A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole was extremely pleased with himself. He found that his endearment “Little Duanmu” ran off his lips really smoothly. It was impossible to know how Wang Baole judged it to be so. Regardless, he firmly believed that his promotion to Federation President was guaranteed. It was an inevitability. His confidence led him to believe that there was nothing wrong with him addressing the president as Little Duanmu.

Wang Baole grew incredibly excited at that thought. He waved his hand. The disciples guarding the teleportation array formation stared with wide eyes and open mouths as he spent fifteen thousand battle credits and sent fifteen sets of cultivation techniques back to the Federation!

Fifteen thousand battle credits was a huge sum of wealth to those disciples guarding the teleportation array formation. Their breathing quickened instantly. Their eyes grew red. They could only manage to scramble together a few hundred credits after a month’s hard work. That was before they took into account their expenses for the month. After that, they were generally left with only a few credits.

The fact that Wang Baole was so wealthy made them feel incredulous. They could taste bitter jealousy in their mouths at the sight of such wealth.

“So what if he’s rich!”

“That’s right. So what if they have a bit of money. Doesn’t mean a thing. I heard that the Federation Seedlings would resort to anything to earn battle credits. I heard of this person called Li Yi. She’s even more despicable. She actually seduced the island lord of the island she was assigned to!”

“Your news is outdated. I’ve heard of her as well. She didn’t stop at one. I heard she’s seduced at least seven or eight of them!”

Filled with jealousy, the disciples on guard began to exchange voice transmissions to vent their anger. They watched as the teleportation array formation erupted with a startling, blinding light, and teleported all fifteen jade slips away in the blink of an eye.

Beyond the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, within the same Solar System where the ancient greenish-bronze sword rested, Li Xingwen sat cross-legged next to and guarded the array formation on Mercury. His eyes opened, and an image of Duan Muque appeared at the same time.

They had experienced this before. In addition, they had received cultivation techniques from Federation Seedlings during this past six months. They had grown accustomed to this. They got excited as soon as they sensed waves of spirit energy rising from the array formation.

“How many will they send over this time?”

“Speaking of that. The girl, Li Yi, has done quite well. She’s sent over five sets of cultivation techniques. She could be said to be the cream of the crop for this batch of Federation Seedlings!” Duan Muque laughed aloud. Pleased and consoled, he glanced at Li Xingwen.

Li Xingwen snorted and didn’t say a word. Wang Baole hadn’t sent over a single cultivation technique during the past six months. Li Yi, on the other hand, had been sending one over every month. The comparison was simply too stark. Even if he wanted to show support for Wang Baole, there was really nothing much he could do.

<em>What’s that rascal doing up there! </em>Li Xingwen frowned. Even though Li Yi was also from the four Dao Colleges, and her contributions had lent greater weight to the Dao Colleges’ opinions in the Federation, she was a graduate from the White Deer Dao College. She wasn’t of the Ethereal Dao College. Li Xingwen, who had shifted his loyalties to the Ethereal Dao College after he had retired from his position as Federation President, didn’t feel comfortable with that at all.

However, his discomfort was his own business. He still very much approved of Li Yi’s performance. After all, the techniques that she had been sending back to the Federation for the past few months had contributed to their cultivation civilization.

“Based on the timing, this should be from that girl, Li Yi.” Duan Muque smiled slightly. He especially enjoyed seeing the dark, sullen look on Li Xingwen’s face. Even though he was now the president, he had graduated from the White Deer Dao College. He clearly approved of White Deer Dao College graduates’ exemplary performances.

As he said that, the teleportation array formation shone once again. A jade slip appeared inside the array formation. Duan Muque’s eyes shone with approval and consolation. He was about to continue speaking when a second jade slip appeared.

“Hmm? Li Yi’s done a good job this time. She actually sent two…” Duan Muque was immediately overjoyed. However, before he could finish speaking, a third, then fourth, then fifth jade slip appeared!

The sight stunned the typically level-headed Duan Muque. Then, he burst out into laughter.

“Seems like a few of them are sending over cultivation techniques at one go. These kids are still too young. Don’t they know how much attention they would attract?” Duan Muque shook his head. Li Xingwen’s eyes started shining intensely. He had a different opinion of what was going on. He could sense that the spirit energy coming from the array formation wasn’t diminishing but growing stronger. He suddenly said.

“There are still incoming jade slips!”

As soon as he said that, the sixth jade slip, seventh, eighth appeared… when they counted up to fifteen jade slips, the light shining from the teleportation array formation erupted and reached its peak intensity. All fifteen jade slips materialized!

There were fifteen jade slips in total. They floated above the array formation, each one of them giving off unique energy signatures. The sight sent Duan Muque’s heart racing. Even Li Xingwen gasped.

Truth be told… if they counted the total number of cultivation techniques they had received from Federation Seedlings for the past six months, it would total at fifteen sets. Now, they had just received fifteen sets at the same time. There was no way they could remain calm. They weren’t the only ones who were shocked. The cultivators guarding the area were all alarmed and reeling back from shock and surprise.

Duan Muque and Li Xingwen moved at the same time. They gathered the fifteen jade slips and inspected them separately. Their breathing quickened. Incredulity and disbelief colored their eyes, and they stared at each other.

“All of these with me, they’re all from Wang Baole…” Duan Muque hesitated. His eyes shifted and stared at the jade slips in Li Xingwen’s hands.

“Mine… are all from Wang Baole as well…” Li Xingwen coughed, then said indifferently.

Duan Muque had his guesses and had been prepared to hear that. However, he still reeled back in shock when he heard what Li Xingwen said. He had learned from Mo Gaozi some details about what was going on in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. He knew what it meant to be able to send over fifteen sets of cultivation techniques in a single teleportation. However, after he recovered from his initial shock, he was overcome by an intense glee. Happiness filled his heart.

“With these fifteen sets of cultivation techniques, the cultivation civilization of the Federation will be able to advance to the next level!” Duan Muque held the jade slips in his hands and laughed loudly. Warmth and consolation colored Li Xingwen’s eyes as well. He was shocked as well, and a soothing sense of pride flowed through his entire body. He concluded he hadn’t wasted his attention and care on Wang Baole. The kid had made him proud. At that thought, Li Xingwen glanced at Duan Muque, then suddenly laughed.

“Duanmu, you might have to give up your office when Wang Baole returns.”

As soon as those words were said, Duan Muque stopped laughing. He wouldn’t miss being president. However, the thought of Wang Baole, that little fatty, becoming president, just seemed out of place. He did some mental calculations. He figured that the fatty would at least have to send over thirty sets of cultivation techniques to earn his presidency. Even so, he still had an excuse ready. Wang Baole was too young to be president.

At that thought, Duan Muque set his heart at ease. He laughed arrogantly.

“Wang Baole will have to continue working harder if he wants to become the president. But I look forward to the day when it happens!” Having said that, Duan Muque immediately issued orders to make an announcement to the entire Federation. On the ranking board that was visible to all citizens of the Federation, Li Yi’s name, which had originally been placed first in the list, instantly fell to second place as it was surpassed by Wang Baole again!

That wasn’t the end of it. The number behind Wang Baole’s name had changed as well, from three to eighteen. The shock that brought to everyone in the Federation was unprecedented. The entire Federation burst into an uproar as citizens gasped in shock and cheered at the same time.

The cultivation techniques that had been sent back by the Federation Seedlings were immediately made accessible to the populace for cultivation in succession. Such an approach was employed to speed up and increase the development of the cultivation civilization across the entire Federation.

Wang Baole might not be able to hear the cheers for him, but that didn’t affect his anticipation towards taking over as Federation President. Then, he considered Little Duanmu’s character. He realized it might not be so easy to get him to abdicate…

<em>Thirty sets isn’t a sure bet. I have to set an intermediate target for myself. I’ll get my hands on fifty sets then blast them over. We’ll see if Little Duanmu gives his presidency up. That’s not right. What he’s doing is surrendering the presidency to a better candidate. </em>Wang Baole’s spirits soared at that thought. He was about to leave the teleportation array formation when something happened. Seven to eight cultivators in black robes appeared with an intense murderous aura surrounding them. They were clearly not ordinary cultivators. They had raced down from the main halls on the mountain top and surrounded Wang Baole in an instant. They activated their cultivation and released waves of spirit energy, seeming ready for a fight.

The one leading them was a middle-aged man with an emotionless, stern expression on his face. He swept his eyes across Wang Baole, then said coolly.

“Wang Baole, you’re in trouble. Come with us!”