Chapter 327: A New Settlement

It wasn't as though the members of Team Zenith had been truly scared of facing off against the will of the world; rather, they were simply shocked by the daring idea that Zhang Lie had proposed.

Zhang Lie believed that they would be able to handle it after acquiring their superior limit fragments, and the hunters believed in Zhang Lie. After all, they had followed him for quite some time, and there was no reason for him to guide them down an improper path.

His ultimate objective was to try to gather everyone from Team Zenith in Qi, as well as to test whether this hypothesis would actually be a fruitful method. He smiled. He wasn't actually angry at them; him threatening to disband the team was simply the most efficient way to get the hunters over their mental hurdle.

What remained were the specifics. Zhang Lie patiently explained and set up all the likely problems that the hunters might face during their ascension. After a long discussion, everyone left satisfied with a specific idea of what they had to accomplish in the short term.

As long as they followed what they discussed today to the letter, there wouldn't be a problem with teleporting to Qi.

After having dealt with the most pressing issues at hand, Zhang Lie was finally free once more. Instead of heading over to Zhang Hong for a status update, he went to find his sister first. Zhang Hanxiang had returned with Fang Yi and the others, and if Zhang Lie didn't take the time to go see her, she would likely feel a little upset.

Furthermore, with the members of Team Zenith about to ascend, the Zenith Dojo's presence in the first realm would be significantly reduced. There were still quite a lot of hunters affiliated with the Zenith Dojo in the first realm, of course, but they certainly weren't as well known as the members of Team Zenith themselves.

Zhang Lie was a little worried for his sister's safety, and he wanted to impart her with a few more words of advice. The two of them sat opposite each other in their rundown house.

After Zhang Lie's last session with Zhang Hanxiang, she seemed to have grown much more obedient, and she appeared surprised to see Zhang Lie enter the house. After all, she knew just how much responsibility her brother had to carry on his back.

Nevertheless, beneath her shock was unbridled joy—she was clearly happy to see her brother once more. The two of them had a pleasant chat, and Zhang Lie was much more comfortable about leaving her, Jiuxiao, and Xianchen in the first realm alone.

Afterwards, Zhang Lie contacted Zhang Hong to schedule a meeting with her and Lin Xiu.

"Are the members of Team Zenith ready to ascend?" Lin Xiu asked the moment they all sat down. As one of the strongest hunters in the dojo, he had been quite interested to observe the development of the hunters of Team Zenith, and he viewed all of them rather highly.

Zhang Lie smiled. "Almost. All the conditions are ready, so what's left is to see how they perform under pressure. How about the research teams? Have they had more success after Jiuxiao and Xianchen joined as test subjects?"

"Don't mention it—they've done all sorts of testing to no avail! I think you'll have to handle it personally, because these supposed scientists don't have any idea what they're doing!"

In the week that Zhang Lie had spent cloistered in his laboratory, Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen had had to give out samples of their blood and even bone marrow, but despite all that, the scientists had failed to make any research progress since then, and their demands had only grown more and more ridiculous. Their inadequacy naturally angered Lin Xiu.

Zhang Lie laughed. "If these researchers were chosen to lead such an important experiment, I'm sure they're skilled in their own way. I suspect they just haven't found the right approach for the study."

"What do you mean, they haven't found the right approach? These are perfect test subjects! If not for the fact that the two youths are trying to compensate for their deception, they wouldn't have given in to all these incessant demands!" Lin Xiu was so angry with the research team that his initial goodwill was nowhere to be seen.

"Yes, Zhang Lie, I'm somewhat worried myself. Please go have a look personally so that the two youths don't have to suffer so much," Zhang Hong added.

"I'll certainly go check out their progress later," Zhang Lie replied. He suspected that Lin Xiu and Zhang Hong were worrying too much about nothing. Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen were Zhang Lie's apprentices, so no matter what, the research teams wouldn't dare to make requests that would be too unreasonable.

"However, I'm not too concerned about the research. Instead, the reason I've called both of you over is to discuss our next steps."

Lin Xiu exclaimed in shock, "What? What are you planning on doing now?"

To Lin Xiu, Zhang Lie was much like an eccentric genius, who came up with things that seemed to be outside the realm of normalcy. Even he was a little curious just what Zhang Lie would do next.

"The members of Team Zenith are about to ascend to the second realm, and the Zenith Dojo's influence in the first realm of the dimensional world will reach a nadir in their absence. Hanxiang, Jiuxiao, Xianchen, and the other disciples will need quite some time to develop as seasoned hunters in their own right, so we have to temporarily supplement quality with quantity. The first batch of disciples is just about ready to enter the first realm, so we need to resolve this issue soon.

"My intention is to request that a settlement be constructed specifically for the hunters and disciples of the Zenith Dojo. Given my fame, my development of limit fragments, and the significant impact of the Zenith Dojo worldwide, it shouldn't be a problem for us to acquire the permission to do such a thing.

"As for the construction, we have ample funds to sponsor such a feat. What do you both think?"

Zhang Lie's proposal stunned them both. They had both considered the issue of their disciples entering the first realm, but neither was so visionary or daring to propose such a plan.

The construction of a new settlement would require approval from the highest authorities of the world federation, and they were shocked that Zhang Lie was willing to go this far. However, given Zhang Lie's own influence in the dimensional world, he very well might have the ability to establish a settlement in the first realm.

After all, he had a personal connection with Martial Sage Hong Tianqi, so if anyone could obtain settlement rights for their dojo, it would be him.

"That's an ambitious idea, but I'm in full agreement!" Lin Xiu stated. If this plan could succeed, it would change the course of history.

"I agree," Zhang Hong replied, smiling. She was optimistic about the possibility of the plan working.

"Very well, then, it's settled! Master Lin, can I leave drafting the plan to you? As a member of the world federation, I imagine you have some idea of what needs to be done. Let me know when you need me to step forward!"

"Yes, Dojo Leader! Before then, however, I hope you'll mention this plan to Martial Sage Hong beforehand."

"Of course I will—and I'll bring him a small token of appreciation as well."

"Ah, a small token? What is it?" Lin Xiu's eyes gleamed. What did Zhang Lie think would be so valuable that even Martial Sage Hong would covet it?

Zhang Hong seemed similarly curious.

Zhang Lie retrieved two vials from his potbellied-toad pouch. "What else? I only have one thing the martial sage might be interested in."

Lin Xiu and Zhang Hong's eyes widened at the sapphire-blue liquid contained within.

"Are these... vials of Potion #3?!" Lin Xiu was flabbergasted. Both Lin Xiu and Zhang Hong had already consumed Potions #1 and #2, and they remembered very well the sensation of downing those two potions.

The liquid in Zhang Lie's hand, however, was a color they had never seen before, though it gave off a similar sensation as the two potions they had consumed. The natural conclusion was that this was the next potion in the series.

"C-Can I see that?" Lin Xiu's face flushed red as he glanced at the sapphire-blue vials, desire apparent in his eyes.

Zhang Lie smiled. "What's there to look at? These two vials are for the two of you."

He tossed each of them one vial.

"Ah, be careful!"

"Right, what if we didn't catch them in time?!"

Lin Xiu and Zhang Hong clumsily fumbled for the vials. Since they had already experienced the potency of Potions #1 and #2, they naturally knew just how precious these vials were.