Two days passed in focused intensity while Kael worked through the impossible task of dissolving philosopher stone. The high-grade crystal sat on the table in their room, deep red with purple undertones, mocking every attempt to break down its crystalline structure.

"It's not working," Kael muttered for the hundredth time, adjusting the heat beneath his makeshift alchemical setup. Glass beakers bubbled with various solutions while the philosopher stone remained stubbornly solid in its suspension bath. "The molecular bonds are too stable, normal solvents can't touch it."

Raze watched from his bed where he'd been attempting to meditate, his core thrumming with barely contained power after yesterday's final Temple session. "What about acidic compounds? The slime cores we saved?"

"Tried that already, the acid just evaporates on contact without affecting the stone." Kael wiped sweat from his forehead, exhaustion evident in every line of his body. "I'm missing something fundamental about the process, some catalyst or technique that breaks the initial barrier."

"Keep trying," Raze said firmly. "We can't approach Lady Anastasia without the cure in hand, that's our only leverage."

Mariabel entered from the connecting door, her posture radiating the confidence. "Any progress?"

"None," Kael said flatly. "I've tried seventeen different solution combinations and twelve temperature variations, nothing penetrates the stone's outer matrix."

Raze sat up suddenly, his Absolute Genius making connections that should have been obvious from the start. "You're approaching it wrong, thinking of it as a physical problem when it's fundamentally a magical one."

"What do you mean?" Kael turned to face him fully.

"Philosopher stones are formed through mana compression over centuries, their structure isn't just physical crystallization but compressed magical energy holding specific patterns." Raze's mind worked through the implications rapidly. "You can't dissolve them with mundane methods because the bonds aren't mundane, you need to use mana itself to break them down, match the stone's internal frequency and introduce a destabilizing pattern through resonance."

Kael's eyes widened with sudden understanding, recognition of elegant solution he'd been too focused on conventional alchemy to see. "Mana resonance, if I can calibrate the right frequency and maintain it long enough..." His hands were already moving, pulling out different equipment. "That could work, that might actually work."

He began a new setup with renewed energy, this time incorporating mana crystals into the apparatus and channeling his own cultivation energy through carefully positioned conductors. The philosopher stone was placed at the center where multiple resonance points converged.

"This will take hours to calibrate properly," Kael warned, already lost in the work. "The frequency has to be exact or the stone just shatters into dust instead of dissolving, we need controlled breakdown not catastrophic failure."

"We have time," Raze assured him. "Take whatever you need, I'll be occupied with my own advancement tonight anyway."

While Kael threw himself into research with fresh determination, Raze turned his attention to his own pressing concern. His core was at absolute capacity after three Temple sessions, filled beyond what Initiate Peak should safely contain, and the pressure was becoming unbearable. Every breath felt tight, every movement sent ripples through his overfilled pathways threatening to crack the container from inside.

Advancement to Adept rank was no longer optional, it was immediate necessity before his core shattered from internal pressure.

"I need to advance tonight," he announced to the room. "My core won't hold much longer without forcing expansion to the next tier."

"Where?" Mariabel asked immediately. "Tier advancement is violent, you can't do it here in the inn without drawing massive attention and probably bringing the building down."

"The warehouse district where Aslan trains," Raze decided. "Isolated and abandoned, if things go catastrophically wrong at least we won't hurt anyone else or expose ourselves to the guard."

"I'm coming with you," Mariabel said firmly. "Someone needs to monitor the process, pull you back if you start losing control, tier breakthrough isn't something you do alone."

Raze wanted to argue but recognized the wisdom, having experienced cultivator present during advancement could mean the difference between success and death. "Alright, you monitor while I break through, Kael and Aslan stay here to continue work on the cure."

"Agreed," Kael said without looking up from his apparatus, already completely absorbed in the resonance calibration.

Evening came slowly while anticipation built like gathering storm. Kael was making genuine progress with the mana resonance approach, the philosopher stone showed microscopic fractures along its surface where the destabilizing frequency was taking effect. Not dissolution yet but the beginning of structural breakdown that would eventually reduce the crystal to pure liquid.

"Another six hours minimum," Kael estimated, adjusting his equipment with obsessive precision. "Possibly eight depending on how deep the crystalline matrix goes, but it's working, the fundamental approach is sound."

"Good, keep at it." Raze stood and gathered supplies, emergency healing draughts and stabilizing agents in case advancement went catastrophically wrong. "We'll be back before dawn."

He and Mariabel left through the side entrance to avoid questions, navigating evening streets toward the industrial district. The sun was setting, painting the capital in orange and purple hues while shadows lengthened between buildings and the city's night predators began emerging from whatever holes they occupied during daylight.

The abandoned warehouse Aslan used for training was perfect for their needs, three stories of empty space with structural damage that kept squatters away and provided natural ventilation for violent mana fluctuations. They entered through a collapsed wall, picked their way over debris to reach the main floor where enough open area existed for what was about to happen.

"How violent is this going to be?" Mariabel asked, positioning herself near the exit where she could observe while maintaining safe distance. "I've never seen tier advancement, only the aftermath when people either succeed or explode."

"Extremely violent," Raze said grimly, settling into meditation posture in the center of the cleared space. "My core container needs to expand from cup to jug, roughly triple the capacity, that requires breaking the existing structure completely and reforming it at larger scale while maintaining enough integrity that it doesn't just shatter." He met her eyes seriously. "If you see signs of catastrophic failure, anything that looks like my core is fragmenting instead of expanding properly, you need to flood my system with external mana to stabilize it, force coherence even if it aborts the advancement."

"Understood." Mariabel's expression was focused and professional, the noble training showing through in crisis preparation. "I'll watch closely."

Raze closed his eyes and focused inward where his core burned with compressed power, a container filled past safety limits and screaming for release. This was the moment where advancement succeeded or killed you, no middle ground existed in tier breakthrough.

He released the mental restraints holding his mana in check.

The pressure exploded outward immediately, his core responding to freedom with violence that defied description. Pain hit first, sharp and all-consuming as pathways flooded with more energy than they were designed to handle. The mana screamed through his system seeking any outlet, any escape from the crushing compression that had built over days of Temple sessions.

His reconstructed core gave him advantage here, the pristine pathways distributed the overflow more efficiently than damaged cultivation base could manage. But efficiently didn't mean painlessly, every channel burned like molten metal as mana forced them to expand beyond natural limits, tearing and reforming simultaneously in process that felt like dying and being reborn in same instant.

Raze gritted his teeth and pushed harder, forcing more mana into circulation despite his body's screaming protest. His container was cracking, microscopic fractures appearing along the core's structure as old boundaries broke down under pressure they were never meant to withstand.

This was the critical moment where advancement succeeded or killed you. If the fractures spread too quickly the core shattered completely, if they spread too slowly the mana overflow destroyed organs before the container could expand, if they spread unevenly the reformation would be flawed and cripple his cultivation permanently.

He maintained perfect balance between destruction and reformation, his Absolute Genius calculating exactly how much pressure to apply and when to pull back slightly. The fractures spread in controlled patterns, spiderweb cracks that weakened old structure while new boundaries formed beneath like foundation being laid under collapsing building.

The pain intensified beyond anything he'd experienced, beyond Viktor's attacks or dungeon injuries or anything physical. This was spiritual agony, the fundamental essence of his being undergoing violent restructuring at most basic level.

His pathways were expanding, tearing and healing simultaneously as increased mana flow demanded greater capacity. His dantian was stretching, the container walls thinning dangerously before thickening again with new material compressed from the overflow itself.

Across the warehouse Mariabel watched with growing concern, able to see the mana fluctuations even without spiritual sight. The air around Raze was shimmering, distorting like heat waves as enormous energy vented from his advancement process.

"Hold together," she whispered, hands ready to intervene if necessary. "Don't you dare die on us now."

Raze's advancement reached critical mass, the old container structure finally giving way completely. For one terrifying moment his core was just shattered fragments held together by willpower alone, mana pouring through the cracks like water through broken dam, and if the reformation didn't begin immediately he'd die as his cultivation base dissolved into nothing.

Then it happened.

The fragments didn't just repair, they expanded, grew, incorporated the overflow into larger structure. His cup was becoming a jug, roughly three times the previous capacity, and the sensation was indescribable. Power flooded every cell as his body underwent fundamental changes to accommodate increased mana density.

His muscles became denser without gaining bulk, fibers compressing and strengthening at cellular level. His bones hardened, mineral content increasing as they reinforced themselves against the greater internal pressure. His skin toughened slightly, enough to turn blades that would have cut before. His organs optimized, functioning more efficiently to support the enhanced system.

But most importantly his pathways widened and strengthened, able to handle mana flows that would have destroyed them yesterday. The transformation was total and overwhelming, remaking him from inside out into something fundamentally superior to what he'd been.

Ding.

The notification appeared in his consciousness, confirmation that advancement had succeeded.

Rank: Adept (Low)

Core: Blooming (Mid)

He opened his eyes, gasping for air that suddenly felt thin after the mana saturation. His body was drenched in sweat, every muscle trembling with exhaustion from the ordeal, but he was alive and stronger than before by margins that defied easy calculation.

"That looked horrifying," Mariabel said, approaching carefully now that the violent fluctuations had ceased. "Are you alright?"

"Better than alright," Raze managed, his voice rough from screaming he didn't remember doing. "The advancement was successful, full tier breakthrough from Initiate Peak to Adept Low, the power increase is exponential."

He forced himself to stand despite legs that wanted to collapse, testing his new capabilities carefully. He threw a punch at empty air that created a shockwave strong enough to rustle debris fifteen feet away, his Strength had jumped from C rank to solid B rank with the tier advancement.

His Agility felt smoother, movements more fluid and responsive. His Endurance was higher, able to take hits that would have crippled him before. Even his Perception had sharpened slightly, able to track faster movements with the enhanced processing power that came from optimized brain function.

"How much stronger are you?" Mariabel asked with professional curiosity.

"Roughly three times my previous capacity in raw power, but the efficiency gains make it closer to four times in practical application." Raze tested his Scarlet Leap, blurring across the warehouse floor and covering twice the distance he could manage yesterday. "Movement skills are significantly enhanced, combat effectiveness probably quadrupled or more."

"That's terrifying," Mariabel said with genuine awe. "You were already dangerous at Initiate Peak, now you're a legitimate threat to anyone below Master rank."

They spent the next hour testing his new capabilities more thoroughly, getting familiar with increased power before attempting to return to civilization where accidentally destroying property would be problematic. His Instant Transmission had reduced cooldown and greater range, his Combat Reflex processed information faster with enhanced perception, everything was improved by the fundamental increase in cultivation base.

Finally, as midnight approached, they made their way back through dark streets toward the Copper Rest. The capital at night was dangerous with criminal elements operating openly, but Raze's increased power made the journey feel almost trivial, threats that would have been serious yesterday were barely worth noticing now.

They found Kael still working when they entered, hunched over his apparatus with single-minded focus that bordered on obsessive. The philosopher stone in its suspension bath showed significant breakdown, no longer a solid crystal but something closer to dense slurry with crystalline fragments suspended throughout glowing liquid.

"It's working," Kael said without looking up, completely absorbed in maintaining the precise resonance frequency. "Another two hours and I'll have pure liquified solution, the resonance frequency broke down the matrix structure completely, now it's just waiting for full dissolution and stabilization."

"Excellent news," Raze said, moving to examine the progress while being careful not to disturb the delicate equipment. "Tomorrow morning we'll have the cure ready and can move to the next phase."

"How did advancement go?" Kael asked, finally glancing up to see Raze looking exhausted but radiating noticeably greater power.

"Successful, full tier breakthrough to Adept Low." Raze couldn't keep the satisfaction from his voice despite the exhaustion. "The power increase is everything the cultivation manuals promised and more."

Aslan appeared from the other room where he'd been resting, took one look at Raze and nodded with quiet understanding. "You have that look, the aftermath of breaking through tier barriers, congratulations on surviving what kills most cultivators who attempt it."

They talked briefly about the experience and new capabilities before exhaustion claimed priority over conversation. Raze retreated to his bed while Kael continued his vigil over the dissolving philosopher stone, the soft glow from the apparatus providing the only light in the darkened room.

Sleep came quickly despite the lingering soreness, his body needing recovery time after the violent transformation. His dreams were strange, filled with swirling mana and crystalline structures breaking and reforming in endless patterns.

Morning arrived with sunlight streaming through windows and the smell of completed alchemy filling the room. Raze woke to find Kael holding up a vial of deep red liquid that pulsed with concentrated power, exhaustion and triumph mixing in his expression.

"Perfect dissolution," Kael announced, his voice hoarse from hours of focused work without rest. "No crystalline fragments remaining, pure liquified philosopher stone in stable suspension that won't degrade or crystallize again." He corked the vial carefully and stored it in protective case. "This will cure mana corruption in blood pathways completely, one dose administered over three days for gradual purification without shocking the system, Lady Anastasia's son will be healthy within a week."

"Outstanding work," Raze said sincerely, recognizing the achievement for what it was. "You've accomplished something most master alchemists would consider impossible."

"I had the theory," Kael said modestly. "You provided the insight about mana resonance, without that I'd still be trying to dissolve it with acids."

"Then it's time," Raze announced, feeling pieces click into place with satisfying precision. "Today we approach Sister Elizabeth at the Temple, we need her to connect us with Lady Anastasia since she's the only link we have into Venn's household that doesn't involve direct confrontation."

"How do we convince a Temple nun to help us take down a Lord Regent?" Mariabel asked practically, ever the voice of tactical concern. "She seems kind but that's asking a lot, putting her in direct danger of retaliation if Venn discovers her involvement."

"We don't tell her the full plan initially," Raze said, his Absolute Genius working through the optimal approach. "Just that we have a cure for a sick child and need to deliver it to the right person, Elizabeth does charity work so she'll understand wanting to help without requiring full explanation of ulterior motives, once we've established trust through helping the child then we can reveal the larger picture."

They prepared carefully, Raze and Mariabel would make the approach since they'd built rapport with Elizabeth during Temple sessions. Kael and Aslan would stay behind to avoid overwhelming her with numbers or making the approach seem like coordinated pressure.

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