A World Worth Protecting

I knew it! A Primary Rank Four Noble! Wang Baole started pacing in his office excitedly after he read the announcement. His eyes were shining with a bright greedy light, and his heart started racing. He wanted this new appointment in the New Mars Region so much.

He even remembered what the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College had said. To become a grand elder of a Dao College’s Pavilion and a Primary Rank Four Noble, one needed to have Core Formation realm cultivation and sufficient experience. Time was also required for that to happen. All three conditions had to be met.

He had also been indirectly involved when Chen Yutong’s teacher had fought from being a normal elder to become a grand elder. That took almost six months before he had finally acquired his promotion. He had fought and won against other competitors during the process.

That had been a challenge. A Pavilion’s grand elder and the mayor of the New Mars Region might be both Primary Rank Four Nobles… but the extent of power they wielded was drastically different.

Wang Baole was overwhelmed with excitement at that thought. He studied the various ways to become a potential candidate carefully again. Then, he thought hard.

The selection criteria for becoming a candidate is obviously based on theory. If the theory passes the mark, the candidate will have to implement it and put it to the test in the Divine Armament Zone. This will be broadcasted live across the entire planet…

This means that baseless grand plans won’t work. Even if one got through and became a candidate, if their theory can’t be put into practice, they won’t be able to rise to become the new city zone’s mayor… what kind of proposal should I submit… Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He thought for a long while. Then, his eyes flashed. A bold idea popped into his head!

Since we’re going to implement this… why don’t I use my Eternal Fortress blueprints, which I’ve worked so long on… as the proposal? Wang Baole’s breath quickened at that thought. He had decided to build his own stronghold after he had seen and grown envious of Jin Duoming’s stronghold. It took a great deal of his time and energy. He had even prepared quite a sizeable army of construction puppets.

This had been a hobby that had been a result of his own materialistic desires and his proficiency in refining. Now… as he read the announcement and went through the requirements, Wang Baole suddenly felt that nothing could beat submitting his own stronghold for the proposal.

I’m going to build something gigantic, that is both a stronghold and a city! Wang Baole’s heartbeat started racing, and his eyes sparkled. He never thought there was a chance his stronghold would come to be of use when he had designed it. This was an unintentional boon. He couldn’t help his excitement. This felt like predestination. It was as if he was fated to win this.

Seems like everything’s been written in the stars. It’s fated that, I, Wang Baole, will rise and leave an everlasting mark on Mars! Wang Baole burst out into laughter. He quickly pulled out the blueprints of his stronghold and made some modifications. He made up his mind; he was going to become the new mayor of the new city zone.

As Wang Baole went about his preparations, Kong Dao, Zhuo Yixian, Li Yi and the rest were also making their own preparations. They were all tempted by the newly created post for the New Mars Region and the important role it would play in the future. The political forces supporting them had also done their homework and were excited about their representatives becoming a candidate and potentially emerging as the new city zone’s mayor.

This was true of the dominant political forces in the Federation as well. Even the Galactic Dusk Sect, which had been punished during the Mystic Luna Realm incident, decided to join in the fight. It had already started preparing so that it might emerge victorious this time.

The various political parties began their politicking and infighting. News of a New Mars Region incited heated debates throughout the entire Martian Colony City. There were discussions carried out on earth as well. Countless media agencies began reporting fervently on this news unanimously, as if they had received some message from the powers that be.

Time passed steadily as the debates grew more heated. Both the residents of Earth and Mars were following the news with great interest. As public attention on this matter reached a climax, the various political forces also completed their preparations. They had received the news earlier than the public and had utilized the entire establishment’s resources. The structure and theory the proposal would be based on should be fairly sound, without any major flaws. Everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses when it came to their proposals.

Wang Baole had also modified and perfected his proposal. He checked it a few times before confidently submitting his application. He had appended his proposal alongside the application.

He couldn’t sit still at all after that. He followed the discussions regarding the new city zone that were taking place on Mars closely. He also contacted the people he knew to find out more information on what the other political forces were doing. He couldn’t control his anxiety and fear over getting a candidacy.

Jin Duoming might be influential, but this really means too much to me. I don’t feel safe with only his help… even if City Lord Lin has come into the picture and offered his help, it’s still not a guaranteed placement… Wang Baole pondered for a moment. Then, he pulled out his voice transmission ring and contacted the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College.

As soon as the transmission connected, Wang Baole spoke hastily.

“Sect Lord, the Martian government just announced that they will be setting up a new city zone. Is it possible for you to help…” Wang Baole shared the details with the Sect Lord eagerly. The words poured out of his mouth in a rush. He revealed his desire to participate and was about to request the Sect Lord’s aid. It was then that the Sect Lord’s exasperated sigh drifted out from the voice transmission ring.

“Baole, don’t participate in this matter…”

“What?” Wang Baole froze.

“I’ve known about the New Mars Region, and I’ve tried to fight for your candidacy. But… the four Dao Colleges have come to a decision to pool all our resources and support Li Yi to become the mayor of the New Mars Region…” The Sect Lord sounded tired.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes when he heard that. While silent , he found it unacceptable.

“Why her?” Wang Baole finally spoke in a low voice after a moment of silence.

“Because she has the support of the Martian Colony Deputy Governor, Fellow Daoist Osmanthus. He has spoken to the Dao Colleges and promised his full support for Li Yi… with the Dao Colleges’ additional backing, Li Yi’s chances of success will increase to sixty or seventy percent.”

“The four Dao Colleges is aiming for the mayorship of the New Mars Region… after a joint assessment, they judged Li Yi’s chances of success higher than yours,” the Sect Lord said slowly. He felt that the decision had been unjust and was still feeling slightly sore about it, but the other three Sect Lords had given their approval. Li Yi had found herself a strong ally as well. The four Dao Colleges might not have paid a great deal of attention to her alliance if it had been with some other political force, but this was the giant tree, the Deputy Governor of the Martian Colony!

His support was enough to persuade the four Dao Colleges to give Li Yi their full backing. The Deputy Governor had suggested that the Dao Colleges concentrated on one candidate instead of splitting their resources so as to ensure the greatest chance of success. The White Deer Dao College, where Li Yi had been from, had agreed and made the decision to pool their resources together for a single candidate—Li Yi.

“Baole, don’t make trouble. Even though you weren’t chosen this time, I’ve fought for the position of vice mayorship for you! The new city zone will have four vice mayors.

“If Li Yi succeeds, you’ll become the New Mars Region’s vice mayor!”

Wang Baole’s face darkened with unhappiness as he listened to the Sect Lord over the voice transmission ring. He felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head. The resentment he was feeling was so strong he couldn’t control what he said next.

“Sect Lord, I’ve done so much for the Dao College. I bled for the Dao College, I became one of the hundred seedlings as well, I…”

“Baole!” The Sect Lord cut Wang Baole off. He sighed. His tone was gentler when he spoke again, and his low voice sounded exhausted and filled with powerlessness.

“Baole, the Ethereal Dao College is not the one helming the four Dao Colleges. The White Deer Dao College leads us now. The Ethereal Dao College only has one vote. We cannot change what has been decided. The most important thing is, the Deputy Governor of the Martian Colony has promised his full support for Li Yi!”

He comforted and consoled Wang Baole for a while longer before ending the transmission. There had been regret and apology in his voice. Wang Baole stared at his voice transmission ring as the resentment in his heart grew stronger. He glared.

What’s so great about having support? There’s nothing wrong with having no backing. As long as I become one of the candidates, who cares about Li Yi? I’ll crush her! The more Wang Baole thought about it, the more furious he became. He clutched onto his voice transmission ring as he steeped in furious thoughts. He immediately contacted General Zhou, whom he had sold his cannons to, for help.

General Zhou treated Wang Baole’s transmission seriously. The military on Earth owed Wang Baole a debt. After he understood what Wang Baole needed from him, he thought for a long while, then informed Wang Baole that while the military was unable to help him with the final trial in the Divine Armament Zone, they would be able to help him obtain a place in the list of ten candidates.

They couldn’t guarantee success. Regardless, his chances of success had improved!

Wang Baole was instantly moved, and they exchanged a few words before ending the transmission. Wang Baole placed his voice transmission ring down and sucked in a deep breath. He knew that he was born from a commoner’s family. He had no backing from any strong political figure or entity. Everything that he had now, he had earned through hard work.

How great can these people be if they have to rely on others to back them up. I’ll crush them all with my own efforts! Wang Baole snorted. He felt that he had completed all the necessary preparations. He was still not fully confident of being placed as a candidate, but at least now, he felt that he had a greater chance than before.

The days passed. Ten days later, after having gone through a few rounds of selection, the applications were narrowed down to the last twenty. Their proposals were presented before the Martian Colony Governor and Deputy Governor. They would be the ones to select the final ten candidates!