A World Worth Protecting

The alliance, the Adonis Association, was officially formed on the cruiser traveling from the Federation capital back to the Ethereal Dao College. The members of the alliance had a discussion. Two of them ultimately conceded, and Wang Baole, with his one vote, was elected the first chairman.

“There are so many people who need me. My responsibilities are too many. The burden on my shoulders is too heavy,” Wang Baole stood before Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng, patted his stomach and said, lamenting.

Time flew amidst Zhuo Yifan’s persistent silence and Zhao Yameng’s remorseful regrets. The cruiser carrying a group of the Federation seedlings as well as the members of the Adonis Association entered the domain of the Ethereal Dao College and returned to the Upper Academy Island.

As soon as they landed, Wang Baole and company saw the people who had come to receive them—many in the upper echelons of the college management, including the respective pavilions’ Grand Elders and the Deputy Sect Lord, were all there.

It was a grand and warm welcome ceremony. The Federation seedlings were seen as role models, earning them a great reputation as well as the envy of countless cultivators and students in both Upper Academy Island and Lower Academy Island.

Wang Baole and company seemed to be surrounded by a brilliant glow at that moment, drawing the attention of many and establishing themselves as role models for the new generation of youths.

Publicity done by the college contributed to that, but the main contributing factor was still the live telecast of the Federation’s hundred seedling selection round, which made them known to the residents of the Federation. There was also the commendation ceremony and the Federation President’s personal commendation. The seedlings’ achievements, as well as their image, was made known across the entire Federation, inspiring envy and admiration as well as establishing their popularity amongst the people.

At present, the college announced, before the entire college full of cultivators and students, the recognition and rewards the seedlings would be receiving.

“Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Zhuo Yifan are hereby appointed… as Deputy Pavilion Heads of their respective pavilions!”

As soon as the appointments were announced, many cultivators on the Upper Academy Island, despite already knowing what was going to happen, were shaken. After all, the position of a Deputy Pavilion Head… held immense power and authority!

If the Ethereal Dao College could be compared to a country, a pavilion would be the equivalent of a big city. The position of the Deputy Pavilion Head, then, would be that of a Deputy City Lord. According to the administrative hierarchy, an island on the Lower Academy Island wouldn’t even rival a pavilion on the Upper Academy Island.

Wang Baole’s rank might not equal that of Chancellor Lu on the Lower Academy Island, but if it were the deputy Chancellor Gao Quan who saw Wang Baole, he would have to cup his fists and greet him respectfully. That was because, according to their ranks, Wang Baole was his superior!

Furthermore… his position was appointed by the Ethereal Dao College’s Sky Path Island and was further augmented by his status as one of the Federation’s hundred seedlings, and even strengthened through his faction’s presence. At that moment, Wang Baole could be said to have reached the height of his power in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion on the Upper Academy Island.

Their status and their power were immediately made known to many with the announcement. Wang Baole and company were once again placed in the limelight. Even Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng’s statuses and positions rose suddenly after their promotion to the rank of Deputy Pavilion Head in their respective pavilions.

If they were to take a look at their recently formed Adonis Association, it seemed to be… a different creature, of a different status.

After the welcome ceremony ended, amidst the respectful gazes of the surrounding cultivators, and with immense pleasure, Wang Baole returned to his cave abode. In the coming days, he had almost no time for rest.

After all, he had been promoted to Deputy Pavilion Head. It was no longer appropriate for him to oversee the College Administrative Department alone. After discussing with Chen Yutong, the College Administrative Department arranged for a new Armament Soldier to take over his role. At the same time, Wang Baole’s jurisdiction expanded to include all supervisory and disciplinary departments.

It was at that time that his former subordinates from the Lower Academy Island like Liu Daobin and a few others also managed to enroll in the Upper Academy Island’s Dharmic Armament Pavilion.

Wang Baole paid considerable attention to their arrival. Liu Daobin, especially, received special attention and recognition. Wang Baole arranged for Liu Daobin to be his secretary and to follow him wherever he went.

That was not the only good thing to have happened. After Wang Baole was appointed to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion—perhaps his return and his achievements had played a part in creating some sort of momentum that resulted in what happened—Chen Yutong’s master, Sun Yifeng, bested all other competitors and… rose to the supreme position that was above even that of the Pavilion Head, the Dharmic Armament Pavilion’s Grand Elder.

With that, the senior brother of Chancellor Lu had finally stepped into the inner circle of the Ethereal Dao College management!

The person who was most discomforted by his promotion and Wang Baole’s appointment was the Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. He was subdued by the Grand Elder from above and constrained by Chen Yutong and Wang Baole’s balanced distribution of authority from below. His job as the Pavilion Head was going to be really uncomfortable.

Furthermore, in order to have a position ready for Wang Baole when he returned, the college had an existing Deputy Pavilion Head transferred out. That Deputy Pavilion Head had been one of his people. Losing him felt like having one of his limbs chopped off. The remaining two Deputy Pavilion Heads were wary of the Grand Elder. They obeyed his commands in public but defied them in private and were, surprisingly, friendlier with Chen Yutong and Wang Baole.

As a result, it wasn’t a stretch to say that Wang Baole and Chen Yutong reigned supreme in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. It was then that Wang Baole, in line with his generous and forgiving nature, sought out Chancellor Lu from the Lower Academy Island…

Wang Baole left after a simple exchange of words. Chancellor Lu saw him off. Standing outside the grand hall of the Lower Academy Island, gazing at the cruiser speeding into the distance, the chancellor smiled.

“This young man, he’s not a simple-minded boy,” Chancellor Lu murmured to himself. Then he issued an order to immediately remove Deputy Chancellor Gao Quan from his position and open an investigation on the various misdeeds he had committed in the past!

When the orders were issued, Gao Quan fell limp to the ground.

Following that came another order from Chancellor Lu to promote the current Dharmic Armament faculty dean, Goatee Zhang Youde… to Deputy Chancellor!

Of course, the series of dismissal, investigation, and appointment had to be reported to the Upper Academy Island. However, in general, the Upper Academy Island respected Chancellor Lu’s decisions in the management of the Lower Academy Island.

The vacant Dharmic Armament faculty dean’s position was filled by someone whom Chen Yutong trusted and was allied with, a transfer from outside the faculty.

After a series of human resource restructuring, Wang Baole and Chen Yutong managed to secure almost complete control in both the Dharmic Armament faculty and the Dharmic Armament Pavilion!

They were the true sovereigns of the whole Dharmic Armament discipline in the entire Ethereal Dao College. The Pavilion Head, with his power hijacked… had authority in name only.

He had no means of fighting back and could only resign to his fate. He retreated to seclusion and dove into the research of Dharmic treasures, distancing himself from the running and administration of the pavilion…

Rumors regarding the matter of discipleship also began to spread in the college. Some heard that the Grand Elder of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion intended to take Wang Baole as his disciple. Others heard that… the Grand Supreme Elder seemed to share similar intentions.

Wang Baole was surprised by the news as well. He asked Chen Yutong about it, but even Chen Yutong was unaware of the details. After some thought, Wang Baole decided that there was no need to panic. As the party directly involved in the matter, he would eventually come to know.

Following Wang Baole’s return, he had reached an interval in the politicking and power play. Wang Baole knew the importance of power and authority, but he also understood that ultimately, everything rested on his cultivation!

After everything had finally been settled, the first thing Wang Baole did was find out more about the Foundation Establishment realm.

He knew clearly that after reaching the peak of the True Breath realm, the most important step following that was the Foundation Establishment realm!

That was also the aim of the Hundred Seedling Plan in Operation Sword Sun. Learning the Supernova was only the first step. The many things that followed after required them to reach the Foundation Establishment realm first!

Wang Baole had little knowledge of the Foundation Establishment realm. After all, prior to his most recent journey, he had only been at the fourth-level of the True Breath realm—a far cry from the perfected True Breath realm.

Who would have thought that his most recent travel would bring him such tremendous good fortune, disrupting his original preparations and putting many things into motion earlier than what he had originally planned.

“I only know that to reach the Foundation Establishment realm, all cultivators from the respective political forces in the entire Federation need to gain an opportunity to travel to the moon…” Wang Baole muttered. He contacted Chen Yutong and started asking questions.

Chen Yutong knew a lot more than Wang Baole where the Foundation Establishment realm was concerned. He was, after all, an experienced Armament Soldier and had been preparing his advancement to the Foundation Establishment realm for a long time!

There was too much information regarding the matter, though. Chen Yutong shared a brief introduction before telling Wang Baole that he would tidy up the information later and document them in a jade slip before sending it to Wang Baole for his detailed study.

While Chen Yutong tidied up the information on the Foundation Establishment realm, Wang Baole started the incubation of the monster egg. However, the incubation required the appropriate environment and time.

The problem of a suitable environment was easily fixed. With his current authority, a few simple words would have Liu Daobin getting everything arranged and prepared for him. He only had to wait for Liu Daobin to inform him when the egg was about to hatch.

He did all that. Then, standing inside his cave abode, he sucked in a deep breath and pulled out the red palm tree that he had bought in the Federation capital!

The plant would make a good herb. But to Wang Baole, its main value was the fingernail-sized black fragment amongst the many fragments embedded in the tree.

He carefully extracted the fragment and stared at it. Memories of the past few years, everything that had happened after he had been admitted to the Ethereal Dao College, surfaced in his mind. He was overwhelmed by emotion.

I’ve made it so far, one step at a time, relying only on my immense natural potential and undying perseverance. Through my own hard work, determined not to rely on any external help, after all these blood and sweat and tears, I’ve finally reached my current position and acquired my current skills and power!

I don’t need help from anyone, because I am my greatest ally! Wang Baole lifted his head high proudly. He regulated his aura, and, inside his head, called out softly.

“Little Missy, are you there?”