A World Worth Protecting

1

Jin Duoming was well aware of the stories surrounding the Battle-axe Hotel and the Fire Spirit Academy. He had been quite proud of them once upon a time. The Battle-axe Hotel might not be a Trilunaris Corporation asset, but it did, to some degree, belong to their family.

Jin Duoming wasn’t concerned that the hotel was currently under Wang Baole’s ownership. He wasn’t someone so easily cowed by rumors. He arrived at the Fire Spirit Academy with his vast fleet and was personally received by the dean and other academy staff. He saw the five hundred battle-axes outside the hotel, just across the road.

Despite his firm belief in his great fortune and that he had nothing to fear about the rumors, the sight of five hundred battle-axes still sent Jin Duoming gasping privately. He deliberated for a while before deciding to resolve the matter himself instead of seeking Wang Baole out.

The first thing he did when he came into office at the Fire Spirit Academy was to instruct someone to build an enormous shield and erect it outside the Fire Spirit Academy to shield against the malicious intent directed from the battle-axes.

The shield was enormous. Its production was swiftly completed, and the news of it quickly spread throughout the city and was known by the public. Wang Baole naturally found out as well.

He might have raised an eyebrow and questioned the move if it had been someone else who had done it, but Jin Duoming was the one who had done it, and Wang Baole liked the guy. He sent a message to Xu Zhenjing at the Battle-axe Hotel and got all the battle-axes removed.

Of course, the original battle-axe, the one that had given the hotel its name, remained. Though, Wang Baole instructed for it to be shifted so that its blade faced another direction.

The competition with the Fire Spirit Academy had, in reality, ended with the friendly match and the Governor’s personal conferment of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy student platoon. The Fire Spirit Academy’s reputation was dragged down after the entire fiasco, and the Dao Mountain Mist Academy had become the only elites’ academy in the entire Martian Colony. The academy basked in their elevated status and fame.

There was no reason for Wang Baole to continue his fight with the other academy. Even with Jin Duoming’s new appointment, Wang Baole felt that they could just stay in their own lanes and mind their own business. That was why he had initiated the removal of the battle-axes—as a show of goodwill.

As the entire fiasco with the Fire Spirit Academy came to an end, Wang Baole turned his attention towards his own cultivation. Despite having spent some time cultivating the students and preparing for the friendly match the past three months, Wang Baole hadn’t paused his own cultivation.

The Mystic Luna Realm incident had left a lasting impression on Wang Baole. He knew that the foundation on which he established his strength and reputation was built on his cultivation and his battle strength. That was why he had been diligently practicing the Lightning Dao: First Volume.

Even though Wang Baole hadn’t made any significant headway in the powerful Dark Corpse Face Art, his diligence practicing the Lightning Dao: First Volume had brought him close to mastering the first tier of the mystic technique.

<em>Once I hit the second level of the Lightning Dao: First Volume, I’ll be able to break through to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm… I’ll be able to create the second lightning tattoo and condense a Heavenly Thunder.</em>

<em>It’s a pity that the Dark Corpse Face Art… is so difficult to master! </em>Wang Baole was happy and frustrated at the same time. His joy stemmed from his cultivation nearing his peak early-stage cultivation level. His frustration stemmed from his inability to sense the Negative Spirit Body mentioned in the Dark Corpse Face Art. If he couldn’t even sense it, how could he form Dark Fire?

He had tried casting aside his sense of shame and making a visit to the hallucination realm. He had consulted Little Missy, but she had a look on her face that clearly expressed her belief in how easy the mystic art was. The look on her face had also expressed her disbelief at his failure to master the mystic art considering how simple it was. It had been a severe blow to Wang Baole’s pride.

After he had left the hallucination realm, Wang Baole bit the bullet and attempted countless tries. Every attempt had sent freezing chills and spasms shuddering through his body and left him in extreme agony. He had almost despaired about ever learning the mystic art.

Fortunately, just as he was in the depths of his despair, he reached a breakthrough in his refinement of artifacts which boosted his self-confidence. He had already been crafting fourth-grade Numinous Treasures since he had arrived on Mars, and he felt he would soon be capable of crafting fifth-grade Numinous Treasures.

<em>What’s stopping me from succeeding is not my technique but my cultivation… </em>Wang Baole pondered as anticipation flashed across his eyes. He was confident that when his cultivation reached the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm, he would have the capacity to refine fifth-grade Numinous Treasures.

Time passed steadily. Seven days soon flew by. During this period, Wang Baole handed all administrative matters of the academy to Lin Tianhao while he went into seclusion.

He soon reached the peak of the first level of the Lightning Dao: First Volume, stepping into the perfected early-stage Foundation Establishment realm. He was but one step away from his breakthrough.

<em>I’ll definitely reach a breakthrough within a month! </em>Wang Baole assessed his current cultivation and concluded. He was satisfied with his current rate of progress. During his cultivation, as the devouring seed continued inhaling and exhaling Spirit Qi, his green lotus had gained an increasing liveliness. It had strengthened visibly alongside his physical body.

Just as Wang Baole intended to work tirelessly towards the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm without rest, he received a message from Li Yi…

Wang Baole frowned upon reading Li Yi’s transmission. He had half a mind to ignore it until Li Yi informed him hurriedly that she had brought along almost every brand and type of snack available on Mars.

Wang Baole gasped when he heard that. He realized Li Yi must want something really important from him very badly. Any other reasonable person would not have done what she had done.

<em>Even though I am an immensely charming man, so attractive that she’d fall head over heels for me, I’m not so charming that she’d go to this extent… </em>Wang Baole frowned. A cold glint flashed in his eyes before he immediately sent a message to Lin Tianhao and got the latter to quickly verify Li Yi’s appointment on Mars.

Lin Tianhao dared not keep Wang Baole waiting. He hurriedly sought the help of people he knew and soon got back to Wang Baole. When Wang Baole found out that Li Yi was serving as an assistant to the giant tree, alarm bells started ringing, and his wariness of her spiked.

He narrowed his eyes and considered his options. After a long while, he decided to decline meeting Li Yi. Just as Wang Baole was about to turn Li Yi down, Little Missy’s voice rang clearly in her head. There was a hint of hostility in her cool voice as she spoke.

“Let’s go meet this vampish woman. I want to find out what exactly she is plotting!”

Wang Baole immediately sensed the clear enmity in Little Missy’s words. He blinked, then coughed. He was secretly pleased. After thinking a while longer, he replied Li Yi and agreed to meet her for lunch at the Dao Mountain Mist Academy canteen.

Li Yi was presently sitting in the Deputy Governor’s office building, and her eyes flashed when she read Wang Baole’s reply. She smirked, pleased.

<em>This horrible fatty looks exactly like a pervert. I don’t believe he can resist my charms! </em>Li Yi had full confidence in herself. In reality, she had been both pleased and troubled during this period.

She had been troubled by Trilunaris Corporation’s Jin Duoming and his relentless attempts at courtship. She barely felt anything for him, not even dislike. However, his behavior was affecting her practice of the Heartless Willow Art.

This displeased her greatly. On the other hand, she was also pleased. Jin Duoming had been a boost to her self-confidence in her own appeal.

<em>Men are all pigs! </em>Li Yi pulled out her mirror and started gazing at her reflection. She sighed and lamented at how beautiful she was. Then, she made herself even more presentable, rose to her feet, and trotted over to the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

Li Yi soon arrived at the Dao Mountain Mist Academy canteen, her voluptuous figure once again drawing the attention of all students. Her confidence grew as she felt the scorching stares directed at her.

When she sat down, her back made the perfect silhouette of an exquisite hourglass. Many students dining in the canteen were swallowing their saliva and staring at Wang Baole, who was sitting opposite Li Yi, with envy.

Li Yi smiled demurely and with coyish eyes, pulled out a storage bracelet and placed it before Wang Baole.

“Baole, these are the snacks I bought you…”

Wang Baole stared at the snacks, then at Li Yi, his eyes lingering on her shapely curves. Little Missy snorted coldly in his head, and the sudden ringing almost deafened Wang Baole.

“That’s quite interesting. It hadn’t been so obvious the last time, but it’s a lot stronger this time. This little witch is practicing the Heartless Willow Art, and she intends to use you to master it,” Little Missy’s voice rang out clearly in Wang Baole’s head. Wang Baole froze when he heard what she had said. Little Missy then started to explain what that particular mystic art entailed.

After hearing the requirements for mastering the mystic art, Wang Baole’s eyes widened. He stared at Li Yi with incredulity and disbelief.

Li Yi clearly misunderstood his stare. Her pretty face blushed, and she seemed to recall something and hastily lifted her head. She leaned towards Wang Baole and whispered.

“Baole, besides delivering snacks to you, I also have some news for you…

“Zhuo Yixian’s been deployed to Mars as well, he’ll be here in a few days. He’s been appointed to the Colony Disciplinary Order. There’s also Kong Dao… do you still remember him? He’s the president’s godson. He’s actually been deployed to the Martian military a while back.

“The two of them are holding actual political power, especially Zhuo Yixian. I know they’re not exactly friendly with you. I was afraid you didn’t know about them and would be trapped in an unfavorable situation. That’s why I’ve come here to inform you.”

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