A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole saw that the crowd had seen reason and that no one was going to publicly accuse the donkey of any wrongdoing. He was extremely pleased with his methods. He had been about to kick the donkey again, instinctively, but then he had heard what Lin Tianhao and Jin Duoming had said. He couldn’t quite get himself to carry on with that kick.

The giant python had a considerable impact on him. He was worried that he might accidentally push the donkey into transforming with one kick. What should he do then…

He thought about his position as the donkey’s master. He shouldn’t be so violent and should instead shower small animals with care. He pulled his leg back and patted the donkey lovingly on its head.

His tenderness scared the donkey. It had been feeling better earlier after sensing the murderous intent fading from the eyes of the people around it. However, the tender and caring expression on Wang Baole’s face that followed swiftly after made it shudder instantly. Fear shone in its eyes.

Wang Baole could see the look on the donkey’s face clearly. Exasperated, he kicked the donkey again. It flew a short distance, rolled over, and got to its feet. It seemed more at ease and a lot happier.

<em>What’s wrong with this creature? </em>Wang Baole was torn between bursting out into laughter and weeping. He received a voice transmission from Li Wan’er. The catacombs that had appeared in Fang Jing’s autonomous zone was now under control. The crisis that had taken the new city by surprise had been partially resolved.

It wasn’t yet fully resolved because they hadn’t yet found the mastermind behind this attack. The cultivators around Wang Baole might no longer be angry at the donkey, but they were still hungry for revenge. They had murder in their eyes and needed an outlet to vent their anger. They wanted vengeance. Wang Baole knew this, and the cultivators around him understood as well.

However, the mastermind was hidden from their view. Finding him would be a challenge. Wang Baole hadn’t managed to find him with his array formation in the past. However, at present… things seemed to have changed.

“Scram, get over here!” Wang Baole’s eyes flashed. He immediately turned and stared at the donkey.

The donkey remained secretly cautious, but it still ran hurriedly towards Wang Baole, merrily and obediently. It wagged its tail furiously, as if trying to convey the message that it was doing exactly what it was told and asking for its life to be spared.

“Where did you get into trouble? Can you find the person who tried to control you?”

Wang Baole patted the donkey on its head and asked. The cultivators around them all stared at the donkey. The donkey blinked. It seemed to know what Wang Baole was saying. It concentrated and appeared to be extending its senses outwards. Its nose started sniffling. Wang Baole frowned. He had a growing suspicion that one of the donkey’s parents must have been some form of giant dog-like monster.

The crowd didn’t have to wait long. The donkey’s eyes soon flashed. It brayed at Wang Baole and immediately dashed ahead in a particular direction.

An icy glint flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. Murderous intent rose in his heart and showed on his face. He didn’t hesitate and immediately followed the donkey.

Jin Duoming did the same. The Core Formation realm cultivator who had died had been his protector. The man had treated him with great kindness. Jin Duoming might appear to have resumed his normal self, but his heart had been simmering with murderous intent. He followed swiftly behind Wang Baole.

Kong Dao and Lin Tianhao did the same. Their hate towards the mastermind was intense. They also had men who had died and had used the invaluable ultimate attacks that they had kept as a last resort. They wouldn’t simply let this matter rest. Every Foundation Establishment realm cultivator and cultivators of higher cultivation realms soon followed. They marched forth like a vast army.

The donkey was swift. As Wang Baole followed behind it, his breathing began to quicken. He almost couldn’t control his murderous rage when he realized where the donkey was headed… it was towards Chen Mu’s autonomous zone!

Wang Baole wasn’t the only one who had realized that. Lin Tianhao, Kong Dao, and Jin Duoming had all realized what was going on. They didn’t hesitate. The murderous intent exuding from their persons grew stronger.

The army was like a sharp sword hungering for blood. They sped through the new city and charged into Chen Mu’s autonomous zone. There were still plenty of Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators inside the autonomous zone, but their numbers had significantly reduced. They saw Wang Baole and his army. They didn’t know why the latter was here, but they had heard about the crisis that had befallen the city. Every one of them was alarmed by the overpowering aura exuding from Wang Baole and his army of cultivators. They hastily fell back and didn’t dare stop them.

Not all did the same, however. There were still some Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators who were alarmed when they saw Wang Baole and his people and tried to stop them from advancing further.

“Stop, our young master has instructed that no one is to enter these grounds!”

As soon as they spoke, before Wang Baole could react, Jin Duoming hollered.

“To hell with your young master!” He charged out, Dharmic Armament in hand. The Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators who had stood before them cried out in pain and fell back instantly.

“Chen Mu, if you’re really the one who’s behind all this, I, Jin Duoming, will skin you alive!” Jin Duoming’s eyes were red. The members of the Five Generation Sky Clan around him stared and hesitated. Wang Baole’s cold voice, firm and authoritative, rang in their ears.

“All cultivators, here are your orders. Those who try to stand in the way of the law… execute them on the spot!”

Jin Duoming’s violent attack had shocked the Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators and frozen them in their tracks, but he couldn’t stop the urge in them to retaliate. Wang Baole hadn’t attacked, but his status and his authority had laced his words with ice. The members of the Five Generation Sky Clan all hesitated. They felt compelled to fall back.

They weren’t truly afraid of Jin Duoming and the others… but after what the Five Generation Sky Clan had gone through during the lunar incident, the legend of Wang Baole’s violent streak had spread within the clan. Without his knowledge, Wang Baole had become a fearsome entity inside the hearts of many Five Generation Sky Clan members.

As his words echoed in the air, the Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators all fell silent. They didn’t try to stop them. They allowed Wang Baole and his group of cultivators to follow the racing donkey, and approach where Chen Mu had gone into seclusion. They drew closer and closer.

As they were about to reach where Chen Mu had gone into seclusion, Chen Mu, who had passed out earlier, seemed to instinctively sense the danger that was about to approach. His eyes opened suddenly and struggled to sit up. His eyes looked lost. He soon recalled what had happened prior to his losing consciousness, and his breathing grew heavy.

“Wang Baole!” He roared. He hated that donkey, but he hated Wang Baole even more. The donkey belonged to Wang Baole, after all… however, despite the hatred flooding his heart, he still had to consider the consequences of his actions. Things would have turned out fine if he had succeeded. But he had failed. He could imagine the fate that would befall him if they found out that he had been the one pulling the puppet’s strings.

<em>That’s not possible. No one would realize it’s me… </em>Chen Mu consoled himself. The backlash had been too strong, and his vision was still slightly blurry after he had come to. He panted and pulled out a pill, then swallowed it. He was about to get to his feet and make the necessary preparations, but as soon as he stood up, a loud thunder boomed and exploded above his head.

It was like the crashing of thunder, and it almost caused Chen Mu’s eardrums to burst. Alarm flashed across his face as he retreated hastily. The ceiling above his head shattered into pieces. The secret chamber that he was in split into several parts in that instant. The walls and ceiling collapsed, exposing him in the open!

As the explosion erupted, Jin Duoming’s silhouette appeared first. He had been the one to slice the residence into parts with his sword. As shattered stone rained on them, Wang Baole, Kong Dao, Lin Tianhao, and the surviving Core Formation realm cultivators appeared around the collapsed secret chamber littered with shattered stone!

“Jin Duoming, what are you doing? Are you trying to start a war between the Trilunaris Corporation and the Five Generation Sky Clan?” Chen Mu hastily stepped aside. However, he was already in a weakened state. He didn’t manage to avoid the attack completely and spat out a mouthful of blood. He leaned against a shattered slab of stone as he secretly quaked inside. He tried his best not to show his fear on his face as he barked out a fierce order immediately.

“Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators, at my command!”

As soon as he spoke, the Five Generation Sky Clan cultivators who had been stopped earlier appeared despite their fear of Wang Baole and his army. They surrounded Wang Baole and his party. The Core Formation realm cultivators from the Five Generation Sky Clan also approached instantly.

“Chen Mu, you wish to speak for the Five Generation Sky Clan? Fine. You controlled a puppet and revolted against the Federation. The Federation will get to the bottom of this!” Jin Duoming laughed, and his eyes narrowed into slits. His voice was chilly, but he was slightly hesitant deep down. After all… he had no proof. It had been the donkey that had led them here. The relationship between Wang Baole and Chen Mu had been fraught with conflict. There was a possibility of Wang Baole trying to use this as an excuse to kill Chen Mu.

“That’s slander!” Chen Mu grew furious when he heard that. His breathing quickened. His eyes reddened. He glared at Jin Duoming, then turned and stared at Wang Baole.