A World Worth Protecting

1

The array formation of the Divine Armament New City originated from the Great Martian Array Formation. It was immensely powerful. Prior to the set up of the new city zone, the Governor was the only one on the entire Martian planet who had the highest level of access to the array formation. Others only had limited access and couldn’t fully wield and direct the power of the array formation. They could only borrow its power for support.

When the new city zone was being constructed, the responsibility for suppressing the force of the catacombs had been too great. That was why the Governor had granted Wang Baole a certain degree of access. This allowed him to control the power of the array formation within the new city zone.

The level of access he had was high, but the actual extent of his access was limited. That was until Wang Baole formally requested to convert the new city zone into an actual city, giving birth to the second Martian city. There had been modifications made to the array formation then. That resulted in the array formation that Zhao Yameng designed becoming the core of the array formation, which fused together with the Great Martian Array Formation.

Wang Baole had complete access and control over the Great Baole Array Formation that Zhao Yameng had designed. He could use this array formation to activate the Great Martian Array Formation. In addition, after he had been promoted to City Lord, he was naturally given control of the Great Martian Array Formation. As a result, even though he was only at the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm, through the array formation, he was able to display astonishing powers inside the second Martian city!

This was the power and authority the City Lord of the new city, a Primary Rank Three Noble should possess. Else, if he had only his late-stage Foundation Establishment realm cultivation, how would he be able to instill awe and respect in the people, or shoulder the responsibility of keeping the catacombs under control?

However, Wang Baole’s access was limited to within the new city. Outside the city, his access to the Great Martian Array Formation was severely limited. As the power of the array formation erupted, the perfected Foundation Establishment realm elder from the Five Generation Sky Clan stilled his breath. He could feel an immense aura hanging over his head, dictating his life and death.

Chen Mu and his gang were shocked at the scene as well. Even Li Wan’er gave Wang Baole’s blurry face in the sky a deep, meaningful look. She had limited access to the Great Martian Array Formation as well. However, it was clear that the level of her access wasn’t as high as Wang Baole’s in the new city.

As Wang Baole spoke and the silence descended, the perfected Foundation Establishment elder from the Five Generation Sky Clan started to sweat profusely from his forehead. He sucked in a deep breath. He had no choice but to lower his head and cup his fists, extending a salute towards Wang Baole’s face in the sky.

He knew that he was no match for Wang Baole. Despite him being at the perfected Foundation Establishment realm, the False Core realm, he was leagues behind Wang Baole in terms of abilities as well as Noble. Wang Baole not only had a bright future ahead of him, his ability to reach such a level of cultivation proved his extraordinary natural abilities. Besides, he also held the prominent status of a Primary Rank Three Noble.

Things might have been better for the elder if this were the true Dao civilization. However, there were laws and rules on this earth, and with those, hierarchy and organizational structure. The system that existed for thousands of years wasn’t something that could be easily transformed with just a few decades of Spirit Inception Era.

“I was too reckless with my choice of words earlier. I seek the City Lord’s forgiveness… however, I am charged with a responsibility for the resources. I implore the City Lord to give us a reason for confiscating our resources!” the perfected Foundation Establishment realm elder lowered his head and said. He had to put it across in this manner. Else, if he simply allowed the resources to be confiscated, he wouldn’t escape punishment when he returned to the Five Generation Sky Clan.

He had calmed down, however, and the tone of his voice had softened. He used the word “reason” instead of “explanation”. The difference in his choice of words spoke volumes about the meaning he was trying to convey.

“A justification?” In the sky, Wang Baole’s face, which had been formed through the array formation, had a calm expression. It spoke coolly.

“Didn’t Mayor Kong Dao just inform you? A new catacombs has emerged. The entire city is on high alert. This matter concerns the survival of the new city. All cruisers will have to be taken under our charge. As for the resources… they will similarly be taken over for safekeeping by the new city!”

“In addition… you have two hours to take your leave!” Wang Baole’s voice rang in the air, and his face gradually dissipated in the sky. Despite its disappearance, the forcefulness behind his words remained and made the perfected Foundation Establishment realm elder from the Five Generation Sky Clan sober up immediately.

He wasn’t the only one. Even Kong Dao had raised his head to look at the face dissipating in the air. He could sense the forcefulness behind Wang Baole’s words. He knew that Wang Baole had made up his mind to teach Chen Mu and his gang a lesson. As a result, Kong Dao also treated the matter seriously.

After all, he didn’t care who he offended. Wang Baole hadn’t only saved his life; Kong Dao also owed him a favor for his help in pulling him up a rank. Both emotion and reason dictated that he had no cause not to help Wang Baole.

Under Kong Dao’s strict supervision, the perfected Foundation Establishment realm elder from the Five Generation Sky Clan had no choice but to leave with his emptied cruisers. Before he left, he got an eyeful of the walls outside the autonomous zones. He shook his head and sighed, then hurriedly reported the matter to his superiors.

Chen Mu and his gang also fell silent. They weren’t privy to the details, but they could see what had happened in the distance. They witnessed their resources being confiscated while they were trapped inside their own zones. The feeling of having their strings yanked by someone else filled them with endless resentment. However, they were powerless to do anything about it.

Truth be told, there was a way out of this problem, but it was one that Chen Mu, Wen Huai, and Fang Jing were unwilling to take. It was… to submit and compromise, and accept supervision over their zones!

“There’s no other way except to report to my family clan. Wen Huai, Fang Jing, you should immediately notify your sects as well. We will not compromise on this matter!” A moment later, Chen Mu gritted his teeth and raised his head, staring at Lin Tianhao standing on the city walls. He gave Li Wan’er a meaningful look, then turned and left. He returned to his autonomous zone and immediately contacted his family clan.

The Five Generation Sky Clan had received the report from the perfected Foundation Establishment realm elder as well. After listening to what Chen Mu had to say, they were furious. They began to step in.

However, every one of them underestimated Wang Baole’s firm stance on this matter. As the City Lord, besides that one encounter where he had shown his forceful side during the Li Yi episode, he hadn’t yet revealed this overbearing side of him. Wang Baole had made up his mind to force his way through this matter and show how much of a hardliner he was!

<em>It doesn’t matter who tries to convince me to change my mind. It’s of no use. I’m going to wait and see if they’ll submit! </em>Sitting inside the office, Wang Baole had just ended a voice transmission with the Governor. He had first argued that he had been doing everything because of the appearance of a new catacombs and to ensure the new city’s safety. Then, he had expressed how he had been maligned. Finally, he had sent over a set of documents. After the Governor viewed the documents, she had fallen silent. Then, she seemed to smile. She decided not to question him further.

After the transmission from the Governor, others also began to flood him with transmissions. Wang Baole stared at them with annoyance and decided not to answer any of them. Amongst them was a voice transmission from Li Wan’er. That was why she eventually headed straight for Wang Baole’s office.

Li Wan’er had a dark look on her face when she barged into Wang Baole’s office. She said coldly.

“City Lord Wang, this batch of resources is extremely important. When will City Lord Wang return it to the autonomous zone?”

The dark expression and unfriendly tone of Li Wan’er after witnessing his teaching Chen Mu a lesson displeased Wang Baole tremendously. He pulled out a bag of snacks, then started munching while he yawned.

“This batch of resources needs to undergo a detailed and careful inspection. Perhaps after the current military curfew is over.”

“When will it end?” Li Wan’er stared coldly at Wang Baole.

“You shouldn’t be asking me that. You should be asking the Divine Armament that’s underground. When it stops with the new catacombs and with the Beast Tides, maybe the curfew will end then.” Wang Baole rolled his eyes. He pulled out a bottle of Ice Spirit Water and took a gulp. He could feel his mood improving significantly.

“You!” When Li Wan’er heard that, rage rose inside her. She knew that Wang Baole was intent on punishing Chen Mu and his gang. She turned and made to leave. Just before she left the room though, she sucked in a deep breath and said coldly.

“City Lord Wang, when I arrived, you said that the construction of the new city trumps everything else. If this continues, I cannot guarantee if this will affect the construction of the entire new city.” Done speaking, Li Wan’er pushed the door open and left.

After Li Wan’er left, Wang Baole put his Ice Spirit Water down. His eyes narrowed. He could hear the threat in Li Wan’er’s words. He knew that if anything went wrong with the construction of the new city, while everyone else would be implicated, his responsibility would still be the greatest.

<em>But Li Wan’er, you still don’t understand. What the Federation truly cares about isn’t the new city but the wall in the Divine Armament Catacombs… </em>Wang Baole smiled lightly. It would have been all right if he hadn’t made a move, but since he had, he wouldn’t stop until Chen Mu and his posse yielded. Wang Baole paid no heed to Li Wan’er’s threat.

This was because he had sent a set of documents over to the Governor when she had sent him a voice transmission. The documents detailed the outcome of Kong Dao’s investigation and study of the wall’s erosion.

The report clearly listed the data proving his new city’s array formation had a strong erosive effect on the wall. He also guaranteed that the problem of the wall would be resolved entirely within three years!

This was his Military Warrant. This was why he dared to have such a hard stance towards the Five Generation Sky Clan, the Galactic Dusk Sect, and the Plume Manifestation Connate Sect!

<em>To see through superficial appearances and discern the essence of the matter. This is something out of the high officials’ autobiographies. It’s obvious Li Wan’er doesn’t understand! </em>Wang Baole smacked his tummy, pleased. He pulled out another bag of snacks and, with a tinge of pride, started munching happily.