Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery has decided to use the time he has to create a pill that is strong enough to revive a person with the lowest lifesign but can be used by a mortal.

For the creation of this pill, instead of choosing Tier 4 or Tier 3 ingredients, Emery chose the lowest quality of ingredients – Tier 1. Plants that were considered Tier 1 had almost zero value in the Magus Universe, which meant that if he succeeded in this endeavor, he could make the pill very affordable.

He casually chose two Tier 1 plants, and also two Tier 2 plants he used before, and started by casting [Photosynthesis] on them. This time, thanks to the practice he had previously and lower difficulty, the improvement process was completed quickly.

[Vervain Tier 2 - mutated]

[Dittany Tier 2 - mutated]

[Fluxweed - Tier 1 - mutated]

[Daisy - Tier 1 - mutated]

At this moment, Emery was no longer concerned about time. He focused his entire mind to devise the best combination. A pill that would be strong enough to restore one's vitality, yet weak enough not to destroy its body.

The cauldron began to heat up, as Emery prepared some combinations he thought might work. When the cauldron was ready to accept ingredients, he quickly went to work, throwing the ingredients he had prepared and processed them.

Several trials were carried out and mistakes certainly occurred, but in the end, Emery ended up with a blue pill with a healthy green tint on it. He quickly appraised the pill with the system.

[Reviving Pill - Tier 2 originality level 3]

However, Emery was not satisfied with his result. He needed it to be a Tier 1 pill. Hence he set aside the pill he had just finished and proceeded to attempt another one.

Grabbing another batch of ingredients, he casted [Photosynthesis] on each of them, this time wishing the mutation to focus on the life energy within the plants. While he was engrossed by his experiment, Emery could subconsciously feel his Light Pillar reacting to the spell.

To his surprise, as the spirit energy entered, he perceived a golden glow within the plant.

The plant evolves further to something unknown.

Emery swiftly threw them into the cauldron. As he processed them, he realized that the golden glow he perceived was still there, mixing with other ingredients.

It was an essence that was full of life.

Unfortunately, it was too strong, causing the second objective Emery wanted to achieve – could be safely consumed by mortals – nearly impossible. Frustrated, Emery slammed his palms against the workbench.

"Darn!..how, think.. Emery think!"

Emery racked his brains, remembering everything about the apothecary that was inside; all the limited experience he had in the apothecary. Then suddenly, a stunned look appeared on his face. He recalled one particular recipe that he had been making so many times.

As if the locked door was unlocked, Emery's rigid thoughts were liberated. Much to others' confusion, he suddenly created a Spatial Gate into the forest once again, to grab a particular ingredient to finalize this peculiar pill of his.

A poison… the strongest Tier 1 poison in the forest.

While others were going around picking up ingredients with restorative properties to try for a last-minute attempt, Emery found himself a simple poisonous fungi that met his needs. Returning to his workstation, he quickly worked on the fungi, starting with [Fragmentation] and then [Photosynthesis].

[Deadlius - Tier 1 Mutated]

Now Emery has come to what was perhaps the most difficult part of his endeavor, to somehow find a way to combine the highly restorative mixture and the toxic ingredient in his hands seamlessly.

Two things containing completely opposite attributes were about to be mixed together; both could easily turn into nothing, but if done properly it could definitely turn into something extraordinary.

****

From a distance, the trio of grandmasters seemed completely unable to stop watching what the amusing young man was doing.

Just a moment ago, they had laughed at the sheer stupidity the young man showed when he decided to use the advanced Artisan equipment.

At that moment, the three of them all thought the young man would give up the exam with both of his products destroyed. But now, the young man used the last hour he had to create an entirely new product.

"Tier 1…?! That young apprentice is crazy.. Is he just messing around with the exam!?"

However as soon as they saw the young man able to push the low-tier plants into another level, once again their minds were baffled.

"Seriously, what skill did that young man use?!"

While Hypatia and Anmir wracked their brains to recognize the origin of the spell Emery used, Hazard on the other hand started to tremble as if he recognized the skill but was just unable to put a word on it.

The last straw broke when Emery left for the forest and returned with a poison. Simultaneously, the three were completely lost for words.

"Using poison.. I see what he was trying to do.. But it's not possible.. Without specific equipment–" Before the man finished talking however, he saw something that his eyes couldn't believe. His figure disappeared as he jumped closer to the workstation.

"This is… He is using his spirit energy to refine it!"

****

Emery was currently putting his entire concentration on the concoction process of the two opposite ingredients, using his spells [Photosynthesis]. The start was slow since this was the first time he used it on a mixture, instead of a living plant.

The spell allowed him to harness his spirit energy to refine the volatile mixture. Joining the fray next were his dark core and nature core, both of whom heavily involved in the process to ensure the mixture progressed. As for maintaining the fragile balance that the previous two factors had managed to establish, Emery's Dao which was the epitome of equilibrium came into picture.

Slowly but surely, the amount of mixture in the cauldron was reduced. Before long, it hardened and coagulated into a round pill with dark greenish color.

It was a success.

Emery smiled as his eyes fell on the pill. Even though the whole process looked complicated, making this pill actually only took a little time and a little bit of energy on his part. Without even testing the pill, he knew he was satisfied with it.

Unaware of whether the exam was over or not, Emery was just about to check the remaining time when the loud sound of a gong resounded through the air. Following right after was the loud shout of the staff present at the exam venue.

"Time is up!"