When the young man withdrew his hand from the gigantic rock, barely a breath had passed before he quickly regained himself after a momentary pause.
"Did the rock offer you any technique?"
In a hurry, Reng ran up to the young man and held him by the shoulders. He remembered coming to this rock himself and learning the technique just like it was the first day, and when he regained himself, he had difficulty to standing up. But when he looked at the young man, he realized that what he had done was unnecessary.
The young man nodded slowly. Although Reng was excited, he thought his nephew's mind was confused, so he didn't insist. After all, they would have enough time to talk in the clan.
Looking at the young man, Reng said, "Let's return to the clan, you can rest on the way."
After all, Reng, who carried the young man, didn't need him to do anything. In fact, it didn't matter even if he slept.
The young man's steps stopped as he looked at Reng's back. "Uncle Reng, I am not returning to the clan with you."
Reng turned around. "If you have business to attend to, we can wait a few days. It won't be a problem."
There was a hint of sadness in the young man's voice. "Uncle Reng, I have no business. I want to travel the planet."
Reng's face, which showed signs of aging, suddenly aged as if ten years had passed in a moment.
"I-I can come with you."
The young man knew what the person in front of him was thinking, even though their relationship was more broken than a normal uncle and nephew. He was like a son to Reng, a son he never had.
"No, this is something I have to do alone."
Reng's eyes began to turn red.
"At least return to the clan with me. You can leave later after a few days."
The young man realized for the first time how old the man in front of him was. Despite possessing tremendous power, he was still an old man in his fifties. Seeing the man who had been helping him in this state for 14 years saddened him, but there was nothing he could do. He had a lot of work to do.
"Uncle Reng, what is there for me in the clan? Just remember, you are my uncle, and I will visit you frequently."
The young man knew it was a lie, and Reng knew what he knew.
Reng didn't insist any further. After all, he wouldn't force the young man to stay with him. Suddenly, a ring appeared in Reng's hand, and he extended it towards the young man.
"Take this, but use it carefully so that it doesn't bring trouble."
The young man was surprised when he saw the ring in Reng's hand.
"Uncle Reng, I can't accept this. What will you do without it?"
The young man tried to cover the ring with his palm and move it away from himself.
"I bought this three years ago in an auction. Although it's small, it can store food, water, and a few clean clothes. You can carry it with you."
The young man insisted, "Uncle Reng, I can't accept this. It's too valuable."
Although he didn't want to take it, he didn't hesitate to kill several people without blinking an eye just to get his hands on the ring. It was known as the "Ring of Possession" and was extremely valuable. Only the leaders of the clan, with average strength, could possess it.
Reng knew why the young man didn't take the ring, so he showed his own hand to him.
"I have another one. The clan leader gave it to me yesterday to celebrate my progress. If you don't take it im going to sell it anyway just take as a goodbye gift."
The young man finally took the ring, reluctantly, and placed it in his pocket without trying to put it on any finger.
No one below the level of Earth Ruler dared to openly wear the possession ring, except for some "special individuals." Not to mention the contents, the ring itself was worth more than a thousand gold.
The young man turned to Reng.
"Uncle Reng, please don't send anyone after me or follow me. That's my only request."
Reng's face grew pale. After all, he was one of the most powerful individuals in the clan, even though he used to be the 7th Elder. The difference between his previous power and his current power was like heaven and earth. Any order he gave to ordinary Earth Rulers would be executed without question or hesitation.
Reng only nodded.
Finally, they agreed to have a meal together. Everyone who saw the token on Reng's waist either respectfully withdrew or came to greet him, but Reng wasn't in the mood to deal with them.
The young man had finally filled his stomach and his ring with food. He had only taken two gold coins with him. No matter how much Reng insisted, it was enough for him. At least that's what he thought. Having too much money would only attract more attention.
Lastly, he acquired two sets of black robes and a hooded cloak that would cover his face. After thanking Reng one last time, he bid farewell.
Before leaving, the young man turned back one last time and said, "Uncle Reng,I will visit you in future."
And he slowly disappeared into the crowd.
In a bustling street, a young man caught the attention of onlookers with his black robe and a visibly irritated expression on his face.
"Damn Phantom Sect! Do they really think they're unparalleled beneath the heavens?"
Although the young man spoke in a hushed tone, it didn't escape the notice of the nearby duo.
"Hey, kid! What did you say?"
Anxiety filled the young man's face as he quickly bowed and started to offer his greetings, his voice trembling audibly.
"I-I apologize, sir. Please forgive my insolence."
The other young man from the duo, dressed in a brown robe and seemingly in his twenties, spoke up.
"We're not interested in your life, kid. Repeat what you said."
The young man's face reflected a mixture of relief and trepidation as he hesitantly repeated his earlier words.
"Damn those Phantom Sect members! Do they truly believe they're peerless beneath the heavens?"
The larger man in the gray robe raised an eyebrow and posed another question.
"Why did you say that?"
Aware that he had narrowly escaped death but still feeling far from safe, the young man responded cautiously.
"Sir, I had an encounter with two individuals from the Phantom Sect earlier—a young man who appeared to be of your age and a girl who seemed to be around my age."
Neither of the duo displayed any emotion, but the young man pressed on.
"The young girl claimed noone worthy to her of the other two clans and the Skyfall Sect, and that everyone within the other three major force is nothing but trash."
The young man's delivery of this particular segment was tinged with apprehension.
The man resembling a tree branch seemed taken aback, but before he could inquire further, the larger man interjected.
"So what if they said that? What does it have to do with you and the three major force?"
A glimmer of pride shone through on the young man's face.
"Sir, my family has been farmers for generations, but one of my ancestors possessed the gift of cultivation and was accepted into the esteemed Skyfall Sect. He even rose to the position of an elder, making the Skyfall Sect a benefactor to my family. As a member of my lineage, how could I not consider an insult against the Skyfall Sect as unjust? However, my power is limited; I am merely an ordinary mortal. Thus, I can only swallow my anger."
The duo appeared to be affected by the young man's words. This time, the one resembling a tree branch spoke up.
"What is your name, kid?"
The young man replied, "Zenith."
The larger man followed up with another question.
"Which direction did they go?"
Zenith pointed in the direction the duo had taken.
Without much delay, the larger man spoke again.
"We, too, are members of the Skyfall Sect. Wait here, and when we return, we shall bring you back to the sect."
Zenith couldn't contain his excitement and immediately began expressing his gratitude through bowing. Unnoticed by the duo, a sly grin played across his face.
It had been over ten days since Zenith arrived in Destiny City, spending the last few days scouring the city for suitable prey to refine the technique bestowed upon him by the colossal god. To accomplish this, he needed to forge a second soul, for which he required a woman.
Initially, Zenith contemplated kidnapping an ordinary village girl. However, his plans changed when he laid eyes on the Phantom Sect duo. The young woman appeared innocent and fragile, while the man possessed a well-sculpted physique. If they weren't siblings, there was no doubt they would make a formidable couple.
As for the other duo, Zenith had noticed them yesterday. Although they didn't bear tokens on their belts, Zenith had spent his last few hours eavesdropping on their conversations. While he couldn't be entirely certain, he strongly believed they hailed from the Skyfall Sect.
His realization that they weren't Phantom Sect members came when he witnessed them together without recognizing each other with the siblings. The members of the Dike Clan were renowned for wielding long, double-sided swords strapped to their backs. Though distinguishing Blaze Clan members lacked a distinct method, Zenith knew that many of them had an obsession with the color red, often donning crimson robes.
It must be emphasized that the young girl wasn't Zenith's primary objective. After all, any ordinary girl would have sufficed. Yet, he relished every opportunity to exact vengeance upon his family's killers.