In the dim world of Hell.
Alan's figure darted and shifted constantly, evading the attacks of a tier-bronze early-stage stone golem.
Though his current level was only tier-iron level 7, his soul had undergone a qualitative transformation.
Each time the golem channeled its mana, he could intuitively sense its attack trajectory, allowing him to activate defensive spells and dodge in advance.
While his movements appeared somewhat clumsy, he managed to hold his ground amidst the golem's powerful strikes.
As he gradually tried to multitask, drawing on the surrounding power of mana, his disadvantaged position slowly began to reverse.
Alan's combat strength was formidable, and with his soul drawing magic from the air, he was able to launch unexpected assaults.
The mindless stone golem gradually fell into Alan's rhythm.
"Fireball!"
Dodging another powerful blow from the golem, Alan's gaze sharpened.
The fireball spell he had perfected with his soul formed swiftly before him.
The massive, human-sized fireball caught the golem off guard, crashing into it.
Though the golem was clumsy, its defense was extraordinary, a true exemplar of tier-bronze.
Yet, as the giant fireball struck its stone chest, it scorched it black, leaving a deep fist-sized crater.
Then, the fireball exploded in a brilliant display, flinging the massive golem backward, crashing it heavily to the ground.
Watching this, Alan's expression turned serious.
The attack was indeed powerful, but it had nearly drained his soul. Exhaustion settled over him, leaving him gasping for breath.
Though severely damaged, the golem wasn't defeated.
After struggling for a moment, it managed to stand again.
"My level really is still too low," Alan murmured, shaking his head.
If he could break through to tier-iron level 8 and raise his magus level, he might be able to defy a whole tier and face a tier-bronze mage.
If he could achieve that, acceptance to Lioncrest Academy would be nearly certain.
As the golem rose and prepared to charge again, the black-robed woman waved her hand.
The golem's body shuddered, restored to peak condition, and it returned to the line of magical puppets, awaiting its next summons.
Seeing the golem restored to its original state, Alan took a deep breath, quickly replenishing the mana within his staff sword and channeling the Infernal Visualization Technique to recover his depleted soul.
Some potion residues remained in his body, and under the strain of high-intensity training, these remnants were rapidly drawn out, accelerating his recovery rate significantly.
Soon, after regaining his state, Alan resumed challenging the tier-bronze early-stage golem.
Defeat after defeat.
Fighting harder each time! Absorbing every bit of the potion's efficacy, stabilizing his mana and soul, he opened a chest, took out a healing potion, a leveling potion, and gulped them down.
Then, without pause, he plunged into yet another frenzied battle.
Twenty days passed quietly.
Perhaps William's previous warning had made an impact, or Alan's earlier beatdown of Forse had sufficiently intimidated others in the family.
Every day, Isabella placed bread, ale, and beef by his door without disturbing his training.
When Alan, drenched in sweat, stepped out of his room, Isabella looked at him anxiously, whispering, "Brother, I heard William has reached tier-iron level 9 and is pushing hard today to reach tier-bronze!"
"Tier-iron level 9, pushing for tier-bronze? That's quite a fast breakthrough rate," Alan replied with a calm face, his expression serene. "But that's all."
"But, Brother, you're only at tier-iron level 7. Are you sure you're ready? If not, maybe we should sneak away. There's always time later! I believe you'll rise to the top someday!" Isabella said earnestly.
Alan patted her head, devouring the bread and beef she'd brought, then replied with confidence, "Don't worry. William's no big deal; your brother isn't fazed by him! Whether he breaks through or not, he's a mere three-seven split with me."
"Three-seven split? Really?" Isabella blinked her innocent blue eyes wide.
Alan nodded, forming a sword shape with his fingers and gesturing in the air. "Three seconds, and he'll break seven bones!"
Isabella: "..."
"Alright, enough teasing. I'm about to break through too. Just wait for the good news!" Alan took a deep breath, his demeanor turning serious.
With that, he returned to his room and re-entered Hell.
This time, he didn't jump straight into the Soul Grindstone but instead picked up a blood-red potion from the chest, tilted his head back, and drank it in one gulp.
"Subdragon Blood Potion. It's all or nothing!"
This potion was the most precious of the nine he had prepared, containing a trace of subdragon blood.
He had obtained a dragon-blood-stained herb while occupying a black-gold mine.
After Isabella's careful concoction, the dragon blood was fully activated, significantly boosting his chance to level up.
As the potion entered his body, it felt like he'd swallowed molten lava, a scorching heat coursing through him, bringing waves of searing pain.
But Alan had endured the Soul Grindstone's torture hundreds of times in the past days.
What would be unbearable pain for others only made him frown without so much as a groan.
Wherever the potion circulated, his body underwent a transformative rebirth.
The level he had suppressed for over twenty days, now fueled by the potion, surged like a volcanic eruption!
Tier-iron level 8, instantly reached!
And it didn't stop there; his aura continued to rise!
Tier-iron level 9!
Two levels, broken through consecutively!
This was Alan's initial goal, and after over twenty days of grueling cultivation and the support of nine potions, he had finally achieved it!
Despite his expectations, a surge of joy filled his heart.
Just as he began to stabilize his level and strengthen his soul, he noticed his aura continued to rise, inching toward a breakthrough to tier-bronze.
Simultaneously, the subdragon potion's effects drew countless elemental forces into him like tidal waves, channeling them into his staff sword.
Under this pressure, the staff sword began to distort slightly, as if unable to contain the surging mana!
Alan's heart clenched.
The black-robed woman had mentioned that his staff sword was a mortal object, incapable of holding too much magic, and would eventually need replacement.
But he hadn't expected issues to arise so soon after his rapid level-ups.
Just then, he heard the woman's voice.
"Hold your breath, focus, and channel the magical elements steadily into the staff sword. Begin breaking through to tier-iron level 10. This is not just a crisis; it's a gift of destiny!"
"Tier-iron level 10?!"
Alan's pupils narrowed; he'd never heard of this level!
Wasn't tier-iron supposed to cap at level 9?
Once reaching tier-iron level 9, one would naturally progress to tier-bronze.
Sensing Alan's confusion, the black-robed woman explained, "Where you come from is narrow-minded. Tier-iron level 10 is a unique tier known only to the top powers."
Alan considered this and asked, "Senior, is tier-iron level 10 really that crucial?"
"Only by reaching this level can one be considered a truly grounded genius. Those who don't reach it are mere mediocrities!" The woman's tone took on an unusual gravity. "Even those prominent figures you know, including Nicolas, reached this level. Achieving it refines both body and soul to an unprecedented degree."
Upon hearing this, Alan suppressed his own rising tier growth furiously, guiding the rich magical essence from the potion into the staff sword and diffusing it throughout his body.
Although he was unsure what tier-iron level 10 would entail, Alan trusted the woman would not deceive him.