A World Worth Protecting

1

As the various media outlets and the Spirit Internet continued to promote Wang Baole in every city on every planet of the entire Federation, stories about his childhood began to surface as those who knew the stories began sharing said stories.

“I’m the ex-husband of City Lord Wang Baole’s elementary school teacher. I could tell since he was a young kid that he had the potential to be a hero. He studied hard in class and loved to help out the weaker female students. This is clearly the trait of the exemplary! He even actively got the other students together to lose weight. What a great kid. He did that to strengthen their bodies so that they might contribute to the prosperity of the Federation!”

“I’m City Lord Wang Baole’s good friend. I sat behind him in class for three years. He was an inspiration to me those three years. He had a great impact on my life. It was Wang Baole who taught me to never stop improving myself!”

“This is all in the past, but City Lord Wang Baole once courted me. I didn’t want to affect his future, that was why I silently wept as I turned him down. But now, I just want to say, Wang Baole, I’m here in Phoenix City waiting for you!”

All sorts of tidbits began to be revealed through the media outlets and drew great interest from the populace. Contradictory opinions surfaced as well. There were those who said that Wang Baole was a pervert. There were some who said that since he had been a kid, Wang Baole had enjoyed making friends with the powerful for his personal gains. There were also those who said that he had been a bully when he had been in school…

Such news was drowned out by the sea of compliments when they first surfaced, hardly making a ripple. A host on the Spirit Internet also contributed greatly to this series of promotions.

“Old friends, do you still remember me, Little Daoist? I graduated from the Ethereal Dao College and had a series of close interactions with the City Lord Wang Baole. I even reported many exclusive news stories then. Today, please stay tuned to my channel as I bring you into the inner world of City Lord Wang Baole, and as we get to know the City Lord!” Little Daoist, who had been a host at the Ethereal Dao College, seized this opportunity and returned to college again. He revisited many places on campus and, with great exaggeration, reported what could be seen as exclusive information about Wang Baole’s student life on campus. It was a hit.

Such an explosive promotion fulfilled what the Federation set out to achieve, which was to distract the citizens’ attention. The Mercury incident sank to the depths of the people’s minds. It no longer hovered near the surface, before their eyes and at the top of their heads.

Wang Baole also found out through the Spirit Internet and countless voice transmissions that the Federation was carrying out widespread promotion regarding him. He became excited, spending most of his time every day logged on to the Spirit Internet and reading articles about himself. He would pat his tummy as he snacked, and his mood would soar to the heavens.

Perhaps it was because he had been in too good a mood and had overeaten, or that he hadn’t been exercising, or because Li Wan’er’s cultivation was nearing a breakthrough and she had gone into seclusion—resulting in her being unable to help him exercise—but Wang Baole felt a change in sensation as he patted his tummy. Based on his rich experience in losing weight, he could tell that… he had gained weight again.

The thought of being fat was akin to being hit by a Nascent Soul realm cultivator with all his strength. Wang Baole shuddered immediately. He wanted to throw aside the half-eaten drumstick in his hand. However, after some thought, he stood before the mirror and carefully examined himself and his figure, which still seemed somewhat slim. He was torn.

<em>This is my last drumstick today. After finishing it, I’ll start to lose weight tomorrow! </em>Wang Baole gritted his teeth. It was as if he had a deep grudge against the drumstick. He finished it within two to three mouthfuls. After that, he sat down forcefully and took a deep breath, a look of determination in his eyes.

<em>As the most handsome man in the whole of the Federation, I have to maintain my image. Such stress… </em>Wang Baole lowered his head and stared at his tummy. He realized that he had let go of himself too much in the past few days. Even though the new city had risen to become a special regional city and his workload had increased considerably, he had experienced a few city expansions previously and had also resolved the problem of the Beast Tides from the catacombs. Everything was going according to plan.

Jin Duoming and the others also received a promotion in their ranks and appointments, causing the level of their authority to grow. As long as everything went according to plan, he would be left with plenty of leisure time.

<em>I can’t let myself relax… </em>Wang Baole rubbed at his forehead. He thought for a while then decided to make a trip back to earth. He had the intention when he had returned. However, because of Li Wan’er’s seclusion and the recent promotion in status for the city, Wang Baole had decided to supervise the city administration for some time first.

<em>My Lightning Dao is only at the Foundation Establishment realm level. I need to return to the Ethereal Dao College to select a new mystic art at the Core Formation realm… It’s a pity that the mystic arts inside the Dark Dream all had something to do with Dark Qi. Even those that have nothing to do with Dark Qi can only be practiced when I reach the Spirit Immortal realm… They’re looking down on the Core Formation realm. </em>Wang Baole sighed.

Even though it was important to return to the college and pick up his next mystic art, if that had been the only matter, Wang Baole wouldn’t have needed to make a personal visit. He had been speaking to his parents via transmissions every now and then, but it had been some time since they had last met.

That was why Wang Baole was thinking about returning to Earth and visiting his parents, and he would make a trip to the college and pick up his next mystic art while he was there. He had another thing that he was considering as well. Wang Baole was wondering if his parents should continue to stay in Phoenix City and if that was still appropriate.

Even though it would be difficult for his aging parents to leave their hometown—with the rise in his cultivation and status, and with his increased knowledge and understanding of this world—Wang Baole knew that while the Federation might appear to be safe, there were still possibilities of catastrophes like the Mercury incident happening again.

Besides, even if the Federation administration seemed to be relatively stable, Wang Baole knew that there were many who envied him, held a grudge against him, or had conflicting interests.

Wang Baole wasn’t confident of the safety that the Phoenix City could provide. His heart wouldn’t be set at ease even if the Ethereal Dao College sent people to protect his parents secretly.

<em>I’ll discuss it with mom. It’ll be best if they could move to Ethereal City. It’ll be safer for them that way. </em>Wang Baole made up his mind. He would return and discuss it with his mother. As for what his father thought, he wouldn’t put too much weight on that. Based on his understanding, since the neighboring aunts had started addressing him as Old Wang, his status in their family had fallen to an extreme low.

<em>I pity dad. The world is harsh. Old Li, Old Liu, and Old Zhang next door are all fine, but once they mention Old Wang next door… </em>Wang Baole shook his head and sighed. He submitted a request to the Martian Colony Governor, then gathered Kong Dao, Jin Duoming, Lin Tianhao and the others for instruction. Soon, that day in the evening, his subordinates saw him off as he boarded a celestial cruiser that belonged to the Martian special regional city and left the planet.

As an important Secondary Rank Two Noble, every move that Wang Baole made needed to be reported to the Federation. The Federation immediately got hold of his calendar. The Martian military even arranged for a protection detail of four cruisers to accompany him on this trip.

The four cruisers circled the main cruiser as they dashed through space. As they passed the moon, three cruisers that belonged to the lunar base joined the fleet under Federation orders. Eight cruisers sped towards Earth.

As they continued to approach, Wang Baole, standing inside the main cruiser, first kicked the donkey that was licking the floorboard with a contemplative look—as if it wanted to take a bit out of the floor—then gazed outside the window. As the blue planet approached, thoughts of home and homesickness began to show in his eyes.

He recalled when he had first left many years ago. He had only just reached the Foundation Establishment realm and had only been a Secondary Rank Five Noble. He had carried his dreams aboard a cruiser to Mars, entered the education sector, and braved countless trials to arrive at where he was now.

Now, he was a Secondary Rank Two Noble. His cultivation had achieved a breakthrough, and he had entered the Core Formation realm. His status and rank of now and many years ago seemed worlds apart.

<em>I’m going home! </em>Wang Baole took a deep breath. The cruiser that he was in was surrounded by seven other escorting cruisers as they raced towards Earth. Soon, they entered the Earth’s great array formation and were pulled in, entering the atmosphere before speeding towards the spaceport in the Federation Capital!

The Federation had made arrangements for a reception party for him at the sky port, a grand reception with over a hundred people. They looked, smiling, as the cruisers landed—the rumbling roars of the engines resounded in the port. The first to get out were the hundred-odd combat cultivators who had been inside the seven escort cruisers and had guarded Wang Baole during the journey to Earth. They raced out of the cruisers and secured the area. After ensuring that everything was safe and secure, the doors of the main cruiser opened gradually.

As soon as it opened, Wang Baole, who had just smoothened his attire and put on a serious expression, slowly walked out. The donkey followed behind him, clearly excited. It kept looking around, as everything on Earth was new to its eyes.

“City Lord Wang, welcome back to Earth!” As soon as Wang Baole appeared, those in the reception party immediately bowed and greeted Wang Baole!

Leading them was a middle-aged man with a cultivation at the Core Formation realm. There was warmth in his smile as he cupped his fists and saluted Wang Baole.