Earth's Greatest Magus

“One billion… eight hundred and fifty spirit stones.”

Emery’s fingers tightened around the storage crystal as he counted the astronomical sum for the third time, making sure he hadn’t miscalculated. It was an absurd number—more than the total net revenue of all six of his alchemy shops across the Magus Realm for an entire year. The sheer magnitude of the wealth before him left him momentarily breathless.

The winning bid had come from none other than Illir Batara, one of Pardera’s most renowned elders and a supreme figure known for his role as a Warmaster. He was a titan of a man, his broad, muscular frame radiating an aura of battle-worn strength.

Most alchemists had speculated that Emery’s pill—though groundbreaking—would only enhance a supreme being’s overall battle power by two to three percent at most. Yet, despite this seemingly small boost, the Warmaster had been willing to spend such an astronomical sum without hesitation.

Illir Batara turned toward Emery with a determined gaze. His deep voice boomed across the hall.

“Master Emery… I wish to buy two or three more.”

Emery blinked.

For a moment, the other alchemists who had remained to witness the final transactions stopped in their tracks, eyes widening in disbelief.

“…”

Unfortunatly, the pill, though primarily composed of Tier 7 materials, contained a handful of ingredients so rare that he had only managed to acquire them during his time within the Skyroot’s secret realm—materials that grew once every century. Even if he were to scour the entire realm for substitutes, there was no guarantee of success.

Moreover, there was another pressing issue.

Even with all his alchemical expertise, he wasn’t sure he could replicate the exact pill without first reaching the Grand Magus realm. His mastery of alchemy had already been pushed to its absolute limits when creating this one, and the chance of failure was simply too high.

But the Warmaster’s insistence, his willingness to wait decades if necessary, showed how much faith he had in the pill’s efficacy. Rather than turning him away completely, Emery made a compromise.

“I may not be able to recreate this exact formula anytime soon,” he admitted, “but I will attempt a lower-grade version. It may not be enough for someone of your standing, Warmaster, but it could still be invaluable for your comrades.”

The older man’s piercing gaze studied Emery for a moment before he gave a satisfied nod. “Even a lesser version would be worth acquiring. You have my support, Master Emery. Should you succeed, send word to me immediately.”

As the deal concluded, two familiar figures approached— Alchemist Iavaris and his younger brother, Baldoni. The moment they reached him, Iavaris spread his arms in mock exasperation.

“Brother Emery,” he began with a dramatic sigh, a playful glint in his eyes, “not only have you just secured a monumental sale, but you’ve also attached yourself to one of the most powerful figures in the realm. The Warmaster commands hundreds of cosmic experts, and every alchemist dreams of having even a single connection to such a force.”

Ivaris grinned as he added “You’re going to be famous at this rate,” he chuckled. “Just don’t forget us humble alchemists when you’re drowning in requests from every supreme figure in the sector.”

Emery shook his head with a small smile. He appreciated their good intentions and knew they had a point—this sale wasn’t just about the spirit stones. Establishing a connection with someone of Illir Batara’s influence could open doors, a connection he needed to his goal.

Deciding to acknowledge their support, he took a portion of the massive earnings and handed 300 million spirit stones to Baldoni. The younger alchemist’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You assisted me in the refinement,” Emery said simply. “It’s only fair you get your share.”

As the gathering drew to a close and the last of the guests began to leave the grand hall, Grandmaster Calidorne, the esteemed leader of the Skyroot faction, approached Emery and the other four victorious alchemists.

“As brief from the start, The ruler of Pardera has summoned all winners to the royal palace. The summons pertains to security concerns that extend beyond our realm. It is an urgent matter, one that may require the expertise of accomplished alchemists such as yourselves.”

Hearing this, Emery immediately suspected it had to do with the ongoing situation in the northern regions—the growing instability that had been stirring for weeks. But beyond that, he had a more personal interest in attending the summons.

The imprisoned Supreme Magus Rosin Karat and his group, travelers from his own Magus Realm.

This was the perfect opportunity to uncover more about the situation. Perhaps he could finally arrange a meeting with the prisoner himself.

But before that, he had something important to do.

The next morning, Emery arrived at the Skyroot Palace warehouse, ready to claim his winnings. As one of the top five alchemists in the tournament, he had earned a massive sum of points, which he could now exchange for rare materials and artifacts.

What he hadn’t expected was the privilege of a private tour of the Skyroot’s legendary treasure vault.

When the massive stone doors groaned open, Emery’s breath caught in his throat.

Row upon row of shimmering crystals, gleaming artifacts, and exotic ingredients stretched before him, bathed in an ethereal glow. Unlike anything he had seen even in the Magus Realm, these treasures bore the distinct mark of the Skyroot’s ancient lineage—materials exclusive to their domain.

As he walked through the vault, he carefully considered how to spend his points.

For the first half, he focused on materials that were exclusive to the Skyroot faction, rare components that could revolutionize his alchemy: These would not only aid in his personal projects but also push his understanding of alchemy further.

After finalizing his selection of materials, Emery turned his attention to the second half of his winnings. Rather than hoarding more ingredients, he sought something different—artifacts, or perhaps even secret techniques that could further his growth.