A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole’s pupils contracted. His eyes saw only the broken arm.

There was a strong Divine Armament’s aura exuding from the broken limb that threatened to rise to the heavens. The giant tree shook as he carried the broken arm. A howl like that of a furious beast erupted from the tomb behind him as he fled. Massive clouds of green mist were discharged into the air as the howl rang out.

The green mist transformed into a large hand that went after the giant tree. It seemed intent to drag the giant tree back into the tomb and keep him there with it forever!

The giant tree despaired as danger loomed over him. He could feel an incredible suction pulling at him. The threat of death blared in his head ceaselessly, like sirens. His only hope rested in Wang Baole. He could only hope that Wang Baole wouldn’t leave him to die and that the latter wouldn’t demand that he throw the broken arm over to him.

The latter meant that Wang Baole planned to only save the arm and not him. He would be left with no choice. He could hold on to the arm and hope that Wang Baole would save him along with the arm… but that meant that they would remain enemies in the end. His chances of survival after that were slim.

Just as the giant tree drowned in rage and despair, something unexpected happened. Wang Baole didn’t ask him to throw the arm to him. Without any hesitation, he unleashed the devouring seed inside his body and directed its suction force at the giant tree. The sudden force combated the pull from the gigantic hand and gave the giant tree an additional burst of speed!

Wang Baole wasn’t done yet. As soon as he unleashed his devouring seed, his Lightning Avatar also appeared. Both the avatar and Wang Baole dashed towards the giant tree.

They appeared at the giant tree’s side instantly. As the gigantic green hand rushed towards them with an intent to wipe them out, Wang Baole gave the giant tree a huge push. The organs inside the giant tree shook violently under the tremendous force. However, the push also gave him another burst of speed. The distance between him and the gigantic hand widened yet again!

Next, Wang Baole’s avatar grabbed the giant tree’s arm and yanked him forward. He finally managed to escape death.

Everything happened just as the giant tree was despairing. However, as soon as the distance between the giant tree and the enormous hand grew, the latter came charging again. The sounds of heavy breathing continued to escape from the tomb. Wang Baole’s eyes flashed. He switched places with his avatar instantly.

The avatar rushed towards the gigantic hand. Then, it exploded as soon as they collided. A thunderous boom erupted. Wang Baole’s hands were a blur as he formed a series of hand seals and then pointed towards the hex over the tomb.

The shining door of light slid shut instantly. The gigantic hand, slowed down by the avatar’s self-induced explosion, was trapped inside the hex. It roared inside its prison.

“Follow me!” There was no time to find out what was going to happen to the hand. Wang Baole raced off with a fierce look on his face. The giant tree was shocked. He couldn’t believe that Wang Baole hadn’t mentioned a single word about the broken arm. He had instead poured all his energy into saving the giant tree’s life. The giant tree was also equally shocked at the danger he had just survived. He panted as he followed Wang Baole closely. With Wang Baole’s help, they finally made their way back to the Worship Palace Pavilion.

They had unleashed their full speed, shooting through the air like bolts of lightning. The sounds of furious, and seemingly mindless breathing continued to follow them, affecting them. When they finally arrived at the Worship Palace Pavilion and stepped inside, the breathing in their ears also finally stopped. It was as if it had been cut off.

The two finally released a sigh of relief. The giant tree was about to speak when Wang Baole stopped him. They entered the teleportation array formation hurriedly. The light from the array formation shone around them. They disappeared and reappeared at the border between the sword body and the sword handle, faraway from the tomb. That was when they could truly let down their guard.

The giant tree’s face was pale, and his heart was still racing fearfully. He had experienced death looming over him just moments ago. A slight oversight could have gotten him killed.

“What is this place?” The giant tree looked around and muttered.

Wang Baole bit back a sarcastic remark. How would he know? An idea stirred in his head. He pretended to look wise, then spoke coolly.

“There are things better left not knowing.” Wang Baole gave the giant tree a meaningful look. His eyes fell on the broken arm in the giant tree’s hands. He didn’t ask for it, he simply looked quietly at the giant tree.

The giant tree fell silent. He was grateful for what Wang Baole had done for him. Even if he had harbored any ideas earlier on, they had since faded away. He lowered his head and presented the limb to Wang Baole.

Wang Baole could hardly contain his emotions as he stared at the arm. He took it from the giant tree, then inspected it in detail. His heart raced. The Divine Armament’s aura emanating from this broken arm was incredibly rich. This was simply a broken right arm. Its skin had shriveled up and dried, and he could see bone peeking out from the joints. Its blood and flesh were long gone. It had become a mummified limb.

<em>Whose arm is this? To think that a mere arm could give off the power of a Divine Armament… Are there any other body parts buried in that tomb… </em>Wang Baole couldn’t help but let his thoughts wander. However, he hadn’t stepped into that place before. Wang Baole believed that the giant tree was the only one who might know something about that.

The giant tree wouldn’t be able to tell him much since he lacked essential information… Wang Baole fell into deep thought. He decided not to question the giant tree now. He knew that it was important to pick the right time to ask the first question. This would determine the truthfulness of the giant tree’s answers.

He decided not to act rashly. He was going to wait for the right moment in order to get the most honest answers. Wang Baole narrowed his eyes at that thought. He decided to stop thinking about the giant tree, who was still unsure where his loyalties lay. He continued to study the broken arm carefully. He activated his cultivation and allowed it to flow into the arm. The aura emanating from the arm immediately intensified as an incredible power stirred within the limb.

Wang Baole was shocked at its sudden wakening. There was something he wasn’t getting. He had tried to activate the arm with his cultivation before gaining any permission. Its incredible power made Wang Baole look like a child trying to wield a huge saber!

It was tiring. Wang Baole could feel the arm trying to fight him. It shook violently in his hand. His proficiency in Dharmic Armaments led him to a conclusion. Should he forcibly try to wield the arm, the power it emitted wouldn’t distinguish between friend and foe. As it overpowered his enemies, it would also try to consume him.

Regardless, Wang Baole still hungered to possess it. A brief examination had shown that the power emanating from this broken arm was greater than all the Dharmic Armaments he owned. Even his black pike and his tri-colored flying sword paled vastly in comparison!

Only… the Federation’s Divine Armament could compare. Of course, even the Federation’s Divine Armament couldn’t compare with Wang Baole’s Dark Artifact.

Even so, that was still a Divine Armament!

<em>How can I put it to use without damaging it… </em>Wang Baole fretted. He thought about it for a while. Then, an idea appeared in his head. It was a crazy and bold idea.

It was like a weed. Once planted, it grew wildly. There was no killing it. The giant tree watched a myriad of emotions flash across Wang Baole’s face. It was starting to make him nervous. Then, determination flashed in Wang Baole’s eyes. He suddenly said, “Fellow Daoist Osmanthus, step back.”

The giant tree immediately retreated nervously. Wang Baole took a deep breath and activated the Flame Snatch Thearch Armor. The meridians inside his body emerged, glistening red as they danced in the air and transformed into the horrifying looking Thearch Armor!

The red meridians formed a shell outside Wang Baole, which exuded a power that almost suffocated the giant tree. Tornadoes began to appear around them. The giant tree finally understood how powerful Wang Baole truly was. His breathing stopped, and he took a few steps back.

Wang Baole paid no attention to the giant tree. As soon as the armor materialized, Wang Baole wielded its left hand without hesitation and grabbed the broken arm. An intense light shone in his eyes as he laid the broken arm onto the right arm of his armor. He pressed down fiercely. It fused with his armor and became one with his armor’s right arm. The broken arm had become his right arm!

This was the crazy idea that Wang Baole had thought of!