A World Worth Protecting

bolt snaking through the air, he even managed to glimpse a few long-distance passenger cruisers as he passed them by.
As he overtook them, he would catch the shocked looks in the passengers’ eyes.

News began to appear on the Spirit Internet and even on some media outlets.

It didn’t take too long before Wang Baole began to regret his decision… He had imagined a flight via flying sword being an incredibly enjoyable experience.
However, when he finally did it—especially over such a long distance—Wang Baole got to know what it meant to have violent winds lashing him in the face, and what it meant to feel extreme, piercing cold.

The faster he flew, the stronger the winds got, and the stronger the resistance became.
The idea of having the wind in one’s face might seem somewhat poetic, but after a while, the winds became a chill that pierced deep into one’s bones.
If he were to activate his cultivation now as a protective barrier, he would be expending even more Spirit Qi.

Wang Baole muttered to himself, then decided to give up halfway on the plan to fly the entire way home.
Compared to showing off his abilities, he felt that comfort was of greater priority.
He corrected his earlier mistaken views that had arisen due to his just reaching the Core Formation realm and becoming a Secondary Rank Two Noble, and hurriedly pulled out his cruiser.
Sat comfortably inside, he pulled out a bag of snacks and began snacking as he steered the cruiser towards Phoenix City.

While there was a considerable distance separating Phoenix City and the capital city, with the augmentation of Wang Baole’s cultivation, the cruiser’s speed increased considerably.
The entire journey took but two hours, and Phoenix City soon came within sight.

There were hundreds of people waiting for him outside the city, but Wang Baole wasn’t surprised to see that.
Having read the high officials’ autobiographies, he knew that as a Secondary Rank Two Noble, and having just returned to the Phoenix City, the City Lord would have to receive him personally.
If not, it would mean that something had gone wrong somewhere.

When Wang Baole’s cruiser landed outside Phoenix City, he was warmly received by the city officials, who were led by Liu Daobin’s father.
Liu Daobin’s father was leading the reception party because he had been promoted to the City Lord of Phoenix City.

Naturally, this had a lot to do with Liu Daobin, who was Wang Baole’s trusted subordinate, and Liu Daobin’s appointment on Mars.

After a round of warm reception, Liu Daobin’s father, aware that Wang Baole had returned to reunite with his parents, didn’t take up too much of Wang Baole’s time.
He had ensured that the reception was brief while sufficiently expressing their attitude regarding Wang Baole’s return.

Wang Baole was pleased as well, as he was also unwilling to spend too much time here.
His heart was already looking forward to home, and he quickly withdrew from the group and headed home.

The area that his home was located had changed, and it was no longer the same as what he had remembered.
There were many more unfamiliar faces around him, most of them at the True Breath realm, though he saw three Foundation Establishment realm cultivators.
They appeared from around a corner, dressed in the robes of the Ethereal Dao College.
They cupped their fists and saluted Wang Baole.

They were the disciples charged with protecting Wang Baole’s family by the Ethereal Dao College.
There were also city guards surrounding the residential area, which was clearly very well protected.

Wang Baole nodded.
He cupped his fists and saluted the guards before walking towards his home.
As soon as he approached, he could hear his father’s voice, and the unhappiness in it, resounding inside their house.

“What’s wrong with me receiving my own son? That Little Liu, he’s too fixated on formalities.
The moment I expressed my intention of receiving my own son, he had a look of panic on his face.
He went on about how they can do it, and how he was worried that Baole might come to the wrong conclusions if I went!”

“Stop that.
He has a difficult job as well.
Besides, you’re only the head of an archeology team.
For a City Lord to show you so much respect whenever he sees you, what else do you want?” The voice of Wang Baole’s mother rang out as well.
The tone of voice seemed normal, but as soon as she spoke, his father didn’t say another word.

Wang Baole’s face split into a wide grin when he heard his parents’ conversation.
At that moment, he forgot that he was a Secondary Rank Two Noble, that he was the City Lord of a special regional city, and that he was a Core Formation realm cultivator.
He had returned to who he had been as he pushed the door open and shouted.

“Mom, Dad, I’m home!”

As the door was flung open, the first thing that appeared before Wang Baole was a couch.
His father sat on the couch, his arms crossed, while his mother wore an apron and had just placed a plate of pig’s trotters on the dining table.
They turned their heads and saw Wang Baole at the door.

“You little rascal, why did you greet your mom before your dad?” Wang Baole’s father was delighted at the sight of his son.
He was about to get to his feet when he sensed that something was wrong.
He straightened his face and asked as he glared.

However, as soon as he glared at Wang Baole, Wang Baole’s mother immediately glared at him.

“Quick, get the food in the pot out!” Wang Baole’s mother ignored her husband and walked in front of Wang Baole, pinched his round face with pain in her eyes.

“Baole, is the food on Mars not to your taste? Look how thin you’ve gotten.
Your old mother almost didn’t recognize you…”