As the two sixth-rank chief officials of Wutong Prefecture.

Aside from the Prefecture Venerable.

Xiang Zhulu of the Demon Hunting Department and Lin Shao, Commander of the Military Department, both prominent sixth-rank figures with Primordial Pills, who had once presided over the allocation of 'Song Chai Xin' for the Prefecture Examination, hurriedly donned their official robes and rushed over early in the morning.

According to protocol,

The Prefecture Venerable ascends the position!

All subordinates within a mansion must come to pay respects, as the higher the official rank, the more pressure it can exert.

Even in the many major cities under its jurisdiction, the seventh-rank Guardians must submit a 'duty report'.

Otherwise, no matter how deep-rooted, even if a city is built like an iron barrel, under absolute authority...

It's just a 'paper charge', it can be stripped away.

For instance, when Bai Qiuyi fled in haste back then.

The original Guardian of Black Mountain City was suppressed and thrown into Wutong Prison by lightning measures directly from the Prefecture City by the next day, and as of today, years have passed, he is probably long gone.

This is the Prefecture Venerable!

In the land of a mansion, giving life or death, granting or taking away!

And with Great Zhao ruling the northwest, there are only five states, with Baoping State overseeing seven prefectures. The influence of a Prefecture Venerable is imaginable!

Without exaggeration,

It stands above orthodoxy, only slightly inferior to the Dao Lineage!

Precisely because of the excessive power, a Prefecture Venerable can only serve a term of thirty years at most before having to move to another position.

But even if they only served for thirty years, someone who has served as a chief official of a mansion will have the opportunity to move slightly upward!

Just a small step forward.

Then the status...

Is either a subordinate official of the State Mansion,

Or within the Central Hub of the Divine Capital!

It's a prelude to flying high!

Wutong, Xie Mansion.

With the curtain falling on the 'Demon Chaos'.

Xie Qiao, who once lost to Song Chai Xin for the Wutong Prefecture Examination quota during the winter ritual at Xie Mansion, and who was once touted as the former 'Xie Mansion's First Celestial Pride', returned home with a sword on his back.

As a true direct descendant of three generations.

Upon his return, Xie Qiao received a warm welcome.

At the same time, the clan members of Xie Mansion were quite shocked by his advancement to the Great Innate and even Vajra Perfection after years of absence.

Elder Ancestor Xie Qiaoxuan personally received him, sighing with emotion:

"After I pay respects to the 'newly appointed Prefecture Venerable', I will return to have a good look at our Xie Mansion's Qilin'Er!"

"When you were defeated by Chai Xin back then and left for several years, the old me and your father were quite worried."

"But now..."

"Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles. Traveling far does indeed surpass being a frog in the well, content for a lifetime!"

After saying this, Xie Qiaoxuan tidied his clothes. Despite his hair turning black and his vigor undiminished, he seemed very fatigued.

Because several years ago, the incident with Song Chai Xin, although the 'Demon Hunting Alliance' couldn't do anything with him and Song Brahman Mirror.

It implicated Xie Qiaoxuan and the Xie Mansion.

Causing the families within Wutong Prefecture, who had old ties with Xie Family, to distance themselves due to this matter, also affecting the foundation of Xie Family.

This time, the new Prefecture Venerable ascends the position.

Xie Qiaoxuan wanted to see if he could form some connections and allow Xie Mansion to catch a breath.

Seeing the old man's troubled expression.

Xie Qiao, who participated in the Demon-Suppressing Great Wall battle from Baoping Mansion, was stunned.

Meet the newly appointed Prefecture Venerable?

Isn't that...

He recalled that figure, who remained dazzling among the many Celestial Prides gathered in the State Mansion,

while he could only silently watch from the rear seat.

Instantly, he felt a bitterness.

Not only had Song Chai Xin endured hardships in the northwest, fighting every day for four years.

Xie Qiao was the same, having nearly perfected a sword skill to its peak, almost comprehending the 'Martial Arts Celestial Form', enough to be called a combination of perseverance and talent.

Yet it was with such talent,

that over a thousand days and nights, he still could not...

Stand shoulder to shoulder with that person on the battlefield, not even meeting once!

Xie Qiao also had some pride deep down.

He didn't want to use Xie Family's connections to get close to Song Chai Xin.

So even upon returning home,

he hadn't met Song Chai Xin.

But not meeting doesn't mean he hasn't heard...

From his father, Xie An, the eldest son of Xie Qiaoxuan, he heard some anecdotes regarding Xie Family, especially concerning Song Chai Xin...

Xie Qiao's expression suddenly became quite intriguing.

Before taking office as Prefecture Venerable, one must not leak any information.

But...

He knew!

Looking at the troubled and indecisive Xie Qiaoxuan stepping out of Xie Mansion.

"This..."

After much hesitation.

Xie Qiao still chose to follow.

...

Wutong, Prefecture City Government Office!

Many martial artists and officials gathered together!

They looked toward the inner chamber as if peering into the future pinnacle of power in Wutong Prefecture, thus each one was reverent and respectful.

And when Xie Qiaoxuan arrived with Xie Qiao...

The Qingshui Building Lord, Elder Li, Patriarch Qiao, who were once on good terms with the Xie Family, all snorted coldly, unwilling to converse further.

The incident with Song Chai Xin back then caused a rift among the families, jointly ostracizing the Xie Clan.

By today, the old friendships have vanished like smoke.

Everyone came early, curious to finally see what kind of extraordinary person the new Prefecture Venerable was.

Yet some felt indignant, thinking the position of Wutong Prefecture Venerable, with its high status, wasn't something just anyone could assume.

However...

The clear morning sky that was once bright.

Suddenly turned gloomy after half an hour...

And yet it guided the surrounding 'pure Qi', all converging towards the Government Office!

They still hadn't seen the Prefecture Venerable.

But instead, witnessed...

Such a phenomenon!

"This is...!?"

"Is someone forming a Primordial Pill?"

Those present, all knowledgeable, immediately discerned the mystery within.

But...

The kind of Primordial Pill that could induce such a phenomenon, at the very least, must bear the mark of the 'Martial Arts Celestial Form', starting from medium grade.

On the day of the Prefecture Venerable's ascension, where did such a Celestial Pride come from, breaking through to form a Primordial Pill?!

Unless...

As everyone's gaze,

focused on the Prefecture Venerable's curtain from behind.

In an instant,

even the principal figures of Wutong, including the Demon Hunter Xiang Zhulu and the Military Department Commander Lin Shao.

Each of them, their expressions varied, extremely rich and inexplicable.