Ji Tianrui.
The former Leader of the Ming Cult, before being executed by the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), was recognized as the most skilled and most mysterious person in the entire martial arts world.
Thirty years ago, the Five Great Factions of Shaolin, Wudang, Emei Sect, Kunlun, and Kongtong besieged the Ming Cult's main headquarters. The Leader died, and the Ming Cult suffered heavy casualties, almost on the verge of extinction.
At this time, Ji Tianrui appeared.
No one knew who he was, or where he came from, and no one even knew what he looked like.
Because he always wore a bronze mask on his face, never taking it off.
Using the authentic ultimate techniques of the Ming Cult, learned from an unknown source, he defeated the masters of the Five Great Factions and preserved the Ming Cult's legacy. He was then revered as the Leader by the Ming Cult.
For the next fifteen years, he trained many disciples. Lan Lechuan and Mao Yingxia, who died at Li Miao's hands, were his direct disciples and held high positions in the Ming Cult. He rarely showed himself, but through these disciples, the Ming Cult was firmly under his control.
During these fifteen years, the Ming Cult also grew stronger, and its actions were no longer as extreme as before, instead becoming more like a righteous sect. Gradually, a saying spread in the martial arts world: “Outside the martial arts world, allegiance is to the imperial court; within the martial arts world, allegiance is to the Ming Cult.”
Then, he was annihilated by the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) in Miao territory, and the Ming Cult went underground.
Li Miao had checked Ji Tianrui's internal Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) file, and the content was very sparse, basically just the aforementioned information. The record of his death only stated, “The bandit leader Ji Tianrui is dead,” with nothing else.
Li Miao had once subtly inquired about the details of that year in Miao territory from Zhu Zai, only to be met with Zhu Zai's silence.
Li Miao's investigation stopped there, with no further progress.
As for why Li Miao cared so much about Ji Tianrui.
It's simple: this person was the reason Li Miao hadn't left the capital for twenty years—from the moment Li Miao began practicing martial arts, he had always regarded him as an imaginary enemy.
To venture into the martial arts world, one must at least ensure they can defeat the strongest person, right?
After all, there are countless masters who have died mysterious deaths in this martial arts world. Poisoning, sneak attacks, and encirclement are things Li Miao cannot avoid.
So, at the very least, he had to ensure that he wouldn't lose in a one-on-one fight; only then would his life have some guarantee.
After learning from Yun Zelin that Ji Tianrui was still alive, Li Miao naturally paid more attention to news about Ji Tianrui.
Returning to the present, Li Miao lowered his head, silently pondering as he twirled his fingers.
“Ji Tianrui, surname 'Ji'… Miao territory… Gu Soldiers…”
He vaguely felt that a clue was connecting his various questions.
Everyone was stunned by his actions. After a long moment, Yin Minjun leaned over: “Brother Li, this…?”
Li Miao looked up, smiled, and waved his hand.
“Nothing, nothing. I had a sudden conjecture and verified it, but I didn't get a chance to inform you all.”
“These coffins should contain the remains of the ancestors of the Miao surname Twelve Sect Branches. There are Gu worms inside, but after many years of decay, they are now fragile and pose no threat.”
“Rest assured, everyone.”
Hearing him say this, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
If these coffins were filled with Yong Nu like those in the Miao King's Tomb, then they might as well all die.
After a discussion, led by Lao Qifeng, everyone set off again towards the depths of the Cave.
Li Miao, however, lagged behind, walking and twirling his fingers in thought.
Yin Minjun didn't disturb him, just followed beside him.
Li Miao thought for a while, then turned to Yin Minjun: “Elder Yin, do you know the origin of the surname 'Ji'?”
He didn't expect Yin Minjun, a person of the martial arts world, to be able to answer such an obscure question; he just asked casually.
Yin Minjun, however, replied: “Ji Tianrui's 'Ji'? There are many conjectures about his background in the martial arts world. I once looked through ancient texts and happen to remember.”
“Tell me.”
“Yes, the ancient texts say that this surname has four origins, namely…”
As Yin Minjun explained, Li Miao's twirling fingers stopped.
“In that case, it might just connect.”
Li Miao had a rough conjecture in his mind; perhaps it could be verified here in Miao territory.
And the matter of the Miao King's Tomb should also be nearing a conclusion.
Because during the time Li Miao was pondering, everyone had already followed the sound of water and found a small stream. Looking at its flow direction, it was flowing into the Cave from outside.
Following this stream, everyone would soon be able to exit the Cave.
And those few from the Qingcheng Sect would absolutely not wait until everyone had exited the Cave before making their move.
Indeed, just as everyone reached a fork in the path, a Qingcheng Sect disciple exclaimed.
“There are footprints here!”
The original text can be found at 6#9@Book/Bar!
Everyone stopped. Lao Qifeng turned back and indeed saw several messy footprints on the ground, extending into this fork in the path.
He pondered for a moment, then looked up, scanning everyone: “Everyone, what do you say?”
The Head of Kongtong Sect stroked his beard and said: “Judging by the traces of these footprints, they should have been left more than a month ago.”
“It should be those few grave robbers who discovered the Jia Yi Divine Skill.”
Lao Qifeng waved his hand: “Head of the Liu Sect, you know I'm not talking about that.”
“We are now just one step away from getting out. What I want to ask is, do you want to leave directly, or do you want to investigate the truth of this Jia Yi Divine Skill?”
Lao Qifeng said solemnly: “The situation is unclear at present. The person who harmed the Qingcheng Sect disciples in the Miao King's Tomb is still among us, and we don't know how many there are… We must not split up.”
“What are your plans, everyone?”
The Head of Qingcheng Sect, however, gritted his teeth and said: “My Qingcheng Sect wants to go and see.”
“You all can leave easily, but I have lost two disciples. If I leave empty-handed, their lives will have been sacrificed for nothing!”
While he said this, his heart was bleeding.
He had colluded with the Miao people intending to harm everyone present, but he didn't expect Li Miao to appear. As a result, others were completely unharmed, but he lost two capable disciples!
They were not Miao people and did not know Witchcraft. The Miao people had planted Gu worms on them in advance, and as long as they activated them with internal energy, they could avoid being harmed by the Gu worms.
However, at the moment the door opened, a Gu worm that crawled out of a Yong Nu's body harmed one disciple. It happened too quickly, and there wasn't even time to activate the Gu worms in their bodies.
In the Miao King's Tomb, he instructed a disciple to step on the platform, but unexpectedly, he was beheaded by Yin Minjun, who was already prepared.
Now that two disciples had died, if he still couldn't achieve his scheme, he would have lost everything.
So he spoke, using the lives of his two disciples as an excuse, and no one could easily refute him.
Moreover, everyone actually harbored the same thought: having experienced such danger and found an exit, surely they couldn't give up even looking into the truth of that Jia Yi Divine Skill?
Lao Qifeng sighed inwardly and looked at Li Miao: “Li Daxia, what are your plans?”
Li Miao spread his hands: “I was brought in by Elder Yin, just to watch the excitement. I have no interest in divine skills.”
“If you all want to go, I'll just follow along.”
Lao Qifeng looked at everyone, then nodded helplessly: “In that case, let's go and investigate.”