A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole didn’t wait for the Martian Colony Governor to reply. He happily sent another voice transmission to the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College. However, no one picked up his call. Wang Baole was already experienced with such matters, so he left a message.

“Sect Lord, I, Wang Baole, didn’t disappoint your expectations. After months of seclusion, I’ve reached a breakthrough in my cultivation without any difficulty. I’ve entered… the Core Formation realm!”

Wang Baole was simply overcome with excitement. He hurriedly left the Federation President another message. He felt that his reaching the Core Formation realm was an important milestone. The entire Federation should be celebrating, and he should be receiving congratulatory gifts from important people. That was the only respectable way to treat a Primary Rank Three Noble.

As Wang Baole was sending messages to the Governor and the others, the Governor was sitting inside her office in the Martian Colony City. On her desk was a jade slip. It exuded a strange light that enveloped her entire person.

The same thing was happening to the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College, as well as the other three Sect Lords of the other three Dao Colleges. Similarly, to the Head Senator and a few senators of the Senate, and even the representatives of the other political forces such as the Five Generation Sky Clan and the upper echelons of the military. The various important figures in the Federation were currently sitting in their respective offices, enveloped in the light of identical jade slips.

That was why even though they noticed Wang Baole’s voice transmission, they didn’t have the time to attend to it. This was because, at this moment, they were conducting a Federation summit via this unique jade slip!

The location of this summit was the Federation Capital on Earth, on the top floor of a towering building whose design was a combination of the sun, moon, and stars. Within this building was an enormous conference room.

Nine statues stood on the sides of the conference room, each statue exuding an intense battle aura. Within the circle of statues was an enormous, oval-shaped, stone table. More than a dozen large chairs lined the table, and projected on each chair was an illusory figure!

There was the Martian Colony Governor, the Sect Lords of the four Dao Colleges, the representative of the Trilunaris Corporation, the Head Senator, as well as Lin You and two other senators. There were also five Elders from the Five Generation Sky Clan, the Grand Elder from the Galactic Dusk Sect, and the Sect Lord of the Plume Manifestation Connate Sect. A great proportion of the most important figures of the entire Federation were in this room.

The Federation President had no projection. He was there in person, seated in the chair in the center of the table. Even though there was a difference in size between his person and the chair, the aura that he exuded formed a Dharma body that was the exact same size as the other attendees. His presence overpowered the rest.

This was the fifth summit. It had been going on for an entire day and was about to reach its end. The main issues they discussed during the summit were the Mercury crisis and the whereabouts of the three extraterrestrial cultivators.

However, no matter how hard the Federation searched, they were unable to locate traces of these three extraterrestrial cultivators. There were many views about this, but no conclusion was reached. The intense defensive measures that the Federation had put in place and the activation of the array formations across the entire Solar System was expending a great deal of energy. To the Federation, which was only in the dawn of its cultivation civilization, the longer they kept this up, the more challenges they would face maintaining the status quo.

They finally reached a consensus as the summit neared its end. It was then that Federation President Duan Muque. Everyone around him stopped their discussion and raised their heads to look at Duan Muque.

“Senior Mo Gaozi has already searched the entire Solar System, and the Federation array formation has been activated this whole time. Despite that, we haven’t found any clues. Based on Senior Mo Gaozi’s assessment… the three extraterrestrial cultivators have either perished or have left the Solar System through means that are unknown to us,” Duan Muque said, his low voice ringing out in the conference room.

“The chances of them perishing are low, but it’s still possible. After all, within this Solar System exists things that we cannot comprehend… some strange mysterious powers!

“The possibility of them having escaped the Solar System is greater. If that is the case, that means that… we might be facing greater threats in the future!”

“Regardless, there’s no reason to keep the Solar System array formation activated. However, as a lesson from the Mercury crisis, the greater array formations for the respective planets should be activated fully at all times!” As Duan Muque said that, his expression remained unchanged. His thoughts were indiscernible. Those around him seemed deep in thought, but no one said a word.

He glanced at everyone, then laughed suddenly. He knew that even if certain things remained unspoken, they would still be heard by those sat there. After all, they were all experienced strategists.

It might seem that Duan Muque was prepared to deactivate the greater array formation and lower the threat level. However, he had also secretly spoken to Senior Mo Gaozi, who had harbored goodwill all these years. They planned to use such a method to lure the three extraterrestrial cultivators out. They planned to wait for them to reappear. As a result, Mo Gaozi’s search wouldn’t end yet.

However, even though he believed that the Federation wouldn’t have traitors who would betray the entire species, he still decided to be cautious and guard against the possibility of someone in their midst colluding with the extraterrestrial cultivators. He hadn’t shared the full details of his plans. He had, in fact, secretly put in place greater preventive measures.

Having spoken his piece, Duan Muque was about to get up and end the summit. It was then that an extremely handsome middle-aged man from the Five Generation Sky Clan laughed suddenly.

“Comrade Duan Muque, since the important matters have been decided, and the Solar System array formation will be deactivated, then it means that everything will be returning to normal. Should we then talk about the matter of promoting the city status of the new Martian city?” The person who had spoken was the head of the Chen family in the Five Generation Sky Clan—Chen Mu’s father!

As soon as he said that, the other clan leaders in the Five Generation Sky Clan nodded. The head of the Zhuo family, especially, said with a smile.

“The new Martian city is an extremely important asset, but its current scale is unable to support the excavation of the Divine Armament. There are also unknown security issues regarding its defenses. I support the proposal to promote its status to a special regional city!”

After the Five Generation Sky Clan representatives spoke in succession, the grand elder from the Galactic Dusk Sect also smiled faintly and nodded.

“The Galactic Dusk Sect extends their support for this matter!”

Soon, the Sect Lord of the Plume Manifestation Connate Sect also touched his chin. He stared at the Five Generation Sky Clan, then at the four Dao Colleges. He supported the proposal as well.

The Trilunaris Corporation didn’t speak, and the Senate was the same. Lin You had a slight frown on his forehead, narrowing his eyes as he glanced towards the Ethereal Dao College.

The expression of the Ethereal Dao College Sect Lord seemed slightly strange in his eyes. He kept lowering his head as if he was reading something… As for the other three Dao Colleges, the Sect Lord from the White Deer Dao College, especially, snorted but didn’t say anything. The matter about promoting the status of the new Martian city had been set in stone. The various political forces had reached a consensus. They had divided the various posts in the special regional city amongst themselves as well. If not for the appearance of the extraterrestrial cultivators, this matter would have been a done deal.

Even the Governor of the Martian Colony was expressionless. However, no one had noticed that she had lowered her head earlier. She seemed to have taken a look at her voice transmission ring.

Finally, with the support of the great majority, the promotion of the new Martian city’s status was decided. Duan Muque didn’t stop the motion. He simply concealed the faint devious look in his Dharma body’s eyes.

“Since the matter of the special regional city has been decided, the next matter would be to decide the City Lord of the new special regional city.” The Martian Colony Governor, who hadn’t said a single word earlier, suddenly spoke.

“The candidate must be level-headed and have a Core Formation realm cultivation. This is unfortunate for Wang Baole. He is a good kid, but he is not at the Core Formation realm.” The Zhuo family head from the Five Generation Sky Clan shook his head and sighed.

“We might be old, but we still have to support the Federation and give the next generation enough time to grow into their talents and powers. Especially Wang Baole, who has shown such potential. We cannot take up his precious time, which can be better spent on cultivation!”

As these people spoke hypocritical words, the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College suddenly slammed his fist on the table and roared.

“Wang Baole has made undeniable and great contributions to the Federation and to Mars. He built the new Martian city from scratch. I propose that the Federation set a precedent and allow Wang Baole to become the City Lord of the special regional city!”

“There’s no need for such agitation, Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College. I agree that Wang Baole is indeed exemplary, but rules are rules, how could we simply amend them like that? If Wang Baole’s cultivation was at the Core Formation realm, I would support him as well, but the Martian special regional city is closely tied with the Divine Armament. This is no joking matter. Sect Lord, you shouldn’t allow your personal feelings to affect decisions regarding the welfare of the Federation!” the Chen family head of the Five Generation Sky Clan said coolly. The pitch of his voice wasn’t high. However, the harshness of his tone rang clearly through his words.

“You…” The Ethereal Dao College Sect Lord’s face darkened and then paled, then darkened again as he tightened his fists. He had nothing to say to that.

“I can understand what the Ethereal Dao College Sect Lord is feeling. Wang Baole is indeed the best candidate, but his cultivation doesn’t meet the requirements. Besides, based on Federation laws, the City Lord of a special regional city would have to join the Senate. He would also have to be at least a Secondary Rank Two Noble. One of the requirements of a Secondary Rank Two Noble is a Core Formation realm cultivation!” The grand elder of the Galactic Dusk Sect sitting at one side shook his head and sighed.

“That’s the principle of the matter…”

The Five Generation Sky Clan, the Galactic Dusk Sect, and the other supporters started to sigh. Those from the Five Generation Sky Clan were especially hypocritical in their expressions of pity.

Just as they were about to declare that they had reached a consensus on whom the new City Lord was to be, suddenly, the Martian City Governor, who had been standing at one side, said coolly, with no expression on her face.

“I just received news. As you’ve all agreed, the best person for the job, who unfortunately lacked sufficient cultivation, is Wang Baole. He just ended his seclusion. He… has reached the Core Formation realm!”