Chapter 285: Entering the City

Chapter 285: Entering the CitySu Hong's decision perturbed Zhang Lie. While he hadn't intended on hiding his identity, he didn't want to be treated as a high-profile celebrity, either. Now that even Su Hong was addressing him as a general, how was he supposed to maintain a low profile?

"Please don't address me by military rank here, Battalion Commander Su Hong! You're the one in charge here; I'm just a new recruit!"

At the very least, it seemed that Su Hong was being sincere, and Zhang Lie would certainly reciprocate that sincerity. Su Hong thought that he was being modest, but before Su Hong could respond, Zhang Lie felt a strong pulse of genetic energy coming from the left flank of the barracks.

Zhang Lie began circulating his own genetic energy, and he was about to warn Su Hong when laughter emerged from that direction.

"If your skills aren't sufficient to deem you a general, Zhang Lie, then no one's skills would be!" A man had emerged almost out of nowhere. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ɴøvᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"We greet the governor of Qi!" all the hunters in the barracks shouted immediately, shocking Zhang Lie and the other newcomers in his party.

The governor of Qi? He had come to welcome Zhang Lie himself? Only then did the other newcomers realize just how superior Zhang Lie was to them. If they were the only newcomers, not even the battalion commander would have made an appearance, let alone the governor of Qi himself.

He looked to be a man in his forties, with sun-darkened skin and a bristly beard with hairs that looked like steel needles. To Zhang Lie, he appeared more like a valiant commander than a lord of a city.

"I'm Xiao Zhengyang, governor of Qi. The moment I heard of your arrival, I wanted to meet you in person, Zhang Lie!"

"It's an honor to have you welcome me personally, Governor Xiao. I hope I'm not a disappointment compared to all the rumors being spread around."

"Disappointment? No, of course not! I'm amazed that you're still so humble given your accomplishments!"

"You overpraise me, Governor Xiao. I'm just a newcomer to the second realm, and there's certainly a lot more I still have to learn in terms of experience."

"I have to say, I really like promising young hunters like you. I don't think there's any need for you to remain in the barracks, especially given your ability. If you'd like, I'll extend you an offer to join the special forces of Qi," Xiao Zhengyang proposed.

Zhang Lie thought for a moment. "I'll gladly accept, Governor Xiao!"

Xiao Zhengyang then turned back to Su Hong. "Su Hong, I'll be taking him away, then. What he's supposed to learn from the barracks, I'll have the special forces teach him."

"Yes, Governor!" Su Hong was somewhat unwilling to see Zhang Lie leave; after all, he was the champion of the Void Cup, and the head of the Su clan had wanted him to develop a good relationship with Zhang Lie. However, he certainly wouldn't be able to countermand the governor of Qi, especially after Zhang Lie had agreed.

"In that case, let's go now!" Xiao Zhengyang beckoned for Zhang Lie to follow him. A pair of wings sprouted from his back, and he flew off with a gust of wind.

Zhang Lie bowed toward Su Hong, then shot into the air as well.

The two of them were headed toward the main city of Qi, quite some distance away from the barracks. They were moving so quickly that the air seemed to distort where they passed.

Xiao Zhengyang seemed to be intent on testing Zhang Lie's abilities, and he sped up thrice in rapid succession. Even so, Zhang Lie followed a fixed distance behind him, no shorter and no longer.

Xiao Zhengyang smiled. "Not bad! But can you keep up now?"

His speed suddenly increased by so much that he broke the sound barrier, causing a gigantic boom in the air. Genetic energy trailing in his wake, he was almost out of sight by the time Zhang Lie reacted.

Nevertheless, Zhang Lie didn't panic. Summoning his reserves, he shot through the air like a ray of darkness, catching up to Xiao Zhengyang within a second at most.

Xiao Zhengyang's eyes widened. He was a peak existence even within the second realm, and this was essentially his top speed. Even then, Zhang Lie had easily caught up to him, and it looked as though he could travel even faster. Just what sort of hunter was he?!

Rather than push himself beyond his limits, he continued rushing toward the city at his current speed. Two streaks of light shot through the city. Because of Xiao Zhengyang's presence, Zhang Lie was able to enter the heavily guarded city without any resistance whatsoever.

"Haha, good lad! I was worried that you would be bullied for entering the special forces without any experience whatsoever, but it looks as though they'll be lucky not to get bullied by you!" Xiao Zhengyang clapped Zhang Lie on the shoulder.

Clearly, Zhang Lie had passed Xiao Zhengyang's evaluation. His speed and dark, mysterious genetic energy left a strong impression on Xiao Zhengyang, and he didn't intend on probing Zhang Lie's strength further. Given the fluctuations in genetic energy emanating from Zhang Lie, he was at least at the level of a peak superior-grade hunter in the second realm, meaning that he was almost at the realm's limits despite just having entered it.

Xiao Zhengyang had heard rumors that Zhang Lie had managed to defeat a peak second-realm hunter at his dojo's opening ceremony, but he had waved it off as mere hearsay.

Now, however, after meeting and inspecting Zhang Lie for himself, he had to admit that the rumors might even have been an understatement—he seemed to be even stronger than Martial Sage Hong Tianqi while he was in the second realm. It was rumored that even the Martial Sage himself had suffered in the second realm, but unless Zhang Lie were to go too deep into the regions controlled by the asura, there was little threat he would face.

He had been somewhat worried about whether or not the special forces troops would try to bully him on account of his sudden insertion into the special forces as a newbie, but now, he was more worried about whether those bullies would escape unscathed.

"If any of the troops challenge you, I hope you won't be too harsh on them," Xiao Zhengyang advised.

Zhang Lie smiled. "Please don't worry, Governor Xiao. I know what to do."

Xiao Zhengyang nodded, then turned to a nearby attendant. "Summon the troop leader of the special forces, Zhou Luan!"