Alert! Miracle doctor released from prison

"What do you mean?" Chen Huo asked, somewhat puzzled.

Old Xie stroked his beard, shook his head, and said, "Brother, you only know one side of the story about the Miao Jiang secret Gu."

"Back then, the Miao elders hid themselves from the world with their secret Gu poisons. Why would they do this for no reason?"

"It's all because of the treasures of Miao territory!"

Hearing his words, Chen Huocai gained a deeper understanding of Miao territory.

Logically speaking, given the immense power of the Miao region's secret Gu poison back then, outsiders wouldn't dare to invade.

But for no apparent reason, he chose to retire.

The only reason for speculation is related to the Miao region's treasure.

It is said that they did not actually retire, but rather did so to protect [something].

Those predecessors who retired with their secret Gu represent the pinnacle of combat power in Miao territory and are known as the Eighteen Secret Masters.

He has never shown his face in decades.

"So, among the Black Cloud Officials who cast the curse on my friend, it's highly likely that one of the Eighteen Secret Masters is involved?" Chen Huo said.

"That's right!" Old Xie nodded slowly. "You are connected to the Eighteen Secret Masters, and the Eighteen Secret Masters are in turn involved with the Miao region's treasure. Ultimately, you and we share the same goal!"

At this moment, Murong Bingyun spoke up: "Could it be that only these eighteen masters know about the Secret Gu?"

"What about the Thunder Mountain Gu King, for example?"

"Does he have any solutions?"

"It's said that the Gu King is also a successor of the Secret Gu!" Yibu, a member of the Miao ethnic group, was more knowledgeable about this. "But it's said that he only knows a portion of the Secret Gu, which might be helpful to you. However, the crucial problem is that the Gu King has disappeared!"

"Nobody knows where the Gu King is right now!"

Upon hearing this, both Chen Huo and Murong Bingyun frowned.

If that's the case, things are more complicated than they imagine.

"I've heard some rumors!" Old Xie continued, "Within Leishan, some people have long coveted the Miao treasure and hope to find the hiding place of the Eighteen Secret Masters to excavate it!"

"The only one who knew the secrets of the Eighteen Secrets was the Gu King, but the Gu King insisted on disagreeing, thus leading to his betrayal!"

"The traitor is the Gu King's younger brother, the Deputy Gu King, who has already seized control of most of the power in Leishan Miao Village. The Gu King has disappeared, and his confidants are also fleeing in all directions, not showing their faces!"

"So, the Miao village of Leishan is now under the control of the Deputy Gu King?" Chen Huo said in a deep voice. "If that's the case, why doesn't the Deputy Gu King show himself?"

"Furthermore, the Miao village appears peaceful and harmonious, without the slightest hint of internal strife!"

"That doesn't seem like it at all!"

"That's what we suspect too!" Old Xie glanced at Yibu. "We arrived half a day earlier than you and have searched the entire Leishan Miao Village. Apart from the Miao people living there, we haven't seen a single Deputy Gu King, or even a single elder who can speak!"

"It's like walking into a shopping district where all you do is eat, drink, and have fun!"

"That's why I had no choice but to sneak into the Gu King's Palace tonight!"

"As you both probably saw, there's only one person in the Gu King's Palace, and their attitude towards us isn't very friendly. They're probably very opposed to our involvement!"

"That person should be a core member of the Leishan Miao Village, someone of elder or deacon status. The Black Wind Gu he uses is extremely powerful; with our strength, a direct assault would be impossible!" Ibu chimed in. "The strength of the two of you is extraordinary, which is why we wanted to cooperate with you!"

"I see!" Chen Huo realized.

"Young man, what do you mean?" Ibrahimovic asked, looking at him.

"Cooperation is no problem!" Chen Huo thought for a moment and then agreed.

The most urgent task is to find a breakthrough and lure out the Gu King or the deputy Gu King.

Otherwise, you'll just wander around aimlessly like a headless fly.

But he still had one question: "Have you noticed a problem?"

"Are the Miao people in the Miao village just like random passersby in a game, putting on an act for us?"

"I even have a feeling that this isn't the real Leishan Miao Village!"

Upon hearing this, both Ibrahimovic and Xie's expressions changed.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing shock, followed by seriousness.

"Young brother, surely it wouldn't come to that?" Old Xie said. "Leishan Miao Village represents the center of Miao territory and is also the most powerful place. They wouldn't create an exact replica just to fool outsiders like us, would they?"

"This would be such a huge undertaking. It would be much more sensible to just shut us out!"

"Wait a minute..." Ibu suddenly seemed to realize something, "I'm a Miao person, and I come to Leishan Miao Village every few years, so I'm quite familiar with it!"

"To be honest, Leishan Miao Village is the same as before, nothing has changed, but I always felt something was wrong, and now I know the problem lies here!"

"The atmosphere just isn't right!"

"Everyone seems to be acting, playing along with us, or rather, deceiving us!"

"But this is their base of operations. They can't possibly evacuate everyone and leave only some residents behind. The only possibility is..."

At this point, he seemed to suddenly realize something: "Could it be...an illusion?!"

"phantom?"

Upon hearing this, the group was taken aback.

"You mean, this Leishan Miao village isn't real, but rather we've entered an illusion?" Old Xie asked incredulously. "I've traveled the world for so many years and seen countless illusions, but I've never seen anything like this before!"

"Every place and every person here is so lifelike, this..."

"Old Xie, you wouldn't know this, would you!" Ibu chuckled, a hint of pride on his face. "Everyone knows we Miao people are skilled at raising and controlling Gu poison, but many overlook another aspect: witchcraft!"

"The so-called witchcraft, besides the use of Gu poison, also includes witchcraft!"

"In our Miao region, many Miao people use witchcraft to create various illusions!"

"But if we're talking about the most powerful witchcraft, then it must be Zhuang Zhou's Dream of a Butterfly in Leishan Miao Village!"

"Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly?" Old Xie and the others were puzzled.

"This is a formation that combines witchcraft and sorcery, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Once you enter, it's virtually impossible to distinguish the real from the fake!" Ibu continued. "Even if you're a martial arts master, it's very difficult to escape if someone wants to trap you!"

"Unless your strength is extraordinary enough to directly shatter the illusion!"

"Clearly, no one here can do it yet!"

Murong Bingyun subconsciously looked at Chen Huo: "Even with the strength of a King-level expert, you're not good enough?"

"King!"

Upon hearing this, both Ibrahimovic and Xie took a deep breath.

"No wonder I could never see through your true strength, young man. At such a young age, you are already a martial arts master at the King level!"