Until his last breath, Noib Rat couldn't believe that Dean Bruce would act with such decisiveness. Did he not care about any other information?
Of course, he would never know the answer to that question.
His life and body were engulfed in flames, and even his severed head was quickly enveloped by the fire.
Watching his body turn to ash, Dean Bruce sensed the soul fluctuations to confirm that Noib Rat was truly dead before dispersing his magic and heading to find Prolo Hawthorne and the others.
Upon returning to the hall, he found that others had already arrived. Many were seated on cushions, their magic surging around them, which surprised Dean Bruce a bit.
In the space of the third level, the speed and purity of magic accumulation were still twice that of the second level, and the cushions enhanced it even further, equating to an eightfold increase compared to the outside world!
At that moment, Dean Bruce finally understood why the Sand Flow Secret Realm had been able to exist for so many years.
Even though it was difficult for anyone to break through to the final level, and even though the treasures inside had been largely scavenged, this terrifying speed of cultivation still made it worthwhile for various forces to send people in.
Even though Dean Bruce didn't need to cultivate, the thought of training crossed his mind; with each level doubling the effects, reaching the higher levels would undoubtedly yield results that would astonish even his treasures!
Having made up his mind, Dean Bruce did not linger. He soared across the hall directly toward the passage chosen by Prolo Hawthorne and the others.
"Whoosh!"
The yellow sand flowed, but it moved noticeably slower than on the second level, clearly indicating that the higher the level, the more time people had to decipher mechanisms or face puppets.
By the time Dean Bruce arrived at the location of his clone, combat had already erupted. In addition to the clone and Hannah Fields, there were other leaders involved as well.
Seeing the situation, Dean Bruce's eyes flickered. He didn't approach directly; instead, he concealed his true self and used his mental control to carefully observe the scene with his clone.
"Hmm?" Hannah Fields, being a saintess of a top-tier force, immediately sensed the change in the clone and asked in confusion, "You're back?"
Dean Bruce nodded through the clone, his expression becoming serious.
This time, Prolo Hawthorne and the others were not facing puppets, but rather a narrow, elongated passage.
At the end of the passage loomed a glowing gate.
Although the passage didn't appear particularly long, as soon as people stepped into it, a series of mechanisms erupted.
Arrows shot in from all directions, and sharp spikes even erupted from the ground, piercing through people's feet and thighs.
Occasionally, bursts of fire or various elemental waves would erupt, forcing people to retreat.
Moreover, every time they were forced back, all the mechanisms would pause, and even the floor beneath them would change randomly.
Witnessing this scene, Dean Bruce couldn't help but display a look of astonishment; he had never seen such mechanisms before!
Fortunately, those who could swiftly navigate through two levels weren't fools. They immediately began to observe closely, discussing methods to decipher the mechanisms.
Hannah Fields quietly asked, "These mechanisms look amazing! They can even restore themselves, and every time they're triggered, it's a different mechanism!"
"Do you know how to crack it?"
They lacked the confidence to break through to the fifth level, and instead of wasting time, they thought it better to occupy a cushion while there were fewer people around, allowing them to cultivate.
The cultivation speed on the cushions of the fourth level was more than sixteen times that of the outside world!
Prolo Hawthorne and his group encountered mechanisms, breezing through them, but they weren't interested in staying to cultivate. They quickly chose a path leading to the fifth level.
Time slowly passed.
Dean Bruce followed closely behind Prolo Hawthorne's group, occasionally stepping in to assist when they faced danger and offering guidance, steadily making his way toward the higher levels.
Though his progress was slow, it was unimpeded, and he gradually reached the eighth level.
Hannah Fields followed closely, her expression becoming incredibly excited; they were just one step away from the ninth level!
Upon arriving at the ninth level, only three cushions remained in the space, and the mana was gathering at an astonishing rate. Various elements even coalesced into shimmering forms, floating in the air like little elves.
Almost the moment they entered, Prolo Hawthorne and the others were captivated by the scene, their internal mana surging.
Dean Bruce was no exception; having comprehended the Tower of Belief magic, he absorbed all the mana into his internal tower, showing no signs of fluctuation.
"Ding!"
"System Notification: Congratulations, host, on entering the Mana Tide domain. Your mana value has permanently increased by 600 points! You can only enjoy the benefits of the Mana Tide comprehension once within a month!"
The crisp sound of the system notification rang out, causing Dean Bruce to feel a surge of joy. With this, his total mana value had reached 3,000 points, not only breaking through a small tier but also significantly enhancing his sustained combat capability.
After all, using the spells understood by the disciples had reduced his mana consumption, and that extra 600 points of mana was no small matter!
Not only Dean Bruce, but Prolo Hawthorne and even Hannah Fields successfully broke through, their faces alight with excitement.
Their gazes were drawn to the only passageway in the hall.
To be precise, it wasn't a passage at all, but a gigantic humanoid statue crowned with a tiara, holding a trident, and draped with a yellow cape.
"Whoosh!"
Yellow sand continuously poured out from the enormous statue, moving slowly but flowing like a waterfall.
Behind it was a staircase that soared into the sky, so high that one couldn't see the end even when looking up.
"Teacher! Should we try to rush up there?" Prolo Hawthorne shouted excitedly. "The mana on this level is already so abundant; the next level might be even stronger. Maybe I could even break through to Magus directly!"
"At that point, even the Holy Son and saintess of the Church of Light might not be my match!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hannah Fields raised her eyebrows in surprise, looking at Prolo Hawthorne.
She had always thought that Dean Bruce and Prolo Hawthorne only had a relationship within the Magic Guild; she hadn't realized that they were actually teacher and student!
So was Prolo Hawthorne her senior or junior disciple?
[Although his talent isn't at the top level, he's still a genius, and with his status, he could be an ally!] Hannah Fields narrowed her eyes, sizing up Prolo Hawthorne.