I Can Create Clones

When Ethan opened his eyes, he was greeted by the bustling sounds of the hall, finding himself seated in a secluded corner, away from the prying eyes and curious whispers. Seeing that no one had approached him, he closed his eyes once more and slipped back into the consciousness of his clone.

In the blink of an eye, he was back at the top of the tree where he had previously sat, the lifeless body of the Tooth Tiger lying nearby. With a mere thought, he stored the tiger's body in his system space and settled down on the sturdy branch.

As he sat there, his mind began to race with possibilities. Even though he was young and had worked tirelessly in his previous life, he had managed to read some novels. If the world he found himself in now was even remotely similar, he knew what would happen after his spirit talent and spirit core were tested—or rather, found lacking.

People's perception of his family would change, their ranking and status would plummet, and no one would stand with them to protect their family.

The weight of this reality bore down on Ethan, knowing he couldn't do anything to change it—at least, not without revealing his powers.

Ethan needed a solid foundation for his family, or at the very least, a reliable backer to support them until his grandfather broke through to the Ascendant Rank. Even though his great-grandfather was also at the early stage of the Ascendant Rank, he knew that the old man wouldn't even spare a glance towards his family.

With the power of his clone alone, Ethan estimated that he could evenly match a Guardianship Rank cultivator, or perhaps even kill one. He couldn't say for certain, as he had never witnessed the power of a Guardianship Rank cultivator firsthand, but he was confident that his clone would be strong enough to survive the encounter.

As for finding a backer, Ethan knew he couldn't reveal his clone to the world. He couldn't simply announce, "This Ethan standing in front of you is a clone, and the Ethan you all thought was useless is the greatest genius existence has to offer." No, he needed a more subtle approach.

A plan began to form in his mind. He would disguise his clone as someone else and find a cultivator at the peak of the Ascendant Rank.

He would challenge them, beat them soundly, and then demand that they back his family in case anything went wrong. To ensure their loyalty, Ethan had three Absolute Collars, powerful artifacts that could make anyone submit to him, regardless of their rank. The only requirement was that Ethan had to place the collar on the target himself.

Even if someone found it suspicious that a peak Ascendant Rank cultivator would support one of the lowest-ranked branch families, it wouldn't matter. Who would dare question the actions of such a powerful figure? And if someone of a higher cultivation rank sought to cause trouble, Ethan would take care of them as well, given enough time.

Just as the pieces of his plan were falling into place, Ethan's consciousness was pulled back to his original body. When he opened his eyes, he saw two boys of similar age standing in front of him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and thinly veiled disdain.

Ethan sighed inwardly, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation. "I know how this is going to end," he muttered under his breath, preparing himself for whatever challenges lay ahead.

...

The first boy, tall for his age with sandy brown hair and sharp green eyes, stepped forward with a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. His robes were pristine white silk with silver threading—clearly expensive, clearly meant to display status. Behind him, a slightly shorter boy with similar features but darker hair crossed his arms, his expression one of barely concealed amusement.

"Well, well," the taller boy drawled, his voice carrying the practiced arrogance of someone who had never known true hardship. "If it isn't the famous Ethan Drake. Still hoping for a miracle today?"

The shorter boy chuckled, stepping up beside his companion. "Kael, don't be so harsh. Maybe this will finally be the year his spirit core awakens." His tone was dripping with false sympathy. "What is it now—the fifth time your family has dragged you here?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the two boys. The family resemblance was unmistakable—the same sharp jawline, the same confident bearing he had glimpsed in the adult conversations. These had to be Valen's sons.

"Third," Ethan replied quietly, his voice calm and measured. "But who's counting?"

Kael's smirk widened. "Oh, we are. Everyone is, actually. Father says your parents keep clinging to hope, but honestly—" He shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance. "At what point do you just accept reality?"

The shorter boy nodded sagely. "I'm Darius, by the way. And this is my older brother Kael. We're Valen's sons." He said the name with obvious pride, as if it should mean something to Ethan.

"Congratulations," Ethan said flatly, not bothering to stand from his seat. "Is there something you wanted, or are you just here to practice your family's renowned social skills?"

Darius's face flushed slightly at the subtle insult, but Kael only laughed. "He's got some bite, I'll give him that. But seriously, Ethan—and I'm asking this out of genuine curiosity—what's your backup plan? When they test you today and find nothing, again, what happens next?"

Ethan leaned back in his chair, studying both boys with an expression that was unreadable. Around them, other children continued their excited chatter, but a small circle of quiet had formed around their group as nearby conversations died down.

"My backup plan?" Ethan repeated softly. "I suppose I'll do what I've always done. Live my life."

"Live your life as what?" Kael pressed, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "A disappointment? A burden on your family? Do you have any idea what people say about your branch family because of you?"

The words were designed to cut deep, to provoke a reaction. Ethan could see it in their eyes—they wanted him to break down, to cry, to give them the satisfaction of watching him crumble under the weight of their words.

Instead, Ethan smiled.

It was a small, knowing smile that didn't reach his eyes. "People say a lot of things," he said quietly. "Most of it is noise. The only opinions that matter are the ones that come from people who actually matter."

"And we don't matter?" Darius asked, his voice rising slightly.

"Do you?" Ethan countered, his tone genuinely curious. "I mean, really—do you? Beyond sharing a name with your father, what have you accomplished? What have you built? What have you sacrificed?"

The question hung in the air like a challenge. Kael's smirk faltered slightly, and Darius took a step back.

"We have spirit cores," Kael said, but his voice lacked its earlier confidence. "We have talent. We have a future."

"You have potential," Ethan corrected gently. "But potential without wisdom, without character, without purpose—that's just wasted energy. A bright flame that burns out quickly."

He stood up slowly, his movements fluid and controlled. Despite being younger than both boys, something in his posture made them instinctively step back.

"Here's some free advice," Ethan continued, his voice soft but carrying an undertone that made the nearby children fall completely silent. "The world is full of people with talent. What it lacks is people with wisdom. And wisdom—real wisdom—comes from understanding that true strength isn't about what you can do to others. It's about what you can do for others."

Kael's face had gone pale, and Darius was staring at Ethan with a mixture of confusion and something that might have been fear.

"Your father and my father are talking right now," Ethan said, nodding toward the main hall. "They're discussing things that matter—family, loyalty, survival. While you're here playing games and trying to tear others down, they're building something. The question is: when your time comes, will you be worthy of what they've built?"

The silence stretched between them, heavy with implications. Finally, Kael found his voice.

"You think you're so wise," he said, but the words came out weak and uncertain. "But you're still just a—"

"A what?" Ethan interrupted, his smile never wavering. "A disappointment? A failure? A burden?" He shrugged. "Maybe. But I'm also someone who sleeps peacefully at night, who doesn't need to tear others down to feel good about himself, and who understands that today's test—whatever the results—is just one day in a very long life."

He sat back down, his expression returning to its previous calm. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to enjoy the quiet before they call us for testing. Unless, of course, you have something more constructive to contribute to the conversation?"

Both boys stood there for a moment, clearly unsure how to respond to Ethan's unexpected composure. Finally, Darius tugged on his brother's sleeve.

"Come on, Kael. Let's go find our seats."

As they walked away, Ethan could hear other children whispering—not about his lack of talent, but about his unexpected verbal victory over Valen's sons. He closed his eyes again, letting the sounds wash over him while his mind returned to more important matters.

The testing would begin soon, and with it, the next phase of his carefully laid plans.