The Martial Arts Supreme might not have had much of a presence in the Wind and Cloud world, but that didn't mean he was content with the current situation. If given the chance, he would undoubtedly seek to reclaim control over the cities that had fallen under the sway of various factions. While he hadn't dared act against Daniel Davis' iron-fisted rule over the World Society, the situation with Clark was entirely different.
It's human nature to go after the easiest target, and the Martial Arts Supreme was not the only one eyeing Clark as a soft target. Various factions that had once submitted to the World Society, along with some dissidents within the organization itself, were all stirring with ambition.
Clark, however, was not one to show leniency toward such opportunists. Whether they came from outside factions, the World Society's own ranks, or were agents sent by the Martial Arts Supreme, Clark met them all with decisive counterattacks. As Daniel Davis' former top disciple and the leader of the Sky Frost Hall, Clark might have been kindhearted, but that didn't mean he was unwilling to kill.
Even Nie Feng, known for his gentle nature, had left countless bodies in his wake. In this martial world, life was as fleeting as grass in the wind.
After consulting with Daniel Davis, Clark decided that those who led the insurrections must be dealt with without mercy. For the others, leniency could be extended. As for the agents sent by the Martial Arts Supreme, Clark personally repelled them.
Considering the Martial Arts Supreme's status, Clark refrained from killing them outright. After all, Clark had no interest in the Supreme's position. If he had desired it, Daniel Davis wouldn't have hesitated to back him, even if it meant facing hidden masters like Nameless. Daniel had his ways to handle such opposition.
But since Clark showed no such ambition, Daniel saw no reason to force the issue. After all, as the saying goes, "A forcibly picked melon is never sweet."
Daniel himself had absolutely no interest in the position. It was far too time-consuming and labor-intensive. Besides, the Martial Arts Supreme wasn't without strength. Among his eight top experts was one who rivaled Daniel Davis, not to mention the Sword Emperor within the imperial family—none other than Second Dream's master.
Unfortunately for the Martial Arts Supreme, these top experts were notoriously difficult to command, even for him. They only acted in the face of significant threats.
In the Central Plains, there were plenty of forces, like the World Society, that didn't care about the Martial Arts Supreme's authority. For example, there was the Monastic-Village Alliance. Strictly speaking, the current state of the Central Plains was similar to the early days of the Spring and Autumn Period. The Martial Arts Supreme was a nominal overlord, while the various martial sects acted as feudal lords of varying sizes.
In such a fragmented system, as long as one didn't openly rebel, even vying for the Martial Arts Supreme's position wouldn't necessarily draw out hidden masters like Nameless.
Under Clark's powerful leadership, the unrest within the World Society was quickly quelled. Before his recent training, Clark might have struggled to achieve this. But with the Xuanwu True Skill, the aid of True Essence Pills, and the nourishment of Blood Bodhi fruits, his martial prowess far exceeded his original abilities in the source material.
Given time, it was not impossible for Clark to surpass Daniel Davis himself.
Once the chaos settled, Clark began implementing a series of reforms within the World Society's territories. The first step was to lower the protection fees, a move that won overwhelming support from the common folk under the Society's rule. Ordinary people didn't care whether it was the World Society or the Martial Arts Supreme above them—they just wanted to live their lives in peace.
Other reforms included reorganizing the World Society's discipline and finding sustainable sources of income for the organization. While this would have been a challenging task for Clark, who lacked financial acumen, it became much simpler with Daniel Davis' guidance.
Daniel introduced simple technologies, like glassmaking, which ensured a steady stream of income for the World Society.
Following Daniel's suggestion, Clark also established the first World Society elementary school in the small town below the Society's headquarters. Children of World Society disciples, as well as local townsfolk, were allowed to enroll and receive education.
In this martial world, knowledge had always been a weak link. Even figures like Clark, Nie Feng, and Bu Jingyun had limited education. Nameless, for all his renown, wasn't much better off—arguably even worse, given his tragic early years compared to Clark and his fellow disciples, who at least had some semblance of stability growing up in the World Society.
Since Daniel was in this world, he wanted to make meaningful changes wherever he could. Naturally, the World Society's territories became his initial testing ground.
Of course, the school didn't solely focus on academics. Martial arts were also part of the curriculum. The hope was that, with time, these educated and trained children would form a capable future generation for the World Society.
This was just the beginning. Once the system stabilized, schools could be established throughout the World Society's territories.
"You Ruo, if you ever want to return, you'll always have a place at the Lakeside Pavilion," Clark said to You Ruo, who was deeply saddened by her father Daniel Davis' death. However, she bore no grudge against Clark, as she was fully aware of her father's actions.
After Daniel's burial at the Lakeside Pavilion, You Ruo expressed her desire to leave the World Society temporarily. Her father had kept her confined to the Lakeside Pavilion to protect her, but now that Clark was in charge, he had no intention of doing the same and readily agreed.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Clark," You Ruo said before leaving the World Society.
"Follow her and ensure she isn't harassed," Clark immediately instructed the disciples of the World Society to secretly protect You Ruo after her departure.
"Looks like Nie Feng's going to have some trouble now," Daniel Davis remarked with a chuckle as he watched You Ruo leave.
"Let's hope Junior Brother Feng handles it well," Clark said with a deep sigh. He was well aware of Nie Feng's relationship with his pen pal, Second Dream. However, such matters were naturally not something he could discuss with You Ruo. In truth, her departure was merely an excuse to "see the world"; her real intent was to seek out Nie Feng.
"You Ruo and Clark would actually make a good pair," Daniel thought as he noticed Clark staring at You Ruo's departing figure. But that idea was just a passing thought. After all, You Ruo already had feelings for Nie Feng. While Daniel didn't mind subtly nudging relationships, as he had done with Second Dream and Nie Feng, he had no interest in playing matchmaker or tearing apart couples. He wasn't a twisted figure like Emperor Shitian.
"This is the address of the Divine Doctor you wanted," Clark said one day, handing Daniel a slip of paper. It contained the information Daniel had asked Clark to investigate.
The World Society, with its numerous disciples, had a significant advantage in intelligence gathering. Some matters that might have taken Daniel ages to uncover on his own were quickly resolved by the Society's extensive network.
In the Wind and Cloud world, there were three "divines": the Divine Seer, the Divine Doctor, and the Divine Constable. Although the term "divine" was attached to many characters—Nie Feng as the Wind God, Bu Jingyun as the God Who Never Cries, and others like the Sword God—they were not part of the "Three Divines." The true Three Divines were individuals with unique and extraordinary skills.
The Divine Seer, also known as the Mud Buddha, had likely been killed by Daniel Davis. Daniel Davis had always thought the Mud Buddha's behavior was odd. The saying "like a clay Buddha crossing a river, unable to protect oneself" seemed apt for him.
As for the Divine Doctor, while his medical skills were unparalleled, his character was despicable—lecherous, ruthless, and utterly unprincipled. He would even use his own children as test subjects or have them killed without a second thought.
The final member of the Three Divines was the Divine Constable, a true warrior of justice who never compromised in the face of evil. Unfortunately, in such a chaotic world, even his unwavering dedication had its limits.
Among the Three Divines, Daniel was only interested in the Divine Doctor's medical skills. The other two, even if they were still alive, wouldn't have caught his attention. Besides, had the Mud Buddha still been alive, the shifting tides of fate would have likely driven him mad, as the altered destiny would have completely upended his lifelong studies.
"Thank you. By the way, what's the situation on East Island?" Daniel asked as he pocketed the slip of paper.
After Daniel Davis' demise, the next major threat was Absolute Godless and the invasion of the Godless Palace. Daniel had already warned Clark to prepare. With him around, Absolute Godless wouldn't have the chance to act arrogantly.
Not just Absolute Godless—anyone from East Island who harbored ambitions toward the Central Plains would face Daniel's wrath. Although Daniel respected Nameless as a martial arts legend, he was dissatisfied with his reluctance to take decisive action when necessary.
Some people could be reformed, but others were beyond redemption. When Nameless faced Absolute Godless and his five thousand men, he could have wiped them all out—or at the very least, forced them to swear never to return. Instead, Nameless let them off with a mere ten-year truce.
"So far, no news. I've ordered an investigation," Clark replied.
Daniel wasn't surprised. The
East Island was too far from the World Society's reach. Even at its peak under Daniel Davis, the Society couldn't plant spies there. On the contrary, the East Island had plenty of agents infiltrating the Central Plains.
The East Island was small, with far fewer martial arts masters than the Central Plains. Central Plains experts rarely bothered with it, viewing it as little more than a place to visit or explore. For instance, the Sword Saint had once visited, marrying a woman from East Island.
"Keep investigating. I need to know how many masters they have, especially those with ambitions toward the Central Plains."
Although the distance between the Central Plains and East Island was significant, the advanced martial arts of this world made travel relatively easy. As a result, many East Island experts were present in the Central Plains.
Daniel had no issue with legitimate martial arts exchanges and wouldn't interfere with them. For example, when Emperor Ying came to challenge Nameless, Daniel wouldn't have stopped him.
Emperor Ying was a complex figure—a man who had abandoned his wife and child yet demonstrated remarkable loyalty to his sworn brother. His sacrifice of the Dragon Essence for Nie Feng, despite its ability to greatly enhance power and grant longevity, was a testament to his character. Few could match such selflessness. Daniel doubted he himself would have made such a sacrifice for someone he barely knew.
"Understood. I'll continue the investigation," Clark assured.
Daniel had already introduced Clark to some modern concepts that were foreign to this era. Clark had shown remarkable openness to these ideas.
"The Heavenly Gate and Emperor Shitian… they've hidden themselves well," Daniel mused.
While he had tasked Clark with investigating East Island, he hadn't mentioned the Heavenly Gate. After all, Emperor Shitian had operated in the martial world for years, even disguising himself as Xu Fu and cultivating numerous disciples unaware of his true identity. A premature investigation might alert him.
Besides, Daniel already had a lead on the Heavenly Gate through Ironheart Island. The Iron God, who had once practiced his Iron Palm under Emperor Shitian's guidance, would surely know its location. Daniel planned to visit the island and deal with the impostor Iron God, Tie Kuangtu, along the way.
"This guy really knows how to live," Daniel remarked upon reaching the Divine Doctor's residence.
The Divine Doctor lived in a secluded estate known as the Medicine Lodge. Though modest in appearance from the outside, the interior was lavish. It housed both his vast stores of medicine and his luxurious living quarters, far surpassing what was shown in the TV adaptation.
The estate even featured an enormous, ornate bathhouse where the Divine Doctor would bathe with his numerous concubines. Known for his lecherous tendencies, the Divine Doctor prioritized those who came with beautiful women. Without such offerings, one would have to meet his exorbitant demands, such as killing someone, gathering rare herbs, or providing immense wealth.
There was, however, another way to coerce him—by threatening his own life. A notorious coward, the Divine Doctor had once demanded murder as payment from Nie Feng to treat Bu Tian, yet dared not even negotiate when Wu Er sought his help for Huai Kong.
"The Divine Doctor is busy today. Come back another time," said one of the apprentices as Daniel approached the Medicine Lodge. The apprentice's tone was dismissive, reflecting the arrogance ingrained in those serving the Divine Doctor. Despite being little more than test subjects for the doctor's experiments, they looked down on those seeking his help.
"Busy? I don't think so," Daniel said with a cold laugh. With a wave of his hand, he tossed the apprentice aside. His Observation Haki had already sensed the Divine Doctor inside, frolicking with five or six women. Since Daniel wasn't here to seek the doctor's medical aid, he saw no need to hold back.
In fact, even if he were seeking help, he wouldn't have shown any courtesy.
"Divine Doctor, are you enjoying yourself?" Daniel called out as he entered the lavish chamber.
"Who are you? How dare you barge in here! Get out! I'm busy today. Come back tomorrow," the Divine Doctor snapped, clearly irritated. He assumed Daniel was just another supplicant seeking treatment. Normally, anyone facing such an attitude from the Divine Doctor would have no choice but to comply.
Swoosh!
Before the Divine Doctor could continue his revelry, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left ear. Letting out a cry of agony, he clutched his bleeding ear in disbelief.
"What are you doing?" he screamed in panic.
Over the years, the Divine Doctor had encountered numerous patients who resorted to threats or force when negotiations failed. But this was the first time someone had attacked him outright without so much as a word. Even Wu Er had only acted after negotiations broke down.
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