It wasn't that Andreas didn't want to personally welcome the Quel'Thalas ambassadorial delegation, but he truly couldn't spare any time recently.
Since waking from his slumber, Andreas hadn't had a moment of rest; the years-long war had finally come to a temporary close, and there were many things waiting for him to do next.
First was the summons from the Aspects.
Through Onyxia, he contacted the Blue Dragonflight, and the Blue Dragon Prince, Arygos, personally came to Astranaar to pick up Andreas and the Black Dragon Princess.
Ysera, Alexstrasza, and Malygos were already waiting for him at Wyrmrest Temple. When Andreas arrived, even the long-absent Bronze Dragon Queen, SoDomi, had come to the top floor of the temple.
However, this Bronze Dragon Queen's complexion looked somewhat poor, and her worried expression gave Andreas a deeper understanding of the Bronze Dragonflight's plight.
The Black Dragon Queen, Sinestra, did not come this time. Representing her at the Dragon council was Ebysian, who had already been confirmed as the successor to the position of Earth-Warder, along with a reluctant and shut-in Nefarian.
The honest and simple Ebysian briefly explained to everyone present, "Mother's old injuries have flared up, so she has been resting near the crater of the Obsidian Sanctum recently."
Alexstrasza was aware of Sinestra's condition, having personally visited the Obsidian Sanctum earlier to check on the Black Dragon Queen.
The Red Dragon Queen sighed softly and said, "Sinestra's injuries are difficult to heal. Deathwing's corruptive power has seeped deep into her body, merging with her own bloodline. If this continues, I even worry that one day she will be affected by Deathwing's mad blood."
The three members of the Black Dragon royalty were all aware of this situation. Since settling in the Obsidian Sanctum, Sinestra had laid several batches of Dragon eggs for the sake of the Black Dragonflight's future.
However, the black Dragons hatched from these eggs were all defective products contaminated by Deathwing's mad blood.
The ecology of the Dragon race is very strange, especially the female Dragons... A female Dragon with strong vitality can lay eggs by consuming her own power. If these eggs are fertilized by a male Dragon, a powerful Dragon descendant can be born.
Most Dragons produced from unfertilized eggs cannot grow to the Dragon stage; only a very few gifted individuals can break through the Dragon's limit.
The reproductive success rate of Dragons is even more miserable than that of the Night Elves. Even if male Dragons work hard all day, the chance of obtaining a direct-line Dragon egg remains quite low.
The reason Kalecgos is so highly valued by the Blue Dragonflight is that he is the only "genius" among the countless non-direct Dragon eggs of the disaster-stricken Blue Dragons to grow into a Dragon.
Since their mother could not lay pure Dragon eggs, Onyxia, under Sinestra's urging, had also hatched many unfertilized eggs in batches in recent years, but unfortunately, none were successful.
These little ones, who can at most grow into Young Dragons, also grow much slower than direct-line dragons; many still remain in the Whelp form, managed collectively by Dragon Queen Sinestra.
Everyone was well aware of Sinestra's dire situation, but for now, no one could solve her problem.
"Tsk!" Malygos clicked his tongue unwillingly. "If we could reclaim our original power, Alexstrasza should be able to heal her."
Through Malygos' unintentional complaint, the straying topic returned to the right track.
Andreas took out the dragon soul from his chest. The golden shard, now only the size of a fingernail, made all the Dragons present widen their eyes.
In her surprise, Chromie reflexively punched Kalecgos' shin. Ignoring the ashen-faced Kalecgos who hopped away to avoid her, she struck a thinking pose and asked, "Why has it shrunk so severely?"
Andreas explained with a bitter smile, "Since the heart of the aspect was born, the size of the dragon soul has been getting smaller day by day. I suspect this disk will completely disappear in another month or so."
Dragon, coiled around Andreas' neck, seemed to sense the surrounding stares and lazily opened its crystal-like eyes.
"Woo?"
Sensing the aura of these humanoid Dragons, little Dragon suddenly perked up. It uncharacteristically left Andreas' neck and swam around the Dragons present, sniffing their scents.
"Eek!"
When passing Kalecgos, the baby Dragon showed a look of disgust and bypassed his area entirely.
Kalecgos noticed the strange looks from others and spread his hands innocently, "...Did I do something wrong?"
Arygos sighed helplessly. "Being enthusiastic about the future of the species is a good thing, but could you restrain that aura of being constantly in heat?"
Since Malygos and Arygos were both present, Kalecgos naturally wouldn't shoulder the future of the Blue Dragonflight as he did in the original history, and he indeed lacked that capability.
However, Kalecgos was an important member of the new generation of Blue Dragons after all. Under the arrangement of Dragon Consort Xal'atath, Kalecgos had been treated as a breeding machine for a long time; his job was to reproduce more direct-line members for the Blue Dragonflight.
Hearing Onyxia's whispered explanation in his ear, the corner of Andreas' mouth couldn't help but twitch.
'No wonder Chromie would subconsciously attack him...'
Having been raised by Chromie using a brat correction strap since he was small, Kalecgos didn't dare to resist. He could only stay far away from Chromie's area, muttering gloomily in the corner.
"It's not like I want to be a stud Dragon myself..."
"Ang~"
A tender cry came from little Dragon's mouth. It spent the most time circling around the three Aspects, followed by the stronger Dragon mainstays like SoDomi, Eranikus, and Xal'atath.
No one could understand little Dragon's cries. Including the scholarly Malygos, all the Dragons looked at each other in a daze.
However, because Andreas had spent a long time with the heart of the aspect, he could roughly judge the little fellow's meaning.
"It's very happy, but I don't know why."
"Hmm..."
Malygos looked thoughtfully at Dragon, who was floating freely.
This Dragon's life form looked very different from other Dragons. Its body wasn't like the lizard-like bodies of the Great Dragons; instead, it resembled a long serpent. However, this serpent had wings on its back and four limbs beneath its body, looking quite peculiar.
"This unique form reminds me of the Wild God of Pandaria—Yu'lon the Jade Serpent."
With Malygos saying this, the other Dragons finally understood where the sense of familiarity in their hearts came from.
Alexstrasza asked curiously, "But Pandaria has been closed to the outside world for ten thousand years. Why would this little fellow, who has never been in contact with Yu'lon, grow up to look like this?"
"For that, you'll have to ask Andreas."
Malygos turned his gaze to the bewildered Andreas. "The heart of the aspect only condensed into a physical form through his use. Perhaps the concept of 'Dragon' in Andreas' heart caused this little fellow to change."
Andreas scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh... so it's my fault?"
Malygos waved his hand. "Don't misunderstand, I'm not blaming you. But have you ever seen Yu'lon?"
Andreas raised an eyebrow. "I haven't seen her with my own eyes, but I've heard verbal descriptions from Shandris and Laynella. Why?"
"That's strange then." Malygos rubbed his chin in confusion. "Never seen Yu'lon, yet the impression of a Dragon in your heart is this cloud serpent form? That doesn't make sense."
He knew his own secrets. As a Transmigrator from the Land of China, it was only natural for Andreas to have an inherent impression of the Chinese totem.
Feeling a bit guilty, he reached out and poked Dragon, who had flown back to his side. 'Did you become like this because of me?'
The Dragonblight Temple summoned Andreas this time to study the changes in the Dragon Soul and to try to reclaim its power from the Heart of the Dragon Aspects.
Just as Onyxia had said, Deathwing couldn't wield these external powers, nor did he know how to return the power of the Dragon Aspects to the four Dragon Kings.
Ysera considered for a moment and offered her suggestion, "How about we ask Yu'lon? Perhaps she knows how to guide the Heart of the Dragon Aspects to harness its power."
"How do we ask?" Malygos spread his hands helplessly. "Yu'lon is trapped in the mists of Pandaria. I don't know if something happened to her; she hasn't entered the Emerald Dream once in the last ten thousand years."
Not just Yu'lon, the Jade Serpent; the Four Celestials haven't been in contact since the continent of Pandaria separated from Kalimdor. The mists have severed all connections between Pandaria and the outside world, including the Emerald Dream.
"Um..."
Andreas raised his hand, attracting the attention of the worried dragonkin. "I actually have a method that might allow us to establish contact with Pandaria."
If it weren't for Elune's sudden task back then, Andreas would have gone to Pandaria long ago. A certain lazy Great Keeper was still molding underground on the Isle of Thunder.
Alexstrasza said in surprise, "If you have a way, please tell us. The dragon race will do its best to help."
This concerned the power of the Dragon Aspects, so Alexstrasza couldn't help but take it seriously.
Andreas nodded and said, "I just happen to need your help. I hope the dragon race can send people to search the seas for a giant turtle that roams everywhere – Shen-zin Su."
...
After the meeting at the Dragonblight Temple, without Andreas needing to urge them, the five dragonflights, under the command of their respective leaders, set off from the Dragonblight to search for Shen-zin Su across the seas of Azeroth.
The night elves had discovered Shen-zin Su before, but this giant turtle's movements were completely unpredictable, and its swimming speed was very fast, making it extremely difficult to track its movements.
With the help of the dragon race, finding traces of Shen-zin Su became much simpler.
Before news arrived from the Dragonblight Temple, Andreas temporarily returned to Anar'this to await updates.
In the Great Moon Temple's administrative office, Tyrande quipped with a half-smile, "The elusive Moon Shadow Speaker, you've finally returned."
Customarily ignoring Tyrande's provocation, Andreas sat in his seat and asked Fandral, "What's the situation in the Blasted Lands? Have the draenei had any conflicts with other races?"
Fandral also ignored Tyrande's displeased expression and diligently reported, "It's not optimistic. It will likely take at least several decades for the local ecosystem to recover, and that's assuming the Dark Portal doesn't reopen."
"The draenei are integrating well into Nethergarde Keep. Although there are occasional conflicts with some troublemakers, they have consistently maintained a relatively restrained demeanor."
"Possessing considerable strength themselves and maintaining a very humble attitude, the draenei have earned the respect of many soldiers in the area."
Andreas nodded and shifted his gaze to Maiev, "The Quel'Thalas ambassador has arrived, right? How are their efforts progressing?"
Maiev said with a calm expression, "Not bad. Alleria's social skills are excellent; she quickly became familiar with the neighbors around the embassy. As for Vereesa..."
Sighing softly, Maiev's usually poker face uncharacteristically showed a wry expression. "Should I say that child's social skills are good or bad? She's only been here for a little over a month and is already showing signs of becoming the local 'king of the kids.'"
"...Huh?"
Andreas rubbed his temples, asking in confusion, "King of the kids? What does that mean?"
"Literal meaning," Maiev shrugged. "Vereesa quickly gained considerable prestige among the children in the embassy district. The children are all willing to follow her and play."
'What the hell... Why would a deputy ambassador become the 'king of the kids' when posted abroad?'
He could understand Alleria's actions; she was simply inquiring among the common people to understand the customs of the Night Elf Republic and the public's view of the government. But Vereesa... Andreas waved his hand speechlessly. "Alright, I'll find some time to go see for myself."
...
Hearing is one thing, seeing is believing. When Andreas arrived at the newly planned embassy district on the west side of the Great Moon Temple, he happened to see Vereesa leading a group of little kids, squatting on the street playing cards.
These weren't poker cards, but Hearthstone cards that Andreas had made in boredom years ago... Of course, most of the character names had been removed and replaced with class designations.
For example, a certain 'dirty priest' who liked to say "Sorry," "Well played," and "Thank you" had the codename 'Triple-Spec Lion King Priest' in the Hearthstone cards.
When the Hearthstone board game first appeared in Azeroth, Andreas was almost unbeatable.
But as everyone's familiarity with the game gradually increased, his win rate began to plummet.
Especially Celeste, who usually seemed innocent and adorable, played cards ruthlessly, with all sorts of intellectual crushing. Andreas later simply didn't dare to play cards with her anymore.
Who would like a card game where you lose nine out of ten times? The only time he won was because the other party pitied him and went easy. Every time he played cards with her, Andreas always felt a big 'noob' floating above his head.
Speaking of Celeste, because she was worried about Aurora, Celeste also temporarily accompanied her to Quel'Thalas, intending to look after Aurora for a period of time.
Celeste, who was both a mother and a friend, had a better relationship with Aurora than Shandris, her birth mother. Moreover, Celeste had "distinguished reputation" in Quel'Thalas, so with her help, Andreas didn't have to worry about Aurora being taken advantage of.
Erasing his presence, he quietly walked behind Vereesa and found that she was playing as a priest. The little night elf opposite her looked utterly wronged by her card-stealing tactics.
Fortunately, Vereesa knew her limits and subtly lost to her opponent in the end. Having experienced countless instances of various deliberate losses, Andreas was certain that she had definitely lost on purpose.
"Alright, kids."
Vereesa clapped her hands and said, "That's enough for today. I need to go back to work, and you all should go back for your elementary education."
"Okay~ Goodbye, Sister Vereesa!"
Although high elves differed significantly from night elves in height and skin color, their core cultures were of the same lineage. Vereesa integrated into the Night Elf Republic very quickly, encountering almost no major obstacles.
She even had a somewhat inappropriate thought: life in the Night Elf Republic, where all professions coexisted harmoniously, was actually more comfortable than in Quel'Thalas, where noble lords always lorded over others.
Of course, this was merely Vereesa's assessment as a ranger. From a noble's perspective, the privileged class certainly did not enjoy life as much in the Night Elf Republic as they did in Quel'Thalas.
Just as Vereesa was thoughtfully watching the children leave, various thoughts swirling in her mind, a sudden voice from behind her startled the younger Windrunner sister.
"I didn't realize you were quite cunning, managing to extract information from the children."
"How is it? Have you learned the elementary education routines of the Night Elf Republic yet?"
"Ah!"
Vereesa, deep in thought, was startled by the whisper in her ear. She reflexively darted forward, simultaneously delivering a gut kick with her long, agile right leg.
Andreas was also startled by Vereesa's overreaction and narrowly managed to catch the girl's kicking shin.
"What are you trying to do? Attack the head of state?"
"Huh?"
Only then did Vereesa notice Andreas standing behind her, his expression glum. She pouted and withdrew her smooth, long leg.
"Oh, it's you. Next time you appear, could you give a heads-up? I'm afraid I might accidentally injure you, the head of state."
Andreas watched the self-righteous Vereesa speechlessly, finally letting out a helpless sigh.
"Forget it, deputy envoy Vereesa, can you tell me your views on the social system of the Night Elf Republic?"
"Hmph~" Vereesa turned her head and walked toward the embassy. "It's not bad. The whole society looks quite vibrant, but the various rules and regulations are too restrictive, inhibiting citizens from showcasing their individual characteristics."
Andreas was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Vereesa to actually find fault, and her points were somewhat substantial.
"Heh~ This is an inevitable consequence of a society governed by law."
"Without sufficient regulations, if citizens break the law, must the judgment rely solely on the subjective discretion of the legal officials?"
Andreas said solemnly, "Laws and regulations do restrict the manifestation of individual potential to a certain extent, but only this way can we ensure that the whole society follows the law and prevent unscrupulous people from exploiting loopholes to commit crimes."
"There is never a perfect policy in this world; benefits inevitably come with drawbacks. The difference lies only in how the governing body chooses between them."
It wasn't that Vereesa didn't understand this principle. The Night Elf Republic had a completely different system of laws than the free-spirited Quel'Thalas. She was merely speaking on impulse, not expressing dissatisfaction with these strict laws and regulations.
Vereesa had seen too many nobles in Quel'Thalas oppress commoners with impunity, leveraging the law's favoritism toward the nobility. Experiencing the social system of the Night Elf Republic made her further endorse Crown Prince Kaelthas' reform ideals.
Quel'Thalas, riddled with major and minor issues, had indeed reached a point where change was imperative. A prime example close at hand was the Kingdom of Stormwind, which had been rebuilt after destruction.
Vereesa had heard of this nation before, where overly powerful nobles, conversely, restricted royal power—a situation strikingly similar to that of Quel'Thalas.
What was the result?
The old Kingdom of Stormwind was destroyed because the nobles dragged their feet, refusing to quickly surrender their troops. The nobles who lost their territories followed King Llane and Duke Lothar northward to seek aid, utterly disgraced.
After defeating the Horde, King Llane led a large number of his people back to Elwynn Forest, where the nobles' territories had long since become ruins.
Under the premise that the entire nation prioritized rebuilding Stormwind City, it was incredibly easy for King Llane to win over some nobles while suppressing others. Simply by adjusting the reconstruction priority of each noble's territory, he could cause internal conflict among the nobility due to competing interests, gradually dividing them.
Having survived the disaster of national destruction, the initiative of the Kingdom of Stormwind returned completely to the King's hands. Those nobles who had once dared to openly defy orders now had to behave themselves.
The High Elves' nobility system dated back to the founding of Quel'Thalas, when Dath'Remar granted great privileges to the first generation of meritorious nobles who diligently followed him in exploration.
With great power comes great responsibility. Dath'Remar's original intention was good, but in Andreas' view, it was overly idealistic.
All sentient races possess the inherent nature of loving ease and hating work. Given comfortable space for enjoyment, it was entirely predictable that most privileged nobles would decline generation after generation.
The sudden rise of the Windrunner Family provided them with excellent conditions for enjoying life; after all, the frontiers were guarded by commoners, and the Trolls couldn't attack Silvermoon City.
On her way back to the embassy, Vereesa's eyes looked vacant, showing clearly from her expression that the girl's thoughts had drifted elsewhere.
While Vereesa was outside playing with the children and gathering information, Alleria was reading a letter inside the ambassador's office.
The letter came from Quel'Thalas, sent by her mother, Lireesa.
After the Orc War ended, Lireesa formally stepped down from the position of Ranger-General, handing over all rights and duties to her second daughter, Sylvanas.
Lireesa, now relieved of her duties, had more free time. Besides raising her youngest son Lirath with her husband, she often took time to write letters to Alleria and Vereesa, who were across the ocean.
Most of the letter contained family matters, but occasionally, it included some recent changes happening in Quel'Thalas.
Quel'Thalas, which had been peaceful for thousands of years since the Troll Wars, finally felt like stagnant water beginning to flow.
After returning home, Crown Prince Kaelthas had an all-night conversation with the Sun King, telling his father his thoughts in detail.
Although Anasterian still couldn't fully accept some of Kaelthas' radical reform methods, the poor performance of the Vassal Army during this war raised his alarm.
The Vassal Army, meant to be soldiers protecting the nation and bearing important responsibilities, had been raised into a group of useless individuals by the nobles. Yet, according to the laws of Quel'Thalas, he had no right to criticize the nobles' private armies.
The two, father and son, one too gentle and the other too radical, each took a step back under the Queen's mediation. Anasterian would control the overall situation, and Kaelthas would first implement trial reforms within the scope he permitted.
If the results were acceptable, Kaelthas would then be allowed to expand the scope of the reforms.
As the King of a nation, military power absolutely cannot be relinquished if the authority of the Royal Family is to be maintained.
The Sunstrider Royal Family commanded Quel'Thalas' most elite Sunfury Mage Corps and Spellbreaker troops, but the numbers in these two elite forces were small.
Elite troops were highly effective against small groups of enemies, but their limited numbers prevented them from performing ideally in large-scale warfare, which had been proven in this conflict.
With the Sun King's tacit approval, Kaelthas, in his capacity as Crown Prince, began military reforms. He planned to gradually neutralize the noble private armies and recentralize the vast majority of military power into the Royal Family's hands. In the future, the Vassal Army would only be used as second-line troops for maintaining local security.
"To mend the fold after the sheep are lost is not too late."
Alleria let out a relieved breath. Seeing positive changes in her beloved homeland, a bright smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
"Big Sister, I'm back. We have a distinguished guest."
Vereesa's voice came from outside the door, and Alleria slightly composed her expression.
"Please come in."
"Excuse the intrusion."
Alleria couldn't help but be startled when she saw Andreas enter the office behind Vereesa.
"Speaker Moonshadow, how is it that you..."
Andreas smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Today is not an official visit. You don't need to be so formal in private; just call me Andreas."
"I apologize that I couldn't personally greet you when you took office. Today, I happened to come over to check on the embassy."
Glancing around the interior decor, which clearly maintained the High Elf style, Andreas asked, "How is it? Are there any furnishings or decorations you need to add?"
"I had people try to decorate the interior in the style of Quel'Thalas, but we are not High Elves after all. Please point out any mistakes or omissions."
Alleria smiled and shook her head, "No, it's already perfect. If the surrounding environment hadn't changed, I would almost feel like I hadn't left my homeland."
"That's good."
Andreas glanced at the letter Alleria had placed on the table. Noticing Andreas' gaze, Alleria took the opportunity to say, "This is a family letter from my mother, mentioning some positive changes that have recently occurred in Quel'Thalas."
"Oh?" Andreas raised an eyebrow. "If you don't mind, could you tell me about them? I haven't received any related intelligence yet."
It wasn't that Prisim had been negligent. With ambassador Aurora stationed in Quel'Thalas, official intelligence would be compiled by her and sent back through regular channels. Only certain classified information would be secretly dispatched by the Scouts.
"Of course. Please sit first, and Vereesa, go make some tea."
"Yes~"
Andreas and Alleria's conversation was not a formal meeting; it was more like casual chatting between friends.
Alleria described the current situation in Quel'Thalas to Andreas.
Her personal attitude and that of the Windrunner Family clearly leaned toward Kaelthas. The implication seemed to be that she wished to obtain the Night Elf Republic's public support for the new reform policies in Quel'Thalas from Andreas.
Andreas casually brushed it off, not intending to rashly involve himself in the internal struggles of another nation.
No matter which side he expressed support for, it would undoubtedly anger some of the Quel'Thalas populace and leave a negative impression on the international community regarding interference in other countries' internal affairs.
Actions speak louder than words; the Night Elf Republic's system is laid out clearly, its strengths and weaknesses obvious. It is a mature policy system that has been implemented for many years and proven effective.
ambassadors from all nations are free to visit and study it. Whether or not the relevant countries choose to reference or imitate it is not for Andreas to decide.
Since he was already in the embassy district, Andreas treated everyone equally. After finishing his casual chat with the Quel'Thalas ambassador, he stopped by the embassies of Dalaran, the Kingdom of Gilneas, the Kingdom of Stormwind, and Kul Tiras.
Originally, Andreas intended to establish relatively formal diplomatic relations with the Zandalari Trolls, but led by God-King Rastakhan, many people within Zandalar still held strong vigilance and rejection toward the Night Elves.
Although the relationship between the two nations is not hostile, it is certainly not friendly.
God-King Rastakhan clearly views the Night Elf Republic as a competitor, focused on making the Zandalari Empire surpass the Night Elf Republic and reclaim the status of the top power on Azeroth.
Andreas maintained an open and tolerant attitude toward healthy competition; as long as no one resorted to underhanded tactics, he welcomed being chased from behind.
Under the deliberate guidance of the High Council, appropriate competition can promote social vitality and creativity, preventing the people of the Night Elf Republic from stagnating in the glory of being the best in the world.
During his casual conversations with the other ambassadors, Andreas noticed an intriguing phenomenon.
Dalaran, Kul Tiras, and the Kingdom of Stormwind were all remaining member states of The Alliance, yet the ambassadors from these three nations seemed rather indifferent toward Lordaeron, the current leader of The Alliance.
As ambassadors of their respective nations, their attitudes, to some extent, represented the stance of their country's authorities.
Leaving Dalaran aside, that magical city-state has always been known for fence-sitting. Kul Tiras and the Night Elves established maritime trade routes over two millennia ago, forging deep ties, so their closeness to the Night Elves is not surprising. But the Kingdom of Stormwind... having just accepted a large loan from Lordaeron, the Kingdom of Stormwind should theoretically be in its honeymoon period with Lordaeron.
However, the reality was different. This ambassador, named Skudd Fordragon, subtly expressed his concern to Andreas regarding Lordaeron's aggressive stance.
The Fordragon Family is a ducal family in the Kingdom of Stormwind, one of the few noble houses loyal to the royalty. The previous Duke Fordragon died on the battlefield during the First Orc War, and his youngest son, Bolvar, succeeded him.
Skudd is Bolvar's cousin. Although he did not inherit the title, he still holds a significant position within the Kingdom of Stormwind, and his words carry weight.
'Has the Kingdom of Stormwind also become alienated from Lordaeron?'
After bidding farewell to the ambassador of the Kingdom of Gilneas, Andreas pondered thoughtfully on his way home.
Lordaeron's style of governance is indeed rather forceful. Perhaps Terenas sensed he was slowly aging and intended to fulfill the long-cherished wish of the Menethil Family—to unify the human kingdoms—within his lifetime.
But his actions were clearly too hasty. The plan to establish Internment Camps not only failed to trap Gilneas, Stromgarde, and Gilneas, but also added a heavy burden to Lordaeron, which is currently recovering from devastation.
Due to Terenas' political ambitions, the Kingdom of Stormwind, which holds the potential for resurgence, must be courted, and timely financial aid must be delivered.
But considering the massive costs of rebuilding the Capital City of Lordaeron and repairing the Tirisfal Glades, even the powerful nation of Lordaeron was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
In contrast, Dalaran has few people but lots of money, and Kul Tiras, which controls the maritime trade routes, is also not short on funds.
Alterac, with the strong support of the three nations that withdrew from The Alliance, also escaped Lordaeron's control. The proportion of costs paid by the three non-human races—Dwarves and Gnomes—was very small, meaning the pressure to maintain the Orc Prisoner-of-War Camps fell entirely on the remaining human allies.
Terenas' plan, in reality, did not achieve the desired effect; rather, it was like lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
Since he started this pretentious act, he had to see it through, even if it brought him to tears.
The Orc Prisoner-of-War Camps had already been established. If he were to announce their abandonment now, not only would the three nations like Gilneas mock him, but Kul Tiras and Dalaran, which had contributed significantly, would certainly blame him for wasting manpower and resources.
"Oh, the precarious Alliance. I'll have to see where Terenas steers this leaky ship."
...Andreas did not intend to interfere excessively in the internal affairs of The Alliance. He had received the message conveyed by the various embassies, but for the time being, he was not planning any action.
The trip to Wyrmrest Temple solidified Andreas' next plan: he intended to follow Chi-Ji into the mist-shrouded continent of Pandaria.
Chi-Ji was the companion of Liu Lang, the first generation Pandaren Lorewalker and Adventurer. Considering that Liu Lang had returned to Pandaria multiple times during his travels to recruit people, Chi-Ji should be the only entity in the world today that can still find the sea route to Pandaria.
With Wyrmrest Temple dispatching a large number of dragons to help search for Chi-Ji, Andreas received news from the Green Dragonflight just half a year later.
The Green Dragon Isarios discovered Chi-Ji's whereabouts near the Lost Isles; the giant turtle was sailing steadily southward.
After handing over governmental affairs to the other Council Members, Andreas rode upon Onyxia, traveling south from the Lost Isles, and finally located Chi-Ji near the sea surface southwest of The Maelstrom.
When Andreas and the Black Dragon Princess arrived, Isarios was still flying near Chi-Ji's head, constantly trying to talk to him.
Andreas wondered if the giant sea turtle had developed senile dementia. Chi-Ji was gazing at the sea ahead with half-open, vacant eyes, completely unfocused, as if he hadn't noticed Isarios' calls at all.
Onyxia flew a few circles around Chi-Ji's head and asked, somewhat confusedly, "Has this old turtle become brain dead, and only habitual bodily movement is keeping him swimming?"
"No, I don't think so."
Although Andreas couldn't be sure of Chi-Ji's current condition, based on the Pandaren Starting Zone Quests, the old sea turtle was still lucid by Version 5.0.
Andreas looked thoughtfully at Chi-Ji, whose eyes were half-open and half-closed. "Semi-hibernation? Is only the body moving while the soul has entered a meditative state?"
In any case, they first had to find a way to wake up the old sea turtle. Without a concrete method in mind, Andreas decided to first go to the Wandering Isle on Chi-Ji's back and ask the local residents.
"Lord Isarios, thank you for your trouble. We will take it from here."
Isarios was indeed exhausted from continuous flying over the sea. After bidding farewell to Andreas and Onyxia, he slowly flapped his wings and flew toward the Broken Isles, intending to rest well in Valsharah for a while.
Though called an island, the Wandering Isle is actually a small world that has developed on Chi-Ji's giant shell.
From high above the Wandering Isle, the entire island presents a beautiful landscape, with numerous exquisite buildings of strong ethnic character nestled among mountains and rivers.
This architectural style of carved beams and painted rafters made Andreas momentarily dazed; seeing ancient building complexes so similar to his hometown's style again after more than ten thousand years, he suddenly felt as if he had been transported to another era.
"Andreas?"
After a long silence without Andreas giving new instructions, the Black Dragon Princess asked with some confusion, "What do we do next? Land directly on the island?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes, let's land."
Rubbing his temples to pull his scattered thoughts back, Andreas' eyes refocused as he looked down at the layout of the Wandering Isle.
The most striking feature on the island was the towering Pagoda-shaped building in the very center of the Wandering Isle. With this Pagoda as its focal point, the Wandering Isle was roughly divided into four areas: east, south, west, and north. Onyxia simply aimed for the plaza next to this Pagoda to land.
Near the Pagoda was a sizable complex of temple-like buildings, where many Pandaren monks were practicing martial arts with shouts and punches on a spacious bluestone plaza, guided by a martial arts instructor with his hands behind his back.
The sudden descent of the giant black dragon from the sky startled the Pandaren monk apprentices, but these Wandering Isle Pandaren, full of curiosity, didn't feel much fear; instead, curiosity and interest prevailed.
The Pandaren who followed Liu Lang out of Pandaria to adventure were originally rebels within their clan; they naturally loved seeking new thrills, and seeing the arrival of an unfamiliar giant dragon brought them more joy than surprise.
"Don't panic! Stay where you are!"
The dignified middle-aged martial arts instructor at the front calmed the whispering apprentices, then moved swiftly towards where Onyxia was landing, as if teleporting. In just a few breaths, he was close to Onyxia, who had just transformed back into her human form.
The monk, with perfect courtesy, cupped his fists and bowed to Andreas and Onyxia, his piercing eyes scrutinizing them.
"I am Shanhzi, the martial arts instructor of the Temple of the Five Dawns. Who are you two? And why have you come to the Wandering Isle?"
'Shanhzi?'
Andreas felt the name sounded familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had heard it.
Returning an equally polite but not-so-standard cupped-fist salute, Andreas smiled and replied, "Master Shanhzi, you are too kind. We come from the Night Elf Republic on the continent of Kalimdor. We are here seeking Chi-Ji's help with a matter, but unfortunately, we have been unable to get a response from him."
Over the years, the Wandering Isle had produced countless Scholars and adventurers, most of whom would travel extensively in their youth, only returning to the Wandering Isle in middle age to settle down and start families.
Shanhzi himself had once ventured out, even visiting Kalimdor and interacting with the Night Elves, so he was not surprised to hear of Andreas' origins.
However, upon hearing his purpose, Shanhzi paused slightly.
"Chi-Ji?" Shanhzi stroked his neatly trimmed goatee, "I see. Chi-Ji is currently in a state of hibernation; it's difficult to awaken him through usual methods."
"This is not a place for guests. Please, honored guests, follow me to the nearby Dawn's Respite Village for a more detailed discussion."
...Dawn's Respite Village is one of the main residential areas for the Wandering Isle Pandaren, located near the lake west of the Temple of the Five Dawns.
It was early morning, and the diligent Pandaren villagers were successively leaving their homes along the main road, heading to the farms east of the Temple of the Five Dawns to begin their day's training.
Upon arriving at Dawn's Respite Village, Shanhzi briefly introduced the situation of the Wandering Isle to Andreas and Onyxia: "The Wandering Isle is not large; there are fewer than ten thousand Pandaren living on the island, self-sufficient through farming and herding."
"Although the population is small, the residents here live in peace and contentment, each fulfilling their role. It can be said to be a complete small society."
The Wandering Isle has training grounds for martial arts, farmlands, and pastures. The surplus grain is even enough for the Pandaren to establish breweries on the island.
According to Andreas and Onyxia's personal measurements, it took only about half an hour to travel from the Temple of the Five Dawns to Dawn's Respite Village by ox cart, and traversing the entire island from east to west would be within two hours. The island's area indeed wasn't large.
After all, this island is just the shell of a giant sea turtle.
The Pandaren are friendly hosts, but this does not mean they are completely without guard against unexpected guests.
Shanhzi seemed to hold a significant position on the Wandering Isle. During their casual conversation, he subtly probed, indirectly asking Andreas and Onyxia about their purpose in attempting to awaken Chi-Ji.
Andreas had nothing to hide about this; he openly stated his intentions.
"We wish to travel to the continent of Pandaria through Chi-Ji's guidance. After Liu Lang, the founder of the Wandering Isle, passed away, Chi-Ji should be the only one who can find the way back."
"Pandaria, huh..."
Shanhzi said with a touch of emotion, "To be honest, we've only heard of this legendary homeland. Since Chi-Ji fell into hibernation, he hasn't returned to the mist-shrouded Pandaria for many years."
Chi-Ji is, after all, flesh and blood; neither a loa nor a Wild God.
It has been over 800 years since Liu Lang took Chi-Ji out to sea on an adventure, and Chi-Ji has gradually become mentally disoriented from his unending journey.
If not for his desire to continue protecting Liu Lang's descendants and the continuation of his adventurous spirit, this elderly sea turtle would have long since returned to Pandaria to enjoy his golden years.
"Chi-Ji is old; his aging soul cannot sustain his consciousness for long periods. He is in a state of hibernation most of the time, his body merely swimming habitually in the sea."
Shanhzi looked at Andreas and asked, "Excuse my directness, but why do you two wish to go to Pandaria?"
"That continent in the mists has been self-isolated for over ten thousand years, completely cut off from the outside world. You two must have an important reason to go to Pandaria, no?"
Shanhzi said earnestly, "What I'm saying might be meddling, but as a Pandaren, I want to first confirm that you two pose no harm to Pandaria."
Onyxia seemed somewhat disdainful, but she did not refute Shanhzi's words.
Andreas considered for a moment, "Our purpose is quite complex, and it might be difficult to explain clearly in a short time."
"Master Shanhzi, you must have heard of the Aspects, right?"
"I have. In the legends passed down by the Pandaren, the Dragon race, like the august celestials, are important barriers protecting Azeroth from foreign invaders."
"That makes it easier to explain."
Andreas smiled and explained, "One of our goals on this trip is, at the behest of the Aspects, to travel to Pandaria to seek answers from Azure Dragon Yu'lon, one of the august celestials."
Shanhzi shifted his gaze to the human-form Onyxia. The Black Dragon Princess was idly playing with her black hair that fell to her chest; she was merely accompanying Andreas to Pandaria for a sightseeing trip and wasn't particularly concerned with his serious business.
"Alright."
Considering Onyxia, who had previously appeared in her dragon form, Shanhzi hesitated for a moment before finally nodding, "I need to consult with the elder first to see if he agrees to take you to the shrine in the Grove of the Staves to attempt to awaken Chi-Ji's soul."
Shanhzi habitually stroked his goatee and said with anticipation, "This generation of Wandering Isle Pandaren hasn't seen Pandaria either. It would be good to take them back to their homeland to acknowledge their ancestors."
After smoothly persuading Shang Xi, the high-ranking monk instructor left the two of them in Morning Rest Village and, swift as the wind, headed back toward Five-Morning Monastery.
Shang Xi moved with astonishing speed; Andreas personally watched him use the monk's unique "shrink-the-ground" dash, vanishing from sight after several flickers.
Following deliberation, Wandering Isle's leadership agreed to Shang Xi's advice: they would wake Chi-Ji and alter course for Pandaria.
With Chi-Ji in slumber, the younger generation of Wandering Isle Pandaren had lost all real knowledge of their homeland; Pandaria existed only in their imaginations—an ideal chance for everyone to return and broaden their horizons.
The title of Aspect really is convenient; had it been Andreas alone, he would have needed far more persuasion to convince Shang Xi.
Staff-Grove lies at Wandering Isle's far-western tip, near Chi-Ji's head.
When each generation of elders nears death, they come here to plant their staves in the earth; over the years the staves grow into towering trees that shelter future generations.
By now the grove was lush with verdant giants; along the way Andreas' group encountered mischievous Hozen—sapient, monkey-like primates.
The Pandaren already knew how to deal with Hozen; the escorting monks rushed in and quickly scattered the troublemakers without Andreas or Onyxia lifting a finger.
The current elder of Wandering Isle is Bai Lao—said to be over eighty and probably not far from his final rest. Shang Xi is his designated successor.
'Oh, so that's him!'
Hearing this, Andreas finally remembered Shang Xi's identity.
The Shang Xi in his prime is the elder of Wandering Isle during the Pandaren campaign; after guiding the player pandas he will peacefully pass away in Staff-Grove.
They walked to the grove's deepest clearing, before a shrine hung with countless hand-woven charms; Elder Bai Lao led the islanders in reverent salute.
"Whuff!"
A sudden wind rose, centred on Elder Bai Lao.
Andreas sensed energy in the gust and glanced in surprise at the frail elder.
"So that's monk chi?"
"Exactly."
As the elder began the rite, Shang Xi stepped back beside Andreas and whispered, "Legend says a monk's chi can move mountains and overturn seas—though I've never met anyone that strong."
"Still, after decades of training the elder's chi is vast; only he can perform the rite to rouse Chi-Ji's dormant will."
Andreas' knowledge of chi was purely theoretical; he knew shamans called it the fifth element—spirit—a rather metaphysical force.
White-bearded Elder Bai Lao raised his arms and called aloud, "Honoured Chi-Ji, I, Bai Lao, twelfth-generation elder of Wandering Isle, beseech you—awaken from your slumber!"
As the elder poured chi into the shrine, the ground trembled; for a moment the whole isle seemed to halt its drift, and residents paused their work, sensing something amiss.
A deep voice drifted from the west of Staff-Grove. "Hmm… who disturbs me? What time is it—how long have I slept?"
Bai Lao cupped his hands and bowed toward Chi-Ji's head. "More than two centuries have passed since your rest began; I am Bai Lao, twelfth-generation elder."
"Two hundred years…"
Chi-Ji seemed to sigh, and the isle quivered again.
"Very well, it's time to stir. Bai Lao, tell me why you woke me."
"Yes."
Bai Lao beckoned Andreas and Onyxia forward; a small tortoise apparition appeared—clearly a fragment of Chi-Ji's spirit.
"This outsider bears a commission from the Dragonflight; he seeks to reach Pandaria and meet the Jade Serpent Yulon, and has come to us for aid."
"Dragons?"
Chi-Ji's spirit examined them, lingering on Onyxia for a moment, then nodded. "I see—Aspect blood indeed."
"Very well, I'll adjust course. After two centuries, it's time you all saw your homeland again."
Bai Lao's long white brows relaxed, a kindly smile spreading across his face.
"Thank you for your understanding, Chi-Ji; I never thought this foot-in-the-grave old man would see home again."
When Onyxia landed on Wandering Isle, Chi-Ji had been drifting between Zandalar and The Maelstrom, slightly west.
With course corrected, Chi-Ji picked up speed southward; he estimated two to three months to reach the Isle of Giants north of Pandaria.
But before entering Pandaria, Chi-Ji must first navigate the labyrinthine fog that surrounds it.
The mist created by Emperor Shaohao forms a maze-like barrier; Liu Lang and Chi-Ji had needed many attempts to find the correct path out.
That same mist saved Pandaria intact from the Sundering ten millennia ago, letting its people survive—but also isolating the continent for ten thousand years.
En route, Andreas and Onyxia remained on Wandering Isle, gradually immersing themselves in Pandaren daily life.
Before transmigrating, Andreas had been a native Chinese, fascinated since childhood with rooftop-leaping martial heroes.
Pandaren monks differed from his idealised xia, yet he still joined Five-Morning Monastery to learn their forms.
Shang Xi even invited him to train chi and taught him introductory meditations.
Unfortunately, the three energies inside Andreas were in perfect balance; chi, as the fifth element, couldn't stabilise and was quickly absorbed.
Unable to wield chi, he still rose every dawn to practise forms with the monks—good exercise and a living of his wuxia dream.
Techniques powered by other energies weren't mere show; they still packed some punch.
Two months later, while a bored Onyxia was off scaring grain-stealing virmen, Chi-Ji signalled the monks: they had reached the outer mist of Pandaria.
Andreas shifted into Golden Eagle and flew west, landing on Chi-Ji's great head with permission.
Grey mist cloaked the sea ahead; Chi-Ji rumbled, "Here we go—brace yourselves."
"Whoo~"
As the sea-turtle's head entered the fog, visibility dropped to five paces.
Andreas tried to summon wind with nature-magic, but the mist didn't stir.
"Useless,"
Chi-Ji chuckled. "Liu Lang tried the same, hoping chi could scatter it—no use. This isn't ordinary fog."
"The crossing takes a full day. If you can memorise my turns, you'll find your own way in and out."
Andreas' lip twitched. 'Remember? With a body that big I can't even tell when you turn…'
Just as Andreas was complaining inwardly, the Heart of the Guardian Dragon, which usually lay lazily on his chest, suddenly floated out on its own.
Feeling the anomaly on his chest, Andreas pulled out the string with the Dragon Soul hanging from it and looked at it.
'Sure enough…'
The Dragon Soul, which was previously only the size of a fingernail, had finally completely disappeared, and Dragon's body became even more solid as a result, almost completely shedding its energy form, looking like a small dragon of flesh and blood.
"Roar~"
Habitually rubbing against Andreas' ear, little Dragon coiled his lower body on Andreas' shoulder, stood up with his upper body, and intently surveyed the almost impenetrable mist around them.
Taking off the empty string from his neck, Andreas looked at Dragon in surprise, "Are you recording the route?"
Dragon proudly raised his head, "Awoo~"
"Alright." Andreas smiled and rubbed the little dragon's head, "Then I'll trouble you. It would be best if you could let us come and go freely in the future."
Although he said that, Andreas didn't have too much expectation for it, just treating it as encouragement for Dragon to do something he liked.
After a long time together, Andreas had already confirmed that Dragon possessed independent thought and a soul no different from an ordinary person. Its intelligence was also quite high.
However, this little fellow still had a childlike nature; he hoped to be praised when he did something right, and would be very frustrated if he messed up. Onyxia often complained that Andreas had raised a dragon into a loyal dog.
Just as Shenziko had said, he had been wandering back and forth in this seemingly small sea area for a whole day, and the surrounding mist finally began to slowly dissipate. The clear sky reappeared before the eyes of the people of the Wandering Isle.
The fresh air, different from the outside world, blew on Andreas' face. He, who had been meditating cross-legged, immediately opened his eyes and stood up from Shenziko's head.
"Have we finally arrived?"
"Yes, we're home."
Shenziko said with some emotion, "Ever since Liu Lang passed away, I often fell into a deep sleep and never returned to Pandaria. I hope this time the children of the Wandering Isle can truly understand their homeland."
The exit of the mist was located near Beast Island, an island inhabited by a large number of primitive and powerful beasts. Shenziko's soul projection was warning the high-ranking members of the Wandering Isle in the Zen Staff Forest to try not to let the extremely curious young people approach this dangerous island.
Continuing south past Beast Island, they arrived at the coast of Kun-Lai Summit. The rocky coastline was not suitable for Shenziko to approach further, so the people of the Wandering Isle could only disembark by other means.
After bidding farewell to Elder Bai Lao and Shang Xi, Onyxia took the lead, returning to her original form and carrying Andreas as they officially flew into the land of Pandaria.
Andreas sat on Onyxia's back and flipped through a memo he had recorded years ago. Based on the terrain, this should be near Dajin Beach in the northeastern part of Kun-Lai Summit.
The terrain near the beach was relatively low, but in the distance, they could already see the glistening white snow on the peaks of the Kun-Lai Mountains.
"It seems that compared to when Shandris came ten thousand years ago, the snowy mountains here haven't undergone any significant changes."
Kun-Lai Summit was an area where the Pandaren had a relatively strong presence. The Temple of the White Tiger, the Monk's stronghold Peak of Serenity, and the Shado-Pan Monastery were all located in these mountains. A martial spirit was very popular in Kun-Lai Summit.
Onyxia flapped her wings and flew over Dajin Village. The local Pandaren of Pandaria watched in terror as the huge black shadow swept overhead.
A Pandaren dressed in a tight, masked outfit frowned. He immediately bid farewell to the Dajin Village chief and quickened his pace, chasing in the direction the black dragon had flown.
A two-legged Pandaren could not possibly outrun an adult black dragon, let alone the rugged terrain of Kun-Lai Summit, which was not suitable for ground sprinting.
The Pandaren in black quickly lost track of Onyxia, but he remembered the direction in which the black dragon had disappeared.
"Is the target the Temple of the White Tiger? I must inform the sect leader and Lord Xuen as soon as possible."
...Andreas' first target was indeed the Temple of the White Tiger.
The Four August Celestials were united in spirit. Although they each presided over different regions, they had always maintained close contact with each other.
The Dragonflight's request required finding Yu'lon the Jade Serpent. If Andreas remembered correctly, the Temple of the Jade Serpent should be in the Jade Forest region, southeast of Kun-Lai Summit.
It was almost impossible to enter the Jade Forest while avoiding the Pandaren's sight all the way. Rather than sneaking around and causing misunderstandings, it would be better to simply pay an open visit.
Onyxia had long since matured. Although she usually appeared to be lazy and enjoying life for most of the time, she had never neglected to improve her inherent strength.
The powerful aura of an adult black dragon was sensed from afar by Xuen the White Tiger, who was sitting in his temple.
Under the astonished gaze of the Pandaren monks, Xuen uncharacteristically left his temple and came to the summit of the Temple of the White Tiger, arching his back vigilantly as he looked towards the northern sky.
The White Tiger embodied combat. Xuen was the most valiant, aggressive, and powerful demigod among the Four August Celestials.
However, this did not mean that Xuen was only brute force; he could also think calmly when it was time to use his brain.
Although he assumed a defensive posture, Xuen did not show clear hostility. As Onyxia gradually approached, a hint of surprise flashed in Xuen's eyes.
"A black dragon?"
Pandaria had been closed off from the outside world for ten thousand years, and the White Tiger's impression of black dragons still lingered on Neltharion's betrayal. Seeing the black dragon approaching, the aura he emitted began to contain some hostility.
The monks inside the Temple of the White Tiger sensed Xuen's hostile intent and, under the command of their monk leader, hastily came to the summit platform and formed a battle array.
"Stand down!"
Xuen growled, "Black dragons are not something you mortals can handle, Liu Xing, quickly take them away!"
The leading middle-aged monk seemed a little hesitant, "But…"
"Don't talk back! Stand down!"
"Yes…"
"Boom!"
Before the monk leader could lead the team away, Onyxia had already landed with a crash on the mountain peak platform, sending thick snow flying everywhere under the black dragon's massive impact.
Emitting a warning growl from his throat, Xuen crouched down, staring intently at the black dragon opposite him.
"Black dragon, who are you, where did you enter Pandaria from? What are your intentions?"
Onyxia tilted her head, looking at Xuen, who was in a defensive posture, and did not immediately answer.
A voice came from Onyxia's back, "White Tiger Xuen, please do not panic, Onyxia is not a corrupted black dragon."
As Onyxia transformed into her human form, the colossal figure standing on the mountaintop instantly vanished, replaced by two elves walking together.
Xuen sensed goodwill from the other party's voluntary abandonment of their dragon form, slightly relaxed his guard, and looked at the two people not far away with a surprised expression.
"Night elves? Why are they here?"
"It's a long story."
The male in the lead said kindly, "I am Andreas, the Supreme Chancellor of the Night Elf Republic. Shandris Feathermoon, who came to Pandaria ten thousand years ago to seek aid from the last emperor, Shaohao, is my companion."
"We have come this time with a commission from the Guardian Dragons, and have important questions to ask Yu'lon the Jade Serpent. We hope that Lord Xuen can help us convey our message."