38. Why are you insulting me the moment we meet? Argus, you've gone bad! [Mass Release 41/50]

(Additional update for brother "Huo Zhengtinghao" [6/10])

Saint stayed in Telmor all night. He summoned the commander of the city and issued new defense instructions. The Krokuun Hunt Riderss who came with him left a hundred people here to assist in the defense, and Saint promised to send a garrison from Auchindoun Sanctuary as soon as possible to fill the defense deficiencies of Telmor.

This is one of the two mountain roads for Talador to enter the southern Spires of Arak. It is also a very important strategic location. Under the premise that Vigilant has decided to intervene in the war in various areas of Draenor, such a strategic location must be in the hands of Draenei.

After completing the above arrangements and having breakfast the next morning, Diakum the Saint set off again. The Hunter Cavalry who came with him escorted the remains of the compatriots who died gloriously in yesterday's battle to Auchindoun.

This is part of the death ceremony of Draenei in the world of Draenor.

If the body of all the deceased can be found, all the corpses should be buried with all possible efforts and returned to the sacred Auchindoun cemetery, where they should receive the consolation ceremony from the Auchenai priests under the Maladaar Archbishop, and then be buried in the Holy Land tomb.

Since the time of Eredar, these blue-skinned hoof people have respected the concept of "death".

Because they are Eternal Life ers, and cannot embrace death in a normal way, the loss of life among their compatriots is naturally given a higher level of "meaning".

Some extreme tribesmen may even consider this abnormal death to be a revelation or "blessing" from fate.

The long exile of 25,000 years allowed them to stop in many worlds and encounter many accidents. Most of the tribesmen who died on the journey gave their precious lives to protect the clan and people. In this case, death is often tied to the "noble Consecration".

Therefore, in Draenei today's culture, respecting death is a basic social morality, and even this respect does not just stop at the moral level.

Although Auchindoun Sanctuary is only a tomb in terms of purpose, the magnificence it was built by Draenei is no less grand than the main city of Shattrath City or the temple area of Karabor Temple. It can be said that this Holy Land is a city in itself and one of the two big cities of Draenei in Talador Region.

It is also the end point of the "Pilgrimage Road".

Every month, many Draenei civilians set foot on this road and come to Holy Land to mourn their fathers, friends or the heroes who saved them.

It is precisely because Auchindoun Sanctuary is of great significance to the Draenei Clan that Maladaar, the "Dead Speaker" in charge here, was appointed as the distinguished archbishop. Although he and his Auchenai priests are generally divided into the "Priest" class, but in fact, according to Dick's observation, these Auchenai priests are more like psychic masters who control Holy Light.

They can talk to the soul of Draenei in Auchindoun Sanctuary, and even "awaken" the dead if necessary.

Judging only from the form of expression and social responsibilities, Auchenai priests and Shadowmoon Clan's Orcs psychics have equal status, and they are both very respected classes.

Regrettably, the "traitors" previously uncovered at Karabor Temple have proven that this supposedly noble team has become corrupted. When Dick escorted the coffins of the deceased to the outside of Auchindoun Sanctuary, they saw a team of Garrison Commander escorting several shackled priests away.

"Archbishop Maladaar has a strong execution ability. He has started an internal review of the Auchenai priests. This is good. Cleaning out the traitors before they cause more damage will undoubtedly enhance our internal unity."

Diakum, who was riding on Holy Warsteed, could tell at a glance that the imprisoned priests had strong shadow power. Just like Soulbinder Niaami who had tried to "assassinate" him before, these were Priests who had fallen into the path of shadow.

Although not every shadow priest is a bad guy, to be honest, ordinary Priest does not have enough willpower to resist those whirling whispers from the void. All those who are confident that they can control the shadow will eventually fall into it. Only those who are vigilant and guided by light can reach the Other Side.

Shadow Priest The important thing about this profession is not "shadow", but "Priest".

The purpose of going deep into the shadows and controlling the darkness is to better defeat evil and protect the light!

If there is a problem with this most basic self-positioning, then getting lost in the darkness is the inevitable outcome.

"Such a review will make people inside Auchenai panic. No wonder they have closed the road for pilgrims to enter Holy Land in recent days. Although it is in the name of "maintaining Holy Land," I heard that many people who come from far away are quarantined at Spirit Courtyard."

In addition to the three new recruits behind Diakum, there are two more "newcomers" on this trip.

Lelan, who was still injured, took the initiative to follow her uncle. She was wearing a purple Arcane Mage robe and carrying her own Amethyst Staff and said softly:

"If this review won't end for a while, maybe we should resettle the stranded civilians better?"

"Spirit Courtyard has dedicated receptionists, Lelan, who are trained Priest. They know how to appease people's hearts. If more and more people gather, they will take action.

At the moment, we should first send the remains of these warriors to Holy Land so that their souls can rest in peace."

Another voice sounded soon after.

That's Eredath.

Wearing heavy armor, Garrison Commander wears Gem Sword and Shield, and is also the elder son of old Velen.

This guy's appearance is almost the same as Velen from the Argus era in Dick's memory. Except for the fact that he doesn't have a lush black beard, his face is more than 70% similar, which is enough to prove the power of the old prophet's bloodline.

Diakum really doubts how Eredath can complete the challenge of hiding his identity for a long time with this face? Anyone who has seen the prophet in the Argus era will recognize him as his son at a glance, right?

But soon, Dick noticed the combat mask Eredath placed in Talbuk's sidecar. Perhaps it was because this child wore a mask most of the time?

Okay, that's a crude and simple solution, but it's very useful.

"Of course Diakum Uncle and I know what is most important right now, you don't need to stress it over and over again."

Facing Eredath's persuasion, Lelan showed some dissatisfaction. She retorted and turned her head aside, chatting with Yrel about Ambori Village, leaving Eredath with a look of helplessness.

But fortunately, the relationship between him and Lelan has lasted for at least several thousand years. People have already adapted to it, and they may still enjoy it.

If Lelan really hates him, given her character, it is absolutely impossible for her to form a team with Eredath. This only shows that Malderan Commodore's daughter is a hopeless arrogant, while old Velen's son has long understood the art of licking dogs.

Tsk, I have it in this life.

But considering that if this child does not follow this path, there is a high probability that he will follow Kil'jaeden according to the horrific fate in the official history, and then name himself "Rakeesh (The Butcher)" Terrible name. One day in the future, Arthas will do this to his father. Therefore, Dick will persuade himself to accept this scene calmly every time he sees Eredath.

Just lick the dog, it's better than degenerating into a perverted Man'ari that drives Fel Gundam and likes to listen to the screams of Naaru.

Dick, the old man, couldn't get involved in the interactions between young people, so he turned to his "adjutant" and asked:

"I heard that Auchenai Holy Land is also the place where the tribesmen made Immortal Guardian?"

"Yes, because the production of the soul core involves some psychic skills, it can only be completed at Auchindoun Sanctuary."

Maraad explained seriously to his superiors and elders:

"Auchindoun Sanctuary has a special area, which we call "Hall of the Immortals". Only those warriors who are seriously injured and unable to continue fighting, but still hope to continue to protect the people after death will be allowed to enter.

Maladaar's Soulbinders under Archbishop Maladaar will use secret techniques to properly take care of the warrior's soul, and then work with Hataaru's Artisans under Archbishop Hataaru to seal that soul into a unique Arcanite Crystal box, which is the heart and brain of Immortal Guardian.

As long as the crystal box is not destroyed, those warrior souls can control their steel bodies to protect our people forever.

This is the new tradition of Draenei, Saint.

Shattrath, Auchindoun and Karabor Temple all have such Immortal, we think those warrior souls are with us.

But unfortunately, to complete this process requires tremendous pressure and pain, and those warrior spirits will lose part of their memories and emotions, so not every noble soul can do so."

"How many Immortal do we have now?"

Dick feeling this noble sacrifice, he asked softly when he got off his mount and personally escorted the coffin into Auchindoun Sanctuary Soulway.

Maraad was silent for a moment and said:

"One thousand, four hundred and seventy units, this is the total number, most of which are ordinary Defender models. Elite Immortals such as "Guardian Qualarm" Quaram who are in charge of Karabor Temple only account for one-seventh of them.

They are equipped with unique mechanical modules, so they will also be regarded as the commanders of Immortal.

In addition, there is also an elite Immortal in Auchindoun, who is guarding Holy Land in Hall of the Immortals.

It has the same title as you, Vigilant Kessar. It once rescued thousands of patrol rangers in crisis on a planet. After that battle, he was seriously injured and voluntarily entered Immortal to continue fighting."

"Caesar, I remember this name."

Dick closed his eyes, sighed and said:

"He was a recruit. On Antoran Battlefield, he was eager to join Hand of Argus Legion but failed to complete his recruit trial. I still remember the disappointed expression of that child wiping his tears after the battle.

He didn't cry because he failed to pass the test, he just blamed himself because he failed to save his companions.

But he proved himself!

During the long period of my sleep, he used his courage to protect the people on my behalf. Caesar is obviously more worthy of the title "Vigilant" than me."

"Every time I hear you talk about this, I feel that your connections are too exaggerated."

Yrel, who was following behind, sighed:

"These heroes who have left traces in history are more or less related to you. I think I will no longer be surprised by your magnificent life."

"Where are we now, little Yrel, if you have not experienced the last thirty days of the Argus era, you naturally cannot understand how many earth-shattering things Diakum Uncle did during that time."

Lelan, who was leaning on Amethyst Staff, lowered his voice in this Holy Land and said to Yrel:

"When my brother and I were in the safe zone of Oronaar City, we could hear the battle reports from the front line almost every day, and almost every battle report related to Diakum Uncle was filled with all kinds of exaggerated achievements and victory news.

So much so that during that period of panic, we all regarded Diakum Uncle as a symbol of "invincibility"."

"Indeed."

Eredath extended courtesy to the statues of sages on both sides of Soulway while echoing:

"At that time, the Garrison Commander I admired most was naturally my adoptive father, but Lord Diacum was the Garrison Commander I admired second! I have always trained myself with him as my goal."

"But you have been training for so long, and now you haven't even gained a single demon."

Lelan curled his lips and said:

"You haven't even gotten your Argus Heart yet."

The sentence Lelan belongs to "Aoe".

Not only Eredath, but she is the only one among the five recruits who has a Argus Heart Pendant from Malderan Commodore. But to be honest, the World Artifact she inherited does not mean that she has passed some kind of "trial", so Lelan actually lacks confidence in saying this.

"Don't worry, you will all get your own "Proof of Oath" today."

Dick interrupted the discussion of the recruits with a wave of his hand.

In addition to burying the warriors and checking the internal defense of Auchindoun Sanctuary, he brought them here today for another important reason: to obtain "Star Soul Will Fragment" for his recruits and obtain the Argus Heart artifact.

Lelan, Maraad and Eredath were all members of the evacuees that year. When they left Argus, the three of them carried a Block Star Soul Will Fragment, but Yrel and Nubodon are children born in exile, and they have not yet completed their "World Contract".

As for Argus Heart.

After leaving his hometown, the artifact only had its own elemental blessings, but in the eyes of the older generation like Dick, if you want to become an outstanding guardian of the people, you cannot lack this thing.

"Saint, you are finally here. I have been waiting for you here for two days."

When everyone entered Audience Hall in the sacred cemetery, Archbishop Maladaar personally came out to greet them.

Knowing the purpose of Dick's visit today, he did not exchange greetings. While letting the Soulbinders carry the coffins of the war dead into the funeral hall, he personally led Vigilant into the deepest secret room of Holy Land.

The five recruits are waiting here temporarily, and their ceremony will not be held until Dick has finished important things.

"How many Star Soul Will Fragment are stored in Holy Land?"

On the stairs leading to the depths of Holy Land, Dick asked:

"I learned from the prophet Velen that after we fell into Draenor, there was no large-scale inheritance ceremony. Instead, we switched to individual adult rites for inheritance. Why do we do this?"

The latest ⊥ little ⊥ talk ⊥ is first posted on ⊥⊥⊥!

"On the one hand, it is because after entering Draenor, our population growth slowed down, and it was difficult to gather enough young people to hold a large-scale ceremony in a short period of time. Even if the two Grand Executor advanced the coming-of-age ceremony from 300 to 250 years old, we fell here only a little over 200 years ago, which is not enough for those newborns to reach adulthood."

Maladaar sighed and said:

"On the other hand, it's hard for me to explain in words the strange changes that have occurred over the years in those Star Soul Will Fragment that were stripped off after the warrior's death. You'll know it once you see it with your own eyes."

"What happened to those precious pieces?"

Dick frowned and said:

"But I feel that the Star Soul will that I carry on the spiritual level is very peaceful."

"Yes, most of our compatriots cannot feel that strangeness. In fact, we think it may only change after it is separated from the spiritual carrier."

Maladaar explained:

"There is no way to judge whether this change is good or bad, but it concerns the foundation of our hometown and we cannot act rashly.

Othaar The traitor has been trying to intervene in this matter, but I blocked them from getting here. If they had succeeded before, I can't imagine what desecration those lunatics would do to this sacred object.

We're here, right in front."

The archbishop took off a crystal key and placed it on the magic door. As the heavy mechanical sound echoed, the thick sealed door was opened. In the hall in front of him was a stand-like column, with a stone tray filled with Argus Heart that had been recycled over the years.

Those ancient things retain the form in which they were made.

Rings, pendants and jewelry, without much decoration, can gather a heavy aura just by being piled there. Dick can even feel that the previous owners of these Argus Heart are standing in the hall and watching him.

"It's not your imagination."

Maladaar whispered:

"There are indeed many spirits here that exist in another phase, and they are all warriors who died in battle holding Argus Heart."

"Why not let them rest in peace? Or enter Immortal and continue to defend our people?"

Dick asked, the archbishop shook his head and said:

"It's not that we don't want to, it's that we can't do it. They seem to be "bound" by Argus Heart. No, that's not accurate. These warrior souls voluntarily stay in the mortal world. They don't talk to us, but they guard their respective artifacts, as if they are guarding something.

This is the kind of "change" I want to show you."

Maladaar Pinch the fingerprint to release a special skill.

As the psychic's mana spread, the scene of the "soul world" was temporarily exposed in front of Diakum's eyes. When the light green light enveloped the holy lamp in front of him, Dick's eyes immediately widened.

"Star Soul Will Fragment. Fusion?"

He exclaimed.

Then he quickly stepped forward to look at the special ball of light formed by many pieces of Star Soul Will Fragment. It was still surrounded by the familiar World Power. The gorgeous light was dotted with faint blue spots. It was not a wonderful color that could be created in the real world.

But the size of this light ball is a bit too huge.

Dick clearly remembers that he had seen the scene where Argus Star Soul carried his will in the body of Eredar. Each individual only had a small piece, which was also the limit that the mortal spirit could bear, and the ball of light in front of him was so big.

"So, the Star Soul Will Fragment carried in the spirits of all the dead compatriots in the past twenty-five thousand years are among them?"

Dick looked back at Maladaar, and he said with enlightenment:

"The so-called "inheritance ceremony" is just a cover, right?

No wonder Velen didn't talk to me about this matter. No wonder our people forgot the vision of returning to their hometown in a short period of two hundred years. They forgot Argus because they no longer have the World Contract in them!

What the hell is going on?"

"We don't know why. In fact, during the first 10,000 years of exile, the inheritance ceremony was still going on smoothly."

Maladaar Archbishop sighed:

"But I don't know at which point, when the individuals of our compatriots die, the Star Soul Fragment they carry will be out of our control after being extracted with Argus Heart. They will actively merge together and become indistinguishable from each other, just like "returning".

At first, this situation only happened occasionally, but soon it became the norm. Until our spacecraft crashed into Draenor, Star Soul Fragment became the seamless state it is today.

Once a clan member dies elsewhere, the Star Soul Fragment in their spirit will instantly return to this fragment in a way that does not comply with the rules of space.

In this case, let alone inheritance, it is difficult for us to even touch it.

Great Prophet personally tried it, but even his powerful Eredar could not bear such a heavy power.

We don't know how to stop this. This is a matter related to Star Soul. The wisdom of mortals seems so insignificant in front of it. We can only try our best to avoid the misfortune of the clan members who carry Star Soul Fragment.

This is also one of the important reasons why Bishop Council implements conservatism in Draenor. We must avoid stimulating the continued integration of Star Soul Fragment."

"I see. It seems that my accusations against you are too harsh."

Dick nodded, looking at the World Soul fragments floating above the pile of Argus Heart in front of him, he asked:

"So, how much of this fragment is fused?"

"A conservative estimate is around 30,000 people."

Maladaar replied:

"That's the number of dead people I started counting after I observed that Star Soul Fragment was out of control. Only those compatriots who escaped from the world of Argus were counted. Compatriots who were reborn during the journey were not included."

"Thirty thousand creatures carry the weight of the world together. No wonder ordinary people cannot bear this pressure. This is the weight of Star Soul's thinking. This is the weight of Argus."

Diakum sighed, waved his hand and said:

"Seal this place, Maladaar. You should be outside, too. I'm going to try to communicate with this Star Soul Fragment, and at least find out what happened."

"Are you sure?"

Maladaar said seriously:

"If Great Prophet can't do it, maybe you shouldn't take such a risk?"

"No, I am the first Eredar, Maladaar who concluded World Contract with Argus Star Soul. I am "Hand of Argus" in the true sense."

Dick took off his gauntlet, stroked the tail ring on his left hand, and said:

"If there is a life among the stars that can talk to Him, it can only be me. Go ahead! This conversation cannot be interrupted. Don't let anyone else come near this place before I call."

"Yes, Saint."

Seeing that Maladaar Archbishop Vigilant had decided, he could only leave here and sealed the secret hall with his own hands.

He stood outside the passage, holding his Argus Heart jewelry tightly in his hand. Although he had not participated in the Argus decisive battle, he had heard everything about his hometown from his fathers, and he also had the Star Soul Fragment inheritance from his mother in spirit.

For him, returning to Argus is by no means an illusory ideal.

Unfortunately, things change and people change, and many people no longer think this way.

Maladaar clenched the artifact in his hand and said in his heart:

"Saint, if we can't light up the light of returning home at this time, we will have no choice but to drift further and further away from our hometown. Mortals are at the end of their rope, so we can only hope that you can turn the tide."

At the same time, Dick stretched out his hand after taking several deep breaths, and touched the beating light with his left hand with the tail ring. At the moment of contact, he saw the surrounding spiritual bodies becoming "alive" one after another.

They glared at Dick.

They surround Dick in the center.

They seemed to be waiting for some cruel order.

In the spiritual world connected by both parties, Diakum once again returned to the scene of meeting Star Soul. However, this time when he raised his head, he was met with a severe and angry rebuke:

"You! Draenei. Forsworn!"