A World Worth Protecting

Perhaps the forty-first year of the Spirit Inception Era was meant to be a year of troubles.

It was the year when disastrous change struck the luna colonies and shocked the entire Federation. It was impossible to conceal or withhold the news. The colonies on the moon were too many. Besides the ones belonging to the major political forces, there were also many others that were owned by the many smaller political entities.

The various media agencies across the Federation were soon broadcasting the disastrous events that had taken place in the Mystic Luna Realm to the entire Federation.

Within a short span of time, the residents in the cities scattered across the Federation were all ensnared by fear. Terror and chaos swept through the population. Conspiracies of all kinds and breeds were being spread.

“Calamity strikes the moon! My god, it must be the aliens from the ancient green-bronze sword. They must have appeared!”

“I’ve always urged against walking the path of the cultivator. As I’ve guessed all along, something has happened. Cultivation is the power of the gods. It’s not something we mere mortals should try and possess!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. The Federation will resolve whatever is happening up there on the moon!”

As the entire Federation got into an uproar, Wang Baole’s parents were beset by anxiety as well. They were helpless to do anything. Fortunately, Liu Daobin’s father and the city lord of Phoenix City often visited. Through their own channels, they dug up new news and were able to reassure Wang Baole’s parents.

The elderly couple was able to gain more understanding of the matter and know that Wang Baole might not be in trouble. Something had happened on the moon and led to its lockdown, and the Federation was in the midst of saving everyone.

At the same time, a team led by the Federation President and formed by members from the various major political forces had moved out and was headed for the moon. Even the Grand Supreme Elder from the Ethereal Dao College was included in the team.

The elder himself had been moved to action. The true and most powerful of the other political forces wouldn’t be sitting still and waiting. The sudden change on the moon was abrupt… and a great concern to many. They could sense that something else was going on!

Mid-journey, the rescue team received transmissions from the strong men of the various political forces on guard at the luna base colony. They found out within the Mystic Luna Realm, the appearance… of a Core Formation realm cultivator, crimson eyes, and a scarlet lightning bolt that could kill a Core Formation realm cultivator!

The new discoveries made what was happening on the moon even more alarming!

After they reached the base colony, more than a hundred of them, near seven-tenths of all Core Formation realm cultivators in the Federation, gathered immediately. After consolidating all the evidence and clues they had, they reached their conclusion.

“When a tree gains sentience, it is able to assimilate a cultivator, hide within his body, and enter the Mystic Luna Realm!

“Our assessment shows that there are at least two or more such sentient tree lifeforms. Their cultivation is at the Core Formation realm, and they seem to be at odds with each other!

“Their objective—unknown!

“How they managed to wrestle control of the array formation and use it for a counter-seal—unknown!”

The evidence was presented before everyone. No one had spoken out, but each member of the rescue force clearly couldn’t help but suspect… that the matter was a result of collusion between an outsider and someone within the Federation!

Federation President Duan Muque’s expression was solemn. He didn’t make a decision immediately, turning instead to an elderly man behind him. The latter was the Grand Supreme Elder of the Ethereal Dao College, the former president of the Federation!

The elderly man narrowed his eyes. After a moment, an icy glint flashed in his eyes, and he said in a low gravelly voice, “Regardless, we have to break through the array formation and mount a rescue!”

His thoughts were exactly that of Duan Muque’s. After the two had decided, the other political forces agreed as well. The hundred-odd Core Formation realm rescue force soon moved out and attempted to blow open the array formation!

Duan Muque even activated a shred of the power of the Divine Armament. In that instant, a thunderous rumbling shook the skies, and the entire moon quaked. However… the Mystic Luna Realm’s array formation was resilient and had been infiltrated by demonic spirits who had obviously been prepared. The rescue force didn’t know what kind of power or spell they had wielded. The array formation breaking efforts progressed at a snail’s pace. It wouldn’t be broken any time soon!

The only option was to use the Divine Armament itself. However, the appearance of the Divine Armament would definitely awaken the Night Immortal King slumbering within the Mystic Luna Realm. The extent of the resulting catastrophe would be unimaginable, so they wouldn’t resort to that option until they exhausted all their means.

During that period, while the rescue team attempted to break through the seal, within the Mystic Luna Realm, the land where the disciples from the four Dao Colleges had stood remained blanketed in mist. After a very long time, with the gradual shifting of the mist, the area was finally exposed. There wasn’t a single soul in sight. The hundred-odd cultivators from the Dao Colleges who had previously been caught in the mist had vanished.

The mist left in its wake barren earth and shriveled plant life. Besides that, nothing else remained. Even the deep burrows that had been left behind by the Moon Gu were gone—as if wiped out of existence. It was as if nothing had ever happened in the region.

If someone was around to witness the entire scene, they would be shocked by the sight. It was beyond bizarre. One would be faced with the deceptive feeling… that everything that had happened—the meadow of fragments, the hundred-odd cultivators from the four Dao Colleges, and even the battle with the Moon Gu—had been a lie and hadn’t actually taken place.

The strange weather was what made the moon a dangerous place. It was a danger that took one by surprise.

The disciples from the Dao Colleges were presently being transported to various parts of the Mystic Luna Realm by the Mystic Trace Fog. The fortunate ones remained on the visible side of the moon. The more unfortunate ones… were transported to the more dangerous, restricted area on the dark side of the moon.

Wang Baole didn’t know where he was. After the Mystic Trace Fog had swept over him, he only felt his vision blur. When it cleared up again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

As soon as he reappeared in the new location, he immediately activated his cultivation in full force. He raised his right hand, the force of the Supernova vibrating in his fist, and surveyed his surroundings quickly and alertly.

He was no longer in a desert land. The ground was covered in muddy brown soil. In the distance, he could see the rise and fall of small mountains. If not for the wood seal lining the dark night sky, he might have thought he had returned to Earth.

After making sure that there was no danger, Wang Baole released a sigh of relief. The various events he had experienced since he had arrived in the Mystic Luna Realm had been immeasurably bizarre and terrifyingly dangerous.

Am I on the visible side or the dark side? Wang Baole wondered. He looked at the sky hastily and settled his panicking heart when he saw the bright blue planet earth in the sky and realized he had been lucky enough not to be transported to the dark side of the moon. He wouldn’t have been able to see Earth if that had happened.

After all, one would not be able to see Earth when standing at the dark side of the moon. The inception of Spirit Qi had affected the orbits. The information he had read had mentioned the dangers inherent to the dark side of the moon. Some of the deeper regions were so dangerous that a True Breath realm cultivator who ventured there faced almost certain death.

Once Wang Baole was reassured of his relative safety, he sighed again. He rubbed his hand across his forehead. He felt that a large chunk of his luck seemed to have vanished since he arrived at the Mystic Luna Realm. He had been robbed by Shi Ling of the first opportunity in the hunt for fragments and crossed paths with the giant tree again. Even though the giant tree had been killed, the realm was still sealed.

Could it be that I really am the destined son of Earth? That’s why my luck turns for the worse when I leave the planet? Wang Baole smacked his stomach and lamented. The worry in his eyes didn’t go away despite his self-mockery.

Wang Baole was a generally optimistic character. However, his optimism was merely a means for him to manage his anxieties. He knew very clearly that in the Mystic Luna Realm, death and danger were always near. In order to be assured of his safety, he had to reach the Foundation Establishment realm as soon as possible!

I wonder how the others are doing… Wang Baole fell silent. His eyes flashed with determination.

Only by attaining the Foundation Establishment realm could he guarantee his ability to protect himself!

I have to find fragments quickly! Wang Baole made up his mind. He saw that there was no one around him and unleashed the full extent of his devouring seed. As the devouring seed erupted into wakefulness, Wang Baole concentrated on sensing any disturbances in Spirit Qi.

He raced forward, speeding across the Mystic Luna Realm while feeling for Spirit Qi. He kept his guard up for any surrounding threats and dangers.

It didn’t take long. Two hours later, the speeding Wang Baole still didn’t catch sight of a single soul. However, in a brief instant, he felt the weak rippling of Spirit Qi. It was so faint that Wang Baole wouldn’t have noticed it if he hadn’t had the devouring seed and keen senses.

Amidst his gleeful surprise, he shifted directions and dashed towards the source of the Spirit Qi.

After following his senses and searching for some time, he finally found a half-shriveled plant that looked like some sort of hedgehog cactus. He stared down at it and couldn’t contain his surprise.

There are hedgehog cacti on the moon? Wang Baole could sense the origins of the Spirit Qi. It was faint but there, beneath the hedgehog cactus. It was so weak that someone practicing the Qi Fostering Art and passing the cactus by could easily have missed it.

Wang Baole happily grabbed at the hedgehog cactus. As soon as his hand reached out, a big mouth suddenly appeared on the hedgehog cactus. It reached for Wang Baole’s hand and took a bite!

It bites? Wang Baole stared.