31 Chapter31-Breaking through Iron-tier
The [Breakthrough Stone] appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary black stone, adorned with some irregular patterns, yet it was an indispensable item for awakeners aiming to advance.
Without the [Breakthrough Stone], an awakener could not level up or enter dungeons of their tier, destined to remain like the trio of archer women, wandering in lower-level dungeons.
Hence, even the lowest-tier Breakthrough Stones carried a hefty price tag.
Having secured the Breakthrough Stone, John had no reason to linger, primarily because his wallet was nearly depleted.
From the initial 10 million federal coins, only a few hundred thousand remained, leaving him in no position to make further purchases.
John took the elevator back to the trading center's main hall and was about to exit the All Seasons Trade Association when a glimpse of several familiar figures caught his eye.
Turning his head, John saw a group engaged in light-hearted conversation making their way through the trading hall. Leading the group were two individuals: one was a portly man adorned with jewelry, none other than Baron whom John had encountered on awakening day.
The other was a square-faced middle-aged man in a black suit, all smiles—Maximilian Foster, the head of Foster Group, and Alex's father.
Behind them was Alex.
John's eyebrows raised slightly at the sight.
The Goldworth consortium, specializing in resource development and large trading centers, owned the All Seasons Trade Association, making Baron's presence here unsurprising to John.
What John hadn't anticipated was the Foster House forming a connection with Baron.
No wonder Alex had been so bold recently; it seemed the Foster House had found itself a powerful ally.
Baron, Alex, and their companions, immersed in their jovial exchange, headed towards the trading center's private elevator, unaware of John passing by them.
John had no intention of initiating a greeting; once the group had entered the elevator, he turned to the nearby receptionist and inquired knowingly, "Who was the gentleman leading the group just now?"
Having just facilitated a significant transaction for John, the receptionist was noticeably more enthusiastic.
Upon hearing John's question, she promptly replied,
"That was Mr. Baron, the person in charge of this area. He recently transferred here from another division to take over the 301 security zone, so you might not have seen him before."
Feigning realization, John remarked, "Ah, so he's the new head transferred by the Goldworth consortium. No wonder he's doing business with Maximilian, the head of Foster Group."
The receptionist smiled and said,
"Yes, I've heard that Mr. Baron has been discussing a partnership with Mr. Maximilian lately. They're planning to jointly develop a high-level secret realm discovered by Foster Group, which is why they've been seen together frequently discussing matters."
John was genuinely surprised this time.
He hadn't expected the Foster House to have discovered a high-level secret realm, and it seemed that many were already aware of it.
High-level secret realms, despite their immense dangers, are rich in resources.
If Foster House could successfully develop it, not only would they gain connections through Baron, but they would also access a portion of the realm's resources, making their rise to power inevitable.
It appeared that Daniel's previous mention of Foster House connecting with a consortium referred to this matter.
However, this was of little relevance to John, and he chose not to inquire further.
Gathering his thoughts, John exited the trading center with the receptionist's polite farewell.
Before leaving, the gracefully figured receptionist, clad in her black silk professional attire, gave John a sultry look as she handed him her business card, the implication clear.
Regrettably, John was genuinely not in the mood, though under different circumstances, he might have been tempted. Nevertheless, he pocketed the card.
The woman was indeed beautiful.
While she might not compare to some of the top-tier beauties he had encountered, her allure was still exceptional.
Her long, slender legs sheathed in black silk were particularly captivating.
After exiting the trading center, John hailed a taxi and headed straight back to the outer city district.
He got off at a random spot, found a secluded corner to change his clothes, and then made his way home.
Once home, John finally allowed himself to relax, and the fatigue he had been holding at bay surged over him like a tide.
Yawning, he planned to wrap up his affairs quickly and get some much-needed rest.
Fighting the overwhelming tiredness, John used the Breakthrough Stone.
[Ding!]
[You have broken through the iron-tier, reaching the bronze-tier!]
[Your basic skills have been enhanced!]
[Your basic skill "Pyrokinesis lv10" has been upgraded to basic skill "Pyrokinesis lv20"!]
[Your basic skill "Aquakinesis lv10" has been upgraded to basic skill "Aquakinesis lv20"!]
[Your basic skill "Zephyr Shield lv10" has been upgraded to basic skill "Zephyr Shield lv20"!]
...
A series of notifications appeared before John.
In the blink of an eye, all his lv10 basic skills were upgraded, and every basic skill reached lv20, significantly boosting his damage output!
[Pyrokinesis lv20 (MAX)]
[Type]: Basic Skill (Active)
[Description]: Upon activation, inflicts 19,900 points of fire-based damage to the target, with a 30% chance of setting the target ablaze. While ablaze, the target suffers 300 points of burning damage per second for 60 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds, MP Cost: 600.
...
[Zephyr Shield lv20 (MAX)]
[Type]: Basic Skill (Active)
[Description]: Upon casting, grants a wind shield capable of absorbing 5,000 points of damage and increases speed by 80 points for 60 seconds. Cooldown: 3 minutes, MP Cost: 700.
...
John opened his personal panel and noticed that the [iron-tier] next to his name had been replaced with [bronze-tier].
His experience bar had changed from (0/0) to (0/180,000).
This meant that he had officially become a bronze-tier awakener!
Then, John took out the three skill scrolls and opened them all.
Three flashes of white light swept across the room instantaneously!
[Gold Armor Spell lv20 (MAX)]
[Type]: Basic Skill (Active)
[Description]: Upon use, your skin gains metallic reinforcement, increasing defense by 500 points and strength by 150 points for 3 minutes. Cooldown: 10 minutes, MP Cost: 800.
...
[Rock Mail lv20 (MAX)]
[Type]: Basic Skill (Active)
[Description]: Upon use, your body is covered with a layer of Rock Mail, which can absorb 8,000 points of physical damage and increases your defense by 300 points for 3 minutes. Cooldown: 10 minutes, MP Cost: 1200.
...
[Storm Blade lv20 (MAX)]
[Type]: Basic Skill (Active)
[Description]: Upon use, summons a tornado that inflicts 23,700 points of magical damage to the target. Cooldown: 5 minutes, MP Cost: 900.
...
Pleased with the three skills before him, John felt particularly satisfied.
The two defensive skills could completely compensate for his own defensive weaknesses at this stage, allowing him to avoid the exhaustion of dodging every common attack.
The Rock Mail's impressive 8,000-point shield could protect him from numerous dangers.
With that, John had finally completed all his tasks for the day.
He let out a long sigh, too tired even to think about dinner, and collapsed onto his soft bed, falling into a deep sleep almost instantly.
...
Meanwhile, in the noble district of Stellarburg, within a luxurious villa, Lucas stood on the balcony, gazing into the dark night.
The wine glass in his hand swayed slightly, and the flickering crimson in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.
Lucas asked into the darkness, "Are you certain the Ghost Wizard is one of the twelve apostles under Crimson Demon?"
His voice trembled slightly as he posed the question.
The Carter family's legacy wasn't innate but acquired through a secret realm.
An ancestor of House Carter had stumbled upon a part of the Crimson Demon's legacy in a secret realm, which led to the establishment of House Carter and the Crimson Count class.
However, since the Crimson Demon legacy obtained by House Carter was incomplete, the Crimson Count class came with many risks.
For example, the stronger they became, the more susceptible they were to madness, and there was even the possibility of turning into a monstrous entity, neither human nor ghost.
Despite expending vast resources in search of the remaining legacy for many years, House Carter had found no trace of it, leaving the whereabouts of the rest of the legacy a mystery.
Now, Lucas had suddenly heard that it might be right under his nose, stirring an intense excitement within him.
