There! I can feel it clicking into place. The new pathway isn't just an addition—it's actually improving the efficiency of my entire mana system.

The transformation felt profound as his magical capacity expanded noticeably. The additional pathway didn't just provide more space for mana storage; it allowed faster criculstion that dramatically improved his overall magical efficiency.

Whether it was magical power, mana purity or castine time, everything had improved dramatically.

[Your skill Mana Control has reached level 15!]

The notification appeared as Noah felt the full impact of his advancement settle into place.

The level 15 threshold brought with it a cascade of improvements that went far beyond simple increases.

Noah's understanding of mana control had evolved to an entirely new level.

—

Host: Noah Carter

Age: 28

Shop Level: 2

Daily Revenue: $2,153,000 (or equivalent)

Current Assets: $23,161,340

Shop Points: 32,890

Attributes: Strength: 90, Vitality: 140, Intelligence: 270, Agility: 90

Skills:

[Level 15:] Mana Control

[Level 14:] Wind Manipulation, Aura, Body Tempering

[Level 13:] Swordsmanship

[Level 5:] Photographic Memory, Fire Manipulation

[Level 3:] Surviving on Ramen, Cooking, Finance, Gaming

[Level 2:] Programming

—

Noah felt the complete chnage that he had undergone, and it was visible through his status screen that reflected it.

"My intelligence attribute has increased by three times… this is insane," Noah muttered in shock, his mind already processing the implications.

The transformation was staggering. His intelligence had jumped from 90 to 270 points—a leap that he did not expect. The jump had been so high that he felt the negligible impact that intelligence attribute on his mind and cognitive functions.

It was no wonder that adept rank practitioners were considered exponentially stronger than apprentice rank practitioners. The immense increase in attributes created a fundamental gap in capabilities that couldn't be bridged through skill alone. A single adept could theoretically challenge dozens of lower-ranked practitioners due to this massive enhancement in raw power and magical capacity.

This increase was even more exaggerated for Noah compared to previous advancements. Unlike other adepts who often had lower baseline attributes due to their lack of access to premium enhancement items, Noah didn't face such limitations. His consumption of instant coffee, mystical herbal tea, and other shop products had already elevated his attributes far beyond normal ranges before this breakthrough occurred.

The result was that his base capabilities were exponentially better than other practitioners at similar ranks. Where a typical new adept might have an intelligence attribute around the early one hundred points, Noah's 270 points placed him in a category that master-rank mages approached.

Leo looked up with obvious interest, his enhanced senses detecting the fundamental change in his father's body.

The intelligent lion seemed to recognise that something significant had occurred, though he couldn't fully comprehend the magnitude of the transformation.

Lola remained deep in her own training session, but Noah could sense that she would be satisfied by his advancement when she eventually emerged from meditation. The leap to adept rank represented a milestone that most practitioners required years or even decades to achieve.

I need to test these new limits, Noah decided, eager to understand the full scope of his advancement.

Although he wanted to test his new power immediately, Noah decided to practice his aura first and level it up to match his Mana Control skill. Since his mana control had already reached level 15, his aura would level up in just a few minutes to reach the same level. Aura didn't need hours of practice to level up, since its advancement depended heavily on mana control proficiency, making the process significantly faster when the foundational skill was already established.

Noah focused on his aura manipulation, feeling the energy respond with unprecedented clarity and precision.

The aura flowed around his body like visible power, creating a presence that would be unmistakable to anyone with magical sensitivity. The energy felt more solid, more controlled, and much more potent than anything he had achieved before reaching adept rank.

[Your Skill Aura has reached level 15!]

A satisfied smile spread across Noah's face as he looked at the notification flashing across his vision. The advancement brought his combat-related skills into perfect balance, creating a foundation that could support even more advanced techniques as he continued his development.

Noah then rose from his seat and looked outside through the shop's windows. No elves were visible in his shop's vicinity anymore; they had clearly listened to his words and withdrawn to a more respectful distance.

It's time to head back to Earth, Noah decided, his mind quickly working through the logical reasons for returning to his home dimension.

Noah wanted to return to Earth for multiple practical reasons. First, he had been away for many hours now, and if any tournament officials wanted to look for him and discovered he was completely gone, some complications might occur. His absence needed to remain within reasonable limits to avoid unwanted attention from authorities or curious neighbours.

Second, he wanted to take a relaxing dip in the hot spring and allow his body to recover after the intense training he had undergone. The physical and mental strain of advancing to adept rank had pushed his capabilities to their absolute limits, and proper rest would help consolidate his gains while preparing him for future advancement.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, he wanted to practice his enhanced mana control abilities without observation. He couldn't practice advanced techniques in his store, and he couldn't practice them outside in Esta without risking exposure.

The elves maintained surveillance positions that provided clear views of his shop from multiple angles, and if they observed him practising adept rank spells, it would cause immediate suspicion about his true capabilities. Noah wanted nothing to go wrong at this critical stage, especially with the auction and World Tree expedition approaching rapidly.

The risks were crystal clear. Revealing his advancement too early could fundamentally alter the political dynamics he was carefully managing between the elven factions.

Both sides needed to believe they understood his capabilities in order for his plans to proceed smoothly.

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