A World Worth Protecting

The moment they heard Feng Qiuran’s words, Xu Ming and Lu Yun both put on a serious expression as they stood and waited for their master to give instructions.

Feng Qiuran felt heartened looking at the facial expressions of the two disciples that she valued most. After a brief moment of silence, she began to speak.

“Both of you should have heard of the trial that will take place seven days later by now. I want the two of you to emerge in the top three regardless of anything in this trial!”

“One of the positions must be given to a participant of the trial from the Federation at the last moment. I will pay both of you generously for this!” With that, a sharp look appeared in Feng Qiuran’s eyes as she looked at her two disciples.

Xu Ming and Lu Yun remained silent, before cupping their fists and nodding their heads to heed the order.

Even though she noticed that there were no changes in the facial expression of her two personal disciples, Feng Qiuran still sensed the torrent of emotions in both of them. She also knew that this request was unreasonable, but she didn’t have any other way out. Therefore, she began to speak softly with a gentle expression on her face.

“I promise to provide a boost to the person who gives up on their position so that when his cultivation is in the process of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, he will reach mid-stage Nascent Soul realm immediately!”

Hearing that, Xu Ming and Lu Yun looked surprised, and a glow could be seen in their eyes. Previously, they were indeed unwilling to fulfill their master’s request, but if they could be compensated in this manner, they were motivated.

“Master, what if there is only one position?” Lu Yun suddenly spoke.

“One is fine as well, but that is the bare minimum!” After a moment of silence, Feng Qiuran answered.

“Master, if we want to enter the top three in this trial, both of us need to put in our utmost effort. Therefore… It’s not possible for us to look after the Federation cultivators. If we don’t need to consider the Federation cultivators and could fight for it with our full effort, it is more likely that we would succeed. Furthermore, we could, at the very least, give the Hyacinthus Tree leaf to someone from the Federation when the trial ends and let that person go to the Worship Palace Pavilion.” After thinking about it, Xu Ming looked towards Feng Qiuran.

Feng Qiuran frowned and had wanted to reply. However, after thinking about it, she also realized that if she were too strong-willed regarding this matter, it would indeed increase the difficulty of the task significantly. After all, they had to look after the Federation cultivators and had to stay vigilant of the strong competitors. Furthermore, the rules of this trial were unique. Therefore, after thinking it through, she understood that she had been too idealistic.

As such, after considering the situation, she felt that even if the Federation didn’t emerge in the top three and didn’t fulfill Mie Liezi’s proposed idea, she only needed to give the Federation a Hyacinthus Tree leaf in the end, which could be taken as having met the requirements to a certain extent. The worst that could happen was that she needed to continue fighting it out with Mie Liezi…

At the same time, if the Federation disciples could enter the Worship Palace Pavilion with the Hyacinthus Tree leaf after the trial and eventually attain the status of a true Dao Palace disciple, it would help her plan to move things forward significantly. Until then, many things could change, and it didn’t mean that she had to contend with Mie Liezi’s plans!

With that thought, Feng Qiuran knew that she couldn’t hesitate anymore, she had to make a decision. As such, she gritted her teeth.

“Try your best to look after them. If it’s simply too hard, then both of you are to focus on your task!”

Listening to Feng Qiuran’s words, Lu Yun and Xu Ming heaved a sigh of relief. They didn’t belittle the Federation cultivators, but they didn’t have good impressions of them either. Basically, they felt that they were still a burden, and right now, after hearing their master’s decision, they thought it over and inquired further. They only left respectfully after Feng Qiuran informed both of them of the rules of the trial.

Looking at the back view of her disciples, Feng Qiuran sighed. After thinking about it, she called for her bellboy and made arrangements for him to inform the Federation Seedlings Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Kong Dao to pay her a visit.

Feng Qiuran still valued the Federation Seedlings. That was especially so in terms of their progress in their cultivation. Feng Qiuran had managed to hear of Zhao Yameng’s and Kong Dao’s advancement quickly.

Right now, as Feng Qiuran was calling for Wang Baole and company, Mie Liezi was in his cave abode on the Vast Expanse Dao Palace’s main island. He had called for the only personal disciple of his, Dugu Lin!

“Lin’er, are you prepared for this trial?” Mie Liezi looked at the disciple before him, who was giving off a chilly vibe. A rare look of appreciation appeared in his eyes as he spoke slowly.

“It’s no problem for me to become number one.” Dugu Lin’s gaze remained cold, and his tone calm.

“I don’t want you to become number one. Instead, what I want is that in this trial, there is only one position and no other. Are you able to do that?” Mie Liezi narrowed his eyes as he looked at Dugu Lin.

“Eliminate everyone? I’ll try my best.” Dugu Lin thought about it. There was no change to his calm tone.

“Good. Lin’er, I allow you to unlock the seal of your body at appropriate times during this trial and unleash your full combat power. This should let everyone in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace know that the disciple of Mie Liezi is extremely formidable!” A peculiar look appeared in Mie Liezi’s eyes, one that was filled with anticipation.

“If that is the case, then…” Dugu Lin curled his lips into a chilly smile. He raised his head and looked at Mie Liezi before saying the final four words.

“As you wish, Master.”

A chilly aura that was hidden in his body was about to be unleashed. That, coupled with the sinister smile, made even Mie Liezi appreciate how strong it was. He knew that his disciple was extraordinary. He wasn’t only a rare talent in the cultivation world, a Galactic Dust combat body meant for combat, but he was also extremely intelligent, advancing significantly in his cultivation with just the time of a day. In addition, he was long eligible for a breakthrough into the Nascent Soul realm.

However, he had a great goal of wanting to perfect and build a strong foundation. He depended on his uniqueness as a Galactic Dust combat body and a mystic technique of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace to seal himself. He planned to go past the Nascent Soul realm the moment he achieved a breakthrough and enter the Soul Conduit realm, and then sealing himself again. His goal was the Planet realm after becoming a Spirit Immortal!

From ancient times, those that managed to achieve this goal had all become mighty figures. Mie Liezi also admitted that when he was a Core Formation cultivator that he wouldn’t have been able to compare to his disciple even if there were ten of himself. He also knew that with his talent and cultivation, a disciple like him would definitely be sought after by the upper powers of the Eternal Star, had the real Dao Palace not been devastated.

It could be said that Feng Qiuran thought Mie Liezi was confident of his own cultivation. However, in reality, there was another aspect of Mie Liezi’s confidence, and it came from this disciple of his!

This disciple was the greatest effort and contribution that he had made for the sect. To him, even if the entire Federation was sacrificed and he were to use the Blood Sea and the spirits to pave the way to success for this disciple of his, it would be worth it.

To him, this was a real talent, while people from the Federation were trash.

Therefore, he planned to let Dugu Lin be the surprise this time around. He would also go all out against Feng Qiuran after this trial. Then, leveraging on the shock experienced by everyone in the sect, he was confident that he would have the power to initiate the destruction and sacrifice of the Federation!

While Mie Liezi was feeling confident and ambitious, Wang Baole, Zhao Yameng, and Kong Dao received Feng Qiuran’s orders. They immediately departed the islands they were on and charged towards the main island of the Vast Expanse Dao Palace.

Before long, the trio arrived one after another. They looked at each other, and even though they didn’t speak, they could guess what was going on. Therefore, under the lead of the bellboy, they arrived in Feng Qiuran’s cave abode. After greeting her and entering the cave abode, they noticed the somewhat tired Feng Qiuran sitting on the higher seat.

“Greetings, Elder Feng!” Wang Baole immediately cupped his fists, and Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao followed suit.

Feng Qiuran didn’t speak and simply swept her gaze across the trio. She looked at each of them closely, especially at Wang Baole. If it were some other time, she would have put on a look of appreciation. However, right now, she shook her head. To her, Wang Baole and company were brilliant compared to the ordinary disciples but were a far cry when compared to her two personal disciples.

As she sighed in her heart, Feng Qiuran was somewhat despondent. She momentarily wavered in her decision to form an alliance with the Federation. After a while, she rubbed her forehead and gave up on the thought to encourage them, then she spoke.

“I have called you here to notify you that you will all be representatives from the Federation. Regardless of success and failure in the trial seven days later, I will try to give you a Hyacinthus Tree leaf. I hope that all of you… will do your best. You are dismissed; I’m tired.” With that, Feng Qiuran closed her eyes.

Wang Baole and company were surprised, sensing that something was amiss. At the same time, they managed to infer something from her words. She seemed to feel that the three of them couldn’t obtain the leaf with their own efforts.

Wang Baole raised his eyebrows and didn’t speak. After looking at Zhao Yameng and Kong Dao, they turned to leave. As they turned, Feng Qiuran opened her eyes, looking at their backs as she spoke.

“The results of this trial will determine if the next batch of Federation Seedlings will come… Wang Baole, when you return to the Federation one day, tell Li Xingwen that… I tried my best.” With that, Feng Qiuran closed her eyes. An image of a small yet sturdy figure those years ago appeared in her mind.

Many years later, she still didn’t know if her acknowledgment of the Federation was due to the recognition of the Federation’s potential or due to the crystal clear figure looking at her…