Chapter 1258: Simply Disappeared
Yun Bing gave Zhang Lie an unimpressed look. "Have some confidence in me, won't you? All you have to do is remain in the third realm for some time. I'll be able to secure an important position in the coalition by then and stabilize our foundation of power. As long as I remain in the third realm, the forces of the Milky Way will never be able to control the Zenith Dojo."
Zhang Lie asked, "And what about after you ascend as well?"
Yun Bing replied, "Don't worry. Just give me the time I need to solidify our status. Furthermore, who's to say that I'm going to ascend?"
"You're a genetic hunter, aren't you?"
Yun Bing shrugged. "Who knows what dangers the fourth realm possesses? Staying in the third realm and managing a kingdom doesn't seem bad in comparison."
"Don't lust after authority and power," Zhang Lie advised. "Remember that you're not native to the third realm, that you're a genetic hunter from the Milky Way."
"Don't worry, Zhang Lie. By the time you get a firm footing in the fourth realm and need my assistance, I'll be ready to ascend."
"Very well."
To be frank, Yun Bing was somewhat weak in terms of individual strength. She was still stronger than the average hunter, but barely noteworthy to Zhang Lie. His disciples, Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen, had already eclipsed her in strength.
"It's almost time for my speech."
Yun Bing stood up, patted herself down, and walked up to the podium. She shouted, "Today marks the founding of the Zenith Alliance. Thanks to everyone's combined efforts, we have overcome many crises together, not least among them the averted destruction of the third realm. Rather than choosing to retreat, we cooperated and strategized against disaster..."
"...I hereby announce the founding of the Zenith Alliance!"
Fireworks lit up the sky as thunderous applause boomed below.
Yun Bing had specially prepared the festivities, including a fireworks show in which the fireworks had been replaced with hunters' techniques.
The sky sparkled and fizzed, and the overall appearance of these "fireworks" might even have been superior to the real thing.
Because the kingdom was founded by all the forces of the Milky Way, it was officially titled the Zenith Milky Way Alliance, or the Zenith Alliance for short.
"I shall take on the role of Prime Minister of the Zenith Alliance. I pledge that I will build a better foundation for us all on the basis of the hard work and effort that we have all put in. Next up, the guardian deity of the Zenith Alliance, the dojo leader of the Zenith Dojo, the strongest hunter of the third realm, the champion who rescued it in times of need, the scientist who discovered limit-breaking potions and realized how to absorb disaster gene fragments, the true leader of the Zenith Alliance—Zhang Lie."
Yun Bing turned around to see that Zhang Lie had already vanished, as had Li Qianlin.
"Where's Zhang Lie?"
The members of Team Zenith all shrugged.
Yun Bing clutched her face. "What am I supposed to do? There are a few hundred thousand people down there right now!"
Sun Mengmeng sighed in exasperation. "Who would be able to stop our captain from leaving?"
Certainly not anyone from the third realm.
Yun Bing clicked her tongue. "In that case, Sun Mengmeng, you're up!"
From a distance, Li Qianlin asked, "Is it really alright for us to have left so suddenly?"
Zhang Lie rolled his eyes. "It's almost time for the founding ceremony for the Lie kingdom. The ruler is my disciple, so I have to be present punctually."
By then, Zhang Lie had already shattered space and brought them both to the territory of the Lie kingdom.
As important as the Zenith Alliance was, Zhang Lie had no intention of speaking publicly in front of such a large audience. He had prepared nothing;
in order to avoid an embarrassing attempt at public speaking, Zhang Lie had chosen to sneak away beforehand.
Of course, there was another reason besides.
Zhang Lie wanted to diminish his importance and influence in the Zenith Alliance; after all, he was about to ascend to the fourth realm shortly. If he played too important a role and left too strong an impression in the minds of the hunters of the third realm, Zhang Lie was afraid that it would negatively impact Yun Bing's authority and the status of the members of Team Zenith.
As such, Zhang Lie had slipped away. As long as his influence diminished, Yun Bing and Team Zenith's influence would rise.
Li Qianlin asked curiously, "Don't you want to become the leader of the Zenith Alliance?"
"Do you think I've ever cared?"
Li Qianlin hummed. "That's true. If you've endeared the ruler of the third realm herself, it would be trivial to make the world anew."
"Becoming the leader of the Zenith Alliance would be a joke—I don't intend to remain in the third realm for good, after all."
Perhaps a leader in spirit, but an actual leader? Of course not!
Li Qianlin hesitated for a moment. "Are you really going to ascend to the third realm?"
"I'm a genetic hunter," Zhang Lie replied.
Hunters weren't indigenous to the dimensional realm, and Zhang Lie believed that neither should they be beholden to it.
"We can only move ever forwards," he stated resolutely.
"However, I saw quite a few genetic hunters who have remained in the third realm for the long term while in the superior draconian world," Li Qianlin replied.
Not all hunters wanted to advance relentlessly; some were afraid of the challenges they would have to face, the strength of the lifeforms they would have to kill, the allies and friends they would lose along the way, the shame they would feel if they gave up and returned to the Milky Way.
Some simply didn't have the strength to defeat peak-grade lifeforms, and were forced to halt their advance and become merchants instead.
"You've only met a fraction of us hunters."
Even more genetic hunters never feared to charge onward. When their companions perished, they would carry their companions' souls in their heart, fighting every day to hone themselves, to improve, to advance.
It was precisely because of all these pioneers who had given their lives to exploring the dimensional realm that the Milky Way was experiencing such prosperity.
"Only by advancing can I reclaim what I once lost," Zhang Lie stated resolutely.
Li Qianlin opened her mouth as if to speak, but she couldn't force the words out of her throat. In the end, she sighed. "You're always like this, aren't you? Forging endlessly onward. I can't imagine where your finish line would be."
The Lie kingdom was located where the scaleman kingdom had been. Zhang Lie brought Li Qianlin with him to the scaleman king, the former ninth prince, who was now the Lie king.
Despite having lost his superior world, after the unification of the worlds of the third realm, the former superior king had received an incredible blessing, advancing him beyond his former strength. The Lie king should have sensed him the moment he arrived in Lie territory.
Zhang Lie had naturally permitted this signal to reach the Lie king himself.
When he saw that Zhang Lie and Li Qianlin were approaching, the Lie king was very excited.
He had been preparing for the founding ceremony, but once he sensed their arrival, he dropped what he was working on.
"You're here, Master!"
Zhang Lie smiled. "I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
The Lie king's smile widened. "It's an honor for me to receive you here, Master, not a disturbance at all!"
Zhang Lie replied, "I'll take a stroll around the palace and await your founding ceremony."
The Lie king beamed. "I heard the Zenith Alliance's founding ceremony was today too, and I was worried you wouldn't show up."
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