A World Worth Protecting

1

“Don’t doubt me. I, Xie Haiyang, am a professional trader. My mission is to serve all customers. You come troubled, and you shall leave satisfied. You can listen to the satisfied reviews of my customers. In all of Ethereal Dao College, be it the Lower Academy or Upper Academy, my name is my brand!”

As Xie Haiyang spoke, he raised his hand to touch his gelled hair. It shimmered under the sunlight as his eyes exuded a brilliance. He gave a passionate smile as he stood in front of Wang Baole’s cave abode.

The confidence in his words was striking. After mentioning the Chancellor and faculty dean, he even suggested the demolition of the cave abode. This spirit was absolutely not something an ordinary student was capable of. After all, the Dao College’s cave abodes all had array formations. They were carved uniformly by the Dao College and were very difficult to destroy. Similarly, everything in the cave abode was the property of the respective faculties. The students only had the privilege of staying in there and not the right to modify it.

However, from Xie Haiyang’s tone, it appeared like the demolition of the cave abode was nothing difficult.

The moment Xie Haiyang said those words, Liu Daobin and company drew a gasp. His words were just too exaggerated. The concept of getting the Chancellor to personally smith a Dharmic artifact could be ignored, but just the faculty dean’s snuff bottle, which was made of Mystic Silver Sand, was very rare. That was Mystic Silver Sand at 90% purity. It was extremely valuable.

Regarding that snuff box, there was quite a lot of information revealed on the Spirit Intranet about it. However, Wang Baole knew little about it since he had spent most of his time cultivating the Great Void Qi Devouring Art after matriculating into the Dao College.

Upon hearing that and seeing Liu Daobin and company looking alarmed, Wang Baole twisted his body out of curiosity. He opened the Spirit Intranet with great difficulty and checked the requirements needed for the Chancellor to personally refine a Dharmic artifact as well as the price of the Mystic Silver Sand snuff box.

His eyes immediately widened when he saw the information. From complete despair, he could not help but feel excitement rise in him as his mind was filled with hope. He adjusted his body and looked out the cave abode.

“You can demolish the cave abode?”

When he heard Wang Baole’s tone that seemed to border on disbelief, Xie Haiyang remained composed. He continued touching his hair as he lightly smiled.

“This might not be possible for others, but you have to remember that in Ethereal Dao College, if I, Xie Haiyang, say it’s impossible, that means that no one can do it.

“However, the demolition of a cave abode is quite a huge undertaking. It needs some time and at least ten thousand Spirit Stones. I’m not fleecing you in your time of need. The amount of Spirit Stones you spend will be worth it as I need to find someone to remove the array formation then find someone to appease the Dharmic Armament faculty’s dean. Finally, I have to consider the compensation. All of that will need at least three months!” Xie Haiyang explained very seriously as he extended three fingers.

“That expensive?” Du Min, Liu Daobin, and the others drew a cold gasp of air when they heard that. Ten thousand Spirit Stones was a sizable amount of money regardless of the situation.

But to Wang Baole, he was not concerned about the Spirit Stones; leaving and losing weight were more important. He was almost driven mad when he heard that three months was needed.

“Three months is just too long!”

Just as Wang Baole turned anxious, Xie Haiyang bent his back and looked into the cave abode as though he was determining how fat the present Wang Baole was. Upon hearing that, he chuckled.

“Brother, you have broadened my horizons in a way. I have seen people eat themselves fat, but to reach such a level of obesity and not be able to exit their cave abode… this is something I’m seeing for the first time in my life.”

Wang Baole was instantly incensed when he heard Xie Haiyang. It was fine if he had a solution, but if he could not solve the problem and instead only mock him, Wang Baole was considering teaching Xie Haiyang a lesson after becoming Head Prefect. He wanted Xie Haiyang to know that shooting his mouth off would bring him nothing but pain.

Xie Haiyang noticed Wang Baole’s displeasure as he said with a smile, “Actually, to come out, there’s no need to demolish the cave abode. I, Xie Haiyang, am a trader. I will not miss out on simple solutions and expect you to spend excessive money to resolve a problem. In fact, the simplest solution is for you to slim down. That way, you will be able to come out.

“This method will not only save time but will also definitely be better value than demolishing the cave abode. It will only require five hundred Spirit Stones. How about it?”

“Do you have a weight loss solution?” Wang Baole’s eyes lit up immediately. If he could lose weight, five hundred Spirit Stones was nothing. Wang Baole would not hesitate to pay even more.

“Schoolmate, I have to warn you not to doubt my capabilities. As long as you have the money, there is nothing I can’t do. If you do not slim down, I’ll repay you double!” Xie Haiyang said lightly as his tone was filled with pride.

Wang Baole was also a decisive person. He immediately agreed to the matter, but he would only make the payment after he slimmed down.

Xie Haiyang agreed to it. He believed that no one in the Dao College would dare abscond with his Spirit Stones. Therefore, he turned to leave after happily communicating with Wang Baole.

Liu Daobin and company saw that the matter appeared to have been resolved. They oddly gave a look at Wang Baole’s cave abode and knew that he was frustrated, so they bade farewell.

Bunny did not wish to leave, but she was pulled away by Du Min. Before she left, she gently consoled Wang Baole, moving him greatly.

“Xiaoya, once I slim down, I’ll definitely look for you.”

After everyone left, Wang Baole sprawled inside his cave abode. He felt that the present him was like a pangolin that was trapped inside a cave. He could not help but turn sorrowful. He subconsciously wanted to eat some snacks, but he realized that he could not reach them. This immediately left Wang Baole even more depressed.

<em>Why is it so hard when all I want to be is Head Prefect?</em>

<em>I have to persevere. I must not be disheartened. As the high officials’ autobiographies mention, when Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil. </em>Thankfully, Wang Baole was an optimistic person. After he encouraged himself, he steeled his mind.

<em>I want to switch to a bigger cave abode! </em>With this driving him, Wang Baole began fantasizing about scenes of him becoming Head Prefect in the subsequent days. Every time he thought of something exciting, he would find the wait worth it.

With that, several days of waiting passed. Finally, three days later at dusk, Xie Haiyang returned.

He was still dressed in the same attire as three days ago. His hair was slicked back with gel, and he stood out under the setting sun. Wang Baole saw the distant him at a glance.

Upon seeing Xie Haiyang, Wang Baole shouted out agitatedly, “Brother Xie!”

Wang Baole’s voice drifted out of the cave abode, and by the time it landed in Xie Haiyang’s ears, he had arrived in front of the cave abode. He bent his back and looked in with a warm smile.

“Brother, for your matter, I have thought up several solutions to your problem. I finally chose a method that will absolutely work!” As Xie Haiyang spoke, he took out a pill bottle. He looked around and, after determining that there was no one around, squatted down, whispering, “This time, I got you some Death Pills from the underground black market in Ethereal City!”

Upon seeing Xie Haiyang’s mysterious behavior, Wang Baole felt more confident. Upon hearing the words ‘Death Pills’, he was taken aback.

“What’s that?” Wang Baole was puzzled. He had never heard of Death Pills.

“It’s normal that you do not know either. After all, the Death Pill is a banned substance. This pill was, in fact, refined accidentally by a crazy person of the Alchemy faculty in the past. As consuming them makes one feel like they are experiencing death, they are thus called Death Pills. There is a secret roll in the Alchemy faculty that documents the people who have consumed Death Pills. On it, the greatest number of Death Pills the record holder has eaten is three before he couldn’t take it anymore.”

As Xie Haiyang spoke, he said it in all seriousness. Finally, he said with great certainty, “Schoolmate, if you can endure it, this Death Pill will definitely make you lose weight. That, I dare guarantee you!”

Wang Baole immediately considered the problem. The words ‘Death Pills’ did sound terrifying. He secretly contacted Bunny and Du Min and, after some inquiries, opened the Spirit Intranet with great difficulty to investigate the pill. This investigation gave him a fright. The description of the Death Pills on the Spirit Intranet was extremely terrifying. Some people mentioned actual death, with people thinning to nothing but bones. Others mentioned that consuming the pill was challenging one’s life.

Regardless which message it was, there was a final statement that persuaded people never to consume the pills. But it was precisely so that more people wished to attempt it…

Moments later, Wang Baole, who was determined to lose weight, gritted his teeth.

“Bring it here. I’ll eat it!”

“That’s the spirit!” Xie Haiyang gave him a big thumbs up.

“But I can’t give you all of them. Let’s try one at a time. After all, you haven’t paid me yet. I can’t let you die. I’ll first let you eat one. If it’s possible, we will try a second one.” Xie Haiyang felt that he was already a very scrupulous person. He wore a specialized glove and carefully took out one pill from the pill bottle and handed it into the cave abode.

After Wang Baole received it, he took a look at it. The Death Pill was crimson in color. It looked quite worrisome at a glance. He first took a sniff and gauged that it was identical to the description he had seen on the Spirit Intranet. With a deep breath, he directly put it into his mouth and chewed on it. Before he could fully experience its taste, he swallowed it down.

“This thing is actually quite tasty.” Wang Baole licked his lips. He had eaten it too quickly and could only taste the remnant flavors in his mouth. He found it more delicious than his snacks.

“Give me another one.” Wang Baole, who had not eaten snacks in days, immediately felt his appetite whetted.

“Ah?” Xie Haiyang was taken aback. He had always acted like an esteemed expert in front of Wang Baole, but in his amazement, he looked at the pill bottle in his hand and back at Wang Baole.

He hesitated for a moment before carefully taking out a second pill and handing it over. After Wang Baole swallowed it again, he wanted yet another one.

Xie Haiyang was already alarmed as he asked uncertainly, “Do… Do you feel anything?”

“I don’t feel anything. It’s quite tasty. Give me a few more.” Wang Baole licked his lips. The pills were spicy, and they warmed his stomach.

Xie Haiyang felt his entire being turn flustered. After a momentary daze, he subconsciously handed over three pills. When he realized what he done, he trembled and was just about to stop Wang Baole, but Wang Baole had already chomped down three Death Pills.

“Heavens, you… you have eaten five!” Xie Haiyang was utterly shocked as he exclaimed.

But, at that moment, Wang Baole only felt that his body was a little hotter than before. There was still not much of a reaction, so he immediately became dissatisfied.

“Is it a fake? You previously extolled it so much and mentioned how a person can at most eat three. I have already eaten five, and there’s not the slightest reaction!” Wang Baole found it unacceptable. He felt like he had been swindled.

Xie Haiyang’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat. There were still five pills inside his bottle. He was very certain that he had obtained genuine pills, but now, he was suspicious. After hearing Wang Baole’s words, he immediately grumbled in anger, “Did someone dare cheat me?”

“Won’t you know if you eat one?” Wang Baole was very displeased.

Xie Haiyang was also quite a character. He was suspicious that he had been cheated and was burning with rage. Gritting his teeth, he took out one pill and threw it into his mouth. However, the moment it entered his mouth, his eyes widened as his mind seemed to instantly buzz.

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