Chapter 902: A Recruitment Offer

Yang Ze had studied up on these space bugs before the trip to Mars, and he was ready to show off his knowledge. "Other scholars suggest that they're from an alien race in an undiscovered part of the universe, sent as an invading force against us—and others even think that these bugs came from the future, in an attempt to destroy the present!

"All sorts of hypotheses about the source of these bugs have been floated around, but none have ever been verified. These bugs seemed to have suddenly appeared from outer space without ever having left since."

Li Pu turned to Zhang Lie. "Dojo Leader Zhang, what's your plan for handling these bugs?"

"Without dealing with the queen, we can't eradicate the bugs once and for all. I intend to leave Sun Mengmeng behind to guard the encampment while the members of Team Zenith and part of the disciples of the Zenith Dojo head out to kill the bug queen."

Li Pu sighed. "This is a historic moment for Mars, but I can't be part of it. It's a pity that I won't be able to accompany you."

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Zhang Lie laughed. "Better for you to remain here and maintain control over the encampment, Marshal Li. Without your presence here, the military may not be able to maintain control.

Even so, Li Pu was regretful that he wouldn't be able to observe the defeat of the bug queen himself.

"Rest well, Marshal Li," Zhang Lie said.

Li Pu suddenly looked up at Yang Ze. "Yang Ze, I'd like to have a chat with you to pass the time. Would you entertain my request?"

"Weren't you going to rest, Marshal Li?" Yang Ze knew what Li Pu would try to convince him of during this chat, so he wanted to push it off as long as he could. "I'm rather apologetic about having disturbed your rest just now, Marshal, and I would hate to take up more of your time."

Li Pu sighed. "After being wounded, it feels like no one values my presence. Even offering to chat with a junior got me rejected..."

Yang Ze could hardly refuse Li Pu after hearing this. He sighed and agreed to the chat. "Very well, Marshal Li."

"Yang Ze, have a good chat with Marshal Li. The rest of us will prepare to set off." Zhang Lie tossed Yang Ze to the wolves, then shut the door behind him.

Yang Ze sat down by Li Pu's side. "What did you want to talk about, Marshal Li?"

Li Pu replied, "You're stronger than I am, and you're more famous in the Milky Way. Even when the bugs are gone, Mars will need a guardian."

Yang Ze smiled. "But what about you, Marshal Li?"

Li Pu sighed. "You can tell the difference in our strength, can't you? What sort of guardian am I if I can't even protect Mars?"

Yang Ze was able to defeat even a six-star bug, whereas Li Pu wouldn't even be able to run away from it in time."

Yang Ze clarified, "Are you asking me to return to Mars, Marshal Li?"

Li Pu's eyes filled with hope. "When a disaster broke out on Mars, you thought to return immediately, and you even brought the rest of your dojo with you. I know you've had a falling out with the Yang clan, but it's clear that you still hold Mars in your heart. After this disaster, I hope you'll remain on Mars and consolidate a base of power here."

Yang Ze had clearly demonstrated his strength in battle, and Li Pu was certain he still had a lot of untapped potential. He couldn't believe that the youth who had left Mars would come back so much stronger in so short a period of time.

Yang Ze shook his head. "Marshal Li, as you know, I'm affiliated with the Zenith Dojo."

"You can both be part of the dojo and remain on Mars, surely? Your dojo leader's an understanding and rational man. If you make this request, he won't refuse you."

Yang Ze shook his head again. "I apologize, Marshal Li, but the only reason I've made it this far, the only reason I'm this strong, is because of Zhang Lie..."

Li Pu raised his hands and cut Yang Ze off. "No, no, don't refuse my offer right away, will you? Think about it. Perhaps it might unlock new doors for you. You can't remain in the Zenith Dojo forever, and the Milky Way's a large place. Do you really not want an opportunity to leave the dojo and set off on your own?"

Yang Ze replied with some embarrassment, "Well... I'm so busy running around with my captain all day fighting and training that I haven't thought about my future."

Li Pu replied, "In that case, why not take some time to think about it? If you're willing to remain on Mars, I'd be willing to hand off my position to you right away, no questions asked. As a native of Mars who made a name for yourself during the Void Cup, you're a source of pride for many a Martian. I don't think anyone would reject your appointment as the next marshal."

Yang Ze sucked in a deep breath. Offering his position as a marshal of Mars... Li Pu really was serious. If Yang Ze accepted, he would have considerable control over the Martian military from the outset.

There were multiple such marshals, but each of them boasted incredible authority and power.

Yang Ze was tempted, very much so. Just like how young girls dreamt of becoming princesses, young boys grew up aspiring to become spacefarers and hunters.

If Li Pu were to transfer his position to Yang Ze, Yang Ze would become a marshal of Mars immediately. He could simultaneously be a marshal and also part of the Zenith Dojo. In fact, he would even be able to open a branch of the Zenith Dojo on Mars.

He could be the dojo leader of that branch, or have Zhang Lie send a manager over—and as the name of the Zenith Dojo spread far and wide, all those on Mars would be able to receive the training and privilege that came with such a position. Wouldn't becoming a marshal of Mars be a good choice?

Just then, however, he suddenly thought of the Yang clan head's vile face, and all his plans of remaining in Mars evaporated.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to refuse."

Li Pu was shocked. "Can I ask why?" These were lavish conditions that no other recruit could have received. Even so, was Yang Ze going to refuse?

"I thank you for your offer, Marshal Li. I've always dreamt of being in your position since my childhood, but Zhang Lie has shown me how large the universe truly is compared to Mars."

Li Pu didn't know how to respond to Yang Ze's words—he had barely considered the possibility that Yang Ze would refuse. Furthermore, he could tell that Yang Ze's refusal was genuine and heartfelt, that he really did find Mars too small and constraining for the likes of him.

Yang Ze knew that he couldn't leave. The war in the third realm wasn't yet over, and he wasn't about to ditch his team halfway through. The reason Zhang Lie had put the invasion on hold was to help support him, and if Yang Ze were to leave Team Zenith the moment a good offer came to him, he didn't deserve to be a member of Team Zenith.

If he were a regular disciple of the Zenith Dojo, he might have considered the offer more seriously, but as a member of Team Zenith, it was clearly a disadvantageous offer.

Yang Ze deeply believed that he could grow far faster as a member of Team Zenith than as a marshal of Mars. Within a few years, he had grown from a talentless youth to a hunter at the peak of the third realm, and all his success could be attributed to Team Zenith, to his mentor and friend, Zhang Lie...