When Li Yan returned from Laojun Peak, his face was already brimming with delight. After finding Elder Peng on Laojun Peak, Elder Peng had been quite amiable toward him, completely shedding the imposing manner of the Punishment Hall elder. After asking about the recent state of Li Yan's Fragmented Poison Body and learning that, with the advancement of his cultivation, its twelve transformations showed signs of continuing to divide and evolve, Elder Peng revealed a thoroughly delighted expression, leaving Li Yan rather bewildered.
Then Elder Peng began asking whether Li Yan had been free these past few days. Upon learning that Li Yan would immediately continue his secluded cultivation, a trace of disappointment appeared on Elder Peng's face.
Only later, when Elder Peng told Li Yan that he had to visit Elder Mei on Laojun Peak whenever he had the time, did Li Yan understand why Elder Peng had treated him so amiably. It was because Elder Mei of Laojun Peak had heard his great-great-grandson Mei Bucai endlessly praising Li Yan's poison arts, saying that poisoning Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators across realms was as easy as turning one's hand over. Elder Mei had thus come to question Elder Peng and the others again, developing an interest in Li Yan's Fragmented Poison Body.
Elder Mei was a late-stage Golden Core Realm expert. Not only was his cultivation unfathomably profound, but he also possessed extremely high attainments in alchemy. He was utterly obsessed with the paths of pills and poisons, so he wanted to use immortal arts on Li Yan and study the Fragmented Poison Body. Perhaps he might cultivate one or two types of virulent poison similar to those produced by Li Yan's Fragmented Poison Body. Moreover, he had heard that although Li Yan's Fragmented Poison Body was formidable, Li Yan