A World Worth Protecting

1

After Wang Baole attained his breakthrough in cultivation, he seemed to experience a sudden turn in fortune on Mars. Within three days of his breakthrough, the dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy received his transfer orders from the Federation.

The dean would be returning to Earth. He would be promoted from Secondary Rank Four Noble to Primary Rank Four Noble. Besides the promotion, he would also be stationed in his hometown. It was not only a comfortable retirement but also an establishment of his authority in his hometown.

The arrangement showed the Trilunaris Corporation’s generous treatment towards their own people as well as Jin Duoming’s capabilities. He had managed to achieve his end of the deal within two weeks after reaching an agreement with Wang Baole. Orders for Wang Baole’s new appointment also reached Mars around the same time.

The Martian Colony City had the right to overwrite such direct orders from the Federation. It was, after all, to a certain degree, an autonomous city. However, Mars wouldn’t easily use its powers, especially when the order was a promotion for Wang Baole, from a Primary Rank Five Noble to a Secondary Rank Four Noble.

As a result, Wang Baole received his promotion to Secondary Rank Four Noble without a hitch. He became the dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy. The fact that everything went smoothly spoke greatly of the authority and political clout the Trilunaris Corporation wielded. It also said something… about Wang Baole’s own achievements!

The match between the two elitists’ academies not only secured Wang Baole’s fame as an educator, but it also gifted him with a wider social network. The reputation of the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon served as an amulet for him as well. That was why his new appointment had gone so smoothly, without any obstacle.

Despite not being the youngest person ever to become a Secondary Rank Four Noble, he was still a rare sight in the Federation. He had surpassed most of his peers. His promotion to his latest Noble also signaled the step he had taken from the lower ranks of the Federation administration to its mid-ranks!

This step might not seem like much, but to many people, it was a step that might take them ten years, twenty years, or even a lifetime to take.

Wang Baole was keenly aware of what the promotion meant. That was why he was overjoyed when he received the orders. He happily accepted the congratulatory messages from the teachers and students of the academy, and he didn’t forget to reward the hard work of the deserving. He immediately submitted a request to the Martian administration to appoint Lin Tianhao as the vice dean.

Wang Baole had informed Lin Tianhao of his request prior to its submission. Lin Tianhao was naturally overcome with excitement and happiness. He had only been on Mars for less than six months before receiving a promotion in both office and ranking. He was beyond excited. Concerned that someone might stir trouble for him, he hurriedly contacted his father.

Lin You was constantly keeping himself abreast of the situation on Mars. As soon as he heard from Lin Tianhao, his eyes brightened. He made preparations immediately, and Lin Tianhao’s appointment was finalized. From his current Secondary Rank Five, he was promoted to a Primary Rank Five Noble. He also became the vice dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

Lin Tianhao was extremely grateful towards Wang Baole for his efforts in promoting him and helping him rise up the ranks. He realized how wrong and immature he had been during his Ethereal Dao College days. He became keenly aware of how right his father had been. He had already acknowledged Wang Baole’s abilities earlier, and now, he had absolutely nothing to complain about him.

“This is nothing, Tianhao. Keep tagging along, and you may soon see me become a Secondary Rank Four Noble within half a year. Then, I’ll get you a Secondary Rank Four Noble as well.” Wang Baole laughed. He patted Lin Tianhao’s shoulder and looked at Lin Tianhao, pleased. The latter had just poured him a cup of tea and had only sat half-perched on the sofa.

Wang Baole conversed a while more with Lin Tianhao and instructed the latter to focus on the educational aspect of the academy. He left Lin Tianhao with most of his work while he made full use of whatever time he had to familiarize himself with the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm. He also poured a great deal of his energy into studying the stronghold as well as construction puppets.

Time passed. Two months after Wang Baole’s and Lin Tianhao’s new appointments, winter descended upon Mars. Snow appeared as the temperatures plunged. The lands outside the city became deserted and barren. The Combat cultivators and Hunting cultivators who were regularly deployed outside the city returned in batches. The temperature within the city fell as well. Even though there was still air circulating, one would see puffs of white clouds when they breathed.

Nothing major happened in those two months.

Where the academy was concerned, Lin Tianhao revealed his talents at administration and supervision. He had watched his father growing up, after all. After he had become the vice dean, backed with Wang Baole’s approval and support, Lin Tianhao was able to carry out the plans Wang Baole had wanted to make fearlessly.

The entire academy began learning the Baole Heaven Devouring Skill as a core skill. A great deal of effort was also spent on developing the students’ fighting capabilities. The numbers of the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon grew, and their reputation stabilized with frequent and regular exposure. There was no longer a danger of them being forgotten by the public after the end of the friendly match.

As Lin Tianhao busied himself with the school, Wang Baole kept himself occupied as well. His work on the stronghold blueprints and his research into construction puppets progressed swiftly. As his ideas gained clarity, he tried to craft his first batch of construction puppets. He was now at the stage of testing them out.

Wang Baole knew that he was still a long way from success. There were still many problems with the construction puppets and his stronghold blueprints. He still had a long way to go before they could be fully functional and ready for use. He still needed to continue to make improvements before the final product was ready and could be mass produced.

Wang Baole wasn’t anxious about the time required. As he continued his research, Lin Tianhao’s regular reports and the private reports from other teachers ensured that he maintained a full grasp of everything happening within the academy.

Wang Baole had brought glory and renewal to the school. In the past few months, students who had heard of the school’s reputation had requested transfer to the academy. Their student population spiked, and his presence had become irreplaceable. He had become a mental and spiritual pillar supporting the academy.

However, as the number of students grew, the existing teaching staff was no longer sufficient to support the growing student population. They recruited many new teachers. Wang Baole’s office alone had three department heads. Besides the young married woman with coyish eyes, there were now two more beautiful staff members.

Wang Baole was extremely satisfied. He thought the two new staff members also looked at him with hooks in their eyes as if trying to reel him in.

At present, inside Wang Baole’s office, the two new staff members brought Wang Baole tea and smiled at him. Wang Baole coughed. Just as he was about to ask them to take a seat and inquire about how they had been coping with work, Lin Tianhao arrived.

“Dean, our current state won’t do. We don’t have enough teachers… we need more teachers!”

“I’m thinking of arranging a friendly match for the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon with the four Dao Colleges’ Lower Academies in the Federation. This is the only way to maintain the platoon’s current popularity and reputation…” Lin Tianhao immediately started reporting on his current work as soon as he arrived. Wang Baole was immensely pleased with Lin Tianhao’s enthusiasm and passion for his work. He agreed to the friendly match and also began thinking about recruiting more teachers.

They had too many students and not enough teachers. The newly recruited teachers had to go through a round of background checks to verify their background and identity. This was an elites’ academy, after all. It wouldn’t do for there to be any security-related incidents.

As the two discussed the matter, the shrill sounds of alarm suddenly rang outside. It was deafening. Through the windows, they could see a dozen black cruisers in the distant sky, headed for the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

The appearance of the cruisers immediately sent all Spirit Stone-related devices in the Dao Mountain Mist Academy into a temporary malfunction. They ceased working suddenly as energy suddenly erupted from the cruisers, creating a translucent shield that enveloped a teachers’ residential pavilion in the academy!

“The Colony Disciplinary Order!” Alarm flashed across Lin Tianhao’s face. He rose to his feet hurriedly. Wang Baole frowned and stood as well, going over to his window and watching as the dozen specially crafted Colony Disciplinary Order cruisers sped towards them and sealed the teachers’ residential pavilion. A dozen or so people dressed in black uniform rushed out from the cruisers and dashed into the pavilion.

Behind the black uniforms walked out two people—a man and a woman. The woman was clearly the higher ranked of the two. Her cultivation was at the perfected Foundation Establishment realm, and she exuded the aura of a volcano on the verge of an eruption as she stood in the open. Her presence was overpowering. She wore a uniform, but her voluptuous figure made the uniform appear a few sizes smaller than it actually was.

She had a well-endowed body, a head of long, flowing red hair, and pale, icy blue eyes. They resulted in her striking, mature appeal.

She was like a fully-ripe peach. She drove the hearts of men racing. Such a stirring figure was paired with cold features devoid of emotion. Even the look in her eyes was frosty, cold like a glacier.

The mix of fire and ice was what made this woman so deathly attractive.

Wang Baole had seen his fair share of beauties. Regardless, he was still momentarily stunned by this woman’s beauty.

Behind her was clearly her subordinate. Wang Baole recognized him. It was a familiar face. The man was… Zhuo Yixian!

The entire process took but the duration of a dozen breaths. As Wang Baole’s gaze landed on Zhuo Yixian, the black uniformed men who had barged into the teachers’ residence earlier dragged a middle-aged teacher out. They brought him before Zhuo Yixian. Zhuo Yixian sensed Wang Baole’s eyes on him, and he raised his head and flung a frosty glance at Wang Baole. Then, he stared at the pale-faced middle-aged man who had been arrested and spoke.

“Take him away!”

Wang Baole watched as the other disregarded his presence and arrested one of his own without even a prior warning. The expression on his face darkened. Even though the other party was the Colony Disciplinary Order, what they had done had completely disregarded his own presence and authority.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He smirked, then pushed his windows open, flying out in the next instant. Lin Tianhao had wanted to say something, but he had been too late. He hurriedly followed, but by then, Wang Baole’s voice had sounded throughout the entire campus.

“Is there no one left alive in this Dao Mountain Mist Academy of mine? All my teachers, all my students, I want you to give a display of your cultivation. Let others know our academy isn’t a place where anyone can simply trespass and intrude upon!”

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