Celestial Era: The Rise of the Full-Time Enhancer

'Thirty-six, huh…'

Vincent mused as he counted the number of people inside this secret place including the administrator. With the addition of his group, there were now thirty-eight of them. It is quite a smaller number than he expected.

After all, according to Administrator Bon, he was the last one to arrive.

"Right, I forgot to mention, there will be some people who will not be attending since the modification that they wanted can't be provided yet. They were quite picky..." The administrator explained as if he could read Vincent's mind.

"Is that so? How many of us attended then?"

"There were only nine of you… Since it's your first time here, I'm sure that you weren't of this modification that I've mentioned… One of the Alchemists here will explain it to you."

Administrator Bon replied as he left Vincent to another person. This is a young female alchemist that is exuding a weird aura.

If they're outside the Tower, he would just think that she's a normal young maiden. She's wearing a scholarly dress spun by silk from tasar silkworms and covered by a white shawl with red plums embroidered on it.

She doesn't seem like an alchemist at all. Vincent would normally imagine alchemists as middle-aged people with eyebags and skinny figures.

However, her long sash that was tied to her waist says otherwise. She wasn't skinny but instead, she has a perfect figure that even his blurry eyes could see. Her hair was elaborately pinned up by a pearl ornamental hairpin and the rest of her hair flowed down her back… If Luna didn't signal something on him, he would mistake her for a Celestial Being.

"So you're Sir Vincent… The Seventh Disciple… I'm not sure how much you know about the Immortal Project. Well, even Karsten didn't know that much aside from the modification we can provide in exchange for the Immortal Stone you're holding…" The female alchemist said.

"Oh? Is this something really important?" Vincent asked.

To be honest, he tried appraising his Immortal Stone but he didn't get a result. He obviously knows that it is important but he wasn't sure of its details.

"Well, it's an item that can only be purchased by the top families of the Black Tower. I'm sure that Karsten received a huge amount of scolding after losing it to you." The alchemist said with an amused smile on her face. She doesn't normally see people who don't know the value of the Immortal Stone.

"Anyway, since you're already here, let me explain how this event will start… We are still waiting for the Project Leader to arrive so I should have some time to explain it to you."

Vincent then went silent as he listened to the alchemist.

Apparently, this Immortal Project has three stages… The first stage was the Modification Project that they have recently been perfected which allowed them to produce numerous talented Mana Practitioners.

Vincent guessed that this is the result of the Celestial Incarnation Project where they had to sacrifice many people in order to confirm the viability of transplanting the Celestial Being's organs to humans.

The second stage was the one that involves the Immortal Stone… She said that these Immortal Stones are needed as some sort of energy to provide gifts or unique abilities to the practitioners. There were no surgeries or transplants needed for it to happen. What was needed appeared to be some kind of ritual and she wasn't too clear about it. Anyway, he would know it later on.

As for the third stage, she hinted that it is related to achieving an Immortal Body… It seems to be considered as Tier 5 Mana Art. Unfortunately, the technique to attain the Immortal Body wasn't completed yet.

'The result of the first stage was certainly Calidia and the others… As for the second stage, I'm about to experience it now…' Vincent mused.

"Thank you for explaining it to me… Right, I haven't asked for your name yet…"

"I'm Nina… Just a Tier 3 Alchemist." The young maiden replied as she gestured to Vincent to follow her.

The place they were in right now seems like a theater stage… It was as if they were about to watch some people perform on the stage.

"A Tier 3 Alchemist, huh… Do you know Miss Faviona from the Alchemist Union?" Vincent asked. For some reason, he wanted to just continue chatting with her…

"You know teacher Faviona? She was my teacher in the academy at the 13th Tower before she joined the Alchemist Union." Nina replied as she looked at Vincent with surprise.

"Are you acquainted with her as well?" She added.

"That's right… I received a jade tag from her and was told to visit the Alchemist Union if I have the time… I didn't know that she was a teacher before."

Nina realized that Vincent was saying the truth after he pulled up the jade tag which is something that she also has. It is an item necessary to enter the Alchemist Union.

The two of them chatted about random things for a little while longer until the Project Leader finally arrived.

To be honest, Vincent was feeling several gazes on him and he felt uncomfortable about it. Thanks to Nina, he was able to calm himself and secretly monitor the people who have been observing him as well.

During this time, he was able to identify the eight other participants of this project, and just like him, they brought one person to escort them.

Step… Step. Step…

The project leader stood on the stage and looked at everyone present, the Immortal Stone holders, the Alchemists, and the guards they'd brought…

"Thank you for arriving, everyone… I called you here after hearing that Vincent, the last Immortal Stone holder, is finally here." The Project Leader said as he looked in Vincent's direction.

As expected, the others arrived earlier in the 15th Tower and were only called to gather after his presence was known. Since he landed outside the city and took his time to get here, everyone has already gathered by the time he entered…

Vincent felt a bit apologetic for being late. Nevertheless, if he didn't do this, he wouldn't feel comfortable going here at all.

He then noticed the old Project Leader looking at Luna and he seem to be confused about whether she was a Celestial Being or not.

"I will not make you wait for long then… Everyone with the Immortal Stone can come up here on the stage one by one to communicate with the Magic God and receive your blessing…"