Tower of Heaven

There was only one, but it didn't look like he'd just been transported here. Unlike Atlas, he was never disoriented. He kept his eyes on the person in front of him.

'And, his blade is already drawn.'

The man was roughly the same age as him and had a common brown hair color. His face was not recognizable, particularly because it was coated in dust from multiple days of living in an underground environment.

'That environment must be this system of corridors.'

The space was much wider than before and looked to be linear and leading somewhere.

'This trial…'

Atlas was not surprised when the man in front of him attacked.

A sword came flying towards his neck, forcing him to dodge to the side.

'...requires us to fight against one another.'

There couldn't have been another reason for the killing aura around his opponent.

Shing!

The sword was used to slice right after the stab was completed. Atlas brandished his own weapons, grabbing the sickles by their handles. With the blade in his left, he precisely parried the other side and pushed his blade to the side. His right arm swung out, matching the other side's pace and landing on the enemy's neck.

Atlas pushed forward, knocking the man to the ground before securing him with his qi.

"Stop resisting."

Naturally, his opponent thrashed around and tried to rid himself of his grip. He was also a Core Formation Realm cultivator, but he was a real one. His qi control was still rudimentary and he didn't quite understand how to fight. Against Atlas, he was nothing.

"I said stop resisting."

Atlas pushed his blade into the man's neck and drew blood.

"Death is real. Do not approach it meaninglessly if you do not have to."

The man's eyes trembled slightly. Gradually, his struggle halted and he let go of his sword.

"Good."

The blade did not move more than a few centimeters away. It was still ready to take his neck at a moment's notice, but it wasn't immediately threatening him.

"Tell me what the goal of this trial is."

"I-I don't know!" the man responded in a panic.

"I was also transported here a few hours ago! All I've seen is people killing other people, but I'm weak! I couldn't even kill a single person, so I don't know what we're supposed to be doing!"

He had sincerity in his eyes more because his desperation was real. In a place where everyone was reaching the Earth Sage Realm, a Core Formation Realm cultivator became irrelevant.

"You have noticed nothing?"

Atlas didn't let up on his interrogation just because of the unfortunate circumstances. If the man had spent a few hours in this place, in a part of it where others were present in great numbers, then he had to know something useful.

The man understood that he couldn't hesitate. He was unskilled because he hadn't been cultivating for a very long time. However, he was welcomed into the world of cultivators by blood and gore. If he hesitated, then his neck would be next.

His attitude of cooperation was perhaps weak to others, but Atlas respected it. Since the information he wanted came pouring out, he lost the need to kill someone who didn't deserve death.

According to the man, the people in this trial were killing each other for "points." They said there were other ways to gain them, but it was too much work and they much preferred to target each other.

More than that, he was truly clueless. These few hours, he had been living like a rat, scampering around to different corners. He only came out when he saw Atlas, who he planned to kill with a sneak attack.

'Though, calling it a sneak attack would be an insult to sneak attacks.'

Atlas didn't feel any particular need to kill him because he knew that the man literally could not do anything to him with his experience. He wasn't a genius like Artemia or Horus who could potentially endanger him if they wanted to.

'Do I want to look for the other way to gain these points?'

If the direction the man came from was more packed with people, then it had to be the way to the main goal. He could easily go there and kill a few young cultivators, but it weighed on his soul to do something so bastardly.

He had pride in himself and his methods. A true cultivator did not chase after rapid benefits but instead focused on long-term goals. Especially in his state as a man thousands of years their elder, it was shameful to think of slaughtering them without purpose.

'I will still have to move in that direction if I wish to learn anything more, but I must remember my position.'

To show mercy to all but the undeserving. This was the way of the Heavenly Emperor.

Atlas took his blade off the man's neck and gave him a single punch to the face, taking his consciousness. Leaving him to sleep for a few minutes, Atlas left, following the path forward.

It didn't split even once. It was one, massive corridor that forced everyone inside to meet regardless of whether or not they wanted to.

The first few people Atlas saw were warily hugging the walls. As they did not approach him, he passed them by as well.

'I do not expect to find help, but at least some sort of clue…'

"Hey, you over there!"

As if it had been awaiting him, the clue revealed itself in the form of another man. This one had blonde hair and an arrogant expression on his face. He could have been handsome if it weren't for that look.

"What are you doing here? A little Core Formation Realm brat wants a part of our treasure, huh?"

He approached with a saunter in his steps. Atlas indiscernibly readied himself for battle. The man was alone only on the surface. [intrinsic Foresight] revealed five other vital auras following him in the shadows.

"Have you found any keys yet?"

'Keys?'

"If you have, then why don't you hand them over to me for safekeeping? I don't think you'll be able to hold onto them for very long on your own."

The five people in the shadows revealed themselves in an obviously planned act to scare their opponents into submitting. All six of them were Earth Sages, so it was common for someone like Atlas to immediately surrender.

However, they met the wrong opponent this time.

"Keys, you say. I do not have any, but I presume that you have collected quite a few."

Atlas wanted an opportunity to train his power against Earth Sages, and this was a perfect opportunity.

More importantly…

'Stealing from an Earth Sage is far easier than defeating one.'

It was a little ironic coming from the person who was talking about morality just moments earlier, but that was just how it was.

Morality was saved for the people for whom it mattered. For the rest of them…?

For those cultivators who were scum themselves…?

Well, against them, following the scriptures of morality too strictly was too much of a blessing.

Against them, people like Atlas were permitted to be a bit more mischievous.