A World Worth Protecting

Upon hearing that, Wang Baole lifted his head abruptly. In that instant, the image of the Dark Sect’s complete destruction appeared in his mind. He didn’t know how the Darkness Faction would treat Earth’s population should they succeed in their endeavor, but to have their lives at the mercy of these people would be something that not only he, but the entire Federation wouldn’t allow!

“However, the Darkness Faction holds relatively less power in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. The faction that has the final say is the second faction, what we call the Light Faction. Of course, this is just a name we’ve come up for it.

“The Light Faction’s political ideology is different from the Darkness Faction. They believe that since their home planet has already been destroyed, then it doesn’t matter whether they head towards their originally planned destination or remain in the Solar System. They seem to approve of the Solar System as well, and wish to settle down permanently in here… They wish for a greater assimilation with the Federation, with the goal of integrating the Federation as part of their own!”

“They wish to build and grow with us. This might seem idealistic on their part, but it’s the best scenario for us, who is the weaker party in this picture! As for the third faction, there’s no need to consider them. They are a neutral party, away in seclusion and cultivation. They can’t be bothered with these political spats.” Upon saying that, the Martian Colony Governor paused. She waited for Wang Baole to digest all that she had just said.

“So, the Darkness Faction and Light Faction began fighting, and are now in conflict with each other?” After some thought, Wang Baole spoke.

“Based on our understanding of the situation, that is indeed the case, but the Light Faction has gotten the upper hand in the fight. That is why there is a teleportation array formation on Mercury!”

“What I’ve just told you are events that took place more than four decades ago. The construction of the teleportation array formation on Mercury began then as well… The damage to the ancient greenish-bronze sword caused a massive structural change within the sword, and due to its extreme proximity to the sun, it can only afford to maintain a heat protection barrier and is unable to teleport itself away. This means that the Vast Expanse Dao Palace is now trapped. If it leaves the protective barrier and forces its way out, it will melt before it could even leave!” Wang Baole frowned when he heard what the Governor said.

“Governor, aren’t there some contradictions here? Since they’re unable to leave, how can the Darkness Faction pillage the resources in the Solar System? In addition, how did the Federation come to know about all this information?” Wang Baole rubbed his forehead. He might have previously learned things about the ancient greenish-bronze sword that no ordinary person had known, but at this moment, he was still shocked by the new information that he was receiving.

“The Federation thought about the questions that you’re asking now all those years ago. The Vast Expanse Dao Palace might be trapped, but that doesn’t mean that it cannot leave. However, teleportation on the ancient greenish-bronze sword would expend a great deal of resources and labor. When the Light Faction finally got into power, it amassed an amazing amount of resources and finally teleported someone out. As their representative, he headed for the Federation, who was then undergoing a massive transformation!”

“You mean the Nascent Soul realm cultivator?” Wang Baole said immediately, shocked.

“The senior’s name is Mo Gaozi. He’s the Nascent Soul realm cultivator you’re talking about. When he reached the Federation and found former President Li Xingwen, he didn’t hide the purpose of his mission. He told Li Xingwen what was going on in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and he worked closely together with the Federation… to teach and guide us on how to cultivate, amongst other things… His very presence was the reason why the cultivation civilization in the Federation developed at such an impressive speed!” When the Governor spoke about Mo Gaozi, her voice was filled with awe, respect, and mixed feelings.

Wang Baole’s eyes widened when he heard that. This had exceeded his initial expectations. However, it did make sense if he thought about it more carefully. After all, it was simply too incredible to believe that the Federation had progressed to its current state within a brief four decades through their own efforts, and trial and error.

“During this period, the construction of a teleportation array formation began on Mercury, as requested by Senior Mo Gaozi. He told us explicitly that once the array formation was set up, Vast Expanse Dao Palace cultivators on the ancient greenish-bronze sword and the people in the Federation would be able to teleport freely between the two places. We would be opening a door for the cultivators on the ancient greenish-bronze sword!

“Most of what I told you earlier was what Senior Mo Gaozi shared with us. Both myself and the Federation’s upper management are grateful for what Senior Mo Gaozi has done for us. He single-handedly pushed into motion the Federation’s cultivation civilization. When he arrived on Earth forty years ago, the Federation… hadn’t even had a single Ancient Martial realm cultivator. If he had harbored any ill will towards us then, the Federation wouldn’t have become what it is today.”

“But…” The Governor fell silent for a moment. Then she sighed. There seemed to be mixed feelings in her tone when she spoke next.

“He is, after all, not one of us. He’s also not the one holding power in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace… We believe in his goodwill, but we can’t bet on it. The price of failure is too great…

“That’s why, after understanding the situation, former President Li Xingwen came to a decision when Senior Mo Gaozi requested the Federation gather resources and build a teleportation array formation. It was… to delay the construction of the teleportation array formation. At the same time, he requested Senior Mo Gaozi to do one thing for him as well!

“It was to… bring representatives of the Federation to the ancient greenish-bronze sword, so that they can see the world inside the sword with their own eyes and judge for themselves what is true and what is false!”

“You should be able to imagine that Li Xingwen was prepared to die going on that trip. He made the necessary arrangements if he should die. He even had contingencies for the scenario where he was controlled by others.” The Governor sighed. Her voice was colored with nostalgia for a period of hardship she hadn’t experienced personally.

Wang Baole became silent. Li Xingwen’s image appeared in his mind. Suddenly, he seemed to realize… the responsibility that came along with the title of Federation President.

“No one knew how Li Xingwen communicated with Senior Mo Gaozi then, and he never mentioned it. In the end… Senior Mo Gaozi agreed to his request. He communicated with the Vast Expanse Dao Palace, and the Light Faction spent an even greater amount of resources, which was further supported by Senior Mo Gaozi’s cultivation, and barely brought Li Xingwen and five other people onto the ancient greenish-bronze sword.

“They saw the Vast Expanse Dao Palace with their own eyes and came across opportunities that aided their cultivation. They verified the Light Faction’s sincerity and both parties came to an agreement. Li Xingwen was carrying a baby when he returned. As for the other five people, one became an elder in the Five Generation Sky Clan, one is the current Head Senator, one founded the Trilunaris Corporation, and the remaining two became the elders of the Galactic Dusk Sect and the Plume Manifestation Connate Sect!

“The teleportation caused a great impact on the ancient greenish-bronze sword. That is why there have been no further teleportations since.”

When Wang Baole heard that, he remembered what Zhuo Yifan had told him once. The Five Generation Sky Clan had a strange mystic art that could summon one’s past lives. He had his guesses about the baby that the Grand Supreme Elder had brought back as well.

Li Wuchen… Wang Baole fell deep into thought until the Governor’s voice rang out again.

“After that, the Federation began to prepare for Operation Sword Sun and the Federation Seedlings Initiative. We began searching for resources and building the teleportation array formation. Our plans were delayed though because of the beast sea. During this battle… Senior Mo Gaozi had gone into seclusion because of the cultivation that he had spent during the teleportation, so he hadn’t participated in the fight.

“But it was precisely because of this battle that the Federation, having toiled, torn, and bled, grew stronger swiftly… After the battle, Li Xingwen began to have doubts once again about the plan to reactivate the teleportation array formation. He couldn’t set his heart fully at ease even after having witnessed the Vast Expanse Dao Palace’s sincerity. After all, once the teleportation array formation was set up, the cultivators on the ancient sword would be able to leave freely. This might be a golden opportunity, but he was also afraid that he might be opening the gates to hell.

“This concerns the safety of the entire Federation civilization, after all. It was right for him to have doubts! Even though Li Xingwen decided to go ahead with construction, he chose to drag it out. Having decided that, he chose to step down. His successor Duan Muque would inherit his plans and make his own deliberations.

“He proposed the research into Anti-Spirit Bombs, which would become the Federation’s secret weapon. With that strategy in mind, he didn’t hide anything from Senior Mo Gaozi, who had recovered and left seclusion. He told Senior Mo Gaozi that the Federation needed to be fully prepared and that it needed a secret weapon for peace of mind, and so that it could fully cooperate with him.

“Senior Mo Gaozi understood where he was coming from. He knew the worries that a weaker civilization might have when faced with a more powerful one, so he didn’t interfere with the Federation’s plans and waited patiently instead.

“Then, a few years ago, you pushed back the Beast Tide in a single battle. This meant that the Federation wouldn’t have to split its attention and worry about the Beast Tides for a long period of time. There was also an initial success shown in the Anti-Spirit Bomb research. At the same time, Duan Muque was worried that Senior Mo Gaozi might grow impatient with waiting and that their agreed plans might change. That was why Operation Sword Sun was reinitiated, and the Federation Seedlings Initiative was carried out!

“That was the reason for getting you into the capital city, and the reason for the audition. The hundred Federation Seedlings were to be the first batch of Federation cultivators sent onto the ancient sword based on the agreement made between Li Xingwen and the Vast Expanse Dao Palace’s Light Faction. They are to head for the Vast Expanse Dao Palace and learn and train there. Besides improving their cultivation, they will also be the first step towards assimilation with the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!”

The Martian Colony Governor’s calm voice narrated the history that the Federation had gone through in the past forty years during the Spirit Inception Era. It was as if a painting had unrolled before Wang Baole’s eyes. Emotions rippled inside him, and it was a long while before they quieted down.