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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Read A World Worth Protecting - Chapter 309 - A Sudden Transformation! online free - Novelfull

Chapter 309: A Sudden Transformation!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Li Wuchen was stunned at the sight of the group of fatties as well. Confusion fell over him. He had seen how Wang Baole looked when they had both been in college. He stared at the fatties before him and suddenly thought he might be hallucinating. He thought he saw a hundred Wang Baoles charging at him.

His breathing grew uneven, but he quickly recovered from his initial shock. His face darkened, and he clenched his teeth in anxiety. He saw how some of his students had retreated, alarmed by the opponent's forceful presence. Some of them even gasped in terror, causing the expression on his face to grow darker. He glared at them immediately, which finally stopped the terrified students from stepping back. They stopped their exclamations of shock and fear.

They couldn't control the uncertainty in their hearts, though. They stared at Jin Duozhi and the other Dao Mountain Mist Academy students, at their strong, muscular builds, and started trembling inside…

The two commentators were confounded by the sudden group of fatties that had charged out towards them. It was as if they had over-compensated on their diet of vitamins and herbal supplements. They were sturdy like farm horses. Never in their wildest imagination could the two commentators have expected the Dao Mountain Mist Academy to appear in such a manner.

Every one of those fatties held their chins high arrogantly and with great pride, exuding an air of superiority and invincibility. The two commentators were completely lost for words. Finally, the female commentator took a deep breath and struggled to say a few words.

"The students from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy have a strong, forceful presence. Their sturdy and robust physiques are astonishing. They look confident. They seem assured of their victory today…" As she spoke, she saw Wang Baole walking out from the corridors from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy's side. His appearance was like a savior descending from the heavens, something else to talk about. She hurriedly spoke again.

"The team leader of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy is also their vice dean. I believe his name is familiar to everyone. He is… Wang Baole!"

Wang Baole puffed his chest out and strolled out calmly. As he appeared, Jin Duozhi and the other students started cheering loudly.

"All hail our mighty dean!"

"Our dean is invincible! Li Wuchen will lose!"

The cheers drowned out the commentator's voice once more. Both commentators looked embarrassed as they tried to continue talking, but they didn't expect Wang Baole to pull out a large megaphone suddenly. He stood there and started speaking into the megaphone. His voice, augmented by the instrument, was many times louder than the commentators' voices, and it rang out across the entire stadium.

"Let's stop with the useless talk and begin the fight. Dao Mountain Mist Academy, show me what you've got. For this battle, we will stop at nothing but…"

"Victory!" The hundred students, including Jin Duozhi, roared at the top of their lungs. Their veins bulged on their foreheads, and the energy within their bodies suddenly erupted at the same moment.

Only five student contestants from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy had reached the Pulse Enrichment stag, those that reached the Physical Seal stage numbered thirty-one, and the remaining students were at the Blood Qi stage. At that moment, when they let out a thunderous roar, the remaining students' cultivation suddenly received a boost from their loud cheer. Their cultivation broke through in that instant and advanced straight into the Physical Seal stage!

It sent the entire stadium into an uproar.

"A breakthrough at the same time!"

"More than fifty people at one go… all these students are already very impressive. Their peak Blood Qi stage cultivation had clearly surpassed that of a typical cultivator. Now that they have had a breakthrough in cultivation… they will be even more powerful!"

"This Wang Baole's really something!"

The spectators were all gasping in shock and wonder. The student contestants' parents, especially, having witnessed their children attain a breakthrough in cultivation in public before a hundred thousand people, were feeling extremely good about it.

In reality, under Wang Baole's intensive cultivation, this group of people had already been on the verge of a breakthrough a few days ago. They had been held back by Wang Baole. He had wanted to give the Fire Spirit Academy, as well as the Martian administration, a surprise!

A battle between Ancient Martial realm cultivators might seem like child's play to them. Even if they had arrived with the intention of watching the match, their interest wouldn't be held for long. It would be difficult to make this a memorable event for them.

However… if more than half of the team achieved a breakthrough in cultivation simultaneously before a crowd of a hundred thousand, that would create a publicity stunt and draw enough attention. It would be like bestowing despair upon the Fire Spirit Academy right before the battle started. It would crush their opponents' spirits and secure their own chances of victory!

This was also a great opportunity for the students themselves. They had, after all, achieved a breakthrough in cultivation before the Governor herself. The event carried a different weight and meaning as compared to them achieving a breakthrough in private and alone. To achieve victory in the friendly match immediately after that would help tremendously in building their self-confidence. That was why the simultaneous, mass breakthrough in cultivation had been staged.

The effect was indeed spectacular. Following the sudden spike in energy, the eruption, the thunderous roars, and the simultaneous advances in cultivation, the vitality and energy on the public square intensified more than tenfold. It sent everyone reeling back in shock, and the contestants from the Fire Spirit Academy were terrified out of their skins.

The two commentators were shocked speechless. Their eyes popped out of their heads, and their jaws dropped. The expression on Li Wuchen's face was so dark that it couldn't get any blacker. He looked at the student contestants from Fire Spirit Academy. They were all pale in the face, and their breathing had become uneven. They had lost all hope of winning even before the match began.

A hundred fatties was nothing to be afraid of, but if every one of those fatties was at the Physical Seal stage, with vitality and energy that clearly surpassed that of an ordinary Physical Seal stage cultivator, then that was truly something to be terrified of. They were overwhelmed by terror and alarm.

There was no time for them to react. The rules of the match didn't allow them to leave before they admitted defeat. Most importantly… the hundred students from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy had experienced three months of painful and tedious cultivation and suffered three months of madness. They could barely control themselves and wanted desperately to unleash themselves and to release their pent-up emotions. As soon as Wang Baole gave the command, as soon as they broke through their current cultivation level and advanced to the next stage, they immediately charged at the Fire Spirit Academy students.

The commentators hadn't even left the arena… A chaotic battle erupted in the middle of the public square. Battle cries, shouts of rage, screams of pain, howls of agony—a cacophony of noises resonated in the air.

The students from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy were like apex predators charging into the fray. They lunged madly like starving tigers at their prey. Their ferocious attacks rendered the Fire Spirit Academy students powerless as they struggled to stand their ground and kept retreating. The spectators looked on, barely blinking. Every perspective and angle showed the Fire Spirit Academy was the weaker of the two teams.

Standing behind, Li Wuchen started panicking. He shouted suddenly, "Execute Plan C! Form an array formation!"

As Li Wuchen's voice rang out, the students from the Fire Spirit Academy scrambled amidst their terror to form an array formation. They had practiced this during their cultivation. The people from the various political forces started nodding their heads approvingly when they saw that. They approved of Li Wuchen's strategy. Using array formations to suppress the overpowering attacks of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy was the right thing to do.

It did have an effect. Part of it was because of the array formations; another part of it was because the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students lacked experience in such forms of battle. They were clearly inexperienced in coordinating their attacks for optimal impact.

Wang Baole frowned at the sudden turn of events. He was clearly not happy as he raised his megaphone and shouted angrily into it.

"Did you guys miss lunch? I give you one minute. After one minute, if there's still a single person standing on the other side, I'll no longer recognize you as one of my disciples. The time starts now!"

The hundred contestants from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy started breathing heavily when they heard what Wang Baole had said. Their eyes reddened instantly, Jin Duozhi, especially. He panicked as soon as he imagined being expelled as Wang Baole's disciple. He howled and then charged ahead, a mountain of hard muscle, and started bending fingers!

The rest did the same. They panicked and went mad. It was as if the god of war had suddenly possessed their bodies. They relied on their large, sturdy builds and higher cultivation level, and propelled themselves like missiles straight into their opponents' array formation. They were wild and ferocious and without reason. They moved blindly like a hurricane through clouds and swiftly like winds stirring fallen leaves. They bent fingers and wrists. They were like wolves set loose in a flock of sheep.

Screams of pain, shouts, and crying resounded in the air across the entire stadium. The spectators watched, wide-eyed and with shock, at the scene unfolding before their eyes. They heard a loud buzzing in their heads… the Fire Spirit Academy students were all going mad. Many of them had started crying.

"Shameless! All of you have no shame!"

"Let go of my finger… it hurts!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm not fighting anymore…"

"Save me, Daddy…"

All manners of screams and cries for help rose and rang in the air. Jin Duozhi swiftly caught the finger of his arch-enemy. The latter had beat him up then, outside the Battle-axe Hotel. He bent the finger up sharply and shouted.

"Calling daddy won't help you now!"

The Martian administration, including both the Governor as well as the giant tree, watched the chaotic battle on the public square with an odd expression on their faces. An even more shocking scene soon appeared that made their eyes pop out from their heads.

Zhou Mei led the horde of muscular female students charging ferociously into the fray. Besides bending fingers and wrists, they were armed with another tactic…

Kicking the crotch!

Zhou Mei's target was a student who had bullied her countless times. He had even blackmailed her. His father was a member of the Colony Disciplinary Order. Zhou Mei had been soft-spoken and a little meek in the past, which was why she hadn't dared to speak to anyone about these encounters. She was now a changed person, and she dashed out and saw her chance, flinging her leg out in a kick that landed a perfect hit.

"Let's see if you dare bully me again!"

The face of the student who had just been kicked in the crotch by Zhou Mei immediately turned pale as he clutched at his crotch and fell to the ground. A shrill scream many times louder than all the screams that had been heard in the arena pierced the air and rang out across the entire public square.

Many from the Martian administration were utterly lost when they witnessed that scene. Zhou Mei's mother sat at the viewing platform. Seated next to her was a cultivator who was a good friend of hers, and he couldn't help but ask, "Is that… Mei'er?"

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Chapter 310: For Your Conferment, Please! Esteemed Governor!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The Martian administration looked on with shock as the chaotic battle unfolded on the public square before them. There had been too many surprises this day. First was the sturdy, muscular builds of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students and their overflowing vitality, then came the simultaneous breakthrough in the cultivation of more than fifty students as they stepped into the Physical Seal stage.

After that was the sudden madness that had taken over the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students after Wang Baole's single command when they were faced with the Fire Spirit Academy's array formation; when they charged towards the Fire Spirit Academy students, it was with a hint of murderous intent!

It was a mere faint whiff, but it immediately caught the attention of the spectating crowd. Nearly all of them had experienced battle and deaths on the battlefield. They were extremely attuned towards such intentions of murder.

These students were all children in their eyes, but after Wang Baole's intensive cultivation, they seemed to have shed their original skins in a short time. They might still retain some childlike qualities, but their eruption of murderous intent and their fearsome aura were qualities that made them fit more in this era!

This was what had stirred the crowd. It was what had troubled them in the past, something that they had exasperated over. The better the family background, and the safer the environment, the more their children would differ from them. They would lack the harsh cultivation and the experience of war. They would become like flowers in a greenhouse, safe and fragile.

They wouldn't be able to compare with the disciples of the four Dao Colleges. The disciples from the colleges had to fight for everything they earned. They couldn't even compare with the disciples from the minor sects and minor political forces.

They might win a friendly match, but when it came to a battle to the death, they would be the ones who were eventually killed.

This was what was happening with the Dao Mountain Mist Academy and the Fire Spirit Academy. It was the strongest case being made. The Fire Spirit Academy students were weeping on the public square, every one of them screaming. They had lost all fight in them and were shuddering with fear, their array formation was in shambles, and they fought to escape from their opponents. Every one of them couldn't run faster.

The students from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy, on the other hand, stood mighty and tall and were ferocious. All hundred of them charged forward and tore into the Fire Spirit Academy students. They sent the latter scattering in chaos. There were even cases of one person charging after a dozen fleeing opponents.

At this juncture, the friendly match had progressed to a point where the spectators were looking at one team overwhelmingly overpowering the other, aggressively and without mercy. The difference separating wolves and sheep stared them in the face!

The startling difference was being exposed before the upper management of the Martian administration. Everyone fell silent. It mattered not if their children were the ones beating others up, or if their children were the ones being beaten up, or if their children weren't even participating in the friendly match—no one spoke.

The comparison was too stark.

The real-life battle scenario showed at one glance who was the weaker party and who the stronger. It didn't matter if the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students were bending fingers and wrists and kicking their opponents in the crotch.

These might seem like underhanded attacks that were unpresentable, but to the Martian administration, no one would care about such things during an actual battle to the death. During such battles, a moment could decide one's survival or death, and a single mistake could result in the destruction of both their spirit and flesh.

The more battle-worn a person was, the more he or she would approve of such tactics. The parents of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students felt the same. They had seen the changes in their children's appearance, as well as the changes in their fighting spirit, their confidence level, the aura they exuded as well as the level of their cultivation.

That was why they approved of Wang Baole's cultivation and the growth their children had shown. They approved of how they had turned out and believed they would become the future pillars of society. The parents were roused with excitement, and they started looking at Wang Baole in a different light.

"Mei'er's doing very well!" Seated amongst the spectators, Zhou Mei's mother smiled, a flicker of comfort flashing across her eyes. In her opinion, physical appearance might be important, but it could be remedied with time. One's mental resilience and spirit though weren't something that could be cultivated within a day.

She knew the fearsome appearance and fighting spirit the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students had put up before the match had all been a pretense. It had been a weak and false front, but after Wang Baole had thundered at them, they had bit the bullet and unleashed their fighting prowess. That had been what had overwhelmed the Fire Spirit Academy, and that had been when they had truly established their fighting spirit.

"Everything that happened before, be it the overpowering vitality or the sudden breakthrough in cultivation, had all been a building up to the final moment. It was all so that they could erupt with such a ferocious battle spirit!"

"This Wang Baole… not only possesses impressive personal qualities, but he is also talented in the grooming of others!"

The spectators had a short-lived discussion after their prolonged silence. The giant tree, who was sitting on the main viewing platform, frowned slightly and gave Wang Baole a meaningful look. He didn't wish for Wang Baole to attract too much attention on Mars, as it would affect his plans. However, he couldn't openly make life difficult for Wang Baole and had only done so secretly.

He hadn't expected Wang Baole to use the friendly match to his advantage and turn the tides!

At that thought, the giant tree sneaked a look at the Governor beside him. The Governor, dressed in red robes, had a blank expression on her face. No one knew what she was thinking. As long as she remained silent, the rest only dared to conduct their discussions in hushed tones.

Chaos persisted on the public square. The Fire Spirit Academy students continued to be pursued relentlessly by the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students. Jin Duozhi and Zhou Mei, especially, had become the leaders leading the chase. Explosions, cries, and howls continued to resound in the air.

"There's still one last step…" the Martian Governor in red who was witnessing everything murmured.

As soon as she said that, Wang Baole, who was standing on the public square, frowned. He glared and yelled at Jin Duozhi, who was chasing after the Fire Spirit Academy students excitedly.

"Jin Duozhi, are you done fooling around?"

Wang Baole's voice was like a sudden boom of thunder. Jin Duozhi, who had been fearless his entire life and hadn't even feared his own father, shuddered. He hastily shoved aside the excitement rising in his heart and remembered what Wang Baole had instructed them before the match. He stopped in his tracks and yelled at the sobbing Fire Spirit Academy students.

"Fire Spirit Academy, do you admit defeat!?"

All the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students started shouting as well.

"Do you admit defeat!?"

The thundering roars of a hundred people were an impressive sight indeed. It became an unreckonable force, and the students from the Fire Spirit Academy cried out in terror and shouted their defeat.

Their admission of defeat was like oil splattered across a raging fire, causing the student contestants from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy started cheering loudly.

They were excited and overwhelmed with emotions. They had won!

Victory didn't belong to any single person; it belonged to all of them. At that moment, their pride at their teamwork and their self-confidence erupted. They were bursting at the seams with pride and joy.

Something that had barely formed within them blossomed from their excitement and happiness. Inside each of them was a young sapling that had spread its roots deep in their hearts, and its presence would stay with them their entire lives!

They might encounter obstacles in the future, but as long as the young sapling remained in their hearts, they would hold their heads high regardless of the challenges they met. They wouldn't yield to destiny so easily. Their bond, forged in battle, would run deeper than their friendships with other classmates.

The spectating Martian administration witnessed the scene and were comforted by it. The parents of the victorious students were overwhelmed with excitement, and intense gratitude towards Wang Baole surged in their hearts.

Wang Baole was equally pleased as he watched the excited looks on his students' faces. He felt as if something was still missing though if they simply ended it that way. He remembered what he had read from the high officials' autobiographies, and his eyes flashed. He inhaled a deep breath, took a few steps forward, and shouted.

"Assemble!"

As soon as he shouted the command, the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students, who had been cheering excitedly a moment earlier, immediately raced towards Wang Baole and lined up in neat rows behind him.

Wang Baole didn't look at the students behind him but raised his head and looked directly at the Martian Governor, who was seated on the elevated viewing platform in the distance. He cupped his fists in a salute and said loudly.

"Esteemed Governor, your humble servant wishes to groom a platoon of cultivators for Mars, who will fight and go to war, who will never yield to the forces of evil and who will remain fearless in the face of adversity. They have won their first victory today, but they remain without a name. If you will forgive my insolence, I hereby request the Governor to confer our platoon of Dao Mountain Mist Academy students with a platoon name!"

His words immediately shocked the Martian administration watching from the viewing platforms. Many had a strange glimmer in their eyes and looked at Wang Baole with shock. The eyes of the grateful parents also flashed. They not only found the proposal a fantastic idea, but they also began to realize Wang Baole's importance.

"To be able to think of such an idea… this kid… is really something!"

"He's not only a strong warrior, but he also has an extensive social network and is extremely quick on his feet. He's also adept at seizing opportunities when they present themselves. Wang Baole's future in the Federation… will undoubtedly be bright! He will do great things!"

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Chapter 311: The Soaring Cloud Student Platoon!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The expression on the faces of everyone on the viewing platforms underwent a series of changes. What Wang Baole had said had been brilliant. What he had done had been just right—without too much exaggeration or too little justification.

He hadn't brought himself to the forefront but instead placed the students in the limelight. His request for a name for the student platoon had achieved a similar effect, accentuating his own value.

What was most important was that with the Martian Governor's conferment, the Dao Mountain Mist Academy would no longer be one of two elites' academies on Mars but… the only one!

The encouragement and inspiration that the students would receive from this christening would be unprecedented. It would elevate their gratitude for and loyalty towards the Governor to an extreme.

This strategy of Wang Baole not only resolved the potential problem of him overshadowing the students' glory due to their fanatic devotion to him, but it also served as a devious way to suck up to the Governor.

Once the platoon was conferred a title, Wang Baole's own reputation would accompany the birth of the name and go down in Martian history. As long as the platoon and its name remained, the mark Wang Baole left on Mars would never be erased.

Such a string of simple words could have been uttered by anyone. However, the meaning and significance hidden within were multilayered… after all, whether one could think of saying something like that, and whether one dared to say something like that in front of such a large audience, and whether one even had the opportunity to say something like that—all these factors culminated in Wang Baole impressing everyone in the stadium!

The Dao Mountain Mist Academy Dean was shaking with excitement and agitation at present. He thought of the glory and honor that he would receive if the Governor did confer the student platoon. It wouldn't rival that of Wang Baole, but as the dean of the academy, his contributions would also not be easily forgotten!

It meant that once he left his current role and returned to Earth, his new position wouldn't be as lowly as the one originally planned for him. The thought moved him, and he felt immense gratitude towards Wang Baole.

To the Fire Spirit Academy, though, Wang Baole's request was a complete nightmare. The faces of the dean and teachers immediately went pale. They looked as if they were on the verge of tears. They were powerless, though. They stared at Li Wuchen with anger, regret, and sorrow.

"Why did you have to offend him!?"

Li Wuchen was equally pale. He felt bitter and couldn't speak a single word. Since the moment the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students' fighting spirit had erupted, he had known that he had lost. It had been a complete and utter defeat. He had not only lost to Wang Baole in a one-to-one fight, but he couldn't even compete against Wang Baole when it came to grooming students.

He was unwilling to admit defeat, however. He thought of his family background and his future. He thought about many, many things. His body shook violently when he heard Wang Baole asking for a christening of the student platoon. He raised his head and stared at Wang Baole, a myriad of emotions and thoughts stirring inside him. Intense envy, a feeling he had never experienced in his entire life, suddenly surged within him.

There were people who were delighted, people who had mixed feelings, people who were excited, and people who fell into despair. The stadium gradually descended into silence. The Fire Spirit Academy students hung their heads in defeat while the Dao Mountain Mist Academy students' breathing grew uneven from their excitement and anxiety, their eyes shining with anticipation and nervousness. The two teams played out a stark contrast on the public square.

The Martian Governor, dressed in her red robes, looked at the excitement in their eyes, and a smile slowly unfurled on her face. What she had meant by one last step earlier had referred to the admission of defeat. It didn't matter if they had decimated the Fire Spirit Academy team. This might have given them confidence, but it wouldn't have instilled the idea of team honor and glory in their minds. That could only be achieved by driving fear into their enemies' hearts and forcing a complete surrender.

This meant that the Fire Spirit Academy wasn't admitting defeat to a single person… but to the entire team!

After she heard Wang Baole's request, she gave him a deep and meaningful look. Her gaze shifted and swept across the excited students, and she pondered for a while. Then, with encouragement in her eyes, she rose from her seat.

"Those with great ambitions will travel the skies and reach for the stars. Their achievements will soar through the clouds and be sung throughout the lands!"

"I name you—the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon!"

As soon as the Governor spoke, cheers exploded in the entire stadium. Members of the Martian administration who were present were all visibly affected. What the Governor had said meant the world to the students.

The atmosphere in the stadium reached its climax following the Governor's proclamation. Everyone from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy was overwhelmed with excitement and happiness, and the students started cheering uncontrollably. The dean and the teachers from the Fire Spirit Academy, on the other hand, hung their heads in bitter defeat.

Wang Baole witnessed the scene before him and was immeasurably pleased. He extended a deep bow towards the Governor.

"My utmost gratitude to the Governor!"

The Martian Governor gave Wang Baole another deep, meaningful look before turning away, leaving the arena in the company of the giant tree. The Dao Mountain Mist Academy students on the public square saw the Governor and her people leave and unleashed the full extent of their joy. Their booming cheers rose to the sky as they let loose their youthful joy and excitement without restraint.

Excitement and chaos took over the entire stadium.

The departing Martian Governor heard the deafening ruckus behind her and smiled faintly.

Wang Baole… he's an interesting fellow.

The Soaring Cloud Student Platoon became famous after the friendly match between the two academies. The name spread across the entire Mars, and the Federation's live stream of the match resulted in their rising fame in the Federation as well.

Wang Baole's name once again became a household name in the Federation. He had also firmly established himself on Mars. After the friendly match ended, he gathered all the student contestants and got them to thank their parents for their support. They started chatting happily. Before long, quite a few students from the Fire Spirit Academy submitted their transfer requests to the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

With Wang Baole's earlier instructions to Lin Tianhao to broadcast his declaration on the rented spirit screens, the overwhelming victory and recognition from the Governor resulted in Wang Baole gaining two new titles. He wasn't only a famed educator, but he was also the founder of the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon.

This was a platoon that he had groomed and trained personally. As the Dao Mountain Mist Academy grew stronger, the platoon would increase in numbers as well. Wang Baole looked forward to that with great anticipation. He knew that with his current status, it would be difficult for the giant tree to stir trouble for him.

In terms of self-defense abilities, I'm already many times stronger than I was before! Wang Baole thought proudly. The danger he had felt due to the giant tree's presence still remained; however, he no longer felt as stressed about it.

If he tried to order me to do something forcibly in the past, I wouldn't have been able to fight against his orders. Now… with my two sparkling halos, I might not be able to fight him head-on yet, but at least I have the power to not do exactly as he orders! Wang Baole was immensely pleased with himself. He felt he had finally established a firm footing on Mars.

With the Fire Spirit Academy's defeat, Wang Baole naturally won the bet with Li Wuchen. From now on, whenever Li Wuchen saw him, he would have to address Wang Baole as his grandpa.

Just as Wang Baole was looking forward eagerly to being addressed as grandpa, he found out that Li Wuchen had gone into seclusion. This made Wang Baole really unhappy.

Is he trying to sneak his way out of a bet? It's just a simple form of address. What's he got to be such a sore loser for? Wang Baole felt that Li Wuchen was really a petty loser. He pulled out his voice transmission ring and sent a transmission to Xu Zhenjing of the Battle-axe Hotel, instructing the latter to build another five hundred battle-axes. They were all to be placed outside the hotel and facing the Fire Spirit Academy.

The five hundred battle-axes with their malicious aura terrified the wits out of the Fire Spirit Academy Dean. He was of the mind to seek Li Wuchen out for a chat and persuade the latter to give in to Wang Baole. That would easily resolve the matter. He knew that they were college mates and could tell that this was merely a petty dispute between two people who happened to dislike one another.

Li Wuchen immediately refused. He was mad with jealousy at the moment, and there was no way he would give in to Wang Baole. He comforted himself by telling himself that one shouldn't be superstitious. They were only five hundred battle-axes. They were nothing to be frightened of!

However… there might really be something to the superstition surrounding the Battle-axe Hotel. News about the Governor's displeasure with the Fire Spirit Academy soon started spreading. She had some comments about their education methodology and especially their performance during the friendly match.

The news made Li Wuchen's heart shudder. He couldn't help but recall the stories relating to the Fire Spirit Academy and the Battle-axe Hotel…

He hadn't yet decided whether to give in to Wang Baole when his transfer orders arrived…

It was the direct orders from the Martian administration. He was to be transferred out from Mars and back to the Federation on Earth.

This had been Li Wuchen's oversight. The defeat during the friendly match had earned the unhappiness and displeasure of more than a hundred parents who wielded power and authority on Mars. Regardless of what kind of family background Li Wuchen came from, he stood no chance against their unified stand.

This was a complete and utter failure where Li Wuchen was concerned, and he quietly left the planet. All of a sudden, Battle-axe Hotel's popularity spiked.

Following Li Wuchen's departure, the next vice dean of the Fire Spirit Academy arrived days later… making an impressive and dramatic appearance on Mars!

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Chapter 312: The New Vice Dean of Fire Spirit Academy

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

A loud explosion thundered inside the Martian Colony City port that day. It came from the skies and resounded across the entire city.

Wild winds howled fiercely in the heavens as a startling and overwhelming presence spread across the sky.

The loud explosion and the overpowering presence sent the sky port's staff reeling back in shock and alarm. They raised their heads skyward as a cruiser—the likes of which they had never before seen in their entire lives—descended gradually from the skies.

Perhaps it could no longer be called a cruiser. It was a ten thousand feet long, with the appearance of a stronghold, and from afar, it dazzled glaringly. Anyone who had their eyes on it would soon find their eyes tearing from the blinding glare.

It was like a small sun!

The eyes of the sky port's staff, the residents of the Martian Colony City, as well as many pedestrians were immediately drawn to the sight of the sun stronghold as soon as it appeared!

"My god… what is that?"

"It looks like a star, but the size seems weird…"

In Zone Twelve, within the Dao Mountain Mist Academy, on the public square, Wang Baole was supervising Jin Duozhi and the other students in their cultivation. He froze as well when he saw the dazzling light in the sky.

"A bomb?" Wang Baole tensed immediately. Jin Duozhi lifted his head hastily. He took a look and seemed uncertain, so he took another, closer look. Then he spoke sullenly.

"Dean, that's not a bomb. The awful jerk Jin Duoming is here. He loves to show off, so he's arrived in his stronghold. Humph!"

"Of course, it's not a bomb!" Wang Baole glared, but he released a sigh of relief secretly. Then, he asked curiously.

"Is Jin Duoming your brother?"

"Dean, do I look that old to you? Jin Duoming's my uncle… we're completely different people. He's an idiot with too much money to spare, while I'm so much smarter than him, never spending my money needlessly." Jin Duozhi sighed, then suddenly seemed so proud of himself.

Wang Baole gave Jin Duozhi a strange look but coughed and remained silent. He was curious about Jin Duoming's arrival. They had crossed paths on the moon when the youth had made an exchange with his Dharmic Armament. He had indirectly been an invaluable help to Wang Baole when they had been in the Mystic Luna Realm.

It's getting crowded on Mars. Since Jin Duoming's here, I should find a chance and pay him a visit, Wang Baole thought. Beside him, Jin Duozhi stared at the stronghold in the distant sky and snorted.

"My uncle has many interests. He's especially obsessed with pretty women. I'm guessing that he has his eye on some girl on Mars, otherwise, with his personality, coming to Mars is like being cast into hell."

Wang Baole heard that, and he remembered Jin Duoming's procession on the moon. He sighed, feeling almost envious. He thought about asking his father when he returned home if they had any relatives they hadn't been keeping in contact with. There might just be a filthy rich relative they hadn't heard of.

His grandfather, especially. Where exactly was he?

He remembered asking that question when he was a young boy. His father had remained silent then…

Wang Baole suddenly found that really peculiar. Something wasn't right. It caused him to grow excited all of a sudden.

Maybe… I do have a mysterious, filthy rich grandfather!

As Wang Baole immersed himself happily in his strange imagination, a commotion stirred amongst a great portion of the Martian Colony City public. Numerous cruisers dashed from the various city zones in the Martian City towards the sky port. They were all of uniform appearance—silver and with a smooth, fluid form. They looked to be from the same political force, as well as looking very expensive.

Hundreds of such cruisers sped towards the sky port. They seemed to hold certain privileged access that allowed them to disregard the port defenses and array formation. They passed through both without a hitch and landed on the largest public square in the sky port, and then, more than a thousand cultivators alighted.

The cultivators were dressed in the same attire. They immediately spread out and redirected other cruisers out of the area and cleared out a wide parameter, then lined up in neat rows. After that, they lowered their heads and waited.

The sight shocked everyone in the port as they recognized the silver cruisers and the uniforms. They stared at the vast stronghold in the sky, which was making a slow descent into the port, and gasped.

"The Trilunaris Corporation!"

"The guys from the Trilunaris Corporation actually came to receive whoever's in the stronghold. Whoever's inside must be… some important figure in the Trilunaris Corporation!"

The sky stronghold gradually approached amidst everyone's shock. Its appearance became more distinct, and everyone soon saw that it was built out of a custom-made diamond. The diamond was extraordinarily hard, even harder than Mystic Silver. It conducted Spirit Qi extremely well and hence was an essential ingredient in the crafting of Dharmic Armaments.

The novelty of Dharmic Armaments meant that any of its ingredients were also extremely costly. To use such a costly material to build an entire stronghold of such enormous proportions, the cost of its production must be… unimaginable.

It was beyond extravagant!

The stronghold approached as everyone's breathing grew uneven, dazzling with its blinding light. Everyone had to focus their Spirit Qi in their eyes in order to protect their eyes against the blinding glare of such a massive entity. The outer shell of the stronghold was covered in countless inscriptions. Between the lines of inscriptions were cannons built out of special Spirit Stones.

The stronghold wasn't only striking and overwhelming in its sheer size and appearance, but its battle capabilities were equally impressive. There was no doubt it would send the earth shaking should it release its full power!

As the crowd stood in awe, a deafening thunder resounded in the air. The enormous stronghold finally landed. The doors to the stronghold opened, and a dozen large men in black walked out. Every one of them possessed impressive cultivation. Behind them followed a dozen beautiful female servants of all races and ethnicities.

At the tail of the long procession was Jin Duoming!

He wasn't dressed in his floral pants. Jin Duoming had on a pair of black aviator sunglasses and a formal suit, and his near-shoulder-length hair swayed lightly in the breeze as he walked out. He had a lazy smile on his face, and three puppets trailing behind him!

One male puppet, one female puppet, and one monster puppet!

Each puppet was dressed in armor. The waves of spirit energy exuding from the armor were clear proof that the armor was more powerful than the puppets themselves…

"Greetings, Young Master!" As soon as Jin Duoming stepped out from the stronghold, the thousand-odd cultivators lined up in the square cupped their fists and bowed deeply towards him. Their booming voices were like thunder, resonating in the air.

Jin Duoming seemed accustomed to such treatment wherever he went. He didn't say anything as he stepped onto another cruiser under the escort of the thousand-odd men. The hundreds of cruisers soon lifted into the air and clustered protectively around the cruiser where Jin Duoming sat, speeding towards Zone Twelve.

Everyone who caught sight of the procession of cruisers was stunned by the elaborate scene. It was simply too striking a sight. The cruisers looked like countless Spirit Stones dashing across the sky.

"It's so nice… to be rich…" Envious mutters could be heard in the crowd that watched the cruisers fly away.

On the way to Zone Twelve, Jin Duoming sat in his cruiser, his head on the laps of two beautiful female cultivators. He nibbled at the fruit slices prepared by another female cultivator while taking his sunglasses off. He looked at the stern, middle-aged man reporting before him.

"Young Master, this year, the Trilunaris Corporation has made a profit of the following in the Martian Colony City…"

"Old Li, just report this to my dad. You know I don't care about this." Jin Duoming yawned and interrupted the man's speech.

The middle-aged man grimaced and shook his head. He lifted his head and looked at Jin Duoming. He realized that the young master's cultivation was now at the Foundation Establishment realm and his Foundation Establishment core was clearly not formed from fragments but from a fully intact artifact. He eyed the three puppets standing beside Jin Duoming, sighed, and spoke again quietly.

"Young Master, the political situation on Mars is chaotic and somewhat sensitive… perhaps we should keep a low profile?" He was obviously talking about the stronghold.

Jin Duoming laughed when he heard that. He sat up and said softly, "My dad keeps a low enough profile for the both of us. If I do that as well, our Trilunaris Corporation will be in serious trouble… let's not talk about that. Old Li, I asked you to prepare a dossier on Li Yi, is it ready?"

The man had been deep in thought because of the first half of what Jin Duoming had said, and he smiled wryly when he heard the second half. He pulled out a jade slip with an odd look on his face and handed it to Jin Duoming.

Jin Duoming's eyes shone. He grabbed the jade slip and started reading, his eyes flashing with excitement after reading. He smacked his thigh.

Li Yi is quite something. That's the girl that I, Jin Duoming, have my eyes on. She's actually the assistant to the Deputy Governor. She's got a bright future ahead of her.

At the thought of Li Yi, the flames of passion became ignited inside Jin Duoming. When he had first seen Li Yi in the Mystic Luna Realm, he had immediately been drawn to her well-endowed figure. He had felt himself falling for her. Even though he had experienced that feeling for more than two hundred times in his life, this didn't lessen his excitement and passion each time.

He had come to Mars in order to court Li Yi, but since he was going to be here, he might as well get an official appointment. Coincidentally, the position of the Fire Spirit Academy vice dean was currently vacant. As a result, he was now… the new vice dean of Fire Spirit Academy.

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Chapter 313: Little Missy's Animosity!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Jin Duoming was well aware of the stories surrounding the Battle-axe Hotel and the Fire Spirit Academy. He had been quite proud of them once upon a time. The Battle-axe Hotel might not be a Trilunaris Corporation asset, but it did, to some degree, belong to their family.

Jin Duoming wasn't concerned that the hotel was currently under Wang Baole's ownership. He wasn't someone so easily cowed by rumors. He arrived at the Fire Spirit Academy with his vast fleet and was personally received by the dean and other academy staff. He saw the five hundred battle-axes outside the hotel, just across the road.

Despite his firm belief in his great fortune and that he had nothing to fear about the rumors, the sight of five hundred battle-axes still sent Jin Duoming gasping privately. He deliberated for a while before deciding to resolve the matter himself instead of seeking Wang Baole out.

The first thing he did when he came into office at the Fire Spirit Academy was to instruct someone to build an enormous shield and erect it outside the Fire Spirit Academy to shield against the malicious intent directed from the battle-axes.

The shield was enormous. Its production was swiftly completed, and the news of it quickly spread throughout the city and was known by the public. Wang Baole naturally found out as well.

He might have raised an eyebrow and questioned the move if it had been someone else who had done it, but Jin Duoming was the one who had done it, and Wang Baole liked the guy. He sent a message to Xu Zhenjing at the Battle-axe Hotel and got all the battle-axes removed.

Of course, the original battle-axe, the one that had given the hotel its name, remained. Though, Wang Baole instructed for it to be shifted so that its blade faced another direction.

The competition with the Fire Spirit Academy had, in reality, ended with the friendly match and the Governor's personal conferment of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy student platoon. The Fire Spirit Academy's reputation was dragged down after the entire fiasco, and the Dao Mountain Mist Academy had become the only elites' academy in the entire Martian Colony. The academy basked in their elevated status and fame.

There was no reason for Wang Baole to continue his fight with the other academy. Even with Jin Duoming's new appointment, Wang Baole felt that they could just stay in their own lanes and mind their own business. That was why he had initiated the removal of the battle-axes—as a show of goodwill.

As the entire fiasco with the Fire Spirit Academy came to an end, Wang Baole turned his attention towards his own cultivation. Despite having spent some time cultivating the students and preparing for the friendly match the past three months, Wang Baole hadn't paused his own cultivation.

The Mystic Luna Realm incident had left a lasting impression on Wang Baole. He knew that the foundation on which he established his strength and reputation was built on his cultivation and his battle strength. That was why he had been diligently practicing the Lightning Dao: First Volume.

Even though Wang Baole hadn't made any significant headway in the powerful Dark Corpse Face Art, his diligence practicing the Lightning Dao: First Volume had brought him close to mastering the first tier of the mystic technique.

Once I hit the second level of the Lightning Dao: First Volume, I'll be able to break through to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm… I'll be able to create the second lightning tattoo and condense a Heavenly Thunder.

It's a pity that the Dark Corpse Face Art… is so difficult to master! Wang Baole was happy and frustrated at the same time. His joy stemmed from his cultivation nearing his peak early-stage cultivation level. His frustration stemmed from his inability to sense the Negative Spirit Body mentioned in the Dark Corpse Face Art. If he couldn't even sense it, how could he form Dark Fire?

He had tried casting aside his sense of shame and making a visit to the hallucination realm. He had consulted Little Missy, but she had a look on her face that clearly expressed her belief in how easy the mystic art was. The look on her face had also expressed her disbelief at his failure to master the mystic art considering how simple it was. It had been a severe blow to Wang Baole's pride.

After he had left the hallucination realm, Wang Baole bit the bullet and attempted countless tries. Every attempt had sent freezing chills and spasms shuddering through his body and left him in extreme agony. He had almost despaired about ever learning the mystic art.

Fortunately, just as he was in the depths of his despair, he reached a breakthrough in his refinement of artifacts which boosted his self-confidence. He had already been crafting fourth-grade Numinous Treasures since he had arrived on Mars, and he felt he would soon be capable of crafting fifth-grade Numinous Treasures.

What's stopping me from succeeding is not my technique but my cultivation… Wang Baole pondered as anticipation flashed across his eyes. He was confident that when his cultivation reached the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm, he would have the capacity to refine fifth-grade Numinous Treasures.

Time passed steadily. Seven days soon flew by. During this period, Wang Baole handed all administrative matters of the academy to Lin Tianhao while he went into seclusion.

He soon reached the peak of the first level of the Lightning Dao: First Volume, stepping into the perfected early-stage Foundation Establishment realm. He was but one step away from his breakthrough.

I'll definitely reach a breakthrough within a month! Wang Baole assessed his current cultivation and concluded. He was satisfied with his current rate of progress. During his cultivation, as the devouring seed continued inhaling and exhaling Spirit Qi, his green lotus had gained an increasing liveliness. It had strengthened visibly alongside his physical body.

Just as Wang Baole intended to work tirelessly towards the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm without rest, he received a message from Li Yi…

Wang Baole frowned upon reading Li Yi's transmission. He had half a mind to ignore it until Li Yi informed him hurriedly that she had brought along almost every brand and type of snack available on Mars.

Wang Baole gasped when he heard that. He realized Li Yi must want something really important from him very badly. Any other reasonable person would not have done what she had done.

Even though I am an immensely charming man, so attractive that she'd fall head over heels for me, I'm not so charming that she'd go to this extent… Wang Baole frowned. A cold glint flashed in his eyes before he immediately sent a message to Lin Tianhao and got the latter to quickly verify Li Yi's appointment on Mars.

Lin Tianhao dared not keep Wang Baole waiting. He hurriedly sought the help of people he knew and soon got back to Wang Baole. When Wang Baole found out that Li Yi was serving as an assistant to the giant tree, alarm bells started ringing, and his wariness of her spiked.

He narrowed his eyes and considered his options. After a long while, he decided to decline meeting Li Yi. Just as Wang Baole was about to turn Li Yi down, Little Missy's voice rang clearly in her head. There was a hint of hostility in her cool voice as she spoke.

"Let's go meet this vampish woman. I want to find out what exactly she is plotting!"

Wang Baole immediately sensed the clear enmity in Little Missy's words. He blinked, then coughed. He was secretly pleased. After thinking a while longer, he replied Li Yi and agreed to meet her for lunch at the Dao Mountain Mist Academy canteen.

Li Yi was presently sitting in the Deputy Governor's office building, and her eyes flashed when she read Wang Baole's reply. She smirked, pleased.

This horrible fatty looks exactly like a pervert. I don't believe he can resist my charms! Li Yi had full confidence in herself. In reality, she had been both pleased and troubled during this period.

She had been troubled by Trilunaris Corporation's Jin Duoming and his relentless attempts at courtship. She barely felt anything for him, not even dislike. However, his behavior was affecting her practice of the Heartless Willow Art.

This displeased her greatly. On the other hand, she was also pleased. Jin Duoming had been a boost to her self-confidence in her own appeal.

Men are all pigs! Li Yi pulled out her mirror and started gazing at her reflection. She sighed and lamented at how beautiful she was. Then, she made herself even more presentable, rose to her feet, and trotted over to the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

Li Yi soon arrived at the Dao Mountain Mist Academy canteen, her voluptuous figure once again drawing the attention of all students. Her confidence grew as she felt the scorching stares directed at her.

When she sat down, her back made the perfect silhouette of an exquisite hourglass. Many students dining in the canteen were swallowing their saliva and staring at Wang Baole, who was sitting opposite Li Yi, with envy.

Li Yi smiled demurely and with coyish eyes, pulled out a storage bracelet and placed it before Wang Baole.

"Baole, these are the snacks I bought you…"

Wang Baole stared at the snacks, then at Li Yi, his eyes lingering on her shapely curves. Little Missy snorted coldly in his head, and the sudden ringing almost deafened Wang Baole.

"That's quite interesting. It hadn't been so obvious the last time, but it's a lot stronger this time. This little witch is practicing the Heartless Willow Art, and she intends to use you to master it," Little Missy's voice rang out clearly in Wang Baole's head. Wang Baole froze when he heard what she had said. Little Missy then started to explain what that particular mystic art entailed.

After hearing the requirements for mastering the mystic art, Wang Baole's eyes widened. He stared at Li Yi with incredulity and disbelief.

Li Yi clearly misunderstood his stare. Her pretty face blushed, and she seemed to recall something and hastily lifted her head. She leaned towards Wang Baole and whispered.

"Baole, besides delivering snacks to you, I also have some news for you…

"Zhuo Yixian's been deployed to Mars as well, he'll be here in a few days. He's been appointed to the Colony Disciplinary Order. There's also Kong Dao… do you still remember him? He's the president's godson. He's actually been deployed to the Martian military a while back.

"The two of them are holding actual political power, especially Zhuo Yixian. I know they're not exactly friendly with you. I was afraid you didn't know about them and would be trapped in an unfavorable situation. That's why I've come here to inform you."

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Chapter 314: A Ninth-Grade Dharmic Armament?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole watched as Li Yi pretended to be concerned as she shared the information with him and felt put off by her pretense. He started sulking as he wondered if he really was a true son of Earth. That was why his luck had taken a turn for the worse ever since he had left Earth.

That had been the case when he had been on the moon, and now that he was on Mars, the same thing was happening again. First had been his unfortunate meeting with a formidable foe, the giant tree, next had been his encounter with Li Wuchen.

After having finally settled down and gotten himself on firm ground, he still hadn't yet resolved the problem that was the giant tree. To make things worse, Li Yi had started eyeing him and had also brought him news of worse things to come.

Why have all my enemies come to Mars? This is just… Frustration simmered inside Wang Baole. He felt as if all his enemies had suddenly come together while his friends had not. He felt alone in his fight.

Fortunately, I've made an ally out of my former enemy Lin Tianhao, else, things would just be a disaster. There must be some conspiracy going on! Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He stared at Li Yi, then suddenly asked, "Who approved their transfer orders?"

Li Yi gave Wang Baole a deep, meaningful look when she heard his question. She was deep in thought for some time, then she leaned into him further. Wang Baole could smell the perfume wafting from her body. She had sprayed it before she came to the academy as she had heard that it could ignite a man's desires.

"The Deputy Governor…"

Wang Baole smiled as he breathed in the perfume from Li Yi's body and listened to her words. His heart rose to his throat. He finally understood now. The giant tree wasn't able to make life difficult for him too openly, so he had transferred all of Wang Baole's former enemies over to Mars to help him do the deed.

This didn't seem like a simple matter of getting others to gang up on him. The giant tree might be plotting something. However, despite his diligent reading of the high officials' autobiographies, he had no idea what the giant tree was planning.

This is so troublesome. Wang Baole sighed. He threw a glance at Li Yi.

"You must really like me to share this information with me. You bought me so many snacks too. Fine, fine, let's go to my room. You can help me with my bath." Wang Baole got to his feet. He had a look of exasperation on his face when he stared at Li Yi.

Li Yi sucked in a breath. If she weren't so concerned about destroying this mood that she had so carefully built with so much effort, she would flip the table on him right now. She struggled to calm down and forced a smile on her face.

"Baole, it's not a good time for me today… I have to go now," Li Yi said hastily and prepared to leave. Wang Baole's eyes glimmered. He smiled and walked her part of the way out. He watched as Li Yi stepped out from the school gates. Then, he turned, the smile he had on his face vanishing without a trace.

So what if I'm surrounded by enemies? Wang Baole snorted inwardly. If it had only been the giant tree alone, he might have considered leaving Mars. However, he had settled in comfortably and made a name for himself on the planet. Now that so many people he couldn't get along with were all gathered here, he decided against leaving after all.

What do I have to be afraid of? They weren't my match when they were on Earth, and they couldn't beat me when we were on the Moon. Now that we're on Mars, I can still hold my own and overpower them! At that thought, Wang Baole suddenly felt full of aspiration and ambition. He raced towards his residence and went right back into seclusion. He had made up his mind to achieve a breakthrough in cultivation as soon as possible.

After all, cultivation was the foundation for everything. Wang Baole was aware that if he were at the Core Formation realm now, the threat posed by the people he disliked would be superficial at best.

Even Li Yi, who had intended to use him to master her mystic art. So what? He'd make her pay twice the price for her decision. After he was done with her, she would be left with nothing but the shirt on her back.

As Wang Baole returned to his residence and resumed his seclusion, as Li Yi walked out from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy and left in her cruiser, Jin Duoming sat inside Fire Spirit Academy, gnashing his teeth as he watched what was showing on the spirit screen before him.

The spirit screen showed a clear audiovisual recording of Li Yi and Wang Baole in the Dao Mountain Mist Academy canteen. Their heads were lowered as they sat close to and murmured softly to each other.

A smile had blossomed on Li Yi's face in the recording, and she had a coquettish look in her eyes. Wang Baole was smiling as well. His eyes were narrowed as if he was enjoying her presence as well as the perfume wafting off her body.

After Jin Duoming had found out that Li Yi had been headed for the Dao Mountain Mist Academy, he had pulled some strings and paid a student of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy to film the recording.

Since he had arrived on Mars a few days ago, he hadn't gone to the extent of visiting Li Yi every day, but he had sent multiple messages proclaiming his love for her. Li Yi had ignored his attention, which sparked a greater interest in her. To improve his chances, he had arranged for someone to keep tabs on Li Yi. That way, he would know her every move.

That was what had resulted in the current situation…

He hadn't wanted to make a big show of it. There were people who knew, but they weren't many. He had only arrived on Mars just a while ago, after all. But more would find out that he was courting Li Yi after another week or so. The news of his courtship would definitely spread like wildfire then.

Li Yi, Wang Baole! Jin Duoming stared at the two figures on the screen and gnashed his teeth. He was torn inside. He knew about what had happened to Wang Baole in the Mystic Luna Realm, and he thought they could be friends. He didn't wish to make an enemy of him unless it was the last resort.

But it's just not right to go after a friend's love interest. Jin Duoming took a deep breath. He was torn about the entire matter. At the same time, based on what he knew and had found out, he simply could not believe that Wang Baole and Li Yi would become a couple. He turned towards the female cultivator beside him and asked.

"Duo Duo, say a man and a woman are always hostile to each other whenever they meet. They get into fights with each other countless times. Is there a possibility for them to fall in love with each other and become a couple?"

The female cultivator by the name of Duo Duo smiled as she sliced the fruits up. She spoke.

"Young Master, the possibility of such things happening is high. You don't understand women. From how I see it, Li Yi has a strong interest in Wang Baole. This is what we call a bickering couple."

When Jin Duoming heard what Duo Duo called them, he smacked his forehead. Hidden behind his palm, his eyes revealed a deep considering look. When he removed his hand from his eyes, the look disappeared, replacing it was a look of agitation and fury. He pulled out a purple jade slip and pressed it hard. The enormous stronghold that had been parked in the Martian sky port shuddered immediately.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone in the port, the pilotless stronghold rose into the air and sped at top speed towards Zone Twelve, where the Fire Spirit Academy stood. On its way, it caught the eyes of many people. The stronghold soon reached the Fire Spirit Academy. Jin Duoming entered the stronghold, and it once again roared to life and charged towards the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

Everything happened within half an hour. Wang Baole was just about to begin his meditation when the stronghold appeared in the skies above the Dao Mountain Mist Academy. Its appearance shocked the academy's teachers and students, and a commotion stirred in the school.

"What the hell is that?"

"My god, look at the inscriptions on that thing!"

"It's too much. Is this the legendary space stronghold?"

As the students and teachers stood stunned, Jin Duoming's voice rang out from inside the stronghold.

"Wang Baole, your friend is here. Won't you join me for a chat?" Jin Duoming's voice rang out. A balcony appeared on the outer shell of the stronghold, and Jin Duoming stood on the balcony and gazed at the Dao Mountain Mist Academy below. His visit didn't mean that he believed that Wang Baole and Li Yi were dating. He simply felt Wang Baole a threat and wanted to impress and intimidate. That was the reason for his particular choice of entrance.

Wang Baole walked out of his residence as Jin Duoming's voice rang out into the air. He raised his head and saw the majestic stronghold before him and gasped. He had only managed to catch a glance of the stronghold from afar a few days ago and hadn't gotten a clear look at it. Now that it was hovering right before his eyes in mid-air, he finally got a close look at it.

It's just too lavish! Wang Baole realized what the stronghold was made of and became even more shocked. He felt the aura of extravagance that belonged only to the filthy rich exploding from the stronghold. It seemed to be able to overwhelm everything. Compared to this, what the senators' children had been showing off during the Ethereal Fruit Feast had been peanuts, what they had then paled in comparison.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes at Jin Duoming's invitation. He considered how Li Yi had just left and here Jin Duoming was, mere steps behind her. He wondered if there was something to it. He was confident in his own abilities, though. Besides, this was his turf. He wasn't going to be cowed by Jin Duoming's impressive entrance.

He raced towards the stronghold in the sky and, in an instant, landed on the balcony. He stood before Jin Duoming and turned towards the latter.

"Fellow Daoist Jin, you've made quite a grand entrance. What's the reason for it?"

Jin Duoming stared at Wang Baole. He had always been a straightforward guy and had no intentions to beat around the bush. He said very openly.

"Wang Baole, I'm interested in Li Yi. Can you not compete with me for her affections? We're good friends, after all. I'll let you have anything else you want!"

Wang Baole froze. He didn't expect Jin Duoming to make such a dramatic entrance just for this. His heart rate sped up, and his eyes started shining brightly. Jin Duoming was practically signing him a blank check… he stared at Jin Duoming, blinked and tried his luck.

"A ninth-grade Dharmic Armament?"

Jin Duoming fell silent when he heard what Wang Baole had asked for. A moment longer, he spoke in a weak voice.

"Do you have a ninth-grade Dharmic Armament? How about I give up on Li Yi if you give me one…"

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Chapter 315: A Deal

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole burst out into laughter when he heard what Jin Duoming had said. What he had asked for was an impossible thing. He hadn't really believed that Jin Duoming would give him an actual ninth-grade Dharmic Armament.

"Can't you be serious about this, Wang Baole? I'm very serious!" Jin Duoming sighed. He had made a grand entrance with his stronghold and his opening speech. Everything had pointed to his immense wealth. The atmosphere he had created, though, had been partially dispelled with Wang Baole's simple question.

"Fine, I'll be more serious. Daoist Jin, how about an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament? I, Wang Baole, swear I'll give up on Li Yi. No matter how crazily in love Li Yi is with me, I'll turn her down, without mercy. I'm even willing to go to the extent of beating her up just so that she'll give up completely on me!" Wang Baole thumped his chest. When he made his proclamation, he also stared at Jin Duoming with anticipation in his eyes. He seemed prepared to offer a whole range of after-sales and value-added services if they sealed the deal.

Jin Duoming could feel a headache coming. He hadn't expected Wang Baole's reaction. He sensed that Wang Baole seemed to be very excited at the prospect of negotiating with him. Logically speaking, shouldn't he first feel pressured at his own forcefulness? This would allow Jin Duoming to soften his stance after and let them come to a compromise in the end.

"Wang Baole, are you interested in continuing this talk at all? Do you really intend to fight me for Li Yi?" Jin Duoming inhaled a deep breath and asked solemnly.

"Daoist Jin, you're being a miser. Li Yi's such a great girl. She's got a great face, great figure. Even if she's not worth a ninth-grade Dharmic Armament, shouldn't she at least be worth an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament? Alright, alright. How about a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament? That should be okay, right?" Wang Baole sighed. He looked as if he was on the losing end of a deal.

"Wang Baole, are you taking me for a fool? A seventh-grade Dharmic Armament? If I give her a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament right now, do you not believe that she'll immediately agree to be my girlfriend?" Jin Duoming raised his eyebrow. He gave Wang Baole a look of displeasure as frustration simmered inside him. It was true that he was courting Li Yi, but even he didn't believe she was worth a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament.

This was, after all, completely different from when he had been in the Mystic Luna Realm. Then, he had made a bet with someone and had been missing a single fragment. That one step away from his goal and his bet had resulted in the eventual trade. That and his current courtship were two completely different matters.

No one knew how he had established his yardstick. However, it was clear that he simply felt that he was the one on the losing end of the deal if he made an exchange with a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament.

Wang Baole thought for a bit after hearing what Jin Duoming had said. He seemed to agree with him and started feeling slightly bad for even suggesting it in the first place. He sighed.

"What you said makes sense. It's not worth it… how about this? I won't make things difficult for you, but I'd like a promotion. Can you do that for me?"

Jin Duoming released a sigh of relief. If Wang Baole had insisted on a Dharmic Armament, he would have given up on Li Yi himself. He smiled confidently.

"The dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy is getting old. He should retire and return to Earth."

"The dean sacrificed the prime of his years for the Dao Mountain Mist Academy. During his appointment, he groomed numerous talents that became the pillars of Mars and of the Federation!" Wang Baole immediately added as a reminder to Jin Duoming.

Jin Duoming stared at Wang Baole, surprised. What he had meant earlier was that he would transfer the Dao Mountain Mist Academy dean through his family's connections. After which, he would get Wang Baole promoted to the position of the school dean. He hadn't considered what would happen to the original dean. After discerning Wang Baole's intentions, though, he pondered for a few moments, then nodded.

"The old dean is still physically fit and mentally nimble in his old age, and he contributed greatly to the school. After he's been transferred back to Earth, there will definitely be another important office waiting for him to take over!"

Wang Baole was pleased. Jin Duoming was pleased as well. They stared at each other and smiled, the tension between them vanishing. They even chatted leisurely for a while. Jin Duoming instructed someone to bring them wine, and both of them sat down and started conversing like old friends. Before Wang Baole left, he thumped his chest.

"Old Jin, don't worry. I, Wang Baole, am so good looking. Why would I settle for Li Yi and make you unhappy? Am I that sort of guy?

"I admit, Li Yi is interested in me, but for my friend, I'm willing to sacrifice anything. You have nothing to worry about!"

"All right, I'll send her a message right now!" Wang Baole thumped his chest and pulled out his voice transmission ring. He sent Li Yi a message right in front of Jin Duoming.

"Li Yi, things won't work out between us. I hope you will treasure the person who's been by your side all along. Let us both find our happiness elsewhere!"

Wang Baole ended the transmission without waiting for Li Yi's reply. He lifted his eyes from the transmission ring and looked at Jin Duoming. Jin Duoming was overcome with emotion. The more he looked at Wang Baole, the more he realized what a true friend Wang Baole was!

"Baole, I've been too rash. If you really like her, I'll give up on her!"

"Old Jin, don't say that! I, Wang Baole, will do anything for a friend!" Wang Baole had a fright. He thought about how he had just managed to push Li Yi away and gotten some positive returns out of it with great difficulty. If Jin Duoming decided not to go ahead with it after all, wouldn't he have gone to all that trouble for nothing? He smacked his chest again righteously, then turned and left.

Jin Duoming stood on the stronghold and watched Wang Baole leave. He looked clearly moved and overcome with emotion. He sighed.

"That's what I call a good friend!" he said, then steered the stronghold away from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy and towards the Fire Spirit Academy. As soon as he walked back into the stronghold, the emotions on his face vanished. They were instead replaced by a look of contemplation.

This Wang Baole is extremely sly. He's the sort who seems all smiles and friendliness, but will immediately stab you in the face without mercy once he decides you're an enemy instead of a friend.

He's a dangerous character. Why would the old man ask me to befriend him if he's so dangerous? Why would he instruct me to help him where I can? Could it be that… this is related to the reason I've come to Mars? Jin Duoming fell into deep thought. It might seem that he had come to Mars for the sole reason of courting Li Yi, but in reality… there was something even more important that he had to do.

At the same moment, after Jin Duoming's departure, Wang Baole stepped into his residences. The smile on his face had long vanished, and he narrowed his eyes and started thinking.

This Jin Duoming's put on quite an act. He's not an idiot… I don't believe he didn't see through the entire lie… but he still made it seem like he bought the whole thing. In the end, I got myself a promotion… Wang Baole thought for a bit then laughed. He set the matter aside and was about to continue his seclusion, but then, he recalled Jin Duoming's stronghold.

Since Wang Baole's arrival on Mars, Jin Duoming's stronghold was the thing that had impressed him the most. It wasn't only lavish in appearance but equipped with powerful battle capabilities.

He hadn't truly gone into the stronghold earlier, but he could still sense its powerful aura. It likely was capable of displaying battle capabilities rivaling a Core Formation realm cultivator. The stronghold was effectively an enhanced version of a Dharma artifact.

If I have something like that, I won't be as helpless as I am now when I face the giant tree. I'll at least stand a fighting chance! Wang Baole's eyes flashed. He thought about how he was from the Dharmic Armament Pavilion. He had been refining artifacts since he had entered the Ethereal Dao College. With a bit more thought and effort, building a stronghold shouldn't be an impossible feat for him.

It's just that it would require too many resources… Wang Baole sighed. When he had been at the Lower Academy Island, outsiders had always said that Dharmic Armament cultivators were all walking Spirit Stones, that they were all rich.

Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment realm and was able to refine fourth-grade and fifth-grade Dharmic Armaments, he was keenly aware of what it meant to be poor. The resources required for refining artifacts were too much. Despite how fast he was able to refine Spirit Stones, he still couldn't keep pace with the rate he was using up materials.

Even though it's not possible to build a stronghold any time soon, I should still start my preparations now. That way, once I have enough resources, I can immediately start production! Wang Baole thought. He had made up his mind. He would create a stronghold that was invincible and impenetrable. He even thought up a name for it.

We'll call it the Eternal Fortress! Wang Baole's eyes shone brightly. After some assessment, he realized that even if he had the blueprint and materials ready, it would still not be possible for him to build such a stronghold single-handedly. He was troubled for a moment before he remembered his puppets.

If I lack manpower, then I should first study how to create puppets that can serve as construction workers. They should be able to provide some basic support and carry out simple construction work! Wang Baole thought. During his seclusion, besides practicing the Lightning Dao: First Volume and edging closer towards a breakthrough in cultivation, Wang Baole also spent time studying how to refine construction puppets and running through the blueprints for his stronghold.

Time crept by. Soon, more than a month had passed!

Come noon one day, Wang Baole was sitting in meditation when his eyes suddenly opened. A rumbling roar erupted within his body, and bolts of lightning erupted from his right leg. They snaked around him in the air, thundering. The entire chamber was flooded with electricity in that instant. It appeared to transform into a pool of lightning!

Sitting cross-legged within the pool was Wang Baole. The cultivation within his body erupted at that moment, breaking through the early-stage and stepping right into… the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm!

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Chapter 316: The Colony Disciplinary Order Arrives!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After Wang Baole attained his breakthrough in cultivation, he seemed to experience a sudden turn in fortune on Mars. Within three days of his breakthrough, the dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy received his transfer orders from the Federation.

The dean would be returning to Earth. He would be promoted from Secondary Rank Four Noble to Primary Rank Four Noble. Besides the promotion, he would also be stationed in his hometown. It was not only a comfortable retirement but also an establishment of his authority in his hometown.

The arrangement showed the Trilunaris Corporation's generous treatment towards their own people as well as Jin Duoming's capabilities. He had managed to achieve his end of the deal within two weeks after reaching an agreement with Wang Baole. Orders for Wang Baole's new appointment also reached Mars around the same time.

The Martian Colony City had the right to overwrite such direct orders from the Federation. It was, after all, to a certain degree, an autonomous city. However, Mars wouldn't easily use its powers, especially when the order was a promotion for Wang Baole, from a Primary Rank Five Noble to a Secondary Rank Four Noble.

As a result, Wang Baole received his promotion to Secondary Rank Four Noble without a hitch. He became the dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy. The fact that everything went smoothly spoke greatly of the authority and political clout the Trilunaris Corporation wielded. It also said something… about Wang Baole's own achievements!

The match between the two elitists' academies not only secured Wang Baole's fame as an educator, but it also gifted him with a wider social network. The reputation of the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon served as an amulet for him as well. That was why his new appointment had gone so smoothly, without any obstacle.

Despite not being the youngest person ever to become a Secondary Rank Four Noble, he was still a rare sight in the Federation. He had surpassed most of his peers. His promotion to his latest Noble also signaled the step he had taken from the lower ranks of the Federation administration to its mid-ranks!

This step might not seem like much, but to many people, it was a step that might take them ten years, twenty years, or even a lifetime to take.

Wang Baole was keenly aware of what the promotion meant. That was why he was overjoyed when he received the orders. He happily accepted the congratulatory messages from the teachers and students of the academy, and he didn't forget to reward the hard work of the deserving. He immediately submitted a request to the Martian administration to appoint Lin Tianhao as the vice dean.

Wang Baole had informed Lin Tianhao of his request prior to its submission. Lin Tianhao was naturally overcome with excitement and happiness. He had only been on Mars for less than six months before receiving a promotion in both office and ranking. He was beyond excited. Concerned that someone might stir trouble for him, he hurriedly contacted his father.

Lin You was constantly keeping himself abreast of the situation on Mars. As soon as he heard from Lin Tianhao, his eyes brightened. He made preparations immediately, and Lin Tianhao's appointment was finalized. From his current Secondary Rank Five, he was promoted to a Primary Rank Five Noble. He also became the vice dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

Lin Tianhao was extremely grateful towards Wang Baole for his efforts in promoting him and helping him rise up the ranks. He realized how wrong and immature he had been during his Ethereal Dao College days. He became keenly aware of how right his father had been. He had already acknowledged Wang Baole's abilities earlier, and now, he had absolutely nothing to complain about him.

"This is nothing, Tianhao. Keep tagging along, and you may soon see me become a Secondary Rank Four Noble within half a year. Then, I'll get you a Secondary Rank Four Noble as well." Wang Baole laughed. He patted Lin Tianhao's shoulder and looked at Lin Tianhao, pleased. The latter had just poured him a cup of tea and had only sat half-perched on the sofa.

Wang Baole conversed a while more with Lin Tianhao and instructed the latter to focus on the educational aspect of the academy. He left Lin Tianhao with most of his work while he made full use of whatever time he had to familiarize himself with the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm. He also poured a great deal of his energy into studying the stronghold as well as construction puppets.

Time passed. Two months after Wang Baole's and Lin Tianhao's new appointments, winter descended upon Mars. Snow appeared as the temperatures plunged. The lands outside the city became deserted and barren. The Combat cultivators and Hunting cultivators who were regularly deployed outside the city returned in batches. The temperature within the city fell as well. Even though there was still air circulating, one would see puffs of white clouds when they breathed.

Nothing major happened in those two months.

Where the academy was concerned, Lin Tianhao revealed his talents at administration and supervision. He had watched his father growing up, after all. After he had become the vice dean, backed with Wang Baole's approval and support, Lin Tianhao was able to carry out the plans Wang Baole had wanted to make fearlessly.

The entire academy began learning the Baole Heaven Devouring Skill as a core skill. A great deal of effort was also spent on developing the students' fighting capabilities. The numbers of the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon grew, and their reputation stabilized with frequent and regular exposure. There was no longer a danger of them being forgotten by the public after the end of the friendly match.

As Lin Tianhao busied himself with the school, Wang Baole kept himself occupied as well. His work on the stronghold blueprints and his research into construction puppets progressed swiftly. As his ideas gained clarity, he tried to craft his first batch of construction puppets. He was now at the stage of testing them out.

Wang Baole knew that he was still a long way from success. There were still many problems with the construction puppets and his stronghold blueprints. He still had a long way to go before they could be fully functional and ready for use. He still needed to continue to make improvements before the final product was ready and could be mass produced.

Wang Baole wasn't anxious about the time required. As he continued his research, Lin Tianhao's regular reports and the private reports from other teachers ensured that he maintained a full grasp of everything happening within the academy.

Wang Baole had brought glory and renewal to the school. In the past few months, students who had heard of the school's reputation had requested transfer to the academy. Their student population spiked, and his presence had become irreplaceable. He had become a mental and spiritual pillar supporting the academy.

However, as the number of students grew, the existing teaching staff was no longer sufficient to support the growing student population. They recruited many new teachers. Wang Baole's office alone had three department heads. Besides the young married woman with coyish eyes, there were now two more beautiful staff members.

Wang Baole was extremely satisfied. He thought the two new staff members also looked at him with hooks in their eyes as if trying to reel him in.

At present, inside Wang Baole's office, the two new staff members brought Wang Baole tea and smiled at him. Wang Baole coughed. Just as he was about to ask them to take a seat and inquire about how they had been coping with work, Lin Tianhao arrived.

"Dean, our current state won't do. We don't have enough teachers… we need more teachers!"

"I'm thinking of arranging a friendly match for the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon with the four Dao Colleges' Lower Academies in the Federation. This is the only way to maintain the platoon's current popularity and reputation…" Lin Tianhao immediately started reporting on his current work as soon as he arrived. Wang Baole was immensely pleased with Lin Tianhao's enthusiasm and passion for his work. He agreed to the friendly match and also began thinking about recruiting more teachers.

They had too many students and not enough teachers. The newly recruited teachers had to go through a round of background checks to verify their background and identity. This was an elites' academy, after all. It wouldn't do for there to be any security-related incidents.

As the two discussed the matter, the shrill sounds of alarm suddenly rang outside. It was deafening. Through the windows, they could see a dozen black cruisers in the distant sky, headed for the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

The appearance of the cruisers immediately sent all Spirit Stone-related devices in the Dao Mountain Mist Academy into a temporary malfunction. They ceased working suddenly as energy suddenly erupted from the cruisers, creating a translucent shield that enveloped a teachers' residential pavilion in the academy!

"The Colony Disciplinary Order!" Alarm flashed across Lin Tianhao's face. He rose to his feet hurriedly. Wang Baole frowned and stood as well, going over to his window and watching as the dozen specially crafted Colony Disciplinary Order cruisers sped towards them and sealed the teachers' residential pavilion. A dozen or so people dressed in black uniform rushed out from the cruisers and dashed into the pavilion.

Behind the black uniforms walked out two people—a man and a woman. The woman was clearly the higher ranked of the two. Her cultivation was at the perfected Foundation Establishment realm, and she exuded the aura of a volcano on the verge of an eruption as she stood in the open. Her presence was overpowering. She wore a uniform, but her voluptuous figure made the uniform appear a few sizes smaller than it actually was.

She had a well-endowed body, a head of long, flowing red hair, and pale, icy blue eyes. They resulted in her striking, mature appeal.

She was like a fully-ripe peach. She drove the hearts of men racing. Such a stirring figure was paired with cold features devoid of emotion. Even the look in her eyes was frosty, cold like a glacier.

The mix of fire and ice was what made this woman so deathly attractive.

Wang Baole had seen his fair share of beauties. Regardless, he was still momentarily stunned by this woman's beauty.

Behind her was clearly her subordinate. Wang Baole recognized him. It was a familiar face. The man was… Zhuo Yixian!

The entire process took but the duration of a dozen breaths. As Wang Baole's gaze landed on Zhuo Yixian, the black uniformed men who had barged into the teachers' residence earlier dragged a middle-aged teacher out. They brought him before Zhuo Yixian. Zhuo Yixian sensed Wang Baole's eyes on him, and he raised his head and flung a frosty glance at Wang Baole. Then, he stared at the pale-faced middle-aged man who had been arrested and spoke.

"Take him away!"

Wang Baole watched as the other disregarded his presence and arrested one of his own without even a prior warning. The expression on his face darkened. Even though the other party was the Colony Disciplinary Order, what they had done had completely disregarded his own presence and authority.

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. He smirked, then pushed his windows open, flying out in the next instant. Lin Tianhao had wanted to say something, but he had been too late. He hurriedly followed, but by then, Wang Baole's voice had sounded throughout the entire campus.

"Is there no one left alive in this Dao Mountain Mist Academy of mine? All my teachers, all my students, I want you to give a display of your cultivation. Let others know our academy isn't a place where anyone can simply trespass and intrude upon!"

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Chapter 317: Domineering

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As Wang Baole's words reverberated throughout the entire college, he managed to make the thousands of teachers standing around look furiously at the staff from the Colony Disciplinary Order through his authoritative manner. Their cultivation was also instantly activated.

The weakest of this group of more than a thousand teachers were at least a Pulse Enrichment cultivator of Ancient Martial Arts. Many of them were in the early-stage of True Breath, with tens of them in the mid-stage. There were at least thirty of them in Dao Mountain Mist Academy who were in the True Breath late-stage.

Even though there were only two Foundation Establishment cultivators excluding Wang Baole, with the cultivation of thousands of people being unleashed, it was frightening. It shocked the tens of people from the Colony Disciplinary Order.

That wasn't the end to everything. Under Wang Baole's command, everyone, not just the teachers, but also the tens of thousands of students from Dao Mountain Mist Academy—with Jin Duozhi and Zhou Mei leading the pack—all roared angrily. Instantly, a concentrated force of Blood Qi erupted astonishingly from their bodies.

That was especially so as the Heaven Devouring Skill had become so widespread that most of the students of Dao Mountain Mist Academy, regardless of whether they were male or female, were seen as little fatties at one glance. They were fat, yet their Blood Qi also significantly exceeded that of others. One could feel that their physical strength was indeed impressive.

As a result, the eruption of Blood Qi in all directions from the bodies of these tens of thousands of students and teachers, who were of a similar level as them, surrounded everyone from the Colony Disciplinary Order from all corners.

Such an imposing manner at such a scale immediately made the tens of men in black from the Colony Disciplinary Order frightened, and they turned pale with shock. They were severely alarmed, and even though the woman with the fiery hot figure appeared calm throughout the period, Zhuo Yixian, who was beside her, didn't have the same calmness. Looking at the thousands of teachers and the tens of thousands of students, and sensing the Blood Qi erupting from their bodies, his breathing uncontrollably quickened.

If someone else, and not Wang Baole, were the dean, he wouldn't have cared. However, knowing that Wang Baole had a bad temper and would go into battle once something didn't go his way, he was worried that if Wang Baole were angered, he would command everyone to attack. Death would then be a reality that could be imagined.

Therefore, as he grew increasingly nervous and anxious, Zhuo Yixian suddenly looked at Wang Baole and exclaimed loudly.

"Wang Baole, are you trying to revolt? All of you, are you trying to revolt as well?" Zhuo Yixian was a witty person. With his words, not only was he trying to land Wang Baole in a sticky situation by poisoning the well, but he was also stressing the others around him. The meaning was clear; if anyone were to attack, it would be considered an attempt to revolt!

Indeed, what he said had some effect. Some teachers were frightened, and their imposing manner was weakened. Wang Baole, who was standing on the veranda, was initially very pleased with how domineering his college appeared, but when he noticed that some of them backed down after hearing Zhuo Yixian's words, he sneered. He looked at those who had become cowardly, before looking back at Zhuo Yixian, and was about to speak.

Just at this moment, Jin Duozhi, who was paying attention to Wang Baole and had been instinctively judging the situation, felt his eyes light up. He seemed to have found an opportunity to suck up to Wang Baole, and was filled with agitation and excitement instantly. He felt that the heavens were on his side, treating him extremely well by always granting him the opportunity to showcase his loyalty to the dean. He was delighted as he rushed out and roared loudly.

"The Colony Disciplinary Order is a bully, oppressing the weak because they have greater power!" Jin Duozhi was loud. As he roared loudly, he raised his hand and slammed his own chest forcefully.

He punched hard, and large volumes of blood spewed from his mouth. He staggered backwards with blood in his mouth, his voice carrying a pitiful tone.

"How dare you hit me? I will seek justice from my grandfather!"

Zhou Mei's eyes lit up, and she immediately punched herself. Soon, all the students seemed to have realized what was going on and were instantly agitated. As if without any fear of the consequences, they all punched themselves several times, resulting in them either vomiting blood or simply bleeding from the corner of their mouths. With more than half of the tens of thousands of students acting this way, it was a bewildering scene, especially when they completed the act by staggering backwards, screaming and shouting painfully.

"People from the Colony Disciplinary Order have attacked me! I will look for my mother to seek revenge for this!"

"How dare you attack me? My father is Zhou Yuntao!"

"No one has dared to hit me since I was young. You people have the guts to hit me… My grandfather will not let this pass!"

As the screams reverberated, the surrounding teachers were dumbfounded. Lin Tianhao was flabbergasted, and even Wang Baole was surprised. That was even more so for the people from the Colony Disciplinary Order, who were entirely overcome with shock. As they listened to the angry screams from the students, they trembled and were on the brink of going crazy from all that was happening.

It was obvious that none of them attacked the students. The threat from the students was a clear situation of them accusing the Colony Disciplinary Order. They felt extremely helpless and upset. Zhuo Yixian felt suffocated with shock and grew increasingly anxious. It wouldn't have mattered much if it was just a handful of students acting that way, but with so many of them, their backing was just too strong, such that even the Five Generation Sky Clan would have to look at the situation seriously.

What the heck is this college trying to do? Why do I feel like I've just entered an acting school? Zhuo Yixian was frightened and indignant. Those students were just too unprofessional in their acting.

However, regardless of whether they were professional or not, the blood that they vomited was real. As a result, he felt extremely frustrated and troubled, as he was the one who had pushed for the visit to Dao Mountain Mist Academy. According to standard procedures, he should have met and greeted the school committee first. However, as he didn't have a good relationship with Wang Baole, he didn't bother with the formalities.

He had originally thought that Wang Baole wouldn't do anything no matter how unhappy he was. However, he had never imagined that Wang Baole could generate such a strong reaction in the Dao Mountain Mist Academy with just a simple sentence.

While he grew increasingly troubled, Wang Baole blinked his eyes, staring speechlessly at Jin Duozhi and the others. He knew well that those rascals were physically impressive, and the act of vomiting blood was as easy to spitting saliva for them. They appeared to be injured, but in reality, they could all recover fully by meditating for five minutes.

However, Wang Baole was still satisfied with their performance. No matter the situation, he felt that his college shouldn't weaken on its imposing front. As for the teacher who was taken away, Wang Baole wasn't particularly familiar with him as he had only recently been hired. Furthermore, that teacher was still under internal probation in the college and wasn't assigned to teach yet. Arrangements for him to teach would only occur after the probation and investigations had been completed.

He wasn't overly concerned that the Colony Disciplinary Order had sent people to apprehend the teachers. However, the Colony Disciplinary Order had shown up forcefully, unannounced, throwing him into a situation that he didn't understand. He was definitely not agreeable to such a manner of handling things. After all, Wang Baole could be considered a Secondary Rank Four Noble. Therefore, after looking at Zhuo Yixian and company, he raised his right hand.

"Silence!"

With that sentence, the teachers and students standing around instantly fell silent. Jin Duozhi and company all stood at attention, looking at Wang Baole.

Such an imposing and authoritative manner immediately made the people from the Colony Disciplinary Order look at Wang Baole with respect and fear. Only Zhuo Yixian was indignant as he continued to stare at Wang Baole angrily.

Wang Baole completely disregarded Zhuo Yixian, as he spoke calmly while looking at the lady with the hot figure beside Zhuo Yixian, who had remained calm since the start.

"Dear Fellow Daoist, I need a way to explain everything if you are to bring people away from my territory!"

"Wang Baole, don't be overboard. The Colony Disciplinary Order is carrying out its due diligence, and there is no need to give you an explanation. You…" Zhuo Yixian heard Wang Baole's words and immediately laughed condescendingly. However, even before he could complete his sentence, Wang Baole suddenly turned his head around and roared with a deep voice.

"Shut up! I'm speaking to your superior. How dare you interject, you rude rascal? You're asking me about what basis I have? I, Wang Baole, am worthy, based on my status the dean of Dao Mountain Mist Academy, an educator of Mars, the founder of the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon personally chosen by the Governor, a Secondary Rank Four Noble, and my contributions to the Federation all these years!

"Is that enough?

"And you, Zhuo Yixian, the revolt that you mentioned previously has been said too easily. Because of that, I will notify all the parents of my students that you, Zhuo Yixian of the Colony Disciplinary Order, is suspecting their children of carrying out a revolt, and more specifically, that the Soaring Cloud Student Platoon personally chosen by the Governor is organizing a revolt!"

Zhuo Yixian felt as if he was being punched continuously by Wang Baole's words. That last sentence especially frightened him. He was about to speak when the cold and distant lady with the provocative figure frowned and calmly spoke to Zhuo Yixian.

"Silence!"

She was initially very satisfied with this subordinate of hers, but now, there was some dissatisfaction. Zhuo Yixian trembled internally as he quickly obeyed and didn't dare to speak any further. He was extremely frustrated, but he understood very well that this woman was someone he couldn't afford to offend, whether it was based on her family background, her position, her cultivation, or simply the news that had been spreading about her.

Having stopped Zhuo Yixian from saying anything further, the lady looked at Wang Baole with a chill in her eyes that she didn't bother to hide. She waved her right hand and threw a jade slip directly at Wang Baole.

"The Colony Disciplinary Order apprehends people based on the evidence they have collected. You can read about it yourself." When she was done speaking, she no longer bothered about Wang Baole, and she sent out a command to her subordinates from the Colony Disciplinary Order.

"Bring this heretic cultivator away!"

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Chapter 318: Dean Wang, Please Cooperate!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Just as Wang Baole grabbed hold of the jade slip, the teacher who was apprehended suddenly began to struggle after the lady passed her command. He seemed to want to say something, but even before he could say something, the lady with the chilly look but provocative figure shot him a cold gaze. She walked towards him and slapped him hard with her right hand directly.

When she raised her hand, a force belonging to someone who had perfected the Foundation Establishment stage and was approaching breakthrough into Core Formation instantly erupted from her body. It sent shock waves in all directions, and when the slap landed on the chest of that Dao Mountain Mist Academy teacher, the teacher vomited blood immediately. His chest turned into a mesh of flesh and blood, and his ribs were exposed.

However, he didn't die!

"An easy option like death won't be available to you!" The lady carried her usual facial expression as she reached into the bloody mess created in the teacher's chest and broke three of his ribs. The pain caused the teacher to scream pitifully. The lady then wiped her bloody palm carelessly on the teacher's shirt before turning and looking coldly at the teachers and students who were standing around.

All the teachers held their breaths, and even the students grew nervous. Jin Duozhi looked closely at the lady and seemed to have realized who she was. He hurriedly stood at attention, trying to appear as if he was perfectly healthy and good, and that whatever that had happened previously was just a fluke.

After frightening everyone, the lady didn't even bother to look at Wang Baole. She directly entered the cruiser, and Zhuo Yixian, who stood behind her, heaved a visible sigh of relief. He made use of the authoritative manner of the lady to look at Wang Baole viciously, as he apprehended the teacher from Dao Mountain Mist Academy who had lost consciousness and brought him into the cruiser along with the other people from the Colony Disciplinary Order. Soon, all the cruisers from the Colony Disciplinary Order rose into the sky and disappeared into the distance.

With their departure, all the equipment in the area that was powered by the Spirit Stones began operating again.

Wang Baole frowned. He couldn't stop what just happened as the incident recorded in the jade slip had shocked him.

Using live people as an offering to practice a forbidden cultivation technique. Brutally killing seven people at the Ancient Martial Arts realm, and eleven commoners…. There were few words in the jade slip, but those few sentences had managed to outline the offenses committed by that teacher.

After reading about the crimes listed on the jade slip, Wang Baole then looked towards the cruisers from Colony Disciplinary Order in the distant sky. He remained silent, and Lin Tianhao, who was beside him, took a deep breath and began to speak in all seriousness.

"Dean, don't provoke this female lunatic… she is simply crazy…"

"You know her? Who is she?" A glow flashed across Wang Baole's eyes. He had noticed that Lin Tianhao wanted to say something previously but had stopped himself. It was clear that it was because of the presence of the lady that Lin Tianhao didn't dare to say anything. In addition, he also noticed the swift transformation and adrift look in Jin Duozhi's eyes after he noticed her. It was apparent that he recognized who the woman was and didn't want to provoke her.

Lin Tianhao hurriedly replied after hearing Wang Baole's question. He knew that he was slightly cowardly just now, but with the crazy woman standing there, even he didn't dare make a sound. Now, he began to speak softly, as if trying to rectify his blunder.

"Dean, do you remember Li Xiu? He is the senator's son, and this female lunatic is his sister… His blood sister!"

Lin Tianhao's reply caused Wang Baole to widen his eyes in disbelief.

"Li Xiu's sister?" Wang Baole's facial expressions changed instantly. He thought of the serious look Li Xiu had when he said he would introduce him to his sister when he was in the Mystic Luna Realm.

"Yes, her name is Li Wan'er. Though her name sounds dainty, she is actually this woman with a frozen face! Just by looking at what a disaster Li Xiu is, you will know what kind of person his sister is!

"Even though this Li Wan'er is an extremely gifted natural talent, having perfected Foundation Establishment and was nearing the Core Formation stage despite being just a few years older than us, she has an icy nature and is extremely imposing. She is like an ice mountain that wouldn't melt even in a million years. She is an infamous spinster, known for her ruthlessness and eccentric personality. She looks pretty, which was why many people tried to pursue her many years back. However, every single one of them was almost beaten to death by her…"

"You know Jin Duoming, right? He also once tried to pursue her. He merely flirted with her with words, yet this Li Wan'er went after him so viciously that she almost had him castrated. Therefore, she is a female devil… It's been said that Li Xiu has been beaten by her since he was young. Every single time, he would swear to us that he would find his sister an ugly, perverted, shameless, and vicious person to marry in order to take revenge." As Lin Tianhao rattled on, he grew more excited, not noticing that Wang Baole was beginning to look awkward.

In the end, when Lin Tianhao noticed Wang Baole's awkward facial expressions, he immediately stopped speaking. Even though he didn't know why Wang Baole looked that way, he felt that it would be dangerous for him to continue staying where he was. Therefore, he found a reason and hurriedly left, even sending orders to disperse the crowd.

When the people from Dao Mountain Mist Academy left, Wang Baole then turned to leave for his office with a stiff facial expression while gritting his teeth.

Li Xiu, make sure you don't appear in front of me again. Darn it… So, in your eyes, I'm someone who is perverted, ugly, shameless, and vicious? I'm so handsome, yet he can't see it. He must be blind! Wang Baole was most offended at Li Xiu thinking that he was ugly. Therefore, he became determined to teach Li Xiu what beauty truly was if he ever had the chance to see him again.

With that thought, he suppressed the unhappiness in his heart and took another look at the jade slip before setting it aside. This matter actually had nothing to do with him. He only felt uncomfortable with how the Colony Disciplinary Order handled the matter. Now, he had calmed down, and continued to draw the blueprint for his stronghold and construction puppets.

Just like that, a day passed. The next afternoon, Wang Baole stepped out of his residence and into the Dean's Office, thinking that the incident with the Colony Disciplinary Order had already concluded the day before. Even though he was unhappy with the way they handled it, he had managed to save his reputation somehow. However, he had never imagined that not long after arriving in the office, cruisers from the Colony Disciplinary Order landed once again.

This time, there was only one cruiser. Even though it did not barge into Dao Mountain Mist Academy and was instead parked outside, the person who emerged seemed like someone who was used to handling things head on and boisterously. He was in Wang Baole's office but was still stern and direct in his words.

"Dean Wang, our Minister needs you to go over to assist in the investigation."

Wang Baole looked coldly at the expressionless middle-aged man dressed in a black robe standing before him, as he narrowed his eyes.

"What's the investigation?"

"Dean Wang, this is something that I don't know. This is an order by the Colony Disciplinary Order and is within the authority of the Colony Disciplinary Order bestowed by the Martian Colony. Everyone below the rank Secondary Rank Three has to cooperate. Dean Wang, after you, please!"

Wang Baole frowned. He was unhappy, but as he didn't do anything wrong, and as the Colony Disciplinary Order had sought cooperation, people would speak behind his back if he didn't cooperate. Therefore, after thinking about it, he took out his jade slip and contacted the Sect Lord of Ethereal Dao College.

After informing the Sect Lord about the matter, the Sect Lord assured Wang Baole that he would keep tabs on it and that he should cooperate.

With that, Wang Baole stood up. He didn't enter the Colony Disciplinary Order's cruiser. Instead, he stepped into his own cruiser, expressionlessly following the middle-aged man to the Colony Disciplinary Order in the Zone Nineteen!

He soon arrived on the grounds of the Colony Disciplinary Order, which was filled with buildings that were painted black, giving off a suppressive force that felt extremely cold and distant. Everyone there was dressed in a black robe, looking extremely stern.

The office of the Colony Disciplinary Order's Minister was located on the top floor of a high rise building in the middle of all the buildings. When Wang Baole arrived and pushed open the door, he saw Li Wan'er, Li Xiu's sister, sitting there, staring coldly at him. Her perfect level of Foundation Establishment cultivation was transformed into a suppressive force, enveloping Wang Baole.

It was worth mentioning that even though Li Wan'er was expressionless and extremely cold, Wang Baole felt her looks could be compared to Zhao Yameng. To a certain extent, her hot figure put her higher in the ranks in terms of looks.

"Dean Wang, there are a few matters that we need your cooperation with, which is why we invited you here. Please answer truthfully!" Li Wan'er didn't mince her words, instead, speaking her mind directly. The questions mostly revolved around the apprehended teacher, such as when he was employed and who he interacted with most on a day to day basis.

Though Wang Baole was unhappy, he had no need to withhold information regarding these questions. Therefore, he answered everything truthfully. In the end, Li Wan'er judged the situation silently in her mind before lowering her head and checking the documents, not even looking at Wang Baole, before speaking coldly again.

"You can leave now. According to regulations, whatever is mentioned here shouldn't be made known to anyone. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."

Wang Baole looked at Li Wan'er, who remained cold and distant. As he turned towards the door, he turned his head, looking coldly at Li Wan'er, who was reading the documents, before speaking calmly.

"Minister Li, I am not a newbie to the Federation. When I first entered Ethereal Dao College, my job was in investigative matters. When I became Deputy Pavilion Head on the Upper Academy Island, investigative matters were also under my purview. I am clear about matters like these.

"Guilty or not, it's all based on your words. Are you sure that you have the right evidence, and didn't malign the teacher under my watch?

"Furthermore, don't try to suppress me with your perfect Foundation Establishment cultivation. Even though I have never killed a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator, I have killed many who were in the early-stage and mid-stage of Foundation Establishment when I was in Foundation Establishment myself. I can even kill those in the late-stage Foundation Establishment with a lift of my finger. You, a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator, are no threat to me!"

Wang Baole's words made Li Wan'er frown, and she raised her head to look at Wang Baole with even more chilliness in her eyes. Wang Baole didn't seem to back down as he looked back at her, and this staring contest went on for a significant length of time.

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Chapter 319: Mars's Unusual Transformation

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Since I began my cultivation, no one in the same realm as me has dared to speak to me in such a manner. Needless to say, it has never happened before with someone like you who is merely a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!" The chill in Li Wan'er's eyes intensified, and a dangerous aura spread from her body, making all the items in the entire office vibrate ever so slightly.

In the face of Li Wan'er's suppressive force, Wang Baole raised his brows and laughed.

"What a coincidence! Every single person who said such a thing to me has been killed by me. Shall we compare to see who has killed more Foundation Establishment cultivators?" Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and spoke calmly, and a frightening aura emerged from his body as well as he prepared to fight.

If he were still in the early-stage of Foundation Establishment like previously, he would perhaps not have the guts to do what he was doing now. However, as he advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, riding on the Heavenly Thunder, possessing the Dharmic Armament, and coupled with his immense physical strength, Wang Baole's unhappiness towards the Colony Disciplinary Order that arose previously now showed signs of erupting.

Seeing that they were clashing with each other and that their hostile auras were growing stronger, Li Wan'er suddenly stood up. She didn't make an attack and instead pushed opened the windows with her hands and stepped out. Instantly, a cruiser appeared, landing at her feet.

"Aren't you asking me if I made any judgment errors? Come on board, I'll show you what real proof and evidence is!" Li Wan'er spoke indifferently.

Wang Baole took a look at Li Wan'er and weighed the consequences before stepping into Li Wan'er's cruiser. Immediately, the cruiser picked up speed and went into the distance, so fast that perhaps the other people from the Colony Disciplinary Order might not have realized what had happened.

The high traveling speed of the cruiser, coupled with the fact that it was made specifically for the Colony Disciplinary Order, bestowed it with such authority that it was able to disregard the outermost layer of array formation protection surrounding the Mars Colonial City, and before long, it had emerged out of the Colonial City!

It was now winter on Mars. The winds froze one to the bone, with temperatures at an extreme low. As the cruiser charged at high speed, its temperature increased, which led to the inevitable formation of frost layers.

A glow flashed across Wang Baole's eyes. When he first emerged from Mars City, he contacted Ethereal Dao College's Sect Lord with his jade slip to inform him about what was going on. He then kept the jade slip, looking coldly at Li Wan'er as he tried to judge if she had connections to the giant tree.

However, if they were indeed connected, the voice transmissions he sent out would definitely be blocked. Since he could still send out voice transmissions, as usual, it pointed towards Li Wan'er not sharing a relationship with the giant tree.

Noticing that Wang Baole was sending a voice transmission, a look of disdain appeared in Li Wan'er's eyes. She didn't say anything, simply continuing the journey in the cruiser as it traveled further away from Mars Colonial City until it reached a barren plain.

The plain was all white, entirely covered with snow. There were some small, scattered areas which the snow didn't cover, revealing the deep red-colored ground.

The cruiser slowly landed. Li Wan'er leaped and alighted from the cruiser, landing on the snow. Wang Baole frowned, narrowing his eyes as he followed suit. It was then that Li Wan'er took out a jade slip, which she pressed while aiming it on the ground.

When she pressed the jade slip, a purple glow emerged from it, which immediately spread in all directions, causing Wang Baole's pupils to constrict. He saw that the entire area began to be warped, turning blurry. Soon, like a broken mirror, the hundreds of feet of snow surrounding them disappeared, and an underground cave appeared!

It appeared as though the cave had been there since the beginning. The array formation left by people covered it, making it impossible for outsiders to explore it.

Wang Baole's breathing grew rapid when he saw the underground cave. When he looked towards Li Wan'er, she had already taken the lead and entered the cave. Soon, her voice emerged from underground.

"What's the matter? You're afraid to come down here? Didn't you want real evidence?"

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes and raised his hands. Instantly, the seventh-grade Dharmic Armament appeared in his hands. He turned and charged into the underground cave. The temperature inside the cave was significantly higher than that outside. Looking into the distance, there was a passageway. Wang Baole walked along it to the end, where he saw Li Wan'er and a scene that made him extremely shocked!

In the depths of the underground cave was a secret chamber weakly lit by Spirit Stones. However, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could see everything clearly despite the low visibility.

Right now, the door to the secret chamber was already open, and he could see that there were receptacles placed everywhere inside it. Taking a closer look at the contents of these receptacles, he realized that human organs were being stored in them!

Some of them even contained the corpses of babies!

A significant number of them contained unrecognizable pieces of bloody flesh. Wang Baole was unable to identify every single one of them, but it was clear to him that the existence of the secret chamber was sinister.

That alone caused Wang Baole to breathe heavily. There were limits to humanity that shouldn't be breached. What Wang Baole saw before him severely violated the principles of being human!

"See all of this?" Li Wan'er remained expressionless as she took out a jade slip with a wave of her right hand. After grabbing hold of it, a scene immediately played out through the glow that emerged from the jade slip.

The scenario depicted the secret chamber. The only difference was that instead of Wang Baole and Li Wan'er, there was a middle-aged man. With just a single glance, Wang Baole immediately recognized that the man was the teacher that had been apprehended by the Colony Disciplinary Order.

In the image, the man was meditating with his legs crossed. His facial expressions were frightening, and he appeared to be going through cultivation. There were receptacles containing the human organs placed around him, and he seemed to be in the process of absorbing a mysterious force!

This scene made Wang Baole solemn as he took a deep breath. He knew deep in his heart that the Colony Disciplinary Order was properly handling the matter. He wanted to say something, but Li Wan'er didn't give him a chance to, as she immediately kept the jade slip and began speaking coldly.

"The reason why this area is preserved is to lure his accomplice. Bringing you here can be considered an exception. You aren't to question future matters of the Colony Disciplinary Order!"

With that, Li Wan'er turned and walked towards the passageway with a cold expression on her face. Wang Baole was somewhat embarrassed. If it was in a different setting and someone were to speak to him this way, he would have flipped. However, he wasn't the least bit angry now. In his embarrassment, he quickly followed behind Li Wan'er. Looking at her shockingly attractive figure accentuated by her tight-fitting uniform, Wang Baole uncontrollably thought of the incident where Li Xiu wanted him as a brother-in-law.

However, just as the thought circled around Wang Baole's mind, an unusual transformation suddenly occurred outside the cave!

A loud boom emerged and spread from outside the underground cave. It sounded as if a large number of people were crying pitifully, their cries spreading in all directions. Li Wan'er and Wang Baole grew solemn as they noticed that blood-colored winds were blowing towards them from the wilderness a distance away from the plains!

This blood-colored wind could perhaps be better described not as wind, but as fog. It was as if the tides swept towards them from all directions from a distance, covering a large area and at such a high speed that if one were to observe from above, one would see that it was boundless. It was like a red-colored sea, churning from a distance.

They didn't have time to rush out. Almost immediately, the blood-colored wind enveloped Wang Baole and Li Wan'er in the zone where the underground cave was.

The cries grew even more pitiful as if innumerable wandering spirits were crying out all their sufferings within the blood-colored fog. Hearing it, one could feel chills down their spine as if they had come into contact with spirits. Instinctively, fear and shock arose in their hearts. At the same time, there were sounds of grinding teeth reverberating from within the fog.

All of it was harrowing, and as Wang Baole and Li Wan'er were frozen with surprise at the cave being enveloped, the cries reverberated. The entire area was covered with the blood-colored fog, which decreased the visibility. At the same time, the Spirit Qi within their bodies lost vitality right at that moment!

As if being restricted, they could no longer feel their Spirit Qi; it was as if it had completely disappeared. Li Wan'er's breathing quickened as she shrieked.

"Spirit Restriction!"

"What's going on!"

A torrent of thoughts crashed in Wang Baole's mind. Similarly, he couldn't feel the existence of his Spirit Qi. Even the green lotus seemed to have broken off all ties with him. Wang Baole could only vaguely feel the devouring seed, even though it was also being affected.

This weak sense required time before it could be completely detected. Within this time, his Spirit Qi disappeared, unable to be activated. In that moment, a cultivator was turned into a commoner!

The voice transmission ring, the storage bracelet… They all lost their function. Everything that was related to Spirit Qi was being forbidden!

Thankfully, the foundation of life formed through one's cultivation was unaffected. Therefore, one's breathing wasn't affected as quickly. However, there was no time to lose, as one would endanger their lives if they were out of the City for a prolonged period of time.

Everything happened too quickly. The vanishing of one's cultivation and the Spirit Restriction, coupled with the extinguishing of the light from the Spirit Stones, rapidly decreased their visibility. At the same time, the pitch-black surroundings became even more prominent. Luckily, Wang Baole still held a weak connection with the devouring seed, which allowed him to maintain his field of vision slightly. He vaguely saw that the red fog had already spread into the underground cave's passageway, and signs of the mud rotting appeared wherever the fog passed.

At the same time, Wang Baole instinctively sensed an extreme level of danger. If he were to come into contact with the red fog, there was no doubt that he would die. Therefore, he grabbed hold of Li Wan-er, who had lost all her spirit energy, and he charged towards the secret chamber.

Li Wan'er wanted to struggle but also seemed to have felt the danger from the fast approaching fog. Therefore, without needing Wang Baole to pull her along, she quickly charged towards the secret chamber.

However, it was still too late for both of them. The blood-colored fog churned, and it only spread through half the passageway without advancing further. However, when the duo entered the secret chamber and shut the secret chamber door behind them, a small portion of the fog seemed to have sensed Wang Baole and chased after them like a living creature. It followed the door as it was closing, wriggling into Wang Baole through his nose and mouth!

Wang Baole was shocked and instantly felt an indescribable pain in his body as if his life and spirit were dissolving. Thankfully, it was only a tiny portion of the red fog, and Wang Baole's body could disintegrate it. Therefore, the pain was only temporary, disappearing as quickly as it appeared. However, he already burst out in a sweat, and a sense of weakness instantly appeared.

In that pitch-black environment, the duo waited for a moment while still on high alert. Realizing that the red fog only seemed to have spread through half the length of the passageway without advancing further into the secret chamber, they finally heaved a sigh of relief.

What they didn't know was that this red fog didn't only appear where they were; instead, it had emerged simultaneously in many locations on Mars!

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Chapter 320: Bizarre Village!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

At the same instant, blood-colored winds appeared on almost thirty percent of Mars. It was an extremely bizarre scene as the winds blew in all directions. A thing like this had never happened before, either after the establishment of the Martian Colony City or ever before in history.

If one were to look at Mars from outer space, they could see that the red-colored fog was like the tides, spreading at high speed and covering an increasingly large area.

This event was instantly detected by the array formation on Mars, which led to a warning signal being sent out. This immediately caught the attention of the Martian Colony City, and people like the Governor and Deputy Governor personally made the trip down to the core of the array formation to find out what was going on.

The core of the array formation was located in the military base of Mars. It was extremely large, covering over sixty percent of Mars. At the same time, even though it was meant for military use, the one with the most authority over it was the Governor.

Right now, on the enormous spirit screen located within the military base, an illusory model of Mars could be seen. Thirty percent of the region of the model was covered with churning red fog. It was extremely harrowing to watch, and in the crowd which densely covered the area, the military elites, the Governor, as well as other personnel looked solemn.

"There weren't any signs. Suddenly, this blood-colored fog appeared."

"Based on the investigations carried out by the sentry guards stationed outside, the blood fog was found to be corrosive and has the capability to restrict spirits. Furthermore, an unknown creature seems to exist within the fog…" The person in command of the military was a burly middle-aged man. Right now, he was standing behind the Governor as he spoke with all seriousness.

"Therefore, other than reporting the information to you, we sincerely request for the Governor to use your authority to increase the power of the Mars array formation in order to better investigate the situation so that we can get a clear understanding of what is going on inside the fog!"

The Governor, dressed in a bright red long robe, frowned as she stared at the spirit screen. After a brief moment of silence, she suddenly raised her right hand, activating her hand seals as she pressed the enormous spirit screen in front of her through the air.

As the spirit screen was pressed, it instantly vibrated, and the image on it began to blur immediately. However, very quickly, the image reappeared much clearer than before, as if it could permeate the screen. The unclear figure formed by the blood-colored fog seemed to have been filtered, such that everyone could vaguely see what was within the blood-colored fog!

What was bizarre was that within the blood-colored fog, the ground and the rocks appeared normal. However, both the common and unique vegetation that the Federation had been trying to cultivate following the appearance of Spirit Qi on Mars had withered and died.

At the same time, there seemed to be several things flowing within the fog. The things that were flowing all looked different, seemingly translucent as they blended with the fog. They could be seen through the array formation but were completely invisible to the naked eye.

This made everyone even more solemn. At the same time, the Martian Colony Governor suddenly looked towards a small area on the northwestern area of the Mars model.

"Hmm?" The pupils of the Mars Governor constricted, and with her finger pointing at it, the area was instantly magnified. Immediately, the entire spirit screen turned blood red, and after layers of filtering, everyone finally managed to see the true appearance of the area beneath the blood-colored fog. They all gasped in disbelief!

There it was… a village!

"Impossible!" The burly middle-aged man from the military let out a voiceless scream. At the same time, gasps of shock and disbelief, as well as sounds of heavy breathing, emerged from the people around him.

"How could there be a village on Mars?"

"I know that place. I'm very sure that it was just a basin in that location previously. There was no village!"

As the crowd was gripped in shock, the giant tree also took a few steps forward to take a closer look. He then waved his hand suddenly, minimizing the area on the screen before pointing at several other regions of Mars. Soon, images of the various areas appeared on the screen, each having identical, bizarre looking villages within them!

There were a total of seven such areas!

The atmosphere grew more solemn. As people grew more surprised, the detection by the array formation showed that there wasn't a high level of danger in those seven villages. At the same time, it detected that within the seven villages, there was the existence of broken array formations and damaged Dharmic treasures.

This made the seven villages even more mysterious.

"Interesting…" The Mars Governor narrowed her eyes, revealing a glint of danger in them. After a brief moment of silence, she gave a command.

"According to the detection done by the array formation, the seven areas aren't considered very dangerous. However, we shouldn't belittle them. This matter shall be placed under your charge, General Li. Send out seven troops to investigate each of these seven areas at the same time. Furthermore, be alert and make sure that a Core Formation cultivator leads each team.

"At the same time, gather all the Array Runes cultivators as well as Dharmic Armament cultivators in the Martian City and bring them along. If the objects within the seven areas can't be brought out, then they are to research them on the spot!"

General Li from the military immediately obeyed the command. He then turned around, efficiently making plans to carry out the command. With that, the entire Mars military was activated, and as commands were passed down, the identities and residential addresses of Array Runes and Dharmic Armament cultivators within Martian Colony City were retrieved.

Wang Baole and Lin Tianhao's name were among the data reviewed.

As the command was sent out, numerous cruisers rushed out from the military base. With the fastest speed, they ferried the Array Runes and Dharmic Armament cultivators to accompany the seven branch teams.

At the same time, in order to prevent widespread panic, the entire mission was conducted in secrecy.

One of the cruisers headed directly to Dao Mountain Mist Academy at high speed. After it arrived in Dao Mountain Mist Academy, it immediately sent a voice transmission to Wang Baole. However, it was futile as there was no reply received. That made the military personnel who were looking for Wang Baole troubled. Instead, they located Lin Tianhao.

The arrival of the military surprised Lin Tianhao, and he immediately sent a voice transmission to Wang Baole. However, he was unable to contact him as well. In the end, with the military running out of time, they looked at Lin Tianhao and announced.

"Lin Tianhao, you have been drafted!"

Lin Tianhao didn't know how to nor was he able to reject being drafted by the military. After a few silent breaths, he immediately nodded his head and stepped into the military cruiser, leaving Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

Before long, the seven unique cruisers that could withstand a brief moment of Spirit Restriction emerged from Martian City, heading at high speed in seven different directions.

At the same time, outside the Colonial City in the wilderness, on the plains within the blood-colored fog, it was completely dark in the underground cave where the evil cultivator previously resided. In the darkness, Wang Baole sat down after guiding himself using the wall. He gasped as he thought about the sudden appearance and disappeared of extreme pain despite his body disintegrating the blood-colored fog that entered him.

"Quiet!" Li Wan'er ordered softly the moment Wang Baole gasped.

Wang Baole stared at her. However, when he thought about the misunderstanding he had towards her previously, he sneered under his breath and unwillingly followed suit without paying further attention. He shut his eyes and tried to connect with the devouring seed, so as to regain his cultivation as soon as possible.

At the same time, he was also feeling troubled. Being trapped where he was without doing anything felt too passive. However, he understood clearly that the blood-colored fog outside would probably not last long. Furthermore, the longer he and Li Wan'er remained uncontactable, the more likely the Martian Colonial City would realize. Then, following the clues, they should be able to locate them.

Thankfully, I contacted the Sect Lord previously. If I don't reply to his messages for an extended period of time, he will probably know that trouble occurred!

With that thought, Wang Baole heaved a sigh of relief. Simultaneously, he continued to strengthen his connection with the devouring seed. Li Wan'er also tried all ways to regain her cultivation.

The problem was that the Spirit Restriction happened so suddenly and was on a large scale. It appeared that neither of their cultivations couldn't be regained within a short time. As for the underground cave, it wouldn't have mattered if it was merely shrouded in darkness. What made it worse was that it was now winter on Mars, and temperatures were already low. On normal days, the array formation provided some form of protection in the Colonial City. Even if they were to go outdoors, their cultivation could protect them, allowing them to withstand Mars' temperatures.

However, right now, due to the Spirit Restriction, Wang Baole and Li Wan'er seemed to have immediately become commoners. Not only was their cultivation restricted, they gradually grew incapable of withstanding the cold.

After half an hour, the duo, who had kept silent since the start, began to feel an increasingly stronger sense of cold in the underground cave. Wang Baole, despite being fat and thick-skinned, began to feel weaker and colder as his body was somewhat exhausted when it tried to disintegrate the red fog.

As for Li Wan'er, even though her cultivation exceeded that of Wang Baole's, she wasn't as strong physically. Therefore, very quickly, Wang Baole heard Li Wan'er's teeth chattering as she shivered, as well as her gradually weakening breathing.

It could be that the dip in temperature was very significant, or that it was low, to begin with, but the emergence of the red fog affected and weakened the duo—causing Li Wan'er to lose heat extremely quickly. She couldn't withstand it any longer.

If this were to carry on, even if the duo's bodies evolved by virtue of the Spirit Qi, which could allow them to maintain the demands for breathing, they would still die eventually!

Seeing that that was the case, Wang Baole hesitated. Even though Li Wan'er was trembling, she still remained calm as she spoke, her voice emerging in the darkness.

"Wang Baole, take off your clothes."

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Chapter 321: I'll Never Speak Even If You Beat Me to Death!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Ah?" When he suddenly heard Li Wan'er's words in the darkness, Wang Baole was taken aback. He became alert and said probingly.

"Li Wan'er, someone should be coming to save us. You… don't think about silly things. We haven't reached the moment for one last hurrah before our deaths."

"Enough with your nonsense! Take off your clothes quickly!" Li Wan'er was slightly annoyed, her voice turning stern. Her strong-headed nature, under the pressure and annoyance she was experiencing, could no longer be suppressed as it burst right out of her now.

"Why should I? You're cold, but so am I." Hearing Li Wan'er's words, Wang Baole was unhappy. Even though he was rugged and big-sized, he felt the same kind of chills. Even though he wasn't as cold as Li Wan'er was, but if he really were to strip, he would definitely be frozen stiff in a short period of time.

Seeing how uncooperative Wang Baole was, Li Wan'er frowned. Her eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness, and even though she couldn't make out the details, she could sense where Wang Baole was, and she stared at him coldly. After a moment, she took a deep breath, forcing down her anger as she spoke calmly.

"Wang Baole, if this were to go on, we would freeze to death before anyone came to save us. Therefore, we need to keep our bodies warm!"

"And clothing shouldn't be used for keeping warm!" Li Wan'er spoke word by word, taking the initiative to take off her clothes first. What followed was a sound similar to paper being shredded; Li Wan'er was resolutely taking off her clothing even though she was shaking from the cold.

However, she was unaware that… even though Wang Baole's vision became slightly less clear than before due to the loss of Spirit Qi, he could still vaguely make out the big picture, just not in detail.

Instantly, a crystal-like figure appeared in his eyes. Similar to her back view, which he had seen previously, Li Wan'er had such a sexy figure. Even though she still had her bra on, Wang Baole felt that her bra was undersized. Her breasts were plump and shaped provocatively, and the sight made his temperature rise and breath quicken.

Hmm? So this can generate warmth… Wang Baole cleared his throat, thinking about what to do in his mind. He sighed, as if still hesitating, before finally gritting his teeth.

Fine! I'm saving a life here! With such a noble revelation, Wang Baole stood up immediately, stripping all his clothes off at a speed much faster than Li Wan'er.

Of course, he kept his undergarments on.

"What's next? Do you come, or do I go? My cultivation isn't as high as yours, so I can't see anything clearly. I cannot find your location. Where are you?" Wang Baole blinked, his only thought was that his time in the underground cave was growing too exciting…

Li Wan'er believed Wang Baole's declaration that he couldn't see clearly. That was because she felt that her level of cultivation was indeed higher than Wang Baole's. Since she could only vaguely see the outlines and images, which appeared dull in her eyes, it would be worse for Wang Baole.

In reality, that was also the reason that made her determined to warm each other up. After seeing the naked Wang Baole, who sat down with his legs crossed after stripping his clothes, Li Wan'er gritted her teeth and rose, still shivering, and approached him. The nearer she was to him, the more she felt the warmth from his body.

Like a fire source, it made Li Wan'er pick up her pace at an increasing speed. As for Wang Baole, his heart was palpitating furiously, and his throat turned dry. He was hyperventilating, as what appeared before his eyes was too much of a shock.

Li Wan'er's figure was the sexiest one out of all that Wang Baole had seen in his life, whether they were covered with clothing or not. She had long slender legs, beady white skin, and a voluptuous hour-glass figure. She neared him, slowly at first before speedily approaching him, and sat directly in his arms, her body freezing cold.

Her cold body contrasted very clearly with his heated body, a contrast that made Wang Baole tremble and Li Wan'er instinctively hug him close.

"Erm…" In Wang Baole's life, this was one of the few times where he was thrown into confusion. He raised his hands, unsure of where to place them. His breathing also quickened as he opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.

"Now, you can cover our bodies with the clothes," Li Wan'er took a deep breath and said coldly.

Wang Baole coughed and slowly responded. He thought of how self-sacrificial he was, just like the Buddha. With that thought, he instantly felt that he was doing a noble deed. He quickly covered himself and Li Wan'er with the clothing that was strewn around them. After that, he rested his hands, instinctively placing them where Li Wan'er was most voluptuous.

Li Wan'er frowned, an icy look appearing in her eyes. She was about to rage, but she felt that Wang Baole's large hands were extremely warm; therefore, she remained silent, turning her head and ignoring him.

Just like that, both Li Wan'er and Wang Baole stayed silent as time gradually went by. Eventually, as they generated warmth for each other, their temperatures increased. That allowed them to resist the coldness of the surroundings, and their scents began to spread towards each other as they hugged tightly.

A pleasant scent wafted continuously into Wang Baole's nose. He had willed himself to keep his heart rate from skyrocketing, but as he smelled the scent, his heart palpitated furiously again. Therefore, his hands instantly squeezed, and he immediately snapped out of his daze. He wanted to stop when he realized that Li Wan'er's breathing also quickened. He lowered his head to take an inconspicuous look and realized that Li Wan'er's face had turned redder than usual.

This scene, coupled with Li Wan'er's reaction, was like a devil that instantly emerged from Wang Baole's body. He blinked his eyes and thought about whether it was an encouragement from Li Wan'er.

Forget it. I'm doing all this to save her. It's no big deal sacrificing myself. After all, I, Wang Baole, am not a selfish person! With those thoughts, Wang Baole planned to continue but soon realized that Li Wan'er's reddened face seemed to be showing signs of returning to normal. Therefore, he subconsciously squeezed his hands again, and instantly, Li Wan'er's body trembled as her face reddened again.

What's going on? Wang Baole noticed Li Wan'er, with her face reddened and her eyes shut, remaining silent. His heart beat faster, and though he hadn't planned to, his large hands began exploring.

Li Wan'er's body froze instantly, but she remained silent and didn't reject him. That made Wang Baole begin to breathe heavily, and before long, Li Wan'er's usual cold voice reverberated in the underground cave.

"If you don't wish to see a part of yourself missing after we are rescued, then you can continue!"

That voice was so chilling that Wang Baole froze instantly when he heard it. He cleared his throat and didn't dare to continue after thinking it through carefully…

Just like that, the duo fell silent in the noiseless underground cave. What was left was the continuously reverberating sounds of their breathing and the howling outside, which made them hug each other even tighter.

The passing of time also seemed to slow down. After a brief moment, Li Wan'er suddenly spoke.

"Talk about yourself. I heard that you almost killed Li Xiu on the moon?"

"Me killing him? That fella thinks that I am a pushover and wanted to kill me. I was magnanimous to set him free!" Wang Baole was unhappy hearing Li Wan'er's question. After thinking about it, he told Li Wan'er about what he had experienced on the moon, save for some crucial information about himself.

In this way, the duo conversed while seeking warmth from each other in the underground cave. Wang Baole shared first, followed by Li Wan'er. Eventually, a night passed.

On the morning of the second day, as the blood-colored fog dissipated gradually, Wang Baole and Li Wan'er immediately felt that the Spirit Qi within their bodies recovering at a fast pace.

At the same time, with the recovery of the Spirit Qi, their vision slowly returned to clarity from a blur, and from a dull view to a bright one…

The recovery of Spirit Qi made it unnecessary for both of them to seek warmth from each other. Therefore, Li Wan'er left the embrace of Wang Baole without any qualms. She stood up, not care whether Wang Baole was looking at her, and, with her back facing him, put on her clothes.

Looking at Li Wan'er's back view, Wang Baole's heart, which had already returned to a state of calmness, began to beat furiously again. He hurriedly put on his clothes. After the two of them were fully and neatly clothed, Li Wan'er turned around, appearing just like she did before with her sexy figure, cold attitude, and a distant gaze which seems to push everyone away. She returned to the arrogant ice mountain that wouldn't melt, just as she was before.

"Wang Baole, if you were ever to leak out a single bit of what happened here…" Li Wan'er paused as a chill flashed across her eyes. She raised her right hand and smashed the wall loudly, and immediately, the rocks of the wall turned into ash. Her cultivation, which was on the level of perfected Foundation Establishment, rose to that of pre-Core Formation and instantly erupted.

Wang Baole frowned as he sneered in his heart. He felt that he should be saying that instead, but Li Wan'er had stolen his words. He wanted to speak, but at that moment, a gigantic battle axe appeared in Li Wan'er's hands. The battle axe was… a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament!

Looking at the Dharmic Armament, Wang Baole took a deep breath and blinked. He didn't think that it would be embarrassing to obey right now, so he slapped his chest.

"Rest assured! I will never tell anyone about this even if they were to beat me to death!"

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Chapter 322: Holy Condor?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Li Wan'er gave Wang Baole a deep, meaningful look when she heard what he said. Then, she turned and left the cave. The back of her figure was well-curved and beautiful, and the aura exuding from her person was frosty like a glacier. Her eyes spoke a warning for others to stay far, far away from her. Wang Baole turned sullen.

I did save her life, after all. In any case, both of us took advantage of each other last night. I was taken advantage of too! How dare she threaten me! Wang Baole simmered with rage and injustice. After some thought, he decided there was no need for him to reveal his honest thoughts. This was a strategic move, a pretense of weakness, a ploy to trick the enemy—it wasn't actual weakness or cowardice on his part.

The thought bolstered his confidence, and he walked out of the cave with his hands behind his back.

He emerged to a sun-lit, clear-skied world surrounded by ice and snow. It was nothing like last night. There were no signs of decomposition, making the blood-colored fog and winds of last night seemed like a dream. It was as if they had never appeared.

But the fact was, they had. Wang Baole and Li Wan'er were very certain of that. As they stood in silence, they keenly felt the bizarreness that had descended upon Mars.

They couldn't shake off the feeling that every moment they spent standing there was dangerous. Li Wan'er retrieved her cruiser hastily, and Wang Baole leaped onboard hurriedly. Under Li Wan'er's steering, the cruiser dashed at a startling speed towards the Martian City.

Their voice transmission rings had come online again. During their return journey, both Wang Baole and Li Wan'er received a flood of messages. Wang Baole had received news from Lin Tianhao and other teachers from the Dao Mountain Mist Academy, as well as transmissions from Jin Duoming and a few anonymous senders.

The Ethereal Dao College's Sect Lord had also sent him multiple transmissions. When Wang Baole saw them, he hurriedly read all of them and replied to them immediately. Then, he saw Jin Duoming's transmission, and alarm flashed across his face instantly.

Last night, a third of Mars was covered in blood-colored fog and winds!

Wang Baole raised his head in alarm and shock. He looked at Li Wan'er and found the expression on her face equally somber. Clearly, she had received more details on what had happened due to her status and office.

Wang Baole had guessed right. Li Wan'er was one of the main people in charge of the Colony Disciplinary Order, so she had received a comprehensive update on the situation. She knew that while the fog had dispersed at their location, more than half of the regions that had been besieged by this phenomena were still currently covered in fog.

Li Wan'er thought about how bizarre the entire situation was and the terrifying effects of the blood-colored fog, and she realized the gravity of the situation. If they didn't get to the bottom of this, it would remain a potential disaster waiting to blow up again. It had appeared outside the colony city this time. If it appeared inside the city the next time…

The look on Li Wan'er's face grew solemn as she imagined the scene. She increased the cruiser speed and forced it to go faster. It roared as it dashed ahead. She knew that there was going to be a mountain of work related to the mysterious fog waiting for her and her team to investigate and handle.

Wang Baole tried to get his thoughts to settle. He frowned as he stared at his voice transmission ring. One of the messages that he had received was from the academy's teacher, informing him that the military had come looking for him last night. In his absence, they had taken Lin Tianhao instead.

The academy was unsure of the exact reason. Wang Baole immediately pulled out his voice transmission ring and sent a message to Lin Tianhao, but he received radio silence. It was clear that Lin Tianhao's communication with the outside world had been cut off.

After a moment of silence, Wang Baole turned towards Li Wan'er.

"Last night, the military came looking for me at the academy. They took my vice dean in the end. You have a clearer picture of what's going on. Do you know why they did that?"

Li Wan'er frowned. She threw a glance towards Wang Baole. Normally, she would have ignored him, but at present, after a few moments of silence, she pulled out her voice transmission ring and asked a few questions. After a while, without even turning her head, she spoke coolly.

"Yesterday night, when the blood-colored fog and winds appeared, seven strange villages also appeared. Based on the assessment conducted via our array formation, the level of danger was deemed to be relatively low. The Governor ordered the military to send out seven teams to survey and investigate the areas. That was because the initial scan had shown the remnants of array formations and Dharmic treasures in the villages. Every team was to be accompanied by an Array Formation cultivator as well as a Dharmic Armament cultivator."

Wang Baole realized what had transpired when he heard that. He couldn't help but worry since Lin Tianhao had taken his place for the mission. He recalled how terrifying the blood-colored fog and winds had been, and anxiety and worry rose in his heart. He thought again about how the military had stepped in this time. Even the Governor was aware of the matter. Perhaps he was overthinking things. The military would have made sure they were fully prepared and equipped for the mission. They would have been sure of their mission's success.

Li Wan'er seemed to notice Wang Baole's worry. After a moment of silence, she spoke casually.

"Every team was allocated a Core Formation realm cultivator to hold the fort. Of course, when the military carries out any missions, all news and communications will be sealed. Participants in the mission aren't allowed to contact anyone else in the outside world. What I'm telling you now is highly confidential. If you leak it…"

"I know, I know. That stone wall in the cave, right? That'll be what will happen to me. I understand!" Wang Baole let loose a breath of relief when he heard what Li Wan'er had said. He stared at her. All of a sudden, he realized she wasn't that bad after all.

Li Wan'er snorted. She didn't say anything else. Instead, she pressed her cruiser to fly more quickly. Within a short span of time, they reached the edge of the Martian Colony City. Before they entered the city though, Li Wan'er fiddled with the cruiser's configurations. A black glow suddenly appeared and enveloped the cruise as it shot through the city's array formation. It entered the city's peripheral city zone, Zone Thirty-Six, and abruptly stopped in a small secluded alley.

"Let's go!"

Wang Baole knew that she didn't wish for others to see them together. He didn't waste time on words and leaped off the cruiser. Before he even landed on his feet, the cruiser roared and sped away into the distance.

As Wang Baole watched the cruiser speed off into the distance, a realization dawned on him. No one would find out what had happened between the two of them last night—it had become their secret.

Fine, I won't beat Li Xiu up when I see him the next time. Wang Baole shook his head. He retrieved his own cruiser and headed for the Dao Mountain Mist Academy, arriving quickly. He didn't sense anything amiss or different. The teachers were teaching, as usual, and the students were cultivation or attending classes, as usual.

It was clear that news about the blood-colored fog and winds had been sealed. Excluding a few select people, no one else knew anything about it. Wang Baole had only known about the situation because of what Jin Duoming had shared with him.

I hope everything's going well for Tianhao. Wang Baole sighed after he returned to the academy. He knew that it was no use worrying, so he set aside his worries, focusing instead on handling school matters as well as his cultivation.

He continued to keep an eye on any changes on Mars. In order to ensure he received the latest news, he contacted many of his students' parents. A few of them were from the military. When they realized that he was in the know, they hinted that they would immediately inform him when they received news of the seven teams.

After waiting a few days, Wang Baole received news. Out of the seven teams, one had returned. They carried information that Wang Baole was not privy to. There were also frequent updates from the other teams. They seemed to be safe, but due to certain complications, they required more time to complete the mission before they could return.

This was the same for Team Six, which Lin Tianhao was a part of.

At that juncture, Wang Baole could finally release a sigh of relief. He calmed himself down and continued his practice of the Lightning Dao: First Volume. He wanted to reach the peak of mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm as soon as possible. After that, he would be able to break through and advance to the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm.

He was almost done with the main outline for his stronghold blueprints. What was missing were the finer details. The general framework and design approach had been set. Besides fine tuning the design, he also needed to get enough construction puppets.

He redirected his focus towards the construction puppets. Days passed as he immersed in his research, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

The intermittent news from his students' parents mentioned that the seven teams were doing well. In those two weeks, two teams had returned.

Seven days passed. Wang Baole was deep in meditation when the fourth team returned. Suddenly, from within his storage bracelet, a chirping sound rang out.

What is that noise? Wang Baole froze. He opened his eyes suddenly and stared at his storage bracelet with shock. With a flip of his palm, he opened it and began digging through its contents. With an odd expression on his face, he pulled out an egg.

It was the size of his palm. It was the monster egg that he had received from the instructor during his hundred seedlings' cultivation camp. He still remembered that the instructor had told him that the egg had been found in the Sea of Beasts and that they had no idea what it would hatch into.

Besides Wang Baole, Kong Dao had received an egg as well.

Wang Baole had brought the egg back to the Ethereal Dao College and arranged for someone to incubate it. The incubation period had been quite long, and the egg had finally shown signs of hatching just before his journey to Mars. He had simply thrown it into his storage bracelet. However, because of the series of events that had followed after his arrival on Mars, and the fact that the egg had not actually hatched, he had almost forgotten about its existence.

Now that he had taken it out from his storage bracelet, he could see the cracks on its shell. Waves of spirit energy at the True Breath realm emanated from the egg…

It seemed like it was about to hatch at any time!

At the True Breath realm already when it's barely hatched? Wang Baole was shocked and became excited.

I wonder what it'll look like? It must be a bird. This looks just like a bird's egg. Maybe it's a legendary holy condor that's super amazing and looks as handsome as I am!

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Chapter 323: Son!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole got excited at the possibility of hatching a wonderful holy condor from his egg. He couldn't help but remember when he had still been at the Ancient Martial realm, he had seen a majestic winged monster on his way back home. The winged monster had been killed by someone in the end… but that didn't stop Wang Baole from letting his imagination run wild.

In his mind, he saw his future self standing on the wide back of a huge holy condor. The condor's sharp eyes gazed down on the world beneath it. He stood, with his hands behind his back, and stared down at the earth beneath his feet. It would make such an impressive sight.

It's already at the True Breath realm at birth. That's amazing. Its potential is almost as great as mine. Wang Baole was overcome with excitement. He waited happily beside the egg. Watching his own holy condor hatch and arrive into this world was so much more interesting than cultivation or completing his stronghold blueprints.

Wang Baole watched with great anticipation as the eggshell cracked. His excitement grew as the chirping grew louder.

I've to give it a name. What would sound good… Wang Baole brainstormed furiously. He thought very hard about the name to give the soon to be born holy condor, a name that was both unique and pleasing to the ear.

Little Red? Little Black? Iron Egg? Wang Baole scratched his head. He thought all those names too common. They didn't fit the impressive image of his holy condor.

Wang Baole spent a great deal of effort trying to come up with a name. He thought for very long but still could not decide on one that he felt was best. As he was immersed in thought, the cracks lining the monster egg generally spread out across the entire shell. Then, there was a sudden crackle, and a piece of eggshell the size of a fingernail fell off.

Thoughts about names immediately fled Wang Baole's mind, and his breath stilled for a moment. He looked over immediately, and a furry… leg stretched out from the hole in the egg.

That's the condor's leg! Wang Baole's eyes brightened. He rose to his feet excitedly, but he soon started feeling doubtful. The leg… seemed a lot bigger than what he would expect on a condor.

Something doesn't seem right… As Wang Baole grew more doubtful, another part of the egg cracked open. Another leg pushed out.

Wang Baole was stunned. He stared in shock at the two furry, outstretched legs kicking about as they dangled from the egg.

Why do I have a feeling that these aren't claws but… hooves? Wang Baole sucked in a breath of cold air. He had a bad feeling about this and shivered suddenly. There was a cracking sound again. The eggshell started cracking in other places. The third, then fourth leg stuck themselves out from the egg.

Wang Baole was in a complete daze as he stared at the four legs dangling out from the egg.

How can a holy condor have four legs… this must be some kind of a joke! Wang Baole was slightly confused at this point. His thoughts were in a jumble. More parts of the eggshell started cracking and falling off. They crackled loudly. Finally…

A wet, furry head that was only slightly larger than its legs popped out from the egg and some sort of fluid started dripping from its head. The newly born animal was struggling to open its eyes and take a clear look at this new world.

Wang Baole stood before it, his breath quickening and his eyes wide, as he stared at the tiny monster's head.

Black all over, with two long ears, a long face, a long mouth… I can't believe this is actually a…

"Son 1 !" Amidst Wang Baole's shock, the small beast finally opened its eyes. It took a close look around it, and when it saw Wang Baole, it seemed to take a liking towards him. It let out its first sound.

It might have been small, only the size of a palm, but it was still at the True Breath realm. Despite being newly hatched, its voice was bright and piercing, and it rang loudly in the chambers. Wang Baole smacked his forehead. The difference between reality and ideal was simply too great.

The monster egg actually hatched into a donkey! And not just a donkey, but a male donkey! An ass! Wang Baole was about to go mad. He couldn't believe it. Most eggs would hatch into winged monsters, and he would have been fine with a snake, but it was a donkey. Wang Baole had always thought that donkeys were born and not hatched…

The little donkey didn't seem to sense Wang Baole's frustration and annoyance. After struggling out of its shell, it failed to stand firmly on its feet. Its feet crossed, and it fell to the floor. It slid around on the floor and tried its best to climb to its feet. After a long while, it finally managed to get its two front legs up. Every time it tried to put weight on its hind legs, it would fall with a thud to the floor.

After a few attempts, the donkey finally stopped. Its ears drooped, and it stared at Wang Baole with a lost look. Then, it looked at the eggshell next to it. With a sudden bite, it munched down a part of the eggshell.

The eggshell seemed to taste not bad. The donkey's eyes brightened. It sprawled on the floor and started munching. As Wang Baole stared sullenly at it, it finished eating the entire eggshell. Even the fluids on the floor had been licked clean…

After it was done with those, it still seemed hungry. It stared at Wang Baole with its big eyes, blinked and bleated.

"Son!"

Wang Baole's face darkened. He knew that that was how donkeys sounded. Regardless, he still felt there was something weird about that cry. The little donkey saw Wang Baole's lack of reaction and seemed to panic. It cried out even more loudly.

"Son!"

Wang Baole's head swelled as he stared at the donkey sprawled on the floor, kicking its legs and shouting at him. He grabbed hold of the donkey and pulled it in front of him. He stared at the donkey furiously.

"Stop saying that!"

"Son! Son!" The donkey didn't stop. Its cries got even louder. Wang Baole sunk into a bad mood as he witnessed the scene before him. It was beyond what words could describe. He sighed. He had nothing suitable for the donkey to munch on, but its cries were simply too grating on the ears. Wang Baole pulled out the snacks that Li Yi had bought him, grabbed a handful of them and threw them out.

As soon as he let go of the snacks, the little donkey fell with a thud to the floor again. It saw the snacks and stopped braying, crawling towards the snacks with great difficulty. It soon got into close proximity. Without even tearing open the packaging, it swallowed the snacks whole, packaging and all…

It soon finished all the snacks that Wang Baole had flung at it. That was when it went back sprawling on the floor, satisfied, shut its eyes, and went to sleep.

Wang Baole stared at the snoring donkey and suddenly felt exhausted. After a long moment, he sighed. He ignored the donkey and sat down cross-legged, intending to use cultivation as a means of releasing his inner frustrations.

It didn't take long… a day had barely passed before the meditating Wang Baole heard the cries of the donkey sounding next to his ear again.

"Son!"

Wang Baole twitched. He opened his eyes with resignation. When he looked at the donkey though, he let out a sound of surprise.

It's actually growing so fast? Wang Baole was slightly shocked. The donkey had grown a few sizes larger than it had been a day ago. It had been the size of a mouse and could be held in his palm. Now, he would have to hold it with two palms instead, as it was about the same size as a rabbit.

After some thought, Wang Baole threw a few more bags of snacks at it. The little donkey perked up, braying as it munched happily.

Wang Baole sighed when he heard its braying. He hadn't hatched a War Beast at all. He had hatched a beast that was going to climb all over his head…

Two weeks passed. During those two weeks, the donkey would bray whenever it got hungry, and after eating, it would sleep. It grew at a rate that even Wang Baole found incredulous. The donkey was no longer the size of a rabbit but had grown to become as large as a small pony.

It was black all over, and its large eyes and long ears gave it an adorable appearance—as long as it wasn't braying. Its growth spurt also led to an increase in its strength. It could finally stand on all four legs, and it raced about in Wang Baole's residence all day long.

Wang Baole could accept all of that. What he found unacceptable was… the donkey's enormous appetite. It had strong teeth, and its stomach was like a black hole. It could bite through anything and digest anything.

In those two weeks, it depleted all the snacks Li Yi had bought for Wang Baole. It even started munching on his furniture. Within that period, whenever Wang Baole ended his meditation and opened his eyes, he would see his furniture missing a leg or his room missing a door…

Finally, his residence was emptied of all furniture…

Wang Baole was about to go mad. He realized he might not be able to afford the black donkey for long. He stared at the donkey as it swallowed his wardrobe door whole and shouted angrily.

"Fine, keep on eating! When the day comes when you grow larger, and I finally can't afford to feed you anymore, I'll grill you and turn you into a meal!"

The little donkey was munching on the wardrobe door. It seemed to sense something and raised its head in doubt, staring at Wang Baole innocently. It seemed to believe that Wang Baole was trying to fight him for his food, so it panicked and ate more quickly. With a few crunchy bites, it swallowed the entire wardrobe door. It seemed to have eaten too quickly though and almost choked…

This donkey seems a bit stupid! Wang Baole smiled wryly. He stared at his spacious residence and let out a long sigh.

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Chapter 324: What Can't You Eat?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

There were no more snacks and no more furniture left to munch on, but the donkey's appetite continued to grow with its size. It became more and more alarming. It would continue to bray until it was satisfied. Wang Baole's frustrations grew as he listened to its endless braying.

Finally, he stared at the pony-size, braying little black donkey and realized that even if he slaughtered the animal, it would barely last him a few meals. He might as well continue rearing it.

Wang Baole snorted at that thought. He surveyed his empty residence and decided to take his little donkey out for a walk. They would go and buy some snacks. When he left this pavilion, he watched as the donkey stared at the door of the residence and licked its own lips. He could sense a headache coming.

He could tell that the creature was wondering if the door could be eaten…

Wang Baole flew into a rage. He grabbed hold of the donkey, leaped, and landed directly on its back.

Wang Baole's slim, slender body drifted down, and the little donkey fell flat to the ground with a thud. It kept kicking its legs, scratching the floor furiously as it cried.

"Son! Son!"

"You only have that bit of strength in you? In the past two weeks, you've almost eaten me out of house and home. You finished all my snacks. I've raised you for nothing!" Wang Baole grew displeased at how useless the donkey was. Many students saw the sight as well. They all felt that the donkey was indeed too weak.

Jin Duozhi, especially. His most important mission every day wasn't studying or cultivation… it was stalking Wang Baole and taking note of his every move, and through that, finding out ways in which he could strengthen his relationship with Wang Baole. Upon seeing the scene before him, Jin Duozhi immediately raced over.

"Godfather, this donkey won't do. You're already so thin, but it can't even carry your weight. That's just too much!" Jin Duozhi had an incredulous look on his face as he stared at the donkey. He didn't question where the beast had come from. In his eyes, any opportunity to shower Wang Baole with praises and compliments was a good one.

As Jin Duozhi continued his bootlicking, and the others around them started muttering and exchanging whispered words, the donkey started to glare. No one knew if the donkey understood what they were saying, but it started to bray and, bit by bit, struggled to its feet.

Wang Baole eyed Jin Duozhi. Wang Baole and Jin Duoming were of the same age and generation, and he found it rather nice that Jin Duozhi was calling him his godfather. He nodded, pleased. A high-spirited Jin Duozhi escorted Wang Baole as the latter rode his donkey out of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy.

They left the school, and the donkey continued the journey, panting as its limbs trembled under Wang Baole's weight. They drew looks of shock from the surrounding pedestrians. They stared at the tiny donkey, then stared at Wang Baole. They all had odd expressions on their faces.

"You see that? Everyone's looking down on you. They're all thinking, this donkey is so weak. It looks like it can't even carry the weight of a thin person." Wang Baole smacked the donkey's head, the look on his face that of angry disappointment.

The donkey seemed to understand what Wang Baole had said. It seemed to stutter, then with a loud bray, charged forward in a burst of speed, Wang Baole still on his back. Wang Baole's eyes brightened.

"That's it! You can do it! Come on!" Wang Baole was overjoyed. He didn't expect the donkey to have such pride. He started praising the donkey happily.

However, the donkey could only keep the increased pace for half an hour and was soon exhausted. They hadn't even traveled that far before it cried ceaselessly and appeared to be starving. When it passed a flowerbed, it leaned forward and, with a sudden bite, ate part of the flowerbed, gobbling up flowers and grass alike.

You mean this works too? Wang Baole was shocked.

The donkey seemed to regain a bit of its strength. It carried Wang Baole along, walking and eating as it walked. It would get a bite of a tree when it saw a tree, get another bite of a parked cruiser when it saw that. When there was nothing left for it to nibble on, it sank its teeth into the curb by the road and ate a huge chunk of it.

Wang Baole fell into a complete daze when he saw that. He grew alarmed, even. He turned his head and looked at the road they had traveled. The donkey had left its bite marks in everything that they had passed by.

The disciplinary department soon arrived amidst the sounding of alarm bells. An exasperated Wang Baole grimaced and paid the fines. He even flashed his identity slip, and they finally released him after a great deal of persuasion on his part. He hurriedly led the donkey back to the academy.

After they returned to the academy, the donkey continued its habit of eating the first thing it set its eyes on. The teachers and students grew increasingly curious. Everyone gasped in shock when they saw it take a bite out of the statue standing in the school's public square.

"My god… what are his teeth made of?"

"It… it actually managed to bite into that!"

Wang Baole's head swelled even bigger amid the commotion. He grabbed hold of the donkey and dragged it back to his residence hastily.

He finally realized how unfussy an eater the donkey was. It didn't matter if it was something that could be eaten or couldn't be eaten. As long as it was hungry, anything was food to it!

What in the world is this creature? After they returned to his residence, Wang Baole stared as the donkey raced towards the doors of his residence. He didn't even have the chance to stop the creature before it sank its teeth in and bit off a big chunk of the door. Wang Baole's head started throbbing again.

The door was made of metal, not wood or stone, but the donkey chewed a few times before swallowing. It seemed to find the taste of metal quite delicious, and it opened its mouth wide, intending to take a second bite. Wang Baole panicked. He twisted the donkey's ear and pulled it aside and started shouting angrily.

"You've gone too far. This is my home. Are you trying to start a revolt?" Wang Baole roared. That seemed to frighten the donkey. It immediately clamped its mouth shut. A small fragment of the chunk of the door it had bitten off earlier fell from its mouth and landed on the floor with a loud clang. It stared at Wang Baole with an innocent look in its eyes.

Wang Baole saw the donkey's reaction and approved of its behavior. He scolded it for a while more before sending it to one corner. He snorted. While deliberating about what to do with the donkey, Wang Baole pulled out a bag of snacks from his storage bracelet. They were snacks he had set aside specially. He was just about to eat it.

At that very moment… the donkey's eyes widened. Its four hooves stomped the floor, and with a sudden burst of startling speed that surpassed even the speed of lightning, it appeared before Wang Baole. Before Wang Baole could even react, it opened its mouth and snapped it shut the next moment. It swallowed Wang Baole's snacks whole.

Wang Baole was stunned. He stared at his empty hands, dazed. Then, he looked up and saw his donkey. It was munching and staring back at him with the same innocent look in its eyes. He went mad that instant.

"Stupid ass, you're really planning to climb all over me!" Wang Baole flew into a rage. He had to punish the donkey so that it would learn to behave after that. He summoned his mosquitoes out.

Nine ordinary mosquitoes instantly flew out and charged towards the donkey. They shot out like arrows, approaching the donkey in an instant. Their buzzing resounded in the room, but as they were about to sting the donkey, the latter's eyes brightened. It opened its mouth swiftly and, in a few mere mouthfuls, swallowed all nine mosquitoes. It turned and gave Wang Baole a pleased look.

Wang Baole's eyes widened, and he gasped. The donkey had been quick when it had snatched the snacks out of Wang Baole's hands, but Wang Baole's attention had been on his snacks. He had noticed the donkey's speed, but he hadn't truly realized how fast it was. He did now. This surprised him. Then, he recalled that the donkey had been immensely fast when he had ridden it earlier outside the academy.

Looks like this donkey isn't completely useless. Wang Baole mused. He thought this might be a natural talent the donkey possessed. He wasn't comfortable with how pleased the donkey seemed with itself though. There was still a need for a lesson; else the donkey would run wild.

He snorted and suddenly walked over quickly. The donkey wasn't given any time to react before Wang Baole stood before it and held it down firmly. As the donkey's eyes widened, its four hooves kicked, and it brayed ceaselessly, Wang Baole summoned the nine mosquitoes again. They started stinging the donkey.

After a dozen swollen bite marks, Wang Baole finally released his hold on the donkey. He watched as it tried desperately and failed to scratch at its itches, then spoke coolly.

"This is just a lesson to…" Before he could finish what he intended to say, the donkey brayed loudly and dashed towards the doors. Wang Baole stared with wide eyes and open mouth as it munched rapidly and ate the entire door. It seemed dissatisfied after finishing with the door and turned towards the door frame. It took a few bites out of that as well.

As it ate, the dozen swollen bite marks on its body started to disappear…

Wang Baole stared in disbelief as the donkey stood beside the ruined frame of the nonexistent door and stared at Wang Baole smugly. It started braying.

"Son! Son!"

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Chapter 325: I Can't Afford to Feed You Anymore

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole's face darkened when he heard the donkey's braying. The expression it bore made Wang Baole want to punch it in the face. His look grew unfriendly as he started considering whether he should use his most powerful moves to scare the donkey into knowing who's boss.

The donkey could feel a murderous intent exuding from the considering Wang Baole. It stopped braying momentarily and stared at Wang Baole with its innocent eyes. As if sensing that wasn't enough, it turned abruptly and kicked its feet, sprinting into a run and escaped.

"Still trying to run?" Wang Baole got even more furious. He went into pursuit immediately, but the donkey was very quick on its feet. As it ran about, it continued biting into whatever it came across. A tree appeared in front of it, and as the donkey raced past, it bit into the trunk and tore a huge chunk out of it. Its speed increased as it swallowed the chunk of tree it had bitten off.

The sight was soon seen by many teachers and students, and they were all shocked. They watched with wide eyes and gaping mouths as the donkey sprinted throughout the school. Whatever it came across—statues or road curbs, flowerbeds or buildings—it would sink its teeth into.

It even took a few bites of the school's extremely costly gates. A student had taken out a Spirit Stone from his storage bracelet and was about to buy something in school, but as soon as he had pulled out the Spirit Stone, it vanished. The student was dazed. He saw a shadow dash off into the distance…

Chaos spread throughout the school. Wang Baole could no longer control his rage, and his cultivation erupted. His physical strength spiked exponentially as well, his speed surging. The donkey was fast, but its cultivation was still leagues behind Wang Baole's. The furious Wang Baole soon caught up to the donkey and grabbed its long ear.

The donkey had come from the Sea of Beasts, though. It might look adorable but deep in its bones hid a wild, ferocious nature. It was driven to a corner now. Its eyes reddened as its ear was caught, and it turned its head suddenly and tried to sink its teeth into Wang Baole's wrist.

"You dare to bite me?" Wang Baole had been angry earlier, but he had been more frustrated than angry. An icy glint flashed across his eyes as he watched the donkey try to bite him. He kicked suddenly, his foot landing directly on the donkey's crotch.

The donkey let loose a loud, pained scream. It collapsed to the ground, crying. Wang Baole had attacked in fury, but he had still shown restraint. He snorted, grabbed the donkey's ear, and dragged it back to his residence.

The donkey was no longer in pain when they reached Wang Baole's residence. It became meek and laid obediently on the ground. When it looked at Wang Baole, it was with an intent to please.

Wang Baole ceased his punishment when he saw the donkey's obedience. He didn't realize that the donkey would only keep up its good behavior for three days. Three days later, it cheered up and swallowed Wang Baole's newly replaced gates. Then, it charged into the school. It brayed and sank its teeth excitedly into everything it saw.

Despite being caught by Wang Baole and given a beating, the cycle would repeat. After another three to five days, it would perk up and do the same thing again. This drove Wang Baole crazy and terrified the teachers and students of the entire academy. The teachers and students even predicted with confidence.

"The dean's war beast… give it a month… no, two weeks. It'll eat up everything and anything that can be found in the school within that time!"

Wang Baole's forehead started pulsating. He genuinely felt that he wasn't raising a War Beast but trouble… he was genuinely considering whether he should get a monster bracelet. A monster bracelet was different from a storage bracelet, though; it was a luxury item with a costly price tag. Even Wang Baole ached thinking about the cost of it.

Even the students from the Ethereal Dao College's Beast Taming Pavilion reared their War Beasts in the backyard and let them roam free, as few could afford monster bracelets. With the trouble that this donkey was giving him, Wang Baole felt that he shouldn't be spending more money on it.

It had barely been hatched for a month. The amount of food it had inhaled, combined with the various fines and monetary compensation that Wang Baole had to pay, would have been able to pay for the crafting of a fifth-grade Numinous Treasure.

I can't afford it! Wang Baole simmered in his frustrations. He considered slaughtering it, but the donkey was truly a rare beast. He was torn. He sighed and stared at his residence's door and the donkey that kept gnawing on the frame persistently like it had some sort of grudge against the inanimate object. Wang Baole felt a sense of helplessness come over him for the first time in his life.

The truth was—the donkey had the memory of a goldfish. No matter how hard a beating you gave it, it would revert to its original nature a few days later. As Wang Baole felt trapped in a helpless situation, Jin Duoming's transmission arrived like a gift from heaven. His voice rang out from Wang Baole's voice transmission ring.

"Baole, I heard you got your hands on a rare beast? I heard it's really fast and has quite the character. Why not bring it out and let me take a look? If both of us are okay with it, you just say the price, and I'll buy it!"

Wang Baole wasn't surprised at all that Jin Duoming knew about the donkey. News of the donkey had spread throughout the school, what with its frolicking and monkeying around recently. It was to be expected that Jin Duoming had found out about it.

As soon as Jin Duoming raised the idea of buying the donkey, Wang Baole's eyes brightened. He turned and eyed the donkey that was still gnawing on the door frame, and the light in his eyes grew brighter.

I can't believe Jin Duoming is expressing interest in the donkey… great, I'll exchange the donkey for a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament. No, an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament! Wang Baole got excited at the thought. When he looked at the donkey, his eyes were no longer as stern as before. Instead, a gentle look had replaced the stern stare.

His sudden stare seemed to scare the donkey. It froze and momentarily stopped its enthusiastic chewing of the gate. The wooden chunk in its mouth fell out, and it immediately sprawled on the floor and stared at Wang Baole with innocent eyes.

"Don't be afraid, kid." Wang Baole's voice was soft and gentle. He walked over eagerly. His tone of voice only sent the donkey's breathing quickening. It suddenly kicked its four legs and made to escape, but Wang Baole had long grown accustomed to its immense speed. He moved more quickly than the donkey and caught it.

"What are you running for? Come, let's go give you a shower. If we're going to sell you off, we have to make sure you look good for your new owner," Wang Baole said excitedly. He ignored the donkey's persistent kicks and led it to the showers while humming a cheerful tune under his breath. He didn't find it troublesome at all as he scrubbed the trembling donkey's fur. He even cast a spell and blow-dried the donkey.

That wasn't the end of it. After some thought, Wang Baole got his three office assistants to bring some perfume over. Amidst the strange gazes of his female assistants and the horrified look in the donkey's eyes, Wang Baole sprayed the donkey with a mist of perfume. He pulled out a length of rope with great satisfaction and tied it around the donkey's neck. Then, he led it outside.

"Son!" The donkey kept crying on the way, the fear in its eyes intensifying.

"Don't worry. We aren't sending you off to the butcher!" Wang Baole turned back and smiled widely at the donkey. He patted the donkey on its head. The gentle look in his eyes terrified the donkey, causing it to bray even more loudly.

"Son! Son! Son!" It kept crying. Its bum fell onto the ground firmly, and it refused to move a single inch. It even bared its teeth, as if weighing the consequences of biting clean through the rope and eating it.

"If you dare to break the rope and run off, I'm going to turn you into the first eunuch donkey!" Wang Baole said coolly. His casually said words sent a shiver through the donkey's body. It climbed to its feet hurriedly, then stared at Wang Baole with sorrow and protest in its eyes.

Wang Baole had long realized that the donkey understood what he was saying, but it was too unruly and forgetful. He thought an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament a fair exchange for the beast.

His anticipation intensified at that thought. He led the donkey and raced towards Jin Duoming's residence. They had agreed to meet at Jin Duoming's Martian residence instead of the Fire Spirit Academy, though it was also located in Zone Twelve.

Wang Baole soon arrived with his donkey. As soon as he reached the place, he saw a single three-story pavilion before him. He knew he had reached prime Martian estate. The land area the three-story pavilion took was so vast it could be used to build a hotel instead.

Rich folks! Excitement roared inside Wang Baole. When he reached the gates, he immediately sent a transmission to Jin Duoming. The doors soon opened, and three beautiful female servants with rather shapely figures welcomed Wang Baole. They escorted him personally into a room, then left.

Wang Baole grabbed onto the rope collaring the donkey and stood in the first-floor living area of the residence. Both his and the donkey's breathing sped up. They stared in shock at their surrounding… the extravagance and lavishness of the living room had reached unimaginable heights.

Long, circular shelves crafted out of Spirit Wood surround them. On the shelves were numerous pills, and any one of them would cost a fortune. They were protected in clear pill bottles, and a spotlight shone on each bottle, which exuded a fragrant herbal scent. Countless Numinous Treasures even hung on the walls as decorative items.

The sofa, tables, and chairs, as well as other furniture, were all built out of Spirit Stones. Even the few items crafted out of wood seemed like rare treasures that surely cost a fortune.

The curtains were spun from Spirit Thread and the lights made from polished Spirit Stones, and they gave off a soothing, soft light. To top it off, strong Spirit Qi permeated the room.

Wang Baole was stunned, as was the donkey. Wang Baole stared unblinkingly at the Numinous Treasures and pills while the donkey stared at the sofa and furniture. It lowered its head and sniffed discreetly at them without Wang Baole's notice. Its eyes started shining brightly, and it couldn't help licking its lips. Then, it considered Wang Baole's strange behavior today and decided not to risk it. It controlled its urges to nibble at the furniture.

Before long, just as the donkey could no longer keep its urges under control, laughter drifted from the second floor. Jin Duoming appeared at the top of the stairs and started walking down the steps.

"Brother Baole, welcome to my humble abode. It's a little spartan. I've only arrived on Mars, after all. I hope you won't find it too much of an embarrassment."

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Chapter 326: The Power of Knowledge

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole cleared his throat, and with his arms behind his back, he glanced at the surroundings. He wanted to say something, but after noticing that the donkey had made the feet of the furniture wet through licking, leaving a puddle of its saliva on the floor, a feeling of expecting better from someone arose in his heart.

As Jin Duoming was descending from the second floor, Wang Baole kicked the donkey while Jin Duoming wasn't paying attention. He then raised his head to look at Jin Duoming, smiling while nodding.

"Yeah, it's a little shabby indeed," Wang Baole said approvingly. The donkey he just kicked immediately straightened its ears, looking innocently at Wang Baole. Its eyes uncontrollably drifted towards the table at the side.

Noticing the donkey's behavior, Wang Baole was speechless as he thought about how stupid it was. It would definitely be an embarrassment to him if he were to bring the donkey out in public in the future. However, after considering that Jin Duoming had thoughts of purchasing it, Wang Baole was relieved. When he turned to look at Jin Duoming, his smile became even more exuberant.

Right now, Jin Duoming was approaching. Hearing Wang Baole's words, he raised his eyebrows. He was being courteous previously. In reality, he had put great thought and effort into everything in this mansion. The cost of designing it was astonishing, and that was especially so for the sofa, which was his favorite.

He was extremely annoyed, but based on his understanding of Wang Baole, he knew that Wang Baole was someone who he couldn't speak sense with. However, he still wanted to educate Wang Baole, and therefore pointed to the sofa with a smile.

"Indeed, they're nothing impressive. However, this sofa should narrowly make the cut. It is made from the skin of a Core Formation Beast King and nourished by the Spirit blood of Core Formation cultivators for many years. It's interior is not made of wood but the Beast King's bones. Therefore, this sofa can be considered the embodiment of the Beast King. Cultivating while sitting on it gets the job done with half the effort!"

After giving a simple description of it, Jin Duoming smiled when he noticed Wang Baole gasping. He stopped talking about his house. Instead, his gaze fell on the donkey beside Wang Baole.

With just a look at it, Jin Duoming's eyes lit up. The donkey really did appear pretty good, especially after Wang Baole had neatened it up, as if trying to package it. Its black fur glistened, and its straight, upright ears made it look vulnerable, while its wide eyes revealed a look of innocence and curiosity towards the world. That made the donkey doubly attractive.

Therefore, with just a single look at it, Jin Duoming concluded that the little donkey was definitely an extraordinary creature. Feelings of affection grew in his heart, such that he frowned and looked towards Wang Baole when he noticed that the confused-looking donkey was being tied by a thick rope.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, why did you tie this creature up? Quickly loosen it since you're already here. This creature seems to harbor some spirituality and looks to be relatively young. If you don't treat it nicely, it might view humans as enemies. Furthermore, creatures at this age like to mimic their owners. It seems like you're not a suitable owner for this creature." Jin Duoming was a little unhappy. After all, to him, it was obvious that Wang Baole was mistreating the donkey.

Hearing those words, Wang Baole immediately began to feel some anger sprouting within him. However, after reminding himself that Jin Duoming was a tycoon, he felt that it was unnecessary to hold grudges with a rich tycoon whom he was going to do business with. In keeping with his principles as a responsible seller, he gave Jin Duoming a reminder.

"Let me say this first. This donkey is a glutton. If it eats anything here after I release it, it's not my concern!" Wang Baole felt that he should make things clear beforehand. Otherwise, if Jin Duoming demanded him to pay for any losses, he wouldn't be able to afford it.

Upon hearing Wang Baole's words, Jin Duoming laughed. He spoke calmly, with a tinge of arrogance in his eyes.

"It's just some food, isn't it? I, Jin Duoming, don't have much, but I have loads of pills and food! If it wants to eat it, let it be. Charge it all to me. Besides, I've decided that I want this creature!"

"Let's negotiate the price later on. Don't worry, I, Jin Duoming, would never retract my words when I say that I want to buy something. As for the price… You'll definitely be satisfied with it." As Jin Duoming spoke, his eyes stayed on the donkey. The more he looked at it, the fonder he was of it.

Wang Baole felt relieved after hearing what Jin Duoming said. He quickly removed the ropes tied around the donkey and spoke delightedly after patting its head several times.

"Alright, this is your new home from now on."

The donkey, which was loosened from the ropes, seemed a little afraid. It looked at Wang Baole, then at Jin Duoming, moving backwards a few steps with a look of fear on its face. As Jin Duoming watched its reaction, he felt a pain in his heart before looking at Wang Baole unhappily.

Wang Baole cleared his throat and was about to discuss the selling price for the donkey with Jin Duoming when the donkey's eyes suddenly lit up upon realizing what was happening. It suddenly grew bold, its eyes shining bright as it retreated and approached a pill placed on an ancient shelf. It opened its mouth, instantly breaking apart the protective covering of the pill with its teeth, before swallowing it whole, together with the pill bottle.

Seeing what was happening, Wang Baole had wanted to scold the donkey sternly, but even before he uttered a word, Jin Duoming, who was standing at the side, began to praise the little donkey.

"How impressive is this little creature! It moves so quickly, and disregards the protective covering! Go on, eat whatever you like here!" Jin Duoming behaved as if he had just found a treasure. He switched off all the protective covering of the ancient shelf, exposing all the pill bottles. The donkey seemed to be in disbelief as it looked at the pills, and then at Jin Duoming, hyperventilating. In its memory since birth, it was beaten every single time it ate something. However, this was the only exception where it could let loose and eat whatever it desired.

This made the donkey extremely agitated. It dashed towards the shelf. With a loud crunch, it swallowed yet another pill bottle. Wang Baole decided to kindly remind Jin Duoming when he saw what was happening.

"It can really eat…"

As Jin Duoming listened, he slanted his head and looked at Wang Baole, smiling arrogantly.

"So, let it eat then!"

Listening to the words coming out of this tycoon's mouth, Wang Baole felt breathless. For some unknown reason, when he looked at the donkey munching on the pill bottles, he grew anxious.

With Jin Duoming's encouragement, and upon realizing that for the first time, Wang Baole wasn't trying to control it, the donkey grew extremely exhilarated. It screamed in joy, its squeals reverberating in all directions. In its delight, it picked up speed and began sweeping through the first floor of Jin Duoming's mansion.

It swallowed all the pill bottles. The donkey didn't pass up the Dharmic treasures hung on the wall either. After finding the taste acceptable after a few mouthfuls, it swallowed a few pieces of Dharmic treasures.

Even though the items didn't belong to him, Wang Baole grew increasingly mortified as he looked on. He hurriedly spoke.

"Jin Duoming, we have an agreement. You wanted this donkey, so don't you regret it later on."

Jin Duoming, who was pleasantly surprised as he looked at the donkey tearing apart a fourth-grade Numinous Treasure with its teeth and eating it, simply waved it off.

"Relax, will you? I'll give you a Dharmic Armament in exchange for the donkey!"

Wang Baole felt relieved hearing Jin Duoming's words. He thought silently in his heart that he had struck gold with this deal. At the same time, Jin Duoming, who had his back facing Wang Baole, also carried a look of delight in his eyes as he thought about how worth it the deal was for himself.

Wang Baole has always been sharp. However, he still made a loss this time. This shows the power of knowledge!

In reality, he had heard about how the donkey ate everything in its sight while it was in Dao Mountain Mist Academy. However, he didn't consider that an issue, as he thought it was nothing out of the ordinary. That was because according to the news attained by Trilunaris Corporation, young ferocious beasts, especially those who were just born, would be undergoing their first cultivation spurt!

He was clear that young beasts at this critical stage would need large amounts of nutrients and Spirit Qi. The more they took in, the higher the level of cultivation they could reach during this first spurt!

However, there was a limit as well. Once the beast was satiated, it wouldn't continue eating.

With that thought, Jin Duoming's smile grew even wider. The donkey was like a tornado, eating all the pills on the ancient shelf, and even began licking the furniture as if it was famished. Jin Duoming waved his hand, and the wall on his right receded into the ground, revealing a large storage room, where bottles of pills and pieces of Numinous Treasures were present in piles.

Wang Baole's jaw dropped. The donkey shrilled in happiness and immediately dashed into the storage room, eating like there was no tomorrow. Jin Duoming spoke arrogantly with his hands behind his back.

"There are more here. Actually, I also want to know how much this donkey can eat."

Looking at the donkey screaming in delight as it ravaged the space, Wang Baole blinked several times. He had a gut feeling that something bad would happen and cleared his throat.

"Brother Jin, let's not bother about the donkey. How about we negotiate the price for it?"

Jin Duoming laughed when he heard those words. He looked at the donkey with satisfaction and fondness, before heading up to the second floor with Wang Baole. They sat there, discussing the price. Wang Baole symbolically negotiated the price, but eventually set it as a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament, together with some cultivation materials.

Both parties were satisfied and were about to seal the deal when suddenly, a loud boom emerged from the first floor. At the same time, a few guards and female servants rushed in, exclaiming in disbelief.

"Heavens!"

"What happened here?"

"Was there a burglar?"

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Chapter 327: I'm Going Back On My Word, and I Don't Want It Anymore

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The loud bang and commotion downstairs caused Wang Baole's heart to beat furiously. He stood up immediately, and even before he could rush Jin Duoming into completing the transaction, Jin Duoming had already charged towards the first floor, bewildered.

"This is the end…" Wang Baole slapped his forehead and let out a long sigh as he hurriedly followed after Jin Duoming. Thoughts of how to salvage the situation darted about in his mind, but when they arrived on the first floor, Wang Baole took a very deep breath and realized that any form of compensation would be useless.

The entire first floor was entirely different from how they had left it. The storage room was completely empty. Not only were the pills and Numinous Treasures gone, but even the racks had vanished. There was also a long, wide trench in the ground where the wall had previously descended. Right now, there was no more wall in that place, seemingly having been dug out forcefully.

At the same time, the other walls that stood around seemed to have collapsed. The other storage rooms that were revealed had been ravaged and were completely empty.

It wouldn't be much of an issue if that was it. However, in the great hall on the first floor, the Numinous Treasures hanging on the walls had disappeared. The curtain weaved using the Spirit thread was gone, and there was only half of the lamp made from Spirit Stones remaining, with obvious signs that it had been chewed off.

The furniture was also scattered and broken into innumerable pieces. The ancient shelves didn't escape the catastrophe either and had all collapsed onto the floor in pieces. The carpet, as well as some parts of the floor, were also damaged, with uncountable teeth marks on them. The only part of the entire first floor that seemed intact now was Jin Duoming's favorite sofa.

Witnessing everything before his eyes, Wang Baole felt a headache pounding in his head. He looked at Jin Duoming. Jin Duoming was dumbfounded, incredulous at whatever had happened. A look of bewilderment appeared in his eyes for the very first time, but after he vaguely noticed that his precious sofa was still intact, he took a deep breath and forcefully revealed a smile.

"Thank goodness…"

However, even before he could complete his sentence, the leather of the sofa sank, as if something was chewing it from the inside. Piercing sounds of something tearing were heard, and instantly, a hole appeared, and the donkey's head emerging from inside. It disregarded Wang Baole, and after noticing Jin Duoming, it screamed in delight.

"Son! Son!"

Those screams were extremely loud and energetic. At the same time, the donkey had achieved a breakthrough in its cultivation, advancing to the second level of the True Breath realm from the first level. Its fur glowed, and it looked even more impressive.

Jin Duoming was thrown into a blur once again. His body trembled, his breathing quickened visibly, and his eyes widened. Wang Baole looked at Jin Duoming, taking a deep breath before he tried to persuade him.

"Brother Jin, don't be rash. Didn't you say just now? It's just eating some food…"

"Grab hold of it!" Even before Wang Baole could complete his sentence, Jin Duoming had already jumped up in rage, screaming angrily. The guards and servants around Jin Duoming immediately charged towards the donkey.

The donkey that had clearly been frightened turned and hurriedly buried itself into the sofa. Cracking sounds instantly reverberated like never before. Jin Duoming was extremely shocked, and as he personally rushed towards the donkey, a loud boom was heard. The structure of the sofa instantly broke down. By then, the donkey had already escaped.

Its speed was fast to begin with, and now that it achieved a breakthrough in its cultivation, it was even faster. It also seemed to have misinterpreted the situation as others snatching its food. Therefore, as it escaped, it hurriedly ran away while eating everything it saw along the way.

The furniture that was strewn around was also chewed on, half the lamp was also eaten, and even the sofa was bitten by it again. That wasn't all. After advancing to the second level of the True Breath realm, it seemed to be equipped with an extraordinary ability. With a swift turn, it managed to avoid Jin Duoming and company as it dashed towards the second level.

Seeing that the donkey had gone up to the second floor, Jin Duoming turned even more frustrated and anxious, dashing out as he screamed. Wang Baole helplessly looked at the crowd of people chasing after the donkey to the second floor.

Before long, the sounds of items falling to the ground and breaking apart emerged from the second floor, coupled with occasional screams by the donkey.

"Son! Son!"

Witnessing what was happening, Wang Baole slapped his forehead in frustration. He knew that it was very likely that the transaction would be called off, and that wasn't far from the truth. Even though the donkey moved quickly, it still paled in comparison to the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators that were after him, and they eventually caught it.

Therefore, a few minutes later, at the main gate to Jin Duoming's mansion—more specifically, the broken and chewed main gate—Wang Baole and the donkey were being thrown out under the watchful eyes of the guards.

Every guard looked hostile, their eyes filled with vigilance as they looked at the donkey. Wang Baole grew extremely frustrated at the situation, and after glancing at the guards standing near the broken main gate of the mansion, he looked awkwardly at Jin Duoming and exclaimed loudly.

"Brother Jin, even though this donkey is unruly, it is a precious creature. Why don't you reconsider, since you've firmly said that you wanted it just now?" Wang Baole was indignant.

Listening to Wang Baole's words, Jin Duoming's face cringed. He felt that he must have been crazy or possessed by evil spirits just now to have gained an interest in the donkey. Even though the donkey's teeth were impressive, its appetite was shocking, which made its abilities to wreak havoc even more astonishing.

The total value of the sofa, ancient shelves, pills, and Numinous Treasures was equal to that of two seventh-grade Dharmic Armaments. After all, the sofa was one of the few left in the entire Federation and was extremely expensive. It was imported from Earth, and after being swallowed by the little donkey, it only allowed it to advance from the first to the second level of True Breath stage.

It must be kept in mind that the donkey was still having its growth spurt. Therefore, it wasn't difficult to imagine that the donkey was a creature of inferior caliber. Jin Duoming thought that even if an ordinary pig from earth were to consume all those resources, it would probably have reached the third or fourth level of True Breath realm already.

With that thought, Jin Duoming made an announcement, with his face as black as charcoal.

"I'm going back on my word, and I don't want it anymore!"

"Didn't you say that you, Jin Duoming, would never regret your words? How about this? I don't want those resources anymore. All I want is a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament!" Wang Baole was indignant, and he tried to bargain.

Seeing that Wang Baole didn't relent, Jin Duoming was troubled. If it were someone else, he could still try to be unreasonable. However, he understood Wang Baole's bad temper very well, and now, he let out a long sigh as he tried convincing Wang Baole.

"Brother Baole, there is no grudge between us. I really don't want it anymore, and I was wrong. If I were to buy this donkey, it would eat me poor…"

Wang Baole could relate. He sighed and tried to say something.

"Why don't I leave the donkey with you first. You can give me a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament in the future."

"Sir Baole, please don't joke about this. Leave quickly, please. Even if you were to give it to me for free, I don't want it… How about I give you some pills…?" Jin Duoming hurriedly spoke, before gritting his teeth and tossing out a storage bag. There were no Dharmic Armaments, but there were at least some cultivation materials.

After grabbing hold of the storage bag, Wang Baole saw Jin Duoming disappearing at lightning speed before his eyes, and the guards stood at attention as if they were enemies. He sighed and tilted his head to look at the donkey, who now had its ears perked up, growling softly as it looked back at Wang Baole, acting as if it had wrongly suffered.

"Son!"

"To hell with your screams!" Wang Baole slapped it hard, but the donkey seemed to not feel a tinge of pain. Instead, its eyes lit up, as if it thought that Wang Baole was having a conversation with it. With its ears straight up it delightfully pounced several times before screaming again.

"Son! Son!"

Wang Baole was speechless, slapping his forehead as his heart was filled with a wave of helplessness and frustration. He kicked the donkey before sighing and leaving for the academy.

The donkey grew even more excited, and it darted around Wang Baole while following him. When it saw flowers or the curb of the road, it took bite after bite… Before long, the shocked Wang Baole hurriedly took out his cruiser and tossed the donkey into it before charging back to the academy.

What awaited the donkey was a heavy beating upon their return…

However, after being obedient for a few days, the donkey grew uncontrollable again. Eventually, the furious Wang Baole looked at the donkey who was happily chewing on the door frame and stared angrily at it.

It seems like I have to use my trump card. If I don't completely subdue this donkey, it will be the end for me!

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Chapter 328: Shut Up!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

During this period of time, the donkey's disobedience had caused severe losses for Wang Baole. In terms of fines alone, he had already paid a hefty amount. Even though he was the Dean of Dao Mountain Mist Academy, he couldn't possibly ignore the items that had been eaten by the donkey, despite it being his school. Therefore, he could only spend the money and try to restore them.

The food from Jin Duoming had somewhat helped to make up for the donkey's nourishment, but the donkey was a bottomless pit by nature. Until now, it was still eating non-stop every day, and that made Wang Baole feel that what he was rearing was not a donkey, but a pig.

He had pondered many times whether it was better just to slaughter it. However, he had some feelings for it… After all, the amount that the donkey had eaten at Jin Duoming's place was almost worth as much as an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament.

If he were to slaughter it, it would be a real forfeit of his investment. Therefore, Wang Baole gritted his teeth as he prepared to give the donkey a lesson to remember.

Your skin and flesh are so thick and rough, and you don't even remember being beaten. Even having the mosquitoes bite you is useless, huh? Wang Baole stared at the donkey, who was chewing on the door frame. He clenched his teeth and released… the gray mosquito!

This was his trump card, as the gray mosquito could even bite Foundation Establishment realm cultivators to death. It was extremely poisonous, but as he was concerned about poisoning the donkey to death, Wang Baole controlled the gray mosquito as well as its venom; it flew right towards the donkey.

The gray mosquito moved so quickly that it instantly neared the donkey. However, as the donkey curiously raised its head, it swallowed the gray mosquito whole instantly. Seemingly dissatisfied with the meager amount of food, it grudgingly looked at Wang Baole.

Very quickly, however, as Wang Baole sneered, the donkey's eyes widened suddenly. As it screamed, its body began trembling as an itch that originated from within its body that was on the scale of the universe suddenly erupted.

Immediately, the gloating donkey began screaming painfully. It chomped down on the door frame which it didn't bear to consume in a single mouthful previously, before chewing off a chunk of the wall. However, it soon realized that all these were useless as it still felt extremely itchy. That made the donkey anxious, and it began to maniacally chow down on the walls of Wang Baole's residence.

If this happened on an ordinary day, Wang Baole would have tried to stop the donkey. Today, however, he was determined to let the donkey know that no matter how much it could eat, it was still no match for his gray mosquito.

Therefore, Wang Baole stood there arrogantly, risking the consequence of having his entire residence eaten by the little donkey as he listened to it munching on everything in sight while screaming painfully. Just like that, time flew by. After five minutes, when Wang Baole stepped out of his residence, the walls immediately collapsed. The donkey that was inside screaming in pain, but continued eating while screaming.

It was unimaginable how an entire residence could fit into the donkey's stomach. After an hour, Wang Baole still arrogantly looked on as his residence, which was originally built on the ground, vanished. This included even small pieces of material from it. The donkey, on the other hand, was still struggling, to the extent that it began chomping on the grass patches…

"Do you concede or not?" Seeing that it was about time, Wang Baole spoke calmly.

When the donkey, who was crazily eating the grass patches, heard Wang Baole's words, it turned, wanting to ask for forgiveness. However, its eyes suddenly shifted as it looked down at its own body. Its eyes instantly lit up, and it delightedly turned its head. At that moment, he achieved a breakthrough, advancing to the third level of the True Breath realm.

Wang Baole widened his eyes in utter disbelief. Even more surprising and unbelievable was the fact that the donkey had actually managed to recover! Wang Baole was breathless, frozen in shock as the connection between him and the gray mosquito vanished!

Even though the gray mosquito was swallowed whole by the donkey previously, it didn't suffer any harm. Instead, it stayed inside the donkey's stomach, where Wang Baole could distinctively sense and control it. That was the reason why the donkey couldn't eliminate the itch no matter how much it ate.

However, the very instant the donkey's cultivation had advanced, the gray mosquito seemed to have melted into the donkey's body for some unknown reason. Wang Baole was very sure that it didn't disappear but was instead melted. He wasn't clear whether that was due to the little donkey or the gray mosquito itself, but the fact was that the mosquito had melted…

Furthermore, after it melted, it seemed to have integrated together with the donkey's flesh and blood…

This feeling was to an extent similar to the gray mosquito assimilating together with the little donkey!

That alone made Wang Baole extremely incredulous and confused. In his shock, he hurriedly checked on his scabbard, but quickly grew suspicious when he realized that within the scabbard, there were signs that a gray mosquito was about to emerge.

However, based on his control of the scabbard, he could feel very distinctly that this gray mosquito that required some time to emerge had a different vibe than the previous one, even though it looked the same!

It seemed as if the previous gray mosquito had really melted, and the new one that appeared was a different mosquito. Furthermore, it was clear that in order for this second gray mosquito to be produced, his scabbard had to lose some of its brilliance, as if a large amount of energy was needed.

In his bewilderment, Wang Baole hurriedly inquired about it with Little Missy. However, towards this matter, Little Missy was also confused as she looked perplexedly at Wang Baole for a long time. Eventually, she told Wang Baole that his scabbard was an Intrinsic Dharmic Artifact that was filled with unpredictability, the details of which even she wasn't aware of.

After leaving Little Missy, Wang Baole stared at the donkey for a long time, before grabbing hold of it, with no regard for its struggles. He activated his cultivation to take a detailed look at both the interior and exterior of the donkey and found that there was indeed no gray mosquito in sight.

However, in the process, Wang Baole noticed that the donkey's internal organs seemed to have been mutated, turning gray in color. That didn't seem to affect the donkey at all, and instead, made it even more lively.

That wasn't what shocked Wang Baole the most. What was most shocking was that Wang Baole seemed to have established a spiritual connection with the donkey…

That alone made Wang Baole confused. Previously, even though the donkey was always following him around, it was a living creature and not a Dharmic treasure, and was therefore unable to establish a connection with Wang Baole and recognize him as its owner.

Having a ferocious beast recognize its owner was a mystery even amongst the Beast Taming experts in the Federation. Not only was it difficult, but there was also a limit to the number of times it could happen.

Could it be that the purpose of the gray mosquito was to be assimilated, such that, to a certain extent, it allows the little donkey to recognize its owner? Wang Baole was severely taken aback, and he immediately tried to see whether he could control the donkey.

"Donkey, squat down!" Wang Baole released the donkey and commanded. The donkey suddenly stood up, and it charged towards where the door frame was previously, before stopping and looking at Wang Baole arrogantly while screaming.

Wang Baole looked awkward as he commanded the donkey again. However, he soon realized that the donkey wouldn't yield to him no matter how he commanded it. That made him helpless and frustrated, as he felt that the extent of assimilation between the gray mosquito and the donkey wasn't so great.

The donkey, noticing that Wang Baole was at his wits end as to what to do with it, energetically raised its head. It was no longer carrying a look of delight in its eyes, as that was replaced by arrogance. Even its screams grew louder than before.

"Son! Son! Son!"

Wang Baole grabbed his hair in frustration. He indeed felt helpless towards the donkey. He had tried beating it, biting it, and even made use of the gray mosquito. Unless he killed it, he wouldn't be able to teach the donkey an unforgettable, painful lesson.

In his helplessness, the donkey continued prancing around, screaming merrily. That made Wang Baole extremely frustrated, and he lowered his head and screamed angrily.

"Shut up!"

"So…"

The instant Wang Baole's angry voice emerged, the donkey, who was opening its mouth and screaming happily, suddenly lost its voice. Its big mouth was immediately clamped shut, and that made it surprised. Wang Baole also felt that something was amiss, and he immediately turned to look, locking eyes with the donkey.

Gradually, silence filled the surroundings. Wang Baole and the donkey constricted their pupils at the same time, one filled with surprise and the other filled with shock.

After a moment, the donkey grew visibly anxious as it tried to force its own mouth open. However, it realized that it was useless as the mouth didn't seem to belong to it anymore. That frightened the donkey, to an extent greater than when Wang Baole had harshly kicked it in the crotch previously.

On the other hand, Wang Baole's breathing also quickened as thoughts darted around his head, and his eyes lit up in surprise.

Could it be that major commands wouldn't be conveyed due to some reason, but small commands like having it shut up could go through? With that thought, Wang Baole decided to try it out immediately.

"Open your mouth!"

"Son! Son!"

"Shut up!"

"So…"

After trying it out several times, Wang Baole was immensely shocked, and he looked at the frightened donkey and laughed heartily. He was delighted, and he felt that the world had instantly turned into a better place.

"Donkey, I've let you gloat all this while. Shut up for ten days. The next time you're disobedient, you'll have to shut your trap for three months!"

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Chapter 329: Dark Fire

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The donkey was frightened, trembling vigorously. Its gleeful look had long vanished, and now, it hurriedly ran towards Wang Baole, revealing an innocent expression on its face as it rubbed its head on Wang Baole's legs. Finally, when it realized that it was useless, it decided to work to Wang Baole's favor.

Previously, before Wang Baole had established a connection with the donkey, he could only vaguely interpret its facial expressions. Now that a connection had formed, it became even more obvious to him. Now, Wang Baole simply sneered.

"No room for negotiation! Scram! Right, I'll call you 'Scram' from now on! How's that? If you disagree, call out twice." Wang Baole coughed, looking askance at the little donkey.

The donkey seemed to have realized that the name Wang Baole gave it didn't carry a good connotation and began to grow anxious. It wanted to call out, but it was impossible with its mouth being clamped shut.

"Seems like you like this name very much. Since you have agreed to it, then your name shall be 'Scram' in the future!" Wang Baole delightedly patted his stomach and took out a bag of snacks right in front of the donkey, whose eyes widened as it watched Wang Baole slowly opening it and eating it in small mouthfuls.

The donkey was about to go crazy as it stared without blinking at the snacks in Wang Baole's hands. It was on the brink of breaking down, but no matter how it tried, its mouth remained shut.

Just like that, it stared stubbornly at Wang Baole for the whole duration as he ate his snacks. In the end, the donkey seemed to have lost all will to live, and it laid on the ground, dazedly looking at the empty bag that was placed in front of it.

Noticing that, Wang Baole's heart softened. However, when he recalled that the donkey always put on that very same expression after he had beaten it up before forgetting everything about the beating and continuing to have fun by itself, Wang Baole disregarded it coldly. He didn't bother with it and instead decided to begin cultivating now that there was finally peace.

Time flew by, and three days passed. In the three days, the students and teachers of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy were all confused, as the donkey that they were used to seeing seemed to have undergone a change in personality. It no longer called out, no longer pranced around, and no longer ate anything and everything in sight.

"There's something wrong with the donkey!"

"That's right, it passed by me just now while I was holding a Spirit Stone in my hand. However, it didn't even take a look at it…"

"There doesn't seem to be signs of the vegetation and buildings in the college being chewed on these few days…"

As more and more people realized that something was amiss, they quickly noticed that the donkey often laid on the bridge over the river of the academy and looked at the river water flowing, carrying a look of sadness in its eyes. Rumors began to spread continuously.

Some kind-hearted female students felt that the donkey looked pitiful. They brought some food to it, but when they placed the food in front of the donkey, it took a look at the food, smelled it, and actually cried!

It cried very pitifully as it kept smelling it but not eating it.

"Go on, eat it." One of the girls spoke softly. However, no matter how they tried to persuade it, the donkey didn't take a single bite. Eventually, it felt so sad that it kicked the food away, and then turned and charged towards Wang Baole's residence.

Right now, Wang Baole was in seclusion. Before he went into seclusion, he had specially approached the donkey to tell it that if it dared to disturb him during the period of seclusion, then the number of days which it had to keep its mouth shut would increase by ten.

Therefore, the donkey could only lay on the ground after returning to the residence. It looked at the sky pitifully, a look of hopelessness apparent in its eyes. It had lost a lot of weight. From time to time, it turned to look at the location where Wang Baole was in seclusion, seemingly waiting for Wang Baole to emerge, and for the day he would be freed from the restrictions.

As the donkey stayed obedient, Wang Baole, who was in the secret chamber, had also completed the cultivation for the second level of the Lightning Dao: First Volume. As his cultivation advanced, the Heavenly Thunder in his legs grew more powerful. With the devouring seed continuously absorbing Spirit Qi, the green lotus also grew stronger. The most obvious transformation was in Wang Baole's physique, as it seemed to have strengthened visibly from previously.

Sensing the strength emerging from his body, Wang Baole seemed to feel that without even activating his cultivation, he could kill a ferocious beast with just his fist!

However, he was still unsatisfied and somewhat troubled… In Wang Baole's mind, he felt that he had still not been able to successfully cultivate the Dark Art. That made him depressed, and doubts about his natural qualities arose in his head.

Little Missy said that she only spent a month to successfully cultivate the Dark Art. I have spent almost a year… Wang Baole felt a headache every time he thought of the Dark Art. He knew all that was possible about it and was extremely fluent in the chants that were involved. However, no matter how familiar he was with those, he was still unable to sense the so-called Negative Spirit Body.

That was especially so as every time he tried to forcefully train in the technique, extreme soreness and pain that he was unable to withstand emerged continuously both from within and outside his body.

It wouldn't be an issue having to withstand the hardship if he could successfully train in it. However, after toiling for the past year, there were still no results, and the thought of giving up arose in Wang Baole's mind.

Forget it. It's just one year. How can I give up? I'll persevere for one more month! Wang Baole took a deep breath. He felt that he was a determined individual, and this could be seen from the last time he was in a tempting circumstances filled with lust—when he was alone with Li Wan'er in the underground cave but still emerged as a virgin.

With that thought, Wang Baole took a deep breath, and he began to try to cultivate the Dark Art again!

The so-called Dark Art involved absorbing the Negative Spirit Body in the Spirit Qi. This method of cultivation didn't exist in the entire Federation. Even in the world of the woman in the mask, it was considered a forbidden technique.

On one hand, it was unbelievably powerful and couldn't be predicted. Even after one had successfully trained in it, if one were unable to control the greed in their hearts, an unimaginable catastrophe would result.

At the same time, there was another reason… This technique was difficult to train in, and the cultivation techniques that followed were even more difficult. It seemed like some sort of fate was needed. Till now, there were only a handful of people who had successfully mastered the Dark Art, even in the world of the ancient greenish-bronze sword, where it had been passed down since ancient times.

The handful of people who managed to cultivate in the Dark Art were mostly still in the foundation stage. The advanced Dark Arts that followed were either lost in transmission or simply incomplete such that it was challenging to succeed in practicing it no matter how much effort was put in.

It could be said that no one knew how many stages there were to the Dark Art. However, it was known that there were at least seven stages, and there was no one left who had managed to train to the fifth level, and it was needless to say for the sixth and seventh level.

Wang Baole wasn't aware of all that. He only knew that Little Missy had managed to successfully cultivate it in a month, yet he hadn't succeeded even after a year. That made him frustrated. He took a deep breath, and he went according to the requirements of the Dark Art to begin absorbing and compressing the surrounding Spirit Qi.

According to the records of the Dark Art, if one were to absorb the Negative Spirit Body, they would need to first compress the Spirit Qi, transforming it into a somewhat solid state. That was because the Negative Spirit Body could only be revealed after these two transformations had taken place. Furthermore, the Negative Spirit Body in the Spirit Qi couldn't be taken in through one's mouth or nose, only through the pores on one's skin.

However, to someone who was unable to sense the Negative Spirit Body, cultivation felt like having countless needles pierce into the cultivator's body, as the compressed Spirit Qi, a hybrid of gas and solid, continuously entered through one's sweat pores.

Right now, Wang Baole had made preparations. After compressing the Spirit Qi around him, he gritted his teeth, preparing to withstand the pain. All his sweat pores opened wide, absorbing the almost solid Spirit Qi while his body suddenly shook. He opened his shut eyes.

It's different! Wang Baole's breathing quickened, and he looked at his own body. He was initially confused, before being thrown into disbelief and finally euphoria.

He could clearly feel that it was no longer painful. Not only that, he could feel that, as the absorption took place through his sweat pores, there seemed to be a cold sensation that was completely different from the Spirit Qi continuously entering his body through the sweat pores.

This cold feeling made his body tremble, and he no longer felt pain. Instead, it was a chill that made his breath fog up. There was no tinge of discomfort but a sense of indescribable lightness that to a certain extent, was several times more comfortable that his cultivation in the Lightning Dao that took place on usual days.

That made Wang Baole agitated. He recalled the feeling described in the Dark Art, and that made him extremely excited. He activated his devouring seed, increasing the absorption force of all his sweat pores. Instantly, a large amount of chill rushed into his body through his sweat pores.

According to the description of the Dark Art, this cold feeling belongs to the Negative Spirit Body. The way to verify it was simple, if it could form the Dark Fire, it would be the Negative Spirit Body! Wang Baole took a deep breath. Right now, he had forgotten about everything else, as all his attention was on cultivation. According to the descriptions of the Dark Art, he tried to concentrate the cold feeling in his body.

An unknown amount of time later, when the cold feeling in his body had become saturated such that no more could be absorbed, Wang Baole trembled, and he began the last step of the cultivation process for the Dark Art!

He would form the Dark Fire using the flame of life to light up the chill!

Instantly, his face turned green as his body temperature plummeted. Frost even appeared on his eyebrows and hair. At this moment, the surrounding temperature also plunged rapidly, and signs of rotting appeared throughout the secret chamber!

Very vaguely, sounds of people crying and sobbing that was inaudible to outsiders began to reverberate in Wang Baole's ears, as if demon gods had gathered.

Wang Baole was unaware of all of it, and outsiders couldn't sense it either. Only the listless donkey lying outside Wang Baole's secret chamber could feel it. With a swift action, it stood up, a look of vigilance appearing in its eyes as it looked towards the secret chamber, somewhat confused.

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Chapter 330: Emotional Fatigue

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

While the donkey was feeling confused, Wang Baole's secret chamber rotted at an increasing speed. At the same time, the cries and howling that seemed to stem from the gathering of supreme beings grew even louder. It appeared as if in the darkness of the situation, a force had arrived, disrupting Wang Baole's cultivation. However, it was too far away to make a significant impact.

In this manner, time passed slowly, and two weeks came and went!

In these two weeks, Wang Baole sat motionlessly with his legs crossed. His body had already stiffened, and his breathing had disappeared. His entire body was covered in frost, and he was like a corpse, such that he wasn't able to feel anything, even the fire of life.

During one late night after the two weeks had gone by, Wang Baole, who was sitting with his legs crossed suddenly jerked, his eyes opening slowly. The instant he opened his eyes, the frost on his body rapidly disappeared, and the decay in the surroundings vanished. Everything returned to what it was before, and the cries and howling stopped immediately.

As everything returned to normal, Wang Baole's eyes were completely open!

The moment he opened his eyes, a chilly cold vibe that was extremely imposing erupted directly from his eyes and his body. If an acquaintance of Wang Baole stood before him now, they would be extremely shocked, and might not be able to recognize him.

However, in reality… This was the real Wang Baole that had emerged from his experiences in the sea of corpses in the Mystic Luna Realm!

He typically showcased another side of his personality to others. He preferred to showcase an optimistic side of himself in order to hide the viciousness entrenched in his character. At the same time, the pupil of Wang Baole's left eye was now replaced by the Dark Fire!

As he silently looked at his surroundings and felt the Dark Fire in his eyes, Wang Baole didn't move. Instead, he shut his eyes, and when he reopened them again, the chilliness from his body, as well as the Dark Fire in his left eye, had vanished, hidden by him.

"So… This is the Dark Art…" Wang Baole murmured under his breath. He couldn't consider himself competent in the Dark Art, thinking that he was more like a beginner in it.

However, even as a beginner, Wang Baole still felt a feeling he had never experienced before. He couldn't describe the feeling with words. He just felt as if… life and death weren't endpoints, but a transition process.

"I'm still a little confused…" Wang Baole couldn't find the right words to describe his feelings. As he murmured to himself, he thought about Little Missy. The fact that she managed to master the technique within a month showed her abilities, and that made Wang Baole envious.

Seems like I can't be too proud in the future. One should always be humble and learn earnestly. Wang Baole took a deep breath and took out the mask before directly entering the Hallucination realm.

After he entered the Hallucination realm, Wang Baole looked around but didn't see Little Missy. However, he was used to this and therefore stood there, exclaiming loudly.

"Little Missy, I have a question that I would like to ask."

"Erm… When the Dark Fire appeared, I felt a bizarre feeling, as if I could control life and death. However, it seemed a little ambiguous, and I can't describe it… It feels like a calling from far away? I'm not too sure myself. Also, there's a weird voice that I keep hearing. When you first mastered the technique, did you experience all this as well?" Wang Baole was asking earnestly and sincerely this time, as he wanted to know the reason. He felt that if he could get a clearer understanding of what was happening, it would be helpful for him if he were to advance in his cultivation.

When he finished asking, Wang Baole was about to step forward to see if words that explained the situation had appeared on the mask. However, even before he lowered his head, he heard a voice, one that was incredulous, confused, and shocked.

"What did you say! Dark Fire?" As the voice reverberated, Little Missy instantly appeared beside Wang Baole. Her eyes stared wide and round, and her breathing quickened.

Noticing that Little Missy had appeared, and was looking so appalled, Wang Baole was also shocked. He thought about whether something had gone wrong with his cultivation. Therefore, he hurriedly spoke.

"Little Missy, was my cultivation process wrong?"

"Did you just say that you managed to cultivate to the stage where the Dark Fire appeared?" Little Missy disregarded Wang Baole's question. Right now, she began inquiring, still looking anxious.

"Yes, I managed to do it. Ah, I'm not talented enough. I only managed to succeed after a year." Wang Baole sighed. He really meant every word that he said.

After he spoke, Wang Baole closed his eyes, as he felt that in front of a senior elite of the Dark Art like Little Missy, he was like a child. When he reopened his eyes, Dark Fire flames appeared in his left eye.

The appearance of the Dark Fire immediately caused the already cold surroundings to turn even colder. A chilly vibe, under the boost provided by the Dark Fire, erupted from Wang Baole's body.

Little Missy was extremely taken aback. She stepped back immediately and hollered.

"Extinguish it immediately!" She was shocked. She felt frightened by the emergence of the Dark Fire, as if it were an innate restraint.

She looked at Wang Baole as if she was looking at a monster. Her emotions were complex, and she was about to break out in a scolding.

Hearing Little Missy's command, Wang Baole hurriedly closed his eyes. When he opened them once again, the Dark Fire had vanished. However, Little Missy's reaction made him confused.

Noticing Wang Baole's confusion, Little Missy stared and immediately spoke sternly.

"What a showoff. You're just a beginner. Don't you know that activating the Dark Fire willy-nilly would endanger your life? Remember, Dark Art cultivators like us cannot reveal the Dark Fire so simply, and this is especially so if there are others higher in the ranks of the Dark Art world than you around!"

Wang Baole was shocked and nodded his head immediately as everything became clear to him.

"Little Missy, you're right. I acknowledge my mistake."

As if! Little Missy thought silently in her mind, annoyed. When she saw that Wang Baole didn't suspect anything, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief. She couldn't suppress her frustration, which was growing stronger by the moment, but was unable to continue pretending as well. It seemed like she had never imagined Wang Baole would ever succeed in mastering it. Therefore, she had lied to him many times. However, now that everything seemed to have been exposed, it was akin to her image being tarnished, and her only choice was to continue with the pretense…

However, curiosity was like a cat gnawing in her heart, and she couldn't resist but ask.

"Wang Baole, how did you manage to do it?"

"I have no idea. Ah, I really don't have much talent. The past year I spent in cultivation all led to failures. However, somehow, I suddenly succeeded. I am confused as well. Right, Little Missy, how did you manage to do it the last time? Why did I suddenly manage to master it?" Wang Baole sighed. If he were in front of other people, he would have been more arrogant. However, in front of Little Missy, he felt that he paled in comparison.

Listening to Wang Baole repeatedly saying that he wasn't talented, Little Missy felt as if she was being stabbed in the heart. However, she still appeared to smile arrogantly on the surface and spoke calmly.

"Your talent is indeed ordinary. You don't even know how you managed to master it. As for me… It's without question that I stripped the Negative Spirit Bodies from the Spirit Qi and forcefully concentrated them in my body in a single breath. In reality, I said that I managed to master it in a month previously as I was afraid to traumatize you. In reality, I only took five days!" Little Missy raised her chin and spoke indifferently.

"Five days…" Wang Baole was taken aback once again. As his eyes were filled with bewilderment, Little Missy gloated silently in her heart. However, curiosity still got the better of her, and she asked once again.

"Wang Baole, what does the Negative Spirit Body look like?"

"It doesn't look like anything. You can't see it, and all you could feel is the chill in the air. It feels quite comfortable absorbing it, eh? Don't you know, Little Missy?" Wang Baole was suspicious, as he felt that something was amiss.

Internally, Little Missy was thinking that she really had no idea. However, on the surface, she simply glanced indifferently and calmly at Wang Baole. With melancholy, she spoke, as if she were recalling a memory.

"I can't remember. After all, that happened when I was seven years old. All I could remember was to train earnestly, and I didn't care about anything else. Later on, as I grew older, I began to train in the higher tiers of Dark Qi. Then, as time passed, I lost my physical body, and everything turned into nothingness." As Little Missy spoke, her tone sounded sullen.

"As a beginner of the Dark Art, it wouldn't be advantageous to know too much. All you need to know is that the Negative Spirit Body is only the initial stage of the Dark Art. Only when you successfully convert the Dark Fire into the Dark Force could you then attempt to sense the Dark Qi. However, all these are too difficult for you. Even for me, I took a month before succeeding.

"As for the voices you have heard and the indescribable feeling that you experienced… I can give you an explanation. The voices originate from the Ancient Galactic's will. I name it… Dark Spirit!

"Don't fret too much over the feeling that you have experienced. All you need to know is that after mastering a certain level of the Dark Art, you would wield the power to control life and death. There was someone who managed to reach the fourth stage of the Dark Art. He was a friend of mine, someone that others referred to as the Immortal Death!

"There is said to be seven stages to the Dark Art!"

"You can leave now, I'm tired." Little Missy spoke calmly. Her voice carried signs of aging. She had a look of melancholy on her face, as if Wang Baole had dug up a painful memory of hers.

Her words and her facial expressions made Wang Baole shocked and shameful for having suspicions towards Little Missy. He wanted to say something, but eventually decided to leave after saying farewell with cupped fists.

However, the moment Wang Baole took his leave, the melancholy in Little Missy's facial expression and eyes instant vanished, replaced by madness and disbelief.

Gosh, where the hell did this annoying fatty come from?

He… He actually succeeded in mastering it. When my mother urged me to stop learning in the past, she also told me that this was something that no one could master!

Little Missy was thrown into madness instantly, and thoughts of suspicion towards herself arose. Very quickly, her facial expressions changed.

Whatever I just said was to continue pretending, and they are made up of ideas from my own imagination that carried little truth. He can't possibly really absorb the Dark Qi one of these days, right?

Little Missy trembled. However, she also felt that this was impossible. She was about to heave a sigh of relief when she suddenly thought that impossible things had happened over and over again to Wang Baole. She was frustrated, and let out a long sigh, feeling incredibly exhausted mentally…

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Chapter 331: Dark Ancestry

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As Wang Baole entered the hallucination realm and sought Little Missy's advice, far away from earth in the distant space lit with endless stars, lay a spatial distortion.

The region was extremely vast, as vast as the Milky Way. Countless threads of light filled the region and were the cause of the distortion. The varied and layered light waves resulted in layered images of everything in the area. Be it the drifting dust or the silent stars—they looked like countless images of themselves layered together.

Sight and all other senses would be disrupted here, and one would sense oneself being in an illusion. Everything that one saw was distorted.

The vastness of the spatial distortion was indescribable. All life that sprung within the region seemed to contain within themselves an essence of the distortion. They hovered between the real and the surreal. As a result, the region had been given a unique name by many civilizations in the universe.

Its name… the Illusory Dark Realm!

In the deepest depths of the Illusory Dark Realm, in its core, was an inner region the size of the solar system. It contained almost no life at all and was a mysterious zone that escaped discovery by most.

It was akin to a restricted zone in the Illusory Dark Realm. Everyone who had stepped into the zone had never managed to leave alive.

There were legends that within this restricted zone, inside the vast space, was a single star. It was a gray star…

No one knew how the legend came about. After all, all who had ventured into the zone had never made it back alive. However, there it was, recorded in history since the beginning of time.

Naturally, no one attempted to test its truth.

The truth was, there was no star in the deepest core of the restricted zone. There was a vast whirlpool that was like a black hole. It was gray and spun soundlessly. From afar, it looked like a spiral formed out of countless stars.

When the Dark Fire had burst into being inside Wang Baole, a light started shining inside the constant, never-changing whirlpool. It was a light different from all other lights of the past.

It was multi-colored, and as it shone and sparkled fiercely, a gray coffin slowly drifted out from the whirlpool. It was as if it had crossed over from nothingness into being.

The coffin was black and made of an unknown material, and as it appeared, an indescribable chill erupted from the coffin.

The chilly aura spread across space, as if intending to freeze everything over. If Wang Baole were there, he would be shocked to realize that the chill gave off the exact same feeling that he had felt when he had successfully learned the Dark Art!

"When our Dark Sect was still in its peak and had not yet declined, we appeared to have gifted certain Dark Artifacts…"

"As centuries passed and our bloodline fell into decline and eventual extinction, everything became history… the Dark Artifacts of the past were all scattered throughout the lands and lost their power. Who could have known that, after all this time, a Dark Artifact would be activated and bring us a new heir… it might be a little too late, but… this is still one of our Dark Sect. We gift the Dark Coffin in hopes that he will escape the Calamity of Origins…" An ancient voice slowly traveled out from the whirlpool. It seemed to be a faint murmur and a sigh at the same time. The next moment, a gigantic, blurry hand the size of half the whirlpool gradually reached out from the whirlpool.

It was a mere silhouette when it first appeared, but soon, bone and flesh appeared and transformed it into a complete hand. It extended from a gray sleeve, its exposed skin wrinkled and its nails long and curved. The hand stretched out and gently flicked the coffin, which seemed bug-sized compared to the hand.

The coffin instantly shot out, its destination… Mars!

At present, Wang Baole had just left the hallucination realm and was still in shock. Part of it was due to what Little Missy had shared with him. The other part was because he still had doubts regarding how he had managed to learn the Dark Art.

After his return, he sat down cross-legged and started thinking. He thought for very long, recalling the various encounters and experiences he had gone through. He shuddered suddenly as he remembered something.

Does this have anything to do with me breathing in the blood-colored mist in the cave? Wang Baole's breathing quickened at the thought. He knew that prior to his visit to the cave, he had met with nothing but failure when attempting to practice the Dark Art. After he had returned, he had gone into seclusion but hadn't immediately started on practicing the Dark Art. The most recent seclusion could be considered his first attempt since the cave visit.

He had succeeded immediately during this first attempt, sensing the Negative Spirit Body and forming Dark Fire inside his body!

He couldn't control the surge of emotions inside him as he pondered. He began to have his own guesses about the blood-colored mist. However, everything was mere conjecture at this point. Wang Baole himself was unsure of his own conclusions.

The thought of the blood-colored mist reminded Wang Baole of Lin Tianhao. Even though he had spoken to various people and had received occasional news, the blood-colored mist was too bizarre a phenomenon. He couldn't help but be concerned for Lin Tianhao…

Wang Baole immediately pulled out his voice transmission ring. After a moment of thought, he decided to send a transmission to Li Wan'er. He coughed when Li Wan'er's cold voice rang out from the voice transmission ring.

"Minister Li, I'm Wang Baole. Erm… it has been more than a month since my subordinate, Lin Tianhao, was taken away by the military. I still haven't managed to establish contact with him…" Wang Baole paused at this point and didn't continue.

Li Wan'er was silent for a moment. Then, she spoke coolly.

"The other teams have all returned. Lin Tianhao's team sent a voice transmission two days ago reporting that everything was in order. They will be returning to base soon." Li Wan'er ended the transmission after that.

Wang Baole didn't give too much thought to Li Wan'er's attitude. She had offered him an answer which eased the worry in Wang Baole's heart. He continued studying his Dark Fire. Then, suddenly, he smacked his thigh. He raised his head and stared at the door to his chamber.

Man… I seem to have forgotten… the donkey! Wang Baole rose to his feet hastily. He swung the doors to his chamber open and immediately saw the donkey sprawled before the entrance. It had slimmed down considerably and had a blank, lost look in its eyes.

The donkey noticed Wang Baole. It was starving and weak. Its eyes shone with resentment, and it seemed to be asking Wang Baole why the ten days Wang Baole had spoken of… seemed so long.

Wang Baole felt slightly sheepish. He immediately removed the restriction on the donkey. As soon as the restriction was stripped away, the donkey, which had its mouth clamped shut for two weeks, finally made a sound.

"Son…"

Its voice sounded weak, and it seemed like it was about to cry. Wang Baole felt slightly guilty. He pulled out a handful of snacks and threw them towards the donkey.

"This will teach you to be on good behavior next time!" Wang Baole coughed after throwing the snacks out. He gave the donkey a few words of scolding and watched as the donkey gobbled up the food like a starving wolf. He couldn't help but soften his stance. He pulled out a few more bags of snacks.

The donkey was overwhelmed by emotion as it saw so many snacks before it. Its eyes brimmed with tears. It looked at Wang Baole with gratitude in its eyes.

"That's right, that's what I call a good donkey!" Wang Baole was pleased with the effect he had gotten from this punishment. In the next four days, he continued to study the Dark Fire and perfect his blueprints for his stronghold. He also started crafting construction puppets. The lesson of having its mouth sealed shut seemed to have been seared deep into the donkey's brain. Despite having regained its energy and vitality, it didn't dare to overstep too much. It was especially meek and obedient when in front of Wang Baole.

This pleased Wang Baole tremendously. He thought that since the donkey was so obedient now, he might consider buying it a beast bag. As he thought about it and was about to make a trip out, he suddenly received an invitation from the military via his voice transmission ring!

The Martian military cordially invited Wang Baole to instruct them in the installation of the Baole Cannon!

The Baole Cannon that Wang Baole had invented received widespread usage in the military on Earth. The Martian military had also been allocated a number of the cannons. However, due to the logistics of transportation as well as constraints on existing resources, the cannons were sent to them in parts and required assembly.

Originally, a consultant would be required to assist and supervise the assembly. This was because Wang Baole had installed encryptions inside the Baole Cannon. He had shared the encryption with the military when he sold it to them, but the encryption remained a top secret inside the military.

However… the original creator of the Baole Cannon, Wang Baole, was on Mars. No consultant could rival Wang Baole's understanding and knowledge of the Baole Cannon. That was why the military had cordially invited Wang Baole to oversee the assembly.

Wang Baole accepted the invitation readily. It was true that he was now the dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy, a well-known personality on Mars, and had a wide social network. However, if he should establish a good, strong relationship with the Martian military, this would further cement his safety on Mars.

With Wang Baole's agreement, the military sent a cruiser to receive him. Wang Baole gave his donkey a look. He didn't feel safe leaving it alone on its own, so he brought the donkey onboard with him, and they raced off towards the Martian military base!

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Chapter 332: Black Donkey Versus White Donkey

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

This was the first time Wang Baole had stepped onboard a military cruiser. Any other person might not have sensed the difference, but as a Dharmic Armament cultivator, Wang Baole knew at first glance what separated this military cruiser from other ordinary cruisers.

I've never seen this material before… it should be highly heat resistant. The inscriptions on the cruiser seem to look different than the usual. As Wang Baole inspected the cruiser, the Martian military cultivators were observing Wang Baole as well.

Wang Baole's reputation had been climbing steadily upwards in both the Federation and on Mars. His reputation in the military was the same, especially since he was the creator of the Baole Cannon.

As the military cultivators observed Wang Baole, they also caught sight of the donkey at his side. They all looked surprised. They turned and stared at one another. It seemed like they wanted to say something, but in the end, they didn't.

Wang Baole noticed the strange looks from the military cultivators. He wondered if they had heard about how greedy the donkey was and were worried that it might eat up their cruiser.

But why do I feel like they are comparing the donkey with something else… Wang Baole blinked. He was about to say something and get something out from them when he noticed the donkey licking the metallic walls of the cruiser. It started sniffing it like a dog and seemed like it was assessing how tasty it might be.

"Useless thing!" Wang Baole stepped forward and kicked it without warning.

The donkey immediately became meek and sprawled on the floor. It looked listless. However, as soon as Wang Baole turned his attention away, it secretly licked the wall again. It continued to droop its ears. Another moment later, it swiftly licked again…

Wang Baole, who had been chatting casually with the military cultivators, saw it. His head started throbbing. He coughed. The donkey immediately tilted its head sideways and stared at Wang Baole with its innocent eyes, as if saying that it hadn't been eating anything. It was only taking a small lick.

Wang Baole could feel a headache coming on. He thought about what the donkey was trying to put across with that expression on its face, and it seemed to make some sense. He glared at it for a while but didn't do anything else. When the cruiser finally landed on the Martian base, the metallic wall that had been thoroughly licked by the donkey had a sheen of saliva on it. Wang Baole and his donkey got out of the cruiser amidst the strange looks from the surrounding military officers.

The Martian military base was located in Zone Thirty-Six, and a large part of that zone belonged to the military and was restricted to the public. There were many military men seen patrolling the grounds, and a large number of military cultivators were also based in the military station.

The military had prepared a rather welcoming reception for Wang Baole. A dozen or so military officers led by an elder personally received him at the port.

The elder was dressed in military attire. His eyes seemed to contain lightning, and he exuded authority and power as well as a Core Formation realm cultivation. He had an overpowering presence.

His status was naturally elevated. He was one of the five most powerful figures in the Martian military. His name was Chen Feng, and he was in charge of the research of military equipment as well as the fusion of Spirit Qi and explosives for military use.

Wang Baole saw the welcome party as soon as he got out of the cruiser. The military cultivator escorting him down the cruiser whispered the names and profiles of the receiving party. The look on Wang Baole's face immediately became serious. He sped up his pace and took a deep bow before the elder.

"Greetings General Chen, I'm Wang Baole!"

Chen Feng burst out into laughter. He looked at Wang Baole with approval and encouragement in his eyes. He had started studying the various Baole Cannon parts that had been sent to them and could sense the cannon was not a simple artifact. He began to have a keen interest in Wang Baole, whom he had never met before. There was actually no need for his presence today. However, he had come just so he could meet the original creator of the Baole Cannon.

"What a young talent!" Chen Feng patted Wang Baole on the shoulder, his bright laughter ringing in the air. The other military officers followed suit, with warmth and friendliness in their smiles.

They exchanged a round of pleasantries before making a swift departure from the port and heading towards the area where the Baole Cannons were being assembled. Wang Baole walked alongside Chen Feng and answered all of Chen Feng's questions regarding the cannons with ease. He took careful note of his behavior and made sure to be half a step behind Chen Feng at all times. He maintained a humble attitude.

"General Chen, the key to the composite Baole Cannon lies in the interconnectivity of its interior inscriptions… especially inscriptions in groups seven and eight. Those inscriptions control the absorption of Spirit Qi." Wang Baole had a smile on his face. As he walked, he answered Chen Feng's questions and shared the inner workings and structure of the Baole Cannon.

The military officers behind the pair withdrew their discreet stares at Wang Baole's donkey and instead turned towards the pair before them. They sighed and marveled at Wang Baole's social skills. He didn't show off, nor brag. However, he wasn't overly reserved either. He displayed the perfect balance between humility and pride while showing the utmost respect for the military.

This kid is kind of interesting. Chen Feng smiled as he looked at Wang Baole. He was pleased with what he saw. The party walked through building after building and soon approached the camp where the Baole Cannons were awaiting assembly.

As they walked, many warriors they passed stopped and saluted the party. They also secretly eyed Wang Baole's donkey.

Wang Baole noticed the stares and found them odd, but he still felt slightly pleased. The donkey seemed proud as well and raised its head high and trotted along happily.

Their destination soon appeared before them. It was then that seven to eight young military officers walked out from a pavilion slightly away from the party. They were all conversing with one another. In the middle of the group was a black-haired youth. He stood tall and was handsome, and he had a resolute look in his starlit eyes.

He wore a purple-colored military uniform, which brought out his striking features. His eyes, especially, had a deep, unfathomable look in them, and he exuded a presence that was beyond his age. If one took a careful look, one might even sense a deeper air of violence that he had concealed. The young man drew all attention away and towards him just by standing there.

The young man was… Kong Dao, who had come from the Sea of Beasts and had been adopted by the current Federation President Duan Muque as his godson!

Besides the military officers who had gathered around him, he had beside him… a donkey!

The donkey was white in color. It looked striking and powerful and exuded an air of purity and holiness, and exuded cultivation energy at the fourth-stage of the True Breath realm. Both its appearance and presence were extraordinary.

Kong Dao and company instantly noticed Chen Feng, Wang Baole, and the others. The former younger officers immediately became serious and greeted the latter respectfully. Kong Dao's eyes fell on Wang Baole, a frown appearing on his brow. He didn't say anything though, merely greeted Chen Feng.

"It's Kong Dao. Baole, you and Kong Dao are both members of the Federation's hundred seedlings. You should know each other." Chen Feng paid little attention to the greetings he had received earlier. However, a smile appeared on his face when he saw Kong Dao. He nodded at Kong Dao. His eyes swept across Kong Dao's white donkey and then glanced at Wang Baole's black donkey…

He wasn't the only one. The officers behind Chen Feng and Kong Dao also couldn't help themselves as they gave both Wang Baole's and Kong Dao's donkeys a quick glance.

This was the first time Wang Baole was seeing Kong Dao and the white donkey at his side. He froze at the sight, and his eyes widened.

His monster egg hatched too? Wang Baole took a closer look and was certain that they were the same breed. He couldn't help the sudden frustration and annoyance he was feeling.

Anyone could see the difference in power between his black donkey and Kong Dao's white donkey at a single glance. His donkey not only looked perverse and ugly, but its cultivation couldn't compare to Kong Dao's donkey either. This displeased Wang Baole. He sighed. He couldn't help wonder if this was due to his own bad luck, or if the military instructor had been biased when distributing the eggs then.

I was wondering why these people were eyeing the donkey throughout the trip. They were comparing the two donkeys… Wang Baole felt slightly unhappy. The black donkey was stunned as it stared at the white donkey in shock. Then, its eyes widened, and a fierce light shone in its eyes. It seemed overjoyed, and it dashed out from behind Wang Baole, braying, and raced towards the white donkey.

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Chapter 333: Save Me!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

"Son! Son!" The black donkey seemed happy to see one of its kind for the very first time. As it dashed forward, Kong Dao's white donkey raised its head arrogantly and with a sudden burst of speed, sent its leg kicking.

It was so quick that the black donkey barely had time to react. The kick landed on its body. With a loud sound, it was flung back…

The black donkey fell to the ground with a loud thud. It wasn't injured. However, it looked dazed. It didn't expect the other creature to kick him.

"White Phoenix!" Kong Dao chastised his donkey. The white donkey instantly stopped in its steps. It gave the dazed black donkey a disdainful look and returned back to Kong Dao's side, nuzzling Kong Dao's leg obediently. Kong Dao cupped his fists and saluted Chen Feng. Then, with the arrogant white donkey and its raised head, he left.

Wang Baole was furious when he saw the scene. He stared at his donkey. It looked dazed and had that innocent look on its face. He couldn't say a single word. This was, after all, a military base. His own donkey had been the one that had charged at someone else, as if asking for a beating.

He pretended as if the entire incident didn't happen and continued talking to Chen Feng about the Baole Cannon. Before long, they reached the campsite where the assembly was to take place. He made his excuses and left for the washroom when they did, which was when he grabbed the donkey and headed inside…

As soon as they stepped inside, Wang Baole turned and leveled a furious glare at the donkey. Its ears were drooping. He was angry at how useless it was.

"Where are your amazing skills when you need them? Don't you find yourself an embarrassment? You were kicked aside by a female donkey! Look how awesome and invincible you usually are at home. You even dare to bite me! How about now? Where did all that go?"

The donkey seemed to understand Wang Baole's words. It shuddered, and its eyes grew red.

"I, Wang Baole, am charming and talented, ferocious and invincible, have no equal amongst my peers, have never been taken advantage of by others, and have always been the one to take advantage of others. But you stupid little donkey can't even handle a female donkey. You were even beaten up. Are you still part of the male species? You're a disgrace!"

Wang Baole lamented and sighed. He was alright with Kong Dao's donkey being powerful, but his own donkey had slid close and practically asked for a beating. If this hadn't been the military base, he would have struck back.

The donkey heard what Wang Baole said and saw the scornful look in Wang Baole's eyes. Its breathing grew uneven, and its eyes red. For the very first time in its life, the innocent look in its eyes transformed into fury. It turned its head abruptly. It was as if it could see through walls and could sense where the white donkey was. It glared in its direction for a very long time as it gnashed its teeth.

The grudge it was feeling had intensified and become an obsession.

"What's the point of swearing? When you become stronger in the future, you can go beat it up. Grab it and take it down. That's what you should do! Show it what you've got!" Wang Baole snorted. He was done with his reprimand. Before he stepped out, he couldn't help but sigh again.

"You're an embarrassment!"

Wang Baole didn't notice the donkey's burning red eyes as he stepped out from the washroom. It stared in the direction of where the white donkey was. The fury in its eyes was laced with violence, seeming to promise vengeance.

Wang Baole shoved down the unhappiness in his heart when he left the washroom and returned to the task of advising and supervising the assembly. A Baole Cannon was swiftly assembled with his instruction, and they tested the cannon and collected some data. General Chen was all praises and admiration. Wang Baole didn't hold himself back as he personally advised the consultants from the Martian military.

After busying with the assembly for more than half the day, Wang Baole finally shared with the consultants all that he knew about the assembly and the encrypted inscriptions. Both he and Chen Feng personally supervised the process. After making sure that there were no problems, Wang Baole prepared to take his leave.

"General Chen, if there is nothing else, I'll…" Wang Baole turned and spoke to Chen Feng. However, before he could finish his words, Chen Feng's voice transmission ring suddenly vibrated.

The expression on Chen Feng's face changed suddenly after he read the transmission.

"Baole, you can leave first. I still have some matters to attend to, so I won't be seeing you off." Chen Feng turned and left after saying that. He had a solemn expression on his face. Wang Baole could sense that something serious must have happened. He had wanted to ask about Lin Tianhao, but it seemed like this wasn't an appropriate time for that. Just as he was about to leave, his voice transmission ring rang suddenly.

"Wang Baole, I've just received news. Something happened to Lin Tianhao's team. I'm not sure what exactly. I'll let you know when I have more details." The sender was Li Wan'er.

Wang Baole froze when he heard Li Wan'er's transmission. The look on his face grew serious as he recalled the somber look on Chen Feng's face earlier. He suddenly lifted his head abruptly and stared at Chen Feng, who was hastily walking away. He decided to throw caution to the wind and shouted suddenly.

"General Chen, my vice dean, Lin Tianhao, took my place and joined one of the military teams on a mission. Do you have any news of him?"

Chen Feng, who had been hurrying off, froze when he heard what Wang Baole had said. He turned around and gave Wang Baole a deep, meaningful look. He was about to speak when Wang Baole hurried over and said hastily.

"I've spoken to Lin Tianhao's father. He knows that his son had been called to serve in my place. General Chen, I have a responsibility to Senator Lin You for this matter!"

Wang Baole's words were timely. If it had been for purely personal reasons, Chen Feng wouldn't have shared anything with Wang Baole. Despite Wang Baole's strong and close working relationship with the military in the Federation, the Martian military was a separate and relatively autonomous entity.

But now that Senator Lin You was included in the picture… even he had to deliberate and weigh his decisions. Finally, he gave Wang Baole a long, meaningful look.

"I don't know the details as well. Follow me!"

After Chen Feng said that, the soldiers at his side immediately approached Wang Baole and checked his person. After that, he was brought up to Chen Feng's cruiser. It took off and sped towards the command center in Zone Thirty-Six.

Chen Feng didn't speak to Wang Baole during the entire ride. He attended to the numerous transmissions he kept receiving during the trip. Wang Baole found it difficult to start a conversation as well. He had a bad feeling about this. Amidst his growing anxiety, they soon reached the military command center. The two got out of the cruiser and walked into a large room with a giant spirit screen. The room was bustling with people busy with their own work. Someone approached Chen Feng hastily and reported to him.

"Sir, we confirmed that we've lost all communication with Team Six and Team Seven… everyone in the team, including the Array Formation cultivator, the Dharmic Armament cultivator, our military personnel, as well as the priest, have all disappeared!

"Our array formation can no longer sense the blood-colored village. It has vanished into thin air!"

"The blood-colored mist has also dispersed… we can't find any trace of the mist in all zones in the entire Martian planet!" The reports followed one by one. Chen Feng attended to them immediately. The expression on Wang Baole's face grew more serious, and the sense of foreboding inside him intensified.

Li Wan'er's transmission arrived at this moment. She told Wang Baole that the military had sent out seven teams to handle the blood-colored mist incident. At present, five teams had returned. Teams Six and Seven had to travel to locations further away from the base, which was why their projected time of return had been estimated to be later than the rest.

Everything had gone according to plan. All seven teams had dug up invaluable information and resources for the colony. However, an hour ago, they had lost contact with Teams Six and Seven suddenly. After a scan via the array formation, the military had found that the teams had disappeared into thin air!

The Martian Colony was giving this due attention. The Governor, Deputy Governor, as well as the various department heads soon arrived at the command center. Li Wan'er was one of them as well.

Many noticed Wang Baole and nodded at him. However, there was no time for small talk. Everyone was concerned about the latest development of the sudden incident. The Martian military had sent out a rescue force as soon as they could to investigate the matter. The Martian Colony Governor also activated her access rights to the array formation for another scan.

Hours passed and evening arrived. They didn't find anything new, regardless of how hard they searched. The rescue cruiser arrived at the scene where the teams had gone missing and found nothing. The blood-colored mist, the village, and the missing teams seemed to have vanished without a trace. It was as if they had never appeared in the first place.

There was dead silence, no one spoke. Everyone had come to the same conclusion. It was likely that the missing people… were all dead.

Wang Baole couldn't remember how he had made it back to the academy. He seemed to still be in a daze. His brain had stopped working. He sat in his residence silently, staring at the four walls without speaking.

He still couldn't believe it. Lin Tianhao had just… disappeared. Just like that…

Lin Tianhao had taken Wang Baole's stead. If Wang Baole hadn't been trapped in the cave with Li Wan'er, the list of missing persons wouldn't include Lin Tianhao.

From how he saw it, Lin Tianhao had taken Wang Baole's place and suffered what should have been his fate. Wang Baole couldn't begin to untangle the web of complicated emotions he had regarding that.

However, he was powerless to do anything. When Lin You had found out about this matter, he set everything aside. He was now on his way from Earth.

Amidst the silence, the bitterness and the complicated, mixed feelings, Wang Baole found himself unable to train. He continued waiting silently while seeking more information. Two days passed.

No clues had surfaced regarding the missing persons… On the second day, late in the night, Wang Baole pulled out a bottle of wine and took a huge gulp from the bottle. He was filled with anxiety and guilt. His eyes shone with resolution. He intended to conduct a search personally. He wouldn't be able to ease the guilt and worry he was feeling if he didn't do so.

As the thought flashed across Wang Baole's mind, suddenly, in the dead silence of the night, his voice transmission ring started to vibrate. A familiar voice rang out. It was the faint, feeble voice of Lin Tianhao!

"Save me…"

Wang Baole's eyes widened when he heard the voice. His breathing quickened instantly, and he turned and stared at the voice transmission ring.

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Chapter 334: Rescue!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The sudden transmission in the middle of the night sent Wang Baole into shock. His breathing stilled for a second. He grabbed at the voice transmission ring and spoke hurriedly into it, his eyes bright with worry and anxiety.

"Tianhao, where are you!"

However, no matter how many transmissions Wang Baole sent, Lin Tianhao seemed to have vanished into thin air again. Wang Baole was greeted with radio silence. It was like sinking a rock into the deep ocean. He tried a few more times without any success before he climbed to his feet, determination shining in his eyes.

Lin Tianhao had taken his place on the team. Wang Baole knew that Lin Tianhao's disappearance had nothing to do with him, but he couldn't help his guilt. He didn't hesitate. He located the Martian Colony Governor's transmission number and contacted her.

After becoming the dean of the Dao Mountain Mist Academy, as a Secondary Rank Four Noble and part of the Martian administration's middle management, he had almost all the transmission numbers of the members of the upper Martian administration. That included the Governor and the Deputy Governor.

If it had been some other matter, Wang Baole might not have sent a voice transmission over directly. It was in the middle of the night, after all. It was inappropriate to disturb the Governor's rest so late at night.

Wang Baole couldn't care less about that at the moment. As the voice transmission connected, Wang Baole started speaking hurriedly without waiting for the other side to start talking.

"Governor, this is Wang Baole. I just received a transmission from my vice dean Lin Tianhao…"

As soon as he said that, the calm, serious voice of the Martian Colony Governor rang out from the voice transmission ring.

"Lin Tianhao from Team Six?"

"Yes, he just sent a transmission calling for help. But after that, there was no message from…"

"Bring along your voice transmission ring and report to the military base!" The Martian Colony Governor said abruptly, her voice firm. She ended the transmission.

Wang Baole could hear that the Governor was treating this very seriously. He didn't delay a single second. He rushed out of his residence and retrieved his cruiser. The donkey, with its astute senses, realized what Wang Baole was doing and leaped aboard as Wang Baole boarded the cruiser.

Wang Baole had no time to bother with the donkey. He started the cruiser's engines, and it surged forward with a sudden burst of speed. With a roar, it sped off into the night like a dash of a rainbow, racing towards Zone Thirty-Six.

In the daytime, under usual circumstances, one would have required some time to travel from Zone Twelve to Zone Thirty-Six. However, Wang Baole drove the cruiser at top speed, and it raced across the night sky like a shooting star. Within fifteen minutes, he arrived at the military base in Zone Thirty-Six.

There was someone waiting for him when he arrived, and he was led straight to the command center. When Wang Baole entered the command center, he saw at least a hundred people working frantically in front of a large spirit screen.

Projected onto the spirit screen was an image of planet Mars. There were hundreds of locations lit up on the planet, sparkling incessantly. The five most powerful military figures in Mars, including Chen Feng, as well as the Deputy Governor, the Governor, and the Colony Disciplinary Order's Li Wan'er, were all there. Everyone turned their eyes towards Wang Baole when he entered the room.

If it had been some other time, Wang Baole would have capitalized on this opportunity where he had all eyes on him to show off a little, but he couldn't summon any energy or willingness for that now. He walked quickly towards the group and stopped before the Governor. Then, he quickly pulled out his voice transmission ring.

He had guessed during the trip to the command center that the Governor must have some special way of locating Lin Tianhao through the emergency call he had sent to his voice transmission ring.

His guess was correct. The Martian Colony Governor didn't say a word as she took the voice transmission ring from him. Light flickered across her eyes. Instantly, a perfected Core Formation realm cultivation erupted from her person. The array formation blanketing the entire planet started churning. Dazzling spots of light appeared out of thin air and gathered on the voice transmission ring on the Governor's right palm!

The voice transmission ring floated into the air. The light threads pierced through the ring and seemed to be conducting some form of analysis on the ring…

The entire process took only fifteen minutes. Under the group's nervous gazes and Wang Baole's anxious gaze, the light in the Governor's eyes intensified. A fierce light exploded from the voice transmission ring hovering in mid-air and fell onto the spirit screen. The hundreds of spots of light on the image of Mars disappeared in an instant.

After they all vanished, a red light spot appeared, marking an uninhabited region a distance away from the Martian City. It was the only light remaining on the Martian map!

"The voice transmission came from this place. It came not from the surface but from underground!" the Governor said sternly. Everyone, including Wang Baole, stared at the red light. A few amongst them saw where the location was and seemed alarmed.

"This region… seems to be in the vicinity of the Divine Armament…" The few who had been alarmed earlier looked at each other. The coincidence made them wary.

Wang Baole froze when he heard that. He suddenly remembered the selection for the Federation's hundred seedlings. There had been news then of Kong Dao's contribution to the Federation through his discovery of what might seem to be the resting place of a Divine Armament on Mars.

Divine Armament… Wang Baole raised his head abruptly and stared at the spirit screen.

"We must act immediately…" the Governor stared at the location marked out by the red light then said calmly. There was a considering look in her eyes. The Deputy Governor, the giant tree, had a somber look on his face as well. He turned towards the Governor and nodded slightly, then spoke in a low voice.

"Governor, I've not had the chance to prove myself since I arrived on Mars. Let me take part in this mission. I want to find out what is the cause for the recent happenings!"

Everyone looked at the Governor after the giant tree spoke. The Governor had her own considerations. Her duty was to protect the Martian Colony City, so leaving the city should be her last resort. It was, therefore, most appropriate for the Deputy Governor to lead the rescue mission. He was similarly at the perfected Core Formation realm.

After some thought, she nodded her approval, and a rescue team was soon put together. The giant tree would lead the team. The military had also included three Core Formation realm cultivators, with Chen Feng being one of them.

There were also a number of Foundation Establishment realm cultivators in the team. The team numbered more than fifty members.

Wang Baole was still concerned about the personal grudges the giant tree had against him. However, he still requested to be part of the team after some thought. The Governor gave his request some thought and agreed. She gave the Deputy Governor a deep, meaningful look before the team set off.

"My Cassia comrade, I hope there will be no accidents during this mission. Else, we will not be able to avoid the Federation's direct investigation into the matter. After all… the mission's location is not far… from where the Divine Armament purports to be."

The giant tree lowered his head in acquiescence. However, he was secretly alarmed. Others might not have understood the underlying message, but he was the Deputy Governor. He had fought the Federation President. With his cunning, he naturally understood the warning in the Governor's words.

I have nothing against the others. The only person I might hold a grudge against is Wang Baole. Is she trying to tell me not to try anything?

She's truly underestimated me… The giant tree smiled, and his eyes flashed. He wouldn't harm Wang Baole now, not with so many eyes focused on them and with what they were about to do. It was a clumsy and foolish way of accomplishing one's goals.

Besides, his intention was to carry out the mission flawlessly. He hoped to make a good impression and establish a good name for himself on Mars. He wanted to use this opportunity to gain the Federation's trust.

In reality… since he had joined the Federation, he had come to realize that Federation politics… weren't as simple as they seemed. The complexities ran deep!

He recalled what he had heard a few days earlier about something called an Anti-Spirit Bomb. It sent him reeling in shock. At the same time, his interest in the Federation's secrets grew.

The military would identify talents every year and send them to a mysterious place which nobody else knew about…

Not to mention the plans to colonize the ancient green-bronze sword…

Besides… is there really no Nascent Soul realm cultivator in the Federation? I thought so in the past, but now… I'm not so sure. There was a glimmer in the giant tree's eyes. He concealed his thoughts. He knew that what was most important at this moment was to prove himself.

The Martian Colony Governor and the others saw them off as they boarded a large cruiser and took off into the Martian sky. Within the cruiser was the giant tree, the other Core Formation realm, and Foundation Establishment realm cultivators… as well as Wang Baole!

The donkey was at Wang Baole's side as well. It seemed to sense the tension in the air and the terrifying presence of the giant tree and the other Core Formation realm cultivators. It sprawled quietly and obediently at Wang Baole's side and gave nobody trouble.

Wang Baole wasn't reckless with his own safety. Before they set off, he took out his voice transmission ring and reported where he would be going to the Ethereal Dao College's Sect Lord. He did it right in front of the giant tree.

His mind was set to ease after he had done that. He looked out towards the snow and ice-laden lands of the Martian planet. He muttered inwardly.

Lin Tianhao, hold on!

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Chapter 335: Reanimation

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The rescue cruiser dashed through the Martian sky in a speedy blur. It seemed to pierce the heavens as it shot through the sky. Their journey took less than an hour. Flying at a speed that surpassed ordinary cruisers, they soon reached their destination.

Their destination—a wasteland. It was barren of snow, and the ground was red and bare of plant life. There was nothing, except a circular cave.

A red glow spilled out from within the cave. The dusty red Martian soil looked even redder under the light, looking as if it had been soaked in blood. Everyone froze when they saw the sight, and a strange, bizarre feeling unfurled inside them.

The giant tree, dressed in black robes, stared at the entrance of the cave with his expressionless face. An icy glimmer surfaced in his eyes. He matched the location of the cave with the coordinates provided by the array formation before saying coolly.

"This is it!"

He leaped off the cruiser and charged out. Behind him followed the three Core Formation realm cultivators from the military, which included Chen Feng. They all had somber expressions on their faces as they dashed out after the giant tree and entered the blood-colored cave.

The last to follow were Wang Baole and the remaining Foundation Establishment realm cultivators. Despite the terrifying blood-colored sight, they leaped off the cruiser without hesitation and entered the cave. Wang Baole was one of them. The donkey seemed frightened out of its wits, and it stuck closely to Wang Baole.

Under the lead of the giant tree, Chen Feng, and a few others, the party of fifty-odd people entered the cave. As soon as they stepped inside, Wang Baole caught the heavy scent of blood in the air. It permeated the cave and was like a punch to the face.

It was nauseating. It was akin to the smell of rotting corpses and freshly removed organs. It was beyond what words could describe. Their heartbeats quickened, uncontrollably as a long, cavernous tunnel appeared before their eyes.

The tunnel was ten yards wide. It looked vast, and its walls were lined with cracks. Some were so small that one would have to take a closer look to notice them, while some were so large that they formed their own tunnels and pathways that seemed to go on forever. They couldn't compare to the main tunnel, of course.

"This tunnel was freshly dug…" Chen Feng examined the walls and said slowly. The giant tree and the other two Core Formation realm cultivators checked the walls as well. Then, they looked at one another before racing down the tunnel.

Wang Baole was together with the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators. When he had stepped into the cave, he had sensed the Dark Fire inside his body stirring. It had seemed livelier than usual.

That had convinced him that his earlier guess had been right. He had been able to practice the Dark Art because he had inhaled a small bit of blood-colored mist when he had been trapped in the cave. His guess had been correct all along.

What exactly is that blood-colored mist… they said that this cave is not far from where the Divine Armament is. Does this have something to do with the Divine Armament? The gears in Wang Baole's head spun rapidly. He dared not allow the distraction though. This was clearly dangerous territory, and the one leading the party was none other than the giant tree.

Even though Wang Baole had contacted the Sect Lord and informed him of his location, thus ensuring that the giant tree wouldn't dare to harm him so blatantly, they were in dangerous territory. Sometimes, there was no need to dirty one's own hands to kill someone else. Choosing not to offer a helping hand or prioritizing whom to save first could decide whether a person lived or died.

That was why since they had entered the cave, Wang Baole had chosen not to venture further up front but instead decided to stick with the other cultivators. He had no time to overthink it anyway. He pulled himself together and followed the group as they moved steadily down the tunnel. Everyone was on high alert and observing their surroundings, and they didn't progress very far before a series of sudden thundering roars rang out from the end of the tunnel.

They sounded like the roars of ferocious beasts and appeared suddenly. The giant tree, who had been walking at the front, suddenly raised his right hand and grabbed at something in the wall beside him.

His attack was swift. When he struck, black claws made out of wood seemed to appear and overlay his actual hand. His hand pierced the wall and pulled. A half rotting corpse was dragged out from the wall!

The clothes on the corpse were torn and beyond recognition, and the corpse was filled with maggots and gave off an incredible stench. It exuded the smell of death.

Despite that, it still moved. It was like a living dead. Its hands kept clawing outward even though it had been caught by the giant tree. Howls that sent shivers down one's spine crawled out of its mouth.

Alarm flashed across everyone's faces. They dashed away from the walls.

"What is that?"

"The living dead?"

"A reanimation!"

The giant tree frowned. He snorted, then with a twist, crushed the skull of the corpse he had captured. The beheaded body fell to the ground. It was still crawling on the ground after losing its head…

Wang Baole's scalp began to prickle. The others around him were equally alarmed and horrified. Shouts began to travel from afar. The sounds of something digging their way through the earth came from beneath them on the ground and around them in the walls.

Alarm and terror surged inside everyone as heads started popping out from the four walls, from the ground, and even from above them in the ceiling.

There were sounds of racing footsteps and howling coming from the end of the tunnel. The soil was glowing a blood red, and with that light, the rescue party saw, in their shock, three figures stepping out from the end of the tunnel!

They were all corpses, but there was little sign of decomposition on their bodies. Their clothes remained mostly intact, and an alarming energy force exploded from their bodies when they appeared.

When the rescue team, including the giant tree, Chen Feng, and Wang Baole, saw the clothes the three people were wearing, their eyes immediately widened in shock!

The clothes were vastly different from common Federation fashion. They were clearly from a much older era. Wang Baole had seen corpses of the ancient green-bronze sword in the Spirit Breath Village before. He immediately recognized what these corpses in front of them were wearing… they weren't humans from earth, they were beings… from the ancient green-bronze sword!

These corpses had clearly fallen onto Mars alongside the fragmented pieces when the ancient green-bronze sword pierced the sun. It was unknown why they had become the zombies they were now!

This was the same for the heads that had popped out from the walls, the ground, and from the tunnel ahead of them. As soon as they appeared, they began to howl and struggle their way out of the soil. They charged towards the rescue party as soon as they freed themselves.

The three corpses at the end of the tunnel, brimming with violence, did the same and charged at the giant tree, Chen Feng, and company.

There was chaos in the tunnel. The sounds of explosions and howling resounded in the air. The giant tree, Chen Feng, and the other Core Formation realm cultivators were busy fighting off the hordes. They had been holding their ground before a dozen or so corpses with equally alarming murderous air charged towards the cultivators from the end of the tunnel.

A little giant that stood thirty-odd meters tall, holding a gigantic pole made from bone, marched towards them, booming every step of the way.

There were too many of them. The party fought back frantically, but they knew this wasn't sustainable. The giant tree and Chen Feng soon charged out. As they fought their way out, they yelled at the rest behind them.

"Scatter! Get out of here if you can. Those who can't, try your best to stay alive! Chen Feng, follow me. I'm going to fight my way in. I want to know what this place is hiding!"

The giant tree had a fearsome expression on his face. He had reigned supreme on the moon and was a lord in his own right. Most monsters in the Sea of Beasts would pale in comparison against his violent and brutal nature. As rage overtook his mind, he surged forward, leaving behind an afterimage of a giant tree in his wake. He charged deeper into the tunnel.

The Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, including Wang Baole, watched as the giant tree, Chen Feng, and the Core Formation realm cultivators fought their way deeper into the tunnel. They started to spread out and find a way out. Some wormed into the cracks in the walls.

Even though the corpses had come from the walls and the earth around them, the cracks in the walls were narrow and allowed the cultivators to defend themselves via a narrow crack. If they were lucky, they might even find a way out through the crack.

Wang Baole, with a cold and merciless look on his face, wielded his Dharmic Armament and slashed two corpses into halves with a single sweep of his blade. He observed the growing number of corpses around him and realized that most in his group had split up. He gritted his teeth and swept his blade across in a single slash. Then, he turned, snaked into a crack, and dashed deeper in.

The donkey had remained on its toes during the entire chaotic battle. It hadn't been able to help itself and had taken a few bites of the rotten flesh. It had then spat the meat out with a grimace. When Wang Baole had gone into a crack in the wall, it followed swiftly and raced towards it as well.

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Chapter 336: Food Approaches…

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Such excitement when we've just arrived… Wang Baole traveled swiftly, moving deeper into the crevice. He narrowed his eyes and kept on high alert against possible dangers around him. Everything had seemed so bizarre and out of this world since they had entered the cave. The appearance of the zombies had been too sudden and unexpected.

It seems that most of the corpses are ancient corpses though… I didn't see any Federation cultivators amongst them. That means… there's a great chance that Lin Tianhao is still alive. Wang Baole concluded. Suddenly, he raised his right hand and slashed his blade towards the right. As soon as the blade fell, a hand and head that had just popped out from the wall were instantly chopped off.

There's another thing. Since I entered the cave, the Dark Fire inside my body has stirred. The deeper I go, the livelier it gets… Wang Baole frowned as he fell into deep thought. Since he had entered the crevice, he had taken the opportunity to release the Dark Fire since there was no one around him. He wanted to see if it had any effect on the zombies.

He didn't know why, but while the Dark Fire was able to exact damage on the zombies, the zombies, after being set aflame, had gone mad. Hunger appeared in their blank eyes, and they lunged at Wang Baole in a craze.

Wang Baole immediately hid his Dark Fire. He was shocked by what he had seen. He realized that the zombies must have something to do with the Dark Fire. Then, he recalled what Little Missy had said. As an early-stage Dark Art practitioner, he shouldn't reveal the Dark Fire so recklessly.

Little Missy was right. The zombies went crazy as soon as I revealed the Dark Fire…

Wang Baole decided not to use the Dark Fire unless it was his last resort. He raced through the crevice and soon saw an exit.

The exit led back to the main tunnel. The cave only had that one tunnel. The various cracks on the walls might connect to other cracks, but their entrances and exits all led back to the main tunnel. The only difference was which part of the main tunnel they led to.

There were also crevices that grew narrower until they led to a dead-end packed with soil. In order to proceed, one would have to dig their way out.

Wang Baole was lucky. The crevice he had chosen didn't require him to dig his way out. When he saw the opening, his eyes flashed. His mosquitoes appeared and raced towards the exit.

Wang Baole immediately got a clear view of the outside world through the mosquitoes' vision. Everything was quiet outside the opening of this crevice. There were no zombies, only a vast patch of blood-colored grass on the ground.

Wang Baole released a breath of relief. He didn't lower his guard though. He turned and stared at the donkey behind him. It was staring at the leg of the corpse that Wang Baole had just chopped off with mixed feelings. It seemed to want to eat it but knew that it wouldn't taste good.

"Eat, eat, eat. That's all you know!" Wang Baole glared at the donkey then ignored it. He had realized that even though the donkey was at the third level of the True Breath realm, it seemed to be reaching a breakthrough. It had a strong sense of self-preservation. It had managed to keep up with Wang Baole during the chaotic battle earlier. Throughout the entire fight, Wang Baole hadn't seen a single zombie manage to grab hold of it. It was clear that the donkey possessed some extraordinary gift that was beyond his understanding.

He decided to ignore the donkey. Wang Baole dashed out from the crevice and stepped back into the tunnel. He surveyed his surroundings immediately. The Dark Fire inside him stirred, and through the Dark Fire, he sensed the direction he should be going and was about to move.

It was at that moment that the blood-colored grass around them suddenly rustled. They seemed to undergo a sudden transformation, growing suddenly in a blink of an eye. Countless blades of Blood Grass sprouted from the ground and the walls. They were like tentacles reaching wildly for Wang Baole.

The path behind Wang Baole was the same. He was trapped. A glimmer flashed in his eyes. The Dharmic Armament in his hand shone, and he slashed.

With a thundering sweep of the blade, he slashed through a great number of them, but there were too many. They possessed an extraordinary resilience and corrosive properties. Despite Wang Baole's coarse, thick skin, he still felt the burning agony of the grass blades touching his skin.

Their numbers posed a great challenge. He wouldn't mind spending more time to fight his way back into the crevice. However, he would have to wade through the patch of Blood Grass. The grass was the greatest obstacle of all.

He threw everything at them. Lightning, Heated Burst, and everything else he knew, but they did little damage to the grass. He even tried his puppets, but those were useless too. The Blood Grass quickly wormed its way into the puppets and corroded them from the inside.

His frustration grew as he slashed at the grass. An icy glint flashed in his eyes. He was about to release the Dark Fire when suddenly, within the crevice that was about to be sealed shut by the Blood Grass, the donkey's gleeful cries rang out.

"Son!"

Wang Baole was startled when he heard that. He turned towards the crevice and saw the donkey. Its eyes shone with excitement as it snapped its mouth open and munched crazily at the Blood Grass.

It can do that too? Wang Baole was stunned. Then he recalled how the donkey had resorted to eating flowers and grass when it had been starving in the academy.

Clearly, the taste of the Blood Grass was much more delicious than rotting flesh. It picked up its pace as it ate, and grew more excited as it ate. Within a short span of time, it decimated all the Blood Grass in the crevice. Then, it bounced out happily and saw the spread of food awaiting him. The donkey shook with excitement and joy. It bounced a few more times happily.

"Son! Son!"

Wang Baole was overjoyed as well. He kept an eye on the donkey's frantic eating while slashing his way through the grass. However, he soon grew displeased. He realized that the donkey still had the energy to prance about while eating. He thought for a bit, then yelled suddenly.

"Scram, I won't let you eat all these good stuff. I'm going to cut them all down!"

Wang Baole picked up his pace and began furiously slashing at the grass. His angry shout and actions instantly sent the donkey into a panic. Its eyes reddened. It stopped fooling around and, with even greater speed, started eating up all the Blood Grass around him. It seemed to have gotten the hang of it after a while. After taking a bit, it would suck the rest of the Blood Grass into its mouth, roots and all, then move on to the rest of the Blood Grass.

The Blood Grass in the area soon diminished rapidly under the donkey's frantic devouring. Wang Baole was very pleased. He shouted again.

"You've gone too far. There is still a lot of delicious Blood Grass ahead of us. I'm going to destroy all of them!" Wang Baole yelled furiously. He pretended that he was about to charge forward. The donkey saw that and grew even more frantic. It howled and dashed out with a burst of speed. It raced straight into the tunnel and entered the patch of Blood Grass before Wang Baole, munching madly at the grass as it advanced.

Wang Baole followed leisurely behind the donkey, yelling once in a while and swishing about with his saber, displaying mock displeasure.

Wang Baole made his way smoothly through the tunnel. At the same time, Blood Grass and zombies also made their appearances in other parts of the tunnel.

They only appeared when there were cultivators around. There were some casualties amongst the cultivators. However, as members of the rescue force, the cultivators possessed significant battle capabilities and experience. Despite their shock and terror, most of them were able to protect themselves. They didn't suffer extensive injuries and were mainly trapped.

That persisted for a while… until then. In a part of the tunnel, a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator was surrounded by countless Blood Grass. A blood-colored silhouette appeared behind him soundlessly, without his notice.

It was a blurry figure, almost translucent. It inclined towards transparency most of the time, and its features were indistinct. From its height, it seemed to be a little boy.

As soon as he appeared, the zombies and Blood Grass around him shuddered faintly. They seemed to be terrified of the boy. The boy's eyes were filled with a cold, merciless flame that seemed like it could freeze all life.

The boy stared coldly at the trapped cultivator before him. He moved suddenly and passed through the cultivator's body.

The cultivator, who hadn't noticed a single thing, suddenly trembled. The light in his eyes faded as his vitality vanished that instant, and he collapsed to the ground.

He never saw it coming. Until the moment of his death, he hadn't seen the blood-colored boy who had passed through him and appeared before him. He didn't see the white ball of flames that had appeared in the boy's hand after he had passed through his body.

The boy flung the ball of fire into his mouth and licked his lips. He took a step and disappeared. When he reappeared, it was behind another cultivator who was trapped within a circle of zombies and fighting for his dear life. He didn't pause. He passed through the cultivator, and the cultivator shuddered and died instantly. The boy swallowed the ball of fire. He disappeared again, then reappeared and killed again.

He wasn't very powerful. In fact, he could be seen as weak. However, the cultivators were all unable to sense his presence. He seemed to possess a bizarre, natural ability that made everyone defenseless against him. He moved about like this was his home and killed a dozen men in this manner. The next time he reappeared, he saw before him a donkey munching at grass frantically and Wang Baole hollering at the donkey.

The boy frowned slightly when he saw Wang Baole. His nose twitched, and doubt appeared in his eyes. He pondered for a while and seemed unable to come to a conclusion. Frustration and annoyance began to color his eyes. He moved and dashed towards Wang Baole.

He was very, very fast. He passed the donkey, which was happily munching at the grass around him, in an instant. He ignored the donkey. It was then that…

Suddenly… the donkey's nose twitched. It seemed to sense food drawing near. Not just food, but very, very delicious food… It opened its mouth wide instinctively and twisted its head towards the boy. With startling speed, it snapped its jaws shut and sank its teeth in!

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Chapter 337: A Great Grudge!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The boy was fast, but the speed that the donkey was capable of when it was snatching food was equally fast. Especially when it sensed that its food was rushing past it and towards its master, it panicked uncontrollably then.

It sincerely thought that the greatest enemy in its life was the guy behind it. He kept stopping it from filling its stomach. He even fought it for food.

What the donkey found unacceptable was how the food flew past it and ignored it entirely, heading straight into the arms of its master. It was unwilling to admit defeat. It turned suddenly and with a sudden bite, crunched down hard!

The bite… was unexpected and sudden. Wang Baole hadn't expected it. Even the invisible, cold and arrogant looking blood-colored boy hadn't expected it. It was something he would never have dreamed would happen. The silly-looking donkey that had been munching on grass all along had bitten him.

He found it hard to believe that the donkey could see him. What shocked him and sent his body trembling was how quickly the donkey had suddenly come at him. It had been a complete blur. It sank its teeth directly into his right arm.

There was a sudden crunch. The boy let loose a terrible scream that no one could hear. Half the length of his arm was snapped off clean by the donkey. There was an explosion of blood that no one could see. The boy's face was drained of blood instantly. Terror shone in his eyes, and he looked incredulous. It seemed as if it had never crossed his mind since the day he was born that he might one day be bitten!

The boy gasped in pain and terror when he saw the donkey attempting a second bite. He ignored the blood spurting from his arm and retreated hastily.

He narrowly avoided another horrible bite from the donkey.

Wang Baole hadn't sensed the little boy. He saw the donkey turning its head and snapping its teeth suddenly though. He found that strange. He eyed his surroundings but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

The donkey had its back towards Wang Baole. It looked smug. It seemed happy that its food hadn't been snatched away by Wang Baole. It swayed its tail and with two to three bites, quickly chewed and swallowed the arm.

It chewed and then its eyes widened suddenly. There was a lost look in its eyes, which soon disappeared as the donkey's eyes reddened. There was a sudden crazed look in them. It turned and started looking around.

This was the most delicious thing it had ever eaten in its entire life!

"What are you snapping at? Focus on your grass!" Wang Baole saw the donkey pause in its eating and glared at it. Reprimanded, the donkey took a deep breath and stared innocently back at Wang Baole before continuing to nibble at the grass. It seemed to feel a deep sense of regret at not finding the delicious food it had bitten into.

The grass had tasted great, but now it just tasted like wax and dust. But the donkey was simply too hungry. It continued to munching rapidly…

Its earlier look of innocence when it had turned back and stared at Wang Baole scared the latter though. Wang Baole felt something amiss. He knew the donkey's character, and the silly creature wouldn't show such an expression under normal circumstances. It only did that when it ate something it shouldn't or did something it didn't know that it shouldn't. To pretend that nothing actually happened, it would put on that innocent face.

"Something's wrong. Hey, Scram. Did you go behind my back and eat something you shouldn't?" Wang Baole stared at the donkey with suspicion.

The donkey immediately panicked when it heard that. It turned around hurriedly and gave Wang Baole a look of confusion and innocence. Its deliberate attempt at concealment sealed the deal for Wang Baole. But, no matter how he searched the area, he couldn't find anything. He glared at the donkey again before leading it forward into the tunnel.

The donkey was overjoyed when it saw that Wang Baole couldn't find anything wrong. It took a few steps then started braying. The young man and donkey continued their way deeper into the tunnel, amidst Wang Baole's throbbing headache and unresolved curiosity.

The pair vanished down a tunnel that had been eaten clean by the donkey, and the blood-colored boy slowly reappeared after they left.

He was no longer as arrogant as he had been earlier. He seemed furious, his anger tinged with hate and terror. His right arm had been snapped clean in half…

He clenched his teeth. He seemed to want to pursue the pair, but then he stared at his stump of an arm and shuddered violently. He was torn. He gritted his teeth and stared into the distance. His eyes were filled with hate, but he dared not go after them. He turned away, frustrated, and went off in another direction.

If there had been someone there who had taken a closer look, they would've known that the hate in his eyes wasn't directed at Wang Baole, but at his donkey…

A great grudge… had clearly been born.

The completely oblivious Wang Baole stopped thinking about the donkey's eccentric behavior. As they went deeper into the tunnel, there was less Blood Grass to be seen. Then, the grass completely disappeared. Wang Baole saw an intense, blinding red light in front of them. He even heard the indistinct sounds of battling. It was then that the donkey shuddered and broke through from the third level of the True Breath realm to the fourth level.

Wang Baole was rendered speechless at how the donkey managed to eat its way through a breakthrough in cultivation. He ignored it and raced towards the light. He stopped before he reached the end of the tunnel. He saw, through the vision of the mosquitoes he had released, a large cave at the end of the tunnel!

A blood-red light permeated the cave. It was vivid and filled the entire cave. It was from the hundreds of light sources in the cave!

There were more than a hundred bags of flesh growing on the walls and ceilings of the cave. Each meat bag was two to three meters wide. They were the source of the blinding red light.

A closer look would reveal a cultivator lying inside each bag of flesh. Their eyes were shut, and they were still. It was as if the meat bags were sucking the life out of them.

When Wang Baole saw the scene through the eyes of the mosquitoes, his head almost exploded. His breath quickened, and he immediately recalled when he had been at the Coulomb Basin on Earth and met the giant tree… and come across the assimilated cultivators.

The similarities were just… too striking!

Is the giant tree planning to revolt? Wang Baole's eyes widened. He almost retreated instinctively, despite having seen what was inside the cave. The giant tree was inside and was battling a thirty-odd-meter tall giant rotting corpse. The explosions he had heard earlier were from their battling.

The giant tree wasn't alone. Chen Feng was with him. The two of them had paired up. That was how they managed to hold their ground against the giant corpse. The giant corpse had thick, coarse skin and thicker flesh. It was rotting but still possessed a strong defense. When it opened its mouth and roared, poisonous fumes spewed out from its gaping mouth. The giant tree and Chen Feng had no choice but to fall back.

The giant tree seemed to be furious. An icy glimmer flashed in his eyes, and he was exuding an intense murderous aura.

Wang Baole sucked in a deep breath when he saw the sight. He didn't run away immediately. Instead, he weighed his options and released the mosquitoes. The nine mosquitoes raced towards the glowing bags of meat and tried to bite and tear into the bags. The damage they could do was minimal.

Left with no other choice, Wang Baole commanded the mosquitoes to conduct a swift search instead. A short while later, Wang Baole's eyes flashed. Through one of the mosquitoes' vision, he saw a meat bag hanging on the right side of the cave. Inside it was Lin Tianhao!

He seemed extremely weakened and was on the verge of death. If Wang Baole had come a moment later, there would have been no hope of saving him.

Let's wing it. I'm already here. What's there to be afraid of? Wang Baole gritted his teeth. He charged out with a sudden burst of speed, out the tunnel and straight into the cave. He ignored the fight and instead shot towards Lin Tianhao like an arrow.

He roared as he charged out. His cultivation erupted and flowed into the Dharmic Armament in his hand. A blinding black light erupted from the black saber as a black tornado formed behind Wang Baole. The black crocodile merged with the saber and transformed into a towering black saber light. The power oozing off it was so great that only the best of the best Foundation Establishment realm cultivators could achieve it. The blade fell and landed on the meat bag holding Lin Tianhao.

A loud thunder resounded within the cave. The sturdy, resilient meat bag couldn't withstand Wang Baole's blade. With a loud boom, it exploded and was ripped apart.

Wang Baole had controlled his saber well. The meat bag exploded, while Lin Tianhao lay inside, unharmed!

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Chapter 338: You Can't Eat That!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As the meat bag exploded, fluids splattered everywhere. Lin Tianhao slid out from the bag. His originally healthy, fit body was now skin and bones. He was almost skeletal, and his breathing was weak.

His rescue was timely. His eyelids fluttered as if he was trying to open his eyes. Wang Baole immediately pulled out pills and fed him a few. It was then that the giant corpse that was fighting the giant tree and Chen Feng seemed to have realized Wang Baole's rescue. It roared.

As it thundered, numerous meat bags around them started to explode. The cultivators inside them were killed immediately and transformed into zombies. They opened their eyes. Their eyes were gray. Each one of them started howling like mad beasts and charged towards Wang Baole.

Wang Baole immediately grabbed Lin Tianhao and retreated hastily. He paused for a moment as he saw the meat bags around them explode continuously. He drew near a meat bag and slashed it open. He had no time to check it. He rushed towards another one and slashed it open as well.

The horde of zombies charging towards him was too overwhelming. They were once cultivators. Despite their drained and skeletal states, the clothes they wore were still mostly intact. Many of them were military cultivators, while a few were array formation cultivators.

Wang Baole tried his best to defend himself and save as many people as possible. He managed to rescue a dozen or so people before the horde of zombies drew near. Anyone else would have fallen into grave danger then, but Wang Baole was an extraordinary fighter. He howled furiously and sent his saber in a wide sweep, slashing his way out of the zombie horde and continuing his rescue efforts.

He had saved two dozen people when a meat bag hanging on the ceiling a distance away from him suddenly exploded. A surge of Core Formation realm cultivation erupted. Out emerged a Core Formation realm zombie!

He was the leader of Team Six!

As soon as he appeared, he charged towards Wang Baole with a sudden burst of speed. Wang Baole gasped. He stopped his rescue efforts and immediately grabbed Lin Tianhao and retreated hastily.

He unleashed the full power of his Dharmic Armament and slashed at the approaching Core Formation realm zombie!

A deafening explosion sounded in the air. Blood dripped from Wang Baole's lips. He staggered back, his body like a kite suddenly cut from its string. The Core Formation realm zombie shuddered as well. He was pushed back multiple steps from that blow, his right arm sliced clean off by Wang Baole's saber!

The Core Formation realm cultivator clearly didn't possess the full strength and power of his former self before he had been zombified. He hadn't a mind of his own. He had been reduced to a beast and its base brutal nature. His loss of an arm didn't weaken his ferociousness. He howled and charged at Wang Baole again.

Wang Baole panted heavily. He knew that regardless of how weakened the enemy was, he was still a Core Formation realm cultivator. The difference in power between them was too great. He would be in grave danger should the zombie get close to him. He had no choice but to retreat, but he had Lin Tianhao with him. That made things difficult.

Wang Baole gritted his teeth. As he retreated, he flung Lin Tianhao behind him and yelled.

"Donkey, catch! Quickly, hide him!"

As Lin Tianhao was tossed into the air, the donkey appeared out from wherever it had been hiding and dashed forward, catching Lin Tianhao. It obviously knew the seriousness of the situation. It retreated immediately, dodging a few zombies. When it reached the entrance to the tunnel, it instinctively sniffed Lin Tianhao's hand, which was hanging limply by its mouth. It seemed to be thinking.

Wang Baole, who was frantically dodging the Core Formation realm zombie's attacks, snuck a glance and caught the expression on the donkey's face. He got furious immediately and hollered.

"Scram, you can't eat that. If you do, I'll make you shut your mouth for three years!"

Wang Baole wasn't sure if the donkey had finally learned obedience or if the threat of having its mouth shut for three years got to it, but a look of innocence immediately settled on its face. It stopped sniffing and fled instantly.

Wang Baole was still slightly worried. He was obviously the one in grave danger here, but the thought of the donkey taking a few nibbles at Lin Tianhao…

Wang Baole dared not think further. His head throbbed. He switched direction as he fled and banked on his speed to avoid the zombie. The Core Formation realm zombie had lost its former speed as well after zombification. Anxiety simmered inside Wang Baole. He knew that he could escape. He also knew that he was the one keeping the zombies contained by forcing their murderous attention on him.

As soon as he left, the zombies would likely turn on the other cultivators whom he had saved and were still currently unconscious.

I can't hold on like this much longer. The more Wang Baole thought about it, the more his head throbbed. He made full use of the mosquitoes to survey his surroundings. The sight of dozens of zombies surging forward made him clench his teeth. He waved his hand. Multiple lightning bolts descended and formed a thick lightning cloud in the cave.

The lightning cloud didn't cover a large area. As soon as it formed, it exploded. The zombies that had been approaching Wang Baole and charging at him were instantly blown to bits.

He wasn't done yet. Wang Baole formed hand seals rapidly. A sea of fire rose, its destructive force surging outwards explosively. It was the Heated Burst mystic technique.

A thundering roar rose as lightning shone beneath Wang Baole's feet. His startling speed surged, and with a sudden burst of speed, he slashed open another four meat bags before they exploded, saving another four people.

He had reached his limits though. The bags of flesh around him kept exploding. The zombies' numbers rose. The walls started shifting, and the earth started loosening—out popped gruesome faces and skulls. Wang Baole was torn. Finally, he clenched his teeth and prepared to make his escape.

It was then that a roar rang out. The other two Core Formation realm cultivators from the military who had been split up earlier finally arrived. When they saw the sight before them, alarm and horror colored their faces. One of them raced towards the giant tree and Chen Feng and joined their battle. The other raced towards Wang Baole to face the Core Formation realm zombie.

There was deep sorrow in their eyes. They knew that what stood before them was no longer their past comrades in battle.

Wang Baole finally let loose a sigh of relief at the sight of reinforcements. He raced towards the other meat bags and slashed open another dozen before all the meat bags finally exploded!

That was the best he could do. He had saved nearly forty out of more than a hundred cultivators. The rest… had all transformed into zombies!

It was then that the other Foundation Establishment realm cultivators arrived and appeared at the entrance of the tunnel. Every one of them had looks of horror and shock on their faces. They joined the battle. Wang Baole was finally released of most of his burden in fighting the zombie hordes alone. A chaotic battle erupted in the cave.

Cries of anger, sorrow, and pain surged in the cave like tsunami waves. They rose and ebbed. The giant tree transformed into a towering Osmanthus tree and ripped the giant corpse apart and then turned and joined the other battle. The battle slowly reached its end.

All the zombies were decimated. Silence fell. Wang Baole panted and realized that almost seventy percent of the Foundation Establishment realm cultivators who had joined the fight had been killed in battle.

Out of the three Core Formation realm cultivators from the military, two sustained minor injuries. Chen Feng's injuries were more serious. The giant tree himself had a somber expression on his face. He was less concerned about his injuries. What darkened his mood was what had happened here. Wang Baole hadn't been the only one who had found it familiar. He himself had found it incredulous as well.

That was why he had risked expending his vitality and resuming his original form in the first place. He hadn't planned for the latter. He had intended to seal his original form to save his strength, as he was building up his resources so that his cultivation might advance.

However, the scene in the Blood Cave made him realize that wasn't possible. Even he had doubted himself upon the sight. Others would feel the same too. Should someone make use of this to stir trouble for him, he would be at a disadvantage.

Damn it! What exactly is this cave? Why is it imitating me? The giant tree simmered in his frustrations. He looked at Wang Baole and grew even more annoyed. There was nothing he could do though. He didn't try to destroy the corpses. After speaking to Chen Feng, they decided to store the corpses in their storage bracelets.

He dared not destroy them. He was afraid of further misunderstandings. He intended to bring them back and allow the Martian administration to study the evidence. He was going to use that to clear his name.

Those who had been rescued by Wang Baole were all fed pills. They were unconscious but mostly unharmed. Those who remained alive were all overcome with strange feelings. What they had encountered in the cave was vastly different from the Mars they knew and remembered.

The Mars they knew and remembered was dangerous, but it was dangerous because the dangers were unknown, not because they were bizarre and out of this world, like what they had encountered in the cave…

Weighed down by thoughts, they soon finished the clean-up. The giant tree, Chen Feng, and the other two Core Formation realm cultivators led the party out of the cave with dark, solemn looks on their faces. Wang Baole found his donkey. He saw that all of Lin Tianhao's limbs had remained intact and sighed a breath of relief.

He followed the rest out. They sealed the cave before boarding the cruiser and racing away.

As the cruiser engines roared, the giant tree suddenly lowered his head and stared at the sealed cave. He sensed, vaguely, a gaze coming from the cave. Regardless of how hard he looked, he saw nothing.

Wang Baole didn't notice that, but he realized that since he had entered the cave at the end of the tunnel, the unknown power that had roused his Dark Fire had vanished.

He had been busy saving people then though and had no time to think about it. Now, he sank deep into thought. He stared at the sealed cave below them.

This place must have something to do… with the Dark Art… Little Missy said before that once one reached a certain level practicing the Dark Art, he would be able to wield the power of death… Wang Baole became silent. He sensed the Dark Fire stirring inside him again without rhyme or reason. A contemplative look appeared on his face.

Neither he nor the giant tree noticed the donkey sniffing the air then. It stared at the cave below them, and its eyes brightened. It started to lick its lips.

On the ground, the boy, whom no one could see, stood. His remaining left hand tightened into a fist. He stared unblinkingly at the donkey, his teeth almost cracking as he clenched his jaw tight.

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Chapter 339: I Can't Tell You!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The cruiser shot through the heavens and soon reached the Martian City's military base. As soon as it landed, Lin Tianhao and the other rescued cultivators were immediately taken away to receive medical attention. The Martian City Governor and some others had been waiting for them.

Wang Baole saw Lin You as well. The latter had clearly just arrived. Else, he would have joined the mission to the Blood Cave. He saw Lin Tianhao, who had clearly lost weight but was unharmed in general, and let loose a sigh of relief.

A closer look would reveal the increased number of white hair on his head. There were more of them now than when Wang Baole had first seen him. It was clear. He might have seen calm and composed when he received Wang Baole's message, but he had been anxious then. The degree of worry he had hidden then must have been indescribable.

He wouldn't have so easily left the Ethereal City, otherwise, and traveled such a great distance to Mars. He was a senator and the lord of a city, after all.

Now that he had his heart set at ease, Lin You gave Wang Baole a long, meaningful look. He didn't say much. Instead, he patted Wang Baole on the shoulder. He stopped Lin Tianhao from being sent to the healing chamber in the Martian military base and carried his son away so that he might help him recover elsewhere.

Wang Baole let loose a sigh of relief when he saw that. He never liked owing people favors since he had been young. This unintentional accident with Lin Tianhao had almost led to Wang Baole owing someone something he could never hope to pay back. Now that everything had been resolved, he could finally set his heart at ease.

He thought back to what had happened in the Blood Cave. So many people had died. Some might not have been killed… if Wang Baole had chosen to save them first instead of Lin Tianhao.

But there was no right or wrong where such things were concerned. Anyone else would have made their own choices.

The Blood Cave encounter had left an indelible mark on Wang Baole. There had been so much blood and death. On the other hand, if this really had something to do with the Dark Art, then the Dark Art could undoubtedly be labeled as a heretic mystic art.

The power it had displayed though… in the Blood Cave… was simply too great…

There's no such thing as a good or evil mystic art. Good and evil is determined by how the practitioner uses the mystic technique! Wang Baole decided. He didn't intend to stop his practice of the Dark Art because of this incident.

He knew though, from Little Missy's advice and this incident, that he must never let anyone find out that he was practicing the Dark Art.

When they returned, the giant tree, and Chen Feng and company, immediately had a meeting with the Governor. The others were sent to receive medical attention or rest while Wang Baole was escorted out of the base. He returned back to the academy.

He knew clearly that while this matter had a deep impact on the Martian administration, the majority of Martian cultivators were unaware that anything had happened. Life went on as usual. Nothing changed.

As the days passed by, the frequency of military cruisers appearing in the Martian skies increased. This was the same for the Colony Disciplinary Order. The Martian array formation was activated and tuned up to the greatest extent.

Wang Baole took note of it all. He understood the secrecy of the matter. His current cultivation and Noble status were not sufficient for him to be privy to such matters. Lin Tianhao's return helped resolve some of his doubts.

"Baole, I'm really grateful for what you've done." Lin Tianhao was still weak, but he was clearly recovering. He no longer treated Wang Baole as purely his boss and saw himself as a mere subordinate of Wang Baole. When he looked at Wang Baole, there was more warmth and gratitude in his eyes.

He had heard that Wang Baole was the one who had saved him. If he had chosen to save someone else then instead of him, it was likely that he would be lying on the autopsy table now awaiting the military's dissection and study.

"We're all family. There's no need for thanks. You took my place in the team. Of course, I'll give my all to save you!" Wang Baole said sternly. He patted Lin Tianhao's shoulder.

Lin Tianhao was moved by Wang Baole's words. He took a deep breath. He didn't continue to express further words of gratitude. His father had taught him since he was young that some things were best remembered and kept in the heart.

"Right, my father told me to tell you that this incident has something to do with the Martian Divine Armament. Due to certain reasons, he cannot reveal where the Divine Armament is. The original plans to explore the area had been canceled. After this incident, the Martian administration has decided… to reinitiate the Martian Divine Armament project!

"The new project will be different from the previous exploratory project though… the Federation and the various political forces seem to be involved. There's some conflict and tension. He said that you might receive news of this soon. He might be able to help if you need him to."

"Eh?" Wang Baole froze. He didn't really understand what Lin Tianhao had said. He knew about the Martian Divine Armament. This shouldn't have anything to do with him, though. Since it had nothing to do with him, why would he need help?

Intrigued, Wang Baole asked a few more questions. Lin Tianhao had no details to share though. He only said that his father had only told him so much and that he was to pass the message on to Wang Baole.

Wang Baole set the matter aside for further thought. Half a month soon passed. Lin Tianhao returned to office. With him back to handle the school's administrative matters, Wang Baole had an easier time at work. He spent most of his time cultivating and going through the blueprints for his stronghold.

Wang Baole kept analyzing and perfecting the blueprints. They were near perfect. His research on the construction puppets was also near completion.

He spent a great deal of time crafting construction puppets. Following the completion of each puppet, he would inspect them and identify areas for improvement. He would perfect his design, then go back to crafting new puppets.

Half a month passed.

During the month, Wang Baole was busy cultivation and crafting, but he noticed the donkey's strange behavior on multiple occasions. It would run out excitedly early in the morning and return home with a pleased look on its face.

That made Wang Baole curious, but he didn't spend too much time thinking about it. After all, no one had come knocking on his door asking for compensation for something the donkey had eaten. The school administration was running smoothly.

He stopped thinking about it. He could tell though that the donkey had gone to quite a few places, including Zone Thirty-Six where the military base was.

Did it go looking for the white donkey for revenge? The thought flashed across Wang Baole's mind. He didn't think too much about it though. He focused on his cultivation and spent the remaining time crafting puppets.

A dozen or so days passed. Wang Baole had crafted a few dozen puppets. Then, he suddenly received a notice from the Colony Disciplinary Order while in seclusion.

The Colony Disciplinary Order had sent someone over to escort Wang Baole back for a chat!

If it had been before his incident with Li Wan'er in the cave, Wang Baole would have been annoyed. After so many months had passed since the incident, Wang Baole couldn't help the surge of certain emotions when he received this invitation from the Colony Disciplinary Order.

Looking for me again? Does Li Wan'er miss me or something? Wang Baole blinked. He coughed and pondered for a while before leaving the academy, following the Colony Disciplinary Order officer back to their headquarters.

He didn't see Li Wan'er when he arrived. He was brought to a room, and the doors shut behind him. An array formation was activated immediately, and a sudden oppressive force appeared and weighed down on him. Wang Baole's face darkened. He eyed the shut door coldly.

"Colony Disciplinary Order, what do you mean by this!?"

"What do we mean? Wang Baole, you don't know what's going on even though you've committed a crime?" As soon as Wang Baole spoke, Zhuo Yixian's voice rang in the room. On the other end of the room, a small door appeared and opened. Zhuo Yixian appeared with seven to eight cultivators behind him. He had his hands behind his back while he sneered.

"What a pity. He actually came as we told him to. We had called for him like what we were supposed to do. If he had refused to obey or tried to drag his feet, according to the procedures, I could've sent someone to arrest him directly. Everything would be easier then." Zhuo Yixian walked into the room and stared coldly at Wang Baole. He sighed inwardly. However, he thought of the evidence he had gotten his hands on this time and grew incredibly smug. He thought to himself secretly that he would show Wang Baole what he was capable of this time. He'd skin him alive and break a few bones. He would stop calling himself Zhuo Yixian if he didn't do that.

Wang Baole frowned when he saw Zhuo Yixian walking in. His eyes grew cold. He sat down, the gears in his head spinning fiercely. Was this about him practicing the Dark Art?

But no one should know about this!

Wang Baole frantically tried to analyze the situation while appearing calm and composed. It was then that Zhuo Yixian spoke again, with a voice of authority and power. His voice rang loudly in the room.

"Wang Baole, a few months ago, on the day when the blood-colored mist and winds erupted on Mars, the military had gone looking for you but found you missing. Where were you that night? What did you do? Who did you meet?"

Wang Baole, who had been busy thinking about the Dark Art, froze when he heard that. He raised his head and stared at the condescending looking Zhuo Yixian. He blinked. A strange look fell across his face. He was no longer beset by uncertainty. He stopped thinking about the Dark Art. His posture relaxed. The expression on his face shifted though. He said nervously, "I can't tell you!"

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Chapter 340: Zhuo Yixian's Big Case

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Wang Baole had a slightly nervous look on his face, and his eyes were shifty. It was as if he was trying to hide something. It was as if someone had found out something incriminating about him and had that information in their grasp; they hadn't yet unveiled the information yet, but once they did, it would be exposed to the public.

Zhuo Yixian had known Wang Baole for quite some time. This was the first time he had seen such an expression on Wang Baole's face. His eyes flashed, and even his breath quickened. He was secretly excited. His face remained expressionless; however, he was inwardly pleased. It was as if spring had suddenly arrived, and a field of flowers had blossomed in his heart, soothing his spirit.

He had long held a deep grudge against Wang Baole in his heart. The source of their original conflict had been Zhuo Yifan, but they had crossed paths multiple times since. Their tense relationship had evolved past that; it no longer had anything to do with Zhuo Yifan. Zhuo Yixian simply disliked Wang Baole, and Wang Baole felt the same towards Zhuo Yixian as well.

If not for his wariness of Wang Baole's impulsive nature and prowess as a fighter, Zhuo Yixian wouldn't have had to go to such lengths. He would have beaten the man up and crippled him. Who cared about how powerful he was and how powerful the people supporting him were?

Zhuo Yixian snorted inwardly. Since he had arrived on Mars and received his posting in the Colony Disciplinary Order, he had been trying to find fault with Wang Baole. He wasn't going to go on the offensive so easily. When he did, he would make sure it was a killing blow that he delivered!

He had only been giving Wang Baole a taste of what was to come when he had gone to the Dao Mountain Mist Academy to arrest the teacher. He had not seen that as part of his plan of attack. Today though… today was the day when he, Zhuo Yixian, would reveal what he was capable of!

A cultivator who only knows how to fight is a mere brute. Since we've joined the system, we should know how to make use of all the resources we have, including our political support… today shall be the day I, Zhuo Yixian, avenge myself! Zhuo Yixian was overcome with excitement. It had been pure luck that he had managed to get hold of the evidence he had.

The blood-colored mist and winds that had appeared a few months ago had not only received special attention from the military. The Colony Disciplinary Order had also received orders to assist with the investigation. The focus of their investigation was to find out whether the phenomenon was man-made.

Even though the Governor was of the opinion that it was highly improbable that this was a man-made incident, there was still a need to carry out an investigation. Zhuo Yixian's authority in the Colony Disciplinary Order could not equal Li Wan'er's, but he still held significant power. He had been eager to prove himself and hence had poured a great deal of energy into the case.

Li Wan'er had been busy following up with the incident that had happened to Team Six and overwhelmed with work. Seeing how Zhuo Yixian had been so hard at work, she had left him full control of the investigation.

Having been given full rein of the case, Zhuo Yixian started to investigate furiously. Amidst the investigation, he had discovered something suspicious. When the military had sought Wang Baole that night, he had been missing!

No one knew where he had gone… this would have been a small, insignificant matter if not for the series of coincidences that had happened that day: the arrest at the academy, Wang Baole's visit to the Colony Disciplinary Order headquarters, the appearance of the blood-colored mist and winds, and the discovery of the bizarre villages!

Zhuo Yixian had instinctively felt that something was amiss when studying the series of coincidences. He had felt then that something wasn't right with Wang Baole's disappearance that night. They had been mere suspicions though. It would have ended there if it had been someone else, but Zhuo Yixian had disliked Wang Baole all along. He had used his authority to his advantage and put in more energy into the investigation.

His search had led him to a shocking discovery. All records of Wang Baole that night had been wiped clean. This had included his visit to the Colony Disciplinary Order. Zhuo Yixian had been shocked by that discovery. He had pondered over the matter before intensifying the search and had even resorted to using his own family clan's resources on Mars.

That hadn't resulted in any new leads… he had found that out of the ordinary. As long as Wang Baole had been on Mars, based on the resources of the Colony Disciplinary Order and his own family clan, he should have been able to trace where he had been that night. But it was as if… a mysterious person had destroyed all records of where Wang Baole had been and what he had done that night!

Zhuo Yifan had been overjoyed and excited at that discovery. He had felt that there must be something strange going on. His instincts had told him then that there was something big going on. This was a chance for him to prove himself. He hadn't told anyone about his findings. He had buried himself deep in work and used whatever authority he had to investigate further. The heavens had smiled on him and rewarded his efforts. Finally… he had found a piece of evidence!

He had done some reverse engineering to locate that evidence. He had searched through all the files that had been modified or deleted that day. He had gone through each and every one of those countless files and had finally located a video… that had been wiped!

It had been a video that was related to the heretic cultivator who had posed as a teacher in the Dao Mountain Mist Academy. It had been a secret recording taken in the secret chamber outside the city!

The secret chamber had been preserved to lure the arrested heretic cultivator's accomplices. That was why the Colony Disciplinary Order had set up video recording equipment secretly. Few would generally check such recordings, what more modify and delete a segment.

This discovery had excited Zhuo Yixian greatly. After locking down on the secret chamber, he had subsequently found out that blood-colored mist and winds had appeared in that region that night as well!

All the evidence had led Zhuo Yixian to believe that Wang Baole had done something unspeakable that night. It had something to do with the blood-colored mist and winds!

Zhuo Yixian had realized that this was a big case. He had then become more cautious. He had continued his secret investigation. After locating the deleted segment of the video recording, he had contacted a specialist in that area in his family clan to restore the deleted recording to the best of his ability. He had secretly sent the jade slip over to the specialist.

The restoration would take some time, but Zhuo Yixian had felt his evidence foolproof. In the heat of the moment, he had not been able to contain his impatience at seeing Wang Baole's pale face drained of blood. That had been why he had summoned Wang Baole earlier.

He had thought then, that if Wang Baole had tried to resist out of fear, it would have been perfect.

Wang Baole hadn't done that and instead had gone along without making a fuss. However, now, as Zhuo Yixian watched the expression on Wang Baole's face and heard what he had said, he was beyond excited and gleeful. He placed his hands behind his back and smirked.

"Wang Baole, I heard you were in charge of disciplinary matters while in the Ethereal Dao College. Don't you know that we, at the Colony Disciplinary Order… are in charge of finding out precisely the kind of things people wish to hide?"

"There wouldn't be a need for us Colony Disciplinary Order if you're willing to confess everything. Let me tell you, Wang Baole. What you've committed is a serious crime. Even if you try to keep your lips sealed… I'll still have a way to make you talk!" Zhuo Yixian narrowed his eyes when he said that. An icy glimmer flashed across his eyes. Excitement surged inside him. He sneered inwardly, laughing at the state that Wang Baole had gotten himself into!

Wang Baole stared at Zhuo Yixian. He could sense the latter's excitement. A strange feeling unfurled inside him. From where he was standing, Zhuo Yixian was racing furiously towards his inevitable downfall…

After all, the high officials' autobiographies had been clear on this point… it was a sin to dig into the private matters of one's superior. It was the worst crime one could commit!

I wonder what Li Wan'er was thinking. Maybe she was too busy with other matters and didn't realize this was happening? Maybe this is a test? Is a test really necessary… it's highly likely that Zhuo Yixian carried out an independent investigation secretly… Wang Baole muttered inwardly. He saw how arrogant and confident Zhuo Yixian was, and sighed. Then, he revealed a look of uncertainty on his face. It was as if he was torn. He gritted his teeth and forced blood to surface in the veins in his eyes. He raised his head and said loudly.

"I'm not saying anything!"

The more Wang Baole presented himself this way, the more excited Zhuo Yixian got. It was as if spring had arrived, and his heart burst into song. A cold glint flickered in his eyes. He slammed the table before Wang Baole suddenly.

The table, made from special material, made a loud thud. It was deafening and inspired fear. Zhuo Yixian's voice carried a hint of threat and violence as it rang out loudly in the room.

"Wang Baole, the Colony Disciplinary Order has thirty-six ways of getting our suspects to talk. How many do you think you can withstand? I'll ask you another time. Are you going to talk?"

Wang Baole hesitated when he heard about torture. He was deliberating whether he should just say something. It was then that suddenly, the doors to the secret room swung open. Seven to eight expressionless cultivators in black robes walked in. At the head of the group was Li Wan'er!

She had a cold expression on her face like she usually did. She walked in, with her well-endowed form and frost in her eyes!

As soon as Wang Baole saw Li Wan'er, he lengthened his neck immediately. His neck turned red, and his veins popped out from his forehead. He yelled at the top of his voice, as if in the face of death.

"Zhuo Yixian, I, Wang Baole, would rather die than tell you what happened that night!"

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