198 Know Not Shame (1/2)
The military's testing of the Baole Cannon would not conclude so soon; time passed steadily in the following days as they did a comprehensive trial.
Operation Sword Sun soon became commonplace news in the Federation as mainstream media spread the news. It stirred a great debate and was the center of much attention. During that period, the Ethereal Dao College also issued an official announcement to all Upper Academy Island disciples regarding the selection of the hundred Federation seedlings!
As part of Operation Sword Sun, the hundred Federation seedlings would be nominated by every city lord and every political entity in the Federation. The nominees would report to the Federation and undergo the first round of selection.
Those who passed the first round of selection were to journey to the capital of the Federation and undergo the second round of selection. The final hundred people would be selected, without any order or ranking, and become the Federation's seedlings. They would be entitled to certain privileges and, at the same time, be given special grooming!
There were three hundred nominations from the Ethereal Dao College, but nobody knew how many would remain to become one of the hundred seedlings after the multiple rounds of elimination.
The three hundred nominations were spread across all pavilions, and the respective pavilions would submit their recommendations to the college for consideration. Out of the dozen or so names submitted by the Dharmic Armament Pavilion, Wang Baole's name stood out.
Regardless of the uneasy relations between the Dharmic Armament Pavilion's Pavilion Head and Wang Baole, and in spite of the position of Grand Elder remaining vacant and its final successor undecided—and the fight for the position growing fiercer—after what had happened, the Pavilion Head could no longer cow or intimidate Wang Baole.
In fact… he could not be intimidated!
Be it due to his contributions to the seventh primary stronghold or his achievements at Spirit Breath Village, Wang Baole's name had spread far and wide. Many knew of him in the four Dao colleges and in the military. For a disciple who hadn't yet been given an official post but whose reputation already preceded him, his existence would be the pride of any political entity.
Furthermore, Wang Baole's talents in Dharmic Armaments were astonishing. His achievements surpassed that of an ordinary Armament Soldier—from his self-created Numinous Treasure that shook the Armament Soldiers, to the miracle he performed before the Elder Request Drum, and finally, to the assessment given by the Grand Supreme Elder!
Excellent work!
Those less shrewd, upon hearing the two words, might think that they were the judgment and affirmation the Grand Supreme Elder had given for Wang Baole's Numinous Treasure. But the highly astute knew that the words ”excellent work” did not refer solely to the Numinous Treasure; to a greater degree, they were an affirmation of Wang Baole himself!
Excellent work!
In such circumstances, the placement of Wang Baole's name at the top of the ranking was no longer that much of a surprise.
A week later, the nominations from every pavilion were finalized. When the list was announced, it stirred up a storm on the Upper Academy Island. The three hundred nominees suddenly became the center of attention belonging to the hundreds of thousands of people on the entire island.
”I see Zhuo Yifan on the list! I was guessing he'd be one of the nominees from the Combat Pavilion. After all, he's ranked top in the first level True Breath realm during the Combat Pavilion Tournament!”
”There're so many familiar names listed. There's even Zhao Yameng from the Array Runes Pavilion. She's the same batch as Wang Baole. I heard she keeps her head down in the Array Runes Pavilion, but that doesn't stop the Array Runes Pavilion's Pavilion Head, who still values her greatly!”
As the disciples engaged in fierce discussion, the Ethereal Dao College issued another notice regarding the Federation's Hundred Seedling Plan. The notice intensified the focus on the three hundred nominees.
Even the nominees themselves were taken by surprise and overjoyed!
Wang Baole, especially, his eyeballs almost popped out. The college's notice pertained to an unconditional promotion—all who advanced to become a Federation seedling would not only be rewarded by the college, they would also receive a promotion!
For example, Wang Baole was currently the head of the College Administrative Department. If he successfully became a Federation seedling, he would be promoted directly to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head of the Dharmic Armament Pavilion!
Wang Baole couldn't contain his excitement. He could sense the drastic difference in status and position after he had become the head of the College Administrative Department. If he were to rise to the position of Deputy Pavilion Head…
That would be, to a certain extent, an important figure!
Such an enticement drove the three hundred nominees, including Wang Baole, wild; their eagerness to become a Federation seedling grew more intense. They were to travel to the capital city of the Federation in half a month and report on the designated date, then go through the second round of selection. Amongst True Breath realm cultivators, those three hundred people were the cream of the crop; their cultivation was impressive, and they all had their own cruisers.
As a result, they didn't depart together, but separately, on their own time. Many had left in their cruisers, heading straight for the Federation capital the next day.
Wang Baole went about his preparations as well. He contacted Zhuo Yifan and Zhao Yameng and asked if they would like to travel together. They had become familiar with one another in Spirit Breath Village; even though they didn't cross each other's path often on Upper Academy Island, they regularly communicated via voice transmissions.