Glorious Years

The next day, Ji Feng woke on the grass outside the stone house. The sunlight dazzled his eyes, and it was nearly noon before he was groggily awakened by someone.

"Big Brother, get up! The elven warriors are here. Everyone's waiting for you!" A familiar voice rang by his ear. Ji Feng stretched and looked at the person before him. Furry ears and a warm, sweet smile—it was Li Luo.

"Mm..."

Rubbing his eyes, Ji Feng climbed up from the grass. Empty wine cups were scattered all around him.

Illidan had delivered equipment and provisions last night, including plenty of alcohol. To ensure no one got drunk on the road home, Ji Feng had brought out all the fruit wine for a celebration. He himself had drunk quite a lot.

"Yaaawn!"

Letting out a huge yawn, Ji Feng looked toward the Pandaren and elves in the distance. More than ten elven warriors stood before the stone house, each carrying a pack on his back.

Adventure, battle!

These elven warriors of common birth did not wish to live ordinary lives in Sindragosa Village. They craved honor and fame. They had come to follow Ji Feng into battle across the land, and they could now be considered his disciples.

"Master Ji..." Seeing Ji Feng awake, Yao Shi and the other elves clasped their fists in greeting.

"Haha, looks like everyone's ready. Haha, then it's time to set off. We're well-equipped and well-provisioned now. It's time to return to the village." Ji Feng laughed as he patted Yao Shi and the others on the shoulders.

Kang's injuries had also recovered considerably. As Ji Feng spoke with everyone, Li Luo carried Kang out of the stone house on her back.

"Big Brother, you really have your ways. I never thought you'd earn the recognition of Lord Falondar and General Illidan..." Kang had remained unconscious and had not attended last night's bonfire celebration. He had only learned this morning of the "legend" Ji Feng had created. In his eyes, Ji Feng had won the elves' full support in just one day. That was nothing short of legendary.

"Third Brother, that's nothing. As they say, survive a great calamity, and good fortune will follow... In my view, you'll achieve even greater things than I will someday..."

"Alright, it's about time. Move out! Our destination—Shadowwind Village..."

After speaking with Kang for a while, Ji Feng waved a hand and pointed toward the docks. At last, it was time to return to the village. Once he left, he would soar into the sky.

When he defeated Shanbu earlier, he had received a system mission: Path Home... Once he completed it, he would unlock the talent skill system. By then, his combat strength could more than double. He was filled with anticipation for this return to the village.

It was not just him. The other Pandaren and elven warriors were also full of anticipation. A moving song rose from the docks.

"The wind sounds the signal of homecoming. In his life, it seems to carry a trace of sorrow. His black-and-white skin gives his life meaning: a lifetime of dedication. Amid struggles over skin color, the years turn possession into loss. Tired eyes still carry hope. Today, only a remaining shell welcomes the glorious years. Hold tight to freedom through wind and rain. A lifetime spent wandering and struggling, believing confidence can change the future—who can truly do it?"

"Could we cast aside the boundaries of skin color? On this land, may there be no high or low, no you or me. The beauty shown by brilliant colors exists because it does not divide every color apart."

As Ji Feng departed Sindragosa Village, a momentous event that would change all of Pandaria was unfolding thousands of miles away, within the Mogu Royal Court atop Thunder Peak. The Thunder King had begun preparing to "cleanse" Pandaria.

Thunder Peak, Storm Court.

The Thunder King stood high upon the stairs, while countless Mogu generals and warriors knelt below him. In this era, the Thunder King's Court was at the height of its prosperity. Every Mogu warlord whose name would be remembered for ages served the Thunder King's Court in this time. The famous figures kneeling beneath the court hall were too numerous to count.

King of Raiders Qi Ang, Madman Meng En, Swift Swallow Subutai, Eternal Shadow Tien—the front ranks outside the court hall held the future "Four Heavenly Kings" of the Mogu'shan Vaults. Supreme Du Yang, Dojan II, Mo Wo, Guo Lai, Cao Di, and Lao Fei—the future emperors were now merely vassal kings. Tie Qiong, Shanbu, Mo Feng, Tie Mu Jia, Shadow Lord Sai Duo, Sacrificer Bao Lai, Soul Ripper Gao Hun, Iron Fist Gou Chang, Butcher Bai Jin... Countless Mogu warriors stood among them as well.

Having arrived in this era, Ji Feng would be facing such a vast and flourishing empire—an unprecedented empire, the most prosperous empire in Pandaria's history.

"I am the Thunder God, the Thunder King, king who slew kings, god among gods. I am the ruler of Pandaria..."

"Now, the Zandalar tribe and I are preparing to annex the Tol'vir dynasty of Uldum..."

"If the Tol'vir dynasty joins the Thunder God Empire, then the empire's Mogu army shall march north and destroy the Elf Empire. If the Tol'vir dynasty refuses my demand, I shall personally lead the army to destroy it. Whether the Tol'vir dynasty agrees or not, before that, I wish to eliminate every source of unrest. The time for cleansing has come."

Standing high upon the gilded steps, the Thunder King's voice spread in all directions. His voice echoed throughout Thunder Peak, and countless Mogu officers and soldiers bowed their heads in worship.

"The Dread Wastes and Valley of the Four Winds shall be entrusted to the four great generals Qi Ang, Meng En, Subutai, and Tien. The Yanggu Iron Cavalry shall be placed under your command."

"This general accepts the command."

"As for the Valley of the Four Winds and Krasarang Jungle, they shall be entrusted to Du Yang, Dojan II, Mo Wo, Guo Lai, Cao Di, and Lao Fei. You shall command the Yugu Iron Cavalry..."

"We obey."

"The remaining generals and warriors shall cleanse Kun-Lai Summit and Emerald Forest... You shall command the Angu Iron Cavalry..."

"We obey the decree."

Among the Mogu, the Thunder King stood supreme. Beneath him were the vassal kings, all descendants of the Thunder King. Below them came the Thunder God's direct line; the "Four Heavenly Kings" held this status. Warlords and warriors amounted to little here.

The Dread Wastes and Valley of the Four Winds held endless mantid armies, while the Valley of the Four Winds and Krasarang Jungle were filled with tauren and hozen clans. Compared to those places, Kun-Lai Summit and Emerald Forest had only the descendants of the Pandaren and Jinyu people. Regarding the deployment of his armies, the Thunder King believed he had made the most reasonable arrangements.

The Yanggu Iron Cavalry was the strongest, followed by the Yugu Iron Cavalry, with the Angu Iron Cavalry last. The force about to attack Kun-Lai Summit was precisely the Angu Iron Cavalry. In the Thunder King's eyes, the Pandaren were the weakest. He did not regard them seriously at all.

"In three days, the army shall depart... The eternal foundation of the Thunder God Empire begins here! My will is Heaven's will!"

"Thunder King! Thunder King!"

Lightning churned across the sky, and thunderous cries erupted from Thunder Peak beneath layers of mist. Yet even such momentum could not pierce the endless, dense clouds. The Thunder King's era was like those clouds, carrying an air of gloom.

(This marks the official opening of the first major arc. The confrontation between the Thunder God Empire and the Pandaren, the integration and struggle between the Pandaren and the hundred races of Pandaria—this first arc is the Pandaren's glorious years.)