A World Worth Protecting

The military’s testing of the Baole Cannon would not conclude so soon; time passed steadily in the following days as they did a comprehensive trial.

Operation Sword Sun soon became commonplace news in the Federation as mainstream media spread the news. It stirred a great debate and was the center of much attention. During that period, the Ethereal Dao College also issued an official announcement to all Upper Academy Island disciples regarding the selection of the hundred Federation seedlings!

As part of Operation Sword Sun, the hundred Federation seedlings would be nominated by every city lord and every political entity in the Federation. The nominees would report to the Federation and undergo the first round of selection.

Those who passed the first round of selection were to journey to the capital of the Federation and undergo the second round of selection. The final hundred people would be selected, without any order or ranking, and become the Federation’s seedlings. They would be entitled to certain privileges and, at the same time, be given special grooming!

There were three hundred nominations from the Ethereal Dao College, but nobody knew how many would remain to become one of the hundred seedlings after the multiple rounds of elimination.

The three hundred nominations were spread across all pavilions, and the respective pavilions would submit their recommendations to the college for consideration. Out of the dozen or so names submitted by the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, Wang Baole’s name stood out.

Regardless of the uneasy relations between the Dharmic Armament Pavilion’s Pavilion Head and Wang Baole, and in spite of the position of Grand Elder remaining vacant and its final successor undecided—and the fight for the position growing fiercer—after what had happened, the Pavilion Head could no longer cow or intimidate Wang Baole.

In fact… he could not be intimidated!

Be it due to his contributions to the seventh primary stronghold or his achievements at Spirit Breath Village, Wang Baole’s name had spread far and wide. Many knew of him in the four Dao colleges and in the military. For a disciple who hadn’t yet been given an official post but whose reputation already preceded him, his existence would be the pride of any political entity.

Furthermore, Wang Baole’s talents in Dharmic Armaments were astonishing. His achievements surpassed that of an ordinary Armament Soldier—from his self-created Numinous Treasure that shook the Armament Soldiers, to the miracle he performed before the Elder Request Drum, and finally, to the assessment given by the Grand Supreme Elder!

Excellent work!

Those less shrewd, upon hearing the two words, might think that they were the judgment and affirmation the Grand Supreme Elder had given for Wang Baole’s Numinous Treasure. But the highly astute knew that the words “excellent work” did not refer solely to the Numinous Treasure; to a greater degree, they were an affirmation of Wang Baole himself!

Excellent work!

In such circumstances, the placement of Wang Baole’s name at the top of the ranking was no longer that much of a surprise.

A week later, the nominations from every pavilion were finalized. When the list was announced, it stirred up a storm on the Upper Academy Island. The three hundred nominees suddenly became the center of attention belonging to the hundreds of thousands of people on the entire island.

“I see Zhuo Yifan on the list! I was guessing he’d be one of the nominees from the Combat Pavilion. After all, he’s ranked top in the first level True Breath realm during the Combat Pavilion Tournament!”

“There’re so many familiar names listed. There’s even Zhao Yameng from the Array Runes Pavilion. She’s the same batch as Wang Baole. I heard she keeps her head down in the Array Runes Pavilion, but that doesn’t stop the Array Runes Pavilion’s Pavilion Head, who still values her greatly!”

As the disciples engaged in fierce discussion, the Ethereal Dao College issued another notice regarding the Federation’s Hundred Seedling Plan. The notice intensified the focus on the three hundred nominees.

Even the nominees themselves were taken by surprise and overjoyed!

Wang Baole, especially, his eyeballs almost popped out. The college’s notice pertained to an unconditional promotion—all who advanced to become a Federation seedling would not only be rewarded by the college, they would also receive a promotion!

For example, Wang Baole was currently the head of the College Administrative Department. If he successfully became a Federation seedling, he would be promoted directly to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion!

Wang Baole couldn’t contain his excitement. He could sense the drastic difference in status and position after he had become the head of the College Administrative Department. If he were to rise to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head…

That would be, to a certain extent, an important figure!

Such an enticement drove the three hundred nominees, including Wang Baole, wild; their eagerness to become a Federation seedling grew more intense. They were to travel to the capital city of the Federation in half a month and report on the designated date, then go through the second round of selection. Amongst True Breath realm cultivators, those three hundred people were the cream of the crop; their cultivation was impressive, and they all had their own cruisers.

As a result, they didn’t depart together, but separately, on their own time. Many had left in their cruisers, heading straight for the Federation capital the next day.

Wang Baole went about his preparations as well. He contacted Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng and asked if they would like to travel together. They had become familiar with one another in Spirit Breath Village; even though they didn’t cross each other’s path often on Upper Academy Island, they regularly communicated via voice transmissions.

That was why Zhuo Yifan agreed immediately after Wang Baole raised the idea. Zhao Yameng, on the other hand, was more refined and reserved. She preferred peace and quiet and had intended to travel alone. However, after receiving Wang Baole’s voice transmission, she thought back to their experiences in Spirit Breath Village and finally agreed to travel together as well.

The three set to depart two days later, then went about preparing for the journey. They had to pass a second round of selection after they reach the capital city. Only after that, when they remain standing after thousands of nominees were eliminated, would they become one of the hundred Federation seedlings.

Wang Baole completed his simple preparations and tidied up. The night before they were leaving, as he inspected his Numinous Treasures to ensure he would go through the selection round that was to be held in the capital city without any obstacles, he received a voice transmission from General Zhou of the seventh primary stronghold.

General Zhou’s voice carried a tinge of excitement and friendliness. They had conducted a comprehensive trial of the Baole Cannon, and his regard for the cannon had skyrocketed to an unimaginable extent.

That was why he didn’t mince his words during the voice transmission and voiced his request directly.

“Wang Baole, we have a high opinion of the Baole Cannon you have created. We need at least a million of them. It would be nearly impossible for you to refine all of them, so would you be agreeable to selling the blueprints to us?

“As for the price, due to many reasons, we’re unable to pay you so much at one go, but we can pay you in installments. We guarantee you will receive payment every year, and that you’ll be paid in full within ten years!

“There’s also the Federation’s Hundred Seedling Plan, which is part of Operation Sword Sun… we can guarantee your success. When you reach the capital, just play along a bit. We’ve reserved a spot for you in the final hundred!”

General Zhou wasn’t a businessman. Perhaps he couldn’t be bothered to play any tricks where that matter was concerned, so he communicated the price the military was willing to pay without attempting to hide anything from Wang Baole and let him decide.

He valued the cannon, but he valued Wang Baole himself more!

When Wang Baole heard what General Zhou had said, he sucked in his breath, and his eyes widened. The general had listed a long list of conditions in one go. He was dazed for a bit, but then, all of a sudden, he realized his Baole Cannon might have exceeded his expectations in some aspects.

He was overwhelmed with excitement. If it had been somebody else, he might have negotiated the terms and tried to gain more benefits for himself. However, when facing the seventh primary stronghold and General Zhou, who spoke with such openness, he didn’t choose to do so. He replied without hesitation.

“I have no problems with that. You can just set a price. In fact, if my cultivation and refining Numinous Treasures didn’t cost me a fortune, I wouldn’t even mind giving it away for free.”

Upon hearing Wang Baole’s answer, General Zhou laughed out loud. There was a fierce tone of admiration in his laughter, and it was clear that the general’s temperament agreed with Wang Baole’s answer. He discussed further details with Wang Baole, then ended the transmission.

Wang Baole’s spirits soared as he placed the voice transmission ring down. His eyes shone brightly. He waved his arms around excitedly, stood up, and walked around in circles. Pulling out a large bottle of Ice Spirit Water, he gurgled it down. He was so excited that he could almost break into dance.

A reserved seedling spot. Haha, the position of Deputy Pavilion Head is mine! The feeling of being guaranteed a spot made his whole person loosen up. His excitement persisted till daybreak and didn’t cease even when the time for him to meet Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng arrived.

With great excitement, and in a joyous mood, Wang Baole left his cave abode for the agreed upon gathering place. It didn’t take long before Zhuo Yifan—charming, poised, blessed with unearthly good looks and dressed in robes—and Zhao Yameng—elegant, dignified, gifted with an unworldly beauty, her long silky hair drifting in the breeze and a faint, angelic smile on her lips—appeared!

Zhuo Yifan wasn’t alone. Following behind him were two disciples from the Combat Pavilion. Though, in the presence of Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng, they seemed insignificant and dull.

Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng’s approach was akin to a golden couple’s entrance. It was as if they epitomized the very beauty of the earth, and the surrounding disciples looked on with envy. Many female disciples in the crowd gazed at Zhuo Yifan with adoration while a great many of the male disciples were driven to shame when they stared at Zhao Yameng. In the presence of Zhao Yameng, they almost couldn’t control their urge to protect and guard her. They dared not besmirch her in the slightest.

Wang Baole felt nothing of the sort. When he saw the pair, he laughed out loud and walked up to them. After pulling Zhuo Yifan into a hug, without any hesitation, and as the countless male disciples watched on, raging, Wang Baole drew Zhao Yameng into an embrace.

Zhuo Yifan let out a dry cough. A helpless sense of exasperation accompanied his every encounter with Wang Baole. But after the Spirit Breath Village affair, he couldn’t help but feel gratitude towards and affection for Wang Baole.

As for Zhao Yameng, the expression on her face remained unchanged. She had a gentle, dignified smile on her face, and her gaze was calm.

“I’m relieved to see you guys. With the three of us together, we’ll form the perfect team. After all, in terms of looks, we’re all in the same league. Every time I see you guys, it almost feels like I’m looking into the mirror,” Wang Baole smacked his tummy and said in a pleased tone.

Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng gave no reaction, but every single person in the crowd had an odd look on their faces. They seemed to be secretly voicing the same question in their hearts…

Where the hell is his sense of shame?