A World Worth Protecting

tal city amidst Wang Baole and Zhuo Yifan ’s quickened breathing and frequent gasps of shock.
Gradually, it slowed down.
After going through a series of inspections and scans—Wang Baole had no idea what exactly each one was for—the cruiser was allowed entry.
It landed in the designated bay for the Ethereal Dao College.

Ethereal Dao College disciples who had been stationed in the capital were already there waiting.
After Wang Baole and the rest arrived, they were immediately intercepted and received.
After a series of arrangements, they finally reached the manor managed by the Ethereal Dao College.

The manor environment was refined and quaint, with the twittering of birds and the fragrance of flowers in the air.
There was also a strong Spirit Qi in the air.
The manor wasn ’t opened to the public on ordinary days and served as a residence for Ethereal Dao College disciples only.
Many disciples from the Ethereal Dao College who were taking part in the Federation ’s hundred seedling selection had already checked in when Wang Baole and the rest arrived.

After everything was settled, Zhao Yameng didn ’t move into the residence allocated by the college.
Instead, she bade Wang Baole and Zhuo Yifan farewell and looked as if she was leaving.

”Where are you going? ” Wang Baole got curious, and Zhuo Yifan turned and looked over as well.

”My family lives in the capital. ” If it had been someone else, Zhao Yameng might not have answered the question, but it was Wang Baole and Zhuo Yifan, whom she had survived a death-or-life situation with; they were not other people.

Upon hearing Zhao Yameng ’s words, Zhuo Yifan ’s eyes widened.
Wang Baole could hear something exploding in his mind and was dazed.

”Your family… must be really rich! ” After a pause, he said with great envy.
Zhao Yameng caught the tone in Wang Baole ’s voice.
She smiled, bade farewell to Zhuo Yifan, and left at a leisurely pace.

It would have been fine if it had been an ordinary departure, but as Zhao Yameng stepped out of the Ethereal Dao College ’s manor, Wang Baole and Zhuo Yifan witnessed seven to eight gold cruisers appearing instantly.
They approached swiftly, then stopped, and more than a hundred strong men quickly marched out of the cruisers.

Be it its appearance or structure, Wang Baole, who had the eye of a Dharmic Armament Pavilion ’s Armament Soldier, could tell immediately that the gold cruisers were not ordinary cruisers.
The cruisers had taken him by surprise.
Then, the hundred strong men appeared.
Almost every single one of them had a True Breath realm cultivation.

Amongst them was an elderly man who had an especially strong cultivation aura that seemed comparable to the giant tree.
He seemed to be a butler of sorts, bowing at Zhao Yameng with kindness and concern on his face.

”Welcome home, young missus. ”

Zhao Yameng nodded and boarded the cruiser.
She waved goodbye to the stunned Wang Baole and Zhuo Yifan… then departed in a grand and spectacular manner.

Wang Baole was dazed, and Zhuo Yifan silent.
After a moment, when the cruiser that had Zhao Yameng in it had disappeared into the horizon, both of them looked at each other with strange looks on their faces.

”What ’s her background? ”

”She ’s so rich! ”

The pair spoke almost simultaneously.
In the end, they returned to their residences—each feeling different emotions about the entire matter—and managed to settle down to a certain extent.
However, both young men had their guesses and suspicions regarding Zhao Yameng ’s family background.

They rested for the night.
The next morning, Wang Baole set aside his suspicions regarding Zhao Yameng and went in search of Zhuo Yifan.
He dragged Zhuo Yifan out of the manor and started strolling through the city.

They wandered and looked at the stores in the capital.
The wealth and scale of the place surpassed that of Ethereal City.
The materials necessary for cultivation, especially, were available in great variety there.
It was as if everything that could be found and sold in the Federation could be found and sold there.

The pair, who had suffered the battle at the Coulomb Basin and expended their stock of materials and armaments, was immensely tempted.
Zhuo Yifan had his eyes on some pills and a jade slip documenting a mystic technique.

However, as soon as he inquired about their prices, he was stunned speechless.
Despite having come from considerable wealth, they were still much too expensive.

It was the same for Wang Baole.
He stared at the items displayed in the store excitedly, exclaiming from time to time.

”Tempered Gold Clay! ”

”Streaming Light Liquid! ”

”God, there ’s Heaven Crystal Sand as well! ”

All these are rare materials that could give Numinous Treasures extra abilities and features if used during the crafting process, and augment the Numinous Treasures.
Wang Baole swiftly and eagerly browsed through the stores.
He paused when he saw something.
Something exploded in his mind, and he could hear sudden buzzing in his head.

This… this is…

The sight that his eyes saw was that of a potted plant, an arm ’s width thick, resembling a palm tree but red in color.
What had sent him trembling was what was embedded within the trunk of the palm, no larger than a finger… a black fragment!

Wang Baole felt a strong calling the instant he saw the fragment.
He felt, in that instant, as if… that fragment was made from the same material as the black mask!

He fought back the temptation he felt, made another round in the store, and then casually pointed at various materials.
It was when he had almost completed his shopping and was about to inquire about the price of the fragment, prepared to add the red palm tree to his shopping cart and buy it as well.

It was then…

Outside the store, the laughter of an old man rang out.

”So the two of you are actually here. ”