A World Worth Protecting

unded all around him.
The Pavilion Head gave Wang Baole a deep, long look, then spoke in a low voice.

”You ’ve passed the Armament Soldier assessment.
As for your ranking, it ’ll be determined at the end. ”

Upon hearing his words, Wang Baole let loose a sigh a relief and stepped back excitedly.
He was confident of his securing first place in the assessment.

Lin Tianhao, on the other hand, looked terrible at the moment.
His hands were drawn tightly into fists, and he drowned in jealousy and bitterness as he stood there with a dazed look on his face.

Very quickly, one after another, the remaining few examinees presented their Numinous Treasures, which were then inspected by the Pavilion Head and Deputy Pavilion Heads.
They finally reached the end of the round of Armament Soldier assessment—the finale, and the highlight of the entire assessment.
Everyone ’s eyes fell on the Pavilion Head as they awaited the announcement.

Wang Baole, Lin Tianhao, and the other examinees looked over nervously as well.
Despite being fully confident of his chances, Wang Baole still feared the possibility of his prize slipping through his fingers.

The Pavilion Head spoke in hushed tones with the four Deputy Pavilion Heads while the crowd watched on intensely.
The crowd couldn ’t hear their voices, but they could see the elderly Deputy Pavilion Head, upon hearing something being said, show anger.
He seemed aggrieved.
The other three Deputy Pavilion Heads started murmuring as the Pavilion Head stared at them.
A moment later, they nodded, seeming to reach a consensus.

The elderly Deputy Pavilion Head swung his sleeve aside and said frostily.
”I reserve my comments on the ranking! ” After he was done speaking, he gave Wang Baole a long steady look, as if in apology, then turned around and left.

The scene shocked the crowd, and Wang Baole ’s heart leapt into his throat.
He felt that something wasn ’t right, especially the look the elder had given him before he left—it seemed to carry a sense of helplessness and apology.

It made his hair stand.

What ’s going on? Wang Baole thought, alarmed.
It was then that the Pavilion Head announced, in a deep booming voice that resounded throughout the square, the assessment ranking.

”The Dharmic Armament Pavilion has judged that first place in this assessment ranking goes to Lin Tianhao! ”

”The assessment has ended! ” the Pavilion Head said coolly.
He didn ’t even spare Wang Baole a look.
After he was done speaking, he turned to leave.
There was a moment of silence before the crowd burst into chatter.

”It actually went to Lin Tianhao? ”

”This isn ’t right.
Wang Baole ’s Numinous Treasure was his own invention.
It should be better! ”

As the crowd debated furiously, Lin Tianhao suddenly trembled.
A flash of surprise and joy appeared in his eyes.
He had given up all hope, but he actually placed first.
All of a sudden, it was as if a shiver of electricity was sent coursing through his entire body.
The first thought that flashed to his mind was that his father had made a move.

That must be it! Mad with happiness, Lin Tianhao ’s spirits rose.
He stepped forward with his fists cupped and shouted.

”Thank you, Pavilion Head! ”

After uttering his thanks, Lin Tianhao couldn ’t help but sneak a look at Wang Baole.
He saw Wang Baole ’s gloomy face and was beyond pleased.
He almost laughed out loud.

Wang Baole ’s face had darkened instantly.
He disregarded the self-congratulatory Lin Tianhao and instead stared unblinkingly at the Pavilion Head.
A cold glint flashed across his eyes.
If it had been someone else, they might have grudgingly accepted the Pavilion Head ’s final judgment or even attempt to find a resolution after everything had ended; but while Wang Baole had on a cheerful, smiling face on a regular day, in reality, he didn ’t possess a good temper.

Thinking of the contributions he had made, and the network of friends he had built, didn ’t help.
He glared and, with an air of ”so what you ’re the Pavilion Head? I couldn ’t care less ”, stepped forward and spoke in a booming voice.

”Pavilion Head ’s assessment is unfair! ” After saying that, he turned towards the crowd and cupped his fists in a salute.

”My fellow Dharmic Armament comrades, we all love Dharmic artifacts and have our fair share of innovating and designing our own artifacts.
We put in endless time and effort.
We spend money that could have been used to buy pills and enhance our cultivation on buying materials and ingredients.
We use the time that other disciples from other faculties are using to train and cultivate on studying and engineering new Numinous Treasures.
We toil, we suffer, we endure and give so much of ourselves.
But the Numinous Treasure that we finally create is instead callously brushed aside by the Pavilion Head.
I, Wang Baole, will not rest if I don ’t get a proper explanation today! I ’d rather die! ”

Wang Baole ’s words rang out and instantly resonated with the crowd.
The earlier small, hushed discussions grew louder.

The Pavilion Head ’s face darkened.
He might have disregarded Wang Baole if the latter only said he didn ’t accept the results of the assessment, but Wang Baole was clearly well-versed in such matters.
He protested the injustice of it all while concurrently inciting public outrage.
There was no way the Pavilion Head could retreat from the situation without doing something about it.

The fact that he had risen to the rank of Pavilion Head, of course, meant that he was no foolish person.
He had made his decision earlier, and would naturally have grounds for his choice.
He tilted his head and spoke calmly.

”There are no past references for us to gauge or examine the inscriptions and structure of this self-invented Numinous Treasure.
Furthermore, it has not stood the test of time.
It might be an exceptional treasure, or it might contain serious flaws.
It is difficult to make an assessment!

”As the Pavilion Head, my actions must be beyond reproach.
I can allow you to pass the Armament Soldier assessment, but in terms of the ranking, I still judge Lin Tianhao ’s Planetary Bottle as the stable treasure and the more secure choice.
This is why he has been placed first!

”Wang Baole, as for the Numinous Treasure you have refined, I will send it for trials later.
If the Dharmic Armament Pavilion finds it without flaws, you may submit a request to me for a re-assessment. ”

The Pavilion Head ’s words sounded reasonable to some.
The crowd fell into a hushed discussion once again, and gradually divided into two factions.

Wang Baole, upon hearing what the Pavilion Head said, flipped out.
His words stank of bureaucracy-speak.
The trials he was speaking of could take days or months or possibly years; it was impossible to determine how long it would take.

”Your actions are beyond reproach? Fine, I ’ll find someone to test it now, to give you an answer that ’s beyond reproach! One that is clear for all to see! ” Wang Baole laughed furiously.
An icy glint flashed across his eyes.
As he shouted, he whirled around and ran, under the crowd ’s gaze, straight for the…

Elder Request Drum!