Traveling at full speed, Fang Han soon reached the Sect Master's Hall. Two people were already inside.
One was Sect Master Chen Tianyuan. His face was still as water, and a grave look lingered between his brows.
The other was Jiang Chu, Hall Master of the Rain Listening Hall. He looked equally grim.
"Sect Master."
Seeing their expressions, Fang Han felt his bad premonition grow stronger. He cupped his fists in greeting.
Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly for Fang Han to sit, then said nothing more. An oppressive silence settled over the hall.
Before long, footsteps sounded outside.
Supreme Elder Gu Changqing entered first, followed by the four hall masters: Chen Wanjun, Shen Moyan, Tie Qianjun, and Situ Xuan.
Everyone sensed the unusual atmosphere. They dispensed with pleasantries, and all eyes turned to Sect Master Chen Tianyuan.
Chen Tianyuan looked around at them. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice heavy with barely restrained gravity.
"Supreme Elder, hall masters, the Rain Listening Hall has just sent word. After half a month of silence, the Profound Heaven Sect has struck again."
Chen Tianyuan drew a deep breath and continued.
"The four top factions in neighboring Nanchuan Prefecture have all been wiped out by the Profound Heaven Sect. The entire prefecture now lies within its sphere of influence."
"What? All four top factions in Nanchuan Prefecture were destroyed?!"
The news was so shocking that everyone fell into a deathly silence.
Barely half a month had passed, yet the Profound Heaven Sect had struck again. This time, it had wiped out every top faction in Nanchuan Prefecture in one fell swoop. Its methods were bloody and ruthless, leaving other top factions no path to survival.
"All four top factions in Nanchuan Prefecture, wiped out."
At last, Supreme Elder Gu Changqing spoke. His