They encountered no Miao people or any obstacles along the way, and the two quickly arrived at the deepest part of the altar, outside the stone chamber where the high shaman resided.
Standing outside the stone wall, Li Ling suddenly felt an invisible wave emanating from it, as if some mysterious power was sweeping over him. It must be the power that the wizards here had specially cultivated.
At this moment, Xiaobai pushed open the stone door and pulled him inside. What they saw was a hunched figure sitting in front of a fire.
His silhouette flickered in the firelight, appearing dark and uncertain, giving him an unreal and mysterious air.
Xiao Bai stepped forward and let out a soft laugh, which lightened the gloomy atmosphere in the stone chamber. Then she said, "It's been a long time, Great Wizard. Do you still remember me?"
“Three hundred years ago, when I was at the height of my power, how could I forget that woman who once captivated the southern border? I just don’t know what brings you to this old man who is nearing the end of his life,” the Grand Wizard asked calmly without turning around.
Xiao Bai smiled and said, "Back then, I was imprisoned by Fenxiang Valley for over three hundred years in order to retrieve the Xuanhuo Mirror. I was only recently freed, yet you are so indifferent to me. This really hurts me."
The high priest did not answer immediately, and for a moment the entire stone chamber fell silent. After a long while, the high priest broke the silence and said, "That was just your own insatiable greed, wanting to unravel the secret of the Heavenly Fire. You didn't come here for that reason, did you?"
“That’s right, but it’s not me who came this time. My entire Heavenly Fox clan was wiped out because of this. My son was tortured for over three hundred years, and I myself was tortured for over three hundred years. I’ve long since become indifferent to it all.” Xiao Bai’s voice suddenly became unusually low.
Li Ling stood silently to the side, secretly thinking that this Xiao Bai was indeed closely related to the Wu Clan, even though the original work only mentioned it vaguely. However, he was not interested in these stories; he was only here to get what he wanted.
"So, the person who came to me was this young man?" the Miao shaman asked Li Ling in a hoarse voice.
Taking a deep breath, Li Ling said, "Indeed, I have heard that the Southern Border Witch Clan possesses the complete diagram of the ancient and wondrous Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation. This formation is of great use to me. I beg the Great Witch Master to grant my request."
The great wizard's back trembled, but he said in a detached tone, "This formation is quite ominous. Since the time of the Linglong Saintess of our witch clan, none of those who have coveted this formation have met a good end. I advise you to give up this idea."
Li Ling frowned, about to speak, when Xiao Bai beside him spoke first: "Great Wizard, this young master is no ordinary person. Even Shangguan Ce of Burning Incense Valley is no match for him. Moreover, the Profound Fire Mirror is already in his hands. Even if you disagree, he will not give up."
After hearing Xiaobai's words, the Great Wizard said, "To be honest, since the Holy Maiden Linglong sealed the demon with her own body, the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation has been lost. It's not that I'm unwilling to help you, but that I really can't."
Li Ling remained silent for a moment before continuing, "Great Wizard, do you have any concerns? If you have any requests, please speak freely. How about I promise you that once I obtain the array diagram, I will resolve the threat of the Beast God for you?"
Defeating the Beast God was originally his goal, so bringing it up now is a cost-effective way for Li Ling to benefit from it.
Upon hearing the words "Beast God," the air in the stone chamber suddenly turned cold. After a long while, the Great Wizard slowly turned around to look at Little White, his eyes filled with inquiry.
Xiao Bai gently shook her head and said, "I didn't say that."
The high shaman realized that Xiaobai was telling the truth, so he turned to Li Ling and said, "You are not one of my people. Where did you learn of the existence of the beast demons?"
The Miao people's attitude towards the Beast God can be seen from the way the Grand Shaman addresses it.
Li Ling remained expressionless and said calmly, "Does it really matter to a great wizard who I am? Since I know about the existence of the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation, it's not surprising that I know about the Beast God."
"The important thing is that the Beast God is a sword hanging over the heads of the Southern Border Witch Clan. If it is not removed as soon as possible, the Miao Clan may face extinction after its birth."
The high wizard remained silent for a long time, but did not answer.
Xiao Bai and Li Ling exchanged a glance, then Xiao Bai said to the Great Shaman, "Three hundred years ago, that beast demon was already secretly plotting. After all these years, the day it breaks free is probably just around the corner. Whether it succeeds or not, there will be no loss for your Miao tribe. Why don't you give it a try, Great Shaman?"
The Grand Wizard said calmly, "Two of the five sacred artifacts of the Witch Clan are in the hands of my Miao Clan. As long as he cannot gather all five, he will not be able to break free of the seal."
Xiao Bai said, "Back then, even the Holy Maiden Linglong was helpless against that beast demon, which shows how powerful it was. How long do you think the Miao people can hold onto these two sacred artifacts? I heard that the Li people have been bewitched by that beast demon and are preparing to come to Qilidong to seize the sacred artifacts."
After Xiaobai finished speaking, the Grand Wizard did not refute him, but remained silent. No one knew what he was thinking, and the two of them waited for his answer.
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Chapter 377: The Ancestral Land of the Witch Clan
After a long silence, the Great Wizard, Xiaobai, and Li Ling remained silent. They had already said what needed to be said: the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation was the supreme secret of the Witch Clan.
However, Li Ling believed that the Grand Wizard would agree to his request, because the threat from the Li tribe was already imminent.
Sure enough, after a while, the great wizard sighed and said, "Alas, that beast demon is incredibly terrifying. Even if you have the array diagram of the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Array, it will be extremely difficult to contend with it. Do you really want to do this?"
The great wizard's words reassured Li Ling, who knew that the other party was already interested. He immediately smiled and said, "As long as I can obtain the complete diagram of the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation, I will have a way to deal with it."
Moreover, the Witch Linglong once said that when the Eight Desolate Fire Dragon reappears, it will be the day the beast demons are slain. This is something you yourselves have passed down from generation to generation. Does the Great Witch have any other concerns?
The great wizard sighed and said, "Very well, it would seem unreasonable of me not to agree, but the diagram of the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation has indeed been lost. However, there is a cave in a hidden place in the heart of my southern border."
"That is the ancestral land of my Wu clan, which holds ancient secrets. Legend has it that all the witchcraft of my Wu clan originated from there. The Holy Maiden Linglong also comprehended the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation in that cave. If you are determined to obtain the Eight Fiends Profound Fire Formation, I will have someone take you there to try your luck."
Li Ling had never heard of this place in the original work, but he was still very happy to receive the news and said, "Thank you, Great Wizard."
But the great wizard said at this moment, "Don't be happy yet. Although there are such rumors, I have been there myself and there is nothing strange about it. So you'd better not have too high expectations."
Li Ling smiled nonchalantly and said, "If I gain it, I am fortunate; if I lose it, it is my fate. No matter the outcome, I will do my best to fulfill the promise I made to the Grand Wizard."
The high shaman sighed again, seemingly with some emotion, and then said, "Then you should go out first. After you go out, find our Miao tribe's chief. I will have someone pass on a message to him, and ask him to arrange for someone to take you to that ancestral land."
"Farewell!" Seeing that the high wizard intended to see them off, Li Ling and Xiao Bai quietly left the stone chamber.
At this moment, the Miao village appeared harmonious and peaceful, with the joyful laughter of the Miao people echoing from afar, and the occasional barking of dogs from who-knows-where, creating a scene like a beautiful painting.
Li Ling glanced around and spotted the Miao chieftain standing not far ahead, gazing at the scenery of Qilidong from the mountain.
After a moment, a Miao man dressed as a shaman came out from the altar behind them and whispered a few words to the chieftain.
The clan chief turned around and glanced at Li Ling and Xiao Bai, then his gaze fell on Li Ling again, and after a moment he nodded.
The wizard turned around expressionlessly, not even glancing at Li Ling and the other person, and walked straight back into the altar.
At this moment, the Miao chieftain walked over with a smile and said to Li Ling, "I already know about your situation. Tomorrow I will arrange for my people to guide you. It's a pity that the Li people are making trouble, and I have important matters to attend to. Otherwise, I would have taken you there myself."
Li Ling smiled slightly and said, "You're too kind, Clan Chief."
The chieftain's smile faded, and he sighed softly, saying, "I do hope you succeed. The beast demon is like a mountain pressing down on us Miao people, making it hard for us to breathe."
...Look at the 90s