Poison God's Heritage

The Blue Sun's energy emanated in waves, intense and palpable, swirling around her like a tempest barely held in check. The few Origin-level cultivators stationed near us couldn't hide the fear that flickered in their eyes. Her overwhelming power was something they clearly weren't accustomed to, but to their credit, they stood their ground despite their visible discomfort. Next to me, however, stood Don Ma, a cultivator who was a tier above the Blue Sun in terms of cultivation. Yet, there was something distinct about him: a composed air devoid of the typical arrogance or superiority I'd come to expect from high-tier cultivators.

Many would regard their higher stage as being superior to all those below them, ridicule and disdain become a trend especially the older and stronger one gets, but he didn't have that air about him at all.

"Interesting," Don Ma said, his eyes narrowing as he observed the Blue Sun with keen interest.

"What is?" I asked, curious about what had caught his attention.

"Her Qi," he mused, a hint of fascination in his voice. "It's remarkably pure. So pure, in fact, that she should be comfortably seated within the Yin Stage already."

His comment caught me off guard. The Yin Stage was far above the Sun Stage, and to hear him suggest that she could easily ascend to it made me realize just how special her cultivation base was.

Just as the ship drew near, the Blue Sun's voice cut through the tension, resonating in my mind through Divine Sense. "Shen Bao," she said, her tone steady but commanding. "Use your Heaven Swapping Ring and switch places with my hammer. I'll handle that man myself if needed!"

I couldn't help but grin. "No need for that," I replied aloud, deliberately letting everyone hear. "They aren't our enemies… at least for now."

The words had an immediate effect. The tension in the air simmered down, and the Blue Sun gradually eased her raging energy, though she kept it coiled tightly within, like a snake ready to strike if provoked. The once-threatening atmosphere transformed into something more guarded, but not openly hostile.

With the danger seemingly neutralized, we moved aside to allow the ship to stand next to them. As the Blue Sun stepped closer, I met her gaze and said, "This is Don Ma," I introduced, gesturing toward the cultivator beside me. "He's a high-ranking figure within the Confederation Alliance. He's here to escort us and assist in the campaign against the Broodmother and her vile offspring."

"They're offering us help?" The Blue Sun's voice was incredulous, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as she scrutinized Don Ma.

"Yes," I affirmed, approaching the ship with a reassuring smile. "And I hope I didn't worry you too much with my sudden disappearance."

The Blue Sun's usually composed demeanor cracked slightly, and she let out a frustrated sigh. "You did, actually. A lot. We had no idea what happened, and I never expected anyone to have the audacity to whisk you away right under my nose." Her gaze drifted to Don Ma, assessing him carefully. "He does look strong," she admitted, her tone tinged with both wariness and curiosity. "Stronger than a Sun Stage, but his Qi lacks the refinement I'm used to."

Don Ma smiled, a faint blush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "I am humbled," he said, offering a small bow of respect. "Your cultivation is the most refined I've ever witnessed, even among the greatest Yin Stage cultivators of our realm."

The Blue Sun allowed herself a small, confident smirk. "And yet," she said, her voice dropping to a challenging whisper, "I'm the weakest of my people."

Don Ma's eyes widened, and the spark of curiosity in his gaze deepened into something almost like reverence. The Beyond, the mysterious realm we hailed from, had just grown even more intriguing in his eyes.

I took the next few minutes to explain everything to the Blue Sun and Tao Yang, who stood by her side, silent and watchful. Tao Yang's helmet remained on, obscuring her features, and she kept her arms crossed as though protecting a secret. I knew she usually only wore that helmet in battle, so her decision to keep it on spoke volumes. Something about this interaction—or perhaps Don Ma himself—had her on edge.

The ship's internal communication channel carried my words throughout, ensuring everyone aboard was up to speed. When I finished, I turned back to Don Ma. "We'll head to the Confederation's HQ and join Master Tonfa. My primary objective is to find a way to weaken the Broodmother before making any attempts to take her down."

Don Ma nodded, understanding the gravity of our mission. "Master Tonfa is prepared. He's arranged for an array of tools and resources to assist you in your research. I'm not well-versed in the ancient knowledge needed for this battle, but I'll gladly escort you."

"Thank you," I replied, then turned to my crew. "All aboard."

"I could pull your ship along," Don Ma offered, "or carry you all directly. A vessel this size would take far too long."

I chuckled, sensing a chance to have a little fun. "Oh, you think so?" I asked, a mischievous gleam in my eye.

Don Ma's brows lifted. "I do," he said confidently. "I dare not boast, but among the Yin Stage cultivators, I am known as the fastest."

"How about a small wager, then?" I proposed, my grin widening.

He tilted his head, intrigued. "A wager? What do you have in mind?"

"If you win," I began, holding up the ring the Elder had given me, "I'll give you this ring." Continue your adventure at empire

His eyes flickered with interest. "And if you win?" he asked, clearly intrigued but cautious. "I don't have the same kind of resources as Elder Tian."

"I only need one thing," I said, leaning in. "Tell me everything you know about the Confederation's history, the sects, and those who hold power."

Don Ma laughed, a hearty, genuine sound. "Information? That's a strange wager. You could ask anyone for that."

"I know," I replied, feigning nonchalance. "But it's a hassle to go around asking."

He considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. I'll give you a head start. Ten breaths of time."

"Generous of you," I said, stepping into the ship. The Blue Sun followed, her lips quirking into a sly smile.

"He has no idea," she murmured.

"He really doesn't," I agreed, slipping into the control room.

The ship lifted off, moving slowly at first, purposefully stalling as Don Ma counted out the breaths. "You really think we can beat him?" the Blue Sun asked, her skepticism apparent.

I grinned. "I never take bets I can't win."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

As the tenth breath passed, we began accelerating. Don Ma shot forward like a comet, cutting through the void of space at a speed that would leave most in awe. "At this rate," he called back, a smirk on his lips, "you'll take a month to reach the outpost."

"Don't worry about us," I said, watching the stars transform into streaks of light as the ship began to truly speed up. "We'll catch up."

He nodded and surged ahead, vanishing into the distance. But the Blue Sun and Tao Yang's expressions betrayed their shock as I pressed down on the acceleration controls. "Hold on tight," I said.

The ship's five reactors roared to life, propelling us forward so rapidly that even the stars around us seemed to blur into long, white stripes. We raced through space with a speed that even Don Ma couldn't have anticipated. In mere moments, we caught up to him and then blew past him like a streak of lightning.

The look on Don Ma's face as we passed him was priceless—a mixture of disbelief and awe. We covered the distance from the outpost to Solarous, a journey that should have taken hours, in the span of an incense stick's worth of time.

Our arrival was met with stunned silence. The sight of an unfamiliar vessel landing so suddenly drew worried glances and alarmed murmurs from the cultivators stationed there. Weapons were gripped, and defensive stances were assumed, but before panic could set in, a familiar face emerged from the crowd.

"Master Shen Bao!" called Yan Ya, a young cultivator who had become something of an acquaintance, since he was present in the meeting earlier today.

"Yan Ya," I greeted, stepping off the ship. The recognition in his eyes eased the tension among the other cultivators, and they relaxed, though a few remained wary.

"Where's Master Don Ma?" Yan Ya asked, glancing around.

I couldn't help but smirk. "Running late," I said. "He'll be here shortly."

True to my words, Don Ma appeared moments later, his face flushed with exertion, and beads of sweat clinging to his brow. His eyes, wide with astonishment, locked onto me as he approached. "I never thought I'd see the day," he admitted, laughing breathlessly. "Someone outsped me! What kind of treasure is that ship?"

Gasps rippled through the gathered crowd. "Lord Don Ma," one of the onlookers called out, "are you saying you lost a race?"

"Lost?" Don Ma repeated, shaking his head with a laugh. "I was left in the dust!" His admiration for the ship was palpable. "It's truly a fascinating creation."

"I built it myself," I said proudly. "Though I must admit, you're quite fast. I didn't expect you to catch up so soon."

Don Ma clasped his hands in respect. "I had planned to show you how vast the world is, how speed in our realm is unmatched. But today, I learned a valuable lesson. I am the frog in the well, and the heavens are boundless." He clasped his hands to me in respect.