A World Worth Protecting

1

The Diamond Ape was bored during the period of time Wang Baole was away. The disciples were fearful and respectful of it, but that was no fun, which made it miss Wang Baole even more.

Most importantly, the puppets that belonged to it had already been broken from its toying. It had been a long time since it received new puppets, and that made his longing for Wang Baole even stronger.

Therefore, when it smelled Wang Baole’s scent, the Diamond Ape was exhilarated and agitated. It roared while it sped towards Wang Baole, its cultivation level having reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm.

Wang Baole laughed heartily as he quickly arrived beside the Diamond Ape. Despite being smaller, his aura was far stronger than that of the Diamond Ape. However, Wang Baole had toned down the strength of his aura, and as he neared and leaped into the air, he landed on the Diamond Ape’s shoulders, patting it amiably.

The Diamond Ape was so happy that it sneezed several times. It hit its chest with its fists loudly, before looking at Wang Baole dazedly.

“Understood!” Wang Baole laughed, raising his right arm before waving it. Instantly, three puppets fell out of his storage bag. The moment the three puppets appeared, the Diamond Ape was filled with agitation as it roared with excitement, hugging the three puppets tight. When it looked at Wang Baole, its gaze was even more loving than when it saw its owner.

After catching up with the Diamond Ape, Wang Baole was about to leave when the Diamond Ape suddenly smelled Wang Baole’s scent and revealed a look of suspicion. Others may not understand what it was thinking about, but Wang Baole was someone who had studied the Diamond Ape. After thinking about it briefly, he instantly understood. He lowered his head and took out a beast carrier. He emptied it, and the donkey rolled out from it.

Since returning to Earth, Wang Baole had kept the donkey in the beast carrier. After all, his parents were around, and Wang Baole was worried since the donkey was rude. He would have forgotten about the donkey had the Diamond Ape not smelled the unusual scent.

The Diamond Ape stared with its eyes wide open at the donkey, snarling. The donkey, who was sleeping, opened its eyes after falling to the ground, somewhat confused. After noticing the Diamond Ape before it, it blinked and called out.

“Son!”

“Roar!”

The reply to the donkey was a roar from the Diamond Ape. However, very soon, the donkey and the ape seemed to have established a conversation through their roars, and they both seemed to like each other.

Seeing what was happening before his eyes, Wang Baole was surprised. He had wanted to continue watching on, but the delightful voice from Bunny arrived through his voice transmission ring.

“Brother Baole, where are you? I’m free now.”

Wang Baole’s eyes lit up when he heard Zhou Xiaoya’s voice, and he didn’t want to bother with the donkey anymore. However, before he left, he warned the donkey that it wasn’t to eat anything. After that, he didn’t bother with it. He held the voice transmission ring and sent a reply to Zhou Xiaoya, then charged towards the Alchemy Pavilion!

With Wang Baole’s departure, the donkey grew visibly more energetic. After exchanging roars with the Diamond Ape, the duo seemed to have communicated between themselves in some manner, and they left together with the three puppets…

Noticing what had just happened, the disciples beside them were bewildered as to why the Diamond Ape and the donkey were looking so excited and impatient…

Wang Baole’s gaze when he saw Bunny was different from last time, especially after being amazed by Li Wan’er. Right now, at the foot of the hill in the alchemy pavilion, surrounded by the medicinal plants, the back view that appeared before his eyes was pure and beautiful.

Looking from a distance, the lady’s beautiful face was facing a bouquet of flowers. She had a slim and slender figure, long hair that was tied together by a pink-colored string, and her side view was delicate and perfect.

The white skirt she was wearing shimmered in the afternoon sun, its beauty accentuated by the surrounding medicinal flowers. Complemented by a medicinal fog that was unique to the Alchemy Pavilion, one could feel a sense of haziness.

After hearing Wang Baole’s movements in the wind, which signified his arrival, the lady quickly turned around, revealing a beautiful face that carried a delightful smile. Perhaps it was due to her being in seclusion for the past few years, but her skin was glowing white like snow. The lady was young and incomparably beautiful.

It was Zhou Xiaoya!

“Wow, you’ve grown up, Bunny.” Wang Baole’s eyes lit up. After all, it had been years since they met. Zhou Xiaoya, who had now grown up, looked even cuter and prettier than before. That made Wang Baole fall head over heels as he cleared his throat and teased her.

Listening to Wang Baole’s teasing, Zhou Xiaoya shyly kicked her feet.

“Brother Baole, you’re making fun of me again!”

Despite saying so, Zhou Xiaoya felt blissful. When she looked at Wang Baole, she was filled with happiness. In her simple life, Wang Baole was the first person of similar age and of the opposite sex that had entered her life. He was also the most capable person of the same age as her that she had ever seen. She had seen Wang Baole create a name for himself on the Lower Academy Island and rise through the ranks on the Upper Academy Island.

Even in seclusion, she would occasionally take breaks to keep up with what was happening outside.

Wang Baole’s name had become well known through the various incidents that had happened throughout the years. Watching the person she had given her heart to making his way to glory, it made Zhou Xiaoya, who was already filled with love towards Wang Baole, admire him even more.

It could be said that Zhou Xiaoya was a pure and innocent person. She was vastly different than the boisterous Li Wan’er, and Zhao Yameng, who was an extraordinary fairy-like being. Zhou Xiaoya didn’t have lofty ambitions and was like the girl-next-door. Now, looking at the person she admired but hadn’t seen for a long time, her smile was pure, and her laughter similar to a bell—filled with genuine happiness that anyone could sense.

Wang Baole was extremely relaxed looking at Bunny. It was as if he had returned to childhood times, with him bringing Zhou Xiaoya around the Dao College, passing through the days, crossing the galaxies, witnessing the sunrise, and leaving their footsteps on the hills and valleys.

To Zhou Xiaoya, simply holding Wang Baole’s hand was enough to make her heart palpitate and her face blush. She lowered her head, too shy to look at him. At the same time, happiness filled her entire being.

She loved listening to Wang Baole talk about his experiences on Mars and the moon. Sometimes, she would gasp in genuine surprise. She listened intently to every word Wang Baole said and was completely immersed in his stories.

Her pureness created ripples in Wang Baole’s heart that reverberated, making time appear to slow. He didn’t know how the future would play out, but right now, it was bliss spending time with Bunny.

As they immersed in each other’s company during those few days, they met many other people they were familiar with, such as the Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, and the Foundation Establishment realm cultivator that Wang Baole disliked for finding trouble with him. When that Foundation Establishment realm cultivator saw Wang Baole, he was extremely uneasy, greeting him from a great distance.

Wang Baole had never cared about that ex-Pavilion Head, and would naturally not bother with him now. He merely smiled and nodded his head, as if to erase all the unhappiness between them. When he left, the Pavilion Head looked at Wang Baole and Zhou Xiaoya, a torrent of emotions in his heart as he bowed deeply towards Wang Baole while looking at his back.

Other than that, Wang Baole brought Zhou Xiaoya along as they visited Chen Yutong, who had just returned from a mission. He had chosen to stay in the sect back then and was now the Elder of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. His cultivation level had reached the peak of mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm, being just a step away from advancing to late-stage Foundation Establishment realm. Upon seeing Wang Baole, he was excited.

The duo caught up in his cave abode, with Bunny brewing tea for the two brothers. She occasionally rested her chin on her hands, looking at Wang Baole with dewy eyes, her heart filled with happiness that could be seen through her eyes. It was as if her eyes had turned into crescents, making her look extremely adorable.

When the duo reminisced about what had brought them together, Xie Haiyang came to mind!

“Xie Haiyang of the Lower Academy Island… Until now, I still haven’t figured out which high official he is close to in the Dao College, such that he could accomplish anything and everything in Ethereal Dao College…” Speaking of Xie Haiyang, even Chen Yutong laughed heartily.

“He is a businessman. Is he still in the Dao College?” The image of Xie Haiyang surfaced in Wang Baole’s mind as he recalled the first transaction between them.

“He’s no longer there. He graduated in the second year after you left for the moon. I only recognized his talent after becoming an Elder myself, and I had put in effort to locate him. However, he seemed to have vanished from the surface of Earth without a trace.”