A World Worth Protecting

1

The giant tree had no choice!

He was in no position to make a choice. He was like Wang Baole when he had just arrived on Mars. Wang Baole had been in no position to make a choice at that time either. He had been forced to take precautionary measures, to gradually gain influence and power and finally reach a balance in their relationship where he could guarantee his own safety and that of his self-interests.

When Wang Baole had first arrived on Mars, if he hadn’t chosen to venture into the education sector to establish his name, if he hadn’t chosen to create an impression in front of the Martian Colony Governor, if he hadn’t chosen to fight to become the person in charge of the new zone, if he hadn’t realized how important Zhao Yameng truly was to the Governor when he arrived at the Dao Palace, he wouldn’t have grown to become so famous and he wouldn’t have risen through the ranks so swiftly. He wouldn’t have become such a threat to the giant tree. The chances of his premature and accidental death would have been greater.

Of course, the giant tree had also been wary of Duan Muque then. He hadn’t been able to see through Duan Muque’s intentions for sending Wang Baole to Mars. That had been why the giant tree had practiced patience and caution earlier on instead of acting recklessly. However, when he had finally made up his mind to act, Wang Baole had already shown incredible progress and established a formidable network that discouraged the giant tree from causing trouble for him.

A grudge remained between the two, but none had taken action to set the matter to rest. That was why Wang Baole had created such drama and then let him off so easily. The infiltration of the burial mound was his primary goal, and the giant tree’s submission to his authority secondary.

Wang Baole didn’t care if the giant tree readily accepted his authority. The high officials’ autobiographies had written very clearly about this. There were no eternal loyalties in this world, and hence no eternal betrayals. He only needed to let the giant tree know the painful price of betraying him. It would be greater than he could bear. That knowledge alone would be enough.

This was true of anything going on in the world, including the affairs between a man and a woman. Wang Baole was keenly aware of that. He had no experience in the latter. As for the former, he acted according to what he believed in. That was why he led the giant tree out of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and, using the teleportation array formation to the Worship Palace Pavilion, brought the latter to the Worship Palace Pavilion!

Any other person wouldn’t have had the privilege to use this teleportation array formation. It didn’t matter how many requests they submitted. Only those who had a leaf from the Hyacinthus Tree were allowed to activate the teleportation array formation.

These rules didn’t bound Wang Baole though. As one of the four masters of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, unless what he was about to do amounted to treason, there were few who could overrule his actions.

He wasn’t concerned that he might fall prey to danger when out alone with the giant tree. His status allowed him to disregard most of the hexes while out in the region of the sword body. What were dangerous grounds to the giant tree was home to Wang Baole. Besides, Wang Baole was confident in his abilities.

He had slain a Nascent Soul. The giant tree might be strong… but he wasn’t as powerful as Patriarch Black Wind or Elder Sun Hai!

Wang Baole had no intention of killing the giant tree. However, should the giant tree harbor ill intentions, Wang Baole wouldn’t show mercy. He wouldn’t try to conceal anything either. He would announce openly to the world so that everyone would know the giant tree’s malicious intent!

Wang Baole was certain that the cunning and intelligent giant tree was well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of his current situation. That was indeed the case. The giant tree continued to remain nervous after Wang Baole had teleported them to the sword body. His attitude towards Wang Baole remained deferential.

“Did you see that?” They soon walked out of the Worship Palace Pavilion, and Wang Baole quickly led the giant tree down a familiar path. They appeared at the edge of the hexed area where the tomb was located. Wang Baole raised his finger and pointed.

The giant tree immediately went into high alert. He gathered his full concentration and looked over. There was no way he was going to drop his guard. He was quite sure that Wang Baole wasn’t going to harm him, but any place that made Wang Baole act with such caution was going to be extremely dangerous.

The giant tree took a deep breath and surveyed the grounds carefully. He inspected the hex, then the tomb. He saw the burial mound and the cracks, as well as the green mist.

His senses seemed dulled by the hex. However, as soon as he saw the green mist, he felt a sense of resonance with the mist. His eyes flashed. Then, he saw the green wooden sword on the ground!

It was then that the giant tree finally realized why Wang Baole had chosen to bring him here. He wondered if he could indeed overcome the obstacles ahead of him.

Wang Baole didn’t rush him. He waited for the giant tree to come to a decision. He sighed happily. This was why it was great working with smart people. He only needed to say one thing for them to work everything else out. There was no need for him to explain in detail.

A long moment later, a resolute light finally flashed across the giant tree’s eyes. He cupped his fists and saluted Wang Baole.

“Elder Wang, please deactivate the hex. I need to inspect the tomb in detail before I can give you any answers.”

Wang Baole nodded. With a wave of his hand, a door of light appeared at the edge of the hexed area. It opened, and the air inside rushed out. Along with the escaped air was the faint, almost imperceptible sound of breathing.

Wang Baole watched warily as a solemn-looking giant tree formed a series of hand seals, then suddenly snapped off one of his fingers and threw it forward. The broken finger transformed into a tiny man and dashed forward, charging straight at the open, shining door.

It sped through and shot into the green mist without hesitation. It circled the tomb, then grabbed the wooden sword on the ground and returned swiftly.

Nothing happened during the entire thing. No dangers befell the tiny man. It returned safely and transformed back into the giant tree’s finger again. The giant tree handed the sword politely back to Wang Baole, then whispered.

“The green mist has a limited effect on me. I should be able to last thirty minutes inside. What would Elder Wang have me do?”

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He didn’t take the sword. Instead, he asked, “Can you sense it?”

The giant tree hesitated but didn’t dare to hide the truth from Wang Baole. Wang Baole might be younger than he was, but the giant tree was well acquainted with Wang Baole’s mind and his methods. He had seen what the young man was capable of on both the moon and Mars. He knew the many powerful techniques the young man possessed, and the equally many ways he could kill someone.

He spoke truthfully.

“I can sense… the presence of a Divine Armament!” The giant tree shook as he said the last few words. The value of a Divine Armament to a cultivator was impossible to explain!

“Good. You can have this sword. Now… retrieve the Divine Armament for me!” Wang Baole nodded and said coolly. An unfathomable light shone in his eyes. He stared at the giant tree and waited for the latter to come to a decision.

The giant tree fell silent. He thought for a very long moment before finally gritting his teeth. He didn’t refuse to do it, nor did he explain how difficult the task was going to be. This was a chance for him—to settle the grudge between him and Wang Baole and to finally achieve a breakthrough. He wasn’t going to find the latter in the tomb. The chance… was going to be given by Wang Baole, who had said so earlier—the chance to rise to the Nascent Soul realm!

He had begun his path of cultivation many years ago. Because he had only managed to absorb half a fruit on the moon, his cultivation had remained stagnant at the perfected Core Formation realm. He hadn’t been able to break through to the next level. He watched hungrily as Duan Muque, Li Xingwen, and even Xu Yunkun, achieved their breakthroughs, and he longed for his.

He might not have believed anyone else who told him that they could give him a shot at it, but this was Wang Baole, who had risen to become the Grand Supreme Elder of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. He believed Wang Baole!

Determination flashed in the giant tree’s eyes. He dashed through the bright, shining door and approached the green mist under Wang Baole’s cautious, hopeful eyes. His body contorted itself. He shrank, then snaked into one of the cracks on the tomb!

Wang Baole grew excited as he watched the giant tree slip in. He made preparations to leave at a moment’s notice should things go south. He activated the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor as well. He wasn’t an ungrateful person. If the giant tree did try his best to fulfill his request, Wang Baole would find some way for them to escape together should danger occur.

Time passed slowly. Before long, thirty minutes went by. A crease began to appear on Wang Baole’s forehead, and he narrowed his eyes. It was then that an explosion suddenly erupted from inside the tomb!

The cracks on the tomb grew and spread outward as the thunderous booms persisted. Green mist continued to escape from the cracks. The sound of breathing suddenly became louder. Wang Baole shook, and his head began to buzz. It was then that the giant tree suddenly dashed out from one of the cracks!

His face was pale, and terror colored his eyes. In his hand… were the bones of a broken arm!

The broken arm gave off an immense aura that spoke of time and death. It exuded the power of a Divine Armament!