A World Worth Protecting

1

Everyone nodded after listening to Daoist You Ran and immediately split ways. Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Kong Dao followed Feng Qiuran and raced towards one of the three disks.

Wang Baole slowed down slightly so that Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao could keep pace with him. In his opinion, he was simply carrying out his obligations to the sect and to Feng Qiuran by taking part in this mission. It wasn’t truly part of his responsibilities. What he was concerned for were Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao.

“Yameng, Kong Dao, stay close to me. If anything goes wrong… we’ll leave immediately!” Wang Baole knew his priorities. He communicated via his voice transmission ring, through the designated, region-restricted Federation channel. There was no worry of anyone else listening in on them.

Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao were of the same view as well. The three of them exchanged looks. They didn’t say a single word, but it was clear that they intended to advance as a team and leave together.

The team traveled amidst anxiety and wariness, approaching their targeted disk steadily. The disk had looked extremely impressive from afar. Now that they were nearer it, it looked vast and infinite, stretching for miles into the horizon without an end in sight. It was impossible to take it all in with one’s eyes.

The disk’s appearance became more distinct as they approached. They couldn’t discern the landscape. The surface appeared liquid-like, and there were ripples, making them feel as if they were approaching a vast ocean.

The suppressive force emanating from the disk intensified as the group drew nearer. Despite the defensive barrier of their array formation and Feng Qiuran unleashing her cultivation to shield everyone, the Core Formation realm cultivators’ heads began to buzz as the group approached the disk. Their minds began to turn fuzzy. Only the Nascent Soul realm cultivators managed to barely retain clear minds. Wang Baole, with his impressive cultivation and unique status, managed to keep clear-headed as well. However, his breathing began to quicken, and his heart had started racing uncontrollably.

Fortunately, they didn’t have to suffer this for long. Under Feng Qiuran’s protection, the team picked up speed and finally got within a thousand feet of the disk’s water-like surface. A sharp light flashed across Feng Qiuran’s eyes as the Nascent Soul realm cultivators unleashed their cultivation. Everyone joined forces and gathered together, transforming into a shooting star that charged straight at the disk.

They arrived almost instantly. Just as they were about to collide with the disk’s surface, Feng Qiuran pulled out an ancient talisman without hesitation. It was a talisman that had been created by the true Vast Expanse Dao Palace, used to slice open a battleship’s outer surface and enter the battleship — an Explosive Teleportation Talisman!

A thunderous boom resounded in the air as the talisman exploded. Ripples broke the surface of the disk, and a near-imperceptible opening was revealed. Feng Qiuran and the others activated their cultivation simultaneously and unleashed a sudden burst of speed, dashing straight towards the opening!

In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the opening. They were just about to slip through and enter the world within the disk when suddenly, the rising energies of teleportation exploded before their eyes, sweeping outwards and sending everyone’s heads buzzing.

Wang Baole felt that too. He was only one step away from entering the world within the disk and could even smell the flowers inside that world. Regardless, they had failed. Everyone began to disappear in the teleportation storm, only to reappear… in the skies a hundred thousand feet away from the battleship!

“What’s going on?”

“I thought we got in!”

“It’s true that the battleship is being protected by a defense mechanism that teleports all intruders away!”

The expressions on Zhao Yameng’s and Kong Dao’s faces were dark. Many cultivators around them began to whisper furiously to one another. Feng Qiuran grimaced, and as she gazed at the battleship, a myriad of emotions burned bright in her eyes. Wang Baole, on the other hand, let loose a sigh of relief secretly.

He hadn’t approved of gathering such a large party of people to infiltrate the battleship, but Mie Liezi and Daoist You Ran had both agreed to the idea. Feng Qiuran had also wished it so, and Wang Baole had been unable to voice his disagreement.

<em>This isn’t bad either. Elder Feng Qiuran should know deep in her heart that her father is likely dead. She couldn’t help but hope.</em> Wang Baole sighed. He lifted his head and studied the battleship before him. He could see the light from teleportations appearing nearby. Mie Liezi’s and Daoist You Ran’s factions had both been teleported away.

Everyone had a dark look on their faces. After some discussion amongst the four elders, they decided to make another attempt. It ended once again with their teleportation. They weren’t able to enter the battleship. It was then that Mie Liezi came up with an idea.

“We have to make use of the power from the ancient greenish-bronze sword’s array formation to create interference in order to resist being teleported away and successfully infiltrate the battleship. I propose that we return to the Dao Palace first and gather the strength of the three factions. We need to make preparations to ensure nothing goes wrong the next time!”

Wang Baole agreed readily with Mie Liezi’s proposal. After a moment of silence, Daoist You Ran nodded in agreement as well. Feng Qiuran seemed to release a sigh of relief. Her spirits seemed low, but she agreed with their decision as well. The party comprised of hundreds of people, who had come charging fiercely, decided to leave without achieving anything.

Those left guarding the Dao Palace, including Federation cultivators, were surprised by their return. Nothing much had changed in the Dao Palace since their return, except for the appearance of the battleship and their initial failure at infiltration weighing down more heavily on them.

Life still had to go on. The appearance of a battleship wasn’t going to drastically transform the lives of those in the Dao Palace within such a short period of time. A few days later, the Dao Palace discovered that the battleship had returned to the sword body and hadn’t continued its departure. Wang Baole and Feng Qiuran expressed their suspicions and uneasiness during discussions. However, a great many of the Dao Palace disciples had let loose a sigh of relief upon receiving the news.

The assimilation between the Federation and the Dao Palace continued. After a few days of peace and quiet, Wang Baole returned to his cultivation. It didn’t last though. Jin Duoming came visiting one night.

Jin Duoming smiled wryly as he cupped his fists and greeted Wang Baole.

“Baole, I know something huge happened a while ago, and I can sense that we have been growing apart. I’m here to discuss something openly with you.

“I, Jin Duoming, really have no wish to fight for the Federation presidency with you. I don’t care that it’s the mission that Duan Muque, that old man, has tasked me with. I know what I want. I want to play a part in the assimilation between the Federation and the Dao Palace. I also want to establish a Trilunaris Corporation that is independent of my family clan!”

“Baole, will you help me?” Jin Duoming sounded sincere. His eyes were clear and honest, without secrets, as he stared at Wang Baole.

Wang Baole rubbed his forehead. He had been thinking a lot after the battleship’s appearance. He hadn’t really grown apart from Jin Duoming; they had continued to keep in touch throughout the years. He spent some time easing Jin Duoming’s mind, then asked.

“I’ll help where I can. You mentioned you ran into some trouble?”

“It’s nothing difficult, Baole. I know that what I’m about to ask may result in some misunderstanding, but… I’ll just speak my mind. I wish to exchange a portion of my shares in the Spirit Internet for a portion of your shares in the game.” Jin Duoming ducked his head sheepishly as he said that.

Wang Baole rubbed at his forehead again. This wasn’t a problem at all, in his opinion. However, it also wasn’t something he could unilaterally decide. After some thought, Wang Baole said tactfully, “Duoming, you should discuss this with Xie Haiyang.”

“Baole, I’ve gone looking for Xie Haiyang. I went to his cave abode, but there was no one there. His cave abode was empty as well. I heard that he disappeared the same day the battleship appeared. He hasn’t returned yet…” Jin Duoming sighed and said with great exasperation.

“He’s gone, and his cave abode is empty? He’s gone missing again?” Wang Baole froze. He immediately pulled out his voice transmission ring and sent a voice transmission to Xie Haiyang. It was like a rock sinking into the ocean—there was no reply.

Jin Duoming saw that, and an imperceptible light flickered in his eyes. He lowered his head and sighed.

“Yes, this fellow keeps disappearing. This is the second time he’s gone missing.”

Wang Baole’s head began to throb slightly. He couldn’t help but wonder at the strange timing of Xie Haiyang’s disappearance. This seemed like something he should look into. He comforted Jin Duoming again.

“Duoming, you don’t have to worry about this. Xie Haiyang’s a guy filled with mysteries. Maybe he just has something he needs to attend to. I’ll go look for him. You’ll have your answer soon. How about that?”

Jin Duoming smiled wryly and nodded. He chatted with Wang Baole for a while longer, then left.

Having sent Jin Duoming off, Wang Baole sat back down in his palace, and a crease appeared on his forehead. As he wondered about Xie Haiyang’s disappearance, he suddenly lifted his head and looked outside, in the direction that Jin Duoming had left. Suspicion gradually colored his eyes. After some thought, he realized that his suspicions were a result of what Jin Duoming had said about Xie Haiyang.

“He’s gone, and his cave abode is empty? He’s gone missing again?”

“Yes, this fellow keeps disappearing. This is the second time he’s gone missing.”

The exchange played in Wang Baole’s mind, and the crease in his forehead deepened. Assuming that Jin Duoming wasn’t aware that Xie Haiyang had done a disappearing act before, he should have been surprised upon hearing what Wang Baole had said. He should have questioned Wang Baole about Xie Haiyang’s habit of disappearing.

But from Jin Duoming’s reply, Wang Baole could sense that he seemed to know that Xie Haiyang had done a disappearing act before.

Something wasn’t right there. Jin Duoming shouldn’t know about Xie Haiyang’s stay in the Ethereal Dao College. He had asked about Xie Haiyang before, but Wang Baole hadn’t revealed such information to him then. Even if Jin Duoming had decided to do a background check on Xie Haiyang, there wasn’t much of a chance of him finding out the truth. They were on the ancient greenish-bronze sword, not in the Federation.

Besides, he had warned Jin Duoming not to offend Xie Haiyang. Wang Baole still remembered the expression Jin Duoming had on his face. Based on his understanding of Jin Duoming’s character, Jin Duoming had taken that advice to heart. He was a smart guy, so he wouldn’t have gone ahead and investigated Xie Haiyang secretly. There was a high likelihood that Jin Duoming had always assumed that Xie Haiyang was a native disciple of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Wang Baole began to suspect something was going on. But then, Jin Duoming might have also done some asking around. Wang Baole wasn’t the only person who was from the Ethereal Dao College.

<em>Maybe I’m being too paranoid.</em> Wang Baole rubbed his forehead and decided to set this matter aside. He thought about Xie Haiyang’s disappearance again, and an indescribable irritation rose inside him. He instinctively called out for Little Missy, but she didn’t reply.

<em>Is she asleep again?</em> Wang Baole rose to his feet. The skies had darkened. The strange irritable feeling began to grow stronger inside him, so he pulled out the jade slip containing the game Descend. He intended to enter and play the game for a while to rid himself of this bizarre irritation he was feeling.

However, no matter how many times he tried, it was as if the game server had crashed. He… couldn’t log on!