Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery had already spent 50,000 of the 100,000 credits he had been awarded on rare materials, but there was still much more he needed. With that in mind, he navigated his way through its equipment chambers. The room gleamed with weapons and armor of exceptional quality, their magical auras pulsating through the air.

Among the displays were tier 8 weapons, shimmering with power, and armor pieces that exuded a defensive might strong enough to withstand the most fearsome attacks. Each of these artifacts was valued anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 credits—a steep price but well worth the investment for any elite warrior. Accompanying them were powerful spell manuals and technique scrolls, priced between 10,000 and 30,000 credits, each promising to unlock new levels of mastery.

However, despite the wealth of options available, Emery soon realized that nothing in the equipment hall stood out as uniquely valuable to him. As grand as the selection was, Sky Root Palace was, after all, known as an alchemist faction. Most of their battle-oriented equipment was something he could easily find outside of the place. That being the case, he turned his attention toward the palace’s true specialty—alchemy.

His first thought was finding a replacement for his precious Starforge Cauldron. The once-magnificent artifact had been heavily damaged during the recent trials and battles he had endured. As expected, the Sky Root Palace’s apothecary section housed an impressive collection of cauldrons—the kind that any grandmaster in the Magus realm could only dream of owning.

“Damn… even their tier 7 cauldrons are better than my Starforge,” Emery muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief.

He quickly realized that most alchemists in the Tartarus Realm relied heavily on spirit concoction techniques, which required cauldrons of exceptional durability. The high-quality materials naturally found in this realm meant that the equipment crafted here was of the highest grade.

His gaze scanned the shelves, admiring the exquisite craftsmanship. Some cauldrons were designed with reinforced celestial alloys that could withstand volatile explosions, while others possessed built-in formations that enhanced potion purity or stabilized unstable concoctions. A few even had absorption enchantments, capable of drawing residual energy to empower the user. There were so many choices, each with its own unique advantages.

As Emery pondered his selection, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“You’re this year’s winner, aren’t you? The beastman alchemist…!”

Turning toward the source, Emery found himself face-to-face with an elderly man of imposing stature. The man’s muscular build was unusual for an alchemist, and his heavy scent of alcohol was even more unexpected. It was still early in the morning, yet the elder already reeked of strong liquor, his cheeks flushed with intoxication.

Despite his drunken state, there was something about him—an aura of wisdom and authority that Emery couldn’t ignore.

Maintaining his politeness, Emery offered a respectful nod and replied, “Thank you, Senior. I was hoping to trade some credits for a new cauldron.”

The old man’s demeanor shifted instantly. His hazy eyes sharpened, and his expression grew serious. “A cauldron to an alchemist is like a sword to a swordsman… Why are you so quick to replace yours?”

Without hesitation, Emery retrieved his Starforge Cauldron from his spatial ring and placed it before the elder. The man’s eyes widened as he inspected it, running his fingers across its worn exterior and tracing the intricate rune patterns embedded into the metal.

“A masterpiece… This is a masterpiece… Who made this? But… no, no… this wasn’t refined properly.” He sighed, shaking his head. “What a waste.”

Silence fell between them for a moment before the elder finally spoke again, his voice carrying an air of finality. “Because you are this year’s winner, I am willing to repair your cauldron… and even refine it.” He fixed Emery with a steady gaze. “What do you think?”

Emery’s breath caught in his throat. This man was offering to restore his tier 7 artifact? Such a task would require not only a grandmaster blacksmith but also a grandmaster in formations to mend the cauldron’s rune structure.

Seeing Emery’s hesitation, the elder scoffed. “If you don’t believe me, then forget it.” He turned as if to leave.

“Senior, please don’t be upset!” Emery called out quickly, stepping forward. “It’s not that I doubt you—I just don’t have much time to wait.”

The elder paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before nodding. “Fine. If you insist, I can finish the repairs in five days. Now hand it over.”

Emery hesitated for only a brief moment before taking a deep breath and relinquishing the cauldron. As much as he doubted the drunken old man, the reality was that his Starforge was unusable in its current state. He had already planned to purchase a new one, so he might as well take a chance.

His doubts, however, were shattered when he saw the elder casually lift the heavy cauldron with a single finger. Emery’s eyes widened in shock. That was no ordinary feat.

In that brief moment, he managed to probe the elder’s strength.

This man wasn’t just a skilled craftsman—he was a powerful cosmic expert. And the ease with which he concealed his power suggested that he was in the later stages of his cultivation.

After the elder departed, Emery turned to one of the Sky Root Palace staff members to ask the elder’s identity.

The staff member looked surprised by the question but quickly answered. “That was Master Ulric. He’s one of the finest refinement grandmasters in the realm—a grade 8 expert. He’s also a close friend of our patriarch.”

Emery’s eyes widened further as the staff member revealed that half of the Tier 8 cauldrons in this entire warehouse were personally crafted by him. He had unknowingly placed his Starforge Cauldron in the hands of a true master. If this man could refine it properly, it might return to him as something far greater than what it once was.

Emery’s pulse quickened with anticipation. What would become of his Starforge now?