Zhang Hong and Lin Xiu were both very touched by Zhang Lie's gesture in handing them each a vial of Potion #3. As high-ranking staff of the Zenith Dojo, they knew better than anyone else just how precious these vials were.

"Lad, I have to say, you're—"

"No, no, none of that! You've given the Zenith Dojo your all, and you've both worked yourself to the bone while I was gone. It's only right for me to pay you back somehow," Zhang Lie added.

Lin Xiu and Zhang Hong were both of humble birth, and they had experienced their fair share of discrimination before growing into their power. Only after entering the Zenith Dojo did they truly discover their own value.

As they clutched the vials in their hands, they swore to themselves that they would forever remain loyal to the dojo.

"Master Lin, I trust you can handle the absorption process yourself? Please help Zhang Hong when you've finished. We'll continue talking later. Do you think this is an appropriate gift for the martial sage?"

Lin Xiu turned to him and replied seriously, "Of course, of course it is! I'm certain the martial sage will be overjoyed with this present."

Zhang Lie nodded. "From his perspective, I imagine he could easily get his hands on any cultivation resource he would want—with the exception of this." He smiled. "Can I leave sending out these gifts to you, Master Lin? Not just to the martial sage himself, but also the officials and important figures of note from the world federation, as well as the Chinese military and government, who have helped us out. That said, I can't afford to hand them all a vial of Potion #3, so please be prudent."

Lin Xiu laughed. "Su Feng and Yan Long have been wanting to get their hands on these potions for a while—I'm glad to see that they'll finally get their wish! Don't worry, I can handle all this easily."

"In that case, the matter's settled." Zhang Lie nodded, then turned to Zhang Hong. "Zhang Hong, can I leave the construction of the settlement to you—everything from the materials, the workers, the security? And if we're going to build a settlement, then we'll have to delay the disciples from entering the first realm for a little while longer."

Zhang Hong nodded firmly. "Don't worry, I can handle it!"

"You've really been an amazing help, Zhang Hong. I must say, I can't wait to see what our settlement will look like once it's done!"

"Dojo Leader, you're making me nervous—what if it's not up to par?"

"Ha! If there's anyone who can handle it, I'm sure it's you."

As the meeting concluded, Zhang Lie headed straight toward the four alien research teams.

Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen were his apprentices, after all, and he certainly had to investigate how they were being treated by the researchers. The research facility was under Team Zenith's name, but the research staff was largely composed of the scientists of the nightdemons, aquatic, starbeasts, and night spirits. This facility was constructed specifically for alien research, after all.

The lead scientists in charge of the project were overjoyed to see Zhang Lie paying them a visit. This was only the second time they had ever met this legendary human.

"How's the progress on the limit fragment research?" Zhang Lie asked, getting straight to business. "Have studying my two disciples helped you all?"

The four lead scientists glanced at each other, then explained that they had tried to perform tests that were as minimally invasive as possible and which wouldn't hurt Zhang Lie's two precious apprentices.

Jiuxiao and Xianchen themselves were quickly summoned to the meeting.

"Master!" The moment they saw him, they gave him a deep bow. They were still quite sorry about having hidden their identities from Zhang Lie, and they were worried about what he would say.

"I heard the two of you have suffered quite a bit during these experiments. Is that true?" Zhang Lie asked, not mentioning their deception at all.

"Ah, no, Master, we've been doing quite well here!"

Zhang Lie smiled. "There's no need to behave so carefully around me. If I really blamed you for the deception, I would hardly have kept you both around. I just want you to be useful research subjects, nothing more—this isn't intended as a punishment for either of you. I think you've both spent enough time here already, so return to the dojo with me in a bit."

Zhang Lie ignored the four lead researchers, but they couldn't ignore him.

The lead researcher for the nightdemons, Ye Hualin, began, "Dojo Leader, I can understand how much you care for your apprentices, but as for our research—"

"Enough. This shouldn't have been too complicated, especially with my two apprentices around. Show me your preliminary results—I'm quite curious just what you've done."

"Of course, Dojo Leader, we'll do so immediately!" Ye Hualin beamed.

The nightdemons had impressed upon her the importance of acquiring limit fragments for their race without destroying the relationship between them and Zhang Lie. However, this was the first time that Zhang Lie had shown up in the facility in the months since they had arrived, and they had to get whatever pointers they could from him while he was around.