Poison God's Heritage Chapter 919: Introduction

Having concluded my business with the Blue Sun, I swiftly departed, commandeering my ship and setting a course for the Confederation.

There was no time for hesitation or extended goodbyes; it was a rapid transition from one pressing matter to the next.

My body had sufficiently healed to allow for decisive action, and while the events that transpired still echoed in my mind, my focus had already shifted to the subsequent objective.

The atmosphere surrounding the pagoda still resonated with the residual might of the recent tribulation, yet I hastened my departure, unwilling to linger.

Boarding my vessel, I sealed the hatch and propelled myself away with a surge of power, watching as the structure vanished into the expanse of space.

The region beyond Solarous remained ensnared by the God Slaying Formation, its formidable presence undeniable even from afar.

While not visually apparent in the traditional sense, the spatial distortions it generated served as an unmistakable marker, a subtle warping akin to heat haze on a colossal, planetary scale. The formation pulsed with contained power, a final safeguard established to deter any surviving Rakshasas and confine them, preventing their escape.

As I navigated my ship through the designated safe passages within the formation, a sense of irony washed over me. Even in victory, vigilance was paramount, a testament to the insidious nature of beings like the Rakshasas. One could not simply assume their extinction; their existence had to be definitively eradicated.

However, a peculiar observation occurred as I moved further away. It wasn't immediately obvious, but once noticed, it became impossible to overlook: several corpses were conspicuously absent, and many others were in the process of being dismantled. The space around Solarous, once strewn with remains, was now being systematically cleared, leaving a noticeable void.

Individually, the corpses posed little threat, but the potential for nefarious actions, such as those conceived by Tao Yang's uncle, became starkly apparent. The thought, though intrusive, persisted. I had already witnessed the horrifying potential for these bodies to be desecrated and transmuted into something far more monstrous than their original forms. Leaving them unattended would have been a grave oversight.

Cultivators diligently applied Soulsteel Poison to the remaining corpses, causing them to disintegrate. The process was efficient and methodical, devoid of hesitation or ceremony. Working in coordinated teams, they spread the potent poison, observing its rapid consumption of flesh and bone with quiet effectiveness. Once formidable adversaries were reduced to mere residue, a grim finality settled over the scene, ensuring no lingering threats or second chances.

As I distanced myself, a sudden, out-of-place yawn erupted behind me, startling me and instantly shattering my concentration. Turning, I saw Law, his eyes heavy with sleep and his posture slumped in a manner that would have been almost comical in any other context. It was an unusual display of fatigue for a cultivator, bordering on the bizarre.

"What are you still doing here?" I inquired, my voice laced with genuine bewilderment. I hadn't anticipated finding anyone else aboard.

"I don't know; I just woke up here. What's going on? Where are we headed?" His voice was thick with lingering sleep, his eyelids barely open, suggesting his consciousness had yet to fully reawaken.

"You don't remember?" I raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing his face for any hint of deception. His expression was clear, displaying only genuine confusion.

"Honestly, the last thing I recall is being with Dao Shen and Zhang Tian, then... something happened, and everything went dark. Now I'm here," he explained, rubbing his face as if trying to reconstruct his fragmented memories.

"Where is senior brother?" I asked, the question escaping before I could fully suppress the surge of concern.

Law simply shrugged, a gesture that conveyed more than words could have.

A grim premonition surfaced: the possibility that they had perished in the recent battle. Zhang Tian, despite his formidable strength, might not have been enough to escape such a perilous encounter. The thought lingered, unwelcome. Power alone was not an absolute guarantee of survival, particularly in a conflict of that magnitude.

Retrieving my bracelet, I initiated a connection, focusing my intent. A response came swiftly, his image materializing before me.

"Junior brother, it is good to see you hale and hearty."

"Likewise. I was concerned about what had happened to you and Dao Shen," relief evident in my voice.

"We remained near the Blue Sun during the battle. I must admit, witnessing you push yourself to such extremes... it was not to my liking," his expression hardened slightly, his concern palpable.

A faint smile touched my lips, though its full extent remained hidden from him. "It is the way of cultivators, senior brother. It was a necessary action." I responded, seeing no benefit in deception.

"Good, at least you acknowledge the danger involved." He gave a slight nod, but a shadow of concern lingered on his features.

"What of Dao Shen? Is he with you?" I inquired, redirecting the conversation.

"Not at this moment. I am with the Red Sun... though I'm unsure if that title still applies now that he has reached the Yin stage. Something about secluded training. I suspect Dao Shen is with the Wisest Sun."

"I understand. I will contact him later. May your training be fruitful." I replied.

Zhang Tian gave me a nod and the communication ceased.

The ship was then pushed to its absolute limit, ensuring our swift arrival at the confederation. Speed was paramount, as the Dusking Sun's summons seemed to carry an air of urgency. The engines roared, channeling immense power, and the vessel sliced through the void, picking up velocity. Stars elongated at the periphery as the G-force intensified. I settled into the acceleration, guiding the ship with subtle adjustments.

Our arrival at the outpost, the gateway for teleportation deeper into confederation territory, was not long in coming.

"Do I accompany you?" Law inquired.

"If you wish, though my purpose here is business," I stated.

"Then I shall remain here," he yawned once more, stretching. "I'll return to my rest... my cultivation."

A slight frown creased my brow, but I dismissed the thought, chalking it up to Law's inherent peculiarity. He was undeniably a formidable being, possessed of immense power and astonishing luck, yet I had never observed him engaging in serious cultivation. It was a detail I would file away for later contemplation. More pressing matters awaited.

As my ship settled onto the landing platform, Jian was the first to greet me. He approached with haste, his bearing formal, his expression a blend of respect and anticipation.

"It is an honor to see you, Master Shen Bao. I witnessed your arrival at Solarous firsthand. All of us on this asteroid are eager for an audience."

"I regret I cannot oblige at this moment, as I have other urgent matters to attend to. Please convey my regards to the guards and the settlers," I replied, time being of the essence.

"I shall escort you to the HQ, I presume?" he asked.

"Indeed."

Following Jian, we navigated through the fortress-like structure erected upon the stationary asteroid, eventually reaching the teleportation facility.

The building itself was colossal, fortified with layers of defenses and reinforcement arrays, its design indicating resilience against significant assaults. Inside, a constant flow of activity pulsed – cultivators, guards, and officials moved with unwavering purpose.

Within its confines, we were granted immediate passage. While a few murmurs of complaint arose, the sight of my robes and the widespread knowledge of the cultivator who had single-handedly eradicated a formidable threat to the confederation for over thirty millennia silenced any overt objections. Hushed tones followed in our wake, but the distance preserved our tranquility.

"May your endeavors be successful, Master Shen Bao."

I offered Jian a nod before proceeding.

The moment I stepped through, I found myself in the familiar expanse of the Confederation HQ. The transition was instantaneous, the stark architecture of the outpost replaced by the grandeur of the headquarters. An elderly figure appeared beside me as I materialized in the hall.

I cupped my hands in greeting. "Elder Tonfa."

"It pleases this one that you recall my name," he responded.

"How could I forget? That ring you bestowed upon me was quite memorable," I replied, a touch of amusement coloring my tone.

"I see you have made excellent use of it," the Elder remarked, his gaze sharp and probing, as if attempting to gauge my transformation.

He likely assumed I had utilized those materials to reach the Heaven Stage. He was entirely mistaken.

"Something along those lines," I answered, allowing the ambiguity to persist.

"And what brings you here? Have the recent occurrences reached your ears?" he inquired.

A slight frown touched my lips. "Nothing specific. I simply awoke..."

"Then if it is not related to..." he trailed off, leaving the subject unspecified. "What compels your visit?"

"I require an audience with the Dusking Sun; he appears to have a message for me. Additionally, I need to see Tao Yang."

"Regarding her uncle... those particular matters can be deferred," he stated.

My brow furrowed. What did he mean by that? The reservation in his voice implied something, yet offered no clarity.

"There is someone awaiting your presence..." He seemed disinclined to deliver this news.

"Strive to remain... composed when you meet them," he advised.

Just as I prepared to inquire about their identity, a resonant voice, so profound it threatened to shatter my very consciousness, boomed through the hall. The sound was not merely loud; it emanated a palpable pressure, pressing directly against the essence of thought itself.

All other cultivators present, those here more for administrative tasks than heavenly battles, the mere passersby, and seemingly anyone without a cultivator's ambition, were instantly rendered unconscious. They fell where they stood, their minds overwhelmed in a single moment.

"SO THIS IS THE ONE?"

A man, exuding an aura of utter arrogance, materialized on the upper floor. He gazed down upon us from his vantage point overlooking the hall, his presence commanding the entire space, making everything else fade into insignificance.

Adorned in gold and black robes, with a striking red mark on his forehead, sharp slit eyes, and long black hair, every feature was defined and intentional.

"A mere Heaven Stage?" he scoffed, leaping down. He landed with absolute grace, not a single strand of his hair disturbed. With his hands clasped behind his back, he sauntered towards me.

He took a deliberate sniff and declared, "You aren't even carrying potent poison." He then turned his gaze to Tonfa, "Is this the one you recommended? This weakling?"