The next day, Kane announced, "Tomorrow, we leave for the Martial Arts Competition. I will only choose four disciples from here."
The crowd was disappointed, but Kane added, "Don't worry, next time I will increase the number of disciples I take."
The crowd cheered, and Kane thought to himself, "Hmph."
He then announced the names of the disciples he had chosen: Qing Yu, Ling Xiao, Jang Ran, and San Fe. Kane thought they were the strongest and had learned everything faster than the others. He wanted as much power as possible, and San Fe's mysterious nature intrigued him. San Fe's face never showed any expression, and he looked like a girl, but Kane knew he was a guy.
Meanwhile, in the Qing Empire, Emperor Qing Shi was concerned about the rising threat of the Demonic and Devil Fingers Alliance. "Our citizens are being injured by those damn demonic people," he said, his red hair and muscular body a testament to his strength.
Minister Qing Shao reassured him, "Don't worry, Emperor. The Martial Arts Alliance and the North Eastern Mirum Alliance will be more than enough to protect us."
But Emperor Qing Shi was still worried. "If war comes, I don't care about anything. I just want my people to be safe."
Kane thought to himself, "In this world of martial arts, there are 12 empires, and I'm currently in the Qing Empire, located in the southern part of the continent. The Martial Arts Competition is being held in the Trade City of the Qing Empire."
He knew that the Qing Empire was the 4th weakest empire, relying heavily on trade, but that didn't matter to him. What mattered was the Twin Daughters of Qing Shi, who were geniuses beyond compare. They had created the first fusion of Nightmare, a portal that could transport goods without damage or theft, but was lethal to humans.
Kane thought, "They may be geniuses, but they can't defy the rules. Their portal is just an illusion, a trick to make it seem like teleportation. But I need their bodies, for they possess extraordinary durability and aptitude towards fire. If Lucifer, the King of the 20th Stage of Hell, can possess their bodies, it would be a game-changer."
Kane sighed, his expression tired. He was currently at Mortal Stage Rank 9, but his disciples were mostly at Rank 6 or 4, except for the four he had chosen, who were at Rank 7. He thought, "It's exhausting, but I must see this plan through."
The next day, Kane summoned the four disciples and led them on a journey, moving at a breakneck pace. The disciples struggled to keep up, their Wind Rider Technique straining to maintain the high speed.
"Hey, Elder, stop!" Ling Xiao said, panting.
"Yeah, Elder, slow down!" Jang Ran added.
Kane didn't respond, continuing to move at a rapid pace.
San Fe and Zhao Min exchanged indifferent glances.
As night fell, Kane finally halted, producing a strange, cold food from his pack. "This is bread," he explained, "a staple from my homeland. But when I arrived here, it was as hard as rock."
The disciples exchanged confused glances, unsure what to make of Kane's words.
"What is this?" Jang Ran asked, eyeing the cold food suspiciously.
"This is bread," Kane repeated. "Just try it."
As they took their first bites, their eyes widened in surprise.
"Wow, this is actually good!" Jang Ran exclaimed.
Ling Xiao chuckled. "I can cook better than this, Elder."
Zhao Min spoke up, "I think it's a good food, Elder. It's easy to carry and won't spoil quickly."
Kane looked at her, impressed. "So, women have brains, too."
He stood up, brushing off his pants. "I'm going for a walk."
As he walked away, the disciples exchanged glances, unsure what to make of Kane's enigmatic behavior.
Kane strode to the edge of the forest, where the trees gave way to a vast desert. The sky above was a canvas of stars, a sight Kane had never seen in his previous life, where city lights obscured the celestial beauty.
He pondered the stars, realizing their light was a reminder of death, a glow from distant suns that had long since passed into oblivion. The stars' beauty was a bittersweet reminder of the transience of life.
Kane stood in the desert, his gaze fixed on the stars. His expression was emotionless, but his eyes seemed to bore into the soul.
Zhao Min approached him, her footsteps quiet on the sand. "Elder, what are you doing out here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kane's gaze didn't waver. "Contemplating the meaning of life, Qing Yu," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
Zhao Min's eyes followed his gaze, her eyes scanning the starry expanse. "It's beautiful, Elder," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of wonder.
Kane's gaze snapped back to hers, his eyes glinting with a cold intensity. "Beauty is a weakness, Qing Yu. A distraction from the true nature of existence."
Zhao Min's expression faltered, but she quickly recovered. "I see," she said, her voice neutral.
Kane's gaze lingered on hers, his expression unreadable. "Do you, Qing Yu? Do you really?"
The air was thick with tension as they stood there, the only sound the soft rustling of the wind through the desert sands.
After a moment, Kane turned and walked away, leaving Zhao Min to ponder his enigmatic words.
His expression was emotionless, but his eyes seemed to hold a hidden depth.