A World Worth Protecting

It was dead silent all around. Those disturbing sounds dumbfounded everyone, and very quickly, the sound of ragged breathing emerged, erupting suddenly in the cave abode region, like a ferocious wind sweeping the area and creating a hurricane.

“This… what’s this? A Dharmic Artifact puppet?”

“It’s sound, gosh, that disturbing sound! I’ve got goosebumps!”

“Such talent to be able to make a puppet like this!”

The words that Wang Baole had said previously especially reverberated in the ears of the onlookers at this moment as they breathed. Eventually, it created an even more shocking commotion among the people.

“Is that true? Regardless of whether it’s true or not, what exactly did Lin Tianhao do to this Zhu Gangqiang, wrecking the puppet to this extent! Three days and three nights? What a beast!”

“Look at the expression of this Zhu Gangqiang, bashful yet aggrieved… The way it walks also seems weird and perhaps a little painful. There must be a good story behind this. Hah! Interesting! Really interesting!”

Listening to the conversations between the people around him, Wang Baole gained an understanding as well. The words of the surrounding disciples made him realize that each of them was more talented and him, and none of them were good natured.

Lin Tianhao trembled; his eyes widened to such a degree that they were about to pop out as he looked at the bashful hunk that was running toward him with open arms while making disturbing sounds. His mind buzzed with so much activity that even the Numinous Treasure flying knife in front of him became unsteady and fell to the floor.

“Get lost, get lost! Don’t come near me!”

He was flabbergasted, especially since he had never experienced such an appalling incident in his life. He stepped back instinctively, and his breathing quickened as he felt his vision turning black due to how bizarre everything was.

However, Zhu Gangqiang was so fast that the instant Lin Tianhao retreated, it immediately neared. As the disturbing sound grew louder, it opened its arms wide and hugged Lin Tianhao tight.

That hug shocked Lin Tianhao so much that all his hair stood up, making him crazy. As he flailed his arms, Dharmic Artifacts flew out of his storage bag, directly toward Zhu Gangqiang.

With a loud bang, Zhu Gangqiang’s body vibrated violently, and it was instantly thrown off. When it landed, its body was severely damaged, and Wang Baole immediately approached it to give Zhu Gangqiang a hand as it struggled to pick itself up. Wang Baole looked extremely sad as he glowered at Lin Tianhao.

“Lin Tianhao, Zhu Gangqiang is already so pitiful, and you still attacked it? Was it wrong that it was so happy to see you and simply wanted to reunite with you with a hug?”

A commotion arose once again, and the people around added fuel to the fire. Everyone understood that the accusations Wang Baole made against Lin Tianhao were not technical, and some had even vaguely heard Wang Baole mentioning something regarding the Lower Academy Island previously. However, to them, they were not acquainted with the Lower Academy Island in the first place, so as long as there was a show to watch, a show whose content made their dull lives that much more interesting, they were content.

In reality, even if Lin Tianhao and Wang Baole switched positions, they still would have reacted in the same way, especially since the scenario involved the production of Dharmic Artifacts, which jolted everyone awake. Some of them even roared in an evil tone.

“Lin Tianhao, that’s too much. Come, share what you did that turned Zhu Gangqiang into this state!”

“Haha, Lin Tianhao, don’t be shy, tell us!”

Lin Tianhao’s eyes were red with fury. To him, what had happened that day was too much to handle. Previously, he had still been able to force himself to calm down, but now that Wang Baole had created such a commotion, which was intensified by the onlookers, he realized that it was not that no one understood the situation. However, even if they understood it, it was inevitable that news would spread.

When he thought about how everyone in the Dao College would recall the scene with Zhu Gangqiang and him in the future, Lin Tianhao was about to go crazy. He was trembling hard internally—far more than when Wang Baole attacked him like a hurricane.

“Wang Baole, I’ll kill you!” As he roared, Lin Tianhao’s body flew into midair. He had lost all logic as he charged toward Wang Baole.

Wang Baole closed his eyes and laughed to himself. He was someone that held a grudge and did not like to leave without taking revenge. Had Lin Tianhao watched his behavior on Upper Academy Island, he would have let it go, but since he had made the mistake of provoking him, he decided to retaliate fiercely in such a manner!

Not only did he want to physically attack Lin Tianhao, he wanted to bruise him both in terms of his reputation and in terms of his psychological state, such that he would not recover from the shame however hard he tried.

Now, as he watched Lin Tianhao approaching him like a lunatic, Wang Baole’s eyes flashed, and he clenched his right hand into a fist, preparing to attack as the Spirit thread inside him began spreading and the devouring seed started to turn.

However, at that moment, a massive suppressive force that no one was able to resist suddenly erupted like an giant, invisible hand from the middle peak of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion’s four mountains, directly suppressing and freezing the Spirit Qi in the environment.

Then, an angry, dull voice reverberated in the surroundings.

“Wang Baole, where do you think you are? How bold of you!”

The loud voice caused Wang Baole’s entire body to tremble. He had difficulty breathing, and as his expression turned awful, Lin Tianhao trembled as well. He was forced to stop thirty feet from Wang Baole, vibrating violently as he urgently tried to control it.

Even the onlookers who were watching the show were affected as well. Their facial expressions changed and did not even try to resist it as they all respectfully lowered their heads.

“Greetings, Pavilion Head!”

As everyone greeted, a long rainbow appeared, hanging in midair. Within the rainbow was a figure, that of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion Head dressed in purple. He was stepping on a green flying sword, his expression awful as he stared coldly at Wang Baole.

Wang Baole was unhappy, for the appearance and words of the Pavilion Head meant that all the blame had been pushed onto him. However, being extremely familiar with the high officials’ autobiographies that he had read, he did not reveal a look of dissatisfaction and was instead as respectful as the people surrounding him. He even stepped forward quickly as an undetectable glimmer appeared in his eyes.

Those few steps were meant to convey his respect toward the Pavilion Head as well as to make the relationship between them rosier. However, he was even nearer to Lin Tianhao as a result. Regardless, Wang Baole did not care as he greeted the Pavilion Head in the skies with cupped fists.

“Please appease your anger, Pavilion Head. The disciple knows his mistake.” After which, Wang Baole immediately put the puppet beside him away. However, when he touched the puppet gently, the disturbing sounds it was making grew louder, and it looked at Lin Tianhao with open eyes, its desire for a hug stronger than ever.

This very scenario was like adding fuel to fire. Lin Tianhao was a prideful person, viewing himself as an extraordinary individual. The shock that he had experienced that day had been so huge that he could not even maintain his logical side. The crazy rage that he tried hard to suppress was instantly unleashed. If Wang Baole had stayed thirty feet away from him, it would not have mattered, but the problem was that he was now less than twenty feet away.

Therefore, instantly, Lin Tianhao roared with rage in his eyes as he controlled the Dharmic Artifact flying knife and many other Dharmic Artifacts to attack Wang Baole.

Once he started his attack, he immediately realized that something was amiss. However, it was too late to take everything back.

His sudden movement was unexpected. No one had imagined that Lin Tianhao would dare to launch an attack under the watchful eyes of the Pavilion Head!

Instantly, his flying knife and other Dharmic Artifacts rained down on Wang Baole. Wang Baole sneered inwardly but revealed a look of shock on his face as he immediately deployed all sorts of protective gear. He tumbled strongly, landing on the ground a distance away, forcing out a mouthful of fresh blood in order to look pitiful. In reality, his tough physique was not even slightly affected by the attack, but he still faked a miserable look.

“Pavilion Head, I know that I am bold. Even though I have broken through at the eight-inch Spirit Root stage and did a good deed for the Dao College in the Spirit Breath Village, I had never thought that my accomplishments would give me any special privileges.

“According to the Dao College’s rules, people who have broken through at the eight-inch Spirit Root should be rewarded with a cave abode and a cruiser, but I did not accept them. This Lin Tianhao has an eight-inch like me, and he has been bestowed with everything. I am grateful to the Dao College, for I, Wang Baole, would not be me without the Dao College. I have no unhappiness toward the Dao College at all, and I understand completely.

“Even if Lin Tianhao barbarically occupied two cave abodes, taking away what was rightfully mine, I have no unhappiness.”

“Today, I’m here because the Senior Brother at the Pavilion Administrative Department sent me here to get things regarding the return of the cave abode moving, and this can be proven by the jade slip! If the Pavilion Head wants to mete out a punishment, I will take it wholeheartedly.”

Wang Baole struggled to stand up as he took out his jade slip, standing with his head lowered and his eyes revealing a look of sadness and anger.

The entire place fell silent instantly. Wang Baole looked at Lin Tianhao, whose expression was turning awful, his heart filled with immense delight.

Bastard Lin, you want to fight me? If I can’t force you to your wit’s end, I am not Wang Baole!