Amelia tossed the unfortunate Amir into the basement of the lord's manor, locking him up securely. Amir had been severely injured and knocked unconscious by Kael, who had also sealed his powers. Even if Amir were to wake up, there was no fear of him causing trouble.
Meanwhile, Kael and Amelia found a secluded room within the manor. Kael utilized the space to set up a simple yet effective magic array.
Thanks to The Book of Immortality, Kael was exceptionally proficient in inscriptions. Thus, while the array appeared straightforward, it had been meticulously arranged to facilitate his smooth ascension to the eighth tier.
The patterns within the array were clear, its runes mysterious and profound, exuding an ancient aura. The faintly glowing magical symbols hinted at the array's immense utility.
This magic array was designed to maximize mana convergence, concentrating elemental energy to make absorption far easier for Kael.
At the six key points of the array, Kael placed magic gemstones. As soon as they were positioned, a bright hexagram magic circle materialized on the ground. Kael could distinctly feel the surrounding mana surging toward him like a tidal wave, his mind growing increasingly tranquil.
Kael and Amelia exchanged a glance. Slowly, he nodded at her, signaling his readiness. Amelia smiled faintly and took her place about ten meters away—close enough to intervene if needed, yet distant enough not to disturb him.
With Amelia standing guard, Kael could finally focus entirely on his breakthrough.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and fully expanded his spiritual senses, as if entering another world.
Standing at the very center of the magic array, Kael was perfectly positioned to absorb the dense, liquid-like elemental energy. His preparations this time were nothing short of thorough, reflecting the immense importance he placed on this advancement.
After all, ascending to the eighth tier was a formidable challenge for anyone—even for Kael, who possessed both a domain and lightning-based abilities. Yet the rewards were equally monumental. Only by reaching the eighth tier could one truly be counted among the continent's elite powerhouses, commanding respect and attention.
This underscored just how difficult it was for mages and warriors to break through to the eighth tier. If even someone as deeply accumulated as Kael had to prepare so meticulously, the barrier was undoubtedly insurmountable for countless others, barring them from ever stepping into the ranks of true power.
"Breaking through to the next tier shouldn't pose much of a problem this time. The real challenge lies in whether I can ascend another level immediately after." Kael pondered silently. With the aid of so many elemental gemstones and the magic array, advancing to the eighth tier was practically assured. The true test would come afterward.
Closing his eyes, Kael immersed himself in deep meditation.
Layer by layer, his mana grew denser. Kael felt his inner energy becoming increasingly lucid, while his magic power involuntarily began to vibrate.
"Mana Surge!" A spark of realization flashed through his mind. Drawn by this natural phenomenon, he allowed himself to fully experience the surging waves of mana. Kael understood that this was a rare opportunity—his magic had spontaneously triggered Mana Surge during his breakthrough, granting him profound insights.
Simultaneously, he sensed his mana gradually increasing.
"At this rate, it won't be long before I shatter the barrier and ascend to the eighth tier." A faint smile curved his lips, brimming with confidence.
However, to Kael's surprise, after sustained growth, his mana inexplicably ceased expanding. His strength stagnated, making no further progress.
"Damn it, what's going on? Could I actually fail to break through?" Kael frowned inwardly, baffled.
That couldn't be possible. Among seventh-tier experts, Kael's foundation was unparalleled in its solidity—there was no way he would fall short of the eighth tier.
"Could it be that my foundation is too profound, making my advancement more difficult than others'?" he wondered. His suspicion wasn't unfounded. Perhaps his excessively sturdy foundation was precisely what made breaking through to the eighth tier harder for him.
With his mana no longer growing but seemingly accumulating instead, Kael was at a loss. After all, breakthroughs required not just strength but also a stroke of luck. At his current level, the eighth tier was separated by only the thinnest of barriers—yet piercing through it still demanded the right opportunity.
Kael sat motionless within the magic array, eyes closed in deep contemplation.
Amelia stood ten meters before him, silently keeping watch. She understood that Kael had encountered a bottleneck—this was the most critical moment. Success or failure hinged on this very breakthrough.
One day passed, then two...
Time flew by, yet Kael remained seated in the magic array without even shifting his posture. For days, he had neither eaten nor drunk, solely focusing on condensing his mana in an attempt to take that pivotal step forward.
Amelia's gaze was tinged with worry, concerned for Kael's physical state. If this continued, he might not hold out much longer.
After what felt like an eternity, Kael's body finally twitched slightly.
The faint movement was immediately noticed by Amelia, her star-like eyes brightening. As Kael stirred, an overwhelming surge of mana erupted from his body like a roaring tidal wave!
"There's finally a change!" Amelia was overjoyed.
Kael, too, felt a surge of excitement within. The days of stagnation had seemingly been a period of accumulation, and now, in an instant, it all paid off—like a silkworm emerging from its cocoon as a butterfly!
A brilliant radiance burst forth from Kael's body, illuminating the entire room. His mana surged forth endlessly, rising to unprecedented heights and violently crashing against the shackles within him. The explosive force within shattered all restraints in an instant!
Kael felt his body lighten as an indescribable power welled up inside him. His strength skyrocketed, ascending to an entirely new realm.
Even with his eyes closed, he could keenly sense the insects hidden in the grass outside, the drizzle in the sky, and the gentle breeze—every detail was vividly clear.
It was as if he had entered a state of perfect harmony, as natural as the heavens themselves.
The eighth tier—this was the power of the eighth tier!
Kael's strength had ascended to a whole new level, filling him with satisfaction. Yet, he wasn't content to stop there. As planned, he continued to voraciously absorb the magic elements from the array, while the countless magic gemstones further intensified their density.
His gaze sharpened, a glint of brilliance flashing in his eyes as his mana once again surged wildly. A massive vortex of magic swirled around him.
Kael's mana grew explosively—he was becoming even stronger.
Breaking through to the eighth tier! Breaking through to mid-eighth tier!
Kael's power surged with increasing speed, and a faint smile curled at the corners of his lips. After shattering the shackles of the eighth tier, his strength swiftly tore through the barrier to the mid-eighth tier!
Kael felt an unprecedented surge of energy coursing through his entire body, reaching heights he had never before attained. The elemental spirits of magic, which normally floated beyond his control, now swirled around him in obedience. With but a thought, they gathered at his will, responding to his slightest command.
"I've truly reached the mid-eighth tier!" Even Kael couldn't contain his elation. Days of motionless meditation had honed his mind to perfection, culminating in this qualitative leap.
Even at the seventh tier, Kael's strength had rivaled—even surpassed—that of ordinary eighth-tier experts. Now, with this explosive advancement to the mid-eighth tier, his power had ascended to new heights!
Lightning crackled across his body, crystalline radiance shimmering as his mana multiplied several times over compared to his seventh-tier self. Mana Surge and Arcane Domain, once merely skills, now flowed with instinctive mastery.
"Having reached the mid-eighth tier, I've finally joined the ranks of the continent's true powerhouses. The title of 'Lord of Lefay' is now well-earned." Kael smiled faintly. On the Nangar Continent, only those at the eighth tier or above were typically granted lordship—his ascension had legitimized his position.
At that moment, a dazzling seven-colored aurora erupted from Kael's body. The magic elements converged in harmony with the world itself, resonating with a clear, celestial hum.
"A celestial phenomenon!" Amelia's eyes sparkled with awe.