A World Worth Protecting

Like Dugu Lin, Zhou Chudao was similarly suspicious of the sixth star that appeared on the night sky map. Even though voice transmissions couldn’t be sent in the trial grounds, as a personal disciple, especially one from Daoist You Ran’s lineage that didn’t participate in the battle between Mie Liezi and Feng Qiuran, he had many friends. That was especially so as he had a warm personality.

Therefore, he came to know about the identity of the sixth star from someone who had lost his key. However, despite knowing that, he still felt that it was unbelievable. It was only after he saw it with his own eyes that he started to believe it. A solemn look appeared in his eyes.

When Zhou Chudao looked in the direction of Wang Baole, Wang Baole also stopped in mid-air, cupping his fists and greeting Zhou Chudao.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou!”

“Fellow Daoist Wang, is there really a need to battle? You… might not be my match.” With a bitter expression on his face, Zhou Chudao wanted to convince Wang Baole to give up.

After thinking about it, Wang Baole nodded his head and spoke.

“I’m engaging in this battle for more than just myself. Please understand, Fellow Daoist Zhou. Please… Begin the attack.”

“Why should we do this…” While shaking his head, Zhou Chudao stood up from the mountain peak. As he stood up, he straightened his body, and the bitterness on his face gradually dissipated, replaced by an aura that seemed to be able to strike the heavens!

Amidst the loud boom, it seemed as though a hurricane was being produced around Zhou Chudao. The hurricane swept in all directions, producing crazy winds in the surroundings. Looking from a distance, as the winds howled, the hurricane seemed to have transformed into a vortex with Zhou Chudao as the center.

As the vortex turned, the aura from Zhou Chudao grew increasingly stronger. In the blink of an eye, it had already spread in all directions. Numerous cultivators standing near him appeared in shock and retreated quickly. It was then that the voice of Zhou Chudao, who was in the center of the hurricane on the mountain peak, reverberated.

“Junior Brothers, please do not come within ten thousand feet of this area. If you wish to watch the battle, do it from a distance!”

At the same time, Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao had arrived in the air. As they neared, they could already hear Wang Baole’s chilly and stern voice reverberating.

“Yameng, lay the array formation. Kong Dao, guard the area. The battle between Fellow Daoist Zhou Chudao and I should not be interrupted by busybodies!”

Zhao Yameng nodded and immediately took out the compass to lay array formations around the mountain peak. There was only one use for the array formations, and that was to block anyone from going near. There may have been people who were hiding within the array formation, and Wang Baole seemed to acknowledge that, but he didn’t say anything. Therefore, Zhao Yameng only took a glance and didn’t bother with it anymore.

Soon, the array formations were completely put in place, and Kong Dao guarded the surroundings vigilantly. Wang Baole didn’t attack immediately and instead waited until the aura from Zhou Chudao had grown increasingly stronger, causing the vortex to be transformed into a typhoon that could tear the space apart. That was when Wang Baole suddenly spoke.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, there is no time to lose. Let’s… begin!” Wang Baole looked at Zhou Chudao, and when their eyes met, their gazes seemed to have been transformed into extremely sharp swords that showed their intent to battle!

In the next instant, Zhou Chudao moved, descending the mountain peak while bringing the winds that were sweeping in all directions with him. He was like a Heavenly Venerate as he neared Wang Baole, his aura so strong that it could be felt even before he neared Wang Baole. His strong aura resulted in loud bangs being produced, and carried a force that seemed to be able to wither and decimate everything in his path the moment it was released!

“Wang Baole, you aren’t my opponent!” Zhou Chudao’s voice was like Heavenly Thunder. When it was heard, it was as if an invisible hand or a crashing wave was being brought along, pressuring Wang Baole!

The scene shook Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao. The spectators in hiding also quickened their breathing. Even the Dao Palace cultivators on the public square outside, who had focused all their attention on the individual battles involving Wang Baole and Dugu Lin, were gripped with shock when they noticed the aura given off by Zhou Chudao.

While everyone was immersed in shock, Wang Baole laughed and stepped out. He was someone who had come to battle, not someone who had come to be challenged, and there was no way he could lose out in terms of aura. Therefore, when his foot landed, an extremely strong desire to battle was similarly emanated from Wang Baole!

As the desire to battle was unleashed, Wang Baole had already clenched his right fist. The force from his physical body, the Lightning Core, as well as the Dark Core, were all released and combined together. That, integrated with Wang Baole’s desire for battle, resonating his will and cultivation at that very moment!

What that resonance meant was that, in this state, Wang Baole could exhibit a force that was beyond his capabilities depending on the degree of resonance!

If Zhou Chudao’s aura were described as crashing waves, then right now, Wang Baole would be like an indestructible reef that remained undamaged in the face of the turbulent waves!

It was perhaps still inappropriate to describe Wang Baole as the reef. That was because right now, as Wang Baole unleashed his aura and his foot landed, his right fist punched the powerful Zhou Chudao who was fast approaching in mid-air!

Supernova!

Ten percent boost from the resonance!

Everything happened in an instant. In the blink of an eye, the duo made contact with each other. It was a battle between their auras and a clash of their consciousness. Loud booms reverberated in all directions, and at that moment, the waves produced from the impact exploded between the duo, creating a force that swept in all directions. Noticing it, Wang Baole laughed.

“Zhou Chudao, I can defeat you with five punches. That was the first punch, and now… the second punch!” As Wang Baole spoke, the desire to fight in his eyes grew even more frightening. That was especially so as his desire to fight was complemented by his long flowing hair and the viciousness in his eyes. It made someone feel that he was indescribably overbearing and that his aura was extremely overwhelming. That was especially so as he dared to battle Zhou Chudao as if he were an equal, without bowing down to him!

The moment Wang Baole’s voice was heard, he moved, charging forward at high speed. He was like a shooting star as he dashed towards Zhou Chudao with an extremely strong aura. He grew faster and faster, as if he could pass through the emptiness and set off a series of sonic booms. When he neared in an instant, he punched, and the impact caused the heavens and winds to transform!

Thirty percent boost from the resonance!

“How interesting that you’re announcing your battle plans! If you manage to fulfill it, it means that you can showcase how formidable you are, with me as an example. Then, let’s see whether you can really make use of me to show how capable you are, or… if you will fail!”

A glow flashed across Zhou Chudao’s eyes. At that moment, there was no look of disdain in his eyes at all. Instead, as his aura emanated from his body, an indescribable sense of sharpness could be felt. That was also what made Dugu Lin value him.

As he spoke, Zhou Chudao raised his right hand before sealing it and pointing his finger. Instantly, a purple ball of fire was produced from his finger, transforming immediately from a flame to a sea of fire that enveloped him. As Wang Baole’s punch landed, the sea of fire enveloping Zhou Chudao was turned into the skull of a giant fire beast!

The fire beast was like a kirin mentioned in the ancient myths of the Federation. It charged towards Wang Baole at high speed, and amidst the loud boom, it made contact with Wang Baole’s second punch.

Loud bangs could be heard in all directions. Wang Baole trembled, and the Blood Qi in his body churned. At the same time, the kirin skull formed from the sea of fire broke apart, revealing Zhou Chudao, who now had the same desire to fight in his eyes. He had his hands sealed, and his internal Blood Qi was similarly churning!

“Void Awl!” A glow flashed across Zhou Chudao’s eyes as he waved his hands. Instantly, nine cracks appeared in Wang Baole’s surroundings, transforming into nine purple-colored awls that piercingly charged towards Wang Baole!

Each of those nine awls released a combat force that was similar to a cultivator who was in late-stage Core Formation realm. The collective force of the nine awls was so powerful that it was capable of suppressing any late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator, and even someone who had perfected the Core Formation realm would be taken aback!

After unleashing the Void Awl, Zhou Chudao didn’t stop. Instead, he neared Wang Baole instantly, and with a glow of fire being given off his finger, he pointed at Wang Baole’s forehead!

Wang Baole felt its force but didn’t retreat. He didn’t even unleash Thearch Armor, as like Zhou Chudao had said, not only did he need to eliminate Zhou Chudao, he also needed to use this battle to hone himself!

As he waved his right hand, Wang Baole took out a ribbon from his storage bracelet, wrapping it around him to block the nine awls. Wang Baole’s thunderous voice could be heard as he gripped his right fist and moved his body forward!

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, this is… the third punch!”