A World Worth Protecting

1

Suppressing his agitation, Wang Baole immediately stood up and thanked Chen Yutong, who smiled and pulled him down to sit. After a brief conversation, Wang Baole took his leave, with Chen Yutong personally sending him out of the pavilion, before speaking cheerfully.

“Junior Brother Baole, as your Senior Brother, I look forward to the day you become an Armament Soldier. In order to qualify as an Armament Soldier, you’ll have to refine a third-grade Numinous Treasure!

“Every year, there is a tournament held by the Dharmic Armament Pavilion specially for one to advance to become an Armament Soldier. I look forward to seeing you put in your best effort!”

After seeing that Wang Baole had left, Chen Yutong sipped on his Spirit tea, his lips curling into a smile. He seemed happy, and before long, the main team leader who had returned after sending Wang Baole off stood in front of Chen Yutong. He seemed to have something to say but stopped himself.

Chen Yutong took a glance at him and spoke emotionlessly.

“Zhou Penghai, are you thinking about how I seem to be biased toward Wang Baole, who has just arrived, by immediately giving him the authority to oversee all main team leaders, allowing him to be seated in a position just inferior to mine?”

The blue-shirted teen felt a tremble in his heart and immediately lowered his head. “I wouldn’t dare think of that.”

Listening to the blue-shirted teen’s tone, Chen Yutong appeared calm. He then stood up and looked out of the window before speaking calmly.

“Wang Baole is an eight-inch True Breath expert and has contributed significantly to Ethereal Dao College. Even though he has just gained admission to Upper Academy Island, many major figures have already noticed him and are placing a lot of attention on him.

“Someone like him will not be an Armament Disciple forever. Whatever I said was not out of courtesy—it is a fact that it would not be long before he advances to become an Armament Soldier!

“As for me, I cannot be an Armament Soldier forever. Therefore, you must treat him like you treat me!” Chen Yutong looked at the blue-shirted teen after he had finished his words.

The youth’s breathing hastened, and his heart palpitated at an even faster rate. He understood what Chen Yutong was implying with his words. The meaning behind what Chen Yutong said was that Wang Baole would be Chen Yutong’s successor, a person who would be in charge of the College Administrative Department!

Therefore, he quickly pledged compliance, making the decision silently in his heart to interact more with Wang Baole in the future, bearing in mind to not offend him in any way.

“The others from the College Administrative Department do not know much about Junior Brother Baole. Since it’s late now, you must remember to inform everyone tomorrow.” As Chen Yutong spoke, he raised his tea cup.

The blue-shirted teen immediately nodded. As he left respectfully, he thought about what Chen Yutong had said, and a fire grew in his heart.

Chen Yutong looked at the back view of the blue-shirted teen who was going away and smiled slightly. Even though there were some truth to what he had said just now, it was not the complete picture.

<em>If it wasn’t that there were many people who have their eyes on Junior Brother Baole, Master would have long taken him in as a personal disciple. In addition, even though I haven’t known him for long and am not in a good position to comment, it isn’t a big problem as I can still do some favors for him first.</em>

<em>Junior Brother Baole is someone who is partial on favors and grudges, and he will not forget how well Uncle-Master Lu, Master, and I have treated him. Considering him as one of my real Junior Brothers cannot be considered an exaggeration. If I am not biased toward him, who will look after him?</em>

Chen Yutong narrowed his eyes as he thought about what his master had told him. His eyes also glowed as he thought about his understanding of Ethereal Dao College.

<em>Uncle-Master Lu already has a firm position as the Chancellor of the Lower Academy Island, which no one can overthrow. This is the foundation of our clan. What’s next will be the advancement of Grandmaster as the Deputy Sect Lord. Once this elder succeeds, it will be time for Master to become the Grand Elder of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. Till them, within this generation of our clan, only Junior Brother Baole and I will be left to support each other and move forward.</em>

<em>Junior Brother Baole, you must work hard and become an Armament Soldier soon!</em>

Chen Yutong smiled, a look of anticipation evident in his eyes.

His master was the one who looked highly upon Wang Baole and had given him the storage bracelet when he was on the Lower Academy Island. His Uncle-Master was naturally the old physician of the Lower Academy Island.

At the same time, Wang Baole, who was walking out from the College Administrative Department, was still recovering from the confusion in his head. Even though he had accepted the appointment and was agitated and excited, the entire incident seemed weird. There was no way he believed that the brief personal friendship that he had just built with Chen Yutong would make Chen Yutong bestow the rank of the main team leader of the Inspector main team upon him just like that.

Wang Baole was extremely aware of the significance of holding that position.

<em>This puts me as the deputy chief of the College Administrative Department…</em>

Wang Baole took a deep breath, a look of deep thought obvious from his eyes. He also did not believe that he had such privileges just because he had achieved a breakthrough at the eight-inch Spirit Root stage. He did not have any explanation for it after thinking of a long time, but he suddenly stopped after taking a few steps.

<em>There is a possibility… If Chen Yutong’s master was the Elder who gave me the storage bracelet and jade slip when I was on the Lower Academy Island, then it means that a lineage is formed between this master and apprentice duo, as well as the Chancellor. At the same time, the Chancellor treats me quite well.</em>

Thinking of this, stories from the high officials’ autobiographies immediately appeared in Wang Baole’s mind. He seemed to have realized something after a while.

<em>Lineage? </em>Wang Baole’s heart trembled. That word had always been a mysterious term in his mind. Now, as he slowly deciphered its meaning, he was agitated, despite still being skeptical.

However, he was also worried that he had made a mistake. He struggled with the thoughts for a while and gritted his teeth.

<em>I can’t care much anymore, since I am now the main team leader of the Inspector main team!</em>

With this thought, Wang Baole no longer focused on why Chen Yutong was particularly good to him. However, Wang Baole had a life principle—he would always remember the favors that others have given him. This was a point that had been drilled into him by his father since he was a young child.

At the same time, it was also mentioned several times in the high officials’ autobiographies. Therefore, this view point of Wang Baole was as deeply ingrained in his mind as the grudges that he held and could be considered his life principle.

Now, Wang Baole was in a cheery mood as he thought about how he had not only advanced to become an Armament Disciple but had also become one of the leaders of the College Administrative Department. He was joyous but also conscious that the majority of those working in the College Administrative Department, especially those from his Inspector main team, were still unaware of his identity. However, the news would spread, and it would only take a few days before the entire College Administrative Department heard of it.

<em>I need to treasure this period of peace where my abilities are not known to others…</em>Wang Baole thought as he planned to remain humble and low-key. On his way back to the cave abode, he stopped momentarily when he passed the market in the valley, which was also where the attic that he had once lived in was located.

It was now evening, the time when the market was busiest. Amid the sounds of activity, there were also waves of fragrant scents spreading. Wang Baole took a whiff, and his appetite was whetted, but he struggled with his desires.

<em>Forget it. Since something joyous has happened today, I’ll treat it as giving myself a reward!</em>

With that thought, Wang Baole instantly felt that his stress was relieved. A light flashed across his eyes as he dashed straight toward the market.

Before long, in the busy market, Wang Baole was hugging a pot of braised eggs while munching happily on fried potatoes as he explored the market with lightness in his steps. He looked at all the stores around and noticed that there were several disciples who were of similar body shapes as him, and he began to think that the market was a good place.

Besides food, there were also many other miscellaneous items, including daily necessities, being sold there. Not only that, they all came in many varieties, so even though they were on the pricier side, it was still acceptable as it helped save some traveling time to Ethereal City for many disciples.

Wang Baole enjoyed himself fully as he picked up a braised egg and put it into his mouth. He had wanted to leave but noticed a snack store, the very one that he would visit time and time again when he lived nearby.

What caught his attention most was that it was advertised on the banner outside the store that a new product had been launched. Wang Baole’s eyes lit up, and he immediately walked over. The owner of the store was a middle-aged man who had been on Upper Academy Island for seven years. However, he was still an ordinary disciple as a first level True Breath expert. When he noticed Wang Baole, he immediately greeted him enthusiastically.

As soon as Wang Baole stepped into the store, he waved his hand and spoke forthrightly. “Old Liu, how has business been so far? Give me a hundred packets of this new snack!”

The middle-aged store owner was also delighted. Wang Baole was generous with his purchases every time he visited his store, which made him extremely happy. Now, as he prepared the snacks for Wang Baole, he spoke with a big smile.

“Senior Brother Wang, long time no see! I’ll give you three additional packets on the house!”

Wang Baole nodded happily as he heard the offer. Even though he had not been out since he was admitted to Upper Academy Island, he was aware through the Spirit Intranet that majority of the disciples who were setting up stores there did not have a high caliber and made it onto Upper Academy Island purely due to sheer luck. They were real True Breath experts, but most had achieved breakthroughs at only the one- or two-inch Spirit Root stage.

These people were still considered exceptional to ordinary folks, but on Upper Academy Island, where geniuses were in abundance, they were considered low ranked. Every type of cultivation there required expensive materials that they could not afford, which explained the emergence of markets like that. Such markets allowed them to earn some income to offset the costs of their cultivation.

The only issue was that the market was formed by the disciples of their own accord and were not considered legitimate. Even if they had registered with the College Administrative Department, the items that were permitted for sale comprised mostly of raw materials and other equipment for refinement.

In the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, there were numerous people selling raw materials and other items. The cost was exorbitant, and there was also competition as there were direct sales made by the Dharmic Armament Pavilion for the disciples. Therefore, it was more profitable to sell snacks and other food items in the market, and eventually, the poor disciples started selling food and beverages in the market.

The College Administrative Department turned a blind eye toward this, but occasionally, it would raid the area in order to control the law and order of the area where the market was located. This was unavoidable due to the regulations set by the College Administrative Department and their disapproval toward it.

Thinking of that, Wang Baole empathized with the difficulties faced by the store owners as he smiled.

“Old Liu, you sure know how to run a business. Hmm, give me three boxes of those Ice Spirit Water as well!” Wang Baole spoke and looked around, trying to see if there were any snacks that he had not tried before.

The middle-aged store owner was even more delighted, hearing Wang Baole’s additional purchase. He hurriedly packed everything for Wang Baole, and before long, he placed the hundred and three packs of snacks as well as the three boxes of Ice Spirit Water in front of Wang Baole.

Wang Baole was satisfied. He was about to retrieve his Spirit Stones when suddenly messy sounds of footsteps and sounds of shock spread from outside.

“The College Administrative Department is here!”

“Damn it, didn’t they just come yesterday? Why are they here again today?”

In the chaos, the middle-aged store owner standing beside Wang Baole instantly turned pale. Wang Baole also turned to look outside bewilderedly, and immediately, he saw tens of disciples donned in robes from the College Administrative Department entering the market following the lead of several Armament Disciples. It was chaotic, and the entire area was thrown into a tizzy everywhere they passed.

The disciples from the College Administrative Department looked extremely fierce. As they passed, they ruthlessly wrecked the stores. The store owners were extremely upset but did not dare prevent them from doing so and could only suppress their anxiety as they spoke urgently in gentle tones.

This very scene made Wang Baole frown.

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