The battle between the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and the Sikou Family could not be concealed anywhere in the Chu Yun Empire.
As Xie Biyan mobilized the elders of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, word naturally spread. Under the elders' direction, more than half the sect's disciples gathered in a mighty host at the Mountain Gate.
The families and factions subordinate to the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect naturally learned that the sect and the Sikou Family had gone to war in earnest. Just as they were considering waiting to see how things unfolded, news from Tianrong City arrived and thoroughly extinguished any thoughts of watching from the sidelines.
"What! The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's subordinate factions in Tianrong City have already been wiped out by the Sikou Family?"
"How is that possible? How could Sikou Qingtian dare!"
Although the Imperial Family had done everything it could to suppress the news from Tianrong City, keeping every whisper from escaping was simply impossible. After the news simmered overnight, the factions surrounding Tianrong City were the first to hear it, and naturally spread it far and wide.
Those factions that had originally intended to fish in troubled waters also saw the Imperial Family's resolve in its actions: any faction that dared side with the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect would be eradicated without exception.
It was precisely with this intention-to thoroughly intimidate the fence-sitters-that Sikou Qingtian had ordered the destruction of all the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's subordinate factions in Tianrong City.
Now that the two sides had fully committed to war, the effects naturally became apparent.
Some factions had originally intended to fish in troubled waters during the fighting and seize the chance to make a windfall, but now they all held their positions. Others had wanted to curry favor with the Ten