Chapter 7: The Rise of the Shadow Monarch
The moon hung low, casting a cold silver glow over the ruined Azure Cloud Sect. What was once an unshakable pillar of power in the region now lay in smoldering ruins—shattered by one man's ambition and an infinite army.
Shen Ziyan stood on the sect's main peak, overlooking the destruction. At his side, Lan Yue knelt, her once-pristine robes stained with blood and ash. The proud core disciple had bowed—but a burning question haunted her:
What kind of monster had she sworn loyalty to?
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[System Update: Clone Progress]
500,000 Combat Clones – Qi Condensation (8th Layer) – 80%
200,000 Spy Clones – Deployed (Neighboring Sects)
2,000,000 Cultivation Clones – Qi Condensation (9th Layer) – 50%
100,000 Puppet Clones – Qi Condensation (7th Layer) – 100% (In Production)
Host Cultivation: Qi Condensation (9th Layer – 20%)
Clone Limit: 5,000,000
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A small smile touched Shen Ziyan's lips. In one night, his power had grown exponentially—and now, the system had rewarded him with something even greater:
The Heaven-Devouring Clone Art.
With this technique, he could absorb the cultivation of his enemies—turning their strength into his own.
And his first test subject stood right before him.
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Lan Yue's Fate
"You promised to spare my sect," Lan Yue said quietly, her head still bowed.
Shen Ziyan's expression remained unreadable. "And I have. What remains is mine to command. But you… you will offer me something else."
A chill crawled down her spine. "What do you mean?"
He stepped closer, his aura pressing against her like a rising tide. "Your cultivation. Your talent. I will grant you power beyond your imagination—but your life belongs to me now."
Her hands trembled. The idea of servitude disgusted her, but the overwhelming truth was undeniable. If she refused… the last embers of her sect would be snuffed out.
"…I accept," she whispered.
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[System Command: Heaven-Devouring Clone Art – Initiate Transfer.]
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Golden threads of energy surged from Lan Yue's body, flowing into Shen Ziyan's palm. The sensation of raw, unfiltered power coursed through his veins as her spiritual foundation merged with his own.
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[Transfer Complete – Host Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (Early Stage – 5%)]
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His eyes snapped open—brimming with new strength.
Foundation Establishment.
A realm that took others decades to reach—he had claimed in a single night.
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The Shadow Monarch's Vision
Lan Yue collapsed, her cultivation drained to the 4th Layer of Qi Condensation, her face pale but her will unbroken.
"You… you monster…" she gasped.
Shen Ziyan's expression softened—just slightly. "Monster? No. I am something far greater."
He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where other sects thrived in ignorant bliss. Soon, their walls would fall. Their pride would crumble.
And his shadow would stretch over the entire region.
"From this day forth," he declared, his voice like steel, "I am no longer a nameless cultivator. I am the Shadow Monarch—and nothing in this world will stop me."
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[New Title Unlocked: Shadow Monarch – Absolute Authority Over All Clones]
Special Ability Unlocked: Clone Domain
(Create a dimension where clones can train at accelerated speeds—100:1 Time Ratio)
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A New Era Begins
As the wind howled through the shattered sect, Shen Ziyan gave his final command for the night.
"Activate Clone Domain. Begin mass cultivation."
Within moments, millions of his clones vanished—drawn into an unseen realm where time bent to his will.
In a single month, he would gain the power that took others a lifetime to achieve.
And when he returned… the cultivation world would tremble beneath his feet.
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End of Chapter 7.