A World Worth Protecting

1

The Head Prefect of Alchemy faculty’s Vegetation Hall, Zheng Liang, was a third-year student. He was handsome with sword-like brows and eyes like stars. He had an elegant bearing about him. When he arrived, he had a faint smile, but when he saw Wang Baole and the girls surrounding him, his expression turned odd.

It was as though Wang Baole’s entire body was emitting a luster akin to a Spirit Stone at that moment. And the girls’ passion made Zheng Liang smile wryly. He had mixed emotions that stemmed from the sore feelings of seeing someone from another faculty come to his own faculty to hit on girls.

However, he was a Head Prefect after all. He quickly shrugged away those thoughts and, with a laugh, revealed an amiable smile.

“Are you Junior Brother Baole? I’m Zheng Liang from the Alchemy faculty!” Zheng Liang wore a warm look as he walked over with a smile. There were seven or eight students that followed him. All of them endured the strange feelings in their hearts as they greeted Wang Baole. Simultaneously, they sized him up, since he had become extremely famous in recent days. Even they had paid attention to his escapades.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Zheng!” Wang Baole noticed Zheng Liang and hurriedly extricated himself from the sellers. He went forward to cup his fists. As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, took out a Spirit Stone of 90% purity, and handed it over.

“Senior Brother Zheng, I’m someone who has always been impressed with people that focus on alchemy. I should have prepared a gift on my first trip here, but since I’m in a rush, I hope you will accept this Spirit Stone I personally refined.” Wang Baole placed the Spirit Stone in Zheng Liang’s hand amid laughter.

The Spirit Stone was a way of returning the favor of the Crystal Memory Pill. Besides, he had deliberately made it known that he had personally refined the Spirit Stone. Zheng Liang’s smile immediately widened. He did not stand on ceremony with Wang Baole and put away the Spirit Stone before taking out a bottle to hand it to Wang Baole.

“Junior Brother Baole. Inside is a Spirit Clearing Pill I refined. It can clear one’s mind, and it makes memorizing things a lot easier.”

One had the intention to befriend, while the other was tactful. Soon, the two were talking cheerfully.

The students who had followed Zheng Liang exchanged looks and saw the recondite look in each other’s eyes when they saw this scene. They realized that Wang Baole really lived up to his reputation. Even if he was lacking in other aspects, just his way of treating others made him spectacular.

With Zheng Liang leading the way, the duo proceeded forward. Along the way, they would encounter other students from the Alchemy faculty who would greet them with cupped fists.

Soon, the duo became more acquainted with each other. After all the scenic points of the Alchemy faculty were introduced, Zheng Liang invited Wang Baole to his Head Prefect Pavilion with a smile.

This Head Prefect Pavilion was different from the Dharmic Armament faculty’s as well. Most obvious was the surrounding vegetation, which was filled with Spirit Qi, and when Wang Baole saw it, he could not help but marvel.

Zheng Liang chuckled as he said generously, “Junior Brother Baole, if you like it, I can get someone to send you some of their seeds. You can plant them around your cave abode as a decoration.”

Wang Baole immediately thanked him. As he looked at the handsome Zheng Liang in front of him, he felt that they clicked well. Hence, he took out four Spirit Stones of 90% purity and handed them over.

The moment Zheng Liang saw that, he was immediately delighted. He carefully took them, cupped his fists, and bowed at Wang Baole.

“Thank you, Junior Brother Baole!” He had a very sincere expression. He was indeed in desperate need for Spirit Stones of 90% purity, and he also wished to befriend Wang Baole. With Wang Baole being so generous, his fondness for Wang Baole was greatly elevated. He got up, took out two pill bottles, and placed them in front of Wang Baole.

“Junior Brother Baole, there are a total of five Crystal Memory Pills here. Unfortunately, that is all I have, but don’t you worry. I’ll arrange to buy more for you.”

According to their agreement over the voice transmission ring, they would exchange a Spirit Stone for a pill. When Wang Baole saw that Zheng Liang had taken out an additional two, he knew that he was returning a favor with a favor. Hence, he smiled, thanked him, and put them away. He began conversing with Zheng Liang, and although it was their first meeting, they gradually regretted that they had not met earlier amid their joy. Finally, Zheng Liang decided to extend an invitation to Wang Baole after hearing about his interest in pill refinement.

“Junior Brother Baole, if you are in no hurry to return, why don’t I bring you to tour our Alchemy faculty’s alchemical labs? They are extremely big, allowing for thousands of people to refine their pills at the same time. Inside is bustling, and people aren’t usually permitted entry.”

Wang Baole was indeed curious about alchemy. He agreed readily, and with Zheng Liang leading the way, he arrived in the famous alchemical labs of the Alchemy faculty. They were located in the Alchemy Peak’s interior and were massive in size. The moment he entered, Wang Baole felt a hot gust of air embrace him. He could see everything in the massive space ahead at a glance.

There were thousands of alchemical cauldrons inside the space, with many Alchemy faculty students refining pills by the side of the alchemical cauldrons. There were chambers lining the surroundings with herbal fragrances flowing out of them.

The scene was very spectacular, and it made Wang Baole deeply shocked when he swept his gaze over the lab.

“How is it? There are some differences compared to the Spirit Cauldron Cave of your Dharmic Armament faculty, right?” Zheng Liang laughed as he led Wang Baole in. When the surrounding people saw him, they immediately greeted him respectfully.

Wang Baole could not help but exclaim, “I thought that pill refinement was similar to artifact refinement in the past. But from the looks of it, there are quite a number of major differences.”

He had not been to the Dharmic Armament faculty’s Spirit Cauldron Cave either, but he had heard of it. In principle, it was only opened to senior students who had grasped a certain level when it came to the study of Spirit Kernels. In there, they could easily gain rudimentary experience at fusing material and creating simple, ungraded Dharmic artifacts.

While Wang Baole was marveling at his surroundings, his gaze suddenly came to a pause. He saw a girl among the group of people. She was wiping her sweat and was jumping for joy as she opened the alchemical cauldron’s lid in front of her. She seemed to even let out a pleasant cry of surprise.

“Bunny!” Wang Baole’s eyes lit up as he raised his hand to shout a greeting.

“Zhou Xiaoya!”

Bunny was opening a cauldron, happily looking inside at the pills that she had refined by herself. She carefully took them out, but when she heard someone call out to her, she curiously looked up and around. Soon, she saw Wang Baole waving his hands at her. She was immediately pleasantly surprised.

“Baole!” Bunny’s eyes were very bright. Her already pleasant mood turned to joy after seeing Wang Baole. She hurriedly ran in front of Wang Baole.

“Zhou Xiaoya? Junior Brother Baole, I remember that back when you first joined the Dao College, you had once confessed on the Spirit Intranet.” Zheng Liang swept his gaze at Zhou Xiaoya as he gave Wang Baole a teasing look. At the same time, he remembered Zhou Xiaoya’s name and was prepared to inform his subordinates to take good care of her.

Although Zheng Liang had brought up past matters, Wang Baole laughed out loud due to his thick skin. However, Zhou Xiaoya was thin-skinned. Her face blushed immediately. She lowered her head, feeling a little embarrassed, but she suddenly recalled something and looked up again. She stretched out her tiny hand and said happily, “Baole, I can already refine pills now. Look, this is a Rainbow Pill I just refined. Does it look pretty?”

Zhou Xiaoya was very excited, as though she wanted to share her joy with Wang Baole. In the middle of her palm was a colorful pill that appeared as beautiful as her.

“Xiaoya, I find your hands prettier,” said Wang Baole with a blinking smile.

Bunny immediately blushed again as she glared at Wang Baole, but deep down, she felt very happy.

“By the way, where’s Du Min?” Wang Baole recalled Du Min when he saw Bunny. He could not help but look around, but there were just too many people. He could not instantly pinpoint her.

“Sister Du Min isn’t here. She’s really impressive. She has been taken in as a disciple of the Alchemy faculty’s dean.” Bunny had an envious look, but she also had a pleased look. It was as though the more excellent Du Min was, the happier she would be.

“That impressive?” Wang Baole was taken aback.

“Junior Brother Baole, you also know Du Min?” Zheng Liang was astonished when he heard Du Min’s name. He began to explain when he noticed Wang Baole looking at him.

“This Du Min is quite a remarkable person. Her talent in alchemy is astonishing. She has been taken in as a disciple of our faculty dean. Although she’s not Head Prefect, her status and standing are extraordinary as well.”

Wang Baole touched his nose. He had the feeling of taking a blow before he could even flaunt his identity as Head Prefect in front of her. However, Wang Baole could understand when he recalled the experiences Du Min had undergone since she was young.

“She’s an A-grade student. She has been one since she was young!” While Wang Baole felt a little sour deep down, he also felt that he needed to work harder. If not, it would be embarrassing if he were overtaken by Washboard Min.

He had a casual chat with Bunny, but she had no choice but to bid Wang Baole farewell reluctantly as she had yet to complete the refinement of another cauldron of pills. She then returned to continue the refinement.

As for Wang Baole, he watched for a moment before suggesting his departure. With Zheng Liang sending him off, he walked to the entrance of Alchemy Peak.

Having sent Wang Baole here, Zheng Liang looked at him and suddenly whispered, “Junior Brother Baole, we hit it off very nicely, and it might seem that I am saying too much as someone you’ve just met, but I do have to warn you that the complexities of your Dharmic Armament faculty run deep.”

Wang Baole’s expression changed as he listened carefully. When Zheng Liang saw Wang Baole’s expression, he continued in a low voice. “Previously, the three Head Prefects of your Dharmic Armament faculty were unlike the Head Prefects of the other faculties. They were very united.

“It also has to do with them having close ties with the Vice-Chancellor. Therefore, it results in your Dharmic Armament faculty’s dean having nearly no authority in matters regarding college discipline!

“And the main reason your Dharmic Armament faculty’s Head Prefects are united has to do with the Spirit Kernel Head Prefect, Lin Tianhao. He has a huge background. Unfortunately, I have not been able to discover his true identity.”

Zheng Liang shared whatever he knew with Wang Baole and warned him before patting him on the shoulder. He bade farewell and left after telling him that the pills he had previously bought would be sent to the Dharmic Armament faculty.

Wang Baole blinked when he saw Zheng Liang walk far away. He could tell the good intentions from the warning that Zheng Liang had given to him. After some thought, he kept it close to his heart.

<em>Isn’t it because he has a powerful father. He is a Head Prefect, but so am I. What’s there to be afraid of?</em>

<em>Didn’t Zhuo Yifan also have a background? Didn’t he get beaten by me as he rightfully deserved!</em>

With this conclusion, Wang Baole immediately relaxed. As he hummed a tune with his hands behind his back, he returned to Dharmic Armament Peak. The moment he entered the cave abode, he saw Liu Daobin reverently standing there with a bag. He appeared to have been waiting for quite some time. When he noticed Wang Baole, he took a deep breath, adjusted his clothing, and walked quickly to Wang Baole to bow with cupped fists.

“Greetings, Head Prefect!”

“Ah, Daobin, you came. You must have waited quite some time. Why didn’t you tell me you would be coming?” Wang Baole smiled faintly. He felt that ever since Liu Daobin became an inspector, it felt like he had turned into a completely different person. He was particularly fastidious about the rules, and the way he did things was very comforting.

“It’s nothing. I just came as well,” said Liu Daobin with a smile. He entered the cave abode upon Wang Baole’s invitation. However, he was always one step behind Wang Baole. This scene made Wang Baole feel like he had learned a new trick.

After entering the cave abode, Liu Daobin deftly cleaned the place, moving the many empty Ice Spirit Water bottles and snack bags into a corner. Following that, he took out some spirit tea in a very practiced manner before offering it to Wang Baole.

This scene prompted Wang Baole to lift his teacup to take a sip, as well as ask out of curiosity, “Daobin, what does your family do?”

“About that… My dad is the Deputy City Lord of our hometown, Phoenix City. To be honest, I have been frequently seeking my dad’s help on how to do certain things,” said Liu Daobin with a little embarrassment and awkwardness.

“Deputy City Lord?” Wang Baole’s eyes widened. He had a marvelous feeling rise up in him. Before he came to the Dao College, Phoenix City’s Deputy City Lord had definitely been a major figure in Wang Baole’s eyes. Now, such a major figure’s son was under him. This made the marvelous feelings inside him become more intense.

“Ahem. Daobin, it’s almost the holidays. Speaking of which, this is the first time I’ve been away from home for such a long period of time. I kind of miss Phoenix City.” Wang Baole coughed dryly, feeling inexplicably pleased as he put down his teacup.

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