Arthas didn't take Xal'atath's mention of "partners" seriously at all; the word "cooperation" simply didn't exist in the Old Gods' dictionary. All their collaborative actions were merely mutual exploitation.
Although Xal'atath was reduced to such a remnant, if one were to truly believe her current submissive appearance, the most likely outcome would be to become another Mordgud, capsizing in some hidden gutter.
One can utilize the power of the Old Gods, but never treat their power as a trump card or a means of self-preservation. This is something anyone dealing with the Old Gods should understand.
Arthas naturally understood these things clearly, but at present, borrowing Xal'atath's power could indeed save him some trouble. Coupled with the unexpected grand gift Arthas had already prepared for Xal'atath, he tacitly allowed some of Xal'atath's minor actions.
"You should be able to devour those Sha, Xal'atath? Don't tell me you can't do what your companion once could."
Xal'atath calmly replied, "If Y'Shaarj were complete, I couldn't seize his power and authority. But now, his situation isn't much better than mine. If the power of those Sha is weakened, I can try to absorb them to strengthen my own power—this way, perhaps I can provide you with more help."
"That's good. I hope the Sha of Doubt will be to your liking in a moment."
After Arthas finished speaking, he unilaterally blocked Xal'atath's mental communication. His powerful control over soul energy allowed Arthas to easily cut off Xal'atath's connection with the outside world, which is why he carried this evil relic with him, as it was far safer than placing it in any seal or secret chamber.
"Are you carrying some magical weapon with its own sentience?" Jaina asked, a little curious. She keenly noticed that Arthas was communicating with something. Although Arthas and Xal'atath's communication only lasted for a very short real-world time, because Arthas didn't deliberately conceal it, she still noticed some clues.
"Hmm, a very ancient and evil Void relic. I suspect she is the remnant of an Old God hidden in history, long since vanished." Arthas didn't hide Xal'atath's existence. When Jaina asked, he immediately informed her.
Jaina just sighed softly, "You always carry dangerous things with you. Even the most unqualified mage apprentice knows to stay as far away as possible."
"No choice. Who told these things that they are only not so dangerous when they are with me?" Arthas quipped, then said seriously, "Varian should be entangled by a very troublesome Sha. Chi-Ji, one of the Four Celestials of Pandaria, is trying to resolve the corruption on Varian, but he also has his limits."
"Then we should go find him quickly," Jaina replied decisively. "Do we need to call others?"
"Just the two of us. They have to deal with the scattered Naga and Mogu, and the Jade Forest should not be too peaceful either. I feel that the Green Dragon is not in a good state, and the Alliance will have to put in more effort to help her get rid of the Sha of Doubt's trouble."
Arthas explained the current situation, "I'll give you a coordinate. That should allow you to open a portal to the Temple of Chi-Ji in the Krasarang Wilds."
Through Arthas's coordinates, Jaina immediately tried and opened a portal. The two tacitly passed through the blue Arcane gate, and soon smelled the damp air rushing towards them, as well as a faint, inexplicably irritating smell of decay.
After Arthas sensed the pervasive aura, he instantly blessed Jaina with the Holy Light, while reminding her, "Be careful, this is the residue of the Sha of Doubt's aura."
Jaina nodded, and then cast several more spells on herself to avoid possible dangers. "It looks strangely quiet here."
Although the Temple of Chi-Ji is not like the Green Dragon Temple, and the Krasarang Wilds are not as habitable as the Jade Forest, as a sacred temple where the Four Celestials reside, there should be a large number of believers and disciples practicing and living here. It should definitely not be like this now, where the two of them had reached the main gate without finding any trace of living people.
However, their doubts were quickly answered. They hadn't walked a few steps before they saw the disciples of the Temple of Chi-Ji floating around the temple buildings, surrounded by a corrupted aura.
They were affected by the Sha of Doubt's power and had lost themselves, but for some reason, the corrupted aura only entangled them, putting them into a deep coma, and did not completely turn them into slaves of the Sha.
"Sorry... The despair of the Sha of Doubt is spreading like cancer throughout the Temple of Chi-Ji. I must constantly fight against it, so I can't personally come to see you."
Chi-Ji's voice echoed throughout the Temple of Chi-Ji at this moment. He sensed Arthas and Jaina's arrival shortly after, but he had to wait for the two to enter the Temple of Chi-Ji before he could call out to them more easily.
"Please come to the underground palace beneath the main hall. Your friend is here—and please do not harm those disciples on the way. Although they are entangled by despair, they will not act to harm others."
Following Chi-Ji's guidance, Arthas and Jaina quickly saw the scene inside the temple. The Chi-Ji disciples here were also shrouded in an aura of despair, but unlike the disciples outside the courtyard who had fallen into a deep coma, they were still unconsciously wandering around, but their pale eyes and distorted movements made it difficult to ignore their presence.
However, after a quick inspection of the main hall, they found no trace of the underground palace that Chi-Ji had mentioned.
So Arthas casually grabbed a Pandaren entangled by the Sha of Doubt's aura, pulled him by the collar, and directly used strong Holy Light to dispel the Sha's influence. However, this violent method of expulsion seemed to also cause the Pandaren apprentice physical pain. He let out a continuous and tragic wail, but quickly calmed down.
That pain did not come from the body, but from the soul and will corrupted by the Sha's aura. So, after regaining consciousness, the Pandaren was only a little weak, "Thank you... I finally don't have to endure that despair."
It seemed that although those affected by despair could no longer control their bodies, they could still perceive external information. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sensed that Arthas saved him; they should be completely confused right now.
The Pandaren managed to stand upright. His current state was like someone who hadn't rested for several days, forcing himself to stay awake, "Strangers, thank you for your help. Although I don't know your identities, the moment I regained my senses, I could finally hear the voice of Venerable Chi-Ji again. Let me take you to see Venerable Chi-Ji, this is all I can do now."
"Your condition is very bad," Jaina reminded him, while casting a few small spells on him, which served to simply alleviate the fatigue caused by the mental trauma, "These few spells should make you feel a little better."
The Pandaren bowed, then walked towards a pillar that looked no different from the others. He channeled his true qi, gathered it in his palm, and pressed it onto the lifelike Chi-Ji relief on the stone pillar.
"Click."
After a crisp sound, the gate to the Chi-Ji underground palace slowly opened with a heavy grinding sound.
The moment they entered the crypt, the Sha aura, several times denser than outside, rushed at them. The entire space of the crypt seemed to be covered by the Sha of Doubt's power, with traces of Sha crawling even on the surrounding pillars and stone carvings. Those once lively sculptures now resembled man-eating demons, exuding an aura of despair.
"You've finally arrived."
Chi-Ji's voice this time sounded right beside them. His tall figure stood at the center of the crypt. Although he was speaking to Arthas, his attention remained fixed on the figure opposite him.
With a resolute face and a robust build, even with his eyes tightly closed, he still exuded power. Who else could it be but Varian?
However, Varian's current state was far from good. Half of his body was enveloped in Sha energy, much like Garrosh, who had received the power of Y'Shaarj.
As Chi-Ji spoke, another voice emanated from Varian. The moment that voice was uttered, the entire crypt began to shake, and everyone could clearly feel the immense malice within it.
"Hahaha, Chi-Ji, you're confused as well, actually pinning your hopes on a few mortals?! It seems I'm about to add another king to my captives!"
The Sha of Doubt's laughter was quite rampant and unrestrained. "Can you stop me? In a few more days, this mortal will become my pawn, and you will be the first drop of blood on his hands!"
"I indeed cannot stop you," Chi-Ji was not moved by the Sha of Doubt's mockery. His voice remained calm and composed. "But do not underestimate mortals."
With that, Chi-Ji spread his wings, and an orange-red Light of Dawn enveloped Varian. The Sha of Doubt also began to struggle violently, but clearly, in his current confrontation with Chi-Ji, he was still at a disadvantage.
"You're insane! Consuming your own power like this will only make me break free faster, hahahaha!"
The Sha of Doubt's voice gradually weakened and disappeared. Chi-Ji also stopped sealing the Sha of Doubt. The strange light on his body dimmed considerably at this moment. The energy he invested just now could indeed be described as an all-out effort. Without Arthas, he would quickly fall into a disadvantage in his confrontation with the Sha of Doubt.
"I've cut off the Sha of Doubt's connection with the outside world. This should last for a while, and during this time, we must come up with a way to save your friend," Chi-Ji stated his plan. "Your friend is an incredibly powerful warrior. To control him, my disciples paid no small price. If he is completely controlled by the Sha of Doubt, the consequences will be unimaginable."
"I understand, which is why I'm here." Arthas glanced at Varian, who was suppressed by Chi-Ji's power, and without hesitation, he proposed his idea. "Let me beat Varian awake. Jaina, during this process, quite a few scattered Sha aberrations should emerge. It's up to you to deal with them; don't let them escape the crypt."
Jaina nodded. In an instant, several magnificent Arcane magic circles rose from the ground, covering the entire crypt. The crypt's gate was completely blocked by ice that appeared out of nowhere, preventing any possibility of Sha escaping, both physically and magically.
After Aegwynn's guidance and inheriting the Guardian's knowledge and treasures, her strength was no longer what it used to be. Given enough time, Jaina could also become a spellcaster as powerful as Aegwynn, dominating all of Azeroth.
Arthas, on the other hand, shook the Holy Tome at his waist, and the Light of Dawn instantly transformed into a warhammer radiating scorching holy light. He looked at Chi-Ji, the meaning in his eyes self-evident.
Chi-Ji nodded slightly, waved his wings, and withdrew all the power that had been imprisoning the Sha of Doubt and Varian. At the same time, he stepped back, protecting himself and the Pandaren who had led Arthas, and did not forget to bestow his blessings upon Jaina and Arthas.
"Be careful. My remaining power can no longer sustain high-intensity combat. This is my final blessing." Chi-Ji's voice became solemn for the first time, because now they were about to face one-seventh of Y'Shaarj.
As the intense Sha energy burst forth, the distorted eye on Varian's right side, which was occupied by Sha, suddenly opened. A cruel and playful smile curled at his lips, and Sha energy erupted in his thick right hand. A longsword burning with Sha energy gradually extended and took shape.
The Sha of Doubt manipulated Varian's body, pointing the sword tip at Arthas, the smile on his face gradually twisting. "Come, let despair consume you."
Arthas remained silent, but his swinging warhammer showed his attitude. And when the hammerhead of the Light of Dawn heavily struck the Sha of Doubt's sword, the Sha of Doubt could no longer smile.
The scorching holy light hammer easily shattered the blade forged by the Sha of Doubt. The broken sword fragments flew out and embedded themselves in the ground nearby, quickly dissipating into small Sha that crawled everywhere. However, these Sha had not run far before they were all turned into ice sculptures by the extreme cold ice wind, then shattered into pieces on the ground.
"How is this possible—"
The Sha of Doubt's surprise hadn't ended when the warhammer already traced another arc. This time, without the longsword to block, the warhammer struck the Sha of Doubt's abdomen directly. The Sha, which knew no pain, felt "suffering" for the first time in hundreds of centuries—the extreme pain of a burning soul.
The Sha of Doubt spun away like a broken sandbag, embedding itself violently into the wall. This blow even scattered some of the Sha energy on Varian's body, and the Sha of Doubt felt its control over Varian beginning to loosen.
"You're insane! If this continues, your friend will die before you expel me!" the Sha of Doubt roared. He couldn't understand why the person in Varian's memories, who was like a brother, would strike Varian so heavily. The continuous fierce blows left him unable to even use his best trick, despair, to corrupt Arthas. He could barely retaliate in the close combat with Arthas.
Arthas remained silent, like a cold-blooded knight perfectly suited to eradicating evil. Each hammer blow seemed aimed at taking Varian's life. The Sha of Doubt was in a sorry state during the fight, completely losing its initial arrogance. He was like a monkey chased by a beast, finding no opportunity to fight back other than leaping around.
Even Jaina, who was observing from the side, felt a little unbearable. "Will Varian really not be beaten to death first if this continues?"
"Don't worry, child. I can sense that Arthas has no killing intent. All he has is trust in his friend. This trust is also a variation of hope, and this power is the sharp weapon to expel the Sha of Doubt," Chi-Ji explained. "With the holy light's heavy blows mixed with this belief, the Sha of Doubt will soon realize that he is no longer the master of that body."
What Chi-Ji could realize, how could the Sha of Doubt, unilaterally enduring Arthas's beating, not perceive it?
However, Arthas's offensive was like a torrential storm, and the Sha of Doubt simply couldn't extricate itself, even though it had tried its best to manipulate Varian's body. But this was not its own body after all, and Varian's consciousness had already somewhat awakened, strongly resisting its control.
With these various reasons combined, after being slammed into the ground by Arthas's warhammer yet again, the Sha of Doubt finally made a decision—to abandon Varian's body and re-condense its Sha form.
But the moment this thought arose, the Sha of Doubt was shocked to discover that its process of separating from Varian, which should have been instantaneous, was now being delayed by something.
"Is that you?! Are you trying to commit suicide?!"
The Sha of Doubt cursed in exasperation—that's right, what was preventing it from leaving was Varian himself. Varian, who had regained basic consciousness, was desperately delaying the Sha of Doubt's departure. His rich combat experience easily made him realize that the Sha of Doubt must be leaving to seek a more advantageous method for the battle, and he precisely wanted to prevent this from happening.
"So... Arthas, make your move quickly!"
The eye that was previously tightly shut on the half of his face not occupied by Sha energy suddenly opened. Varian laughed and let out a roar, pushing the half of his body where the Sha of Doubt was located towards Arthas's warhammer.
Under the violent collision of Sha energy and Holy Light, the resulting energy shock and light were almost blinding to mortals, but those in the crypt were not ordinary people. Chi-Ji and Jaina both easily coped with the dazzling light and deafening sound, yet they still couldn't clearly see what was happening at the very center of the battlefield.
"Ugh!"
Varian grunted, tumbling and falling out. His upper body armor and clothes were almost completely shattered, with only a few strips of cloth hanging on his muscular body. His body was also covered in wounds and bloodstains. Being at the very center of the explosion, he still sustained some non-trivial injuries.
Fortunately, Chi-Ji, who was nearby, keenly detected Varian's presence. He immediately released his power to protect Varian, who had fallen into unconsciousness again, while slowly healing Varian's injuries.
Meanwhile, as the flames slowly dissipated, a streak of Sha energy shot out at lightning speed towards the crypt's exit, almost instantly piercing through the ice wall Jaina used to seal the exit. However, before the Sha of Doubt could rejoice, even more terrifying and denser Arcane vortices surged out from behind the ice wall. The destructive Arcane energy almost tore open the void, revealing momentary, colorful planar rifts.
The Sha of Doubt, completely unprepared, collided with this energy, and in an instant, it was disoriented. And just as its attempt to escape was interrupted, the scorching Holy Light power erupted behind it again.
The battle not only didn't weaken Arthas's power, but instead made the Holy Light burn stronger and hotter. Even the Sha of Doubt realized that if it were hit, most of its energy would be instantly consumed.
Its first reaction was to evade, and the Sha of Doubt immediately planned to use its old trick, dispersing into Sha energy to escape. Unfortunately, when facing a skilled mage, repeatedly using such a technique is undoubtedly being too clever for one's own good.
Jaina reacted immediately. Frost and Arcane runes flashed in the void as she chanted. Countless chains of condensed frost shot out from all directions, and under the enhancement of Arcane power, they easily shackled most of the Sha of Doubt in its energy form. The Sha of Doubt simply couldn't break free quickly and could only watch helplessly as the warhammer, like a falling scorching sun, swept over.
Sha energy, ice shards, and shattered Arcane runes scattered, creating ripples on Jaina's mana shield. She looked at Arthas, who had Holy Light wings burning behind him, scorching flames shooting from his eyes, and a golden runic crown on his head, knowing that everything was nearing its end.
Arthas held the Light of Dawn in one hand, his eyes scanning like lightning. With a mere wave of his left hand, a large burst of Holy Light exploded, countless beams sweeping through, annihilating all the tiny Sha energy fragments.
After that, he made a grasping motion with his left hand, and the Holy Light filling the surroundings, like flowing water, gathered the shattered Sha energy into a single center, completely imprisoning it.
"You cannot completely destroy me! Because you cannot eliminate the doubt and despair in everyone's hearts. You won this time, but we will meet again." The shattered Sha of Doubt still did not forget to mock Arthas. It did not believe it had lost; it merely needed to wait a bit longer.
Sha do not perish. Even if its current core is destroyed, it will still be reborn from the heart of the next despairing person.
Arthas did not reply, only silently observing the remaining core of the Sha of Doubt—he knew the Sha of Doubt was right. Trying to completely destroy the Sha of Doubt with energy was simply unrealistic, because the Sha had long integrated with Pandaria. As long as they were on this land, as long as the heart of y'shaarj still existed, that part of Y'Shaarj's authority would not truly disappear.
At least it couldn't be made to disappear by violence... but that didn't mean Arthas had no solution.
Arthas calmed the Holy Light energy on his body, returning to his mortal appearance, then took out a curved short sword emanating an evil aura from his person.
Xal'atath, dark empire blade.
"Play your part, Xal'atath. I'm sure you're eager to feast."
"Feast? Just a pile of scraps... Hmm, still cold and stinky—but I don't mind." Xal'atath let out a demonic and eerie laugh.
Chi-Ji's expression tightened. He didn't know what this sword was, but its inherent aura, similar to Sha but also different, made him instinctively dislike it.
The Sha of Doubt's voice also choked. It never dreamed that the remnants of that entity would appear in the hands of this person before it. "No... no, you can't... you can't do this..."
"Don't be so resistant. Let the show I prepared for you begin."
With Arthas's unspoken permission, Xal'atath automatically flew from his hand. Under the Sha of Doubt's "despairing" gaze, Xal'atath's blade easily pierced into the core that Arthas had deliberately gathered.
Immediately after, there were no screams, no wails, only extreme silence. The visible Void energy released by the dark empire blade formed a miniature black hole, madly and greedily absorbing everything from the Sha of Doubt.
This scene, though silent, made one's scalp tingle, especially Jaina's. Her inspiration and intuition, far exceeding ordinary mages, made her vaguely realize that something imperceptible to the naked eye was being stripped away by the dark empire blade, and that thing was most likely the core of the Sha of Doubt's "existence."
Arthas silently walked to Jaina's side, using his body to shield her from that radiation, making Jaina feel a little better. Jaina then asked, "Won't this be a bit too dangerous—the essence of that sword is no safer than these Sha."
"Indeed, but this is already considered a less dangerous method." Arthas's reply was still calm, but Jaina could also feel the deep-seated helplessness in Arthas's heart.
Just as Jaina feared, Xal'atath would never willingly be manipulated by Arthas, and Arthas was well aware of Xal'atath's nature, so he didn't put all his eggs in her basket. As Arthas said, using Xal'atath to deal with the Sha was merely a reasonable risk management approach.
The power of the Old Gods and the Void was simply too troublesome and strange; even Arthas couldn't claim to know them inside out. But one thing he was clear on was that the struggle between Void factions was even more brutal than their encroachment on reality.
Xal'atath herself was an excellent example, and Xal'atath was also extremely eager to restore her former power and status. Therefore, Xal'atath would not have an ounce of sympathy or pity for her former colleagues; she would undoubtedly try every means to absorb and possess Y'Shaarj's power.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, because Yogg-Saron and C'Thun had both been defeated, and although N'Zoth was sealed, he was still a complete Ancient God. Y'Shaarj's remains were the only chance Xal'atath could grasp.
After a while, the gorged dark empire blade 'obediently' returned to Arthas's hand. However, this time, the shape of the blade had undergone some subtle changes; the power of this evil weapon was clearly far stronger than before.
But Xal'atath was surprisingly quiet. It seemed the recent feast had truly yielded her considerable gains, so much so that she no longer had the leisure to chat with Arthas, silently digesting the benefits gained from this meal within the dark empire blade.
Arthas didn't look further, directly re-containing the dark empire blade, but Chi-Ji spoke at this moment.
"Although this is very impolite, I still want to remind you that that blade is a very dangerous thing," Chi-Ji's words remained gentle and unhurried, completely unlike someone who had just escaped from the crisis of the Sha of Doubt. "However, I imagine since you dared to use her to deal with the Sha's remnants, it means you must have already thought about how to handle her afterward."
"Exactly," Arthas replied concisely. "Now, let me see how my friend is doing. Being possessed by the Sha of Doubt for so long is definitely not a pleasant experience."
Chi-Ji nodded slightly, spread his wings, and soft Arcane energy surged forth, pushing the unconscious Varian out from behind him. "His will is very resilient, but until he awakens, no one knows what kind of harm this experience has caused him."
Arthas looked at the unconscious King of Stormwind, pondered for a moment, and took out a soul crystal from his person. He placed his hand, holding the crystal, on Varian's forehead, and with a slight squeeze, crushed the crystal.
The shattered crystal did not break into small fragments, but instead turned into something like dust, sprinkling like stars onto Varian's face.
After the entire crystal had been consumed, Varian finally slowly opened his eyes. Upon seeing Arthas for the first time, he grinned, "It's really you... no one else would hit so hard."
The King shook his head, stood up from Chi-Ji's embrace, and rubbed his still aching head, saying, "What a terrible trip... Naga, Murlocs, and these strange evil creatures... My champions fought bravely, but in the end, they fell before me.
"Then that monster took control of me. The memories after that are like a dream, unclear, until your warhammer struck me, and the pain and burning sensation brought me back to consciousness."
Arthas supported his old friend, "I hope this experience doesn't leave you with any lasting effects."
Varian was also startled by these words, but he then briefly clenched and unclenched his hand, before slowly replying, "I can barely believe it myself... I don't seem to have been affected at all, except for being beaten just now, my whole body aches, and I'm a bit dizzy, like I haven't slept well."
"Still, we can't be careless," Jaina added from the side. "That thing is also a type of Ancient God derivative. I suggest you go back to Stormwind and have the Highlord and the mages of Dalaran examine you thoroughly. If any hidden dangers remain, it would be irresponsible to your people."
Varian nodded at her words, "You're right, Jaina, these damned monsters are always unpredictable—but I really miss Anduin and Tiffin..."
After the latter half of the sentence, Varian fell silent, leaning against Arthas and closing his eyes. Arthas saw this and knew that the Sha of Doubt, in order to make the possession smoother, must have shown Varian many illusions to confuse his mind.
However, one clever aspect of the Old Gods is that they don't show you entirely false illusions; some illusions are even prophecies of the future—the power of the Old Gods is truly terrifying; they can even penetrate the river of time and foresee a portion of the future through powerful prophetic abilities.
Although the Sha of Doubt is only a very small part of Y'Shaarj's power, he is, after all, an original Sha born from Y'Shaarj, and his status and power should not be underestimated.
Seeing Varian safe and sound, Jaina also breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems our business here is concluded. What do we do next?"
"Let's send Varian back to Stormwind first. Bolvar has been going crazy during his disappearance," Arthas suggested that Varian rest and also temporarily keep him away from Pandaria, because after being corrupted by the Sha, it would be best for Varian not to appear on this continent for a while.
Although Varian's will was very resilient, he was not the kind of fanatic who willingly accepted Y'Shaarj's power. Therefore, the Sha of Doubt would still ultimately affect him. In this state, leaving him in Pandaria or having him participate in the Alliance's upcoming actions would be tantamount to using Varian as bait for the Sha.
Jaina acknowledged with a sound, then dispelled the surrounding Arcane seals and began searching for a destination with a teleportation spell.
-----------------
At the Alliance Vanguard camp, Highlord Alexandros held Ashbringer in one hand and tossed a Naga's head onto the ground with the other. There were already dozens of female Naga heads piled up here, and the still-wet blood was even flowing, though it had only spread a few centimeters before being evaporated by the scorching Holy Light. The heads were then sealed by waiting mages with both Arcane and Frost enchantments, preventing any possibility of corruption by evil forces.
"We have cleared out quite a few Naga camps," Alexandros reported calmly, leaning on Ashbringer. "They are indeed, as His Majesty, Arthas predicted, operating in small teams, performing evil rituals throughout the Jade Forest. These female Naga should be their priestesses, the main ritual performers."
The heroes of the Alliance, at Uther's call, launched a swift attack, clearing out many Naga camps like thunder. Their objective was also clear: prioritize killing the spellcasters, which were the female Naga, while the male Naga guards and warriors were not on their kill list.
After clearing out these Naga, the strange disturbances in the Jade Forest significantly decreased, but the contaminated forest waters and the source of the defilement still hadn't been found. The Sha of Doubt's power continued to grow, and the Green Dragon Temple also reported that, although the disappearance of the Naga had delayed the disaster, they sensed that the true catastrophe had not yet been eradicated.
"We have killed all the Naga we could find in a short time. Now we must advance towards the source of the corruption." Uther looked towards the mountains in the northwest of the Jade Forest, which was the first place to be corrupted by Sha energy, and also the corner with the largest number of Naga.
....
Just as Arthas and Jaina were rescuing Varian, and the Alliance Vanguard was undertaking a Naga decapitation mission, Thassarian followed behind the Mogu, figuring out what these ancient creatures were searching for.
Traversing through mist-shrouded plank roads and mountain paths, and slaying many Lizardmen and other strange creatures residing in dark caves, the Scourge's vanguard arrived after the Mogu at a magnificent and splendid architectural complex embedded in the mountain wall.
A part of this complex was a dam that spanned several mountain peaks, and at its upper end flowed the trickling waters of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.
However, this spring, which should have been brimming with life energy, was now floating with Sha energy corruption, like oil slicks, and many Sha were leaping out of the water, further polluting the surrounding ecosystem.
The wild animals and plants that once lived in the mountains had all become victims of Sha infection; what should have been a vibrant scene of flourishing life had now turned into a chaotic spectacle that would make even the Scourge shake their heads.
"We are very close to the Mogu's main camp now. If we get any closer, I cannot guarantee that our magic will continue to conceal our movements," Farina warned.
A group of undead moving through the mountains was already conspicuous enough; if not for her Necromancers working tirelessly day and night, they would have been discovered by the Mogu long ago.
Thassarian affirmed Farina's assessment.
He observed the Sha twisting and crawling everywhere for a while, but had no intention of eradicating these creatures, as the Sha's environmental pollution, to a certain extent, actually helped the Scourge conceal its presence.
Then Thassarian turned his gaze to the magnificent ancient architecture on the distant cliff, which should be the location of the Terrace of Endless Spring.
As a transfer station for the life-giving waters flowing out of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, this platform bore the function of initiating life for half of Pandaria.
With the Jade Forest recently overrun by Sha and darkness breeding, there must be a significant problem here.
The culprits were most likely the Naga, but these Mogu should, in theory, have reached some agreement with the Naga.
They should also have played some role in it, rather than currently searching for the location of the Terrace of Endless Spring here.
"It seems that not all information is shared between the Naga and the Mogu," Thassarian quickly surmised, sneering inwardly.
This was a good opportunity; rifts within the enemy often became the starting point for the collapse of alliances.
Now, the Alliance was frantically disrupting the Naga's plans, yet the Mogu had no intention of helping.
The Naga's leader would eventually lose patience, and the Mogu's current search for the Terrace of Endless Spring surely involved schemes unknown to the Naga.
The deceitful cooperation between these two factions was solely for their own interests; a falling out was only a matter of time.
"Massive life force surges within that platform; perhaps we should investigate," Farina said, her eyes gleaming with desire as she stared at the Terrace of Endless Spring.
"You should know that with the forces we have, we cannot confront the Mogu head-on.
Our mission is solely for reconnaissance, and now our mission is largely complete."
Thassarian did not forget that his fundamental duty was to find clues leading to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, and the Terrace of Endless Spring, as an extension of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, was an excellent answer.
He immediately reported the current situation to the Scourge headquarters and led his troops to set up camp in a hidden location, observing the Mogu's every move.
-----------------
Meanwhile, inside Stormwind Keep.
"Interesting, the Mogu have actually found the Terrace of Endless Spring.
It seems they have also realized that the Naga are engaged in some unspeakable secrets."
Arthas quickly received Thassarian's intelligence.
The Naga's objective was clear: the core of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, the Titan catacombs beneath Mogu'shan Palace.
The Mogu's objectives were more intriguing: some Mogu might be aiming to restore their original status and re-establish their rule over Pandaria, while others should be looking for ancient Mogu legacies to obtain powerful strength.
However, regardless of their motives, the Mogu were unaware of the Naga's true objective; otherwise, they would very likely be the first to raise their blades against the Naga.
This was not to say that they remembered their original duty as Guardians, but rather because if an Old God occupied Pandaria, it would be highly unlikely for the Mogu to restore their empire's glory.
Unless they were madmen who wished to see the world in chaos, all Mogu clans would disapprove of such an approach.
They were extreme, fond of war and domination, but that did not mean they desired to be enslaved by a stronger, more chaotic, and disorderly force.
The Naga's true objective would certainly be considered too extreme by them.
This would be a breakthrough.
If the Mogu could "discover" the Naga's true intentions on their own, N'Zoth's plan should suffer a significant blow, and the infighting between the Mogu and Naga would also save the Alliance a lot of trouble.
After considering this, Arthas quickly sent a reply to Thassarian, instructing him to continue monitoring the Mogu's actions.
As long as they did not extensively damage the Terrace of Endless Spring and the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, they could even be given some assistance in their pursuit of certain matters.
After all, people tend to believe the "facts" they painstakingly discover themselves.
Once the Mogu uncovered the Naga's conspiracy, many hot-headed Mogu warlords would surely clash fiercely with the Naga.
However, the Alliance's operations in Pandaria had to accelerate.
With Varian found, they had no more worries, and it was best to resolve the Sha problem and secure the heart of y'shaarj as soon as possible.
Otherwise, once the remnants of this evil god fell into N'Zoth's hands, Azeroth would face another catastrophe.
"Arthas! You have truly saved the entire kingdom!"
As Arthas pondered, Bolvar strode over, a rare smile on the Grand Duke's face.
He walked up and gave Arthas a bear hug, so excited that he couldn't control his strength, making even Arthas feel a bit constricted.
"Alright, Bolvar, how is Varian?" Arthas pushed the burly man away with a hint of distaste.
"He was possessed by a terrifying Sha; this might be the most dangerous experience of his life."
"Archbishop Benedictus has already examined him; he said the Light still favors Varian," Bolvar said, speaking of Varian's condition.
"Jaina also helped by scanning him with magic several times.
They all said that not only was Varian fine, but his body was even sturdier than before."
Arthas mused for a moment.
Although the Sha energy was removed, did it leave behind a part of its body-strengthening effect on Varian?
This was rare, though probably no normal person would want to take such a risk for this slight gain.
"It's not just physical issues, but also mental hidden dangers.
I suggest Varian avoids anything that would cause extreme emotional fluctuations for a while—like combat.
You know what I mean.
Let him spend quality time with Anduin and Tiffin."
Bolvar also said very solemnly, "The Archbishop agrees.
I will continue to handle most of Varian's political affairs during this time—you should know, some things are more headache-inducing and irritating than high-intensity combat."
Arthas smiled helplessly, "You should also take care of yourself.
By the way, where is Anduin?
Can you ask him to come over for a moment? I have something I want to discuss with him."
"Teacher, were you looking for me?"
Anduin looked at Arthas with some apprehension. Although Arthas was his godfather, and their relationship was quite good, he always felt involuntarily nervous whenever he saw Arthas.
His father, Varian, had also reprimanded him for this many times, believing him to be too weak. If he often got nervous and didn't know what to say even when facing his father's good friend, his own teacher, and godfather, how could he achieve great things in the future?
But only Anduin himself knew clearly that he wasn't just nervous because of Arthas's prestige and power. Rather, whenever he stood before Arthas, the Holy Light would surge like an aria from a choir. That feeling stirred Anduin's mind, making it very difficult for him to calm down.
"That's right, Anduin, how have you been lately?" Arthas originally wanted to place his hand on Anduin's head, but he paused after extending it, finally choosing to rest it on his shoulder.
"I'm very well—everything is very well, especially with father back with me and mother. I don't think anything could make me feel more at ease than this." A slight smile appeared on Anduin's still somewhat youthful face, and the thought of his father's safe return made him feel a little less nervous facing Arthas.
"That's good," Arthas nodded, then changed the subject, posing a question, "Would you like to come with me to Pandaria—to the front lines, to see what kind of evil forces the Alliance's soldiers are fighting against?"
"Ah? I—" Anduin didn't react for a moment, staring blankly for several seconds before coming back to his senses. "Can I?"
Although Varian demanded that Anduin possess the spirit and will of a warrior, Anduin was not yet an adult and lacked the ability to stand on his own. Moreover, with Queen Tiffin still alive, as a mother, the Queen would surely scold Varian and prevent him from taking overly aggressive actions.
So, even if Varian had the idea of taking Anduin to the very front, it was basically vetoed by Tiffin.
"I know your difficulties, but this time I only want to ask for your personal wishes. If you truly want to go and see, I will find a way to help you resolve other difficulties."
Arthas said to Anduin very seriously. Varian's disappearance this time made him understand some things. Even he found it difficult to be comprehensive and manage everything. If the leaders of the Alliance truly met with misfortune, there must be enough successor power to complete the important task of guarding Azeroth.
Originally, it should have been Anduin who set foot on Pandaria, completed this adventure, and confronted the arrogant Garrosh. Arthas would not specifically arrange Anduin's destiny to follow the timeline, but the experience in Pandaria had a quite important role in shaping Anduin's character.
This child had shown intelligence far beyond his peers since childhood. Perhaps he was not as tenacious and strong as his father Varian, but Anduin also possessed qualities his father did not.
After a brief silence and thought, Anduin solemnly nodded at Arthas, having already made up his mind.
Arthas smiled with satisfaction. He patted Anduin's shoulder, "Wait for me here."
-----------------
"Let Anduin go to Pandaria—this... will this be too dangerous?" Queen Tiffin's face was filled with worry. Her husband had barely escaped death on that new continent and had just returned to his homeland, and now her son was to set foot on that land. Her first reaction was to refuse.
The only difference was that this time, he would go to the front lines under Arthas's protection. For this King of Lordaeron, who was slightly younger than herself and Varian, Tiffin had always regarded him as a younger brother. In some matters, she even trusted Arthas more than Varian.
If Varian had proposed this, Tiffin would never have agreed, because she knew her husband too well. She knew that while Varian was mostly mature and steady, he also had moments when he couldn't control himself and acted impulsively.
Who knew if his decision to send Anduin to the front was well-thought-out, or an emotional impulse after feeling disappointed?
But Arthas was different. If Arthas proposed this, Tiffin would consider it carefully, just like now, "What exactly is the situation in Pandaria now?"
"Neither good nor bad," Arthas's answer didn't actually reassure Tiffin, but the next sentence made Tiffin waver a bit, "However, I can guarantee that Anduin won't suffer any harm, even if an Old God suddenly appears before us, I can guarantee it."
Tiffin frowned, "Why suddenly bring this up...?"
Varian, who was beside them, suddenly spoke at this moment, "Let Anduin go with Arthas, Tiffin. I believe this experience will benefit the child immensely."
"You're still talking! If you hadn't suddenly disappeared, the kingdom wouldn't be in such a mess now. Bolvar has been busy day and night, and he's gotten so many gray hairs!"
It was fine when Varian didn't speak, but once he did, Tiffin glared at him. Although with the Queen's appearance and temperament, this glare didn't actually have much destructive power, it still made Varian instinctively shrink his neck. But soon Varian straightened up again, "We've protected Anduin too well. If this continues, he'll become a good child, but not necessarily a good king."
This made Arthas nod slightly. It seemed Varian also realized something. He looked at Tiffin again and saw that the Queen was no longer speaking. Just like that, the three of them remained silent in the meeting room.
-----------------
A day later, in the Alliance's forward camp in Pandaria, Jaina asked Arthas curiously, "So, what was the outcome? Did Tiffin still not agree?"
She hadn't seen Anduin here, and thought Tiffin had ultimately refused this adventure.
"Tiffin is an excellent mother, and also an outstanding Queen. Of course she understands what Anduin coming to Pandaria means, and once she understood that, she wouldn't have a reason to refuse." Arthas smiled and shook his head, "Anduin has already arrived, but he's not here, he's at Green Dragon Temple."
"Did you arrange for him to go there?"
"No, he said it himself. He said that to understand a civilization, one must first understand their history and culture, and for the Pandaren, a large part of their cultural scriptures are in Green Dragon Temple."
"Wow... Little Anduin really is different from his father." Jaina didn't know what to say for a moment, "If it were Varian, he would probably be on the front lines fighting the Mogu and Naga right now."
"Let Anduin read. The High Priest of Green Dragon Temple will accompany him temporarily. This is also the first thing I want him to learn."
Arthas had decided that while ensuring Anduin's safety, he would let him learn as much as possible from this experience... However, there was one thing he hadn't told Queen Tiffin, and this was something Varian himself had requested: to keep Anduin away from Stormwind for a while. Varian was still worried that the Sha of Doubt might have a deeper influence on him. If it were just the Queen, he could arrange people to protect Tiffin's safety, but Anduin was still young and his mind was not yet mature. He was worried about Anduin's safety, so he entrusted Anduin to Arthas.
Although Pandaria was the main base of the Sha, Varian felt that being with Arthas was better than being with him, a warrior who knew nothing about the Holy Light and the Void.
"Mr. Shi Bu, are there any more books about Jade Forest?"
Anduin, holding a thick, heavy tome almost half his height, carefully returned it to a shelf in the Green Dragon Temple's library. He then asked Shi Bu, the Lorewalker who was cleaning, about learning more about Jade Forest.
For Anduin, who had almost never left Stormwind, everything in Pandaria, every piece of scenery, was novel and unique, making him linger. What he was even more eager to understand was the Pandaren's peaceful and serene mindset of living in harmony with the world. The various aspects of Pandaren towns closely resembled the ideal kingdom in his heart.
Therefore, Anduin decided to carefully read and research what allowed the Pandaren to maintain such long-lasting peace. For this reason, he spent most of his time at the Green Dragon Temple in the library.
"Oh, of course, my boy," Shi Bu put down his broom and unhurriedly moved a ladder, beginning to search the upper levels of the library. "Let me see, oh, I found it. This is it, Jade Forest Notes. These are the records left by the, uh, I'm not quite sure which former green dragon supreme High Priest during his travels through Jade Forest. They will definitely meet your requirements."
"Thank you, Mr. Shi Bu."
Anduin took the scroll Shi Bu handed him and began to decipher its contents using a temporary dictionary he had compiled. He gradually became engrossed in the myriad phenomena of Jade Forest recorded in the notes.
As he read, time flowed like water. Shi Bu thoughtfully lit a candle for Anduin, providing him with continuous light to read by. In the flickering candlelight, a tall, imposing figure slowly walked into the library.
Seeing the newcomer, Shi Bu clasped his hands together in a salute, then lightly coughed to remind Anduin, "My boy, your teacher is here for you."
Hearing Shi Bu's prompting, Anduin finally snapped out of his notes. He looked at Arthas, who was standing nearby, and, somewhat embarrassed, quickly stood up, "Teacher, I'm sorry, I was too engrossed."
"It's good to enjoy reading. Your father, when he was young, could also immerse himself in the Royal Library for an entire day. Unfortunately, he no longer has the leisure time to read; he has to dedicate himself entirely to his duties."
Arthas recalled the time Varian lived in Lordaeron. Despite being filled with hatred for the orcs and a desire to restore his homeland, Varian would spend a great deal of time studying theoretical knowledge during his breaks from martial arts training.
Learning how to wield a sword might make one a good warrior, but that alone is far from sufficient for the duties of a king.
Looking at the figure reading under the candlelight, Arthas couldn't help but think of Varian back then. Although this father and son had very different personalities, in some ways they were exactly alike. For a moment, Arthas almost thought he had gone back decades and was seeing a young Varian. "Anduin, you should have some understanding of the Sha of Doubt—the dark force that once controlled your father."
At the instruction of Arthas and the green dragon supreme, Shi Bu gave Anduin some books that should not have been easily circulated, allowing him to gain a preliminary understanding of the dark forces slumbering in Pandaria.
"They are the embodiment of negative emotions, materializing under the condensation of a certain dark force. Therefore, these terrifying monsters are almost impossible to kill. Even the last Pandaren emperor could only choose to seal them."
Anduin stopped abruptly at this point, his expression becoming somewhat hesitant and anxious, and the surrounding shadows cast by the candlelight also flickered more intensely.
"Go on, my boy. Speak your doubts. Only by facing your confusion can you stand undefeated in Jade Forest."
Arthas moved his right arm, bent at the elbow, to his chest, and points of light overflowed from his palm, dispelling the shadows throughout the entire library. He had already sensed it; even in this sacred place, the Sha's tendrils were still everywhere, and now they were clearly targeting Anduin.
Anduin possessed some qualities he himself was unaware of, qualities that made him, though still weak, a favored prey for dark forces. Unfortunately, under Arthas's power, all darkness had nowhere to hide.
Under the illumination of the Holy Light, Anduin appeared much calmer. The anxious expression was gone from his face, and at this moment, he also realized his own abnormality. "What… what just happened to me?"
"The Sha of Doubt, the source of all darkness in Jade Forest, a monster born from the corpse of an Old Gods. Here, as long as you harbor doubt in your heart, you will sooner or later fall into an irreversible abyss."
Arthas cast the Holy Light from his hand, and the golden sacred stream of light reflected a beautiful arc in Anduin's eyes. Immediately after, the Holy Light exploded like fireworks, and a high-energy sacred nova impacted every part of the library, illuminating even the darkest corners with golden light.
Under the impact of the Holy Light, black smoke twisted and rose, and countless dark minions were scorched from the shadows and void, wailing and dying, turning into dust and dissipating.
Anduin watched in shock as this scene unfolded in the library. "Sha? They've already invaded here?"
"They were always here. Every inch of Jade Forest was once soil corrupted by Sha. Even the Green Dragon Temple cannot forever isolate this corruption." Arthas explained everything that had happened here to Anduin. "To be precise, every inch of Azeroth's land and every ocean was once the flesh and blood of the Old Gods. They are everywhere, and precisely because of this, once they break free from their shackles, darkness will instantly envelop our world."
Finishing his words, Arthas patted Anduin's shoulder, motioning for him to follow. Anduin quickly followed behind Arthas, and the two walked one after the other to a terrace outside the library. From here, they could see most of Jade Forest's landscape, though now, these beautiful sights were shrouded in night and darkness.
"Feel with your heart," Arthas told Anduin.
Anduin followed his godfather's guidance. He tried to calm himself, and then… in the midst of darkness, he saw a faint azure glow flickering, but that glow was too small and weak compared to the current darkness.
"That is—"
"The August Celestial Green Dragon. She is currently at a special point in her life, and thus she is very weak. The Sha of Doubt wants to take this opportunity to corrupt her, and also to corrupt everything in Jade Forest." Arthas gazed at the azure glow and simply explained, "If the Sha of Doubt dares to materialize, then I can destroy it. But the death of the Sha of Doubt has made these Sha smarter; without complete certainty, they will not appear before me in physical form again."
The Sha's power needs to be condensed into a whole to reach its peak, but at that point, they also become susceptible to destruction. However, when they embody a certain symbol and attach themselves to the continent, that is when they become truly stubborn and difficult to eradicate.
The Sha of Doubt was the first one to challenge Arthas, and its death permanently weakened the Sha's power. But the other Sha also sensed the anomaly; as long as Arthas was present, they dared not form a true core entity.
However, Arthas was not in a hurry, because after destroying the Sha of Doubt, he understood one thing: the Sha were maggots born from Y'Shaarj's corpse, but these maggots still had the instinct to unite, seize Y'Shaarj's heart, and resurrect into that true Old Gods.
And since they possessed such a desire, they would eventually be unable to restrain themselves.
"Xal'atath, what's wrong with you?"
Arthas questioned the restless dagger in his hand. He felt the surging energy of the dark empire blade. Although it wasn't enough to break through the blockade he had set, it still caught Arthas's attention.
"...I didn't expect Y'Shaarj's avatar to possess such powerful energy. They've been rooted in this land for a thousand years. Even when sealed, it's impossible to completely sever their connection to reality... It's all my fault for lacking—damn it!"
Xal'atath's emotions rarely fluctuated so violently. It seemed she was indeed overwhelmed by the recently absorbed energy. Arthas, however, frowned at this. He still wanted to use this sword to deal with a few more Sha. If she couldn't even handle the first one, wouldn't the long-term plan he had prepared for Xal'atath be far less cost-effective?
"You're not about to be overwhelmed by the remaining fragment of Y'Shaarj, are you? If so, I'll have to re-evaluate your worth."
Arthas's voice was quite cold, which made Xal'atath feel uneasy. She no longer cared about secrecy. If she were abandoned by Arthas, the consequences would be unimaginable. After all, Arthas was not like the mortals she had deceived before; he was a god in human skin, with power far beyond imagination.
"Wait, wait... I can accept Y'Shaarj's power, but not in my current form. I must change my vessel."
Although the dark empire blade was a coveted artifact for the Twilight Cultists, it was ultimately just a remnant of an Old God. Fully accepting the power of another—and the most powerful—Old God was quite a strain. To avoid the worst outcome, Xal'atath could only reveal a part of her original plan to Arthas.
"I'm missing the most important part of 'me.' You can understand it as my soul, my status, or my core—it's roughly that meaning in your language. If I can retrieve it, I can help you completely clear away all lingering effects of Y'Shaarj."
Xal'atath explained to Arthas while sorting out the rapidly increasing energy within the dagger. "Perhaps you know, I was schemed against by other Old Gods and ended up in this state. Leaving aside those who died, everything I need is with N'Zoth, who is still alive."
Arthas, however, didn't take Xal'atath's words seriously. "N'Zoth? He's currently sealed in a Titan prison at the bottom of the sea. Am I supposed to release him for your sake?"
"You have the ability to strangle him directly in his prison—just like you did to C'Thun and Yogg-Saron." Xal'atath's voice trembled slightly. "I can help you achieve all of this more easily."
"There are enough messes already. You'd better shut up for now."
Arthas didn't intend to listen further, as he knew that what followed would be nothing but grand promises from Xal'atath. This individual was no easy target, and her so-called methods were likely just a strategy of driving a tiger to devour a wolf.
Temporarily blocking out Xal'atath's incessant and slightly angry whispers, Arthas put away the dagger and looked at the Jade Forest sandbox on the table.
For now, Xal'atath would likely be of no use for a while. The only option was to find another way to stimulate the Sha, making them manifest physically for easier hunting. With this thought, Arthas channeled his magic and quickly contacted the Scourge awaiting orders in Pandaria. However, what he didn't expect was that Thassarian had encountered a small problem.
"The Mogu attacked the Terrace of Endless Spring? They fought with the Guardians stationed inside the Terrace of Endless Spring, with casualties on both sides?"
Arthas had previously learned that the Mogu had found the Terrace of Endless Spring, but he hadn't expected this Mogu clan to be so reckless as to directly engage the ancient Guardians within the Terrace of Endless Spring.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Mogu were clearly well-prepared. Even though those Guardians possessed powerful magical abilities, they found it difficult to escape unscathed under the Mogu's strange magic." Thassarian reported the collected information truthfully. As a commander, he actually found the Mogu's actions difficult to comprehend.
Although the Mogu had made many preparations against the Terrace of Endless Spring's defenses, the strength of their single unit was still insufficient to breach the Terrace of Endless Spring's defenses. It was true that they inflicted significant losses on the Guardians, but even now, they hadn't broken through the gates of the Terrace of Endless Spring. Instead, they left many bodies outside the gates, then lowered their flags and retreated back to their positions.
"Magic... Naga... Corruption—" These clues connected in Arthas's mind, and soon, a flash of insight struck him. He seemed to have figured out a crucial point of the incident. "Thassarian, take advantage of the chaos to collect some Mogu corpses, specifically those who died in battle within the Terrace of Endless Spring."
Upon receiving the order, Thassarian immediately dispatched troops to complete the mission, while Arthas also became instantly alert. He summoned the Alliance generals and held a short meeting in the war room.
Soon, the hurried crowd left the command center, and the entire Alliance vanguard camp instantly sprang into action. Large numbers of engineering helicopters and gryphons carried troops and Alliance heroes to the designated location in the Jade Forest, leaving Arthas in the war room to await news from Thassarian.
Not long after, Thassarian collected the Mogu corpses from the battlefield. He arranged for his Necromancers and alchemists to immediately analyze the bodies. After comparing them with samples from the Mogu squad that had died at their hands earlier, he sent back information that confirmed Arthas's suspicions.
"The Mogu corpses contain a large amount of highly polluting dark magic. This magic is concealed by Mogu mages' enhancement spells, making it difficult to distinguish, and it only exhibits significant activity after the physical body dies."
The Necromancer's report made Arthas frown deeply. He immediately stood up, rushed out of the command center in a few strides, summoned his warhorse Invincible, and galloped straight to the Green Dragon Temple. With Invincible's speed, Arthas didn't take long to see the gates of the Green Dragon Temple.
He didn't care about anything else, landing directly in the Green Dragon Temple's backyard. After bursting through the door of the library, he looked at the surprised Shi Bu, the Lorewalker, and immediately asked, "Where are the High Priestess and the Sages?"
Shi Bu hadn't fully recovered until he noticed Arthas's serious expression, then he hurriedly replied, "They are listening to the Supreme's teachings at the Everflow Spring."
"Take me there quickly! You can't hear the Supreme's teachings anymore." Arthas said with a grave and resolute expression, "The Sha have already corrupted the water source, and the next step is your sacred temple!"
Hearing this, Shi Bu turned pale with fright. He stumbled to gather his scrolls, not even having time to return them to their usual places one by one, only able to find a spot to temporarily put them down. Arthas glanced at the scrolls, then casually threw out a beam of Holy Light. Accompanied by rolling black smoke, countless roaring small Sha leaped out from the scrolls. Shi Bu watched in shock as the Sha dissolved like snowflakes.
"I have protected this hall from evil with Holy Light. First, go find the High Priestess and the Sages, lest they fall into the Sha's clutches."
After Arthas purified the library with Holy Light, he immediately had Shi Bu lead him to the Everflow Spring, where the Sages and Priests read the meaning of the flowing water. There, a terrifying enemy was quietly forming.