Chapter 135: Chapter 114: The Plan of the Five Poisons Sect
Translator: 549690339

To outsiders, the Shengmiao natives are seen as a group of barbaric, cruel, and evil people who eat raw meat and drink blood.

They live among the mountain ridges, dwell in caves, coexist with wild beasts, worship evil gods, raise poisonous insects, and even practice human sacrifice and cannibalism.

Any abominable deeds in the world can seemingly be attributed to them.

However, there is actually some misunderstanding in this.

Because, in reality, the Shengmiao natives do not eat humans.

There are plenty of wild animals, endless wild fruits and vegetables, and some farmland they have cultivated in the mountains – all providing ample food.

There is no need for them to eat humans.

Aside from not eating humans, though, other descriptions of them are true.

These Shengmiao natives, who live amid the mountains and are cut off from the outside world, are indeed a group of evil people with a wild beast-like existence beneath their human skin.

However, not everyone can endure this beastly way of life.

So some Miao people have decided to move out of the mountains and become the Shumuiao (settled natives) known to the outside world.

These Shumuiao natives have accepted the king’s rule, learned farming, settled in established locations, paid taxes, and are no different from the majority of Yue people.

As such, although Shengmiao and Shumuiao share common origins, they have essentially become two separate groups, apart from their bloodline connection. Some even view each other as enemies.

Upon meeting, they would often not hesitate to kill each other, showing no mercy.

Fortunately, despite being divided into two groups, all Miao people still retain some common customs.

For example, raising Gu insects.

This ability, which originated from the mountains, was not forgotten by the Shumuiao natives.

On the contrary, many Shumuiao have come to research Gu techniques even more due to being oppressed by outsiders, using it as a means of self-preservation.

As a result, a massive organization known as the Five Poisons Cult has emerged, spanning across both Shengmiao and Shumuiao natives and encompassing the entire Dongting region, with Gu techniques as the connecting point and bloodlines as the foundation.

The headquarters of the Five Poisons Cult is located amid vast mountain ridges, secluded and unknown to outsiders.

However, there are always some lucky ones who have been there and returned alive.

According to their descriptions, the headquarters is a place where flowers bloom abundantly – a valley filled with numerous wooden houses where many native Miao people live, enjoying an idyllic life.

These mountain-dwelling natives call it Wansheng Valley, considering it a sacred place.

This is the perspective of those who are on good terms with the Five Poisons Cult.

Another description is circulating in the Jianghu world.

The headquarters of the Five Poisons Cult is considered the most dangerous and evil place in the world, filled with all kinds of poisonous insects, poisonous flowers, and even terrifying miasma.

Just one wrong step could cost one’s life in this place.

Amid this forbidden zone of life, dwell a group of Gu practitioners who can control countless poisonous insects – these people are considered human demons that breed Gu insects with living humans and nurture all kinds of terrifying and evil beings in the eyes of ordinary people.

These individuals call the headquarters WanDu Valley, seeing it as a forbidden zone of life and something to keep distance from.

Amid the chaos and confusion, the rumors about the Five Poisons Cult have been circulating in the Jianghu world time and time again, adding countless mysterious colors.

In reality, both rumors are true.

Because this place is both a valley full of blooming flowers and beautiful scenery, known as Wansheng Valley, as well as a land filled with poisonous insects and miasma known as Wandu Valley.

There are merely two faces to the headquarters of the Five Poisons Cult.

It is just that the people looking at it have different perspectives, and thus see different scenes.

On this day.

Within the peaceful Wandu Valley, the incumbent religious leader of the Five Poisons Cult, Lan Zhaoyun, was handling the affairs of the organization.

As the leader of a religion with a strong presence throughout the Dongting region and a following of millions, Lan Zhaoyun’s daily tasks were hardly any less than those of the powerful Yue officials of the borderlands.

Especially these days, as their Holy Sect had launched a major operation, planning to use it to further weaken the power of the Dongting region’s court and cause the local government’s control over the area to decline, ultimately achieving the goal of the Holy Sect’s revival.

Yes, the revival of the Holy Sect is the ultimate goal of the Five Poisons Sect.

Actually, thousands of years ago, when the Dongting territory was not yet called Dongting territory, it was known as the Miao region.

But then the ancestors of the Yue people arrived.

They launched one war after another, killing or driving the original Miao People who had lived here for generations into the mountains, seizing the land that originally belonged to them.

Now, thousands of years have passed, and the hatred of their ancestors has gradually been forgotten by their descendants. Even many Miao people have forgotten their origins and think they have always lived in the mountains.

Only those Yue people outside may occasionally see in historical records that their predecessors achieved a glorious Southern Expedition and conquered this territory.

But those deep-seated resentments, which could be forgotten by the people below, would not be forgotten by the higher echelons of the Five Poisons Sect like Lan Zhaoyun.

Because the establishment of the Five Poisons Sect is closely related to that battle to defend the Miao borderland.

However, they eventually lost that war.

But the Five Poisons Sect did not perish. They went into the deep mountains, turned underground, and prepared for revenge at all times.

And now.

The decline of the Yue People’s Court has given the Five Poisons Sect an opportunity. An opportunity to drive away Yue people and take back their homeland.

“Once this operation is over, we should be able to seize many cities from the Yue people. If we seize the opportunity well, we might even take down a Fu City.

In doing so, we will be able to deal a heavy blow to the Yue officials in the

Dongting territory, making the local area more and more turbulent.”

After finishing a task, Lan Zhaoyun stretched his waist and couldn’t help but think excitedly.

These days, every time he was exhausted from handling tasks, he would think like this, and then instantly be filled with energy.

The situation was no exception.

However, just as Lan Zhaoyun was about to continue processing the next task, a figure hurriedly entered from outside and saluted him.

“Sect Master.”

Lan Zhaoyun raised his head and saw that it was the Right Protector of the sect and couldn’t help but ask, “Right Protector, what brings you here?”

The Right Protector’s face was serious and said, “I just received news that a new County Magistrate has arrived in Wugang County of Shaoyang Prefecture. He brought five hundred troops with him. As soon as he arrived, he used lightning measures and immediately wiped out the local gangs of bandits.” Later, he sent troops to attack and slaughter the three Miao families outside the city.

Elder White Eye was sent to Wugang County to prepare for the uprising of the three Miao families, but now there is no movement.

I suspect he might have been killed by those troops.”

“Elder White Eye is dead?”

Upon hearing this news, Lan Zhaoyun’s good mood vanished instantly.

The Right Protector nodded solemnly and said, “Sect Master, shall we send someone to investigate and confirm the situation? If it really was the troops who did it, do we need to retaliate?”

Although the Five Poisons Sect had dozens of second-rate martial artists, when distributed across the entire Dongting territory, it wasn’t a lot. Now, losing one suddenly and at this critical moment was a bit painful for them.

“Retaliation…

Lan Zhaoyun thought for a moment and asked, “Are you sure it was the troops?”

The Right Protector affirmed, “Eight or nine out of ten. I heard from a scout who came back that the new County Captain of Wugang County is a second-rate martial artist. White Eye probably fell to him.”

“County Captain, second-rate martial artist…”

After pondering for a moment, Lan Zhaoyun finally shook his head and said, “Forget it, this time White Eye just bumped into the troops, he can only be considered unlucky. The local governor of Dongting territory is still there, and if our Holy Sect openly acts against the Yue government officials, I’m afraid it will attract his attention.

Although the Holy Maiden has now reached the Inborn realm after ingesting the Five Sacred Gu, she is still in retreat and consolidating her realm.

At this moment, everything should revolve around the Holy Maiden, and we shouldn’t create any more issues.

Let’s just end this matter here.

We will take note of White Eye’s vengeance, and deal with it when we battle the

Yue people after the Holy Maiden emerges from seclusion.”

After careful consideration, the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect decided to be cautious for the time being.

‘Yes.”

The Right Protector obeyed and left..