Years went past inside the Lord of Lords pagoda, and in these years I managed to finish the many Puppets, gear, and weaponry that I thought would need. Not only that, I even made several dozen spares of gear, equipment, and parts for the hundred puppet army.
The last thing I would want is lacking pieces or parts to repair a puppet that could be used to aid in my survival. After all you can never be too prepared.
I'm not that arrogant to think I'll be able to face off against far stronger, more powerful and far more experienced cultivators, so preparing and preparing some more is the best I can do.
I improved not only my weapons but also my tools, had made sure to have several thousands of talismans, even some that are simple as Sound Muffling talismans, or some as powerful as the Soul Shackling Stake inscription.
Once I deemed myself ready and fully prepared, I got out of the lord of lords pagoda. I've spent at least ten years inside preparing everything I needed and apparently not more than ten months had passed in real time.
With two months remaining for the opening of the Poison Gate I decided to head out.
Once I walked out of the hut, I realized that something was happening in the Poison Sect.
"What's up?" I asked one of the disciples who were running about near the hut. Which actually surprised me since this place was sealed off to all the Disciples of the sect.
"Ah Shen Mo, the Demon Sect has sent some envoys apparently they're preparing for the Poison Gate opening," he said.
I frowned.
"What do you mean? What does the Poison Gate opening has to do with the Demon Sect?" I asked.
"No, its more like the Poison Sect that's going to be participating to honor the Heirs of the Poison God, and the Demon Sect is helping us with some gifts and offerings," he said.
"Right," I said frowning, am I missing something? Isn't the Poison Trial only for the Poison God disciples?
I headed down the sect and saw a festival like atmosphere in the Poison Sect. There was a large bonfire in the middle of the sect where several Disciples were praying and worshipping.
Looking to my right, Elder Xian was there.
"You've been away for a while," he said.
"Oh, yeah, a bit," I replied, the only difference is for him I've been away for ten months, while I haven't seen them in close to ten years. "So, what's going on?" I asked.
"We're preparing offerings and gifts for your master," he said.
Frowning I replied, "Did he contact you?" of course he didn't because me and Shen Bao are one and the same.
He shook his head, "No, but we hope he can see our efforts, it's the least we can do to our benefactor, these pills and weapons are gifts to him to assist him in the trial, the success rate is already low enough and we hope he can accept them to aid him in his ventures. If you can contact him it would be great," he said.
Looking at the bonfire again, you could see a large table that had several dozens of different poison pills, elixirs and weapons and armors.
Though the quality is far lower than what I could use, some can still be of use. "I'll make sure to tell him that then," I said.
And just like that I left the area, and headed back to the top of the mountain.
Once I was there, I swapped my conscious and went back to Shen Bao.
Finding myself in the dark forest, I stood up and removed some of the dust that gathered around my shoulders and head.
In the darkness of the forest, I heightened my senses and snapped my head to the side, "I see you," I said.
"Your alertness has improved, but you're easy to deceive," the tiger said as he nudged me from behind.
I almost yelped in fright, but soon realized what happened.
"You applied your own Traceless Step outside your body, moving Qi far away in your shape and presence and approached me from behind, pretty neat. I never thought to use it like this," I said.
"This only works when you're hunting, since it gives the prey false information on your location, you can even use this to push the prey into your direction," the tiger said.
"Thank you, today I learned something new," I clasped my hands.
"So, you'll be leaving," he said.
"How did you know?" I asked
"Instinct," the tiger said, "The Trial approaches," he said.
"Yes," I replied.
"You feel confident?" the tiger asked.
"No, not at all, I'm a bit scared even," I replied honestly.
"Good, that's how it should be, overconfidence only leads to bad discussion making, being prudent and calculative is far more rewarding." He said.
"Says the overly curious big cat," I said jokingly.
"Curiosity and blind confidence are two different things, though curious I know my strength and know when it is wise or not to seek thrill. Keep that in mind and make sure to think twice before you take any action, you only live once," he said "Good luck Shen Bao, may you prevail." He said.
"In case..."
"Don't worry, I'll treat her as my own, be on your way then, the gates would open soon," he said.
"Thank you once again, friend, hope to see you again soon," I said and headed out to the Poison Sect.
It didn't take much to arrive to the Poison Sect, and just as I did, many cultivators clasped their hands towards me.
"Benefactor!" the Sect Master said, "Thank you for coming I hope our little offerings here can be of use to you, many cultivators and sect members worked hard into procuring whatever we thought could assist you in your next venture," he said clasping his hands.
"I can't take without giving back," I said and then threw the Sect Master a pouch.
It was filled to the brim with healing pills, of all grades; some had pill veins on them.
The moment the Sect Master saw the contents of the pouch his eyes widened. "This, this is too much of a gift to receive, and all of these are recovery and healing pills, shouldn't you be using them and needing them in the next venture?" he asked.
"I still have many more, consider this as a gift for taking care of my disciple, as for the Demon Sect I'll gift them this," I said as I threw another pouch for the Demon Sect.
They were a pouch full of Soul Rejuvenating pills, and Soul Cleansing Pills. "These should help tone down the demonic impulses and disperse the baleful Demonic Qi once a Demon cultivator transforms to their true form," I said.
The envoys of the Demon Sect bowed deeply, "Thank you for your kind gifts," he said.
"No worries," I said as I waved my hand taking all of the items next to the bonfire, "Where is my disciple?" I asked.
"He is at the top of the mountain, let me escort you to him," the sect master said.
"No need, I'll be taking him with me, it's good for him to see and experience the real world, it's too peaceful and nice on this planet, once I'm done with the Poison God's trial I'll come back," I said and headed to the top of the mountain.
I grabbed Shen Mo's body and placed him in a seated lotus position atop the hoverboard, then climbed atop the hoverboard.
Soon I flew above the sect and headed to outer space I made sure that everyone saw me take Shen Mo with me before I left.
The hoverboard having been cooped up for so long was finally allowed to use its full speed. Though it's still not comparable to the Thunder Bull Carriage, it was still damn fast. And my direction was the Dark Part of the Vast Expanse.
Once I placed Shen Mo inside the Lord of Lords pagoda, I was free to accelerate and further increase the hoverboard's speed.
With the Hoverboard's current speed, I should arrive exactly in two months, that is of course if I don't encounter any troubles.
Stars went past me like elongated rays of light as I zoomed through the fabric of space boring through it like a hot knife through butter.
***
In an inn somewhere in a very far and distant planet a young man of dark skin was drinking from a large mug.
"Poison God trial you say? Only madmen would even think of going there." A man half drunk spoke as he leaned on the counter of a bar.
The person who he was speaking to was on the other side of the counter and replied, "Yes, but if they were to even succeed, you do know what sort of waves it'll cause?"
"Why should we even care, I mean it's a trial designed for the cultivators of the Poison Path." He said.
"Yes, but if someone were to succeed they'll become the true heir of the Poison God, and just that title alone is enough to cause havoc in the Vast Expanse. Many sects have an incredibly hostile relationship with Du Shen and if they were to take vengeance even on his disciple they'll make sure to do it. Being the Heir of the Poison God makes it a permanent target on your back," he said.
"Then why do they even bother?" asked the first cultivator.
"Because being the Heir of the Poison God means great power and influence, if they were to hide and grow their power in a secret and discrete location once they obtain the Heritage, they'll be a force to be reckoned with, similar to one of the Four Lords, or even to the Ruler of the Galactic Union, that means that one would become a one man army,"
"What still confuses me is why other cultivators even care about the Poison Gate, I mean it's designed for the Poison God disciples, why other cultivators risk their lives to claim the Heritage when they're not even part of his disciples," asked the drunk cultivator.
"Because of greed, most cultivators think that the moment all the Poison God disciples gather in one place, they could go in and claim their heritages away from them. After all the Poison Gate isn't limiting itself to the Poison God cultivators, anyone with the ability to take one of the Books can enter it," the bartender sighed.
"Why are you dissatisfied though?" asked the first cultivator.
"Because the Poison Gate is pretty damn close, and it's going to open up in a few days. You already know how many cultivators have gathered here in this place. And when a lot of cultivators gather, it's always trouble, and I hate it when some idiot start destroying shit, I've been working so hard on this Inn, but I'm sure it's going to turn to ash the moment some random cultivator provokes someone who he shouldn't"
"Ah don't worry owner, I'll protect your in, I'm pretty strong you know," the drunkard said.
"Yes, yes, just remember when shit hits the fan, you need to run away as far as possible," the Inn Owner said. "You can rebuild an Inn but you can't revive the dead. Now pay up, you still have an unpaid tab!" the bar owner said.
"Ah c'mon man, just pour me another drink, I promise I'll pay you back," the drunkard said.
"That's what you've always been saying since the day you got here Men Hao," said the bartender.
"Yes, I know, but I swear I'll pay you back just give me another drink!" the ember eyed cultivator said.
For some reason, the bartender knew that this young man was telling the truth he didn't know why, but he believed him.
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