Earth's Greatest Magus

?Accompanied by Gerri, Emery, and Klea arrived at their destination, the Golden Pavilion, the largest and most opulent store in Golden City. The grandeur of the building unfolded before them--a majestic seven-floor pagoda that stood as an architectural marvel. The entrance beckoned with an awe-inspiring sight: a breathtaking thirty-meter-tall statue positioned at the center, commanding attention and spanning the first three floors of the pagoda. This masterful sculpture portrayed seven beautiful winged angels in graceful flight around a fearsome serpent dragon, capturing the essence of magic, elegance, and mystique.

As they stepped through the entrance, the ambiance within the Golden Pavilion enveloped them in a world of luxury and enchantment. The spacious interior was adorned with intricate carvings, vibrant tapestries, and exquisite displays of magical artifacts. A symphony of colors and fragrances filled the air, creating an immersive experience for all who entered.

Unlike the previous shop, the Golden Pavilion hummed with activity. Customers, magus, and enthusiasts alike perused the aisles, their eyes lighting up with curiosity at the prospect of discovering rare and powerful relics.

With an enforcer captain in tow, the group quickly garnered a warm and friendly welcome from the senior staff. Two beautiful women, dressed in elegant attire, approached with genuine smiles.

"Welcome to the Golden Pavilion, esteemed guests. How may we be of service to you today?"

The group embarked on a brief tour of the Golden Pavilion, exploring its various floors and experiencing the diverse offerings within the grand establishment. The first floor served as a lobby for information, where patrons could gather details about the Pavilion's stalls. Moving upward, the second and third floors unfolded into a lavish space dedicated to food and entertainment. As they ascended further, the fourth floor revealed an impressive collection of weapons and armors, while the fifth floor beckoned with potions and scrolls.

Eager to delve into the magical wonders of the fifth floor, the group found themselves surrounded by a bustling marketplace. The air was filled with the delicate scents of magical elixirs, and the shelves were lined with scrolls containing ancient spells and secret techniques.?At least thirty stalls lined the expansive area, each representing renowned shops that specialized in offering rare and potent items for sale.

"Let's check this one, Emery," Klea exclaimed with excitement as she approached a spell shop that showcased a dazzling array of magical scrolls and artifacts. Within the information crystal, hundreds of spells were available for perusal, accessible with Via's assistance. However, the truly rare and unique ones on display remained beyond the artificial lifeform's reach, awaiting Emery's personal exploration. Relying on his innate abilities, Emery probed the depths of the spells and secret techniques. Dozens of items some intricately attached to stones or woods, awaited their perusal.

"We are looking for Earth formation arrays to enhance spirit energy, tier 4 or higher," Klea announced to the vendor, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Emery, standing beside her, added his criteria, specifying the need for formations that could synergize with darkness elements. Moreover, he expressed his disinterest in any formation below a B rank.

The scrolls and artifacts on display unveiled a handful of options that met Emery's discerning criteria:

[Elemental Earthbind - Rank B - Tier 4]

[Earthen Harmony Grid - Rank B - Tier 4]

[Verdant Earth Veil - Rank A - Tier 5]

[Crystalline Nexus - Divine Rank - Tier 5]

As Emery delved into the intricacies of each formation array, he realized the profound complexity that distinguished them from ordinary spells. The tier 4 formations alone posed a considerable challenge, one that he estimated would require days or even weeks to comprehend fully. The tier 5 formations, with their divine rank, presented an even more formidable task, demanding months of dedicated study and practice to unlock their full potential.

As if she could sense Emery's thoughts, Klea reassured him, saying, "Don't worry; you can count on me. I will help you through it." Her confidence in formation spells provided Emery with a sense of relief. If only she possessed proficiency in earth spells, their task would have been significantly easier.

However, unwilling to wait for months to master the tier 5 spells, Emery opted to purchase the tier 4 formations instead. He explored a few more stalls, meticulously examining the available options, until he found one that resonated with him.

[TerraSphere Array - Rank A - Tier 4] [Price: 450,000 Spirit Stones]

Emery couldn't contain his excitement at the prospect of implementing this powerful formation. With the purchase completed, Emery eagerly looked forward to returning and immersing himself in the creation of the formation.

However, while still in the Golden Pavilion, he decided to broaden his search and explore other items—specifically, a defensive formation suitable for fortifying the Moon base.

Formation arrays presented themselves as a potentially more cost-effective and potent option for defense when compared to relying solely on artifacts. Emery, however, quickly realized that none of the available tier 4 spells were strong enough to hold a grand magus-level opponent.

The prospect of spending millions of spirit stones seemed more feasible than dedicating extensive time to mastering high-tier formation spells. Another alternative involved hiring a Grand Master in formation to create a tier 6 or even 7 defense formation. However, the inherent security risk associated with entrusting the key to enter the formations to someone else gave Emery pause.

In the midst of contemplation, Klea approached him with a radiant smile, her hand gently clasping his. "You promised to buy me something, right?" she reminded him, the sparkle in her eyes reflecting excitement.

"Yes, show me,"

Klea's finger pointed towards a small wooden box, within which lay a pearly white pen adorned with intricate flowery shapes. It was a rune pen, a tool typically used by formation masters for scribing runes—a crucial instrument that could significantly enhance the precision and artistry of crafting formations. Much like a cauldron to an apothecarist, it promised to elevate the quality of Klea's formation work, replacing her previous method of using a sword for scribing.

[Lotus Jade Pen - Tier 5 - 650,000 Spirit Stones],

It was a high-grade Tier 5 item, and while it might not have been extravagantly expensive, Emery had yet to fully grasp the substantial difference in pricing between formation tools and those of an apothecary.

Klea's sly smile didn't go unnoticed, prompting a comment from Gerri.

"I don't believe you can't pay that amount yourself."

Klea responded with a playful tone, "Well, Gerri, consider this a lesson. It's always different when it's a gift from your loved one."

Emery, happy to fulfill Klea's request, didn't hesitate to make the purchase. However, Klea's enthusiasm wasn't quenched yet. After acquiring the Lotus Jade Pen, she playfully tugged Emery along, urging him to buy her more formation spells.