Divine Replication System

The small sect nestled within the valley boasted a mere tens of thousands of members, hardly comparable to even a minor city. Annihilating such a sect would yield scant amounts of Demon Aura blood. It was of little consequence to them.    

Without a mass slaughter, the Devil Cloud Sect's power would not surge. Thus, they remained indifferent. To them, the lives of lower-tier martial artists were insignificant, as inconsequential as chives that, once cut, would simply grow back.    

However, in an instant, the situation below took a dramatic turn. They had previously dismissed the small sect in the valley, regarding its inhabitants as mere ants. But as the middle-aged man in grey from the Devil Cloud Sect prepared to strike, gathering his formidable power, the atmosphere shifted, and a torrent of Spiritual Qi erupted.    

Then, suddenly, a beam of crimson light burst forth from below. The four observers' faces contorted in shock, their bodies shaking uncontrollably as an inexplicable terror overwhelmed them. It felt as though death could claim them at any moment.    

The grey-clad middle-aged man's gathered might dissipated instantly. His former arrogance and disdain vanished, replaced by sheer panic. He attempted to flee, only to find himself immobilized, as if space itself had solidified around him.    

"Could this be the dwelling of an expert at the peak of Emperor Level?" The thought raced through his mind as he finally saw the source of the scarlet light—a simple flame. Scarlet red and burning, it appeared no different from an ordinary flame. Yet the aura it exuded was suffocatingly potent, a clear indication of its Emperor Level peak.    

The flame enveloped him, igniting an unbearable agony. With a single scream, he lost consciousness. To the horror of the remaining three, the middle-aged man in grey was incinerated alive, offering no resistance. In less than a breath's time, he was reduced to nothing, leaving not even ashes behind.    

The remaining three had just regained control over their bodies when terror filled their eyes. No longer daring to linger, they fled at full speed toward the rear. They ran for what seemed like an eternity, not knowing the distance, and only stopped when the valley was completely out of sight.    

"The power of a peak Emperor Level Expert is simply overwhelming!" one exclaimed.    

"We couldn't even put up a fight!"    

"Has the peak Emperor Level Expert left yet?"    

"I have no idea. But I'm not going back there right now. I'll wait for others from different forces to arrive and see what happens. I certainly don't want to die!"    

Their conversation was punctuated by silence as the three grappled with their lingering fears, which had not yet subsided.    

It was only through this harrowing experience that they truly understood the fearsome nature of a peak Emperor Level Expert. They felt as insignificant as ants, the gap between them as vast as a chasm. Previously, they had only heard tales of such power, but now they had witnessed it firsthand and felt it in their very bones.    

Thankfully, it seemed the expert had no intention of pursuing a total massacre, having only targeted the attacker. Otherwise, none of them would have escaped.    

Now, they were thoroughly terrified and for the foreseeable future, they dared not venture anywhere near the valley.    

Time passed, and eventually, more Emperor Level Martial Cultivators from various forces cautiously approached the valley. Some harbored ill intentions or looked down upon it, but they were swiftly incinerated. This show of force completely intimidated the Emperor Level Martial Cultivators, deterring any further reckless behavior and tempering their arrogance.    

Approaching with trepidation, they inquired about the situation. Lin Qiyuan and his companions inside the valley mustered their courage to respond.    

"Esteemed seniors, I'm not sure of the fire's origin. It was left by our sect master to guard the East Saint Sect," Lin Qiyuan explained. "Before departing, the sect master warned that anyone harboring malice would be eliminated by this fire, Emperor Level Experts included. The sect master will return in a few days, so I kindly ask you to wait patiently until then."    

Lin Qiyuan, Nie Xiong, and the others were deeply shaken. The King Level beasts that had been protecting the sect were repeatedly subdued, unable to move. It was clear to them that they were in the presence of true Emperor Level Experts.    

Previously, they had no chance of encountering such figures; they could only hear of them through whispers and rumors. Today, however, an abundance of them had materialized, proactively converging on this location. Furthermore, everything unfolded just as Lin Xuan had predicted before his departure.    

They were utterly baffled, unable to fathom the depths of Lin Xuan's current mastery. The mere flame he left behind was capable of effortlessly vanquishing numerous Emperor Level Experts, leaving them in a state of shock beyond description. Thankfully, Lin Xuan had anticipated this.    

Despite the arrival of numerous ill-intentioned Emperor Level Experts, the sect remained unthreatened, secure in its position. It seemed best to await Lin Xuan's return.    

The Emperor Level Martial Cultivators from various powers, upon hearing the news, were initially skeptical. How could a sect led by a peak Emperor Level expert appear so modest, lacking even a single Emperor Level Martial Cultivator? Yet the presence of that peak Emperor Level flame deterred them from any hasty actions. Only the arrival of another peak Emperor Level Martial Cultivator could counter it; anyone else would simply meet their demise, incinerated without a chance to defend themselves.    

Such peak Emperor Level Experts were scarce, even among the six major forces, and held in the highest regard as ancestors or Grand Elders. During this critical time, each peak Emperor Level expert was under intense scrutiny from rival forces, making their mobilization to the Southern Warm Mountain Range highly improbable.    

Nonetheless, they were not ready to abandon their interests. After all, a peak Emperor Level expert with such a formidable flame was akin to having the might of two such experts. This was a force that even the six major forces could not afford to overlook, given its significance.    

If they could win him over, their power would surge dramatically. They had also discerned some patterns: as long as they kept their distance from the unnamed valley and refrained from showing any aggression, the crimson flame would not strike. They decided to bide their time for a few more days, to see if Lin Xuan would make an appearance.    

The convergence of Emperor Level Martial Cultivators from the elite forces caused ripples throughout the region. The Tianyuan Palace, nestled within the unnamed valley, had now etched its name into the awareness of all the major factions.    

Elsewhere, Lin Xuan remained oblivious to the events unfolding within the Southern Warm Mountain Range. But even with knowledge of them, it wouldn't have concerned him. The Fire Spirit he had left behind was more than capable of handling any issues that arose. Even peak Emperor Level Martial Cultivators, fearless in the face of death, would find themselves no match for the might of the Fire Spirit. The only threat could come from the emergence of another Half-level Emperor, a rarity throughout the entire Central Essence Continent. The Demon Aura Hall would likely balk at the idea of dispatching such formidable forces to the Dongyuan Continent. The odds of a Half-level Emperor surfacing locally on the Dongyuan Continent were even slimmer. So, there was nothing to fret over.    

Lin Xuan was en route to his destination, the Elemental Spirit Sect, at top speed. This was, after all, his primary objective on this journey.    

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