Divine Replication System

Each squad member was an Emperor Level Martial Cultivator, and the squad leaders could even be in the late period of the Martial Monarch Stage.    

Without the peak Emperor Level Head Elders, it would be impossible to prevent unnecessary conflicts and avoid delays.    

Lin Xuan had allotted only three days for this urgent task, leaving no room for postponement.    

Otherwise, the consequences would be dire, potentially overwhelming even the Head Elders at the peak of the Emperor Level.    

Of the two missions, the relatively easier one—eradicating the branches of the Devil Cloud Sect—was assigned to the newly appointed hall masters by the elders.    

With the Devil Cloud Sect's headquarters destroyed, its influence had waned significantly, rendering it vulnerable and widely targeted.    

In most cases, an Emperor Level Martial Cultivator in the Early Period would suffice to handle the situation.    

The majority, whether Martial King Stage core disciples or Outer Sect Elders, were equipped to manage it.    

The presence of Hall Masters in the late period of the Martial Monarch Stage ensured that everything was under control and properly allocated.    

Moreover, the Hall Masters didn't need to engage directly; they could command from a distance and focus on defending their respective halls.    

This approach proved to be highly efficient and advantageous.    

Now, the task of collecting the congratulatory gifts was complete, with the Martial Puppet and its subordinates having sorted and inventoried them.    

The next objective was to eliminate all branches of the Devil Cloud Sect.    

It was time for the hall masters to take the stage.    

Upon hearing the call to action, Li Jian and the other hall masters stepped forward, each presenting a storage ring.    

"Report to the Martial Elder: the Mirage Stones containing the recordings of the Devil Cloud Sect's branches' destruction are all accounted for here," they announced.    

The Martial Puppet accepted the five Emperor Level Storage Rings and, with a mere thought, materialized one of the Mirage Stones onto the table.    

Simultaneously, a map materialized beneath the Mirage Stones, clearly depicting the territories associated with the storage ring.    

The Martial Puppet then instructed his subordinates to arrange the stones in their corresponding locations on the map.    

After everything was properly arranged, a single glance would reveal if anything was amiss. The task given to Li Jian and the other hall masters was of relatively low difficulty, yet it was highly valued by the upper echelons, leading to a swift completion. This left them with some extra time.    

Li Jian and the other five hall masters were all at level 9 of the Martial Monarch Stage, making them elite figures within their respective halls. However, they were not irreplaceable. Having been recently appointed, they were determined to execute this mission, which Lin Xuan had entrusted to them, with utmost diligence. They utilized the spare time to meticulously categorize and arrange the Mirage Stones, sorting them into First Class, Middle Class, and low-grade categories. With the aid of the map, the placement process became much simpler.    

Unlike previous occasions, this time Li Jian and his peers awaited their tasks with serene composure, unburdened by anxiety since there was nothing tempting to misappropriate. The Devil Cloud Sect, openly recognized as a legitimate Demon Force, conducted itself more bluntly and directly than the Elemental Spirit Sect, East Saint Sect, and Canglan Sect—all of which professed to be righteous forces.    

The Devil Cloud Sect was known for its greed, cruelty, and propensity for internal conflict. Some of its branches were on par with Emperor Level forces. However, when the Emperor Level Martial Cultivators who presided over these branches were recalled by the Devil Cloud Sect's headquarters, they took most of the branches' reserves with them. Consequently, these branches, now merely shadows of their former selves, were no longer of interest to the Emperor Level Martial Cultivators from the five great halls, who saw no reason to concern themselves or engage in any form of corruption.    

Meanwhile, the core disciples at the Martial King Stage, the deacons, and those with even lower cultivation levels reaped substantial rewards, their pockets bulging with gains. Yet, these were of no consequence to Lin Xuan and the Emperor Level Martial Cultivators from the Five Great Halls. After all, those who feast on the meat must at least leave some broth for those below. This was not considered greed.    

For the middle and lower-tier martial artists, this mission was still a source of great enthusiasm.    

The Devil Cloud Sect's headquarters had been obliterated, rendering them as powerless as a tiger without claws or an eagle without wings.    

They were now at the mercy of their adversaries.    

The rewards were not just substantial in terms of material gain, such as the storage rings from the branch martial artists, but also in the satisfaction of kicking an enemy when they were down—an opportunity that was once nonexistent.    

The higher-ups typically ignored minor skirmishes.    

But should anyone dare to massacre their disciples, that would be a grave matter, drawing the ire of the more formidable martial artists.    

This could escalate to a major conflict between the higher echelons, potentially sparking a full-blown sect war.    

Since everyone had powerful backers, it was usually best to avoid an unsightly brawl.    

However, times have changed.    

With the headquarters destroyed and your support gone, what power do you have left?    

Those harboring old resentments now had the chance to seek retribution.    

Moreover, forces not aligned with the five great halls were mostly eager to join the fray.    

Even if they didn't reap any tangible benefits, the sheer thrill of defeating martial artists from the once-mighty Devil Cloud Sect—one of the six great forces—held immense appeal.    

These were merely branches, after all.    

By design, the Devil Cloud Sect's branches were not the strongest in their respective states.    

In each state, there were forces that matched or even surpassed these branches in strength, often more than just one or two.    

But what did that matter?    

While they may have appeared to be on equal footing, these branches inherently held a higher status.    

Consider an exam where scoring ninety-nine seems close to a perfect hundred, but ninety-nine is your limit, while one hundred is not the limit for the other—it's the limit of the exam itself.    

Would you risk provoking someone who could, at a moment's notice, summon several Emperor Level Martial Cultivators from the headquarters to discipline you severely?    

As a result, in various states, even the most elite forces would think twice before provoking these branches, often opting to steer clear.    

This dynamic fostered an environment where many branch disciples grew arrogant and domineering, subjecting other forces to their tyranny and humiliation.    

Even if it weren't for the disparity in resources, the disciples at the Devil Cloud Sect's headquarters might not have had it as easy and carefree as those in the branches. The headquarters was constantly under the watchful eyes of the other five major powers, preventing them from acting recklessly. The martial cultivators from these forces had been harboring their resentment for some time, but due to the overwhelming power of the Devil Cloud Sect, they dared not openly confront them.    

However, with the complete annihilation of the Devil Cloud Sect's headquarters and the loss of all its top-tier combatants, the situation had changed. The opportunity for retribution had presented itself, allowing these forces to unleash the fury and discontent they had been suppressing. They could now savor the satisfaction of defeating the martial cultivators from the six major forces, something that had previously been beyond their wildest dreams. This was an opportunity they could not afford to miss.    

In some regions, once it was confirmed that the Devil Cloud Sect's headquarters had fallen and all its high-ranking members were dead, they didn't wait for the five great halls to respond. They took matters into their own hands and initiated their actions.    

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