622 A Familiar Face Returns! (2/2)

As a result, control over the Dao Palace fell to Wang Baole and Feng Qiuran during this period of time. There was naturally no disagreement about the arrival of the third batch of Federation Seedlings. The proposal was passed smoothly. Their arrival would take place a month later.

By using his authority, Wang Baole hid from Feng Qiuran the fact that he had demanded the presence of two people in this third batch!

The first was the Martian Colony's Deputy Governor, the giant tree!

The second was… Li Wuchen!

The identification of new seedlings was under the Federation's internal purview. In addition, Feng Qiuran had no way of knowing that Wang Baole had accessed the Hyacinthus Tree's memories. As a result, she paid no attention to the incoming third batch of Federation Seedlings. It was this oversight that resulted in Li Wuchen's presence amongst the hundred Seedlings a month later. Feng Qiuran saw the slightly lost and nervous look in Li Wuchen's eyes as he stood in the array formation. Her breathing quickened instantly.

Wang Baole pretended that he didn't notice. Feng Qiuran had her suspicions but found no appropriate channel to voice them. She could only hide her doubts while staring past the crowd and at Li Wuchen, a myriad of emotions flashing across her eyes.

Li Wuchen had seen Feng Qiuran, but he didn't recognize her at all. On the other hand, he was quite familiar with Wang Baole, who was seated next to Feng Qiuran and surrounded by numerous cultivators. Wang Baole seemed to have done very well for himself.

A mixture of feelings and jealousy surged inside Li Wuchen almost instinctively. The Federation was aware of Wang Baole's newfound status. They had received news of it recently, and it had created quite a commotion.

He had only found out just before his arrival. Regardless, it had been just as shocking. He sighed, troubled. He had some conflicts with Wang Baole, and Wang Baole believed in an eye for an eye, so Li Wuchen believed he was going to be in for some hardship. He had developed feelings for one of Wang Baole's juniors whilst in the Ethereal Dao College. This increased the anxiety he was feeling now. He lowered his head and stole a glance at the crowd. His eyes landed on a young lady from the Ethereal Dao College. Hidden beneath the mix of feelings shining in his eyes was a certain softness.

Mei'er might be stressed because of Wang Baole. It doesn't matter if I suffer a little hardship as long as Mei'er is free from troubles. It'll be worth it! Li Wuchen kept his breathing controlled and prepared himself mentally. He stepped out of the array formation with the rest of the Federation Seedlings and greeted Wang Baole and Feng Qiuran with cupped fists.

What he didn't know was that he wasn't the most nervous person in the entire third batch of Seedlings. The person who was secretly trembling the most, and feeling the most nervous, was a middle-aged man standing nearby!

He was… the giant tree, also known by many as their Fellow Daoist Osmanthus.

His anxiety had reached a peak. He had asked around and found out that he hadn't originally been included in this third batch. Wang Baole had been the one who had demanded his presence.

That had terrified the giant tree. He wailed inwardly and raged sorrowfully. He hadn't expected this wretched Wang Baole, who had ruined his plans in the past, to rise up and become the Grand Supreme Elder of the Dao Palace within a mere few years!

There is no justice in this world! The giant tree and Li Wuchen raged inwardly, while troubled with their own worries. They greeted Wang Baole meekly while the latter simply grinned widely, his eyes occasionally landing on the both of them.

Feng Qiuran wasn't her usual self either. She forced out a few words then left in a hurry, intending to send a voice transmission to Li Xingwen via the teleportation array formation. She was going to ask him why he had allowed Li Wuchen to return.

Wang Baole watched as Feng Qiuran left. He said a few words as well before leaving and heading back to his palace. The third batch of Federation Seedlings was dispersed. Just as the other Federation cultivators began leading them away to get these new arrivals familiar with the place, Sect Lord Xu shouted out.

”Fellow Daoist Osmanthus, please wait a moment. The Grand Supreme Elder requests your presence in his palace.”

The fretting giant tree, who had just released a sigh of relief and been lulled into a false sense of complacency, shook upon hearing that. He turned around slowly. He was silently screaming inside his head. He dared not reveal anything on his face though. He gritted his teeth and nodded.

”Fellow Daoist Osmanthus, we are old acquaintances… there is something I'm not sure if I should tell you.” Sect Lord Xu looked at the other cultivator with regret.

”Please share your thoughts!” The cunning giant tree immediately lifted his head upon hearing that and gave the Sect Lord a deferential bow.

”Some people are destined for great things. If you could seize the opportunity presented to you, even past conflicts can be resolved and transformed into a chance for you to ascend to greater heights. Such things are not impossible!” Sect Lord Xu gave the giant tree a meaningful look as he spoke softly.