Breakthrough

All the new students watched helplessly as more than a dozen long, sharp bone spikes plunged down like nails!

At the same time, Xia Ming had long since finished preparing [Fire God's Roar]. Roaring flames shot toward the bone spikes in the sky, their radiance dyeing the air crimson.

Solomon sneered smugly. "Hmph, you think a mere third-tier spell can contend with my Abyssal Bone Spikes? You're simply overestimating yourself!"

Yet a calm smile appeared on Xia Ming's face. Following the direction of his staff, Fire God's Roar blasted against the Abyssal Bone Spikes!

Then Xia Ming nimbly shifted slightly to the side.

Solomon's smug grin froze. He had never expected Xia Ming's third-tier spell to forcibly knock the Abyssal Bone Spikes off course. Taking advantage of that, Xia Ming evaded the most vital areas and avoided utter defeat!

That had been Xia Ming's plan from the start. A head-on clash was naturally impossible, but cleverly altering the direction of Solomon's spell was something he could do.

"So magic can be used like that too..."

"How ingenious! That's incredible!" The new students felt their eyes feast on the spectacle. Using a third-tier spell to alter the trajectory of a fifth-tier spell sounded simple, but was extraordinarily difficult in practice. What precise control over spiritual power and mana did that require?!

Xia Ming avoided every vital strike from the Abyssal Bone Spikes, but they still tore through his mage robe and pierced his left hand. A trace of blood ran down his left hand and dripped to the ground.

Even though he had dodged most of the Abyssal Bone Spikes' attack, Xia Ming was still injured!

A fifth-tier spell was, after all, a fifth-tier spell.

Black Mamba shook his head on the platform, sighing inwardly. In terms of magical technique, Xia Ming was naturally superior by far. But Xia Ming was only a fourth-tier mage, after all. If this continued, his defeat would only be a matter of time.

Solomon understood this as well. Though Xia Ming's evasion of the Abyssal Bone Spikes had infuriated and startled him, a cold smile soon surfaced on his face. "Let's see how much longer you can hold on! As a reward for blocking my Abyssal Bone Spikes just now, I'll give you another spell."

Solomon knew that Xia Ming chanted spells very quickly. He was no fool; to prevent Xia Ming from interfering, he wisely widened the distance between them. His figure flickered as he moved around the arena, always remaining beyond Xia Ming's spell range.

Xia Ming's earlier use of a lower-tier spell to disrupt him had succeeded only because it caught him off guard. Now that Solomon was prepared, it would be difficult to repeat the same trick.

Xia Ming's brows furrowed tightly. Raising the Earthflame Staff, he first cast [Flame Guard] upon himself. The warmth of the flames gave Xia Ming a faint sense of security.

This really was troublesome. Unable to interfere with Solomon's attacks, Xia Ming's gaze turned icy and his face paled slightly, yet his heart grew ever more still, like tranquil water.

He knew very well that if he lost his composure now, he would not have even the slightest chance!

Xia Ming focused his spiritual power completely, mana trembling around his body as he prepared with all his strength for Solomon's next attack.

"Rolling Boulders!"

Three enormous round boulders abruptly emerged from the ground, each at least eight meters in diameter. Sand and dust flew through the air, the rolling grit nearly blocking everyone's view. The three massive boulders rumbled toward Xia Ming in a triangular formation, sealing off all his paths of retreat.

"Be a good boy and get crushed into a meat patty!" Solomon was extremely confident in this spell.

Xia Ming used the same tactic again, chanting [Fire God's Roar]. The third-tier spell blasted out fiercely and struck the boulder on the far left, while Xia Ming agilely and lightly darted to the left.

The moment Fire God's Roar touched the boulder, it exploded violently, knocking the boulder slightly to the right. But Solomon was no fool. Knowing Xia Ming had that trick up his sleeve, Rolling Boulders was a spell he had specifically prepared.

The boulder was simply too huge. Even with Fire God's Roar, Xia Ming could only alter its direction by the tiniest amount. That colossal mass still came crushing toward him!

Xia Ming pressed his body tightly against the training ground's wall. Relying further on the defense of [Flame Guard], he watched as the boulder rumbled past, barely grazing his side!

Though he had narrowly evaded it, the terrifying mana still shook Xia Ming until his blood and energy churned violently.

"He dodged it again!"

"Once might be luck, but twice is strength. This mysterious Xia Ming really is formidable—he's blocked Solomon's fifth-tier spells twice in a row!"

Black Mamba nodded to himself as well. This kid really did have something special about him. But unfortunately, he was probably already at his limit. If Solomon cast another fifth-tier spell, this kid should be finished.

Solomon stared in astonishment at Xia Ming, who had suffered only light injuries. "You actually dodged it again. Truly splendid—even I have to admit my admiration. But unfortunately, the outcome is already set in stone."

Solomon knew that he absolutely could not cleverly use a third-tier spell to contend against a fifth-tier spell as Xia Ming had.

Solomon sneered, raised his staff again, and began preparing his next spell.

When that next spell descended, Xia Ming would surely lose!

Dense magical elements gathered. Xia Ming too sensed an unprecedented crisis. He suddenly shut his eyes tightly. The spiritual power in his mind formed a massive vortex, and the mana around his body was involuntarily drawn forth, surging out in a wild torrent.

Then, Xia Ming opened his eyes once more.

His gaze was clear. The instant his eyes opened, the mana around him resonated. With Xia Ming at the center, elemental spirits happily gathered around him!

Black Mamba's eyes widened sharply, while many of the surrounding new students broke into startled uproar.

Fifth tier!

At this critical moment, Xia Ming had actually broken through, becoming a mid-tier mage—a fifth-tier mage!

Solomon's pupils contracted, his face shifting between green and white. He had never expected Xia Ming to break through under his pressure as well, becoming a fifth-tier mage!

"Could it be that he treated me as a 'whetstone,' using this chance to temper himself and borrowing my pressure to break through?" This thought suddenly surfaced in Solomon's mind, sending a shiver down his spine.

"No matter what, you're only a newly advanced fifth-tier mage. Do you think I'd be afraid of you?" Solomon gave a sinister smile, gritted his teeth, and began chanting frantically.

Solomon had guessed correctly. Xia Ming truly had intended to use him as a "whetstone." With sheer determination, he had really succeeded! After drinking a Mana Source Potion, Xia Ming had already possessed strength close to the fifth tier. Seizing this opportunity, he broke through once more in a single leap, crossing the threshold into the mid-tier ranks!

Actual combat truly was the best and fastest way to grow. Without this battle, Xia Ming would have needed at least another month to break through to the fifth tier.

A fifth-tier mage could not be mentioned in the same breath as a fourth-tier mage. Xia Ming immediately sensed the difference. Mana surged powerfully throughout his body, and the magical spirits felt unusually close to him. So long as he opened his mouth to chant, a fifth-tier spell could immediately burst forth...

"Breaking through only now is too late!" Solomon's chant was nearly complete. Pointing his staff, he cast the same fifth-tier spell again—[Rolling Boulders].

Xia Ming showed no fear whatsoever. His gaze settled upon the Earthflame Staff, and a faint smile curled across his lips.

A string of notes flowed smoothly from Xia Ming's lips. The magical elements danced joyfully, and a scorching heat filled the air.

This was a fifth-level fire spell recorded in the Book of Eternity!

As Solomon finished chanting the final syllable, the enormous boulder came rolling in once more. The rumbling tremors were like an army of a thousand horses and ten thousand men, overwhelmingly imposing.

Dust and smoke filled the air as the massive rock, like a small mountain, crushed forward. The might of a fifth-level spell was truly terrifying beyond measure!

Xia Ming swept his staff and finally made his move. Flames erupted in a blazing burst, and the surrounding magic power seemed to boil. The fire scorched fiercely, as though even the air itself had twisted!

A gigantic flaming hand descended from the sky, five or six meters tall, like the palm of a Titan from legend—except it was wrapped entirely in flames. It plunged straight down, pressing toward the enormous rolling boulder!

This was the fifth-level spell Xia Ming had unleashed from the Book of Eternity—Flame Demon Hand!