Divine Replication System

3The Martial Puppet surveyed the map with a keen eye. Despite having no direct stake in the matter, he scrutinized it with great attention as the person with full authority. His power even surpassed that of peers like Wei Zhengzhen and Cang Shuiyue. Should he find any issues, he wouldn't hesitate to send them back for revision, unconcerned about whom he might offend. His sole focus was on fulfilling his mission, with no regard for anything else.    

    

Fortunately, Wei Zhengzhen, Cang Shuiyue, and the rest were well aware of Lin Xuan's formidable capabilities and had long since understood their place. They harbored no illusions of grandeur or arrogance. Lin Xuan had given them only a few hours, and although he hadn't specified any penalties for failing to meet the deadline, none dared to take the risk. Lin Xuan held sway over their destinies, and to cross him would mean obliteration.    

    

They divided the territory diligently, following Lin Xuan's directives. After the Martial Puppet reviewed the map for a while and found no glaring issues, he gave a slight nod of approval. "This will do for now. You all should come by once more," he directed.    

    

"Yes, Elder Wu!" came the unified response from Wei Zhengzhen, Yang Mao, and the others on the floor.    

    

As the sole companion of Lin Xuan, the Martial Puppet's status was naturally a notch above the rest. He then took the partitioned map and departed from the grand hall. Wei Zhengzhen, Cang Shuiyue, Yang Mao, and representatives from the five major divisions promptly followed.    

    

Before long, the group of six reached the pavilion atop the True Martial Main Peak. "Hall Master, we present the agreed-upon territorial divisions for your review," the Martial Puppet said, bowing as he offered the map to Lin Xuan.    

    

Lin Xuan accepted the map with a composed demeanor and scanned it briefly. A flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes. The Devil Cloud Sect truly was a formidable power within the Dongyuan Continent, commanding a breadth of territory and wealth of resources that exceeded his expectations.    

    

While it couldn't compare to the likes of Jade Dragon Mountain, a dominant force on the Central Essence Continent, it still far surpassed the Elemental Spirit Sect, East Saint Sect, and the other top five powers. If its value were to be calculated, it would likely exceed Lin Xuan's current net worth. However, Lin Xuan wasn't inclined to pursue this matter. Despite being qualified, it would be too time-consuming and draining. Extracting the full value from it wasn't something that could be achieved quickly, and he couldn't afford to linger on the Dongyuan Continent for an extended period.    

    

The notion of selling the entire region to the Million Treasure Pavilion for a substantial one-time profit, without the need to invest time and energy, crossed his mind briefly before Lin Xuan dismissed it. Setting aside other considerations, the Million Treasure Pavilion's branch on the Dongyuan Continent, even if they exerted all their efforts, might not be capable of handling such a transaction.    

    

Lin Xuan had decided to allocate the resources controlled by the Devil Cloud Sect among the five great halls. These halls were no longer among the Dongyuan Continent's top five forces but were now under the jurisdiction of his Tianyuan Palace. Although he intended to be a hands-off manager, he couldn't completely neglect them. He had already amassed a considerable amount of resources from the five great powers and had forced them to collect more from the various Emperor Level forces across the Dongyuan Continent under the guise of congratulatory gifts. For now, his resources were sufficient, and there was no pressing need for more.    

    

However, the five great halls would face challenging times after being stripped of their resources. Even their leaders would have to tighten their belts and endure hardship for a while. Lin Xuan couldn't afford to disregard the countless martial artists within the five great halls, as they were still of use to him. Therefore, he planned to distribute the Devil Cloud Sect's resources among them as a form of compensation.    

    

With the Devil Cloud Sect no longer posing a threat, the Dongyuan Continent was set to enjoy a period of peace. Unearthing the sect's resources and treasures to bolster one's own strength was certainly a welcome prospect. This would also allow for a gradual recovery. At the very least, the lower-level disciples would have sufficient resources to continue their cultivation without interruption, ensuring the smooth operation of the entire sect. Those above the Martial Monarch Stage were not a concern for Lin Xuan at this time.    

    

The entire sect was now functioning smoothly. As for the higher-ups above the Martial Monarch Stage, Lin Xuan didn't need to concern himself with them. Unlike him, most of these cultivators were older and had reached the limits of their potential. Maintaining their current level of cultivation was sufficient; further advancement was unlikely. They didn't require additional attention.    

    

"Alright, that's settled," Lin Xuan said, his demeanor regaining its usual calm as he withdrew his gaze and gave a slight nod. He had decided not to sell the resources but to allocate them among the five great halls. There was no longer a need to invest so much effort into this matter. The division among the halls met his requirements, and he wasn't inclined to spend more time on it.    

    

"Thank you, Hall Master!" Wei Zhengzhen, Cang Shuiyue, and the others brightened up at his words and quickly bowed in gratitude. With Lin Xuan's approval, there were no issues. They could now organize their disciples to begin the mining operations.    

    

Initially, Lin Xuan had claimed at least half of the savings from the five great halls, which had put the entire sect under financial strain. They were forced to consider destructively exploiting the sect's resources or further exploiting the Emperor Level powers to compensate for their losses. These actions could have led to undesirable consequences and even greater turmoil—outcomes they were reluctant to face but felt compelled to pursue.    

    

However, that was no longer necessary. By developing the resources within the Devil Cloud Sect's territory, they could quickly fill the gaps. Moreover, they hadn't planned to use the Devil Cloud Sect's lands as a foundation. Lin Xuan clearly didn't intend to establish the Tianyuan Palace's headquarters at the Devil Cloud Sect's main base. Therefore, they could proceed without reservation, thoroughly exploiting the resources within the Devil Cloud Sect's territory without further concern. This might even strengthen them.    

    

"I will be leaving soon," Lin Xuan announced. "Before I depart, I'll share some information with you. Make sure you're well-prepared to avoid the worst-case scenario." After a brief pause, he spoke again, his voice calm yet tinged with a hint of severity.    

    

Before I take my leave, I must share a piece of news with you. Prepare yourselves thoroughly to avoid a fate from which there is no return."    

    

After a moment, Lin Xuan spoke again, his voice calm yet tinged with an icy resolve.    

    

Cang Shuiyue, Wei Zhengzhen, and the Elemental Spirit Sect members all wore grave expressions, their moods heavy.    

    

The gravity with which Lin Xuan addressed the matter indicated that this news was far from trivial.    

    

"You stand among the elite of the Dongyuan Continent. Have you ever heard of the Demonic Tribulation?" Lin Xuan pressed on.    

    

"Demonic Tribulation..."    

    

"Demonic Tribulation..."    

    

Wei Zhengzhen, Cang Shuiyue, and the others pondered deeply, their faces reflecting a mix of contemplation and concern.    

    

The puppet alone maintained a composed demeanor, betraying a hint of confusion.    

    

Clearly, its understanding was somewhat limited compared to the others.    

    

Though they were all at the pinnacle of the Emperor Level, the nuances of their cultivation varied.    

    

Chapter 3 – The Demonic Tribulation