Just like the winged, the other three prime races had also gotten their hands on a roster of competitors, and Zhang Lie's name had been brought up in each of their conversations. After all, this human's competition record seemed rather abnormal.

Just as the representatives of the four races viewed Zhang Lie as a competitor, so too did Zhang Lie, who was rushing through array after array on his way to Ural, view the representatives of the four races as opponents.

Yes, opponents! For Zhang Lie, an opponent was someone whom he had to worry about; even on Earth, he had never viewed those major clans that had caused trouble for him as opponents.

The world wasn't fair, nor the galaxy. The starbeasts, nightdemons, aquatic, and winged races, heralded as the four prime races of the Milky Way, boasted talent that the other races could only aspire toward.

Their ability to assimilate gene fragments was far stronger than that of mankind, and their immeasurable racial talent had catapulted them ahead of the other races. They would be worthwhile competitors for Zhang Lie.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. When Zhang Lie stepped into the Ural capital, he was immediately captivated by the charming city in front of him, an architecture of bones, redolent of the ancient past. The contrast between the advanced technology that saturated the city and these unusual buildings evoked a curious sense of discordant harmony.

The members of Team Zenith were likewise shocked by the sight. As they glanced at the alien lifeforms walking through the streets, Yang Ze couldn't help but gasp in awe.

"It's interesting, but there's no need to look so shocked, is there? If you can't handle the sight, you'd better not claim that you're affiliated with us!" Fang Yi teased, causing everyone to laugh.

At the very front, Yan Long said, "Zhang Lie, it's your first time seeing such a place, isn't it? A fascinating sight to behold, surely!"

"Indeed, but I'm more concerned about the four prime races on this and other nearby planets," Zhang Lie replied, his competitiveness rising. His goal for the final stage of the Void Cup was to obtain an item that could help his sister, as well as to spar against these four races.

Ever since this new age of genetic assimilation, the human delegation to the Void Cup had been defeated by one of these four races within the first round, the only exception being when Hong Tianqi was a participant.

Although the past Zhang Lie had made it all the way to the fourth realm in the past, he was little more than cannon fodder; he had advanced from realm to realm after meeting only the minimum requirements, crippling his foundation and stunting his growth.

As a result, he was very interested in just how he compared to these four races in the present.

"Haha, are you that excited to face them? They're not easy opponents, so don't treat them lightly!" Su Feng warned.

"Don't worry!" Zhang Lie replied, walking even faster onward.

As they walked faster, trying to approach the Nike Hotel where they would be staying, two winged humanoids landed in front of them. Based on their appearance, they were likely representatives of the winged race.

"May I ask if you're the representatives from Earth?" the red-winged woman asked.

They didn't speak in Chinese, but the translation earpieces that all the hunters were wearing made it seem as though they were. These earpieces had spread far and wide across the galaxy, translating between the languages of all sentient lifeforms, the first step to galactic communication.

The hunters paused; eventually, Yan Long spoke up. "Are you representatives of the winged?"

"Indeed. I am Hong Yu, tasked by my master Phoenix to invite the competitors of Earth to the Sufei Hotel for an evening banquet."

Yan Long stared. He had led the Earth representatives to the galactic stage of the Void Cup several times by now, but he had never received such treatment—the winged were personally inviting them to an evening banquet! That implied that they had begun paying attention to Zhang Lie! After a momentary bout of exultation and pride, however, Yan Long couldn't help but feel worried.

He turned to glance at Zhang Lie, seeking his opinion and simultaneously cursing his dominating performance during the worldwide stage of the Void Cup. This glance told Hong Yu just who was in charge of this delegation.

"You must be Mr. Zhang Lie! You're as extraordinary as they claim. Would you be willing to make an appearance?" Hong Yu asked Zhang Lie directly.

"I apologize, Ms. Hong Yu, but we're all a bit exhausted after the long trip. Perhaps another day?"

A... refusal? He had refused Phoenix's invitation! Hong Yu's face was clearly marked with shock—His Royal Highness Phoenix had sent her with this invitation himself, and there were countless other competitors who would have done anything to get into the banquet!

Even Yan Long, Su Feng, and the other hunters hadn't expected Zhang Lie's sudden refusal, but it certainly was consistent with Zhang Lie's attitude. Although Hong Yu had tendered the invitation politely, it was clear that she rather looked down on mankind, as though it were a great honor that they were being invited to the banquet itself.

Perhaps a lesser hunter might have succumbed to temptation, but Zhang Lie's stubbornness caused him to reject the invitation out of contempt.

A sudden tension descended on the two parties, and the yellow-winged man standing beside Hong Yu couldn't take the provocation any longer. "You damned lowlives, just you—"

"Ali!" Hong Su cut him off.

"I apologize. Ali's still rather young, and he's not been trained as a diplomat. Since you're all exhausted from your travels, I'll report back to my master and arrange for a meeting at a different time," Hong Yu replied politely, showing no sense of the dissatisfaction she surely felt. Her propriety even in the face of such naked refusal surprised even Zhang Lie.

"I do apologize. Allow me to host a banquet and invite the four prime races together in the future!" Zhang Lie suggested, the glint in his eyes causing Hong Yu and Ali to look in his direction.