Over the past month, Blue Star had appeared calm on the surface while undercurrents surged beneath. Great Jing was the same—calm on the surface, turbulent underneath.
In Southern Xinjiang, rumors said that the Continuous Mountain Sect Master's temperament had changed drastically. He repeatedly summoned the experts under his command, yet struck at the slightest disagreement. In barely a month, dozens of powerful figures who presided over their own territories had been executed at the Continuous Mountain Sect's main altar.
In the Western Buddha Country, the Great Brahma Temple suddenly announced that it would close its gates for a hundred years. Major temples from every side sent people to investigate. After a brief commotion, things settled down, but the various factions remained closely linked, seemingly watching Great Jing's movements.
Within the Central Plains, Daoists from White Cloud Temple in Sanjiang Province and Red Cloud Temple in Zhongjing, along with monks from Great Vajra Temple in Dingyuan Province and Fahua Temple in Zhongjing, began appearing sporadically in Linxi Province, traveling around and visiting all quarters. The Zhongjing imperial court also received the news and made preparations.
In the eastern sea, although several Dragon Kings had thoroughly cleared away the residual demonic qi of Blackwater Plain, they knew that this world's Devil Tribulation had not yet passed. To prevent another accident, the Dragon Palace's armies had not disbanded. Instead, they drilled daily and patrolled the seas.
In the Three Kingdoms of the Northern Region, the dozen or so great demons actually knew nothing, but they sharply sensed that something was wrong in the west, Southern Xinjiang, the Eastern Sea, and the Central Plains alike. After staring at one another and discussing it, they were still utterly baffled. They could only remain cautious in secret while trying to ask old friends they knew well