Since last night, one truth had become undeniable to him—the very reason he was here was because of that so-called "Scattered Poison Body." And that thought brought back memories of Military Strategist Ji's "pig‐raising plan." Could it be that this "Scattered Poison Body" is meant to serve as a sacrificial offering for someone else? The idea crept into his mind unbidden. After all, several groups of people had mentioned it—and for that single reason alone, he felt an overwhelming urge to flee this place.
But Li Wu Yi's words fell on deaf ears for Li Yan. Watching the confused expression on his junior brother's face, Li Wu Yi sighed inwardly, "Junior Brother Li, it truly is pitiful. You've already reached the second tier of the Condensation Period, yet you lack even the most basic common sense. It seems you were merely used as a spirit absorber—after your usefulness is spent, you're easily discarded."
"Li Junior Brother, there are things that you might not believe right now, but that is how the world of cultivation works. Its true might isn't something one grasps upon first entering the sect. And let's consider your wish to go home—for now, how can you possibly return? Your homeland is located a million li away from here. It's already been four days since you arrived, and if the Meng Kingdom you mentioned were truly planning to invade, they would have done so long ago. Besides, they simply wouldn't dare to attack. First, you have cultivated the immortal techniques of our Wang Liang Sect—a fact you must admit. That bond means you cannot simply depart from our fold. Second, even if the higher-ups allowed you to leave, how on earth would you manage to make the journey? Outside the sect lie treacherous high mountains and hordes of high-grade demonic beasts. At your current power, even facing a first-tier demon beast could be a death sentence. Third, consider the journey—a million li is no walk in the park. When you first arrived, you were transported here one step at a time via the sect's subordinate immortal teleportation arrays. Even if not for the complications of your unique physique, those disciples wouldn't dare make casual use of such arrays. In fact, it took a full three days to transport you here. Now, if you wish to leave, how could our sect possibly let you use the teleportation arrays again? Even discounting the threat of demonic beasts, how long would it take to traverse a million li on foot? One year? Two? Ten?" Li Wu Yi said, furrowing his brow.
Hearing these words, Li Yan was momentarily stunned. In his mind, a few stark conclusions began to form. First, he had been unconscious for at least three days. Second, his current location lay a million li away from Qing Shan Pass—the place he once called home. Third, it was undeniable that he had already cultivated the techniques of the Wang Liang Sect. And if that were so, then once he left the sect, they would no longer treat him as a disciple.
Gazing into Li Wu Yi's earnest eyes, Li Yan began to sense that there might be some truth in what he was saying. After all, if he were to agree to join the sect, then even if they had ulterior motives regarding his so-called "Scattered Poison Body," they wouldn't act against him in the short term. Otherwise, they would have struck already. With even the slightest inquiry later, he would be able to unravel every detail—and nothing of that sort could remain hidden for long.
He wasn't well versed in the workings of these teleportation arrays; all he knew was that they sounded incredibly formidable—a kind of celestial art that could rapidly bridge unimaginable distances. Even if, after all, a journey covering a million li might still take two or three days via this magic, it left him with a chilling thought: if something had gone awry back home by now, there would be no chance of rescue. What hope did he have?
In that moment, an unexpected desire took root in his heart—a yearning for overall strength, a longing to seize control of his own destiny. He craved a life where his fate was in his own hands, not one where everything was dictated by others at Qing Shan Pass or, come what may, here. He felt utterly powerless—as insignificant as an ant, and perhaps even less so, for even an ant at least has its comrades.
Yet a stubborn resolve stirred within him. He wasn't determined to return home right away; rather, he wanted to leave this place altogether. Here, he felt neither safe nor secure, and this cursed "Poison Body" might very well be the root of all his troubles.
Looking steadily at Li Wu Yi, Li Yan composed himself before speaking, "Then may I ask—can I disperse this 'Scattered Poison Body' so that the sect might help me return to my homeland? Or, if not that, at least send me to a place where ordinary mortals dwell?" At this moment, all he desired was simply to leave. He no longer wanted this poisonous inheritance. If it could be undone, so much the better. After all, as long as he still possessed the 'Gui Shui Zhen Jing,' he could begin his cultivation anew. Once he reached a place free from demonic beasts—a realm inhabited by mortals—he intended to slowly search for an area rich in spiritual qi, start over, and eventually become strong enough to do as he wished.
Li Wu Yi was taken aback by Li Yan's bold request. He had seen countless cultivators who were willing to risk everything for the path of immortal cultivation—those with pure, unyielding determination; those who even sacrificed their souls or forsook their families. But he had never encountered anyone so repulsed by the very nature of cultivation as to wish to dismantle one's own technique. He couldn't help but smile wryly at the paradox.
"Junior Brother Li," Li Wu Yi began patiently, "let me explain something clearly. Dispersing one's cultivation isn't impossible—but doing so would strike at your lifespan in a profound way, potentially even leading to your immediate demise. Furthermore, the famed 'Scattered Poison Body' of our immortal realm isn't something you can simply undo on a whim. Its essence is interwoven with your very blood, bones, and meridians. Should you choose to disperse your cultivation, you'd lose the spiritual nourishment needed to keep that universal poison at bay. In an instant, you'd be struck down.
"This 'Scattered Poison Body' ranks as the second of the three peerless poisonous bodies of the Wang Liang Sect—the very instrument we wield as one of our deadliest weapons. For nearly a thousand years, no one has refined any of these three poisonous bodies. In fact, the only living examples now belong to two Supreme Ancestors of the Nascent Soul stage in our sect—both of whom refined the other two poisonous bodies (the first and the third, respectively) over a millennium ago. Their mastery of these toxic arts has made them peerless experts in the current immortal realm. That, in essence, is the cornerstone of our sect's enduring power. Although there are other Nascent Soul Supreme Ancestors within the sect, no one compares to these two. Yet the methods for refining each poisonous body differ drastically. That is precisely why these two Supreme Ancestors have not taken you as a disciple. First, your innate talent is far too poor—your spiritual root is predetermined at birth and cannot simply be altered; second, your particular "Scattered Poison Body" does not follow the same path as theirs, so they simply cannot offer you guidance. Had you been of another type—even with only slightly better aptitude—they might have chosen to take you on, perhaps even awarding you a disciple slot beyond your current rank."
He paused a moment before continuing.
"The 'Scattered Poison Body' is somewhat more unusual than the other two toxins. The other two typically require the ingestion of rare, powerful herbs and toxins, followed by a meticulous process of chanting secret incantations from our sect's techniques. Alternatively, some individuals are born with a wind-type poisonous body—an innate affinity for yin toxins that is exceedingly rare, though not unheard of. In places where dark yin qi abounds and toxic vapors struggle to circulate, such conditions can be found on certain continents. For example, one of our sect's two Nascent Soul Supreme Ancestors refined his poisonous body in the South Dreary Marshes of the Desolate Moon Continent—a land saturated with mists and crawling with poisonous vermin."
"Refining any of these two types of poisonous bodies is extremely perilous. Even with the Wang Liang Sect's secret methods, one wrong move may result in being overwhelmed by toxins, or the poison might even seep into one's mind—leading to a tragic, excruciating death."
"Now, the formation of the 'Scattered Poison Body' is even more bizarre. It doesn't have an official cultivation method; rather, it is formed as a cultivator, during the course of practicing immortal techniques, inadvertently absorbs various toxins. Over time, as his power deepens, these toxins mix together. His spiritual power gradually neutralizes and assimilates them, so that eventually every attack he delivers carries an element of potent venom—inflicting severe, debilitating pain on his opponents. Such cultivators are known simply as poison cultivators."
He continued, "Poison cultivation is known for its rapid onset and strong offensive capability—a method that, although it allows for swift progress in the early stages, carries great risks. As more toxins accumulate, they cannot all be transformed; eventually, conflicts among these toxins erupt. For those with profound power, it may be possible to suppress and slowly refine them further. But if you cannot repress this internal chaos, the toxins will scatter uncontrollably, and even the toxins you've already assimilated will disintegrate. All your spiritual power could vanish in an instant, and you'd perish immediately. Of course, nothing in this world is absolute. In billions of years there have been cases where poison cultivators have experienced such breakdowns yet survived—sometimes even undergoing a dramatic transformation in their constitution. In such cases, their bodies no longer exhibit any toxic traits. When deploying orthodox immortal techniques, they appear completely proper, though when they strike an opponent, a deadly toxin is covertly added—its exact effects initially unpredictable, whether it corrodes, invades, or merely clings. With time and mastery over the 'Scattered Poison Body,' a cultivator learns how to control and tailor these additional effects at will, leaving his adversaries utterly defenseless."
"Elder poison cultivators of old say that during the process of refining this toxin, one feels as if every bit of flesh, bone, and meridian is torn into countless fragments—as though the body were being dismembered piece by piece. The unending, excruciating pain of having one's very essence shattered is what gives it the name 'Scattered Poison Body.'"
He then explained further, "What is particularly mysterious is that although many other sects—other schools of poison cultivation—exist in the immortal realm, none have ever produced this type of poisonous body. Later analyses suggested that it might be linked to certain methods employed exclusively by the Wang Liang Sect. After all, each peak of our sect has its own poison cultivation techniques, and since time immemorial, practitioners exhibiting this trait have sporadically appeared in each peak. Yet even when deliberately nurtured, success is elusive. Even to this day it remains an unsolved mystery. One thing, however, is clear: it is connected with our sect's core techniques—the methods of toxin infusion and marrow cleansing. That is why every introductory technique in the Wang Liang Sect is paired with a step of toxin infusion and marrow cleansing."
After stressing the key points concerning the "Scattered Poison Body," Li Wu Yi turned his gaze back on Li Yan and said, "Junior Brother Li, I hope you now understand. Furthermore, forgive me for my lengthy discourse—but consider this: cultivators in our immortal realm live for ages. Once you have stepped over the boundary between mortals and immortals, can you really care for your loved ones not just for an instant, but for countless lifetimes?" He deliberately avoided mentioning anything about Li Yan's mixed spiritual root or how that enabled him to refine the "Scattered Poison Body." If he had, it would have sealed Li Yan's fate outright. Even with the opportunity bestowed upon him, the worst-case scenario was that Li Yan might at best only reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Being a gentleman of generous heart, Li Wu Yi did not wish to dampen his junior brother's spirits. Whether Li Yan truly understood the implications of having a mixed spiritual root was something for him to figure out on his own later.
As Li Yan listened, his heart raced with a mixture of fear and relief. He trembled at the very thought of how terrifying this condition was—and he worried most that it might interfere with his ability to cultivate the "Gui Shui Zhen Jing." Yet Li Wu Yi's words, at the very least, assured him that the keen interest he'd experienced over the past two days wasn't altogether a bad omen. At minimum, it meant that those in charge intended for him to fully utilize this poisonous ability.
With that realization, Li Yan began to relax. Clearly, there was no possibility of returning home now—and even if he could, it would mean nothing. Sighing inwardly, he acknowledged that ever since encountering Military Strategist Ji, he had embarked upon a one-way journey: either he would perish early or he would be forced down an uncertain path. Li Wu Yi was right—the road back to his family, across the mortal–immortal divide, was long severed. And if the sect hadn't deceived him, then his family would be protected. Even if they had been misled, once he grew strong he could always return to confront the Meng Kingdom on his own terms. There was no sense in fretting over every little detail.
Li Wu Yi continued to watch him intently. After a while, Li Yan lifted his head and offered a small, resolute smile in return. That subtle change unsettled Li Wu Yi somewhat—for since entering the room, the junior brother had remained as calm as ever: impassive, with little hint of either sorrow or joy. Yet now, it was as if something inside him had shifted.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Li," Li Yan said as he rose and bowed deeply.