Chapter Summaries

After the birth of Jiang Jie’s son and daughter, he worked with Aegwynn, Xal'atath, and Anveena to find a way to build a Gate of the Twisting Nether inside his middle dantian. They decided the Scepter of Sargeras could serve as its foundation, but Aegwynn left to retrieve it while Jiang Jie departed for the summit in Theramore.

• Pyralis settled inside the Phoenix Robe, which transformed into swaddling clothes for Jiang Huangyi and became her guardian.
• Anveena gave Jiang Huangyi Thori'dal, the Stars' Fury, then entered the Fist of Tyr to help protect Jiang Jie from Xal'atath.
• Jiang Jie, Aegwynn, Anveena, and Xal'atath studied how to construct a Gate of the Twisting Nether inside Jiang Jie's middle dantian.
• The three women concluded that the Scepter of Sargeras was needed as the foundation for the Gate.
• Aegwynn teleported away to retrieve the Scepter of Sargeras, but she had not returned after half a day.
• With the summit approaching, Jiang Jie had Anveena open a portal and traveled to Theramore.

Jiang Jie learned from Jaina that Zalazane had driven Vol'jin and the Darkspear trolls from the Echo Isles, leaving the tribe weakened and Vol'jin in a difficult position. Worried that the trolls would be unable to help against Ahn'Qiraj, Jiang Jie set out for Sen'jin Village to meet Vol'jin.

• Jaina explained that she planned to clear Dustwallow Marsh of black dragons, ogres, and other monsters so Theramore could develop agriculture.
• Jiang Jie asked Jaina about the Horde, and she said Thrall had taken in more than fifty thousand orcs while the quilboar had retreated to Razorfen and Razorfen Downs.
• Jaina told Jiang Jie that Zalazane had rebelled against Vol'jin and that some Darkspear trolls had fled the Echo Isles to Sen'jin Village.
• Jiang Jie realized the Darkspear Tribe had been reduced and feared it would not be able to join the fight against Ahn'Qiraj.
• Jiang Jie urged Jaina to strengthen Theramore's navy and then left to find Vol'jin in Sen'jin Village.

Jiang Jie arrived in Sen'jin Village and sensed a demigod-level soul as Vol'jin considered a Zandalar proposal to unite the Troll tribes. Vol'jin resisted joining a dangerous campaign to restore Troll power, and the Zandalar priests encountered Jiang Jie at the door as they left.

• Jiang Jie scanned Sen'jin Village and sensed a powerful soul that counterattacked his mental probing.
• Vol'jin told three Zandalar priests that the Darkspear could not return to Stranglethorn Vale and could not forgive the Jungle Trolls for what had happened to his son.
• The lead priest urged Vol'jin to unite the Trolls against extinction, but Vol'jin privately feared that war would destroy the Darkspear and preferred to rely on the Orcs for protection.
• The lead priest departed to visit Zul'Farrak, and the three Zandalar priests opened the door to find Jiang Jie standing there.

Jiang Jie confronted Vol'jin over the Darkspear Tribe's ties to Zandalar and forced him to declare that his people would not join a war. After the Zandalar priests recognized Jiang Jie and began to leave, he stopped them to discuss Zandalar's role in fighting the Qiraji.

• Bwonsamdi's psychic storm failed to affect Jiang Jie, and Vol'jin realized the Grand Duke possessed immense power in body, soul, and energy.
• Jiang Jie challenged Vol'jin for receiving the Zandalar priests and recalled the Darkspear's past suffering, including Sen'jin's death and Yenniku's loss of mind.
• Under Jiang Jie's pressure, Vol'jin declared that the Darkspear were separate from the Jungle Trolls and would not participate in war.
• The Zandalar priests recognized Jiang Jie, stepped aside, and prepared to leave rather than provoke him.
• Jiang Jie stopped the priests and asked whether Zandalar would help fight the Qiraji.

Jiang Jie tried to secure Zandalari support for a war against the Qiraji, warning their priests that the threat of N'Zoth's empire could endanger all the Trolls. After the priests hurried off to report his message, he offered Vol'jin a chance to leave the Horde in exchange for help reclaiming the Echo Isles.

• Jiang Jie explained that the Qiraji had recovered behind the Scarab Wall and that the Alliance, Horde, and Night Elves needed Zandalari aid to defeat them.
• A Zandalari priest asked whether the Alliance planned to attack Ahn'Qiraj, and Jiang Jie told him about the leaders' summit and the damaged seal.
• Jiang Jie warned that he might propose attacking Zandalar first if it failed to send a representative to the summit.
• Jiang Jie emphasized that N'Zoth controlled the Qiraji and that the Trolls could not withstand their expansion if the allied forces lost.
• The old priest hurried away to contact Zul the Dark Prophet, and Jiang Jie asked Vol'jin to leave the Horde and join him in retaking the Echo Isles from Zalazane.

Jiang Jie left the Darkspear Trolls to resolve their conflict with Bwonsamdi while he considered the political consequences of helping them. The leaders and representatives of Azeroth’s factions gathered in Theramore to discuss the threat of Ahn’Qiraj, where Jiang Jie discovered that Rhonin had become the leader of the Kirin Tor and Dalaran.

• Bwonsamdi intervened more actively because Jiang Jie’s words threatened to weaken his influence over the Darkspear Trolls, and Vol’jin thanked Jiang Jie as he saw him out.
• Jiang Jie chose not to get further involved in the Darkspear Trolls’ struggle to reclaim the Echo Isles, considering how the Horde and Alliance might react.
• Representatives from across Azeroth arrived at Theramore for a meeting about Ahn’Qiraj, including Sylvanas, Lorna, Duke Leoric, Halford Wyrmbane, Brann, and leaders of the Horde.
• Vol’jin attended with three Zandalari priests, while the Forsaken sent Gunther as their envoy.
• Jiang Jie was surprised to see Rhonin representing Dalaran, now a legendary mage and the leader of the Kirin Tor.

Jiang Jie realized Rhonin had become legendary after traveling to the War of the Ancients, then learned that Aegwynn was secretly pursuing the Scepter of Sargeras. Malfurion arrived with Shiroma, a priestess from the ancient war, to explain the current situation.

• Jiang Jie recognized Rhonin’s weathered presence and deduced that he had reached legendary rank during the War of the Ancients.
• Jiang Jie asked who had received Broxigar’s axe, and Rhonin was astonished that Jiang Jie knew about Broxigar and the weapon.
• Rhonin said he had stayed in Dalaran and had not seen Aegwynn, while Jiang Jie kept her search for the Scepter of Sargeras to himself.
• Malfurion arrived with Broll Bearmantle and introduced Shiroma, a legendary Priestess of the Moon who had fought alongside Fandral Staghelm and helped build the Scarab Wall.
• Malfurion asked Shiroma to explain the current situation.

Shiroma addressed the gathered leaders about the renewed Qiraji threat and asked the Alliance, Horde, and Forsaken to help defend the world. She showed them the deadly insects spreading through Silithus and explained how their resistance and rapid reproduction made the coming battle perilous.

• The leaders rose to honor Shiroma for helping create the Scarab Wall with Anachronos, the dragonflights, and the Night Elves.
• Shiroma greeted Aegwynn and Jiang Jie, then told the leaders that the Night Elves had lost too much strength to face the Qiraji alone and asked the other factions for help.
• Shiroma conjured visions of enormous insect swarms in Silithus fighting Druids, Priestesses of the Moon, Dryads, and Keepers of the Grove.
• The visions showed that the insects could kill trained defenders, resist ordinary spells, and hatch from corpses into full-sized adults in less than a day.

Shiroma warned the leaders that millions of Qiraji remained sealed behind the Scarab Wall and that the scattered hives had to be destroyed before the wall collapsed. The Dragonflights would not join until mortals proved their readiness by gathering the Scepter of the Shifting Sands fragments, leaving that trial as the first step toward war.

• Shiroma revealed that several Qiraji hives had appeared across Silithus, Tanaris, Un'Goro Crater, and Feralas, and that the Scarab Wall's seal would collapse within a year.
• Shiroma estimated that at least thirty thousand Qiraji and a million insects remained sealed in the Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj, and called for the allies to open the Scarab Wall on their own terms.
• Malfurion urged the leaders not to despair, saying the Night Elves, Zandalari Trolls, and Forsaken could combine their strengths against the Qiraji.
• Shiroma asked for reinforcements to clear the exposed hives, and the Zandalari priests volunteered to handle Tanaris and Un'Goro Crater while the Night Elves took Silithus and Feralas.
• Jiang Jie asked why the dragons had not joined the war, and Shiroma explained that Anachronos required a powerful hero to prove the mortals were ready.
• Shiroma said the allies had to recover the fragments held by Eranikus, Azuregos, Vaelastrasz, and Anachronos to restore the Scepter of the Shifting Sands and destroy the Scarab Wall.

The leaders divided the tasks of gathering the Scepter of the Shifting Sands fragments and preparing for the assault on Ahn'Qiraj. Jiang Jie agreed to seek the blue fragment in Azshara, while the other factions took responsibility for the red fragment and the Twilight Highlands.

• Shiroma showed the green fragment, which the group had obtained after purifying Eranikus with Aegwynn and Jiang Jie's help.
• Malfurion explained that the blue fragment was lost at sea in Azshara, and the Horde and Sylvanas declined the task because of the dangers of underwater combat.
• Jiang Jie agreed to search for the blue fragment and said he planned to meet Duke Hydraxis; Jaina offered him a token to help find the fragment.
• Duke Leoric reported that Vaelastrasz was imprisoned by Nefarian in Blackrock Spire, and Brann vowed to rescue Moira before Jiang Jie told him she had married Emperor Thaurissan.
• Jiang Jie proposed that Lordaeron and the Wildhammer Dwarves attack the Twilight Highlands and the Twilight's Hammer stronghold, while he considered winning over the Dark Iron Dwarves.
• Malfurion assigned the Night Elves and Zandalari Trolls to clear Qiraji workers, Stormwind City and Ironforge to attack Blackrock Spire, and Lordaeron and Aerie Peak to attack the Twilight Highlands before the leaders discussed supplies and troop numbers.

Jiang Jie finished negotiating the war effort and prepared to retrieve the Blue Shard, while Jaina arrived on the verge of becoming a legendary mage and questioned whether advancing would make her forget love. She left him with a necklace for contacting Duke Hydraxis, and Jiang Jie remained silent about her feelings.

• Jiang Jie concluded negotiations, with the nations dividing responsibility for supplies and troops against the Qiraji.
• Jiang Jie recalled how to obtain the Blue Shard and explained that his Murlocs had already found the enormous megalodon near Azshara.
• Jaina approached Jiang Jie, who recognized that her uncontrolled magical power meant she was close to advancing to legendary rank.
• Jaina told Jiang Jie she expected to advance within three months and worried that reaching the legendary realm might make her forget love.
• Jaina gave Jiang Jie a necklace from Duke Hydraxis and left to return to Theramore, while Jiang Jie feigned obliviousness.

Jiang Jie traveled to Azshara to meet Azuregos and seek out the Spirit Healer behind him. The Spirit Healer revealed herself as a Val'kyr and recognized Titan power within Jiang Jie, agreeing that they should talk.

• Jiang Jie arrived in Azshara and found Azuregos, who sensed the immense power within him.
• Azuregos tried to shield the unseen Spirit Healer and denied that anyone was behind him.
• Jiang Jie identified the Spirit Healer as a Val'kyr and asked to speak with her about the Val'kyr.
• The Spirit Healer appeared and addressed Jiang Jie as Nicholas, Grand Duke of Stromgarde, noting the Titan and Odyn's power in his left glove.

Jiang Jie explained Anveena’s new status to the Spirit Healer and asked about the history and number of Odyn’s Val’kyr. He then proposed creating an Azerothian cycle of reincarnation that would keep souls out of the Shadowlands.

• The Spirit Healer explained that a sister in Lordaeron had met Jiang Jie and told her about him.
• Jiang Jie recounted the story of the Fist of Tyr and introduced Anveena as the lesser Titan Keeper who had replaced Ironaya.
• The Spirit Healer said Odyn had created no more than three hundred Val’kyr, with only seven remaining on Azeroth like her.
• Jiang Jie asked whether the Spirit Healer knew about the Forsaken, and she explained that only Odyn and Eyir could transform beings into true Val’kyr.
• Jiang Jie proposed creating a cycle of reincarnation for Azeroth’s souls that would bypass the Shadowlands.

Jiang Jie revealed his ambition to establish a cycle of reincarnation for Azeroth’s souls, free from the Shadowlands, and sought the Spirit Healer’s help. He urged her to join the Forsaken, while Azuregos dismissed his plan as impossible.

• Jiang Jie proposed that Azeroth’s souls could be sent to different afterlives or reincarnated instead of all entering the Shadowlands.
• Azuregos mocked Jiang Jie’s ambition and argued that only the Titans could create such a system.
• Jiang Jie challenged Azuregos and asked the Spirit Healer to join the Forsaken, saying they needed each other.
• The Spirit Healer asked whether Jiang Jie had founded the Kingdom of the Forsaken to create Azeroth’s cycle of reincarnation.
• Jiang Jie explained that he hoped to build a small system of reincarnation with help from powerful beings, and that he had come to seek the Spirit Healer’s support.

Jiang Jie failed to recruit the Spirit Healer to the Forsaken but gained her promise of help and a lead on Val'kyr power. After Azuregos directed him to allies in Winterspring, Jiang Jie recovered the blue scepter shard from a megalodon and headed west.

• The Spirit Healer explained the soul cycle and warned Jiang Jie that entering the Shadowlands was effectively a one-way journey, suggesting Helheim as a place to study its powers.
• Jiang Jie asked Azuregos to join the attack on Blackrock Spire, but Azuregos refused to leave the Spirit Healer until Jiang Jie mentioned avenging the Blue Dragonflight.
• Azuregos gave Jiang Jie a letter for Halreen and Kobatann in Winterspring and warned him not to return.
• Jiang Jie found the megalodon with the help of Murlocs, removed the blue scepter shard, healed its wound, and flew west.
• Jiang Jie reached a small island and activated the pendant Jaina had given him.

Jiang Jie visited Duke Hydraxis and the Hydraxian Water Elementals in Azshara, hoping to help them fight other elementals and the Naga. Duke Hydraxis recognized him and asked why he had come, and Jiang Jie offered to assist.

• The chapter explained the ancient rivalry between Water Elementals and fire elementals and described Ragnaros's enslavement of the Dark Iron Dwarves.
• Duke Hydraxis and his Water Elementals kept watch over Ragnaros but struggled to reach Blackrock Mountain and contend with the Dark Iron Dwarves.
• Jaina's waterdrop pendant drew thousands of intelligent Hydraxian Water Elementals to the island where Jiang Jie arrived.
• Duke Hydraxis recognized Jiang Jie as the grand duke of Stromgarde and asked what brought him there.
• Jiang Jie told Duke Hydraxis he had come to see whether he could help fight other elementals and the Naga.

Jiang Jie negotiated with Duke Hydraxis for water elemental essence in exchange for defeating powerful fire elementals in Molten Core. He proposed keeping Ragnaros's essence while giving the Hydraxian Water Elementals the rest of the spoils and asking them to aid him in a future battle.

• Jiang Jie revealed his command of elemental power and explained that he needed water elemental essence to strengthen his water elemental body.
• Duke Hydraxis offered enough essence to raise Jiang Jie’s water elemental body to Legendary rank for delivering four fire elemental leaders’ hands, with greater rewards for additional trophies.
• Jiang Jie asked what Duke Hydraxis would offer for Ragnaros’s essence, and Duke Hydraxis realized he could not provide an equivalent reward.
• Jiang Jie proposed keeping the Essence of the Lord of Flame while giving the Hydraxian Water Elementals the other spoils and asking them to answer his summons for one future battle.

Jiang Jie returned to his family in Stratholme and searched for a way to add fel to his Light and Shadow Taiji, but he could not form a demonic body without fel. Aegwynn returned with the Scepter of Sargeras and used it to link with Jiang Jie as he began an experiment with Anveena and Xal'atath.

• Jiang Jie had previously secured the support of Lady Halreen and Kobatann, who traveled to the Burning Steppes to join Marshal Windsor's campaign against Blackrock Spire.
• Jiang Jie spent a week in Stratholme with Fenna and their daughter while studying Holy Light, shadow, and the Gate of the Twisting Nether.
• Jiang Jie devised a plan to create a demonic avatar atop his Light and Shadow Taiji, but abandoned his attempt when he realized he lacked fel.
• Aegwynn returned with the Scepter of Sargeras and demonstrated that it could open a limited portal.
• Aegwynn linked her mind to Jiang Jie as Anveena and Xal'atath stood atop his Light and Shadow Taiji and her illusion appeared there.

Jiang Jie let Aegwynn, Anveena, and Xal'atath study his middle dantian as they devised a way to turn his Light and Shadow Taiji into a Gate of the Twisting Nether. After a month of research, they began inscribing runes around the Taiji diagram, despite Anveena’s warning that it might not hold the Scepter of Sargeras.

• Aegwynn asked to study Jiang Jie’s middle dantian, but he refused to lend it to her and offered to teach her martial arts instead.
• Aegwynn, Anveena, and Xal'atath spent a month discussing how to make a Gate of the Twisting Nether from Jiang Jie’s Taiji diagram while Jiang Jie studied fel under Aegwynn.
• Jiang Jie reached the level of a Warlock apprentice but could not cast Warlock spells because he had not encountered evil magical energy.
• Aegwynn announced that the two halves of the Taiji diagram could serve as the leaves of a Gate of the Twisting Nether, with the Scepter of Sargeras acting as its key and guide.
• Anveena warned that the Taiji diagram might not hold the Scepter of Sargeras, but Aegwynn began the ritual, and Xal'atath and Anveena joined her in weaving runes.

Jiang Jie watched as Aegwynn, Anveena, and Xal'atath built a Taiji Diagram to restrain the Scepter of Sargeras, while Xiao Feng scanned him and Fenna stood ready to help. The spellwork succeeded in bringing the light-and-shadow fish to life and trapping the Scepter, but the joined energies suddenly exploded.

• Jiang Jie wrapped the Taiji Diagram and the three women in Tortolla's True Form as a precaution.
• Xiao Feng activated a level-five scan, while Jiang Jie saw that Aegwynn was monitoring Anveena and Xal'atath as they worked.
• Fenna came to Jiang Jie's side with Truth Keeper and Oathseeker, ready to lend her Holy Light power.
• After working through the night, the three women completed the runes, and Jiang Jie infused the light-and-shadow fish with pure soul energy.
• Anveena and Xal'atath added contrasting eyes to the two fish, bringing them fully to life, while Aegwynn formed a cage of spell runes around the Scepter of Sargeras.
• Aegwynn fixed the Scepter in the cage, but the combined Holy Light, shadow, Arcane, and Fel energies exploded with a thunderous roar.