August Celestials Trial and Enlightenment

Shaohao climbed on foot to the summit of Mount Never-Ending, where he met Yu'lon the Jade Serpent as he had hoped, and sought from her a solution.

Yu'lon told him that to save his people, he must first purify and conquer the negative emotions within his own heart, only then could he devote himself wholeheartedly to his people.

The trials of the August Celestials—this was a grueling and lengthy journey, and Shaohao had to pass every test the August Celestials placed before him.

For his people and this beloved land, Shaohao resolutely embarked on this Heart-Quest.

At the summit of Mount Never-Ending, Yu'lon blasted him with a torrent of fierce Jade Flame.

The fire seared Shaohao's body, and the extreme agony made him want to scream, but he gritted his teeth and bore it.

"True wisdom lies within your heart, and in the choices you make... When faced with overwhelming darkness, can you make the right choice?"

Yu'lon's words echoed in Shaohao's mind, lingering long after.

As the emperor of the Pandaren Dynasty, he had to be utterly decisive; merely flaunting martial might and status was ignorant and shallow.

Yu'lon's flame cleansed Shaohao's spirit, and the pain of his body seemed to leave him in that instant.

A few days later, the King of Monkeys helped Shaohao down Mount Never-Ending, heading for the next location.

The suspicion and fear within his heart had vanished completely, replaced by wisdom and conviction.

After a long journey, they arrived at the Krasarang Wilds, a vibrant primeval jungle that was the habitat of Chi-Ji the Red Crane.

On the plaza outside the Temple of the Red Crane, Chi-Ji was already waiting for him.

"When facing unprecedented challenges, what do you hope for? What kind of future do you desire? Trust in others, let them bring you hope. Without hope, there is no light in the future."

The second trial began, and Chi-Ji the Red Crane launched a Crane Rush at Shaohao.

A sky-covering Crimson Fire Wall roared forward, and countless Miniature Cranes formed of flame, like moths diving into fire, pierced through the wall, reaching Shaohao first, then slamming violently into the Pandaren emperor, igniting unceasing flames upon his body.

Shaohao was in pain, but even more so, he was enlightened.

Those cranes passing through the fire wall made him think of his people.

Even in the darkest ages without hope, the pandaren, like the red cranes piercing the fiery wall, fought fearlessly and without hesitation for freedom and hope, even if it meant death.

The flames scorching him seemed to transform into clear, soothing spring water; his body's pain vanished in an instant, and a warm flame full of life and hope ignited in his heart.

Despair had been eliminated from his heart.

As emperor, he must never despair or give up; only with hope eternal in his heart could he become a beacon guiding his people forward.

Chi-Ji the Red Crane withdrew his Crimson Flame; in Pandaria, he represented hope and rebirth. Chi-Ji's fire was never about destruction, but the meaning of Rebirth from Fire.

Bidding farewell to the Red Crane, Shaohao continued his journey with a heart full of hope, even though his next destination was perilous beyond measure.

The third trial lay beyond the great wall in the Valley of the Mantid, the territory of the pandaren's ancient enemies, the Mantid, where the Temple of the Black Ox, Niuzao's temple, stood on the northwestern plateau.

Shaohao chose not to ride a Cloud Serpent directly there, but instead traveled on foot with the King of Monkeys.

Stepping out of the Krasarang Wilds, they arrived at the Valley of the Four Winds, a place he had visited countless times.

The sky vast and the fields boundless, looking at the familiar farmlands and the peaceful villages, Shaohao felt an entirely different sensation this time.

The pandaren lived in peace and prosperity; the dynasty sheltered its subjects, and he, the protector of this dynasty, had to safeguard all of this, even if it cost him everything.

As the massive, heavy gates of the great wall slowly opened, Shaohao's path lay ahead across a dark Death Plateau. Though trees grew in clusters, nature's tranquility seemed absent here, replaced instead by a biting, bone-chilling cold.

Shaohao and the King of Monkeys moved cautiously like ordinary military scouts, avoiding squads of Amber Beetle Beasts and the flocks of Mantid sweeping across the sky.

Finally, they reached the northwestern plateau and stood before the Temple of the Black Ox.

Niuzao the Black Ox was already waiting in the open space at the temple's center. This bovine Wild Demigod was also a favored child of Azeroth, one of the first beings born into the world.

His massive frame stood like Kun-Lai Mountain, radiating a soft, white glow. He was the temper of the earth—broad and generous, yet dangerous.

This trial allowed both Shaohao and the King of Monkeys to participate together. They struggled to dodge the Black Ox's charge, which carried overwhelming momentum; one misstep and his huge, sharp horns would pierce them clean through.

The Black Ox ran swiftly, kicking up a storm of sand that turned into a biting gale.

"Can you stand alone atop the mountain peak, letting the wind and frost assail you, until the seas turn to mulberry fields and the high mountains sink to the ocean floor!"

The Black Ox's deep voice struck directly at Shaohao's heart.

As he kept dodging, he heard these words and hesitated no longer. He stopped fleeing, stood his ground, endured the biting assault of wind and sand, and met the Black Ox charging toward him with calm eyes. Then he charged straight back at the Black Ox.

"To reach the goal, you must yield not an inch!"

"Wind Blade Frost Sword, besieged on all sides. Immovable as a Mountain, unchanging through the ages!"

In the instant before they collided and he would be sent flying by the Black Ox, Shaohao leaped up, calmly and precisely landing on the Black Ox's head, and drove his sword deep into it.

The wildly swirling sandstorm ceased instantly. Shaohao, enduring the pain all over his body, jumped back to the ground, his entire body covered in fine cuts from the wind blades.

But at that moment, his heart was calmer than ever before. Anger and hatred had vanished; courage and fortitude became his new attitude when facing enemies.

The Black Ox walked slowly up to Shaohao and nodded his massive head in satisfaction.

"Go. The final trial awaits you at the summit of Kun-Lai Snow Mountain. Prepare yourself, prepare to face certain death. The White Tiger never knows what mercy is."

The Black Ox stirred up another sandstorm, sending Shaohao and the King of Monkeys to the foot of Kun-Lai Mountain. This towering, majestic snow mountain seemed to have stood here since the dawn of the world, unchanging through the ages.

The arduous climb began. The path was fraught with danger at every turn; the biting snow wind was piercing and cold, and the Snow Giants living on the mountain were brutally savage—these beasts would never refuse a delicious pandaren meal.

Finally, after more than ten days, Shaohao and the King of Monkeys reached the summit.

Here is a world of pure white, without any impurity, as if standing apart from heaven and earth, untouched by dust.

Xuen the White Tiger crouched silently in the center of the snow, watching Shaohao sitting on the ground gasping for breath, then glanced at the King of Monkeys, who had thrust his iron staff into the snow and collapsed backward onto the ground.

"The trial of strength and restraint is the most crucial point in determining whether you can become an excellent leader. As for whether you possess the ability to change fate, we shall wait and see."

The White Tiger's voice came carried by the fierce wind atop the mountain. This giant tiger demi-god represented primal ferocity and power—no shortcuts, no clever tricks to seize victory.

At this moment, the King of Monkeys struggled to his feet and solemnly bowed to Shaohao. He understood how desperately and urgently his good friend wanted to prove himself, wanted to devote everything—even his life—to his people.

That deserved respect, did it not?

Shaohao stared straight at the White Tiger before him, took a deep breath, and then...

"Ascension on Dragon's Breath!"

As an accomplished Windwalker Monk, Shaohao's body was immediately lifted by the currents of air, then shot forward at high speed toward Xuen the White Tiger.

In mere moments, he had already closed in on the White Tiger. Without hesitation, he unleashed his most lethal martial technique: Rising Sun Kick.

He firmly remembered the Ox's words: The White Tiger shows no mercy and pities no weakling. For the sake of ultimate victory, the White Tiger is willing to pay any price.

"Double Take!"

The White Tiger did not dodge, allowing Shaohao to strike him fiercely. Then, in an instant, the tiger's body lunged forward, and he swung his white claws like lightning.

Afterimages of claw strikes slammed heavily into Shaohao's body. The latter let out a miserable cry, clutching his blood-gushing chest as he stumbled backward. At that moment, countless claw marks covered the area.

"Power—it does not merely refer to raw physical strength. When facing a true trial, can you distinguish the difference between power and ability?"

Shaohao fell into thought upon hearing this, but the White Tiger did not give him much time, instead launching another round of fierce attacks.

"As long as the brutality in your heart remains unremoved, you will forever be a weakling! If you simply rely on strength while neglecting your other, more important abilities and methods, you are no king!"

How Shaohao ultimately passed the White Tiger's trial, even the King of Monkeys did not know. He only knew that when he saw this old friend again, the feeling he gave off was no longer the same as before.

If Shaohao had once seemed more like a lord, now he had completely transformed into something like an emperor.

"As an emperor, you must set aside all emotions and thoughts behind you. Be swayed by no one, be influenced by no one. Make your own decisions. To achieve ultimate victory, you must be willing to pay any price, even if the world does not understand you. As for whether you are a wise ruler or a tyrant, that must be decided by following your own heart."

The brutality in his heart had already dissipated, leaving only power and absolute reason.

But Shaohao still had one last Negative Emotion to erase: arrogance.

The White Tiger told him that no one could eliminate arrogance—it required opportunity and timing, as well as how great a price he was willing to pay.

And according to the prophecy of the Jinyu sages, that opportunity would soon arrive.

Having confirmed that the method to eliminate arrogance was also the moment of his final sacrifice, Shaohao's heart was utterly calm.

He had already made his decision on this matter.

For Pandaria, for the Pandaren, he was unafraid, and he would not flinch.

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