A World Worth Protecting

Wang Baole had expected an uproar to result from the robbery of a battleship that belonged to an upper sect. However, he had underestimated the consequences of his actions. After all, he wasn’t truly someone from the Divine Eye civilization.

The entire planet was in a constant uproar for the next three days. An investigation unfolded across the planet under the leadership of the six Soul Conduit realm cultivators from the Violet Gold New Dao Sect. The cultivators took the fifth to eighth mountain rings by storm. Sects that kept their heads down while in the civilization and only unleashed their violent streaks when they were out invading other civilizations, people whose hands were stained with blood, were all caught in the furious storm.

It didn’t matter if the sect didn’t appear suspicious, the Violet Gold New Dao Sect barged into every sect and conducted a search without seeking prior permission. The Divine Sovereign Justice Sect and the Earth Hexagram Unity Sect had reached a concurrence with the Violet Gold New Dao Sect on this matter and coordinated their efforts alongside the latter sect’s. This was to preserve their authority as an upper sect and prevent the Violet Gold New Dao Sect from falsely accusing sects affiliated with the two upper sects of any misdeeds!

The royal family also passed a decree on the second day and made a statement of severe admonishment against the perpetrator. The decree ensured that this matter didn’t stay within the confines of the main planet. All planets within the Divine Eye civilization became affected by the robbery!

Every sect on the main Divine Eye planet was being investigated. Naturally, the Holy Crest Sect didn’t escape unscathed. A thorough search was conducted by a team led by a Soul Conduit realm cultivator from the Violet Gold New Dao Sect. The Divine Sovereign Justice Sect assisted with the search as well.

The sect’s battleship, which had been repaired partially and was currently parked in the sect’s restricted zone, underwent detailed scrutiny too. Every storage bag was checked, and cultivators at the lower cultivation realms were soul searched. Elders such as Wang Baole and the Grand Supreme Elder weren’t extended such treatment due to the presence of the Divine Sovereign Justice Sect. However, they still had to go through an inspection with a Soul Stone!

Inspection with a Soul Stone wouldn’t be as thorough as a soul search, but unless one’s cultivation vastly surpassed that of the holder of the Soul Stone, any lies spoken would immediately be detected. Wang Baole’s cultivation might only be at the perfected Nascent Soul realm, but his Stellar Nascent Soul was extremely powerful. He also had his essence technique. As a result, he didn’t give anything away during the inspection.

They didn’t find anything during the search through his storage bags either, as he had stored everything suspicious with his true form. The connection he had with his true form ensured that he could send items between them easily. Of course, even if he was made to go through a soul search, Wang Baole wasn’t worried at all. Unless they sent a Spirit Immortal realm cultivator to do the job, he was confident that he would pass the test.

Three days passed. The robbery and its resultant investigation, which sent the entire civilization into an uproar, yielded no conclusive results. The six Soul Conduit realm cultivators grew increasingly frantic and mad with anxiety. They intended to delve deeper and target the Nascent Soul realm and Soul Conduit realm cultivators next with a soul search. It was then that they found something!

The Water Refinement Sect appeared to be involved with the robbery!

The Thousand Spirit Sect was similarly implicated!

The clues were like an oasis in a desert. The six Soul Conduit realm cultivators from the Violet Gold New Dao Sect latched onto them like lifesavers. They barged into the two sects and conducted a relentless search of both places. Secrets were exposed in broad daylight. The two sects had joined forces and engineered the recent spate of robberies that had targeted battleships belonging to sects on the sixth mountain ring.

The six Soul Conduit realm cultivators fell silent upon discovering the conspiracy. No one knew what went on during their private discussion, but on the third and last day of the deadline given to them, explosive news was released. The news exposed the Water Refinement Sect and the Thousand Spirit Sect as the masterminds behind the series of recent robberies. It spoke of how the sects had gone out of their minds and robbed the Violet Gold New Dao Sect’s battleship! The news spread like wildfire.

No one would have believed the news. They might have believed the first part, but definitely not the second part of it. The Water Refinement Sect and the Thousand Spirit Sect would have to be completely mad to rob the Violet Gold New Dao Sect. The evidence that was released subsequently all pointed towards the two sects having been involved in the recent spate of robberies.

The sects on the main Divine Eye planet were silent after hearing that. Then, they immediately expressed their outrage. It didn’t matter whether they were truly angry or merely pretending to be angry, everyone made sure to have their voices heard.

The royal family passed another decree that day, one that supported the truth of the news that had been released. After a bout of silence, the Violet Gold New Dao Sect also made their own announcement declaring the findings from their investigation. The fiasco that had sent the entire civilization into an uproar finally ended!

The Water Refinement Sect and the Thousand Spirit Sect were hardly in the position to defend themselves. They were treated like goods and turned in to the Violet Gold New Dao Sect as compensation. Most of the resources that had belonged to the two sects were given to the Violet Gold New Dao Sect as well.

The remaining resources, such as the sect’s buildings and lands, were all auctioned off. The profits from the auction were used to compensate the other sects who had been robbed. That marked the end of the entire fiasco. By the end of it, the political situation on the fifth mountain ring had transformed.

Even though matters had ended peaceably, many people could tell that something had been amiss. They knew that the Water Refinement Sect and the Thousand Spirit Sect had been made the scapegoats. They had deserved their fair share of the blame, though, as they had participated in the robberies repeatedly.

Of course, the decisive factor in the entire fiasco was the royal family…

Without the two royal decrees, the matter wouldn’t have been resolved as easily. What this fiasco showed was a subtle, brief clash between the royal family and the three main sects!

Even without the royal family coming in and simplifying the matter, Wang Baole wasn’t worried at all. He could simply take on another person’s identity. That would have solved all his problems. He had even chosen his next target. If that didn’t work, he still had a trump card, he could return to his coffin. His coffin was so powerful that he wouldn’t be worried even if a Planet realm cultivator were to come looking for him.

In fact, even though the royal family’s involvement appeared to have resolved the matter, it had made things more complicated.

The three main sects had locked down the galactic perimeter around the main Divine Eye planet. Every battleship that entered and exited the planet had to undergo a stringent inspection. They appeared to still be searching for the real culprit. On the other hand, they were also sending a warning to the royal family.

What a headache… Wang Baole sighed as he pulled his eyes away from the pale moon. He wasn’t worried about his battleship’s construction, as he had gathered all the materials that he required. Now, he only needed to put them together. However, the planet was currently on high alert, and the climate was rather sensitive. After some thought, Wang Baole decided to pick another place to assemble his battleship. He was currently wracking his brains over how to leave the planet.

It’s going to be difficult to leave without drawing any attention. Wang Baole sighed again. His own observations and what he had learned from the Grand Supreme Elder of the Holy Crest Sect both pointed to how stringent the current lockdown on the planet was. The Violet Gold New Dao Sect had even sent a Spirit Immortal realm cultivator to the home planet for this very purpose!

The Spirit Immortal realm cultivator stood guard in space. His presence reinforced the lockdown and served to instill awe and fear in the sects. Wang Baole wasn’t confident that he could escape the planet without drawing the attention of this Spirit Immortal realm cultivator.

Unless… After a long bout of silence, Wang Baole’s eyes landed on the Holy Crest Sect’s battleship. It was mostly restored at this point, and its repairs would be completed soon. He fell into a deep contemplation. Then, light flickered in his eyes. In the days that followed, he set aside all thoughts of leaving. Instead, he worked alongside the other sect elders and gave his all as they completed the final battleship repairs.

The days passed steadily. Two months later… the lockdown remained in place. However, the Holy Crest Sect’s battleship had undergone a year’s repairs, and after expending vast resources, it was finally completely restored!

The day after the repairs were completed, the Grand Supreme Elder summoned everyone and made an announcement!

“Go back and prepare yourselves. In a week… we will take off and head for an extraterrestrial star system. We will commence resource acquisition!”

Wang Baole’s eyes lit up when he heard that. The other elders were equally excited. The Holy Crest Sect had a hard year. Its disciples had tightened their belts and gone to the extent of almost starving themselves, watching as the sect emptied its store of resources, waiting for the day that they could finally go hunting.

The order was met with fervent approval from Wang Baole and the other elders. The entire sect was overwhelmed with excitement when news of this announcement spread. Wang Baole had been waiting for this!

He had analyzed the situation. The planet was currently under lockdown, with a Spirit Immortal realm cultivator standing guard over the comings and goings of all battleships. It was impossible for him to leave the planet without detection. He needed a reason that was beyond reproach and a way to get out. No other reason was more perfect than a sect traveling to carry out its pirating ways.

He hadn’t chosen to defect to another sect. After analyzing the situation, he realized it would be safer if he stayed in one place instead of moving around. Besides, he had grown familiar with the Holy Crest Sect. Making use of the Holy Crest Sect to leave the planet was the safest solution.

Once we’re beyond the reach of the Spirit Immortal realm cultivator’s Divine Sense, I’ll be able to leave immediately. I can then find a place to assemble my battleship. Then… it’s back to the Federation, where I will become the Federation President!

Seven days later, Wang Baole stepped aboard the Holy Crest Sect battleship alongside hordes of disciples, the other sect elders, and the Grand Supreme Elder. He felt the battleship rumble as it exuded waves of energy into space. Standing aboard the battleship, gazing at the world outside through a window, he was filled with both nervousness and excitement!

I’m on my way home!