Don't Tempt Me

Although he did not participate in the battle personally, Lostro still secured a brilliant victory by leveraging the home-field advantage, catching the Alliance army completely off guard.

The Alliance side had created a massive spectacle with their fire magic, and even though the strange celestial phenomena extinguished the flames, they paid no heed to the situation. They were fully convinced that even if the Forest Trolls weren't suffering heavy casualties, they would be terrified into helplessness, just as they had been at the foot of the Alterac mountains over two thousand eight hundred years ago.

Carrying such arrogance into a clash with high-spirited trolls, the heavy cavalry found themselves restricted by the terrain and subjected to long-range strikes from the trolls positioned on the high ground on both sides. The Alliance ranks collapsed within the Amani Path, which was blanketed in ash and steam.

Leaving behind countless dead and wounded, the Alliance army retreated in disarray back to the Darkwood. This massive victory not only boosted the morale of the Forest Trolls but also allowed Ulathek to gain a vast amount of faith as she had desired, along with a large harvest of souls that had perished in the war.

"Little Zul'ra, I am very satisfied. Tell me, what kind of reward do you require?" Having profited immensely and seeing her temple receive a surge of worship, Ulathek was extremely pleased and couldn't wait to communicate with the resting Tian Sang to express her satisfaction.

"It is my honor to serve you..." Tian Sang had just been preparing to rest, but facing the sudden arrival of the great deity, he couldn't help but perk up. Completing a mission meant a reward; this was truly excellent. What could it be?

"Is that so? Since it is your honor to serve me, then I might as well reward you by making you my servant, so you can manage my temple exclusively from now on." Hearing Tian Sang's humble, polite words—half-delighted and half-expectant—Ulathek's voice rang out with a hint of playfulness.

"..." Listening to that playful tone, Tian Sang's heart skipped a beat. Become the exclusive priest of Ulathek?

"It seems you are not very willing." There was a slight hiss in Ulathek's voice. Tian Sang closed his eyes, his subconscious vaguely seeing the fangs hidden near the serpent's mouth, and cold sweat instantly rolled down his forehead.

"Ulathek, Serpent Goddess, Lord of Wind and Rain..." Tian Sang listened to the slightly hissing words, his heart hanging in his throat. As he weighed his tone, his thoughts raced: should he defy her wishes or submit to this great deity?

"I hear reluctance and hesitation in your tone." The voice echoed right by his ear, like a lover's whisper, and Tian Sang felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

"You did not speak your refusal out loud; are you afraid of my retaliation?"

"Actually, you need not be so afraid. I owe you such a great favor that I must eventually repay it. Ulathek is a good person." Ulathek's voice carried a sense of leisurely ease.

"Merciful Lord of Wind and Rain, if one forcibly tears a melon from the vine before it is ripe, it is destined to be unpalatable. An excellent priest is enough to let your radiance shine in all directions, while I am merely an insignificant little Witch Doctor." Hearing that leisurely voice, Tian Sang did not feel any relief, but he had to bite the bullet and argue his case.

"You are not insignificant, little Zul'ra. I see a different kind of wisdom in you. Become my priest and help me become the supreme Loa, and I will give you a generous return." Ulathek's voice was filled with a delicate encouragement as she made a promise.

"Ulathek, I am grateful for your appreciation, but even the King of Zandalar could not necessarily make any deity a supreme one overnight. I do not believe I have such ability!" Listening to Ulathek's promise and temptation, Tian Sang couldn't help but offer a wry smile. Should he be happy that this great deity thought so highly of him, or what?

A supreme Loa, as the name suggests, is the pinnacle among the Loa deities. The preparations required to ascend to such a position are no small feat—it is hardly any simpler than making the Alliance and the Horde love each other.

"That is because you have yet to see your own potential. Besides, even if you cannot make me a supreme Loa, it is good enough if you help me increase my faith." Ulathek attempted to motivate him, then added nonchalantly that he should just do his best to help her.

"Lord of Wind and Rain, with such a mindset, I am at a loss. To you, this seems like a game of gambling; you treat me as a good card and place your bet with an indifferent attitude." Hearing Ulathek's implication, Tian Sang felt a toothache coming on.

"Actually, one cannot put it that way..." Ulathek sounded a bit coy.

"But for me, if this matter is decided, I will have to spend my entire life's energy to fulfill it, or perhaps even fail." Tian Sang felt both pained and indignant. I put in tremendous effort, yet to you, it is merely a trial gamble—how unfair is that?

"Fine, fine. Since you are unwilling, then forget it. There is no need for such resentment. Even if we cannot reach an agreement, there is no need to sour our relationship." Hearing Tian Sang's slightly indignant tone, Ulathek cut the topic short.

"If I have offended you, please forgive my sins." Tian Sang suppressed the resentment rising in his heart, clearing his mind of all thoughts and showing no emotion. Although the relationship between Loa and trolls is like that of a buyer and seller, the Loa holds too many chips and advantages; he could not resist.

"Very well! We have strayed far from the point. I have come this time to give you your reward." Seeing that Tian Sang had cleared his mind and left no thoughts to be captured, Ulathek steered the conversation back.

"You possess unfathomable power. I hope you can make my hands more dexterous." Listening to Ulathek, Tian Sang thought rapidly, searching for his own needs, and requested a reward. If he didn't ask for this, his relationship with Her would become rigid.

"How dexterous?"

"My hands have six fingers each and are very strong, and my grip is very steady, but I always feel that the movements of holding things are very stiff. I hope to have a pair of hands that remain strong, flexible, and nimble." Tian Sang stated his request. Well, he was very unaccustomed to the six fingers on each of his hands.

"Hmm, like that. Let me think. Strong, flexible, and nimble... I have it. I can make two more fingers grow on each of your hands. Your ten fingers will be able to balance freely, and thus the movements of holding things will no longer be stiff." Ulathek satisfied the request quite readily.

"Thank you for your bestowal, Lord of Wind and Rain, Serpent Goddess." Listening to Ulathek, Tian Sang felt a strange current surge through his arms and couldn't help but move his palms. Although he still had six fingers, it felt as if ten fingers were about to fully grow. Perhaps next time he could find a way to ask Her to remove his tusks as well, so he might not look so ugly.

"This is what you deserve, clever little Zul'ra. By the way, I happen to have one more thing that requires your help!" Ulathek's voice was filled with pleasure, and as if suddenly remembering, she threw out a request.

"Please command me." As Tian Sang respectfully asked for instructions, he winced inwardly. Sure enough, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

"I need you to help me find a suitable high priest. Also, I really like the new title you gave me, Lord of Wind and Rain. In a little while, I might be able to directly master the wind element." Ulathek's tone was somewhat gleeful.

"That is what you deserve. Your rain has been a great help to us," Tian Sang said respectfully.