Tower of Heaven

For the average cultivator, it went like so:

The Mystic Realm opened and remained open for several days. When those several days passed, it disappeared. They all knew what this meant. Someone else had claimed the primary artifact supporting the realm.

Finding that person and taking the treasure was the imperative for many of them, but it was almost impossible for them in this situation. In the first place, the eight Ascenders who entered the illusionary realm were left in a completely different place from the rest of them.

They didn't know this, so many immediately went to attacking the cultivators around them, suspecting anyone and everyone.

As for the rest who had some more sense, they did not focus on the main artifact. There was no need to, as it was likely an artifact that chose its own master.

They instead focused on what was in front of them.

Currently, the manifestations of every artifact in the Mystic Realm were gone. They had been dispersed, and those artifacts had been dropped into the same area where they currently were.

In other words, it wasn't a matter of skill anymore. It was a matter of who found the artifacts first and who could escape this place without losing them.

This scramble began almost instantly. Only one red-haired man and those he brought along with him left quietly in its midst.

'He probably got his hands on it. Then, he'll be on his way to the underworld soon.'

Bernan looked into the distance. He was a powerful Immortal, so his eyesight could span this entire Wilderness easily. He could see Atlas without much trouble.

'When he comes back from that adventure, how much stronger will he be?'

The version of Atlas who'd be working in tandem with his people was that one. Bernan couldn't wait to see it.

"Let's head back." Experience more tales on empiren/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Bernan spoke into a communication talisman, addressing all of those who followed him.

"We have a lot to do to prepare. It'll get fun a few years from now, so let's get ready to do it properly."

With one last look into the distance, Bernan disappeared from the Wilderness.

As he said, it would be several years before he saw Atlas again.

***

On the other hand, Atlas and Jason were currently standing on top of two corpses. They were the two cultivators who decided it was a good idea to attack Atlas when they saw the artifact next to him.

Unfortunately for them, Atlas wasn't even the one who killed them. The Death Relic that was happy to be active again got rid of them for ruining its good atmosphere.

Seeing this, the rest also gave up. If it was a cultivator, they'd be fine with fighting, but an artifact was a different thing.

Artifacts with sentience couldn't be used by just anyone. They had to be "tamed." There were three different ways to tame an artifact. They were called Domination, Cooperation, and Submission.

Domination was when one forcefully formed a contract with an artifact spirit.

Taking this path meant that the full potential of the artifact would never be brought to life. If it backfired, it would lead to the death of the user. However, if it succeeded, the artifact spirit would be wholly obedient and would only act on the orders of the master. This type of contract formed a master-slave relationship between the two.

Cooperation was when an artifact spirit and its wielder formed a pact of equals.

The master couldn't force the artifact spirit to do anything and had to give something in order to take. An equals contract could form a better relationship between artifact spirit and master, which in turn made it so a greater amount of the artifact's potential could be brought out.

The last, Submission, was the rarest but most valuable form of contract.

In this form, the artifact spirit willingly declares submission to its master and pledges its allegiance. Rather than a master-slave relationship like what was formed through Domination, it was a master-servant relationship. This was the method by which an artifact's full potential could be unearthed, as the artifact spirit would willingly comply with any of the master's demands, even if the master asked them to die. With how prideful artifact spirits were, it was incredibly rare to see one voluntarily submit, but they were also extremely loyal. Once they had submitted, they would never go back on their word and never refuse to cooperate regardless of what was asked of them.

Submission had strict requirements that not only relied on the artifact, but also the master. The level of synchronization and synergy between them had to be perfect, or it would only result in the best form of Cooperation.

Nevertheless, the cultivators who saw the Death Relic killing those who attacked Atlas figured they either had a relationship of Cooperation or Submission. In other words, that artifact chose him, and if they tried to kill him for it, it would not take kindly to them.

'They are wrong. It is with me for the promise of something great, but the moment it sees something great, it will easily abandon me.'

Luckily, Atlas didn't plan to keep it for long. He viewed the artifact as a ticking time bomb, after all.

"Go back to your people and prepare. I'll contact you when everything is set up."

Jason nodded at the words. He had already provided his contact talisman, so there was an established line of communication between them.

"I will be waiting patiently."

He didn't need more prompting to leave. He also wanted to return and tell Nadia and the rest that he was okay.

Left alone, Atlas looked into the distance for a second before looking at the artifact.

'Bernan has also left, I see…'

"Shall we go find you a new owner?"

Atlas was more than satisfied with the results of this Mystic Realm expedition.

He was able to do things much easier than he expected.

His advantage was really just a difference in experience. Because he experienced the world for ten thousand years, exploring countless Mystic Realms, Secret Realms, and other planes of various forms, he was able to easily deduce the core facts.

Of course, because Atlas was only at the World Core Realm back then, there was still much he didn't know and much he was learning.

However, when his willingness to learn the new things of this life came together from his experiences from the past, it splendidly compounded to form a beautiful picture almost like foresight.

This was an illusionary realm created by an artifact, not a matter of living beings. Unlike those matters, everything in this realm was a matter of order and flow.

Everything would connect logically at the end of the day because if it didn't, then the Mystic Realm would have been unable to support itself.

As such, knowing that there would not be any deviation in the slightest from what was predictable, Atlas acted in full confidence.

An Atlas who had full confidence in his success was simply an entity other cultivators at the same level couldn't hope to match.

With the Death Relic in hand, Atlas didn't need to think about the next step.

Because, well, finding the recommendation of a God of Death…

"I will offer this relic to whichever one of you is willing to provide it to me."

Atlas looked at the array of messages that appeared in front of him the moment he decided not to bind the Death Relic.

Judging from the nature of their nicknames, it wasn't hard to determine which Dao they formed their Godheads on.

[Several Gods of Death have turned their attention to you.]

[Several Gods of Death are watching you intently.]

[Several Gods of Death are considering your offer.]

Now, it was only a matter of time.