A World Worth Protecting

Gao Quan was sad and angry. After hearing Wang Baole’s words, he felt that the one affecting the fairness of the test was Wang Baole. He felt extremely depressed, and as his aggrieved feelings grew until he was about to explode, he tried to speak.

But Wang Baole glared, and the viciousness in his gaze made Gao Quan’s body shudder, sorrow filling his heart.

Who’s the evil one here? This Wang Baole is the evil one!

When the surrounding Lower Academy Island students saw this scene, all of them stared with their mouths agape. They all looked at Wang Baole like they were staring at a man of god, and some of them even bowed in reverence. As they saw Gao Quan getting thrashed, their anger had slowly diminished. Gao Quan was really not liked in the Dao College.

This was especially so because a part of the people in the crowd were freshmen, and their understanding of Wang Baole was built up from what people told them. As they saw Wang Baole in person, all of them were in awe. Even though Wang Baole had already been promoted to Upper Academy Island, stories about his past endeavors were still spread around the Lower Academy Island. One could imagine how deeply the stories of his endeavors would get rooted in the Lower Academy Island in the future. Because of that day’s events, Wang Baole would be seen as a legend in every faculty.

It could even be said that the future freshmen accepted into the Dao College would grow up hearing about the legends of Wang Baole, starting from the moment they stepped onto the Lower Academy Island. As they slowly got promoted to Upper Academy Island, they might even seek more information about Wang Baole as soon as they could.

In the hearts of the students in the Lower Academy Island, Wang Baole was already considered a peerless legend among the students.

The Chancellor, standing at the left side of the square, was having a huge headache at the moment. Although Wang Baole was excellent, his ability to stir trouble was equally excellent. Wang Baole and Gao Quan’s conflict was extremely deep, and Wang Baole had already left the Lower Academy Island. Yet, he had come back to beat Gao Quan up. This made the Chancellor not know whether to laugh or to cry.

As he was thinking about how to resolve the issue, Zhou Xiaoya’s gentle voice sounded in the central Public Square.

“Brother Baole… there’s no need for a retest. The result will still be like this.”

As she spoke, Zhou Xiaoya went to Wang Baole’s side, held his hand, and shook her head gently.

“How could that be!” Wang Baole was about to continue speaking when the Alchemy Pavilion elder sitting beside the Chancellor suddenly laughed.

“Lad, are you sure you want a retest?”

Wang Baole had been paying attention to the elder the whole time. When he heard the elder’s words, he felt that something was amiss. So, he looked at Zhou Xiaoya, then he looked at the elder. Actually, when the elder did not stop him when he was beating up Gao Quan previously, Wang Baole had already begun contemplating in his mind.

Looking at Wang Baole’s expression, the Alchemy Pavilion elder smiled. He shifted his gaze, and it landed on Zhou Xiaoya. With a slightly stern expression, he asked, “Zhou Xiaoya, tell me, why did you throw in the Afterglow Grass at the final moment?”

Hearing the elder’s words, Zhou Xiaoya took a deep breath. Not releasing her grip on Wang Baole’s hand, she spoke softly.

“That’s because, according to the Cloud Breath Pill formula, the toxicity of the pill increases the purer it gets. The Afterglow Grass can negate the pill’s toxicity. That’s why… I threw in the Afterglow Grass.”

As Zhou Xiaoya spoke, the surroundings went silent, and even Chen Fei paused for a moment and stared at Zhou Xiaoya. As for Wang Baole, he blinked, lowered his head to look at the wretched Vice-Chancellor Gao Quan, and did not speak.

“Did you know that, although the Afterglow Grass can negate the pill’s toxicity after you throw it in, it will also affect the pill’s purity?” The elder’s gaze became sharper, as though he was trying to examine Zhou Xiaoya’s true character.

Zhou Xiaoya was a little scared, and she tightened her grip on Wang Baole’s hand, answering softly, “I knew that.”

“You knew that? Then you must know that the assessment criterion of this test is the purity of the Cloud Breath Pill. Why did you still do that? Do you not want the reward of becoming a specially-recruited disciple?” The Alchemy Pavilion elder spoke slowly, but his gaze turned sharper, and a suppressive force even spread from his body. This suppressive force was so strong that even Wang Baole felt frightened.

Zhou Xiaoya’s breathing hastened, and her body was shivering. But after she felt Wang Baole gripping her hand a little more tightly, she raised her head to look at the Alchemy Pavilion elder. Her gaze was clear, and with a strong conviction, she spoke softly.

“That’s because the path of Alchemy is people-oriented. If I only care about the purity of a pill and pay no attention to its toxicity, then the pill I refine in the end will not be a kind pill used to heal and aid in one’s cultivation but an evil pill used to hurt people.

“Even if I improvise and receive the reward by winning through refining a pill with a higher purity, I can fool others, but I can’t fool myself. For some things, you will do it again after you do it the first time. I don’t want to hurt people. I want to be accountable for the pills I refine, I want to be accountable to my own conscience, and I want to be accountable to anyone who consumes the pills I refine!

“My pill is not pure enough, but… it’s not toxic.” When Zhou Xiaoya first spoke, her voice had been soft, but it gradually grew louder.

She had always been timid, but that day, while everyone was watching and Wang Baole stood beside her, she expressed her conviction toward Alchemy, her principles regarding Alchemy, and what she hoped to achieve through Alchemy.

And deep in her heart, she told herself, I want to keep refining pills for Brother Baole…

As these words spread from her mouth and entered the ears of the surrounding crowd, everyone was stunned. That was especially so for the students in the Alchemy faculty, who fell silent.

Chen Fei’s body shuddered. Looking at the Alchemy Pavilion elder’s stern face, she slowly anticipated her reward. She started worrying about her personal gains and losses and was extremely nervous.

Wang Baole was also stunned. He tilted his head to look at Zhou Xiaoya, and it was as though he had just met her.

The surroundings went quiet, and even Vice-Chancellor Gao Quan seemed to forget his pain. He had a complicated expression when he looked toward Zhou Xiaoya. The Chancellor also went silent, but a slight smile appeared at the corner of his lips, and he gazed at Zhou Xiaoya with strong admiration.

The Alchemy Pavilion elder was silent for a long time. It was as though Zhou Xiaoya’s words made him think of a certain person. After a while, he let out a soft sigh, and his stern expression became kindly. As he gazed at Zhou Xiaoya, he suddenly spoke.

“You believe in kind pills—that is very rare and commendable… Zhou Xiaoya, you no longer need to address yourself as student. If you are willing, you may address yourself as disciple, in front of me!”

As he spoke, the surrounding crowd were all extremely surprised. Wang Baole was also surprised. Meanwhile, Chen Fei only felt her world getting darker; she staggered, and her face went extremely pale.

“Ah?” Zhou Xiaoya was rooted to the spot and seemed a little flustered. She looked at Wang Baole subconsciously.

Right at that moment, the Alchemy Pavilion elder stood up while laughing and smiled at the Chancellor beside him.

“Old Lu, I’m going to take this girl away and accept her as my final disciple. Will you let me?”

The Chancellor chuckled and got up as well. He was happy for Zhou Xiaoya and even more excited. He knew the status of the elder standing in front of him. That elder was one of the four elders of the Alchemy Pavilion. In the path of Alchemy, he had a huge reputation throughout the entire Federation.

With that thought, the Chancellor looked toward Zhou Xiaoya with encouragement. “Xiaoya, greet your master!”

Wang Baole was also extremely happy and quickly nudged Zhou Xiaoya. It was then that Zhou Xiaoya reacted. Although she was still a little dazed, she was not a fool and quickly stepped forward to bow to the elder.

“Master, accept my greetings as your humble disciple, Zhou Xiaoya!”

The Alchemy Pavilion elder chuckled, and with a swish of his sleeve, he actually brought Zhou Xiaoya along and stepped on air, heading directly toward Upper Academy Island. From start to finish, he never looked at Chen Fei, nor did he ever bring up the reward.

What cultivation realm is he at to be able to step on air like that? This scene made Wang Baole narrow his eyes.

The shocked crowd all looked toward Zhou Xiaoya in the sky. That was especially so for the Alchemy faculty students, who looked on with envy. As for Chen Fei, she went pale and collapsed to the ground.

At that moment, Zhou Xiaoya’s shouts and the elder’s laughing voice sounded from the sky.

“Wang Baole, please don’t disturb Xiaoya for a period of time. She needs to train in seclusion. I will get her an eight-inch Spirit Root. If you don’t train hard, she might even surpass you.”

“Brother Baole, wait for me to come out of seclusion. I’ll go look for you…”

Gazing at the pair, who were getting further away, Wang Baole smiled. He was happy for Zhou Xiaoya, and just as he was about to leave, he noticed the Chancellor glaring at him. So, he scratched his head and released his grip on Gao Quan’s hair.

“You’ve already been promoted into Upper Academy Island. Why are you still so rash!” The Chancellor glared at Wang Baole.

Wang Baole was slightly awkward. He lowered his head to look at the indignant Gao Quan, coughed, and patted the shoulder of the shivering Gao Quan.

“Old Gao, keep doing fewer bad things and more good things in the future. Understood?

“Chancellor, I just remembered about the Dharmic Artifact that I’m halfway through refining. I’ll take my leave first…”

With that, Wang Baole quickly shook his body and jumped into his cruiser. He left the Alchemy faculty rapidly and headed straight for Upper Academy Island.

Sending Wang Baole off with their gazes, the surrounding crowd looked at one another, and the Chancellor was also helpless. Knowing it was a misunderstanding, he finally looked at the indignant Gao Quan and sighed.

“Gao Quan, you…” He wanted to console Gao Quan but did not know where to start. Finally, he gave Gao Quan a bottle of pills and left while contemplating about changing his Vice-Chancellor.

Only Gao Quan was standing there in anger and sorrow. He wanted to cry, but no tears fell, and the indignation that he felt in his heart spread toward the heavens.

I was wronged!