A World Worth Protecting

The collapse of the green boulder sent everyone gasping in shock instantly. Even though they had seen the power Wang Baole and Kong Dao had displayed during their fight, the Federation seedlings were still taken aback.

After all, Kong Dao’s strike had only resulted in cracks spreading throughout a large portion of the stone’s surface. Wang Baole, however, had shattered it with a single punch!

“He’s a freak…”

“I’m so glad he had been confirmed as a seedling. If he had participated in the selection round, and we’d been unlucky enough to come across him…”

“That’s weird, aren’t you all concerned whether this guy will have to pay for the assessment stone after shattering it?”

Wang Baole had originally been pleased with himself. However, as the other seedlings fell into a fierce discussion, and he heard someone’s curious question about compensation, his eyes widened abruptly. Then, he remembered his Silver Spirit Card with limitless credit and calmed down immediately.

Even though I, Wang Baole, come from a poor family, but as an Armament Soldier from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, I’ll honor the demand for compensation if it comes to that. I’ll work hard and eat less. I’ll be able to save up something! Wang Baole suddenly felt righteousness surging through his person. He couldn’t help himself from reaching into his pocket and patting the Silver Spirit Card inside, making sure he hadn’t lost it…

The surrounding Federation officials were all roused by Wang Baole’s single punch, and waves of emotions stirred in their hearts.

“This Green Assessment Stone can withstand the power of anyone below the Foundation Establishment realm. Even if it’s someone at the early levels of the Foundation Establishment, it would still be able to hold up with some difficulty. But now, it’s been shattered by a single punch from Wang Baole!”

“I didn’t look too closely before, but this little fatty is obviously… at the Physical Foundation Establishment stage! Even Kong Dao didn’t manage to shatter the stone, but he managed to do it!”

As they engaged in hushed discussions, Duan Muque smiled faintly. It was clear he had already known. His eyes fell on Wang Baole and Kong Dao and were alight with hope.

Kong Dao’s pupils contracted abruptly. He remained silent as he stared at Wang Baole. The earlier feelings of provocation had morphed into an intense battle intent, though he managed to conceal it.

Wang Baole observed the crowd as they gasped in shock. Pleased and relaxed, he cupped his fists towards Duan Muque and the officials, bowed, then stepped back smugly.

A new assessment stone was quickly brought out by the military. It didn’t take long before everyone concluded their trials, and the week of cultivation came to an end.

All the observers remembered Wang Baole’s face because of the trial. It was the same for Kong Dao. As for the remaining Federation seedlings, despite their ordinary performances for the physical assessment, the spells and techniques that they possessed and hadn’t displayed would rival the physical prowess of both Wang Baole and Kong Dao—to a certain extent.

Zhao Yameng’s ultimate move, for example. Once unleashed, even Wang Baole would have a headache trying to counter it.

As such, it was difficult to identify precisely how weak or strong one was. However, there was no doubt that Wang Baole had become the focus of attention during the trial!

Duan Muque gazed at the young faces before him and stood up.

“It’s your misfortune to be born in this era, because you’ll have to face many unknown powers, numerous unimaginable threats, countless trials and tribulations… you might even come face to face with what is known as a god!

“But it is also your fortune and destiny to be born during this time. Because in this era, the Spirit Inception Era has just newly arrived. Your descendants will remember your names for many years in the future. You… may become a god in the eyes of future generations! Your journey will never stop… there is no end before you. Because the path you are walking is called the road of evolution, Dao-seeking, the journey towards immortality!

“That’s why I like to call the Spirit Inception Era… the Era of Apotheosis!”

“The future is limitless. I, Duan Muque… am willing to walk this journey with you!” Duan Muque ended his speech, an unfathomable look in his eyes. He eyed every one of them, and every single one of them was inspired and galvanized.

His words were simple, but it was as if they had unrolled a scroll before everyone. On that scroll was painted the exciting and grand future… A fierce light shone within Wang Baole’s eyes as well. The word “Apotheosis” electrified his entire body, and he could hardly control his excitement.

Amidst the crowd’s excited breaths, Duan Muque left with a smile on his face.

Following his departure, the Federation seedlings, after having undergone a memorable period of cultivation, separately boarded the cruisers headed for their political institutions or colleges…

The Federation seedings’ examination and final trial had officially come to an end!

The group from the Ethereal Dao College was received and escorted by the college’s cruiser. Wang Baole, Zhuo Yifan, Zhao Yameng as well as a few other Federation seedlings, started their journey back.

On the journey back, Wang Baole wasn’t the only one looking forward excitedly to his return. The others also looked forward to going back. Based on the reward and recognition they were to receive from the Ethereal Dao College for becoming a Federation seedling, they should all receive a promotion when they returned!

Every one of them, when they returned, would be promoted to Deputy Pavilion Head of their respective pavilions!

It was impossible not to be excited about their new positions. Wang Baole’s heart started beating rapidly as he thought about how the position of Deputy Pavilion Head was, at that moment, waiting for his occupancy. He wished he could teleport himself to the college directly.

As he grew excited about the authority he would wield in future in the Ethereal Dao College, he also started considering the need for allies. That was something that had been mentioned in the high officials’ autobiographies. Wang Baole recalled in detail what he had read, then glanced at Zhuo Yifan, who was sitting at one corner. His eyes flashed instantly. He shifted over and put his arm around Zhuo Yifan’s shoulder.

“Yifan, we’ll all be Deputy Pavilion Heads after we return to college. Are you excited about that?”

Zhuo Yifan stared at Wang Baole. Based on his understanding of Wang Baole, he knew that the other youth had something he wanted to say. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t even bother to ask. But since Wang Baole had spoken, Zhuo Yifan sighed inwardly before accommodating him and asking, “What are you trying to say?”

“Haha, Yifan, are we good friends? We are, right? If we look at the details, we’re friends who’ve survived life-or-death situations together. If we look at the bigger picture, it’s the Spirit Inception Era, the Era of Apotheosis. We’re fellow Daoists. We need to help each other out in our future journeys!” Wang Baole said animatedly, talking and thudding his chest at the same time.

“What I feel is, we need to form some sort of alliance. That way, when we all become gods in the future, the future generations will have something to call us by!”

Zhuo Yifan was confused. He couldn’t make sense of Wang Baole’s strange ideas.

“Snap out of your daze. Just look, you won’t fulfill your ambitions staying in your family clan, so what’s the point of your cultivation and excelling in your skills? You’re just one person, after all. But if we form an alliance, you’ll have me at your back, and the other members of our alliance. With so many people supporting you, if your family clan dares to make life difficult for you and turn you into a weapon, we’ll crush them!” Wang Baole spoke arrogantly at first, then swiftly switched to a more persuasive tone.

Zhuo Yifan remained silent. What Wang Baole had said initially was something he didn’t think was important for him to have. However, Wang Baole’s last words stirred him. That was something he had been running away from since the beginning. He couldn’t help but lift his head and stared at Wang Baole. After a long while, he nodded his head!

He nodded, partly because it was Wang Baole who proposed it. A tiny part of it was also because… he wanted to prepare for what was coming. It didn’t matter that his family clan was powerful beyond measure and was not an entity that they could touch. Deep down in his heart, he still held a tiny flicker of hope and an intense warmth for the future that Wang Baole spoke of.

Seeing that Zhuo Yifan had been convinced, Wang Baole patted him excitedly on his shoulder, then looked at Zhao Yameng. He shifted over and squeezed next to Zhao Yameng. They were sitting so close to each other that he could smell the faint fragrance on her.

Zhao Yameng remained unfazed at Wang Baole’s arrival. She glanced over calmly as if to remind Wang Baole that he was sitting too close to her.

That was Zhao Yameng’s unique charm and ways that often made those who tried to approach her feel naturally unworthy and ashamed.

However, that method… was useless against Wang Baole.

Wang Baole smiled widely as if he was unaware of what Zhao Yameng was trying to convey with her glance. He shoved his head nearer and said softly, “Meng’er…”

As soon as the words were out, Zhao Yameng, despite her natural composure, felt chills traveling through her. She felt discomfort as if she had goosebumps on her entire body.

“Eh, Yameng, we’ve gone through thick and thin together, right? And survived death together? You know, there are three main things in life that people weather together. Life and death, life or death danger, and hardships!” Wang Baole got excited when he said that.

“We’ve gone through all three together. Yifan and I are going to build an alliance. Why don’t you join us too? In our future lives together, I’ll hold your hand, and we’ll walk hand-in-hand together.” Wang Baole thought he had said something most beautiful. He was extremely pleased with himself and couldn’t help but pull out a bag of snacks. He had a few bites and passed the bag of snacks over to Zhao Yameng.

“If you eat this, that makes us a family!”

Zhao Yameng had a strange expression on her face. The three main things that Wang Baole had mentioned seemed to be the same thing to her. As for the last thing he said, it seemed to have some other meaning to it. But she was a reserved person and barely had any friends in the college. To be precise, she had one friend, and he was Wang Baole. She nodded, then after some thought, took the bag of snacks from Wang Baole. She picked a piece out and took a small bite.

Seeing how the alliance, which would undoubtedly stir a storm throughout the Federation in the future, had already secured two key members, Wang Baole waved his hands excitedly.

“Let’s think of a name then. You guys start thinking too… why not we base it on our special traits? The Adonis Association. How about that? That name sounds great. Very apt!” Wang Baole laughed out loud. He felt he had a gift in naming things.

Zhuo Yifan was at a loss and remained silent. Zhao Yameng started to regret her decision…