A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole left the hallucination realm with his faith in Little Missy intact and great hopes for the Dark Corpse Face Art. He immediately started practicing in the cave abode.

However, regardless of how hard he tried to sense the Dark Spirit Qi in the Spirit Qi around him, he couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He didn’t believe that he couldn’t do it and poured in more effort studying. At the same time, he also began cultivating the Lightning Dao: First Volume.

If there had been no basis for comparison in the first place, he wouldn’t have realized how difficult the Dark Art was. The Lightning Dao: First Volume was a mysterious mystic technique. It was obviously a challenging technique to learn and master. If that weren’t the case, the Ethereal Dao College wouldn’t have restricted its practitioners to those with a Foundation Establishment core formed from a fully intact artifact.

When compared with the Dark Art though, Wang Baole was caught by the realization that… the Lightning Dao: First Volume was much simpler than the Dark Art. Others would be flabbergasted if they knew this was how he felt.

With a different point of reference came a different perspective.

Time passed steadily. Soon, a month had gone by. In that month, he had risen from the True Breath realm to the Foundation Establishment realm. His cultivation level had exceeded the required cultivation for a Deputy Pavilion Head at the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. It was no longer appropriate for him to remain in his current post in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion.

The organizational structure in the four Dao Colleges was slightly different from that in the other political institutions. His position as the Deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, for example. If it had been an equivalent position in another political establishment, it wouldn’t have fallen to a True Breath realm cultivator to take up the role. At the very least, the position would have gone to a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator.

The four Dao Colleges were different though. Tradition dictated that all disciples who reached the Foundation Establishment realm would have to join the Federation. They would train and continue their cultivation in the various government departments. This was why a True Breath realm cultivator could hold the position of a Deputy Pavilion Head in a Dao College.

In the same month, Chen Yutong had already shed his role as Deputy Pavilion Head and taken up office in the Federation Capital. His Deputy Pavilion Head position had laid the foundation for his promotion to his next office, which was of a higher status when compared to the other cultivators who had recently reached the Foundation Establishment realm.

The other disciples who had reached the Foundation Establishment realm in the most recent Mystic Luna Realm episode had also received their transfer orders in the same month. They had gone their separate ways and begun their deployment and life after reaching the Foundation Establishment realm.

This was the case for Lu Zihao as well; he had been transferred to Venus. He intended to send a warning to Wang Baole before he left, to let Wang Baole know that they were all Foundation Establishment realm cultivators now. He wanted Wang Baole to stop addressing him as his son whenever he saw him.

However, he recalled the series of violent and brutal acts committed by Wang Baole on the moon and decided not to risk offending the latter. Erring on the side of safety wouldn’t go against his principles…

Zhuo Yifan didn’t choose to leave. He decided to remain in the college and was made the Pavilion Head of the Combat Pavilion. Even though his cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment realm, the Combat Pavilion was a unique place. Having a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator as a Pavilion Head wasn’t something forbidden.

As for Zhao Yameng, Wang Baole had his guesses. Her family background must have been pretty impressive for her home to be in the Federation Capital. He wasn’t surprised when she came to bid farewell and inform him that she was leaving for an office in the capital city. He gave her a strong hug, then spoke just as she narrowed her eyes and was about to say something.

“Yameng, take care of yourself. Let me know if anyone bullies you. We’re all part of the Male Gods Society and brothers to one another!”

Zhao Yameng heard what Wang Baole said and gave him a deep, unfathomable look. Then, she smiled gently and left.

Throughout the month, Wang Baole saw many people off, but the transfer orders for him didn’t arrive. Wang Baole found this surprising.

<em>Is it because they aren’t sure where to put me? That’s good news. I may be in for a surprise! </em>Wang Baole became excited at the thought. He had a mind to seek Bunny out, but he found out that she was still in seclusion.

That made him slightly mopey. He stood outside the Alchemy Pavilion, staring and sighed.

<em>Bunny won’t turn into an old bunny after she comes out from seclusion, right…? The Alchemy Pavilion is trying to drive a wedge between two lovers! Bunny, my mother forced me to go for matchmaking sessions. I turned them all down for you!</em>

Dispirited, Wang Baole remembered Du Min. He then found out that Du Min had left the college with a few other Combat Pavilion disciples on a mission.

Utterly bored out of his mind, Wang Baole went back to his cultivation. He began to craft and stock up on his previously expended stock of Numinous Treasures as well. The remainder of his time was spent in seclusion, practicing the two mystic techniques.

He had a plan set out. The Lightning Dao: First Volume would allow him to form the first lightning bolt inside his body, and the Dark Art would give him the Dark Fire once mastered.

Both mystic arts would enhance his battle prowess while he was still at the Foundation Establishment realm, and his green lotus further augmented his physical capabilities. He thought himself quite powerful already.

Another month passed, and Wang Baole’s transfer orders still didn’t arrive. He was starting to feel anxious. He thought for very long and decided that he would wait for another month. If the transfer orders still didn’t appear then, he would seek the Sect Lord for answers.

By now, most of the familiar faces in the college had left. There were many in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion who continued to treat him civilly and with respect, but it all felt meaningless.

Fortunately, he still had Liu Daobin at his side. That made Wang Baole feel slightly better. He thought about how he was going to be deployed soon. In the remaining time he had, while waiting for his transfer order, Wang Baole started making plans for promotions and advancements.

He made arrangements for Liu Daobin and the other subordinates who had followed him from the Lower Academy Island. Liu Daobin especially had passed the Armament Soldier Assessment while Wang Baole had been cultivating in the Mystic Luna Realm. He was made the person-in-charge of the College Administrative Department.

The others were also assigned their respective offices. They would work closely with Chen Yutong’s subordinates to ensure that the Dharmic Armament Pavilion remained under their control even after Chen Yutong and Wang Baole left.

Wang Baole even made a trip to the Lightning Domain. He endured the lightning blasts and made it through the final two bouts of lightning strikes, being rewarded with the final two mystic techniques. He gained the full set of mystic techniques from the Lightning Domain and was now able to wield… the Electromagnetic Pulse!

He realized that he would gain a better effect if he practiced the Lightning Dao: First Volume inside the Lightning Domain. As a result, he spent most of his remaining time there.

Wang Baole finally obtained his first lightning talisman and had it tattooed on his right leg. He could feel the pulsating power of a lightning bolt inside his right leg. He still hadn’t made any headway with the Dark Art, but by then, his transfer orders had finally arrived.

The Sect Lord summoned him to Sky Path Island and personally met him. In the great hall of the Sky Path Island, he presented two options before Wang Baole!

“Baole, you’re aware of the college tradition. Because of the attention you drew during your time in the Mystic Luna Realm, the Federation has given your deployment a great deal of consideration. They finally came to a decision, though you still have the final say!

“The first option is to remain in the college. You will become the Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion and receive a Primary Rank Five Noble! A True Breath realm Pavilion Head isn’t given a noble title. Only Foundation Establishment realm cultivators are entitled to a noble title!

“The other option is to take up office in the Martian Colony. The exact position will be decided by the Martian Colony Governor after you arrive. Don’t worry, you’ll be guaranteed a position that is befitting of a Primary Rank Five Noble!”

The Ethereal Dao College Sect Lord sat in the great hall and looked at Wang Baole before him. He smiled as he spoke.

“A Primary Rank Five Noble?” Wang Baole said, stunned. His breathing quickened. Having diligently studied the autobiographies of high ranking officials, he was no stranger to the Federation ranking system. However, it had all seemed like a distant future before he had reached the Foundation Establishment realm. It was something that could only be acquired after he had entered the government ranks of the Federation.

The Sect Lord smiled at Wang Baole’s excitement. He had long ago heard from someone about Wang Baole’s dream to become the Federation President. He pointed at Wang Baole and laughed.

“You should know a thing or two about the Federation rank system. More than others, at least. Let me refresh your memory so that you have a clearer understanding.

“The Federation rank system can be broken down into nine ranks and further split into eighteen classes. The highest rank is the Primary Rank One, and the lowest the Secondary Rank Nine. The Federation President is the only Primary Rank One Noble now. The Vice President and the Head Senator, as well as the Governors of the Martian and Venerian Colonies, are Secondary Rank One Nobles!

“The Sect Lords of the four Dao Colleges, like myself, are Primary Rank Two Nobles! The seventeen City Lords, including Lin You from Ethereal City and except the Head Senator, are Secondary Rank Two Nobles!

“The heads of the key departments in the Federation are Primary Rank Three Nobles. Their deputies and the Deputy Sect Lord of the four Dao Colleges are Secondary Rank Three Nobles!

“Below them in the hierarchy are Primary Rank Four Nobles and Secondary Rank Four Nobles. The grand elders in the respective Dao Colleges’ Pavilions would fall in this tier!”

“Rank Five Nobles are mainly held by officials in the Federation. It is a symbolic title in the Dao College, not an actual noble title. The respective Pavilion Heads, for example, are Primary Rank Five Nobles. As a Deputy Pavilion Head, you can be considered a Secondary Rank Five Noble as well.” The Sect Lord looked at Wang Baole after he was done with his explanation.

“Baole, tell me your answer. Do you choose to remain in the college or go to Mars?”

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