An auction—especially one on Earth—meant that they would have even more competitors for these rare potions. In fact, if information about such potions were to be distributed widely, even hunters from the higher realms of the dimensional world might show up. As a result, the organizers of the auction would have to be able to handle the pressure from these far stronger hunters.

"Zhang Lie, are you... requesting that our clans organize the auction?"

Given how strong the potion was purported to be, Chu Feng was perfectly willing to sacrifice his pride to get a chance to acquire it.

However, Zhang Lie already had other plans in mind. "Do you think your clans would be able to handle this? They might have some strength in the first realm of the dimensional world, but would they be able to handle hunters from the higher realms?"

Zhang Lie's words jolted Chu Feng out of his reverie. Zhang Lie was right: the Chu clan might be one of the largest clans within the Blacksteel settlement, but that was nothing compared to some of these hunters who might show up for the auction.

The elders of the clan might have some influence over matters of the second realm, but what about the third and fourth realms? The Yun and Chu clans could hardly hope to stand against the monstrous geniuses who had made it that far.

"Zhang Lie, you're absolutely right. We likely won't have the qualifications to participate in the auction, so would you be willing to sell us two of the potions beforehand?" Yun Bing couldn't resist asking Zhang Lie for a favor, given how incredible the potions' effects were.

Zhang Lie smiled. "Well, working with the two of you has been rather pleasant, so I don't mind leaving two potions for you. In that case, I'll sell them to you at the lowest price that they go for during the auction."

Chu Feng and Yun Bing's eyes widened, and they even began to breathe more heavily.

"Do you mean this? Zhang Lie, I will hold you to your word."

"Don't worry. Have I ever lied to you?"

Yun Bing's face was flushed red with excitement, a surprising contrast from her usual cool and collected demeanor. When she looked toward Zhang Lie, her gaze seemed to be filled with an emotion she couldn't place.

At this moment, Zhang Lie seemed to be exuding some intangible charm, and her heart began to thump loudly. She couldn't help but think to herself, Is he treating me so well because he's interested in me?

She was only in her early twenties, but her strength, as well as the pride that derived from that strength, was a significant barrier deterring would-be suitors. No other hunter had managed to move her heart, but Zhang Lie, who had seemed to appear out of nowhere, satisfied essentially all her requirements: he was mysterious, strong, domineering, and yet gave her preferential treatment.

Even Yun Bing wasn't immune to flights of fancy, after all. 

"Thank you, Zhang Lie. No matter what happens in the future, I will remember your goodwill."

By her side, Chu Feng, who knew Yun Bing well, was very surprised by the depth of emotion she was displaying.

"It's not a problem. The fact that we're active in the same settlement in the first realm at the same time is a form of fate, and both of you show promise to be strong hunters in the future. Consider this an investment on my part. Furthermore, you should realize that even the lowest selling price for these potions will still be an astounding sum, and you had better start gathering funds now.

Zhang Lie's words seemed quite logical, but Yun Bing and Chu Feng were still very touched. No matter what, it was a huge favor for him to be willing to remove two potions from auction and to sell it to them at the lowest selling price. They immediately professed their gratitude.

"Zhang Lie, I apologize for having investigated your background, but it doesn't seem like you have a backer at all. Would you be willing to tell us whom you plan on having host this auction?"

Chu Feng and Yun Bing had naturally investigated Zhang Lie before purchasing white-grub cores from him, but all their investigations suggested that he was nothing more than a poverty-stricken resident of the slums on Earth.

He had no family background to speak of, nor a backer, and he even had to take care of his paralyzed sister.

Under such conditions, how was it that Zhang Lie had been able to become as strong as he was today? They certainly wouldn't have been able to get that far starting with so little.

However, before Zhang Lie could answer them, the gates to the training ground opened, and the participants within began to walk out.

"You'll see!" Zhang Lie hastily replied before heading to the gates, eager to know how his teammates had performed.

Quickly, Fang Yi, Sun Mengmeng, Yang Ze, Sun Xiaowu, Li Feng, and Zhou Ying gathered in a line before Zhang Lie. They were each relaxed, as though they had all met Zhang Lie's expectations, and Zhang Lie could hardly believe the implication.

"Well? Did you all advance?"

"Yes, Captain!" they chorused, shocking the other hunters nearby.

If they didn't succeed, they would be expelled from the team! Of course they didn't dare fail. None of them realized just how shocking it was for them all to pass on the first attempt.

Chu Feng and Yun Bing, who were observing Zhang Lie's team from a distance, were both rather shocked. Had they really all succeeded? Surely they weren't that lucky. Did Zhang Lie really not have some sort of secret technique?

Before their conversation, both Chu Feng and Yun Bing would have suspected that he did, but after the conversation, with their improved understanding of Zhang Lie, they didn't think he would lie.

This meant that those hunters they had disdained earlier had likely succeeded in the trial with their own strength. They took note of those hunters who had defied their expectations.

Zhang Lie didn't care what Chu Feng and Yun Bing thought; he was overjoyed that the hunters of Team Zenith had all succeeded. He knew full well that there was no secret technique for inducing a breakthrough.

There were two reasons for their success: first, the training ground that Chu Feng and Yun Bing had constructed was effective; and second, that Zhang Lie—or rather his teammates—were quite lucky today.

There could be no other explanation.

"Very good. In that case, let's proceed to the next stage of the plan!"

Now that they had all broken through, they would have to replenish their supply of basic gene fragments, and then choose new genetic techniques to study. 

Basic gene fragments would be straightforward for any of the present hunters to acquire, even without genetic techniques. As hunters who possessed superior gene fragments, would they be stymied by hunting down regular-grade lifeforms? Of course not!

However, Zhang Lie would have to be more particular with helping them choose their new genetic techniques. After all, as members of his team, they certainly deserved high-quality techniques that fit with their frameworks.

Recalling the Thousand-Treasure Pavilion, Zhang Lie decided to return to the settlement and enlist their services. He bade farewell to Yun Bing and Chu Feng, then made to return. However, Yun Bing and Chu Feng indicated that they would be returning to the settlement as well. They were both very pleased with the large number of successes in that day's trials.

The three of them still had a transaction to carry out, after all, so Zhang Lie didn't mind them tagging along. After a moment's wait, he returned to the Blacksteel settlement with his team, Chu Feng, and Yun Bing.