Shaohao climbed to the summit of Mount Neverest, the endless mountain that pierced through clouds and mist. There, as he had willed, he met Yu'lon, the Jade Serpent, guardian of balance and protector of wisdom. Shaohao came not as a proud emperor, but as a leader seeking answers for the salvation of his people.
Yu'lon gazed at him with eyes deep and full of meaning. He did not offer an instant solution, but a challenge. If Shaohao truly wished to save his people, he first had to purify and conquer the negative emotions within his heart. He had to shed ego, fear, and doubt before he could devote himself fully to the land and the people he loved.
The trials of the Four Celestial Augusts were no ordinary rituals. They were long and arduous journeys—a soul's purification that could only be endured by those truly ready. For his family and the land of Pandaria he had inherited, Shaohao accepted the challenge with unwavering resolve. He began a journey of conscience that would change him forever.
At the peak of the endless mountain, Yu'lon unleashed a torrent of jade fire upon Shaohao. The fire was not merely hot—it was soul-burning. Shaohao's body was engulfed in flames, the pain unbearable, making him want to scream. But he clenched his teeth and endured. He knew this was not just physical suffering—it was a test of spirit.
"True wisdom lies in the heart and the choices you make... Can you choose rightly when faced with overwhelming darkness?"
Yu'lon's question echoed in his mind, lingering even after the fire had faded. As an emperor, Shaohao had long flaunted power and status. He had become a symbol of authority, but also a figure shallow and far from true wisdom.
The jade fire that scorched his body slowly washed his soul. The pain turned into relief. His body no longer burned, and his mind began to clear. A few days later, the Monkey King came to help him descend the mountain. Shaohao was no longer filled with suspicion and fear. Instead, he now carried newfound wisdom and faith.
Their journey continued far to the south, until they reached the Krasarang Wilds, a coastal forest still untouched and home to Chi-Ji, the Red Crane. In the outer courtyard of the Temple of the Red Crane, Chi-Ji awaited him. His form glowed with gentle light, yet radiated immense power.
"In facing challenges never seen before, what do you hope for? What kind of future do you desire? Trust one another and let others give you hope. Without hope, there can be no future," said Chi-Ji, his voice calm yet stirring.
The second trial began. In that sacred place, Chi-Ji launched a deadly assault toward Shaohao—not to destroy him, but to test the strength of the hope he carried. Crimson walls of fire roared, and from within emerged small cranes made of flame. They flew like moths, piercing through the fire and striking Shaohao's body.
Shaohao suffered, his body burned, but his mind was illuminated. The flaming cranes that crossed the wall reminded him of his people. Even in an age of darkness, when hope seemed impossible, the Pandaren had to keep believing. They had to fight for freedom and the future, even if it meant facing death.
The fire that burned him transformed into a clear, soothing spring. His body no longer ached, and a warm flame full of vitality ignited within his heart. The despair that once consumed him was now erased. As an emperor, he could not surrender. He had to become a beacon of hope for his people—a light to guide them out of the darkness.
Chi-Ji withdrew his crimson fire. That fire was not a symbol of destruction, but of rebirth. In the land of Pandaria, Chi-Ji's flame was a burning hope—a force that rekindled the spirit of life.
Shaohao bid farewell to Chi-Ji. Enlightened, he continued his journey filled with hope. But he knew the next destination would be far more dangerous.
The third trial was located in the Mantis Highlands, a region beyond the Great Wall. It was there that the ancestral enemies of the Pandaren, the Mantis Demons, dwelled. In the northwestern highlands stood the Temple of Niuzao, a sacred place known as the Black Ox's Soap Shrine. There, Shaohao would face his next trial—a test of endurance and discipline that would push his physical and mental strength to the absolute limit.
Shaohao chose not to fly directly on the Cloud Serpent. He rejected ease and comfort, opting instead to walk alongside the Monkey King. They crossed the Ka Sang Lang forest, emerging from the shadows of the trees and arriving at the Valley of the Four Winds—a region he had visited many times throughout his life.
The sky opened wide, wild and boundless. Shaohao gazed upon the familiar fields, the peaceful and serene villages. But this time, his feelings were different. The Pandaren lived and worked in quiet harmony, the dynasty protected its people, and Shaohao realized that such protection was not merely a symbol of power. He had to preserve it all—even if it meant sacrificing everything.
As the gates of the Great Wall slowly opened, thick and unmatched, Shaohao saw the front of the fortress like a dark plain of death. Though trees still clustered in the distance, the harmony of nature was absent here. The air was cold and piercing, as if the world had lost its pulse.
Shaohao and the Monkey King moved like ordinary scouts within the ranks. They walked cautiously, avoiding yellow beetle beasts from the platoons and mantises swarming in the sky in threatening formations. They did not come as emperor and ruler, but as two beings seeking truth.
At last, they reached the northwestern highlands and stood before the Temple of the Black Ox. In the center of the temple's open courtyard stood Niuzao, the Black Ox. This half-wild deity was beloved by Azeroth, counted among the first souls born into the world. His body was massive and heavy, standing tall like Mount Kunlai, radiating a soft white light that was both soothing and intimidating. He embodied the temperament of the earth: generous, but dangerous.
This trial was unlike the ones before. Shaohao and the Monkey King had to face Niuzao together. They could not avoid the overwhelming attacks. Niuzao's massive, sharp horns would pierce them if they faltered. Niuzao charged with great speed, and the sky filled with wind and sand, transforming into a violent storm that shook the ground.
"Can you stand apart from the mountain, and let the wind and frost surge until the sea becomes a mulberry field, and the mountain sinks beneath the ocean!"
Niuzao's voice echoed, striking Shaohao's heart. He no longer hesitated at those words. He stopped running. He stood his ground, enduring the violent wind and sand. His eyes calmly met the charging black ox, and he faced Niuzao as if confronting the shadows of his past.
"If you wish to reach your goal, you must hold your pace!"
"Wind Blade, Ice Blade, enemies on all sides. Do not move like the mountain—never move!"
As they prepared to clash, Niuzao lunged toward them. Shaohao leapt with full strength, calm and precise, landing on the head of Xuan Niu. He drove his sword into his own hand—not to kill, but to affirm his resolve.
The swirling wind and sand in the sky ceased instantly. Shaohao endured the pain throughout his body and jumped back to the ground. Small wounds marked his skin, cut by blades of wind, but his heart had never been more at peace. Anger and hatred had vanished. Courage and perseverance now defined his stance toward his enemies.
Niuzao slowly approached and, satisfied, lowered his massive bull head to the ground before Shaohao.
"Go. The final trial awaits you at the summit of Mount Kunlai. Prepare yourself. Make peace with death. The white tiger will never understand what kindness is."
With a single motion, Niuzao unleashed sky and sand, sending Shaohao and the Monkey King to the foot of Mount Kunlai. The towering, majestic snow-covered mountain looked as though it had stood since the beginning of the world—and would remain unchanged forever.
The climb began. The path was treacherous and full of danger. Snow winds bit at their skin, pierced their bones. Snow giants dwelling in the mountains were cruel and ravenous. Packs of wild beasts would not refuse a delicious Pandaren meal.
Shaohao and the Monkey King kept climbing, battling cold, hunger, and threats lurking at every turn. They spoke little, but their resolve radiated from every step.
Finally, after more than ten days, they reached the summit of Mount Kunlai. There, the final trial awaited. A trial that would determine whether Shaohao was truly worthy of becoming Pandaria's protector.
It was a world of white, pure and unstained, as if separated from the world Shaohao had known. Snow stretched endlessly, silencing sound and wrapping everything in majestic stillness. In the midst of the frozen landscape, Xuen, the White Tiger, crouched calmly. His eyes gazed at Shaohao, who sat on the ground, panting, his body still bruised from the climb.
Xuen glanced at the Monkey King standing beside him, iron staff laid in the snow, then with a single graceful motion, his body shot into the sky, vanishing from sight for a moment. Xuen's voice echoed with the cold wind sweeping across the mountain peak.
"The trial of strength and self-control is the most crucial point to determine whether you can be a good leader, and whether you possess the ability to change your destiny. We'll see soon enough."
This half-divine tiger was not merely a symbol of courage, but of pure, uncompromising power. He didn't play with speculation, didn't rely on tricks or eccentricity. He was the final trial—the one that would decide whether Shaohao was worthy of becoming Pandaria's protector.
The Monkey King struggled to rise, his body still weary, but he bowed solemnly to Shaohao. He knew how deeply his friend longed for recognition, wanted to prove himself, and was willing to dedicate everything—including his life—for his people. That was something worthy of respect.
Shaohao looked directly at Xuen. He took a deep breath, then shouted with steady voice:
"Xianglong in the sky!"
As a master wind-riding monk, Shaohao's body was immediately lifted by the air currents. He shot toward Xuen without hesitation, unleashing his deadliest martial art: the Dongsheng Sunrise Kick. His movement was swift, precise, and full of resolve.
He remembered Niuzao's words: the White Tiger knows no mercy, and will never pity the weak. For final victory, the White Tiger is willing to pay any price.
"Double the discount!"
Xuen didn't dodge. He allowed Shaohao to strike with full force, then leapt fiercely, swinging his sharp white claws like lightning. The claw marks struck Shaohao's body brutally. Shaohao screamed, clutching his bleeding chest, and was thrown backward. Deep, painful wounds now covered his body.
But this trial wasn't just about physical strength. In facing a true test, could one distinguish between power and capability? Shaohao was reflecting, but Xuen gave him no time. The next attack came even fiercer.
"If you don't cast out tyranny in a single day, you'll always be weak! You'll rely only on strength and ignore your greater wisdom and ability. You are no king!"
The battle raged on. No pause, no mercy. Yet something began to shift. Shaohao no longer fought with anger. He began to understand that true strength was not domination—but control. He began to set aside his ego, replacing it with calm and resolve.
In the end, how Shaohao passed the White Tiger's trial, even the Monkey King didn't know. What was certain was that when they reunited, Shaohao no longer showed his old temperament. He no longer looked like a noble seeking validation. He had become an emperor.
As an emperor, he had to set aside all personal feelings and thoughts. He could not be swayed by anyone. He had to make decisions alone—and bear the cost, even if the world didn't understand him. Whether he would be remembered as a king or a tyrant would be determined by the courage to follow his heart.
The tyranny in his mind had vanished. What remained was absolute power and wisdom.
But Shaohao still carried one final negative emotion: pride.
Xuen told him that pride could never be fully eliminated. It wasn't something that could be burned or kicked out. It required opportunity—and depended on how much one was willing to pay to confront it.
And according to the prophecy of the wise Jinyu Waterspeaker, that opportunity would soon arrive.
Shaohao was determined that overcoming pride would be his final act of dedication. He would not retreat. He would not evade.
For Pandaria, for the Pandaren people, he had made his decision. He was ready to pay any price.