Kane's voice was laced with indifference as he instructed San Fe to dress and attend the BoneFire. "I will join you later," he said, his eyes already dismissing her.
As San Fe departed, Kane's thoughts delved into the abyss of human emotions. "Love, a fleeting sentiment, a weakness to be exploited. People claim to love when they merely like, blinded by their emotions."
He pondered San Fe's actions, her willingness to pierce her own chest to prove her love. "Gratitude, not love. She mistakes her debt to me for affection. Foolish."
Kane's face remained emotionless, a mask hiding his true thoughts. He arrived at the BoneFire, the laughter and conversations of the others grating on his nerves. San Fe sat silently, her eyes fixed on him with an unnerving intensity.
"The Wind Vowen Haven, crafted by Zhao Min's skilled hands," Kane thought, his gaze sweeping across the intricate structure. "A testament to human ingenuity, but ultimately, a meaningless endeavor."
As the night wore on, Kane's thoughts turned to his own ambitions, his plans for power and domination. San Fe's love, or rather, her gratitude, was just a tool to be used in his pursuit of greatness.
The next day my domain, the Sect, teemed with life as I descended from the sky, my presence commanding attention. The disciples' eyes gleamed with anticipation, their faces filled with expectation. I announced our victory in the competition, and the air erupted with cheers and jubilation.
As I entered my office, the System's interface flickered to life before me.
[System Interface]
*Host Status:*
- Blood Integration: 95%
- Suppression: 100%
- Time Remaining: 3 Days
*Warning:*
Failure to strengthen your body within the allotted time will result in catastrophic consequences. The suppressed blood will ravage your body, causing irreparable damage and death.
I pondered the System's words, my mind racing with the implications. "Three days, a paltry amount of time. But sufficient for one such as I."
My thoughts turned to the disciples, their eyes filled with hope and admiration. "Fools, they believe me to be their savior, their hero. But I am the one who will bring destruction, chaos, and rebirth."
The System's warning echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the ticking clock. "I must strengthen my body, prepare it for the impending catastrophe. The suppression will be lifted, and the blood will rage like a tempest."
My gaze fell upon the System interface, my eyes burning with determination. "I will not be defeated. I will not be destroyed. I will rise, and I will reign supreme."
As I emerged from my office, a fake smile plastered on my face, I announced to my disciples, "I shall be absent for 3 to 4 days. An urgent matter requires my attention."
The disciples were stunned, their faces etched with shock and confusion. "But, Elder Fang Lin, it's only been hours since your return," one of them stammered.
I waved my hand dismissively, my smile growing wider. "I'm afraid I cannot stay. The matter is of the utmost importance."
Zhao Min, Jang Ran, San Fe, and Ling Xiao exchanged worried glances. "How can Elder Fang Lin be so fine with traveling such a distance?" they whispered among themselves. "It's as if he's not even human."
I ignored their whispers, my mind focused on the journey ahead. As I left the Sect, sometime later the forest ended and desert came the System's voice echoed in my mind. "143 kilometers remaining, Host."
Meanwhile, Lei Bai's face contorted in rage as he received news of a massacre in Trade City. But it was the mention of a woman named Qing Yu, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Lei Zhao Min, that truly ignited his fury.
"A woman who looks like Zhao Min?" Lei Bai seethed. "And she's joined the Heaven Defying Sect? A small, insignificant Sect, no less!"
Lei Bai's thoughts raced with anger and suspicion. "How could this be? I have eyes and ears throughout the Southern Region. I should have known about this."
His gaze narrowed, his mind plotting. "Heaven Defying Sect, you say? I'll crush you all, just as I will crush Qing Yu."
Lei Bai's mind churned with calculating intensity as he contemplated the capture of Zhao Min, the pivotal move that would secure his dominance over the Zhang Clan.
"Once I capture Zhao Min, the Zhang Clan will be mine to command. A union between our families will solidify my power, and the Heaven Defying Sect will be crushed beneath my heel."
Lei Bai's eyes gleamed with ambition as he approached his father, Lei Tang. The elder's calm expression belied a calculating mind, one that had orchestrated countless machinations.
"Father, I require a contingent of men to retrieve Zhao Min," Lei Bai said, his voice laced with determination. "We must expedite the union with the Zhang Clan. Time is a luxury we cannot afford."
Lei Tang's gaze pierced the shadows, his thoughts shrouded in mystery. "Very well, son. Bring her back, and we shall conduct the marriage without delay. If the Heaven Defying Sect dares to intervene, annihilate them. Our family's interests will not be threatened."
Lei Bai's smile was a cold, calculated thing. "I shall not fail, Father. The Zhang Clan will soon be ours to command, and the Heaven Defying Sect will be reduced to ashes."
As he departed, Lei Bai's thoughts turned to Zhao Min. "You will make a fi
ne pawn in my game of power, Zhao Min. Your fate is all but sealed."