Earth's Greatest Magus

The old man was dressed in tattered, earth-toned robes. His long, tangled beard reached his chest, and his eyes, sharp despite their age, gleamed with curiosity. Though he looked no better than a wandering beggar, Emery’s sharp divine sense revealed the undeniable aura of power that surrounded him. This man was no ordinary observer.

“Young man, you must be new here,” the old man said, his voice gravelly yet firm. “That is Master Zain, a rank 5 alchemist—just second to Master Baldoni himself. You’d do well not to speak nonsense.”

Emery, unfazed by the old man’s warning, allowed a faint smirk to tug at the corner of his lips. His sharp nose twitched slightly as he inhaled the lingering scent wafting from the cauldron on the distant alchemical platform. “I can tell from the smell,” Emery said, his voice steady and calm. “It’s a high-grade Soul-Calming Pill… but unfortunately, it’s going to fail.

“A few nearby onlookers turned their heads, briefly interested in the bold claim, but most dismissed him with a scoff or a shake of their heads. Only the old man’s brows lifted in intrigue.

“From the smell?” The old man chuckled, stroking his beard. “Hahaha… Young man, say no more. This old one is not convinced. I believe the pill will succeed.”

Emery took a step closer, his calm demeanor unshaken. “How about a bet, then? If the pill fails, you will protect me for a year. If it succeeds, I will follow you instead. What do you say?”

The old man tilted his head, scratching the side of his unkempt scalp with one crooked finger. His eyes narrowed, studying Emery carefully. “You’re just a kid… What would I need from you? No, no… it doesn’t sound like a fair bet to me.”

But Emery leaned in slightly, his emerald-green eyes locking with the old man’s sharp gaze. “Well, I am an alchemy master myself. If you win… you won’t walk away empty-handed.”

“You? An Alchemist Master? What rank are you, then?”

Emery hesitated for the briefest moment. In truth, he wasn’t sure how their ranking system worked in this realm. But seeing Master Zain, a rank 5 alchemist, confidently channeling the final energies into the cauldron, Emery took a gamble. “I am… rank 6.”

The old man’s bushy brows shot up in surprise, though disbelief flickered in his sharp eyes. He clearly wasn’t convinced. Emery, sensing this, took another step closer and lowered his voice.

“Senior, I can tell you’re in the Cosmos Realm. And from the weight in your voice, you’re sick. You must have come here seeking treatment, haven’t you?” Emery’s words were firm, each syllable carrying a quiet certainty.

“Tell you what—if you win, I won’t just follow you. I’ll treat your ailment as well.”

The smile vanished from the old man’s face. His eyes narrowed, glinting with something unreadable—curiosity, perhaps even suspicion. “Who are you, really?”

Emery smirked again, his confidence unwavering. “Like you said—just a new alchemist in town. So, how about it, old man? Do we have a deal?”

The old man’s gaze flickered toward the alchemical platform, where Master Zain had entered the final and most delicate phase of concoction—channeling. Everything appeared smooth and controlled, the cauldron radiating a faint golden glow.

Slowly, the old man’s mouth curled into a crooked smile. “A young, arrogant alchemist like you needs to learn a lesson. Very well, boy—you’ll follow me for a year, and you’ll work hard to earn me some money!!”

Emery gave a slight smile. He had proposed the bet partly out of amusement, but now it seemed he might secure the protection of a Grand Magus-level expert for himself—or perhaps even for the Azure Cloud Clan.

With quiet confidence, he said, “You can start preparing then… My name is Emery.”

The old man shook his head with a sigh, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and caution. “Don’t be so sure, boy. We don’t know who’ll win yet.”

At that moment, Master Zain cast his final strand of spirit energy into the massive bronze cauldron. A wave of pleasant, almost intoxicating aroma burst forth, filling the hall with a golden mist. The old man grinned and turned to Emery. “Kid, you can start preparing to serve me—”

But Emery’s eyes remained fixed on the cauldron, his expression unshaken. “Is that so? Look again.”

The air shifted as the cauldron emitted a low, ominous hum. Suddenly, its golden glow flickered violently, and the entire structure began to tremble.

“What?! What’s going on?!”

Many of the onlookers began to scatter, their faces filled with panic as they rushed for the exits. A handful of Master Zain’s apprentices remained, desperately channeling their spirit energy to stabilize the cauldron.

Seeing this, the old man said, “We only bet on whether the pill could be successfully made. We never specified that Master Zain must accomplish it alone.”

However, his words seemed meaningless as the apprentices’ frantic efforts proved futile. The tremors grew stronger, and the cauldron’s glow flickered erratically between gold and crimson, casting chaotic shadows across the hall.

Master Zain’s face contorted with panic as he desperately channeled more spirit energy into the cauldron. His trembling hands betrayed his exhaustion, yet the cauldron’s violent shudders only intensified.

“It’s going to explode, isn’t it?!” a bystander cried out in terror.

“A Tier 7 pill explosion—it’ll be deadly! we need to get out now!”

A sudden flare erupted from the cauldron, followed by violent tremors. Sparks of energy crackled, and the bronze surface glowed ominously.

“My prince, we must leave aswell” one of the grand magus bodyguards urged.

But the young noble remained still, his sharp eyes locked on the trembling cauldron. “Are you saying the two of you can’t protect me if it explodes?”

“No, my prince,” one of the guards replied firmly, stepping closer.

Meanwhile, Master Zain was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling as he poured every ounce of his remaining spirit energy into the unstable cauldron. “I… I can’t control it anymore! Everyone, for your safety—leave now! I will hold it as long as I can!”

The young noble finally turned, disappointment evident in his sharp features. But just as he was about to step away, he was surprised to see a figure walking confidently toward the cauldron instead.

It was Emery, his eyes glowing faintly. “Let me try.”