Poison God's Heritage

The clinking of dishes and the faint murmur of conversation surrounded the large table we had gathered around. The majority of the group from the Beyond was present, all wearing contemplative expressions. Despite the lively chatter from the nearby reconstruction efforts, the weight of our current task was enough to keep our circle quiet, each of us lost in thought.

The Fire Lord and Master Rain had left earlier. Master Rain, curious as ever, had gone to study the formation the Confederation used to seal Solarous. Inscription and formations were his domain, and it was no surprise he couldn't resist. The Fire Lord, on the other hand, left for a simpler reason—he couldn't stand being in the same room as Meng Hao for too long. Those two seemed destined to lock horns no matter what the situation.

For the rest of us, though, the topic at hand was impossible to avoid. The looming battle with the Broodmother wasn't something we could take lightly.

"We're really doing this?" Law asked, breaking the silence. His sharp gaze swept over the table, landing on each of us before finally settling on me.

"Of course," I replied firmly, "Our people back in the Beyond are waiting for this. They're counting on us to make sure this ends here."

Liang Yu, sitting to my left, looked at me with a softness that contrasted with the intensity of the discussion. "Promise me one thing, Shen Bao," she said.

"What is it, Liang'er?" I asked, tilting my head.

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"You need a break," she replied without hesitation.

"Yeah, I agree," YuYu chimed in immediately, her tone gentle but firm.

"I second that," Meng Hao added. His usual competitive smirk was absent, replaced with genuine concern. "And it's not because I want to catch up to you. You need a break, man."

I blinked, taken aback. "What? I'm fine."

"You know you're a terrible liar, right?" Tao Yang added, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

"No, I'm a great liar," I shot back defensively. "But why do all of you think I need a break?"

A collective sigh escaped the group, like they had rehearsed it beforehand.

"When was the last time you stopped and looked around yourself?" Blue Sun asked, her voice soft yet probing. "When was the last time you did something without pushing your Qi, your mind, or your body to its limits? When did you last let go of all your worries?"

"I... I take breaks occasionally," I said, though my tone lacked conviction.

"Breaks aren't the same as meditation, seclusion, or cultivation," the Jade Dragon interjected. "We're talking about actual rest, Shen Bao."

He leaned forward, his green eyes gleaming. "Think about it. Ever since you arrived in the Beyond, have you had a moment where you weren't running toward the next crisis? The Ant Nest, the Walkers, the Dark Garden, the Strongest Under the Sun competition, the Thunder Domain—then you barely caught your breath before this Rakshasa madness. You've been going non-stop for years."

Blue Sun nodded. "You need to take care of yourself. Shen Bao, we fear for you."

Their words hit harder than I expected. I opened my mouth to protest but stopped short. I couldn't argue with them. They were right. Every time one ordeal ended, another began, and I'd thrown myself into it without hesitation.

"I'm fine," I said weakly, though even I didn't believe it.

"Junior Brother," Zhang Tian said, his calm, measured voice cutting through my feeble denial. "Take better care of yourself. You're not a god, and even if you were, breaks are necessary. Surely, you'll listen to this useless older brother of yours?"

I exhaled deeply, sinking back into my chair. "I can't win against you all, can I?"

A chorus of knowing smiles and nods surrounded me. They weren't going to let this go. And the truth was, I was tired. Deep down, I knew it. The constant battles, endless strategizing, and relentless pressure had worn me thin. Maybe... maybe they were right.

"All right, after this is done, I'll take a break," I said reluctantly.

The Jade Dragon's face lit up. "I know the perfect place back in the Beyond—a sacred mountain with breathtaking scenery. There are many young Pheonixs and Long Dragons living there. And there was even a Kirin sighting there too... the Holy Palace."

"Oh, I've been there," Blue Sun added with a nostalgic smile. "The air is so pure and full of vitality. There's an azure sea nearby, too, with beaches like you wouldn't believe. It's been ages since I last went."

The moment the beach was mentioned, the conversation took a sudden turn. Liang Yu and YuYu perked up, immediately discussing swimsuits, tans, and the idea of lounging by the water. Even Tao Yang, who rarely indulged in lighter conversations, chimed in about the appeal of a serene beach setting.

'When did this become a beachside filler chapter?' I muttered under my breath.

Clearing my throat, I brought the discussion back on track. "We can't think about vacations right now. The Broodmother is still a massive threat, and with the limited poison and bullets we have, taking her down will be no easy task."

Blue Sun's expression turned serious. "The Confederation is fully backing us. Don Ma informed me that a hundred thousand cultivators will join the fight."

I raised an eyebrow. "A hundred thousand?"

She nodded. "Their primary role will be containment. They'll keep the rakshasa forces off us while we focus on the Broodmother."

"That's... actually helpful," I admitted. Originally, I'd planned to handle the rakshasa hordes with my puppets while dealing with the Broodmother. Having the Confederation's forces meant I could focus entirely on the real threat.

"The Broodmother's strength lies in her overwhelming size and power," I mused aloud. "She can obliterate even Yin stage cultivators with a single hit. But she's slow, enough that even a Void Stage cultivator can easily dodge her, That's her one weakness, and we'll need to exploit it."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"It's a classic David versus Goliath scenario," I added faintly. "One wrong move, and we're done. But if we can stay ahead of her, we have a chance."

I stood, the weight of responsibility settling firmly on my shoulders once again. "Then it's settled. We head out as soon as possible. Once we deal with this, then we'll talk about that break."

The group nodded in unison, the lighthearted moment fading as the reality of the task ahead returned.