Earth's Greatest Magus

?"15 minutes left"

The grandmaster's reminder of the dwindling time hung heavily in the air, intensifying the focus and urgency among the participants. As the four contenders poured their maximum concentration into the final stages of their creations, spectators watched with rapt attention, eager to witness the culmination of their efforts.

Notably, Winri's cauldron became a focal point, capturing the room's complete attention. It burned intensely, emitting significant heat and smoke. A collective gasp swept through the spectators, causing some participants to instinctively retreat a few steps, concerned about a possible explosion.

"She's at her limit!" shouted one of the participants, observing Winri's visible strain as she sweated and panted heavily. It became apparent that being at realm 9 was insufficient for the demanding process of creating such high-tier potions. However, defying expectations, Winri resolutely consumed a pill to replenish her energy.

"She's crazy!" exclaimed some, interpreting Winri's actions as reckless. Yet, others admired her unwavering determination to craft a successful pill, recognizing the sacrifices made in pursuit of excellence.

As the cheers for Winri's success echoed through the room, a sudden turn of events hushed the celebratory atmosphere. The jubilation morphed into gasps of shock when Winri, amidst the encouragement, began coughing blood. Instantly, her once controlled cauldron descended into chaos.

"Watch out!" The warning reverberated in the room as Grandmaster Hazard swiftly moved to contain the unruly cauldron. Simultaneously, Grandmaster Hypotia, showing her agility, scooped Winri into her arms, administering immediate treatment. Regrettably, despite Winri's determined efforts, her endeavor to concoct the tier 8 pill concluded in failure.

"That's unfortunate; let's hope the other three can succeed," Grandmaster Odoro remarked with a touch of disappointment.

Meanwhile, Mo Xan, the elderly artisan who had been concocting adjacent to Winri, remained undistracted. Demonstrating his profound experience, he delicately fused the 24 ingredients, layer by layer. The air around him practically hummed with the energy of his skilled hands.

As the minutes ticked by, the culmination of Mo Xan's expertise materialized with the unveiling of the cauldron's contents. The atmosphere in the room shifted as the lid lifted to reveal a mesmerizing creation—a shining, marble-like white and green pill. Spectators marveled at the flawless appearance, a testament to Mo Xan's profound understanding of his craft.

Upon analysis, the pill's details were unveiled:

[Plant Divinity Pill - Tier 7, Originality level 1, Excellent Quality - 90%]

"I did… I finally did it" said the elderly apothecary as tears fall on his cheek

Witnessing Mo Xan's emotional reaction to his success, the entire room couldn't help but be moved. The elderly, with over two hundred years of experience and ten time attempts at the mastery exam, had finally achieved his long-sought goal.

Amidst the genuine happiness surrounding Mo Xan, the young master of the Houten family, Eugene, couldn't resist a condescending smirk.

"Huh, to become a master at such an age... what's there to be happy about..."

However, Eugene's smirk quickly faded as he refocused on his own creation. Determined to prove the value of his years of preparation and the substantial investment of the Houten family, he channeled his spirit energy to the maximum, pushing the limits of his skill to refine the [Celestial Body Liquid] to its pinnacle.

When he was finally done, a golden liquid flowed out of the cauldron before he poured it into a bottle. "The potion is done" Eugene declared with confidence, presenting the final product for analysis.

[Celestial Body Liquid - Tier 8, Excellent Quality - 90%].

"What! Only 90!" Eugene exclaimed in frustration.

Although many spectators cheered for his success, Eugene was disappointed.

He attributed the perceived shortfall to the distractions within the examination room. Despite the disappointment, Eugene maintained an air of annoyance as he awaited the final participant's unveiling. "Huh, it doesn't matter; I still rank the highest. Besides, there is no way that trash will be able to pass."

"5 minutes left,"

All eyes turned towards Emery, the last contestant yet to reveal his creation. Whispers and mutterings surrounded the young apothecary, skepticism evident in the faces of those who doubted his ability to produce a tier 8 potion.

"He really didn't use any tier 8 ingredients. How could he possibly create a tier 8 product?"

Amid the perplexed gazes of onlookers, Emery maintained his focus on the intricate recipe before him. His original plan involved unlocking the secrets of the [Celestial Body Tempering Recipes] obtained from the celestial ruins – a coveted formula ideal for sale and personal use before delving into crafting costly awakening pills.

However, faced with the formidable challenge of obtaining rare ingredients, Emery made a pivotal decision to modify this celestial recipe with his own concoction, the [Heavenly Body Tempering Liquid], an original formula he had developed during his time on the Vanyar planet.

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Emery had previously achieved success with the creation of a tier 5 potion, boasting an originality level of 2 during the prestigious Vanyar apothecary forum. Armed with the invaluable guidance of the Celestial Body Tempering Recipes and utilizing the artificial lifeform VIA to calculate precise measurements for an enhanced version, Emery embarked on the journey to surpass his own accomplishments.

Fueled by the formidable combination of his enhanced dual law of nature and light, Emery's [Photosynthesis] reached new heights. However, achieving this milestone required a critical ingredient – the [Ethereal Jade Orchid], a tier 7 herb acquired from the celestial ruins.

In the intricate process, Emery meticulously blended the ingredients, measuring and adjusting with precision. As he reached the final stages, a confident shout echoed through the room – "Refined!"

Just as before, the cauldron proved insufficient to contain Emery's unleashed power. Once again, he harnessed the fusion of his radiant light energy and the chaotic force of Khaos, utilizing his profound comprehension of Dao. To refine a product of such magnitude within the given time constraints, Emery was compelled to draw upon every ounce of his power, demanding an unprecedented level of control.

A massive surge of energy emanated, illuminating the room and pushing everyone back in its wake.

"REFINED!!!"

The spectators, mindful of Winri's earlier mishap, instinctively stepped away cautiously. Grandmaster Hazard, too, exhibited a heightened level of vigilance. Eugene, however, remained in denial, vehemently expressing, "No way he could succeed. NO WAY!!!!"

As the air in the room began to change, a palpable tension gripped the audience. With an explosion of power, a bright golden light blasted into the sky, creating a pillar of light into the cloud above the institutes, as if seeking permission from the heavens.

"A legendary pill! It's a legendary pill!"

This radiant phenomenon signified the creation of a product of tier 9 level with perfect quality. All eyes widened in anticipation as the shining golden pill took its final form.

[Body Tempering Pill - Tier 6, Originality Level 3]

The pill carried a name absent from the database, solely indicating its primary purpose. Nevertheless, the system provided undeniable proof of its potency—an ingenious creation worthy of a legendary tier 9 product. The awe-

inspiring revelation left the spectators in a state of bewilderment.