A World Worth Protecting

1

Zhuo Yixian, who had lost the fight on Mars and returned to his family clan, considered Chen Mu’s proposal seriously. His eyes flashed. He hadn’t released the video earlier and had said what he had said. On the surface, it seemed like good intentions on his part, but his true intentions had been to instigate a fierce battle between Chen Mu and Wang Baole.

He would be happy regardless of who lost. While he hated Wang Baole tremendously, there were unavoidable tensions and conflict between the Zhuo family and the Chen family, despite them both belonging to the Five Generation Sky Clan, a single entity with unified interests.

Many from the Zhuo family had been harboring desires to push the Chen family off the pedestal and take over their position of authority.

That was why Zhuo Yixian had done the opposite of what he had wanted in order to lower Chen Mu’s guard. He knew that Chen Mu would continue to obsess over the video as long as he couldn’t view it. Many a time, a grudge wasn’t formed directly but through such obsessing. It was like the devil’s gradual invasion into one’s mind. That was how archenemies were formed.

But Zhuo Yixian knew that Chen Mu was no fool. Even though the latter might not know what he was doing, it wouldn’t take him long to realize Zhuo Yixian’s tactics. When that happened, Zhuo Yixian would be placed in a more passive position.

The conditions of exchange that Chen Mu was offering now were in Zhuo Yixian’s favor. The only thing he was worried about was what Wang Baole would think. In the past, he wouldn’t have cared about Wang Baole’s views or opinions, but Wang Baole was now the lord of a city. He was a Primary Rank Three Noble. His status was vastly different from that in the past.

<em>Even with his current status, he is still at the Foundation Establishment realm. He can’t fight his way into the Zhuo family. Even if he is unhappy, he will only vent his anger on Chen Mu. This has nothing to do with me! </em>The gears in Zhuo Yixian’s head spun furiously. He soon reached his decision.

“Deal!”

In the new Martian city, within the autonomous zone, Chen Mu narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered after he had reached an accord with Zhuo Yixian.

<em>Zhuo Yixian is a man with great ambitions but insufficient talent. Does he think he can really fool me with such petty tricks? </em>An icy glint flashed in Chen Mu’s eyes. He had seen through Zhuo Yixian’s attempt to bait him, and to add fuel to the fire, but he didn’t care. He would find some way to get back at Zhuo Yixian in the future. What mattered most at present was to take a look at the video. That would determine his attitude towards Li Wan’er.

Part of it had to do with a man’s pride. Another part was because he was worried about the negative impact that would arise if Li Wan’er switched sides at the most critical moment.

Filled with various concerns and thoughts, Chen Mu deliberated for a moment. Then, he immediately contacted his people inside the family clan and began a hunt for Zhuo Yifan!

Chen Mu’s reach and power might have been controlled and restrained on Mars. He hadn’t had the chance to display it before Wang Baole. But on Earth, as the eldest son of the Chen family, even if he wasn’t guaranteed to be the heir, the connections and power he possessed weren’t to be underestimated.

Through his utilizing of his connections, he was able to locate where Zhuo Yifan was very quickly…

A week passed. Wang Baole, who had been meditating in his residence and studying the Dharmic Armament’s Heavenly Evocation technique, suddenly received a voice transmission from the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College.

As the sound of the voice transmission rang next to his ear, Wang Baole split his concentration between answering it while trying his best to control and manipulate the glowing sphere of spirit energy he had conjured. This was the result of his studying the Dharmic Armament—an attempt to direct the energies of heaven and earth by using his own Spirit Qi as a medium.

“Sect Lord, what’s the matter? I’m refining Dharmic Armaments at the moment.” Wang Baole manipulated the glowing Spirit Qi sphere while bragging. He could imagine the Sect Lord’s surprise and what he was going to say after hearing Wang Baole’s words.

Wang Baole didn’t receive what he had expected. The Sect Lord seemed not to have heard what Wang Baole said regarding his refining Dharmic Armaments. His voice was deep and serious. It was like thunder booming in Wang Baole’s ears.

“Baole, there’s something I have to tell you… Yesterday evening, Zhuo Yifan should have returned to the college after completing his mission, but he was ambushed and injured heavily. Coincidentally, there was a party of merchants from the Five Generation Sky Clan’s Zhuo family nearby. Because of Zhuo Yifan’s status, he was saved by the merchant party…”

When the Sect Lord said that, emotions rippled in Wang Baole. The glowing Spirit Qi sphere before him grew unstable and, with a loud bang, exploded instantly. It formed a sudden energy wave that surged outward, hitting the walls. His hair was swept by the force, and a cold light shone in his eyes.

“And?” Wang Baole’s voice had gone deeper. He sat, unmoving.

“He was sent directly to the Zhuo family residence by the party… we have not heard from him since. We immediately contacted the Zhuo family when we heard about this, but Zhuo Yifan is from the Zhuo family, after all, the college isn’t in the position to make any comments. The Grand Supreme Elder has gone out traveling and isn’t in the college. I know your relationship with Zhuo Yifan is close, that’s why I’ve called to inform you.”

“But don’t worry too much about this. Zhuo Yifan is a disciple of our Ethereal Dao College. I will think of something to get the Zhuo family to release him as soon as possible… if you have anyone who can help out, you might want to ask around for favors as well. This might speed things up.” The Sect Lord ended the voice transmission after finishing. He knew that Wang Baole wouldn’t simply sit around and wait after finding out about this.

If Wang Baole weren’t a Primary Rank Three Noble and the lord of a city, if he didn’t enjoy his current reputation and fame, the Ethereal Dao College’s Sect Lord wouldn’t have told him what he just did. But now, in the Sect Lord’s eyes, Wang Baole’s status and position meant he was akin to the highest-ranking official of an independent region. Should he step in, he would be able to exert considerable influence on this matter.

He shared the same conclusions with the Sect Lord. In fact, his own conclusions might be more extreme. After the Sect Lord ended the voice transmission, Wang Baole’s breathing quickened slightly. The icy glint in his eyes transformed into murder. He stood up suddenly. The cultivation inside his body started churning, and the walls around him turned to ice.

<em>Zhuo Yixian! </em>The expression on Wang Baole’s face was dark and stormy. He was like a volcano on the verge of eruption. Zhuo Yifan was his good friend. He was a member of the Adonis Association. He was his brother, whom he had survived death with. In any case, anyone could tell that something wrong and suspicious was going on.

Wang Baole knew what Zhuo Yifan meant to Zhuo Yixian. He was the War Soldier that the Zhuo family had groomed for him. However, after entering the Ethereal Dao College and befriending Wang Baole, the wheels of Zhuo Yifan’s fate had been influenced and had shifted. This had led to everything exceeding Zhuo Yixian’s control.

At present, Zhuo Yifan, who had been sent back to the Zhuo family, must be in grave danger. Wang Baole knew that even though he was a Primary Rank Three Noble, and the City Lord of the new Martian city, his cultivation wasn’t at the Core Formation realm. It would be hard for him to make the Zhuo family budge…

Even though the four Dao Colleges were strong, the Ethereal Dao College wasn’t the leader of the group. This meant the Ethereal Dao College was in an awkward position. In addition, while the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College was a good person and Wang Baole respected him tremendously, he increasingly sensed how true Lin You’s earlier assessment of the Sect Lord was. He began to agree that the Sect Lord’s character was slightly too mild… He lacked decisiveness and forcefulness!

Wang Baole continued thinking about this. He took a deep breath. He thought of someone who could perfectly counter and subvert the power of the Zhuo family. He pulled out his voice transmission ring, and he immediately contacted Kong Dao and summoned the latter to see him!

Kong Dao soon appeared inside Wang Baole’s residence. When he arrived, he noted the icy glint in Wang Baole’s eyes. He looked at the walls. He had a considering look on his face, but he didn’t speak. He stood and stared at Wang Baole, waiting for the latter to speak.

“Brother Kong, I have a personal matter that needs to rely on your family background, as well as the military power of both Mars and Earth. Please let me know if you’re not comfortable helping me with this matter,” Wang Baole stared at Kong Dao and said seriously.

“Say it.” When Kong Dao heard those words, his pupils contracted. He didn’t dodge the issue and instead replied in all seriousness as well.

“Go to the Zhuo family residence. Get Zhuo Yifan safely out and bring him here to Mars!”

Upon hearing the words “Zhuo family”, Kong Dao pondered for a moment. He remembered how Wang Baole had saved his life and gotten him a promotion. Decisiveness flashed in his eyes, and he nodded.

“I can get this done! I’ll leave immediately. I’ll make a trip personally to Earth and to the Zhuo family residence, and bring him back!”

“You have my gratitude!” It was during moments of crisis that one could tell whether someone was a friend. Kong Dao didn’t hesitate in giving his answer. Wang Baole was moved. He cupped his fists and bowed deeply.

Kong Dao did the same. He turned and took his leave. Then, he quickly activated the control the military had over the Great Martian Array Formation and teleported straight to the main Martian city. He boarded a space cruiser and headed straight for Earth!

Kong Dao’s expression was stern prior to boarding the space cruiser. He knew the challenge he would face in getting this matter done, but he also knew that Wang Baole had never asked anything of him. That was why he had decided that he must do a good job!

As he deliberated, Kong Dao turned on his voice transmission ring and sent a voice transmission to the President’s Office, where his godfather was…