Changes in the Heavenly Yuan (5)

As one of only two systems that had endured throughout the history of human civilization, compared to the absolute centralization of imperial dynasties, the Sect Alliance's core authority had always shifted with the state of the realm—concentrating at times, dispersing at others.

When imperial power was strong, the Sect Alliance's core authority would become relatively centralized.

When imperial power declined, the sects within the Sect Alliance would begin scheming and battling one another.

Yet in any era, decisions reached at grand gatherings like the Tianyuan Grand Competition still carried immense binding force over all sects—

These were proposals raised by the giants of the various sects. Unless one wished to leave the Sect Alliance's organizational framework, forsake its protection, and no longer enjoy the benefits of belonging to it, one had best abide by them.

But all crows under heaven were black, When their own interests were involved, people's hearts were always ugly.

At the dawn of a dynasty, new nobles emerged.

The policies and decrees made at great Sect Alliance gatherings were, for the most part, ways for the great sects with the merit of backing the dragon to safeguard their own interests by squeezing the middle- and lower-tier sects dry.

And this led to one outcome.

Sects began forming factions.

To withstand the oppression of the upper-tier sects, the middle- and lower-tier sects inevitably huddled together for warmth. The two sides fought and compromised through the passage of years, eventually arriving at a relatively stable state.

History, too, was a circle, and Great Yan's Sect Alliance had likewise walked this path.

By now, the various factions within the Sect Alliance had already become clearly divided: Hongnong, Jiangnan, Huaibei, the Western Regions, the Southern Frontier, and the now-destroyed Northern Border.

Luo Wei would ordinarily scarcely mention such matters before