Poison God's Heritage

The elder's lined face twisted with a mix of annoyance and reluctant acknowledgment at my statement. Though he had reluctantly granted me that ring filled with Origin Qi stones as compensation, it was still a gesture for having crossed me. Yet now, they needed more from me, and this time, I wouldn't let them get away without paying the proper price. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the table, a small but telling sign of a man deep in thought, measuring his words carefully. Experience tales at empire

"I suppose," the elder began, a slight edge to his voice, "you've been trying to figure out a way to break down the Broodmother's defenses."

"Yes, that was the case," I said, turning to give a pointed glare at Don Ma, whose usually stoic demeanor faltered into a sheepish expression. "At least until I was rudely kidnapped."

He shifted, clearly uncomfortable under my scrutiny. "You have to understand our position," he defended. "You're an outsider from a place we know nothing about, the 'Beyond,' and your arrival woke up one of our biggest nightmares. We couldn't risk allowing a potential enemy to roam free."

"Still," I retorted, crossing my arms, "a simple conversation would have sufficed. I'd prefer to avoid the heavy-handed approach of kidnapping and forced interrogation. Regardless," I added, leaning back slightly, "I still have more tests to run on the Rakshasa sample. We haven't even scratched the surface of what's possible."

Wudong spoke up, his voice dripping with skepticism and entitlement. "Why not hand it over to us? We have advanced research facilities and the full might of the Confederation's financial and scientific resources at our disposal."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his blatant attempt to take credit for any progress without putting in the effort. "If you had all that, how come you've made no tangible progress so far?" I challenged, a mocking smile playing at my lips. "If you're so confident in your abilities, go cut a piece of the Broodmother yourself."

Wudong's face flushed with rage, his fists clenching so hard that his knuckles turned white. "You…!" he sputtered, unable to form a coherent retort.

"Me, what?" I drawled, leaning in slightly and daring him with my gaze. "You want to finish that sentence? Enlighten me."

"You…!" he roared again, the veins on his neck bulging. His rage was almost amusing, and I couldn't help but chuckle at how easily he was riled up.

"Enough!" the elder interjected, cutting off Wudong's outburst. He turned to me, his tone far more diplomatic. "Master Shen Bao, let's approach this matter with a level head. How about this: we take half of the sample you have for our research, while you and your crew join us in the Confederation's territory? We could provide you with a safer environment, free from the ever-present threat of the Fallen God's race."

On the surface, the elder's offer seemed generous. Working together and pooling our resources could indeed yield better results. Given the scale of the threat the Broodmother posed, every possible avenue needed to be explored. However, I wasn't naive. The Confederation's invitation was likely more about keeping us under close surveillance than genuine hospitality. It wasn't just an offer; it was an attempt at indirect containment, a way to ensure that I and my allies would be within their reach should they decide we were a threat.

"I'll have to think about it," I replied cautiously, not wanting to commit too quickly.

Master Tonfa, an older man with a thick white beard and deep, wise eyes, interjected with an uncharacteristic sense of urgency. "There's no need for such hesitation," he declared. "I promise you, by the heavens and the Heavenly Dao itself, that neither you nor your companions will be harmed or coerced while under my watch. You will be free to work and move as you please."

Wudong's face turned an ugly shade of red, and he slammed his hands on the table once more. "Tonfa, you're being too lenient! We don't even know who he really is! What if he turns against us?"

I couldn't resist a smug grin. "Turn against you?" I echoed mockingly. "And do what, exactly? It's just me and a small group. You're an entire Confederation, overflowing with powerful cultivators. Maybe focus your paranoia elsewhere."

Tonfa regarded me with a solemn nod. "I appreciate your understanding, Master Shen Bao. If you accept my protection, you'll have safe passage and full autonomy."

"I can take your words as sincere, then," I said, nodding. "Under your protection, I will agree to relocate my ship and crew to the Confederation's territory. But remember, trust is a two-way street."

The elder's posture relaxed slightly, though a tension still hung in the air like an unspoken threat. "Very well," he said, clasping his hands together. "Don Ma, would you please escort Shen Bao back to his ship to gather his belongings?"

Don Ma bowed, his demeanor reverting to one of calm professionalism. "Of course. It will be faster this way."

The elder gave a small, relieved smile. "This meeting is adjourned," he announced. "Thank you all for attending. We'll work out the finer details later, but for now, this is progress." He turned to Don Ma. "Please, proceed quickly. The Grand Elder will be eager to hear our report."

Don Ma gestured for me to follow, and we left the grand hall together. As we descended the marble staircase, the sound of hushed conversations followed us, with Wudong's hateful glare boring into my back. But there was nothing he could do now, not with Tonfa's promise hanging in the air like a protective shield.

As we reached a quieter hallway, Don Ma broke the silence. "How did your cultivation survive?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think it's rude to pry into someone's cultivation secrets?"

He let out a small laugh, though it sounded more thoughtful than amused. "I suppose it is," he admitted. "But it's been nagging at me. You're… unconventional."

I smiled knowingly. "Not everyone follows the same path. You noticed how different my Qi is, didn't you?"

"Indeed," he replied. "It's powerful but strange. And that soul of yours… it has the power to threaten even someone at my stage."

I tilted my head, curious. "You mentioned the Yin Stage earlier. Is that above the Sun Stage?"

He nodded. "Yes, the Yin Stage is a level beyond the Sun Stage, and there's even more beyond that. The Yang Stage, though rare, is said to exist, but we've never seen anyone ascend beyond it. Rumors speak of an even higher level, something only mentioned in ancient texts. Most believe reaching the Yang Stage is the pinnacle of cultivation, but we suspect there's always more."

The thought made me sigh. "Of course there's more," I muttered. "Cultivation is limitless, after all."

Don Ma's eyes gleamed with a shared sense of purpose. "For those of us still on the path, the peak always feels just out of reach. But that's what keeps us striving, doesn't it?"

He stepped onto a teleportation platform, and I followed. His curiosity returned, and he couldn't help but grin. "Still not going to tell me how you did it, are you?"

I chuckled, my voice light. "Trade secret," I teased as the platform activated, engulfing us in a shimmering field of light.

Moments later, we materialized at the Confederation's advanced station. The place buzzed with activity, and Don Ma was greeted with nods of respect and even the occasional round of applause. He accepted the attention with practiced humility, but it was clear he commanded a great deal of respect here.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

When we reached the outer edges of the station, he turned to me. "Hold tight," he said. "I'll guide you."

Before I could respond, a surge of energy enveloped me, and we shot off into the void of space. His speed was breathtaking, and I marveled at how easily he outpaced anything I could have managed, even with three engines running at full throttle.

As we neared Solarous, the tension grew palpable. Several cultivators were stationed near the barrier, their expressions tense and wary. One of them stepped forward, bowing to Don Ma. "Master Ma, you've returned," he reported, his voice tight with worry. "While you were gone, the planet underwent a significant change."

Don Ma's gaze sharpened. "What happened?" he demanded.

The cultivator gestured toward the planet, where an enormous swath of once-lush green had been charred to an ominous black. "The Broodmother has been thrashing, absorbing planetary energy and wailing loud enough for us to hear in space. It's been calling a name, over and over."

"What name?" Don Ma pressed, his voice thick with foreboding.

The man hesitated. "Tao'Er," he said finally. "It keeps repeating 'Tao'Er,' and the sound… it feels cursed."

I grimaced.

Damn it,

I thought, already piecing together the implications. The Liberator's influence ran deeper than I'd imagined.

"Open the barrier," Don Ma ordered, his tone brooking no argument. "I need to bring guests inside."

The cultivators complied, pressing their palms against glowing sigils that momentarily deactivated a segment of the barrier.

"No need for that," I interjected, pulling out a new bracelet from my Poison God's Book. "X," I called, activating the communication link. "Is everyone on board?"

X's familiar voice resonated in my mind. "Yes, Lord. All crew members are accounted for."

"Good," I replied. "Move the ship over. We're heading into the Confederation's territory for now."

"Understood, Lord Shen Bao," X said. Moments later, the ship roared to life, gliding smoothly toward us.

Through the viewing screens, I could already see the Blue Sun standing atop the ship, weapon in hand, with Tao Yang beside her, hand clenched around her sword hilt. They looked battle-ready, tense, and on high alert.

I let out a long breath.

We're far from done here,

I thought. The Broodmother awaited, and the road to her defeat was paved with danger and uncertainty. But now, we had a direction—and allies, however tenuous they might be. It was time to get back to work and find a way to end this nightmare once and for all.