Under One Person: The Puppet Immortal in the Tang Sect

This is the maximum extent of modification that can be achieved in the limited time available.

If one truly wishes to acquire the ability to burrow underground, it would only be possible to deduce and complete it by relying on numerous mechanical arms at the Craftsmanship Hall and spending some time.

This experiment was also a valuable experience for Cui Ming.

Time slipped away quietly as Cui Ming continued his work, making changes as he went.

Finally, the forests ahead began to thin out.

A clear river comes into view, and a sizable town sits on its banks, with stilted houses built against the mountain and beside the water, full of rich Miao ethnic customs.

This is Qinghe Town, the ancestral home of the Miao Gu Master lineage.

However, as soon as Cui Ming and his group entered the town, they all stopped in their tracks.

Under the huge banyan tree at the entrance of town, an elderly woman dressed in traditional Miao clothing, with her hair neatly combed and a solemn expression, stood quietly.

She held a strangely shaped bone staff in her hand, her eyes calm and undisturbed, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts.

Behind her stood several Miao Gu Masters with composed demeanors.

The old lady did not exude any powerful aura, but simply by standing there, she naturally became the center of attention in this area, and even the air seemed to stagnate.

When Wei Shufen and the others saw the old woman, their expressions immediately became extremely respectful. They quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Grand Master Gu! You...you came out in person!"

Cui Ming's eyes narrowed.

Is this the current leader of the Miao Gu Masters, the Grand Gu Master?

She was actually waiting at the entrance of town ahead of time?

Is it a coincidence, or...?

Did she already know their whereabouts?

Recalling his past experiences, Cui Ming became even more wary of this seemingly calm old lady.

The Grand Gu Master's gaze slowly swept over Wei Shufen, pausing slightly on the two disheveled men behind her.

Finally, the gaze fell upon Cui Ming and Yong En behind him, whose aura was restrained yet dazzling and could not be ignored. A strange light flashed in his eyes.

She ignored Wei Shufen and looked directly at Cui Ming, her voice aged yet carrying a high-ranking authority as she slowly spoke.

“Master Cui of the Tang Clan, I have been waiting here for a long time.”

...

The Grand Master Gu personally greeted him at the town entrance, which should have been an extremely high honor, but now it made Cui Ming feel somewhat uneasy.

This reclusive Miao master of sorcery possessed a level of information that exceeded his expectations.

Moreover, he never let his guard down along the way, and there were even many Shadow Spiders he had deployed as scouts in the surrounding area.

The surprise in Wei Shufen and the others' eyes didn't seem feigned; it was more surprise at why it was a Grand Master of Gu than at why anyone was waiting for them...

In other words, do they have other, unknown means of communication...?

Cui Ming followed Wei Shufen and the others without making a sound, and entered Qinghe Town with the Great Gu Master and his group.

The town's appearance was quite different from the gloomy, insect-infested scene that outsiders had imagined.

The streets were clean and tidy, with stilted houses scattered on both sides in an orderly fashion. Many men, women, and children dressed in Miao costumes were either working or chatting. When they saw the Great Gu Master and his party, they all bowed respectfully.

The air was filled with a faint scent of herbs, and occasionally children could be seen playing and frolicking in the streets, creating a lively atmosphere.

If Cui Ming hadn't known beforehand that this place was a gathering place for Gu Masters, he would have thought it was just an ordinary ancient town in Miao territory.

"Isn't that amazing?"

"Forehead."

The Grand Gu Master walking ahead suddenly uttered this sentence out of the blue, catching Cui Ming off guard.

Wei Shufen, who had been following him all the way, gave him a sharp look, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Before Cui Ming could speak, the Grand Gu Master continued.

“Everyone who comes to my Qinghe Town will have disbelief written all over their face, just like you.”

"In everyone's eyes, we Miao Gu Masters seem to be nothing more than sinister and terrifying figures. They completely forget that we Gu Masters are human too..."

Cui Ming felt a little embarrassed. It was indeed a bit awkward to have one's thoughts directly stated, but Cui Ming was also quite composed.

"Indeed, seeing it today makes me realize the importance of the saying 'Hearing is unreliable, seeing is believing.'"

After Cui Ming finished speaking, he cupped his hands and bowed.

"I was misled by the rumors, and I apologize for it."

"You are honest."

The Grand Gu Master slowly stopped and turned around. For the first time, a smile appeared on his wrinkled but imposing face.

Cui Minggang wanted to change the subject by asking for the truth, and was just about to bring up the matter when...

The Grand Master of Gu, however, seemed to possess mind-reading abilities once again, and answered his question first.

"Master Cui, you've had a hard time on this trip. The matter concerning the sacred object has been settled, so I'm sorry to trouble you to make this extra trip."

Upon hearing this, Cui Ming was completely taken aback, and Wei Shufen and the others also looked at the Great Gu Master with surprise.

"The thief who stole the sacred object was captured by me personally three days ago."

"The sacred artifact 'Heavenly Dragon Gu' is intact and has now been returned to the sacred site for worship."

The Grand Master of Gu slowly revealed part of the truth behind this incident.

That makes sense when you think about it. Unlike other sects, Miao Gu Masters have spies everywhere in Qinghe Town.

Within a radius of several miles, there were Gu worms tamed by the Gu masters themselves.

Leaving aside how to break through layers of defenses and obtain the sacred artifact.

Escaping Qinghe Town under the perception of these Gu Masters is an extremely difficult task.

"If that's the case, then why..."

Cui Ming frowned, his mind filled with doubts.

Since the sacred object has already been found and the thief has been captured, why send Wei Shufen and the others to the Earthly Immortal's place to cause a great disturbance?

Wouldn't this be redundant, and might even lead to unnecessary conflict?

The Grand Master of Gu seemed to have anticipated this question.

"Why send Shufen and the others to cause trouble for the Earthly Immortal?"

Her gaze swept over Wei Shufen, who had already begun to understand, and a hint of satisfaction flashed across her face.

"Firstly, although the thief has been captured, it is still unknown whether he has accomplices or further plans."

"Sending Shufen and the others out will lull these people behind the scenes into a false sense of security, making them think we have been completely misled, thus causing them to slip up."

The Grand Gu Master paused, his gaze sweeping over the two dejected male Gu Masters behind Wei Shufen, and said with a look of disappointment.

Secondly, this can be considered a test for them.

"To survive in this world, it's not just about fighting and killing; you also need a pair of bright eyes and a calm heart! You must be able to distinguish right from wrong and know when to advance and retreat."

"If you can't even manage your relationships with your neighbors and only know how to be tough and violent, how can you shoulder important responsibilities and lead the Miao Gu Master lineage to be passed down in this chaotic world?"

Chapter 97 The Current Situation in Miao Territory (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Upon hearing this, Wei Shufen's delicate body trembled, and she lowered her head, a thoughtful expression on her face.

The scarred man and the sinister-looking man turned pale and then flushed, not daring to look up at all.

Cui Ming suddenly realized that Wei Shufen and the others were actually a smokescreen used by the Grand Gu Master to escape from the very beginning.

This serves both to confuse potential enemies and to hone the character and abilities of the younger generation.

This calculation and profound meaning truly demonstrate that experience matters.

However, Cui Ming still had a crucial question in his mind that needed to be verified.

He looked at the Grand Gu Master and said seriously.

"The Grand Master Gu is far-sighted and insightful; I admire him greatly."

"However, I have a request regarding the captured thief. I hope I can meet him and ask him some questions."

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Grand Gu Master, who seemed not to have expected Cui Ming to be so persistent about a thief who had already been captured.

She hesitated for a moment, then scrutinized Cui Ming with her sharp eyes.

"Oh? Why does Master Cui insist on seeing that thief? Could it be that you don't trust my words?"

"This junior dares not."

Cui Ming replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"But there may be more to this story than meets the eye. To be honest, Master Gu, Di Youxian was framed recently, which almost ruined a major event for my Tang Clan."

"Since someone is so scheming to frame Di Youxian and cause conflict with other sects, they must have a backup plan."

"There might still be some clues about the person behind this thief in his mind."

The Grand Gu Master stared at Cui Ming for a long time, his gaze seemingly trying to see right through him.

Finally, the Grand Gu Master slowly nodded.

"Very well. I will grant you a meeting, but you must not harm its life, and I must be present."

Cui Ming hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"That's how it should be."

Led by the Great Gu Master and others, the group turned towards a relatively secluded building on the edge of the town.

That place is the dungeon used by the Miao Gu Masters to imprison extraordinary people.

On the way to the dungeon, the Grand Gu Master casually asked Cui Ming a question as they walked.

"Master Cui, what is your opinion of my Miao Gu Master lineage?"