A World Worth Protecting

However, having not met for many years, it seemed like many changes had occurred. When they met, the suppressive force from Wang Baole surprised Xu Yunkun, who had perfected Core Formation realm cultivation himself. That was especially so when he thought about Duan Muque notifying him that he was released and showed him the information that Feng Qiuran had sent the Federation regarding the trial. All that forced Xu Yunkun to admit that a new generation elite had emerged.

Therefore, he took a deep breath and smiled at Wang Baole.

“City Lord Wang, can we talk in your cave abode?”

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and sized up Sect Lord Xu. What happened those years ago surfaced in his mind as well. That was the closest Wang Baole had ever been to the brink of death. The digging out of his Foundation Establishment and his survival from the ordeal were the catalysts for the massacre he carried out on the moon.

Memories flooded his mind. As he thought about the person who was standing in front of him, who back then seemed to be like a formidable god but had now turned into someone he could easily suppress even without using Thearch Armor, Wang Baole chuckled in his heart. Wang Baole, someone who had a high status within the Federation and understood the high officials’ autobiographies deeply, wouldn’t reveal his arrogance easily. Despite being displeased with Sect Lord Xu, he smiled and nodded his head.

The duo flew into the air and left the main island of the Dao Palace. They were silent all the way and didn’t head towards Green Fire Island. Instead, they landed on a secluded, deserted island. It was then that a look of admiration was seen in Xu Yunkun’s eyes as he thought about how cautious Wang Baole was in handling matters. It was clear that Wang Baole was worried that there were some hidden mechanisms on his island that would allow others to eavesdrop on their conversation, and that was why Wang Baole brought him to that secluded area.

When he landed, Xu Yunkun immediately sealed his hands and pointed to his surroundings. At the same time, he took out a compass from his storage bracelet and put it under his feet. The compass glowed and formed a protective covering that enveloped the duo. Wang Baole also sealed his hands, taking out numerous items and even scattered his second level.

It was only after both of them put in place measures to ensure that the area they were in was secure that Xu Yunkun took a deep breath.

“We should be fine. This compass was made in secret by the Federation. According to analysis, it can dodge the detection of someone at the Soul Conduit realm for five minutes!”

Wang Baole nodded his head and sat at a corner, looking at Xu Yunkun while waiting for him to speak.

“City Lord Wang, in the incident back then… The elder who attacked is still being suppressed on Venus, and I have also been punished. Please don’t hold it against us. This time, I have come here after doing a good deed and don’t have the power to boss you around. Instead, I would need your help in many different scenarios.” As Xu Yunkun spoke, he bowed deeply towards Wang Baole.

He knew very well that right now, in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, Wang Baole was leading the Federation’s faction. That was especially so after the trial, which made Wang Baole’s status surpass many others from the Federation.

He was worried that his arrival would cause Wang Baole to misunderstand. Therefore, that was the first thing he addressed.

“I have two tasks to fulfill here. The first task is to build a secret mini teleportation array formation, and that is because we need to play safe. If there is ever a day where we need to break out, it would be the escape route for everyone!”

Listening to those words, Wang Baole felt calmer and nodded his head after thinking about it.

“I would definitely help you with this matter. However, you must work cautiously and be especially vigilant of… Daoist You Ran!” Wang Baole thought about it before speaking softly.

“Daoist You Ran?” A flash appeared across Xu Yunkun’s eyes.

“I don’t have evidence, but I have a hunch that this person has a threat level that surpasses that of Mie Liezi.” Wang Baole spoke with a deep voice.

Xu Yunkun seemed to be deep in thought. If someone else had said the same thing, he would have taken it with a pinch of salt. However, since it was Wang Baole who said it, he took it extremely seriously. After setting the matter aside, Xu Yunkun and Wang Baole began to converse on a deeper level.

They mainly talked about what had happened to the Federation Seedlings in the past year. Xu Yunkun needed to have a full understanding of the situation in order to carry out his second task.

When he heard about the deaths that had occurred, the ordeals that the Federation Seedlings had faced, as well as Feng Qiuran’s soft personality, Xu Yunkun hesitated. He then laughed bitterly while looking at Wang Baole.

“City Lord Wang, there are some things that I don’t know whether it’s appropriate to say. However, if I say it, I hope that you don’t misunderstand.”

Listening to those words, Wang Baole looked at Xu Yunkun seriously before nodding and speaking.

“Please say it!”

After thinking about it, a profound look flashed across Xu Yunkun’s eyes. He looked increasingly like a sly old fox, and he spoke softly.

“City Lord Wang, I know that the first batch of Federation Seedlings faced many ordeals and were ostracized everywhere they went. However, do you know where all of you went wrong?

“Perhaps your cultivation wasn’t wrong. Instead, your mindset was wrong!”

“It was never a thought of yours to integrate with the Vast Expanse Dao Palace from the beginning. Even if that thought was present, it was a weak thought. This subconsciousness distanced all of you from the Vast Expanse Dao Palace like a tumor on one’s skin. My example may not be appropriate, but the meaning isn’t far from it. This skin tumor could be eliminated by the Vast Expanse Dao Palace without much thought and without much loss.” Xu Yunkun sighed as he spoke after interpreting the situation based on his own experiences.

Wang Baole was shocked listening to those words. Closing his eyes in silence and thinking about it, he realized that Xu Yunkun made a lot of sense. Wang Baole wasn’t a stubborn person, and when he opened his eyes, he bowed at Xu Yunkun with cupped fists.

“Please share your insights, Sect Lord Xu!”

“You are too courteous, City Lord Wang. It is natural that the people who are involved typically don’t have an objective judgment of the entire situation. That would be the case for me as well.” Xu Yunkun smiled humbly and returned the greeting to Wang Baole. From beginning to end, he didn’t act like someone who was superior to Wang Baole. Instead, he appeared as if he was slightly lower in status compared to Wang Baole.

“That is also the second task that I have to accomplish here. A truly formidable plan of action that would make the Vast Expanse Dao Palace suffer is to… achieve complete union with the Federation. If the Federation is integrated into every part of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, there is no way they can get rid of us. Even if they tried to, they would suffer severe consequences as well. Therefore, unless they have been pushed to the brink, they wouldn’t act rashly!” While Xu Yunkun spoke, he carried a sharp look in his eyes. An indescribable aura emanated from his body.

When Wang Baole heard those words, he was impressed by their profound meaning. He thought silently in his mind that the old fella was indeed experienced. In reality, his analysis also made a lot of sense. It was true that when Wang Baole and the other people in the first batch of Federation Seedlings had first arrived in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, they had instinctively not harbored the intention to form a union with the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. Since the Vast Expanse Dao Palace treated them as outsiders, they viewed the Dao Palace cultivators as outsiders as well.

“I already have some ideas as to how to execute this. When the time comes, I would need your help, City Lord Wang.” Xu Yunkun then carried on the conversation with Wang Baole to gain a more complete understanding of the whole situation, before bidding farewell with cupped fists.

Before he left, Xu Yunkun laughed bitterly and spoke.

“City Lord Wang, please let what happened in the past become history…”

“It has already gone like the wind!” Wang Baole looked at Xu Yunkun with respect. He had already realized that compared to a sly old fox like Xu Yunkun, he was still inexperienced. There were many things he could learn from Xu Yunkun.

Listening to Wang Baole’s reply, Xu Yunkun looked deeply at Wang Baole and laughed heartily. He greeted him again before taking his leave.

When Wang Baole could no longer see Xu Yunkun, he closed his eyes and thought silently in his mind.

This sly old fox isn’t a simple person. However, anyone who could establish a sect in those years is not simple as well… Wang Baole didn’t wish to bear grudges with someone like that. At the same time, no one wanted to bear grudges with Wang Baole either.

Wang Baole was fine with letting the incident on the moon pass. After all, the Dao Palace would be the one who should fret over the sly old fox’s arrival. To the other disciples of the Federation who were here, having a person like Xu Yunkun around made them feel safer.

With that thought, Wang Baole laughed and retracted all the protective measures that he had put in place previously. He charged back to Green Fire Island. Not long after returning to his cave abode, Jin Duoming, who had somehow managed to find out his whereabouts, arrived.

The moment he arrived, Jin Duoming stepped directly into the cave abode, a look of disbelief and shock on his face as he exclaimed in an exaggerated manner.

“D*rn! Are you the real Wang Baole? You… You… Why are you so thin now? I observed you for such a long time just now, but I still didn’t dare to confirm that it was you! How did you do it?”

Wang Baole was secretly enjoying the moment as he looked at Jin Duoming’s surprised facial expressions. However, on the surface, he began reprimanding Jin Duoming.

“Little Ming, how could you judge others by their appearance? Do you know why I was fat previously? It was because when I was a young boy, I grew sick of people like you who specially came to look at my handsome face. Therefore, I fattened myself up so that I would no longer be disturbed and could live my life as an adonis peacefully. It’s a pity that I achieved a breakthrough in my cultivation this time and regained my original looks. Ah, how unfortunate.”