Alex experimented with the pen for some more time.
He could move it around within a 10 meter radius, so it was not very helpful yet.
But it was a great start. He could slowly explore it further.
After that, Alex did a rough calculation about the energy he would need to reach level 9.
He did this calculation, because every 9 levels were a major power boosing point.
It worked like a realm break through in that game. So that rule should follow here too.
It would take 340000 more energy units, which was equivalent to 7 top grade cosmic crystals.
So he recharged the system with 7 more crystals.
With that, he had used a total of 13 top grade cosmic crystals to reach Level 9.
What Alex did not know was that if one of these crystals ever fell into the territory of lower level martial artists, it would cause a bloodbath.
People would go insane for such a supreme cultivation resource.
After that, he finished his lunch and went directly to the training ground.
Before his mother arrived, he wanted to warm up a little.
The training ground was huge.
Even at this hour, there were many family members practicing there.
As soon as he arrived, everyone looked at him.
"What is this trash doing here? Does he really think he has a chance to climb higher after taking a power nap for 2 years?"
Everyone laughed loudly.
Alex listened to them but did not reply.
He stood at a corner of the training ground, took out his wooden sword and started practicing his sword technique.
Level 2 of the basic sword technique was really tough.
He practiced on his own for 1 hour when his mother finally arrived.
When they saw Elizabeth, everyone instantly made a huge vacant space for her.
They were afraid of her.
"You are early, but it is good to have a sense of time. Let me tell you something.
I am not your mother here, I am your master. And I will not hold back while training you.
Do you still want to train under me?" Elizabeth asked calmly.
She had the dignified presence of a true master.
Alex straightened up and said loudly with a military salute,
"Aye aye, master. I am ready for any kind of hardship."
It looked pure comical.
Elizabeth's face twitched, but she could not help smiling.
"Alright then, disciple. We shall begin."
She took out a training sword from her storage ring and positioned herself.
With a graceful movement, she demonstrated all 9 levels of the basic sword technique at once.
Alex watched her movements with shining eyes.
"Mom, you are so cool."
He coughed and corrected himself.
"I meant, master, you are awesome."
Elizabeth looked at him calmly.
"Show me what progress you have made in these past 10 days."
Alex grabbed the hilt of his sword tightly and performed Level 1 and Level 2 flawlessly.
Elizabeth was surprised that her son had managed this much in just 10 days after waking up from a 2 year comatose condition.
She did not know that Alex had managed it in only 2 days, not 10.
"You are good, but not the best. There are places for improvement."
After saying that, she started telling him the points where he could do better.
Alex listened attentively.
The more he listened, the more astonished he became.
His mother was truly a sword master.
The Moriarty family must have been blind to let go of such a gem.
Alex felt sorry for the Moriarty family.
After listening to his mother's advice, he felt his movements becoming more refined and compact.
Previously he had unnecessary movements, but now he could cut those off and swing his sword point to point.
The more he practiced, the more he developed his sword arts.
Three hours later, the sun was already going down, but Alex was still practicing while Elizabeth watched him like a true master.
"How did he become so strong? Did those cosmic crystals really help him?
But I have never heard of anything like that.
Did he really receive some kind of divine revelation?" Elizabeth wondered.
After watching him the entire time, she was sure that Alex was very powerful now.
"Great. I will make him practice even harder.
Only 15 days left. He needs to learn the sword art to at least Level 5," Elizabeth thought to herself.
The Tower of Ascension was not easy.
Every 10 levels contained a battle where their minds were forcefully brought into a combat scenario.
They needed to use their external arts to fight.
Only winning would allow them to ascend further.
Learning martial arts to high levels boosted mental power and confidence, both of which were necessary for ascension.
"Alright, you have done well. We will practice tomorrow morning.
Come here at exactly 5 am."
With that, Elizabeth left.
Now that she knew Alex truly had a chance to climb higher, she would give everything she had to make him stronger.
Alex was sweating profusely, but the practice session had been a great success.
He felt he was learning at least five times faster than when training alone.
After Elizabeth left, he sat on the ground and looked at the others.
Some people had paid attention to him earlier, but now everyone had finished their training session.
He even saw Anna there.
She was practicing very hard.
Anna would challenge the tower one day before him.
After resting for a while, he stood up to return to his room.
This time, no one dared to say nonsense about him.
Just as he was about to leave, the sky lit up.
A silhouette appeared in the sky like a god.
His figure was as large as a mountain.
His presence felt as if it covered the entire sky.
"Ancestor, the ancestor is here."
All the younger generation went crazy with fanatic excitement.
Even Alex was rooted to his place.
The silent aura released by the old man felt powerful enough to destroy the world.
"What a powerful presence. So this is a Martial Saint." He murmured.
Everyone from the Aurelion family instantly bowed toward the silhouette.
"We welcome the ancestor back to the family."
The old man nodded.
"This is just a projection of my energy. I have news.
Everyone in the family who is between 14 and 15 years old should leave for the Central Continent tomorrow.
The Virtual Battleground will open the day after tomorrow.
Especially those who will ascend the tower soon must come."
After saying that, the projection vanished.
"So he was just a projection.
The mere presence of a projection was so overwhelming.
I cannot imagine how powerful a real Saint is."
Even the previous owner of this body had never directly come into contact with a Saint.
They were elusive beings, rarely seen.
Then he remembered what the ancestor said.
"What is a Virtual Battlefield?"
"A Virtual Battlefield is a simulated battleground where you can fight monsters, and they will feel absolutely real.
Even the pain will be real.
This opportunity is rare.
Only elite training camps have such facilities.
You must enter.
Your sword art will flourish leaps and bounds with real battles."
Alex heard his mother's voice beside him.
"So when will we leave, mom?" Alex asked seriously.
"We will leave tomorrow evening with everyone.
I will teach you up to Level 5 of the sword technique tomorrow morning."
Alex nodded and went to his room.
He took a deep shower, ate a hearty meal and went to sleep.
He needed to give his body proper rest.
Though he was very powerful now, he was still a powerful mortal and needed to fulfill all the mortal needs like eating and sleeping.
He would need 3 more hours before breaking through to Level 8 and 13 hours after that to reach Level 9.