Chapter 114

Why is it that despite the successive suppression campaigns by the imperial courts of various dynasties, the inheritance of this witchcraft and Gu-poisoning art could never be completely severed?

There are two reasons.

First, where there is demand, there is a market.

Such a convenient tool for political maneuvering and a means of murder—how could one let it disappear?

Some people preserve a few seeds, and once the intensity of the subsequent suppression wanes, the inheritance naturally continues.

Second, it is the Miao people.

Not all Miao people can inherit the art of witchcraft and Gu-poisoning. It must be the direct descendants of the Twelve Sect Branches of the Miao Frontier who are qualified to inherit it. Therefore, logically speaking, to eradicate witchcraft, one only needs to eliminate the direct descendants of the Twelve Sect Branches.

However, as soon as the imperial court's forces arrive, they find themselves facing the resistance of all the Miao people.

The Miao Frontier is naturally characterized by high mountains and deep waters, with the forests full of poisonous insects and miasma. The Miao people are accustomed to it, but the imperial army cannot march in.

After clearing the perimeter and breaking through a few stockades, it becomes difficult to continue. Once they dive into the forest, there is nothing anyone can do.

Because of these two points, what Li Miao thought of was to "find an excuse that would not cause the Miao people to unite in hatred, and find a group of people to strike at who would not cause the Miao people to unite in hatred."

As it happens, the major Southern Wu Lin sect that was schemed against by the Miao people here is quite suitable.

Right now, we still need to add more fuel to the fire.

"Chief Lao, don't just stand there, go and contend for it too," Li Miao said.

"Just try not to let too many people die; as for the rest, act according to my signals. Once this matter is concluded, there will be no shortage of benefits for your Beggar Sect."

"Yes, my lord." Lao Qifeng entered his role quite quickly.

It must be said that the young people in this Jianghu, like Mei Qinghe and that young disciple from the Huashan Sect, all stiffened their necks the moment they saw Li Miao, putting on a posture of preferring death over submission.

Whereas old Jianghu hands like Liu Baiyun, Lao Qifeng, and the sect leaders of the Hengshan, Hengshan, and Songshan sects were, on the contrary, very sensible.

They agreed immediately and started taking action right away.

Lao Qifeng flashed forward, and with a "Dragon Subduing with Regret," he struck toward the Kong Dong sect leader.

"Chief Lao, you!" he exclaimed in shock.

"With divine arts before us, each relies on their own ability!" Lao Qifeng summarized with one sentence.

Then, with a "Divine Dragon Wags Its Tail," he backhanded a horizontal strike, pulling the Emei elder into the battle circle as well; fighting two with one, he was not at a disadvantage in the slightest.

Just as everyone was fighting with great excitement, the Qingcheng sect leader spotted an opening and secretly gave a signal to his disciple.

That disciple understood, secretly took out a small bag from his sleeve and untied it, and a wisp of powder drifted out—colorless, odorless, and unnoticed by anyone.

The Qingcheng sect leader looked around and, seeing that no one had discovered it, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately, he looked at Li Miao and Yin Minjun, the only ones who had not joined the battle circle, but his pupils shrank suddenly.

Because at this moment, Li Miao was leaning against the stone wall, looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.

As their eyes met, Li Miao even stretched out his hand and made a "please" gesture.

"What does this mean!?" the Qingcheng sect leader was puzzled.

Aside from Li Miao and Yong Jie, there were no other candidates who could have left sword wounds on the disciple who went to step on the platform.

It was just that he did not understand.

If he had also been bought off by the Miao people, he should not have gone to stop that disciple from stepping on the platform.

If he harbored malice, why would he cover for him and divert suspicion toward others?

With his thoughts racing, the Qingcheng sect leader gave up on thinking.

In any case, the outcome was already decided.

Just at this moment, rustling sounds came from all around this cave.

In the midst of the fierce battle, many people did not notice.

The Qingcheng sect leader, however, looked happy and instantly withdrew from the battle circle with his disciples.

His withdrawal left a huge opening. Yong Jie roared, punched two Emei disciples flying, and rushed out of the encirclement.

Seeing his disciples injured and not knowing whether they were dead or alive after hitting the ground, the Emei elder was also shocked and angry for a moment, and was about to step forward to continue fighting Yong Jie.

"Stop!"

Lao Qifeng shouted loudly.

"Listen!"

Everyone focused their attention to listen, and in an instant, their faces turned pale.

Lao Qifeng turned his head to look at the Qingcheng sect leader: "Sir, why did you stop early?"

No one else had noticed, but the Qingcheng sect leader withdrawing from the battle circle with his disciples was obviously quite conspicuous.

But the Qingcheng sect leader laughed: "It's a long story; I'm afraid you all won't live long enough for me to finish."

He was no longer pretending at all.

That rustling sound grew closer and closer, already reaching the cave entrance.

Then, dense, swarming Gu-insects crawled out, covering the ground like a tide, surging toward everyone.

"Heh, after today, aside from Shaolin, my Qingcheng Sect will be the most respected in the Southern Wu Lin!"

The Qingcheng sect leader sneered, secretly circulating his true energy to activate the Gu-insects the Miao people had given him, which he said could repel witchcraft.

A fishy, sweet scent surged up to his throat.

"Pfft—"

He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his front.

"This, this, this."

His face was full of terror.

"Sect Leader! —"

A scream rang out beside him; he turned his head to look and immediately turned pale.

He saw one of his trusted disciples, now with a mouth full of blood, with a small mountain of Gu-insects already gathered at his feet.

Those Gu-insects suddenly pierced their mouthparts into the disciple's skin and then burrowed into his flesh.

He watched helplessly as several bulges appeared under the disciple's skin, traveling upward along his limbs, and finally, tentacles emerged from his facial features.

Without even letting out a second scream, the disciple collapsed to the ground with a thud and was then submerged by the Gu-insects.

"It's over, I am a discarded pawn..."

This thought was the last one to cross the Qingcheng sect leader's mind before he was pounced upon by the Gu-insects surging like a tide; he struggled a few times and then lost all signs of life.

Boom!

Bang!

The experts who were just fighting to the death were now tacitly gathered together, continuously unleashing true energy to beat back the surging Gu-insects.

It was just that they were ultimately not "Sumeru," their true energy was limited, and the chaotic battle just now had consumed quite a bit. If they could hold on for at most another stick of incense's time, I'm afraid it would be difficult to continue.

Just at this moment, an exclamation came from the crowd.

"Hero Li!"

Everyone followed the sound and looked over.

They saw that in a corner of the karst cave, Yin Minjun's face was also pale, and she could no longer care about the boundaries between men and women, pressing her entire body tightly against Li Miao's side.

Li Miao still maintained that composed attitude, arms crossed, watching them. It was just that when those Gu-insects reached three feet from his feet, they were like waves separated by a reef, retreating on their own.

Since he came to the Miao Frontier, Li Miao naturally would not come without something for self-defense.

Before leaving, Xiao Si had given him a mother Gu.

As long as the mother Gu raised by the human Gu was kept in Li Miao's bosom, once activated, these Gu-insects would not dare to approach.

The Gu-insects that the Miao people promised to give to the Qingcheng Sect were actually only available here with Li Miao.

Of course, if Li Miao wanted to, he could achieve the same effect using true energy. It was just that he did not want to expose his martial arts yet.

This play still needed to be performed for a while longer.

Until these major sects were willing to follow him to the Miao Frontier.

Thinking of this, Li Miao spoke in a clear voice.

"Everyone, do not panic; I have brought items to repel the Gu-insects."

"Wait a moment, I will take you all out now."

(End of chapter)