The Elders glanced at each other wordlessly. From the qi flowing between them, Atlas could tell that they were speaking through ntal transmissions, but he was not yet at a high enough level to intercept such ans.
He could only wait until they reached a conclusion and addressed him again.
"Can you verify that the enemies are from Sea of Ti?"
Atlas shook his head.
"I did not personally collect the information, so I will not verify anything. Along the way, I t two cultivators and I can describe to you their qi. That is the most I can provide."
Elder iyan nodded.
"Very well. We will discuss this matter with the other Elders and decide how to respond. Until then, is there anything else you would like to share?"
Atlas furrowed his brows as he fell into thought. He learned more than just the identity of Sea of Ti from the Boar.
'He said that they are trying to turn the world into an abyss, but that ans nothing. Otherwise…'
The information he gained otherwise was not related to the Feng Clan or Alfros. It was only associated with his own matters, so there was no need to share it.
In the end, he shook his head.
"I believe I will learn more as I interact with the information's source. If I learn more, I will be sure to inform the Feng Clan."
It was a specific wording that separated him from these three Elders as individuals, but they didn't say anything about it. His silence was easily accepted.
They also knew that Atlas was withholding information. If he was an ordinary person, they wouldn't have had any problems with suppressing him and forcing him to spill what he knew.
However, in the Tower, without special circumstances, one was never alone.
[Great Sage, Heaven's Equal watches you intently.]
[Moonlight Sage watches you intently.]
The variety of Gods, so strong and so weak, were surely a sort of suppressant of their own, but they were not the ones these three Elders were concerned about.
[Nine-Tailed Yaksha watches you intently]
[Stellar Fla Emperor watches you intently]
[Spirit of the Fla watches you intently.]
Rather, it was a group of entities who placed their attention not on Atlas, but on the Elders themselves.
They were the sole reason why Atlas was allowed to maintain his silence, and they were also the reason why they posed their next question.
"Now, shall we address that?"
"Hm?"
Atlas made a curious sound and followed the gazes of the three Elders, only for his eyes to land on his own shoulder.
"Ah, right, that…"
He almost forgot because it didn't weigh a thing. The other Phoenixes in the palace hadn't said a word about it either, so Atlas naturally forgot its presence.
However, that Kitsune was indeed still sitting there. It had curled up into a ball and was peacefully napping from the outside perspective, but it was still entirely conscious and aware of the outside world.
Atlas believed that this was a state it adopted in order to cope with the many changes it had experienced since it hatched from the egg. It could tell that it was no longer the sa kind of Divine Beast it was originally born as.
Nevertheless, that wasn't the important thing at the mont.
"This, well, you could say this is also sothing that ended up happening during the chaos."
Atlas sheepishly scratched his head and briskly gave an overview of the Kitsune's matter. He was hoping the Feng Clan could take care of it while he was in the underworld, so it was good to fill them in on its situation.
When they saw the slave collar around its neck, their opinions of Atlas almost tanked completely, but that was when Elder ngyao recognized the collar in question.
There were two main factions of the Feng Clan that were fighting to control their future direction, but none of it mattered in this instance. Even these three Elders ca from different sides, however, until Alfros had stabilized, they would not act against each other.
Elder ngyao discreetly communicated the identity of the collar to her peers before Atlas could even begin his explanation. Their plan was to hear a more detailed story from Feng Ziran later. They only questioned Atlas to judge his character.
The story he gave was concrete enough, and hearing how Feng Ziran personally told him to place the collar around the beast's neck, the Elders couldn't help but feel surprised.
As for whether they'd trust him or not… Well, that would be determined by the story Feng Ziran told later.
Standing up, they motioned for Atlas to do the sa.
"We will not say anything about your personal matters. You have proven yourself to be an ally of our Feng Clan, so you will receive treatnt worthy of such a title."
In simple words, they would make sure that people didn't needlessly raise problems with him. That wasn't to say that the Feng Clan's conflict would never affect him, but it at least wouldn't bother him ordinarily.
"I appreciate your consideration," Atlas responded with a bow.
"Am I still required to participate in the combat circuit, or will it be called off until the restoration efforts are completed?"
It was really the only question remaining. It didn't seem like the teor shower would end easily, and until it did, the neutrality of this world was in jeopardy. To hold a combat circuit in such conditions…
Elder ngyao sighed, speaking for the rest.
"Our traditions do not allow us to cancel the circuit, but our geniuses also aren't readily available, so we will make an exception. This circuit is not complete, only halted. When Alfros has recovered, you must return to complete it."
"I assu I have to guarantee my return?"
Elder ngyao smiled slightly.
"It is good that you understand. Perhaps you can make a Heavenly Oath right here?"
She posed it as a friendly question, but was it really like that?
Atlas sighed helplessly, realizing he didn't have any other choice.
'Well, it isn't a bad thing.'
Fighting against the Feng Clan's geniuses was a great way for him to train and improve, so the combat circuit inherently wasn't bad. The only issue was the timing.
'If these matters can be continued after Artemia and Horus are safe, I will gladly entertain them.'
As such, he swore the oath without worry. The Elders didn't force him to specify a ti limit, only making him swear that he would return as early as he could.
When both sides were satisfied, the eting ca to its natural end. Atlas returned to his accommodations within the Phoenix Palace, while the Elders went back to their duties in the world.
'I no longer have imdiate obligations in this world.'
While it was regretful that he couldn't finish his fight with Feng Yaohua –who he hadn't seen once since the beginning of the conflict– he was fine with the prospect of finishing their fight when both of them were stronger.
'Not much ti has passed. I can still fit so practice in before the eting in Vanatos.'
Atlas only had a few goodbyes to say before he left the Feng Clan. After he said them, he was going to return to the Xuanying Treasure Pagoda until his deadline arrived.
His next main enemy was the Hell Guardian itself.
And unlike the fight with the Kitsune, he planned to win that one without any tricks or sches.
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