A World Worth Protecting

1

As the hundreds of assimilated cultivators appeared, on the land above the tree hollow—on a dry and cracked surface of a small tree in the center of hundreds of surrounding giant trees—the face of a middle-aged man emerged.

Its features were distorted as if suffering unbearable pain. Upon closer examination, one could see an almost indiscernible liquid light slowly flowing and spreading throughout the cracks on its skin.

It was clear that the spread of the liquid light had some relation to Wang Baole’s devouring, but the latter wasn’t the sole cause of it. At that moment, it seemed to be undergoing a transformation!

Compared to its look of pain, its gaze remained calm. It looked in the direction of the Ethereal Dao College, and soft murmuring echoed in the air.

“The message still went through in the end… this isn’t what I wanted, but since it’s come to this… there is a need for a little strategizing. After all, the other two have succeeded, one after the after. I have to succeed as well… as for the three puny insects inside me, they’re such weaklings. It’s just a matter of squashing them.”  ( Box novel.c om )

As the small tree’s murmurings resounded, within the tree hollow—as Wang Baole intensified his attack and a murderous aura exploded from his person—mist started rising from beneath his feet.

The mist was the third tier of Ethereal Dao College’s unique mystic technique. Once applied, it would augment his speed. Wang Baole shot forward like an arrow leaving the bow.

In addition, mist surrounded his body. That was the fourth tier of the Ethereal Dao College’s unique mystic technique that went by the name Cloud Body!

As for the fifth tier of the series of unique mystic techniques, Wang Baole had just advanced to the peak True Breath realm and had not yet fully grasped it. His form was like a cloud, dashing towards the assimilated cultivators in the span of a breath.

As he approached rapidly, Wang Baole raised his right hand, and an arc of lightning shot forward. Following his cultivation’s advancement to the peak of the True Breath realm, the power contained within the lightning arc had grown even stronger. It shone with a blinding light and dashed towards the assimilated cultivators.

As it wove its way through the air, it sparked a series of electric bolts. Looking from afar, it seemed as if a small ocean of lightning had appeared in the tree hollow. It was a stunning sight!

Thunder roared and resounded across all four corners of the tree hollow. Everywhere the lightning arc passed, the assimilated cultivators started trembling, and more than a few self-combusted immediately. As that was happening, Wang Baole summoned the Heated Burst within his palm. The Heated Burst transformed into a sea of fire that was vaster than what he had summoned before, and with a thunderous roar, it spread out in all directions.

The heat of the flames was unbearably scorching. To a certain extent, it should have turned the assimilated cultivators into ashes. However, they were imbued with the power of the giant tree and were able to resist the flames. Despite that, the sea of fire and the lightning arc caused them considerable damage.

There were a few assimilated cultivators who, under the assault of the Flash Arc and Heated Burst, were either torn apart and turned to dust or burned to ashes. It was an attack that they could hardly recover from—a complete annihilation!

Such intensity exceeded Wang Baole’s previous battle capabilities. A peaked True Breath realm cultivation had increased the prowess of his spells significantly, while the number of spells he could cast increased tremendously as well. As he concurrently unleashed Flash Arc and Heated Burst, he also set off Cloud Finger in a blast.

Zhao Yameng’s augmenting array formations descended at that instant, and the threads of array formations appeared all around Wang Baole and shadowed his every movement. As it glimmered, it provided Wang Baole with a defensive barrier and, at the same time, inflicted damage on the enemies as well.

Zhuo Yifan, despite being weakened, grit his teeth and manipulated his Numinous Treasures into aiding Zhao Yameng and killing the assimilated cultivators rushing from the sides. Under their coordinated efforts, the loud clashes of battle sounds rang out within the tree hollow. The air was heavy with murderous intent, the battling fearsome.

“Die!” Wang Baole growled. He flung his fist out, stirring a wave of energy. The strength within his entire body exploded outward, and he smashed the head of an assimilated cultivator straight open. His left hand drew seals, and a flame appeared and flew forward, burning. Wang Baole stepped forward and dropped his head suddenly, dodging the flying sword leaves from three assimilated cultivators. He then leaped and flung out three self-exploding beads.

A series of explosions sent the three assimilated cultivators who had tried to ambush him flying and collapsing into a heap. Wang Baole was about to rush forward and burn them into ashes when he suddenly tilted his body sideways, raised his right hand, and grabbed behind him. An assimilated cultivator who had snuck up behind him was caught by the neck instantly. He tightened his clutch.

With another wave of his arm, several flying swords dashed towards Zhuo Yifan. They approached and suddenly exploded, sending the few assimilated cultivators who had been about to lunge onto Zhuo Yifan quaking from the shockwave and flying back.

Wang Baole didn’t pause after resolving the threat that Zhuo Yifan had faced; instead, he struck again. He was like a fearsome tiger charging into a pack of wolves. Wang Baole’s cultivation level might have increased, but there were still limits to it. The assimilated cultivators, on the other hand, despite having been torn into pieces, would quickly recover as the numerous tree branches wove them back together. As the fight went on, it was obvious they weren’t fighting on the same level.

Even if some were destroyed under his powerful attacks, wiped out and decimated in both flesh and spirit, those were in the minority. They occupied less than two-tenths of the hundreds of assimilated cultivators.

Even though he had a breakthrough in his cultivation, his Spirit Qi was finite. Flash Arc and Heated Burst also consumed a great deal of his cultivation.

As a result, Wang Baole soon started panting heavily and could only retreat. Zhuo Yifan, in his weakened state, was also slowly exhausting himself. Eventually, he didn’t manage to avoid an attack in time and was pierced through the chest by three leaves that had been transformed by a spell. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body draining of life as he fell backward. In his bitterness, he lost all fight in him. Falling to one side, he stared at Wang Baole, who was still engaged in a fierce battle. His mind was a complete blank.

He seemed to be thinking back, on memories of his childhood, of his family clan and his cruel and cold-hearted father and his cold-blooded elder brother, of Spirit Breath Village and the happenings inside, and of Wang Baole standing before him.

Gradually, his vision grew blurry. The sounds of battle grew more and more distant.

Zhao Yameng, on the other hand, was still persevering, but her body was shaking ceaselessly. It was clear that she was about to exhaust her Spirit Qi. Her array formation threads were an immeasurable aid to Wang Baole, however. That was why she continued to grit her teeth and stand firm despite reaching her limits.

However, without Zhuo Yifan’s support, regardless of how strong Wang Baole was, he couldn’t attend to everything that was happening on the battlefield. There would always be someone weaving their way through the battlefield from all directions, charging towards Zhao Yameng.

As Wang Baole observed the scene, he started panicking. He had expended all his Numinous Treasures and no longer had any means of defense at his disposal. He could only retreat while blocking the attacks. At that point, his panting grew heavier, and cuts from the blades of flying sword leaves appeared on his body.

Some were surface wounds, others deep injuries. The worst was one that had pierced through his right leg, creating a tear-like wound.

“Baole, Yameng, do you think… the college received our message, that they will be coming…?” Zhuo Yifan seemed to have forgotten that they were in the midst of battle. The light in his eyes grew fainter, and he muttered to himself. As his eyes darkened, there seemed to be a dash of red light intensifying within.

Zhao Yameng remained silent. She used the last dregs of her Spirit Qi to sustain the array formations, but she couldn’t hold on for long. Soon, under the attack of multiple bespelled leaves, Zhao Yameng spat out a mouthful of blood. She had completely expended the cultivation inside her body, and the array formations around them vanished. Her body seemed drained of all strength as she leaned against one of the walls of the tree with great difficulty. She had bitten her lips, and her face was drained of all blood. There seemed to be a struggle taking place deep within her, one that no one could witness. She appeared to be torn about a choice she was about to make.

“Yifan, hold on, help will definitely arrive from the college!” Wang Baole saw how Zhuo Yifan had reached the end of his rope and said hurriedly. He retreated abruptly, before Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng. With the glove on his right hand, he sent forth an explosive shockwave that drove the assimilated cultivators lunging at Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng back.

Wang Baole watched as Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng lost all fight in them. As the multitudes of tireless assimilated cultivators continued rushing forward from all directions, bitterness and despair rose in his heart. He himself didn’t know whether the college had received their voice transmission.

It was then, as he spiraled further into the depths of despair, that suddenly… inside his head, from within the black mask, the familiar, distant voice of Little Missy rang out for the first time.

“Don’t be afraid, Wang Baole. I’ll teach you a scripture. Its power is unfathomable. Uttering it will shift the heavens and earth and exterminate all living things!”

There was a hint of pride in her voice as it echoed within Wang Baole’s head. He was slightly wary when he heard what she said. Her statement was so powerful that he secretly feel doubtful about it. However, he thought back to everything the Little Missy had told him and, except for the slight exaggeration regarding the scabbard, whatever she had told him had never turned out to be a bluff. Especially the Golden Body—he had followed her instructions and attained it.

The many encounters strengthened his faith in her, so he hurriedly asked, “What scripture?”

“Listen carefully… Enlightened, prisoner of the Dao of heaven, all sentient beings must endure immeasurable calamities. It only takes a thought to leave the deep prison. Await the path of cultivation ¹ !”

“Go, in accordance with this scripture, execute this puny sapling!” Little Missy said with a casual arrogance.

Upon hearing the scripture, Wang Baole’s body, heart, and soul were shaken to the core. He seemed to feel some sort of calling. It was as if the scripture could actually move the heavens and earth and, upon utterance, it would transform one’s life completely!

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