Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery spent hours activating his [Nature Grasp], the unique skill he learned from Gaia, to reach out to the seedlings. Despite feeling the connection, there was almost no response from them. He concentrated, trying to sense even the slightest sign of life, but the seedlings remained dormant.

By this time, Twik and a few other young chizpurs had gathered around, watching with curiosity. Their small, beady eyes followed Emery’s every move.

“I think it’s still too young. What do you think?” Emery asked, looking at Twik.

Ku ku Kuang!

The young chizpurs chirped in agreement, their tiny bodies bouncing with excitement. Twik nodded solemnly, and at that moment, VIA’s voice echoed in Emery’s mind.

[Data comparison from 8 known world tree pieces indicates an average growth time of 125 years from seed to seedling, 400 years until the first bud stage, and a millennium before flowering begins.]

“…A millennium? You should have told me before I chose this,” Emery said, frowning.

Twik and the chizpurs exchanged glances, their excitement waning. VIA’s information provided fascinating insights, explaining that despite being part of the same heavenly world tree lineage, each of the 30 pieces of the tree exhibited unique characteristics.

The Yggdrasil tree, fifth in rank among the heavenly world trees, was a towering marvel of nature. Its immense trunk and branches could stretch as tall as the sky, creating a majestic canopy that seemed to touch the heavens. This colossal tree fed on wisdom and those who received its power found their mental strength greatly enhanced. History notes dozens of renowned figures who achieved unparalleled levels of enlightenment with the help of the tree.

In stark contrast stood the Zaccum tree, a much smaller but no less remarkable specimen. Growing only a few meters tall, the Zaccum tree was renowned for its eternal flame. Its branches and leaves were constantly ablaze, glowing with an otherworldly fire that never extinguished. This fire was not hot to the touch but emitted a warm, comforting light that could ward off darkness and evil. The Zaccum tree’s flame was said to have purifying properties, capable of cleansing the soul and burning away impurities.

Among the more macabre of the world trees was one that thrived on corpses, there was even one that had the power to bring life back, a reincarnation tree. Unfortunately, there was almost no information about the Elysian Tree, which had been extinct for more than a dozen millennia. This lack of data left Emery with a significant challenge. He realized he would need to study the seedling carefully and create analytical data, much like he did with his apothecary recipes.

Emery examined the Elysian Tree seedling, noting every minute detail. Its leaves, although tiny, had a faint luminescence, and its roots seemed to pulse with a gentle energy. He spent hours observing it, taking notes, and running tests. After hours of meticulous observation, Emery finally gained the confidence to try his special skill. He positioned himself near the seedling, took a deep breath, and activated [Photosynthesis].

These last 15 years, Emery had cast the spell on thousands of different plants, honing his skills and understanding. He believed he had mastered the spell enough to avoid harming the precious Elysian Tree seedling in the process.

“Alright, let’s give it a try,” he said, his voice filled with determination.

Emery let Twik and VIA stand by to monitor the process while he raised his hands and cast the divine spell on the seedling. His natural core brimming with light energy, he channeled the spell into the plant, feeling the warm flow of magic seep from his fingers into the tiny roots.

Minutes turned into hours. Emery focused intensely, his spirit energy merging with the seedling. There were no visible changes, but he sensed a connection forming. His energy flowed continuously, nurturing the seedling from within. Finally, after exhausting his spirit pool, he stopped and asked VIA for an analysis.

[You have successfully enhanced its growth]

“Really?” Emery couldn’t help but be surprised. Twik appeared just as baffled as he was.

[Yes, with your action, the plant has grown 0.01 centimeters taller]

“…”

Emery was speechless; the number meant that even if he continued feeding the seedling every day, he would only manage to grow it about 3 to 4 centimeters taller each year. Compared to the Yggdrasil tree, this meant he needed to continue for a thousand years to see significant growth.

VIA provided some recommendations, suggesting materials that could make the soil more fertile for the seedlings. There were dozens of options, but the best ones were all tier 6 to tier 7 materials. Emery could only hope the tree wouldn’t make him broke.

After giving a deep sigh, Emery decided to be more patient. He would try again after buying some of the recommended materials and observing the seedling further.

“Well, this is going to be a long-term project,” Emery said, turning to Twik and the chizpurs who were still watching intently. With this thought, Emery teleported himself to his workshop to properly store the [Black Dragon Heart]. He carefully extracted a few blood samples, ensuring the organ remained intact and potent for future use. Once he secured the samples, he activated the Khaos Gate to visit the Magus Academy.

It’s only been two weeks since Emery’s return, but it felt as though a whirlwind of activity had taken place. As soon as Klea heard the news of his arrival, she sought him out with a determined expression.

“You’re back… everything went smoothly in Terra?” Klea asked, her eyes scanning him for any sign of injury.

“Well, I’m still alive,” Emery replied with a wry smile, trying to lighten the mood. He was about to ask about Shinta, but Klea, ever perceptive, beat him to it.

“Apparently, you miss your daughter more than me…” she teased, her lips curving into a playful smile. “She’s fine, alright? Busy training as usual. Don’t you have some kind of tracker for her?”

Emery smiled and mentioned that he had an errand for Shinta, but knowing she was occupied, he decided to assign the task to other students. He provided them with a detailed list of materials to purchase in Utopia City, which included various rare herbs and minerals. Additionally, he prepared a note and a dragon blood sample to be delivered to Bob at the new Utopia City gene center, where Bob was assisting with genetic research.

Once these arrangements were made, Emery focused on demonstrating to Klea that his visit was genuinely for her.

Emery presented the newly acquired tier 7 item, the [Ocean Heart Vest], to Klea. He displayed the runes attached to this high-grade artifact and the accompanying tome, eager to study them together. Klea’s deep expertise in the formation and comprehension of water laws was invaluable, and Emery hoped her knowledge would provide greater insight into the tier 7 artifacts.

Similar to their previous collaboration with the [Heavenly Roc Soaring Imprints], they spent 24 hours exchanging insights and understanding. Through their combined efforts, they successfully unlocked the inheritance from the artifacts.

The [Ocean Heart Vest] granted access to two tier 7 spells: [Seasoul Restoration] and [Tidal Heart Healing]. One was designed for healing the soul, while the other focused on bodily recovery. Both spells were high-grade magus-level techniques, making them highly effective for healing individuals in the magus realm and moderately useful for those in the grand magus realm.

Studying the two spells significantly enhanced Emery’s grasp of the law of water. The process of performing the spells while wearing the [Ocean Heart Vest] further amplified his understanding and efficiency. The spells not only deepened his comprehension of water’s essence but also contributed to his overall grasp of natural laws.

After his study session, Emery received several notifications reflecting his progress:

[You have gained a deeper understanding of the law of water]

[Your gain comprehension in the law of nature]

[Law of Nature: 26 (27%)]

[Law Comprehension: 110 (111)]

[Soul Force: 1168 (1172)]

[Energy balance: Darkness 67 (66)%, Light 33 (34)%]

Although this progress was incremental, Emery was optimistic. He believed that with continued practice over the coming days, he could further master the profound water spells and enhance his abilities even more.

Meanwhile, Klea experienced even greater gains from their joint study:

[Law of Water -19 (21%)]

Klea’s natural talent in water elements allowed her to achieve a more substantial increase in her understanding compared to Emery. Emery was eager to continue his training, but with the preparation for the upcoming pirate battle approaching rapidly, he decided it was best to leave the [Ocean Heart Vest] with Klea. This way, she could make use of its benefits during her own training. However, Klea refused the offer, “You’re the one going to battle; you need it more than I do. We can continue our training later… Just stay safe.”

Before leaving, Emery had one more task that required Klea’s expertise. He presented another valuable item he had recently acquired: the tier 7 Summoner Staff. Emery needed Klea’s help to remove the seal on the staff and help tame the artifact.