A World Worth Protecting

The days passed steadily as Wang Baole considered his options. Feng Qiuran’s and his arrival on the planet had spread to every Federation cultivator situated on the base. Duan Muque had intentionally promoted the matter. As a result, everyone on Venus, Mars, as well as Earth, were aware of Wang Baole’s return.

They found out about Wang Baole’s advancement in his cultivation as well as the Grand Supreme Elder of the Dao Palace, Feng Qiuran’s alliance with the Federation. The news excited everyone in the Federation.

The response on Venus was especially positive. Wang Baole’s speech at the aerial port had reached the ears of many and energized many more cultivators on the planet. They were burning with fighting spirit.

Visitors continued to bombard Wang Baole’s temporary residence since his return. They included Federation Seedlings he had gotten to know on the ancient sword, old acquaintances like the giant tree and Sect Lord Xu, and powerful figures from the various political entities in the Federation. They expressed their desire to get to know Wang Baole better and showed great respect and even deference during their visits.

If it had been some other occasion, Wang Baole, well-versed in the high officials’ autobiographies, would have spent most of his time with these people, deepening his relationship with them. However, he wasn’t in the mood for that now. After a few days, he announced his decision to retreat into seclusion.

The war continued while Wang Baole remained in seclusion, growing from minor skirmishes to more frequent encounters. As the Solar System Array Formation continued to monitor everything under the sun, all evidence seemed to be pointing towards the inevitable… the Dao Palace and the Never-Ending Clan were close to completing their preparations for battle. The war against Venus was approaching.

On the tenth day of Wang Baole’s seclusion, Kong Dao finally completed his own mission and returned to the Federation. He was the first of Wang Baole’s friends and comrades to return.

He made his way to Wang Baole’s place immediately upon his return. The first thing he told Wang Baole when they met was…

“Baole, Zhuo Yifan has gone missing!”

A cold light flickered in Wang Baole’s eyes. Questions, careful and precise, began flowing. During that fateful mission on the Never-Ending Clan battleship, Kong Dao had hidden himself inside a rescue pod and avoided the massacre that followed. Then, he had seized the moment of Daoist You Ran’s absence and the weakening in the battleship’s interference to escape.

He hadn’t managed to catch up with Zhao Yameng after he had returned to the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and had missed the evacuation back to the Federation. However, he had made use of his connections in the Dao Palace and used up whatever battle credits he had accumulated to escape from the ancient sword before Daoist You Ran’s return.

“I was lucky. Mercury was still standing when I returned. The President hadn’t given the orders to blow up Mercury. If he had…” Kong Dao shuddered at that thought.

“I found Zhao Yameng and the others when I came back. We exchanged information and realized that no one had seen Zhuo Yifan. You’ve returned, and Zhuo Yifan remains missing. His brother, Zhuo Yixian, is missing as well!” Kong Dao said, then eyed Wang Baole.

Wang Baole remained silent for a long while before releasing a soft sigh. If not for the looming war, he could have easily made use of his status as the Vast Expanse Dao Palace’s Grand Supreme Elder to locate his friend.

But they were at war. Zhuo Yifan had only himself to rely on now. No matter how worried Wang Baole was for his friend, he could only set this matter aside for the looming war ahead of them. He spoke a while longer with Kong Dao. Kong Dao was exhausted and concealing his injuries, so Wang Baole gave him a few bottles of spirit liquid before ending their chat.

The skirmishes between the Federation and the Dao Palace cultivators continued to grow more violent. After Kong Dao recovered from his injury and got sufficient rest, he was once again summoned for a team mission. All Core Formation realm cultivators like Kong Dao were being worked hard. There were simply too many things that required their attention.

Core Formation realm cultivators were the pillars that supported teams that patrolled their borders, supported the greater array formation, went on scouting missions, and conducted search and rescue efforts. The cultivation techniques that Wang Baole had sent back while in the Dao Palace had aided many of the Federation’s more experienced cultivators who had been stuck at the perfected Core Formation realm for a long time and granted them great enlightenment. Regardless, there had only been three new additions joining Sect Lord Xu, the giant tree, Duan Muque, and Li Xingwen in the ranks of the Nascent Soul realm.

One of them was Li Wan’er’s father, the head of the Senate. Another was an elder from the Five Generation Sky Clan. The last… wasn’t from the Four Dao Colleges or the Trilunaris Corporation, nor was he the Sect Lord of the Plume Manifestation Connate Sect. He had seemed an unlikely candidate. Yet, upon closer contemplation, it should have been something that was to be expected. The third person was… Lin Tianhao’s father, the City Lord of Ethereal City, Lin You!

Lin You had been one of many senators in the Senate. He might have wielded great power in the Federation as the lord of a city, but he had not been counted amongst the ranks of the truly powerful in the Federation. Everything had changed since his breakthrough. No one dared underestimate this young senator who showed great potential now!

Besides, Lin You had displayed his flair at dealing with people and matters alike. Li Wan’er’s father had promoted him to Deputy Head of the Senate. His political status elevated the status of Ethereal City, as well as that of his son.

Counting Lin You and Wang Baole, the Federation now had eight Nascent Soul realm cultivators. Five were currently stationed on Venus. Of the remaining three, one stood guard on Earth, while two were stationed on Mars. The latter two were also standing guard over the Martian Colony’s Governor, who was currently in seclusion and striving towards her breakthrough. Everything pointed to how important a role Core Formation realm cultivators played at the moment.

Kong Dao wasn’t the only one who was busy. Every single one of the Federation’s Core Formation realm cultivators was busy. Even Zhao Yameng wasn’t spared, despite her unique status. She continued to send Wang Baole voice transmissions while carrying out her missions but hadn’t returned to the Federation since Wang Baole’s arrival on Venus.

Wang Baole himself didn’t have the luxury to remain in seclusion indefinitely. Not long after Kong Dao had left, Wang Baole received a mission from Li Xingwen and Duan Muque.

“Head for the moon. Your mission is to escort the moon safely… to Venus!”

The moon was Earth’s natural satellite. Current levels of Spirit Science technology had enabled the Federation to transform the satellite into an advanced, near-perfect stronghold. The lunar stronghold not only possessed powerful offensive capabilities, but it also had the ability to change its trajectory. It was akin to a galactic stronghold that could traverse space!

The initial plan had been for the lunar stronghold to provide support during the battle on Mars. After Li Xingwen and Duan Muque had discussed and consulted with the others, they decided to initiate its deployment earlier. It would now provide support to Venus.

The mission was of great import, but the actual risk involved was minimal. The journey the moon was required to undertake might be long, but it fell within the protective area of the Solar System Array Formation. The chances of them bumping into Dao Palace forces were slim.

Wang Baole had been given this mission because of its significance. He would be personally steering the moon away from its natural orbit around Earth and into war. The mere thought of that would excite the masses. The pure visual impact of seeing the moon’s departure would give a boost to Wang Baole’s reputation!

Wang Baole accepted the mission readily. He was of the opinion that his capabilities could be better used for more difficult missions. However, he had a secret plan that involved the moon that he wanted to test. Upon receiving the mission, he immediately boarded a Federation battleship and led more than a thousand Federation cultivators towards the moon.

The Federation battleship’s swift speed was further bolstered by the Solar System Array Formation. After six days, they neared Earth and landed on the lunar base.

The upper echelons of every political entity on the base were already there, waiting for him. They had received their orders. Everyone was to answer to Wang Baole’s commands. Wang Baole had been given full control over the lunar base.

The abrupt change in leadership had gained the general acceptance of the major political forces. Regardless, there were still a select few who showed dissatisfaction and discontent over the decision. They had heard about Wang Baole’s advancement to the Nascent Soul realm. Regardless, they hadn’t personally seen or experienced his power. The lack of personal experience meant they neither felt pressured nor awed by his strength. There were also those who held stubbornly onto traditional views. They believed that social status was more important than one’s level of cultivation. These people might not openly challenge Wang Baole, but they would certainly not show full cooperation.

Of course… those were thoughts held prior to the battleship’s landing. They vanished as soon as Wang Baole emerged from the battleship. The truth was… Wang Baole was fully aware of how the older, powerful folks of the Federation would think. He wasn’t going to give them the chance to not cooperate with him. As soon as he stepped out of the battleship, he summoned his Thearch Armor. The full force of his Stellar Nascent Soul, his demonic eye, as well as the blood lust that Wang Baole had accumulated through his numerous kills, erupted from his person instantly. It was like a sudden howling storm, a tsunami that swept across and flooded the entire moon!

“I believe you know who I am. There’s no need for an introduction then. I don’t care who you are and what you think. From this moment on, keep your thoughts to yourself. Carry out my orders exactly… or be executed!” Wang Baole said calmly as he walked out of the battleship. His voice wasn’t loud, but bolstered by his immense aura, it seemed to boom like thunder in everyone’s minds. Every cultivator’s breathing quickened in that instant. They stared at the armored, devil-like Wang Baole, their heads buzzing. They trembled under the weight of his murderous aura. All stray thoughts were silenced. Everyone lowered their heads in deference as they replied.

“Yes, sir!”

Wang Baole raised his head and gazed in the direction of the slumbering, giant corpse. His eyes narrowed.

Perhaps his aura had been overly powerful. The slumbering giant seemed to be responding to it. The moon shuddered violently the moment Wang Baole directed his eyes towards the location of the sleeping corpse. An imperceptible, inhuman howl appeared to have risen from the giant’s sleeping grounds!