Chapter 8: First Clone
...…
Lucifer's rapid cultivation was significantly influenced by his absurd consumption of pills as well as the use of a forbidden technique to temporarily prevent pill poisoning. But while these methods had played a role, they could be considered as him simply making the most of his circumstances.
Ultimately, no matter how one looked at it, Lucifer was a monstrous genius.
For him, this could either be a blessing or a curse…
However, for the current Lucifer, only the positive aspect of this was more apparent. He could leverage this newfound strength to improve his standing within the Devilduke family.
Though he would need to limit how much he should reveal, he could also simultaneously use his strength in the dark, which was the approach he would mainly be relying on.
'As soon as I reach the 100% Tempering milestone, I should be able to make use of a clone. And what exactly will I use this clone for, one might think.'
'Well, obviously, it will be farming…'
During his time as a Clone Slave, Lucifer had encountered a number of Transmigrated and Reincarnated beings, gaining a vast knowledge bank on things like games and culture.
There was one place in particular that stood out, it was a planet called Earth.
This tiny blue marble was a small universe rich with cultural advancements, producing a few terms that Lucifer often liked to use.
One of such terms was…
'Farming. That will be the main objective of my first clone.'
With this plan in mind, he refocused on his cultivation, eagerly wanting to reach the 100% Marrow Refining Stage as quickly as possible.
_____
As dawn turned to noon and noon flipped over to dusk, another three hours passed in the Young Master's private chambers.
It was midnight once again, and just like the nights that came before, the sky was covered by a vast expanse of darkness. Amidst the deep, dark blanket of void, occasional stars twinkled, creating a twilight ambience.
On such an oddly tranquil night, a young man with long black hair sat cross-legged on his bed.
Lucifer was on the verge of breaking through the barrier between the 99% and 100% of the Tempering Marrow.
Although this barrier wasn't large or tangible, it was still enough to give him quite a headache.
However, after a good 40 minutes of struggle with the breakthrough, it eventually couldn't last anymore and shattered!
The figurative dam shattered just like the previous one, as the last and final obstacle no longer stood in Lucifer's path. Thus, he had directly reached the Peak of the Body Refinement Realm!
Waaaa…
As the active energy within the room started to subside, a man who appeared slightly more handsome than before suddenly emerged from his reverie.
"..."
The first thing Lucifer did was assess his strength.
After getting some satisfaction from the boulder-breaking strength he now possessed, he called forth the Infinite Clone System.
Lucifer realized it was time to make use of his clone function.
With that in mind, he put his thoughts into action and summoned his first and only clone into the world.
BLING!
With the flash of bright iridescent light, a young man with long black hair, chiseled features, and sword-like eyebrows materialized out of thin air.
Every detail, down to the last hair follicle, was an exact replica of Lucifer, even the clothes it wore were the same…
"So, you are the first clone from my Infinite Clone System?"
Lucifer circled around the stalwart figure of the blank-faced clone.
Even after making a few rounds, he truly couldn't find a single discrepancy between it and himself.
It was only after a few moments of analyzing its existence that he waved his hand in front of the clone and said, "I need you to wake up from your slumber and develop a will of your own."
"..."
The clone remained silent and motionless, without any response or action, a perfect mirror copy of himself with no sign of life.
Even after a few more minutes passed, nothing besides complete lifelessness could be seen from its countenance.
It was at this moment that a small smile crept on Lucifer's handsome face as he said, "It's good that you don't have a mind of your own, for I don't need a subordinate or friend. I just need a tool, and as my tool, I have a task for you to accomplish."
He patted the puppet on its back, pulled over two chairs, sat on one and pulled the clone in the other, before saying, "Now, pay attention. First, you will first do this, then…"
Lucifer then went on to explain everything that the clone would need to accomplish. Subsequently, feeling a surge of anticipation well up within him.
He knew that what he had in mind was surely something that would provoke the wrath of the family elders.
However, Lucifer was not the one to care for such trifles; he intended to drain the family of everything it had…
_____
After a few minutes of issuing extremely specific instructions, the clone rose up from his seat and walked away without saying a single word. But before leaving the room, it made sure to grab a dark black cloak from the side of a dresser.
By the time the clone disappeared from the doorway, the cloak was already draped over its shoulders and it disappeared into the dead of night like an elusive shadow.
'This is truly the best way to achieve my goals…'
Lucifer nearly let a burst of maniacal laughter escape his mouth as he gazed out of the lone window of his room, eagerly awaiting the results of his commands.
_____
Meanwhile, on the 100% Marrow Tempering Clone's side.
"Have you heard about the 6th Young Master going into seclusion after nearly 2 years of skimming out on cultivation?"
"Yeah, and from what I've heard, Lord Xiao and Miss Mu are in much better moods because of this. But who knows if the Young Master is truly even cultivating or not?"
Two hired mercenaries of the Devilduke household were slacking on their posts, gossiping about the sudden peculiar behavior of their 6th Young Master.
After all, within a strict family like the Devidukes, change was a rare thing to witness. So, to suddenly see someone who had been deemed the softest of them all, make a sudden shift in his priorities was enough to elicit rumors among the servants.
However, as these two cone-headed guards gossiped, the very person they were talking about just so happened to be right behind them, lurking in the shadows with a cold gleam in his eyes.
...…