Xingnan Prefecture, besides the Prefectural City, governs six counties, namely Yuzhao, Jiujun, Yunxiang, Jinling, and Yinling. Among them, Jinling, Yinling, and Tongling are collectively referred to as the Sanling Region because during the Divine Dynasty era, these three counties were united. Only after the Rakshasa Holy Sect occupied Yongzhou were they separated.
The previous ruler of the Sanling Region was the Shen family.
Shen Gufan was not very famous, though he was known as the Swordsman in White. Outside rumors suggested his cultivation level was only that of a Great Grandmaster of the Fourth Realm, enough to intimidate smaller forces, but clearly insufficient to garner the attention of Hou Yuxiao.
What truly made Hou Yuxiao take notice of Shen Gufan and begin to take an interest in the Shen family stemmed from a successful visit to the Prefectural City by Hou Yujie and Hou Yuduan three years ago.
