Chapter 300: The Forest Feast

What sort of strength would Zhang Lie need to venture out into the depths of the second realm on his own? In his previous life, that lone sura had essentially managed to conquer one of the human cities all by himself, killing the governor and his cadre of bodyguards, along with all the special forces units from that city.

Zhang Lie was strong, but not yet that strong. Just based on what he had seen in Qi, he would be hard-pressed to deal with Xiao Zhengyang alone, let alone the other forces sent his way.

In order to have the strength to destroy a city on his own, he would have to at least cap out his mutated gene fragments first.

Zhang Lie summoned up his hunter profile.

Zhang Lie: a peak-grade lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Ninecarp Transformation, Fifth Form: Qilin

Techniques: Rippling Walk (pinnacle), Three-Wave Crescendo (pinnacle), Calm Waters (advanced), Fists of the Silent Sea (pinnacle), The Boundless Blade (pinnacle), Eclipse (advanced), One Punch (novice), Ninesoul Dragonblade (novice)

Genes: Basic, 0; Mutated, 0; Superior, 0; Peak, 0; Disaster, 0

Soulshards: White Grub (superior), Galewolf (mutated), Blood Ant (superior), Potbellied Toad (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (superior), Eternalspring Cocoon (superior), Forest Wolfman (superior), Flamewing (superior), Runic Salamander (superior), Moonlight Wyrm (peak)

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

When Zhang Lie saw that his gene fragments had been wiped clean, he couldn't help feeling a little upset. Just like in his past life, all his gene fragments from the first realm had been incorporated directly into his genetic code, so he would have the opportunity to acquire more gene fragments once again—up to his old maximum limit of 160 basic gene fragments, as well as 150 mutated and superior gene fragments.

Those potions had improved the limits of his body, and those limits were preserved even after his advancement into the second realm. This was the reason why Zhang Lie had been so intent on crafting these potions from the very beginning.

Those who managed to increase their limit fragment capacity in the first realm would have an advantage that carried forward even into higher realms; for instance, he was stronger than even the seasoned veterans of the second realm.

Once his teammates advanced after consuming Potion #3, the superior-grade limit-breaking potion, they might not be as strong as he was, but he would put them on the same level as Zhou Liao and the other team leaders.

After all, the members of Team Zenith had had just about the very best resources from the beginning. He had already done the hard work to pave their road forward; they would simply have to put in the work to remain on it.

After he sketched out a plan, he had a quick lunch, then informed Zhou Liao that he would be hunting around the outskirts of the city to obtain some gene fragments. Zhou Liao wasn't surprised by Zhang Lie's actions—he was just shocked that Zhang Lie had informed him at all.

Of course, his approval or knowledge of the affair wasn't important, but he was still glad that Zhang Lie had done so, that Zhang Lie was willing to respect his authority. With Zhang Lie's strength, he would easily be able to hunt at the outskirts of the city alone, but since he had informed Zhou Liao, Zhou Liao felt obligated to provide him with some support.

As a result, Xia Na's Team 4 and Zhou Ming's Team 7 were assigned to escort Zhang Lie out of the city grounds. When Xia Na and Zhou Ming were informed about this task, they didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Would someone like Zhang Lie even need their protection?

That said, they were more than happy to work with Zhang Lie. In fact, the moment Xia Na's call ended, Ye Tianlang sidled up to her. "Xia Na, during the fight just now, I was the most outspoken against Deputy Leader Zhang Lie, so—"

"Hold it right there! I know what you're going to ask, but I'm not going to accept, no matter what you're offering. Also, do you really think Deputy Leader Zhang Lie is such a petty person?"

Naturally, Ye Tianlang was hoping to get the opportunity to work more closely with Zhang Lie, but Xia Na had seen through him immediately. He turned toward Zhou Ming, who immediately looked away.

"Xia Na, didn't you want my black demon horn? I'll trade it to you for this opportunity!"

"Zhou Ming, there was a female hunter whose contact information you wanted while we were on our last mission, remember? If you let me go, I'll send you her contact information and arrange a date for you with her, what say you?"

All the other team leaders were eyeing this opportunity—they had been won over by Zhang Lie's strength, fame, and the possibility of learning more about these limit fragments that were surely the key to his overwhelming power.

The fight between him and them had been a clear demonstration of the strength of these fragments, and they were certain that, as long as they built up a good relationship with him, they too would have access to these fragments.

Naturally, all of them would vie for this opportunity, but Zhou Ming and Xia Na felt much the same way. The two of them rejected everyone else's offers, then walked off toward Zhang Lie's quarters under everyone else's envious gazes.

What the two of them didn't know was that, shortly after their departure, Ye Tianlang left on "patrol" with his Team 5, and the other team leaders all found some strange reason of their own to leave the underground barracks, all headed toward where Zhang Lie would be hunting.

The sun shone brightly that afternoon. Compared to the first realm of the dimensional world, the second seemed far more vibrant. Under the escort of the two team leaders, Zhang Lie passed through dozens of checkpoints before finally being admitted to the forest outside Qi.

The forest was filled with redwood-like trees, ones so tall that Zhang Lie couldn't see their tip. Allegedly, the reason Qi had been built in such a location was precisely because of the richness of resources in the area. Of course, that was as much an advantage as a disadvantage—such a resource-rich environment was the habitat to many a strong lifeform and indigenous tribes, so there would frequently be beast stampedes and invasions by those hostile tribes.

That said, the forces of Qi had been able to overcome and surmount these difficulties, and the city had survived a number of such incursions without falling.

"Deputy Leader Zhang, the region within fifty kilometers of Qi is populated solely by regular and mutated-grade lifeforms," Xia Na explained.

Zhang Lie nodded. "Given this sort of environment, the lifeforms around are mostly wolf-type or tiger-type, aren't they?"

"Yes, that's right. Generally, we have reports of wolf-type lifeforms prowling the vicinity of the city," Zhou Ming added.

"Very well. It's been a long time since I've had fresh roast meat, so let's enjoy ourselves today."

Zhou Ming and Xia Na's eyes brightened. The more time they spent with Zhang Lie, the faster they would be able to acquire information regarding these limit fragments.

On their command, their team members darted through the forest, vanishing from sight. They had clearly received orders to start hunting the moment they were dispatched. Zhang Lie didn't protest, thinking that this was a routine operation to check the nearby forest for any potential threats, but moments later, he found to his surprise that the special forces troops had all returned, each with a dazed lifeform or another trussed up with them.

"Deputy Leader Zhang, this is a thornback greywolf, a regular lifeform. It's about as strong as a mutated-grade lifeform from the first realm!" one visibly nervous hunter stepped forward and introduced his prey to Zhang Lie.

It was a wolf-type lifeform, but one quite a few sizes larger than even a Siberian tiger from Earth. Its fur was sharp and bristly, like steel needles, and it tended to roam the forest in a pack. Given that this hunter had managed to stun a creature of this size without alerting the rest of the pack, he was clearly deserving of being in the special forces.

The other hunters also quickly stepped forward with their respective prey.

"Deputy Leader Zhang, this is..."

"Deputy Leader Zhang..."

In a matter of moments, Zhang Lie found sixteen different lifeforms placed in front of him, regular and mutated-grade, some stunned, others on the verge of death.