Poison God's Heritage

Chapter 865 : Departure

Two days had passed for the people of the Sea of Demons, but for me, those two days stretched into two months. While the city celebrated, my time was spent in the Lord of Lords Pagoda, focused entirely on the creation of new reactors and the forging of new weapons. The constant hum of machinery and the glow of Soulsteel filled my days and nights.

In those two months, I had built several reactors and integrated them into a complex network of artificial meridians that I could later attach to the ship. The process was meticulous—each connection needed to be perfect to ensure the ship would perform as expected in the vastness of the Beyond.

The Soulsteel I had acquired—massive cubes harvested from the Bastion—had also been put to good use. With it, I could reinforce the ship's structure, armoring it against the unknown threats that awaited us. The Soulsteel's unique properties meant that the ship's hull would now be impenetrable by ordinary means.

The people of the Sea of Demons, meanwhile, continued their festivities. I shared some of my consciousness with the clone I had left with the councilor, allowing me to stay informed about the celebrations. As I worked tirelessly in the pagoda, I could see, through the eyes of my clone, the city's revelry—a stark contrast to the solitary world I inhabited in those months.

The three days of feasting had turned the entire city into a carnival of lights, music, and laughter. The twelve cities of the Sea of Demons, which once floated independently on the vast sea, had converged, attaching themselves together to form a metropolis that dwarfed anything seen before in this realm.

People danced in the streets, drank their fill, and celebrated the victory over the Rakshasa, a victory that had saved their world. The metropolis felt wild, alive with a vibrancy that had been absent for far too long.

This was what they needed—a reprieve, a moment of joy after the darkness that had plagued their lives for so long. And I had given it to them, knowing full well that these fleeting moments of happiness were essential for their survival, both mentally and spiritually.

Yet, even in the midst of their celebrations, the puppets I had deployed maintained order. These mechanical guardians, loyal only to me, roamed the streets, ensuring that any threats—like the occasional Walker—were neutralized before they could harm the people. The Walker population, once an ever-present threat, had diminished greatly.

Seeing one now was a rare occurrence, a testament to the effectiveness of the puppet army I had created.

While the city rejoiced, I continued my preparations. The final components of the ship's weapons were nearing completion when I received a message through my divine sense.

"Shen Bao, are you ready?" The voice of the Blue Sun resonated in my mind, carrying with it her usual calm and collected demeanor.

"Right on time," I replied, wiping my hands clean of the residue from the last weapon I had forged. "I've just finished building the final set of weapons."

"Two months for just that?" she asked, her tone teasing but with a hint of genuine curiosity.

"No," I said, smiling despite myself. "In addition to the ship's upgrades, I've had to replenish my stock of pills and upgrade my personal weaponry. There's more to prepare than just the ship."

"Fair enough," Blue Sun replied. "But now that you're done, we're ready to leave. Everyone else is already aboard the ship. You're the only one left."

"I'll be there shortly," I said, my mind already shifting to the next steps. I began gathering the materials I would need for the journey, along with several of my trusted puppets. They would prove invaluable if we encountered trouble along the way. I made sure to pack the essentials—materials, tools, and weapons. This wasn't just any journey; it was an expedition into the unknown.

After sealing the pagoda's inner chambers, and pocketing the token with me, I stepped out into the open air, the fresh breeze of the Sea of Demons filling my lungs. For a moment, I looked back at the city—now a glittering jewel on the horizon, its twelve cities joined in unity. There was a sense of pride in what I had helped create, but there was no time for sentimentality. Our mission lay beyond.

Good strong allies are always a good addition.

As the group began preparing for departure, my eyes landed on an unexpected figure—Law, standing awkwardly in the corner. His presence was the last thing I had anticipated.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, frowning at the young cultivator.

Law shifted nervously, clearly uncomfortable. "I don't know why I'm here either... My master asked the Wisest Sun to take me along with you all, but I don't want to go! Please let me stay behind!" His voice trembled with fear, his usual bravado nowhere to be seen. He looked like a scared kitten.

I sighed deeply, feeling the tension in my temples. "Law, you're in way over your head here."

"Exactly! That's why I don't want to go! Please, I'm not suited for this kind of mission," Law pleaded, his face pale with dread.

Before I could respond, Blue Sun interjected. "He's coming."

I frowned, sending her a telepathic message through my Divine Sense. "Why? He's not ready for this."

Her reply was swift and confident. "His luck is extraordinarily potent. We'll need it. You never know what might happen."

"Relying on luck is foolish," I shot back. "It could get us killed."

"Perhaps," she acknowledged. "But having some luck is better than none at all. You'll see."

I couldn't argue with her logic, but that didn't mean I liked it. Luck was fickle, and I preferred to rely on skill and preparation. Still, I let out a resigned sigh and nodded.

"Tao Yang," I said, turning to her. "You'll act as our captain for this journey. You're the one who knows the way, after all."

Tao Yang straightened, her expression firm. "Understood. I'll guide us to the Solarous safely."

She took her seat in the captain's chair, and the rest of the crew followed suit, settling into their positions around the control room. I took my place to the side, leaving the main chair open for Tao Yang to lead. As the ship's engines hummed to life, a quiet excitement buzzed through the room. The journey was about to begin, and the unknown awaited us.

With a final glance at Blue Sun, I nodded. "Let's get moving."

Tao Yang's hands moved swiftly over the controls, and with a low rumble, the ship began its ascent, breaking free from the docking bay and into the expanse of the Beyond.

Our journey had begun.