A World Worth Protecting

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<em>The Core Formation realm old wretch from the Five Generation Sky Clan was an absolute bully. It was obvious he was trying to silence me. I’m going to check the crater out and see exactly how he’s going to silence me this time!</em>

<em>The Galactic Dusk Sect as well, pouring in so much effort. This entire thing isn’t just a simple alliance with the giant tree. It’s not as simple as them each having to gain from this alliance. They must both have their own secrets and are scheming against each other. They must both think they’ll be the one left standing at the end of it all.</em>

<em>If that’s the case, since the old witch from the Galactic Dusk Sect dares steal my Dao foundation, I’m going to steal this precious fruit of theirs! </em>Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. Having made up his mind, his pace quickened as he sped further into the crater.

The giant crater went a long way down. Wang Baole soon reached the depths he had reached in the previous fissure where he had discovered the small tripod cauldron and the exposed tree branch. Unlike the previous fissure, though, he seemed to have only traveled through a short segment of the crater. The red glow below him appeared more demonic than when he had first seen it nearer to the surface. Wang Baole was able to come to some conclusions on the depth of the crater by assessing the red glow.

He didn’t stop there. He continued deeper in and approached the red glow. As he approached, frequent and muted rumbling thundered from below. It grew louder as he ventured deeper downward.

It didn’t sound like a growling that would come from someone when he was awake. It was more similar to the sound of snoring when one was deep asleep. Wang Baole was caught by the sudden revelation. He paused in his steps and started pondering.

<em>Snoring…</em>

Amidst his thoughts, Wang Baole soon reached the lowest level of the crater. It might have been the lowest level, but it didn’t seem to be the end of the crater. The red glow and the snoring both came from another tunnel that led to the lowest level.

The entire crater was the shape of a right-angled triangle. Wang Baole inspected the surrounding before heading into the tunnel. He raced down the extremely long tunnel. One could see faint tree veins threading through the earthen walls. It was as if the tunnel itself was carved out and rested within a tree branch.

The red glow grew brighter, and the snoring grew louder. The latter roared like thunder next to Wang Baole’s ear. The odd look Wang Baole had on his face grew odder by the moment. Based on his calculations, the path seemed to be leading towards… the restricted zone on the dark side of the moon.

The place where he got his Green Lotus Foundation Establishment…

<em>It should be somewhere below the cavern with the green lotus… the snoring seems to be coming from ahead, but it’s actually also coming from below… </em>Wang Baole seemed to have understood something. Images started forming in his head, images of Five Generation Sky Clan members digging a long tunnel that led to some place below the cavern where the green lotus had rested.

A tunnel that led… to where the Night Immortal King slumbered!

There was a flicker of light in Wang Baole’s eyes. Wang Baole slowed down. He suppressed his aura and released the mosquitoes. He allowed them to speed ahead while he followed a distance behind.

It might be because of the snoring gaining volume or the red glow intensifying, but, gradually, a strong, almost overpowering spirit energy started to vibrate in the air. The Five Generation Sky Clan was likely confident in their ability to contain whatever situation might occur on their base. They seemed to have relaxed their guard. That was why Wang Baole’s intrusion hadn’t drawn any attention from the group of people gathered at the deepest end of the tunnel!

When Wang Baole was still a distance away from the end of the tunnel, his mosquitoes had already flown to the end. With the aid of their vision, he could see a cavern that spanned a hundred yards at the end of the tunnel. In the middle of the cavern was a shriveled tree branch. It was thirty meters wide, and clearly a small part of the ancient tree. A giant fruit three meters wide hung from the branch!

It might seem enormous to an ordinary cultivator, but compared to the actual size of the ancient tree, it was a tiny thing that was smaller than a sesame seed.

The fruit was completely dried up, but waves of sweet fragrance continued to emanate from it. A blood red glow radiated from the fruit. The light pulsed ceaselessly, but it wasn’t glaring. Upon first glance, Wang Baole was seized by the sudden feeling that the red light that he had seen the entire time he had been walking in the crater had come from the fruit!

<em>Is that the fruit? Its light doesn’t seem that bright. Who knew that it would possess such strange properties? </em>As Wang Baole observed in surprise, he saw eight figures standing around the fruit. They were split into four groups and seemed to be in a tense face-off against one another. The atmosphere was so tense that swords might fly at any moment!

One of them was the Core Formation realm elder from the Five Generation Sky Clan whom Wang Baole had crossed paths with that day. Standing next to him were two others, both middle-aged. One was clearly a Core Formation realm cultivator. He did not conceal his cultivation, and it was rushing off him in waves. Standing opposite them were three elders from the Galactic Dusk Sect. Perhaps it was inappropriate to describe them as elders. Their faces were heavily wrinkled, but their hair remained black. Their appearance seemed to be the result of practicing a special kind of mystic technique.

Their eyes were cold and devoid of emotion. A ghostly light, like will-o’-the-wisp, seemed to glow in their eyes. They stared at the other two groups, who weren’t from the Five Generation Sky Clan, with hostility.

The remaining two groups were divided into… a man and a tree. What could be referred to as a man was actually a mutated giant tree that had implanted itself into a cultivator host body. He wore black robes and looked to be in his middle ages, had an unfathomable look in his eyes, and was smiling.

They appeared to have noticed the mosquitoes that had appeared around them but clearly couldn’t spare any attention on them. They could sense how weak the mosquitoes were as well, and hence decided they weren’t worth the attention.

Wang Baole saw the scene before him and stopped in his tracks. He didn’t venture nearer.

“Esteemed tree cultivators and Fellow Daoists, why do you still fight us? Do you think you stand a chance against us?” Amidst the tension, the Core Formation realm elder from the Five Generation Sky Clan smiled coldly. He turned towards the Galactic Dusk Sect members.

“Esteemed Fellow Daoists, let us begin. We will stand guard over you!”

The eyes of the three Galactic Dusk Sect members flashed. They instantly formed hand seals in unison, raised their palms and reached into their chests. It was as if they were reaching for their hearts. Instantaneously, a thick black Qi erupted from their bodies. It rose rapidly into the air and formed an enormous black gate above their heads!

Alarm flashed across the faces of the man and the tree. They moved in unison to stop the attack. The three men from the Five Generation Sky Clan swooped in and blocked them with everything they had. The black gate swung open, and waves of black Qi rolled out. An alarming Spirit Qi surpassing the cultivation of everyone in the cavern and at the perfected Core Formation realm burst forth from the black gate.

It sent the cavern quaking as soon as it appeared. Its awesome presence contained intense violence and madness. It was as if a terrifying demon lay behind the black gate. The Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators immediately retreated. The man and tree were also alarmed and fell back as well, staring unblinkingly at the open gate!

As the black gate swung open, a youth, wearing a crimson robe and treading on mist, stepped out!

He had a fair complexion and delicate features. His eyes looked old, his expression was solemn, and there was an air of authority about him. At the same time, he also exuded an air of superiority. His presence, to a certain degree, rivaled that of the Federation President. They were both clearly of an elevated status, and were amongst the most powerful figures in the entire Federation!

“Greetings to the Sect Lord!” The three Core Formation realm cultivators who had reached into their chests and grasped their own hearts immediately lowered their heads respectfully.

Even the three from the Five Generation Sky Clan fell back immediately and extended a respectful bow towards the youth.

Wang Baole reeled back in shock. He stared at the youth through the eyes of his mosquitoes.

This youth was… the Sect Lord of the Galactic Dusk Sect!

The Galactic Dusk Sect was different from the other political powers where the Grand Supreme Elder was the most powerful person in the institution. In the Galactic Dusk Sect, the most powerful figure wasn’t an elder but the Sect Lord. He was the one who had founded the Galactic Dusk Sect. He was the one who had acquired the mystic techniques and mystic arts from the ancient green-bronze sword. The entire sect had been built with his hands!

“The agreement between our sect and the Five Generation Sky Clan remains unchanged. The fruit will be divided between us—seven parts to our sect and three parts to your clan. You have provided much aid and also lured the mutated trees here. For your efforts, the Galactic Dusk Sect will answer what you have asked for!” The youth gave the three Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators a slight nod. He then threw a glance towards the mosquitoes, and the mosquitoes disintegrated instantly!

The youth then turned towards the giant tree and the black-robed man.

“The first one to join and swear his life to our sect, and take the Nine Lives Poison, will get the aid of our sect. We will help you destroy the other mutated tree and allow you to have three parts of the fruit!”

The black-robed man frowned, and the giant tree remained silent.

It was clear that the Five Generation Sky Clan and the Galactic Dusk Sect had allied themselves from the beginning and come to some sort of agreement where the Five Generation Sky Clan would aid the Galactic Dusk Sect. The fact that the Sect Lord of the Galactic Dusk Sect could make an appearance here must have been the result of the Five Generation Sky Clan’s aid. The latter must have helped in concealing signs of his presence, hiding his arrival from the rest of the Federation, allowing the plan to unfold smoothly.

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