Chapter 194: Concocting the Potions  

Three days later, in a training chamber within the Zenith Dojo, Zhang Lie was interacting with his two disciples when his transceiver suddenly beeped.

"Captain, where are you? We've finished collecting the herbs!" Fang Yi shouted.

"Wait for me at the Blacksteel Inn." Instead of leaving immediately, however, Zhang Lie turned back to Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen.

Because Jun Jiuxiao was particularly agile and dominating in battle, Zhang Lie had recommended him the dojo's only dual-attunement technique: [Rondo of Wind and Storm].

On the other hand, Ye Xianchen boasted a surprising affinity with darkness-attuned genetic energy, and Zhang Lie eventually recommended her the pinnacle-grade [Tome of Darkness].

Zhang Lie had suggested that they pick their favorite techniques from the available selection before going over their choices with him. The two of them glanced at each other, then sat down obediently.

"Master, my framework may be [Rondo of Wind and Storm], but compared to Senior Fang Yi, I think I'm leaning closer to the wind-attuned side. As a result, I've chosen to split my techniques accordingly, with the wind-attuned [Blade of Heavenly Wind] as my blade technique, along with [Wind's Spirit] and [Floating Clouds] for my fist and footwork techniques, just like Senior Fang!"

Jun Jiuxiao's response was far more articulate and thoughtful than Zhang Lie had anticipated. After all, it was rare for a boy only ten years old to have such a clear sense of his future.

Even Zhang Lie praised him. "Jiuxiao, I'm glad you're so forward-looking. Since you already have a plan, I think you should do as you say."

Zhang Lie handed him a few microchips for the corresponding techniques, then turned to Ye Xianchen.

Somewhat nervously, she recited, "Master, I'd like to learn [Nightmarish Strike], [Fiendfire Claws], and [Nightwalker] for my sword, fist, and footwork techniques respectively!"

Zhang Lie glanced at her thoughtfully.

"I approve. The two of you have already made great strides with your foundation, so you can start learning your three techniques today. In two months' time, you'll be returning to the dimensional world to train there." Zhang Lie handed Ye Xianchen the three microchips corresponding to her techniques.

"I'll be a little busy for the near future, so ask your two instructors if you need any help. However, be careful: neither of you have many gene fragments, and your framework and techniques are of a particularly high grade. The moment you sense discomfort in your body, stop cultivating immediately and alert me at once."

"Yes, Master!"

Zhang Lie nodded, then vanished from sight. By the time Zhang Lie returned to the suite that was permanently reserved for them within the inn, everyone else had already gathered and was boasting about their successes.

"Captain!" the hunters greeted him as he entered.

Zhang Lie could smell the mouthwatering aroma of barbequed meat, as though they had all just had a sumptuous feast. "Not bad, to have gathered all the herbs within a single week."

Hearing his skeptical tone, Yang Ze immediately challenged him, "You don't believe us, do you, Captain? Not only did we collect all the ingredients needed for Potion #2, we even ended up with quite a few of the herbs you told us about way back when!"

Zhang Lie smirked. "So you've found the shortcut, have you? I suppose the nearby settlements are all out of stock of herbs by now."

"You told us we could use any method we wanted, Captain!" Sun Mengmeng pointed out carefully.

Zhang Lie harrumphed. "Well, hand over the ingredients, then rent me the best underground laboratory in the inn. I'll see you in a few hours."

"Everything's prepared for you already, Captain! We've rented out Lab #3, and all the ingredients are there. Is there anything we can do to help? We'll be willing to do anything!" Fang Yi informed him.

Zhang Lie raised an eyebrow. "Help? Are any of you familiar with medicine or herbology?" Huffing, he turned and left the suite.

Entering Lab #3 and seeing the potbellied-toad pouches within, he found that the members of Team Zenith had arranged everything surprisingly neatly for him. All sorts of herbs filled each pouch, labeled and categorized neatly. Furthermore, the hunters had divided the herbs between those that would be used for Potion #2 and those that wouldn't, saving Zhang Lie quite some time.

Most importantly, of the other herbs that they had acquired, Zhang Lie found a few supplementary ingredients necessary for the scale-weakening potion. As a result, the moment the Thousand-Treasure Pavilion acquired the three second-realm poisons, he would be able to craft the potion immediately.

At present, however, his main task was to concoct Potion #2. As Zhang Lie's reserves of genetic energy grew larger, and his number of elemental attunements increased, despite the fact that he was working alone,

Zhang Lie finished preparing another brew of Potion #2 in just half an hour, far faster than he had done so the first time around. In the fume hood, three test tubes, one black, one white, and one empty, were secured in a test tube rack. Zhang Lie wasn't as nervous as he had been the first time. At that time, he had no choice but to succeed; failure would mean having to start the hunt from scratch.

He picked up the two black and white test tubes with stable hands as he poured them symmetrically into the third, empty test tube. As the two herbal concoctions combined, gold fog wafted out of the third tube, causing a smile to appear on Zhang Lie's face.

He had succeeded! Once again, he had succeeded in brewing Potion #2!

What followed was the tedious process of repeating the same procedure five more times. Of course, no one could be entirely faultless, and even Zhang Lie failed because of a tiny misstep during his fourth try. After that failure, Zhang Lie grew even more careful, and he succeeded in concocting the rest of the potions in one fell swoop.

In the end, because there were ten batches of ingredients available, he used them all up to make three extra batches of Potion #2. Once everything was complete, Zhang Lie brought the potions back toward Team Zenith's suite. About five hours had passed since Zhang Lie left, and it was already very late at night, but the atmosphere in Team Zenith's suite still seemed to be booming.

"Captain!"

"Was the brewing process successful?"

Everyone rushed up and crowded around him.

"Yang Ze, aren't you speaking nonsense? When has the captain ever failed us? Of course he succeeded!"

"Right, Yang Ze, don't curse us with bad luck!"

"If only five potions were successful, you'll have to wait for next time, I'm afraid!" magic

Yang Ze's question instantly provoked outrage among the gathered hunters, and Zhang Lie laughed at their antics.

"Yang Ze, for daring to doubt me, you'll be the last to take the potion!"

"Ah, Captain, Master, no!"

"Don't try to deny it, Yang Ze, you knew what you were doing—everyone agrees!"

Everyone laughed as Yang Ze tried to defend himself, but they straightened up and listened with a serious expression on their faces once Zhang Lie began to speak.

"Alright, listen up. Potion #2's significantly stronger than Potion #1, so if you don't process the medicinal energy well, your life could well be in danger," Zhang Lie warned.

"First, I'm not kidding when I say that I want you to take turns consuming the potion. While you do so, I'll keep an eye on you to make sure that none of you suffer any accidents. Second, make sure that you're circulating genetic energy throughout your body during the process, no matter how much pain you're in. This will speed up the assimilation process and help strengthen your body immensely. Do you understand?"

Everyone nodded.

"In that case, let's begin. Who wants to be first?"