A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole had full faith in Zhao Yameng’s intuition. She had a natural spirit body, and her spiritual senses often surpassed that of the ordinary person on many occasions.

Wang Baole kept his guard up and, without exposing himself, began to put a greater distance between him and Huang Shan, trying not to draw any nearer.

Fortunately, the crowd was immense. Wang Baole’s actions didn’t seem overly obvious. After some time, the music gradually slowed down to a halt, and laughter rang out from the front.

The laughter was bright and hearty. It resounded loudly in the air, and an overwhelming aura came surging forward. Everyone fell silent and looked to the front.

Everyone watched as someone walked out from the inner chambers… it was a tall, middle-aged man with attractive features who shared a resemblance with Lin Tianhao. He wore long, loose robes, his hair flowed loosely down his back, and his eyes held stars—his entire person exuded a unique charm.

As he walked out, his laughter rang into the skies. Even though he might have suppressed his cultivation, the spiritual energy emanating from him still felt overwhelming and heavy in the air.

Wang Baole’s breathing stilled. Everyone’s cultivation was affected and driven into a flux. It was as if a single glance from the man could drive their cultivation into sudden implosion!

<em>Core Formation realm! </em>There was no need for further identification. Wang Baole immediately knew who the other person was and his cultivation. Within the residences of the Ethereal City’s city lord, there was only one person with such levels of cultivation and such an imposing aura…

It was… the Ethereal City’s City Lord, one of the seventeen senators of the Federation… Lin You!

“Greetings, Senator Lin!”

“Greetings, City Lord Lin!”

As Lin You strolled out, everyone quieted down and greeted him in unison. In their eyes, both Lin You’s cultivation level and his status were leagues above theirs. He was the equal of their fathers, the powerful figures of the Federation!

Such powerful men could send the earth shaking across the entire Federation with just a stomp of their foot!

Calling him a lord wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Like a powerful lord, he dictated everything in Ethereal City!

His aura emanated from him as he walked out. No prompting was required. Lin You was the natural focus of everyone’s attention, as they greeted and welcomed his arrival.

Behind the sun-like dazzling figure of Lin You stood two others. One was Lin Tianhao and the other an elderly man. The old man had a face lined with wrinkles. He looked like an old servant, with his hands folded into his sleeves, his back slightly hunched, and his head lowered as he walked. He seemed to be smiling, always.

The spiritual energies that he exuded were only slightly weaker than Lin You’s.

“Isn’t this Little Xiu? Your father spoke about you during our last meeting.” As Lin You strolled out, a smile bright and fresh like spring on his face, his eyes swept past the crowd. He nodded and smiled at them, exchanging a few words casually.

“Nephew Kun, how are your father’s injuries? I haven’t seen him in years. He hasn’t been attending the past few senate meetings.”

“Each disciple cohort from the four Dao Colleges grow more and more exemplary than the previous. You’re all fine, fine people. With you around in the Federation, we older folks can rest assured. There are quite a few of you who are probably going to take part in this cycle’s Mystic Luna Realm. I’ll wish you all in advance your swift ascension to the Foundation Establishment realm!” Lin You laughed, his eyes sweeping past Wang Baole and company. His expression remained unchanged as he nodded slightly.

Wang Baole’s heart leaped. The weight of Lin You’s power and authority was not to be trifled with. He thought about his tensions with the man’s son. Lin You didn’t seem like a narrow-minded man, though.

<em>Interfering with a quarrel between kids doesn’t seem like something this Senator Lin would do? If he dares push his weight around, I’ll ask the college to speak for me!</em>Wang Baole decided. He remembered his friendship with the military then and was momentarily assured.

“This is a gathering for you young people. I’ll not linger for long. Mingle around and make friends. Hao-er, you must make sure your friends are treated well,” Lin You didn’t spend too much time talking. He had only intended to make a brief appearance. After instructing Lin Tianhao, he left.

His departure lifted the imposing heaviness in the air, and Lin Tianhao also let loose a sigh of relief. He felt a sudden sense of pride. After clapping his hands together, servants started walking out with jade boxes.

The crowd stared in anticipation as soon as the jade boxes appeared. Their aim for being there was, ultimately, the Ethereal Fruit. Lin Tianhao saw the look on the crowd’s faces and burst into laughter.

“Comrades, today I will be the splurging son of the family and gift the Ethereal Fruits to everyone present. I wish for everyone’s advancement in their journey of cultivation!” Lin Tianhao was gifted with good looks, his voice was bright, and his words were pretty. He ended his speech with a polite cupping of his fists.

Many instantly developed positive feelings towards him. Even Wang Baole sighed in approval. The servants approached, and soon, there was a jade box presented before everyone. Wang Baole opened his box after taking it. He stared at the flushed red fruit that was giving off a most fragrant scent and was tempted by it as well.

“My Fellow Daoists, this Ethereal Fruit can only be stored for three days. I urge you to eat it as soon as possible.” Lin Tianhao laughed and received a multitude of thanks. The feast had finally reached its climax.

The sounds of laughter and conversation grew louder, and music made a graceful return to the square.

Wang Baole suppressed his urge to stuff the fruit into his storage bracelet. He didn’t intend to eat the fruit and wanted to give it to his parents, but it was something that was given directly to him by someone else. Furthermore, Lin You’s aura and his cultivation had made a strong and direct impact on Wang Baole. He was deliberating whether he should try and resolve the tension between him and Lin Tianhao when an aged voice rang out from behind him.

“Pavilion Head Wang, could we step aside for a few words?”

Wang Baole turned his head. He immediately saw the old man who had been following Lin You earlier standing before him, his eyes smiling as he looked at Wang Baole.

Wang Baole dared not slight such a powerful cultivator and immediately greeted the old man. The people around them, upon seeing the elderly man appear, knew that he had something to say to Wang Baole in private. They swiftly made their exits while engaged in conversation.

“Pavilion Head Wang is young and capable, gifted with extraordinary talents. There is no doubt you will have a bright and illustrious future. Unfortunately, I am an old man. I fear I may not have the chance to see the young Pavilion Head Wang grow into your ambitions.” The elderly man looked at Wang Baole with approval in his eyes. As he lamented, his right hand extended from his sleeve. Within his hand sat a green jade box.

“This is but a small token from my master, the city lord. Pavilion Head Wang, would you not agree to let bygones be bygones?” The old man said while handing the green jade box to Wang Baole.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He took the jade box and opened it in front of the old man. The elderly man, stunned by Wang Baole’s forwardness, smiled. He waited for Wang Baole’s answer.

Wang Baole opened the box, took a look and then widened his eyes. A pair of Ethereal Fruits sat inside the jade box. They were clearly larger and hinted at a more intense sweetness.

Wang Baole stared at the Ethereal Fruits and thought back to his earlier judgment. After some pondering, he nodded solemnly. He understood that it was always better to end feuds than to start one. Since the other party had already expressed their good intentions, there was no need for him to hang on to a grudge. Everything was premised, of course, on Lin Tianhao and his family clan not stirring any trouble for him.

Else, with Wang Baole’s character, he wouldn’t hesitate to go against his word if the time came, even if he had accepted the gifts.

Upon receiving Wang Baole’s answer, the old man smiled and nodded, then turned and left. When he returned to the chambers, Lin You was standing at the window, gazing out into the crowd below. His eyes focused on his son, observing how Lin Tianhao spoke and carried himself. Approval and comfort curled into a smile on his lips.

“Master, Wang Baole has agreed to the reconciliation,” the elderly man stood before Lin You and spoke with deference.

“I hope Hao-er will understand the reasons behind my actions,” Lin Tianhao gazed at Lin Tianhao, who stood in the crowd, and said with a sigh.

“The young master has clearly grown wiser after this trial. This is all thanks to Wang Baole,” the elderly man said, smiling.

At the old man’s mention of Wang Baole, Lin You’s eyes shifted from Lin Tianhao and landed on Wang Baole. He stared at the latter for a very long time before smiling.

“This Wang Baole has risen from being an ordinary student to a Deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion within a short time. He is famous in the Ethereal Dao College. There is no one who doesn’t know who he is. The military has also shown their appreciation for him. Even the Federation President knows his name. He was even given a confirmed placement as one of the hundred seedlings!

“Even I had misjudged his potential initially. It was a good thing that Hao-er provoked such a person. At least, this is something that is within my power to resolve before Wang Baole reaches his full potential. Any later… when it is no longer within the realm of my control, it would be catastrophic.”

The elderly man sighed when he heard such high praise from Lin You.

“He is a new rising star. If no accidents occur, if he doesn’t succumb to death or stray onto the wrong path, there is no doubt that his future will be a bright one.

“A person like him is not completely untouchable, but the price is too great. The four Dao Colleges are not blind. It was a brilliant move for Master to set aside your esteemed position and seek reconciliation.”

“The higher you advance, the more you are respected and feared. Power itself is an art form that requires negotiation and compromise on both sides. Besides, Wang Baole is qualified enough for me to compromise to a certain degree this time,” Lin You said softly.

As Lin You spoke softly, his expression shifted. He lifted his head and gazed out at the crowd. The elderly man beside him noticed something as well. He looked out and heard, on what had been a lively and bustling square, sounds of quarreling suddenly ringing out.

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