Poison God's Heritage Chapter 918: Yin Stage Cultivators

To be entirely honest, the sequence of events that transpired left me quite bewildered.

The sudden shift in my condition was difficult to fully grasp.

I could sense it, a palpable flow coursing through my meridians with an ease I’d never known, though understanding lagged far behind the physical feeling.

Standing there and taking steady breaths, I attempted to align my memories with the current reality. Just before losing consciousness, I had been at my absolute limit, recklessly expending my soul energy purely to survive long enough to accomplish my objective.

There wasn't any discernible breakthrough, no moment of profound realization, no ordered advancement. It was simply a state of desperation, poison, and eventual collapse. And yet, here I was, upright, conscious, and possessing a power far exceeding my previous state.

How had I ascended to become a Heaven Stage cultivator? This wasn't a rhetorical question; it was a weighty, unresolved query demanding a logical explanation that was conspicuously absent. I hadn't even been particularly high in the Origin stage.

While I had certainly made progress, it was nowhere near sufficient to justify such a colossal leap. The disparity between stages wasn’t a simple step; it was a vast, unbridgeable gulf.

Ascending required meticulous preparation, rigorous refinement, and often, enduring arduous tribulations.

But to reach the Heaven Stage? And from my current perception, I was nearing the midpoint of that stage.

That was the most perplexing aspect. This wasn't merely a breakthrough; it was a rapid progression within the stage itself, as if time had been dramatically accelerated and forcefully applied to my cultivation.

Initially, I couldn't quite comprehend it, but then a significant recollection surfaced, emerging slowly as if dredged from the deepest waters.

The chamber. The Enforcer. That conversation that felt simultaneously real and inexplicable. It hadn't been a mere dream; it possessed too much coherence, too much undeniable weight.

The Enforcer himself had stated that I would need to seek him out when I encountered a tribulation, implying he would serve as the tribulation itself, replacing the traditional thunderclouds.

That memory returned with an unsettling clarity. If his words held truth, then something must have transpired while I was unconscious – something that I didn't experience consciously, or perhaps something I wasn't intended to recall.

However, we never actually fought.

That was the inherent contradiction. There was no conflict, no exchange of power, no resistance. It wasn't a trial in the manner that cultivators typically understood such events.

'Nevertheless, I won't question a fortunate turn of events; I'll accept what I've been given,' the thought arose with a hint of pragmatic indifference.

Regardless of my confusion, power was power. In a world where survival hinged on being stronger than the immediate threat, scrutinizing a boon too closely often bordered on folly.

"Lord, you appear to be contemplating deeply."

The Automaton's voice drew my attention back to the present. He remained stationary, as composed as ever, observing without being intrusive, yet perceiving everything.

"Ah, do not concern yourself; it is merely thoughts occupying my mind. Speaking of my wives, Liang Yu and Yuyu, where have they gone?" I inquired, my tone shifting naturally as concern replaced my initial bewilderment, now having a focus.

"Yes, Master Don Ma has taken them to his planet for purposes of cultivation."

My brows immediately furrowed at that statement. The specific phrasing carried implications that I found rather unsettling.

"He mentioned that one of your wives possesses a bracelet that can be used to contact him."

"You can bet your life I'm contacting him," I declared, reaching into my storage without a moment's hesitation. My fingers found one of the communication artifacts, and I activated it with a sharp exertion of intent.

A small hologram of Liang Yu materialized before me. The projection stabilized into clarity, hovering at chest level, detailed enough to capture her every expression.

She was visibly sweating, her face flushed – signs that cultivators typically exhibited under strain. That alone conveyed significant information about her current environment. Cultivators do not manifest such indicators unless pushed to their limits, or unless the environment itself imposes such demands.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"Is that the first thing you decide to ask after a month of being unconscious?"

Her reply came instantaneously, tinged with just enough irritation to feel familiar. Even through the projection, I could discern the slight narrowing of her eyes.

"What else would you have me ask? Both of you simply vanished without a word." I retorted. There was no need for pretense; a month had passed, and they had disappeared to another planet. It was only natural to inquire about that first.

"We are cultivating," Yuyu's voice chimed in from nearby.

At my request, the perspective shifted, the projection expanding slightly to reveal their surroundings more broadly.

Yuyu was observed seated on a slab of obsidian, emanating a profound cold that visibly warped the surrounding atmosphere. Layers of frost had formed, spreading outwards like nascent crystals. Liang Yu, in contrast, was perched upon an object resembling a tortoise shell, its surface adorned with intricate, naturally formed patterns that pulsed with a subtle warmth. Living vines coiled around it, their movement a silent distortion of space, driven by the temperature they radiated.

"Cultivating your elements?" I inquired, taking in the scene.

"Yes, master, Don Ma has gifted us this cave. It allows for rapid cultivation advancement, along with a substantial quantity of Origin Crystals," she explained.

"I see... he's being remarkably... generous," I commented, the pause deliberate. Such extreme generosity invariably carried an unspoken condition.

"Is that envy I detect in your tone?" Liang Yu teased.

"You wouldn't want to witness my jealousy," I retorted, the words flowing with ease, though the irony wasn't lost on me. "I'll head towards the Dusking Sun; it appears he requires my assistance. Have you secured your escape talismans?" I asked, transitioning back to practical matters. Cultivation caves and gifts were secondary to personal safety.

Liang Yu’s brow furrowed. "Would those be effective if something were to occur?"

My own frown mirrored hers. She had a valid point. Don Ma's speed was formidable. If malice were intended, talismans might prove insufficient. However, there was no concrete indication of ill intent thus far. Nevertheless, unreserved trust would be unwise.

"Very well, I shall visit you once my affairs are concluded. Do you happen to know the whereabouts of Zhang Tian or Meng Hao?" I inquired, shifting the topic to preempt any potential friction.

"No idea. The last I saw them, they were with The Lord of Lords and the Wisest Sun," Liang Yu replied with a shrug.

"Excellent," I acknowledged with a slight nod, filing the information away.

Abruptly, the rumbling outside ceased, and the clouds shrouding the planet Solarous began to dissipate. The chaotic swirling that had enveloped the globe gradually thinned, the crimson layers parting as if an immense pressure had finally been released. The change, while subtle, was undeniable.

A potent yet pure energy radiated from Solarous's core. It expanded outwards in waves, no longer turbulent like the tribulation, but calm, refined, and controlled. Even from this distance, the difference was palpable—the kind of energy that emerged after enduring a profound trial.

Just as I was observing this phenomenon, a figure clad in blue materialized before the Lord of Lords pagoda. Her appearance was unannounced, stepping into view as if space itself had yielded to her presence.

"Ho... you've become strong," I murmured, scrutinizing her with narrowed eyes. The shift in her aura was immediate – more substantial, cleaner, and possessed of a control it previously lacked."Admit her, automaton."

A portal shimmered into existence beside her, and she stepped through. "What do you think?" she asked, executing a graceful spin. Her movement was light, almost playful, yet the energy surrounding her remained stable, contained with deliberate ease.

I offered a round of applause, the gesture conveying sufficient appreciation without extravagance. "A formidable individual has joined the confederation."

"No, I have no intention of joining them," she stated, shaking her head.

I raised an eyebrow. "I assumed you would find it advantageous to be here, among peers and powerful cultivators." It seemed the logical course for advancement, alliances, and protection.

"Instead, I will be collaborating with Tao Yang on this planet. Our objective is to rehabilitate it and revitalize its lost fauna and flora."

"A monumental undertaking, and a thankless one," I remarked, my words carrying genuine weight. Restoring a world rarely garnered the same acclaim as saving it.

"Worlds are easily fractured, but far more challenging to mend. Moreover, this planet possesses a unique significance," she added.

That statement piqued my interest considerably. "In what way?"

"It appears to contain traces of an energy distinct from anything we recognize. Something purer than Saint Qi or Origin Qi."

"How is that possible?" I questioned, as such a claim was not made lightly.

"This is precisely why I believe the cultivators of Solarous achieved such rapid progress. An energy of that caliber can readily elevate a person's cultivation. While I lack definitive proof, I can sense it, particularly now more than ever."

I nodded slowly, the observation aligning with what I had witnessed: swift advancement and unconventional breakthroughs. Solarous had always been different; perhaps this was the underlying reason.

"I need to arrange a meeting with the Dusking Sun. Do you have any idea of his current location?" I asked.

"I believe he is currently with the Darkest Sun at the confederation."

"Darkest? When did he arrive?" I inquired, genuinely surprised.

"At the same time as everyone else, but he remained secluded. He had a premonition that more Rakshasas might exist beyond Solarous..."

"Most of them were present here, so we could have benefited from his assistance..." My brow furrowed. The Darkest Sun was not an individual I readily trusted, but he was certainly not a coward. Completely avoiding the battlefield seemed out of character for him.

"That was my initial thought as well, until he presented the lifeless body of a First Born."

"What?" I exclaimed, my voice uncontrollably soaring. This was hardly a minor detail to be disclosed so nonchalantly.

"Indeed, one of the First Borns, a younger specimen it seems, possessed an affinity for space. It even managed to camouflage itself within the void's darkness. Had we completed the extermination of the Rakshasa and the Darkest Sun had not arrived, we would never have become aware that one of them had survived. Such a being could have easily reconstituted this exact catastrophe."

The weight of this implication bore down on me. A concealed survivor. The potential for a complete reset of the entire disaster.

"How was he even able to defeat it?" I inquired.

"It was still within the influence of the fractured Dao. Consequently, though he managed to fight it to a stalemate, once the Dao was restored to its proper state, the First Born lost its resistance to Qi. Therefore, the bulk of the effort was still yours."

"Ah, I comprehend. I had suspected he was withholding crucial information. Very well, I shall proceed to the confederation. You are welcome to remain here if you wish," I stated, allowing the previous irritation to subside into a more placid sentiment.

"I require some time to stabilize my cultivation. I shall see you soon, Shen Bao."