Everyone immediately set off, returning to the entrance of the Miao King's Tomb.
As soon as they returned, they found the place in chaos, with the remaining disciples gathered in a group, arguing incessantly.
Several sect Masters and elders stepped forward, frowning as they asked, "What happened?"
It was then that they learned of the Shaolin attack.
The sect Masters exchanged glances, initially remaining calm. They gave a few instructions to their trusted subordinates, saying that everyone gathered there should discuss countermeasures together. Once everyone was assembled, with a single command, they subdued and tied up all the remaining Qingcheng Sect disciples.
During this time, some Qingcheng Sect members tried to resist, but fortunately, those present were not weak, and no major disturbances occurred.
At this point, the sect Masters finally exhaled, gathered together, and summoned the Hengshan Sect disciple who had escaped, asking him to describe the situation of the Shaolin attack in detail.
However, that disciple didn't know much. He only said that when they arrived at Shaolin, they were arranged to stay, and were told that Master Xing Chi was in seclusion for a few days and they would have to wait for him to emerge.
So they waited, and then one night, they suddenly heard a thunderous sound of fighting.
The few of them went out to observe and saw two people fighting in the main hall of Shaolin Temple. The scale of the battle was so immense that it exceeded their understanding of martial arts, and with every move, surrounding buildings were destroyed.
They looked closely, and one of them was indeed the abbot of Shaolin, Master Xing Chi.
The other person, wearing a bronze mask, was unknown to the younger disciples, but the Beggar Clan's Nine-Bag Elder who had accompanied them exclaimed, "Ji Tianrui!?"
Hearing his exclamation, the person wearing the bronze mask turned and glanced at them, striking out with a palm print from mid-air.
Master Xing Chi blocked the palm strike and told them to flee quickly.
The few of them fled towards the outside of the temple, seeing along the way that Shaolin Temple was already a sea of fire, with Ming Cult disciples clashing with Shaolin disciples. They were blocked several times by Ming Cult experts, until only he remained alive.
He escaped outside the temple and saw that Shaolin Temple's mountain gate had already been breached.
Then he sped back to this place, bringing back this shocking news.
Yin Minjun told the disciple to rest, then turned to the sect Masters: "Sirs, what should we do?"
No one answered.
Shaolin, Ming Cult. Ji Tianrui.
The younger disciples didn't understand, but the sect Masters had grown up during Ji Tianrui's era.
They clearly understood the weight of that name; he had once dominated the martial world, with no one able to compare to him. If he was still alive, and after fifteen years of silence, what level he had reached was unimaginable.
They didn't know whether they should get involved in this messy situation.
Yongjie, who had been listening nearby, stood up and, without a word, started to walk away.
Li Miao reached out to stop him: "Master, it's no use for you to go back alone. With your current martial arts, you won't be of much help."
"Please sit for a moment."
Yongjie was burning with anxiety at this moment, but he also knew that Li Miao's words were reasonable. He forced himself to calm down and stopped.
"Sirs, if you have no immediate plan, please hear me out."
Li Miao stood up.
He had originally thought that since the Ming Cult had lost most of its high-ranking members in Tai'an City and had lost five hundred Gu Soldiers accumulated over many years, they would lie low for a while before making any moves. That was why he had planned to rush to Miao territory first, to resolve the hidden danger on Xiao Si, and incidentally, to sever the inheritance of Witchcraft.
The matter in Tai'an City had already been reported to the imperial court by Wang Hai, and now the imperial court should have begun to work on eradicating the Ming Cult. At this critical juncture, not only did Ji Tianrui not avoid the limelight, but he even committed such a major act.
If he wasn't crazy, he was going for broke, a desperate struggle.
Li Miao had saved everyone's lives multiple times in the Miao King's Tomb, establishing a certain level of prestige. At this moment, the sect Masters were hesitating, unsure of what to do, and all looked towards Li Miao.
"There's something that you may not have received news of yet."
"A month ago, the Ming Cult committed a heinous act in Tai'an City in Qi-Lu."
Li Miao distanced himself and briefly told everyone about the events in Tai'an City. Lao Qifeng corroborated his story.
Then Li Miao began to tell the story he had already prepared.
"I know you have always been suspicious of where I came from and why I appeared here."
"My ancestral home is Tai'an. When I was young, my Master took me in as a disciple, and I have been practicing martial arts within the sect, never having traveled the martial world."
"That day, I happened to be home visiting relatives and encountered this incident. After miraculously surviving, I was determined to seek revenge on the Ming Cult. The methods to guard against Witchcraft were also intentionally collected during this period."
"However, since fifteen years ago, the Ming Cult has been hidden underground, leaving me no way to seek revenge. So I thought, since the Ming Cult could do those things in Tai'an City, it must be related to the Miao people's sorcery, and thus, when I heard about the Miao King's Tomb, I rushed here."
"I met Sect Master Deng of the Hengshan Sect in Tai'an and fought alongside him, which is why Elder Yin was willing to cover for me."
This story was not entirely rigorous, but the situation was urgent, so Li Miao could deliberately make it brief, omitting many details.
In any case, the sect Masters were not in a position to dig into the details, and some questions could be left to imagination, as long as it could suffice for the time being.
"Now, since the Ming Cult has appeared, I should immediately go to Shaolin."
"It's only human nature for you not to want to get involved in the Ming Cult's affairs. But there is one thing you can do to help."
Li Miao scanned the sect Masters from left to right.
"Miao people, Witchcraft."
"This time, regarding the Miao King's Tomb, you were all tricked by the Miao people, and a deadly enmity has already been formed."
"The Ming Cult, using the Witchcraft of the Miao people, committed shocking evil deeds. This Witchcraft must not be allowed to remain in the world."
"If you are willing, it would serve both public and private interests. It would be both revenge and eliminating harm for the people."
"Furthermore—"
Li Miao looked around and said in a deep voice.
"Although the Qingcheng traitors have been dealt with, do not forget, the person who secretly drew their sword in the Miao King's Tomb is still among you."
"An open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. The Qingcheng traitors almost caused you to be buried in the bellies of insects; if another group of such people remains in the Southern Martial World, future troubles are inevitable."
"If you undertake the task of eradicating the inheritance of Witchcraft, it will be a good opportunity to test them."
"At that time, whoever secretly holds back, or prevaricates and delays, will be the Miao people's mole hidden among us."
"You can then execute them."
The dagger was revealed.
This was why Li Miao had done those things in the Miao King's Tomb and hidden his martial arts.
He wanted to use this matter to force these major sects to fully commit to eradicating Witchcraft.
The sect Masters looked at each other, seeing the profound meaning in each other's eyes.
They didn't want to get involved in the Ming Cult's messy business, but with Shaolin in trouble, they also needed a plausible reason to stand by.
Being harmed by the Miao people's Witchcraft, almost losing their lives, and having Miao moles hidden within the martial world, was a good reason.
They didn't feel heartbroken that the Qingcheng Sect were Miao moles; instead, they felt a little delighted.
The Qingcheng Sect was a major sect with a long history. Now that there was a suitable reason to eradicate them, several sects could gain considerable benefits.
If there were another one... that would be truly "unfortunate."
