Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 627: Greatest Treasure

Saratoga Castle.

Adam slowly opened his eyes after having lived more than two hundred and fifty years inside the illusion. He felt as if he had woken up from a very long dream.

His gaze landed on the familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling of the underground chamber. This was where the final trial of the inheritance took place.

”I feel like an old man,” he muttered to himself in exasperation.

Strangely enough, he felt as if he had experienced enlightenment. His experience inside the first illusion left him with a sense of spiritual awakening.

Understanding dawned on him that life and death were connected. He emerged with a greater sense of peace and balance, ready to face the future with newfound clarity.

”Yes, the future…” he frowned. ”How much time has passed in the real world, though?”

He tried to sit up straight but realized that he was floating.

”Hmm?” Adam looked sideways and found that he was inside a large tub filled with some kind of unknown liquid brimming with mana.

Thatʼs right, he thought. I had sensed my body in this strange liquid earlier. My perception of time is so hazy, I donʼt even know how long Iʼve been floating in this…

He closed his eyes and directed his Sphere of Resonance inward, trying to find out how this strange liquid was affecting his body.

The energy from the liquid seeped in through his skin and bones, flowing through his mana channels and condensing in his stomach region. The mana which was earlier in a gaseous state was now turning into a liquid form.

Furthermore, it was also flowing in an orderly manner, almost forming an energy whirlpool in his stomach region—more precisely, between his two kidneys.

Adam was thunderstruck at this development. Then, intense panic began to set in.

”Wait, wait, wait, wait!!” He hurriedly weaved a series of complex hand signs, following which mana gathered at the tip of his fingertips.

Then, he pressed his five fingers on his stomach, at the space between his kidneys. Following that, the mana on his fingertips transformed into tiny snakes and burrowed inside his stomach.

The five tiny serpents slithered in a circular motion before finally settling down, forming something akin to a five-knotted tattoo. This was a spell that he had learned from the memories of Magus Syvarin Venʼmir.

The energy coursing inside Adamʼs mana channels finally settled down and became dormant, effectively stopping from forming a complete vortex!

”Phew!” Adam breathed a sigh of relief. ”That was close!”

”You…” Suddenly, Saratogaʼs remnant will materialized inside the chamber, standing outside the large vat Adam was in.

”Why would you do that?” The old man asked, speechless. ”If you absorbed the mana for another hour more, you would have advanced to the Mana Vortex Rank!”

”Headmaster, this is not the right time to advance to the next rank,” Adam smiled regretfully. He paused for a moment before asking, ”Are you aware of the Grand Magus Tournament?”

Saratoga nodded while stroking his beard. ”Yes, I am aware.” Realization dawned on him and he added, ”I see. If the requirements havenʼt changed, then the condition for participating should still be Mana Liquefaction Rank strength and an age restriction of below fifty.”

”Thatʼs right.” Adam nodded.

”Well, I canʼt say itʼs a bad decision,” Saratoga stated. The rewards for the winner of the Grand Magus Tournament were far greater than what his inheritance could provide.

After all, the rewards were pooled collectively by the Four Pillars of the Empire, the Acadian Royal Family, and finally the Baja High Forest.

Saratoga knew that those rewards were objectively better than what Adam would receive now. After all, the rewards for the Raven Inheritance were designed based on the seekerʼs deepest desire.

”What are you going to do about this?” Saratoga pointed at the vibrant green liquid inside the vat. There was still a lot left that Adam hadnʼt absorbed. ”You wonʼt be able to take it outside, or it will lose its magical properties.”

Adam lowered his head, gazing at the mana-filled liquid overflowing with vitality. He scooped a handful, intently gazing at it. ”My lord, is this similar to the Sacred Waters of Lustrum?”

”Yes.” Saratoga nodded. ”If I recall correctly, I found it in the mountainous regions of Yen-Lu. It fortifies your mana channels, purifies your mana, and strengthens your body. The concentration of mana is so high that it is basically liquid mana.”

”Strengthens the body, huh?” Adamʼs lips curled up into a smirk.

He closed his eyes and started revolving the Astral Tyrant Manual! The green liquid inside the vat swirled around him, slowly seeping in through his pores, nourishing his skin, muscles, bones, and organs.

The youth made sure to not have the liquid come anywhere near his mana channels, lest he accidentally advance to the Mana Vortex Rank. If the countless other Mana Liquefaction Magi struggling to break through read his thoughts, they would beat him to an inch of his life.

Saratoga patiently stood outside the vat, curiously glancing at the liquid being rapidly absorbed inside the young manʼs body. What was more surprising was the fact that he could see the improvement in Adamʼs physique with his bare eyes.

He thought that the body enhancement technique that Adam was using was very fascinating and full of mysteries. However, he didnʼt ask him about it. Every Magus had secrets, after all.

After more than thirty minutes, Adam finally opened his eyes. There was barely any liquid left inside the vat. He clenched his fists and could feel the raw power coursing through his veins. He had become slightly muscular than before and even his height had increased a bit.

”Nice!” He exclaimed in happiness. He then looked at the old man standing before him and was about to thank him, but his words got caught in his throat. ”Headmaster, your body…”

Saratoga chuckled lightly. ”This is normal. I told you, didnʼt I? That I am but a remnant will. I am tied to this Raven Inheritance. Once all the trials have been completed, I will naturally cease to exist.”

Adamʼs expression turned somber and he didnʼt know what to say.

”Hoho, no need to be like that, young magus,” said the old man whose body was gradually turning incorporeal. ”I have long since passed away, I cannot die again.”

He then started walking toward the other end of the chamber where a small wooden door was located. ”Follow me. The rest of your reward awaits.”

Adam conjured a fresh set of white robes from his earring. After drying his body and donning them, he followed after the Headmaster. Inwardly, he was extremely curious as to what the rewards would be.

If the rewards from the previous trials were any indication, Adam knew that the rewards for this trial would also be equally amazing.

I wonder if Iʼll get a pair of gauntlets? Perhaps a spellbook? Or even one of the grimoires left behind by the first headmaster? He thought gleefully.

The pair stopped before the unassuming wooden door. Saratoga glanced at Adam with a kind smile and explained, ”The final reward for every Raven Inheritance within these castle walls depends on the deepest and truest desires of those who participate in the trials.

”Many before you have chanced upon Raven Inheritances. Most have failed, while only a few have succeeded. Some desired power and so they received rewards that would strengthen them. Others desired knowledge and so they received my grimoires.”

Adamʼs excited expression gradually froze. ”Wait… if that is the case, then I…”

Saratoga chuckled as his hand reached out for the door. As the wooden door slowly creaked open, brilliant rays of golden light emerged from the other side of the door, bathing Adam in a state of absolute shock.

”W-W-What?!!!” Adam was shocked out of his mind.

He felt as if he had entered a temple of wealth. Its sheer scale was so overwhelming that he almost started frothing in the mouth.

Towering stone pillars stretched toward the vaulted ceiling, supporting this humongous chamber. The light of flickering touches cast glittering reflections off the countless treasures scattered across the floor.

Everywhere he looked, he saw piles of gold coins shining with an otherwordly light, forming small mountains and spilling into rivers. Gemstones the size of his fists sparkled in shades of sapphire blues, emerald greens, and ruby reds. It was a place of unimaginable riches!

”This…” Adam looked at Saratoga and asked with utter disbelief. ”All this is mine?!”

Saratoga nodded nonchalantly as he stroked his long beard. ”Yes, this is your reward for completing the final trial of this Raven Inheritance.”

”Oh my—” Adam nearly choked on his saliva. He looked around and saw gold and gems as far as his eyes could see. ”Is this the lair of a dragon?! Wait, no, how much is all of this worth? How many storage artifacts will I need to pack everything here?”

Saratoga chuckled heartily, ”Your heart desired riches, and riches you received.”

Adam looked around the vault in a daze, when suddenly his gaze landed on a small marble pedastal in the near distance.

That place seemed to be at the center of this chamber, but strangely enough, there was no gold, gem, or jewelry placed atop that pedastal. Instead, it appeared to be a simple piece of paper.

”Whatʼs that?” Adam asked curiously. If a piece of paper was inside this vault, then its value was undoubtedly great.

”That is my parting gift to you, young magus.” Saratoga smiled warmly. ”That is the greatest treasure you will receive inside this vault.”

Adamʼs interest was piqued as he made his way toward the marble pedastal. When he was finally able to see what the piece of paper on it was, his body involuntarily trembled.

With shaky hands, he reached out for the paper. He looked at it silently for a long time as tears started to well up in his eyes.

It was indeed the greatest treasure he could find in this chamber.

It was a portrait of him and his late parents.