Chapter 172: A Strange Atmosphere

Once they returned to the dojo, the hunters of Team Zenith were once again heaped with work.

After Wang Li, Xu Xiu, and Ding Qiang, a number of additional instructors had arrived at the dojo seeking employment, and they would be responsible for laying the foundation for the first batch of the dojo's disciples.

"Dojo Leader!" When the instructors saw Zhang Lie and the others returning, they all bowed. "Congratulations on your dominating performance!"

Jun Jiuxiao, Ye Xianchen, Wu Wei, and the other disciples cheered as they stepped inside the dojo. At their age, Zhang Lie and the other members of Team Zenith seemed to be essentially godlike beings.

Once the first round of the tournament finished, the news quickly spread all over Ning. It was a tremendous honor for the dojo's staff and disciples that their representatives had all made it to the next round of the tournament, and they were all proud that they too belonged to the Zenith Dojo.

Zhang Lie's gaze swept over everyone present. It looked as though the three disciples he had pointed out for specialized training—Jun Jiuxiao, Ye Xianchen, and Wu Wei—were indeed hard at work under the guidance of Wang Li, Xu Xiu and Ding Qiang.

To the three instructors, he asked, "How do you like working here? Are you getting used to it?"

"Yes, Dojo Leader! We've been training to make the most out of these new limit fragments we've obtained, and we're gradually familiarizing ourselves with our newfound strength."

"Good. Everything seems to be going well with the instruction as well. The training plan you've come up with seems to be working effectively, and you've all exceeded expectations. Once you're finished with your work, come see me. You'll each be able to choose a suitable pinnacle-grade framework for yourselves!"

The three instructors had only recently broken through, and they had spent the intervening period acclimating their bodies to their reduced level of strength. Now that they were ready, they could finally choose an advanced framework for themselves.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The frameworks and techniques in the dojo's collection were those that had been available to the hunters of Team Zenith, which Zhang Lie had obtained from a bulk purchase. He had chosen each technique with care, and this collection was one of the treasures of the dojo.

Huge smiles appeared on the three instructors' faces.

Zhang Lie then turned to the children behind them, who collectively sucked in a breath upon sensing his gaze. Was it finally time for what they were dreaming of?

"You should all have consumed a sufficient number of white-grub cores by now. After the second round of the Void Cup in Ning, all of you will have the opportunity to take part in a breakthrough trial," he informed them.

"Wonderful! It's finally time—we don't have to study the boring foundational technique anymore, we can move on to something better!" the children cheered again.

Deep into the night, those citizens of Ning who had spectated the Void Cup were still discussing the day's events with each other. Team Zenith's matches were of particular interest, and the once-nameless hunters of Team Zenith were experiencing an unprecedented growth in popularity. After all, given their incredible dominance during their respective matches, footage of those matches quickly circulated around the hunters of Ning.

Just one blow, and it was all over—and their opponents weren't weaklings, either!

"Head, Young Master Wang Xuan's suffered grievous internal injuries. I'm afraid he won't be able to participate in the elimination round tomorrow," an elder carefully reported to Wang Han.

"How many scions from the Wang clan have advanced to the next round?" Wang Han forced out a smile, but his body was trembling in rage.

"Only three, Head," the elder responded, sighing. Wang Han's gaze narrowed; clenching a fist, genetic energy exploded from his body.

How many years had it been since the Wang clan failed to dominate in the Void Cup? The citywide stage used to be trivial for scions of the Wang clan; now, they would be lucky to make it to the finals.

The Wang clan was the largest clan in Ning! Could they suffer the loss in reputation if none of their scions made it through to the nationwide stage of the Void Cup?!

"Head..."

Wang Han sucked in a deep breath. "Focus the clan's resources on those three hunters. They must get into the finals at all costs! Where's the nationwide stage going to be held this year?"

"The last time, it was in Tianfeng. This time around, it should be in the capital," the elder replied.

"Good. Inform our loyal hunters situated there that they're to kill Zhang Lie, no matter what!" Wang Han's cold voice shook the elder.

"Head, during the last clan conference—"

"I, the clan head, have absolute authority over the clan matters in times of dire circumstance. Do you doubt my words?!"

"No, Head! I'll arrange matters immediately!"

A blizzard had taken the capital by surprise during the last two days, and there was hardly anyone walking around at night. It was during such a night, however, that a restaurant suddenly found itself with three guests, who asked for nothing more than three bottles of strong spirits before they started conversing urgently with each other.

"You've all received orders from the clan, haven't you? What shall we do?"

"Let's wait for Zhang Lie to show up at the capital. We'll strike at his accommodations!"

"Do we have any information on our target?"

"His strength is hard to evaluate, but he's at least comparable to a peak second-realm hunter. He's able to handle two peak second-realm hunters working together, with a variety of tricks and strong, explosive techniques!"

"I understand. There's at least a week before the nationwide stage of the Void Cup, so we'd best prepare well.

The head wants us to get rid of this hunter at any cost!"

"Understood!"

The next morning, as the second round of the citywide stage began, countless hunters again flocked to the central plaza of Ning. The stage fragments were already hovering in the air, and the world federation, Chinese military, the Wang clan, and the Heaven's Flame Dojo's delegation were all settled in.

"It looks like you aren't feeling very well today, Clan Head Wang!" For some reason, the Heaven's Flame dojo leader continued prodding and poking at Wang Han.

Wang Han's gaze turned cold, and he stared back at the dojo leader with marked hostility.

The hunters came in droves; when the gathered hunters saw Zhang Lie walking in with Team Zenith, they immediately made way for them.

Staring at them were eyes of respect, admiration, awe—and also jealousy and envy. After all, in recent memory, no team from Ning had uniformly advanced to the nationwide stage of the Void Cup, and Zhang Lie's Team Zenith was slated to make history.

Team Zenith was undoubtedly one of the highlights of this tournament.

In the stands, as Wang Han saw Zhang Lie walking into the plaza, he narrowed his eyes. Almost as though he sensed Wang Han's hostility, Zhang Lie slowly looked in his direction, electrifying the air as their gazes met.

"The second round of the citywide stage will now begin!" Elder Bai called out.

"Please, I hope I'm not paired up with anyone from Team Zenith in it..." someone murmured.

The first batch of competitors was quickly announced on the screen behind Elder Bai, and one name stood out above all: Zhang Lie's. He was fighting on stage fragment #10, and his opponent was Liu Mo, a hunter no one present seemed to be familiar with.

The schedule immediately caused a big commotion.

"Look, Zhang Lie's in the first batch!"

"Who's this Liu Mo fellow? Thank goodness— he's saved the rest of us!"

"Liu Mo's the young master of the Liu cla—"

"Ah, forget it! Who cares where he's from? Do you think Zhang Lie will go easy on him because of it?"

As Zhang Lie headed toward his designated stage fragment, a quavering voice called out,

"I admit defeat!" Everyone turned to the trembling hunter who had spoken.

This was Zhang Lie's second opponent in a row who had surrendered before the fight had even begun! He still hadn't had a chance to show his skills! Was he going to be the first hunter to win the citywide stage without even fighting?

Some of the nearby hunters' faces twitched. Were they supposed to think of this Liu Mo as a decisive hunter, or a coward?

"The winner of stage fragment #10—Zhang Lie!" Elder Bai announced wearily.

Although it was only the second day, it already seemed as though Zhang Lie was the winner of this stage.

The second round passed without much further excitement, with no one opponent standing out in particular. Any matchup with a hunter of Team Zenith proceeded exceptionally quickly, and every member of Team Zenith continued their one-technique winning streak.

On Mars, in the city of Sacred Fire, Yang Ze was charting out his own undefeated path. What most terrorized the hunters of Sacred Fire was that Yang Ze would greet every victory with an astonished look on his face, as though even he couldn't believe how strong he was.

Elsewhere, however, things didn't go so smoothly; for example, in the capital. Chu Feng panted as he glanced at his opponent, a man whose features were shrouded by a black robe.

"What's the matter, Chu Feng? How long has it been since we last met—how have you become so weak?" the black-robed man taunted, his voice hoarse.

Chu Feng frowned. Although he couldn't see the man's features, his techniques and the fluctuations in his genetic energy were easy enough to identify. "And what of you, Qin Xiao? How's the life of an exile treating you?"

Qin Xiao's eyes turned cold as genetic energy flooded his body. The arena shook, and the very air itself seemed to become charged. "You want to die, do you?"

In response, Chu Feng narrowed his eyes as the wind began to howl.