The city of Inflamed Chalice wasn't safe anymore. Even with a mask and cloak, spies stronger than him could uncover his identity easily, so Atlas didn't stay there any longer and returned to the West Continent.
After realizing that the danger lurking around him could bother even his family, Atlas had to inform his grandparents.
Once back to the Village of Nevery, Atlas ran home as fast as he could.
It was still midday, and he hoped his family was already back from their last journey.
It didn't take long for the new Atlas to reach his small hut at the top of the mountain.
"Flare!!"
Seeing that arrogant rooster roaming outside his small palace, he felt an incredible emotion because he knew they were back.
"Grandma... Grandpa... I'm back!"
Atlas shouted with all his might, announcing his return to the entire world.
And clearly, the people inside the house hear him.
Indeed, after a breath, an old woman came out, barging the door with a light push: "Little rascal... you are finally back... Do you know how much we were..."
She was so happy to see him, but she couldn't finish her speech because a terrible reality was right in front of her.
She hoped so much that her assumption was wrong, yet fate was a bastard sometimes...
"You... What did you do???"
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"So, this is where he lives... It's not so bad after all. Fresh air and a bit cold, but I like it."
An hour after Atlas came back from the East Continent, another person appeared in the peaceful village of Nevery.
She was a graceful young woman dressed like an average martial cultivator.
Her beauty wasn't so extraordinary to ruin a kingdom with a simple smile, yet the graceful aura around her gave that typical beauty something unique.
"From our information... his home should be on the top of this mountain, but I can't go there just like that... Hmm... What can I do?"
The young woman found it annoying to wait for his return, so she enjoyed the scenery until her secret guards discovered his location.
The village wasn't so large, yet she found something strange in this place.
"Why are there so many people around here?"
Indeed, the village of Nevery was a bit peculiar.
Although its location was quite far from any major city, many experts were around, as if something in this place was attracting them.
Maybe it was the peaceful atmosphere, or perhaps this place was a strategic point where one could advance in one Martial Cultivation path.
Nobody knew the answer.
It was only a sensation...
The people who came to this village found their hearts and souls touched by an inexplicable feeling...
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It took him a while to calm down his grandmother and even more to convince her that he was fine.
Naturally, his actual Martial Cultivation Realm couldn't escape her eyes, so he started narrating a fake story about a few days ago. He didn't want to tell them what he had gone through since leaving the village because it was simply too unbelievable and problematic for his future trips.
Unfortunately, she wasn't so easily fooled.
"Liar!... we know that you took the ancient tome from here. This is the only reasonable way for you to reacquire your Chaotical Core... You are probably angry with us because we didn't tell you about it, but we did it for your own safety. Unfortunately, fate chooses your path, and we can't do anything about that..."
Hearing her words, Atlas was puzzled: 'So... they thought I gained my Chaotical Core because of that Ancient Martial Cultivation Technique... That's fine, too. Let's keep Nihilir's existence a secret for now...'
"Grandma... I'm not blaming you. I swear it. It's just that I thought it was better to not tell you anything about all that matters."
Hearing his confession, Marigold sighed in sadness: "Little boy... I'm sorry. We wanted to let you live your life without such a burdensome secret, but you couldn't escape from this horrid fate..."
While they were talking, an old man came out of the entrance: "Marigold... since we got to this point, we should tell him the truth as we promised to her."
"You are right, August..."
'What are they talking about?' Atlas thought, hearing their conversation.
Marigold and August looked at each other for a while until the old man started speaking: "Atlas... since you have become a martial cultivator, we will tell you the true origins of the Village of Nevery and the secrets behind our rapid ascension... after all, it all related to you, little fellow."
Atlas freezed momentarily at his words. He had heard stories about the Nevery's origin, so what was he talking about? And what was that absurd story about him related to all of this?
They had nurtured him since he was only a little boy, but they didn't know anything about his days before that period, so could they be referring to that?
Soon, they started recounting their past, but the matter behind it was even more sensational than he had anticipated.
"We were young and stupid fellows who roamed these lands to enjoy the mystery of this world. Alas, one day..."
Marigold halted her speech as if troubled by something.
Fortunately, August picked up where she left off: "Ahi... until one day, Neve, Marigold's sister, met a calamity."
Atlas was shocked. His lovely grandma had a sister...
Why he didn't know about that?
There was another brief silence until Marigold found some courage: "Atlas... we have never told you about her because she is missing by so much that my memories about her are both a blessing and a huge curse. Anyway, I will tell you about her in the future. It's a promise..."
"Grandma..." Atlas wanted to speak, yet she didn't let him do it.
"Atlas... don't worry... this day should have come sooner or later..."
Atlas didn't press and kept listening.
"Well... probably because we grow up too complacent about our conquests. Hundreds of years ago, we came to this mountain looking for treasures and precious prey. However, sometimes the destiny is genuinely a bastard because this place was the home of powerful Chaos Creatures, with a cultivation realm above ours, and inevitably led us to meet a dreadful calamity that brought the sudden disappearance of Neve."
It was such a breathtaking story that Atlas could feel his heart beat rapidly. But it didn't end there. In fact, where perils and tragedy rest, a bit of fortune is always in wait.
"... In the end, we managed to escape. And in that moment of intense peril, fate brought us some good fortune... maybe even the Gods pitied us or perhaps for some other reason... we found an ancient site inside the Lonely Mountain, created by a nameless Progenitor!!"