"Because I'm a citizen of Ning, of course. Isn't that enough?"

"Good, very good! I'll have someone follow you around for a period of time, and you'll be safe with him. Furthermore, the day your dojo opens, I'll prepare a small gift for you," Su Feng said, smiling. 

Neither of them spoke about their agreement outright, but each understood what it entailed. 

Su Feng glanced toward Zhang Lie appreciatively. It wasn't easy for a hunter without any background to make a place in this world. Without any courage or intellect, he would hardly have been able to get the chance to meet Su Feng.

Su Feng knew that his reaction and subsequent offer of protection had been planned by Zhang Lie all along, and while he would normally abhor such behavior, he even seemed to be glad that Zhang Lie had chosen to divulge the information to him.

When he looked toward Zhang Lie once more, he seemed to see a rising star that would bring glory and fame to Ning.

"Thank you for your goodwill, Commander." Zhang Lie turned to leave.

From now on, the troops and military of Ning would be Zhang Lie's backer, a relationship far closer and more secure than what he had wrought with the Chu and Ning clans. 

Indeed, all of China would soon become Zhang Lie's backer. After all, the discovery of these limit fragments would be momentous news.

Zhang Lie headed straight back to his dojo, and Su Feng to his office. A sudden chill caused Su Feng to shiver.

"Why do you still like appearing in front of others in this manner?" Su Feng sighed, turning around.

A figure had made his way to Su Feng's back, his face covered in shadow.

"Why did you call me back so urgently? What's the matter?" a hoarse voice rasped out.

"I have a young man I'd like you to protect," Su Feng began seriously.

"Hoh, a young man? And what sort of young man would attract your attention?"

"He's a first-realm hunter—you must have heard his title before—the Dragonwolf Zhang Lie."

"The one who's been the darling of the media lately?" The figure raised his head, exposing his curious two-pupiled eyes.

"Don't look down on him. I'm fully confident that he'll become a pillar of our country," Su Feng stated severely, sensing the other party's disdain.

"Is that so? A rare evaluation from you. I understand." The figure vanished amidst another chilly gust of wind.

By the time Zhang Lie returned to the dojo, it was already late at night. Dim lamplight illuminated the thin, narrow streets of Ning. With so few people outside, Zhang Lie was able to relax and take off his mask. He only infrequently encountered a few homeless vagrants roaming the streets, one of the 'attractions' of the slums.

"You're Zhang Lie?" a voice suddenly exclaimed behind him. A chill snaked down Zhang Lie's back, and an aura of genetic energy exploded from him.

However, the owner of the voice seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Zhang Lie frowned, continuing to stand still as he circulated genetic energy. He fed some into [Ninecarp Transformation], causing the shadow of his black serpent to revolve around his body. He hadn't sensed the voice's owner at all; if the mysterious figure had launched a sneak attack at him, he would have been heavily injured, if not dead.

Had he finally attracted the attention of a strong hunter?

"May I ask who you are?"

"Don't be afraid, lad!"

This time, Zhang Lie could clearly sense that the voice came from the entrance to the dojo. He raised his head to see a figure standing there, the upper half of his body was shrouded in shadow.

In the dim lamplight, all Zhang Lie could see were a pair of old-fashioned Western pants and large leather boots. Zhang Lie's face turned serious. This man might not bear Zhang Lie any ill will, but his sudden appearance so late at night was certainly suspicious.

He didn't approach the dojo; the other figure began approaching him. Zhang Lie lowered his body slightly and charged up a [Fists of the Silent Sea].

"Don't worry. I'm Lin Xiu, from the Blackwind Fort." A weathered face appeared from the shadow, a thick beard displayed prominently against rather ordinary features. A cigarette hung by his mouth, giving Zhang Lie the impression of a seasoned hunter.

"Good to see you. Did Commander Su send you over?" Zhang Lie asked, relaxing.

"Su Feng was worried about your safety, so he sent me here overnight. Your response wasn't bad," Lin Xiu critiqued, removing the baseball cap from his head.

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Lin," Zhang Lie replied respectfully. It was obvious that he was a close confidante of Su Feng if he referred to Su Feng without any honorific.

Furthermore, Su Feng was well aware of what sort of danger Zhang Lie would face. For him to dispatch only a single hunter as Zhang Lie's bodyguard was a clear measure of trust in Lin Xiu, as well as a sign of his strength.

 As they walked into the dojo, they heard a few grunts coming from the nearby training ground: the members of Team Zenith were continuing their training well into the night.

"Your comrades are quite hardworking," Lin Xiu murmured appreciatively.

It was already past midnight, and from the hunters' weathered faces, they had been training the whole day.

"Strength only comes from hard work, after all." Instead of disrupting their training, Zhang Lie brought Lin Xiu toward his house, located at a rather isolated corner of the dojo.

Lin Xiu glanced around him. The Zhang estate had been preserved in its entirety; except for a few renovations to its exterior, its interior had barely changed. In contrast to the newly built dojo, it looked rather unassuming and unimpressive.

Lin Xiu slouched on an old sofa, lighting another cigarette and filling the room with smoke.

He seemed like rather a lazy fellow, but from the way his eyes gleamed from time to time, as well as the aura Zhang Lie felt during his first encounter with him, Zhang Lie was certain that the man in front of him was an immensely strong hunter.

"When's the opening ceremony?" Lin Xiu asked, stretching lazily.

"In three days," Zhang Lie replied. He had intended on waiting a few more days, but since Su Feng's protection was already in place, he could push everything forward.

"In that case, I'll attend as an instructor of the dojo." Lin Xiu breathed out a thick cloud of smoke.

"The dojo's opening ceremony is tomorrow," Qin Zongming informed the gathered elders in the meeting room.

"What do you intend to do, Head?"

"Send Qin Wu to the opening ceremony."

"But, Head, Qin Wu's in the third realm—"

"I will not be countermanded! We must carry out this operation successfully, or else!" Qin Zongming brusquely broke off the elder who tried to disagree with him.

The next day, as dawn broke, the residents of the slums rose to golden rays of sunshine.

"Have you heard? The Zenith Dojo's right about to open!"

"What?! When?"

"Apparently, in three days. They'll release information about the requirements to enter the dojo today, and they're already starting to prepare for the grand opening."

There was quite a bit of discussion going on about Zhang Lie and the Zenith Dojo, and quite a few residents had gathered by the dojo in hopes of finding exciting news to share.

Within the dojo, Zhang Lie was inspecting a series of microchips that were to be sent out to invited guests for the opening ceremony.

Sun Mengmeng and the other members of Team Zenith were labeling the microchips for their respective recipients: many of the most influential citizens of Ning and even elsewhere, including the five major clans of the capital.

"Captain, aren't we being a little too ostentatious?" Sun Xiaowu asked timidly, staring at the lists of addresses to fill in.

"Don't you know just who our captain is? He's a galaxy fighter, a dragonsoul warrior! He's on the same level as some of these clan heads, don't you see?" Sun Mengmeng rapped her brother on the head.

Zhang Lie glanced at them in amusement.

"Captain, are you really going to send an invitation to the Qin clan? To the Wang and Li clans, as well?!" Yang Ze shouted.

Everyone glanced at the addresses he was pointing at. The media had dug into Zhang Lie's background because of his fame, and by now, almost everyone in Ning knew that Zhang Lie was bitter enemies with those three clans.

Qin Xiao and Wang Jianxin's expulsion, along with Li Jin's death, all had Zhang Lie's hand in them. Although none of them had proof that he was the mastermind behind the crimes, no one else could possibly have done it.

The fact that he was sending the three clans each an invitation was a marked act of provocation, and it wasn't difficult to imagine just how poorly the clans would take this invitation.

"Don't worry—just send it over. Furthermore, do you think they won't show up just because we don't invite them?" 

Zhang Lie remained unperturbed by the entire affair, and the other members of Team Zenith were well aware that he likely had some ulterior motive for doing so. Indeed, this invitation was to inform the three clans that he was aware of their plans, and he would gladly accept their challenge. 

Zhang Lie had also made plans for recruiting disciples. The Zenith Dojo would be a nexus of power for him, and what he most wanted from his disciples wasn't talent or background, but rather loyalty and age. As long as they were loyal, and as long as they were still malleable, Zhang Lie was confident that he could unlock any potential they possessed.

In other words, anyone who had sufficient loyalty to the dojo would be able to receive Zhang Lie's instruction. This particular piece of information spread like wildfire across Ning.

Just about every person of authority in Ning had received an invitation from Zhang Lie, who was in truth little more than a resident of the slums and just a lowly first-realm hunter. Nevertheless, many parties were gratified to have received such an invitation, and they immediately began preparing a gift as soon as they received it.

Of course, three clans in particular were unamused. Wang Han stared at the holographic recording with obvious distaste.

"I would be honored to receive the Wang clan's patronage during my dojo's opening ceremony," Zhang Lie concluded at the end of the recording, his face beaming, without any sign of enmity at all.

"This piece of trash dares provoke me?!" Wang Han thundered, destroying the microchip with a callous flick of his finger. "Make the strongest restricted potion you can. We'll send Zero to the ceremony."

The killing intent that seeped into his voice caused the nearby elders to pale.

"We're sending Zero against a first-realm hunter?" an elder carefully clarified.

"You doubt me?" Wang Han frowned, focusing the full force of his aura on the unfortunate elder, who shrunk back in fear. "I'm sure the Qin and Li clans are also making plans for the opening ceremony. With all three of our challengers in play, I want to see just how long Zhang Lie will be able to hold out."

The same day, the Li clan's main conference room was torn to shambles by the head of the Li clan, Li Mo. After his outburst, Li Mo gradually calmed down. He was well aware that Qin Zongming and Wang Han had surely received a similar invitation as well.

"Send Li Mian to the ceremony," Li Mo instructed.

In the remnants of the meeting room, the Li elders glanced at the destruction their clan head had wreaked and chose not to speak up. As they left, Li Mo contacted Wang Han and Qin Zongming.

"I'm sure both of you have received the invitation," Li Mo began.

"He's an arrogant, insufferable twat!" Qin Zongming shouted. How could he bear the humiliation of being provoked by a hunter from the first realm? He was the head of one of the five major clans of the capital!

The other two clan heads felt the same way. It was unfortunate that Zhang Lie was under so many layers of protection; if they wanted to kill him, they would have to plan out their attack carefully.