A World Worth Protecting

Regarding the Chancellor’s method of raising the expectations high and then lowering them slowly, the surrounding teachers and students did not question it, even in their hearts. They were truly… convinced.

From the time Wang Baole entered Ethereal Dao College one year ago up until now, he had performed miracle after miracle.

Regardless of whether it was the hallucination realm examination, becoming the triple Head Prefect, or reorganizing the Dharmic Armament faculty College Discipline Department, all of his actions had made everyone focus on Wang Baole’s glory.

Not to mention his role in expelling Lin Tianhao and the others, creating a large number of puppets to deal with the Dao Enlightenment faculty, and the eye-opening battle he had with Zhao Yameng in the Dao College’s major exam.

All of those were only his achievements as a student. As for the battle just now, where he beat up the True Breath Vice-Chancellor while in the Ancient Martial realm, this caused everyone to be visibly shocked. Their respect toward Wang Baole once again rose exponentially.

Although it was the case that Wang Baole used his advantage in the Dharmic Armament faculty to resort to some trickery… he was after all the Head Prefect of the Dharmic Armament faculty. This was originally one of his combat capabilities. If he did not use it, then he would have been wasting his one year of study.

Nevertheless, even though the battle had been stopped before they could determine a victor, Wang Baole’s valiance had already left a deep impression upon everyone.

“Nobody can spread what happened here to anyone! Whoever flouts this rule will be expelled!” The Chancellor immediately sent out an order for everyone to be silent. Even before Wang Baole and the Vice-Chancellor began fighting, the Chancellor had already cut off the area’s Spirit Internet, preventing everyone from connecting to the outside world.

So, on some level, the battle between Wang Baole and the Vice-Chancellor had been restricted to the Chancellor’s peak. The news had not traveled yet, and with the order to stay silent, everyone knew their limits, nodding in assent. Even if outsiders knew that there had been some disturbance, they would not know the full story.

Even Gao Quan did not dare defy the Chancellor after the Chancellor had made his intentions clear. Even though most of it was to protect Wang Baole, Gao Quan was not opposed to this, especially since… he also did not want the incident to spread.

Just like that, the Chancellor suppressed an incident that would have ignited a huge uproar in the other three Dao Colleges if they had found out.

Thereafter, the Chancellor dismissed everyone and glared at Wang Baole.

“Come with me!”

As he spoke, the Chancellor turned, and walked toward the hall with his hands behind his back. Wang Baole rubbed his nose, and with a quiet “yes”, bowed his head, and followed the Chancellor with an obedient look. It was as though he would have stepped up to help, had the Chancellor been holding a suitcase.

Seeing Wang Baole like this, the surrounding people’s expressions changed. Gao Quan gritted his teeth, cursing Wang Baole as a lapdog silently. While he felt depressed, he had an even deeper worry. Indeed, no common person could have imagined it—Wang Baole’s valiance had exceeded his imagination.

All the more reason to quickly move him away. This Wang Baole… Damn it, if I had known that his temper was this bad, even daring to beat me, I wouldn’t have offended him!

As Gao Quan grew sullen, the Chancellor’s peak slowly quieted. Not long later, the Chancellor returned to the hall and turned to look at Wang Baole, who had been following him.

As the Chancellor stared at him, Wang Baole’s determination to tolerate it weakened till his heart started to pound. His expression became even more obedient, and he lowered his head.

“Chancellor, I really understand that I did wrong…”

“Wang Baole, I know you have your own secrets and luck. Otherwise, no one in the Ancient Martial realm could defeat a True Breath expert!”

The instant that these words traveled into Wang Baole’s ears, he appeared normal on the surface, but his lowered eyes contracted. Just as he was about to speak, the Chancellor raised his hand.

“You don’t need to spin a lie for me. Your good luck is yours. I am not interested, and neither is the Dao College. This is one of the fundamental principles of the four Dao Colleges, and it’s also where we differ from the other factions!

“I only have one request of you…” The Chancellor’s gaze shone as he looked at Wang Baole.

“During this mystic realm trial, you need to collect Spirit Roots all the way up to seven inches, then fight for eight-inch Spirit Roots. Finally, use the eight-inch Spirit Root to enter the True Breath realm and proceed to the Upper Academy Island!”

When saying this last line, the Chancellor’s expression was stern, and there was strong anticipation in his eyes.

Wang Baole’s heart shook. Although he was young, he was familiar with the high officials’ autobiographies, so he understood the principle that guilt was assigned based on appearances. That was why he did not previously use the devouring seed. In actuality, when he decided to fight the Vice-Chancellor, he had already thought of how to explain his own behavior.

But he did not expect the Chancellor’s attitude to be this nonchalant. Wang Baole could tell that the Chancellor’s words were not fake and that this incident was in line with what he had expected of the Dao College. While he was moved, he also understood the Chancellor’s expectations of him. He inhaled deeply and showed determination in his eyes.

“Chancellor, I will work hard!”

Hearing Wang Baole’s promise, the Chancellor was satisfied. He sat to the side and looked at Wang Baole again.

“Baole, have you researched the information I gave you in the jade slip? Tell me, what is a Spirit Root!”

Wang Baole did not pretend to think and immediately answered.

“Chancellor, Spirit Roots are True Breath. When True Breath remains in the body, it can transform into Spirit Roots that are similar to meridians, combining completely with one’s body. But there are differences within True Breath determined by the different lengths of Spirit Roots. Whether it’s cultivation or casting spells in the True Breath realm, they all have a shocking superiority!

“Up until today, the limit for the human body is condensing eight-inch Spirit Roots!”

Wang Baole spoke fast, and his thought process was clear. The Chancellor nodded, understanding that Wang Baole had done his research. He thought for a moment before speaking.

“Baole, you should know the origin of True Breath, that it came with the ancient sword, held within the fallen shattered pieces of it. The reason Ethereal Dao College has become one of the four Dao Colleges that are members of the alliance is because Ethereal Dao College made the greatest sacrifice thirty-eight years ago in exchange for a shattered piece!

“These shattered pieces contain cultivation techniques, information, and messages; it is the basis of Ethereal Dao College. At the same time, the True Breath that it contains is one of the main components of Ethereal Dao College’s own mystic realm!

“But our Ethereal Dao College’s mystic realm is only for ordinary students. This is because the shattered pieces are too small, and it’s rare to see True Breath longer than six inches.”

As he said that, the Chancellor looked at Wang Baole. “Baole, do you know where the biggest shattered piece can be found?”

Wang Baole immediately sensed that the Chancellor was going to share a secret with him. So, he quickly put on an expression that indicated he was listening carefully.

“The biggest shattered piece is collectively called Spirit Breath Village!

“It’s located southwest of the Federation in a barren desert. As for its size… it’s as big as half of Ethereal City!”

The Chancellor’s voice reverberated, and a wondrous light appeared in his eyes.

“So big!” Wang Baole’s eyes widened, and he inhaled.

“Initially, there were many battles of life and death between the different sects because of this fragment. Whether it was the Trilunaris Corporation with the most resources, or the two sects who look towards the past, the Galactic Dusk Sect and Plume Manifestation Connate Sect, or the Five Generation Sky Clan with a thousand year legacy, there was also the senators of the Federation—they all fought crazily with the four Dao Colleges!

“In the end, the four Dao Colleges managed to win. It was just that fragment was too big, and there was some mysterious magnetic field, so we could not take it away. But from then on, the four Dao Colleges were in control of this piece, and no one else could take it away!

“And the next place all of you need to go is… Spirit Breath Village!” The Chancellor’s expression held a hint of pride.

Wang Baole felt moved. The information that the Chancellor had given him held no trace of this news, so it was his first time hearing about this. Although he knew that the Dao College was strong, it was only at this moment when he truly understood its strength.

“The Spirit Breath Village stores many True Breath Spirit Roots, but because the magnetic field is too strange, these True Breath Spirit Roots cannot expand. At the same time… it’s hard for outsiders to enter. Only once every few years will there be a natural weakened period!”

The Chancellor paused and waited for Wang Baole to digest his words before continuing. “Only at this time can people enter. In fact, even if it is the weakened period, there is still a repelling force suppressing people who have already attained True Breath. So True Breath realm experts cannot enter. Even if you attain True Breath inside, you will be expelled. But according to the different Spirit Roots, one can stay for at most five minutes.

“That is why the battle all those years ago happened outside, preserving the inside perfectly.

“That is why… every time the mystic realm opens, it is also an exploration for the four Dao Colleges. The students assigned to go in need to search for True Breath but also have the responsibility to help the Dao Colleges collect cultivation techniques, Dharmic treasures, materials, and as much information as possible.” The Chancellor looked again at Wang Baole, his gaze deep and anticipatory.

“After you gain an eight-inch Spirit Root, you can remain for five minutes. You need to help the Dao College find valuable items to the best of your ability!”

Wang Baole heard this and inhaled deeply, not too surprised. After all, he could understand the responsibility of exchange for the Dao College when they open this kind of mystic realm. Thus, he nodded.

He did, however, have another question that he still could not understand. He looked at the Chancellor and asked, “Chancellor, one’s True Breath is one’s Spirit Root, and True Breath comes from the shattered pieces of the big sword, but… how did True Breath itself appear, and why does it allow ordinary people to become cultivators when they get it?”

When the Chancellor heard Wang Baole’s question, he sank into silence. Wang Baole did not chase him for an answer and waited patiently. After a while, the Chancellor raised his head and looked upward at the Sword Sun, as though his gaze could pass through the roof of the hall. His voice also became hoarse.

“You’re not the only one to have asked this question. When I was young, I had doubts, too. Every cultivator must have had similar thoughts. Some years back… the previous Federation President, also the only Grand Supreme Elder of Ethereal Dao College, made a guess while he was looking at the Sword Sun and enlightening himself on the Dao.

“Whether it is correct, no one knows. I’ll just make an explanatory explanation, and you can just listen…”

The Chancellor opened his mouth slowly, and Wang Baole’s expression became serious as he listened carefully.