Within just a few months, rumors about the Owl Race had spread throughout the Southern Continent. Even Humankind in Baiyue Prefecture had heard them.
Public sentiment among the demons of the Southern Continent was in turmoil, but the continent's Noble Houses had also begun to exert their influence. Some smaller clans under the Great Clans had begun putting forward their own versions of events.
For example, they claimed Kuang Cang had deliberately done this to seize power over the Southern Continent, and that the Owl Race's supposed ledger was nothing more than a conspiracy he had orchestrated himself.
Their efforts had some effect, but not much. Several renowned demon Lone Wanderers had also joined the clash of rumors. As Lone Wanderers, they had no fear of the demon Noble Houses' power, for they were Great Demons themselves.
Some were even ancient demons who had fought in the War Against the Heavenly Demons eighty thousand years ago. These solitary old demons enjoyed immense prestige among ordinary demons, and some were even willing to stake their own reputations on Kuang Cang's character.
Still, there was no denying that enough rumors could divide opinion. Clearly, the Noble Houses' intervention had checked the growing furor over the Owl Race's ledger.
Yet neither Kuang Cang nor Azure Owl made any statement or took any major action, as though none of this had anything to do with them.
The Demon Capital, the Jade King's Residence.
Standing before Mirror Lake, Cheng Yu smiled faintly and murmured to himself.
"Heh, to think things would develop like this. Interesting."
As he spoke, Cheng Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, observing the entire Southern Continent through Mirror Lake. After a while, the image on the lake returned to a bird's-eye view of the Southern Capital. He moved his fingers slightly, and