A World Worth Protecting

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1

Kong Dao respected his godfather Duan Muque from the bottom of his heart. His primal, beast-like instincts could sense that Duan Muque indeed was like a father to him, hiding his concern and care for him in his heart beneath his stern fatherly demeanor. He believed his instincts. Even so, he didn’t dare make requests of him easily.

That was why he had contacted the President’s Office instead to inform the office that he was going to make a trip out of Mars. He submitted his request to Earth’s administrative office. The person taking his voice transmission was a woman with a very melodic, soothing voice. He felt it vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place the voice and whom it belonged to. He didn’t think much further on it. After ending the transmission, he contacted the Martian military.

After a series of preparations, when Kong Dao finally boarded the space cruiser headed for Earth, he had more than three hundred men with him. They were all cultivators from the Martian military. Their cultivations were at the Foundation Establishment realm; they were no weaklings. The Martian military also despatched a Core Formation realm priest to escort the party and guard Kong Dao.

After all, Kong Dao was the Martian military’s representative in the new city. He also came from a unique background, and his reason for visiting Earth was because of Wang Baole. All these resulted in the Martian military’s enthusiastic support.

As a safeguard, Kong Dao had also contacted the military on Earth. He had everything prepared. When his cruiser landed on Earth, he saw a party of three hundred sent by Earth’s military awaiting him. They were also all at the Foundation Establishment realm.

They had been instructed to support Kong Dao and complete the mission!

There were three people in the team who caught Kong Dao’s attention. Amongst them was a young woman. She was dressed in a smart uniform and looked sharp. Her extraordinary beauty sent the hearts of everyone around her racing. However, the purity in her eyes and her natural aura inspired shame and sheepishness in those around her. It was as if all impure thoughts fled before her sight.

This woman was… Zhao Yameng!

She was the assistant to the President’s Office. Her presence here sent a clear message about the Federation President’s attitude towards this matter. Behind her were two elders whose cultivation levels were extremely high and at the Core Formation realm.

Kong Dao wasn’t unfamiliar with these two elders. He knew that the Federation had a Priest Association which had recruited many Core Formation realm cultivators. These cultivators reported to the Federation President. The presence of these two elders also spoke volumes about the Federation President’s stance.

Kong Dao was heartened and excited by the support that he had gotten from the military on Earth and from his godfather, but he still harbored slight uncertainty. The support that they were showing exceeded his expectations. He had thought that his godfather would simply give his approval. He himself had made separate preparations for that. It seemed that he had no use for them now.

Six hundred Foundation Establishment realm cultivators and three Core Formation realm cultivators—this was a force none of the political forces in the Federation would like to trifle with. The political forces behind this small army were also forces not to be underestimated.

The Zhuo family was indeed shocked by the sight of the army. Zhuo Yixian, especially, began to grow nervous. Kong Dao had brought his army to their home. There was a complete absence of tact in his words. They were blunt and direct to the extreme!

“I am Kong Dao, Martian military colonel, a mayor of Divine Armament New City, and a Secondary Rank Three Noble. I am here by the order of the City Lord of Divine Armament New City, Wang Baole. I have come to take Zhuo Yifan away. I seek the cooperation of the Zhuo family to release him immediately!”

The master of the Zhuo family and many others hadn’t known about this fiasco involving Zhuo Yifan. They had only found out about Zhuo Yixian’s deal with Chen Mu after Zhuo Yixian had imprisoned Zhuo Yifan. Regardless, what had been done was done, there was nothing more to be said about it. Despite the current complications that had arisen, the Zhuo family was still a noble family with a reputation to consider. There was no way they would simply do what others ordered them to and release someone just because someone else said so. In accordance with the rules of society, there should have been a series of negotiation before both parties reached a satisfactory agreement. It would have taken a few days before a settlement was reached.

As a result, when faced with such a forceful Kong Dao, the elder who was in charge of handling this matter on behalf of the Zhuo family immediately refused to comply with Kong Dao’s orders coldly.

As soon as he made his refusal, before Kong Dao could make things difficult for him, a quietly angry Zhao Yameng chose to strike. Her attack couldn’t be considered fierce, but the Core Formation realm priests behind her had struck at the same time, their cultivation erupting and heightening the tension and chaos of the situation instantly.

The Zhuo family, who had intended to maintain a forceful attitude, immediately softened their stance. The elder from the Zhuo family was clearly wary of Zhao Yameng. Kong Dao found that curious but couldn’t care to think further on it. Before he acted, he sent a voice transmission to Wang Baole asking his permission.

After all, things would change once he gave the orders to attack. He wanted to know how Wang Baole would make his choices.

Wang Baole had been following the matter closely. After receiving the voice transmission and getting a clear picture of what was going on, he didn’t hesitate. His voice over the voice transmission ring was ice cold.

“Do it! If anything happens, I’ll take full responsibility!”

Upon hearing the decisiveness in Wang Baole’s voice, a murderous intent flashed in Kong Dao’s eyes. He immediately gave the orders to strike, and a fight was about to break out at any moment now. The Zhuo family didn’t fear battle, but they knew they would lose. Their enemy had Kong Dao, had Zhao Yameng, had the military; they had three Core Formation realm cultivators who had their own political backing. The Zhuo family was at a disadvantage.

<em>The Federation President, the Federation military, the Martian Colony Governor, and Wang Baole… damn it, Zhuo Yixian, are you trying to get the entire family clan killed? </em>At that moment of intense pressure and tension, the head of the Zhuo family took in a deep breath. He made a choice for general stability and stopped both parties from fighting. He didn’t make a personal appearance, but he had someone bring Zhuo Yifan out.

However, the same moment that Zhuo Yifan appeared outside, a surge of late-stage Core Formation realm cultivation and the spirit energy of a ninth-grade Dharmic Armament erupted from the Zhuo family’s backyard. The sudden eruption of the spirit energies almost transformed the heavens and earth. Thunder rumbled and formed an overpowering presence in the air. It surrounded Zhao Yameng, Kong Dao, and their people.

It appeared that it would be an easy feat for this Core Formation realm cultivator of the Zhuo family to wipe them all out. However, he had only given them a slight taste of his power before his presence disappeared. It was both an attempt to terrify and shock, and a message to everyone watching—the Zhuo family was handing Zhuo Yifan over not because they were afraid, but because they placed the greater good in higher priority!

As they handed Zhuo Yifan over, the elder who had been charged with handling this matter also tactfully explained that they weren’t the ones responsible for the current situation. Someone else had brought Zhuo Yifan to them.

The matter could be said to have reached an end. It had been a storm that had rumbled loudly but had yielded petty raindrops. Those who had been observing the affair weren’t surprised, as anyone would submit when faced with the combined force of these political forces.

Zhuo Yifan looked pale, but Wang Baole’s rescue had been in time. He was slightly injured but generally unharmed. He was clearly in low spirits, however. The last shred of familial feelings he had for the Zhuo family seemed to have vanished.

No one knew what he had gone through during his brief imprisonment. He didn’t say a single word. Even Zhao Yameng couldn’t get anything out of him. It was clear though, that Zhuo Yifan had gone through something tremendous during these few days, and that it had been a huge blow to him.

During the silent trip back, Kong Dao suggested that Zhuo Yifan make a trip to Mars, but Zhuo Yifan shook his head.

“Help me tell Baole that I’m not going to Mars. I’m going to the Moon. I’ll be training there, and I won’t return until I reach the Core Formation realm!” Zhuo Yifan said that with stubbornness and determination in his eyes.

Kong Dao sighed when he heard Zhuo Yifan’s decision. Before he left, he said suddenly, “You can consider making a trip to the Sea of Beasts. If you really wish to seek a breakthrough in your cultivation by putting yourself in extreme danger, the Sea of Beasts would be a more suitable training ground compared to the Moon!” Then, Kong Dao cupped his fists and saluted Zhao Yameng, turned, and led his men away.

He had once admired and felt something for Zhao Yameng. However, at present, he had a clearer understanding of his heart. What he desired was to embark on a journey to become a powerful cultivator. It was a harsh and challenging path, and he couldn’t afford too many distractions and commitments. That was why he had chosen to keep these feelings deep in his heart and turn away from Zhao Yameng.

He didn’t immediately leave Earth for Mars. After splitting up with Zhuo Yifan, he began an investigation on the Zhuo Yifan incident. He used his connections and even contacted Jin Duoming. Finally, he traced whatever slight clues he had and found evidence that the cause of everything was Chen Mu!

He boarded the cruiser headed for Mars and sent the outcome of his findings to Wang Baole. The cruiser lifted off into the skies, marking the end of his mission!

Even though the entire mission happened over a brief period of time, it still caused quite an uproar in the Federation. Everyone—the four Dao Colleges, the Senate, and the other political forces—who had witnessed the outcome of the fiasco turned their eyes towards Mars at the same time.

The political forces had only had eyes on the Martian Colony Governor when they considered Mars. Now, someone else had entered the picture. He was only at the Foundation Establishment realm, but he was able to get someone to head to Earth to carry out a mission with a single order while he was still on Mars. He had the support of the military and the Martian administration as well as the implicit approval of the Federation President. Everything… pointed to the fact that this new rising star on Mars had risen to a level where his importance could no longer be disregarded!

To Wang Baole, this mission showed his displeasure towards the Zhuo family and his desire to save his friend. To the other political forces… this was Wang Baole’s attempt at displaying his power. To them, he was using his own way to tell everyone that regardless of which political force it was, he, Wang Baole, and his family and friends, weren’t to be easily messed with!

If you dared touch them, he would show you he was equally unafraid to show you what he was made of!