It is loosely based on Manichaeism, an actual gnostic religion which originated in Persia in the 3rd century CE and later spread to other parts of the world, including China.
Its most powerful skills are the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" (乾坤大挪移; qián kūn dà nuó yí) and the "Martial Arts of the Holy Flame Tablets" (聖火令武功; shèng huǒ lìng wǔ gōng).
While others typically seek to achieve a dominant position in the wǔlín, the Ming Cult strongly adheres to its faith and laws, which revolve around the notion of "delivering humankind from suffering and eliminating evil".
This is aptly summed up in a mantra widely repeated by its members, which goes: 熊熊聖火，焚我殘軀。生亦何哀，死亦何苦？為善除惡，惟光明故。喜樂悲愁，皆歸塵土。憐我世人，憂患實多！憐我世人，憂患實多！ The blazing holy flame burns my withered body.
Apart from that, many martial artists and schools in the wǔlín who are unaware of the cult's real motives due to its conservative nature often speculate that it is inherently evil and start spreading rumors.
The cult's image in society and in the wǔlín is adversely affected and marred, and it often struggles to survive in the face of powerful rivals who seek to destroy it.
The six leading orthodox schools in the wǔlín – Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Kunlun, Kongtong and Mount Hua – form an alliance to attack the cult at its headquarters on Bright Peak.
The cult has headquarters and bases spread throughout the land and are often disguised as ordinary buildings, such as inns and shops, to avoid identification by the government.
The cult's main headquarters, called the zǒngtán (總壇), is based on Bright Peak (光明頂; guāngmíng dǐng) in the Kunlun Mountains.
In Persia, the cult is led by a woman who is selected from three specially chosen virgins called "Holy Maidens" (聖女; shèng nǚ).
[8] The "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" originated from the Ming Cult of Persia,[9] and is the most powerful skill in the Western Regions.