Tower of Heaven

They were strong in the sense of defense, but for the most part, his form was purely for appearance's sake.

That needed to change before anything else. The reason why Atlas was taking a beating every day was because Alaric was using his own methods and qi to develop Atlas' body to what it needed to be.

Rather than brute strength, the core of Atlas' past strength, he needed to continue to focus on what he was doing in this life. Speed and dexterity were going to be his greatest weapons. As such, he naturally needed to develop to maximize his abilities in those aspects.

The smooth and subtle control of his chain sickles could only be trained after the proper foundation was built. It was the first thing Alaric mentioned when they started training, and it was obvious just how much he valued the concept.

While building his body, Atlas still had time to focus on other things. While he stayed in the library, he learned much about the Tower and the environment of the current world.

In fact, the Tatsuya Clan's libraries solved many of the immediate questions that Atlas had.

For instance, the origin of the Tower.

'Nobody knows where it came from or how it appeared. However, many of the people here were alive when it happened.'

5000 years ago, that period of time that had been mentioned twice already. 5000 years ago, the world was changed for eternity. The people found themselves transported into the Tower, some on the floors and some in the Neutral Zones. The last thing they remembered of the outside world was the cracks that spread across the sky.

How they were transported, why they were transported, what the true nature of the Tower was, and where it truly was were all questions that remained unanswered to this day, for the few people who cleared the Tower never returned to or interacted with those they left behind.

People like Alaric who were tens of thousands of years old, people from Atlas' own generation, they all witnessed the Tower's descent with their own eyes. Only Atlas himself missed it.

'That means there are sure to be more people from my past in the Tower.'

He was suddenly reminded of the Wood Spirit King.

Sylvanus was a man who likely knew some of the details behind Atlas' past, but he'd been avoiding Artemia solely so the Spirit King wouldn't be able to meet him.

'The feeling of avoidance in my heart has guided me to do so, but I must eventually overcome it.'

Whatever he was to hear from Sylvanus, it would be useful. No matter how much his heart told him to stay away from the man, he couldn't avoid confrontation.

'Nevertheless, that is a task for later.'

Artemia was also training diligently. They met up every once in a while to compare, spar, or just because Artemia wanted to use him as an excuse to avoid training, but that was the extent of it.

'In this clan, the library has been my greatest friend.'

Atlas could finally say with confidence that he could compare to others in knowledge of the current era after two weeks, but he didn't spend all of his time learning about unrelated subjects.

He was not allowed to visit the chambers that held the secrets of the Tatsuya Clan, including their techniques, but the common libraries had enough information.

Dragons, unlike humans, were connected to the Dao from birth. Azure Dragons were especially as such. Their existence as a species held huge symbolic meaning, as they were long seen as messengers of the Heavens, at least in the Mortal Realm.

For a young dragon, the things in this library were no more than references to help them become more familiar with the Dao of Water.

However, for Atlas, those same books were priceless reading materials.

"Beginner materials" for a dragon were so complex that even a World Core Realm cultivator from the human race would be impressed with the knowledge within.

The days in the library changed. Atlas found himself a relatively isolated area and used it to meditate while he learned from the books.

'The seven concepts of water are Harmony, Flexibility, Force, Rhythm, Torrent, Dominance, and Phasing.'

Each had its advantages and disadvantages. For ordinary people, the path of cultivation would take them through all of the concepts until they eventually found a mixture that suited them best.

Atlas had to pick only one of them and stick to it. The weaknesses of the concept would be covered by the other elemental Daos.

'Then, to focus on what I lack and choose a more adaptable concept that does not hinder my future choices…'

To Atlas, water was not an attack force. It could be used that way, but water's primary capabilities were in its adaptability.

It could be used as a good defense, able to be both solid and swift. All of the concepts were interesting, but Atlas already knew which one he was choosing.

After all, the aspect of water that he respected the most was already one of his options.

'Flexibility.'

He had tens of ideas already of how to incorporate the flexibility of water into his battle style.

'I never took the time to ponder it, but perhaps I must keep my ability to comprehend multiple Daos a secret.'

Too much talent was as much of a sin as no talent.

'Comprehending two contradictory Daos one after another will raise concerns. I must not use water and fire in the same environment unless it is absolutely necessary.'

At most, he could use two Daos at the same time, and they had to be complementary.

'It is good that I have realized it this early.'

There was no real "worst-case scenario." At most, some Society would consider him a threat and try to eliminate him. The real reason to hide his Daos was to avert people's eyes. In a situation where his life was threatened, the fact that he had so many hidden cards would be the factor that saved him.

The future where this realization would help him was still far away. At the moment, Atlas was still trying to gain a grasp of the Dao of Water.

His routine was established now.

Physical training with Alaric, comprehension in the library, and finally, the last skill he wanted to learn before leaving Vanatos.

'Alchemy.'

The Formation Spark left to him by Kallos gave him the potential to become the world's greatest alchemist and forger. Before he learned how to forge, he needed to find a good teacher, but alchemy was different.

Alchemy was something he'd already attempted, so he was confident in learning it as long as he had the proper equipment.

The ability to craft his own pills would also support him heavily in the future. Energy cultivation would eventually become just as reliant on external stimuli as body cultivation. If he had to pay an alchemist to do the work, the entire fund that Kallos left him would be used up in some years.

Once he learned alchemy properly, he could say that he was satisfied with his gains.

But, alchemy would have to wait.

For the next few years, Atlas focused on those two things that he was already doing. He came closer and closer to the Earth Sage Realm with every passing day, and his skill improved to reflect that growth.

Until one day, it clicked.

The Dao of Water accepted him as one of its followers.