Poison God's Heritage

After resting for a couple of days, it was time to fix the second Key, I'm sure it wouldn't take as long as the first one, since I've already understood the underlying mechanics and laws that made and created the first key, I just need to translate them, from metal to Earth.

And since I'm a poison cultivator, I'm able to do so with ease.

Or so I've come to understand from the Keys.

The reason why Du Shen failed was simple.

And why taking such a path to cross was never going to end up being successful.

After all, whoever created the keys was not a divinity. Close to it, but never shall he achieve it, since he was nothing but a mortal.

Yet their understanding was absurdly incredible. He didn't need to 'Create' the laws to make the Vast Expanse.

Since he'll need the law of creation, which is something that only the heavens have.

He created a mechanic, a mechanic that is simple. With one rule in it.

Adapt.

It's the equivalent of Ai back in my world. He couldn't fully understand every singe law of every metal or earth or any of the five primary elements, he had good knowledge about them, but not exhaustively complete knowledge. No one can.

So, what he did was, he built a system, an intelligent law system that works with the five elements. And then he had this system randomize and create, at first chaotically, then soon by law and purpose.

The system took a long time to create its first creation, perhaps stardust to make galaxies. Then it began to reshape these particles and soon was able to create life as we know it. It's also one of the reasons there are several billion civilizations all over the Vast Expanse.

The system that created life did so all over the place. Life survived on some planets and was annihilated in some.

"So whoever created the Vast Expanse should be billions of years old," I thought. "That's a damn long time…," I said as I looked up, but then, "Hmm, time difference could also be playing a factor." I shook my head, I had a lot of things to fix and then figured out who made these and how old are they.

I raised my hand up and snapped my finger, "Domain of Delusions, Rise!"

And with those words, the area around me turned dark and pitch black, covering every bit of the room I was in.

Suddenly I felt as if someone or more, were with me in the room. My head snapped back, and my Domain seemed to have touched upon something, it was very minimal and disappeared almost instantly, but I felt it I was sure of it.

I then approached the general area and looked and looked some more, moved my hand to try and see if someone was invisible there, but nothing.

I focused my domain even more

… still nothing.

Was I mistaken?

"I'm being paranoid," I sighed.

No matter what, I wasn't going to drop my guard, after all, this is a world of cultivation.

And to note, whoever it was, if they were there, and wanted me harm, they could have done it whenever, but that's not reason enough for me to let my guard down.

I continued working, "Enlarge!"

I spoke and increased the size of the fragments. Though in reality nothing was increased but my Delusion allowed me to see it increased.

My domain is simple.

It is a fake domain.

It has no law in it but one

Deception, deception of oneself, and deception of the world. But it is a deception so true it makes the fake real and the real fake.

Thus I'm able to act however I wish here.

I can make ice into fire, and wind into dirt, I can revert time and expand upon it. I can lie here however I wish and the world must believe it.

It is how I managed to defeat many of my foes. And if I wanted to see these crystals big, they'd be big.

The only thing I can't do is fix them using my Domain. Because after all, they are still a delusion and are stuck in this domain with me. I can 'fix' them if I will it to, but it will only be limited to the domain and that's not a proper 'fixing,' so I have to do it the right way.

I then began studying the Earth Key, and to my surprise, it was fairly similar to the Metal Key with the exception of a few laws that had been changed here and there.

The laws of Metal are now Laws of Earth, and the binding that allowed the key to turn from a none physical law to a physical item and key were the exact same.

So I began recreating the portions that were missing after studying more about the Laws of Earth from this very key.

Speaking of the laws of earth and metal, the reason why Du Shen was unable to cross was simple.

He had no ability to wield the keys, the keys refused him, not because he lacked talent, since he was one of the very few Emperors back in his day.

But because of his origin and Dao.

His Dao was of Arrogance, or should I say, My Dao was of arrogance. It was tyranny and oppression unbridled and amuck.

He ruled with power and dominance, rightfully so in this world especially, this world was that of a dog eat dog world and only those who have power have influence. And those he sought to claim the gates to the Beyond, even when he was refused by the keys, by his own means.

Something that I respect, in fact it was something that I would have personally done myself since I also walk on that same path.

I'm a person who if they cannot figure out an answer, I'd make one that fits.

If a gate is locked in front of me, most people would try and find the key to the gate, or outright destroy it.

The second option was not possible for any of us in the Vast Expanse, since if power was enough to cross many would have already done so, but whoever made this Vast Expanse made sure no one would grow to a certain level of power allowing them to cross without the keys.

So, how can I, a person who has no ability to destroy the gate, nor has the key cross it?

Du Shen decided to break the Gate, using his knowledge and power, but he failed as the heavens came down upon him with vengeance.

But he failed, his Poison Path was not enough.

Though respectable, and that is how a cultivator should act.

I won't agree with it although I respect it.

This is an equation that only has one answer and that answer is already given, and thus you cannot answer with a different answer.

But the Fire Lord destroyed the answer, and thus allowed me to answer again.

I had not talent, I am still without a talent. All I have is my own mind, forged in understanding and comprehension of Law. I cannot move fire as well as the Fire Lord or Meng Hao can. I cannot understand Soul as the Queen does, nor can I mold the wind and water like Yuyu or the Wind King can. I do not have the ability to shape the earth like Old Beast.

All I have is my own mind.

But using this mind I climbed all the way to where I am, and thus I now have the knowledge of law from these keys.

The very laws that allowed those far above me in terms of talent to excel, now are in my hand.

Screw talent if it only facilitates the use of an element of Dao. Because here in my hand I have those very Daos, and once I fully understood them, I do not even need talent to replicate, nay, to even surpass those with great talent.

My hands slammed together as the lines between the fragments were formed.

"Merge!"

And thus, the Earth Key was once again reformed, full of vitality and brimming with power once again.

The path to the Beyond is only a step away.