A round moon drifted in and out of sight amid the floating clouds.
The Academy Elder hurried along the road, his expression flickering between light and shadow with the moonlight that appeared and vanished.
Survival in this world was difficult, and it was common for Gu Masters to disappear. The Academy Elder's rich life experience told him that, generally speaking, such unexplained disappearances often meant death.
But anyone could die—except Jia Jin Sheng! Especially not here in Gu Yue village.
His status was special. His father was the Jia Clan Leader, while his elder brother was Jia Fu, a Rank 4 Gu Master.
Rank 4 Gu Masters possessed golden primeval essence, their battle strength vast and powerful. In the entire Gu Yue Clan, only the Clan Leader was Rank 4 and could contend with him. The other elders were merely rank 3.
The Jia Clan Leader's cultivation was even higher, reaching rank 5. Under his leadership, the Jia Clan had flourished over recent years and become a large clan, occupying all the resources of an entire mountain and boasting a vast number of clansmen. Compared to them, Gu Yue village was merely medium-sized.
If the two sides went to war, Gu Yue village would surely fall into a disadvantage.
More importantly, if this matter spread, the Gu Yue Clan's reputation would suffer as well. Many other caravans would also cautiously choose their routes. If Gu Yue village had no trade and exchange with caravans, its surplus local resources could not be sold, nor could it purchase the foreign resources it needed. Given enough time, it would inevitably decline.
"This matter is no trifling one. If mishandled, it will become a great calamity!" The Academy Elder was heavy with worry as he hurried to the Patriarch's Pavilion.
The moment he stepped