple…"
Uther recalled the dragon-shaped sculptures and decorations almost ubiquitous in the Pandaren villages, indicating that this was almost the most fundamental and basic element of Pandaren culture. If he could understand it, he would surely gain more clarity about the Pandaren and Pandaria.
Arthas, by imparting knowledge to the undead, turned lower-ranking undead into his exclusive scribes. Individuals of sufficient rank in the Alliance could learn more about the true world from the transcribed notes, but Uther didn't always have time to spend in the Royal Library. Zhou Zhuo precisely filled this gap; his knowledge could provide ample intelligence support for the Alliance's next actions.
.....
"Is there still no news of Varian?"
When Bolvar saw Arthas again, he couldn't help but ask this question—the King of Stormwind had been missing for dozens of days, and the only clue was a warship flying the Stormwind flag, stranded on the beach.
A few days ago, Daelin sailed his warship and swept half the coast clean of Naga and Murlocs, driving those shadowy creatures from the abyss back into the sea, crying and wailing. But in the remnants of their camps, no useful clues were found, only some Alliance-manufactured supply crates.
However, this explained nothing; it was even possible that those wandering Murlocs had simply found items in the stranded ship's hold that hadn't been taken or were inconvenient to take, and had dragged them away.
And Jaina's team had trekked through the humid jungle for several days, but apart from the local indigenous creatures, they found nothing of value.
No one knew how long Varian and his group had been stranded on the Krasarang coast. The changing climate had long since erased any traces they might have left, and the Murlocs and Naga's destruction and looting of the ship meant that any markers or signs the missing King and his party might have left were likely destroyed at some unknown time.
Arthas, however, appeared unfazed. He calmly reassured Bolvar and speculated on Varian's movements, "The environment of Krasarang is not suitable for a long stay. I believe that with Varian's wisdom and experience, he would not fail to realize this. Therefore, it is more likely that they have left the jungle."
"I would rather they waited for rescue in place than wander around," Bolvar pressed a hand to his forehead. This frustrating inability to find him was truly tormenting him.
But reason told him that Arthas was right. Waiting for rescue on a coast full of Naga and Murlocs, while also having to guard against beasts that might emerge from the jungle behind them, Varian leading his people away from the coast was actually a very correct decision.
Moreover, Pandaria was an unfamiliar land to them. If they themselves couldn't figure out where they were in the first place, how could Varian wait for rescue that might arrive at an unknown time in a dangerous area?
However, Arthas's tone shifted, "But there's something I think is worth worrying about. If Varian headed east, then he should most likely have run into our people by now. At the very least, he should have met the local Pandaren. But now, the Pandaren of Four Winds Valley and Jade Forest all say they haven't seen any other human traces. So they might have chosen to head west…"
With the boundless ocean to the south and unfamiliar tropical dense forests to the north, choosing to advance east or west was the best option. Even if Varian decided to risk crossing Krasarang, the border between Krasarang and Four Winds Valley was a stretch of towering cliffs of unknown length, and only those very familiar with the terrain would know where to enter Four Winds Valley.
So even if they did head north, they would most likely be forced to choose between heading west or east in the end.
"West?" Bolvar's heart tightened. He had seen the map of Pandaria, and the thought of this possibility made him almost instinctively curse aloud, "Damn it, that's not—"
Indeed, to the west of Krasarang lay the Dread Wastes, the Mantid's lair, a land even more terrifying than Silithus. The Mantid, who had rooted and multiplied there for countless ages, were one of the branches of the Aqir empire. And recalling the terrible disaster that occurred in Silithus, even the battle-hardened Bolvar couldn't help but feel a chill.
The only good news was that the Mantid were not directly under the protection of an Old God like the Qiraji. The Ancient One worshipped by the Mantid—the seven-headed Old God Y'Shaarj—had long since fallen. Although he had left behind a heart containing terrible power and seven avatars, he was ultimately no longer the Ancient One Y'Shaarj.
But if Varian and his group truly accidentally crossed the Serpent's Spine and entered that wasteland, the dangerous things they might encounter would be incomparable to the beasts and natives of the Krasarang Wilds.
Although the Mantid no longer had an Old God's protection, the power of the Nerubian empire was not to be underestimated. The Mantid, with their complete ecosystem and territory, were a race that even Thunder God could not conquer, which was why he had to order his slaves to build the Serpent's Spine to defend against Mantid incursions.
That place was absolutely fraught with danger. Even a fully organized army wouldn't dare claim to move unimpeded through Mantid territory. How could Varian, with only dozens of crew members, ensure his safety?
Bolvar could only hope that Varian would not cross the Serpent's Spine, otherwise the difficulty and danger of this search operation would greatly increase.
Arthas glanced at Bolvar, "Things in Lordaeron are mostly handled, but Varian's situation has indeed become increasingly tricky. I am also preparing to go to Pandaria. There are some matters that might be better resolved if I go."
Bolvar sighed, staring at Arthas and forcing a smile, "What more can I say besides thank you… But you also need to be careful. If you also go missing like Varian, I think half the Alliance would go crazy. Your subordinates, and the Silver Hand, and Jaina and her group, would probably turn Pandaria upside down."
"I certainly don't want that to happen," Arthas leaned back in his chair. "And that, I'm afraid, is one of our enemies' plans. If we truly fall into disarray in Pandaria because of Varian's disappearance, those Sha will certainly not miss this opportunity."
Currently, Pandaria's four August Celestial might still be able to keep those restless Sha in check, but in Arthas's view, they were probably nearing their limit. And once N'Zoth's minions and Pandaria's Mantid start to act, the August Celestial might not be able to suppress the Sha's movements, not to mention the Mogu would certainly want to take advantage of the situation.
According to Zhu Talan, the Mogu should have found some allies, and he hadn't noticed any unusual movements from the Zandalar Trolls, meaning the Mogu likely connected with the Naga. But this might actually be good news; both the Mogu and Naga harbored their own ulterior motives. Azshara wasn't like those Zandalar Trolls who only had ambition but no power; she certainly wouldn't be happy to see the Thunder God's resurrection. That first Mogu emperor would only have a negative impact on her plans.
However, since Azshara was not happy to see this happen, Arthas instead had to do something on Thunder God Isle to distract Azshara. Yet, the Thunder God's resurrection was also not something he wanted to see. But once the Scourge's technicians mastered the Mogu's secrets, perhaps Arthas could return what the Thunder God had plundered to that Great Guardian, who was imprisoned in a secret chamber in the Thunder God's palace and broken by his own despair.
Arthas stood on the deck, the sea breeze caressing his face, and his long golden hair, tied behind his head, swayed gently in the wind. His gaze was fixed on the dissipating mist not far away, sensing what still remained within it.
That was the power from Shaohao and the land of Pandaria itself, and it was this power that protected Pandaria from the Great Sundering, allowing this sanctuary-like land to enjoy a period of tranquility.
However, it was only a lack of external disturbance; Pandaria itself was not always peaceful. The Yaungol, Mogu, and Mantid, these powerful and aggressive races, still brought considerable war and slaughter to Pandaria.
As the ship slowly sailed into the Jade Forest's bay and the outline of the Alliance camp appeared in his sight, Arthas no longer focused on the mists of Pandaria. He understood that the magical power contained within these great fogs had gradually thinned, and without Neltharion's insane actions causing wounds to Azeroth, such a change could only be due to the actions of the four August Celestial and Shaohao.
From this, it was clear that they must have also discovered the potential danger, thus making such a choice to find a way for Pandaria to survive the covetousness of the Sha and N'Zoth.
After docking at the port, Arthas entered the camp and met Uther, who had been waiting for him for a long time.
After acquiring the Silver Hand artifact, Uther had clearly received a different kind of blessing. The marks of time on him were no longer obvious. Many years later, this first paladin still maintained his vibrant spirit from back then.
"While I still have reservations about His Majesty, Arthas personally venturing into danger, it is nonetheless a pleasure to see you here, Arthas," Uther said with a smile, saluting Arthas.
"Varian is my closest friend, and his disappearance has caused instability in the Alliance. From every perspective, I believe it's necessary for me to come in person."
Arthas's main purpose for staying in the kingdom during the previous period was to once again clear out any possible minions sent by N'Zoth and Azshara, to prevent them from seizing this opportunity to spread panic and disaster within the Alliance. After the cultists' influence gradually diminished, Arthas began to shift his attention back to Pandaria.
After all, this was likely to be the main battlefield next. Lordaeron was temporarily governed by his sister, Calia, while Bishop Faol would secretly protect and assist Calia in handling affairs.
After surveying the camp, Arthas suddenly noticed a few figures that surprised him. Among them, the tallest and most robust Draenei, clad in heavy armor and carrying a massive crystal warhammer, was none other than Vindicator Maraad.
Uther was also about to introduce these new faces to Arthas. He and Arthas walked together to the Draenei area. Their arrival also caught Maraad's attention, and the Vindicator strode towards them with agile steps.
"I sensed your Holy Light's will, as strong as the sun, from afar," Maraad said with great enthusiasm. Even among the Draenei, few possessed such profound mastery of the Holy Light, with only Velen being comparable to Arthas. "Greetings, His Majesty, Arthas. I am Vindicator Maraad of the Draenei. Prophet Velen sent us to aid our new allies, and to pay my respects to you."
The Alliance rescued the Draenei from dire straits. Had it not been for the Alliance's appearance, the demons would have likely slaughtered all the Draenei in Outland long ago, with only those hidden in the Naru's spacecraft surviving.
And Illidan at the time clearly had designs on the Naru's astral vessel, sending Naga to attack Draenei settlements to gather intelligence about the Naru and Draenei, hoping to seize the vessel and capture the Naru aboard.
For the Draenei, creatures suspected of escaping from the Burning Legion's stronghold, Illidan clearly had ulterior motives. Unfortunately, his plan was intercepted by Arthas before it could be implemented, and he himself, due to bad luck, ran into Maiev, who had just returned to Azeroth. Unable to contend with her, he was imprisoned by Maiev.
With the coordinates provided by the Alliance, Velen gathered most of the Draenei on the Exodar, an astral vessel, and traversed the cosmos to reach Azeroth, so that the Draenei could begin to multiply and thrive in a new world.
Aside from the Exodar, other Naru and some remaining Draenei controlled the Tempest Keep and several other vessels, staying in Outland. They searched for potentially surviving kin, purged lingering demons and Fel Orcs, and attempted a final rescue of their shattered world.
No one knew if they would succeed, but as long as the Naru and the ships remained, at least their safety was assured. And the Alliance did not completely abandon Outland after the expedition; they established permanent fortresses in the few remaining ecologically sound areas of Outland, preparing there for a potential war.
Facing Maraad's friendly gesture, Arthas returned the favor with kindness, "Thank you, Prophet Velen, and for your assistance. I believe the Draenei's inclusion will make the Alliance even more unbreakable."
Maraad then proceeded to brief Arthas on their initial achievements in Pandaria over the past few days. With the aid of advanced Draenei crystal technology, they had provided the Alliance camp with protective measures independent of the magical shields. Even if the magical shields were countered or destroyed by the enemy, the crystal shields could sustain a second line of defense.
His Paladins and Priests were diligently purifying and blessing every member of the Pandarian vanguard, reducing the danger of the Sha to a controllable level.
As they conversed, a plump figure leisurely approached, "Sir Uther, are you free?"
Uther turned his head and saw Zhou Zhuo looking at him with a smile, "What is it, Zhou Zhuo?"
Arthas was drawn by Uther's address to Zhou Zhuo. He looked at Zhou Zhuo with interest, "Lorewalker Zhou Zhuo? I hear you have a very profound understanding of ancient Pandaren history—and of the Mogu as well."
"Oh, it's nothing," Zhou Zhuo maintained a humble demeanor, but his narrowed eyes and slightly upturned lips clearly indicated he was pleased by Arthas's words. "I've only done a small, insignificant amount of work—ah, I almost forgot the main point. The High Priest of the Green Dragon Temple seems to want to speak with the camp's leader, so I came to find you, Sir."
Uther shook his head, "Before, I could handle everything, but now my superior has arrived."
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Arthas Menethil, King of Lordaeron," Arthas stated his identity. "If possible, Master Zhou Zhuo, perhaps you could explain the specific reason."
Arthas had already intended to visit the Green Dragon Temple. Although jade dragon was mostly inactive before mortals, if he had to choose a place where she was most easily contacted, it would certainly be the temple that primarily worshipped and sacrificed to her.
Green Dragon Temple, this ancient temple, is located in the central eastern part of Jade Forest, overlooking the coast of Pandaria and the valleys of Jade Forest. Its most sacred tradition is the Green Dragon worship custom, which has been passed down for thousands of years.
The current Priestess of Green Dragon Temple, Liu Yanxin, was quietly waiting in the courtyard of Green Dragon Temple for that special guest from across the ocean.
Just then, a golden stream of light appeared in the sky, like a newborn sun, rushing towards Green Dragon Temple. If it weren't for the actual sun high in the sky, many might have thought it was the rising sun.
Invincible landed steadily on the ground, golden holy light flames continuously gushing from it, forming beautiful energy "ribbons" like solar prominences. This warhorse, thanks to its master's power, was already a magical creature beyond ordinary people's imagination.
Even the well-informed Liu Yanxin couldn't help but cast a surprised glance at Invincible. Such a beautiful and powerful creature was rare, and even Cloud Serpent could not compare to Invincible now.
Arthas came alone this time, not even bringing a single attendant. This was because he had long been accustomed to traveling alone, and attendants were dispensable to him, as he could summon an army of the dead from the realm of death at any time.
"Invincible, go back," Arthas whispered. Invincible obediently vanished, having entered a sub-plane, disappearing from the main material world.
"May the green dragon bless you, His Majesty, Arthas," Liu Yanxin stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Arthas.
"No need for formalities, High Priestess. Thank you for waiting for me out here for so long."
"Waiting is also a method of self-discipline. I often spend a long time listening to the voice of the green dragon supreme. Regardless of the outcome, I will always hold respect and piety."
When mentioning the green dragon supreme, Liu Yanxin showed immense reverence. Every High Priestess of Green Dragon Temple understood the green dragon's importance to Jade Forest. Without the blessing of the August Celestial, Jade Forest would never maintain long-lasting peace.
The continuation of the green dragon's power also relied on the efforts of the Pandaren. The Pandaren collected jade from mines and built statues for Yu'lon. When Yu'lon's power weakened, she could be reborn through the Pandaren's statues.
Such a tradition of inheritance and mutual aid has continued in Jade Forest for over ten thousand years, from the time the Pandaren were enslaved by the Mogu until today. And now, a new Yu'lon statue is also being built in the center of Jade Forest, preparing for this August Celestial's next reincarnation.
"This is the secret of the green dragon's inheritance, His Majesty, Arthas."
Liu Yanxin told Arthas this story while leading him into the temple, which surprised Arthas. "This should be a significant secret. I think the fewer people who know, the better."
He, of course, knew the secret of the green dragon's rebirth, but Liu Yanxin personally telling him this indicated that the Pandaren, at least those in Jade Forest and Green Dragon Temple, trusted him immensely.
"This is the green dragon supreme's will."
Liu Yanxin smiled slightly. When she learned from the green dragon that she was to tell this secret to the newly arrived Arthas, Liu Yanxin was also puzzled, but she quickly adjusted—doubt was the last emotion a Priestess of Green Dragon Temple should have.
"Hmm…" A thought flashed through Arthas's mind, "The green dragon probably needs help."
Unknowingly, they had walked into a secluded courtyard in Green Dragon Temple. The walls here were high, and the other side was a cliff overlooking the coast. By a stone table under an old pine tree in the courtyard sat a small Pandaren girl with two buns in her hair.
Upon seeing the girl, Liu Yanxin bowed from a distance, "August Celestial, the guest has arrived."
"Thank you, Yanxin." The Pandaren girl, who had been gazing into the distance, heard Liu Yanxin's words. She turned around and jumped off the stone stool, "It's good to see you, Arthas."
Arthas originally intended to let Liu Yanxin speak with the green dragon first, but unexpectedly, after greeting him, the Priestess disappeared from the courtyard without a trace. It seemed she also had some mastery in the way of the Monk, with perfect control over her aura.
"green dragon supreme, first meeting. I presume you are the one who truly wishes to see me."
"Just call me Yu'lon," the Pandaren girl, who was Yu'lon's incarnation, said softly. Her voice, though a child's, conveyed infinite gentleness and kindness. "I apologize for summoning you so abruptly, but events have unfolded beyond our expectations."
"It seems N'Zoth's minions have reached further," Arthas realized. The situation of the four August Celestial was probably worse than he had imagined. "If you don't mind, could you elaborate on what happened?"
Yu'lon sighed, weariness evident in her gentle voice. "The Old Gods' servants broke through Pandaria's mists before you did. They are trying every possible way to weaken Pandaria's power, preparing to awaken the long-slumbering darkness through this method."
Following that, Yu'lon slowly recounted the true situation of Pandaria. "We originally thought we could resist those dark servants, but we were wrong. The Naga, wielding dark artifacts bestowed by N'Zoth, are causing chaos everywhere, spreading terrifying negative emotions, and these emotions are precisely the Sha's nourishment.
"Jade Forest's situation is the worst because my power is undergoing another cycle of weakening. Although coastal towns and markets remain prosperous, the villages and towns near Four Winds Valley and Vale of Eternal Blossoms have suffered devastating destruction. The Naga and Sha have defiled them, causing the streams flowing from Terrace of Endless Spring and Vale of Eternal Blossoms to no longer be pure.
"Originally, I should have quickly reborn with the help of the jade statues to regain my full power to fight them, but the craftsmen and miners who were building statues for me suffered from the Naga's harassment. Although they worked incredibly hard, the construction of the statues has not progressed for weeks.
"Snowy and Niuzao's situations are also not optimistic. Snowy and the Shado-Pan are exhausted from fighting the Naga and Mogu, plus the restless Sha. Kun-Lai Summit is no longer safe; any conflict or killing could become the fuse for the Sha's awakening.
"Niuzao, on the other hand, is struggling to resist the Mantid invasion. Niuzao Temple is like a small boat in a vast ocean amidst the Mantid army; it is only holding on now because of the desperate resistance of the Ox Monks.
"Chi-Ji's situation is slightly better, and you should be meeting him soon. Varian, whom you are looking for, is also under his protection. However… the brave King's condition is not optimistic; Chi-Ji had to expend a lot of effort to protect him."
Seeing the green dragon speak so much at once, Arthas listened carefully to everything. It wasn't until he heard about Varian that he fell silent for a moment before asking, "What happened to Varian?"
Yu'lon pursed her lips and gave Arthas the answer he least wanted to hear, "He was… possessed by the Sha."
Possessed by a Sha?
This was indeed a rather bad situation, but it was still within Arthas's expectations—Varian's disappearance was originally a conspiracy by N'Zoth and Azshara, and it was already fortunate that he didn't directly fall into the hands of the Old Gods.
However, Varian's escape from this calamity should not be due to a flaw in N'Zoth's plan, but rather that Azshara and N'Zoth are not entirely on the same page; she has her own agenda, and secretly betraying N'Zoth is not uncommon.
It's just that N'Zoth has not yet fully broken free, and his control over the real world cannot be separated from Azshara; otherwise, the first one he would deal with would be this unruly Naga Queen.
"Which type of Sha has Varian been possessed by?"
Arthas asked, understanding the type of Sha would be very helpful in removing its control over mortals.
"For more detailed information, you can only ask Chi-Ji himself. The Naga and Mogu have interfered with our communication, so the messages we can exchange are neither timely nor accurate."
Yu'lon was helpless; although she was an August Celestial, she was not omniscient.
Arthas, not disheartened by the lack of an answer, pondered for a moment and then told Yu'lon his plan, "The Alliance will help the Pandaren of Jade Forest and you overcome this difficulty, but afterward, I must first find Varian. Chi-Ji has not been able to resolve the Sha on Varian for so long, so his situation is probably not optimistic. As for Snowy and Niuzao... they are far on the other side of Pandaria, and we can't offer much help in a short time."
Yu'lon readily agreed, "That's enough. Once Jade Forest stabilizes, I can also provide some assistance to them both, enough to prevent them from falling into a predicament... Pandaria thanks you for your help—the time for this avatar of mine is also running out. I hope next time we meet, I can better provide help to my friends."
With that, Yu'lon's avatar gradually glowed with a emerald green luminescence, and as the light gradually faded, Yu'lon's figure disappeared with the light particles before Arthas's eyes.
After Yu'lon left, Liu Yanxin appeared from who knows where. She asked Arthas, "Do you need me to take you away, His Majesty, Arthas?"
"No need to trouble you, Priestess," Arthas glanced at the ancient temple with its high eaves and winding corridors, and reminded her, "Remember, do not question without reason, even questioning your own abilities. That would be something the Sha of Doubt would be happy to see."
Liu Yanxin's heart trembled. The last person who told her this was none other than the Azure Dragon himself. The Priestess looked at Arthas, and after a moment, she bowed again, "Thank you for your guidance."
Arthas nodded. Although he didn't know how much effect this reminder would have, he didn't want this temple to be invaded by the Sha of Doubt; otherwise, they would have to spend more effort purifying the Green Dragon Temple.
-----------------
While Arthas and Yu'lon were discussing how to resolve the Sha's intrusion, the Scourge's vanguard stationed at the Mistfall Ridge was attacked by a group of Mogu.
Thassarian's expression was calm, two runic longswords danced in his hands, casting sword light that made the living tremble. With each swing, several Mogu were struck down or repelled.
Although most Mogu were skilled in combat, the Scourge's offensive could not be resisted by this small Mogu unit alone. These Mogu were entirely eliminated before they even touched the camp's gate.
After the battle, Thassarian picked up a skull from the ground that was still opening and closing its mouth, and pressed it onto the empty cervical spine of his skeletal servant, Lurid.
"Pay attention. Next time, the enemy might directly smash your skull, and then I'll have to take the trouble to re-summon you."
Thassarian reprimanded his skeleton soldier, not entirely satisfied with its recent performance.
While Thassarian was arranging for his soldiers to clean up the battlefield, Farina approached him with a graceful stride, "Are you sure we shouldn't move our camp? These Mogu don't look like they just got lost and stumbled upon us."
"We haven't completed our mission. This camp cannot be easily abandoned."
Thassarian did not agree to abandon the current camp. The mist in the Mistfall Ridge was somewhat similar to the mist that previously enveloped Pandaria; one could easily get lost in the mountains if not careful. If they abandoned the established camp, no one knew how long it would take them to find the next suitable place to station.
"Then you also have to consider how much our work progress will be affected if these Mogu harass us again and again," Farina complained, "Even if it attracts the attention of more Mogu, we'll have to abandon this place then too."
Thassarian was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked an unrelated question, "Is our anti-magic field still being maintained?"
Farina glanced at the Scourge crystal, which was still operating normally, "Of course."
These crystals, whose manufacturing method was quite intricate, maintained the operation of the anti-magic field. They not only dispelled the surrounding magical mist that could cause people to get lost but also kept the camp undetectable by magic. Coupled with the scattered ghost guards and Gargoyles, the Scourge camp could always detect the enemy's presence before being discovered themselves.
The Mogu squad that was just annihilated had their tracks detected in advance by them. Thassarian led his men to set up an ambush outside the camp and easily wiped them out.
"If the anti-magic field is still operating and our 'eyes' detected them before the enemy did, then it can only mean one thing: these Mogu stumbled here by accident."
Thassarian believed that this group of Mogu was not targeting them at all.
"What you said makes sense, but one of their small teams disappeared into the mountains, and later, there will definitely be group after group of people coming to determine what happened here."
Thassarian, however, shook his head. His keen military sense made him notice a detail, "These Mogu are moving in small teams, clearly searching for something. Since they don't know of our existence, and there are no Pandaren villages in these mountains, what do you think they are looking for?"
Farina paused for a moment, but her mind as a Black Wizard quickly made her realize the answer, "Are you saying these Mogu are also looking for the way to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms?"
"I don't know, but they are definitely looking for something. Whatever they are looking for, we can reverse-engineer their route. If conditions permit, we'll give them a head-on blow, and if they really are looking for the way to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, then we essentially have a group of free helpers."
Thassarian was certain that the Mogu would not inexplicably delve deep into the bewildering mountains. In fact, it was most likely that they had the same goal as the Scourge: to find a passage into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
Arthas returned from the Green Dragon Temple with a grave expression, not only because Varian's current situation was precarious, but also because dealing with the Naga problem had become a difficult task.
And after he told Uther his concerns, Uther's expression also became conflicted, "We can't launch a large-scale offensive against the Naga?"
The reason for Arthas's concern was simple: "The negative emotions brought by war are unavoidable, so no matter what, our battles will, to some extent, stimulate the awakening of the Sha, which will lead to a series of terrifying chain reactions."
"Without military force, do you expect to negotiate for the Naga to peacefully withdraw from Pandaria? That's absurd!" Daelin almost blew his top in frustration.
Kul Tiras was a maritime kingdom, and their various operations inevitably involved dealing with the Naga, and the Naga and murlocs were undoubtedly among the most disliked creatures by Kul Tirans. Daelin, who deeply understood the vicious nature of these abyssal species, felt this was an impossible task.
Moreover, those who invaded Pandaria were not ordinary Naga clans, but direct subordinates of Azshara, and even fanatical abyssal cultists who worshipped N'Zoth. They would never leave this land before achieving their objectives.
"I'm not saying we shouldn't use force at all, but rather that we should try to prevent the war from spreading beyond control," Arthas explained, "The Naga can even collude with the Mogu to expand their influence, which indicates that their numbers are certainly not large, and they are basically scattered. We need to send elite teams to annihilate them."
"Elites... the Alliance currently doesn't lack heroes and champions," Uther had no objection to this. The Silver Hand alone could easily field many skilled individuals, each with extraordinary abilities and unique techniques that could bring unexpected surprises to the Naga. "But we need some time to gather our forces."
Daelin was a bit depressed. He commanded a powerful fleet but was helpless against a group of sneaky Naga, which made him feel like he was hitting cotton, unable to exert his strength. "So my lads can only wait on deck and on the coast?"
Arthas, however, shook his head, "No, you have a more important task. Kul Tiras's navy is currently the fastest force to reach the western shore of Pandaria, but that is a terrible battlefield. Although there is no Sha infestation yet, it is a hellish place for outsiders, similar to Silithus."
"No matter what the danger, Kul Tirans will not fear it," Daelin grinned. He didn't care about danger as long as it was the right mission that could help the war, he would complete it.
But his heart was not as relaxed as it seemed on the surface—any survivor who had been to Silithus had mentioned the terrifying, apocalyptic scenes, and Marshal Lothar who had saved them again.
A place that could be compared to Silithus was definitely not a beautiful place with birdsong and fragrant flowers like the Jade Forest.
Arthas knew Daelin's thoughts, "No need to worry too much. We just need an outpost to observe the situation there. I can't let you fight a losing battle alone. Not to mention whether it has any strategic value, Jaina would definitely kill me if she knew."
"I think she cares more about you than me." Daelin felt a pang of jealousy when Arthas mentioned his daughter. No matter how excellent his son-in-law was, the thought that his excellent daughter would one day become the Queen of Lordaeron made his teeth itch.
"Father! Are you talking bad about me again?!"
Just then, Jaina's voice suddenly rang out behind them. It seemed the Archmage had just returned to the camp not long ago.
"Ah—haha, I'm leaving first. I need to get the sailors ready to set sail." Daelin chuckled dryly, picked up the captain's hat from the table, put it on his head, and walked out of the tent.
Uther glanced at the departing Daelin and said, "I also need to recruit suitable people to take care of those Naga."
"Good luck, teacher."
After greeting Uther, Arthas turned his gaze to Jaina. Jaina was glaring at Arthas, "I really shouldn't expect you to stop my father, but can you please not let him go on adventures all day long like you!"
"I think Daelin is still strong in his old age," Arthas thought about Daelin's arms, which were thicker than a small tree trunk, and wondered how Jaina came to that conclusion. "But really, there's no need to worry. Although the Mantid are active, their primary target is Serpent's Spine. As long as Daelin and his men don't actively engage the Mantid in battle, there won won't be any risk. He knows that much."
Daelin was an absolutely excellent commander and would not risk the lives of his soldiers. They only needed to complete the most basic task: find a foothold on the western side of Pandaria to serve as their springboard for supporting Niuzao.
Jaina had no other opinion. She knew everyone had their responsibilities, but she didn't want to lose anyone she valued. "You said you had news of Varian. How is he?"
"Not very good. If it weren't for Chi-Ji, one of the August Celestials, protecting him, he would probably have become a puppet of the Sha."
"Then we must go help him immediately—can you resolve the Sha's influence?" Hearing that even the August Celestial could not completely eliminate the Sha's influence, Jaina, who did not know much about these creatures, could only place her hopes on Arthas.
Arthas also couldn't give a definite answer. Although the power of the Holy Light was the bane of the void, he wasn't sure if it could completely remove the Sha's parasitic influence on people—after all, the Sha's existence was somewhat different from simple void corruption.
Just then, a whisper suddenly sounded in Arthas's ear, "You'd better hurry. It's not just any ordinary Sha that's corrupting that king. I can feel the aura of despair growing stronger by the day. That crane might not be able to protect him for much longer."
"Aura of despair? So it really is the Sha of Doubt. Saratath, I didn't expect you to actually be useful."
This whisper was naturally from Saratath, whom Arthas carried with him and monitored. It had to be said that this remnant will had a truly keen sense for her kin; she could "smell" the Sha's scent no matter how far away they were.
"We are partners now, aren't we? This continent is filled with the 'stench' of Y'Shaarj's corpse, which is truly nauseating. This woodland beneath your feet is even more unbearable."
After saying this, Saratath fell silent again, but the information revealed in her words suggested that the threat of the Sha of Doubt was also imminent.
Yu'lon's hastily dispersed clone might also indirectly confirm this. Otherwise, how could a dignified August Celestial not have the remaining strength to sustain her clone for a while longer? She should currently be entangled with the Sha of Doubt, and to prevent the sacred Green Dragon Temple from being ensnared by the Sha of Doubt, she dared not be distracted for too long.