"I'll go!" Fang Yi and Sun Mengmeng both shouted.

"Let's give priority to the ladies, shall we? Mengmeng, you can go first." Zhang Lie turned to the other hunters. "Before we come out, don't try to break in no matter what you hear!"

Zhang Lie brought Sun Mengmeng into the training chamber, where he handed her a bottle of Potion #2. "Drink this, then immediately start circulating genetic energy through your body."

The taste of Potion #2 was surprisingly sweet and buttery, so much so that Sun Mengmeng eyed Zhang Lie strangely as she downed the potion. Before she could fully appreciate the taste, however, the potion started to make its way through her body.

"Sit down and start cultivating!"

Moments later, the sweet taste had vanished. Sun Mengmeng's body was wracked with wave after wave of medicinal energy. They smashed against her body, causing her to howl out in pain. 

As Sun Mengmeng momentarily lost control of her genetic energy, purple and black flames erupted over her skin. Sun Mengmeng could feel her body being taken apart and rebuilt by the force of the genetic energy, a process of such constant, unceasing pain that she felt her mind starting to dissociate.

"Focus, Sun Mengmeng! Circulate [Black Sun] at maximum intensity!"  However, just as she felt her mind drifting away, Zhang Lie's voice pulled her back.

A pair of cold hands pressed against her back, causing her body to tremble. Her mind suddenly cleared, and she began circulating [Black Sun] as Zhang Lie had instructed. She suddenly found that her genetic energy, and the medicinal energy running through her body, seemed to have been reined in by a certain mysterious force.

As she circulated genetic energy through her body and the golden medicinal energy seeped into her cells, she could sense her cells breaking through their original limits. Her pores widened and contracted, her muscles spasmed, her arteries and veins and capillaries were broken down and reinforced. Her body seemed to be reforging itself on a fundamental, genetic level.

As she expelled her impurities, the domineering medicinal energy started to fade away, rushing into her deep red genetic core. In her core was a flaming, purplish-black sun. As the medicinal energy seeped into the core, her body began to glow with black light. Sun Mengmeng could visibly feel the purity of her genetic energy increase, conferring upon her a tremendous strength.

It was then that she realized why Zhang Lie had been so strong.

[For consuming an unknown potion, your mutated gene capacity has been increased.]

Sun Mengmeng: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Black Sun (intermediate)

Techniques: Flameburst Step (pinnacle), Lunarflame Shot (advanced), Baptism of Hellfire (intermediate),  Firefeather Wings (intermediate)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 100; Superior, 100

Soulshards: Embersoul Archer (superior), Firebird (superior), Ardorcrown Monkey (superior), Deepflame Beetle (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Suddenly, she flushed red, finding herself naked. Before she could consider her circumstances further, however, a jacket was draped over her body.

"When you lost control of your genetic energy just now, your clothes burned to ash and soot," Zhang Lie explained. "However, everything is fine now. Congratulations on breaking through!"

The sound of Zhang Lie's voice coming from behind caused Sun Mengmeng to blush even redder. "Th-thank you!"

"There's no need for thanks. The moment you all entered the team, we became one big family." Zhang Lie patted her shoulder. "Take some time to freshen up. Don't worry—I won't let anyone else enter before you leave."

For some reason, as Sun Mengmeng saw Zhang Lie running out of the room flustered, she couldn't help but smile.

"Captain!"

"Captain, what's going on inside? Where's my sister?"

"Was the procedure successful?"

The moment Zhang Lie stepped outside, the other hunters, who were waiting by the door, thronged forward.

"There was no issue, but Sun Mengmeng needs some time to recuperate. Have you decided who will go next?" 

After Zhang Lie brought Sun Mengmeng into the chamber, the rest of the hunters had decided on the order in which they would break through. By unanimous vote, Yang Ze was assigned last place because of what he had said previously, and Fang Yi, Li Feng, Sun Xiaowu, and Zhou Ying fought in a battle of wits to determine who would go after Sun Mengmeng. Li Feng eventually won out, and would be followed by Fang Yi, Zhou Ying, and finally Sun Xiaowu.

As they chatted with each other, the door to the training chamber opened up and Sun Mengmeng walked out.

"Sis!"

"Mengmeng?!"

Sun Mengmeng, in her deep red armor, looked as bright and radiant as the midday sun. The hunters gathered around here could barely believe that this hunter giving off such a scorching aura could be the usually gentle and polite Sun Mengmeng.

"Sis, how do you feel? Tell us everything!" Sun Xiaowu shouted, clamoring to be heard.

"It feels wonderful, as though my whole body has been upgraded and reworked. Once you experience the breakthrough for yourself, you'll see what I mean," she replied, but Sun Xiaowu's face turned glum.

After all, he would be second to last to experience the breakthrough for himself.

"I'll have quite a while to wait, it seems," he sighed lifelessly.

"Waiting a while longer won't kill you, will it? Mengmeng, head to a separate training chamber and familiarize yourself with the changes to your body. Li Feng, follow me!"

What followed was simple. After gaining experience dealing with Sun Mengmeng during her breakthrough, Zhang Lie handled the other hunters' breakthroughs with ease. As promised, the hunters felt as though they had become different hunters entirely.

Li Feng: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Arclight Dragon's Imprint (intermediate)

Techniques: Dragon's Triumph (intermediate), Light's Bulwark (intermediate), Daybreak (advanced)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 100; Superior, 100

Soulshards: Lightborne Beetle (superior), Radiant Salamander (superior), Owl of Wisdom (superior), Prismscale Wyrm (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Li Feng, who had been nothing more than an ordinary citizen before he met Zhang Lie, could hardly describe his feelings upon looking at his new data, and he swore that he would remain loyal to Zhang Lie for the rest of his life.

Fang Yi: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Rondo of Wind and Storm (advanced)

Techniques: Heaven's Judgment (intermediate), Wind's Spirit (intermediate), Floating Clouds (intermediate)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 100; Superior, 100

Soulshards: Shadowcrest Serpent (superior), Stormward Albatross (superior), Runetiger (superior), Thunderflash Mantis (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Just like Li Feng, Fang Yi gaped at his own data, but he quickly collected himself.

Zhou Ying: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Avatar of the Fae (intermediate)

Techniques: Storm of Leaves (advanced), Willow's Caress (intermediate)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 100; Superior, 100

Soulshards: Devil-Face Spider (superior), Forest Wolfman (superior), Butterfly of Decay (superior), Treeborn Leopard (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Zhou Ying glanced at Zhang Lie with ardor, tears brimming in her eyes. She was extremely touched by all that Zhang Lie had done for her and the rest of Team Zenith.

Sun Xiaowu: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Adamantine Aegis (intermediate)

Techniques: Golden Divide (intermediate), Goldenscale Palm (advanced), Blinding Flash (intermediate)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 100; Superior, 100

Soulshards: Gold-Limned Tiger (superior), Rampaging Rhinoceros (superior), Goldenhorn Beetle (superior), Iron Hog (superior), Blood Ant (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (mutated), Potbellied Toad (mutated)

Glancing at his body disbelievingly, Sun Xiaowu likewise swore that he would dedicate his life to Zhang Lie.