Under the intense baptism of magical elements from numerous potions, Alan's tier remained at tier-iron level 9, yet his physical attributes saw considerable growth and improvement.
It was like a meticulous grind, requiring time to hone gradually.
Alan used his soul to introspectively scan his body, identifying any incomplete or weak areas and reinforcing them step by step.
A day and night passed silently.
As his body reached a state of near-perfection, Alan's stalled aura finally began to surge once more. With an invisible "crack," he seemed to break through a certain barrier.
Tier-Iron Level 10!
In that instant, his body became like a greedy sponge, frantically absorbing magical elements from the air.
His once-ethereal soul now felt almost tangible, as if he were surrounded by countless bright fireflies, his awareness of the elements becoming vividly clear.
Meanwhile, above the Northern District, the sky resounded with thunder, lightning writhing like silver serpents.
Then, the clouds dispersed, and ethereal golden petals drifted down, enveloping Roan Castle entirely.
At the appearance of this phenomenon, everyone within Roan Castle looked up in astonishment.
"A celestial phenomenon?! Did William succeed in breaking through?"
"It must be William! He's the prodigy of the Hellfire bloodline. This time, he's successfully broken through to the early stage of tier-bronze, and his bloodline must have also undergone a tremendous enhancement!"
"No wonder it's William! Now, under his leadership, House Roan is sure to become a top family in the Northern District, Winterfell, and even the Plantagenet Kingdom!"
"To reach the early stage of tier-bronze at such a young age and trigger a celestial phenomenon—this hasn't happened in how many years? Heaven truly blesses House Roan!"
Everyone in House Roan was ecstatic, as though they saw a radiant future unfolding before them.
The seneschal, who had been in his room dealing with a mineral rights dispute with other nobles, felt his heart nearly leap out of his chest at the phenomenon.
"Heaven bless House Roan!"
"Summon House Black, House Manson, and all the others! Tell them I have urgent business to discuss!" His grandson was so extraordinary that there was no need to show courtesy to these families anymore!
At the same time, the nobles of the Northern District also saw the celestial phenomenon rising above Roan Castle, their expressions grim.
They already envied William for his rare Hellfire bloodline, and now his successful breakthrough to tier-bronze, marked by this celestial sign, was a heavy blow to them all.
The phenomenon sparked widespread discussion across the Northern District and even further afield in Snowguard City, as it was an exceedingly rare event.
Amid all the talk, William, the center of attention, frowned slightly as he looked up at the fading phenomenon in the sky.
He had indeed broken through to the early stage of tier-bronze, but some time had already passed since then.
This phenomenon was most likely not caused by him.
Yet, he was the only one in the family with a unique bloodline and the first to reach the early stage of tier-bronze.
There was no one else to compare.
Surely it couldn't have been caused by that useless Alan?
If that was the case, who else could it have been?
…
In the first level of Hell.
Feeling the surge of mana within him, now three times stronger than before, along with a sharper soul, Alan clenched his fist in satisfaction.
Then, he glanced at the tier-bronze early-stage stone golem not far from him.
Although he hadn't yet tested it in combat, based on his previous experience, Alan was confident that the golem was far from his match now.
Even without relying on his soul or his magus techniques, he could heavily injure it in a single move! If he used magus techniques, he could destroy it completely!
From tier-iron level 7 to tier-iron level 10, his strength had seen an enormous leap.
Although tier-bronze was an entire tier above him, he now saw it as insignificant.
However, he had one pressing issue before him.
His staff sword had reached its limit when he broke through to tier-iron level 10, incapable of aiding him in the breakthrough to tier-bronze. He needed a higher-quality staff.
Most of the staffs in the Northern District were tier-iron, and tier-bronze staffs were few and exorbitantly priced.
He would have to go to the bustling capital of the Plantagenet Kingdom, where not only would he find top-tier resources, but he could also access an elite academy like Lioncrest Academy.
After stabilizing his tier, Alan immediately left Hell and returned to his room, where he found Isabella waiting.
As soon as she saw him, Isabella nervously relayed the news of William's breakthrough and the celestial phenomenon it had triggered.
Worry was written on her face; only a few days remained before the duel to the death.
"Let them enjoy their final celebration—it's nothing more than their last hurrah," Alan said confidently to Isabella.
"In the meantime, you should rest and prepare. Once this matter is settled, we'll head straight to the capital of the Plantagenet Kingdom. The instructors at Lioncrest Academy will surely be able to cure you."
Alan's calm assurance quickly eased Isabella's anxiety.
As long as her brother was unfazed, even the greatest crisis seemed like nothing but passing clouds.
"I've already prepared everything these past few days. But…will we ever come back after we leave?" Isabella asked.
Alan shook his head. "We might not."
Isabella's expression darkened momentarily.
Roan Castle had been their home for over a decade, holding many memories.
But when she thought of the seneschal and others' treatment of her brother, any lingering attachment swiftly vanished.
She blinked her large eyes and said earnestly, "Wherever Brother goes, I'll go too!"
"I've heard the capital is huge, with delicacies, treasures, and magi from other kingdoms. Its wonders can't compare to the Northern District!" A glint of yearning appeared in Alan's eyes.
Isabella looked excited as well.
Though she'd never been to the capital, the magical books she read often mentioned it as a legendary place.
Once Isabella was asleep, Alan returned to Hell.
Upon entering, he noticed the black-robed woman seemed to be waiting for him.
"Tier-iron level 10—you didn't disappoint me. But the path of cultivation is long; this is only the beginning!" She then fixed him with a piercing gaze. "Do you want to become a true magus?"
Alan remembered that even when he used his soul to channel external magic, the black-robed woman had only referred to him as a magus apprentice, never a true magus.
"Senior, what level must I reach to be considered a true magus?" he asked with curiosity.
"Dual mastery!" the black-robed woman said confidently. "When you can control both internal and external magical elements simultaneously, you can call yourself a true magus!"
Alan nodded.
He had previously sensed this but wasn't entirely sure.
While fighting the tier-bronze early-stage stone golem, he had attempted to rely on both his staff sword and his soul to manipulate magic, but it had never flowed smoothly, like trying to draw a circle with one hand and a square with the other—something always went awry.
"Now, here are three tier-bronze early-stage golems. They will attack you together; experience this fully through combat." With these final words, the black-robed woman's figure vanished.
As soon as she disappeared, two more tier-bronze early-stage stone golems appeared, joining the first in a coordinated assault.
Though Alan didn't view a single golem as a threat, facing three at once added significant pressure, stretching his need for soul sensing.
…
At this moment.
The three lords of Northern District's other noble houses, House Black, House Manson, and House Grey, arrived at Roan Castle, having hesitantly accepted the seneschal's summons.
With tier-bronze strength, these leaders were considered top figures in the Northern District, but their age and levels had reached their peak, leaving little room for further advancement.
However, William's future was boundless—not only did he possess a unique bloodline, but he had also triggered a celestial phenomenon upon reaching tier-bronze.