Not only had Zhang Lie maxed out his disaster gene fragments, the phoenix transformation of his Ninecarp Transformation had reached an intermediate stage. His combat power had increased by leaps and bounds.

"How's everyone doing?"

Zhang Lie knew very well whether or not the members of Team Zenith could make it through all six stages of the trial; after all, he was familiar with all their strengths.

"They're all at the last stage," Bu Wentian replied.

The members of Team Zenith boasted excellent performance, and it was only a matter of time before they succeeded.

Bu Wentian continued, "I obtained pretty good data from your fight."

Zhang Lie replied, "That was a very annoying disaster-grade lifeform to fight."

It boasted the key characteristics of all the disaster-grade lifeforms that he had faced during the trial. Even Zhang Lie had found it difficult to deal with; the others would have an even harder time.

Bu Wentian replied, "I intend on using it to replace the six-headed lifeform that appears in the trial. If there are other challengers like you and your companions, who are so rude as to destroy these trial worlds, I might release one chimera for a stage in your trials."

Zhang Lie's lips twitched. "Are you that petty?"

Bu Wentian rolled his eyes. "Do you think a trial world is that easy to construct?"

"If you can't handle it, why bother making one at all? And to forbid others from damaging it..."

Bu Wentian didn't want to focus on this issue. He changed the topic. "Your final technique was excellent. If it doesn't have any significant drawbacks, I'm certain you'll be able to make it into the top ten of the Rising Stars Cup."

"I want to be the very top," Zhang Lie replied.

The first-place prize was the flower of universal life. To save Zhang Hanxiang, this would be a necessity.

Bu Wentian shook his head. "The Rising Stars Cup isn't as easy to win as you're hoping. There will be many unexpected strong opponents that you'll have to face. This cup is meant for the top hunters of every galaxy. Your final technique was very strong, but there are sure to be even stronger opponents during the Cup. Your performance just now would be insufficient to become champion."

"I have stronger techniques I didn't use," Zhang Lie replied.

Bu Wentian smiled in surprise. "I eagerly await your performance in the cup, then."

Zhang Lie asked, "Won't you tell us any information? If we are to attend this Galactic Rising Stars Cup, don't you think you need to tell us about what this 'Galactic' represents?"

Bu Wentian shook his head firmly. "It's not yet time for you to know.""At the very least, you should tell us what your opponents in the Cup will be like!"

Bu Wentian shook his head. "You'll learn about it as and when it becomes necessary."

Zhang Lie snorted. "If I'm not mistaken, these are hunters from other universes, aren't they?

Bu Wentian sighed. "Don't try to guess it. It won't make a difference whether or not you know. You'll have to fight them to win, after all."

"Was I right?"

Bu Wentian sighed again. "I told your parents about this information the year of their competition, and it impacted their performance negatively. Had I not told them in advance, perhaps the outcome would have been different..."

Zhang Lie frowned. "Hold on, what did you say?"

"Your companions have made it past the final stage.

While Zhang Lie and Bu Wentian were chatting, the members of Team Zenith had made it through the final stage of the trial.

Except for Yang Ze, who barely survived Radiant Sun's final attack, the remaining members of Team Zenith had all won by destroying Radiant Sun's vase.

The difference was that he still had plenty of reserves and stamina after the fight, while the members of Team Zenith had used up much of their strength.

Bu Wentian had a sip of tea. "I thought that it was shocking enough for Zhang Lie to have destroyed Radiant Sun's vase, but for most of you to have done the same... Very well done."The members of Team Zenith glanced left and right, scrutinizing the old Bu Wentian, along with the mysterious space that they had been transported to.

Bu Wentian praised, "You've broken a record. There were only six hunters who had made it past the sixth stage of the trial before all of you, but you've immediately doubled that number to twelve! Among the initial six, three of them drew out the match and barely managed to survive the bejeweled vase's ultimate attack, and the other two managed to perish together with Radiant Sun in the final explosion that resulted."

Zhang Lie gave Bu Wentian a small kick.

"Senior, you're talking too much!"

Upon seeing the familiar figure behind Bu Wentian, everyone's faces lit up in delight.

"Captain!"

Zhang Lie praised, "You've all done very well, and you've improved tremendously since the third realm."

Zhang Lie had witnessed each of their fights during the sixth trial, and the members of Team Zenith had indeed performed in an exemplary fashion.

They smiled at each other in pride, as though Zhang Lie's praise were the highest honor.Sun Xiaowu still seemed a little shaken. "Captain, was that trial something that really happened?"

Zhang Lie replied, "It was a trial, but it was also part of this senior's memory. We too will be having similar experiences of our own."

Sun Mengmeng asked, "Captain, this is..."

Bu Wentian responded, "I'm Bu Wentian. In the past, others called me Heavenly Monarch Wentian, but I'm nothing more than a remnant of a soul in the trial-taker's chamber, now."

The members of Team Zenith turned to Zhang Lie.

Zhang Lie shrugged. "Don't look at me. I don't know anything but his name."

Yang Ze asked, "Heavenly Monarch Wentian? Could this elder have been a hunter of the fifth realm?"

Fang Yi's focus was on a different matter. "Hold on, Captain! You mentioned that we would be having a similar experience—what do you mean?"

Zhang Lie replied, "The sixth stage of the trial that all of you have just experienced is part of the Galactic Rising Stars Cup that this senior took part in as a budding hunter. We will all be taking part as well."

Sun Mengmeng asked, "Is the Galactic Rising Stars Cup hosted in the Milky Way Galaxy?"

Bu Wentian murmured, "Are you really planning on attending with this group of cultivators?"

"Isn't that what we agreed on?" Zhang Lie asked.

Bu Wentian replied, "You would be able to participate just fine, and you could easily make the top ten, but your companions are quite a bit weaker."

Sun Xiaowu asked, "Didn't we just pass the sixth stage of the trial?"

Bu Wentian rolled his eyes. "That's only sufficient to get you through the qualifiers."

Yang Ze coughed. "Does that mean that you failed to make it through the qualifiers too, Senior?"

Bu Wentian coughed. "That's not the point. If you want to participate in the Cup, you'll have to exhibit your strength."

"How? Do we have to fight with you, Senior?" Sun Xiaowu asked.

Bu Wentian waved a hand. "I'm just a soul fragment without much ability to fight. You might easily best me.""What should we do, then?" Sun Mengmeng asked.

Bu Wentian smiled. "I have a final trial for all of you."

"A final trial?" Everyone gaped.

"You may choose whether or not to participate in this trial. Regardless, you may not qualify for the Cup."

The hunters of Team Zenith looked at each other. Sun Mengmeng asked, "Can we have a look at the trial first?"