A World Worth Protecting

1

The images flashed clearly in Wang Baole’s head. It was as if he had become the Hyacinthus Tree that instant and was witnessing the actual scene himself!

Waves of emotions surged inside Wang Baole as he listened to Feng Qiuran’s words. His breath froze. He stared at the infant in Feng Qiuran’s arms. He had only one name in his head—Wuchen!

The image blurred. Next, he saw a fruit ripen on the Hyacinthus Tree. It fell and landed before Feng Qiuran. Feng Qiuran picked the fruit up and placed it in the infant’s mouth. It melted swiftly and disappeared quickly as the child sucked at it hungrily.

Feng Qiuran bowed again and finally left. The last image was of Feng Qiuran’s retreating back. That too grew blurry. Wang Baole shook again, as if he had just awakened from a walk down the Hyacinthus Tree’s memory lane. His eyes cleared. He was back, standing on the mountain peak, with a million Dao Palace cultivators watching him.

Wang Baole was silent for a long moment. He took a while to recover from his shock. He straightened his back, turned, and looked at the three Grand Supreme Elders. They looked as if nothing had happened.

Wang Baole came to a conclusion, that perhaps… he was the only one who had access to the Hyacinthus Tree’s memories during the resonance he had achieved with it. This was because he was an adopted disciple, while the other three elders were only inner sect disciples. They couldn’t achieve such a strong resonance with the Hyacinthus Tree. The likelihood of them seeing what he had seen earlier was low.

This meant that perhaps Feng Qiuran had really been the only person who knew the identity and whereabouts of this infant. Now, he knew as well.

Wang Baole had no idea how the Dao Disciple Wuchen had turned up in Feng Qiuran’s hands or how Feng Qiuran had explained the infant’s appearance. What he knew was when the previous Federation President Li Xingwen had left the ancient greenish-bronze sword, he had returned to the Federation with an infant in his arms.

Wang Baole silently decided to set the entire matter aside for the moment. He took a deep breath, then looked at the Dao Palace cultivators around him. They watched as he walked towards the three Grand Supreme Elders, cupped his fists, and extended a deep bow towards them.

“Greetings to the three Grand Supreme Elders!”

Feng Qiuran smiled. She returned the greetings. A reluctant Mie Liezi bowed back, while the mild-mannered Daoist You Ran cupped his fists and returned the greetings as well.

“Greetings to Grand Supreme Elder Wang Baole!”

They stood together on the mountain top, their greetings immortalized in that moment and seared into the memories of the surrounding disciples. The surrounding disciples saluted the next moment!

“Greetings to Grand Supreme Elder Wang Baole!”

Their voices boomed like thunder, rippling across the skies in an endless echo. The bells of the Dao Palace began to chime. The ceremony had come to an end.

Henceforth, the Vast Expanse Dao Palace was no longer divided into three factions. They had just received their fourth Grand Supreme Elder!

The Federation disciples were the loudest and most excited during their greetings. The four Grand Supreme Elders smiled and nodded at one another. Feng Qiuran then represented the sect and announced a series of changes and promotions!

Green Fire Island was to become Wang Baole’s private island. A dozen other large islands near the Vast Expanse Dao Palace would also fall under his jurisdiction. A fourth palace for the fourth Grand Supreme Elder would also be constructed on the main island.

The palace would serve as a place for Wang Baole to carry out his daily cultivation. Its size and model would adhere to their sect’s highest standards. The sect would also be responsible for acquiring all the materials needed for construction.

There was also the matter of tribute. He would receive the same deferential treatment as the other Grand Supreme Elders, as well as a vote in determining the sect’s developmental strategies. He would be taking over the foreign relations between the Federation and the Vast Expanse Dao Palace as well.

There were other miscellaneous access rights granted too. Currently, at least in name, Wang Baole was one of the four sovereigns governing the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!

This was something no one had expected. No one could have known that within a mere two years, Wang Baole would transform from an outsider to someone who held such power and authority in the sect.

In fact, should Wang Baole’s cultivation breakthrough from the Nascent Soul realm to the Soul Conduit realm, he would have a chance of becoming the sect’s sole authority!

Feng Qiuran completed her announcements, and the ceremony was coming to an end. Everyone watched as the four Grand Supreme Elders stood together. Feng Qiuran smiled and handed a jade slip to Wang Baole.

“Elder Wang, next is the conferment of new positions. You should announce them. If you have anything you want changed, you can delay the announcement first. We can discuss the changes after.”

Wang Baole stared at Feng Qiuran. The Hyacinthus Tree’s memories surfaced in his mind. He nodded, saluted her politely, then took the jade slip from her. After reading the contents, he lifted his head and stared at her, surprised.

Feng Qiuran smiled quietly while Mie Liezi remained expressionless. Daoist You Ran was his usual mild-mannered self. There was even encouragement in his eyes.

Wang Baole’s eyes swept across the three elders before he turned and gazed at the disciples around him. After a bout of silence, he opened his mouth. His voice rang out, bright as it echoed in the air.

“Kong Dao, step forward!”

Kong Dao, who had been standing amongst his fellow Federation disciples, froze. He hurriedly dashed out into the air. He cupped his fists and saluted Wang Baole.

“Greetings to the Grand Supreme Elder!”

“I confer upon Kong Dao the position of acting elder. He shall be promoted immediately to the position of elder upon reaching the Nascent Soul realm!”

Kong Dao shook, then immediately voiced his thanks. He knew that only Nascent Soul realm cultivators could advance to become an elder in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Those who reached the Soul Conduit realm would then be promoted to Grand Supreme Elder.

The privileges awarded to an elder were vastly different than those enjoyed by a mere disciple. Even though he was only an acting elder, he too could enjoy most of the privileges an elder had. It wasn’t exactly an accelerated progression, but it was still a key step forward for him.

“Zhao Yameng, step forward!” Wang Baole wasn’t done yet. He called out another name after Kong Dao stepped back.

Zhao Yameng took a deep breath upon being called. She leapt into the sky and cupped her fists.

“I confer upon Zhao Yameng the position of elder in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!”

The surrounding disciples voiced their surprise quietly as Wang Baole’s voice rang out. The elders of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace were all at the Nascent Soul realm. Zhao Yameng was only at the Core Formation realm. However, there were many who knew that Zhao Yameng had earned the rank of an inner sect disciple at the Worship Palace Pavilion. They understood why the sect was doing this.

The rank of an inner sect disciple was extremely high. It wouldn’t be appropriate for someone holding that rank to remain as an ordinary disciple or even as an acting elder.

Zhao Yameng’s breathing quickened. She lifted her head and stared at Wang Baole. Then, with a faint smile, she cupped her fists and expressed her thanks. She left, but Wang Baole wasn’t done yet.

“From today, all Federation cultivators who have reached the perfected Foundation Establishment realm will be given three opportunities to enter the Core Realm Pavilion and seek any assistance provided within to reach a breakthrough to the Core Formation realm!

“Sect Lord Xu, you previously submitted a request to enter the Nascent Art Chamber in order to reach a breakthrough in cultivation. Your request is approved!”

The series of announcements sent the entire Dao Palace spiraling into shock yet again. The Federation cultivators were overcome with excitement. This was an extremely generous gift that Feng Qiuran had given Wang Baole. She had given him the chance to make the announcements, and through that, the opportunity to show his authority and affirm his status!

The ceremony finally came to an end, and the crowd began to disperse. Afterward, the construction of the fourth hall commenced. Wang Baole was to return to Green Fire Island first while awaiting the completion of his palace. Sect Lord Xu would naturally be taking over all administrative matters.

Upon returning to Green Fire Island, Wang Baole went back to his cave abode. He began heaving. It was as if he had been holding something inside him back for too long. That something finally exploded as his breathing grew heavy, and thoughts started rushing through his head.

<em>Li Wuchen… it must be him. To think that he’s actually… the reincarnation of the Vast Expanse Dao Disciple! </em>The revelation was too great a shock. Wang Baole still couldn’t accept it. Part of it was because of his experience in the Worship Palace Pavilion. He knew exactly how much power and authority a Dao Disciple had. A Dao Disciple held the world in his hand.

He simply couldn’t accept it. He thought about all the hard work he had put in and the near-deaths he had escaped to become an adopted disciple. Li Wuchen, on the other hand, had been born a Dao Disciple… What made things worse was the conflict between the both of them. Wang Baole’s head began to hurt at that thought.

<em>Anyone with eyes can see that Li Wuchen isn’t good-looking, forgiving, or open-minded like I am. He’s petty and holds grudges. Who knows if he won’t come looking for trouble once his memories return… </em>Wang Baole fretted.