A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole was one of the most exemplary figures amongst the disciples who had ever graduated from Ethereal Dao College. If he had informed the college officially of his return, the college would have prepared a grand ceremony to welcome his return.

He might have been interested in having that when he had just been promoted to Secondary Rank Two Noble. Now, after some time had passed, such interest had wavered. In fact, he thought it troublesome instead. That was why he didn’t notify the college officially about his return. He had only sent the Sect Lord a voice transmission before he dashed off and stepped into the college campus.

Wang Baole paused in mid-air when he passed the Lower Academy Island. He lowered his head and glanced at the students in the Lower Academy Island, spending a slightly longer time looking at those from the Dharmic Armament faculty. He couldn’t help but laugh as memories of the past surfaced in his mind. Then, he turned and once again sped towards the Upper Academy Island.

The Upper Academy Island’s array formation didn’t stop Wang Baole from entering. He was a disciple of the Ethereal Dao College, after all. After passing the array formation without difficulty, Wang Baole didn’t immediately look for the Sect Lord. His head turned abruptly towards the Alchemy Pavilion’s mountain peak suspended in mid-air!

Besides getting a new cultivation technique, there was another important thing that he had planned to do when he returned to the college. It was something that he had felt unhappy about while he was on Mars, and had thought about getting done one day. It was about… Bunny’s seclusion!

<em>She’s probably turned into an old bunny, staying in seclusion all that time. The Alchemy Pavilion must be doing this on purpose. They know about me and Bunny. That’s why they’re targeting Bunny! </em>Wang Baole snorted. He had made up his mind. He was going to get an explanation out of Bunny’s master. That old fellow must be the reason Bunny was always away in seclusion. Wang Baole was extremely displeased.

As soon as he dashed out from the array formation, he headed straight for the Alchemy Pavilion.

Even though he was moving extremely quickly, there were still a few out of the many disciples on the Upper Academy Island who saw the fleeting figure of Wang Baole. Others might not have been so visible, but Wang Baole was famous now. Besides… he was extremely easy to recognize.

Someone soon gasped.

“I think I just saw… Eldest Senior Brother Wang Baole?”

“I saw him too! It should be Senior Brother Wang. But why isn’t he headed for the Dharmic Armament Pavilion but towards the Alchemy Pavilion?”

“Heavens, our eldest senior brother is back?”

Gasps rang out in the air, and someone even posted excitedly about it on the Spirit Internet. There was no doubt that Wang Baole had become a legend in the eyes of the disciples of the Ethereal Dao College, and increasingly more disciples began to address him as Eldest Senior Brother.

More people on the Upper Academy Island realized what was going on, and more disciples began appearing in the open, trying excitedly to locate Wang Baole. Wang Baole had arrived outside the Alchemy Pavilion and was about to break in when the Alchemy Pavilion’s array formation unleashed its power in an attempt to stop him.

Every pavilion on the Upper Academy Island had its own separate array formation. Unless permission was granted, those who didn’t belong to said pavilion wouldn’t be allowed to enter. The array formation simply served as an obstruction though, not having the ability to attack. These were college disciples, after all.

The array formation proved a great obstacle to a True Breath realm cultivator. Even a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator would find it a challenge. But to a Core Formation realm cultivator… it was practically nonexistent.

As soon as Wang Baole entered the array formation and it was activated, a tremendous boom sounded. Wang Baole snorted. The Alchemy Pavilion’s array formation began to distort. It was unable to hold Wang Baole back, and he marched straight into the pavilion!

As he took a forceful step in, alarms began to ring. They resounded throughout the entire Alchemy Pavilion, shocking its disciples and Elders.

“There’s an intruder in the Alchemy Pavilion!”

“He wasn’t stopped by the array formations!”

“Who is it? What guts, daring to barge into the Upper Academy Island!”

Alarmed, hordes of disciples rushed out of their cave abodes. A few Foundation Establishment realm Elders flew out furiously as well. They intended to punish the intruder. However, the disciples were soon stunned to see a familiar figure step out from the warped and distorted array formation.

“Eldest Senior Brother Baole?”

“It’s Eldest Senior Brother Wang Baole!”

The Alchemy Pavilion’s disciples gasped. They immediately forgot the fact that he had barged in and bowed at Wang Baole eagerly. Awe and adoration shone in their eyes.

There were a few disciples who had entered the Alchemy Pavilion after Wang Baole had graduated who were equally excited but still ventured to ask the person next to them uncertainly.

“Erm… what are we going to do about Eldest Senior Brother barging through our array formation?”

He was answered by those standing beside him, who looked at him with contempt in their eyes. They reprimanded him as they corrected what he had said.

“Have you turned stupid from refining too many pills? How is Eldest Senior Brother entering the Alchemy Pavilion a break-in? He’s entering his own house. He just didn’t knock first.”

That sounded surprisingly reasonable. The newly admitted disciples immediately sensed that they were the ones who had misunderstood the situation. They agreed instantly and stopped thinking about the supposed intrusion.

The few Foundation Establishment realm Elders were at a loss. Their heads throbbed, but they said nothing about Wang Baole breaking in by force. Instead, they cupped their fists and saluted Wang Baole.

Wang Baole was pleased to find his junior brothers so understanding. He stood in mid-air, cupped his fists, and saluted the disciples of the Alchemy Pavilion around him.

“My fellow junior brothers and sisters, I understand that my sudden appearance might have interrupted your cultivation. I hope you don’t mind.” Wang Baole’s voice was warm as it rang in the air. The disciples around him became even more excited and began speaking amongst themselves.

“Senior Brother Baole is simply too friendly. He’s a prodigy but still speaks so kindly to us. I heard he doesn’t have a girlfriend yet… Senior Brother Baole, I love you!”

“This is because Senior Brother Baole treats all of us like his junior brothers and sisters. He only shows his fearsome side to outsiders. We’re family!”

“That’s right. Senior Brother Baole, we don’t mind. Besides, you’re not being rude. It’s like coming back home. You just didn’t knock first. Anyway, who knocks on every door in their own house?”

“I’ve long found that array formation a sore sight. Senior Brother Baole’s done a great job!”

More and more disciples of the Alchemy Pavilion appeared amidst the growing cheers, and soon, the entire pavilion was in an uproar. The liveliness and cheer drew the attention of the disciples of other pavilions who were passing by. Upon the sight, they stopped and gathered outside, trying to catch what was going on inside.

After cupping his fists and saluting everyone, Wang Baole took a deep breath and spoke again.

“Fellow disciples, there is a reason why I’m here today. When I was still a student on the Lower Academy Island, I had a close female friend called Bunny… no, that’s not right, her name is Zhou Xiaoya. Since she became the disciple of an immoral master, she was forced into seclusion. We have not seen each other’s face for years. Tell me, isn’t this completely unreasonable?”

Wang Baole’s words rang out loudly in the air, and because the disciples around him adored him, they naturally sided with him. They began to grow unhappy after this matter, and a few disciples turned and started yelling at the Alchemy Pavilion.

“Hand over Senior Sister Xiaoya!”

The disciples of the Alchemy Pavilion were all up in arms and ready to revolt. The sight of it cheered Wang Baole up as well. He felt that they were all his wonderful junior brothers and sisters. He turned towards the Alchemy Pavilion’s mountain peak and shouted.

“Old man, you better hand over my Bunny right this moment. I’m going to count to three. If you don’t hand her over, I’ll fight my way up.”

Wang Baole’s voice was like thunder. It boomed and resounded in the air. On the mountain peak, a group of Elders were fretting and staring at an old man who was pacing in front of them and sighing.

This old man was Zhou Xiaoya’s master. He had been one of the four Elders of the Alchemy Pavilion. Now, he was the Grand Elder of the Alchemy Pavilion.

“Grand Elder, please say something.”

“Yes, this Wang Baole is at the Core Formation realm now. He fought his way through. He’s a rare vicious character!”

“Grand Elder, you are at fault too. Xiaoya, that girl, might be quite gifted, but you shouldn’t be tearing a couple apart. Why did you force her into seclusion? She’s forever in seclusion. Even I can’t stand this anymore.” The other Elders began to protest fervently. Wang Baole had already started counting down outside…

“Three, two…”

As he counted, the Alchemy Pavilion’s Grand Elder stomped his foot. He hollered at the Elders gathered around him.

“You can’t blame this on me. I’m doing as the Grand Supreme Elder asked. What else can I do?”

When the Grand Elder said that, Wang Baole had just counted to three. He took a step forward. Lightning crashed, and thunder boomed, shaking the heavens and earth. He transformed into a bolt of lightning, dashing straight for the mountain peak. It appeared that he was about the break-in.

It was then that the voice of an old man rang out between the heavens and earth. It formed an invisible barrier that was like a seal, and it fell all around Wang Baole and caged him in!

“Little fatty, let’s see you try and break through this barrier. I’ll give you an answer if you manage to do that!”