Seemingly hearing the exclamations of the former kings behind him, Alodi turned his head and smiled slightly:
"The Guardian is just a name. The real guardians of this world are the living beings of Azeroth themselves."
"You see, even the Kirin Tor could only flee in the face of Archimonde's attack, but the great demon was reduced to ashes under the resistance of the Azeroth Allied Forces. So the Guardian should not fight against the darkness alone. No one can fight against the darkness alone."
Alodi's face was covered in wounds caused by fel energy, which could not be erased even after his body was reforged by the Will of the Forge, but he didn't care.
"I fought against demons alone in the darkness for centuries, my friends. I have learned a truth: only by working together can we save this world!"
Upon hearing this, some of them felt ashamed.
"It doesn't matter, my friends. When you truly integrate into the Throne of Heroes, we will be one of our own."
After saying this, Alodi revealed a meaningful smile.
He knew that most of the first batch of Throne of Heroes candidates chose to become Val'kyr because their lifespans were nearing their end and they didn't want to return to the earth.
After all, becoming a member of the Throne of Heroes would allow them to recast a strong body and be free from the shackles of lifespan.
But it doesn't matter, as long as the Altar of Kings accepts them, they will become one of their own.
"Are you ready for the teleportation, friends? We are about to go to the headquarters of the Throne of Heroes, the Titan city of Ulduar!"
The Titan city…
The candidates stared excitedly at the blue portal.
Lothar murmured to himself, "I have a feeling that I might see old friends again this time!"
… … … … … … … … … …
Of course, Lothar would meet old friends in Ulduar. Galen had sent Antonidas and many heroic spirits who sacrificed themselves for the old Alliance to be 'reforged'.
However, now that the business was too big, Galen no longer personally handled many things.
Especially with Highlord Saurfang, Second Throne Anastarian, and Third Throne Huln sitting in the Throne of Heroes, these three were once the rulers of a country or tribal leaders, so it was easy to build the framework of the Throne of Heroes.
Information came from Shadowstrike that Cho'gall and his Twilight's Hammer cultists were frequently active in Drustvar in Kul Tiras and Nazmir in Zandalar, and it seemed that several forces had begun to collude.
Galen silently waited for the situation to develop. He didn't know if his world would experience the Burning Legion's third invasion, but Galen, who was used to planning ahead, had to solve N'Zoth before that.
He didn't care how the situation in Zandalar deteriorated, but Kul Tiras was now under the control of his good buddy Derek, so he still had to keep him informed.
However, just waiting wasn't Galen's style. He still had some time, so while Chen Stormstout hadn't returned to Kalimdor, he planned to take this pandaren to Pandaria!
"Highlord…"
Chen Stormstout scratched the back of his head a little awkwardly and said cautiously, "My ancestors have been living on the Wandering Isle ever since they followed Liu Lang on an adventure. It has been thousands of years since they returned to Pandaria. Now I don't know how to find the way to enter Pandaria…"
If you knew, I would suspect that you were the one who transmigrated!
The last emperor of the pandaren, Shaohao, had at least demigod-level strength. After foreseeing the destruction that the Great Sundering might bring to his country and people, this ruler with a noble soul and great power allowed his soul to leave his body and eventually turned into the mists that enveloped the entire Pandaria, shielding the entire Pandaria.
Although he saved Pandaria from the cataclysm, it also caused its future to stagnate.
However, although Pandaria was shrouded in mist, there were still pandaren who could walk out of the mist. The pandaren were naturally close to nature, loved peace, and yearned for freedom. They had a tradition of traveling and studying abroad. When they came of age, they would leave their hometown and embark on a journey that lasted for several years.
Among them, there was a pandaren named Liu Lang who was even more outstanding. His mount was a sea turtle named Shen-zin Su, who would regularly return to Pandaria along a specific ocean current during the annual Wanderer's Festival, unaffected by the mist.
Therefore, Liu Lang would travel overseas on Shen-zin Su every few years.
Later, the sea turtle grew bigger and bigger, and more and more pandaren could ride on its back. Many of Liu Lang's fellow villagers followed him out to sea.
Until Liu Lang died, Shen-zin Su had become a sea turtle the size of a small island. Those pandaren who were traveling and studying lived on the island on Shen-zin Su's back and called the island on Shen-zin Su's back the Wandering Isle.
Because of Liu Lang's death, Shen-zin Su no longer returned to Pandaria, which made the pandaren on the island never go back, and they have been breeding and living on the Wandering Isle for more than 3,000 years.
And Chen Stormstout was a pandaren who came out of the Wandering Isle to travel after he came of age.
Unfortunately, not long after he landed in Kalimdor, he found orcs on the coast, and then there was a scene similar to the Battle of the Five Armies.
Also unfortunately, when Chen Stormstout watched with great interest and even improvised a poem, not only were the Bronze Dragonflight Nozdormu and Chromie standing behind him, but also members of Shadowstrike…
Just like that, Chen Stormstout's originally unrestrained life… no, bear life was completely changed, and he couldn't escape Galen's "clutches".
"I have my own way to enter Pandaria."
Galen's tone was full of certainty. This was a backup plan he had buried ten thousand years ago.
"But since you mentioned the Wandering Isle, then let's go to your hometown first, Chen!"
Hearing this, Chen Stormstout happily nodded, then picked up the wine gourd on his waist, pulled out the lid, and directly poured a mouthful of wine into his already cracked mouth: "Great, I haven't been back to the Wandering Isle for many years. I don't know how Master Shangxi is doing, whether Lili has grown up, and I have to bring more wine from the Eastern Kingdoms and the Western Kingdoms back for Cheng Bo to taste!"
"In that case, you go and prepare. We will board the ship at the port later and set off directly!"
"Okay, Highlord!"
Chen Stormstout couldn't go to Pandaria, but he could still find the Wandering Isle. After all, every once in a while, he would write letters to his brother to tell him about his recent situation.
Watching Chen Stormstout leave, Galen also went to the inner court of the palace. This time, he wanted to take Alleria Windrunner, Sylvanas Windrunner, Legolas, and Arathor together, just as a trip.
There are many dangerous things in Pandaria, the barbaric Yaungol, the evil Mantid, and the Jinyu and Hozen who are at odds with each other, but these are not to be feared.
The only thing to worry about is Y'Shaarj's heart, and the possibility that strong emotional fluctuations could lead to Sha energy, hidden deep underground, to corrupt things, and in severe cases, even break Shao Hao's seal, allowing the Sha to reappear on the land.
Galen had anticipated this situation and had backup plans, so there was no need to worry too much.
At Stromgarde Harbor, the Sea Eagle, the flagship of the Stromgarde fleet, was stationed. It was one of the largest seagoing vessels in the Bay of Baradin and even the Western Sea, with a draft second only to Kul Tiras's Sea Reaver.
Of course, this is excluding seagoing aircraft carriers.
… … … … … …
How big is the Shen-zin Su, carrying the Wandering Isle?
This enormous sea turtle carries a small world on its back, with tens of thousands of pandaren living within it. It has even transcended the realm of mere creatures, with many pandaren considering it the most powerful being.
The Temple of the Five Dawns is located in the very center, with the Tailspout Pools at the turtle's tail, and the Great Orchard and the Brewmoon Festival being the pandaren's main sources of food.
To the right of the turtle's back are Wu Song Village, Dawn's Blossom, and the Training Grounds, the main places where the pandaren live.
The Veiled Stair on the left is sparsely populated, and the area near the turtle's head is the most important place for the pandaren, the Zen'shir Terrace, equivalent to their ancestors' burial ground, where Liu Lang and his wife are buried.
Legend has it that this tranquil forest is the embodiment of the umbrella Liu Lang often used, and many monks choose to meditate here.
On this day, Lili, who lives in Wu Song Village, was in class at the schoolhouse. An old pandaren was teaching on the platform, while Lili was absentmindedly lie on the desk, wondering about something.
Before long, her little head kept drooping like a chick pecking at rice, obviously because she hadn't slept well last night.
"Lili!"
The pandaren teacher on the platform roared, waking up the dozing little panda: "Sleeping in class again! Go stand at the back!"
The little panda was startled, jumped up abruptly, and after a moment of confusion, slowly walked to the back of the schoolhouse.
"I knew I should have gone to bed earlier last night. It's all Uncle Chen's fault. The adventure diary he sent back was so exciting. If Dad hadn't gotten up in the middle of the night and I was afraid of being discovered, I would have finished reading it!"
Lili leaned listlessly against the back wall of the schoolhouse, resting her forehead against the wall, and continued to mutter to herself: "The Lich King is so scary. I wonder if Uncle Chen and his partners can defeat him. But they have Highlord Galen leading the way, and he's so powerful, the Lich King is doomed."
"It's a pity, I liked that Prince Arthas so much, but he fell!"
Lili Stormstout, a little pandaren born on the back of Shen-zin Su, originally lived a peaceful life on the Wandering Isle as a child, until one day she read the letters and adventure diaries that her Uncle Chen sent back. Soon, she was filled with a thirst for adventure and exploration.
"Uncle Chen… why haven't you come home yet? I want to travel too!"
Lili finished today's classes. She hadn't listened to a single word of the Dao of All Things that the teacher taught today, but that didn't stop her from rushing out of the schoolhouse like the wind.
There was a distance between Wu Song Village and the Training Grounds where the schoolhouse was located. Originally, there were special ox carts to take the children home after their studies, but today Lili didn't get on the cart with the other students. She chose to go home by herself.
She dreamed of becoming a traveler like her Uncle Chen. She decided to start recording her travel diary today, starting with her adventures on the Wandering Isle!
"Uncle Lin, I'm going home by myself today, you don't have to wait for me. Tell my dad when you get to the village!"
"Okay! Lili, be careful!"
The Wandering Isle is guarded by the monks of the Temple of the Five Dawns. The dangerous creatures in this area have been cleared away by Master Aysa Cloudsinger of the Earthspeaker and Master Ji Firepaw of the Firespirit. Moreover, when Lili was very young, she and her brother Shaohao were apprenticed to Strongbo, a good friend of her uncle. Although Lili is still very young, she has already defeated the Elder Guardians and obtained the qualification to enter the Zen'shir Terrace for pilgrimage.
Therefore, there is no need to worry about safety.
Lili hopped and skipped along the mountain road. Soon, she discovered the stolen packages left on the nearby mountain, surrounded by hozen playing in the pool.
Lili remembered that the teacher said that the hozen were lazy and loved to steal food. These packages must be what the hozen stole!
So she quietly approached the hiding place, but was startled by two hozen cubs that suddenly popped out, alarming a large group of hozen.
The hozen were numerous and powerful, and Lili had no way to retrieve the stolen goods alone, so she did two consecutive ground rolls to escape.
The first battle's setback did not make the little panda feel frustrated. She waited quietly for a while, then quietly returned, snatched a package, and immediately ran away, leading a group of angry hozen to chase her for two miles!
Lili made full use of the agility of a monk, and ran towards home in a puff of smoke. Even if the hozen were equally agile, quickly climbing on the branches, they still couldn't keep up with Lili's figure!
"Hahahaha!"
All along the way were the little panda's cheerful laughter.
"I'm home, Dad!"
Lili pushed open the gate of her yard and walked in, only to find that her house had guests today, and quite a few!
The young Lili was not afraid of strangers. Her personality was more inclined to the philosophical ideas of the Firespirit, she was impulsive, enthusiastic about practice, and always overestimated her abilities a little bit.
She quickly glanced at her yard and found a pandaren sitting at the dining table, enthusiastically brewing tea, looking eight parts similar to her dad. Her brother Shaohao was being held in the arms of a tall alien, who looked very similar to the humans described in Uncle Chen's diary!
Next to the human, there were two particularly beautiful women sitting at the dining table, seemingly waiting for dinner.
Pointed ears?
High elves!
Lili quickly made a judgment!
In the yard, a huge brown bear was lie, and two alien children were climbing back and forth on the bear's back. A big guy with a bat eye mask was carefully taking care of them!
Bat eye mask?
Isn't that Rexxar, Uncle Chen's orc friend!
Then the pandaren who looks eight parts similar to Dad is my Uncle Chen!
"Lili is back! Uncle Chen you've been looking forward to is back today!"
Lili's father, Chen Stormstout's eldest brother Cheng Bo, heard the sound of the door opening and poked his head out of the kitchen, calling out to Lili happily.
"Ah! Uncle Chen!"
Lili was extremely happy, and rushed into Chen Stormstout's arms in a flying leap!
"Yo!"
Chen Stormstout quickly put down the teacup in his hand, and then caught the little niece who rushed over, and the two collided with a full embrace!
"You've grown so big, Lili!"
"I miss you so much, Uncle Chen!"
"Hahaha! Me too!"