It has to be said that when Galen was playing it safe, he really knew how to keep a low profile, quietly making a fortune without attracting any attention.
But when it was time to make a splash, he definitely didn't disappoint. The Temple Knight's procession directly caused a sensation in the entire Minas Tirith, and then spread throughout the kingdom along Stromgarde. Subsequently, with the spread of merchants and nosy adventurers, the news of Stromgarde's legendary prince's glorious return spread throughout the human kingdoms, and even the high elves and dwarves received the news.
For a time, the high-level officials of various countries began to prepare their envoy delegations in advance, preparing to first go to Stromgarde, and then go to the Kingdom of Lordaeron to participate in the celebration that Terenas was preparing for Arthas.
Galen and his group marched slowly all the way, and after half a month, they finally arrived outside the city of Stromgarde.
It has to be said that Stromgarde has also been thriving in these ten years. The fertile land on the entire highlands has been cultivated and planted with crops, and many farmlands also use gnome-produced mechanical harvesters.
The prosperity of agriculture in the Arathi Highlands is not only due to these fertile lands, but also to the many noble farms in remote areas and on barren lands, which were built by Galen with the nobles' money and dispatched farmers.
Of course, there are more pastures in the Arathi Highlands, raising a large number of Arathi Highland warhorses.
The Temple Knights smoothly entered Stromgarde. Led by Galen, the Temple Knights entered the cathedral on the east side of the city gate, and Galen, relying on his face, entered the palace unimpeded.
At this time, the scale of Stromgarde was already twice as large as Galen remembered. At the beginning, Galen overruled all opinions, used earth elementals to cut mountains and fill the sea, dug out half of the Hillsbrad Foothills, and expanded the urban area of Stromgarde to the north bank of Hillsbrad Bay. By the way, he transformed Hillsbrad Bay, established a port with a huge throughput, connecting Southshore and the South Stream by waterway to the north, connecting Wetlands's Thoradin's Wall and Stormwind Harbor further south, and having stable maritime trade with Galen's Port in Kalimdor to the west.
Now, Stromgarde is not only the political center of the kingdom, but also a bustling commercial port city.
Although the drawings were originally planned by Galen, he didn't expect that after ten years of separation, Stromgarde had changed so much that he almost didn't recognize it.
After entering the palace, Galen saw a burly middle-aged man on the martial arts field at the entrance of the castle. Galen recognized at a glance that it was his father, Thoras Trollbane.
Galen dismounted and quickly approached his old father.
From Galen's perspective, he had only stayed in the ancient times for two years, and he had not seen his father for at most two years. But from Thoras's perspective, Galen said he was going on an adventure when he said goodbye, but as a result, he disappeared for eight years without any news.
If it weren't for his Gandalf the Great Mage and Aragorn the Great Knight repeatedly saying that they had a contract with the prince and could sense that the prince was safe and sound, Thoras would have gone crazy long ago.
"Father!" Galen was a little tearful. His old father treated him extremely well, and he would give him whatever land he wanted. He could be said to have been spoiled to the extreme, and Galen missed him very much in his heart.
"Hey! You rebellious son, have at thee!"
Who would have thought that what greeted Galen was Thoras's battle axe full of fatherly affection!
Galen dodged this downward slash with a sideways step, and was surprised in his heart: "Father, what are you doing!"
"Ah ha, boy, you told me to go on an adventure, but you disappeared for so many years, without sending back a letter or any news. I think your wings have hardened, and you're lawless! Enough nonsense, fight!"
Thoras's face was covered with black stubble, and he was trembling with anger, but these eight years didn't seem to have left any traces on his fifty-year-old body. After all, with Galen's existence, the spring of life could be drunk by Thoras as water, delaying his aging.
"Father, it's not that I didn't want to write a letter, it was all an accident!" After Galen dodged again, he found that his old father's offensive was even more fierce.
Suppress!
Giant Strike!
Finally, Mortal Strike was also used!
It seems that today, the old father will not let this matter rest until he has vented the resentment in his heart!
Well then, let's play with father!
Galen reached behind him, grasped the hilt of the Ashbringer, and then swung it out suddenly, just in time to parry Thoras's battle axe!
"Ha! Boy, your strength has improved! This weapon is also good." Thoras increased the strength in his hand, trying to suppress Galen.
He just didn't expect that Galen turned his wrist, and the Ashbringer swung a semicircle from top to bottom. The strength was not held back, and Thoras's battle axe flew out of his hand and plunged into the wall of the castle!
"You stinky brat, I'm sparring with you, and you're getting real with me?"
Thoras just wanted to teach Galen a lesson in the competition. He remembered that his son's strength was still in the middle stage of the legendary rank when he left eight years ago. He felt that with his old-fashioned high-level legendary combat power, he could steadily suppress Galen, and by the way, teach him not to forget to go home when he's out adventuring!
He didn't expect that before ten moves had passed, his axe flew away!
Thoras's face turned even darker.
"…Father, if I said this was an accident, and I didn't do it on purpose, would you believe me?"
After Galen achieved demigod status, he only fought against Murozond with all his strength. To be honest, he hadn't really familiarized himself with his own strength, and the Ashbringer had only been equipped for a dozen days, and he hadn't fully familiarized himself with it.
He didn't want to slap his old father in the face either.
"What do you think? Boy?"
For a time, Thoras also lost the interest in continuing to fight. With a wave of his hand, the guards on the edge of the martial arts field went over to prepare to take down the battle axe embedded in the wall.
Thoras went over to take a look, and then he realized that the entire axe body of the battle axe had been completely embedded in the wall of the castle, leaving only the axe handle.
Thoras understood in his heart how great Galen's power was just now. He was caught off guard and the battle axe flew out of his hand. Of course, there was his mentality of just playing around in the competition, but more importantly, Galen didn't hold back his strength.
Thoras waved his hand to let the guards retreat, and tried it himself, and then he was shocked in his heart.
It seems that what his son said about breaking through his strength is not only true, but also a big breakthrough!
Thoras gripped the battle axe and pulled it out with force, bringing out a large amount of stone dust.
Good heavens, Thoras was secretly shocked. His son seemed to be quite extraordinary now, with such astonishing physical strength.
Silently putting away the battle axe, Thoras entered the castle with his hands behind his back, and Galen followed closely behind.
"My child, where have you been all these years?" Thoras asked his son as he walked.
"Father, have you heard of the Bronze Dragons?" Galen did not directly answer his father's question.
"Bronze Dragons? Are they a dragon clan like the Red Dragons?" Dragons rarely appear in the sight of mortals. The information Thoras knew about dragons was obtained in wars.
"The Bronze Dragons, like the Red Dragons, belong to the Five-Colored Dragonflight. Unlike the Red Dragons, who are known as guardians of life, the Bronze Dragons are guardians of time and have the ability to travel through time!" Galen briefly introduced the secrets of the Dragon Guardians to his father.
The two arrived in the council hall. Thoras sat down first, and Galen sat down close to his father, casually pouring a glass of wine and handing it to his father.
Thoras took a small sip, and based on the information Galen had provided, he made a bold guess: "So your adventures these eight years were related to the Bronze Dragons?"
"That's right. At the invitation of the Bronze Dragon King Nozdormu, I returned to ten thousand years ago to help him protect history from being tampered with by evil forces." Galen paused, then said, "On your side, I disappeared for eight years, but I only stayed in the ancient era for less than two years."
"The time between the ancient times and now is different? Or does time travel also take time?" Thoras frowned. Two years in exchange for eight years didn't seem worth it.
"It was just an accident, but this time the harvest was quite fruitful. I exchanged ten eternal life slots from the Bronze Dragon King."
Galen looked at his old father with a glint in his eyes, placing the temptation of eternal life in front of him.
Sure enough, Thoras's expression lit up, but he quickly returned to normal.
Hmm, I must maintain my father's dignity. The slots are in my son's hands, so he won't be missing out!
Oh, the old man has some composure.
But I have an even more explosive surprise!
"Father, although I disappeared in this time and space for eight years, I think it was worth it."
Galen glanced at his old father, and finding his face calm and still sipping wine, he continued, "Father, taking advantage of this opportunity, I have broken through the shackles of mortals. I am already a demigod!"
Clang!
Galen's words were shocking. The news he revealed was too shocking. The wine glass in Thoras's hand fell on the table, and the wine spilled all over the floor.
"Demi… … demigod?"
Thoras's expression was unmanageable. He was stunned!
A demigod!
That is the most powerful life known in the entire world!
His son is already a demigod?
Hahaha, Terenas, your son became a legend at nineteen, holding a grand ceremony, but little do you know that my good son has already become a god!
Hahaha!
I ask you, what do you have to compare with me!
The corners of Thoras's mouth were almost reaching the back of his ears. His son's strength was his trump card, the backing of Stromgarde!
The revival of Arathor is just around the corner!
"Really?"
Thoras was anxious and confirmed with Galen again.
"Really."
Galen took off all his armor and clothes, leaving only a pair of special shorts. The next moment, his figure soared, his height approaching the ceiling.
A five-meter-tall giant in the form of a Vrykul appeared in front of Thoras.
As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Galen's undisguised pressure made Thoras's hair stand on end. He felt complete suppression!
"Is this your power?" Thoras murmured to himself.
Galen dispelled the giant form, suppressed the exuberant power, and returned to his normal human form, then put his armor back on.
However, Galen didn't know that in several places not far from Arathi, mysterious creatures were looking in the direction of Stromgarde.
The Green Dragonflight stationed in Seradane in northern Hinterlands, and the Red Dragonflight that established the Scarlet Sanctuary in Notheron Highlands after the Orc War, began to inquire internally, which demigod under the sword had come to the Eastern Continent.
"Father, gods are just more advanced life forms. When I successfully broke through, I felt my soul undergo a transformation. At the same time, my connection with Azeroth became deeper!"
In fact, in Galen's view, the most important thing about becoming a demigod is not the increase in strength, but the sublimation of the soul. He has entered the stage of eternal life that does not require reincarnation.
This is a different level of life.
Medivh and his mother were far more powerful than ordinary demigods, but they really died, and their souls would go to where they were supposed to go and then enter reincarnation.
And Galen is now very similar to those demigods in Azeroth, such as the Wild Gods, the Loa Spirits, the Titan Keepers, and the Dragon Legions.
The Wild Demigods are actually the earliest representatives of the power of life in Azeroth. They are a kind of extraordinary existence materialized after the essence of life has reached an extremely powerful level. Most of them appear in animal form. Their essence is the original essence. They were blessed by the Titans of the Pantheon, the Goddess of Life Freya, and connected to the Emerald Dream, so they can return to the Emerald Dream after death to wait for a resurrection.
Galen guessed that if he died, he could rely on the Heart of Origin to resurrect and read the progress bar in the Altar of Kings.
"Father, please keep my current level of strength a secret. In Azeroth, there are still many beings that threaten the survival of the world. They are hiding in the dark, waiting for an opportunity to destroy the world."
Thoras nodded. The principle was simple. When the sky falls, the tall ones are always the first to be unlucky.
Galen didn't want to become the main target of the Scourge, the Twilight's Hammer, and the Nightmare Lord.
"Alright, it's good that you're back now. Stromgarde has now become the second strongest country in the Alliance, and all of this is inseparable from your planning."
"I'm very good at fighting wars, but I'm far from Terenas when it comes to governing the country and the people. I want to step down from the position of king and let you ascend the throne!"
What?
My old father wants to abdicate?
Now, the population of Galen's base has long surpassed the entire human kingdom. Coupled with the knowledge Ancient Trees and War Ancient Trees developed over ten thousand years, it even surpasses the Alliance's current war potential.
In fact, the position of king has no attraction to Galen. It's just a prince becoming a king, but it's meaningless.
Moreover, the next few decades in Azeroth will be full of disasters. The title of a king has no special bonus.
"Father, I've even managed to get the eternal life slots. You've gained some experience as king these past few decades, so why don't you stay on the throne for a few thousand more years?"
Just as Galen finished speaking, his loving father slapped him on the forehead: "What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean by sitting on the throne for a few thousand more years? Do you think I'm so ignorant and unwilling to step down? Or do you think I'm greedy for the power of the throne?"
"That's not what I meant, Father."
Galen pretended to rub his forehead, knowing that showing no reaction would be disrespectful to his father.
"Then what do you mean? Humans aren't a long-lived race like the high elves. Even if a few individuals can live forever, it won't change human society as a whole. I don't want to be like that old elf, Anastarian, who ascended the throne when Emperor Thoradin was in power, and even now, after the Tol'Baradin family has passed down through dozens of generations, he's still on the throne! Your high elf friend has been a prince for hundreds of years, hasn't he?"
Galen was puzzled. What was his father getting at? Why bring up the high elves?
The elves as a whole have lifespans of thousands of years. Being a prince for a few hundred years is like me being one for a little over a decade, right?
"Then, Father, what do you mean?"
"Hmph! Varian has been married for seven years! His queen is already pregnant, and the Stormwind Kingdom's grandson will be born this year. What about you!"
Thoras wore a look of disappointment. This time, he didn't slap Galen, but instead slammed the table, making the wine glasses jump.
So, after all this rambling, you were waiting for me here.
I guess this is what they mean by the heart of a parent. I've already become a god, and my father is still urging me to get married!
Judging by his tone, will he start urging me to have children after this?
If his son isn't willing to ascend the throne, he'll set his sights on the third generation?
Father, you're too much!
"Father, after this trip to Lordaeron, I'll head north and ask the Windrunner family head for a marriage alliance, and marry two Windrunner ladies!"
"What! Two!"
The old father, who had been looking forward to a daughter-in-law, was immediately stunned: "It's not impossible, but I'm afraid the Windrunner family's matriarch might skin you alive."
"Haha, Father, whose side are you on!"
"I'm on your side, of course. I'd be happy for you to abduct two legendary high elves to be your crown princesses, but..."
Thoras patted Galen on the shoulder, smiling meaningfully.
Galen knew that the difficulty was a bit high. He didn't care about the rules of the human nobles, he could change them at any time, but marrying away two daughters from someone else's family at once was indeed a bit explosive.
Galen rested in Stromgarde for a few more days, waiting for the population of the Origin Heart to increase.
On the day of his return, he had roughly calculated that his human base population had exceeded six million, and the night elves trained by the Tree of War and the Tree of Knowledge were close to four million, adding up to nearly ten million.
Once it exceeds ten million, Galen's Origin Heart will unlock the upgrade conditions, and then the Level 4 Royal City will be upgraded to a Level 5 Imperial Capital!
Of Galen's six million humans, there were 3.66 million farmers, 2.13 million low-level soldiers, 80,000 mid-level mages, 70,000 priests, 88,000 high-level knights, 50,000 gryphon riders, and 2,000 paladins.
(don't forgetty every unit can marry and have kids)
The rest included over 200,000 wisps, 3,000 orcish raiders, and 1,000 wind riders.
And the population of the night elf base in Kalimdor was less than four million. Originally, ten thousand years would have been enough to train more, but over a thousand years ago, with night elf archers, huntresses, and druids as the main force, plus a small number of fawns and giants, the entire Un'Goro Crater was filled, and even over 100,000 people had been diverted to Eldre'Thalas over the millennia.
To the east of the crater was the Bronze Dragon's lair, the Caverns of Time, and to the west were the night elf outposts arranged by Tyrande. Ancagalon was also constrained by the matters of the Blue Dragonflight's nest and the War of the Shifting Sands, and was unable to find a new place to establish a base to divert the population, so he stopped the training sequence of the two ancient trees.
"Ding! Population exceeds ten million, unlocking the Level 5 Imperial Capital upgrade sequence!"
Upgrade to Imperial Capital:
Requirements:
Units of gold
Units of lumber
Upgrade time: 1080 hours
"Upgrade to Level 5 Imperial Capital?"
"Yes!"
The resources for this upgrade are several times higher than the previous castle and royal city, but Galen can afford the money. It's just these 1080 hours...
That's a month and a half!
That's a long time!
I'll have to wait.
In the following days, delegations from various countries successively arrived in Stromgarde. There was the Kul Tiras delegation from the sea, led by their King Daelin Proudmoore himself, and Galen's good friend Derek Proudmoore also came.
The Stormwind Kingdom delegation and the dwarf and gnome delegations traveled together via the underground railway, which connected several countries and was completed in the ninth year after the Dark Portal opened.
Sir Lothar and Varian represented the Stormwind Kingdom to Lordaeron, while the dwarves, in the twelfth year after the Dark Portal, re-established the Council of Three Hammers, jointly ruling the Bronzebeard dwarves of Ironforge, the Dark Iron dwarves of Shadowforge City, and the Wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak.
All of this was thanks to the contemporary king of the Dark Iron dwarves, who married Princess Moira Bronzebeard and gave birth to a prince who combined the bloodlines of both races.
The Stromgarde subway entrance was located in the south of the new district, passing through the Hillsbrad Foothills and close to the Stromgarde docks.
A burly man with graying hair and a Mediterranean bald spot led a heroic young man out first.
"Big Brother Galen! Long time no see!" The heroic young man directly greeted Galen upon seeing him.
"You are... Ha! Varian!" Galen took a closer look. Black hair tied into a sky-piercing braid, and that familiar facial outline. Galen recognized the young man.
The two hadn't seen each other for ten years since the orcs were defeated, the Alliance recovered the lost territory of the Stormwind Kingdom, and Stormwind City was rebuilt.
Galen was born in the thirteenth year before the Dark Portal, and Varian was born in the tenth year before the Dark Portal. Now Galen was twenty-eight years old, and Varian was twenty-five years old, and already married and about to become a father.
"Ha, look who it is, Galen, you seem to have grown taller again!" Brann Bronzebeard and Muradin Bronzebeard walked out from behind Lothar and Varian.
Durin and Kurdran followed, representing the dwarven Council of Three Hammers to Lordaeron.