Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2906: Stronger

[Combat power increases exponentially]

The refinement process proved far more demanding than Emery had initially expected.

Following the instructions from the inheritance, he had prepared three hundred high-grade beast cores.

Some cores contained purer energy than others, while a few carried traces of violent essence that required additional purification, but regardless of their quality, every single one demanded hours of focused refinement before it could be safely absorbed into his body.

It was a slow and meticulous process.

Yet, Emery found himself progressing steadily.

The process itself was said to be excruciating, as one body struggled to adapt to the violent infusion of beast energy. However, Emery’s physique—already strengthened through prior enhancements and gene purification—allowed him to endure the process with remarkable stability. Instead of being overwhelmed, his body adapted, absorbing the energy more efficiently with each cycle.

Days passed, blending into weeks, and weeks into months as he remained immersed in cultivation.

Then, after four months of continuous effort, the long-awaited breakthrough finally arrived.

Emery successfully reached the first stage of the refinement—the Minor Stellar Body.

The moment the transformation completed, a profound change spread throughout his entire being. It was not a sudden burst of power, but a deep, structural shift, as though every part of his body had been reforged into something stronger and more resilient. His bones carried greater density, his muscles held more explosive strength, and even the flow of energy within him became smoother and more stable.

The increase in physical capability was immediately noticeable.

His strength had risen by approximately twenty percent, yet the improvement felt far more significant than the number suggested. Compared to the gains from his previous gene purification, this enhancement was more cohesive, as though his entire body had reached a new level of harmony and efficiency.

VIA provided a clear measurement of the result.

[Battle power: 1805 (2165)]

The figure alone spoke volumes.

It placed him beyond the baseline of a first-layer Three Cosmos physique. When combined with his techniques, his control over Khaos, and his Twilight transformation, his total combat potential approached three thousand—enough to rival elite second-layer or average third-layer.

And if he were to unleash his primal transformation—

There would be very few below the Supreme realm capable of matching his physical strength.

For a brief moment, Emery allowed himself to appreciate the result, acknowledging how far he had come.

Yet his focus did not linger there for long.

Instead, he turned his attention toward the next stage.

the Major Stellar Body.

The moment he examined the requirements for the second phase of the Stellar Beast Body Refinement, his expression shifted slightly as the scale of the demand became clear.

One thousand high-grade beast cores.

More than triple what he had already used.

And beyond that—

Ten top-grade beast cores.

Creatures that had lived for over ten thousand years.

The implication was immediate and unavoidable.

The cost would be immense.

Gathering three hundred high-grade cores had already cost him close to a billion spirit stones, and top-grade cores were not only rare but also exorbitantly expensive, often reaching hundreds of millions each when available.

"Damn... this legacy will really make me broke."

The thought slipped from him quietly, not as frustration, but as a calm acceptance of what lay ahead.

Even so, the cost did nothing to diminish the appeal of the reward.

A fifty percent increase in physical strength.

600 to 800 extra points in battle power.

And if he were to complete the final stage—

His physique could very well double.

At that point, Emery could not help but consider the implication. With such overwhelming physical power, he would gain the ability to contend with beings at the Supreme level, without even unleashing his primal power.

That possibility, by itself, was enough to fuel his determination.

Yet as he continued reading, that rising motivation gradually settled.

Because the true obstacle was not merely the resources required.

It was comprehension.

He could continue devouring beast cores and strengthening his body incrementally, but without fully grasping the second stage of the Stellar Beast Core Assimilation, a genuine breakthrough would remain out of reach.

From the first to the third Stellar Beast form, Emery had been granted free access to the legacy.

To advance further, he unhesitatingly spent 5,000 palace points for seven days of cultivation and began training for the next phase of the Stellar Beast Core Assimilation, progressing toward the Major Constellation stage.

Compared to the earlier stage, the complexity had increased dramatically.

What had once been a structured system now resembled an expansive constellation, with countless interconnected nodes that required perfect alignment. Each connection demanded precision, and even the slightest miscalculation could disrupt the entire process.

Seven days passed in what felt like an instant.

[Times up]

When Emery returned to his seclusion chamber, he carried with him a deeper understanding, but also a clear realization.

The second stage was exponentially more difficult.

Mastering it would take years.

And any attempt to rush the process would only result in instability.

Emery leaned back slightly, allowing the realization to settle.

Twenty years.

That was the time he had before facing the Sky Lord.

Would it be enough?

Could he truly complete all three stages of both the second and third forms of the Stellar Beast Emperor legacy within that timeframe?

While his mind lingered on these thoughts, Emery shifted his attention to inspect the months of work carried out by his light avatars. The changes were immediately apparent.

The two newly introduced materials had already begun to show their remarkable effects. The [Pure Light Grass] spread gently across the terrain, glowing faintly as it released a steady stream of life energy, while the [Cosmic Soils] enriched the very foundation of the land. Together, they transformed the Elysian forest into a domain brimming with vitality, where every inch of earth seemed alive with subtle, flowing power.

Emery could clearly sense the difference.

It was not just the forest that had changed—

The Elysian Tree itself had responded.

Since its last evolution, fueled by the power of Gaia, the tree had already been overflowing with life force. Yet now, with the entire forest elevated to a higher state, the transformation became even more profound. Its roots had grown deeper, spreading far beneath the surface as though anchoring themselves to the very essence of the domain, forming an unseen network that connected every part of the land.

Its branches had thickened, extending outward with greater strength and presence, while the most striking change lay in its leaves.

Hundreds of them.

Each one shimmered faintly, engraved with intricate life sigils that pulsed in harmony with the surrounding forest. They no longer appeared as mere foliage, but as vessels of condensed vitality, each carrying a refined and stable form of natural energy.

Drawn by curiosity, Emery extended his senses toward one of the golden leaves.

The moment his perception touched it—

He froze.

"This... this leaf is filled with profound energy..."

The density was far beyond what he had expected, its purity almost startling.

VIA responded immediately, analyzing the composition and structure of the energy contained within the leaf.

The result—

Left him stunned.

The leaves of the Elysian Tree...

Were classified as rare Tier 8 materials.