A World Worth Protecting

1

<em>An outer sect disciple’s storage bag contains so much valuable stuff. An inner sect disciple contains more. If we continue down that line of thought, the core disciple inside the cave abode should have countless treasures in his storage bag! </em>Wang Baole’s eyes shone brightly. His heart raced. He had noticed that while he had found quite a few valuable items in these storage bags, he hadn’t seen a single cultivation technique.

Wang Baole was intrigued by this. He didn’t understand why this was so. He could only conclude that the cultivators he had gotten the storage bags from weren’t of sufficiently high rank. It wasn’t a very satisfactory explanation, though.

<em>There must be cultivation techniques on the core disciple. Something strange is going on if there aren’t any to be found… </em>Wang Baole took a deep breath and set aside his thoughts. He still couldn’t let go of his desire for what rested in the mountain peak. He knew that the land in the sword body underwent transformations every so often, so the mountain peak might not stay where it was for long.

It would be an incredible loss if it shifted away, never to be found again. Wang Baole couldn’t bear the thought of watching such incredible wealth slip through his fingers, right before his eyes. He grew frustrated when he thought about how powerful the hex had been, though. The sense of powerlessness made Wang Baole sigh repeatedly.

<em>So be it. It’s clear I’m not destined to have them… </em>Wang Baole sighed again. He inspected his injuries and confirmed that he was recovering smoothly. Then, he left the deserted island and flew towards the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

<em>At least my gains from this trip are still acceptable. </em>Wang Baole continued to comfort himself during his journey back. He teleported five times, and finally returned to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

The entire trip went smoothly, and he didn’t encounter any dangers. His mood lightened as he approached the main Vast Expanse Dao Palace island. He sped up, shot out as a beam, and arrived inside the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

He had intended to return to Green Fire Island first. However, he realized that he had numerous items in his storage bag that required appraisal. That was why he had chosen to come to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace first. He was worried about the authentication process. He knew how one’s possession of immense treasure might get an innocent man into trouble. He wouldn’t be as troubled if what he had wasn’t that valuable. However, should there be something of incredible worth amongst what he had picked up, there was no doubt of the danger he would face then.

That was why Wang Baole didn’t immediately seek someone out to appraise his items on his own when he arrived at the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Instead, he headed for the library and did some independent research. Even though he might still miss something during the actual authentication, this was the best solution he could think of at the moment.

Wang Baole spent two weeks in the library. When he emerged from the pavilion, it was with joy in his eyes and excitement in his heart. While he wasn’t able to ascertain with full confidence the nature of the pill that the seven young spirits had given him, after browsing the materials in the library, he was quite certain that there was a high chance of the pill being a Universe Pill!

<em>I’ve got to keep this. This is going to be the best supplementary pill for advancing from the Core Formation realm into the Nascent Soul realm!</em>

<em>And that runic soldier… the five copper coins are indeed runic soldiers. Even though there isn’t much information recorded in the library, based on the information in the jade slip found on the inner sect disciple, if I can unleash the full power of all five copper coins, each one of them would rival a Nascent Soul realm cultivator! </em>This was what excited Wang Baole the most. He made up his mind to do more in-depth research on the runic soldier.

He had done some research on the other items as well. Wang Baole decided not to let anyone know he had those in his possession. There were also a few pills that Wang Baole had done a brief study on. He was unclear of what most of them were used for. There were three bottles, however, that he was certain were Cultivation Containment Pills that could be taken by Core Formation realm cultivators!

One pill cost something like two thousand battle credits in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and it had great effects for a Core Formation realm cultivator. Wang Baole also read from some of the books that when taken with other pills, it could also help a Core Formation realm cultivator with healing.

Wang Baole did his calculations. He had found six or so of these Cultivation Containment Pills. He shoved down the immediate impulse to exchange his identity tokens and left the Vast Expanse Dao Palace with fire in his heart.

<em>There’s no rush to exchange credits. I’ve just returned. I’ll settle down and handle all my matters first, then get my credits in a few days. </em>At that thought, Wang Baole sped up. He dashed out of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and headed straight for Green Fire Island.

Green Fire Island appeared in his sights soon. When Wang Baole saw his own island and felt the rich Spirit Qi spreading from the island, his heart brimmed with happiness. He arrived at his cave abode. As soon as he entered his cave abode, he activated the array formation and shut the gates to his residence. He entered the area meant for seclusion and pulled out the five copper coins.

A brilliant, strange light shone in his eyes as he studied the copper coins. He pulled out the jade slip documenting the runic soldier and began to study it. It didn’t take long. After three days, Wang Baole placed the jade slip down, his head throbbing. He was unfamiliar with runic soldiers, which was why he had taken some time to understand it.

<em>The runic soldier had three forms. You can use it like a Dharmic treasure. You can transform it into a soldier to fight against your enemies, like a puppet. Finally… you can combine the soldiers to form a runic array formation with great destructive power!</em>

<em>These five copper coins must form a complete runic array formation. </em>Wang Baole lowered his head and stared at the copper coins. Despite the anticipation burning in his heart, he had tried multiple times over the course of the three days to wield the copper coins, to no avail. He had only managed to get one of the coins to fly around him like an ordinary Dharmic treasure.

It wasn’t because he lacked the cultivation, it was that his understanding of the runic soldier was lacking. The jade slip had stated clearly that not everyone could wield a runic soldier. Only one with sufficient talent and proficiency in this aspect could do so.

<em>Regardless, even if I manage to control the first form of one of the coins, its power is still… </em>Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. With a series of hand seals, he got a copper coin to fly out instantly. It slowed down while circling him. He waved his right hand, and a puppet appeared before him. The puppet’s eyes flashed as it threw its fist towards Wang Baole.

As soon as the fist approached, the copper coin flew over and tried to stop the attack. They collided. A flash of lightning erupted from the copper coin, and the puppet shuddered, instantly breaking into multiple pieces. It then turned into dust.

The sight of that sent Wang Baole’s heart racing. As he stared at the copper coin before him, heat reddened his eyes. He had great expectations for when he could manage to control the runic soldier and its other forms.

<em>As my understanding of the runic soldier deepens, there will come a day when I can control all five copper coins. I’ll be able to summon its second and third forms! </em>While regretting his inability to do so now, Wang Baole was still pleased with himself. He knew that such things couldn’t be rushed. He kept the copper coins and pulled out a Cultivation Containment Pill. After staring at it, he swallowed it in a single gulp.

Based on what Wang Baole had read, the Cultivation Containment Pill contained very powerful medicinal properties. One often needed to take it alongside some spirit liquids. Wang Baole didn’t care, though. He had eaten pills that only Nascent Soul realm cultivators could have eaten and survived. This wasn’t going to be a problem for him. That was indeed the case. The effects of the pill might be overpowering for others, but Wang Baole had a strong and resilient physical body. He had a Dark Core and a Lightning Core. After swallowing the pill, he felt a sudden intense heat explode inside him. Then, it was quickly absorbed by his body.

What followed next was a minor advancement in his level of cultivation. Hours later, when Wang Baole opened his eyes again, he could clearly sense his cultivation had improved.

Excited, he swallowed a second and then a third pill. Two days later, when Wang Baole finally digested the last Cultivation Containment Pill, a thunderous boom resounded inside his body. The lightning bolts all over his body that had formed due to his practicing the Lightning Immortal Transformation had grown more powerful. They snaked all over his body, making him look like a being formed entirely out of lightning. It was a terrifying sight.

He finally reached the perfected tier of the early-stage Core Formation realm. He was only a step away from the mid-stage Core Formation realm!

Such progress in cultivation would be unimaginable in the Federation. It had barely been a year since Wang Baole had advanced from the Foundation Establishment realm to the Core Formation realm. Wang Baole basked in satisfaction and excitement and then sighed.

<em>I’d thought that I had the blessings of Lady Fortune on Earth. When I arrived on Mars, I realized I was wrong. It was on Mars that Lady Fortune showered her blessings on me. Now, I finally realized that I had been wrong all along. I am the true child of fortune on this ancient greenish-bronze sword! </em>Wang Baole basked in his good spirits. He pulled out the rest of his pills and was about to check which ones he could take. That was when he saw a corpse lying in his storage bag. His good spirits took a deep dive, and he grew solemn.

<em>Someone from the Federation Seedlings finally fell. </em>Wang Baole sighed after a long bout of silence. He pulled out his regional Spirit Internet jade slip. After some thought, he decided to inform everyone in the chat group.

“Dear fellow Daoists of the Federation, Fang Mu… has fallen. I will write a report and inform the Federation. Please, take caution and be mindful of your own safety.”

Wang Baole’s announcement sent the bustling and lively chat group into a sudden deathly silence. There were no transmissions. No one spoke. Everyone seemed to be reeling from shock at the sudden news. They had all fallen silent.