As the sun rose from the north, I gave the signal for my group to prepare to leave. With a swift motion, I activated my Wind Rider technique and took off, leaving the others to struggle to keep up. However, I noticed that they were able to maintain their speed better than before, a testament to their growing strength.
After four hours of travel, a massive wall came into view, its enormity rivaling that of a mountain. This was the Wall of the Trading City, our destination. As we descended, a large gate came into sight, guarded by twelve imposing figures.
I approached the gate, but one of the guards blocked my path, inquiring, "Who are you?"
"I am Fang Lin, Leader of the Heaven Defying Sect," I said indifferently. "I've come to participate in the Martial Arts Competition."
The guard's eyes widened in surprise, taken aback by the name of my sect and my family name. The Fang Clan was a rising mid-sized clan in the Southern Region, and I, Fang Lin, was the genius who created a revolutionary cultivation technique that propelled the clan to new heights. My departure from the clan six years ago had been a topic of much speculation.
The guard's surprise was evident as he stuttered, "F-Fang Lin, you need to pay 100 gold coins per person." He hesitated before adding, "But I'll accept 400 coins for your entire group."
Here is the rewritten text with small gaps according to the situations:
Kane mused that he preferred cowards, as they were easy to loot and would obey him until a stronger individual came to rival or attack him.
He handed 400 gold coins to the guard and entered the city, shocked by the throngs of people inside. The scene resembled a chaotic market, with people buying and selling like a stock market on Earth.
The yellow sand beneath his feet reminded him that the Trading City was situated in the desert, evoking images of ancient Egypt's markets.
As he ventured deeper, Kane spotted a grand stage constructed from wood, stones, and a golden or yellowish material resembling cement. He checked the time and noted, "Tomorrow at 9 am, we still have time."
He instructed his disciples to find a hotel, and they followed him to a run-down establishment. Upon entering, Kane was pleasantly surprised by the hotel's interior and approached the counter to book a room for five people for three days.
The receptionist quoted a price of 50 gold coins, which Kane found steep, as previous cities had charged a maximum of 3.4 gold coins per night. Nevertheless, he paid, knowing this was the cheapest option in the Trading City.
The other disciples retired to their worn-out rooms, prompting Kane to ask, "what do you mean?"
(Suddenly, Kane's face turned red with anger)
"What do you mean 'their worn-out rooms'? I just paid 50 gold coins for our lodging, and I want to know which rooms I'm paying for!"
(The narrator smiled mischievously, enjoying the chaos that had ensued)