Tower of Heaven

"Yulin, quickly inform the Masters. That old fogie finally manned up and sent someone."

For a mere gate guard to be referring to the Calamity Dragon like so…

"And you…"

Before Atlas could continue the thought, the woman turned her attention back to him.

"It looks like you have no idea what that means, but that's also just like that old pig to do."

As she spoke, a new guard arrived nearby and took her place. She motioned for Atlas to follow her and walked in through the gates.

"You said your name was Atlas, didn't you? Welcome to Genvera. Enjoy it while you can, because when the Masters call for you, the challenge circuit will begin."

"Challenge circuit?" Atlas repeated.

"That's why you're here."

"I'll introduce myself. I am Feng Ziran. I will be one of your opponents in the circuit that old pig forced you into. To explain it simply, there is a longstanding challenge between the Tatsuya Clan and our Feng Clan."

She had sharp eyes that viewed him as an opponent even though she was speaking relatively amicably.

"At any point, if someone with a challenge token appears, a circuit will be created. The challenger cannot leave until they either complete the circuit or lose. It was originally meant to be a way to establish a friendly rivalry between our two clans." Your next read is at empire

The Feng Clan had sent challengers every ten years without fail since the tradition was established. At first, the Tatsuya Clan would send geniuses as well, but it had been over a hundred years since the last time.

There were countless people in the Feng Clan who wanted Artemia Tatsuya to appear with a challenge token so they could see who was truly the best genius among them, but when the Tatsuya Clan's token appeared once more, it was carried by an unknown man.

"Many people will be unhappy with your presence. This will undoubtedly be a more difficult circuit than any other. At most, I can guarantee that the cultivation level of your opponents does not exceed your own."

'Their cultivation will not exceed mine, but I am arrogant if I think I can match them with only that much. She is saying it with her eyes so clearly that she doesn't need to verbalize the words. Isn't she underestimating me a little too much?'

Atlas shrugged it off, blaming it on youth, and accepted her words.

'The old bastard sent me for a combat circuit without telling me anything. Just as she said, I expect nothing less from him.'

In the first place, he should've questioned it when he found himself trusting Alaric without a second thought. That man loved to play tricks on people and mess with them.

'Well, it isn't entirely a bad thing.'

A combat circuit would achieve the same purpose he originally came here for.

'If the envoy comes before it ends, it will be troublesome, but otherwise…'

He could learn from the Feng Clan geniuses, see what level their clan was at, and more with just this.

The challenge token made the entire clan perceive him negatively, but at the same time, it allowed him to get past all of the security measures the clan had.

When she finished explaining things to him, Feng Ziran led him to an accommodation within the city, an inn like any other. After a short conversation with the innkeeper, she returned to him and said simply:

"You'll stay here for now. Once the circuit has been prepared, you will be invited to stay in the main palace until it is over."

He nodded. She left without any goodbyes while he was given the key to his room.

'She knows a little too much for a gate guard. No, thinking about it now, the Feng Clan is too small to have True Phoenixes as gate guards.'

It only took a few seconds for him to assume that the clan's geniuses took said roles to experience the world, interact with people, and earn some sort of incentive.

'All sects work the same, even if they are called Societies in the current day.'

Genvera was a city created on the single point in Alfros where qi gathered with the most density and purity. As such, it was a perfect place to practice things like alchemy.

'I still cannot make Heaven Grade Pills, but I do not know if it is because my qi is not strong enough or because I have more to learn.'

He took out his cauldron and placed it on the floor.

'I wish I could easily erect a formation to isolate myself, but…'

Well, it was possible. He just needed to pay for it.

'The Tower Shop has mysterious devices that can deploy a single formation before they break. I don't think anyone has ever bought one, considering the price…'

But, alchemists were a desired breed. Atlas didn't want the scent of pills and pill-making to leak and draw others to him.

The combat circuit had already generated enough interest in his eyes.

"Haa…"

His money was wasting away.

'If I give some Earth Grade Pills to Scarlet Fox, I can make most of it back…'

Trying to justify his stupid purchases, Atlas raised his hand into the air and grabbed the item that appeared before him. It looked like a formation disk, but it was only the size of a palm. Once it was placed on the ground, it glowed with a subtle light and sunk into the floor.

Atlas could feel that he was now protected from prying eyes.

'Alright.'

He raised the qi in his body to simulate a wood-fire physique. He withdrew the ingredients he had prepared and calmed himself, ready to start production.

The first batch of pills came out fine. As did the second. Ever since his first visit to Vanatos, he had been able to make Earth Grade Pills easily.

There was no problem even today. His flame control was the same as always, and with the wood element emanating from his body, it was like he could feel the spirituality of each individual ingredient.

Everything was fine, so why did he feel so unaccomplished?

'I have made no progress.'

Because he never "learned" anything about alchemy. He had the base techniques and the knowledge provided to him by the Formation Spark, but did he ever try to actually integrate that knowledge?

He took what he needed and followed it exactly without extrapolating the principles behind what he was doing, so in the end, even if he made perfect pills, any other alchemist who saw them would consider them a fake product.

'But where will I find the time to practice alchemy so sincerely?'

This was the problem with taking too many paths. The day did not have enough hours to accommodate them all.

Atlas had to pick and choose if he wanted to be perfect in any one thing. Just like everyone else, he had to know when to give up.

'But…'

Alchemy was not something he could give up.

The Formation Spark was not something he could give up.

No matter how many years passed, he would never forget that this spark was a gift from his dear friend. In order to honor his memory, Atlas couldn't let it rot in his soul.

It was as Atlas pondered such dilemmas that he learned another new fact. The day really was one filled with learning.

He opened his eyes, looking at the pills in front of him, when his gaze suddenly moved to the shadow hovering over him.

Right, the Tower certainly offered one-time formations that could isolate one from the outside world.

But, those formations would also become useless if they were met with beings that far outclassed them.

And such a being had just arrived in this very room.

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