A World Worth Protecting

by Stayrr

By the year 3029 CE, Earth’s technology has developed rapidly, borders no longer exist, and Earth has been unified, marking the beginning of the era of the Federation. At that time, a huge sword flew from the heavens, piercing the sun and causing a huge sensation on Earth. Perhaps because the scabbard of the sword was already in tatters, countless shards have broken off from it f

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Chapter 181: Open Fire!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As the stronghold experienced a renewed vigor in its fighting spirit, the fighters charged forward in a full-fledged counter assault. The gigantic bat suspended in the hurricane in the distance narrowed its eyes. It split its gory mouth wide open and blasted out an ultrasonic wave.

The ultrasonic wave was piercing, and strong winds rose where it passed. Big-bearded commander-in-charge and the two Foundation Establishment realm cultivators shuddered, and blood spilled from their lips.

At the same time, the two fleeing Foundation Establishment realm beasts whirled around and used the opportunity to strike back. There was no hesitation in their movements. It was clear that as Big Beard was conspiring against them, they were also scheming against the stronghold. The timing of their move was impeccable, and their sudden strike placed Big Beard and the two Foundation Establishment realm cultivators in immediate danger.

"Damn it! Why hasn't help arrived?" Chen Yutong's face darkened, and his fists tightened fiercely. He was helpless and at his wits' end. Despite being at the peak of the True Breath realm, the chasm between him and the Foundation Establishment realm was too great. There was little assistance he could provide.

Wang Baole's face turned heavy as well. The warriors around them fell into a gloomy silence. The wave of surprised cheer had just risen moments earlier, but with the sudden change in the tides of battle, the situation became unpredictable. Everyone was fraught with worry and tension.

The key lies in that giant bat! An icy light shone from Wang Baole's eyes. It had been clear from the start that the bat was the commanding general of the army of beasts. It had only struck twice; the first attack wiped out the array formation and a great number of the Fire God Cannons, tilting the scales in their favor, and the second assailed the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, sending a heavy blow to the stronghold' earlier raised morale!

Unless we kill the giant bat… Fury rose within Wang Baole. He knew that only by destroying the bat could they affect the outcome of the battle. Otherwise, unless help arrived soon, defeat was inevitable.

At the thought of that, a vicious look appeared on his face. He knew that his cultivation level was inadequate. The only thing he could rely on… was the crippled Fire God Cannon.

We've not reached the end of the line yet… there's still one last option… Wang Baole eyed the Fire God Cannon, then turned his eyes towards the distant bat. He gritted his teeth, madness bright in his eyes.

Since it's come to this, let's give it a shot!

"Senior Brother Chen, help me fight for time. I need five minutes. I'm going to modify the Fire God Cannon!" Wang Baole said in haste. His right hand rose and pressed onto the Fire God Cannon once again.

Upon hearing that, Chen Yutong's pupils contracted. He stared at Wang Baole. Wang Baole's earlier modifications of the inscriptions had revealed his proficiency in Dharmic Armaments. His mastery was impressive; though not as accomplished as Chen Yutong himself in some areas, in others, Wang Baole had clearly surpassed him.

Chen Yutong didn't comment further. He stepped back to guard Wang Baole. There were many Dharmic Armament cultivators from the four Dao Colleges who had arrived. They heard Chen Yutong's instructions and were shocked at what Wang Baole was planning to do, and a few had doubts in their minds. If the situation had been different, they would have voiced their protests. However, in such a time of crisis, there was no time for talk. After all, it was a Fire God Cannon under Wang Baole's charge—and it had held strong and remained the last one standing.

They didn't speak further and instead, chose to spread around and stand guard.

The warriors followed suit. Behind the layers of defense, standing in the middle of it all, Wang Baole raised his right hand—eyes bright with a hint of madness—and pulled out vast quantities of materials!

The materials were but a distraction; his real target was amidst the materials, concealed and inconspicuous, the Armament Sand!

Wang Baole's refinement of Armament Sand had fallen in frequency after he had refined his scabbard to the third grade. However, his occasional refinements led to the accumulation of thousands of grains of Armament Sand.

He was left with no other choice. More than two-thirds of the Fire God Cannon inscriptions had been fragmented; even if he were to continue with their modifications, the cannon would break down after the next few firings.

In addition, the Fire God Cannon was powerful, but with its range, it could not reach the giant bat. The only option that remained for Wang Baole was… to bet on the Armament Sand!

"Please, let me hit the jackpot, just this once!" Wang Baole uttered a silent prayer. His breathing quickened as he melded the materials with the Fire God Cannon, and focused his concentration on controlling the Armament Sand and melding it with the cannon.

That was his first time using the Armament Sand to reform a composite Numinous Treasure. He focused all his energies on his efforts nervously, slowly separating the Armament Sand into several hundred portions and pouring them into the Spirit Kernel inscriptions on every Numinous Treasure—effecting changes on all Numinous Treasure inscriptions that were beyond his control.

Wang Baole had no idea what would come out of the changes. The Armament Sand melded with the inscriptions before his eyes, and the inscriptions glimmered; some fragmented parts melded together with one another, forming entirely new inscriptions.

What was even more astonishing was the appearance of what had originally been concealed on the Spirit Kernel—inscriptions that had been hidden from Wang Baole's eyes. Wang Baole was staggered by the hidden inscriptions' appearance.

He had heard someone mention on the Spirit Intranet before that some extremely powerful Dharmic Artifacts had hidden inscriptions that were like an encrypted code of sorts. No one except the original creator could see or replicate them.

The hidden inscriptions appeared before Wang Baole then, large parts of them fragmented. A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind, and realization struck him. The reason why the inscriptions he had modified earlier couldn't be sustained was that he only modified the inscriptions visible to him. The concealed inscriptions were hidden from him, and he couldn't modify them, which was why the repairs were incomplete!

The Armament Sand served as a cipher key that unlocked the inside of the Fire God Cannon, unveiled the hidden inscriptions, decrypted their encryption, and unleashed their full potential!

The secrets within the Fire God Cannon revealed themselves before his keen eyes. The sudden descent of good luck brought clarity to his mind, and the gears in his head turned more quickly. He had a stronger grasp of the inner workings of the Fire God Cannon, deepening his understanding of the inscriptions within.

There was no time to reflect over his discoveries. He let them sink in as the fusion of the Armament Sand completed. He couldn't discern the effects immediately as the Fire God Cannon was too complex. In the end, he gritted his teeth and aimed the cannon at the giant bat. He fired the cannon. The shot was a test of the effect of the fusion in actual battle.

Please be a success! A raging howl rose silently within Wang Baole. The cannon fired, and shook the heavens!

The blast was no different from the earlier cannon firings, the explosive beam of light identical to previous blasts. It dashed across the battlefield towards the Beast Tide, as if it was charging straight at the giant bat in the eye of the hurricane.

Chen Yutong and the surrounding warriors watched nervously; even the giant bat turned its head and watched as the beam of light raced from the distance towards it.

As the crowd looked on anxiously and Wang Baole prayed fervently, the skyward beam froze in mid-flight, transformed into a huge sphere of light, and fell upon the earth…

The sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded. Even the giant bat was equally stunned. It hadn't expected that a Fire God Cannon blast could morph into a sphere of light.

As Wang Baole cried out in dismay and the crowd stood stunned, the ball of light landed on the swarm of beasts on land. Upon its landing, a deafening explosion that surpassed the combined explosions of all the Fire God Cannons rippled through the heavens and sent the earth quaking. It was like giant waves crashing onto the land, an ear-splitting roar that rose to the skies.

The thunderous boom shifted the landscape. Clouds rolled back, and a gush of strong wind swept across the lands. The color drained from the faces of the Foundation Establishment realm entities battling in the skies.

The warriors around Wang Baole, the Dharmic Armament cultivators from the four Dao Colleges, and Chen Yutong were all stunned speechless.

"This… This is just…!"

Wang Baole was equally dumbfounded. He watched the waves of light that exploded from the light sphere when it landed, its impact so strong it would shock one to hear that it rivaled the combined blasts of a dozen Fire God Cannons. The explosion formed a sea of light that splashed and sprayed everywhere, and where the light landed, beasts were wiped out instantly. From afar, within the endless rising Beast Tide, an empty space appeared. In that space… there stood no living beast; the grounds were strewn with their bloodied corpses!

The destructiveness of the ball of light was too overwhelming. As tremors traveled through the earth, both camps fighting on land were struck dumb by shock.

The Dharmic Armament cultivators from the four Dao Colleges, including Chen Yutong, whirled around and stared at the dazed Wang Baole. They were all gasping and overwhelmed by emotion.

It was then that the giant bat in the distant hurricane turned its eyes on Wang Baole. It let loose an ultrasonic wave. As the ultrasonic wave burst forth, Big Beard and the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators shuddered; it was as if needles were being driven into their bodies. Their cultivation was being suppressed, and the threat of death grew greater as the two Foundation Establishment realm beasts attacked.

The beasts surrounding Wang Baole's platform seemed to have received orders as well. They howled, eyes crazed, and charged at Wang Baole fearlessly. It was as if they were determined to destroy the platform even if it cost them their lives!

"Defend with all you've got!" Light glimmered fiercely in Chen Yutong's eyes. Wang Baole had used action to prove himself. As his senior brother, it followed that he too had to stand his ground. His Spirit Qi spread out as he spoke, leading the rest in facing battle.

The other Dharmic Armament cultivators were equally impassioned and roused by Wang Baole's earlier cannon shot. They gathered their thoughts, scattered out and, together with the warriors, met the beasts rushing in from all directions in battle.

The intensity of the battle spiked all of a sudden. The beasts numbered too many, all of them in a raging madness. Amidst the drowning roars, death lurked around every corner.

Amidst the massacre, Wang Baole stood, panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot. He tried but couldn't get the Fire God Cannon to fire again. It seemed that it had only enough for that last shot. He became frantic as he looked at the tragic fates that befell more and more people around him and the crazed, charging beasts swarming heaven and earth.

Madness flashed across his eyes, and he took out the Armament Sand again!

He had never tried to perform a second round of modifications on a Dharmic Artifact that had already been modified. There was no time to deliberate further; he flung the Armament Sand into the Fire God Cannon.

It was then that he discovered excitedly that the Armament Sand could be used for a second round of reform!

However, such a manner of modifications contained too much uncertainty. As soon as the modification was complete, the Fire God Cannon shuddered. Instability wrecked its internal parts, and it seemed on the verge of collapse. An alarmed Wang Baole quickly pulled out more Armament Sand and initiated another round of modifications.

Finally, after he went through five rounds of modifications, the Fire God Cannon that had been crippled and damaged beyond repair, shook with an unprecedented force; it was as if a terrifying energy was stirring within. Waves of Spirit Qi surged from all around. The inscriptions stabilized, and there were no signs of self-destruction or collapse.

"It's done!" Wang Baole whooped with excitement. He snapped his head up and slapped the Fire God Cannon with his right hand.

"Fire!" Wang Baole roared. An earth-shattering blast of light shot from the Fire God Cannon, and exploded instantaneously!

The intensity and force of the blast surpassed all blasts that had come before and left them trailing in the dust. There was no competition to be had in the first place. Its color was no longer white but blue, and as it shot out, the mere waves of energy rippling out disintegrated the hordes of beasts all around. The beasts screamed in pain as they turned into dust!

The landscape shifted, and the blast of light became the focus of the entire battle. It sped across the sky, an unbending beam of light headed squarely for the giant bat that had its mouth gaping wide open to launch another ultrasonic wave.

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Chapter 182: Target Locked! Shoot to Kill!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The beam of light was too swift; wherever it passed, beasts that stood before it were torn into shreds instantly. Even a slight brush from the blast's rippling energy waves sent one frothing at the mouth, and the beasts were either slain or grievously wounded.

With night soon descending, the bright blue cannon beam shook and dazzled. It shot past with startling speed through the battlefield, With a thundering roar, it carried an intent to destroy, and approached the giant bat in the hurricane.

The giant bat had its mouth wide open, ready to release another wave of ultrasound interference at the Foundation Establishment realm-level fight. It was then that an icy shiver traveled through its body, and alarm flashed across its eyes. If it had hair, one imagined they would be standing at that moment. It snapped its mouth shut and dodged swiftly to one side. As it tried to move away, the beam of light, with a speed that far surpassed its own, came thundering forward and shot right… past its body…

It missed…

Despite missing its target, the rippling waves of energies that spread out sent quakes through the bat's body. It spat blood out, and terror and shock rose in its heart. It had calculated the projectile range of the Fire God Cannon and stayed far away from the cannon; it would never have imagined being almost killed by the cannon's blast!

The giant bat's eyes turned red as it trembled, and it raised its head skyward and let loose a shrill scream. Its eyes locked onto Wang Baole, a murderous aura exploded in the air.

The prowess of Wang Baole's Fire God Cannon was so immense that the bat felt death at its doorstep.

If it had moved a little bit too quickly earlier, it could have slammed headfirst into the cannon beam. The thought terrified the intelligent beast, and it unleashed a frantic, ear-piercing shriek. In an instant, the beasts surrounding Wang Baole's Fire God Cannon platform spiraled into further madness. They lost all reason and charged mindlessly forward.

The two Foundation Establishment realm beasts in the sky grew agitated as well. However, they couldn't leave. Instead, they roared as the giant bat screamed, driving the beasts and giants in the Beast Tide into descending madness. The beasts disregarded the cultivators and warriors around them and, with a leap into the air, rushed at Wang Baole.

The cannon shot of Wang Baole was like striking a wasp nest, sending the beasts into a raging madness. Chen Yutong and the surrounding warriors were momentarily overwhelmed.

Big Beard and the Foundation Establishment cultivators saw what happened, and were shaken to their core. They realized it was a golden opportunity. The giant bat was too caught up in the moment to interfere with their fight. The turn of the tide galvanized them, and as they pressed forward towards the two Foundation Establishment realm beasts, Big Beard's voice rang across the battlefield.

"Everyone, protect the Fire God Cannon platform!"

"Wang Baole, as long as you can distract the giant bat, you'll be the hero in this battle! If you manage to kill it, I'll personally request a huge reward to be bestowed on you!"

As Big Beard's words rang out, the warriors and cultivators on land sped towards the direction where Wang Baole's Fire God Cannon platform stood. They fought with all their might, and Chen Yutong and the rest gave all they had as well, attacking madly.

The battle intensified around the Fire God Cannon platform in an instant!

As for the giant bat in the sky, its cultivation was clearly not of the Foundation Establishment realm level. Else, even accounting for its cautious nature, it could have struck multiple times. It was clear that it possessed an impressive talent at spellcasting, and its value was in supporting and commandeering the beasts.

Terrified, the giant bat dared not pause too long at any one spot. Its body swayed and flew from one place to another without rest, summoning tornadoes that spread out across the battlefield and obscured vision.

It dared not fly too close to Wang Baole. It was still shaken by the earlier cannon blast, and as a result, it continued dodging attacks in the distance with the intention of relying on the intensity of the Beast Tide to destroy the enemy.

That was slightly time-consuming, but to the bat, it was the safest way to victory.

That was indeed the reality. Slaughter overflowed all around Wang Baole, and he was going mad in his anxiety. The cannon blast that missed its target was through no fault of his. After all, there were too many uncertainties present in the revamped Fire God Cannon. It was near impossible to wield it as smoothly as before.

He had heard Big Beard's words, but he had no time to fantasize further. Fierce battles occurred all around him, and death lurked at every corner. Wang Baole took a few deep breaths. He dared not lose his concentration as he injected all of his Spirit Qi into the cannon. The initial automated target lock-on mechanism was switched to manual mode. To eliminate all potential mishap, he released the mosquitoes that had already been destroyed many times.

The mosquitoes flew out instantly and headed speedily towards the giant bat. With the aid of their eyes, everything taking place in the air appeared within Wang Baole's sight. An all-encompassing, three hundred and sixty-degree field of vision with no blind spots—in that moment, he saw everything with startling clarity.

The bat was too quick, though, and hidden by the hurricane. Wang Baole couldn't firmly lock down his target with complete accuracy. He grew more agitated as he watched the bloodbath around him. He was going mad.

Don't rush it, don't rush it!

What I need is an opportunity! Wang Baole kept sucking in air and forcing himself to calm down. As the Fire God Cannon started its activation, the terrifying and violent energies in the air intensified. The surrounding Spirit Qi was sucked by abruptly. A sea of calm settled within Wang Baole gradually, and he only saw the distant skies and the ever-moving form of the giant bat.

The Fire God Cannon shook fiercely, but Wang Baole could no longer spare any effort to attend to it. His breathing steadied slowly, and the field of vision he had borrowed from his mosquitoes seemed to be shrinking…

He waited silently for a window of opportunity. If it didn't arrive, Wang Baole didn't know if he would choose to go ahead and fire the cannon. Not firing would pose a greater threat to the giant bat. The fight would determine the outcome of the aerial Foundation Establishment realm-grade battle. As long as Big Beard and his company emerged victorious, the tide of the battle would turn.

The price would be great.

It was then that suddenly, within Wang Baole's line of vision in the distant sky, two light arcs rushed towards them. Following the arcs were seven to eight massive cruisers, speeding towards the battlefield at equally high speeds.

They were the rescue forces who had come to aid the seventh primary stronghold. There were two cultivators within the arcs; both were of Foundation Establishment realm cultivation. Their faces were pale, and both were clearly wounded, but they continued to rush forward resolutely. The teleportation array formation between strongholds had clearly been destroyed, and they could only hurry over on cruisers.

As they appeared over the horizon, Wang Baole's eyes brightened.

A window! Wang Baole held his breath. His vision shrunk instantly.

Lock on!

Lock on!!

Lock on!!!

In a blink of an eye, as the giant bat witnessed rescue approaching from afar and started trembling uncontrollably, Wang Baole roared and chose at that moment… to fire the cannon!

A thunderous boom resounded, shaking the heavens and earth. A massive beam of light shot from the Fire God Cannon. As the blast surged forward, the Fire God Cannon started shattering into pieces. Finally, as the beam shot out from the cannon entirely, the cannon broke down completely and became a piece of junk. The inscriptions within shattered in unison!

As for Wang Baole, who had expended all his energies, blood splattered out from his mouth. He keeled over and was caught by the Armament Soldiers behind him. His eyes stared unblinkingly at the sky at the blast of light he had just fired.

The earth-shattering beam of light thundered and sped heavenward like an enormous blue dragon. It was swift, like a bolt of lightning, piercing the skies and appearing in an instant before the giant bat.

The giant bat let loose a howl of rage and tried to escape, but it was too slow. In the blink of an eye, the light surged past its body. Suddenly, the massive body started disintegrating before one's eyes.

Its wings cracked and shattered piece by piece, and its gruesome mouth exploded under the force of the blast, splattering blood all around. Not a single hair remained. It was as if an invisible giant hand had wiped out all traces of the beast!

The sight sent a wave of shock across the battlefield. Chen Yutong and everyone on the platform buzzed with agitation and excitement. It felt like they had just had a dream. The warriors and cultivators from the four Dao Colleges on the battlefield were equally shaken, then overjoyed.

The Beast Tide was equally agitated, and fear appeared on many of the beasts' faces. The tides had turned. The two Foundation Establishment realm beasts in the midst of battle with Big Beard froze. One screamed as it was beheaded, and the surviving beast retreated in mad haste.

It didn't manage to escape. The two approaching Foundation Establishment realm cultivators who had rushed there in aid, amidst their shock and disbelief, struck. Together with Big Beard, they slew the last beast.

Terror overtook the entire Beast Tide on land. They howled and began to fall back, slamming into one another and escaping mindlessly. The battlefield was a scene of utter chaos.

The murderous aura exuding from Big Beard didn't weaken in the chaos. He barked out orders amid the cacophony, commandeering the entire stronghold in a full-scale counter assault. The warriors and cultivators around Wang Baole charged out and joined the counterattack.

Despite his exhaustion, Wang Baole leaped into the air as well and joined the battle. He commanded his mosquitoes to follow him.

Under their counter assault, the Beast Tide scattered further and stampeded over one another. The death count of the beasts soared. Finally, worn out and exhausted, they stopped their pursuit and watched the Beast Tide flee into the distance.

Big Beard heaved heavily. He turned and saw Wang Baole, ragged and covered in blood. He laughed aloud and walked over, pulling Wang Baole into a hug and patting him on his back with great force. It was fortunate that Wang Baole was hardy with a thick skin and thicker flesh, else the pat would have sent him puking blood across the ground.

Despite his thick skin and even thicker flesh, he could still feel the pain. Not to be outdone, he hugged Big Beard back and gave a forceful slap that thudded loudly.

Big Beard felt something amiss and released Wang Baole immediately. He coughed awkwardly, then turned and pulled Wang Baole's hand high into the air. He looked at the crowd around him, and the rescue troops, and shouted, "Tell me, who is he?"

"Wang Baole!" All around, the warriors who had escaped death cheered.

They had seen close-up with their own eyes the scene of the cannon blast blazing across the heavens and slaying the giant bat!

Wang Baole listened as the people around him shouting his name. Hot blood coursed through his veins, and his face grew warm. That emotion was something he felt for the first time. It was indescribable.

The thousand-odd warriors on the Fire God Cannon platform, especially, were overwhelmed with emotion. They rushed forward and started cheering, taking advantage of Wang Baole's momentary shock and tossing him, again and again, into the air. Laughter rang and echoed across the battlefield from where they had emerged victorious.

The cultivators from the four Dao Colleges watched as the warriors flung Wang Baole into the air repeatedly, their eyes bright with fervor. The rescue forces couldn't keep their calm either. The cannon blast that they had witnessed upon their arrival… the impact it left on them was too astounding!

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Chapter 183: Olive Branch

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The retreat of the Beast Tide and the cheers of the warriors sent hot warmth coursing through Wang Baole. The mountains of corpses and sea of blood, and the countless dead strewn across the battlefield, soon turned his excitement into sorrow and there was a heavy weight on his heart.

They returned to the stronghold, and big-bearded commander-in-charge ordered a clean up of the battlefield. The bodies of warriors and cultivators were carried back to the stronghold; some had been mutilated beyond recognition. The bloody sight left many silent.

The clean up took three days, and normalcy returned after. The military preserved the beasts' corpses; they would be used as resources and materials. The bodies of their comrades were placed together, their names recorded in the military's Martyrs' Scroll, and the ashes and compensation would be sent to their families. Special remuneration would also be provided for the cultivators killed in battle.

As everything came to an end, the people in the stronghold, including Wang Baole, started to hear more and more about the horrendous battles that had taken place in the seventh primary stronghold and across the entire seventh line of defense.

The Beast Tide reached its finale at the seventh primary stronghold, with the death of the Beast King at the hands of General Zhou. Countless beasts had perished, but the stronghold paid a terrible price and suffered heavy losses.

The scale of the Beast Tide had been greater than the Federation had anticipated. Nearly a third of the minor strongholds along the seventh line of defense had been successfully invaded. Few from those strongholds—warriors and cultivators alike—managed to survive. Most had died in battle.

Out of the remaining two thirds, almost half held strong and prevailed until rescue arrived. However, the casualties suffered were equally great.

The remaining strongholds held on stubbornly despite delayed rescue, using sheer force and determination to wear down the onslaught of the Beast Tide. The scale of those strongholds surpassed that of the minor stronghold where Wang Baole was stationed; they had an abundance of warriors and cultivators.

As for the smaller minor strongholds, Wang Baole's stronghold wasn't the only one that managed to overcome the attacks. However, such strongholds remained in the rare few. As a result, Wang Baole's stronghold became the focus of much attention in the entire seventh line of defense.

While the rescue forces had arrived in the end, even if they hadn't appeared, the outcome of the battle had already been determined with Big Beard's ambush, as well as the sacrifice of the two Foundation Establishment realm cultivators and Wang Baole's cannon blast!

With such accomplishments achieved in battle, the names of Wang Baole and many others were soon repeated throughout the entire stronghold, spreading further across the entire seventh line of defense with big-bearded commander-in-chief's dissemination.

Everyone who heard of what had happened was blown away. They had gone through that Beast Tide themselves and knew all too well how difficult it would have been to accomplish such great feats in the battle.

As a result, Wang Baole enjoyed a hero's treatment for the next few days.

There was nearly no one who didn't know his name. When he stepped outside, the warriors who saw him greeted him with a salute and eyes filled with enthusiasm and zeal.

The military commanders were the same. Their gratitude wasn't a mere appearance out of formality, but straight from the heart. They were thankful for what Wang Baole had done for them!

When Wang Baole and Chen Yutong had come face to face with danger, they could have retreated and abandoned the Fire God Cannon, but they had chosen to remain. When the news of that spread, Wang Baole's reputation grew further.

Chen Yutong and the others who had protected Wang Baole received an unprecedented warm and enthusiastic treatment from the entire stronghold as well.

However, the excitement paled against the heaviness weighing against Wang Baole's heart. He couldn't forget the slain warriors and the scenes of the massacre. It could even be said that the battle had made a deep impact on his life.

It was hard to come to terms with what he was feeling within a short period of time and return to his earlier cheerful disposition.

At the same time, many had found out that Wang Baole was into collecting beasts' teeth. As a result, over the next few days, he received countless beasts' teeth. They were presents from the heart. The warriors were grateful to Wang Baole; they liked him but didn't know how to express their feelings. The gifting of beasts' teeth became their only way of showing how they felt.

The storage bracelet was filled to the brim and could carry no more additional items. Wang Baole was moved beyond words, and couldn't bring himself to turn down any gifts. Finally, Chen Yutong handed two storage bracelets to him silently; he finally managed to pack all the gifts.

The disciples from the four Dao Colleges had experienced the same deadly battle as well. Their feelings towards the stronghold, towards Wang Baole, and towards their fellow Daoists from the four Dao Colleges grew. There was a greater sense of familiarity and camaraderie and they mingled more frequently and befriended one another. How they interacted with the warriors, whom they had become comrades with, was no longer the same as when they had first arrived.

As the Beast Tide receded and the entire stronghold recovered from the attack, and as Wang Baole bustled about receiving an endless horde of guests, an Honor Roll—delivered from big-bearded commander-in-charge—reached General Zhou of the seventh primary stronghold.

In the Honor Roll were listed the names of almost all of the disciples from Dao Colleges as well as the names of a great many brave warriors. One might even say that the list contained the names of nearly everyone who had survived.

The names of Wang Baole, the two surviving Foundation Establishment realm cultivators and Big Beard himself were listed at the top, in the lead for the military's recognition and reward.

In the general's tent, General Zhou looked through the Honor Roll. He smiled wryly, lifted his head, and looked at Big Beard.

Zhou Lu stood behind General Zhou. She seemed to be injured, and her face was pale. But the glint in her eyes, which spoke of her experience having been forged from the crucible of blood and slaughter, had grown sharper. Her eyes paused on Wang Baole's name on the Honor Roll.

Big Beard remained calm under General Zhou's calculating look. He secretly and intentionally exerted force and forced fresh blood to seep through the bandaged wounds on his body. He didn't say a word, but his intentions were loud and clear… I'm not leaving until you agree to the sizable rewards for my men.

"Stop sneaking around and hiding. Just lay everything out." General Zhou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He pointed at Big Beard and scolded.

Big Beard blinked, then pulled out another Honor Roll which looked heavy beyond words. His face was somber. He approached with the Honor Roll in both hands and did not place it on the table but presented it to General Zhou.

General Zhou's eyes fell unblinkingly on the roll. He seemed to have arrived at a certain understanding, and a shadow fell across his face. He stood and received the Honor Roll with both hands, unscrolled it and read through the names belonging to every single person who had died in battle. Silence fell over him.

The leading names placed at the top of that Honor Roll were the names of the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators who had perished!

"General, I understand the difficulties of the army and the Federation's current situation. It's alright even if we cut the number of accolades by half, but the reparations must be given in multiple folds. This battle… was a complete massacre…" Big Beard lowered his head and uttered softly.

General Zhou was silent. After a long while, he looked towards Big Beard and spoke in a low, calm voice, "How could we reduce the number of accolades by half. All accolades will receive three times the reward. As for reparations… they'll be threefold as well!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Big Beard's body shook. He didn't speak further, and instead cupped his fists and saluted General Zhou. Then, he gave a deep bow and left.

General Zhou watched Big Beard leave. He stood in front of the table and was silent for a long time. Then he spoke softly, "Zhou Lu, make arrangements. In three days' time, I'll travel personally to all the strongholds and… visit the Armament Soldiers."

Zhou Lu hurriedly shifted her eyes from Wang Baole's name on the Honor Roll, lowered her head and replied with a "Yes, Sir".

Three days passed swiftly. With the Beast Tide ended, the disciples from the four Dao Colleges started to leave and return to their respective Dao College. Wang Baole, Chen Yutong, and their friends, too, bade farewell to the Armament Soldiers and were prepared to depart. Before they could be on their way, Wang Baole received a message from Big Beard.

General Zhou wants to see me? Wang Baole blinked. He had gotten a clear grasp of General Zhou of the seventh primary stronghold. He was the man whom he had caught a glance of in the college, a general in the upper echelons of the army named Zhou Dexi, who had wiped out an entire species of beasts and attained a monumental accomplishment!

When Wang Baole hadn't known of the other man's identity, he hadn't been nervous. Knowing exactly who the man was, though, the thought of Zhou Lu's constant shadow behind General Zhou gave Wang Baole slight pause.

Could it be that Zhou Lu is this General Zhou's concubine? At the thought of that, Wang Baole was struck with a headache.

However, he considered the accomplishments he had made and quietly exhaled a sigh of relief. He remained alert though, as he approached Big Beard's tent. As he arrived outside the tent, he saw Zhou Lu standing outside. Their eyes met, and a hint of perplexity was clear in Zhou Lu's eyes. She cast a glance at Wang Baole, shifted her eyes away, and spoke coolly, "The general is waiting for you."

Wang Baole noticed the perplexed look in her eyes, and a glimmer flickered in his eyes. He stared at the tent and marched wordlessly forward, straight inside. He saw General Zhou, dressed in black uniform, standing before a map with his back towards him.

It was a figure that towered like a mountain. When Wang Baole's eyes fell on the general, he was assailed with the sudden feeling akin to standing before a huge Fire God Cannon. His breath quickened, and he lowered his head, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, General Zhou. I'm Wang Baole!"

"Wang Baole, come." General Zhou didn't turn towards him. He stood staring at the map before him and spoke coolly.

Wang Baole raised his head and stared at General Zhou. He deliberated, briefly, before taking a few steps forward. He stood next to the general and gazed at the map. The map had caught his attention earlier; it was the topographic map of the seventh line of defense. Beyond the seventh line of defense was the vast primordial lands. Even further beyond that, was the expansive ocean.

"It might seem like that seventh line of defense was partially breached in this battle, but in reality… we won a great strategic victory!" General Zhou spoke slowly. His right hand rose and pointed at the vast area of sea.

"The four Dao colleges, the senate, and the other political forces staged an ambush on the Sea of Beasts. We suffered great casualties, but also managed to kill nine Beast Kings and secure at least twenty years of stability at the borders!"

"But there are pros and cons to everything… the internal conflicts in the Federation, having been suppressed for more than a decade, will inevitably surface in an explosive clash sometime in the next twenty years. The four Dao Colleges will not escape unscathed from the political storm when it happens. Only the military remains untouchable. So…" General Zhou, having said all that, turned around suddenly, his eyes shining brightly, and looked at Wang Baole.

"Wang Baole, are you willing to join the military?"

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Chapter 184: Secret Weapon!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"It involves working in the military forever, not just distancing from the Dao College!" A fire was visible in General Zhou's eyes. His voice was deep and naturally carried an intention to kill.

"This…" Listening to General Zhou's words, Wang Baole was momentarily dumbfounded. What General Zhou said was extremely sudden to him. He had never thought that there were so many other issues underlying the battle.

From the viewpoint of the Federation, in the face of those unexpected changes, sacrifices must be made. That was something that Wang Baole could understand as someone who had read the high official autobiographies. However, as a small fry, and based on his relationship with the warriors who were equal to him, he minded those sacrifices.

How would I choose if I were the President of the Federation… Wang Baole stayed silent. He couldn't predict the future, but he believed that if such a day came, his choice would definitely be something that he was satisfied with.

In addition, it seemed like General Zhou hadn't expected Wang Baole to make a decision immediately. Therefore, after finishing his sentence, he looked at Wang Baole and spoke calmly, "I know that this is a serious matter that you need to carefully consider. Therefore, you don't have to give me an answer immediately."

With that, General Zhou felt that he had already clearly listed the pros and cons. The decisions that Wang Baole would make after that would be related to what he said. Therefore, he had wanted to add on more details when Wang Baole showed hesitation and asked him a question.

"General Zhou, erm… after joining the military, is it possible to become the President of the Federation in the future?"

"What?" General Zhou was taken aback and carried a bizarre expression on his face.

"The President of the Federation." Wang Baole suppressed the thoughts that had surfaced due to the tone General Zhou used to reply to him. He repeated himself again and looked at General Zhou, filled with anticipation.

"… The military cannot be involved in politics. If you want to become the President of the Federation, you would have to revolt. Do you plan to revolt?" after a brief moment, General Zhou replied calmly.

When Wang Baole heard the reply, he trembled and laughed awkwardly.

"General Zhou, you have mentioned that the matter about joining the military isn't urgent. So… I'll think about it carefully."

General Zhou remained silent and took several glances at Wang Baole before laughing.

"Wang Baole, the military isn't as simple as you think. Do you know why I said just now that there would be chaos in the Federation, with peace only in the military?"

Wang Baole looked confused and shook his head. He was indeed ignorant about that matter. However, seeing how confident General Zhou was, he revealed a look of trust towards him after shaking his head.

Disregarding Wang Baole's facial expression, General Zhou turned around to look at the map, his arms held to his back as he began to speak calmly.

"Even though the number of cultivators in the military is fewer than that in the other forces, and our heritage is not as rich, we have a secret weapon!" As General Zhou had finished his sentence, he looked towards Wang Baole, waiting for him to ask further questions.

In reality, he didn't plan to give too much detail about the secret weapon. He only wanted Wang Baole to know that joining the military was the right choice. He thought that he would just pass matters by after Wang Baole questioned him, with the goal of piquing his curiosity. After all, he was once a youth with a strong sense of curiosity.

Wang Baole blinked his eyes and felt that General Zhou's mention of the shocking secret weapon had changed the situation. The method of piquing one's curiosity was a trick that Wang Baole knew since he was three years old. He expected that General Zhou would definitely try to make things even more mysterious after he asked further questions, with no guarantee that he would reveal the truth. If he really wanted to find out, he should act in the opposite way instead. Therefore, he didn't ask.

Just like that, General Zhou waited and slowly felt that the situation was becoming unbearable, seeing how Wang Baole had not asked him about it as he had expected.

Seeing the changes in General Zhou's facial expression, Wang Baole sighed. He felt that General Zhou was more capable than himself, and he wouldn't lose face if he gave in. Therefore, he opened his mouth and asked, "What secret weapon is that?"

After hearing Wang Baole's words, General Zhou inhaled deeply. He appeared to have seen through Wang Baole's trick but still felt that it was necessary for him to educate Wang Baole on the mightiness of the military. As such, he raised his head to look at the walls of the tent. His gaze appeared as if they could transcend the tent to look at the skies, and he began to speak calmly.

"The appearance of the Spirit Qi disrupted nuclear fission and fusion, resulting in the failure of all nuclear bombs on earth, but throughout these years, the military has manufactured two inferior black hole bombs that are significantly more powerful than a nuclear bomb."

"These two inferior black hole bombs are the secret weapons of the military!"

Hearing what General Zhou said, Wang Baole, who was initially distracted, suddenly grew alert. He opened his eyes wide and gasped in shock.

"What is that?"

Even though he was born in the Spirit Inception Era and had never experienced the technological revolution that happened before the arrival of the ancient greenish-bronze sword, he had managed to gain some understanding about the ferocity and power of the nuclear bomb from some history books that belonged to his parents.

He was used to the notion that the Spirit Qi had altered the structure of materials and transformed them into a new form of power. That power had eliminated much of the technological products from the Spirit Inception Era. Therefore, General Zhou's words felt foreign to Wang Baole ears and made him feel incredulous.

"What I am referring to is a kind of bomb that can theoretically wipe out most living things and break the world into two if twenty of them were detonated at the same time… The inferior black hole bomb!" Noticing Wang Baole's shock, General Zhou felt at peace and spoke calmly with his hands spread.

"It's a pity that the process of manufacturing an inferior black hole bomb is a huge challenge. The materials needed to make it are rare, such that we've only managed to make two bombs successfully after all these years. Furthermore, it doesn't have the power of a real black hole bomb and is not powerful enough to wipe out the beasts. There are some very ferocious beasts around, and there might be legendary beasts wandering as well…"

"Even so, these two inferior black hole bombs can still act as a form of deterrence. After all, sometimes, not using it is more powerful than using it!"

"I've mentioned to you previously that the border of the Federation remained safe for twenty years, and that was due to the deterrence effect played by the inferior black hole bombs!"

Wang Baole's breathing was slightly unsteady. His mind was whirling, and his only thought was that the General Zhou in front of him seemed to have become more superior. He even felt that the military had instantly become more mysterious.

Satisfied with Wang Baole's surprise upon hearing the matter, General Zhou spoke slowly once again.

"Do not belittle the technological prowess of the Federation. Even though the appearance of the Spirit Qi changed many things, currently, the Federation is researching on how to combine the Spirit Qi with the inferior black hole bomb theory, complement it with Dharmic Armament knowledge to create actual anti-matter bombs or in other words, black hole bombs. Of course, it might be more appropriate to call them Anti-Spirit bombs!"

"Once that is successful, it would be akin to the Federation wielding part of God's power!" General Zhou's tone was relaxed. After he had completed his sentence, he looked at Wang Baole, who was frozen in shock, and laughed, before handing him a jade medal.

"This medal represents the friendship of the military. With this military, you can make the seventh primary strongholds, including me, help you once, as long as no rules are being violated!"

Wang Baole's breathing quickened as he accepted the medal while still in a daze. His mind was still in a state of shock processing what General Zhou said previously about the inferior black hole bomb. He inhaled deeply, and even though his mind was still a whirl, he had already managed to calm down a little. When he looked at the medal in his hands, he immediately realized how valuable it was.

Have the seventh primary strongholds, even General Zhou, extend a helping hand to me once? Wang Baole's pupils constricted, realizing that he had received a big reward that time around. It was like a protective talisman. Even if he didn't use it, he could use it to deter others. Therefore, he took a deep breath and greeted General Zhou with cupped fists.

"Thank you, General Zhou!"

Seeing that Wang Baole had realized the worth of the medal, General Zhou smiled slightly.

"Your efforts will be recorded, with one copy sent to the Federation and another to Ethereal Dao College. In time, you will be rewarded." After completing his sentence, he seemed to have thought of something and directed a question towards Wang Baole.

"Wang Baole, how did you alter that Fire God Cannon?"

Without hesitation, Wang Baole immediately retrieved a jade slip from his storage bracelet and passed it to General Zhou. He had long prepared for that, knowing that the force of the Fire God Cannon would definitely attract people's attention. Even though he wasn't clear how to control the changes himself, he had recorded most of the inscriptions that were present on the Fire God Cannon after it had been altered.

Wang Baole wouldn't withhold information on changes like those, which could significantly increase the power of the strongholds. He recorded all the changes to the inscriptions that he was aware of.

However, being part of the Dharmic Armament and being knowledgeable about the Fire God Cannon, Wang Baole knew that it was challenging to make the alterations in a short time. It would require more time for experimentation before it succeeded.

As for how he would go about explaining to others his method of making the alteration successful, he felt that there was no need to go into details. All that was needed was a combination of inspiration and luck. After all, he was a Dharmic Armament cultivator and was someone who was extremely learned in inscriptions in Ethereal Dao College.

When General Zhou looked at Wang Baole after receiving the jade slip, he smiled warmly. Wang Baole had done a great deed for the stronghold and was also a disciple of Ethereal Dao College. Therefore, even if Wang Baole did not hand over the jade slip, he would have nothing to say. After all, disgraceful matters like snatching other's property were something that he, Zhou Dexi, wouldn't want to do, and wouldn't care to do.

He chatted for a while more with Wang Baole before ending the conversation. Before leaving, Wang Baole hesitated for a moment and turned to look at General Zhou. With a look of anticipation, he tried to address his queries.

"Erm… General Zhou, do you have any Foundation Establishment Beast Teeth? I need them for refining artifacts…"

General Zhou laughed upon hearing the question. He flailed his right hand, and three black Beast Teeth flew towards Wang Baole.

"Every part of the Beast King is a treasure. Since everything has to be recorded, I cannot give them to you immediately. Wait for a period of time, and I will gift you with the teeth of the Beast King. For now, I can give you these three Foundation Establishment Beast Teeth."

Seeing the Beast Teeth, Wang Baole's eyes instantly lit up. After receiving them, he bid farewell and left delightfully. After meeting up with Chen Yutong, he quickly returned with him, Zhou Penghai, and Sun Fang to Ethereal Dao College on the cruiser.

As the cruiser rose to the skies and charged into the distance, the four of them, including Wang Baole and Chen Yutong, stood on the cruiser, looking at the shrinking stronghold beneath their feet. They all were filled with different emotions, with some of them feeling sadness and unwillingness to part, while some felt other complex and bitter emotions. They each had their concerns, as even though it was not a complete change in the situation, it was similar to one.

At the same time, General Zhou also walked out of the military tent. He raised his head and looked at the cruiser which Wang Baole and company were on, staring at it for a long time as a look of appreciation gradually appeared in his eyes.

He is thoughtful and sensitive to people's emotions and the situation. He looks honest and reliable but is also decisive and ruthless. He seems to have quite a temper… Not bad, not bad indeed. This is a good seed.

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Chapter 185: Big Reward From the Dao College!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

It was a fair and beautiful day, with the Sword Sun hanging up high in the firmament!

After leaving the region of the stronghold, Chen Yutong's cruiser was charging through the skies. The mountain ranges and forests shrunk in size as they flew. As they flew passed the region, the sadness that they had experienced during the Beast Tide Battle in the stronghold also seemed to dissipate gradually.

The deceased couldn't be brought back, and the only way forward was to transform their experience in the stronghold into a ripple in their hearts that would forever be a part of their lives—a part that couldn't be erased.

Zhou Penghai and Sun Fang had both suffered severe injuries. Even though the pills helped in their recovery, they still looked pale. However, it could be visibly seen that they had become more relaxed and less uptight. They retracted their gaze from the stronghold and redirected it in the direction of Ethereal Dao College with a look of anticipation in their eyes.

The reward from the military was usually in the form of recognition and medals. The Dao College gave tangible rewards, and so did the Federation, and they did so all in one go after they recorded, checked, and calculated everything.

Their hearts filled with anticipation for their return to the Dao College, and the duo chatted softly. After experiencing the life-and-death crisis together, Sun Fang and Zhou Penghai, who were initially rather distant from each other, began to grow chummier.

Chen Yutong, on the other hand, sat beside Wang Baole, speaking with a smile on his face while patting Wang Baole's shoulder, "Junior Brother Baole, you rendered great meritorious services this time. Your name will definitely be made more prominent upon your return to the Dao College. This is especially so as we are representing the Ethereal Dao College, and the deeds that we have done this time are considered to have brought pride to the Dao College."

Listening to Chen Yutong's words, which were obviously meant to comfort him, Wang Baole took a deep breath and sorted out his emotions. He gradually began chatting heartily with Chen Yutong. The duo talked about matters regarding the Dao College, and even called Sun Fang and Zhou Penghai over for a leisurely chat.

Time passed slowly, and a few hours gradually went by. The return journey was as smooth as the departing journey. As they neared the protectorate of Ethereal City, the four of them stood up, looking at their destination—the Green Forest Lake—as it began to appear before them.

"We're home…" Zhou Penghai and Sun Fang said at the same time. They hadn't experienced that feeling before, but after the life-and-death encounter in the stronghold, a sense of familiarity surfaced in their hearts as they saw the Green Forest Lake. It was as if they were returning wanderers.

Wang Baole felt the same kind of emotions as them, and he walked towards the front of the cruiser. Riding along the winds, the cruiser didn't slow down and was like a flash of silver lightning charging directly towards the Green Forest Lake.

The cruiser's quality was one of the best that Wang Baole had seen. That was especially so as they didn't need to lift a finger to fight the remaining beasts that appeared on their journey, as their cruiser could just crash into them and chase them away.

At the same time, it could safely disregard weather changes that weren't too extreme.

As they neared, the Green Forest Lake was completely revealed before their eyes. The cruiser gradually slowed down as it passed straight through the fog surrounding the Upper Academy Island. After stopping inside the fog for a brief moment so that the array formation could verify their identities, the cruiser gradually emerged out of the fog and landed on Upper Academy Island's Public Square.

Right then, on the Public Square of the Upper Academy Island, there were already tens of people standing there. The Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, as well as the four deputy Pavilion Heads, were all present. In front of them, Chen Yutong's Master and the Dharmic Armament Pavilion Elder, who was extremely fond of Wang Baole, were also present. He had a smile on his face and was brimming with pride.

There was a middle-aged man dressed in a long red robe that was closely surrounded by all of them. He was… one of the three Deputy Sect Lords of Ethereal Dao College!

He was standing with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face, and he watched Wang Baole and company as they greeted him upon emerging from the cruiser.

Wang Baole was exhilarated, and so was Chen Yutong, Zhou Penghai, and Sun Fang. The four of them had just emerged out of the fog when they saw the high officials from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. They stepped off the cruiser and immediately greeted them.

"Greetings, Master. Greetings, Deputy Sect Lord. Greetings, all Pavilion Heads!" Chen Yutong seemed to be aware of who the red-robed middle-aged man was, and immediately greeted him loudly in an agitated manner. As he bowed deeply, he also reminded Wang Baole and company to do the same.

Deputy Sect Lord? Wang Baole was mildly taken aback. After realizing what Chen Yutong was hinting at, as well as who he was referring to, Wang Baole immediately greeted him again. Zhou Penghai and Sun Fang were even more surprised, as to them, the Deputy Sect Lord was an important character that they looked up to immensely.

"Today, all of you don't have to be so uptight and formal!" The red-robed middle-aged man laughed, before raising and waving his right hand. He helped the four of them up from their knees gently. After that, the Deputy Sect Lord from Ethereal Dao College stepped forward, patting Chen Yutong and Wang Baole's shoulder with appreciation.

"You're a good chap, not bad! You have brought glory to Ethereal Dao College this time!"

The Deputy Sect Lord appeared to be someone very straightforward in his actions. To him, Wang Baole and company had returned after experiencing near-death. Their battle in the stronghold was considered a major deed even in the military. Even though it wasn't considered the most major one when considering the first to the seventh lines of defense, the Ethereal Dao College has always been partial in their reward and punishment system since its establishment.

Therefore, he was acting according to the orders of the Sect Lord to reward the four of them, and to encourage other disciples by using the matter as an example. He even planned to have Wang Baole and company become role models to influence others. He began to speak in a cheerful tone.

"Tell me what your wishes are. If I can fulfill it, I will see it come to fruition today!"

Listening to what the Deputy Sect Lord said, Wang Baole and company's eyes lit up immediately. They were all tempted, but Chen Yutong and the other two knew clearly that Wang Baole should be given the most credit. Even though they could still voice out their wishes, they couldn't be too overboard. As such, after much thought, they replied.

Sun Fang had a simple wish. He wished for a cave abode since the number of cave abodes in Dharmic Armament Pavilion was limited. Most of the cave abodes were prepared for the Armament Soldiers, and even if one was an Armament Disciple, one wasn't given the entitlement unless he was an Armament Disciple that had as much power as Zhou Penghai, or was an eight-inch Spirit Root individual like Wang Baole.

Therefore, to Sun Fang, a cave abode was something of great importance.

Zhou Penghai, on the other hand, chose to convert his reward to bonus points for the Armament Soldier assessment, which was the most important matter to him. After all, if he were to depend on his own capabilities, he wasn't confident of successfully becoming an Armament Soldier. However, by converting the reward into bonus points, his self-confidence grew to more than seventy percent.

Chen Yutong's wish was different from the rest. He didn't want any reward. By doing so, he would receive even more benefits that would aid in his rise to become a Deputy Pavilion Head. Chen Yutong even winked to Wang Baole after voicing out his wish.

The Deputy Sect Lord smiled upon hearing the trio's wishes. After agreeing to all of them, he looked towards Wang Baole.

"What about you, Wang Baole?"

Wang Baole's thoughts were running about in his mind. He noticed Chen Yutong's wink and knew that he was hinting to tell him that not wanting anything would perhaps grant him with a bigger reward. He had wanted to do so but suddenly thought about the stories in the high official autobiographies. He blinked his eyes, thinking about how prominent the Deputy Sect Lord in front of him was. Every word someone like him said would definitely catch the attention of others.

That was especially so as he was about to take part in the Armament Soldier Assessment, which was something of major importance to him. If the Deputy Sect Lord could put in a few good words for him, his attempt in the Armament Soldier Assessment would definitely be smooth sailing. With that thought, Wang Baole began to speak, as if he was testing the waters.

"Deputy Sect Lord, I do not know what reward to wish for. Right now, my greatest desire is to become an Armament Soldier, but matters like these cannot be exchanged using a reward."

Upon hearing his words, the Deputy Sect Lord raised his eyebrows. With a slight smile, he sized up Wang Baole before falling silent. He turned back to look at the Pavilion Head and company and said, "This sly fella… Based on his capabilities, I'm sure all of you know that he didn't need to exchange the reward for the title of an Armament Soldier. It is definitely within his reach!"

The Dharmic Armament Pavilion Head and others all revealed a smile on their faces and immediately agreed with the Deputy Sect Lord's words. However, they were all secretly surprised as they stole several glances at Wang Baole. Wang Baole's words didn't directly imply that he wanted to exchange the reward for the status of an Armament Soldier, but he had managed to use the opportunity to express his wishes. The Deputy Sect Lord went with the flow, and through that, not only did Wang Baole not waste his reward, he also gained internal confirmation of his future status as an Armament Soldier to a certain extent.

That simple sentence revealed his intelligence. It wasn't simple and didn't make others feel disgusted about him either, which made it even more valuable.

Chen Yutong's Master, the Elder from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, smiled even wider.

Seeing that everything was going according to plan, Wang Baole was exhilarated. He bowed deeply towards the Deputy Sect Lord with cupped fists, and when he raised his head, he inhaled deeply and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Deputy Sect Lord! I don't know what kind of request is most suitable as of now and would need your guidance. I will listen to all your orders!"

The moment Wang Baole spoke, Chen Yutong opened his eyes wide. As the group from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion looked towards Wang Baole, they were even more surprised than before.

In reality, Wang Baole's choice was far superior compared to Chen Yutong's choice of not wanting any rewards. What he did allowed him to build a closer relationship with the Deputy Sect Lord…

"Interesting." The Deputy Sect Lord looked at Wang Baole with a meaningful glance. From his eyes, it could be seen that he was in deep thought. After a moment, he smiled slightly, having already made a decision.

"Having been in Ethereal Dao College all these years, I have received close to a hundred pieces of fragments from the heavens. All of them are unique and incredibly valuable, and they can be used even by True Breaths. Even at the Foundation Establishment or Core Formation stage, they are still usable with formidable powers!

"Now, there are less than twenty types of them left in the Dao College. I remember that one of the heritages is related to Dharmic Armament, and is named Heated Burst!

"Would you accept it?"

Hearing the Deputy Sect Lord's words, the people from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion were all taken aback. The four Deputy Pavilion Heads from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion had their eyes wide in shock, and even the Pavilion Head trembled. They were in disbelief, their feelings of envy about to overflow in their hearts. It seemed like the Deputy Sect Lord's decision had far exceeded their expectations.

The Heated Burst technique was something that even they had strongly desired. However, they were unable to possess it, as the heritages were different from the Array Runes Pavilion's Lightning Domain.

Even though the five Lightning technique heritage from the Lightning Domain were also extremely powerful, they could be mastered by many people. Unique techniques like the Heated Burst, once mastered, could be considered a special talent instead. It was extremely special, being recorded on a fragment. Once someone imprinted it, it would be erased from the fragment and cease to exist, making it difficult for others to master it again!

That was what made it unique and one of a kind!

Even Chen Yutong's Master revealed a look of surprise in his eyes. To everyone in Ethereal Dao College, the value of the heritage mystic techniques made them envious.

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Chapter 186: Heated Burst

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The unique mystic technique would cause the item to disappear once used. Based on Ethereal Dao College's tradition, unless someone had contributed a significant deed, it was extremely challenging to possess it, since only close to a hundred of them had been obtained over the years.

Even if the contributions that Wang Baole had made previously in the Spirit Breath Village were taken into account, to be granted the heritage of the unique mystic technique was still a stretch. If Wang Baole chose to give it all to the Dao College, it would still be possible for it to happen, but if not, he shouldn't even think about it.

Zhou Penghai and Sun Fang were somewhat confused. They didn't know much about the mystic technique, but Chen Yutong had heard something about it previously. His eyes were wide open as he looked at Wang Baole while holding his breath. He was extremely envious and shocked.

Even Wang Baole was slightly dumbfounded. He didn't understand how valuable the mystic technique really was, but had managed to obtain an indication of its value from the changes in others' facial expressions. Still shocked and bewildered, Chen Yutong's Master took a deep breath and ordered Wang Baole immediately.

"Baole, thank the Deputy Sect Lord now!"

Having heard the elder's words, Wang Baole didn't hesitate. His heart raced as he immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Thank you, Deputy Sect Lord!"

The red-robed middle-aged man smiled and chatted with Wang Baole and company before leaving. When he left, the Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion Head stepped forward and praised them as well. However, his tone was more formal and less amiable than that of the Deputy Sect Lord.

However, something rare happened at that time as the Dharmic Armament Pavilion also rewarded Wang Baole in the form of a cruiser. It was silver in color, making it look like a water droplet. The moment it was revealed, it immediately caught Wang Baole's eyes, such that he was instantly attracted to it the moment he saw it.

It seemed like the silver-colored droplet-like cruiser was more advanced than that of Chen Yutong's, and of better quality. It was also extremely cool, making Chen Yutong feel envious upon seeing it as he laughed bitterly. He knew that the Dharmic Armament Pavilion had spent a lot on it.

"Junior Brother Baole, this cruiser can be considered one that is specially granted to someone of the rank of a Deputy Pavilion Head. The cost of any one of these would allow one to purchase an apartment in Ethereal City's most luxurious district."

After realizing the price of the cruiser, Wang Baole was extremely excited, and he immediately conveyed his gratitude. When the Dharmic Armament Pavilion Head and company had left, Chen Yutong's Master, who stayed behind, gave Wang Baole an overview of what exactly the mystic technique was!

As he listened to the elder's words, Wang Baole's eyes widened with shock. He felt that everything had happened too suddenly. He immediately realized how valuable the mystic technique was after hearing about it. It was difficult to estimate the worth of everything, even if he were to disregard the value of the cruiser.

The mystic technique that is recorded on a piece of fragment can only be inherited once. Once inherited, it will turn into dust… Wang Baole was agitated with excitement. Even after he returned to his cave abode in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, his emotions and thoughts hadn't normalized.

According to principles, I shouldn't be rewarded so generously… Very quickly, Wang Baole realized that something was amiss. In his bewilderment and constant thought about the issue, he noticed that in the days that followed, there was an unprecedented widespread announcement of their encounters in the stronghold on the Upper Academy Island.

Even the rewards that were given formed part of the announcement. That immediately attracted heated debate on the entire Upper Academy Island, and even Liu Daobin sent him a voice transmission. Wang Baole instantly came to know that the entire incident was being announced, even on the Lower Academy Island.

Is this to set an example? Wang Baole had some guesses, which made him more excited. He felt that the Dao College had a good eye for talent. He sat, munching on his snacks while browsing the Spirit Intranet to take a look at the discussions.

Ethereal Dao College announced all the contributions that Wang Baole and company had made in the stronghold. They made all of them heroes, and Wang Baole was made the center of attention. As a result, Wang Baole's name became the focal point of everyone's discussion on the Upper Academy Island again after the announcement was made.

As commotion spread throughout the entire Dao College, Wang Baole also tried out the droplet cruiser. Its speed was extremely fast, surpassing that of Chen Yutong's cruiser, and it was equipped with a level of combat power that wasn't to be belittled. As Wang Baole was filled with pleasant surprise, he grew even more excited in anticipation of the mystic technique that would be even better than the cruiser.

That anticipation didn't last long, as several days later, Wang Baole received the mystic technique reward from the Deputy Sect Lord!

It was a crimson red fragment the size of a fingernail, kept in an elegant box made of jade. By examining the box, Wang Baole deduced that it was probably made of Rainbow Spirit Stones in its interior, and covered with jade on the exterior. The mere realization that he had never seen anything like that before made Wang Baole shocked.

This box is already very valuable! Wang Baole's delight was apparent. He opened it up to take a look at the crimson red fragment, and extremely concentrated waves of Spirit Qi wafted continuously from the fragment towards him.

The Spirit Qi carried heat waves as if there was an invisible Heat Spirit situated within it, noiselessly roaring and filling Wang Baole with exhilaration. His entire body tensed up, and his breathing quickened.

There are many kinds of outer space fragments. Some can be directly absorbed into the body, while some could be loaned for use, like those in the Spirit Breath Village. There are some which are like the one I'm holding in my hand right now. Even though they cannot be absorbed, one can feel a vibe that seems to be like an imprint of an awakened state. Wang Baole chanted the information given to him by Chen Yutong's master in his mind. Wang Baole wasn't clear about it at first, but after seeing it with his eyes and feeling the waves of heat emanating from it, he suddenly gained enlightenment.

After a while, Wang Baole took a deep breath. He hesitated for a moment but eventually revealed a look of determination in his eyes as he raised his right hand and immediately pressed it on the fragment—just like Chen Yutong's master had taught him.

The instant his hand touched the fragment, scorching heat began spreading from his fingertips but stopped suddenly, as if waiting for something to happen.

Wang Baole held his breath. At that instant, his cultivation was being activated within his body. As it activated, the scorching heat that had stopped began to erupt, spreading throughout his body from his hands, eventually flowing completely into his head.

Wang Baole's body trembled violently, and his mind immediately buzzed as he instantly lost control of his body and his consciousness.

A while later, as Wang Baole's consciousness recovered, he had forgotten everything—including who he was. The only sensation that remained was that he had transformed into a ball of fire. The world before him was also transforming, and he saw… a hurricane made of fire!

The fire hurricane erupted towards the sky, destroying everything as it swept everything before its eyes. It covered everything and took over his heart and soul.

Days passed. After half a month, Wang Baole sat motionlessly in the cave abode with his legs crossed. There was a crimson red mark between his eyebrows, moving slowly. As it moved, his body trembled, and he opened his eyes slowly, looking confused.

The confusion didn't last long. He slowly regained consciousness, and minutes later, as the blurriness faded, Wang Baole's body tensed up as his breathing quickened. With the complete recovery of his consciousness, he opened his eyes wide as he exhaled deeply.

It feels like a dream… Wang Baole normalized his quickened breathing and lowered his head to look at the box before him. He realized that the fragment that he seemed to have just touched had already become ash. Experiencing all the changes, he raised his head immediately to look at the time, and he realized that he had lost consciousness for half a month. A torrent of thoughts and emotions ran through him.

It was also at that moment that he experienced a sharp pain between his eyebrows. He couldn't feel anything with his hands and proceeded to check it out with a mirror. What he saw shocked him, and he stood up immediately.

This is… Wang Baole was unable to remain calm. He held his breath as he looked at the fire mark that was slowly fading between his eyebrows. After a brief moment, Wang Baole raised his hands and began chanting in his heart according to the method that Chen Yutong's Master had taught him previously.

Fire!

In that instant, a crimson red ball of fire appeared in Wang Baole's palms. Even though it burned strongly, Wang Baole was unable to sense any pain. In his agitation, he raised his right hand and flailed it strongly. Immediately, a miniature sea of fire erupted before him. The heat wave instantly spread throughout the entire cave abode, such that the array formation on the surrounding rock walls showed signs of being scorched.

In his excitement, Wang Baole immediately stopped whatever he was doing. With his will, the surrounding Sea of Fire was instantly retracted back into his right hand at lightning speed.

This is the mystic technique… Heated Burst? Wang Baole was extremely agitated. After circling the cave abode several times, he left as he planned to look for a place outside to test out the force of the mystic technique.

However, just as Wang Baole walked out of his cave abode—prepared to find somewhere to test out the Heated Burst mystic technique—he suddenly received Chen Yutong's voice transmission. The other party sounded urgent, unable to hide his agitation and exhilaration. After Wang Baole switched on his voice transmission ring, he could hear the excitement clearly.

"Junior Brother Baole, something wondrous has happened to our lineage!"

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Chapter 187: Significant Increase in Power

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Something wondrous? Wang Baole, who was planning to test out the force of his Heated Burst technique, blinked several times after hearing Chen Yutong's words. Slightly confused, he stopped in his tracks and looked at the voice transmission ring.

Before he could ask, Chen Yutong's voice, which carried a clear sense of excitement, flowed from the voice transmission ring.

"Grandmaster Jiang Zhengde… The Elder has achieved a breakthrough in the early-stage of Core Formation realm and has officially advanced into the mid-stage Core Formation realm. His position has been elevated, and he is being promoted to Ethereal Dao College's Deputy Sect Lord from his previous position as the Dharmic Armament Pavilion's Grand Elder!"

"There were only three Deputy Sect Lords in Ethereal Dao College, but there are four now! Junior Brother Baole, good days have finally arrived for us!" Chen Yutong's voice carried a sense of extreme excitement, such that his rapid breathing sounds could be clearly heard from the voice transmission. His exhilaration was apparent.

Compared to Chen Yutong's agitation, Wang Baole was confused. He had spent some time to truly discover the Heated Burst mystic technique, and his thoughts had seeped deeply into it as if he was in seclusion. He didn't know what happened in the Dao College during that time. As for the clan that Chen Yutong mentioned, even though Wang Baole had some basic understanding of it, he wasn't entirely clear what it was.

Hearing the name "Grandmaster Zhou Zhengde" from Chen Yutong, Wang Baole had to inquire more about it as the name sounded foreign.

"Grandmaster?"

Upon hearing Wang Baole's tone, Chen Yutong immediately understood Wang Baole's confusion. He laughed and began to clarify the matter.

"Junior Brother Baole, the old Grandmaster has two disciples. One of them is Chancellor Lu of the Lower Academy Island, also known as Uncle-Master Lu Yunkun, while the other one is my master, Sun Yifeng!"

"When you gained admission to the Upper Academy Island then, Uncle-Master Lu had already made the necessary formalities. Master has also planned to accept you as his disciple for a long while now. However, it happened that your significant contribution to the Dao College, while you were in the Spirit Breath Village, attracted the attention of many, and that Grandmaster also entered seclusion during that time. The delay occurred because your acceptance is a major event that requires proper procedures to be carried out."

"Now that Grandmaster has emerged out of seclusion and is being promoted to the position of Deputy Sect Lord, you can formally approach him as your master when everything stabilizes," Chen Yutong explained cheerfully.

Wang Baole widened his eyes, as even though the entire matter matched what he had expected, hearing the news himself reminded him of the clan lines mentioned in the high officials' autobiographies. He grew uncontrollably agitated, and his mind also became active. He immediately realized where the crux lay, and hurriedly spoke.

"Senior Brother Chen, since Grandmaster has been promoted to the position of Deputy Sect Lord from his previous post as the Grand Elder of Dharmic Armament Pavilion, doesn't that mean that the seat for Dharmic Armament pavilion's Grand Elder is now empty? Who will replace him?"

Wang Baole's question made Chen Yutong satisfied with his attention towards details. Therefore, with a deep voice, he answered quickly. "Junior Brother Baole, when Grandmaster was promoted to Deputy Sect Lord, he recommended to the Sect Lord that Master is suitable to take over his position of Grand Elder!"

As he listened, thoughts darted in Wang Baole's mind. He immediately realized that if that was really the case, it meant that their lineage, especially within the Dharmic Armament Pavilion of Ethereal Dao College, would become extremely powerful.

There was the Deputy Sect Lord Grandmaster at the top, Dharmic Armament Pavilion's Grand Elder next, and the entire Lower Academy Island… A combination like that would certainly help make him and Chen Yutong even more prominent!

With that thought, Wang Baole excitedly took in a deep breath. Scenes of battle depicted in the high officials' autobiographies immediately surfaced in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more exhilarated he was, as he felt that he had finally become part of the core of Ethereal Dao College's authority and that he was no longer an ordinary person.

"However, there are still some uncertainties in this matter. After all, other Elders of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion are also vying for the position that has been made vacant. In the days that follow, there will definitely be competition!"

"Regardless of that, since this matter has the support of the Grandmaster, who is a powerful pushing force, the chances of succeeding would at least be eighty percent, if not a hundred percent!" Chen Yutong sounded relaxed, and it was apparent that he had complete faith in the capabilities of the Grandmaster.

He chatted further with Wang Baole and slowly calmed down after sharing his excitement with him. He took a deep breath and spoke sincerely to Wang Baole.

"Junior Brother Baole, if everything goes well, when Master becomes the Grand Elder of Dharmic Armament Pavilion, there will be no one preventing me from being promoted to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion!"

"Therefore, Junior Brother Baole, you must work hard and become an Armament Soldier soon! Until then, when Master becomes the Grand Elder, he could plan things out such that the chance for you to be in charge of the College Administrative Department would be high!"

"This is a precious opportunity. Baole; if you succeed, it is possible that you would have the opportunity to become the Deputy Pavilion Head after a few years… This way, us brothers would have a significant say in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, and even significant authority!"

Listening to Chen Yutong's calm yet optimistic words, Wang Baole was in high spirits, and wonderful thoughts flowed in his mind. He was excited with anticipation and immediately spoke.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother Chen! In reality, I can go for the Armament Soldier assessment now, but I want to be more prepared so that I will have greater chances of succeeding in it," Wang Baole said. Chen Yutong laughed happily, agreeing with what Wang Baole said.

"The Armament Soldier assessment is divided into a major and minor assessment, both of which require registration. Even though passing either of them allows you to be promoted to an Armament Soldier, there are still some differences between them."

"The minor assessment takes place once every month, and one can take part in it as long as registration is made. The Deputy Pavilion Head will supervise. As for the major assessment, it is scheduled to happen only once a year. Not only does it require registration beforehand, but you will also have many competitors. All the Deputy Pavilion Heads and Pavilion Heads will supervise. Obviously, it is a more significant event than the minor assessment. Therefore, the promotion and position granted in the future would also be completely different from that of the minor assessment."

"At the same time, those who dare to enter the major Armament Soldier assessment must all be very confident. People aren't competing merely to be promoted, but to have a position in the rankings and be number one!"

"Baole, there are still over three months until this year's major Armament Soldier assessment. If your preparation is almost complete, then you shouldn't waste this opportunity. However, don't give yourself too much pressure either. Once Master becomes the Grand Elder, everything will be negotiable!"

After telling Wang Baole the details of the Armament Soldier assessment, Chen Yutong ended the voice transmission. Putting down the voice transmission ring, Wang Baole stood outside his cave abode, full of optimism for the future.

That was especially so when he thought of his opportunity to be in charge of the College Administrative Department once Chen Yutong's Master became the Grand Elder, and once he was promoted to an Armament Soldier himself. His heart beat furiously, and a determined glow emerged from his eyes.

Three months… that should be sufficient! After some planning, Wang Baole took a few determined strides back into his cave abode, before opening up the Spirit Intranet to register for the major Armament Soldier assessment that would happen three months later.

He stepped out of the cave abode after completing the registration. Stepping into open ground, he was agitated with exhilaration. He raised his right hand and waved, and a small Sea of Fire immediately emerged from his hand, sweeping a radius of thirty feet around him, forming a flame hurricane.

The heat wave spread and burn marks appeared on the ground. Wang Baole was in high spirits but also felt that Spirit Qi was rapidly being depleted. He tried for a while, before hurriedly retracting the sea of fire.

If I unleash all the power, I can only last the time of approximately thirty breaths…Even though it wasn't a long duration, Wang Baole was already very satisfied. He happily returned to his cave abode and took out a bag of snacks and munched on them.

After a while, having finished seven bags of snacks, he rubbed his belly and began thinking about the Numinous Treasure that he would use for the Armament Soldier assessment.

"I had planned to make a Dragon Tooth for the assessment and had prepared many teeth, especially Foundation Establishment Teeth; however…" Wang Baole mumbled to himself, and a peculiar glow flashed across his eyes. As someone well-versed in high official autobiographies, he knew clearly that gaining the recognition of his superiors only won him half the battle. He also had to fight for himself and showcase his capabilities so that he could succeed.

Therefore, he couldn't pin all his hopes on Chen Yutong's master being successfully promoted to the position of Grand Elder. He needed to work hard himself, making sufficient preparation so that he could emerge first, instead of simply being promoted to an Armament Soldier!

That way, even if something untoward were to happen during Chen Yutong's master's promotion, he would still have brilliant results that would allow him to fight for the position he wanted!

It was just that it didn't seem enough to use the Dragon Tooth as the Numinous Treasure for the assessment. After all, even though the Dragon Tooth was powerful, it depended heavily on forging materials, even more so than its inscriptions. That factor would easily be pointed out by others and affect his ranking.

After a moment of silence, a glow flashed across Wang Baole's eyes, and a bold idea appeared in his mind…

In reality, after returning from the stronghold, a fuzzy thought has floated in his mind. The more he thought about it, the clearer the thought seemed.

"Is it possible to create a mini Fire God Cannon?" After a moment, Wang Baole mumbled softly to himself. As the thought cleared and circulated continuously within his mind, Wang Baole grew even more tempted.

If I can create a mini third-grade Numinous Treasure Fire God Cannon, then… I will definitely be able to eliminate everything and everyone during the major Armament Soldier assessment. Then, who else would be first but me?

With that thought, Wang Baole's heart pounded rapidly. Inscriptions within the Fire God Cannon surfaced in his mind, including the hidden ones that would appear on it after being unlocked by the Armament Sand. Sensing the inscriptions, Wang Baole had a strong gut feeling.

I… I can create a mini Fire God Cannon!

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Chapter 188: Request to Be Electrocuted

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Three months is neither long nor short… I must make good use of it! Wang Baole sat cross-legged in the cave abode. After planning out the inscriptions for the Fire God Cannon in detail, a look of determination appeared on his face.

I'll choose the Fire God Cannon then! Wang Baole took a deep breath and immediately took out the jade slip. He began to structure the inscriptions for the miniature Fire God Cannon. Even though he had a reference, it was an improvisation after all, and still posed some challenges.

Thankfully, Wang Baole had a deep understanding of the inscriptions for the Fire God Cannon. Having gone through the battle in the stronghold previously, he had made many improvisations to the Fire God Cannon, allowing him to familiarize himself with every single part within it.

The Fire God Cannon that I make cannot be too small… If not, it won't have enough force, and would be challenging to assemble… Wang Baole scratched his head and was deep in thought as he began to adjust his plans.

I cannot overthink the Fire God Cannon either. What I need to do is to treat it as an original, and boost its inscriptions…

Time flew, and three days passed.

In those three days, Wang Baole sacrificed his sleep and meals as he endlessly structured and remodeled it. Finally, he managed to completely outline the ideal Fire God Cannon that he was about to make in his mind.

From its appearance, it looked vastly different from the Fire God Cannon. To put it more accurately, it looked more like a rocket.

Looking at the blueprint that he had drawn on the jade slip, Wang Baole was satisfied. He began to plan out the inscriptions according to his blueprint and the power he wished to bestow to it. Different creative thoughts emerged continuously, colliding and create sparks in his mind.

Several days passed, and Wang Baole, who was fully immersed in the improvisation of the Fire God Cannon, finally ended the planning for the inscriptions. He looked visibly fatigued.

Considering just the inscriptions alone, he had referenced the inscriptions on the Fire God Cannon and planned out over a million inscriptions. His level of cultivation and understanding of the Dharmic Armament didn't allow him to put all the inscriptions he had planned onto a single Numinous Treasure.

I will need to assemble seventy-eight Numinous Treasures to complete the structure… Wang Baole rubbed his glabella and took out a bottle of Ice Spirit Water. After gulping it down and taking a short break, he got to work again.

He spent the most time on that stage. He needed to strictly follow the requirements he had set out to create seventy-eight Numinous Treasures that were different in appearance, inscriptions, and function.

Furthermore, there couldn't be any mistakes, as everything had to match his blueprint perfectly so that the Numinous Treasures could have the perfect distribution of the million inscriptions. That way, when they were assembled, they could complement each other and function perfectly.

Everything had to be restarted should there be a failure at any point, since it was crucial to ensure that no mistakes were made. Just like that, after being immersed in the refinement process for a month, Wang Baole emerged, agitated and excited as he had finally completed every single one of the seventy-eight Numinous Treasures.

Even though Wang Baole wasn't completely satisfied with every one of them, considering his level of knowledge, it was the best that he could do. Even the Numinous Treasures that he had made previously weren't as demanding in terms of the amount of concentration and effort needed to produce that batch of Numinous Treasures.

In the month that passed, he was so focused on the improvised structure for the Fire God Cannon that he had forgotten all about his snacks.

The next step will be the most difficult step of assembling everything… Looking at the Numinous Treasures before him, Wang Baole took a deep breath to calm his agitation. He understood that assembling the Numinous Treasures wasn't as simple as putting together pieces of wooden blocks. Instead, they could only be integrated under the control of spirit energy during the refinement process.

That was extremely challenging and shockingly demanding on one's spirit energy and focus. Therefore, Wang Baole only began the assembly process after taking a day's break.

Even though Wang Baole had predicted the level of difficulty in assembling all the Numinous Treasures, he still found it challenging and experienced many instances of failure. That was especially so on the fifth day when the prototype of the Fire God Cannon before Wang Baole suddenly exploded after a loud boom emerged.

Wang Baole managed to protect himself from the impact using the protective covering provided by a Golden Bell Bead. However, looking at the Numinous Treasures that had broken into pieces, Wang Baole was on the brink of tears as he dejectedly pulled his hair hard.

My cultivation is insufficient! A look of stubbornness was apparent from Wang Baole's eyes. After experiencing those failures, he had realized that the assembly of Numinous Treasures required precise control of spirit energy in many aspects. Therefore, as soon as his spirit energy was unable to keep up with the pace of refinement, degradation and retardation would result, causing the assembly process to fail.

Even though Wang Baole surpassed other second level True Breath disciples, he was still unable to complete the assembly in one go. His thoughts darted around as he paced the cave abode, before suddenly stopping in his tracks.

I can only succeed in assembling the Numinous Treasure if I become a third level True Breath! With that thought, Wang Baole gritted his teeth as he planned to purchase more pills. He suddenly lowered his head to look at his stomach, and a bewildered look appeared in his eyes as he stroked it with his hands.

The effectiveness of those pills is probably nothing compared to the crystal in my stomach… Every time my cultivation is activated, some part of the crystal would be absorbed. However, it is still too slow. If the rate of absorption can be increased, I will definitely be able to achieve a breakthrough in my cultivation! Slapping his stomach, Wang Baole immediately sat down with his legs crossed and took out the Numinous Treasure that had the effect of deceiving one's mind, which was given to him by Chen Yutong.

Without hesitation, Wang Baole immediately put the Numinous Treasure on his head and began to give out orders.

"I am heavily injured, and I need nutrients…" As Wang Baole completed his sentence, the helmet-like Numinous Treasure vibrated. A current appeared to reach into his head, but that was it. There wasn't any further reaction.

Wang Baole waited for a short while and was beginning to feel troubled. He tried different commands, including that of hunger and running, and realized that everything had failed. He then stared with his eyes wide, as he felt like he needed to give out a more substantial command.

"I am pregnant again!" The moment he said it, the current from the Numinous Treasure seemed to grow in magnitude. However, even before Wang Baole could feel delighted, the current lost its effects after it entered his head.

That made Wang Baole dumbfounded.

Could it be that I have deceived my mind too many times, such that it has developed resistance and no longer believes me? Thinking of that possibility, Wang Baole exhaled deeply, shocked at his guess. While incredulous at the thought, he was also inevitably embarrassed. After all, the fact that his own mind didn't believe him seemed bizarre.

This won't do… Wang Baole was frustrated. He opened up the Spirit Intranet to look at the pills on sale. However, after browsing for a long time, he still hadn't found one that not only had no side effects but could also allow him to achieve a breakthrough in a short period of time.

A majority of the pills were milder ones that required long term consumption to increase one's level of cultivation. The pills that Wang Baole needed existed, but were something that would only come about with luck, and couldn't be forcefully attained.

Considering that it was less than two months to the major Armament Soldier assessment, Wang Baole grew anxious. He even contacted Bunny and Du Min, but Bunny didn't reply as she seemed to still be in seclusion. Du Min replied but immediately told Wang Baole that she didn't have any of the pills he needed.

Just as Wang Baole considered asking Chen Yutong about it, he suddenly remembered that when he was in the stronghold plucking the teeth of the beasts, he was electrocuted once, and that caused the crystal to break apart slightly.

With that thought, Wang Baole's eyes suddenly lit up. He immediately retrieved his Hallucination Pillow and entered the Hallucination realm. He searched for Little Missy and expressed his wish to be electrocuted…

Little Missy was confused and incredulous at the request but still electrocuted him…

However, despite being shocked several times and screaming in pain each time, Wang Baole soon realized dejectedly that everything was futile.

This isn't right… Could it be that the electrocution in the Hallucination realm is ineffective and that only those that happened in real life work? Wang Baole was upset and frustrated. He felt that carrying on that path would lead to his failure and death. However, when he thought about the Armament Soldier assessment and the position of being the person in charge of the College Administrative Department, he decided to give it a try by finding an electrical cable on Lower Academy Island.

However, just at that time, Little Missy from the mask gave Wang Baole a suggestion.

"Perhaps you can try to use this imaginary force of lightning… This type of lightning encompasses some laws that make it even more unique than the electricity that you can create!"

Lightning? Wang Baole was momentarily frozen in thought. After leaving the Hallucination realm, he thought for a moment, and recalled that the Chancellor of the Lower Academy Island had previously said that there was a Lightning Domain mystic realm that was accessible to all disciples of the Upper Academy Island!

Even though Wang Baole had never been to the Lightning Domain mystic realm since becoming a disciple on the Upper Academy Island, he had read other people's discussions about it on the Spirit Intranet. He knew that the so-called mystic realm was actually a perfectly preserved piece of fragment from the ancient greenish-bronze sword.

The fragment was buried and encompassed a bolt of lightning inherited from the ancient greenish-bronze sword. The inheritance was split into five parts, each representing the five different spells and mystic techniques.

These five spells are Flash Arc, Electromagnetic Pulse, Instant Sword, Explosive Dragon, and… Hell Sea! Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and mumbled inwardly. He knew that if one could master all five spells and integrate them, they would attain the complete inheritance.

That form of complete inheritance was remarkably similar to the extremely terrible climate within the Federation. It was called… Electromagnetism Burst!

After analyzing everything in his mind, a look of determination flashed across Wang Baole's eyes. He knew that he had no time to lose, as he had to break through the second level of the True Breath stage as soon as possible and advance into the third level.

That way, he could successfully assemble the seventy-eight Numinous Treasures to create his improvised Fire God Cannon for the Armament Soldier assessment!

I probably won't die from this! Erasing any traces of hesitation, Wang Baole decisively left the cave abode. He took out his water droplet cruiser and charged out of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion towards the Array Runes Pavilion.

The droplet cruiser traveled at breathtaking speed. Before long, Wang Baole had reached the Array Runes Pavilion, heading straight towards the Lightning Domain mystic realm.

The Lightning Domain mystic realm was located in a small hill on the Array Runes Pavilion. There were seven to eight humongous pieces of green stones erected there, and a circular spell array lay in its center.

As that place was open to everyone, no one stood guard. After registering, anyone could enter to look for an opportunity, and could also make use of the force of the array formation for protection. As soon as a disciple met with danger inside it, they could be instantly sent back.

It was already dusk when Wang Baole arrived. Even though there were still some people in the Lightning Domain mystic realm, it was few and far between. Without further ado, Wang Baole registered himself when he arrived and stepped directly into the array formation. His vision blurred immediately, and when it cleared up, he had appeared in another realm.

It was pure darkness in that place. There was a tall pagoda erected on the ground that seemed to be made of gold. Like the tip of a sword, there were over a thousand of such pagodas on the ground when one looked from afar. There were also pulses of roaring thunder erupting in the sky. When one raised his head, he could also see that in the layers of clouds in the dark, lightning flashed irregularly and crazily, one after another.

Sometimes, the lightning landed and struck the tall pagodas on the ground, causing them to vibrate. Looking from afar, the lightning flashes that landed were like a lightning dragon, extremely frightening as it seemed like Heavenly Tribulation.

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Chapter 189: The Baole Cannon

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The sight stunned Wang Baole, sending him into a daze. That was his first time here, and he was shaken by the strangeness of the place. He noticed the silhouette of a cultivator perched on each of the surrounding seven to eight towering pagodas; they were all disciples from the Upper Academy Island who were there seeking advancement in their cultivation.

Lightning flashed, and thunder resounded. The seven to eight people fought back to various degrees. A few withstood the onslaught while others, under the force of the assault, immediately activated the teleportation device and fled the place.

So brutal! Wang Baole's eyelids twitched fiercely. He hesitated, then gritted his teeth. He ignored the people around him and, with a sudden sway of his body, leaped onto one of the nearby pagodas. Standing atop the highest point, he raised his head and looked towards the heavens.

There are in total forty lightning bolts… each strike is stronger than the previous one. For every eight lightning bolts one withstands, he'll be able to unravel a mystic technique from within the lightning! The brief description he had read on the Spirit Intranet appeared in Wang Baole's mind. He sucked in a deep breath and circulated his cultivation.

It was then that thunder howled in the heavens. A stray bolt of lightning that had been traveling the skies suddenly swerved and tore itself loose. With startling speed, and an intent to destroy everything, it descended; Its target… Wang Baole!

It was too quick. Just as Wang Baole caught sight of it, the lightning bolt, like a huge arc of electricity, struck—landing directly on Wang Baole.

A thundering roar resounded in the air. Wang Baole's eyes widened in an instant, and his body shook uncontrollably as he heard buzzing in his head. The lightning bolt was like a golden snake spirit, passing through him instantaneously and wandering within his body without rest. It agitated the Spirit Qi crystal, sending it into tremors and causing its rapid breakdown!

It's working! Wang Baole was thrilled. His body trembled, his hair started to stand, and his eyes were wide open; he was electrified.

The lightning was powerful but tolerable to Wang Baole, who was frequently electrocuted in the hallucination realm. He found himself caring less about the pain, especially after feeling the crystal breaking down.

As the crystal broke up under the assailing lightning, considerable Spirit Qi spread out, immediately filling Wang Baole's entire body. It surged through his meridians and the streams of Spirit Qi, and gradually broadening the streams into wide rivers.

As the crystal broke up and released Spirit Qi, Wang Baole's physical body, under the lightning bolt's stimulation, began to absorb the Spirit Qi for nourishment. His physical body started to strengthen at the same time.

That drove Wang Baole into further excitement and glee, and his breath quickened. He lifted his head to the skies abruptly, his finger pointing heavenward in a hook, baiting.

"Strike again, if you dare!"

His words rang out. A few of the surrounding disciples withstanding the thunder strikes heard him and looked over, startled. They couldn't spare further attention on him though, quickly refocused on resisting their own lightning bolts.

Soon, as lightning descended, crashing, Wang Baole received his second lightning bolt. It was multiple folds stronger than the first wave, landing a straight hit on him.

Wang Baole's body shook. He felt the breaking up of his crystal and was thrilled, enduring the agonizing pain stubbornly. Gradually, the third bolt and the fourth, descended, one after another.

The sensation of the lightning bolt traveling through his body was akin to a knife scraping inside him. The pain intensified as the lightning bolts grew more powerful.

When the fourth lightning bolt landed, Wang Baole could take it no longer. Despite his thick skin and thicker flesh, and his brimming Spirit Qi, he gave up and teleported out of the Lightning Domain mystic realm. He returned to his cave abode, sat down cross-legged, activated his skills, and immersed fully in absorbing the Spirit Qi released from his crystal.

A few days passed. Wang Baole brimmed with energy and could feel the tremendous leap in his cultivation levels. Invigorated and in high spirits, he headed for the Lightning Domain mystic realm again.

Day after day passed in that manner. The cycle repeated itself as Wang Baole continued challenging the Lightning Domain mystic realm, often withstanding a few bolts of lightning and breaking up his crystal further. He would hold on until he reached the limits of his tolerance before returning hastily to absorb the released Spirit Qi.

Gradually, as his cultivation level heightened and physical body strengthened, the intensity of the thunderbolts he suffered grew stronger. The number of bolts he could withstand crept steadily from five to six, then to seven!

His presence in the Lightning Domain mystic realm started to draw attention. Indeed, to many, Wang Baole's resistance of six, even seven thunderbolts, was a feat of astounding proportions.

After all, most of them could only withstand two, at most three, lightning strikes, and they wouldn't attempt a second round until quite some time had passed; however, the time between Wang Baole's visits, from the initial three to four days, shortened until he was frequenting almost every day…

Everyone who witnessed that was incredulous.

"Why is he coming every day?"

"How does his body take it?"

"Look at the strange expression on his face. It's like… damn it, why does it feel like he's enjoying himself!"

Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Wang Baole indeed was growing more and more comfortable. Especially at the end, as the lightning intensified. Although the pain persisted, it was eased by the Spirit Qi released from the breaking up of the crystal. The advancement of his cultivation also energized him and increasingly strengthened his immunity against the thunderbolts.

The cycle repeated itself over the course of the month. Finally, the day arrived when Wang Baole withstood seven consecutive lightning bolts. The crystal inside him quaked and unleashed a surge of Spirit Qi, pushing his cultivation straight into the next level!

From the second tier of the True Breath realm, it broke through and reached the third tier!

As his cultivation broke through, the Spirit Qi laying within the meridians inside Wang Baole's body morphed from slivers of streams into wide river channels. They surged in a torrent and coursed through his body, and his spirit energy surged. He didn't choose to teleport away; instead, with an eager glint in his eyes, Wang Baole awaited… the eighth incoming bolt of lightning!

The eighth lightning bolt stood apart from the rest. A tinge of crimson colored it. When it landed, shocked gasps arose from the disciples who had been cultivation in the area. They watched as the crimson-tinted lightning rushed through the heavens and crashed directly into Wang Baole.

Wang Baole's body spasmed. It felt as if his body was on the verge of being torn apart, and he felt the extensive breaking up of the crystal in his body. In the same instant, techniques describing how one could wield the lightning appeared in his mind.

It was as if those lightning-wielding techniques were seared directly into his body, and branded straight onto his soul, transforming in his mind as an incomplete rune!

The rune glimmered. The uninitiated wouldn't understand, but Wang Baole, after allowing the sensations to sink in, seemed to grasp the meaning behind the rune intuitively.

It… was the first of the five mystic techniques of the Lightning Domain mystic realm!

Amidst the thundering roars, Wang Baole could hold on no longer. He instantly teleported away from the Lightning Domain mystic realm. As he stumbled out, staggering, a splatter of bright blood spilled from his mouth. His eyes were bright with exhilaration, and he lifted his face towards the sky and let loose a loud burst of laughter.

I've done it! Wang Baole climbed to his feet excitedly, patted his behind and raising his right hand. With a wave, an arc of lightning appeared instantly over his fingers. It looked tiny, but the electrical energy contained within the tiny lightning bolt sent many disciples clustering around the entrance of the mystic realm reeling in shock. Some even gasped aloud.

"Flash Arc!"

Flash Arc was the first of the five mystic techniques found in the Lightning Domain mystic realm, and few on the Upper Academy Island attained it. As a result, the appearance of a new wielder always attracted much attention!

Wang Baole appeared smug amidst the crowd's startled gasps. He didn't try to show off further, though. Instead, he happily retrieved his droplet-shaped cruiser and returned to his cave abode at the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. He watched as his palm flipped over and out came a Flash Arc; then flipped over again and out burst a burning flame. He was excited beyond measure. He felt that he had already become very powerful.

I have three great killer moves now—Heated Burst, Flash Arc, and Cloud Finger! His heart filled with great satisfaction, Wang Baole felt the Spirit Qi rushing through his meridians like a great river, and at the same time felt his strengthened physical body. He laughed out loud uncontrollably.

True Breath realm, third level! Invigorated and spirits enlivened, he took out some Ice Spirit Water and guzzled down five bottles in one go. Then, he wiped his mouth, gave his stomach a pat, and sat down cross-legged. He pulled out the Dharmic Artifacts needed for the enhanced Fire God Cannon, his eyes ablaze with vigor.

Next, to complete the Numinous Treasure required for the Armament Soldier assessment! Wang Baole took a deep breath and suppressed the joyous emotions in his heart. After he gradually eased into a calm composure, he began the fusion of the Numinous Treasures.

Time inched by slowly and half a month passed. One week before the start of the Armament Soldier Assessment, one late night, the door to Wang Baole's cave abode opened suddenly, and he dashed out from within.

His hair was a mess, and he looked spent, but his eyes shone brightly. Excitement overwhelmed him. He boarded his cruiser and sped away from the Upper Academy Island towards the wilderness beyond Ethereal City.

Wang Baole stood on his cruiser, suspended in mid-air above the expanse of wilderness. He raised his right hand and waved once. A long pipe with the thickness of an arm appeared in his hand. The pipe was pitch-black in color and looked like a cannon pipe, exuding an eerie aura as well as an intense spirit force.

This is the enhanced Fire God Cannon that I have refined! Wang Baole caressed the cold cannon pipe, lugged it up excitedly, and aimed at a hill below him. The Spirit Qi within his body surged forward and exploded.

A blinding light grew within the cannon instantly. With an earth-shattering roar thundering across the skies, an overwhelming backlash from the firing hit Wang Baole's shoulder. The cruiser he was in was pushed many yards back. A purple blast of light surged from within the cannon.

It raced towards the hill. As explosions resounded in the air and the hill trembled. It was hit from the top at an angle, and shot straight through with a blast that created a gigantic hole two meters wide!

Wang Baole stared at the destruction wrought by the enhanced Fire God Cannon and looked blown away—disbelief filled his eyes.

Such power… it's exceeded a perfected third-grade. It can even be ranked as a fourth-grade!

I've even thought of a name. Let's call it… the Baole Cannon! Wang Baole stood on the cruiser, brimming with pride. He raised the Fire God Cannon to the sky with one hand and laughed loudly.

"At the Armament Soldier assessment, who dares to cause strife when the Baole Cannon appears!"

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Chapter 190: Armament Soldier Assessment

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole was overwhelmed with emotions. Excitement overtook him, and he tried firing a few more shots. Exhilaration sped through his body; he trembled with glee, and the glimmer in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Wang Baole couldn't be more satisfied. Though the Numinous Treasure' firepower couldn't compare with the actual Fire God Cannon, it was mobile and easy to transport. That singular feature increased its value immeasurably.

Even though there are plenty of Numinous Treasures like it, most are fourth or fifth-grade treasures. Their firepower is amazing, but their energy usage is considerable as well. In that aspect, they can't measure up to my Baole Cannon! Wang Baole did a round of assessment and ended up satisfied with his evaluation. He caressed the cannon a few more times before he reluctantly placed it back into his storage bracelet. He hummed a cheerful tune and returned to his cave abode in the Upper Academy Island in high spirits.

He did some calculations and realized that there was still a week to the Armament Soldier assessment. To ensure that everything ran smoothly on the day of the assessment, he attempted to dismantle the Baole Cannon. He had found out that there had been instances of disciples being instructed to recraft their Numinous Treasure during the assessment.

In preparation for the worst, Wang Baole even refined a separate set of composite Numinous Treasures for the Baole Cannon. He also prepared sufficient materials and ingredients concurrently. In the worst case scenario where he had to refine the cannon on the spot, he would be fully prepared to do so. After all the preparations were done, he settled down and rested so that he could go into the Armament Soldier assessment in top form.

During that period, as the assessment date drew near, the Upper Academy Island disciples who had applied for the round of assessment all started on the final leg of their preparation.

That was especially so for Lin Tianhao. After he had moved out from Wang Baole's neighboring cave abode, he ceased his provocations of Wang Baole. However, the seeds of hatred and vengeance had been buried deep in his heart. He intended to pass the Armament Soldier assessment before seeking revenge.

His preparation for the assessment was extensive. His goal was not simply to pass the assessment, but to attain first place in the Armament Soldier assessment!

Originally, it would have been impossible for someone of his caliber to accomplish that within such a short span of time, but his family was rich; they supported his single-minded focus on refining Numinous Treasures, and there was no price they wouldn't pay. They even invited a grandmaster from the Federation to instruct him personally. Their efforts were why he had managed to advance so speedily.

I've chosen the Planetary Bottle, the Numinous Treasure that is the most difficult to refine out of all the third-grade Numinous Treasures! This Numinous Treasure is ranked top in all of the third-grade Numinous Treasures that have been listed! Lin Tianhao sat cross-legged in his cave abode and confidently studied the dazzling jade bottle scattering starlight before him.

He had heard that Wang Baole had also applied for the upcoming Armament Soldier assessment. It was a matter he took very seriously. He even pulled a few strings outside the college and found out Wang Baole had been hunting for monsters' teeth when he had been at the stronghold.

Since he needs monsters' teeth, the Numinous Treasure he's planning to refine for the assessment must be the Dragon's Tooth!

The Dragon's Tooth might be a fine treasure, but it's not even in the same league as the Planetary Bottle. Furthermore, the strength of the Dragon's Tooth relies heavily on materials instead of inscriptions. If Wang Baole chooses the Dragon's Tooth for his assessment, he'll definitely lose to me! Lin Tianhao smirked. His confidence grew.

As the disciples with the intention of going for the assessment hurried and bustled about with their preparations, the day of the Armament Soldier assessment finally arrived.

The bell sounded; its ringing echoed. Wang Baole, who had been sitting cross-legged in his cave abode, opened his eyes instantly. He sucked in a deep breath, and stood and marched out of the cave abode.

The position of top Armament Soldier belongs to me! With a resolute look in his eyes and eagerness in his heart, Wang Baole retrieved his cruiser and raced straight for the Middle Peak!

The venue for the Armament Soldier assessment was the Middle Peak Square in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. At the heart of the square stood a large, eye-catching war drum. It was the war drum that Wang Baole had seen when he had walked past an Armament Soldier assessment that had been taking place. It was said that only Armament Soldiers had the right to sound the Elder Request Drum!

That was because the drum stick used to sound the drum had to be crafted on the spot. As the drum stick itself was a third-grade Numinous Treasure, Dharmic Armament disciples wouldn't be able to craft it; only Armament Soldiers could.

At that moment, before the war drum in the Middle Peak Square, dozens of people had gathered. They were disciples who had come forth to participate in the round of Armament Armament Soldier assessment. They didn't converse with one another, merely standing and waiting in silence.

When Wang Baole arrived at the Middle Peak Square, he saw the other examinees and caught sight of Lin Tianhao amongst them. The feeling of scorn arose within him.

That weasel is here for the assessment too? He can refine a Numinous Treasure as well? Wang Baole snorted silently. He felt that he had established himself and built a strong network of friends and shouldn't have to care too much about Lin Tianhao. He ignored the other youth and approached the war drum.

It was obvious that Lin Tianhao didn't feel the same way as Wang Baole. He leveled his gaze on Wang Baole and held it for some time before sneering.

Crowds of disciples from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, there to observe, had arrived and clustered around the square. After all, the Armament Soldier assessment was seen as a major event to the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. The crowds of disciples had their heads lowered in heated discussions.

"Who could have guessed that so many people are taking part in this round of Armament Soldier assessment? Wonder who'll rank first place?"

"Every Armament Soldier assessment, the Armament Soldier who ends up in first place would earn the luxury of choosing his own office. As long as there's any vacancy in any department, he can use that privilege to be promoted to office immediately!"

"That's what's driving people nuts with envy. After all, there're many out there who're Armament Soldiers in name but wield no actual power."

Time passed steadily as the disciples engaged in fierce discussions. After a short while, the bell started ringing hastily; it rang three times. Five figures appeared from within the Middle Peak Great Hall; they approached swiftly, with one in the lead while four trailed behind.

The one in the lead was dressed in purple robes, and his demeanor was composed, but he cast an imposing figure. He was the Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. The four trailing behind him were one elderly and three in their middle age. All exuded the aura of a cultivator who had attained the peak of the True Breath realm, and were a mere step away from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm!

They were the four deputy Pavilion Heads of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion.

The deputy Pavilion Head was treated with great respect within and outside the college. Their cultivation contributed to but was not the sole reason for their elevated status. They had to possess certain unique strengths or competencies when it came to crafting Numinous Treasures—that was the key to becoming a deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion.

At the same time, they needed to know the right people and have popular support. It could even be said that every one of the four Deputy Pavilion Heads had their own impressive background. After all, to rise from the multitudes of Armament Soldiers into the position of a Deputy Pavilion Head, one had to be exceptional in some way or another.

That was the case for the Deputy Pavilion Head, even more so for the Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion.

One after another, the five people reached the Middle Peak Square. Their arrival sent the crowd into a sudden silence, and Wang Baole too sucked in a deep breath as resolve flashed across his eyes. He and the other examinees looked towards the five heads of the Pavilion.

"There are not many rules and regulations governing the Armament Soldier assessment under our Dharmic Armament Pavilion. Every one of you… present the Numinous Treasure you have prepared for the assessment, one person at a time. The five of us will evaluate it and question you before announcing whether you pass or fail the assessment. As for the assessment ranking, the one who is placed first will be rewarded with top priority for placement in office!" Purple-robed Pavilion Head declared coolly. After he was done speaking, he threw a glance towards Wang Baole and the other examinees and pointed casually at one of them.

"Let's start with you."

The person who had been singled out by the Pavilion Head was an experienced disciple. After he had heard the Pavilion Head, he nodded and immediately pulled out a mirror. It was an old, plain-looking mirror with an ordinary appearance. It gave out a strong spirit aura that drew the crowd's attention. Everyone held their breaths.

The experienced disciple was clearly satisfied with the attention his mirror had caught. He approached the Pavilion Head respectfully and presented the mirror.

"Greetings to the Pavilion Head and Deputy Pavilion Heads. This is the Heaven and Earth Mirror that I have crafted. For your assessment, please!"

Upon seeing the Heaven and Earth Mirror, the spectating crowd starting talking in hushed voices.

"The Heaven and Earth Mirror eh, that's quite a challenging third-grade Numinous Treasure to craft."

"It can reflect spells to a certain extent. Its inscription requirements far exceed other Numinous Treasures."

Wang Baole eyed the Numinous Treasure as the crowd debated. Then, he thought of his Baole Cannon and was filled with confidence once again. He didn't drop his guard though, paying great attention as the Pavilion Head and deputy Pavilion Heads conducted the assessment.

The Pavilion Head picked the mirror up and gave it a quick inspection before handing it over to the Deputy Pavilion Heads. They were Dharmic Armament cultivators by cultivation and familiar with Numinous Treasures. It did not take long—only an hour or so—before they reached their separate conclusions. They posed some questions on the mirror's crafting process, to which the experienced disciple answered smoothly. The assessment then ended.

After a brief discussion, the results were announced.

"You passed and are promoted to an Armament Soldier. Your ranking will be determined at the end," the Pavilion Head said coolly. He pointed at another person. The Armament Soldier assessment proceeded in that manner, where some passed while others failed.

Some received questions while some were instructed to demonstrate the crafting of a specific part on the spot. One Numinous Treasure after another was displayed, and the voices from the crowd rose and ebbed.

Wang Baole gradually made sense of the process as he observed the proceedings.

Not everyone will be asked to demonstrate the crafting process. However, everyone will be posed questions, which are tricky and challenging to answer correctly unless he was the one who crafted the Numinous Treasure himself.

As Wang Baole continued his pondering, Lin Tianhao's turn soon came. He pulled out the Planetary Bottle, instantly causing a stir amongst the spectating disciples. Shouts of amazement rose, and the other examinees were immediately drawn towards him and the bottle. Even the Pavilion Head and the four Deputy Pavilion Head displayed surprise on their faces.

"The Planetary Bottle!"

"It's been said that this is the hardest third-grade Numinous Treasure to refine. It's the first time I'm seeing one!"

"The inscriptions required for this treasure are extremely complex. There's also the Planetary Stone, necessary for refinement but extremely expensive…"

Wang Baole's eyes widened amidst the stunned gasps of the crowd. He knew of the Planetary Bottle. There were few Planetary Stones in the college, though; if one wanted to craft the Numinous Treasure, he would need to spend a great amount of effort to buy it outside. That was why he had given up on crafting it in the first place and instead had chosen the next best thing, which was almost equally difficult to refine but whose requirements of materials and ingredients were not as challenging—the Dragon's Tooth.

Lin Tianhao didn't show the relish and triumph he was feeling at the moment. He respectfully handed the Planetary Bottle to the Pavilion Head instead. Only then did he steal a glance at the stunned Wang Baole and sneer inwardly.

You penniless wretch, trying to compete with me?

Wang Baole caught Lin Tianhao looking. He raised an eyebrow, his face unsmiling, and thought, So what if it was the Planetary Bottle. Once he revealed his cannon, even Lin Tianhao had no choice but to admit defeat and call him daddy.

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the Pavilion Head took the Planetary Bottle from Lin Tianhao's hands, and astonishment colored his eyes. He examined the bottle, a look of praise gradually surfacing on his face. He nodded and passed the bottle to the Deputy Pavilion Heads.

The four Deputy Pavilion Heads clearly approved of the Planetary Bottle. They assessed it and asked Lin Tianhao a few questions, which Lin Tianhao answered smoothly. When one of the Deputy Pavilion Heads requested that he demonstrate the refinement of the inscriptions on the spot, Lin Tianhao complied without hesitation.

The crowd was shaken by the scene. When they looked at Lin Tianhao, it was with growing respect. Anyone who could successfully craft a Planetary Bottle was the epitome of competency and wealth.

"It's an impressive Numinous Treasure. You've passed, Lin Tianhao. If no accidents happen, you stand a great chance of placing first," the Pavilion Head praised him. As Lin Tianhao stepped back excitedly, the Pavilion Head's eyes swept past the remaining few disciples, who included Wang Baole. He pointed at Wang Baole.

"Wang Baole, show us the Numinous Treasure you've prepared."

Upon hearing the Pavilion Head's words, a slightly annoyed Wang Baole walked up immediately and without further ado, raised his right hand, flipped it over and pulled out a huge cannon!

With a loud thud, he placed it on the ground then raised his head. He spoke calmly, "The Numinous Treasure that I have refined is not from within the Dharmic Armament Pavilion's Numinous Treasure Roll but something that I've invented on my own. Its name… The Great Mighty Baole Cannon, Baole Cannon for short!"

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Chapter 191: Beyond Reproach!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As soon as the cannon appeared—with its strange appearance, pitch black body, and exuding a foreboding aura—the crowd reeled back, their eyes wide. It had been a very long time since a Numinous Treasure of one's own invention had appeared in an Armament Soldier assessment!

The challenges of inventing a Numinous Treasure were immense. There was nothing one could refer from or base the invention on. Unless one was extremely confident in himself, few dared to present a Numinous Treasure of their own design for assessment.

The past Numinous Treasures presented for all Armament Soldier assessment, be it a large-scale or small-scale assessment, were all treasures listed in the Numinous Treasure Roll. Their level of difficulty was clearly listed in the roll. Those who came to observe the assessment came for the questions posed by the Pavilion Head and his deputies. The questions were the real highlights of the event and were of immeasurable worth.

If they were fortunate enough, they might witness others crafting their treasures personally, which would be an even greater boon to them. However, the Numinous Treasure Wang Baole had presented turned out to be his own invention. The value of such a treasure, and what it represented, was of a completely different level.

"Your own invention? What the… if I recall correctly, there hasn't been new inventions put up for assessment for the past ten years!"

"The Great Mighty Baole… Cannon? That's a weird name. But from the looks of it, this Numinous Treasure is terrifying!"

As the crowd was stirred into a heated debate and excited anticipation, Lin Tianhao and the other disciples also received a shock. They eyed Wang Baole's Numinous Treasure—especially Lin Tianhao; it was as if he was suddenly downed with a bucket of ice water, and a low buzzing rose in his head.

I can't believe it's not the Dragon's Tooth! Lin Tianhao gnashed his teeth hatefully. His breathing grew uneven as he glared at Wang Baole's cannon, alarm rising within him.

Wang Baole could feel everyone's gaze on him and felt a great satisfaction over the effect the Baole Cannon had generated. He pushed aside the feelings of satisfaction, cupped his fists towards the Pavilion Head, and pushed the Baole Cannon before him.

The Pavilion Head and the four Deputy Pavilion Heads behind him all had a look of concentration on their faces. When they turned towards Wang Baole, it was with an assessing look. The Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion especially, let his Spirit Qi spread out when he stepped forward and inspected the Baole Cannon. His composure remained calm; however, waves of emotions stirred within him.

With his level of attainment in Dharmic Armaments, he needed only a brief look to recognize how extraordinary and impressive the Numinous Treasure was. If it had been some other occasion, he wouldn't have entertained further thought. If one considered it from a different angle, the Numinous Treasure could be seen as having transcended the third grade and rivaled a fourth-grade treasure. It vastly surpassed all Numinous Treasures that had appeared in the assessment.

Even the Planetary Bottle couldn't compare. Be it the complexity of the inscription or the inherent creativity involved in its creation; they were no longer competing on the same level. Furthermore, the Baole Cannon was clearly… a composite Numinous Treasure!

Its sheer value would have increased multiple folds because of that. However, things weren't as simple as they appeared, especially considering that Wang Baole was the one who crafted the Numinous Treasure.

The value of being the top Armament Soldier every year isn't simply earning the right of the first offer of office. It also forms part of the underlying criteria in future evaluations on whether one might advance to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head… This Wang Baole has formed a close relationship with Chen Yutong, and they obviously belong to the lineage under Sun Yifeng. Sun Yifeng is competing for the position of Grand Elder with Elder Li… The Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion narrowed his eyes. He and Sun Yifeng belonged in different lineages; in fact, he could be considered as part of the same lineage as Elder Li.

Elder Li's successful advancement to the position of Grand Elder was the most advantageous outcome for him. After all, if Sun Yifeng's power grew too strong—especially with his disciple Chen Yutong likely due for a promotion to Deputy Pavilion Head—the threat to himself wouldn't be insignificant.

That was why he could allow Wang Baole to become an Armament Soldier, but he would never allow a top Armament Soldier to appear in Sun Yifeng's faction!

Especially this Wang Baole. His Armament Soldier assessment results are already extraordinary and his record exemplary. If he is placed first as top Armament Soldier… in the future, as long as his cultivation reaches a certain level and he attains a certain level of proficiency in Dharmic Armament—considering his list of accolades and achievements—he would no doubt be promoted to Deputy Pavilion Head! The consequences of the matter flashed across the middle-aged, purple-robed Pavilion Head's mind. A glint flashed in his eyes. He was going to keep Wang Baole in check.

The matter lay within his area of jurisdiction. Even if an outsider saw something amiss, he wouldn't be able to interfere. After all, the position of Grand Elder was still vacant.

Furthermore, as a Pavilion Head, he held significant power. Even if someone did mention anything about it in the future, what was done was done. There was nothing more to be done about it.

Once he reached his decision, the Pavilion Head pulled back his Spirit Qi that had been examining the cannon. He didn't say anything and handed the cannon to the four Deputy Pavilion Heads.

One after another, the four Deputy Pavilion Heads conducted their inspections. Amazement and shock took hold of every one of them. They held a fervent discussion with the Pavilion Head, whose eyes very quickly fell on Wang Baole.

"Since this treasure is of your own invention, there's no need for further questions. Wang Baole, recraft it on the spot, now."

Wang Baole had been observing the Pavilion Head and the Deputy Pavilion Heads all the while but couldn't discern anything from his observations. After hearing the other's request, he remained uncertain about their views.

After all, such a request fell within the boundaries of reason. Wang Baole nodded and began to regulate his breathing. He focused, took out his Spirit Stones, and started refining on the spot. He had prepared himself for something like that to happen. He crafted swiftly, time flew by, and two hours passed. Under the attentive eyes of the crowd, amidst their shouts of surprise and startlement, Wang Baole crafted one Numinous Treasure after another.

Finally, with his own hands, he fitted the Numinous Treasures together to form the second Baole Cannon!

With a loud thud, Wang Baole placed the newly crafted Baole Cannon on the ground. He raised his head and looked at the Pavilion Head and Deputy Pavilion Heads. Gasps of shock resounded 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!

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Chapter 192: Sound the Drum, Call for the Elder

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Elder Request Drum!

Formality decreed that only Armament Soldiers could sound the drum. Wang Baole was already an Armament Soldier, so he had the right!

In reality, the reason that only Armament Soldiers could sound the drum was that the drum stick had to be crafted on the spot, and the drum stick was a third-grade Numinous Treasure.

Wang Baole possessed such capabilities as well!

The crowd watched as Wang Baole raced towards the Elder Request Drum. The look on their faces shifted; their eyes widened, and astonishment rose within them.

"The Elder Request Drum! This Wang Baole is so sure of his chances?"

"Every Armament Soldier only has one chance in his entire life to sound it. He's going for broke!"

"It's been a few years since someone's sounded the Elder Request Drum!"

The other examinees stood stunned as the crowd fell into a heated discussion. Lin Tianhao gasped in shock. His anxiety began to grow. He knew, deep in his heart, that Wang Baole's Numinous Treasure was better than his.

He was surprised to find the Pavilion Head unflustered.

The Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion was indeed composed. He remained unruffled as Wang Baole marched towards the Elder Request Drum and scorned him inwardly.

Childish. Even if this Wang Baole manages to sound the drum, he'll only get an Elder. The four elders in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion may seemingly be cordial to one another, but in reality, they are all vying for the position of Grand Elder. Someone will naturally use this to their advantage!

Unless he manages to invite the Grand Elder, but alas, there is no Grand Elder in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion Head at the moment! Hands behind his back, the Pavilion Head watched coolly as Wang Baole approached the Elder Request Drum.

Rage burned inside Wang Baole. He was sure of the Pavilion Head's ill intentions. He knew that they were past the point of civility. He would either walk away without being awarded first place or… call forward someone great who had the final say, who would reverse the final assessment and supersede the Pavilion Head!

The crowd watched as Wang Baole stood before the Elder Request Drum, took a deep breath in and, gritting his teeth, raised his right hand and pressed it onto the drum. ( NovelFull )

A loud boom sounded, and the Elder Request Drum started to exude an oppressive aura as a spell ripped outwards. Materials started flying out from within the drum and floated before Wang Baole.

There were Spirit Stones, a jade slip documenting the inscriptions and the crafting method, as well as a large quantity of materials.

Wang Baole's eyes flashed. He grabbed hold of the jade slip and infused it with Spirit Qi, causing the refinement method to appear in his mind instantly. He swept his hand across and caught the Spirit Stones, and started to carve the inscriptions.

The drum stick had a hundred thousand inscriptions. It was a Numinous Treasure, and crafting it wouldn't be a minor feat. However, it was nothing to Wang Baole. He sent both hands to work, and as he ran the formulaic deductions in his head, he rapidly carved inscription after inscription onto the Spirit Stones.

Waves of spells and Spirit Qi surrounded Wang Baole, and interwoven within seemed to be patches of light and darkness. Translucent inscriptions flashed into being before they were eventually fused within the Spirit Stones.

Everyone was transfixed by the scene before them. The debating voices grew softer, and many people started posting on the Spirit Intranet.

"Wang Baole is crafting the Elder Request Drum drum stick!"

"Quickly, to Middle Peak! Something big's happening. Wang Baole and the Pavilion Head are at loggerheads. He's going to sound the Elder Request Drum!"

The news spread like wildfire. Everyone who heard was reeling with disbelief. Chen Yutong, who had been handling some administrative matters at the College Administrative Department, was one of the first to know. He was instantly alarmed and raced towards Middle Peak.

There were many like him who rushed towards Middle Peak from all four corners of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. They soon reached the Middle Peak and saw Wang Baole standing before the Elder Request Drum. He had completed the inscriptions, and his right hand rose into the air, a flame appearing within his palm.

Wang Baole was going to use Heated Burst mystic technique to fuse the materials and craft the drum stick directly!

There wasn't one disciple who remained unaffected as they witness the scene before them. Gasps of surprise and sighs of envy rose in the air.

"Heated Burst! That's the mystic technique the college rewarded Wang Baole with a while ago!"

"Not only is this mystic technique lethal, but it also suits Dharmic Armament cultivators very well. Dharmic Armament cultivators can refine artifacts without a smelting furnace!"

"Goodness, that's just too cool!"

The entire crafting process went smoothly and without a hitch. It was perfect; there were no mistakes or blunders made. It made the crafting of the drum stick seem like an art performance!

The crowd watched, transfixed. Fierce jealousy flashed across Lin Tianhao's eyes, and his breathing became uneven. As for the Pavilion Head, his pupils contracted ever so slightly, but his composure remained calm.

As the crowd engaged in hushed discussions, more people came rushing from afar. Time passed steadily. It was an hour later before Wang Baole abruptly waved his right hand. The flames within his palm spread out and vanished in an instant, and a green-colored drum stick appeared before everyone's eyes.

Crimson tendrils were still wrapped around the drum stick, but they disappeared swiftly. It had clearly been freshly crafted and was still scorching to the touch. Wang Baole disregarded the heat; the Heated Burst mystic technique had increased his tolerance towards high temperatures. He lifted his right hand and grabbed hold of the drum stick, turned around, and gave the Pavilion Head a frosty glare. Wang Baole shifted his eyes, tightened his grip on the drum stick, and hit the Elder Request Drum!

Boom!

The crowd who had been watching the entire process were geared up for that moment. Nevertheless, when the war drum thundered, they were still shaken to their core. The cacophony of noises—the heated debates and discussions—disappeared. A loud buzzing echoed in everyone's heads.

The sound was so loud, it resonated across Middle Peak, rippling across the entire Dharmic Armament Pavilion and resounding across the heavens!

It seemed to contain within itself Wang Baole's aggrievement and his rage. It was as if he threw his entire fury behind the hit. The entire Dharmic Armament Pavilion was stirred. Those who had no idea what had happened received the shock of their lives.

"What's going on!"

"What's that sound!"

All of a sudden, figures were dashing out and about. After some asking around, they found out that Wang Baole was sounding the Elder Request Drum. Before they could form further thought on the matter, the drum was sounded a second time!

Boom!

The resulting thundering was greater than the first. As it spread out to all corners, Wang Baole's body started shaking, and his breathing had quickened. He finally realized why the Elder Request Drum had never been sounded more than five times at one time in the past, why the most anyone could achieve was three hits.

The Elder Request Drum had a harsh set of requirements on the construction of the Numinous Treasure-grade drum stick. That, however, was not the key challenge. In principle, as long as one could craft the drum stick, he could sound the drum as many times as he wanted. In reality, how many times he could hit the drum depended on his body's resilience!

After the first hit, Wang Baole felt a strong backlash. It flowed from the drum sticks into his body, coursed within his body, and sent quakes throughout. He felt as if his organs had been smashed together. His joints chattered as his body shook. He seemed to feel the toxins in his body shattering as he shook.

The backlash from the second hit intensified. When it lashed back at him, the toxins that had broken down surged out from his pores.

Such a deeply cleansing tremor was a boon to a cultivator. However, the pain that one had to endure was equally great. The counterforce to the hit intensified with each hitting of the drum. Most people wouldn't have been able to withstand it.

At that moment, Wang Baole had just sounded the drum the third time. His body shook fiercely. Dark spots appeared in his vision. His strength seemed to leave him; be it spiritually or physically, he seemed to have reached a peak where his entire body was taken over by the vibrating force.

With three hits, one can call upon an Elder, but that's not enough. Even if I manage five hits, to call upon the Grand Elder, it would still not suffice. That's because the position of the Grand Elder in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion is currently vacant. I can only continue sounding the drum, and call upon someone higher up! Wang Baole panted heavily. He let loose a low howl and, with all his might, hit the drum a fourth time!

Boom!

The war drum trembled, and the drum sticks almost slipped from his fingers. Wang Baole's body was contorted into an odd twist as he shook. His face was ashen. The vibrations within his body intensified multiple folds. He felt as if his bones, his meridians, his flesh, and his blood had undergone a baptism by storm. He could hardly stand, his body on the verge of collapse.

The crowd held their breaths. Everyone was overwhelmed and gasping in shock.

"That's the fourth hit. Another hit and that'll be the highest number of hits anyone has ever managed to reach… the fifth hit!"

Lin Tianhao sucked in a nervous breath of cold air. The expressions on the faces of the Pavilion Head and his deputies displayed different degrees of shock. The Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, especially, was frowning. His eyes revealed a hint of amazement.

However, Wang Baole had reached his limits. His quavering arms could barely carry the weight of the drum sticks.

Is this my limit? How did the person who hit the drums five times do it… I won't lose to him. Wang Baole gritted his teeth. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. The devouring seed in his body suddenly exploded into life, and with its suction force, it controlled Wang Baole's body and achieved the impossible. His hand held the drum stick in a stiff, deathly grip, and swung towards the war drum, hitting it again!

It was as if he was a puppet and the devouring seed's suction force invisible strings tugging his entire body. Boom—the fifth hit landed. The invisible strings that were the suction force tugged fiercely again. He felt his vision blurring. He grew dizzy and was on the verge of blacking out. The suction force tugged, struggling, and landed the sixth hit on the drum!

As the cry of the war drum resounded in the heavens, the crowd was sent into a complete shock. Lin Tianhao started hearing white noise in his head. His face was drained of blood, and he stumbled back.

The Pavilion Head's face had never looked so somber.

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Chapter 193: It Shattered…

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The sixth hit sounded. The vibrating energy that had accumulated within Wang Baole's body had reached an unimaginable peak. He spat out a large mouthful of blood.

The blood was black and seemed to contain the toxins that had been in his body. Wang Baole's body felt like jelly after he spat out blood. The dark spots grew in his vision.

Am I hitting the drum to the point of blacking out… Wang Baole's head buzzed; consciousness seemed to be slipping from his grasp. As that thought flashed across his mind, and his legs lost all strength; he fell, kneeling, with a soft thud. It seemed as if he was about to pass out. It was then that he thought he heard the crackling sound of something shattering inside him.

A strong Spirit Qi burst out and surged through his body the instant he heard the sound. As the external vibrations persisted, the Spirit Qi fused with Wang Baole's meridians. His cultivation level shot up drastically in an instant!

The leveling of his cultivation was like a shot of confidence. He shook himself and regained clarity of mind. That was when he realized that the crystal inside his body had absorbed the vibrating energies. Fractures appeared on the crystal, and Spirit Qi escaped from within without stop. Within the span of a few breaths, his cultivation level leaped from the lowest, third level of the True Breath realm in a giant bound.

Such a move exists! Wang Baole's breath quickened as he was caught by surprise. The surrounding crowd was in an uproar.

"This Wang Baole is too relentless. He hit the drum until he threw up blood!"

"Six hits—that has never happened before. But why do I feel that Wang Baole's body seemed very unnatural during the last two hits…"

"His eyes were shut, and he almost fell to his knees. What do I feel as if he passed out?" ( NovelFull )

The heated discussions persisted. With the discovery of Wang Baole's considerable advancement in cultivation level, the debate grew fiercer and more heated, like an uprising storm.

"My god!"

"His cultivation improved? The energy he is giving out isn't right!"

"I can feel it—compared to just before, this Wang Baole's cultivation level is higher now!"

Sounds of discussion, argument, and shock rose and sank. The breathing of Lin Tianhao, the Pavilion Head, and his deputies quickened. As for Wang Baole, the sparkle in his eyes grew brighter. He stood and could feel the leap in his cultivation. His eyes shone fiercely.

In my whole life, I, Wang Baole, have never hated anything more than cheating. I am counting on my skills to sound the drum… Wang Baole was inwardly pleased and mused to himself. Five hits could bring forth the Grand Elder; who knew who six hits could call forward. He had to play it safe. Wang Baole sucked in a deep breath. The devouring seed inside him burst into action, controlling his body and raising the drum stick yet again, hitting it against the Elder Request Drum!

The seventh time!

Boom! Nothing seemed to happen after that.

Seems like that's not enough… Wang Baole's body, both inside and out, was trembling at that moment. The vibrations were, however, absorbed by the crystal. He remained uncertain and worried, so he hit the drum again!

The eighth time!

This should be enough, right? If I continue, I think my cultivation might breakthrough… Wang Baole felt the increasing number of fractures in his crystal. He thought for a bit, and his eyes shone with anticipation. Without further thought on whom he might be calling forward, he hit the drum again.

The ninth time!

The tenth time!

The sounds of the drum being hit resounded. Everyone in the crowd watched, dazed. There were no longer any sounds of discussion. At the moment, the entire square watched on in shock; be it Lin Tianhao, the few Deputy Pavilion Heads, or the Pavilion Head—all were flabbergasted. White noise buzzed in their heads.

The number of times Wang Baole had sounded the drum was unprecedented. The last few hits, especially, were done in one go. His body did look weird and had a strangeness to it. Nevertheless, the sounds of the drum being hit resounded clearly through the air.

What's more… it didn't end there!

The eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth times…

As everyone remained in shock, Wang Baole hit the drum for the seventeenth time. He could still persist, but the drum stick couldn't take it anymore. It shattered.

The scene sent many in the dazed crowd murmuring.

"It shattered? Even the drum stick shattered?"

"This Wang Baole, could he be some monster in disguise…"

As the crowd remained in a daze, something mind-blowing happened again. As the drum stick shattered, Wang Baole could feel the extensive fracturing on the outer layer of the crystal inside him. A huge wave of Spirit Qi burst forth and filled his entire body. His cultivation broke through in an instant as the Spirit Qi made its way through his body, shooting straight from the third level of the True Breath realm… into the fourth level!

"What the—his cultivation broke through!"

"How is that possible!"

"I could care less about Wang Baole's breakthrough. What I really want to know is who the—boom boom boom—seventeen deafening hits will call forward! An alien?"

The crowd gradually recovered from their shock. In an instant, the prior silence was broken. A huge uproar exploded, and voices rose like waves into the air. Lin Tianhao's face had turned an extreme shade of white. His vision went black, and it took all he had to not collapse to the ground.

The Pavilion Head and his deputies struggled, slightly, to breathe. Especially the Pavilion Head. It was as if he had seen a ghost as he stared at Wang Baole, dumbstruck. Even in his wildest dreams, he could never have imagined the extreme ends that Wang Baole would go to…

If he could have predicted that would happen, the thought of putting Wang Baole in his rightful place would never have crossed his mind.

"Seventeen times… who will be invited forward?" There was a bitter taste in the Pavilion Head's mouth. He muttered in a daze, uneasily.

As the crowd burst out in gasps of shock, Wang Baole stared at the shattered drum stick regretfully. He could feel the crystal in his body had not disappeared completely. What had shattered was only its outermost layer. The crystal looked as if it had shrunk one size, from the size of a chicken's egg to that a quail's…

I hit seventeen times… this should call forward someone super important… Wang Baole blinked. He watched as the crowd slowly recover from their shocked daze. The anticipation on their faces seemed greater than his own. He also saw Lin Tianhao and the Pavilion Head, who looked as if they had seen a ghost. He grew pleased; his heart brimmed with satisfaction. At the same time, he was also filled with curiosity.

It was then that suddenly, in the skies above the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, the clouds rolled and boiled over. An overwhelming aura descended from the heavens in a blink of an eye.

The aura was intensely strong and shadowed the entire Upper Academy Island. Even though it didn't reach the extremes of transforming the heavens, it still stirred the entire island. The disciples across all the pavilions were all shaken to the core and lifted their heads to look up.

The crowd at Dharmic Armament Pavilion's Middle Peak, especially, sucked in their breath; their eyes honed in instantly at the skies above. Lin Tianhao couldn't help but raise his head as well—he looked lost.

Some in the crowd, like Chen Yutong, had their own guesses. They breathed nervously, their eyes filled with incredulity. Like the Deputy Pavilion Heads, they seemed to have come to some conclusion as they raised their heads. They trembled.

The Pavilion Head clearly knew the identity of the person who had arrived. He was having mixed feelings about it; emotions churned within him, and his face grew pale rapidly. The clouds in the sky gathered instantaneously and, amidst the stunned gasps of the entire Upper Academy Island, formed some semblance of a gigantic face!

The face stretched across half the sky. It conveyed a sense of vastness while exuding an imposing aura, and everyone who caught sight of it was overwhelmed with emotions.

As if surveying the vast lands before it, the giant face turned its eyes towards the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, towards Middle Peak, and towards… Wang Baole!

"Greetings to the Grand Supreme Elder!" The Pavilion Head and his deputies quaked in their boots as they greeted the Grand Supreme Elder with due respect. Chen Yutong and the others struggled to find their composure and presented their greetings as well.

Their voices entered the disciples around them. The look on the disciples, who had only heard of but never seen the Grand Supreme Elder, changed immediately. They extended their greetings with awe and fervor.

Beyond the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, in the other pavilions on the Upper Academy Island, waves of greetings spread out suddenly like an aural tsunami, to the four corners of the island.

Quite a few figures appeared on the Sky Path Island as well. They gazed at the Upper Academy Island. Amongst them was the red-robed Deputy Sect Lord. Standing beside him was someone of his age, who wore a white tunic and had an ethereal air to him. There was a faint smile on his face.

From how the two stood, the middle-aged man in the white tunic was obviously of a higher status.

"Is it that Wang Baole again? He must be hiding some good fortunes. That drop of Spirit Blood must be why he could sound the drum so many times and call forward the Grand Supreme Elder," the middle-aged man in the white tunic said laughingly. Beside him, the red-robed Deputy Sect Lord nodded. He smiled as well and spoke.

"Sect Lord's judgment is likely correct. This little fatty is interesting. I quite like him."

The middle-aged man in a white tunic turned out to be the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College. While the two chatted happily, in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, Wang Baole's eyes widened as he looked heavenward. He was overwhelmed with awe.

The face in the sky made him feel as if he had come face to face with an imposing, heavenly presence. He was awed and impressed by the kind of spell it would take to form one's face in the sky, and filled with envy in equal measure.

At the same time, he also felt a sense of uneasiness. He recalled how he had taught the Grand Supreme Elder's disciple a lesson in the past. As anxiety churned inside him, he took a deep breath and bit the bullet, stepping forward and cupping his fists in greeting. "Your humble disciple greets the Grand Supreme Elder!"

"This is the Baole Cannon that your humble disciple has designed and invented. I drew inspiration from the strongholds' Fire God Cannon. The Dharmic Armament Pavilion's Pavilion Head didn't recognize this Numinous Treasure and even hinted that it's trash. Your humble disciple doesn't accept the evaluation…"

"I humbly request that the Grand Supreme Elder examine and assess my cannon personally!" Wang Baole pointed at the Baole Cannon and, without mincing his words, said quickly in a loud voice. After he was done speaking, he cupped his fists once again and bowed deeply!

Regardless of any anxieties he was feeling, to the vengeful Wang Baole, when the right time came, revenge must be served. It was the moment for revenge!

The Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion almost cursed at Wang Baole's words. When had he ever said that the cannon was trash? Wang Baole was lying with a straight face. He was misrepresenting him!

He was extremely unsettled, beyond anxious, by Wang Baole's protest. As he was about to bite the bullet and offer an explanation, the face in the sky suddenly sent a sharp look sweeping across the crowd. The words stuck in the Pavilion Head's throat. The sweeping gaze eventually stopped and rested upon the Baole Cannon that Wang Baole had refined.

A sudden silence fell across the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. Everyone held their breaths and watched on in awe. Amidst the Pavilion Head's and the Deputy Pavilion Heads' anxiety and uneasiness, amidst Lin Tianhao's paling face…

The eyes in the heavens seemed to see through the Baole Cannon, and clearly perceived the cannon's inner structure and its inscriptions. They lit up and seemed to show surprise. After eyeing the cannon and studying it more carefully, the face redrew its gaze from the cannon. A voice, carrying with it the weight of great authority, boomed across the entire Upper Academy Island.

"Excellent work!"

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Chapter 194: Who Had Cheats Turned On In Their Life?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As the two words rang out, they were like the passing of a law, dictating heaven and earth with its utterance!

It was as if all strength fled the Pavilion Head. His face was pale and drained of blood, and he lowered his head hurriedly with due respect. The other Deputy Pavilion Heads followed suit.

Even though the entire affair had nothing to do with them, the crowd had witnessed with their own eyes the entire proceedings of how Wang Baole, as an insignificant character, had fought back and reversed his fortunes. Every single one of them was inspired and even felt as if they were sharing his glory. They bowed to the heavens again.

Lin Tianhao, on the other hand, felt as if all life had been sucked from his body. The bitterness in his heart was vast like the ocean. The surrounding cacophony of noises grew distant. Dazed, he turned towards Wang Baole, and a deep sense of helplessness surfaced within him.

Countless scenes flashed across his eyes. From his first meeting with Wang Baole, his repeated clashes with Wang Baole ended with his failure, time after time. Gradually, a strange thought surfaced in his mind.

I've always felt as if I've had cheats turned on in my life… but even so, I still can't compete with this Wang Baole. This guy… must have done the same! He can't be offended—can't be offended… Amidst the bitter grief, Lin Tianhao felt overwhelming despair.

Wang Baole, on the other hand, was besieged by a slew of emotions. He hastily cupped his fists towards the sky and bowed. He said loudly, "Thank you, Grand Supreme Elder! The Grand Supreme Elder is just and fair. He is true to his word, know what's truth, and is beyond reproach!"

As Wang Baole bowed, the face in the sky seemed to glance at Wang Baole. There seemed to be a faint, indiscernible smile on his face. The face grew blurry and gradually morphed back into clouds, which then dispersed.

The imposing aura in the sky also gradually vanished, and the entire Upper Academy Island returned to normal. Wang Baole, brimming with energy, looked towards the Pavilion Head.

"Pavilion Head, let's quickly announce the new ranking!"

Since they had already gone past the point of civility, Wang Baole couldn't be bothered to mend the relations or put on an appearance of being respectful. When the words rang out, the Pavilion Head's face darkened horribly. After a moment's silence, he inhaled deeply, then spoke.

"For this round of the Armament Soldier Assessment, Wang Baole… is placed first!" Done speaking, he turned away with a dark face and left immediately. The Deputy Pavilion Heads looked at one another, then at Wang Baole. They shook their heads, sighed, then nodded their heads. It felt akin to an apology and a display of goodwill. Then, they left.

Upon seeing the Pavilion Head and Deputy Pavilion Heads depart, Chen Yutong marched forward, bringing joyful and congratulatory words. Wang Baole laughed out loud and greeted the people around him, giving his thanks amidst much laughter and talk. He was good with people and soon were laughing and joking with everyone. After a round of polite conversation, he left the square and returned to his cave abode.

He didn't spare even a glance at Lin Tianhao the entire time. It was clear that Lin Tianhao had gotten the message as well. He had left quietly, seemingly resigned to his fate.

Time sped by and days passed. Wang Baole's entitlement to a priority office placement had been recorded in his file. The transfer and placement of the Deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion was then announced.

Out of the four Deputy Pavilion Heads, one was transferred out of the college and would be placed in the Federation. Concurrently, Chen Yutong was promoted and would become a Deputy Pavilion Head!

As for the consequent vacant role of the College Administrative Department Head, many experienced and long-serving soldiers had originally been vying for the spot. There should have been a fierce battle over it. In fact, the position might even have been left vacant for a long period as the competition dragged out. However, because of Wang Baole's exemplary performance and his entitlement to a top priority in office placement, Chen Yutong's master and grandmaster were able to suppress all competition easily. Wang Baole was promoted to the top position in the College Administrative Department with few obstacles!

It was the arrival of twin fortunes for their lineage. Even though the fight for the position of Grand Elder in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion was still ongoing—with the candidates narrowed down to three people—few had the privilege to be privy to such politics in the upper echelons of the college or go about understanding it. Even if Wang Baole had the will, he didn't have the way.

After a round of celebrations with Chen Yutong, Wang Baole was officially initiated into the College Administrative Department.

On the first day of office, Wang Baole tidied up his cave abode. He looked at the mirror and the reflection of himself in a soldier's robes from multiple angles. Finally, he sighed a sigh of regret.

I'm too perfect…

Wang Baole continued to immerse himself in a cloud of regret. He left his cave abode and headed for the College Administrative Department, his spirits high. As he neared the department, he saw a dozen pretty female disciples standing in front of the gates of the College Administrative Department. They came with congratulatory messages and a banner printed with congratulatory words for Wang Baole.

The four main team leaders of the College Administrative Department had arrived early to wait at the games. As they saw him appear, Zhou Penghai was the first to approach. The rest followed after, extending their greetings respectfully.

"Greetings, Armament Soldier!"

The four main team leaders were no strangers to Wang Baole. He smiled and nodded, swept his gaze across the group of female disciples and looked up at the banner. He was inwardly pleased, but outwardly, his face straightened into a stern look.

"You guys… no such stunts in the future," Wang Baole scolded.

Zhou Penghai immediately concurred, and the remaining three main team leaders hastily reflected on their conduct. They gathered around Wang Baole, conversing the entire way to the main hall. Along the way, every disciple of the College Administrative Department who saw Wang Baole greeted him with awe.

Wang Baole arrived at the main hall amidst the respectful welcomes. As soon as he sat down, Zhou Penghai started preparing tea for Wang Baole and brought it before the latter. He stood next to Wang Baole as he reported, in a low voice, what the entire College Administrative Department had been doing.

Wang Baole nodded at times as he listened to Zhou Penghai's report. At the end of the report, he raised his teacup. Zhou Penghai hurriedly lowered his head and left. Wang Baole placed his teacup down immediately and stood with his eyes shining. He inspected the main hall—a touch here, a feel there—and felt extremely pleased.

Even though my status has changed, I still have to work harder at cultivation and the refinement of Numinous Treasures. Satisfied, Wang Baole returned to the comfortable seat, pulled out a bag of snacks, and started munching. While snacking, he mused about his path henceforth.

I'm at the fourth level of the True Breath realm now. From now on, I have to work even harder and strive to reach the peak of True Breath realm… after that, I'll be able to prepare for the Foundation Establishment realm. Upon recalling the prowess the Foundation Establishment cultivators displayed during the battle at the stronghold, desire filled Wang Baole's heart.

I shouldn't neglect the area of refining Numinous Treasures either… I'll have to read up on fourth-grade Numinous Treasures.

And that Dragon's Tooth of mine, I should have accumulated sufficient materials. If it turns out as a fourth-grade treasure after crafting, its power should be considerable… not to mention the Core Formation realm monster's tooth that General Zhou promised me. It hasn't reached me yet… could he have forgotten?Wang Baole was reminded of the matter and straightened his back immediately. He felt torn and couldn't decide if he should send a friendly reminder.

Forget it. It doesn't look good to rush such matters. Let's wait a bit longer. If nothing reaches me, then, I'll just have to find some excuse to pay a personal visit to the stronghold.

Upon deciding the things that were to be done, Wang Baole called for the four main team leaders to gather again. He passed down some simple instructions and left the College Administrative Department. When he returned to the cave abode, he began his cultivation.

Time passed steadily, and things ran smoothly. Wang Baole managed to craft the Dragon's Tooth two weeks later.

He studied the mace-like Numinous Treasure before him. Wang Baole left the college and tested the Numinous Treasure in the wilderness. He examined the Numinous Treasure; paying attention to the spirit force it exuded and the destructive force it displayed when wielded. It was regrettable that he couldn't get his hands on a Beast King's tooth, but Wang Baole was still extremely pleased.

When the Beast King's tooth arrives, I'll just recraft it slightly. Its power should increase considerably.

He kept the Dragon's Tooth, happily stepped onto his droplet-shaped cruiser, and made his way back to the Upper Academy Island.

After entering the Upper Academy Island, as he neared the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, nearly everyone who saw Wang Baole paid great attention to his approaching; many even extended their greetings. Wang Baole smiled and nodded, returning their greetings while inwardly moved.

After he had become the Armament Soldier under the College Administrative Department, the change in his status and people's attitudes towards him had him in a constant good mood. Especially the female disciples—he could feel the flirtatious baiting in the eyes of many of them.

I've regained the feeling that I had on the Lower Academy Island, of constantly being the center of attention. As for those girls… I can understand how they feel. After all, it must be rare to find someone like me, who's so young, and so rich, and so good looking, and who wields such great power in his hands.

If it had been anyone else, he'd be strutting around like a flashy peacock by now. He wouldn't be so diligent and modest, and keep his head down like me, Wang Baole lamented. He felt as if he'd just discovered another one of his merits—modesty.

As he lost himself in his humble thoughts and was about to speed up his journey back to the cave abode, he suddenly heard a familiar thundering roar from the distant sky. It made the look on his face change, and he caught sight of a familiar figure charging towards him from afar.

It was the Diamond Ape.

It seemed that it had been secretly spying on Wang Baole for quite some time. As a result, despite having switched his cruiser, the Diamond Ape was able to recognize Wang Baole immediately. It sent its palm flying towards the cruiser without hesitation.

Another ambush! Wang Baole was frightened and at the same time, furious. Fortunately, he had survived a few ambushes by the Diamond Ape and had cultivated an excellent habit of keeping an eye out on his surroundings at all times. With his cultivation reaching the fourth level of the True Breath realm, his reaction had become quicker. Even though the Diamond Ape's outstretched palm managed to brush the side of the cruiser, under Wang Baole's steering, he managed to escape from the fate of being knocked around multiple times. After landing the cruiser with great difficulty, Wang Baole rushed out, looking vexed, and glared furiously at the sky.

In the sky, the Diamond Ape, having witnessed Wang Baole's quick reaction, was extremely dissatisfied. It bared its teeth at Wang Baole, and turned around and jiggled his butt at him. Then, with an air of disdain, it flew towards the Beast Taming Pavilion.

Many Dharmic Armament disciples witnessed what happened. The odd faces they made had a tinge of playful mischief. Nobody went around discussing it openly, but the history between Wang Baole and the Diamond Ape had made a deep impression on many people.

Wang Baole glared at the nasty looks the Diamond Ape gave him, then realized that his embarrassing state had been seen by everyone around him. He felt as if he had received a blow to his reputation. The present humiliation and the past wrongs surfaced in his mind, and his eyes narrowed into a glare.

That shameless monkey, it's time you have a taste of what I'm truly capable of!

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Chapter 195: Say Something!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The look on Wang Baole's darkened as he watched the Diamond Ape leave and eventually disappear into the Beast Taming Pavilion. He turned and walked towards his cave abode. The gears in his head started spinning, and his mind overflowed with ideas.

Fling Self-Exploding Beads at the stupid monkey? No, that's too obvious.

Get the mosquitoes to bite it? That's a good one. But if it throws a tantrum and triggers an investigation by the Beast Taming Pavilion, I could easily be exposed as the perpetrator…

Pit it against someone else? Sow discord between it and the Beast Taming Pavilion Elder? The technicalities of executing that seem rather complex… that's not something someone as smart as I am should do.

What should I do… Wang Baole frowned. He recalled the numerous encounters he had when he was young, discarding each idea that he could think of. As he stepped inside the cave abode, his footsteps stilled.

( NovelFull ) Is that Diamond Ape male or female? Wang Baole wondered. He tried to recall his memories in detail. Disgruntlement gradually unfurled within him. He was sure that the Diamond Ape was a male.

As a Foundation Establishment realm beast, it knows no shame, doesn't wear any clothes and exposes itself in front of everyone in public. That exhibitionist has gone too far! Wang Baole snorted. He decided that the sins of the monkey were indeed grave.

I, Wang Baole, have always been a generous and forgiving man. One who never holds grudges. But that monkey is just too shameless. What's more, it likes to expose itself. How are the female disciples of this college to conduct themselves in the face of such shameless behavior. It's an affront to the public. I have to discipline this moral hazard for the college!

At that thought, Wang Baole was suddenly seized by a feeling of solemnity; it felt as if he had been imbued with a sense of mission, and a plan quickly surfaced in his mind.

Since it's a male monkey, there is only one way to go about doing this. I'm going to make a female monkey puppet for it… Wang Baole turned the idea over and played it out in his head. A sense of certainty grew in his heart. He sniggered as he played out the scenes in his plan. He felt excited and was dizzy with anticipation, and both his eyes started dazzling. He turned and ran straight for the smelting furnace, pulled out the materials, and started crafting.

He also logged on to the Spirit Intranet at the same time and started reading up on all sorts of information.

Time flew by. Three days later, Wang Baole walked out of the smelting furnace room with a smaller Diamond Ape trailing behind him.

The Diamond Ape was pink all around, its eyes huge, mouth small like a cherry, and blessed with great curvatures. The Spirit Qi that rippled off it was incredible. The quality of the Numinous Treasure was that of a perfected third-grade Numinous Treasure.

Especially in terms of its hardiness—Wang Baole had wracked his brain, consolidating almost all of the defensive inscriptions he had learned and pouring them into the Spirit Kernel. He spared no expense on the materials as well. The result was the smaller-sized Diamond Ape that was virtually indestructible.

Within the puppet was a self-destructive mechanism, and Wang Baole was the only person in the Upper Academy Island that could activate it.

As for its physical appearance, it was the outcome of Wang Baole logging onto the Spirit Intranet, searching tens of thousands of images of female monkeys, and merging them all together. He added a few inspired touches as well, and his final creation was a puppet that he believed would look extremely adorable and endearing in the eyes of the Diamond Ape.

Once this ape puppet appears, that cheap monkey will no doubt be swept off its feet!Wang Baole was overbrimming with confidence. Thinking about how pleased he was, he laughed out loud. A moment later, he led the ape puppet out of the cave abode in high spirits.

Wang Baole stepped out of the cave abode and, with a snap of his fingers, the ape puppet following closely behind him let out a series of chirping sounds from inside its body. Its body seemed to expand slightly to twice its original size. Standing there, it might not reach the size of a small mountain, but it was still significantly large. Wang Baole judged its size to be fitting when compared with the Diamond Ape.

He strutted around in the Dharmic Armament Pavilion with the puppet. Along the way, those who saw him were all stunned. They made all sorts of odd faces at the sight, and all of them were drawn towards Wang Baole's puppet.

"Is that a… puppet?"

"What's up with Wang Baole. He actually crafted a Diamond Ape puppet?"

"Do you guys feel that this puppet seems a little… slutty?"

Wang Baole heard the surrounding debates and saw the expressions on everyone's faces. He grew even more pleased and assured of his plan.

This is, without any doubt, a work of art! Wang Baole turned back and glanced at the ape puppet with great satisfaction. However, as soon as the thought of why it had been created in the first place popped up in his head, he couldn't help but sigh. He felt as if he had strayed from his path of creating unique puppets, and was wandering farther and farther away from that path, into the woods…

I've sacrificed so much just to punish this cheap monkey who has incurred the public's rage. But it's alright, that's my destiny. My whole life, I was destined to work hard and to help others without holding any grudges, Wang Baole lamented, then simply retrieved his cruiser and leaped on board with the puppet.

He flew the cruiser into the sky and made a quick round of the Upper Academy Island. When he reached the Beast Taming Pavilion, he slowed down… It was noon. From afar, under the sunlight, the pink puppet looked spectacularly provocative. It was like a rose in a forest of thorns. It drew the attention of many and, at the same time, attracted the eyes of one within a cave abode atop a mountain somewhere in the Beast Taming Pavilion.

Those eyes landed instantly on Wang Baole's cruiser and narrowed slightly. A thundering roar followed. Without hesitation—instead, possibly, with a tinge of excitement—the Diamond Ape charged out of its cave abode and headed straight for Wang Baole.

It's coming! Wang Baole became excited as soon as he heard the familiar howling. He hurriedly maneuvered the puppet and flew it out of the cruiser in an attempt to draw the Diamond Ape's attention.

However, when the Diamond Ape approached, howling, it didn't even spare a glance at the ape puppet. Instead, with a slap, the ape sent the puppet flying. The Diamond Ape honed in on Wang Baole and raced towards him. It was as if Wang Baole was the one who had captured his full attention.

What's the situation? He doesn't like it?

Wang Baole was shocked by the discovery. He trembled and quickly steered the cruiser out of the way, but it was too late. The Diamond Ape caught up with him and bared its teeth, sending its palm flying towards the cruiser.

There was a loud boom, and Wang Baole cried out—he felt the heavens spinning. With great difficulty, he steered the cruiser into avoiding the Diamond Ape's second attack, landed, and climbed out of the cruiser hastily. He raised his head toward the sky and glared furiously.

In mid-air, the Diamond Ape's face split into a wider grin. It seemed even more contemptuous than before. The ape thudded his chest mockingly before strutting off.

Wang Baole's breathing quickened as he watched the ape depart, and he gnashed his teeth angrily.

This isn't an error of judgment on my part. It must be because of the cheap monkey's strange preferences. That must be it! Wang Baole glanced at the ape puppet beside him viciously. He kept the puppet and charged back to his cave abode, into the smelting furnace room, and began a series of modifications to the ape puppet's physical appearance.

A day later, the modifications were completed. That round, Wang Baole had focused his modifications on the puppet's body. He had contemplated the Diamond Ape's physical prowess and guessed that its taste went towards the more strongly built. As such, the modified ape puppet had an immensely muscular form.

The modification seemed to have an effect. The Diamond Ape clearly spared a few glances at the puppet. However, it eventually still charged towards Wang Baole's cruiser. The force it used to knock the cruiser away though, seemed slightly weaker.

It's effective! Wang Baole became excited. He continued the modification. After a few rounds, he finally had a full understanding of the Diamond Ape's taste. He created an ape puppet that had small eyes, thick lips, and a muscular body that was covered in mud-yellow fur.

When the ape puppet appeared, the effect was immediate. The Diamond Ape, which a moment earlier had been racing towards Wang Baole, was instantly captivated. Its body seemed to quiver, and its breathing grew heavier. The Diamond Ape tore its eyes away from Wang Baole in an instant. Wang Baole could feel the fire burning in the ape's eyes as it stared at the ape puppet.

Hook, line, and sinker! Wang Baole watched as the Diamond Ape raced towards his ape puppet. He hurriedly sent the puppet away into the distance. However, its speed was too slow, and it was soon caught up by the Diamond Ape. The ape grabbed the puppet with a swipe of its arms and flew hastily back to its cave abode…

That shameless monkey. You're going to have a taste of what it feels like to fall from heaven straight into depths of hell! Wang Baole said spitefully. He returned to his cave abode, did some simple math on the time that had passed, then immediately triggered the self-destructive mechanism.

Moments passed after the mechanism was activated. A bellow, filled with shock and brimming with a rage that came from an unfulfilled satisfaction, rang out from the Beast Taming Pavilion and resounded through the air.

Wang Baole cheered up at hearing that sound.

"You puny shameless monkey, how's that for a thrill? For a surprise? This is only the beginning. You'll soon learn—the greatest suffering is loving something that is beyond one's reach!" At that moment, Wang Baole felt like a great philosopher; every word that fell out of his mouth was deep and philosophical.

His plan was divided into three steps. The first step was to attract the Diamond Ape and bait it successfully. The second step was to allow it to possess the puppet for a brief period of time, and allow it to develop an addiction. The third and final step…

The third step was to take away whatever fleeting moment the Diamond Ape earned!

Such a strategy—"you giveth, then you taketh away"—was what Wang Baole had prepared for the Diamond Ape.

It might not work as well on other people, but against a beast, Wang Baole was confident of its success.

Satisfied and pleased, he immediately went to the smelting furnace room and refined an identical ape puppet. The next day, he brought the puppet out.

The exact thing that had taken place previously happened again. The ape puppet was quickly snatched away by the Diamond Ape. That was swiftly followed by the puppet's self-destruction and the furious and crazed howls of the ape.

Wang Baole considered the reaction from the Beast Taming Pavilion and hence didn't attempt it too many times. After three times, he stopped bringing the ape puppet out. Instead, he waited in his cave abode.

Finally, one morning many days later… a red-eyed Diamond Ape appeared outside Wang Baole's cave abode. It let out a roar at the cave abode.

The feeling of having discovered an extremely fun toy only to have it gone after a few rounds of playing with it left the Diamond Ape feeling an emptiness in its heart. At that moment, it howled outside Wang Baole's cave abode, hitting the stone walls as if shouting for Wang Baole to come out…

Inside the cave abode, Wang Baole lifted his head high proudly. He straightened out his clothes slowly, then opened the door by a tiny slit. Through the slit, one eye looked out and saw the raging Diamond Ape standing outside.

"What are you hollering about? I can't understand a word. If you have something to say, just say it!"

"Roar…" The Diamond Ape saw Wang Baole's eyes through the slit and thundered immediately.

"Can't understand a single thing. Why don't you just say something?" Wang Baole coughed.

"Roar!"

"Holler all you like. Are you going to say a word? If not, I'm going back to sleep!" Wang Baole glared and sealed the narrow opening shut…

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Chapter 196: Operation Sword Sun!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Roar!" The Diamond Ape watched as Wang Baole shut the doors to his cave abode and started to panic. It seemed on the verge of flying into another rage and started howling fiercely again. Its palms smashed against the doors of the cave abode, and the loud slams drew the attention of many in the area.

"The Diamond Ape!"

"Why has it come here?"

"This is… Wang Baole's cave abode? Its doors are shut?"

In the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, disciples who witnessed the scene sucked in a collective, frightened breath. They weren't completely taken over by terror, though; they realized that something interesting seemed to be unfolding before their eyes. However, after seeing the raging mad Diamond Ape, no one dared to venture too near; everyone started observing from afar.

Wang Baole watched as the doors to his cave abode quaked under the ape's slamming, coughed heavily once, and opened up a narrow slit again. He glared.

"What do you want exactly?"

"Roar!"

"I really can't understand a single thing," Wang Baole blinked. The Diamond Ape had gone completely mad. It jumped outside the cave abode, thudding its chest heavily, and turned around at the same time. It seemed to be trying very hard.

The scene was like a sudden bolt of lightning exploding in everyone's minds.

"My god, the killer move!"

"Goodness, quick, let's make our retreat!"

Wang Baole's scalp started prickling too. He knew he couldn't go too far. He spoke hastily.

"Fine, fine. I know what you're trying to say."

Once those words were out of his mouth, the Diamond Ape spun around immediately. It stared at Wang Baole through the narrow slit in the cave abode with a look of agitation.

"But there's no point in you yelling. I don't have what you want… even if you unleash a powerful attack, I'll just shut this door. We'll just have to see who's quicker." As Wang Baole spoke, he sneaked a glance at the Diamond Ape.

Upon hearing Wang Baole saying he didn't have what he was looking for, the Diamond Ape's body started shaking. It howled again, throwing punches everywhere and sending the ground trembling. The mountain rocks quaked. Its demeanor proclaimed loudly—it would not stop until it got what it came for.

The scene caught the attention of a growing number of people. Wang Baole put on an appearance of exasperation as he watched the relentless Diamond Ape. He sighed, and through a slit in the door, his gaze fell on the Diamond Ape, honing straight in on his teeth.

"Fine, fine. I, Wang Baole, am a soft-hearted fellow. How about this—you give me one of your molars, and I'll hand over what you came for, how's that!"

The Diamond Ape's eyes widened upon hearing Wang Baole's words. He glared furiously at Wang Baole, seeming to grow angrier, and shook his head vehemently in refusal.

"Then there's nothing we can do about this. I wanted to let you have a monster puppet that would never be broken by, um, you know what I mean…" Wang Baole coughed, and slowly reeled it in.

When it heard the puppet would never be broken, the Diamond Ape was torn. It let loose a round of howls outside the cave abode and paced about as if it was considering the matter.

Wang Baole's eyes shone as he saw that the time was almost right. His goal wasn't to make an enemy of the Diamond Ape or get its tooth. The beast, after all, belonged to the Beast Taming Pavilion Elder. If he plucked its tooth, the Beast Taming Pavilion would likely come knocking.

The goal of every one of Wang Baole's plans was to teach the other party a lesson. More importantly, he wanted to build a positive relationship between tamer and beast.

He didn't know how the Beast Taming Pavilion tamed beasts, but he had discovered a principle from the high officials' autobiographies—one must giveth, then taketh away, and then giveth again. Through the process, the other party's gratitude would shoot up exponentially.

"Fine, fine, Diamy. I don't want your tooth anymore. I'll let you have this beast puppet. Don't worry, it won't break!" Wang Baole said. He activated his scabbard and let the nine mosquitoes roam around the area without being discovered. Only after that did he open the door to the cave abode decisively, retrieve a completed ape puppet, and place it before the Diamond Ape.

The Diamond Ape heard what Wang Baole said. It looked at the ape puppet and froze. Then, it rushed forward and swept the puppet into an embrace. The ape looked at Wang Baole with suspicion; it was clear it didn't think things would turn out that way. It had been ready to pull its tooth out.

But Wang Baole didn't want his tooth after all. In fact, he even decided to give him the toy. The sentient Diamond Ape, which was capable of thought—albeit barely—was lost.

"But you should stop bullying me. Don't worry, I know you like this toy. I've removed the self-destruct mechanism," Wang Baole said with a sigh. He even stepped forward and patted the Diamond Ape.

The Diamond Ape's body quivered. It instinctively wanted to throw a punch. Besides its owner and a few others whom he was close to, such contact from strangers made him uncomfortable.

But upon thinking that Wang Baole had given him a toy, he hesitated. Without the loss of a tooth as a basis for comparison, his simple mind wouldn't have given the matter so much thought. But with the tooth already in the picture, the ape felt, as he looked at Wang Baole in its stunned daze, that it shouldn't be violent towards Wang Baole.

The entire proceeding was witnessed by the surrounding Dharmic Armament Pavilion disciples. Their eyeballs almost fell out of their eye sockets, and they exploded into a hushed chatter.

"The Diamond Ape's actually treating him so gently?"

"What is going on, giving the Diamond Ape presents can foster its goodwill? Others have done such a thing before, but it's never worked!"

The ones surprised weren't merely the Dharmic Armament Pavilion disciples. Many cruisers currently hovered in mid-air. Aboard them were disciples from the Beast Taming Pavilion. The Diamond Ape had been throwing a tantrum for nearly half a day—they had a duty to track it down and investigate the matter.

As they witnessed what had taken place, the impact shook them and stirred waves of emotions within them even more.

"The Diamond Ape actually allowed him to touch it!"

"Am I actually seeing this?"

Under the crowd's stunned gazes, Wang Baole grew secretly pleased. He patted the Diamond Ape a few more times and said, laughing, "Go home, Diamy. When I have time, I'll craft a few more toys for you. Go home now." Wang Baole smiled with his hands behind his back and looked at the Diamond Ape.

The Diamond Ape was clearly still in a daze. However, when it looked back at Wang Baole, there was a hint of gentleness in its gaze. It clutched the ape puppet tightly, nodded at Wang Baole, and turned away, racing straight back to the Beast Taming Pavilion.

With the ape gone, the surrounding crowd was stirred into an uproar. Many who were quick-thinking realized the trick.

"This tactic is impressive!"

"No wonder he's an Armament Soldier. This Wang Baole has been conspiring and plotting since he arrived, fighting until he became the head of the College Administrative Department. I'd thought it was sheer luck. Now I know… his ability to strategize is beyond spectacular!"

Every disciple who saw the scene unfold was shaken to the core and harbored feelings of envy. More than a few were tempted to do the same, but the infamy of the Diamond Ape had spread far and wide. No one dared to anger it…

Wang Baole listened to the discussions around him, his mood growing merry. He cupped his fists towards the crowd then returned to his cave abode, humming a tune under his breath. He sat down, cross-legged, and pulled out his snacks. After a few bites, he played out the entire incident in his head and was satisfied with how everything turned out.

He felt that he had executed the entire thing flawlessly. He didn't incur the wrath of the Beast Taming Pavilion, and he resolved the ill feelings the Diamond Ape had harbored towards him. In the end, he even ensured the Diamond Ape would be more docile towards him in the future.

Furthermore, as long as he continued crafting ape puppets with a few unique features, the Diamond Ape's feelings towards him would improve. When the time came, whenever he came across anyone he didn't like, he could simply have a few words with the Diamond Ape. Matters would be easily resolved then.

But to build such a relationship requires some time, Wang Baole thought, pleased. Especially so when he stepped out in his cruiser a few days later and came across the Diamond Ape. When the Diamond Ape saw Wang Baole, it grinned and raced towards him.

There was no knocking around. Instead, it stopped beside Wang Baole, bared its teeth in a wide grin, and thudded its chest and hollered as if in greeting.

Wang Baole's mood lightened tremendously. His life resumed normalcy, and his cultivation and his proficiency in crafting armaments improved steadily. A month passed.

That was when a piece of news was announced. It was like a pebble dropping into a pond, sending thousands of waves rippling out. The attention of very disciple from every pavilion on the Upper Academy Island was ensnared.

Due to the recent Beast Tide, the Federation staged an ambush on the Sea of Beasts and successfully slaughtered numerous Beast Kings. That won them twenty years of stability. Built on that two-decade foundation and with such a grand victory, a proposal that had been intended for a later implementation was brought forward, and was approved!

The name of the proposal… Operation Sword Sun!

The mission of Operation Sword Sun… to land on the ancient green-bronze sword!

After landing on the ancient green-bronze sword—to colonize a portion of the land and transform it into a colony!

The impact of the matter was immense and was felt across all the political forces. The disciples of the Ethereal Dao College were all shaken to the core. That was something that every cultivator dreamed of achieving. It was something that was challenging in the climate of internal conflicts and external threats.

However, with the external threat suppressed for the moment and the Federation seeking a target to distract the internal political entities, Operation Sword Sun became an obvious course of action!

The operation was a huge matter though. True Breath realm cultivators weren't eligible for participation. However, there was a phase within Operation Sword Sun that involved True Breath ream cultivators, and that was the Federation's Hundred Seedling Plan!

From the respective political entities in the Federation, a hundred True Breath realm prodigies were to be chosen as seedlings and specially groomed!

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Chapter 197: If You Are Up To It, Go Ahead!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The matter implicated the entire Federation and all the political entities within. As one of the four great Dao Colleges, the Ethereal Dao College had many graduates who gained office in the Federation. The disciples came from a wide range of family backgrounds; their relationships with the Federation were complex and multi-layered.

That was why news of the Operation Sword Sun had appeared on Upper Academy Island almost immediately, even before the operation had been unanimously approved and announced publicly. Heated discussions and excited exchanges also turned up on the college's Spirit Intranet.

"Have you heard about Operation Sword Sun? A mission to land on the ancient green-bronze sword! There must be Divine Armaments up there!"

"Compared to the ancient green-bronze sword's strong Spirit Qi and its countless rare materials and treasures, I'm actually more interested in whether there are any living female ancient sword cultivators, and whether their physiology and psychology are identical to ours. If there's an opportunity, as an academic endeavor, I would like to study whether it's possible to develop a romantic relationship with one!"

"Why the mention of female cultivators only… the poster above is harboring immoral intentions! I demand to be part of the research team!"

"Shameless, you lot of guys. You men have fantasies that show how much of a scum you are!"

Such excitement and playful banter spread like wildfire on the Spirit Intranet. Wang Baole was equally excited. He started fantasizing about the possibility of one day stepping on the ancient green-bronze sword and holding his presidential inauguration there. Behind him would be an army of guards—ancient sword cultivators. He played out the scenes in his mind, and his eyes lit up.

He couldn't help himself. He posted anonymously on the Spirit Intranet.

"I have no respect for you lot, guys who have no ambition and whose brains are obsessed with female cultivators. How could we as cultivators behave in such a manner! I'm telling all of you, in all seriousness, that if there's any research on romances with aliens, to please give me a holler! I'm an expert on this!"

His post was soon mocked by others. Amidst the lively and rowdy atmosphere, the college disciples started to look forward to the mission. What they had said previously had all been in jest. In reality, every disciple held feelings towards the ancient sword that couldn't be described with mere words. The Dao civilization on Earth had arisen because of the ancient sword's appearance. Its origins inspired all kinds of speculation, and at the same time, people were in awe of the ancient sword.

More and more people started talking about Operation Sword Sun. There were even some mainstream media outlets in the Federation that began broadcasting about the mission. Wang Baole was munching on his snacks and scrolling through the posts on the Spirit Intranet one day, ready to post an article under his anonymous account, when he received a voice transmission message from the seventh primary stronghold's General Zhou Dexi.

"Wang Baole, I've made arrangements for someone to send over the Beast King's tooth that I promised you earlier. You should be able to receive it today!"

General Zhou's low voice was calm and composed as usual, and it traveled slowly into Wang Baole's ear. Wang Baole became alert and filled with energy. He hurriedly set aside his snacks and turned towards the voice transmission device.

"Many thanks to General Zhou!"

A fire burned within Wang Baole. He had been waiting for the tooth for so long. He was confident that once he got hold of the Core Formation realm Beast Emperor's tooth, he would be able to upgrade his Numinous Treasure-grade Dragon's Tooth. With the help of the Core Formation realm-grade beast's tooth, his Dragon's Tooth would let loose an unimaginable power.

Zhou Dexi heard the excitement in Wang Baole's voice. His remained calm. He chatted casually with Wang Baole for a short while more before switching the tone of his voice, saying suddenly, "Wang Baole, you little rascal. You decimated everyone during the Ethereal Dao College's Armament Soldier assessment, sounded the Elder Request Drum and called forth the Grand Supreme Elder in your college to judge the matter of your Numinous Treasure. This entire incident has reached our ears."

"I'm interested in that Baole Cannon of yours. Lend me one. I'll find someone to test its effectiveness in actual battle."

Wang Baole agreed to General Zhou's request without hesitation. The Fire God Cannon had inspired his original creation of the cannon. Furthermore, he had a unique friendship with the seventh primary stronghold. He would be glad if the cannon could be of use to the seventh primary stronghold. In fact, he had already thought of the same idea as General Zhou.

Zhou Dexi was comforted and pleased by Wang Baole's swift and decisive agreement. He spoke a few more words, then ended the conversation. It didn't take long, and by the time the sun began to set, a cruiser that had come from the seventh primary stronghold landed in the Ethereal Dao College.

The person who had arrived was Zhou Lu. After some communication with the Ethereal Dao College, Zhou Lu appeared before Wang Baole. She stood outside the cave abode and watched as Wang Baole came outside. Regardless of the contributions Wang Baole had made towards the seventh primary stronghold, her feelings towards him were slightly complicated. Because of their unpleasant history, she couldn't bring herself to like him. Furthermore, she sensed a certain perversion in Wang Baole's naming of the Numinous Treasure. All the above resulted in her glaring at him and stretching out her right hand impatiently.

"Hand over your Numinous Treasure!"

Wang Baole originally had a smile on his face when he had seen Zhou Lu approach and was about to hand over the Baole Cannon, but upon hearing the tone of her voice, he became displeased. He rolled his eyes and stopped, and instead leaned against the rock wall. He crossed his arms and gave Zhou Lu a sweep once over.

"What're you getting at? You ask for presents whenever you see a cute guy?"

"Stop disgusting me and hand it over, quickly!" Zhou Lu heard Wang Baole call himself a "cute guy" and couldn't help the contempt surging within her. She frowned and snorted.

Wang Baole became angry when he saw Zhou Lu's attitude towards him. All his life, except Du Min, he had never met his match in a spar of wits. He raised an eyebrow.

"I have so many Numinous Treasures. Which is the one you want?"

"You…" Zhou Lu's chest heaved. She had a shapely figure with fine curves and was wearing a black form-fitting uniform. As she grew more agitated, the uniform looked as if it was about to burst at the seams at any moment.

After a second, she finally gritted her teeth and said, one word at a time.

"The. Baole. Cannon!"

"…" Wang Baole coughed and thought himself rather gifted in the area of naming. He would not have treated another person in such a manner, but Zhou Lu's tone was unfriendly; she tried to order him around, and when she looked at him, it was with contempt in her eyes. Wang Baole didn't feel he was in the wrong, no matter how much he pushed her around.

However, Wang Baole considered the possibility of Zhou Lu being General Zhou's concubine. Even if that wasn't the case, they had the same family name; they could be relatives. He felt that there was no need for him to lower himself to her level and continue their fight.

Wang Baole thought his decision showed great consideration to General Zhou. He lifted his right hand and with a wave, threw a Baole Cannon over.

Zhou Lu caught the Numinous Treasure and snorted. She flung a storage bracelet at Wang Baole, turned, and left. Her clothes clung tightly to her body, and as she left with her back towards Wang Baole, he couldn't help but eye her departing form.

They've turned back to peaches… He sighed. He couldn't help himself as he yelled at Zhou Lu's retreating back.

"Zhou Lu, speak the truth. Are you secretly in love with me?"

A dozen yards away, Zhou Lu heard what Wang Baole said. She stumbled and almost fell. When she spun around, she was clearly furious and on the verge of explosion. She glared at Wang Baole.

"If that's not the case, why do you wear clothes a size smaller when you come to see me? Zhou Lu, I advise you to just give up. We're… not compatible!" Wang Baole sighed loudly. He didn't wait for Zhou Lu to respond, only turned and quickly returned to his cave abode. The doors shut with a loud slam.

Outside the cave abode, Zhou Lu was on the verge of flying into a mad rage. Her chest heaved, and she stared unblinkingly at the doors of Wang Baole's cave abode. After a moment, she finally clamped down on her temper. With gnashed teeth, she turned around and boarded her cruiser, dashing off.

"Stupid fatty, shameless rat! I, Zhou Lu, would rather fall in love with a beast than fall in love with you!" On the cruiser, a raging Zhou Lu cursed.

After making sure that Zhou Lu had indeed left, Wang Baole, who sat cross-legged in his cave abode, started humming merrily. He opened the storage bracelet happily and retrieved from within a black tooth the length of an arm.

The tooth was sharp and exuded an intense aura of violence. Upon its exposure, the surrounding temperature fell considerably. Wang Baole shivered, and he focused his breath and became serious. He could feel a suppressive force weighing down on him.

An impressive and imposing aura was exuded from the tooth as well, one which tested the stability of Wang Baole's cultivation. It took Wang Baole quite some time before he could get used to it, and with some difficulty. His eyes started to shine.

This is good stuff. Wang Baole's eyes shone. He could wait no longer. He rushed into the smelting furnace room with the beast's tooth, pulled out the Dragon's Tooth, and started the refinement.

During that time, Zhou Lu had returned to the seventh primary stronghold and handed the Baole Cannon over to General Zhou. He inspected it briefly and immediately arranged for one of his soldiers to test it on captive monsters.

A thundering shot resounded in the air. The blast from the Baole Cannon pierced straight through the beast and disintegrated half of its body. It was a beast that rivaled a first level True Breath realm cultivator.

The power of the blast didn't surprise the surrounding soldiers observing the trial. After all, it was weaker than the Fire God Cannon. Even though it proved fatal for a True Breath realm beast, similar Numinous Treasures did exist!

"Continue!" General Zhou said coolly. The warrior holding the cannon continued firing. Soon, the number of shots fired reached eighty, a hundred and sixty, three hundred and fifty, five hundred and thirty…

Gradually, the warrior's breathing quickened with excitement. Those watching couldn't maintain their composure either. Their eyes widened and slowly revealed their amazement and disbelief.

Zhou Lu, who had been standing at one side, was dazed as well.

General Zhou's breathing quickened slightly as well.

The Baole Cannon was simply… stable beyond belief. Even though Numinous Treasures with similar destructive force were plenty, the reason that those treasures weren't as prevalent in usage was that they were firstly, costly to make, and secondly… too unstable!

War was, after all, different from a mere friendly challenge. During a friendly challenge, one could switch their Numinous Treasures countless times. A Numinous Treasure would generally be fired a few times—at most, a few dozen or up to a hundred times. But in war, it was common to fire one Numinous Treasure a few hundred or a few thousand times.

The Baole Cannon was fired a total of a thousand and two hundred times before it showed signs of instability. The test was finally concluded, and there was silence in the air. Everyone held their breath, their eyes wide. When they looked at the Baole Cannon, a battle scene appeared in their mind.

In that scene, the Baole Cannon had been mass produced. After a salvo of Fire God Cannon shots, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands—perhaps even a million—Baole Cannon shots would be fired. Picturing that sent everyone shaking to their core.

"No wonder the Ethereal Dao College didn't go around spreading news of this, but suppressed the news and contacted the military in secret… I'm afraid even Wang Baole himself is not fully aware of this cannon's worth and what it truly means…" General Zhou muttered to himself.

Beside him, Zhou Lu remained unconvinced. She said quietly, "I examined it on my way back as well. Even though I don't fully understand its workings, but I can tell the cannon isn't that complex a Numinous Treasure. It's just a matter of a few modified inscriptions. There are plenty of Dharmic Armament cultivators in the Federation, so why was it that no one has come up with this before?"

General Zhou stared calmly at Zhou Lu. When Zhou Lu finally lowered her head in uncertainty, he said in a cool voice, "There were many who thought the same when the Fire God Cannon was created. In fact, many people think like you when anything of any value is first created!"

"It's just a matter of a few modified inscriptions… you try and modify one. If you are up to it, go ahead!"

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Chapter 198: Know Not Shame

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The military's testing of the Baole Cannon would not conclude so soon; time passed steadily in the following days as they did a comprehensive trial.

Operation Sword Sun soon became commonplace news in the Federation as mainstream media spread the news. It stirred a great debate and was the center of much attention. During that period, the Ethereal Dao College also issued an official announcement to all Upper Academy Island disciples regarding the selection of the hundred Federation seedlings!

As part of Operation Sword Sun, the hundred Federation seedlings would be nominated by every city lord and every political entity in the Federation. The nominees would report to the Federation and undergo the first round of selection.

Those who passed the first round of selection were to journey to the capital of the Federation and undergo the second round of selection. The final hundred people would be selected, without any order or ranking, and become the Federation's seedlings. They would be entitled to certain privileges and, at the same time, be given special grooming!

There were three hundred nominations from the Ethereal Dao College, but nobody knew how many would remain to become one of the hundred seedlings after the multiple rounds of elimination.

The three hundred nominations were spread across all pavilions, and the respective pavilions would submit their recommendations to the college for consideration. Out of the dozen or so names submitted by the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, Wang Baole's name stood out.

Regardless of the uneasy relations between the Dharmic Armament Pavilion's Pavilion Head and Wang Baole, and in spite of the position of Grand Elder remaining vacant and its final successor undecided—and the fight for the position growing fiercer—after what had happened, the Pavilion Head could no longer cow or intimidate Wang Baole.

In fact… he could not be intimidated!

Be it due to his contributions to the seventh primary stronghold or his achievements at Spirit Breath Village, Wang Baole's name had spread far and wide. Many knew of him in the four Dao colleges and in the military. For a disciple who hadn't yet been given an official post but whose reputation already preceded him, his existence would be the pride of any political entity.

Furthermore, Wang Baole's talents in Dharmic Armaments were astonishing. His achievements surpassed that of an ordinary Armament Soldier—from his self-created Numinous Treasure that shook the Armament Soldiers, to the miracle he performed before the Elder Request Drum, and finally, to the assessment given by the Grand Supreme Elder!

Excellent work!

Those less shrewd, upon hearing the two words, might think that they were the judgment and affirmation the Grand Supreme Elder had given for Wang Baole's Numinous Treasure. But the highly astute knew that the words "excellent work" did not refer solely to the Numinous Treasure; to a greater degree, they were an affirmation of Wang Baole himself!

Excellent work!

In such circumstances, the placement of Wang Baole's name at the top of the ranking was no longer that much of a surprise.

A week later, the nominations from every pavilion were finalized. When the list was announced, it stirred up a storm on the Upper Academy Island. The three hundred nominees suddenly became the center of attention belonging to the hundreds of thousands of people on the entire island.

"I see Zhuo Yifan on the list! I was guessing he'd be one of the nominees from the Combat Pavilion. After all, he's ranked top in the first level True Breath realm during the Combat Pavilion Tournament!"

"There're so many familiar names listed. There's even Zhao Yameng from the Array Runes Pavilion. She's the same batch as Wang Baole. I heard she keeps her head down in the Array Runes Pavilion, but that doesn't stop the Array Runes Pavilion's Pavilion Head, who still values her greatly!"

As the disciples engaged in fierce discussion, the Ethereal Dao College issued another notice regarding the Federation's Hundred Seedling Plan. The notice intensified the focus on the three hundred nominees.

Even the nominees themselves were taken by surprise and overjoyed!

Wang Baole, especially, his eyeballs almost popped out. The college's notice pertained to an unconditional promotion—all who advanced to become a Federation seedling would not only be rewarded by the college, they would also receive a promotion!

For example, Wang Baole was currently the head of the College Administrative Department. If he successfully became a Federation seedling, he would be promoted directly to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion!

Wang Baole couldn't contain his excitement. He could sense the drastic difference in status and position after he had become the head of the College Administrative Department. If he were to rise to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head…

That would be, to a certain extent, an important figure!

Such an enticement drove the three hundred nominees, including Wang Baole, wild; their eagerness to become a Federation seedling grew more intense. They were to travel to the capital city of the Federation in half a month and report on the designated date, then go through the second round of selection. Amongst True Breath realm cultivators, those three hundred people were the cream of the crop; their cultivation was impressive, and they all had their own cruisers.

As a result, they didn't depart together, but separately, on their own time. Many had left in their cruisers, heading straight for the Federation capital the next day.

Wang Baole went about his preparations as well. He contacted Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng and asked if they would like to travel together. They had become familiar with one another in Spirit Breath Village; even though they didn't cross each other's path often on Upper Academy Island, they regularly communicated via voice transmissions.

That was why Zhuo Yifan agreed immediately after Wang Baole raised the idea. Zhao Yameng, on the other hand, was more refined and reserved. She preferred peace and quiet and had intended to travel alone. However, after receiving Wang Baole's voice transmission, she thought back to their experiences in Spirit Breath Village and finally agreed to travel together as well.

The three set to depart two days later, then went about preparing for the journey. They had to pass a second round of selection after they reach the capital city. Only after that, when they remain standing after thousands of nominees were eliminated, would they become one of the hundred Federation seedlings.

Wang Baole completed his simple preparations and tidied up. The night before they were leaving, as he inspected his Numinous Treasures to ensure he would go through the selection round that was to be held in the capital city without any obstacles, he received a voice transmission from General Zhou of the seventh primary stronghold.

General Zhou's voice carried a tinge of excitement and friendliness. They had conducted a comprehensive trial of the Baole Cannon, and his regard for the cannon had skyrocketed to an unimaginable extent.

That was why he didn't mince his words during the voice transmission and voiced his request directly.

"Wang Baole, we have a high opinion of the Baole Cannon you have created. We need at least a million of them. It would be nearly impossible for you to refine all of them, so would you be agreeable to selling the blueprints to us?

"As for the price, due to many reasons, we're unable to pay you so much at one go, but we can pay you in installments. We guarantee you will receive payment every year, and that you'll be paid in full within ten years!

"There's also the Federation's Hundred Seedling Plan, which is part of Operation Sword Sun… we can guarantee your success. When you reach the capital, just play along a bit. We've reserved a spot for you in the final hundred!"

General Zhou wasn't a businessman. Perhaps he couldn't be bothered to play any tricks where that matter was concerned, so he communicated the price the military was willing to pay without attempting to hide anything from Wang Baole and let him decide.

He valued the cannon, but he valued Wang Baole himself more!

When Wang Baole heard what General Zhou had said, he sucked in his breath, and his eyes widened. The general had listed a long list of conditions in one go. He was dazed for a bit, but then, all of a sudden, he realized his Baole Cannon might have exceeded his expectations in some aspects.

He was overwhelmed with excitement. If it had been somebody else, he might have negotiated the terms and tried to gain more benefits for himself. However, when facing the seventh primary stronghold and General Zhou, who spoke with such openness, he didn't choose to do so. He replied without hesitation.

"I have no problems with that. You can just set a price. In fact, if my cultivation and refining Numinous Treasures didn't cost me a fortune, I wouldn't even mind giving it away for free."

Upon hearing Wang Baole's answer, General Zhou laughed out loud. There was a fierce tone of admiration in his laughter, and it was clear that the general's temperament agreed with Wang Baole's answer. He discussed further details with Wang Baole, then ended the transmission.

Wang Baole's spirits soared as he placed the voice transmission ring down. His eyes shone brightly. He waved his arms around excitedly, stood up, and walked around in circles. Pulling out a large bottle of Ice Spirit Water, he gurgled it down. He was so excited that he could almost break into dance.

A reserved seedling spot. Haha, the position of Deputy Pavilion Head is mine! The feeling of being guaranteed a spot made his whole person loosen up. His excitement persisted till daybreak and didn't cease even when the time for him to meet Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng arrived.

With great excitement, and in a joyous mood, Wang Baole left his cave abode for the agreed upon gathering place. It didn't take long before Zhuo Yifan—charming, poised, blessed with unearthly good looks and dressed in robes—and Zhao Yameng—elegant, dignified, gifted with an unworldly beauty, her long silky hair drifting in the breeze and a faint, angelic smile on her lips—appeared!

Zhuo Yifan wasn't alone. Following behind him were two disciples from the Combat Pavilion. Though, in the presence of Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng, they seemed insignificant and dull.

Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng's approach was akin to a golden couple's entrance. It was as if they epitomized the very beauty of the earth, and the surrounding disciples looked on with envy. Many female disciples in the crowd gazed at Zhuo Yifan with adoration while a great many of the male disciples were driven to shame when they stared at Zhao Yameng. In the presence of Zhao Yameng, they almost couldn't control their urge to protect and guard her. They dared not besmirch her in the slightest.

Wang Baole felt nothing of the sort. When he saw the pair, he laughed out loud and walked up to them. After pulling Zhuo Yifan into a hug, without any hesitation, and as the countless male disciples watched on, raging, Wang Baole drew Zhao Yameng into an embrace.

Zhuo Yifan let out a dry cough. A helpless sense of exasperation accompanied his every encounter with Wang Baole. But after the Spirit Breath Village affair, he couldn't help but feel gratitude towards and affection for Wang Baole.

As for Zhao Yameng, the expression on her face remained unchanged. She had a gentle, dignified smile on her face, and her gaze was calm.

"I'm relieved to see you guys. With the three of us together, we'll form the perfect team. After all, in terms of looks, we're all in the same league. Every time I see you guys, it almost feels like I'm looking into the mirror," Wang Baole smacked his tummy and said in a pleased tone.

Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng gave no reaction, but every single person in the crowd had an odd look on their faces. They seemed to be secretly voicing the same question in their hearts…

Where the hell is his sense of shame?

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Chapter 199: Coulomb Basin

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Baole, these two are my junior brothers whom I befriended in the Combat Pavilion. They are on a mission for the college. Since we're all traveling in the same direction, they thought of traveling together with me. What say you…" Zhuo Yifan coughed, interrupting Wang Baole as the latter basked in his own glory.

The two disciples behind Zhuo Yifan had ordinary looks, and their cultivation was at the second level of True Breath realm. They stepped forward immediately and cupped their fists, greeting Wang Baole.

"Greetings to Senior Brother Wang!" It was clear that Zhuo Yifan had spoken to them about Wang Baole before arriving there. Furthermore, Wang Baole's name on the Upper Academy Island had spread far and wide. As a result, the pair were very cordial to him.

"No problem, we'll all from the same college. Yifan's friends are my friends too. We'll head off together!" Wang Baole laughed out loud and agreed to their request. Then, he retrieved his droplet-shaped luxury cruiser and hopped on.

"Come on board, let's set off!"

Zhuo Yifan smiled and shook his head. He gestured towards Zhao Yameng, who was standing at one side, to board first.

Zhao Yameng smiled and nodded. With a cool and dignified look, she stepped onto the cruiser and sat down. Zhuo Yifan and his junior brothers from the Combat Pavilion followed suit and boarded the cruiser.

Wang Baole's old cruiser wouldn't have been able to seat so many people. However, his current cruiser was only given to people who were Deputy Pavilion Heads or their equals. Even with five of them on board, it still felt spacious.

Under Wang Baole's steering, the cruiser soon headed straight for the skies. It dashed through the clouds and raced towards the distant heavens. Its speed vastly surpassed that of an ordinary cruiser.

Based on Wang Baole's cruising speed, they needed an estimated twenty hours before they would each the Federation's capital city. They had departed earlier so that they could check out the city first and had the intention of familiarizing themselves with the place. Be it Wang Baole or Zhuo Yifan, they had never been to the capital city.

As the cruiser flew swiftly along, Wang Baole stopped standing around like an idiot. He sat down and looked at Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng, and emotions stirred in his heart. He had thought the speed he had advanced his cultivation to be really fast; he had not expected that Zhao Yameng was not slow in hers as well. She seemed to be at the fourth level of the True Breath realm.

Zhuo Yifan was slightly slower, but he still peaked at the third level of True Breath realm. He gave the impression that he might break through his current level quickly.

Everyone has their own secrets. Be it Zhuo Yifan or Zhao Yameng, they must be hiding gifts that others do not know. Upon realizing that, Wang Baole started chatting with them.

"You've all advanced to become your respective pavilions' Array Rune Soldier and Combat Soldier?"

"Have you heard, the competition for the Federation's upcoming Hundred Seedling Plan is going to be brutal. It's a one in a million chance. You'll need not only capability but incredible luck. The criteria for physical good looks are equally stringent. There are few who will qualify, but I should have no problems. Are you guys confident of your chances?" Wang Baole said, inwardly pleased. However, he soon sunk into low spirits.

Zhao Yameng was too reserved and quiet, inclined towards listening rather than talking. Zhuo Yifan, on the other hand, having undergone tough cultivation in the college, had cultivated a more restrained character as well. As a result, after having spoken for so long, Wang Baole watched as the two stared at him—one with her large eyes and the other with an expressionless face—and slowly, could not bring himself to continue speaking any further.

Wang Baole slapped his forehead and turned towards the two Combat Pavilion disciples, who had odd looks on their faces. He asked curiously, "Where are you headed?"

It was clear that it was their first time onboard a cruiser with such high flying speeds. It was moving so much more quickly than their own. They were respectful and in awe of Wang Baole, who owned such a cruiser. When they heard his question, one of them answered immediately.

"We're headed for the Coulomb Basin."

After he said that, the other junior brother next to him continued, "A student from the Alchemy Faculty on the Lower Academy Island applied for leave to visit his home a week ago. Six hours earlier, he sought help from the Lower Academy Island. He had met with beasts while traveling through the Coulomb Basin. He's trapped in the basin, but it's not life-threatening."

"The Lower Academy Island contacted a few small Dao colleges near the Coulomb Basin and requested they send out rescue during the night. At the same time, the Lower Academy Island also submitted a mission request to the Combat Pavilion. The two of us are heading to support the rescue mission and prevent any accidents from taking place."

There was no need to protect the confidentiality of such missions, as the Ethereal Dao College received many similar missions. The guards who had been stationed on the cruiser when Wang Baole had first returned home had been Upper Academy Island disciples who had been tasked with a mission.

In general, when students from the Lower Academy Island met with trouble, the Lower Academy Island would assess the severity of the matter before submitting a request to the Upper Academy Island, who would then arrange for students to resolve the problem. The Combat Pavilion disciples formed the main task force that completed those missions.

The pair did not conceal anything from the rest and lay out the details truthfully. Wang Baole recalled how he had been trapped in the Pond Cloud Rainforest. Concerned, he asked a few more questions and found out that the strongest beasts in the Coulomb Basin were only at the True Breath realm. The trapped disciple was also currently hiding in a safe spot. However, his location was surrounded by monsters, and they needed to eliminate the monsters one by one. As such, the rescue effort was still in process. Upon hearing that, he sighed in relief.

He knew that time was of the essence, so he released his Spirit Qi and increased the speed of the cruiser. The cruiser raced towards the location of the Coulomb Basin as shown on the map. It was smacked right in the middle of their way to the capital city.

The journey was neither long nor brief. Six hours passed quickly as Wang Baole kept talking. Once in a while, Zhuo Yifan would reply a few words. The two Combat Pavilion disciples would also join in, pulling out their voice transmission rings and communicating with the trapped Lower Academy Island student from time to time in order to confirm his location and safety.

One hour passed. A journey that should have taken much longer ended earlier due to Wang Baole's unique cruiser and him increasing its speed.

Beneath the cruiser was a vast expanse of green. It was a huge basin and was overgrown with vegetation, making the entire recessed area look like a swamp.

Such a geographical landscape occupied a great portion of the lands within the Federation.

It was at that moment that the two disciples received a voice transmission. There was joy on their faces, and they lifted their heads and said, "The guy's been rescued. He's safe—he just got a fright."

"We'll not pose further inconvenience on senior brothers and senior sister. We'll be leaving on our cruisers here and heading to our destination." The pair stood and cupped their fists at Wang Baole, Zhuo Yifan, and Zhao Yameng.

The cruiser stopped, and the pair bade farewell and left.

Wang Baole gazed at their retreating backs; he was slightly moved. He steered the cruiser away from the basin and looked at Zhuo Yifan.

"Your Combat Pavilion must receive quite a number of similar missions?"

"The Combat Pavilion receives hundreds, even up to a thousand, missions daily. These missions have to be completed by the disciples. Sometimes, there would be more missions than usual. That's why in general, there aren't many Combat Pavilion disciples on the Upper Academy Island."

"How about you, how many have you completed?" Wang Baole was curious.

"To date, I've completed seventy-three missions since enrolling on the Upper Academy Island." If it had been anyone else, Zhuo Yifan wouldn't have given such a detailed answer, but Wang Baole had asked, and he instinctively replied honestly.

"What about the casualty rate? I heard that except for certain special missions that could only be completed by a single person, the college would apply the twin standard for other missions outside the college. I also heard the resources sent would be three levels above the required cultivation level?" Zhao Yameng, who had been sitting at one side without uttering more than a few words, suddenly asked, after hearing what Zhuo Yifan said.

Wang Baole hadn't tried to find out more about missions outside the college. He got curious when he heard that.

"Twin standard? Three levels above the required cultivation level?"

"The three-level leap, simply put, is this: for example, if a Physical Seal realm disciple meets with trouble, a second level True Breath realm cultivator would be sent to support. If a third level True Breath realm disciple meets with trouble, a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator would be sent! As for the twin standard—based on the difficulty of the mission, instead of sending one person who was capable of completing it, we would send two of the same caliber!"

"Such arrangements would greatly reduce the number of accidents and casualties. But even with that in place, nearly a tenth of the disciples continue to be injured or killed every year," Zhuo Yifan explained.

Zhao Yameng frowned and looked deep in thought. Wang Baole was about the continue asking more questions after hearing Zhuo Yifan's explanation.

It was then that Zhao Yameng suddenly stood up, and the frown on her brow deepened. She stood in the cruiser, her head lowered and gazing towards the distant Coulomb Basin. She said, softly, "Do you feel… that this basin is a little too quiet? Since our approach, up until when we left, I did not see a single beast—not even an avian creature!"

There was a gleam in Wang Baole's eyes, and he stopped the cruiser in mid-air abruptly. Zhuo Yifan froze for a moment before a solemn look appeared on his face. The two looked towards the distant basin. However, it was too far away and indiscernible to their eyes.

"Yifan, send a voice transmission to your two junior brothers and ask if they're safe!" Wang Baole said immediately.

Zhuo Yifan pulled out his voice transmission ring almost as soon as Wang Baole spoke. He quickly contacted the two Combat Pavilion disciples, even turning on the video call function. He saw the two disciples and the student they had found; all three of them looked fine. The transmission ended, but a moment later, the normal expression on Zhuo Yifan's face was replaced by one of extreme solemnity. Zhuo Yifan looked at Zhao Yameng and Wang Baole.

"They look normal and have intercepted the student from the Lower Academy Island. They will relocate to a safe spot and return tomorrow. There's nothing out of the ordinary with their tone, but they didn't use the secret code word we of the Combat Pavilion are supposed to use during missions… such a blunder is considered a serious oversight to the Combat Pavilion!"

Upon hearing Zhuo Yifan's words, the expressions on Wang Baole's and Zhao Yameng's faces changed.

"Something's wrong!" Zhuo Yifan sucked in a deep breath. He gazed at Coulomb Basin, a frosty glint flashing across his eyes.

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Chapter 200: An Upheaval!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Such matters have to be reported to the college immediately. We're not allowed to take action unilaterally. We have to do whatever the college commands!" Zhuo Yifan sucked in a deep breath. As a disciple of the Combat Pavilion who had carried out dozens of missions, he was more experienced in handling such unexpected happenings. As he spoke, he was already turning on his voice transmission ring and sending a message to the college.

Wang Baole's expression was grave, and Zhao Yameng looked equally serious. However, the instant Zhuo Yifan started his transmission, a thunderous sound rang out suddenly from the distant sky.

Boom, the sound transformed into aural waves that swept outward in all directions, stirring invisible waves that shook the cruiser. For a moment, Wang Baole's and the others' breathing stilled. A bolt of lightning dashed across the sky, lighting up the sky, and split the heavens into two. At the same instant, it seemed to disrupt the transmission signal. In the same breath, Zhuo Yifan's voice transmission ring exploded into pieces!

The voice transmission ring broke into pieces. It was as if the lightning bolt had not only disrupted the signal, but the force of its aural waves had traveled through the voice transmission ring as well. The voice transmission ring, unable to withstand the shockwaves, shattered instantly.

The sight sent their heads buzzing with white noise!

Everything happened too quickly. From Zhuo Yifan's voice transmission to the roaring thunder, then the sudden lightning, followed by the shattering of Zhuo Yifan's voice transmission ring—it all took place within the snap of the fingers!

The expression on Zhao Yameng's face shifted, and Zhuo Yifan was stunned beyond belief. Wang Baole's breath quickened, the look on his face severe. Waves of emotions rolled and boiled within him. However, he was the quickest to react. He immediately steered the cruiser and raced at full speed towards the distance where the loud thunderous explosion occurred.

Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan weren't ordinary people. Despite their shock, they quickly sent their Spirit Qi into the cruiser. The cruiser's speed surged, and it bolted forward like the long arc of a rainbow.

Zhao Yameng turned her voice transmission ring on and tried to contact the college again, but her face soon turned pale. The voice transmission ring had malfunctioned!

As the cruiser charged forward, clouds began rolling and boiling over in the sky. It darkened all of a sudden, and a vast spread of thunder clouds appeared in the heavens. It spread rapidly outwards, the speed of which surpassed that of the cruiser, and it caught up in an instant and blanketed the cruiser!

From afar, the sight looked terrifying and awesome. The cruiser flew in mid-air, and above it, dark clouds rolled and rapidly took over the blue sky—even spreading past the cruiser and blanketing everything under the heavens!

The shadow it cast was so large it blanketed not only the whole of the Coulomb Basin but the vast surrounding lands as well. A dark mist started rising from the ground, and the clouds in the sky and the mist on land moved swiftly to meet in the middle!

It was like a seal closing off the land, transforming it into no man's land!

The no man's land was like hell, concealing the heavens and the Sword Sun, and bolts of lightning dashed from the skies and exploded thunderously!

Wang Baole and the rest had no time for fear, or to wonder the cause of such a horrifying event. They fused their entire cultivation into the cruiser and pushed its speed to the maximum, breaking the sound barrier and racing forward amid the clashing thunder and lightning on their heels!

Before them, the clouds descending from the sky and the mist rising from the land met rapidly. The space separating the two shrunk until only a narrow opening remained. That was the only way out!

"We need to go faster!" Wang Baole shouted, the veins in his forehead pulsing. Zhao Yameng's face was deathly pale, and Zhuo Yifan's forehead was beaded with perspiration. The three of them had released their full cultivation. The cruiser itself was of an extraordinary make, and with the full power of the three unleashed into it, it moved faster and faster.

From afar, one could see the dark clouds surrounding Wang Baole's cruiser, and before them, a singular narrow opening that was shrinking quickly.

From the opening, one could see the white clouds and blue skies beyond!

At that instant, when it seemed as if the clouds and mist were about to seal the opening shut completely, the cruiser finally neared with full speed. It approached the rapidly closing opening and was about to dash out.

It was then… something suddenly happened again!

Sounds of chattering exploded from the ground, and the Coulomb Basin surged dozens of meters into the air. It was as if there was a giant snake roaring as it traveling swiftly underground in a straight line, then struck suddenly from below!

The three were shaken to the core by the speed of the attack. As the cruiser was about to dash out through the opening and escape the jaws of death… a deafening sound, louder than the roaring thunderbolts, rose from the earth.

As the sound rang out, the earth collapsed, and a gigantic creature appeared. It was not a giant snake, but a huge, awesome hand formed from a tree.

The tree-hand was like a towering, heaven-piercing tree. There were hundreds of cocoons protruding from it, and as the giant hand reached out, huge quantities of mud and earth splattered. Countless stones large and small as well as grass and trees were torn from the earth and sent flying through the air, crashing down.

The giant hand moved without pausing and, with an earth-shattering force, reached for the cruiser in the air where Wang Baole and the others were in—grabbing them in a single swipe!

It was too fast. Despite the cruiser traveling at maximum speed, it was unable to escape. It didn't even have time to react. Wang Baole and his friends quaked in fear and shock as the giant tree-hand captured their cruiser!

The cruiser shook fiercely, and blood started dripping from their mouths. They were struck dumb.

"Evacuate!" Wang Baole thundered before leaping out of the cruiser without hesitation. Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng dashed out almost at the same time as Wang Baole. They were all men and women of decisiveness, and they chose to immediately evacuate the cruiser at the critical moment. Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng summoned their own cruisers in mid-air, while Wang Baole quickly pulled out the standard cruiser the college had given him after he had risen to Armament Soldier.

They threw in all they had. There was no time to communicate with one another, but everyone immediately dashed towards the opening before them.

However, in the span of the minor disruption, the narrow opening before them had closed before their eyes. The clouds and mist rolled over in waves, merged as one, and sealed the land shut!

There was an eeriness to the dimension. The dark mist seemed to cast out threads that looked like tentacles. They were frightening to look at. One could imagine the dangers that would befall him if he should approach them!

As the expressions on the three's faces shifted, the giant tree-hand that had risen from the earth and caught the droplet-shaped cruiser suddenly let loose a chattering sound. The hundreds of cocoons protruding from its skin suddenly split open.

Exposed within… were human bodies!

There were not many cultivators amongst them. Most were of the Ancient Martial realm and dressed in different attires. There was a large group of them who wore the same uniforms and were obviously from a prominent establishment. As for the rest, they were all dressed differently. Amongst them was one who had on the student robes of the Lower Academy Island!

Another two… were the Combat Pavilion disciples who had traveled together with Wang Baole and the others!

They had their eyes shut, and their chests rose and fell; they were clearly not corpses. The aura exuding from them seemed normal, and one couldn't find anything wrong with them. It was as if they had fallen into a deep sleep!

Wang Baole was once again shaken by the scene before him. The expression on his face was grave beyond measure as he stared at the cultivators with disbelief.

"They're…" Zhuo Yifan was taken aback as well. Zhao Yameng's breathing quickened, and her eyes revealed her shock. They realized immediately without having to think for too long…

The voice and video transmission with the two Combat Pavilion students had been fake. It had been created from some spell they weren't aware of. Even the transmission the two Combat Pavilion disciples had received on the cruiser from the student reporting the latter's secure status had been fake!

After knowing that, and after studying the contents of the voice transmissions, it wasn't hard to conclude that the mastermind behind that didn't intend to blow things up—perhaps he hadn't originally intended to strike at them.

However, Zhuo Yifan's voice transmission to the college would expose what he had been trying to keep under wraps. That was why he had decided to reveal himself and attack them… to silence them!

As the three of them stood stunned, the people within the cocoons who had their eyes shut suddenly opened their eyes. Their gazes were calm, and there was no sign of their mind being stolen from them. They were silent, but murderous intent shone in their eyes. They dashed out and charged straight at Wang Baole and his friends!

As they charged, the people who were originally at the Ancient Martial realm suddenly unleashed energy waves of True Breath realm from their bodies!

What was even more shocking was that they could actually fly here. There seemed to be a power that was in their sole possession, that gave them enhanced cultivation and, at the same time, allowed them to float in mid-air!

"An assimilation?" Zhao Yameng's face was pale, and there was uncertainty in her voice.

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Chapter 201: Land of Peril!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

If they were people of the Ancient Martial realm, the trio could disregard them, as they were more than capable of suppressing them given their level of cultivation.

However, True Breath cultivation emerged in those hundreds of Ancient Martial realm practitioners after the gigantic tree assimilated them. The trio was stunned, and strong waves of emotions crashed in their hearts.

"This is equivalent to dividing the cultivation of the gigantic tree on these hundreds of people, allowing them to unleash the force of the True Breath realm. Based on this… The gigantic tree itself… What level of cultivation does it have?" Zhuo Yifan was shocked, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. Wang Baole was breathing rapidly, and a chill flashed across his eyes as he immediately opened his mouth to speak.

"They have this level of cultivation but are making use of puppets to gang up on us. The giant tree is obviously using most of its cultivation was to enhance the Cloud Fog seal. This could be our only chance…" Wang Baole's words prompted thoughts in the minds of Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan. However, before they could think about it more deeply, they had to retreat quickly as the puppets charged towards them.

They could only depend on the cruiser to move, but it was not the case for the puppets. Therefore, an aerial battle was obviously disadvantageous to the trio. As a result, when the trio retreated, they all charged towards the forest in a coordinated move.

In the blink of an eye, when they descended, the hundreds of expressionless puppets had already neared them.

They were extremely fast, creating a loud sound that broke the sound barrier, and caught up with the trio in an instant!

As the loud boom reverberated, the puppets began fighting Wang Baole and company immediately. Zhuo Yifan, who was from the Combat Pavilion, executed an impressive move. Activating his hand seals, he resisted the enemies with his spells.

However, the spells weren't the main form of counter-attack he had in mind. As a Combat Pavilion cultivator, he preferred to battle others in close combat. As the spells spread, a desire for combat flashed across his eyes. He leaped into the air, retrieving a large purple sword. With an unusual look in his eyes, a shadowy figure appeared behind him, as if he had managed to invite the previous incarnation to integrate with him. He appeared to have transformed into a combat deity, and he dashed directly towards them while roaring.

As his sword landed, the three puppets before him trembled violently and broke into pieces. However, Zhuo Yifan didn't stop at that. Activating his hand seals, wind blades rushed out quickly, sweeping in all directions. He then dashed out, with his sword raised.

What was impressive was that all those True Breath puppet cultivators were completely unable to resist the attack. They either retreated or broke down!

In the blink of an eye, Zhuo Yifan seemed to be transformed into a combat vehicle, showcasing an astonishing level of combat capabilities that far exceeded those of his peers.

On the other hand, even though Zhao Yameng was still pale with shock, she was considered the genius of array formations. As she flailed her arms, array formations instantly appeared in thin air, covering the entire area immediately. Wang Baole and Zhuo Yifan supported her, while she weakened the force of all the enemies charging towards her.

That alone would be insufficient to show how capable she was. As she waved her hands quickly, array formations appeared one after another continuously in thin air.

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred different array formations of different sizes landed everywhere. They seemed isolated but were actually all connected. They were like an assembly that formed a large array formation!

In that brief period of time, she had already laid out a large array formation. Capable individuals like Zhao Yameng were a rarity amongst the True Breath cultivators in the four major Dao Colleges!

After all, she was a natural spirit body!

"Array, turn!" As Zhao Yameng commanded, the array formations all began turning instantly. Every time two array formations overlapped, the puppet cultivators standing in the overlapped areas would tremble vigorously.

Looking from a distance, the array formations were glowing. It was as if numerous light rays were shining in all directions. If two of those lines crossed, they could be transformed into a force that could kill, a force that was extremely powerful!

Even though there were a few puppets that could not be instantly eliminated by Zhao Yameng's array formations, she could still make them pause in their tracks, allowing her to control the pace of events happening on the battleground. That made it possible for her to coordinate with Zhuo Yifan's big sword and spells, causing the hundreds of puppets that were charging towards them to freeze in motion!

It was unlikely that the duo had tried and practiced their moves with each other, as that was the first time they had worked together. However, even so, their teamwork was very well-coordinated.

Zhao Yameng's array formations had an effect of trapping the enemy, with the power to kill and negatively affect the enemy. It seemed to be facilitating Zhuo Yifan, whose moves were sharp, precise, and backed by an astonishing level of killing power.

At the same time, a look of determination appeared in Wang Baole's eyes. He stepped out and waved his right hand vigorously as he growled.

"Flash!" Instantly, a flash of lightning appeared in his palm.

The moment the flash appeared, a blinding glow emerged, instantly wriggling into the glabella of a cultivator. After piercing a hole through the cultivator's glabella, it leaped and charged towards the next cultivator at a speed that far exceeded that of Zhuo Yifan's. Instantly, it had spread in all directions. Wang Baole's participation immediately helped to boost the resistance put up by both Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng!

What was more spectacular was that there was no end to the Flash. As it shone continuously, it began to branch out. Initially, there was only a single flash, but soon, over ten flashes had emerged. Blinding flashes spread in all directions on the battleground!

Deafening booms reverberated on the entire battleground.

Wang Baole wasn't done with his attacks. He adjusted his breathing and raised his sealed hands again at that crucial juncture.

"Heated Burst!" As his voice reverberated, a Sea of Fire immediately erupted before him. It was transformed into a wall of fire everywhere it passed, crashing forward like a wave that caused all the puppet cultivators to tremble and as they scrambled to retreat.

If the flash was considered a form of attack that targeted a particular point, then the Heated Burst was a form of attack that targeted an entire area!

Despite Wang Baole and company's counter-attacks, the hundreds of puppet cultivators were still not defeated after the long battle. A green glow flashed across their eyes. The glow transformed into pieces of tree leaves that were formed from spells and charged towards the trio like a flying sword.

Dharmic treasure? Looking at those tree leaf-like flying sword, Wang Baole widened his eyes. As an Armament Soldier of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, Wang Baole had no shortage of Dharmic treasures.

"Numinous Treasures!" he shouted. Immediately, tens of Numinous Treasures filled the space. There were items like big seals, ropes, mirrors, and flying swords. They all formed a hurricane around him, blocking the tree leaf flying swords while creating a loud boom.

Instantly, an impressive force was produced as the trio worked seamlessly with each other. A spectator would think that their cooperation was perfect!

Zhao Yameng played a role in trapping the cultivators while Zhuo Yifan killed them. On the other hand, Wang Baole was like a mage as his spells were far more powerful than that of Zhuo Yifan's. To a certain degree, it could be said that the trio had divided the battleground into an inner and outer zone!

In the outer zone, Wang Baole's spells were so powerful that it made it difficult for the enemies to come near. In the inner zone, Zhuo Yifan, who was precise in his attacks, was killing every vulnerable being who had neared. As for Zhao Yameng, her array formations covered both the inner and outer zones, continuously coordinating with and facilitating the other two. The trio was extremely successful, as their coordination was impressively well-timed.

The trio was surprised, though not too much, by what was happening. In reality, that was what made Ethereal Dao College superior, and was also an exemplification of the principle of Ethereal Dao College. They didn't mind that a sole hero emerged amongst them, for they placed greater emphasis on cooperation. Be it the Lower Academy Island or the Upper Academy Island, students were encouraged to work with each other. That way, when they made their attacks, their combined powers would be significantly boosted!

Wang Baole continued his attacks as he took out several Dharmic treasures, tossing them towards Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng. The Dharmic treasures formed hurricanes beside the duo, and the scabbard inside Wang Baole also vibrated. The nine mosquitoes flew out one after another, creating a killing force on the battleground, and also providing Wang Baole with an all-round view of the entire situation.

It was also at that moment that Wang Baole took out his very own… Baole Cannon!

Carrying it on his shoulder, he immediately fired the cannon. As the deafening boom reverberated in the air, the trio continued to attack as they retreated. Even though they hadn't had an opportunity to escape, no one planned to flee unless they reached the very end.

"They deserve death for attacking students and cultivators from Ethereal Dao College. What we want is to destroy their physical body!" Wang Baole shouted as he retreated.

Zhuo Yifan remained silent. He understood that it was the only way to save themselves. It was clear that the mastermind behind it didn't wish for the incident to spread to the outside world. Therefore, the mastermind's motive was definitely to assimilate the three of them. The mastermind would definitely have made plans to make assimilation like that as undetectable to others as possible. That way, after everything ended, the three of them would no longer be their past selves!

Wang Baole's suggestion to destroy the bodies of Ethereal Dao College's students and cultivators was aimed at preventing them from returning on time. That would catch the attention of the Dao College.

Zhuo Yifan understood the reasoning behind it, but still hesitated in his attacks. On the other hand, a flash appeared in Zhao Yameng's eyes as she attacked with great decisiveness. Her target was the students of the Lower Academy Island, as well as the two cultivators from the Combat Pavilion.

However, very quickly, the trio was quickly thrown into surprise. Even though their moves were still vicious, they placed more of their effort on retreating. The three students and cultivators from Ethereal Dao College and the other puppet cultivators had each sustained different levels of injuries, and their bodies were beginning to break down. Despite that, almost instantly, branches began to grow out of their bodies, reconnecting their flesh and blood together!

Very quickly, the injuries healed. They were no longer injured, and they continued to charge forward.

Since the entire area was sealed, it was useless no matter how far the trio retreated. As they grew anxious, they looked at each other, and a look of determination appeared in their eyes.

"Split up and run! If anyone manages to escape, seek help from the Dao College!" Zhao Yameng spoke decisively as she leapt and charged towards the forest. Zhuo Yifan also gritted his teeth as he ran into the distance.

Wang Baole's heart palpitated furiously. It was a life and death situation. Hearing Zhao Yameng's words, he unleashed his speed, and his entire body was like a flying flesh ball that immediately charged towards the forest.

The instant they separated, the gigantic tree branch vibrated violently. The puppet cultivators trembled as if they had received the orders from the gigantic tree. A chilly look appeared in their eyes as they split into three groups and went after the trio!

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Chapter 202: Trapped

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The trio charged in three different directions. Of them, Zhuo Yifan unleashed all his efforts in a ferocious manner, as if concentrated Blood Qi was circulating all around his body. The figure of his previous incarnation that was behind him also supported him significantly, allowing him to move astoundingly fast.

At the same time, there vaguely appeared to be a cloud shrouding his legs. That was the level three spell of the Cloud Ethereal skill, known as Cloud Fog Step!

The Cloud Fog Step could significantly boost the cultivator's speed in a short period of time. Even though he was not as fast as lightning, the combination of the Cloud Fog Step with the spells that had been passed down in Zhuo Yifan's family made Zhuo Yifan so fast that he disappeared within the forest.

On the other hand, on Zhao Yameng's side, several illusory stars—each approximately the size of a fist—appeared everywhere, and rays of starlight emerged from her body. As a result, one wouldn't be able to see her clearly, and she could disregard whatever was in front of her and pass between the trees into the distance.

Wang Baole was also moving at breathtaking speed. He didn't activate the Cloud Fog Step like Zhuo Yifan and was not as familiar with array formations like Zhao Yameng, but he had the strongest physique out of the three.

Such a strong physical body removed the need for him to further boost his speed with his cultivation, for he was already as fast as lightning. As he dashed into the forest, he was like a duck to water. He moved agilely within the forest.

Behind them, hundreds of puppet cultivators had spread out to pursue them. The tree branches that had destroyed Wang Baole's droplet cruiser reached out to the skies and stabilized the seals that were being placed all around. That made everything in the region appear completely normal from the outside!

At the top of the big tree, a pair of eyes gradually appeared as Wang Baole and company went further into the distance. The pupils of the eyes were like a cross, its brown color revealing a chilling and eerie vibe.

A demonic glow reflected off the pupil, and every time it shone, light rays glowed from its body. If one neared it, they would hear noise emerging from the tree.

"Everything is normal."

"It's fine now. Rest assured, Senior Brother."

"Everything's good. I could probably return in three or four days."

"I'm fine, there's no need to worry about me…"

All the different voices appeared to be impersonating those who had been assimilated by the tree, conveying the news that they are well and safe to their respective units and to the Dao College. That was so no one would grow suspicious that they had already died!

As the gigantic tree glowed eerily, Wang Baole and company were traveling at an extremely high speed, trying to find an escape route in the forest outside Coulomb Basin.

Compared to Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng, Wang Baole was familiar with finding an escape route within the forest. The familiar scent of the trees that surrounding Wang Baole gradually made him feel like he had returned to the Pond Cloud Rainforest. The people chasing after him, as well as the threat from the gigantic tree, made him vigilant, as well as caused his thoughts to become active.

What on earth is that giant tree? Wang Baole took a deep breath. He jumped and leaped from the crown of a tree to increase the distance. Upon landing, he immediately dug a trench in the ground and buried himself in it. He masked his scent and hid within the trench, while feelings of anxiousness, urgency, and danger arose in his heart.

Before this, I have never heard that trees would evolve in such a manner. Only animals were listed in the Beast Records from the Federation!

Instead, plants appeared here! That was a major issue. Even if Wang Baole was a True Breath realm cultivator, he still felt an unusual sense of threat. He even had a premonition that the meaning behind all of it could result in a catastrophic change in the Federation, which had just entered a period of stabilization.

That was especially so when he thought about how the giant tree could assimilate cultivators, causing people of Ancient Martial realm cultivation to be granted a True Breath realm's level of cultivation. That was simply too frightening to him.

Initially, it hadn't planned to attack. It only began blocking us after finding out that we were sending messages back to the Dao College. That means that huge secrets are hidden here, not to be discovered by others! With that thought, Wang Baole's pupils suddenly constricted, and he jumped up immediately from the trench.

Almost simultaneously, a large tree in front of him suddenly warped. A puppet cultivator eerily stepped out from within it, throwing a strong punch towards the direction of the trench where Wang Baole had hidden previously!

Had he not sensed it quickly, the punch would definitely have landed directly on Wang Baole.

This trick is useless! Wang Baole's eyes opened wide. As he retreated, he noticed that puppet cultivators were emerging from the surrounding trees. He didn't have time to consider too much, as he immediately raised his hand to unleash Flash.

As thunderous sounds erupted, the Flash charged towards the surrounding puppet cultivators. After the Flash passed through them, Wang Baole changed his direction and continued forward. Before he left, he flailed his raised right hand and tossed out a handful of self-exploding beads.

The self-exploding beads were directed at high speed towards the puppet cultivators. The moment contact was made, they exploded.

As a loud boom reverberated within the forest, Wang Baole had already gone far away. He was about to go berserk. Previously, his tactic of hiding in the Pond Cloud Rainforest was made useless as the enemy had a detection Dharmic Artifact, and it was still useless. That inevitably made him frustrated, as he continued charging at high speed.

Very quickly, five minutes passed as he charged without a destination in mind.

In his escape, even though Wang Baole supplemented himself with pills, it was still insufficient to replenish the Spirit Qi he exhausted. It was at that crucial moment that his Numinous Treasures seemed to have a surprising effect.

As the puppet cultivators continued their pursuit and tried to block Wang Baole, the loud boom produced from Wang Baole's self-exploding beads reverberated loudly, and a sword rain was also formed by several flying swords that were controlled by the magnetic force. That resulted in the puppets chasing after Wang Baole being constantly blocked and destroyed!

That not only happened in the area of the battleground where Wang Baole was; in the other two directions, a similar scenario was playing out.

Loud booms emerged continuously from each of the three directions within the forest. One of them was from where Wang Baole was, while the other two areas where the sound emerged were from Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng's location.

However, gradually, the sound vanished from one of the areas…

Of the two of them, who is the one who has met with trouble? Wang Baole, who was charging forward in the forest, looked disheveled with his unkempt hair. Fresh blood also flowed from the corner of his lips. It was impossible to kill the puppet cultivators while escaping. Even though they had initially been destroyed, they quickly reassembled.

In the face of the endless pursuit, the stress that Wang Baole felt made him immensely frustrated. He raised his right hand and swung, and a Sea of Fire formed from Heated Burst instantly emerged, setting the surrounding trees on fire.

The trees could be set on fire as it wasn't the rainforest, so Wang Baole burned the trees along the way as he made his escape. That was the only method that he thought of that he could allow him to save himself.

"Burn and die!" A look of viciousness appeared in Wang Baole's eyes. As he growled, he leaped into the air and burned the trees before he continued his escape plan. However, with his level of cultivation limited to that of the True Breath realm, the fire couldn't spread even though he was burning the trees. Furthermore, the entire place was so bizarre that trees that had been burned quickly recovered!

All that made Wang Baole anxious and helpless, especially when he noticed that sound was no longer being produced from one of the directions. In the area of the forest before him, puppet cultivators quickly emerged, surrounding him.

Wang Baole's breathing suddenly stopped. The moment the crowd closed in on him, he swung his right hand suddenly. Puppet Numinous Treasures immediately appeared, and as they charged towards the puppet cultivators, Wang Baole growled, "Trap them!"

As Wang Baole growled, his puppets immediately dashed out, hugging a cultivator each. Regardless of how the cultivators attacked, Wang Baole's puppets didn't release their grip!

At the same time, a mirror appeared in Wang Baole's hands. The mirror shone brightly, transmogrifying an exact figure of Wang Baole beside his physical body.

The mirror was the compensation gift given to Wang Baole by Lin Tianhao's family. It could transmogrify an illusory avatar. At that moment, the avatar and the actual physical being of Wang Baole switched positions rapidly. Even if someone were paying close attention, they would find it difficult to differentiate between them. The two Wang Baoles then ran in different directions.

Regrettably, the tactic was useless in that forest. The cultivators who weren't being hugged by Wang Baole's puppet Numinous Treasures were only momentarily stunned. They were about to instinctively spread out to pursue Wang Baole when a voice inaudible to Wang Baole reverberated in their minds. The cultivators stopped moving and turned to look in the direction where the real Wang Baole was heading towards, before continuing their pursuit in that direction.

This isn't playing fair! Wang Baole was incredulous and frustrated. On the brink of going berserk, he was panting hard. Regardless of how many Dharmic treasures he had, they would eventually be exhausted. Soon, as the sound of battle also vanished from the second direction, without being heard again, Wang Baole was shocked.

Both of them are in trouble?

The instant the thought arose in Wang Baole's mind, expressionless cultivators emerged from the trees and ground surrounding him one after another. The eerie glare and vibes they gave off caused Wang Baole's breathing to quicken, and he began to attack without hesitation.

That time, he not only took out the self-exploding beads, but also the Dharmic Artifact that had been previously transformed by the Armament Sand. It was something he hadn't planned to use at first!

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Chapter 203: Who's the Freak…

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The first Dharmic Artifact Wang Baole took out was the weird fly-whisk!

The impressiveness of the fly-whisk was apparent the moment it was taken out. It charged directly towards a puppet cultivator in front of it, its whisk fibers straightening and stiffening as it pierced forward.

It produced a loud boom, and it was futile regardless of how hard the cultivator tried to activate his spells—which were in the form of the tree leaf—for the fly-whisk directly disregarded them. The fly-whisk pierced right through the cultivator's chest and nailed the cultivator onto the tree. After that, its whisk fibers spread open and extended, charging towards the other puppets.

In the blink of an eye, tens of puppets were nailed to the tree by the fly-whisk.

Seeing that it was effective, Wang Baole was pleasantly surprised. However, just as the feelings of surprise arose, Wang Baole was instantly driven crazy again; the fly-whisk that was extremely sturdy just before had collapsed limply in a short time. Even its power was significantly decreased…

That gave all the cultivators who were nailed onto the tree a chance to break free. However, not all of them could successfully do so, as there were about eight female cultivators who weren't able to escape no matter how they struggled. The whisk fibers that were nailed onto them didn't soften but became tougher instead…

This fly-whisk is perverted! With that thought arising in his head, the whisk fibers that softened immediately retracted from the male cultivators, before spreading open once again towards all the female cultivators standing around. Instantly, at least thirty female cultivators were nailed by it. The fly-whisk seemed to want to extend its fibers further, but it was unable to, no matter how much it desired to do so.

Noticing what was happening, Wang Baole felt disgusted towards the fly-whisk, despite being in a state of crisis. However, the effect of the fly-whisk was greatly beneficial to him. As the surrounding puppets neared with a roar and prepared to attack Wang Baole, he turned and resisted the puppets by activating his spells, retreating as he fought on.

As the loud boom reverberated, Wang Baole's Flash, Heated Burst, and Cloud Finger continuously struck out. With the complementation of speed, the noise continuously echoed around, and the puppets were unable to get a hold of Wang Baole at that moment.

On the one hand, Wang Baole was physically tough, and on the other, he had a repository of spells at his disposal. Most importantly, he seemed to have an unlimited number of Dharmic treasures which he tossed out continuously. Of them, there was an ordinary looking umbrella that was not only fast but extremely wretched, piercing anyone in its path the moment it was taken out.

What's more, there was also a flying sword that was behaving like a lunatic the moment it flew out. No matter who it saw, it would try to hack him. If not for Wang Baole's quick reflexes, he would have also been attacked the moment he took the flying sword out.

On the other hand, the continuous struggling by the female puppet cultivators had allowed them to break free from the fly-whisk. The fly-whisk swiftly returned to Wang Baole, who caught hold of it and used it to sweep the surroundings.

It was completely powerless in the face of the male cultivators. Its soft, gentle whisk fibers simply unwillingly swept past them. However, when it came to the female cultivators, all the whisk fibers became astonishingly stiff, and also carried a force that far exceeded that of an ordinary Dharmic Artifact. The force with which it landed on their bodies made Wang Baole frightened just by looking at it.

However, that was not what made Wang Baole feel most bizarre. The large seal brought him even more surprise!

The large seal looked impressive after it had been enhanced by Wang Baole using the Armament Sand. However, it behaved like a spring after being thrown out, deflecting off others once contact was made.

It behaved the same way after Wang Baole had tossed it out. It flew off right away when others punched it, disappearing out of sight. However, as Wang Baole was battling another puppet cultivator, with his forceful punch causing his opponent to be pushed backward, the large seal suddenly landed from the skies. It crashed loudly and strongly on the cultivator, directly crushing the cultivator to pieces, before rebounding towards the sky again…

It behaved that way continuously as if it had some kind of consciousness. Every time it sensed that Wang Baole was about to defeat his opponent, it would arrive in a hurry, crushing the enemy!

This seal works by bullying the weak, fearing the powerful, and also targeting its enemies specifically? Wang Baole was bewildered at what he saw. He laughed bitterly, at the same time sighed in his heart that his opponents were all puppet cultivators. Otherwise, if they had some level of consciousness, they would definitely be threatened by his Dharmic treasures.

However, just as Wang Baole was leveraging on the advantage of his Dharmic treasures, and nearing the borders of the forest, a deafening boom suddenly erupted!

As the loud noise spread, the entire ground shook violently. The skies also trembled, with its dark clouds spreading and shrinking. The scene took Wang Baole by surprise. The ground beneath his feet caved in, and a large tree hand emerged from below!

Wang Baole screamed as he leaped into the air. His sense of danger was heightened to the maximum at that moment. The large tree hand was small compared to the one that destroyed his cruiser. However, to Wang Baole, it still seemed gigantic, as it was over a hundred feet tall. It emerged from the ground, charging towards Wang Baole as it tried to grab him!

It was extremely fast, and a frightening level of suppressive force was also given off it at the same time. The suppressive force was like an invisible hurricane, directly landing in Wang Baole's mind. As a loud roar erupted, a tide was also formed, causing Wang Baole's head to buzz with activity as he screamed in pain.

It was as if his body had to withstand an unbearably loud volume within a short period of time. The bones in his ears were on the brink of breaking into pieces, and his eardrums were about to burst. He bled from his orifices, his consciousness was being forcefully suppressed at that moment, and he instantly fell into a coma.

His physical body that had been thrown into the air was also out of control, being tightly grasped by the large hand that had emerged from the ground!

The large hand grabbed hold of Wang Baole's body but didn't squash it. It immediately encased him, swiftly circling Wang Baole's body such that, in the blink of an eye, it was transformed into a tree cocoon connected to the hand before burrowing into the ground.

The emotionless puppet cultivators surrounding him stood motionless while watching the events unfold before them. They only turned their heads after the tree cocoon had been brought away. It was as if they were listening to orders, as they quickly turned around and charged towards Coulomb Basin.

As the cultivators left and the entire place returned to a state of peace, the tree hand that was supporting the sky was also lowered gradually, burrowing into the ground once again. As it disappeared, the surrounding black Cloud Fog began to grow thinner, dissipating completely in the time of a few breaths.

The force of the seal no longer existed over a large area. Sun rays from the outside shone in, and everything returned to normal.

Only a small area of black fog remained in the depths of Coulomb Basin. It seemed like that was the epicenter, where the seal was present every single moment.

Within the fog seal, a small tree with branches of varying thickness was surrounded by hundreds of thick, frightening giant trees. The small tree looked as if it was on the brink of death, severely damaged after having suffered severe injuries. Cracks were obvious on its surface, and not a single green leaf grew on it—it appeared as though its life was about to end.

However, if a mighty figure appeared and gazed upon the land, it could see that the underground roots of the small tree were extremely extensive, spanning over ten thousand feet like a maze!

The ten thousand feet long roots also contained thousands of smaller branching roots. Following their trajectory, one could see that they had already emerged from the ground, forming numerous towering giant trees!

Looking from a bird's eye view of the entire area, one would be able to see that all the trees in the core region of Coulomb Basin were formed from the small tree's roots!

The astoundingly large giant trees had not been documented in the Federation's records since the Federation was established.

In the heart of the maze formed by the underground roots, hundreds of fruit-like cocoons were being grown in a space formed by the roots. Each of the cocoons was over tens of feet wide, densely covering the walls of the tree.

One could even see that three fruits were wriggling slowly, while the rest were motionless.

Within the three wriggling fruits were Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Zhuo Yifan. In each of their respective fruits, they appeared just like they did at the exact moment they were captured. Their possessions were even intact. It seemed like they had lost their consciousness, as they stayed motionless with their eyes shut.

They were surrounded and soaked in a type of sticky fluid. There was also concentrated Spirit Qi emanating towards them and entering their bodies continuously from within the giant tree.

It was as if it was trying to assimilate them in that manner. Numerous branches that were like sharp spears grew in each of the fruits, integrating into their heads to connect them together.

It seemed like there was a bizarre existence trying to assimilate their physical bodies and erase their consciousness…

As an unknown period of time passed slowly, the trio was continuously having their consciousness erased while being assimilated. Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep from the start and didn't react at all. However, for Wang Baole, his body vibrated several times. Even though he was not roused, a strange object seemed to have awakened within his body. Gradually, the Spirit Qi that had rushed into his body began to show signs of greed…

On the other hand, the giant tree still seemed ignorant of the kind of freak it was trying to assimilate…

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Chapter 204: I'm Giving My All

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The devouring seed located at Wang Baole's diaphragm was the first to show signs of greed towards the Spirit Qi rushing into Wang Baole's body. It seemed to have been paying attention to the Spirit Qi that was entering for a while. When the Spirit Qi completely entered Wang Baole's body, the devouring seed seemed to lose all control of itself and began to rotate slowly in a greedy manner.

However, it didn't dare rotate too fast for fear that the Spirit Qi, which had entered on its own accord, would escape out of fear…

It wouldn't have been much of an issue if it were just the rotating devouring seed being greedy, but as the devouring seed rotated, it seemed to have become integrated with Wang Baole's physical body. Mysterious substances which weren't apparent under normal circumstances began to leak out from every part of his body.

Eventually, they all gathered together, transforming into a black flow of current that traveled slowly within his body. If it had eyes, it would definitely carry a look of interest and curiosity towards the ignorant giant tree.

At the same time, beneath the shut eyelids of unconscious Wang Baole, a purple glow gradually surfaced in his listless pupils. It was as if the Spirit Qi that had entered Wang Baole's body was so alluring that it couldn't help but want to spread out. However, it hesitated out of fear of the black lightning and the devouring seed. It appeared as though it was testing the waters as it spread slowly and cautiously.

The black lightning and the devouring seed paid no notice to the spreading of the purple runes. All their attention was placed on the ignorant giant tree, as well as the Spirit Qi.

Therefore, after testing the waters, the purple runes began to spread out over a large area. However, like the black lightning and devouring seed, it chose to lay low in hibernation while observing the Spirit Qi and paying attention to the giant tree's consciousness.

The giant tree's consciousness was completely unaware that the three forces were present in Wang Baole at that moment. Without noticing anything, it continued to allow Spirit Qi to enter Wang Baole's body to assimilate him and attempt to erase Wang Baole's consciousness in the process.

If Wang Baole was conscious, he would definitely go berserk over the ridiculous inhabitants in his body that had shown up without notice at some point…

Just like that, time passed as the three forces laid their full attention on the Spirit Qi. It was only when the consciousness of the giant tree and the Spirit Qi had completely entered Wang Baole's body—almost wiping out Wang Baole's entire consciousness and leaving him just moments before showing signs of being assimilated—that, suddenly, the purple runes seemed unable to control itself anymore and dashed out!

Its sudden emergence immediately resulted in the formation of a purple sea that was shockingly forceful. Immediately, the purple runes approached the large tree's consciousness that had just entered Wang Baole's body. The purple runes seemed to have the ability to cripple the giant tree's consciousness, and the purple sea swallowed the Spirit Qi before the giant tree's consciousness realized it!

That mouthful took away almost ten percent of the Spirit Qi. The purple sea wanted to continue, but as the black lightning arrived, the purple sea retreated immediately and didn't dare to go near again.

The black lightning was extremely fast and overbearing. It approached the Spirit Qi in a jiffy and sucked it strongly, directly removing over fifty percent of it before dissipating with satisfaction.

The swallowing of the Spirit Qi by the purple sea and the black lightning all happened in an instant. The giant tree's consciousness, which was still numb under the effect of the purple sea, didn't realize that its Spirit Qi had been sucked away at all.

Right then, as a large proportion of the Spirit Qi that had entered Wang Baole's body was being sucked away, the devouring seed within Wang Baole finally moved. It was turning slowly initially but began rotating violently, causing a frightening suction force to be produced. In the blink of an eye, the suction force spread out of Wang Baole's body, not only sucking the remainder of the Spirit Qi, but also transforming Wang Baole's body into a gigantic black hole, sucking in everything—from the sticky fluid in the external world to the entire large tree—in a crazy manner!

Loud booms instantly erupted, and the fruit that Wang Baole was encased in was visibly withered. The sticky fluid within it seemed to have vapourised as well, changing its composition and transforming into nutrients that were immediately absorbed by Wang Baole's body.

The absorption, despite being carried out by the devouring seed, caused Wang Baole's body to be strengthened in the process. Changes occurred to his flesh and blood; his bones were strengthened, and his physical strength was significantly boosted!

At the same time, under the force of the suction, a sharp prick seemed to have pierced directly into his glabella. That caused his body to vibrate violently, forcing him to open his eyes.

With his eyes open, Wang Baole was momentarily shocked. His memories from before immediately surfaced in his mind; he recalled that he was grasped by the giant tree hand while resisting it, and then he lost consciousness.

Where am I… Wang Baole's heart palpitated violently. He immediately became conscious of the surrounding Spirit Qi and the quickly depleting sticky fluid beneath his feet, and it threw him into a blur.

However, it was also at that moment that he realized the devouring seed in his body was going berserk with its suction force.

What's going on…? In his bewilderment, the tree branch that had pierced through his forehead into his brain began to wither and break apart…

Looking at the pieces of broken tree branches falling off his head, Wang Baole was confused. His confusion increased as he sensed that his entire body was filled with energy, and his level of cultivation had been significantly increased. He scratched his head, incredulous at everything that had happened.

Could it be that the giant tree was trying to assimilate me, but ended up being absorbed by my devouring seed? With that thought in mind, Wang Baole immediately grew cautious. However, after waiting for a moment until all the sticky fluid and Spirit Qi had completely disappeared, he noticed that cracks had appeared around him, just like in the process of withering. Despite that, not a single figure appeared…

It was as if the giant tree hadn't realized any of the changes that had happened, even up to that stage. That made Wang Baole surprised, and a bright glow flashed across his eyes at the same time.

Could it be that there's a problem with the large tree itself? Wang Baole suspiciously clawed at the dried fruit wall surrounding him, breaking off an opening. However, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, the mosquito from the scabbard inside his body flew out to take a look at the outside world.

After seeing what was outside, Wang Baole's body trembled violently. From the mosquito's view, he saw that there was a gigantic tree hole in the external world. Surrounding the tree hole were innumerable fruits packed densely together, and he was located in one of the many fruits!

Indeed, this large tree was trying to assimilate me! With fear in his heart, Wang Baole began to claw off more of the fruit walls. After wriggling out from it, he scanned the surroundings. Even though he had seen what was outside from the eyes of the mosquito, he was still shocked frozen when he saw it himself.

Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng should be here as well! Wang Baole's breathing quickened as he sped up his search. Very quickly, he found Zhao Yameng and realized that inside her fruit, a green hue had already appeared on her face. Tree rings could also be vaguely seen, and that made Wang Baole extremely anxious. He didn't have time to search for Zhuo Yifan. He growled, activating his cultivation and unleashing power from his hands in an attempt to tear open the fruit!

However, the Spirit Qi was extremely concentrated within Zhao Yameng's fruit, making its fruit wall immensely tough. Before the Spirit Qi had been exhausted, it was difficult to tear the fruit open. Seeing that that was the case, Wang Baole gritted his teeth tightly.

Damn it! I'm giving my all. It's just absorbing, right? I'm not afraid of you as I have the devouring seed! With that thought, Wang Baole hugged the fruit tight, and the devouring seed within his body instantly erupted!

As it erupted, a strong suction force immediately flowed from Wang Baole's body into the fruit. Seeing that his devouring seed was so supportive, Wang Baole quickly grew agitated as large amounts of Spirit Qi entered his body, significantly boosting his cultivation.

His agitation and nervousness combined, forming an indescribable sense of thrill that made Wang Baole extremely alert. He wanted to increase his force, but just at that moment…

The purple sea that was hiding in his pupils couldn't control itself any longer. It emerged, charging towards the Spirit Qi in the fruit and swallowing it…

What's that? The emergence of the purple sea surprised Wang Baole. He immediately realized that something was amiss, but even before he could check things out, the black lightning in his body also emerged, not wanting to lose out…

And what on earth was that? Wang Baole was about to jump out of his skin. He was completely shocked, confusion filling his mind.

Wang Baole was nothing but confused towards the ridiculous existences in his own body…

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Chapter 205: Becoming the Lead

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole was aware of the origins of the devouring seed. It was formed as he trained in the cultivation technique given by Little Missy in the black mask. It could be said that he had created it from scratch…

As for the black lightning, even though it was the first time that Wang Baole had seen it, he found it familiar. He immediately thought of the times Little Missy of the black mask had electrocuted him using lightning when he was cultivating for the so-called Golden Body. The lightning back then was similar to the black lightning.

Darn it… Thinking about all that, Wang Baole could not help but curse. No matter how he analyzed the situation, everything seemed to be related to Little Missy from the black mask. That made him helpless and immensely irritated.

On the other hand, after Wang Baole analyzed and recalled all the experiences in his life thus far, he finally came to realize the origins of the purple sea.

Isn't that the purple glow that was trying to swallow me when I was in Spirit Breath Village?

As he felt the presence of the existences in his body, Wang Baole didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was angry, but he had nowhere to release his anger. All he could do was focus his attention on the fruit in front of him.

As he began to relax, the suction force increased exponentially as the effects of the numerous forces in his body built upon each other. The fruit which Zhao Yameng was in was withering at a fast speed, and the entire process only took a short while before all the Spirit Qi and signs of life within the fruit were depleted.

Wang Baole's body trembled. He could clearly feel that his level of cultivation had been raised significantly within that short period of time, such that he wasn't far from achieving a breakthrough in the fourth level of the True Breath realm. Furthermore, the devouring seed, the black lightning, and the purple sea all released a portion of the Spirit Qi that they had absorbed back into Wang Baole's body.

Experiencing all that, Wang Baole felt less angered, and he spoke with a lot of emotion, "At least all of you have some conscience…"

Even though he still felt slightly troubled and irritated, Wang Baole didn't have much time to think about the origins of the three existences at that moment. He quickly pried open the fruit which Zhao Yameng was in; as cracking sounds were produced and the fruit was being pried open, Wang Baole grabbed hold of Zhao Yameng's arm, pulling her wet body out of the fruit.

The sheer long dress stuck snugly on Zhao Yameng's body, becoming similar bodycon dress which presented Zhao Yameng's curvy figure beautifully in front of Wang Baole. He took a quick glance and was somewhat surprised.

It's usually not so obvious, but Zhao Yameng's figure is not bad…

At the same time, as she was not assimilated by the giant tree's consciousness, Zhao Yameng trembled after being rescued by Wang Baole and was about to wake up. Wang Baole immediately grew alert, as he thought about how he would have saved an enemy if the tree had successfully assimilated Zhao Yameng. Therefore, he raised his right hand to retrieve a flying sword. As Zhao Yameng awakened, he slashed her arm once.

The pain accelerated the process of Zhao Yameng's awakening, and her eyes opened wide instantly. The moment she woke and saw Wang Baole, she took a deep breath—her face pale, but her emotions stable. After taking a quick look at the surroundings, she lowered her head to look at the wound on her arm before looking at Wang Baole.

"That's confirmation that I hadn't been assimilated." As she spoke, Zhao Yameng took out her voice transmission jade slip in an attempt to contact the Dao College.

Wang Baole, who noticed that Zhao Yameng's injury didn't heal, heaved a sigh of relief. He became slightly awkward hearing what Zhao Yameng said.

"I'm going to save Zhuo Yifan!" Wang Baole spoke quickly, turning around to search for Zhuo Yifan. Zhao Yameng also realized that sending the voice transmission was ineffective, and gathered all her effort to stand up and join in the search. Very quickly, the duo found the fruit that Zhuo Yifan was encapsulated in.

Seeing through the translucent fruit wall, they could see that Zhuo Yifan had a frightened expression, with green veins bulging up all over his face as if numerous tiny tree branches were wriggling within.

The scene caused the duo to be shocked. Wang Baole grew anxious, and as Zhao Yameng stood frozen in shock, Wang Baole stepped forward to hug the fruit enveloping Zhuo Yifan tightly and roared loudly.

Instantly, an unbelievably strong suction force erupted from Wang Baole's body. Very quickly, the fruit encapsulating Zhuo Yifan withered. Seeing what had happened, Zhao Yameng stared wide with her beautiful eyes, feeling incredulous as she looked towards Wang Baole.

If they were in another situation, Wang Baole would definitely boast arrogantly. However, he wasn't in the mood to do so then. As the fruit encapsulating Zhuo Yifan withered, he immediately pried the fruit wall open, before pulling Zhuo Yifan out of it forcefully.

As Zhuo Yifan fell to the ground, Zhao Yameng had already taken out her flying sword to slash Zhuo Yifan in the thigh, even before Wang Baole made his attempt.

Fresh blood flowed out of the wound, which didn't heal as swiftly as that of the cultivators who had been assimilated. The duo heaved a sigh of relief, and Zhuo Yifan also awakened from the pain. He opened his eyes, first in a blur before quickly gaining awareness. He saw Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng, as well as his surroundings, and gasped.

"Both of you… This place is…"

"We should be within the giant tree that captured us alive. The force of the seal still remains, and voice transmissions still cannot be sent. If not for Wang Baole, the three of us would definitely have died and been assimilated by the giant tree to become puppets!" Zhao Yameng took in a deep breath and calmed herself down as she spoke.

"Now is not the time to talk about all this. We have to find the exit quickly!" Wang Baole took quick glances in all directions, trying to find an escape route. When he spoke, Zhuo Yifan, who had planned to question further, instinctively chose to obey. Zhao Yameng followed suit as well.

The two of them hadn't realized it, but after being saved by Wang Baole and being placed into the weird and dangerous environment, an unusual sense of determination seemed to have emerged from Wang Baole.

It was that determination and steadfastness that caused both of them to choose to agree with Wang Baole. Even though they were weak and tired, they gritted their teeth and cooperated. The trio thus began their search in the tree hole that was filled with fruits.

However, no matter how hard they searched, the entire place was sealed shut. They couldn't find any escape routes, and even if they tried to destroy the tree wall, they were unable to break through it. After half an hour, Zhuo Yifan looked bitterly towards Wang Baole.

"Baole, there's no way out of here…"

Zhao Yameng fell silent. Even though she didn't speak, she looked at Wang Baole in a similar manner.

Wang Baole hadn't realized that he had somehow become the leader of the trio. With Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan looking at him, he walked about in frustration, piercing his sword into the tree wall.

A loud bang was produced, and the flying sword recoiled from impact. Looking at the tree wall that wasn't damaged at all, Wang Baole grew frustrated and troubled. However, his gaze shimmered as torrents of thoughts appeared in his mind. Since the beginning, he had a question about the reason why the tree seemed not to have realized that the three of them had emerged out of the fruit and that he had absorbed large amounts of Spirit Qi.

Wang Baole didn't have an answer to that. He thought that it was either there was something wrong with the tree that caused it to fall into a slumber, or that the messy existences inside his body had disrupted the giant tree's consciousness.

It could also be that everything was a result of both possibilities. As he thought, Wang Baole recognized that waiting there could perhaps be safer; however, it was also very possible that a crisis would happen. After all, the giant tree had the ability to send fake voice transmissions. Pinning all their hopes on waiting for the Dao College to realize that something was amiss and send help would take too long.

At the same time, a crisis could strike at any time. Passively waiting and not looking for help didn't fit Wang Baole's personality. With a vicious look in his eyes, Wang Baole spoke, "Yifan, Yameng, be my guardians!"

As Wang Baole spoke, he immediately stepped out and dashed towards the tree-root looking tree wall, hugging it tightly, and shouted, "Absorb!"

When he spoke, the devouring seed, black lightning, and purple sea inside his body erupted immediately. An incredible suction force emerged from Wang Baole's body, which flowed along the tree wall and spread within the entire tree hole, sucking and swallowing everything in its path in a crazy manner!

Since there are no exits, then I will treat this place like a gigantic fruit. Absorbing everything here would naturally cause the surrounding tree walls to dry up and crack. I don't believe that I won't be able to escape then! Wang Baole gave it his all!

The instant the existences within Wang Baole's body were released, the tree he was hugging vibrated violently. Waves of immensely strong Spirit Qi were directed swiftly towards Wang Baole's body.

There was so much Spirit Qi—especially with them containing vitality—that after it entered Wang Baole's body, the devouring seed, black lightning, and purple sea began to grow excited—it was as if they were finally rehydrated after a period of dehydration. They each swallowed the Spirit Qi without holding back.

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Chapter 206: The Peak of True Breath

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As the forces within his body exploded into action, it was as if Wang Baole was suddenly transformed into a larva. Within the span of a dozen breath, the huge tree that Wang Baole was hugging showed signs of shriveling. The shriveling spread across a large area with Wang Baole as the focal point and throughout the entire fruit-laden tree hollow!

The fruits without any cultivators inside shriveled up as Wang Baole continued his devouring. It was as if inexhaustible Spirit Qi was flowing madly into Wang Baole's body, sucking everything dry.

His cultivation level shot up in an instant, from nearing the fifth level of True Breath realm to breaking through suddenly from the fourth level to the fifth level of the True Breath realm!

At the moment of his breakthrough, Wang Baole's body shook fiercely. The deep wells of Spirit Qi within his meridians expanded in a rush. It felt akin to an upheaval. As he endured the rapid changes and his meridians were forcibly widened, more Spirit Qi surged in; it rushed through every meridian in Wang Baole's body and finally gathered at the devouring seed sitting within his dantian—becoming a great ocean!

The sea of Spirit Qi morphed into a huge whirlpool as the devouring seed churned. As it swept through Wang Baole's entire body, he could feel the Spirit Qi forming waves inside him. In an instant, his body unleashed an overwhelming aura that sent tremors through Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng!

The intensity of the aura didn't equal that of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, but amongst the True Breath realm cultivators, it was impressive beyond measure. After all, the rest only had at most eighty percent of their meridians transformed into spirit meridians, whereas Wang Baole's was a hundred percent transformed!

Under the baptism of the Spirit Qi, and as his cultivation level climbed up, his physical body was affected as well. His muscles were more tightly knit, and his bones sturdier; his physical strength increased drastically!

Such improvement was clearly shown in his speed and strength, and the huge tree started showing signs of cracking under his powerful hold!

With a breakthrough in his cultivation and as the suction force of the devouring seed intensified, Wang Baole became a black hole. The huge tree started quaking under the devouring and suction forces. It howled madly and seemed as if it was trying to escape!

However, Wang Baole had it in a stranglehold and showed no signs of letting go. There was a vicious look in his eyes, and as his cultivation underwent a series of breakthroughs, an inexplicable excitement rose within him.

Zhuo Yifan witnessed the scene before him and was momentarily stunned speechless. His eyes widened, and waves of emotions rumbled within him. He had known Wang Baole was strong, but as he advanced to become a True Breath realm cultivator and went on to carry out numerous missions, Zhuo Yifan had grown equally confident of himself.

Yet… as he stared at Wang Baole, he had a sudden intense feeling that the other was not human, but that he was a monster in the form of a human!

If that wasn't the case, how could he possibly absorb the vitality and Spirit Qi of the giant tree…

Zhao Yameng was equally dumbstruck. Despite her generally composed demeanor, she was flabbergasted. Especially when the fruits started drying up one after another and the shriveling spread across the entire tree hollow. The tree hollow had even started quaking as if it was struggling…

But the more it struggled, the stronger the force that burst forth from Wang Baole during the moment of crisis became. It thundered.

There's no use in you fighting. I'm going to suck you dry! Wang Baole gave it his all. He growled and activated his cultivation, rousing the various forces within him, and intensifying the suction force.

Thunderous roars resounded all around them. As Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng looked on, stupefied, the tree hollow's trembling grew fiercer. It was as if a raging roar was being unleashed from within the tree trunk!

Zhuo Yifan's and Zhao Yameng's hearts started pumping rapidly. When they looked at Wang Baole, they saw not only a monster in human skin, but they felt an aura of violence and brutality exuding from his person.

As the two of them stood, shaken to the depths of their souls, a roaring sound thundered from within Wang Baole once again. His cultivation level increased, from the fifth level of the True Breath realm, then to its completion, reaching… the peak of the True Breath realm!

Everything happened too quickly. Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng hadn't yet come to terms with his breakthrough in cultivation; even Wang Baole himself had not come to terms with it. The moment his cultivation reached the peak of the True Breath realm, the entire tree hollow—seemingly unable to withstand it anymore—collapsed and exploded!

As the tree hollow collapsed into multiple parts, Wang Baole and the rest prepared to dash out, only to find that beyond the tree hollow was an even bigger tree hollow!

I'll just keep sucking! Wang Baole gritted his teeth, undaunted. He raised both hands, pressed them on the walls of the tree, and started sucking again. The entire Coulomb Basin began to quake fiercely in that instant. The earth rose and fell, and trees swayed and bent. Even the seal spreading across the core of the Coulomb Basin started loosening.

The loosening of the seal sent Wang Baole and the others swaying. The feeling was akin to emerging from water and rising above. It caused their breathing to quicken. Given the opportunity, Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng didn't hesitate; they pulled out their voice transmission rings immediately and sent out a call for help to the college!

"Coulomb Basin, a giant tree has gained sentience. Send help quickly!" Wang Baole had one hand on the giant tree, sucking, and the other hand holding the voice transmission ring as he yelled.

Next to him, Zhao Yameng hurriedly sent out a voice transmission as well. Their calls for help seemed to be transmitted almost simultaneously. They couldn't tell if the transmissions had successfully reached the college, nor did they have time to receive a reply. All around them, a loud roar filled with pain and rage rang out!

If the giant tree could be compared to a human being, then at that moment, Wang Baole, who was inside it, would be a giant parasite. The tree hollow that was being drained dry would be an organ inside the giant tree. At that moment, the organ had shattered, and the resulting pain was driving the giant tree mad.

The strange powers of the purple ocean had numbed its senses earlier, but under such extreme agony, the paralysis had lost its effect. As the giant tree struggled to wakefulness, it howled in pain. Its agonized cries resounded underground, rose into the heavens, and rang throughout the air!

Roar!

The sound was deafening beyond measure. It was louder than thunder and exploded in their ears. Zhuo Yifan, who had already been weakened, immediately spat out a mouthful of blood under the shockwave. Even Zhao Yameng was shaking. Blood seeped out between her lips, and her face was pale.

Even Wang Baole, who had just had a breakthrough in his cultivation and was brimming with Spirit Qi, could hear a buzzing in his head after hearing the deafening roar. A streak of viciousness unfurled within him.

He had always been one who was brutal to himself, and even more merciless towards the enemy!

"Think I'm afraid of you?" Wang Baole glared and shouted angrily as he hugged the walls of the tree. As Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng approached him nervously, he prepared to start sucking fiercely again. He was instantly struck dumb…

A short length of black lightning bolt had grown inside him. It lay lazily, ignoring Wang Baole's wishes, and dove straight within his meridians. It fused with his Spirit Qi and disappeared as if falling into a deep slumber.

Get to sucking, don't sleep! Wang Baole panicked and tried activating the devouring seed.

The devouring seed was the same. With Wang Baole's cultivation reaching the peak of True Breath realm, until he could break through to the Foundation Establishment realm, it had absorbed to its fullest and could no longer continue. The devouring seed stopped churning and, like the black lightning bolt, fell into a deep sleep.

It was the same with the purple ocean. It retreated slowly into the depths of Wang Baole's eyes, settled down, and fell into silence.

What the hell, start sucking! Wang Baole's face turned red. As if sensing Wang Baole's panic, his nine mosquitoes flew out from his scabbard and flew in circles around him, buzzing.

My dear ancestors, you can't do this to me. How can you go limp at such a critical moment? See that sumptuous spread before you? Come on, dig in! Wang Baole, on the verge of tears, started begging inwardly.

It was then that the howling from the giant tree intensified. As the entire tree hollow started quaking fiercely as it had never done before, the assimilated cultivators started emerging from the walls of the tree one after another, charging towards Wang Baole and the others.

Under the veil of death and violence, despite not knowing why Wang Baole was unable to continue his absorption, Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng could sense that something had gone wrong. They eyed the cultivators who had appeared around them. Their faces were pale again. Despite that, they didn't give up. There was no need for words. Their eyes met, and they retreated almost at the same time, clustering together at a corner where they had set their battleground.

Wang Baole's cultivation burst forth. Nine mosquitoes flew out, giving him an all-encompassing field of vision. His peak level True Breath realm cultivation and his physical strength augmented each other and gave his battle prowess an exponential boost. He stepped forward and with a thundering kick, sent the first cultivator who had charged forward flying.

"Yameng, support me with array formations. Yifan, you get the ones that I miss. Let's give it all we've got!" Wang Baole's eyes were alight with ferociousness. The instant he spoke, a baneful aura that had first appeared in the Pond Cloud Rainforest appeared once again!

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Chapter 207: Surrender Yourself to the Path of Daoism!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As the hundreds of assimilated cultivators appeared, on the land above the tree hollow—on a dry and cracked surface of a small tree in the center of hundreds of surrounding giant trees—the face of a middle-aged man emerged.

Its features were distorted as if suffering unbearable pain. Upon closer examination, one could see an almost indiscernible liquid light slowly flowing and spreading throughout the cracks on its skin.

It was clear that the spread of the liquid light had some relation to Wang Baole's devouring, but the latter wasn't the sole cause of it. At that moment, it seemed to be undergoing a transformation!

Compared to its look of pain, its gaze remained calm. It looked in the direction of the Ethereal Dao College, and soft murmuring echoed in the air.

"The message still went through in the end… this isn't what I wanted, but since it's come to this… there is a need for a little strategizing. After all, the other two have succeeded, one after the after. I have to succeed as well… as for the three puny insects inside me, they're such weaklings. It's just a matter of squashing them." ( NovelFull )

As the small tree's murmurings resounded, within the tree hollow—as Wang Baole intensified his attack and a murderous aura exploded from his person—mist started rising from beneath his feet.

The mist was the third tier of Ethereal Dao College's unique mystic technique. Once applied, it would augment his speed. Wang Baole shot forward like an arrow leaving the bow.

In addition, mist surrounded his body. That was the fourth tier of the Ethereal Dao College's unique mystic technique that went by the name Cloud Body!

As for the fifth tier of the series of unique mystic techniques, Wang Baole had just advanced to the peak True Breath realm and had not yet fully grasped it. His form was like a cloud, dashing towards the assimilated cultivators in the span of a breath.

As he approached rapidly, Wang Baole raised his right hand, and an arc of lightning shot forward. Following his cultivation's advancement to the peak of the True Breath realm, the power contained within the lightning arc had grown even stronger. It shone with a blinding light and dashed towards the assimilated cultivators.

As it wove its way through the air, it sparked a series of electric bolts. Looking from afar, it seemed as if a small ocean of lightning had appeared in the tree hollow. It was a stunning sight!

Thunder roared and resounded across all four corners of the tree hollow. Everywhere the lightning arc passed, the assimilated cultivators started trembling, and more than a few self-combusted immediately. As that was happening, Wang Baole summoned the Heated Burst within his palm. The Heated Burst transformed into a sea of fire that was vaster than what he had summoned before, and with a thunderous roar, it spread out in all directions.

The heat of the flames was unbearably scorching. To a certain extent, it should have turned the assimilated cultivators into ashes. However, they were imbued with the power of the giant tree and were able to resist the flames. Despite that, the sea of fire and the lightning arc caused them considerable damage.

There were a few assimilated cultivators who, under the assault of the Flash Arc and Heated Burst, were either torn apart and turned to dust or burned to ashes. It was an attack that they could hardly recover from—a complete annihilation!

Such intensity exceeded Wang Baole's previous battle capabilities. A peaked True Breath realm cultivation had increased the prowess of his spells significantly, while the number of spells he could cast increased tremendously as well. As he concurrently unleashed Flash Arc and Heated Burst, he also set off Cloud Finger in a blast.

Zhao Yameng's augmenting array formations descended at that instant, and the threads of array formations appeared all around Wang Baole and shadowed his every movement. As it glimmered, it provided Wang Baole with a defensive barrier and, at the same time, inflicted damage on the enemies as well.

Zhuo Yifan, despite being weakened, grit his teeth and manipulated his Numinous Treasures into aiding Zhao Yameng and killing the assimilated cultivators rushing from the sides. Under their coordinated efforts, the loud clashes of battle sounds rang out within the tree hollow. The air was heavy with murderous intent, the battling fearsome.

"Die!" Wang Baole growled. He flung his fist out, stirring a wave of energy. The strength within his entire body exploded outward, and he smashed the head of an assimilated cultivator straight open. His left hand drew seals, and a flame appeared and flew forward, burning. Wang Baole stepped forward and dropped his head suddenly, dodging the flying sword leaves from three assimilated cultivators. He then leaped and flung out three self-exploding beads.

A series of explosions sent the three assimilated cultivators who had tried to ambush him flying and collapsing into a heap. Wang Baole was about to rush forward and burn them into ashes when he suddenly tilted his body sideways, raised his right hand, and grabbed behind him. An assimilated cultivator who had snuck up behind him was caught by the neck instantly. He tightened his clutch.

With another wave of his arm, several flying swords dashed towards Zhuo Yifan. They approached and suddenly exploded, sending the few assimilated cultivators who had been about to lunge onto Zhuo Yifan quaking from the shockwave and flying back.

Wang Baole didn't pause after resolving the threat that Zhuo Yifan had faced; instead, he struck again. He was like a fearsome tiger charging into a pack of wolves. Wang Baole's cultivation level might have increased, but there were still limits to it. The assimilated cultivators, on the other hand, despite having been torn into pieces, would quickly recover as the numerous tree branches wove them back together. As the fight went on, it was obvious they weren't fighting on the same level.

Even if some were destroyed under his powerful attacks, wiped out and decimated in both flesh and spirit, those were in the minority. They occupied less than two-tenths of the hundreds of assimilated cultivators.

Even though he had a breakthrough in his cultivation, his Spirit Qi was finite. Flash Arc and Heated Burst also consumed a great deal of his cultivation.

As a result, Wang Baole soon started panting heavily and could only retreat. Zhuo Yifan, in his weakened state, was also slowly exhausting himself. Eventually, he didn't manage to avoid an attack in time and was pierced through the chest by three leaves that had been transformed by a spell. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body draining of life as he fell backward. In his bitterness, he lost all fight in him. Falling to one side, he stared at Wang Baole, who was still engaged in a fierce battle. His mind was a complete blank.

He seemed to be thinking back, on memories of his childhood, of his family clan and his cruel and cold-hearted father and his cold-blooded elder brother, of Spirit Breath Village and the happenings inside, and of Wang Baole standing before him.

Gradually, his vision grew blurry. The sounds of battle grew more and more distant.

Zhao Yameng, on the other hand, was still persevering, but her body was shaking ceaselessly. It was clear that she was about to exhaust her Spirit Qi. Her array formation threads were an immeasurable aid to Wang Baole, however. That was why she continued to grit her teeth and stand firm despite reaching her limits.

However, without Zhuo Yifan's support, regardless of how strong Wang Baole was, he couldn't attend to everything that was happening on the battlefield. There would always be someone weaving their way through the battlefield from all directions, charging towards Zhao Yameng.

As Wang Baole observed the scene, he started panicking. He had expended all his Numinous Treasures and no longer had any means of defense at his disposal. He could only retreat while blocking the attacks. At that point, his panting grew heavier, and cuts from the blades of flying sword leaves appeared on his body.

Some were surface wounds, others deep injuries. The worst was one that had pierced through his right leg, creating a tear-like wound.

"Baole, Yameng, do you think… the college received our message, that they will be coming…?" Zhuo Yifan seemed to have forgotten that they were in the midst of battle. The light in his eyes grew fainter, and he muttered to himself. As his eyes darkened, there seemed to be a dash of red light intensifying within.

Zhao Yameng remained silent. She used the last dregs of her Spirit Qi to sustain the array formations, but she couldn't hold on for long. Soon, under the attack of multiple bespelled leaves, Zhao Yameng spat out a mouthful of blood. She had completely expended the cultivation inside her body, and the array formations around them vanished. Her body seemed drained of all strength as she leaned against one of the walls of the tree with great difficulty. She had bitten her lips, and her face was drained of all blood. There seemed to be a struggle taking place deep within her, one that no one could witness. She appeared to be torn about a choice she was about to make.

"Yifan, hold on, help will definitely arrive from the college!" Wang Baole saw how Zhuo Yifan had reached the end of his rope and said hurriedly. He retreated abruptly, before Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng. With the glove on his right hand, he sent forth an explosive shockwave that drove the assimilated cultivators lunging at Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng back.

Wang Baole watched as Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng lost all fight in them. As the multitudes of tireless assimilated cultivators continued rushing forward from all directions, bitterness and despair rose in his heart. He himself didn't know whether the college had received their voice transmission.

It was then, as he spiraled further into the depths of despair, that suddenly… inside his head, from within the black mask, the familiar, distant voice of Little Missy rang out for the first time.

"Don't be afraid, Wang Baole. I'll teach you a scripture. Its power is unfathomable. Uttering it will shift the heavens and earth and exterminate all living things!"

There was a hint of pride in her voice as it echoed within Wang Baole's head. He was slightly wary when he heard what she said. Her statement was so powerful that he secretly feel doubtful about it. However, he thought back to everything the Little Missy had told him and, except for the slight exaggeration regarding the scabbard, whatever she had told him had never turned out to be a bluff. Especially the Golden Body—he had followed her instructions and attained it.

The many encounters strengthened his faith in her, so he hurriedly asked, "What scripture?"

"Listen carefully… Enlightened, prisoner of the Dao of heaven, all sentient beings must endure immeasurable calamities. It only takes a thought to leave the deep prison. Await the path of cultivation 1 !"

"Go, in accordance with this scripture, execute this puny sapling!" Little Missy said with a casual arrogance.

Upon hearing the scripture, Wang Baole's body, heart, and soul were shaken to the core. He seemed to feel some sort of calling. It was as if the scripture could actually move the heavens and earth and, upon utterance, it would transform one's life completely!

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Chapter 208: Let Me Have a Shot

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole didn't know how reciting the scripture would, in Little Missy's words, move the heavens and earth and exterminate all living creatures. It was all too strange, and something he felt was completely unimaginable.

But he could feel something indescribable surface within him when he heard the scripture. It was as if it hid a certain meaning that could not be described in words. The last line, especially, was imbued with immense power.

If it had been another time and place, Wang Baole would have cast his suspicions aside and found a way to verify the truth behind the scripture. After confirming that it was of use, he would then try it out. However, at that moment, trapped within the dangerous tree hollow and facing the onslaught of hundreds of assimilated cultivators, Wang Baole—who continued casting spells while deliberating on the scriptures—was running out of time.

Let's just give it a shot! Wang Baole threw out a punch. With a wave of his hand, a sea of lightning and an ocean of fire exploded into being simultaneously, wiping out a dozen assimilated cultivators charging towards him. His eyes flashed, he sucked in a deep breath, and he was about to recite the scripture.

It was at that moment!

Wang Baole had not yet started uttering the scripture when an indescribable Blood Qi rose and expanded behind him. It was followed by a thunderous roar!

The Blood Qi was so intense it formed a Blood Qi hurricane that swept across the entire area. The hurricane exuded an oppressive aura of violence and bloodlust, and the surrounding assimilated cultivators started quaking in their boots and froze in their tracks.

It was as if an invincible, fearsome soldier had just awoken!

Even the tree hollow started shaking at that instant, and signs of decay appeared on its four walls. Everything happened too quickly and too suddenly. Wang Baole's heart pumped rapidly, and his breathing quickened as he turned around. Behind him, next to Zhao Yameng, Zhuo Yifan, who had been gravely wounded and on the verge of death… was floating off the ground!

Not standing, but floating in mid-air. There was a red light flashing in his eyes, and his entire person exuded an aura of violence and bloodlust so intense it conjured the images of a mountain of corpses and an ocean of blood. The intensity of the Blood Qi was indescribable and was coming off him in waves.

What's going on! Wang Baole was stunned. He had almost shouted out the scripture then, but who could have known that Zhuo Yifan still had such an ace in the hole left in him

It was clear that there was something amiss with Zhuo Yifan. As Wang Baole stood, stunned, Zhuo Yifan moved. His body swayed forward abruptly, and he leaped forward in mid-air. As he dashed forward, his right hand raised and pressed against his own neck, yanking abruptly…

Wang Baole gasped in shock as he saw with his own eyes, Zhuo Yifan pulling out, from his own neck… a crimson blood sword!

The edges of the blade were formed from blood while the rest of the sword was formed from bone. Zhuo Yifan's expression was that of pain and ferocity as he pulled out the sword. He was silent, and it was as if he had transformed into a demon as he charged forward!

He was swift like lightning, approaching an assimilated cultivator in the blink of an eye. The blood sword in his hand went sweeping across the air. As it hit the cultivator, the assimilated cultivator quaked, his entire person turning into a pool of blood in an instant…

The killing seemed to have incited his thirst for blood, and Zhuo Yifan moved even more quickly. He was like a blur of blood-red shadow, leaving rivers of blood in his wake!

Within the span of a mere dozen breaths, he slew more than a dozen assimilated cultivators around him. The cultivators, who had turned into pools of blood, clearly lost the power to regenerate again!

The aura of bloodlust exuding from Zhuo Yifan grew stronger, and the demonic air around him intensified as well!

It's not him who's controlling the sword. It's the sword that's controlling him! Wang Baole observed. It was then that the tree hollow started swaying fiercely, and a sound of disdain resounded throughout the entire tree hollow.

It was like multiple bolts of lightning crashing down, sending instant tremors through Wang Baole's body. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and blood spilled from Zhao Yameng's lips as well. As the sound rang out, a middle-aged man dressed in black robes stepped out from the far wall of the tree hollow!

The man looked to be human, but his face was lined like that of tree bark. His eyes were cold and held a glint of savagery within them. As he appeared, the aura of Foundation Establishment realm cultivation burst forth from his body. The intensity of his aura surpassed all Foundation Establishment realm cultivators Wang Baole had come across.

"The perfected Foundation Establishment realm. He's only a step away from Core Formation realm!" Zhao Yameng said quickly. Her voice was calm. When she spoke, her eyes no longer held any hints of hesitation or struggle, and she shut both eyes then.

Despite noticing Zhao Yameng's strange behavior, Wang Baole had no time to question further. It was a critical moment. With the appearance of the black-robed man, the aura in the entire tree hollow turned chaotic, and the assimilated cultivators fell to their knees. It was clear that the middle-aged black-robed man was their master!

As they witnessed the scene before them, the man's identity became clear… he was the human form of the giant tree!

The middle-aged black-robed man didn't spare a glance towards Wang Baole or Zhao Yameng when he appeared. The expression on his face was cold and arrogant. With one step, he appeared right before Zhuo Yifan, a solemn and vicious look on his face as his right hand lifted abruptly in a sudden sweep.

A sudden, immense force emerged. Countless leaves appeared out of thin air, forming a tornado which exploded without warning. The loud explosion shook Zhuo Yifan's body; however, he didn't dodge the attack. Instead, he drew the cloak of demonic aura tightly around him. Amidst his tremors, his fighting instincts seemed to be sparked. Wielding the blood sword in his hands, he sent it sweeping towards the approaching tornado!

An explosive sound resounded and rose into the air as the tornado was sliced into halves by Zhuo Yifan's single blade. A shockwave swept outwards in all directions. Blood bubbled from Zhuo Yifan's mouth, and his body stumbled back towards Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng. The bloodlust in his eyes seemed to have grown much fainter. Even the blood sword in his hands was melting away as if being absorbed back into his body.

The middle-aged black-robed man stood hovering in mid-air. One split half of the tornado went roaring past him, causing a faint cut to appear on his face. It healed swiftly and, within a span of a few breaths, disappeared completely.

There was a strange light in his eyes as he stared at Zhuo Yifan.

"How unfortunate. If your cultivation level had risen to the Foundation Establishment realm, you might have posed a challenge to me… after all, you're… the Blood War Soldier from the Five Generation Sky Clan!

"I'd heard of this in the past. That the Five Generation Sky Clan had gotten their hands on a strange mystic art that required multiple people from the same generation and with the same bloodline, where one would be the host while the remaining would be soldiers. The soldiers have to sacrifice everything, including their flesh and blood, to the host… the Destined Soldier! I can't believe that the Five Generation Sky Clan actually carried it out… they're indeed an ancient clan—resourceful, determined, and ruthless!

"You probably have an elder brother, or maybe a younger brother, whom the clan has placed their hopes on. While you… are just a vessel!"

As the man spoke, Zhuo Yifan, who was slowly regaining lucidity, turned pale. He retreated once again, and the blood sword in his hands completely retreated back into his body. There was sorrow in his eyes, and he didn't say a single word.

Waves of emotions stirred within Wang Baole when he heard that. His face stiffened, and his eyes grew wide. He thought of Spirit Breath Village and Zhuo Yifan's brother, Zhuo Yixian…

And the moment when Zhuo Yixian terrorized Zhuo Yifan and prevented him from obtaining a seven-inch Spirit Root.

It was clear that the answer to all his previous doubts wasn't as simple as it had seemed then. It implicated the secrets of the Five Generation Sky Clan. Zhuo Yixian might have done what he had done to secure his control over the War Soldiers and prevent an overthrowing of his power from ever taking place. He both desired the War Soldier to become stronger and to keep the soldier under his control so that the soldier would never surpass its master!

"Who would've thought that out of the three puny insects casually captured, there would be one who turned out to be a War Soldier… interesting," greed flashed in the middle-aged black-robed man's eyes as he spoke merrily. His body blurred as he dashed towards Zhuo Yifan.

His speed was supernatural. As he approached, the force of his Foundation Establishment realm cultivation became overwhelming, assaulting their concentration and their cultivation. It was as if they had been rendered completely helpless before the middle-aged black-robed man.

The man raised his right hand and was about to grab Zhuo Yifan. Wang Baole's eyes turned vicious, and he was about to shout out the scripture. It was then that suddenly… next to him, in that very instant, an energy stronger and more earth-shattering than the one that Zhuo Yifan had exuded, a tornado of aura—exploded in the air!

As it roared, thundering into the skies, Zhao Yameng's hair started lashing around in the absence of wind. Terrifying whirlpools of air started appearing all around her!

Multiple whips seemed to form rapidly out of nowhere and lashed outward in all directions. The assimilated cultivators shook and collapsed upon the touch of a whip, and even the tree hollow shook fiercely.

Wang Baole's eyes widened even more. He wasn't a stranger to that sight. During his battle with Zhao Yameng, the latter had been unconscious in the last leg of the fight; it had happened then too. She had still been at the Ancient Martial realm, and the aura that she had exuded then was strong and extremely terrifying. Having reached the fourth level of the True Breath realm, and once again slipping into the same state, the intensity of her aura would be unimaginable.

Even the expression on the black-robed middle-aged man changed drastically. He gasped in shock.

"A mutation! There's something wrong with your bloodline!" The black-robed middle-aged man couldn't have guessed that out of the three he had casually captured, two would be such extraordinary people. One was a rare War Soldier, and the other from the even rarer Mutated Bloodline!

Even he felt incredulous at the sight unfolding before him.

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Chapter 209: Chanting the scripture Scriptures!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The middle-aged black-robed man's body blurred. His attention was no longer on Zhuo Yifan. He dashed towards Zhao Yameng, swift like the fall of lightning. However, as he approached, Wang Baole yelled. The latter was prepared to recite the scripture's line, regardless of whether it worked or not, to stop the man from getting closer.

He didn't have the chance to say a word. The moment the middle-aged black-robed man approached, Zhao Yameng's tightly shut eyes opened abruptly. They glowed with a blue light which exploded into an ocean of blue, and surged towards the approaching man as if to pull him under!

The intensity of the blue light was too great. As it spread outwards, thundering, all the assimilated cultivators started trembling. They shriveled on the spot as if cleansed of all life, turning into dust within the blink of an eye!

Wang Baole had been standing behind Zhao Yameng, but he didn't escape unscathed. His body shook, and he could barely form the words of the scripture. He grabbed hold of Zhuo Yifan, who, weakened and barely recovered from his earlier episode, had instantly blacked out, and retreated hastily. They barely managed to escape the full onslaught of the attack.

Both of their ultimate attacks can't be controlled! Wang Baole twitched with fear. He was thankful that they hadn't used such attacks on him previously; otherwise, he worried that he might have been killed by them both then…

In reality, Zhao Yameng in that state wasn't conscious, and Wang Baole was well aware of that.

Under the cast of the blue light, the surrounding walls of the tree hollow started shriveling and drying up. It was as if they were being forced to age rapidly. The pain from his true form reached the middle-aged black-robed man at that moment, and he started shaking, the expression on his face gruesome. He roared and pressed forcibly against the ocean of blue light, his hand clawing viciously at Zhao Yameng's face. ( NovelFull )

"Die!"

Wang Baole watched as the scene unfolded and panic rose in his heart. He grit his teeth and started reciting.

"As it is…"

As he spoke the first few words, Zhao Yameng, with blue light flooding out from her eyes, suddenly opened her mouth wide and let out a sound so piercing it shook the heavens and earth. The scream rang loudly across all directions!

The scream was shrill beyond measure, and as it rang out, a buzzing sound exploded in Wang Baole's head. Blood started dripping from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. If not for the devouring seed churning fiercely within him, he would have passed out.

Even though Zhuo Yifan was unconscious, his body trembled and blood seeped out from between his lips. They weren't even standing directly before the aural force but hidden behind Zhao Yameng.

The middle-aged black-robed man, who stood in front of Zhao Yameng, took the onslaught of her aural attack head-on. The look on his face changed drastically, and his breathing quickened as blood spilled from his lips. Then, the hand he had outstretched towards Zhao Yameng exploded. He retreated rapidly, unwilling to remain in the vicinity of Zhao Yameng in her aggressive state.

"Damn it! Damn it!" The man retreated, staggering. His disintegrated right hand regenerated swiftly, but the pain and humiliation of losing a hand drove him into a rage.

He never would have thought that a cultivator at the perfected Foundation Establishment realm like himself would be helpless against a True Breath realm cultivator.

All mutants are nut bags. A destructive power rests within them. One that, once awakened, even I can't survive it! Following the black-robed man's retreat, and as Zhao Yameng's screams echoed through the air, the walls of the tree hollow—having shriveled under the onslaught of the waves of light blue—could take it no longer. They cracked and fractured into pieces!

The fracturing wasn't contained within a small area but spread across the entire tree hollow. In that instant, it exploded. Everything turned into dust. The surrounding earth also couldn't withstand the attack and exploded outward into the air.

From afar, one could hear a rumbling from the center of the Coulomb Basin. Very quickly, the earth started to shake, then, it exploded, sending dirt and earth everywhere. Screams resounded in the air as blue light spilled out from the cracks in the earth.

It was noon, and the sun was shining brightly. As the opening in the ground appeared following the collapse of the tree hollow, sunlight spilled underground. Wang Baole could see the light of day!

It was then that Zhao Yameng, after her fearsome attack, exhausted herself completely. Her body grew limp, and she fell into unconsciousness. The blue light and the sound waves immediately vanished.

It was during that moment, as the black-robed man retreated and Zhao Yameng fell unconscious, that Wang Baole dashed out with his quick reflexes. Grabbing Zhuo Yifan in one hand and Zhao Yameng in the other, he leaped upwards, jumping off the surrounding earth and rocks and following the path of the explosion towards the opening in the ground. He charged out from underground and escaped from the inside of the giant tree!

Without pausing for breath, Wang Baole panted heavily and dashed forward. He pulled out his voice transmission ring hurriedly and called for help from the college. That time, he received a reply.

"Give us another thirty minutes, we'll be there!"

There was a hint of solemnity in the anxious voice coming from within the voice transmission ring. Wang Baole let out a sigh of relief and quickened his escape.

Inside the crater behind him, the black-robed man had an ugly look on his face. He did let loose an inward sigh of relief, though. From what he could tell, the girl was the strangest amongst the three.

For the little fatty ahead of him who was trying to escape, he had little concern. He reasoned that Zhao Yameng and Zhuo Yifan must have been why the three of them had managed to escape assimilation earlier.

In reality, the paralysis inflicted by the purple ocean resting within Wang Baole's eyes had resulted in the giant tree being unable to determine who had been the culprit behind everything.

I don't believe that all three people I'd randomly caught would be freaks of nature!He snorted with disdain. With a single leap, he rose above ground. Regardless of Wang Baole's speed, there was still a chasm separating him from a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. He was additionally burdened by the weight of Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng.

The black-robed man soon caught up to him. As he drew near, the speed of his approach stirred a roar; it was the sound of the sound barrier being broken. The distance between him and Wang Baole grew smaller and smaller.

Wang Baole watched as the distance between them shrank to fewer than fifty yards. In his panic, he shouted, "Tree freak, stop chasing us. Backup from our college is arriving. You should start bailing. This is a friendly reminder!"

The black-robed man remained expressionless and silent and increased his speed. It seemed as if he was about to catch up with them at any time. Wang Baole's breathing stilled. He was like a beast forced into a corner, and his eyes shone with madness and violence. He spun around suddenly and stared unblinkingly at the black-robed man charging towards him and roared.

( NovelFull ) "Enlightened, prisoner of the Dao of heaven…" As the words were spoken, an oppressive rumbling sounded across what had been clear skies, and thunder clouds seemed to be gathering.

There was a strong, oppressive heaviness spreading in the rumbling air as the entire sky seemed to darken slightly.

The sudden change sparked off a similar shift in the black-robed man's expression, and he sucked in a breath without thinking. He could feel, instinctively, death looming over him. It was an indescribable feeling. Even more incredible was how he could feel the prickling on his scalp. A surge of indescribable fear and terror rose from deep within him.

"What are you reciting!" He intuitively gasped in shock.

Wang Baole had given himself a shock as well. He was breathing heavily at that moment, and a fierce light shone from within his eyes. The astonishment he felt was accompanied by a mad glee, and he inwardly uttered, Little Missy was right. She didn't play me for a fool. Who could have imagined that the scripture she had taught him would give off such a powerful and overwhelming intensity!

Amidst his rapid breathing, he stopped running altogether. Instead, he stared at the black-robed man, whose expression had changed completely, with a cold arrogance. There was no pause in his speech as he spoke the second verse!

"All sentient beings must endure immeasurable calamities…"

As the verse was spoken, lightning split the heavens apart, and a thunderous roar resounded across the sky. The clouds boiled and rolled over, and the heavens transformed in an instant. An awesome force that would send all living things quaking in terror gathered in the skies. It was like a supreme presence who had been slumbering in the distant galaxy, was suddenly awakening…

At that moment, the earth trembled. Under the quaking, the Coulomb Basin seemed on the verge of complete collapse. The expression on the black-robed man's face was no longer of shock; he had turned pale instantly. An overwhelming sense of danger, like the surge of a tidal wave, rushed forward and drowned him.

His instinct and intuition were telling him repeatedly that if he did not run right then, and if he continued his chase, then… the danger that would follow would be great, very great, very, very great—it would be fatal!

It was a sense of alarm that he had never encountered in his life. It exceeded what he could endure and was beyond his wildest imagination. He even felt that, even with his cultivation breaking through to the Core Formation realm, he might still not be able to stand a chance. His death would be absolute!

This is impossible. He's only at the True Breath realm. Damn it, how did things turn out like this. The three of them, each one more terrifying than the last! The black-robed man's lips started trembling. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes revealed his unprecedented fear and shock. There was a loathing to admit defeat and a strong urge towards madness.

Zhuo Yifan's identity as a War Soldier had surprised him and Zhao Yameng's mutation had shocked him further. But all that couldn't compare to the terror he was experiencing right then.

His instincts told him that there was a force hidden within Wang Baole that was beyond horrifying, that could not be countered, that could not be stopped, that he had to run away from, far away from—as far as he could.

But his reason told him another thing. That the other person was only at the True Breath realm, and that it was impossible for him to have such an overpowering aura…

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Chapter 210: It Must Be Him!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

He could choose not to believe, but he didn't dare to make the gamble. As he stood torn and terrified, and before he was given the chance to decide, Wang Baole's spirits strengthened. He lifted his head to the sky and laughed. He didn't retreat and instead charged towards the black-robed man, a cold, murderous glint glimmering in his eyes. A loud roar thundered from his lips, rumbling through the air and shaking the earth, and summoning raging thunder!

"It only takes a thought to leave the deep prison…"

As the words left his lips, the thunder grew more ferocious. The deafening roars transformed the heavens and earth. Clouds gathered rapidly, forming a giant hand spanning ten thousand yards in the sky!

The hand blanketed the heavens and cast an enormous shadow over the vast lands. From afar, the giant hand in the air was a fearsome sight. The shadowed lands beneath it were not only cast into darkness but seemed to be stripped of all life, revealing signs of death!

The black-robed man trembled fiercely. He could feel himself shuddering like never before; a fear unfurled within him that he had never felt before. He stared at the giant hand in the sky and at Wang Baole, who had an air of confidence. He didn't seem as if he was trying even the slightest to put on an appearance of self-assurance, it was as if he was confident of his ability to destroy the giant tree.

His self-confidence amplified the overpowering aura of the hundred-thousand-feet long giant cloud hand hovering in the sky behind him. The hand slammed towards the earth in a thunderous rush, blanketing everything in its descent!

The sight of it finally drove the black-robed man to a mental collapse.

I've heard in the past that the Ethereal Dao College's Grand Supreme Elder, the former Federation President, landed on the ancient green-bronze sword… and brought back an infant boy…

This infant was not of the earth's human bloodline but had come from beyond the skies… could it be that he's that infant! Upon that thought, the black-robed man was overcome by emotions, his breathing stilled. The more he thought about it, the more he thought himself right.

Yes, those two kids, the boy is a War Soldier from the Five Generation Sky Clan, and the girl is a rare mutation. They are destined to reach the Core Formation realm… that such gifted ones would willingly unleash their most powerful attacks to protect him… clearly, they must be his servants, tasked with the responsibility of guarding him!

At the thought of that, the black-robed man could stand firm no more. With his face pale, he started retreating quickly and ran away. His only thought was his own loathing of how slow he was. The idea of killing Wang Baole and the others had been wiped clean from his mind.

He knew that at present, Wang Baole was too great a terror. He also knew that if he touched a single hair on Wang Baole, the whole Ethereal Dao College might go crazy, especially the former Federation President; he would fly into an unimaginable rage.

In his mind, Wang Baole's origins were tied intimately with the ancient green-bronze sword. That was a great blow to his spirits, and he fell back quickly.

If it had been before, Wang Baole would have been overjoyed at the black-robed man making his escape, but he was brimming with confidence. He thought it natural for the black-robed man to run away and had no intention of letting him escape.

His confidence had soared to the heavens. He thought of Little Missy in the mask as a genius. The power of the sutra had exceeded his wildest imagination.

Such faith and confidence led to his laughing out loud to the sky, with a cold glint ignited in his eyes.

"Trying to run?"

"Let me tell you something. Once I unleash my killer move, I'm invincible!"

"You can kneel and call me daddy, but it won't help. You're not going to get away!" Wang Baole growled. He started a fierce pursuit, shouting as he ran.

"Await!" As he recited, the power exuding from the giant hand in the heavens grew.

"The!" The stars trembled. It was as if the entire heaven and earth were howling; as if a volcano was on the verge of eruption!

"Path!" At that juncture, Wang Baole was mad with glee. He yelled out the words. All of a sudden, even the Sword Sun started trembling and tilting!

A Qi that seemed as if it could wipe out all living things and exterminate all living creatures descended from the heavens and locked onto the black-robed man!

The series of events finally drove the black-robed man to a complete and utter mental collapse. He let loose a howl filled with fury and madness.

"No!" he roared. He would escape at all costs. He smacked his chest brutally with his right palm and spat out a big mouthful of green blood. In exchange, he became faster, speeding off in a thunder.

Wang Baole's heart was filled with excitement. He raced ahead fearlessly, speeding up his pace. He pursued relentlessly and was about to shout out the final two words.

But it was then…

Suddenly, the panicked voice of Little Missy rang out in his head.

"Stop chasing him!"

"Little Missy, don't stop me. Today, I, Wang Baole, must kill this wretched creature and let him know what I'm capable of!" Wang Baole replied inwardly with pride. Then, he shouted.

"Of!"

The speed of the giant sky hand grew even more quickly. The rumbling sounds grew fiercer and louder. In the distance, the black-robed man smiled a tragic smile. Madness colored his eyes, and he spewed out more blood without hesitation, casting a mystic spell and speeding up further.

Wang Baole raised his head proudly. He marched forward, ceaseless in his chase. He was about to yell out the final word when Little Missy realized his overly excited state and panicked even further. She yelled straight into Wang Baole's mind.

"Wang Baole, you idiot. You've already scared it off, but you still want to go after it? The sutra is fake. It's a hoax! It can only be used to scare people off, it has no actual power behind its attack…"

"I didn't tell you the truth then because I was afraid you'd know it for the sham it is and wouldn't put on a convincing act. But who knew, you actually started going after him… once you recite the entire sutra, everything will disappear. Then, the enemy will run back and kill you with a single smack to your face!" Little Missy's voice carried a tone of anxiety as well as exasperation. It was as if she had no words for Wang Baole's actions.

Her words resounded in Wang Baole's head like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened instantly, and he stopped in his tracks. The muscles in his throat seemed to move, and his fatty flesh quivered. Uncertainty and alarm gripped him, and he asked hastily, "Are you for real?"

"What I said is the truth. The sutra is fake. You big dumb idiot!" Little Missy was beyond annoyed. It seemed as if she didn't know whether she should be laughing or crying at that point.

Wang Baole was stunned. He stood, dazed, and didn't shout out the last word. The giant hand in the sky gradually slowed down its pursuit. The black-robed man who had been trying to get away was first overjoyed then confounded. He couldn't help but turn around and sneak a glance as he made his escape.

Wang Baole saw the man glancing back. His body shuddered, a cry rising from within him, but he was quick to react. He grit his teeth and glared, making as if he was going to continue his pursuit. He opened his mouth wide as if to shout, then secretly maneuvered his cultivation and forced himself to spit out a large mouthful of blood. Wang Baole pretended he was struggling to force out the final word with everything he had.

"I'm going all out! Even if it means paying a terrible price for shouting out the last word, I'm going to go all out… we'll die together!"

His face turned red under his efforts. The extent to which he was striving, and his internal trembling, interwove with one another and made his act seem completely earnest and genuine, despite how inauthentic he was feeling.

However, the power of the scripture felt too real. The black-robed man saw Wang Baole's crazed looks and instantly sucked in a breath of cold air. He ran more quickly as he raged.

He's gone completely mad!

The black-robed man sped off, quicker and quicker, finally disappearing into the horizon. Wang Baole dared not stop his pretense immediately. He suppressed his feelings of sheepishness and the trembling within his heart, shouting furiously while pretending to heave and pant. He slowed down gradually, pretended that he could run no longer, and finally stopped.

It was then that a sudden fear gripped him. He recalled how he had chased after a cultivator who had been at the perfected Foundation Establishment realm so relentlessly and couldn't help the cold sweat from forming.

"Little Missy, let's not joke around like this the next time. You almost got me killed!" Wang Baole, frightened within an inch of his life, protested.

"Who knew you actually bought it. Believing it is one thing, but you actually became a true convert!" Little Missy snorted and paid Wang Baole no further attention.

Wang Baole could only smile wryly after hearing Little Missy's words. But, thinking back to his performance just then, he felt slightly pleased. He thought he had been a force of nature.

"Hmmph, you can count yourself lucky this time around. You dare to give me trouble? I scare even myself when I start reciting the scripture!" Wang Baole's feelings of self-satisfaction were mixed with sheepishness. He put up a show of yelling some more before hurriedly picking up Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng and running off in the opposite direction. His pace started slow, then gradually increased. Soon, it became a run for his life, as if he feared the black-robed man would realize what was amiss and exterminate him.

Time passed as he continued running. The anxiety and fear within Wang Baole didn't dissipate. It was only after fifteen minutes passed, and seven to eight cruisers bearing the emblem of Ethereal Dao College appeared, that his nerves finally settled down.

"I'm here! I'm right here!" In his mindless joy, he was about to rip off Zhuo Yifan's clothes before he realized something wasn't right. He hugged Zhao Yameng more tightly in his arms, loosened his embrace around Zhuo Yifan and tore a strip off his clothes. He waved the torn strip of cloth in the air…

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Chapter 211: Resume Our Journey!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhuo Yifan's combat robes had been damaged and torn. Wang Baole didn't have to use too much strength to rip out a large strip of his clothing, revealing Zhuo Yifan's pale, tender skin…

He waved and shouted his lungs out, and the approaching cruiser immediately saw them. In reality, compared to the cloth being waved around in mid-air, Wang Baole's round body was even more eye-catching.

The cruiser approached almost instantly. Seven to eight cultivators from the college leaped from the cruiser hurriedly. Leading them was the Deputy Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College. His long red robes fluttered as he leaped down, and an aura stronger than that of the giant tree spread across the sky in an instant.

Wang Baole had only felt it slightly, but he still found breathing difficult as feelings of oppression rose uncontrollably within him.

A middle-aged man followed behind the Deputy Sect Lord. He wore a long blue robe and looked ordinary, but there seemed to be lightning in his eyes, and his entire person exuded an overwhelming aura of violence. Even standing beside the Deputy Sect Lord, it didn't pale in comparison to the latter's aura. It was clear that he was also at the Core Formation realm!

( NovelFull ) The appearance of the pair sent the surrounding winds a-stirring and clouds a-shifting. Waves of aura that belonged to a Core Formation realm cultivator spread outwards in all directions. Their descent was followed by the arrival of three elders. The three elders' cultivation energy was forceful and overwhelming, exceeding that of a True Breath realm; they were at the Foundation Establishment realm.

"Greetings to the Deputy Sect Lord, and to the elders!" Upon seeing the group, Wang Baole's heart brimmed over with warmth and agitation. He placed Zhao Yameng down gently, stood and cupped his fists, bowing deeply.

His clothes were tattered and torn, and he looked like a mess. Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng were both unconscious. The Deputy Sect Lord and the middle-aged blue-robed man saw the sight of the three and were taken aback.

The Deputy Sect Lord stepped forward and stopped before Wang Baole. He grabbed his wrist and immediately checked for injuries. There was concern in his eyes, and he softly asked what happened.

The middle-aged man in blue robes also stepped forward and tapped his finger on Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng's foreheads. Both of them trembled instantly, then slowly, they opened their eyes.

"Grand Elder!" Upon recognizing who the middle-aged man in blue robes was, Zhuo Yifan struggled to stand and greet him. He was pressed down gently by the latter. The man comforted Zhao Yameng as well before turning towards Wang Baole.

"… it was a giant tree, with its cultivation at the perfecte Foundation Establishment realm… it had the power to cast illusions through aural attacks and has the power to seal one's abilities…" Wang Baole said quickly. He hurriedly shared what the three of them had encountered and gone through and pointed out the direction in which the giant tree had escaped.

Wang Baole had also heard what Zhuo Yifan had said earlier, and knew that the middle-aged man in blue robes was the Grand Elder of the Combat Pavilion!

"A tree mutating and turning into a monster is something the Federation has never come across. I'd like to find out if this monster is indeed a blockhead who dares to harm the disciples of the Ethereal Dao College!" Upon hearing what Wang Baole had told them, the expression on the blue-robed man's ordinary-looking face turned solemn. The aura of violence surrounding him seemed on the verge of explosion. It was clear he was filled with rage inside. After listening to Wang Baole's story, he turned and nodded at Wang Baole, a look of approval in his eyes. He whispered a few words to the Deputy Sect Lord, then, with a sway, sped away in the direction Wang Baole had pointed.

He was extremely fast, but it seemed as if he found himself still not fast enough. He pulled out a huge black banner and wrapped it around his body, and his speed suddenly increased exponentially compared to his previous speed. He sped away, his consciousness cast out and spread in all directions as he searched and hunted for the giant tree.

Wang Baole grew excited as he watched the middle-aged man in blue robes race off. It was the same for Zhuo Yifan. Even Zhao Yameng, who had remained quiet throughout and was currently in a weakened condition, let loose an obvious sigh of relief.

"What did you do to make the giant tree run away?" After a round of reassurance and comfort to the three, the Deputy Sect Lord asked curiously.

As soon as he had spoken, Zhuo Yifan lowered his head, Zhao Yameng fell silent, and Wang Baole blinked and let out a dry cough.

"Maybe I scared it off. I told it that our seniors from the college were coming, and if it didn't leave soon, it would be killed. That was why… it ran away."

The Deputy Sect Lord heard what Wang Baole said. He looked at the expressions on the three people's faces and couldn't help but laugh. He pointed at the three of them.

"You rascals only know how to spin tales. Every one of you seems to be hiding secrets. Fine, the advent of the Cultivation Era had brought along with it countless opportunities. Any blessings you receive is due to your own luck. You can tell the college when you are ready to share your secrets."

Wang Baole felt a little embarrassed and scratched his head. The Deputy Sect Lord laughed again. When he looked at the three of them, it was with approval and recognition. He retrieved three pills from the storage bracelet he carried on his person and gave each of them a pill.

The pill was purple in color and sealed in amber, and there seemed to be smoke moving within it; it didn't look like an ordinary pill. While the three of them were not disciples from the Alchemy Pavilion, they could tell that the pill had impressive healing properties.

"There's no need for you to concern yourselves with this matter anymore. The college will seek justice for you. It doesn't matter where the giant tree came from. We will exterminate anyone who dares to harm the disciples from the Ethereal Dao College!"

"All of you deserve recognition for what you've done. You'll be rewarded accordingly after you've completed the Federation's Hundred Seedling assessment!" The Deputy Sect Lord smiled faintly. He passed down a few more instructions and made arrangements for the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators standing behind him to escort the three to the Federation capital.

"You can take the pill during your journey to recover your cultivation. Recover from your injuries before re-embarking on your travel. I look forward to your return as one of the Federation's hundred seedlings!"

"Many thanks to the Deputy Sect Lord!" Wang Baole tried to control his excitement and hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed.

"You little rascal, did you run into some sort of extraordinary luck? Having a breakthrough in your cultivation level and escaping successfully while carrying both of them. Well done. Not a weakling at all." The Deputy Sect Lord pointed at Wang Baole.

Wang Baole was secretly pleased. He noted inwardly that the Deputy Sect Lord was really something. Not only that, he was extremely astute as well and knew Wang Baole's capabilities. After all, the giant tree had really been frightened off by him. It looked extremely undignified as it made its escape and clearly looked like it was about to wet its pants.

He thudded his chest and said loudly, "Of course, we disciples of the Ethereal Dao College will never back down when something happens. I, Wang Baole, will live and die as one of Ethereal Dao College!"

There was a strange look on the others' faces when they heard him say that. They felt that Wang Baole never let go of any chances to market himself, but the Deputy Sect Lord clearly found his words easy on the ears. He laughed out loud. The more he looked at Wang Baole, the more he liked him. He chatted for a while longer before arranging for the rest of the group to spread out and conduct a search.

Wang Baole and his friends then boarded the college's cruiser and continued their journey to the Federation capital under the escort of the two Foundation Establishment realm cultivators. Only then did they finally release long and genuine sighs of relief.

They stared at one another. Each one of them could tell that the way they looked at one another had changed. Especially when Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng looked at Wang Baole, their eyes held a hint of surprise as if looking at something slightly strange, and a warmth that was more intense than before.

They didn't question Wang Baole about his battle with the giant tree after they had passed out, or his trump card, as that would intrude upon his secret. Wang Baole didn't ask them in detail about their attacks either. They had reached a common understanding without having to say anything and smiled at one another.

Compared to Zhuo Yifan's smile, Zhao Yameng, who was already so beautiful, gave the impression of an unparalleled beauty when she smiled. It was like the blossoming of a hundred flowers.

Wang Baole glanced over, blinked, and pointed at Zhao Yameng's face. He opened his mouth.

"Zhao Yameng, there's something on your face."

"What?" She was momentarily stunned, and lifted her hand unknowingly, touching her face. She thought she had some dirt on her face.

"Beauty," Wang Baole coughed quietly and said casually.

Next to Wang Baole, Zhuo Yifan's eyes widened instantly when he heard Wang Baole's words. The two Foundation Establishment realm cultivators serving as their escorts had been sitting cross-legged a short distance away, smiling at them. Upon hearing what Wang Baole said, the expressions on their faces shifted immediately. One of them seemed to be deep in thought as he studied Wang Baole. It was as if he was looking at God himself.

Zhao Yameng was taken by surprise and, unable to help herself, started giggling. Wang Baole's flirtatious words had been completely unexpected. Despite being generally poised and calm, Zhao Yameng still fell for it.

Wang Baole saw how his simple teasing had generated such a response and was inwardly pleased. He had learned such tactics since he was six and had used them countless times. He felt like he was walking on air, and with a wave of his hand, he said, "Okay, this incident has ended. Next, we'll head for the Federation capital, show them what we've got, and become one of the Federation's hundred seedlings!"

Anticipation shone in Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng's eyes, and they watched as the distance separating them and Coulomb Basin grew bigger and bigger. Inhaling a deep breath, they continued chatting for a while longer before returning to their own rooms, taking the pill and starting the healing process.

Even though Wang Baole's injuries weren't as serious as Zhuo Yifan's or Zhao Yameng's, he would still require quite some time if he were to rely on his body to recover naturally. He swallowed the purple pill, and heat rose within his body as his internal injuries healed at an alarming rate.

The physical injuries on his body slowly healed as well…

Time passed steadily. After a few hours, as the cruiser slowly approached the vicinity of the Federation capital, the three ended their healing sessions. Energized, they left their rooms and stood at the deck, gazing at what was growing more and more majestic in their eyes… the Federation capital!

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Chapter 212: The Federation Capital

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The Federation capital sat in the southeastern regions of the Federation. It spanned a large area, spreading out as far as the eye could see and beyond. The large city stood towering, a majestic sight that inspired awe.

There were a hundred huge, inverted mountain-shaped metals under the great city. They looked as if they had been impaled into the ground and were connected to one another, covering the entire area.

The size of each mountain-shaped metal was comparable to that of the Ethereal City, towering thousands of meters tall—it was a stunning sight.

The hundreds of mountain-shaped metals spread across a vast area, presenting a striking image. The city that was built above it held its title proudly… the top city in the Federation!

Below the metal mountains was a thick fog that cloaked the lands. It was as if an ethereal mist had blanketed the area, lending it an air of the mysterious and unfathomable.

Before the Cultivation Era, it had been a beautiful place filled with tall mountains and clear streams. With the arrival of the ancient green-copper sword and the landing of large quantities of broken sword fragments, the rich Spirit Qi transformed the landscape. With the Divine Armament a permanent fixture in the city, the land flourished. Within the fog were many bird beasts that possessed a kind nature, luxuriant foliage, a thriving forest, and streams with water that tasted sweet as if containing Spirit Qi.

One could see, faintly, the lands within the fog. There were eight roads running from the forest to all directions, and countless small stations spread out in circles around the city.

It was like stars clustering around the moon. The scale of it was so grand that comparing the size of the Federation capital to that of an ancient kingdom would not be seen as an exaggeration!

There were more intricacies that could not be discerned because of the fog. However, anyone who went there would be awed with a single glance. The fog-blanketed forest seemed to exude an intense and overpowering atmosphere. It was as if it held a power that could wipe out all who were powerful in the Federation!

Besides that, the most eye-catching thing within the Federation capital was, above the hundred inverse metal mountains and built within the city moat… one hundred and two statues that stood tens of thousands of feet tall!

The statues all looked different. There was the eastern mythological Nüwa, the western mythological god Zeus, and so on and so forth… it could be said that the statues gathered there were the hundred gods that most captured the people's imagination throughout the history of the earth!

Despite not knowing why the Federation capital had built such statues, it was still clear that their reason wasn't merely for religious tribute. That was especially because of the two statues in the center of the city; one was actually that of the Grand Supreme Elder of the Ethereal Dao College!

The other was of a middle-aged man who gave off an imposing and overpowering aura. That man… was the current Federation President!

The majestic fog forest, the spectacular great city, as well as the hundred statues within that inspired awe and fear, everything came together to form… the Federation Capital!

Similarly, the population size of the top city in the Federation was the highest in the world. Be it the population size of cultivators or the military, or even that of the common folk, they were so great that only the statistics department of the Federation knew the exact figures. Outsiders only had an estimate.

The great city and the fog beneath it appeared before Wang Baole and his friends' eyes. Standing on the deck of the cruiser, they were all, except Zhao Yameng, blown away by the sight.

Zhuo Yifan was born of the Five Generation Sky Clan and had seen images of the city in the news many times before. However, it was his first time visiting the city. As he witnessed the grand sight of the great city, so sprawling and majestic that it was almost a kingdom unto itself, waves of excitement and awe stirred in his heart.

Wang Baole was stunned speechless. He gazed out into the Federation capital, breathing profusely.

"This… this is just too big! The houses over here, how much do they actually cost in Spirit Stones…" Wang Baole rubbed his eyes and stared at the city that stretched endlessly into the horizon. He was standing aboard a flying cruiser, and he still couldn't see an end to the city. He was blown away.

"A house here will cost more than a hundred houses in Ethereal City!" Zhuo Yifan had some knowledge of such matters. He replied upon hearing Wang Baole's shocked comment.

"What the… a house here costs as much as a hundred droplet cruisers?" Wang Baole trembled in shock, his flesh quivering. Suddenly, he was seized by the realization that everyone living in the city… must all be really wealthy!

Zhao Yameng didn't say a word as she listened to their exchange. The Foundation Establishment realm cultivators who were escorting them to the city stood at one side and suddenly smiled. They were also moved by the sight. It didn't matter how many times they had been to the city; every time they gazed upon it, waves of emotions would rise inside them.

The Federation capital could be said to be the heart of the Federation. To the common folk, it was the center of government and business. To cultivators, it meant even more; it… possessed the only Divine Armament in the whole of the Federation!

The Divine Armament's existence guaranteed the authority of the Federation President, as well as inspired awe and respect throughout the lands. It was the reason why, while internal political turmoil plaguing the Federation had led to talks of separatism, the Federation as a whole was still relatively stable and secure.

The cruiser approached the vicinity of the capital 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."

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