Poison God's Heritage

Several more weeks went by in captivity within the planet. The group looked weakened, almost skin sticking to bones as they were deprived of Qi, water, and food. Many had died in these conditions but the four remained among several others.

"They're resilient, good, the general would like this livestock," one of the people supervising the camp spoke.

"Well, at least the general will be pleased this time, I heard the Fire Lord was really angry because of the last occupation," another replied.

"The walls have ears you idiot, don't mention the lord, otherwise you don't know what might happen to you, also that wasn't our fault, to begin with, it was the third army's mistake. I mean how come they even failed to fully close the formation and struggled too long against a planet in the barren domain," the first supervisor said.

"Beats me, they underestimated those rats, even a cornered rat can bite a cat, they should have hit them hard at first. But it doesn't matter, we're doing great here anyway, the whole planet has already been detained and captured for now, we're just awaiting retrieval orders so we can go." The second guard shrugged

Turning his face he noticed Meng Hao looking at him.

"Look at that kid, what? Do you feel wronged, do you feel angry? Do you want to take a bite out of my flesh?" the guard mocked. "You're weak, pitiful, and unworthy, you're nothing but slaves, you only have to blame your own weakness and lack of ability, otherwise you could have left like those cowards did before we arrived,"

'Meng Hao, drop your eyes down, your gaze would kill a man at this point,' Master Rain spoke in a hushed tone.

Seeing Meng Hao drop his gaze the guards scuffed at him, "I thought he had some backbone apparently he's just a wuss," the supervisor said.

Suddenly a man came rushing in, "We're leaving. Ready up," he said.

"Finally, I'm tired of staying on this rotten planet, let's group the prisoners up, and make sure to double-check their restraints, we don't want any funny business happening here."

The guards made sure that everyone that was still alive was firmly shackled and sealed from using anything that could help them escape. Once that was done they were led to a clearing where a ship was waiting for them.

They were then shoved inside the ship, one after another like a pack of canned sardines. The stench of the unclean dirty and half-dead people was unbearable to many, but they could do nothing about it.

The entire camp was packed inside the ship's hull, without them having any space to even rest as they had to stay standing due to how packed it was.

They weren't even allowed to move or utter a complaint as one guard was among them.

"If you disturb my sleep I'll kill you," he said.

That was all he needed to say before he closed his eyes and leaned on the wall of the ship. No one dared to utter a peep as the ship soon began moving.

Days upon days went by, and the group of four remained together, fully concealed and waiting.

"Once we arrive, we'll be led to the mines, the security might be tight on the first few days since the guards will make sure that everyone knows who's boss. After that, it will become more relaxed as they'll use us as their plaything to pass the time. Once that happens we can act," Meng Hao spoke.

The four nodded. Since Meng Hao was the only one who had a better knowledge of the layout of the mines.

"What about the location of the incense pots?" Dao Shen asked.

"That's the hardest part… it's inside the Fire Lord's palace, I heard that from one of the guards who were once tasked with taking the pots, and since he failed in doing some task he was ordered to, he was demoted to guard the mines," Meng Hao said.

"Hmm, good enough, I have a plan then, but we'll need to be inside the mines for that plan, let's just wait for now," Master Rain said.

More time passed as the ship got closer and closer to the main planet of the Fire Domain.

Just before they entered the Fire Lord planet, however, the ship stopped.

There was some ruckus upstairs on the ship and soon a man came down.

From his robes and the symbol on them, this was a Fire Spear, and due to his annoyed looks, it was clear that he was not happy with the current task he was given.

"Fucking bastards, What are you looking at!" spoke the man who just entered.

"You're the reason I'm here, filthy slaves, if it wasn't for the fact that the Fire Lord is about to leave seclusion, I wouldn't be here to check up if any of you is tiger-wearing sheep skin. But screw it, I also need to vent anyway!" the man said and grabbed the closest person next to him by the neck.

"P-please, sir!"

"No," the man said smiling vilely as he pressed his palm on the head of the cultivator.

'Soul Search…but what's the point?' Meng Hao thought.

This was a problem because if this man were to Soul Search everyone it will probably end up killing everyone and if by some luck it lands on one of the four it will become a huge problem.

Soul Search in most if not all cases will end in death, and upon survival, it ruins a person's mind making them nothing but a shell of themselves, an empty shell that can't be called a person.

The man screamed as if his brain was being scrambled by the Fire Spear. Soon the Fire Spear scuffed and spat at the man's face. "Useless waste," he said as he threw him on the ground, foaming and frothing at the mouth, then died a second later.

He then went to another person, then another, and they all died.

'What do we do?' asked Dao Shen.

The gears in Master Rain's mind began turning, he was thinking of ways to manage this current situation, should they reveal their power here? They haven't even entered the planet, and if they do so, the security will become extremely high until they're caught.

But before he approached the group, another person came down, "We already checked these people back at the planet of origin. They're all weak cultivators."

The Fire Spear looked at everyone, seeing them shaking and afraid, he scuffed, "Doesn't matter anyway, this is just a waste of time, the General is paranoid anyway. Also, I wanted to see if anyone would shake or act if they thought I was going to soul-search everyone, I guess there is nothing but cattle here. I'm heading to the next Ship, proceed forward, there is a final inspection at the arrival station, make sure to scrutinize well, and if you see anything out of the ordinary no matter how little report it," the Fire Spear said.

"As you command!"

After the Fire Lord left the ship started moving down and entered the atmosphere of the Fire Lord's planet.

They arrived at a massive square where several other ships were already docked.

Then they were led down, one after another all chained in a line to stand on top of a massive square platform.

One Fire Spear was standing while the Fire Lord guards were inspecting the prisoners making sure their cuffs and their shackles were tight. Then soon the platform under them shone brightly as a formation manifested itself beneath everyone.

There didn't seem to be any reaction, but the Fire Spear started moving.

He moved toward Meng Hao, pushed aside a few of the prisoners and as he was looking at Meng Hao he said.

"You little rat, did you think you could escape the Soul Revealing Formation?"

Meng Hao was at a point where he was going to break his chains and retaliate, but the hand of the Fire Spear moved not in his direction but behind him, grabbing a sniveling man.

The Fire Spear's hand tightened around the man's neck and suddenly his true appearance was revealed. It was a Beastman from the Earth Domain.

The fire spear struck the man in the abdomen destroying his Dantian in a single hit.

"Take him to the interrogation room, the rest can head to the mines."

Meng Hao took a sigh of relief which he didn't even notice.

However, the Fire Spear noticed that and then turned to Meng Hao.

"What? Do you think that you survived death right now? Do you have anything to hide? Why did you sigh like that?" the Fire Spear's suspicion began growing.

"I…I'm sorry great Fire Spear lord!" Meng Hao immediately bowed. "I'll work hard to appease your anger, please! I only want to survive even if little oh great merciful lord!" Meng Hao said.

"Hah, seeing you praising me like that, the Fire Lord himself would get jealous, but you're right, I'm merciful, So, I won't kill you, but that doesn't mean you get to sigh in my presence!" he said and slapped Meng Hao on the face.

The slap was enough to not kill, but at the same time threw Meng Hao and the people chained with him on the ground.

"T-thank you… for…your mercy…" Meng Hao said begrudgingly.

"Hah, thanking me for beating you, I like this kid… Unfortunately for you, me liking you doesn't change your fate, send this garbage to work, another ship is docking," The Fire Spear said.

'Good job holding it in Meng Hao.' Master Rain said as he pulled Meng Hao up.

'Yeah, it was hard…'

'I know, a cultivator's pride is very dangerous, so never act upon it.'

'Yes I know, it was something I learned from Shen Bao, what's the point of Pride if it kills you… run today to fight tomorrow, but I'll make sure to get my due vengeance,' he said.

'I know, just hold your killing intent for now, and once our mission is done, I'll present you that fire spear on a plate of gold.' Master Rain said.