On the broader front, the Demonic Sect's temporary withdrawal had instead left the righteous sects of Changning and Huaiyuan Prefectures uneasy.
The Demonic Sect's missionary foundations ran far deeper in Huaiyuan Prefecture than in Ever-Peace Prefecture, reaching into towns and even villages. Its believers could be found among the escort agencies, martial arts schools, and gangs of the streets, and there was no telling how many more kept their faith hidden.
This trend had also begun to make the Huaiyuan Four Sects feel threatened.
The Huaiyuan Four Sects were the Golden Wind Valley, the White Sand School, the Mountain-Cutting Gate, and the Lone Mountain School.
These four major sects held the same standing in Huaiyuan Prefecture as the Five Sects did in Ever-Peace Prefecture. Seeing the Five Sects of Ever-Peace Prefecture form an alliance, they too began joining forces to respond.
They also began exchanging resources and information with Ever-Peace Prefecture's Five Sects Alliance.
As for the Embracing Elixir Force practitioners who formed the backbone of both prefectures...
One difference from Ever-Peace Prefecture was that those in Huaiyuan Prefecture capable of entering Great Yan's Dragon-Tiger Ranking were all veteran Embracing Elixir Force practitioners. Still, several young Pill Embracement practitioners were considered capable of entering the Tiger Ranking, and were at least no weaker than Jiang Chen and Xie Qiu of Ever-Peace Prefecture.
Yan Yunkun was among them. He had also long been considered one of Huaiyuan Prefecture's top three young Pill Embracement practitioners.
Yet the one who drew the most attention was Mu Xingze of the Lone Mountain School, who was currently in seclusion. Before long, a piece of news set the streets of both prefectures ablaze.
"What? Mu Xingze has emerged from seclusion?"
"Yes! I heard he successfully broke through to late Pill Embracement."
"Late Pill Embracement before twenty-five-that's