A World Worth Protecting

The vortex that gathered in mid-air above the Ethereal Dao College lasted for two hours, growing bigger as time went by. At the same time, a black hole sucked in all the Spirit Qi that had been dispersed in all directions, making all the spectators excited. They felt the indescribably concentrated Spirit Qi surrounding them.

The Spirit Qi was almost turning into a liquid state, resulting in a form of rain that landed both inside and outside the Ethereal Dao College. All the disciples were training at high speeds, and that was the case for the spectators outside the island as well. Even though it was incomparable to training inside the island, this was still a valuable chance to them.

At the same time, in the capital city of the Federation, Duan Muque was standing before the window of the President’s Office, looking in the direction of Ethereal Dao College. In his eyes, clouds were still rolling by in the sky, but according to his senses, the aura belonging to Li Xingwen was being unleashed continuously in Ethereal Dao College—it was growing stronger by the moment. It had already exceeded that of the Core Formation realm, and to a certain degree, Li Xingwen was already a Nascent Soul realm cultivator right now!

However, he was different from an ordinary Nascent Soul realm cultivator. As a new generation Nascent Soul realm cultivator, it was extremely difficult for him to achieve a breakthrough. It could even be said that with Li Xingwen’s astonishing qualities, the cultivation he possessed now would put him in a position that far exceeded that of a Nascent Soul realm cultivator if he were in other mature immortal civilizations.

In the Federation, there were fewer resources, less Spirit Qi, and weaker Stellar Sources, all of which limited his growth. However, that wasn’t without its own advantages. The moment he achieved a breakthrough to become a Nascent Soul realm cultivator in that restrictive environment, he was naturally more powerful than the other new Nascent Soul realm cultivators in the other civilizations.

Right now, despite already reaching the Nascent Soul realm, he was still absorbing Spirit Qi in order to strengthen his physique, as well as to allow the disciples from the four great Dao Colleges to have more Spirit Qi to absorb!

As Federation President, Duan Muque didn’t approve of such a move. That was because the Spirit Qi on Earth originated from the fragments. Even though it seemed limitless, it was finite in reality. Unless a method of replacing Spirit Qi could be found before the limit was reached, the immortal cultivation of the Federation would be ephemeral.

He was unable to accept that and therefore didn’t approve of this forced absorption of Spirit Qi in order to nourish the cultivation of the later generation. However, he understood Li Xingwen as a person, as he, Duan Muque, was the current Federation President.

Therefore, after a period of silence, Duan Muque took a deep breath and retracted his gaze from the sky. He looked in the north-west direction before slowly closing his eyes, deep in thought.

In the direction Duan Muque was looking, there was a mountain range located a great distance away from the capital city. Within the mountain range was a pavilion, where a silver-haired elder sat with his legs crossed.

The elder, Feng Daogu, was dressed in a Daoist robe. The aura given off from his body far exceeded that of the Core Formation realm and was that of the Nascent Soul realm. This person was the Nascent Soul realm elite highlighted in Duan Muque’s announcement, the one that had been filmed going to kill the three extraterrestrial cultivators in the video recording!

Right now, he was also looking in the direction of the Ethereal Dao College and at the clouds in the sky. He was staring in the direction of the aura that he sensed was rising up at high speeds, and he felt emotional and comforted.

“I hope that the wishes of Elder Feng could be fulfilled in this new era of immortal cultivation…” As he mumbled, the elder shut his eyes.

At the same time, Li Xingwen’s advancement had reached a crucial juncture. As the Spirit Qi was accumulated amidst the loud booms, and as his breakthrough was continually achieved, all the disciples on the Upper Academy Island were shocked—their bodies trembling. The Spirit Qi here was simply so concentrated that they didn’t even need to take the initiative to absorb it, as it would simply enter and flow throughout their bodies through their sweat pores!

Right now, Wang Baole was trembling vigorously. His facial expressions were changing rapidly, and a vortex seemed to have been formed where he was, sucking in all the accumulated Spirit Qi towards his body.

If he were to cultivate the Lightning Dao: Second Volume, Wang Baole would raise his cultivation level. However, after a moment of silence, Wang Baole didn’t choose the Lightning Dao: Second Volume. Instead, after realizing that the entry of the Spirit Qi into his body could increase his cultivation level and also train his physique, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Right now, I possess the Dark Core as well as the Lightning Core. My combat capabilities are on the level of a mid-stage Core Formation realm cultivator. However, when unleashed, my body, which was originally able to withstand this force, seems to be unaccustomed to it…

Therefore, perhaps what is most important to me right now isn’t the cultivation technique required for the Core Formation realm. Instead, it’s more important to increase my physical strength! Wang Baole took a deep breath and shut his eyes, looking at the green lotus inside his body. After seeing the lotus seed head that encompassed the Dark Core and the Lightning Core, his gaze fell on the main lotus seed head of the green lotus.

After obtaining the green lotus, he felt that it didn’t significantly help in raising his cultivation level, but it did have a great impact on his physical body. Furthermore, in the Dark Sect ancient literature in his Dark Dream, Wang Baole didn’t come across information regarding the green lotus, but he did see something about training his body.

However, all the cultivation techniques required Dark Qi, and at the same time, they could only be unleashed in the Spirit Immortal realm. Despite that, it gave Wang Baole a direction to proceed in. Therefore, right now, a thought popped up in Wang Baole’s mind.

Perhaps I could make use of the Spirit Qi that the Grand Supreme Elder has gathered here to allow my body to form a core! With that thought, Wang Baole grew determined. Without hesitation, he sealed his hands, immediately directing all the Spirit Qi that had been absorbed into his body towards the main lotus seed head!

As the Spirit Qi entered, the main lotus seed head vibrated briefly before a green glow emerged from within. This glow seemed to able to pass through his internal organs and his flesh, causing Wang Baole to turn green.

As the green glow shone, his bones regenerated, and his flesh and blood grew. His internal organs also seemed to be boosted, which resulted in his heartbeat becoming louder and stronger, eventually being thunder-like as it arrived in Wang Baole’s ears!

My physical strength is increasing! Wang Baole was exhilarated, and he decided to activate the devouring seed in his body. Instantly, the surrounding Spirit Qi was being sucked towards him. Very soon, the people around him realized what was happening and immediately dispersed, resulting in him being the only one who remained. Outside his body, a bigger vortex appeared. As loud booms sounded, the Sect Lords and others from the other three great Dao Colleges all noticed the anomaly with Wang Baole and shot him concerned looks.

However, Wang Baole didn’t care about that. He was now immersed in strengthening his body, and a cycle had already formed inside his body.

Absorb the Spirit Qi, integrate it into the green lotus, release the green glow, and strengthen his body!

As the cycle proceeded, the green lotus in his body shook vigorously, and it even began to grow gradually!

The more it grew, the more the green glow that emerged had an increasing effect on strengthening his body. Amidst Wang Baole’s agitation, a sense of comfort that was different from when he was training his cultivation techniques could be felt outside his body. It was as if there were countless small hands touching him all over his body, which made even his skin glow green. In the end, Wang Baole, who was sitting there with his legs crossed, had become green throughout!

The sound of his heartbeat even spread out of his body in all directions, resulting in echoes being produced!

This pounding sound made the Sect Lord of the Ethereal Dao College, as well as those from the other Dao Colleges, surprised. The Sect Lord from the Holy River Dao College even gasped in shock.

“His heartbeat sounds like thunder. I have read a tattered piece of record previously that mentions that this is a realm that belonged to someone who trained his physique in the Ancient Sword Civilization. That realm was known as the Heart Core Realm, and is similar to a Core Formation realm cultivator!

“Even though the cultivation technique wasn’t outlined in the incomplete record, its description mentioned that this Heart Core literally means transforming one’s heart into a core. When the sound of one’s heartbeat becomes extremely strong, it becomes like a pill. If it jumps around a plate without forming an echo, it means that one has succeeded in entering the Heart Core Realm!”

As the Holy River Dao College Sect Lord spoke hurriedly, the other Sect Lords looked towards him. Even the Grand Supreme Elders from the three great Dao Colleges sensed something unusual, and as they turned to look…

A loud boom reverberated between the heavens and earth. A force that far exceeded the Core Formation realm, one that truly belonged to a Nascent Soul realm cultivator, was instantly unleashed in the mountain where Li Xingwen was in seclusion. As it was unleashed, the winds and clouds churned in the skies, forming a small human image. That image was of Li Xingwen standing in mid-air, looking in all directions. As he laughed, everyone was agitated as they greeted him. The small human returned the greeting, and his gaze suddenly landed on Wang Baole with a look of surprise.

“Interesting!” The small human image smiled. He sealed his hands and pointed to Wang Baole. Instantly, Wang Baole’s body vibrated, the Spirit Qi around him becoming even more astonishingly strong as it surged into his body!

A cracking sound was produced instantly from his body, and the sound of his heartbeat transformed quickly at this moment. It originally produced echoes, but right now, the echoes all but disappeared. Listening to it, it was no longer like a heartbeat, and was more like a pill that had dropped onto a plate!

After this, Li Xingwen’s Nascent Soul laughed heartily for a long time, before transforming into a purple glow that charged towards the mountains below!

The next moment, the mountains started vibrating vigorously, and a loud crack was produced. Li Xingwen, after becoming a Nascent Soul realm cultivator, emerged from within!

His appearance caused all the cultivators inside and outside the Upper Academy Island to hold their breaths. Other than Wang Baole’s obliviousness towards everything, everyone else greeted Li Xingwen with a deep bow.

“Congratulations on becoming a Nascent Soul realm cultivator, Grand Supreme Elder!”

“Congratulations on becoming a Nascent Soul realm cultivator, Senior Li!”

“Congratulations on becoming a Nascent Soul realm cultivator, Fellow Daoist Li!”