News of Ye Zhen's disappearance had remained under lockdown throughout the three commanderies of North Sea, Le'an, and Changling directly governed by the North Sea Prefecture Duke's Mansion, as well as the indirectly controlled Marquisate of Haiyuan.
Because Ye Zhen had come from the Heavenly Patrol Division and commanded many elite Heavenly Patrol Division forces, the information blockade had been highly effective.
Only the upper echelon of the North Sea Prefecture Duke's Mansion knew of Ye Zhen's disappearance.
But three days ago, news of Ye Zhen's disappearance began spreading through North Sea Commandery, Le'an Commandery, and the Marquisate of Haiyuan. Within three days, it had spread far and wide.
Not only that, more than a dozen rumors emerged alongside the news of Ye Zhen's disappearance.
Several of those rumors were exceptionally damaging.
For instance, Ye Zhen was suspected of treason and had already been executed by the Emperor.
Or that Ye Zhen had in fact been captured alive by the Devil Race in retaliation, with no possibility of surviving.
Or that Ye Zhen had actually already died in battle on the battlefield.
Under ordinary circumstances, such rumors would have crumbled at a single blow.
As long as Ye Zhen or his Blood Essence Clone took a stroll outside, every rumor would have shattered on its own.
But now, Ye Zhen himself was missing.
The Blood Essence Clone Ye Zhen had left in North Sea Commandery had also become nothing more than a clay statue and wooden carving, because the aura of Ye Zhen's true body had been completely cut off.
Yet it was precisely this Blood Essence Clone that had become the hope of the North Sea Prefecture Duke's Mansion's upper echelon.
As long as this Blood Essence Clone remained, it meant Ye Zhen was alive. There was still hope.