Chapter 51: Li Wuyi

Chapter 51: Li Wuyi

Li Yan paused his motion when he heard the voice. Looking up, he saw a young man with a gentle expression standing at the doorway, stepping into the room.

Li Yan stared at the newcomer. He no longer felt like this was a dream or a space of divine sense, yet he still couldn't be sure where he was. So he simply sat quietly, watching everything unfold.

"Hehehe... Greetings, little brother. My surname is Yu," the gentle young man said as he entered. He casually pulled a chair over and sat down beside the bed, smiling warmly as he spoke…

Half a quarter-hour later, Li Yan had some idea of his current situation. He was actually within a legendary immortal sect, and the reason he had been brought here was because he had cultivated a technique from this sect, the "Dark Night Cyan Curtain Technique."

What's more, it seemed he had potentially achieved the feared "Fractured Poison Body," which was why he had been taken here. The other man's words were hard to refute, Li Yan had no choice but to believe them.

After all, his once-severed leg had somehow healed without him even noticing, and the fire poison that had plagued his body had vanished without a trace. These things simply couldn't be explained by normal means.

During their conversation, the man surnamed Yu repeatedly questioned him about his cultivation process. From his expression and subtle hints, Li Yan could tell that this man was trying to verify the existence of the so-called "Fractured Poison Body."

But Li Yan himself didn't know what exactly that was, how could he explain it?

All he remembered was that after Strategist Ji had poured his entire cultivation into him, the fire poison within his body had been triggered into full eruption, and he'd blacked out shortly after.

Still, he vaguely suspected it might have something to do with the Guishui True Scripture but that was something he would never reveal. After experiencing Strategist Ji's scheming and betrayal, how could he trust anyone else now?

What kind of place was this sect? What did the person in front of him truly want? He had no way of knowing.

So he simply described how he had learned the "Wood Yin Art," of course pretending not to know its true name, and the subsequent changes in his body, up to Strategist Ji's final desperate energy transfer before dying.

The cultivator surnamed Yu furrowed his brows upon hearing this. He couldn't figure out the details either. But everything Li Yan said made sense on the surface, so he left after about the time it takes to eat a meal.

Not long after, a scholarly man in his thirties entered with several elderly cultivators. Each of the elders gave off an overwhelming pressure that made it hard for Li Yan to even breathe. On the contrary, the scholar was the only one who made him feel nothing at all.

Once inside, the elders stood silently and grim-faced, watching him. The scholar stepped forward and wordlessly grasped Li Yan's wrist.

A steady stream of energy began flowing through Li Yan's body. He instinctively wanted to resist, but it was as if a sheep had encountered a pack of wolves, there was no way to fight back.

After a short while, the scholar let go with a disappointed look and asked a few questions. Then, after thinking for a bit, he exchanged glances with the elders and stepped aside.

The elders took turns examining Li Yan in silence. Knowing he couldn't resist anyway, Li Yan let them do as they pleased.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group left without a single word.

By dawn the next day, no one else had come. Li Yan sat quietly, staring out the window, full of confusion about the situation and what the future might hold.

Around noon, the man surnamed Yu returned with a meal and began chatting with him again. The conversation still revolved around Li Yan's past, as though he was genuinely curious. Mostly, Yu asked questions and Li Yan answered cautiously.

Li Yan was certain the man was probing for details about the "poison body," but since he himself wasn't sure and couldn't reveal anything about the Guishui True Scripture, he had to tread carefully.

As the conversation dragged on for another half hour, Li Yan began feeling irritated. Though the man remained courteous, his questions had become so detailed that he was now asking about Li Yan's daily life in the strategist's valley.

Just as Li Yan was deciding to stop answering entirely, after all, who knew what would happen to him anyway and what was there to fear, someone suddenly appeared at the doorway.

A figure flashed into the room, startling both Li Yan and the cultivator surnamed Yu.

Upon seeing who it was, Yu quickly stood up and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Uncle Li."

The newcomer had a tall and elegant frame, appearing around twenty years old. His features were handsome and refined, red lips, white teeth, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes. His long black hair was loosely tied, falling over his shoulders. Dressed in a dark green robe, he looked otherworldly.

Li Yan couldn't help but inwardly exclaim:

This man truly has an extraordinary appearance!

The man glanced at the cultivator surnamed Yu and waved a hand.

"Junior Nephew, you've done well looking after Junior Brother Li. Now leave us for a bit. I'll have a few words with him and then take him back to Little Bamboo Peak. Elder Feng is already aware of this."

The Yu cultivator was shocked.

Junior Brother Li? Taking him back to Little Bamboo Peak? That means this brat's actually being accepted into the peak? So the higher-ups really do value his 'poison body'...

Ah, so it ends here. I was only assigned to care for him because I was the one who discovered and saved him, otherwise, I'd never have been entrusted with this task. I had hoped to glean some insight into cultivating that 'poison body', but clearly he's been elevated far above me now.

But I heard he's got a mixed spiritual root, how could the sect's upper ranks still let him into Little Bamboo Peak?

Though his heart was full of questions, he didn't dare ask. Even though he recognized this Uncle-Master Li, in a sect as vast as this one, someone like him wouldn't even register on the man's radar.

He bowed again, then turned and bowed once more to the seated Li Yan before respectfully leaving the room.

Li Yan, thoroughly confused by all this, simply offered a polite smile and returned the bow, saying nothing.

The man who had just entered studied him for a moment, then smiled brightly.

"Hehehe... Junior Brother Li, what a coincidence, we share the same surname. Perhaps we were from the same ancestral clan thousands of years ago. My name is Li Wuyi. From now on, we'll be fellow disciples under the same peak, same sect. You can call me Senior Brother Li, or if you prefer, Eldest Senior Brother."

Li Wuyi's cheerful laughter and simple words brought a sense of spring-like warmth with them.

Li Yan, however, remained puzzled.

"Senior Brother? Same peak, same sect? What do you mean by that?"

"It seems that junior brother Yu didn't explain things properly. Let me give you a brief introduction. Our sect is called the Wraith Sect, one of the four top cultivation sects on this continent."

"Our sect is divided into five peaks: Old Lord Peak, Boundless Peak, Four Symbols Peak, Spirit Insect Peak, and Little Bamboo Peak. Each peak specializes in different branches of cultivation arts."

"Old Lord Peak primarily focuses on alchemy and herb cultivation. Its disciples refine supportive elixirs and concoct various rare and deadly poison pills. They are also responsible for growing exotic spiritual herbs and venomous plants. Cultivation here is mainly fire-aligned, with wood as a secondary attribute."

"Boundless Peak specializes in refining strange and formidable gu worms. Most of these insects become one with the flesh once implanted, impossible to remove or separate, hence the name Boundless(不离), meaning inseparable. This peak's cultivation arts are metal-aligned."

"Four Symbols Peak is adept at setting up various formations, illusion arrays, killing formations, or large-scale formations using miasma and toxic fog. Its arts are earth-aligned."

"Spirit Insect Peak is dedicated to raising venomous bugs and creatures, with cultivation focused on the wood element."

"Little Bamboo Peak, on the other hand, is more like the sect's general support division, cooking, watering, planting, even raising toxic beasts; a bit of everything. So, it includes cultivation methods of various attributes."

Everything he described reeked of sinister and harmful practices, yet he maintained a calm, upright tone, as if recounting something perfectly ordinary. After speaking, he glanced at Li Yan.

Li Yan's face turned a shade paler, and he silently muttered to himself:

'What kind of cultivation sect is this? Every path they walk is one of venom and wickedness.'

Li Wuyi smiled and continued, "As for the specifics of each peak, you'll learn more once you've been in the sect for some time. Since you've cultivated our sect's 'Dark Night Cyan Curtain Technique', you're already considered a disciple, this cannot be changed."

"Originally, this technique was an entry-level art of the Spirit Insect Peak, but your best-aligned attribute turns out to be water, not wood, so the sect has decided to assign you to Little Bamboo Peak."

"However, since our master is a Core Formation cultivator, you can only be registered as a named disciple for now. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, you can formally become his disciple. It's no trouble, just practice diligently in cultivation and you'll get there soon."

Li Wuyi didn't mention that Li Yan had a mixed spiritual root; instead, he simply said water was his best element, and even offered some encouragement.

Li Yan, however, didn't look the least bit happy. After thinking for a moment, he asked:

"Can I choose not to join the sect? I want to return home."

He didn't address Li Wuyi as "Senior Brother." After sitting in silence for a long while, his emotions had settled.

He now understood enough about cultivation to know the benefits of joining a sect, especially one of the continent's most prestigious. Even Dong Fuyi had said he should first join a sect before moving forward.

Now not only did he have the opportunity to enter a sect, but a top-tier one no less. This was the kind of chance others could only dream of.

But what worried him most were his family members. With the Marshal and Strategist of Great Qing Pass both dead, the Meng Kingdom would no doubt launch an invasion soon. His home, Li Family Village, was far too close to the border, half a day's march at most.

If that happened, what would become of his parents, siblings?

Moreover, he possessed the full set of "Guishui True Scripture".

Once he had settled matters at home, he would seek out a spirit-rich land and live as a wandering cultivator.

"Return home?"

Li Wuyi was clearly taken aback by the response, not expecting this at all.

This is the Wraith Sect!

One of the four strongest powers on the continent, even if not considered orthodox. Yet someone actually doesn't want to join?

He could see clearly that Li Yan wasn't some ignorant bumpkin, he already had some cultivation base and must know at least the basics of the cultivation world. How could he have such thoughts?

He chuckled lightly.

"Junior Brother, I estimate you're already at the second level of Qi Condensation, no? I heard from Master about your background, how you were deceived into stepping onto this path of cultivation. Naturally, you're unfamiliar with the realities of this world."

"But cultivation… cultivation is about longevity. It allows you to live far beyond the years of mortals, several times, even dozens of times longer. If you can grasp even a shred of immortal fate, you could even live as long as heaven and earth!"

"Take me for example, I may look twenty, but I'm actually seventy-four. That's the benefit of cultivation! Ha ha!"

"Not only that, it gives you tremendous power: the ability to move mountains and seas, breathe clouds and mist, there's nothing you can't do!"

Li Wuyi thought Li Yan's hesitation came from ignorance, so he laughed and began explaining in earnest but he was cut off by Li Yan.

"Thank you for your kind intentions. The thing is, the border marshal and military advisor of my homeland were just killed. The enemy, the Meng Kingdom, is likely to invade soon. My parents and siblings live nearby, I need to return to warn them to evacuate."

Li Yan wasn't one for beating around the bush. He knew the other didn't understand his concerns, so he simply stated the reason.

At the same time, he was inwardly stunned:

"Second level of Qi Condensation? I've reached that?"

Since waking up, everything had felt like a dream. He'd been interrogated nonstop and buried in thought, never even checking his own cultivation level.

Now, as he focused inward, he felt an intense surge of spiritual energy in his body, several times stronger than before. But he quickly retracted his probing sense. This wasn't the right time to check his cultivation level.

Li Wuyi smiled.

"Ah, so that's it. No need to worry."

"Our four great sects each govern different territories of this continent. Your homeland falls under a subordinate sect of the Wraith Sect.

"The mortal kingdoms in those areas are either supported or designated by us. As for the Meng Kingdom's impending invasion, there's no need for concern. Since you possess the Fractured Poison Body, and since the disciple who brought you here already confirmed you'd likely join the sect, we've already notified the local subordinate sect to intervene.

"They'll prevent any hostile nations from attacking your homeland while awaiting word. Otherwise, that so-called Meng Kingdom wouldn't even be allowed to exist. This is one of the privileges of being a disciple of a powerful sect. Of course, this only applies to second-tier sects and above, meant to prevent revenge-seeking immortals from retaliating after their family members suffer harm.

"That protection only extends to immediate family, though. It doesn't cover descendants or extended relatives. Otherwise, over countless ages, there wouldn't be a single nation untouched by cultivators.

"Judging by the timing, the subordinate sect has probably already found your parents and siblings and ensured their safety. Even if war does break out between the two nations, they won't be affected."

As he said this, a faint pride glimmered in Li Wuyi's star-like eyes.

Li Yan listened in silence, but deep down, he didn't believe a word of it. He thought they were merely trying to keep him from leaving, hoping to extract something from him in return.

After all, he still knew very little about the cultivation world. In his eyes, the idea that a mortal dynasty could be controlled by a sect and not just one, but multiple, seemed utterly absurd.

And he had other concerns as well, deep ones. Ones that made him truly want to walk away.

(Chapter End)