Just as the Pandaren warriors were on the verge of total collapse, a few earth-shattering roars suddenly echoed across the heavens.
Far off in the sky, three massive figures were rapidly flying closer. The first figure was pristine white with fluffy fur, the unique horns atop its head flickering with the light of ice crystals—it was none other than Xuen, the White Tiger.
The second figure was a brilliant crimson, its expansive wings unfurled, its entire form wreathed in scorching flames—it was Chi-Ji, the Red Crane.
The third figure was vibrant azure, its posture agile and sleek, surrounded by ascending mists—it was Yu'lon, the Jade Serpent.
The three August Celestials had finally arrived!
Xuen was the first to dive down, his massive paws slamming into the Mogu War Behemoth below. The War Behemoth unleashed a roar, spewing a pillar of fire to intercept him, but the flames instantly dissolved into a vast mist before Xuen's crystalline ice power.
Xuen's paws struck the War Behemoth's skull heavily, shattering the bone structure instantly as the orange flames died out. The War Behemoth wobbled and crashed to the ground. Landing upon the earth, Xuen let out an earth-shattering roar at the Mogu army; the soundwaves acted like invisible blades, knocking the surrounding Mogu soldiers off balance, with some even exploding outright.
Chi-Ji followed closely behind. With his wings spread wide, countless flaming feathers rained down from the sky, igniting raging fires within the Mogu ranks. Although the Mogu Rockbound Warriors were impervious to physical attacks, their rocky skin began to splinter before the intense heat. Molten liquid surged from the fissures, ultimately reducing them to puddles of slag in the flames.
Chi-Ji let out a crisp cry, and a massive wall of fire materialized out of thin air, cutting the Mogu army's formation clean in half. The Mogu soldiers caught inside unleashed wretched screams as they were consumed by the inferno.
Meanwhile, Yu'lon circled in the sky, chanting an ancient incantation. The ground below instantly surged with roaring waves, dragging countless Mogu soldiers into the depths. Most Mogu soldiers were poor swimmers; they struggled desperately in the water, only to be swallowed by the torrents and die of suffocation.
With a whip of Yu'lon's tail, a massive water spout formed, lofting several Mogu Lightning Mages into the air before slamming them violently onto the ground. The mages' bodies shattered instantly, and their blue electricity dissipated along with them.
The intervention of the three August Celestials instantly turned the tide of battle. Seeing this, the morale of the Pandaren warriors soared, and they launched their counterattack in succession. Shielded by the Celestials, the Shado-Pan warriors darted through the Mogu army, harvesting the lives of their enemies.
After dealing an initial blow to the Mogu army, they hurried off to assist Niuzao, the Black Ox. A lone Wild God stood no chance against Lei Shen on his own. Why hadn't the Black Ox taken action earlier? Because it was currently enduring a severe thrashing from Lei Shen.
It was only because Lei Shen had just been resurrected and had not yet returned to his peak strength that Niuzao managed to hold out at all. For tens of thousands of years, the strength of these August Celestials had never increased; they remained remarkably weak—so weak that they hardly seemed fitting of the title of demigods.
Now, with the four August Celestials reunited, Niuzao served as the primary vanguard of defense, Yu'lon and Chi-Ji harassed and disrupted from the flanks while providing healing, and Xuen acted as the primary offensive dealer. Together, they launched an assault against Lei Shen.
The monks of the Golden Lotus reformed their defensive array, their golden light flaring up once more to shield their wounded companions and civilians.
Floating in midair, Lei Shen looked upon his routing army below, his eyes ablaze with fury. Brandishing the Lei Shen's Hammer, he unleashed a massive bolt of lightning toward Xuen. The White Tiger bounded away, evading the strike as the lightning blasted a massive crater into the earth.
"Lowly beasts, you dare obstruct the path of this Emperor!"
Lei Shen's voice overflowed with majesty and wrath, the lightning crackling around him growing increasingly volatile as he prepared to launch an all-out assault.
The three August Celestials exchanged glances and assumed battle stances. The ice crystals around Xuen grew thicker, the flames around Chi-Ji blazed higher, and the torrents surrounding Yu'lon churned with greater fury.
Just as Lei Shen was about to strike, he suddenly paused. His gaze swept over his retreating army, then shifted to the three August Celestials and the Pandaren warriors, a sliver of wariness flashing through his eyes. He knew that if he continued the fight now, powerful though he was, he might not gain the upper hand and could instead suffer severe injuries.
"Retreat!" Lei Shen roared. With a swing of his hammer, a burst of purple lightning erupted, forcing the surrounding Pandaren warriors and Celestials back. He then spun around, transforming into a bolt of lightning as he flew off toward Kun-Lai Summit. Seeing this, the remaining Mogu soldiers cast aside their weapons and fled frantically in his wake. Those who ran too slowly were overtaken by the Pandaren warriors and cut down on the spot.
The battle had finally concluded, but the plaza before the Shado-Pan Monastery on the Townlong Steppes was left in absolute ruins. The ground was littered with corpses and debris, blood soaking the soil to form a dark crimson mire. Smoldering ancient trees still puffed black smoke, and the air was thick with a suffocating blend of rust, char, and blood.
The Pandaren warriors collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion, some bandaging wounds, others searching for injured comrades, while some knelt silently beside their fallen peers, their eyes welling with tears.
Taran Zhu and Master Zhi approached the three August Celestials and bowed respectfully.
"Our deepest thanks to you, Great Lords, for your timely intervention. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
Taran Zhu's voice carried heavy fatigue. Although his left arm wound had been treated by Master Zhi, it still throbbed with pain.
Xuen shook his massive head, his voice deep and rumbling.
"To protect Pandaria is our duty. However, Lei Shen's strength far exceeds our expectations. Though he retreated today, he will undoubtedly return, and his next offensive will likely be far more ferocious."
Chi-Ji slightly folded his wings, his eyes filled with gravity.
"Upon his resurrection, Lei Shen not only awakened the ancient Mogu armies but also commands formidable lightning powers. Relying solely on our strength and that of the Pandaren, holding him off for long may prove difficult."
Yu'lon circled in midair, her voice crisp and clear.
"Furthermore, I can sense that Lei Shen's power is continuously growing. He seems to be searching for a method to further elevate his strength. If we cannot find a countermeasure quickly, Pandaria will eventually fall into his hands."
Taran Zhu and Master Zhi exchanged glances, their eyes filled with deep anxiety. They knew the Celestials were correct. Lei Shen was simply too powerful, and today's victory was merely temporary. To thoroughly defeat Lei Shen and safeguard Pandaria, they had to seek external aid.
Master Zhi pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Great Lords, Pandaria is now in a perilous situation. With our strength alone, it will be difficult to oppose Lei Shen. I have thought of someone who might be able to help us."
"Oh? Who?" Xuen asked curiously.
"His Majesty, King Arthas of the Alliance of Lordaeron."
Master Zhi stated slowly, "I have heard that His Majesty Arthas is exceptionally valiant in battle and remarkably gifted. He previously assisted Elder Stonesoe in the Jade Forest to eliminate the threat of the Sha of Doubt; currently, there is no longer a trace of Sha energy in that entire region. According to Elder Stonesoe's letter, he is an immensely powerful being, yet humble and friendly. If we can appeal to him for aid, he might be willing to deploy his forces to help us oppose Lei Shen."
Taran Zhu nodded, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. He was not one to lean on others by nature, but before the Mogu armies, they were ultimately finding it difficult to resist and sustain their defenses.
"I have heard of this matter. At the time, the Shado-Pan was tracking the Sha of Hatred and merely dispatched a single squad of monks to respond to the Jade Temple's call for aid. The Sha have been sealed for a millennium, yet they suddenly reawakened alongside Lei Shen's resurrection. I have a premonition that someone is orchestrating a connection between the two events."
"We can dispatch our most elite messengers to ride day and night to the Jade Forest to explain Pandaria's crisis to King Arthas. Lei Shen is cruel and tyrannical; he will show zero mercy to any race. Furthermore, if Lordaeron wishes to develop here, they will inevitably clash with the Mogu."
"I believe King Arthas is a man of justice. When he learns of Lei Shen's brutal acts and the existential threat facing Pandaria, he will surely extend a helping hand."
"Moreover, we can extend our own goodwill. The fact that Lordaeron could arrive here indicates that the mists no longer protect Pandaria, and we will face unknown impacts and threats from the outside world. An alliance with Lordaeron is a highly necessary measure."
Master Zhi analyzed the pros and cons very clearly. Since outsiders could arrive so openly, it proved that Pandaria's days of remaining hidden away were over. It was time to make a change; otherwise, if it was Lei Shen's resurrection today, it could be a water god tomorrow and a fire god the day after—they would constantly fall into a passive position.
The instability brought by war would first cause casualties, followed by the destruction of fertile fields, leading to a failure in food supply lines. In the end, it would still result in ruin.
The three August Celestials exchanged glances and nodded in unison. Xuen spoke up.
"As things stand, this is the only way. We will remain here to guard the Shado-Pan Monastery and prepare against another offensive from Lei Shen. Select your messengers as quickly as possible and head to the Jade Forest to seek aid."
"Very well, we leave this in your hands, Great Lords," Taran Zhu and Master Zhi replied together.
As the sun set, its golden residual glow washed over the landscape of the Townlong Steppes, yet it could not dispel the gloom hovering over the land.
The wounded Pandaren warriors were still groaning, the corpses of their fallen comrades had yet to be buried, and from the direction of the distant Kun-Lai Summit, the faint rumbling of thunder could be heard—it was Lei Shen's threat, hanging like a sword over Pandaria's head.
Standing upon the monastery steps, Taran Zhu and Master Zhi gazed toward the distant sky, their eyes filled with gravity. They knew that asking Arthas for help was Pandaria's last hope, and such a decision would inevitably require paying a certain price. But to protect their homeland and their fallen companions, they had no choice.
As night deepened, the Townlong Steppes fell into silence, with only the smoldering embers still flickering like the residual hope of Pandaria.
Master Zhi took several Pandaren messengers clad in lightweight armor, packed their gear, mounted their Cloud Serpents, and sped off toward the Jade Forest. Their figures vanished into the night, carrying the destiny of all Pandaria as they sprinted toward the distance.
With the aid of their flying mounts, they arrived at the Jade Forest by daybreak.
Master Zhi and his companions first made a trip to the Temple of the Jade Serpent instead of heading straight to the Lordaeron expedition camp. Rushing in blindly was not a wise choice; they needed someone familiar with the situation to guide them.
Without a doubt, if anyone was familiar with these expeditionary forces, it was the Temple of the Jade Serpent, aside from Paw'don Village.
"Greetings, Master. You have traveled far. Please come inside for a cup of hot tea. Go draw some hot water so our esteemed guests can wash their faces and refresh themselves."
Elder Stonesoe bypassed any useless pleasantries, old and wise as he was. Seeing that these visitors were riding Cloud Serpents that were thoroughly exhausted from the journey, with frost from high-altitude flying still clinging to their fur, it was obvious at a glance that something was wrong.
Were it not a matter of utmost urgency, there would be absolutely no reason to rush like this. High-altitude flight was meant to expedite travel and avoid ground interference. Otherwise, there would always be short-sighted creatures boldly launching attacks, and while everyone knew speed was paramount, it was difficult to remain resolute in not fighting back when struck.
The group went inside, and Master Zhi drank two cups of hot tea before the chill inside his body was finally dispelled, causing his frame to shudder slightly.
"This time, we are asking the Abbot to lead the way and take us to the Lordaeron camp. Lei Shen has been resurrected; he is the Emperor of the Mogu. Under his summons, the Mogu are currently massing at the Townlong Steppes. We have fought a battle, and the situation is tragic. Taran Zhu was also severely injured just to eliminate Weaponmaster Xin, the strongest fighter among the Mogu. But as long as Lei Shen lives, the Mogu will never cease their aggression."
"We heard that the King of Lordaeron incidentally helped the Temple of the Jade Serpent, so we are asking you to guide us. We hope he can look toward the future of Pandaria and cooperate with us to jointly resist the Mogu invasion."
To put it briefly, any talk of future benefits was secondary. The real reason was simply that they could no longer hold out on their own.
The casualties were far too heavy. If they kept fighting like this and wiped out the younger generation of Pandaren, the middle-aged and adolescents would be next. The more Pandaren died, the easier it would be for the cultural heritage to fracture, and a decline in civilization at that stage would be a total catastrophe for the entire race.
Given the gravity of the situation, Abbot Stonesoe did not decline. With a solemn expression, he said:
"Very well. Please rest for a moment, recover your strength, and have some vegetarian food. We will set out shortly. The Lordaeron expedition base is quite a distance from the Temple of the Jade Serpent, located in the southeastern sector of the Jade Forest."
After managing to recuperate for a short while, carrying expressions of immense exhaustion from a sleepless night, they arrived at the expeditionary camp.
Before they could even draw near, a Blood Elf ranger appeared before them, donning a hood and a face mask, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed.
"Halt. This is the Lordaeron camp. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter."
Enclosing and claiming land right upon arriving at a new location seemed a bit inappropriate, didn't it?
Yet upon seeing a fist the size of a casserole, any notions of what was appropriate or inappropriate suddenly became entirely the same.
Abbot Stonesoe pressed his palms together and bowed slightly.
"Greetings. This old monk is Abbot Stonesoe of the Temple of the Jade Serpent. King Arthas and Lady Shandris previously assisted our temple in resolving the issue with the Sha. We have come to express our gratitude, and we also bring critical intelligence for His Majesty regarding the survival of all Pandaria, which will also have a significant impact on Lordaeron."
"Wait here."
The Blood Elf ranger stepped aside to communicate with the distance using magic.
Before long, a female with the appearance of a Highborne walked out. This was Syrenne, a commander within the Naga Vanguard, second only to Lady Vashj.
"If you have business, you may speak with me. I am a Commander of the Lordaeron Empire's Naga Vanguard. At the appropriate time, I will allow you to see His Majesty. Speak."
Syrenne fiddled with her fingers; she was supposed to be in Vashj'ir dealing with those water elementals.