Earth's Greatest Magus

In the past year, Emery had poured relentless effort into expanding his apothecary enterprise, with five shops opening across major cities, generating over one and a half billion spirit stones in profits. Golden City alone accounted for more than a third of that staggering sum, while the remaining four—Centauri City, Zodiac City, Utopia City, and Terra City—combined to make up the rest.

Yet, the business of running an empire wasn't cheap. Nearly one-third of those profits were immediately funneled back into further development. Significant investments were also made in Terra and Earth's forces and infrastructure, as well as bolstering the newly formed Lower Realm alliance. Emery also made sure to support his Earth magus companions, allocating funds to help them develop stronger.

After all that, he was left with a healthy 700 million spirit stones.

However, the last three weeks had been a whirlwind of spending. Between his upgrades at the Heavenly Pagoda and several high-grade materials for his apothecary projects, Emery had already burned through more than 300 million spirit stones.

He let out a deep sigh, reflecting on how quickly the spirit stones had vanished.

"Well, 300 million should still be enough to get me a few artifacts," he muttered to himself, trying to maintain optimism. Emery had attended numerous auction events in both Golden City and Centauri City, so he was well-versed in how these high-profile affairs operated. Dressed in luxury attire befitting their status, both he and Annara entered the prestigious venue, their eyes immediately drawn to the opulence around them. The sleek staff, a mix of humans and Seraphs, moved gracefully between guests, and an engaging moderator kept the atmosphere lively with light banter.

At first glance, the auction seemed to follow the usual patterns. But it wasn't long before Emery noticed something peculiar—there were three different seating arrangements, rather than the usual two. In previous events, there had been general seats for the average bidder and VIP sections for wealthier guests. But now, there was a third category: the exclusive VVIP rooms.

Even with his merchant status, Emery found himself relegated to the general seating. Which meant the VIP section and VVIP must have been reserved for more influential figures. Not one to leave questions unanswered, Emery discreetly directed VIA and Annara to investigate. As Annara moved through the crowd, making quiet inquiries, Emery settled into his sea. Before long, he received the answers he sought.

It turned out that the VIP section was reserved for loyal customers who had spent over a billion spirit stones at previous auctions. Alternatively, it was open to leaders of grade 3 factions or elders of grade 4 factions. As for the VVIPs, they were reserved for individuals comparable to grade 4 faction leaders or higher.

The revelation about the VVIP rooms only heightened Emery's curiosity about what kinds of extraordinary items would be featured in the auction. If the level of exclusivity was this high, the artifacts up for bidding must be nothing short of remarkable.

Sensing his amusement, Annara leaned closer and said with a knowing smile, "Of course, it's on a different level. Just entering the city alone costs 10 million spirit stones…"

Before Emery could dwell too much on that, the auction began. It opened with a sophisticated greeting, setting the stage for what was a high-class event. Then, without any delay, the first item was revealed.

[Cosmic Prism Gauntlet]

It was a magnificent piece. A tier 7 golden gauntlet, it's surface shimmering with five vibrant, colorful stones embedded in it, each one likely holding significant power.

Emery's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Starting with a tier 7 artifact was bold; typically, these prized items served as the highlights of auctions, not the opening act. The bidding began at a staggering 20 million spirit stones and escalated rapidly, as eager participants in the VIP and VVIP sections vied for ownership. Within mere seconds, the bid soared to 100 million.

"Sold for 160 million stones! Congratulations to the guest from VIP 5!" the moderator declared, a mix of excitement and professionalism in his voice.

The auction continued, unveiling a series of equally exclusive tier 7 artifacts, each more impressive than the last. There were ornate armors that shimmered with protective enchantments, powerful weapons infused with unique abilities, and intricate spell scrolls, all boasting captivating backstories that enhanced their allure. Each item sparked intense bidding wars, with prices ranging from 50 million to 200 million spirit stones.

"Next we have a special item!!' After every five items, the auctioneer would unveil a surprise tier 8 or equivalent items, a strategy that only intensified the already competitive atmosphere.

The first of these surprises started modestly enough, with high-grade rare metals. However, it didn't take long before a fierce bidding war erupted between two grandmaster blacksmiths, both eager to secure valuable resources. The final price soared to an impressive 240 million spirit stones, showcasing just how coveted these materials were.

However, that number paled in comparison to the second special item revealed.

[Desolate Demon Halberd]

This weapon exuded a chilling, menacing aura, with an overwhelming reserve of power and an ominous murderous intent radiating from its jagged, dark edges. The sheer presence of the halberd commanded immediate attention from everyone in the room.

Despite its terrifying energy, it sparked a heated bidding war that reverberated through the VIP and VVIP sections. The intensity of the back-and-forth between bidders grew so fierce that even the seasoned auctioneer had to pause at times, allowing the frenzy to momentarily subside before continuing.

Ultimately, the tier 8 weapon was sold for a staggering 950 million spirit stones, the winning bid placed by an unknown figure hidden away in one of the VVIP rooms. Watching all this unfold, Emery couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. Even with the incredible success of his apothecary empire, generating profits in the hundreds of millions, it was clear that in the grand scale of the magus universe, he was barely middle class.

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