Chapter 939: The Team Assembles

Chapter 939: The Team Assembles"Ah, you heard?" Zhang Lie asked, though he wasn't particularly surprised.

Hundreds of thousands of the disciples from the Zenith Dojo had gone to Mars with Zhang Lie, the majority of which were Chinese. Even if none of the disciples were spies that Hong Tianqi had installed in the dojo, it was inevitable that word of the prizes from the Martian defense would spread. Hong Tianqi, who was in a position of power, would easily find out about the existence of Potion #3.

Hong Tianqi asked, "Were you able to develop Potion #3 this quickly?"

The limit-fragment research laboratory sponsored by the four prime races had its pick of all the talent and resources the galaxy had to offer, but its only success to date had been with variants of Potion #2, for mutated limit fragments that were suitable for various races in the galaxy.

Meanwhile, despite being a lone, independent researcher, Zhang Lie was far ahead of any other group—he had already come up with Potion #3, for superior limit fragments.

Hong Tianqi had expected that it would take at least ten years before research into superior limit fragments bore fruit, even with all the resources of the galaxy at one's disposal. He had some familiarity with these limit-breaking potions, and he knew that these limit fragments represented taller and taller walls for a hunter's ascension.

However, by announcing that Potion #3 would be available for all disciples who participated in the bug hunt, Zhang Lie had revealed that he had both succeeded in producing Potion #3 and begun its mass production.

Hong Tianqi was shocked beyond belief. In his effort to verify that all this was legitimate, he even specially sent a trusted subordinate to Mars to investigate this rumor.

The subsequent investigation vindicated the rumor. There were reports of disciples from the Zenith Dojo who had exchanged their points for such potions, consumed them, and obtained limit fragments as a result.

After a momentary period of shock, Hong Tianqi was relieved.

Zhang Lie had been at the forefront of limit fragment research from the beginning. He had started by demonstrating how a hunter could obtain regular limit fragments, and he had now developed a superior limit-breaking potion—all by himself.

Hong Tianqi had to admit that Zhang Lie had consummate skill, which no other in the galaxy was able to match. Not only that, his other accomplishments had been equally shocking. Zhang Lie had discovered disaster gene fragments, destroyed the sura in the second realm, and founded the kingdom of Limit.

Each of these accomplishments was astounding; it was as though Zhang Lie was traveling through a timeline far ahead of the rest of the hunters.

Zhang Lie nodded. "I did manage to discover a recipe for it, but I don't have enough stockpiled herbs to supply them to the entire galaxy."

Hong Tianqi smiled. "I know it must be difficult to mass produce them at the moment, but as for China—"

Zhang Lie blinked. "Even as the highest authority of the world federation, you're still concerned about China?"

Hong Tianqi quirked his lips. "Regardless of my position, I'm a citizen of China—now and always."

Zhang Lie inclined his head. "I can't refuse you, Hong Tianqi. I'll send a portion of the potions to China the moment I manage to produce them in bulk."

.

Hong Tianqi thought for a moment. "I'll satisfy any request you have—anything you want."

Zhang Lie sighed. "As if I'm not a citizen of China myself! I'm not holding out because I want you to sweeten the deal—I simply can't provide you with these potions at the moment."

"I'll thank you in advance, then."

"See you soon." Zhang Lie hung up on Hong Tianqi and returned to the third realm. Because of the difference in the rate at which time passed between Earth and the third realm, a few hours had passed there, and the members of Team Zenith had all received Zhang Lie's summons and headed back to the draconian world.

The draconian sage teleported Zhang Lie right to their side.

Yang Ze asked, "Captain, did you summon us back for some reason?"

"For three reasons. I'll discuss them right now," Zhang Lie explained.

The members of Team Zenith listened seriously. They knew that Zhang Lie wouldn't call them back for no reason, especially when they were currently spearheading an invasion.

"First, I've successfully prepared Potion #4—peak limit fragments—for all of you."

The members of Team Zenith gaped. "What?! Peak limit-breaking potions, already?"

They were shocked, but not as much as Hong Tianqi. They had already consumed superior limit-breaking potions well before they were made known to the public, and it didn't seem particularly exceptional to them that Zhang Lie had already managed to refine the next potion in the series. Zhang Lie was Zhang Lie, after all.

Zhang Lie was, in fact, the most surprised of them all. "Didn't you know about this? I expected Zhou Ying to have told you."

Sun Mengmeng frowned. "What does this have to do with Zhou Ying?"

"Zhou Ying's already consumed Potion #4."

"What?!" All the members of Team Zenith beside Zhou Ying were stupefied. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Zhang Lie continued, "Zhou Ying was the first to consume and test this potion. Zhou Ying, didn't you mention it to the others?"

Zhou Ying stuck out her tongue. "I wanted to make it a surprise."

"You rascal—you just wanted to see our shocked expressions!"

Sun Mengmeng suddenly grabbed Zhou Ying and began to tickle her waist, causing her to break out in irrepressible laughter. She shouted, "Stop, Mengmeng, I surrender, I surrender!"

Zhang Lie coughed a few times before Sun Mengmeng finally let go of her. Yang Ze asked, "Zhou Ying, how did it feel to ingest the potion?"

Zhou Ying patted down her mussed up hair and clothes. "My experience was rather unusual. It was very much like consuming Potion #3, for superior limit fragments. I received huge increases to my strength, constitution, framework, and techniques—but not only that, I was able to perceive a mysterious power, which our captain called the power of karma."

Sun Mengmeng frowned. "Karmic power? Does something so mysterious really exist?"

Zhang Lie shrugged. "The first hunters must have thought the dimensional realm mysterious, but by our time, it's a scientific phenomenon we can explain to some extent. The more you familiarize yourself with mystery, the less mysterious it becomes."

Yang Ze nodded. "The same way people from ancient times would be perplexed by our transceivers and airships, or even microwaves and computers."

In order to avoid destroying the Yeluo research laboratory, the members of Team Zenith headed to the black desert before consuming the peak limit-breaking potions.

The Yeluo chieftain handed each of them a restorative. "While consuming the limit-breaking potion, if you feel unwell at any time, drink this potion immediately."

"What potion is this?" Sun Mengmeng asked.

"It's the upgraded form of the restorative I devised from Zhou Ying's cells," the Yeluo chieftain explained.

"But, Chieftain, didn't you mention that you already reduced the potency of these limit-breaking potions?"

The Yeluo chieftain shrugged. "I haven't been able to test out the potions myself. The herbal ingredients were introduced at reduced potency, but there are factors that I can't account for within these potions, and accidents might occur."