Poison God's Heritage

Six months had passed outside since we began the meticulous work inside the Lord of Lords Pagoda. Through countless days and nights of experimentation and hypothesis, we were finally seeing the fruits of our labor—though the journey had been far from smooth.

"So, how is it going?" the Blue Sun asked, peering over my shoulder. She moved her hair aside, her curious gaze fixed on the vial in my hand. Despite what might look like an intimate gesture to others, our relationship was rooted firmly in mutual respect, a shared fascination with research, and an unspoken camaraderie that only true scholars of battle and knowledge understood.

Turning to meet her gaze, I couldn't help but flash a grin. "It's working," I replied, excitement bright in my eyes, "and impressively so, albeit with a few minor issues."

Her face lit up in response, her smile mirroring my own before concern crept into her expression. "This is great news," she said, "but I'm guessing those minor issues are what's holding us back."

I nodded and beckoned her closer to the microscope. "See for yourself," I said, handing her a vial with a viscous gray solution.

The Blue Sun adjusted the microscope, her eyes narrowing in concentration as I placed a sample of Broodmother tissue onto the slide. Carefully, I added a drop of the Soulsteel-infused poison. The solution spread across the tissue, immediately beginning to break down the cells, disintegrating them at an astonishing rate and transforming them into a dark, unrecognizable mush.

"Impressive," she murmured, though a frown formed on her lips as she watched the reaction further. The tissue began to recoil from the affected area, as though the Broodmother's cells instinctively recognized the poison and moved to isolate the infected part.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I assume this is the minor issue you're talking about," she noted, leaning back.

"Exactly. The Soulsteel poison works in magnificent ways—it's self-replicating within the infected cells, which means it can spread and devastate any part of the Broodmother it touches. But the tissue of the Queen has an uncanny ability to segment itself. Every time a section gets poisoned, the surrounding cells isolate it, effectively blocking the spread before it can reach a critical mass."

Tao Yang, who had been observing from the side, chimed in. "Could we use ranged injections? Your bullets and rifles could reach different areas simultaneously, hitting several points at once and overwhelming her ability to contain the poison."

I nodded. "That's currently our most viable strategy. If we attack from multiple angles, the Broodmother's cells might not be able to separate themselves fast enough."

Dan Son, joined the conversation. "If we use Master Shen Bao's 'pellet propellers'"—he meant the guns, which he found endlessly fascinating—"we might be able to target critical areas. Perhaps if we aim for something vital, like a heart or brain... assuming she has those," he speculated, scratching his head.

"Yes," I agreed, "but we're limited in terms of ammunition. I can produce only about a thousand bullets with the Soulsteel poison. The cost of synthesizing more of this metal-based poison is simply too high." Especially since you just can't produce Soulsteel, it is a material that requires self-sacrifice to create, honest sacrifice...

Tao Yang thought for a moment. "What about your ability to reproduce poisons you've consumed?"

I shook my head. "That only works with natural poisons derived from herbs or organic sources. This Soulsteel poison is an entirely different beast, and my body can't synthesize it. But," I added, lifting a finger, "there's something else." I reached over to the infected piece of Rakshasa tissue and willed it forward. The poisoned cells responded instantly, creeping over to latch onto the healthy tissue, consuming it with a relentless hunger.

A grin spread across my face as the others watched in awe. "While I can't produce more Soulsteel poison, I can command the infected tissue. If we manage to spread enough of it across the Broodmother's body, I'll be able to direct the poison to the healthier parts. It's like moving a controlled decay through her cells, spreading destruction from within."

"That's incredible," the Blue Sun said, her eyes gleaming with renewed hope. "But are you certain this will work near the Broodmother? Her presence blocks all forms of Qi."

"The poison, once embedded, seems to convert the Rakshasa tissue back to the Heavenly Dao's jurisdiction. It essentially neutralizes the Broodmother's stolen Dao, making the infected cells subject to my command through Qi once more. Destroying her cellular structure unbinds her from the stolen Dao's influence, bringing her back under Heaven's laws. That's why I can command the poisoned cells."

The Blue Sun clapped her hands in satisfaction. "This is fantastic news. I'll let the others know immediately."

"Oh, they already know," I replied, gesturing to the screens projecting our progress back to the main chambers of the ship. "They've been watching everything. Now, I think it's finally time we get some rest." I sighed, realizing just how exhausted I felt.

Dan Son stretched and let out a relieved sigh. "It's been years since we've seen the outside. My brothers and I should bring this news to the sect. They'll want to know how close we are."

I chuckled, unable to resist the urge to see Xuan Fei's reaction to our progress. "Yes, let's go show off a little. I'm feeling rather petty today." Discover stories with empire

Then, from nowhere, the calm voice of the automaton sounded in my mind. "Lord, I have important information to relay."

I frowned. Usually, he would simply open the gate without any announcement. "What is it?"

"There is a significant disturbance outside, Lord. I initially refrained from alerting you, considering you were on the brink of a breakthrough. However, the situation has escalated beyond my estimations."

"Open the gate," I ordered, a hint of irritation in my voice.

"As you wish lord, I will also open several portals to allow out the puppets, we'll need them," he said.

Tao Yang and the Blue Sun immediately drew their weapons, their expressions shifting from satisfaction to determination. The three Son brothers looked around nervously; though talented researchers, their cultivation was only at the Emperor stage—formidable for scholars, but inadequate against what could be a formidable threat outside.

As the gate opened, the ground beneath us trembled, and the distant sounds of chaos and clashing energy reverberated through the air. Even from within the secure confines of the pagoda, we could feel the very mountain shaking, punctuated by distant shouts and the dissonant, eerie laughter of the captive Rakshasa in the labs.

"What in the hell is going on?" I muttered, scanning the lab only to find it abandoned, with a few crazed Rakshasa captives screaming with unsettling glee as if they sensed something coming.

"Shen Bao," the Blue Sun said, her face deadly serious, "use your Divine Sense."

Releasing my Divine Sense, I stretched it across the mountain and was stunned by what I saw. The entire sect was in disarray. Hundreds of thousands of beings that once appeared human now moved with an eerie, unnatural gait, shambling through the sect with grotesque expressions and an otherworldly hunger in their eyes killing and slaughtering anyone that wasn't one of them, or worse, turning them into their shape and form. The sect grounds, which had been peaceful, had devolved into anarchy, with disciples scattering in every direction.

In the midst of the madness, two figures clashed with devastating intensity, tearing through buildings and stone as if they were paper. One of them was Tonfa, though his face bore the strain of desperation and he was missing an arm. Blood streaked down his side, and his robes were torn and bloodied. His opponent was a horrific sight, half-human, half-Rakshasa, his face twisted and contorted beyond recognition. But the distinct robes left no doubt—this monstrosity was Xuan Fei, or what was left of him.

"What in Heaven's name is going on here?" I whispered.