Tower of Heaven

See, Atlas still didn't completely understand why Divine Sanctuary had taken interest in him.

From what Adella told him, even they weren't entirely sure about the "why."

The head of the Azure Dragon Clan was Alaric Tatsuya, but he did not stand there alone. Accompanying him by his side was his wife, Artemia's mother, and the reason for Atlas' summoning.

As such, despite Alaric being their main goal, Adella took Atlas to see Mireiya Tatsuya, the person Atlas was most curious about.

He found himself in a room mostly colored red. Half of it was separated from the other half by a semi-translucent fabric, allowing Atlas to only see the shadow of the person on the other side.

Adella and Artemia were not present. While Artemia was forced to leave because of her duties, Adella was waiting outside of the door. This was a space that "only he was allowed to enter" at the current time.

"I hope you do not feel too offended by our sudden invitation," the woman behind the veil said. Her voice was smooth and eerie, seemingly coming from every direction. It gave Atlas the sense that she could see everything about him.

"There is nothing of the sort. I also wanted to visit, after all," he responded somewhat warily.

'She is mysterious, but there is no hostile intent in her actions. Moreover, the Eyes of One will not stop pulsating. Insight has marked her as a vital point in my fate.'

Mireiya nodded, her movements so fluid that her expressions seemed to leak through the shadows.

"How much do you know about the Great Dao, Atlas Vaun?"

The way she addressed him by his full name made him uncomfortable, but he still responded.

"I am somewhat experienced, but there is no cultivator who can say that he understands the Great Dao, especially not one who is just beginning his journey."

As if expecting his answer, Mireiya fluidly continued the conversation.

"The Great Dao is as vast as you believe. Within it are thousands, millions of doctrines that can be studied by those with the proper fate. My fate…was with Fate itself.'

That was the reason she called him.

"Fate has always spoken to me and given me visions. The past, present, and future become one in my eyes, and within the mess they create, I can discern the workings of Fate where it allows me to."

Right, this was why Mireiya was so well respected alongside Alaric. Perhaps her strength wasn't the greatest, but her powers of divination and fate allowed the Tatsuya Clan to grow and thrive.

She had used that power once more, and unlike any other time, she saw the appearance of an unfamiliar person. She was only vaguely able to piece together that it was Atlas through Artemia's stories about the 11th Floor.

"At first, I was confused. The Fate of our clan does not normally interact with outsiders. However, now that I am seeing you, I understand a bit more."

Mireiya leaned forward. Atlas could feel her eyes piercing through him.

"You have a very twisted soul, young man."

Atlas' eyes widened.

"My soul?"

His soul, the same soul he carried with him through his reincarnation… Was she able to see it?

"It is so overflowing with darkness, yet so pure at the same time. I do not know how your soul became so filled with contradictions, but if it is not fixed, then you will never achieve your full potential."

'Darkness…'

To be honest, Atlas could feel it too. He rarely acknowledged it, but every so often, it would bubble up inside of him. It caused a great pain in his mind as his soul struggled to regain itself, but it always faded without becoming anything more.

However, was it really a darkness?

If so, then what was causing it? What was polluting his soul and making him so weak? If his true level was meant to be what he showed in the wood trial…

'...I am being severely limited.'

Such a state couldn't be allowed to remain.

"Do you know how I can fix it?" He asked. Mireiya spoke like his problem was related to the Tatsuya Clan. He assumed that she would have at least some answers for him.

Unfortunately…

"I do not."

…Mireiya's response was succinct.

"Your soul can only be untangled by you. There are some treasures that may be able to help you, but getting a hold of them will take time."

The solution wasn't in the Azure Dragon Clan. Nevertheless, it was not unrelated to them.

"I suggest you remain in our territory. If you meet with my husband, perhaps you will find at least some of the benefits you seek."

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'That is the direction she has been leading the conversation from the beginning.'

In the end, her connection with Fate, however it worked, told her that Atlas and Alaric needed to come in contact. Still, she was just a messenger. If Atlas or anyone else wanted to see the results of their connecting fates, they could only wait for time to tell them.

'She was able to see the state of my soul, something that is a mystery even to me, and tell me openly what the problem is. I am compelled to trust her word.'

He wasn't the type to believe anything he heard, but it was different when it came from someone like her.

After all, she was a Heavenly Immortal, someone whose energy surpassed even a star. She had no reason to lie to a puny Core Formation Realm cultivator.

'Being weak is…interesting.'

Things were progressing in an unexpected direction. Whether it was his past self or his current self, in comparison to the people he was meeting, he was nothing but a fly. This feeling was the reason why events were progressing so chaotically along a path that felt predetermined.

To Atlas, it was all confusing because he was not qualified to understand yet.

'Haa…it really is a slow journey.'

He couldn't feel rushed. No matter how rushed he felt, he wouldn't be able to rapidly match up to them. He first had to take the steps he'd taken already before entering completely unknown territory and cultivating until he almost died before he reached them.

'For now, I can only be content with the fact that these people are presenting themselves as my allies.'

His meeting with Mireiya gave him a better idea of what kind of strength the Great Societies had hidden within their ranks.

And when he left, he went straight to meet someone even greater.

Yet, for some reason, it didn't feel that way at all?

"Kuahahaha! So you're the kid our little Ari has been yapping about!"

Such was the greeting he received from that man.

With a mane of black hair and a beard that took up more than half of his face was a man who looked more like a beast than a human.

Atlas didn't think about it much when he was meeting with Mireiya, but she wasn't like her daughter at all in character. Seeing Alaric, Atlas understood that she got her looks from her mother.

But that crass attitude and that laugh that bellowed out with the strength of a supreme heavenly drunk uncle…

'...she is definitely someone who takes after her father.'

Which meant that Atlas' grand perception of Heavenly Immortals was bound to be shattered within minutes.

Such was fate, wasn't it?