The Seven Emperors of the Imperial Temple (II)

When recounting that ancient history, Emperor Ata spoke as if he had personally experienced it, recounting it in detail:

"That was the most critical moment for the empire. Tens of thousands of adult Dragons gathered at Tongtian City, circling the city for days, covering the sky and plunging City of the Sky into darkness."

"The Dragonkin have revealed their true greedy nature, demanding not only the Wealth of the Zandalari Empire, but also the future of the City of the Sky, leading to the realm of the gods. If we grant the Dragonkin's outrageous demands, the people of Zandalar will become slaves to the Dragonkin without lifting a finger and enter the realm of the gods as a whole."

Yeh'kinya exclaimed indignantly, "I knew Dragonkin were greedy!"

Emperor Ata said with concern:

"The Loa advised war against the Dragonkin. Emperor Silute clearly understood the strength of both sides. Even if the Zandalar were to win by chance, it would be a Pyrrhic victory, and they would ultimately be devoured by other races. If they fought, the Zandalar would be destroyed; if they did not fight, the Zandalar would live on in humiliation."

"At this most critical moment, Emperor Silute displayed extraordinary wisdom. First, he contacted Yogg-Saron in the north, where the Dragonkin's lair had been invaded by the Old Gods. Then, he received support from a powerful being in the Void, said to be Eonar, the protector of all life, who personally reprimanded the Red Dragon Queen, and the crisis was averted."

Yeh'kinya was stunned and filled with admiration. Such superb diplomatic skills were simply unheard of. Although Yeh'kinya was knowledgeable in ancient and modern times, he did not think he could do it.

Emperor Ata looked at the unassuming Emperor Silute and continued:

"Not long after, internal strife broke out among the Red Dragonflight. One of Alexstrasza's consorts was Corruption by the Void and led a large number of her people in rebellion against the Queen's rule. The other four Dragonflights remained indifferent, staying within their own borders. Emperor Silute displayed extraordinary magnanimity, overruling the objections of the majority, and led the Loa to help the Red Dragon Queen quell the civil war, winning the friendship of the Red Dragonflight. After that, the Dragonkin never again interfered in the affairs of the Zandalari Empire."

Yeh'kinya exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, "This is true wisdom!"

Emperor Ata said enviously:

"Emperor Silute's life was full of legendary color. He created countless miracles with his wisdom. The Red Dragon Queen called him the wisest Emperor Zandalar. The emperor lived to a ripe old age, passing away peacefully at the age of 1,200."

Emperor Ata moved forward and came before a statue wielding a blood-red greatsword, clad in blood-red armor, and wearing a skull mask:

Long ago, the Zandalari Empire was inadvertently drawn into a war between the Rock Giants and the Storm Giants, which weakened the nation, killed countless members of its people, and plunged the empire into decline.

"The Man-eating Tusk Clan of the north seized the opportunity to rise up. They are monsters with long fangs, ferocious faces, tall stature, strong physique, and are ruthless and bloodthirsty."

"The Man-eating Tusk devoured the Zandalar, who were defeated, and vast swathes of land fell. The Loa were bogged down in the war between the Rock Giants and the Storm Giants and could not return to their aid. The people risked their lives to gather in the City of the Sky from all directions, and the population plummeted to less than a million. The old king died on the Battlefield, and the newly-adult Rhee ascended the throne."

"The life of Emperor Ruizong was short, lasting less than a hundred years. From the day he ascended the throne, he wore a golden armor and began his war against the Man-eating Tusk Clan. When the armor was damaged, he did not have time to take it off, so he wore it on and asked a craftsman to repair it. It is said that he never took off this armor in his entire life."

"Throughout his life, he fought countless wars, experiencing countless defeats and victories, his armor stained crimson with blood time and again. In his lifetime, he finally exterminated the Man-eating Tusk Clan. When news of the victory arrived, the City of the Sky erupted in jubilation. His people took to the streets to welcome their victorious emperor. Rui rode his beloved velociraptor through the city gates, looked up at the City of the Sky, removed his skull mask, a smile playing on his lips, and never awoke again."

Yeh'kinya trembled with excitement and whispered, "I wish I had been born back then, to fight alongside Rui and never leave his side."

Emperor Ata said with a solemn expression:

"The history of the Zandalari Empire is forged with countless blood and heroic spirits. The former emperors conquered all sides, slaughtering across vast distances, to achieve the glory we enjoy today. Legendary that Rishin was gentle and kind, with a beautiful appearance, and wore a skull mask to appear dignified."

The Emperor's Temple was solemn. Yeh'kinya's heart was touched time and time again. Emperor Ata, with a heavy expression, came to a statue of an emperor with a strange body.

This emperor has the handsome features of Zandalar, but a body of stone, arms of Fire Elementals, a lower body of Water Elemental, and a pair of wings of wind.

"Around ten thousand years after the founding of the Zandalari Empire, the four Elemental Planes launched a war against the Material Plane. Countless chaotic elements escaped their seals and slaughtered all living beings on the Azeroth Continent. At that time, it was the era of Emperor Enwei, an elemental master who formed the Zandalar Elemental Mage Legion and waged war against the chaotic elements."

"The elements were too powerful, and their numbers were almost endless. Even the Loa could not match them, and the Zandalar Mage Corps were forced into retreat. Emperor Enwei realized the fragility of flesh and blood, so he summoned his most loyal mages and voluntarily abandoned their physical bodies to absorb Elemental Power, transforming into half-flesh, half -Elemental. Emperor Enwei sacrificed the most, leaving only his head."

"It was the addition of this Legion that successfully turned the tide of the battle, bringing the war to a stalemate. Later, with the help of the Dragonkin, the four elements were finally defeated and driven back to the Elemental Plane."

"Emperor Enwei had by now become Demigod, stronger than all the Loa, and capable of living forever, eternally reigning as the King of Zandalar. But Emperor Enwei believed that flesh and blood were the future of Azeroth, and voluntarily relinquished his Elemental Body, ending his own life."

Yeh'kinya was deeply moved. The wise choices of the ancient emperors and their selfless Consecration had brought about the glory of the Zandalari Empire today.

Emperor Ata arrived before the last statue and sighed softly:

"The Zandalari Empire faced a crisis at its very beginning. The ancient dragon Galakrond mutated for unknown reasons, and all the creatures it bit turned into zombies. These zombies roamed the land, and the people of Zandalar suffered greatly. Countless people were bitten by the zombies and mutated."

"Emperor Puruide was the third emperor of Zandalar. Faced with this situation, the Loa were helpless. Emperor Puruide suddenly had a brilliant idea and remembered the legacy left by the Old Gods Xal'atath: Old Gods documents carved on ancient stone tablets, the meaning of which no one could understand at that time."

"In an effort to decipher the Old Gods' writings, Emperor Puruide tried every possible method, even seeking help from the Old Gods Old Gods, but they ignored him. The Old Gods' writings were obscure and difficult to understand, and despite gathering the empire's best scholars, no progress was made."

"As more and more of his mutated people appeared, Emperor Puruide resolutely abandoned everything and entered a mysterious Valley alone. It was a forbidden zone where a piece of Y'Shaarj's flesh was said to have fallen. Emperor Puruide was trying to obtain the help of the strongest Old Gods."

"No one knows what price Emperor Puruide paid. When he returned, he successfully deciphered the Old Gods script and found the Antidote for the zombies. Only then did we learn the secrets of the Crystal Firmament and the existence of the realm of the gods."