C1498
C1498
This assignment was the first official task Lin Xuan had given to the five great forces since reclaiming them and founding Tianyuan Palace. Having previously demonstrated ample power and a ruthless edge, it was expected that this task would be carried out with due diligence. Nevertheless, one must account for the unexpected. There are always those who gamble on chance or become blinded by immense wealth, succumbing to greed. Such scenarios are all too familiar.
To mitigate this, oversight from an external force was necessary, and the Martial Puppet was the ideal candidate. With its formidable strength at the pinnacle of the Emperor Level, it faced no significant threats on the Dongyuan Continent, save for Lin Xuan himself. There was no concern for underhanded schemes or ambushes.
Moreover, the Martial Puppet was not affiliated with any of the five great halls and answered only to Lin Xuan, eliminating any fear of reprisal. As a native warrior of the Dongyuan Continent, it had a fair grasp of the dynamics among the various local powers. All things considered, the Martial Puppet was the perfect choice for the role.
It did not require the services of the disciples from the five great forces. Previously, as a high-ranking elder of the Devil Cloud Sect, it had been dispatched to the Elemental Spirit Sect as an undercover agent. It had its own network of covert operatives, groomed to collect intelligence and handle minor tasks. The life of a spy has always been fraught with peril, necessitating thorough preparedness. Cultivating a loyal and reliable force of one's own was a common strategy among Emperor Level Martial Cultivators, and one that the Martial Puppet was well-versed in.
These minor factions were bound by specially imposed restrictions that allowed their fate to be determined with a mere thought, followed by the establishment of a reward system to ensure their allegiance. After Lin Xuan took the Martial Puppet and ventured to the Central Essence Continent, leaving the Dongyuan Continent behind, these small forces once under the Martial Puppet's command became self-reliant.
Now, upon his return, Lin Xuan's power had surged, placing him at the pinnacle of the Dongyuan Continent, the Emperor Level Peak. Reassembling his former subordinates was effortlessly done. Furthermore, with the fall of the Devil Cloud Sect, the five major forces were subdued by Lin Xuan and relegated to the five halls within the Tianyuan Palace he founded.
The Martial Puppet, still in Lin Xuan's service, held a status that was subtly superior to that of the Elders of the Elemental Spirit Sect, such as Elemental Spirit, Wei Zhengzhen, and Cang Shuiyue. This allowed him to confidently disclose his identity without fear of retribution for past enmities. No one would dare to provoke the Martial Puppet now.
The Martial Puppet's forces could emerge from the shadows, openly expanding their ranks. As for overseeing and managing the tasks assigned to the five halls, he had strategies in place. There was no need to dispatch individuals to shadow each squad, as that would hinder their efficiency.
To swiftly accomplish the missions set by Lin Xuan, these squads were composed not of ordinary martial cultivators, nor even disciples with true transmission, but almost exclusively of individuals from the upper echelons of the Emperor Level. The Martial Puppet didn't have an abundance of Emperor Level Martial Cultivators at his disposal, and there was no necessity for oversight.
All that was required was to gather intelligence on the progress and completion of tasks by each hall, which was a straightforward task. He could also probe into the reserves of the various Emperor Level forces. At present, the Dongyuan Continent was abuzz with the five halls' mission to collect congratulatory gifts. The significant actions taken, including the annihilation of several Emperor Level forces, and the leadership of Emperor Level Martial Cultivators, underscored the five halls' resolve.
Countless martial artists and powers were closely watching, and the news spread far and wide.
Gathering information on this topic was quick and easy.
Once the five great halls had collected the congratulatory gifts, the Martial Puppet would personally compile and inspect them.
At this point, the Martial Puppet would work separately, receiving from each hall in turn.
By comparing the contributions, the disparities became apparent.
With the additional information he had gathered, he could get a good sense of the situation.
And with greater precision.
Unlike other warriors, the Martial Puppet had witnessed Lin Xuan's meteoric rise and was aware of his exceptional talent.
He was arguably the most gifted individual across the entire Tianyuan Continent.
Lin Xuan's potential was boundless and beyond estimation.
Following Lin Xuan was the only way he could reap greater rewards.
He was certainly not short-sighted, eschewing petty squabbles over minor gains.
Setting other matters aside, he had risen from Level 7 of the Martial Monarch Stage to the peak of Emperor Level in just a few months.
Such advancement transcended mere benefits.
Such a feat would be impossible on the Dongyuan Continent.
Only by aligning with Lin Xuan could he have achieved this.
Other Half-level Emperor experts might manage the same, but such experts, who could only ascend in the Central Essence Continent, were few, and each commanded an Overlord Level Force.
Their subordinates at the peak of Emperor Level numbered more than ten.
Why would they care about an ordinary late-period Martial Monarch Stage warrior?
Though Lin Xuan was not yet a Half-level Emperor expert, he was not far off.
Given Lin Xuan's extraordinary talent, his ascension to Half-level Emperor was inevitable.
Lin Xuan was advancing rapidly, and it was likely that the day of his rise would come soon.
It could be in one or two years, or perhaps just a few months.
Lin Xuan, unlike other Half-level Emperor experts, had a significant force behind him, having joined Jade Dragon Mountain.
Yet his affiliation was somewhat loose.
The Martial Puppet considered himself an important follower.
When the time came, the benefits he would gain were beyond imagination.
It was certain to be far superior to those of the same tier.
His cultivation strength could surely advance further.
He would, of course, not take it lightly.
Time slipped away unnoticed, like water flowing past.
Subsequently,
The Martial Puppet did not leave the Tianyuan Palace.
Instead, he waited in one of the grand halls for the return of the high-ranking officials from the five major halls.
Lin Xuan had previously instructed that they should convene at the Tianyuan Palace after collecting the congratulatory gifts from the various powers.
There was no need for the Martial Puppet to take action.
The five halls were scattered throughout the entire Dongyuan Continent, and it wasn't practical for him to track each one down in the various First-class States by himself.
All he had to do was wait for his subordinates to bring him the news and intelligence, which he would then synthesize and analyze.
The messages he received were numerous and complex.
Yet, for the Martial Puppet at the pinnacle of the Emperor Level, this was a trivial matter that didn't require much effort.
As more time elapsed, the information he gathered grew more substantial.
The Martial Puppet's confidence increased incrementally.
He devised strategies for how to interact with the high-ranking officials of the five halls and how to oversee and address any unexpected issues with the congratulatory gifts.