Tower of Heaven

The two returned to the Divine Dragon Palace after night had already fallen.

"Stay here for a few days," Alaric said.

"I'll give you some things to keep you busy if you're free enough to worry about needless things. Meet me back here in the morning, and come prepared."

Atlas nodded. When Alaric said it, "come prepared" meant "prepare yourself to get beaten up."

He had his own room in the palace that he'd been granted during his last stay. He stayed there for the night, but since he was unable to sleep, he passed the time by cultivating.

The next morning, he did as he was told and met Alaric back in the arena.

"You're on time. Looks like we can get started."

Alaric didn't say much at the beginning, and their training didn't diverge much from their original regimen. They stretched, ran, and warmed their bodies up. Around the time that they'd usually start sparring, Alaric stopped and relaxed his posture.

He could tell that Atlas was prepared for anything that came at him. And, while much time had passed since the last time they saw each other, Atlas still dutifully arrived and put his everything into training like he always had.

'If it's him, I might be able to see the peak one more time.'

Alaric first had the idea that he wanted to train Atlas a long time ago when they'd first met. His potential was simply too great to be ignored. When he heard that Atlas had met Veradon, he held off, allowing Atlas to focus on his elemental comprehension.

However, at this time, things were different.

Atlas had ascended another stage in cultivation, his aura had become more robust, and there was an atmosphere around him like that of a blazing sword. He showed a rate of development that Alaric couldn't ignore.

There was a technique that defined the Calamity Dragon. It was a source of fear for many in the Tower.

Bearing it came with responsibilities. With it in his grasp, Atlas could truly be considered the Calamity Dragon's disciple. This was a status that held great weight. If Atlas couldn't bear that weight, then it would crush him.

Only now could Alaric be sure that Atlas had what it took to wield his techniques. And, as an added bonus, with Atlas' personality, he didn't have to worry about the young genius misusing his power or abusing it.

"When I was young, I always thought that everything could be solved with power. My wife was the one who eventually taught me otherwise, but what I achieved before she saved me was the closest thing you could call to 'absolute power beyond rhyme or reason.'"

Alaric swept his leg out and took a martial stance. He pulled his fist back slowly and powerfully, etching every motion into Atlas' mind. His qi moved slowly as if to allow Atlas to perceive it, and as all of the power coalesced in one place…

"This is that technique, and in the next few days, I plan to start imparting it to you."

[Eight Calamities: Fist of the Mountain King]

It was a strike both infinitely fast and infinitely slow.

Atlas felt like he observed every small twitch in Alaric's arm as he punched out, but it was all over before he realized it.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

In the next moment, he was desperately digging his feet into the ground as a great wave of wind slammed into his body. As he watched, the entire form of the arena crumbled to the ground. Rubble fell from the sky, but before it could touch the ground, it was evaporated by the shockwave and turned to dust.

There wasn't anything like an aftermath. Anything and everything in the path of that fist was turned to dust that floated away with the wind. The entire arena was gone, and the floor in front of Alaric was now a ravine several tens of meters deep.

Admiring the damage he caused, Alaric turned around with a grin.

"And that's what happens when I hold back."

He quite enjoyed the speechless expression on his disciple's face. As the technique's name suggested, there were eight calamities contained within. For now, even the first calamity was enough for Atlas. It would take him some time to understand its workings.

They immediately went to work from there. Slowly, Alaric broke down the technique for Atlas to understand. He tried it a few times himself, but it was difficult to control his qi so precisely.

'This is a level of precision that even I haven't seen before.'

Qi control was one of the skills Atlas had in droves from his past life, but it felt meaningless in front of the Fist of the Mountain King.

'No, if it weren't for my perceptive talent, I wouldn't be able to even think about learning this technique.'

The training was so intense that Atlas really had no more space in his mind for other things. His concerns about fate and whatnot were thrown to the side. They could no longer plague his mind.

His everything was once again engulfed in the process of training and improving that he loved so much. It was almost like he missed the busy routine he had in the five years he spent here prior.

When night fell, he didn't go back to his room to rest. Instead, he found himself within the Sanctum before he knew it, chatting with his other Master.

"You have made great progress. I am impressed," Veradon said with a smile.

He saw the troubled tides around Atlas as much as anyone else, but he didn't mention them. Atlas didn't come here for that kind of help.

"I see Alaric has been teaching you well."

It was quite obvious when one looked at the injuries covering Atlas' body. They were healing, but they were healing very slowly as Atlas was straining his body faster than it could regenerate.

Atlas shook his head wryly.

"He's going extra hard on me. It's like he wants to beat me to death."

"Hahaha, that is only because he has high expectations for you. Don't take it to heart."

"Well, I know that. That is why I'm trying my best. I have to admit that it is fun."

Veradon nodded. He could imagine the freedom Atlas felt, as it was the very same freedom he sought.

But that was enough about him.

"I see that you have added something else to your repertoire."

"Ah," Atlas remarked, raising his brows in surprise.

"I came to talk to you about it, but I was going to wait to bring it up until a bit later. Yes, I am currently comprehending the Dao of Wood and I am nearing completion. I wanted to stay in the Sanctum and meditate while I'm in Vanatos."

"The Sanctum is always open for you," Veradon responded casually.

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"But, is that all you want? I am also your Master, you know. I am always willing to help you progress in your cultivation."

It was an odd feeling. Atlas didn't want to ask for help. He only wanted to borrow the Sanctum.

However, Vanatos was that kind of place.

Alaric, Veradon, Mireiya, and even the rest of the Azure Dragon Clan members treated Atlas like an insider. He was a part of their family.

Vanatos…

'Vanatos is starting to feel like a home within the Tower.'

That was a warm feeling. A warm yet dangerous feeling that Atlas didn't know what to do with.

The thought faded into the background as Veradon started to guide him through his comprehension of the Dao of Wood, but it was still present in his mind.

What it would amount to, and whether such a feeling was a positive or negative thing, still remained to be seen.