While the two women were glaring daggers at each other, Master Rain came forward and stood in between everyone in the room.
"Anyway, enough with the jokes. I need to talk to Shen Bao in private, you should all leave," Master Rain said then turned to the retainer, "You included," he said.
This caused the retainer to frown since he has always been a part of Master Rain's every step. It was confusing to him to be excluded from a conversation.
Soon everyone left the house, and I was thankful that I no longer remained under that pressure.
"Shen Bao," Master Rain said as he started pacing forth and back.
"To be honest, I wanted to kill you the first day I saw you," he said.
"Likewise," I replied.
"Enough with the comedy, I'm being serious," he said.
"And why did you want to kill me?" I asked this time seriously.
"For this," he said as he pointed at my chest.
I knew what he meant.
"The Heritage?" I asked
"One part of it, and apparently, the strongest," Master Rain said.
"What do you mean by that?" I frowned.
"You think you have the full Poison God's heritage?" Master Rain said.
It took me a moment to understand what he meant, "No, I'm sure I don't, because I found a second copy," I said.
"Yes, for whatever blasted Reason, Du Shen decided to plant two of his books in the same planet, which was very strange to me before I realized the reason why," Master Rain said.
"Could you share the reason?" I asked. I needed to know more about Du Shen, as much as I could.
"It is because of the weak. Du Shen hated and despised the oppression of the strong, he may not have been the most benevolent, but he was just. Before his passing, I'm sure, he had realized he couldn't be elected. Or perhaps, he found a way to go to the Beyond without needing to be elected. Which is more probable because that man was a genius, even if I hate to admit it, he was far smarter than I," Master Rain said.
"What is this Beyond you're talking about?" I asked.
"You're still far too inexperienced and unworthy to know, I will tell you however when the time comes," Master Rain flat-out explained.
"Anyway, I wish to tell you about the reason why Du Shen had split his own legacy and gave it to the world to seek. Even if they were unworthy, everyone had a shot at becoming the next Du Shen, even the weak, from a planet so far away, so feeble and so full of nobodies, he gave them twice the chance to become great. Unlike the others, where he spread his books all over the Vast Expanse," Master Rain said.
"You mean that there are other people with a copy of the Poison God's Heritage?" I asked.
"Yes, and no," Master Rain said.
"I'm confused," I said.
"There are other Acolytes, or acolyte servants with other books similar to yours, not exact copies. I've seen them, seen many of them, and they all had a different style of the Poison Path. Yours, is the most intriguing, you rarely rely on your poison, and use it more as a tool to aid in your fights, unlike them, who use it mainly as their main power, you apply it to other things, such as those explosive devices for example," Master Rain said.
"And what's wrong with that, it's been working so far," I said.
"It's been working, rather too well, if I may say so," Master Rain said. "You never had any evil thoughts? Any vile thoughts of killing, murdering, violating, and ravaging people and the land?" Master Rain said.
"Nope, not even once, I could get angry, but not to that extent, why?" I asked.
"It's because those books are poison themselves, they're poison to the soul. They are poison to the mind, they taint the person's mind with vile feats and actions, to make them do evil. The more evil they commit the more the Acolyte within the books can take control, while for some reason, I can't feel this acolyte within you anymore. I've faced it before, but it no longer dwells within you for some reason," Master Rain said.
'What is he talking about? What acolyte?'
As if he had heard my question, "The Purple Skull, that is one of the twelve acolytes of the Poison God," said Master Rain.
"I've met two, one in the cave, and the second under the Black Pavilion. You mean those things lived when Du Shen lived?" I asked.
"Yes, they were all his followers, but they all met their end at the hands of Du Shen himself. His teachings and techniques are one of the fastest ways to reach great power for little to no cost if, and only if one disregards the sanity and sanctity of their own mind. A person with the power of the Poison God would be corrupted all too easily, devouring people and creatures alike, to become stronger and stronger. But they will tend to lose themselves in the process, the same as those acolytes did. And thus, had been killed and refined into protective ghosts to serve the holders of the Poison God's book. Yet, something happened that was not expected," Master Rain said.
"Let me take a wild guess," I said. "Somehow, the captured Acolytes managed to possess the holders of the book, and then take over, and now they are trying to reunite all the books in the same place?" I asked.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Master Rain asked.
"I can put one and one together, also I remembered that Old Man Gin had mentioned something about the Poison God's trial," I said.
"Yes, that was the reason I wanted to talk to you in private," Master Rain said.
"There exist in this world many prime elements, and you know them," Master Rain said.
"Yes, I do. Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and Metal."
"Good, Then there exist primordial ones," he said.
"Light and Dark, Yin and Yang," I said.
"Good, and then there are the Auxiliary ones, like thunder for example. It is a powerful element, made of fire and wind, but it usually fails to compare to the original element of fire or the original element of the Wind," Master Rain said.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?" I asked.
"It is because, Du Shen, was the only person capable of proving that an Auxiliary element can be as strong, if not stronger than a prime one," Master Rain said.
"You mean poison?" I asked.
"Yes, Poison, the Auxiliary element of Metal and Earth, Du Shen was able to reign terror in the heart of everyone by only possessing the power of an auxiliary element. And he had the power to do so with ease, And now, he had given this power for those who are worthy, or those who are capable even if unworthy. You have been chosen, like it or not, you're a part of his Acolytes and you must be present for the day all the books are gathered. And I fear that that day is soon to come," Master Rain said.
"How can you be so certain?" I asked.
"Because I just heard from the Heavenly Academy that one of the acolytes had managed to kill three others, and take their books all under one week. He is gathering them, and you'll soon be his target, that person is collecting the books to enter the trial grounds."
"This is too much to take in, what does that have to do with me? I mean not many people know I have the Poison God's heritage," I said.
"The Acolytes can sense each other, though you can be more than safe to assume he'll not reach you in the heart of the Heavenly Academy, you cannot stay here forever. You must grow strong, strong enough to be able to fend for yourself, or at least, head to the Trial Grounds of the Poison God's Heritage where you can claim your full heritage, and be able to defend it," Master Rain said.
"And, do you have an idea where the Trial Ground of the Poison God's heritage is?" I asked.
"Yes I do, but you cannot go right now, it's a place that can only be accessed by Ascendant Cultivators, and you're still unable to rid yourself of your mortal shell, become an ascendant first, then I'll see how you can go into the Trial Grounds," Master Rain said.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?" I asked.
"Consider it, repaying a favor," Master Rain said as he took a step forward disappearing but leaving me with one more message.
"The teachers that have won your custody battle have been named, you can attend their courses, and learn as much as you can, for you'll need it gravely in the days to come…"
