Poison God's Heritage

"Are we to keep following him?" asked the Wisest Sun.

"Do you have anything else to do…" the Lord of Lords replied.

"No, but this makes us look like creeps…" The Wisest Sun said.

Shaking his head, the Lord of Lords just ushered for the Wise Sun to follow him, "We'll be following the child until he leaves for the Beyond, after all, even using the door, the distance and the trip aren't easy to cross. It isn't without danger," he said.

"I know, but the doorway is stable. There shouldn't be any problems… I hope," said the Wisest Sun.

The Lord of Lords just shook his head and said, "No matter, the child seems to be clearing up the rest of his business. He is at what they call The Heavenly Academy," said the Lord of Lords.

"That's a grand name…" replied the Wisest Sun.

"I wouldn't fault them," said the Lord of Lords.

"Neither would I, they spent their entire lives in this prison, frogs in a well, and the only sky they see is their heaven, thus calling this institution the Heavenly Academy isn't too overreaching after all it is what they know," sighed the Wisest Sun.

***

'This is really annoying,' I sighed.

I've been having this feeling that I was being watched for days now, and no matter how far or hard I tried, I couldn't find or sense who was looking at me or tracking me.

I could understand if it was someone from the Fire Lord faction wanting my skin, but so far no one made a move, nor was the feeling that of danger or aggression. It was simply observing.

But I couldn't even figure out who it was or where they were. Annoying!

Since they meant no harm for now, I'll just keep my guard up and move about my day. For now, I need to figure out what's going on in the Vast Expanse, I've been away for a long while.

The Thunderbull rushed toward the Heavenly Academy, making sure to announce its presence with its rumbling hooves.

The last time I was in the Heavenly Academy, the whole damn place was destroyed, and now that I arrive once again, I'm surprised to see the entire upper island fully rebuilt as if never been harmed in the slightest.

Several cultivators noticed my bull, most of them in black robes of the Heavenly Academy, none intercepted or demanded me to stop and be inspected, they all courteously bowed as I went down toward the main tower of the Heavenly Academy.

The classes were conducted in the area around the tower and in many of the tower classrooms, many peaked from the windows and those who were focused on doing outside training all stopped to watch the incoming bull.

All eyes were on me, which felt a bit awkward, but I didn't let anything show. I just moved forward to the main tower.

As I headed up, more people were looking at me, but none had the courage to come forward with whatever they needed to say or do.

More confusion… but I ignored it still.

As I reached the top of the tower, I entered into the main conference hall, from what my Divine Sense had told me, most of the high-ranking cultivators were already at the top.

Opening the door, I saw Master Rain, alongside his retainer, the Grand Elder, owner of the Heavenly Academy with a prosthetic arm, since he lost his in the last war.

And many of the high figures of the Heavenly Academy and the rest of the Vast Expanse. Including the Queen, the Wind King, Zhang Tian, Dao Shen, Yuyu, Liang Yu, and Dao Shen.

"I guess you were waiting for me," I said.

"We received a report that you left the Pagoda," said Master Rain as he approached me.

"Did you finish it?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied.

Master Rain smiled, "Great job," he said.

And before he could turn I handed him a jade.

"What is this?" he asked.

"I'm sure you're also interested in the Keys, so I made a copy of all the advancement I made through the study of the law, I saved it for you, you know if you want to know how it was made,"

Master Rain's eyes lit up

"This is present like no other, knowledge that shouldn't be shared," Master Rain turned to the rest of the cultivators and said, "I'm sure that you won't feel jealous and greedy for this old man's possession, after all, it's a gift from my own disciple," he said taunting everyone.

"You know all too well Master Rain that the gift you received is of invaluable weight, it is priceless, but since it was gifted to you, no one will seek to take it from you," the Wind King said.

"So tell us," The Grand Elder said, "Can you open the path?"

"I don't really know, I only fixed the keys, and since they're not jumping back to their former owners, I believe they grew attached to me," I replied.

"They were catalysts and amplifiers to our own abilities not the source of it, we don't need them as much as people would think," the Wind King said.

"So what are you planning now?" asked the Master Rain.

"I'm planning on visiting the Beyond," I said.

"No!" I heard

Not from one, but two people at the same time.

It was Liang Yu and Yuyu.

My brow rose, "Is there a problem? I asked.

"It's dangerous, we don't know what's out there, why do you have to go, you just got back here," she said.

I sighed, it was going to be a hassle to explain.

"A cultivator who has unlocked the path to grow and move forward cannot be held down, Shen Bao, if you wish to leave, then Godspeed," Master Rain said.

"I thought you'd jump in on the first opportunity to leave with your disciple," The Grand Elder said.

"I would, but with this in my hand," Master Rain showed the jade, "I need a bit of time to learn it, and then head out. As for the rest of you, you all have too much of a responsibility to your people, the Wind Lord and Queen to their domain, you to the Heavenly Academy, and many more. Those who wish to Visit the Beyond need to be unfettered from the shackles of this world."

"I go wherever Shen Bao goes," Said YuYu.

"Same here, and don't try and say it's dangerous if you go, we're also going," she said.

"I also wish to go," said Zhang Tian.

"Son…"

"Father, I seek knowledge of the World and have no use for ruling or power, if you want to handover the crown, I never sought it, or wanted it, my younger brother can have it," Zhang Tian said, "After all, he almost caused a war for the crown," Zhang Tian snorted.

"I also have little to nothing left to do here, if there is a way, I wish to visit the Beyond too," these were Dao Shen's words.

"Good then, we'll head out tomorrow," I said, "But where is Meng Hao?" I asked.

"I gave him command over the army of the Heavenly Academy, he's cleaning up the remnants of the Fire Lord faction," said Dao Shen.

"I wanted to greet him before I left, but make sure to tell him that I went ahead of him," I said.

"I will notify him using the galactic space owl transmitter," the Queen said.

"Thank you," I nodded to her.

"Now I'll be heading back to my quarters, I need some rest, it's been years since I last had a good night's rest," I said.

I left the room and headed out to Liang Yu's house was, in the lower city where all the scholars and students of the Heavenly Academy lived. I made sure to hide my presence and entered the only house I had access to in the heavenly academy.

It was given to me and Liang Yu on our first day here, and she kept it the same as it was from the day we got it first.

Once I sat down and began resting, I felt the presence of two people outside.

"What are you doing here!" spoke the first

"I came to see Shen Bao!"

"It's my home! You can't just barge in!"

"It's not, it was given to Shen Bao, you're just using it when he's not there!"

The two of them continued fighting and I sighed, "Just get in, both of you, you're causing a commotion," I said.

The two of them entered, not even looking at each other.

"Is this some comic relief? What's going on," I said.

"I haven't seen you in ages, I just wanted to catch up," said Yuyu.

"And you owe me a night! Remember our promise?!" Liang Yu said smirking at Yuyu.

Yuyu looked at me then back at her, "A night?"

"Oh… that promise!"

"Don't you dare try and get away from it! Pants off Shen Bao!" she then threw Yuyu a dirty look, "You can watch or you can join your choice!" she then lunged at me.