Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery had transformed one of the chambers inside Hall 120 into his apothecary room.

Shelves lined the walls, holding jars of rare herbs, vials of potent essences, and various alchemical ingredients. The air was heavy with the scent of crushed leaves, floral essences, and exotic spices, creating an atmosphere both invigorating and calming.

In the center of the room stood two imposing cauldrons, each bubbling with boiling liquid, their surfaces shimmering with magical energy. One cauldron held a lustrous, silver liquid that seemed to glow with an otherworldly radiance. The other contained a viscous, dark substance that emitted a pungent, unpleasant scent.

Emery moved with practiced precision, tending to the cauldrons with careful attention, and after several hours of meticulous work, Emery's efforts finally bore fruit. With a slight smile of satisfaction, he announced, "It's ready."

He carefully extracted the silvery liquid from one of the cauldrons, its surface rippling with spirit energy, before it was shaped into pills. Each pill took form under his skilled touch, its surface smooth and flawless.

In the end, he produced 45 silvery pills and as he gazed upon his creation, Emery felt a surge of pride and satisfaction, calling it the "Sky Tempering Pill."

Emery's investment in the ingredients for the Sky Tempering Pills had been substantial, nearly depleting 2 million spirit stones from his reserves. Yet, as he surveyed the batch of high-grade tier 5 pills before him, he felt a sense of satisfaction and relief wash over him. With 45 pills successfully produced, he knew he could recoup his losses by selling the surplus and perhaps even turning a profit, given the high demand among acolytes for such potent elixirs.

With his preparations complete, Emery summoned one of the third year acolytes. Among the eager third-years, Kat was the first to enter, her enthusiasm palpable.

"Master, I'm ready," she declared, her eyes alight with anticipation.

Ever since experiencing the transformative effects of the 'magic pool' two weeks prior, Kat eagerly awaited the opportunity to sample Emery's apothecary creations.

As Kat's gaze fell upon the boiling cauldron, she wasted no time in expressing her eagerness to partake. "Is that it?" she exclaimed, already preparing to disrobe in her excitement.

Emery quickly intervened, gesturing for her to take a seat in a nearby chair that he had prepared for the occasion. Despite Kat's impatience, she complied, her curiosity piqued as she awaited Emery's instructions.

Rather than hastily administering the promised Skybody Tempering treatment, Emery approached the process with meticulous care, conducting a thorough examination of Kat's physique and spirit core. She has became his official student, hence Emery prioritized her safety above all else. Utilizing his own expertise and aided by VIA, Emery conducted a comprehensive evaluation, subjecting Kat to various tests to ensure her eligibility for the treatment.

Upon confirming that Kat met the necessary criteria, Emery guided her into the apothecary chamber. Keeping her undergarments, he instructed her to enter the dark, pungent-smelling cauldron for a duration of 30 minutes.

Following her immersion, Emery presented Kat with one of the gleaming silver pills, instructing her to consume it. Within minutes of ingesting the pill, Kat emerged from the cauldron, her physical strength noticeably augmented. Moreover, there was a discernible enhancement in her spirit core, accompanied by a slight increase in her overall aptitude.

[Kat Devon]

[20 years old]

[Battle Power: 110 (122)]

[Fist Strength: 24.350 kg]

[Speed: 440 m/s]

[Spirit Force: 902 (923)]

[Aptitude: A - 81 (83) %]

[Wind Spirit - 8 pillars]

[Acolyte Rank: 9 - late stage - 8 pillar formed]

"Thank you, Master!!" Kat exclaimed with genuine gratitude, her spirits lifted by the remarkable effects of the treatment. The enhancement in her spirit force enabled her to advance halfway through constructing her ninth pillar—a feat that would typically require countless hours within the confines of the origin stone room. Moreover, her newfound battle prowess had undergone a significant augmentation, a development that filled her with excitement and awe.

Although Emery remained modest in his response, the efficacy of the Sky Body Tempering treatment was undeniable. While it was categorized as a high-grade treatment, its primary function was to cleanse the body of impurities. However, due to Kat's origins in a lower realm, the treatment had unlocked her full physical potential, resulting in a comprehensive improvement across all her attributes.

As for Emery's special [180 Celestial Meridian Pills], although they possessed the potential to deliver ten times the effect of [Sky Tempering Pill], they were not advisable, and even dangerous, to administer to anyone below the magus level.

After Kat, it was Damo's turn. With his usual polite demeanor, the young monk entered the room and greeted Emery respectfully. Emery conducted the same thorough check-up he had performed on Kat, ensuring Damo's safety before allowing him to undergo the treatment.

Once Damo was inside the boiling cauldron, Emery monitored the process closely. Half an hour later, Damo emerged from the cauldron, exuding a newfound vigor and energy.

[Damo]

[Age: 21]

[Battle Power: 105 (116)]

[Fist Strength: 21.350 kg]   

[Speed: 390 m/s]

[Spirit Force: 921 (930)]

[Aptitude: S - 90 (91) %]

[Light Spirit - 3 pillars]

[Water Spirit - 2 pillars]

[Earth Spirit - 2 pillars]

[Plant Spirit - 1 pillar]

[Acolyte Rank: 9 - late stage - 8 pillars formed]

Damo's progress was similar to Kat's, although it had taken him more than two years to form his eighth pillar. His primary proficiency lay in light and water elements, but after he gained more mastery over earth elements, he has been spending a lot of time forming the fourth element; the plant spirit pillar.

Emery was pleased to note that Damo's spirit core was highly receptive to his guidance in nature elements. After Klea helped him refine his spell control, Emery was prepared to personally mentor him in this area.

"Thank you, Master," Damo expressed his gratitude before leaving the room, his demeanor brimmed with happiness and determination.

More third-year acolytes arrived one after another, and Emery dedicated special attention to each one, spending about an hour with every acolyte.

As Emery conducted each check-up, he delved deep into understanding the unique constitution and spiritual essence of every acolyte. With meticulous care, he analyzed their 11:31

strengths and weaknesses, ensuring that the treatment would every acolyte. With meticulous care, he analyzed their strengths and weaknesses, ensuring that the treatment would be tailored to maximize its effectiveness for each individual.

All six of them were ranked 9, in the middle stage with 4 to 6 pillars formed, making them eligible for the treatment. Each acolyte received a similar boost to their stats, with two of them even experiencing a breakthrough and forming an additional pillar.

Dillion's turn came, and he approached Emery with a composed demeanor. Emery's examination was thorough, his skilled hands moving with precision as he assessed every aspect of Dillion's physical and spiritual condition. With a nod of approval, Emery signaled that Dillion was ready to enter the cauldron.

The moment Dillion submerged himself into the bubbling liquid, a tense silence enveloped the room. Surprisingly, thirty minutes proved insufficient to fully extract the impurities from his body. More than an hour passed, during which Dillion's skin turned reddish from the heat and pain, yet he endured silently until the full two hours had elapsed.

When Dillion finally arose from the cauldron, his entire being seemed to emanate a newfound energy. His features were drawn with exhaustion, but there was also a gleam of triumph in his eyes.

[Dillion]

[20 years old]

[Battle Power: 121 (137)]

[Fist Strength: 29.110 kg]

[Speed: 540 m/s]

[Spirit Force: 822 (839)]

[Aptitude: S - 94 %]

[Earth Spirit - 5 pillars]

[Darkness Spirit - 1 pillars]

[Acolyte Rank: 9 - middle stage - 6 pillar formed]

Emery's scrutiny of Dillion's spirit core revealed a discovery. Despite his current status as a middle-stage rank 9 acolyte, Dillion possessed a remarkably sturdy foundation. As Emery delved deeper, he noticed a peculiar, almost hidden anomaly within Dillion's spirit core—a darkness pillar that seemed to be intertwined differently with his foundation.

Upon closer examination, Emery detected that this particular pillar was the first one to have formed within Dillion's spirit core. Its roots delved deep into the core, indicating its fundamental importance in shaping his spiritual development. However, what intrigued Emery even more was the untapped potential that lay within this darkness element.

It was evident to Emery that Dillion had yet to find a mentor who could guide him in harnessing the power of his darkness proficiency. Despite his remarkable progress in other areas, this aspect of his spiritual growth remained largely unexplored. With his keen insight and expertise, Emery saw an opportunity to unlock Dillion's latent abilities and help him reach new heights of mastery.

The opportunity to mentor and nurture a promising acolyte stirred within him a sense of fulfillment. This feeling prompted him to wonder if it mirrored the sentiment Master Xion experienced when taking him on as a disciple. However, a sudden chuckle escaped him as he realized the stark contrast between Dillion situation and his old messy core.

After concluding his session with the third-year acolytes, Emery turned his attention to the first-year recruits, keen to commence their training and witness their growth firsthand.