Chapter 50: The Fractured Poison Body

Chapter 50: The Fractured Poison Body

The scholar surnamed Feng continued speaking.

"That military advisor's first disciple only lived a little over a month before dying. That was likely also due to improper cultivation. Though the entry-level body cleansing herbs he used aren't particularly rare or precious, a few of them are scarcely seen in the mortal world.

But his second disciple actually managed to pass the body cleansing stage and cultivated to the first level of the Qi Condensation stage, yet was also afflicted by fire poison.

Later on, for some unknown reason, this disciple somehow discovered that he was being used for 'spirit absorption,' and so sought out the local military marshal and another martial arts expert to ambush the military advisor…"

At this point, the scholar surnamed Feng showed a strange expression on his face.

Hearing this, some in the crowd shook their heads. The burly dark-skinned man with a golden compass embroidered on his sleeve spoke up.

"How could they have possibly won? Even with fire poison, that military advisor was already a cultivator. A few martial artists from the mortal world wouldn't be able to kill him. Even if they had more people, it would've been in vain."

The other cultivators present, including the high-seated Daoist, all expressed agreement with the burly man's opinion.

But the scholar surnamed Feng shook his head.

"Junior Brother Liang, you guessed wrong."

"Oh? So they actually killed the military advisor? It wasn't the work of your Law Enforcement Hall?" Junior Brother Liang asked in surprise.

"That's exactly what surprised me. Not only did they kill the military advisor, but the main credit didn't go to those two mundane martial artists. Instead, it was the military advisor's disciple who did it.

"That mortal disciple was only fifteen or sixteen years old, a farmer from the foot of Great Qing Mountain. According to reports from our disciples, based on the scene of the battle, from the initial ambush to the final killing blow, everything was carried out by that disciple himself. His methods were shrewd and decisive, and his strikes ruthless.

"When our disciples arrived, everyone except that mortal disciple was already dead. The marshal and the other martial arts expert died under 'Fireball Technique' and 'Wood Spike Technique.'

"The military advisor's mortal disciple was also on the verge of death, so our disciples intended to kill him too. Though he was innocent, he is also considered to have indirectly stolen and practiced our sect's immortal arts. Moreover, he was already near death, not worth wasting a pill on."

Everyone nodded. In the world of cultivation, there is no such thing as saving the weak or helping the poor, let alone sympathy.

"But just as they were about to take his life, they unexpectedly discovered that the boy, for some unknown reason, had shown symptoms of the 'Fractured Poison Body.' So, they brought him back."

"Oh? Are you sure? Is it truly the 'Fractured Poison Body'?"

"Our sect hasn't seen anyone successfully cultivate the 'Fractured Poison Body' in nearly a thousand years. He didn't even cultivate the corresponding technique, how could he have formed it? Could it be due to improper initiation of the wood attribute 'Dark Night Cyan Curtain Technique'?"

"Yes. That poison body ranks second among our sect's three great poison bodies, passed down from ancient times. Across history, fewer than a dozen people have ever cultivated any of the three poison bodies, and each of them underwent great tribulations and had immense fortune before succeeding…"

Everyone in the hall began to chatter among themselves, paying no mind to how the scholar Feng might respond.

"Alright, alright, what kind of conduct is this? Are we turning into a common marketplace now? Since someone has spoken of a great opportunity, we must remember, fortune differs for everyone. If one has gained it, then so be it. 

It seems that young friend has encountered a profound stroke of fate, Junior Brother Feng!"

The solemn-faced old Daoist seated at the head of the hall immediately shouted to stop the crowd.

The scholar surnamed Feng looked at everyone with a bitter smile.

The old Daoist frowned upon seeing this.

"What? Is it not actually a 'Fractured Poison Body' after checking? Rejoicing for nothing!"

The other junior brothers and some elders below, aside from Junior Brother Wei of Little Bamboo Peak who appeared indifferent, couldn't help showing expressions of disappointment.

"That's not it. I personally examined him yesterday, it is indeed the 'Fractured Poison Body.' Moreover, his body already faintly shows signs of marrow and tendon penetration. It's just… just that the boy has a mixed spiritual root!"

The scholar surnamed Feng shook his head with a sigh.

"A mixed spiritual root with the Fractured Poison Body? How is that even possible? Damn your immortal ancestors!"

"A mixed spiritual root? With such a constitution, he still managed to form this ancient body? Junior Brother Feng, are you absolutely certain?"

"Well now, how interesting. I'd like to take this boy in and study him closely. Study him! Hehehe…"

The solemn-faced old Daoist sat silently for a long while before letting out a sigh.

"Junior Brother Feng, are you certain?"

The scholar surnamed Feng stood up, robes flowing, and bowed with cupped hands.

"Senior Brother Sect Master, on this point, I cannot be mistaken. At first, I too thought I had been overly excited and misjudged. I even had several elders who were with me test him themselves. The final result, he definitely has a mixed spiritual root!"

"A mixed root… mixed root. Even if we pour countless resources into him, he'll likely never surpass the Foundation Establishment stage. What a pity, what a pity… what a pity indeed!"

The solemn-faced Daoist repeated the word "pity" three times.

"So, what should we do with this boy?"

The scholar surnamed Feng looked toward the Sect Master.

"Kill him, of course. What else? Keeping him around would just be a waste of resources. How could such a person deserve this kind of fortune? Gained it, yet it's of no great use, it just makes one angry. Might as well end it cleanly."

The burly, dark-skinned man with the golden compass embroidery said impatiently.

Several others nodded in silent agreement. Cultivation resources are for the capable, those with no future should be left to their fate. There's no such thing as sentiment in the cultivation world.

"Didn't Senior Sister Li just say she wanted to take him as a disciple? Hehehe…"

Someone turned to the voluptuous and charming woman whose every expression exuded flirtation.

"Yes, yes, I want him. I've only heard of this poison body, and I so want to experience it for myself!"

The beautiful woman's eyes sparkled, her jade-like face blooming with a smile like peach blossoms.

Those in the audience who saw her smile couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts.

"If that boy ends up as this woman's disciple, would he even survive a single day?"

The solemn-faced old Daoist shook his head upon hearing this.

"Sister Li, that's not allowed. Do you know what kind of body the 'Fractured Poison Body' is? A single drop of blood or essence can neutralize ten thousand poisons. How could we let you take him?"

"Oh my, Senior Brother Old Ghost, what's wrong with me taking him? Can't I peacefully take a disciple for once? I never said I'd use him for making gu or poison!"

The beautiful woman immediately looked at the old Daoist with a pout, clearly dissatisfied.

"Junior Sister, although this boy is of mixed spiritual roots, if we invest more resources into his cultivation, he might still have hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. With the dominance of that 'Fractured Poison Body', if he reaches the late Foundation Establishment stage, even Core Formation cultivators, how many of them could truly say they could defeat him?

The ever-changing variety of powerful poisons in his body is not something to be underestimated. Therefore, even if he has mixed roots, if properly utilized, he could contend with Core Formation cultivators. Even at the late Qi Condensation stage, he could defeat most Foundation Establishment cultivators."

The solemn-faced elder looked down below as he spoke.

The others present were all people who had cultivated for hundreds of years. Each of them was shrewd and perceptive, but had just been caught off guard by the shocking disparity between hope and disappointment.

This 'Fractured Poison Body' had only been cultivated successfully by three people in countless years. Now, suddenly someone had achieved it while still only at the Qi Condensation stage, yet was destined to stop at Foundation Establishment, how could such a blow not be painful?

The enchanting woman's expression stiffened slightly upon hearing the elder's words, and she was about to speak when a clear voice suddenly rang out.

"Senior Brother Sect Master, Senior Sister Li, I believe this child should be accepted under my tutelage. I'll first take him as a registered disciple."

Everyone turned toward the voice, it was the always-smiling Junior Brother Wei from Little Bamboo Peak.

"Oh, Junior Brother, how odd! A Core Formation grand cultivator like you wants to take a mere Qi Condensation disciple as your own?" the enchanting woman looked at the plump young man lounging in his chair with a smile.

"Senior Sister, weren't you just trying to take him as a disciple yourself? Or was that a lie? Or were you planning to make him into a vessel for your poison arts? Among my seven disciples, isn't one of them also a registered disciple at the Qi Condensation stage?

"Adding one more makes no difference. Once both reach Foundation Establishment, I'll officially take them in.

"Besides, didn't you all just say he has mixed spiritual roots? That kind of aptitude, how many resources would be needed to build him up? As for the cultivation resources of your other peaks… hehehe!"

Junior Brother Wei chuckled as he looked at the enchanting woman.

The woman, upon hearing this, had nothing to say for a moment, and quite a few people nodded in agreement.

Speaking of cultivation resources, which peak could compare to Little Bamboo Peak? It had fewer than twenty miscellaneous disciples. Even though the sect had reduced their resource allocation over the years, it was still incomparable to the other peaks.

As disciples from the other peaks increased year by year, competition for resources grew fiercer. Now, new disciples would fight tooth and nail to enter Little Bamboo Peak. Even those who had previously left that peak regretted it deeply.

But when they left back then, they had already cut off their own path. Who would have thought that the peak master would end up keeping only a few disciples and close off the peak, making the resources per person far greater than on any other peak?

The solemn-faced elder also nodded repeatedly. He felt that this Junior Brother Wei was finally acting for the good of the sect.

"Junior Brother Wei, well said. Take him in and nurture him well. He may become a great asset in the future. As for your annual resource deductions, we'll ease them a bit for Little Bamboo Peak."

"Senior Brother Sect Master, Junior Brother Wei's Little Bamboo Peak has so few people, and you still want to ease their deductions? Aren't you being too biased?"

"That's right, that's right! Senior Brother Sect Master, we now have thousands of people. We're tight on resources all year round…"

"Silence! All of you, what kind of decorum is this? Though Little Bamboo Peak has few people, don't you all know in your hearts how much they receive each year? Even if it's more, it's still limited. The only difference is the lack of competition among disciples.

Four years from now is the time for the four-sect secret realm harvesting. Then, from the various spirit herbs and treasures brought out of the secret realm, every peak will be allowed to take an additional ten percent each year for the next ten years."

The solemn-faced elder spoke coldly.

Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly encouraged, thinking to themselves, "An extra ten percent per year? That's quite a lot!"

After discussing a few more matters, the group gradually dispersed from the grand hall. As various streams of spiritual light flickered, they had all vanished completely.

Li Yan sat on his bed in a daze, staring blankly outside the window at spirit birds dancing in the air, with immortal mist spiraling over the pond. His mind still felt as if it were dreaming.

When he had woken up last night, a faint sandalwood scent filled his nostrils. He slowly opened his eyes to see white curtains with hanging tassels gently swaying in the breeze.

Under him was a soft wooden bed with intricately carved decorations on the headboard, and a luxurious brocade quilt covering him, it was extremely comfortable.

Looking around, the room wasn't large. Besides the bed, there was a single table and chair near the window. Outside the hollow-carved window was a scene straight from a fairyland.

Small mountains, a pond, green lotus leaves, and pink lotus flowers, now and then, golden fish would leap from the water, creating splashes that landed on the leaves, forming crystal-clear droplets that slowly rolled to the edge of the green leaves before dropping back into the pond with a soft "plink."

He shook his head, disbelieving, and looked around again. It was still the same, he was lying in a room, not in the forest of Great Qing Mountain. He moved his body slightly and found no discomfort at all.

He sighed inwardly, this was definitely not a dream, nor was it within his sea of consciousness. His legs had clearly been injured, one shattered, the other torn and the fire poison in his body had also flared up. But now, he felt no pain at all. Could it be he was just a soul now?

Where exactly was this? Last time in the sea of consciousness space, he had thought it was the Incessant Hell and made a fool of himself. This time, he was certain he wouldn't be mistaken again. But how could hell look like this? It seemed more like a fairyland!

He moved again and found he could act freely without any restrictions. He immediately turned and sat up, casually lifting the quilt, only to freeze in place. Wasn't I just a disembodied soul?

But now, he was still wearing that tattered black robe, with bloodstains still visible.

He hesitantly lifted the hem of his robe to look at his legs.

His pants were the same as the ones he had worn yesterday, also covered in bloodstains. But on his right calf and left thigh, the fabric was torn in two long slits, exposing the skin underneath.

For a moment, Li Yan was even more confused. He used both hands to pull the slits wider, revealing… an uninjured leg.

He raised his right leg, it was perfectly fine. He remembered clearly that he had kicked toward Strategist Ji with it, and it had been snapped by the advisor's counterforce. But now, there was no injury at all.

Looking at his left leg, where a large chunk of flesh had been torn away, there was also no scar. Not a single trace of the "Wind Blade Technique" remained. Could the whole fight with the Military Adviser have been a dream? Or am I dreaming now? He reached up and pinched his face.

"You're awake."

Just as pain registered on his face, a voice sounded by his ear.

(Chapter End)