(Second update)
Unlike a top-tier sect like the Clear Sky Sect, which had ultimately been reduced to living in seclusion, the Elephant Armor Sect was not located within Heaven Dou City itself. Instead, it had settled in a satellite city near Heaven Dou City and become that city's calling card.
Though the Elephant Armor Sect was not like the Clear Sky Sect and was merely a first-rate sect, it was still enormously powerful. Not only did the main sect have several hundred resident disciples, but it also had many small affiliated sects under its banner.
Just as the Clear Sky Sect had the four major affiliated sects of the Strength Clan, Defense Clan, Speed Clan, and Breaking Clan, the Elephant Armor Sect's affiliated sects might not have been as strong, but they still had vast numbers, at least several thousand to over ten thousand people.
After so many years of development, the disciples of the Elephant Armor Sect and its affiliated sects had already thoroughly infiltrated this satellite city near Heaven Dou City. From the commander of the satellite city's City Guard to ordinary patrolling soldiers, all either came from the Elephant Armor Sect or had countless ties to it.
Here, even Xue Ye's orders did not carry much weight. Only the Elephant Armor Sect's word mattered. It could be called the uncrowned king of this place.
As for Blazing Fire Academy, Godwind Academy, Thunder Academy, and Skywater Academy, which were also among the Five Elements Academy, the sects behind them were much like the Elephant Armor Sect. Each used the power of a single sect to control at least one city.
If even they were like this, there was no need to mention the deeply entrenched Spirit Hall, whose reach extended into every corner of the Heaven Dou Empire.