The Ten Elders and the Ten City Affairs were in attendance at the meeting.
But this time, only three of the Ten Elders were present: one was ’Six Harmonies Fist’ Wang Kuan, two was ’Great Success Boxing’ Gu Shengyan, and three was ’Wensheng Fist’ Pang Ge.
Among these three, before the opening of Guangling Academy, Wang Kuan had the greatest fame, being widely renowned throughout Jian Province as a Six Harmonies Fist master.
Next was Pang Ge, who was once famous alongside Cheng Fengxiao, Luo Liang, Song Yunfeng, and Hu Baichuan, being one of the ’Guangling Ten Tigers.’
Finally, there was ’Gu Shengyan,’ who had practiced ’Great Success Boxing’ for twenty years, with little fame to show for it, yet after joining Guangling Academy, she quickly rose to prominence, first by creating Secret Martial Arts with ’Great Success Boxing,’ and later by surpassing others to become the first to break the limit and ascend to the level of the Ten Elders.
Since then, she had been unmatched among the Ten Elders, with Wang Kuan, Pang Ge, Yuan Shicai, Wen Wu, including the previously rebellious Wu Qi, all being overshadowed by her presence in front of Gu Shengyan.
Four of the Ten Elders were away on their own affairs, excluding Wu Qi in the dark dungeon, there should still have been five Elders present, but two were missing—
"Elder Yuan, Elder Witch, and Elder Wen are not here?"
Gu Shengyan scanned around, curious.
She had just returned from the Mountain and Sea Realm and naturally was unaware—
"It’s been three days since Brother Yuan and Brother Wen were seen, their whereabouts are unknown." Pang Ge shook his head: "I went to their residences, but even their family couldn’t give an explanation."
"Two administrative Inner Court Elders disappearing without a trace for three days, without any explanation?"
Gu Shengyan was furious; she had returned at a crucial time, only to find these two had simply vanished?
With these two missing.
"What about Elder Witch?"
Gu Shengyan asked again.
Pang Ge and Wang Kuan exchanged glances, and ultimately Wang Kuan spoke up, with a wry smile: "Wu Qi lost his ideals and beliefs, betrayed his original mission, and was disloyal and dishonest to the court. He had weak awareness of discipline and law, worshipped the Evil God, and dared to attempt murder upon juniors at the Martial Arts Competition. After being countered, his true nature was exposed. He is now being interrogated in the dungeon, but has no reverence or remorse, openly trampling the laws of the Great Yan Country, resisting the Academy’s investigations, and concealing personal matters..."
Wang Kuan quickly briefed on Wu Qi’s exposure, capture, imprisonment, and interrogation.
Gu Shengyan slammed the table, fuming, "This Wu Qi! Has he lost his mind? Even consorting with an Evil God?!"
For eight years, Guangling Academy had been exploring the Mountain and Sea Realm. Simultaneously, it was cultivating martial artists at all levels, from Ordinary Students to Research Students, from Doctoral Students to lecturers, from teachers to professors. Guangling Academy had cultivation mechanisms in place, and most had the opportunity to enter the Mountain and Sea Realm behind Star Gate to explore and seek fortune.
However, in this process, there were always some who could not resist various temptations, ultimately straying onto a path of evil, a road of no return.
Among them, like Fan Defang of Shenqiu Academy, who was indulgent in beauty, was one form.
Then there were those like Wu Qi, contaminated by the Evil God, which was considered even more heinous by the Great Yan Dynasty.
Even Du Hanfeng, who was once heavily nurtured and held in high hopes by Guangling Academy, couldn’t resist the Evil God’s temptation, turned to cult worship, was discovered by others, defected from Guangling Academy, and has been missing ever since, his fate unknown.
"Why is it so hard to do things in a proper manner?!"
Gu Shengyan’s expression was like cold ice, as she asked again: "With Wu Qi in the dungeon, what of Yuan Shicai and Wen Wu?"
She directly called them by name.
Wang Kuan shook his head.
He had suspicions, but did not voice them.
Pang Ge was different; he did not hold back and spoke directly: "Elder Yuan and Elder Wen have always been close. Elder Wen previously had a history of leveraging his own authority to unjustly seize opportunities from Academy elites in the Mountain and Sea Realm. Coincidentally, in this Martial Arts Competition, there was a promising young man named ’Yan Chuan,’ who relied on at least a third-level Odd Weapon ’Red Tassel Spear,’ nearly killing Wu Qi with his Qi Blood level ability. Could Elder Wen have repeated his old ways, teamed up with Elder Yuan, gone to Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall, and then encountered some misfortune, or were they killed in retaliation, or perhaps fled after their plan failed?"
"I am merely speculating, just a guess!"
Pang Ge emphasized repeatedly, shaking his head: "Otherwise, it’s impossible these two haven’t been seen for three days, especially with affairs awaiting them at the academy."
Wang Kuan observed firsthand, inwardly mocking.
Guangling Academy, a mix of good and bad.
Yuan Shicai and Wen Wu weren’t good people!
As for Pang Ge, once part of the ’Guangling Ten Tigers,’ he was overshadowed by Cheng Fengxiao, feeling dissatisfied. After gaining success, he held himself in high regard and paid no heed to Cheng Fengxiao. However, with Cheng Fengxiao’s disciple, Yan Chuan, making a name for himself in a single battle, his discomfort resurfaced!
He maliciously speculated, trying to put Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall and Yan Chuan, as well as Cheng Fengxiao, in a bad light!
This was the second time in a short time that Gu Shengyan had heard Yan Chuan’s name—
The second was the Odd Weapon.
Gu Shengyan made a decision, instructing the Ten City Affairs: "Convey my order to gather all the teachers and professors in the academy for a meeting tonight."
As she gave instructions, her anger grew: "The Mountain and Sea Realm is full of opportunities, yet they can’t seize them properly, constantly thinking of deceitful ways!"
Evidently, she had encountered good fortune in the Mountain and Sea Realm this time, and upon return, was ready to rally the people.