Chapter 216: Assembly of Masks

"Information about Potion #1 has been released to the public. Authorities from the world federation are on their way, so be careful!" The message was naturally from Team Zenith; the sender was nominally Fang Yi, but the tone was undoubtedly Zhang Lie's.

Team Zenith must have been pressured to reveal information about Potion #1, which meant that he would be the hunter most at risk. Zhang Lie and the others would be protected by the Chinese officials, so the only target was him, alone on Mars.

Given Yang Ze's understanding of Zhang Lie, even if some information had been leaked to the public, Zhang Lie certainly would keep core details under wraps.

"Young Master Yang, it's true that we won't be able to replicate your success with peak gene fragments, but what about this potion that we've all just heard about?" Clan Head Gu asked. He was the first to leave, as well as the first to return.

The other clan heads all stared at Yang Ze, trying to glean something from his expression.

Unfortunately, Yang Ze didn't seem at all anxious. He smiled thinly. "It's true that I'm one of Zhang Lie's disciples, but I've only been his disciple for three months or so. Do you think my master would reveal something so important to me? I'll be clear: I consumed one of these potions, but I hardly know anything about its recipe or production."

The clan heads deflated. Indeed, Yang Ze's words were sensible. It wasn't a secret that he had been chased out of the Yang clan, and it had been just over three months since he had left. Based on the reports they had all received, Zhang Lie had only made this discovery recently, and it was reasonable that Yang Ze would know nothing about it.

Of course, even so, he surely had more information about it than the clan heads did. Clan Head Gu reacted quickly, his face threatening as he walked up to Yang Ze. "Young Master Yang, it looks as though you don't quite understand your own situation. I'm warning you, tell us everything you know about these potions—or else! You've heard of the Gu clan's [Heart of Scorching Inferno], haven't you?"

[Heart of Scorching Inferno] was a secret technique of the Gu clan, a vicious fire-attuned technique that inflicted torturous pain on its opponents.

"Clan Head Gu, I hope you won't treat my politeness as weakness. Let me repeat myself: I know nothing about the creation of these potions! Ignoring my status as a competitor in the Void Cup, would you truly dare to torture me knowing that my master's Zhang Lie?"

Yang Ze didn't panic. Indeed, Fang Yi had mentioned that the authorities of Mars would be arriving at the scene shortly, and these clans wouldn't be able to do anything to him at that point.

.

Yang Ze's stoic behavior left the Gu clan head rather surprised; he had anticipated that the young brat would reveal something given the pressure from all the clan heads gathered at the scene, but he seemed surprisingly resistant.

"Clan Head Yang, can't you persuade your son to say anything? After all, with all the major clans of Mars gathered here, it would be a shame if we were all to go back home with nothing, wouldn't it?" Clan Head Gu slyly passed the buck to Clan Head Wang.

Indeed, given Zhang Lie and the Zenith Dojo's sudden rise to prominence, Clan Head Gu didn't want to offend Zhang Lie, especially not when Zhang Lie was under the protection of China and a few authorities of the world federation. However, he wasn't alone—he had come with over a dozen major clans from Mars.

They all understood what these limit-breaking potions represented. No one from Earth had managed to uncover anything more about these potions, but if they could...

"Right, right! Clan Head Gu isn't wrong. I'm sure he knows something! Everyone, this is our one and only opportunity to obtain some additional information about these potions. No matter what, Yang Ze must give us something to bring back to our clans. Clan Head Yang, I hope you see what you'll have to do!"

The other clan heads quickly came to an agreement.

Yang Feng's face darkened; the other clans had pushed him into an awkward, unenviable position. His gaze sharpened once more as he turned to Yang Ze. Given the other clan heads' pressure, even if Yang Feng truly wanted to protect Yang Ze, it wouldn't be possible for him to do so. "Yang Ze, please give us more details. If you do, I swear I'll protect you no matter what."

Yang Ze scoffed. "I've already told you all, haven't I? I don't know anything about these potions myself."

Disappointed and enraged by his father's behavior, Yang Ze had no qualms about offending everyone present. Tension rose to a breaking point.

"Stubborn brat!" Clan Head Gu called out. "Clan Head Yang, if your son won't listen to reason, we'll have to do something about him! What are you all waiting for? Take him down!"

"Take him down? Who dares!" The moment the other clan heads began circulating their genetic energy, a dominating voice called out from outside the room, causing everyone to whirl around.

A formidable-looking middle-aged man walked into view, wearing a military uniform patterned with flames. The moment the clan heads saw this man, their genetic energy petered out.