A World Worth Protecting

1

This was the first time Wang Baole had stepped onboard a military cruiser. Any other person might not have sensed the difference, but as a Dharmic Armament cultivator, Wang Baole knew at first glance what separated this military cruiser from other ordinary cruisers.

<em>I’ve never seen this material before… it should be highly heat resistant. The inscriptions on the cruiser seem to look different than the usual. </em>As Wang Baole inspected the cruiser, the Martian military cultivators were observing Wang Baole as well.

Wang Baole’s reputation had been climbing steadily upwards in both the Federation and on Mars. His reputation in the military was the same, especially since he was the creator of the Baole Cannon.

As the military cultivators observed Wang Baole, they also caught sight of the donkey at his side. They all looked surprised. They turned and stared at one another. It seemed like they wanted to say something, but in the end, they didn’t.

Wang Baole noticed the strange looks from the military cultivators. He wondered if they had heard about how greedy the donkey was and were worried that it might eat up their cruiser.

<em>But why do I feel like they are comparing the donkey with something else… </em>Wang Baole blinked. He was about to say something and get something out from them when he noticed the donkey licking the metallic walls of the cruiser. It started sniffing it like a dog and seemed like it was assessing how tasty it might be.

“Useless thing!” Wang Baole stepped forward and kicked it without warning.

The donkey immediately became meek and sprawled on the floor. It looked listless. However, as soon as Wang Baole turned his attention away, it secretly licked the wall again. It continued to droop its ears. Another moment later, it swiftly licked again…

Wang Baole, who had been chatting casually with the military cultivators, saw it. His head started throbbing. He coughed. The donkey immediately tilted its head sideways and stared at Wang Baole with its innocent eyes, as if saying that it hadn’t been eating anything. It was only taking a small lick.

Wang Baole could feel a headache coming on. He thought about what the donkey was trying to put across with that expression on its face, and it seemed to make some sense. He glared at it for a while but didn’t do anything else. When the cruiser finally landed on the Martian base, the metallic wall that had been thoroughly licked by the donkey had a sheen of saliva on it. Wang Baole and his donkey got out of the cruiser amidst the strange looks from the surrounding military officers.

The Martian military base was located in Zone Thirty-Six, and a large part of that zone belonged to the military and was restricted to the public. There were many military men seen patrolling the grounds, and a large number of military cultivators were also based in the military station.

The military had prepared a rather welcoming reception for Wang Baole. A dozen or so military officers led by an elder personally received him at the port.

The elder was dressed in military attire. His eyes seemed to contain lightning, and he exuded authority and power as well as a Core Formation realm cultivation. He had an overpowering presence.

His status was naturally elevated. He was one of the five most powerful figures in the Martian military. His name was Chen Feng, and he was in charge of the research of military equipment as well as the fusion of Spirit Qi and explosives for military use.

Wang Baole saw the welcome party as soon as he got out of the cruiser. The military cultivator escorting him down the cruiser whispered the names and profiles of the receiving party. The look on Wang Baole’s face immediately became serious. He sped up his pace and took a deep bow before the elder.

“Greetings General Chen, I’m Wang Baole!”

Chen Feng burst out into laughter. He looked at Wang Baole with approval and encouragement in his eyes. He had started studying the various Baole Cannon parts that had been sent to them and could sense the cannon was not a simple artifact. He began to have a keen interest in Wang Baole, whom he had never met before. There was actually no need for his presence today. However, he had come just so he could meet the original creator of the Baole Cannon.

“What a young talent!” Chen Feng patted Wang Baole on the shoulder, his bright laughter ringing in the air. The other military officers followed suit, with warmth and friendliness in their smiles.

They exchanged a round of pleasantries before making a swift departure from the port and heading towards the area where the Baole Cannons were being assembled. Wang Baole walked alongside Chen Feng and answered all of Chen Feng’s questions regarding the cannons with ease. He took careful note of his behavior and made sure to be half a step behind Chen Feng at all times. He maintained a humble attitude.

“General Chen, the key to the composite Baole Cannon lies in the interconnectivity of its interior inscriptions… especially inscriptions in groups seven and eight. Those inscriptions control the absorption of Spirit Qi.” Wang Baole had a smile on his face. As he walked, he answered Chen Feng’s questions and shared the inner workings and structure of the Baole Cannon.

The military officers behind the pair withdrew their discreet stares at Wang Baole’s donkey and instead turned towards the pair before them. They sighed and marveled at Wang Baole’s social skills. He didn’t show off, nor brag. However, he wasn’t overly reserved either. He displayed the perfect balance between humility and pride while showing the utmost respect for the military.

<em>This kid is kind of interesting. </em>Chen Feng smiled as he looked at Wang Baole. He was pleased with what he saw. The party walked through building after building and soon approached the camp where the Baole Cannons were awaiting assembly.

As they walked, many warriors they passed stopped and saluted the party. They also secretly eyed Wang Baole’s donkey.

Wang Baole noticed the stares and found them odd, but he still felt slightly pleased. The donkey seemed proud as well and raised its head high and trotted along happily.

Their destination soon appeared before them. It was then that seven to eight young military officers walked out from a pavilion slightly away from the party. They were all conversing with one another. In the middle of the group was a black-haired youth. He stood tall and was handsome, and he had a resolute look in his starlit eyes.

He wore a purple-colored military uniform, which brought out his striking features. His eyes, especially, had a deep, unfathomable look in them, and he exuded a presence that was beyond his age. If one took a careful look, one might even sense a deeper air of violence that he had concealed. The young man drew all attention away and towards him just by standing there.

The young man was… Kong Dao, who had come from the Sea of Beasts and had been adopted by the current Federation President Duan Muque as his godson!

Besides the military officers who had gathered around him, he had beside him… a donkey!

The donkey was white in color. It looked striking and powerful and exuded an air of purity and holiness, and exuded cultivation energy at the fourth-stage of the True Breath realm. Both its appearance and presence were extraordinary.

Kong Dao and company instantly noticed Chen Feng, Wang Baole, and the others. The former younger officers immediately became serious and greeted the latter respectfully. Kong Dao’s eyes fell on Wang Baole, a frown appearing on his brow. He didn’t say anything though, merely greeted Chen Feng.

“It’s Kong Dao. Baole, you and Kong Dao are both members of the Federation’s hundred seedlings. You should know each other.” Chen Feng paid little attention to the greetings he had received earlier. However, a smile appeared on his face when he saw Kong Dao. He nodded at Kong Dao. His eyes swept across Kong Dao’s white donkey and then glanced at Wang Baole’s black donkey…

He wasn’t the only one. The officers behind Chen Feng and Kong Dao also couldn’t help themselves as they gave both Wang Baole’s and Kong Dao’s donkeys a quick glance.

This was the first time Wang Baole was seeing Kong Dao and the white donkey at his side. He froze at the sight, and his eyes widened.

<em>His monster egg hatched too? </em>Wang Baole took a closer look and was certain that they were the same breed. He couldn’t help the sudden frustration and annoyance he was feeling.

Anyone could see the difference in power between his black donkey and Kong Dao’s white donkey at a single glance. His donkey not only looked perverse and ugly, but its cultivation couldn’t compare to Kong Dao’s donkey either. This displeased Wang Baole. He sighed. He couldn’t help wonder if this was due to his own bad luck, or if the military instructor had been biased when distributing the eggs then.

<em>I was wondering why these people were eyeing the donkey throughout the trip. They were comparing the two donkeys… </em>Wang Baole felt slightly unhappy. The black donkey was stunned as it stared at the white donkey in shock. Then, its eyes widened, and a fierce light shone in its eyes. It seemed overjoyed, and it dashed out from behind Wang Baole, braying, and raced towards the white donkey.

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