The Green Flame Incinerating Gold poison was not the most domineering type within the Fragmented Poison Body, but Li Yan believed that deploying it "according to local conditions" was most appropriate.
The Poison Cultivator lineage often did not rank poisons based on their potency. Elder Hua nodded upon hearing this. Having been immersed in the Dao of poison for several hundred years, she was naturally aware of this.
"It seems the heavens have been kind to you. You don't need to immerse yourself in painstaking study and constantly rely on external objects like us to get far.
Hmm, how many types has your Fragmented Poison Body differentiated into now? You don't have to answer this question. I'm just curious."
At this point, Elder Hua withdrew her gaze from the distant sky, and her expression softened slightly. Seeing that Li Yan's Fragmented Poison Body was even better than she had imagined and that it seemed to have a significant effect on improving a cultivator's aptitude, her dislike for him lessened somewhat.
The question she asked touched upon the most private aspects of a cultivator's practice. If Li Yan were just an unknown nobody, and she wanted to know, how could she allow him to refuse?
She might even resort to a Soul-Searching Art to get the real answer. In Elder Hua's eyes, anyone who wasn't a Malevolent Spirit Sect Poison Cultivator was insignificant; their death meant nothing.
But how could she treat Li Yan this way? Knowing that asking this question would arouse his resentment, Elder Hua's stubborn nature and fanatical obsession with any unknown poison made her ask it anyway after some consideration.
"It has differentiated into twelve types, large and small," Li Yan said, seemingly after a moment's hesitation.
But he would never tell the whole truth. The number he gave was merely the number of differentiations his Fragmented Poison Body had when he was in the Qi Condensation stage.
Li Yan had a favor to ask of her, so he naturally couldn't go against her wishes and make her dissatisfied. Therefore, he had to answer her no matter what.
"To be able to continuously differentiate as one's cultivation grows is a kind of innate divine ability. Although yours was formed postnatally, it still continues to differentiate on its own. Do not fail to live up to the favor the heavens have bestowed upon you."
Elder Hua glanced at Li Yan, as if seeing through his lie. But surprisingly, she offered these words of encouragement. If any disciple from Never-Parting Peak had seen this, their jaw would have dropped in shock.
"Thank you for your guidance, Martial Uncle. I will remember it always." Surprised, Li Yan wasn't sure if she had seen through his lie and quickly bowed in respect.
"Hmm, I won't ask what kind of mission Martial Uncle Wei sent you on. It's just that the world has been turned upside down. I wonder how much you know?"
"Reporting to Martial Uncle, I did hear some things on my way here. They all seem to be related to the Demon Clan's invasion from the South Sea. Is that correct?"
Li Yan had many questions in his heart. Hearing Elder Hua's inquiry, he couldn't help but ask seriously.
Unexpectedly, Elder Hua did not answer as he wished. "What you've heard is more or less the case, but some matters are not that simple.
Are you looking for Peak Master Wei now? Regardless of whether you need to report to your master about your mission, there is no need to return to the sect.
As for these matters concerning the Demon Clan, I won't go into detail with you. When you find your master, you can ask him clearly."
This statement plunged Li Yan deeper into a fog. He could tell from Elder Hua's words that something unusual was afoot. At the very least, it meant that his master, Wei Zhongran, was definitely not in the sect. He wondered what had become of his senior brothers and sisters from Little Bamboo Peak.
"Martial Uncle Hua, then where should I go to find my master?" Li Yan thought to himself at the same time, 'If you don't want to talk about it, why bring it up? How boring.
And don't you dare just give me a location and then wash your hands of me, leaving me to find them on my own. I'll definitely have to ask you for some kind of token for passage. Otherwise, I'll hardly be able to take a step.'
However, Elder Hua's next words made Li Yan overjoyed.
"Since you came here with the Jingtu Sect's conscription team, you should understand by now that this place is just one of many gathering points established by the Four Great Sects. Peak Master Wei is stationed about forty thousand li south of here.
The main function of the gathering points is to screen and verify cultivators, then teleport them to their designated posts.
Consider yourself lucky. This gathering point has ten Teleportation Formations , and one of them is used to send cultivators to where Peak Master Wei is stationed. Otherwise, you would have had to go through a lot of trouble to find him."
It was rare for Elder Hua to say so much. Li Yan now understood. Apart from gathering points, the Four Great Sects had also set up stationed posts, which likely served as the front lines against the Demon Clan.
At the same time, Li Yan could glean another piece of information from her words. She said his master's post was only forty thousand li to the south. And wasn't it the South Sea that the Demon Clan had invaded?
'Could it be that the Demon Clan has already fought its way here in just over a year?' Li Yan thought in shock.
'But maybe the so-called stationed posts are like rear-area military camps,' Li Yan then comforted himself.
He immediately grew anxious, for he did not know the current situation at Green Mountain Pass . Disregarding the fact that interrupting Elder Hua might displease her, Li Yan hurriedly spoke up, "I have a matter to ask. If Martial Uncle knows, I implore you to tell me."
As expected, Elder Hua's fine brows knitted together. She had an indifferent personality and had been planning to deal with Li Yan quickly so she could resume her cultivation. She didn't want to waste time explaining things to him. Li Yan had his own master; what need was there for her to worry? If it weren't for his special physique, the small number of disciples on Little Bamboo Peak, and Wei Zhongran's over-protectiveness, she wouldn't have even bothered with this. After verifying his identity, she would have simply sent him on his way. Why would she have said so much?
But this boy was being insensible, raising yet another question. Just as she was considering whether to ignore his interruption and directly arrange for his departure, Li Yan's words came out.
"Does Martial Uncle know if the Demon Clan has attacked a country of mortals called the Imperial Dynasty ?" As he spoke, his urgency was palpable, his eyes filled with anxiety.
Seeing his expression, Elder Hua, though she had nearly severed her seven emotions and six desires from her obsession with the Dao of poison, still understood the ways of the world.
She hadn't expected Li Yan to ask about mortals. But with just a moment's thought, she understood. She had been present when Li Yan first joined the Malevolent Spirit Sect.
Since it was something she could dismiss with a single sentence, Elder Hua decided against getting angry and said faintly.
"I know what you mean. Your family is fine. If the Imperial Dynasty had fallen to the Demon Clan, then the Malevolent Spirit Sect would also be in a precarious situation."
Hearing this, Li Yan's heart instantly relaxed. But on second thought, it made sense. Although Green Mountain Pass was a million li away from the Malevolent Spirit Sect—a distance unattainable for mortals in a lifetime—it wasn't too far for cultivators.
Just like now, Li Yan had traveled here from the far northern lands of the Jingtu Sect in just one month, a feat mortals couldn't even imagine.
If the Demon Clan had attacked Green Mountain Pass, the Malevolent Spirit Sect would likely not be defending its outer territories but would have contracted its forces for defense.
"Disciple thanks Martial Uncle for the clarification. I am eternally grateful!" Li Yan once again bowed deeply to Elder Hua. Receiving this news was more comforting to him than obtaining any great treasure.
"With a State of Mind like yours, it will definitely have a great impact on your future cultivation. You are a Foundation Establishment cultivator; you should have long understood that we cultivators have embarked on a completely different path from them.
After a few decades in the mortal world, what will you have left? After a few more years, what will you even remember?"
Seeing Li Yan thank her so earnestly, with an attitude that surpassed his previous ones, Elder Hua felt a sense of disdain. She couldn't stand his behavior and couldn't help but speak out.
But after she spoke, she saw that Li Yan's face had already returned to calm, the previous anxiety gone. She knew her words had fallen on deaf ears. Instantly, her recent opinion that Li Yan had some potential was proven wrong, and her dislike for him was rekindled.
Her attitude took a sharp turn, her tone reverting to cold indifference.
"Alright, take this token. Go directly to the front of the mountain and find any fellow Malevolent Spirit Sect member. Have them take you to the teleportation formation. When you get there, choose the teleportation formation heading to 'Windy Cool Mountain'."
With that, she waved her slender hand, and a Jade Slip appeared in her hand. She whispered a few words into it, then flicked her wrist, sending the Jade Slip flying towards Li Yan.
Then, without another glance at him, Elder Hua turned and walked towards the building at the back of the courtyard.
Li Yan gave a wry smile. He really couldn't figure out this Martial Uncle Hua's personality. It changed three times in a moment, with no discernible pattern. He could only bow one last time before quickly walking out of the courtyard.
The moment he stepped out, the courtyard gate slammed shut with a "clang," a sound that was particularly jarring in the surrounding silence.
Li Yan knew his earlier expression had displeased her, so he didn't dare to linger. He hurriedly followed the path he came on and walked towards the front.
He valued family and friendship above all else. He didn't care if these emotions would affect his path of cultivation. Li Yan had his own unshakeable obsessions in his heart.
As he walked, Li Yan pressed the Jade Slip to his forehead. He soon heard Elder Hua's cold voice. It was just a few sentences, instructing the guards of the teleportation formation to arrange for Li Yan's transport to "Windy Cool Mountain" after verifying his Malevolent Spirit Sect token. There was not a single word more.
'Actually, Martial Uncle Hua is quite a warm-hearted person.'
A smile appeared on Li Yan's face. He never considered that since joining the sect, his status had been different from other disciples. He was one of the few disciples of Little Bamboo Peak, a place many now schemed to enter, not to mention Wei Zhongran's reputation for being overprotective.
Soon, Li Yan arrived back at the platform in front of the summit. At this time, cultivators were constantly entering and exiting the nearby buildings, among them some dressed in Malevolent Spirit Sect attire.
Li Yan did not hesitate to stop one of them. At first, seeing Li Yan's green robes, the man was quite displeased.
He had many things to do. Why was this outsider stopping him so brazenly without anyone to guide him, and even having the audacity to call him "Junior Brother"? Where did this clueless cultivator come from? Annoyed, his face immediately turned cold.
It should be known that here, among the Four Great Sects cultivators, even those of the same rank from subordinate sects had to address them as "Senior Brother" or "Senior Sister."