A World Worth Protecting

1

After briefly acclimating to the aftershock from the teleportation, as well as the surrounding environment, Kong Dao suddenly spoke.

“Baole, Yameng, I paid Yifan a visit a few days ago to transfer the eligibility to him, but he didn’t want it…”

“Kong Dao, you’re overthinking.” Wang Baole patted Kong Dao’s shoulder as he shook his head and smiled. Wang Baole had also approached Zhuo Yifan regarding this matter, but Zhuo Yifan had rejected him as well. After all, he didn’t take part in the trial, and even though Wang Baole had the right to decide who was eligible, it was an opportunity that was to be given to Kong Dao, without a doubt.

Upon hearing Wang Baole’s words, Kong Dao heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. He then held his chin up high as he looked at the mountainous path in front of him together with Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng.

“This should be the Road of Brilliance mentioned by Elder Qiuran. I sense the aura of an array formation from it. It’s very strong, but there is no danger!” Zhao Yameng looked intently at the path for a moment, then she spoke softly.

“I’ll go first!” As soon as Zhao Yameng finished her sentence, a look of determination appeared in Kong Dao’s eyes. He was thankful that Wang Baole had given him the opportunity and wanted to be the first to take on the unknown Road of Brilliance. This way, Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng could make preparations if there was any danger.

Therefore, as Kong Dao spoke, he went straight ahead and stepped onto the first step of the stairway even before Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng could stop him. When Kong Dao’s foot landed, he trembled.

Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng went forward immediately and observed the situation intently. After waiting for fifteen minutes, just as both of them began to grow anxious and wanted to pull Kong Dao back, Kong Dao suddenly exhaled deeply.

“I saw imagery… It should be safe here.” As Kong Dao spoke, he continued walking forward. After taking a hundred steps, he trembled and stood where he was, motionless again.

Upon noticing that, Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng looked at each other and nodded. They then stepped onto the first step of the stairway together. Instantly, both of them trembled. It was at that moment that Wang Baole finally found out what Kong Dao had seen. He only felt that it was all a blur before him. It was as if an earthshaking transformation was happening in front of his eyes.

The black lightning in the firmament had disappeared and was replaced by the blue skies. The surrounding restrictions also vanished, and peaceful plains took their place. There were also birds flying in the air, and even the seven-peaked mountain looked less imposing. The mountain seemed to have shrunk and became a tiny hill.

A calm and peaceful feeling filled the air, making one feel relaxed. Wang Baole blinked several times and noticed a courtyard on the peak of the mountain he was at.

There was a well in the courtyard, and a large dog was lying lazily beside the well. A middle-aged man with an unusual air was sitting with his legs crossed as he caressed the dog’s head. He was smiling at the two children who were hanging a plaque outside the gate of the courtyard.

The two children were very young but extremely agile. They didn’t take long to hang the plaque on the door. Wang Baole immediately noticed the two words written on the plaque.

“Vast Expanse Courtyard.”

The imagery paused at that moment and faded away. Everything began to return to normal. The black lightning, the surrounding restrictions, and the imposing Seven Peak Palaces returned!

Wang Baole was silent for a moment. When he turned, he noticed that Zhao Yameng had opened her eyes as well.

“Is the Road of Brilliance showing us the history leading towards the Vast Expanse Dao Palace’s rising…?” Zhao Yameng murmured softly, but she spoke the words that Wang Baole was thinking about as well. After that, the duo continued to advance forward.

Looking from a distance, one could see Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng standing in line, with Kong Dao a hundred steps in front of them. The trio looked like they were on an expedition to the top of the mountain, amidst the black lightning flashes and the surrounding restrictions.

A hundred steps later, the second imagery appeared in front of Wang Baole’s eyes. There were clouds in the skies, and townships had been built on the vast plains. The hill had been transformed into a mountain that was standing tall, and the courtyard had turned into hundreds of buildings. Greenery complemented the appearance of the entire mountain, filling the entire place with a mystical aura.

The disciples there no longer consisted of the two children from the first imagery. They had swelled to tens of thousands of people who busied themselves, filling the entire place with bustling activity. The rays of the sun landed on the plaque hung on the entrance of the mountain.

It was no longer ‘Vast Expanse Courtyard’ that was written on it. Instead, it was replaced by another two words!

Vast Expanse Clan!

With every hundred steps forward, new imagery would appear. The more the trio advanced, the stronger the suppressive force that landed on them was. It was as if it were challenging the limits of their physical bodies.

Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng could withstand the suppressive force initially, but as the trio continued to advance, only Wang Baole could maintain his initial speed. He didn’t assist Kong Dao and Zhao Yameng, as he knew that there was no danger present on the Road of Brilliance. Instead, to a certain extent, the suppressive force that they experienced could be taken as a form of physical training.

Wang Baole didn’t need the physical training, but to Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, it was a valuable opportunity to strengthen themselves.

Therefore, after checking up on the duo, Wang Baole watched the third, fourth, and fifth imagery, as if he was playing a game.

The three imageries were similar to one another. They depicted that, several years later, there were several cultivation sects in the Vast Expanse Clan that performed well and took the lead. Those sects eventually ruled over the planets they were in, and that marked the start of the Galactic Era, which expanded from a star to the entire galactic system. Even though the tribulations involved weren’t being shown, Wang Baole could imagine and understand that the entire process involved the efforts of many generations of people. That allowed the expansion of control over to numerous galactic systems, then to the entire galactic domain, until they became the dominant force!

Throughout the entire process, three changes were made to the name of the sect. From the third imagery of a sect which became a sect school of thought in the fourth imagery, all the way to the fifth imagery, where the sect school of thought was transformed to that of a palace. That was where the name ‘Vast Expanse Dao Palace’ was finally adopted!

Even though only snippets of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace’s history were seen, one could already feel a sense of glory and brilliance. After all, that small courtyard had slowly advanced to become the ruler of the entire galactic domain. Despite not being from the Dao Palace, Wang Baole still cheered for its rising. It was imaginable that before crisis struck the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, the Dao Palace disciples were definitely filled with hope and anticipation for its future.

<em>Completing the journey on this mountainous path would be akin to witnessing the history of the Dao Palace. It creates a natural sense of belonging and pride to the Dao Palace… </em>Wang Baole took a deep breath and experienced a wave of respect for the Dao Palace. However, Wang Baole still felt torn between the contrasting image of the Dao Palace’s glorious uprising seen from the imagery, with the wastelands, lightning, surrounding restrictions, and the Sea of Fire that was presented before him in reality.

It was difficult to reconcile history with the present reality. After a moment, Wang Baole shook his head as he reached the top of the mountain and took his final step on the Road of Brilliance.

When his foot landed, the sixth imagery appeared before his eyes. Wang Baole had thought that he would see the fall of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, but what was presented before him was a familiar image.

It was a silver-haired middle-aged man who brought a cheeky little girl along with him to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. The Vast Expanse Dao Palace put great emphasis on his arrival, and even the Patriarch greeted him personally. In that imagery, the little girl looked curiously at her surroundings, and the image faded to become an eternity.

“Little Missy…” Wang Baole stopped in his tracks and murmured in silence. As the imagery disappeared slowly, Wang Baole stepped off the Road of Brilliance. He stood on the mountain peak, with the palace in front of him and the road behind him.

Time passed slowly as Wang Baole stood where he was and waited for Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao. He managed to return to a state of peace as he looked at the palace in front of him. The palace looked vast and majestic, with large pillars that supported the firmament like walls. The sculpture erected in front of the temple gave off an air of authority as well. However, the entire palace still looked visibly aged.

Wang Baole recognized the sculpture. It was of the middle-aged man who was meditating with his legs crossed in the first imagery.

Perhaps, that person was the Patriarch of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!

Even though the palace stood amidst the destruction of the body of the sword, it was still well preserved. Standing in front of it was like standing at the foot of a giant. Wang Baole was observing it when he began to hear panting sounds behind him. Kong Dao arrived with a glow in his eyes despite still trembling. The physical training he had experienced along the Road of Brilliance had strengthened his body significantly. After another five minutes had passed, Zhao Yameng finally reached the end of the Road of Brilliance.

She had the weakest physique amongst the trio. As such, she also benefited the most along the Road of Brilliance.

“Next is the journey to the Seven Worships Palace!” After Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao had taken their rest, Wang Baole suddenly spoke with energy and anticipation in his eyes!