Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 3039: The Research

The Serpent Supreme led Emery back toward the Supreme Gene Facility as though the entire place belonged to him.

Perhaps, in many ways, it did.

Every researcher and every member of security they passed reacted the same way. It wasn’t merely respect written across their faces, but unmistakable reverence. Conversations ceased the moment Ronan appeared, and everyone instinctively stepped aside, lowering their heads as he walked past.

Even the Grand Magus overseeing the facility were no exception.

Four of them stood guard over the project, one of the Dragon Clans, one from the Bird race, one of turtle race and one from the Goat halfblood race. Every one of them was either a Two or Three Cosmos Grand Magus, individuals whose cultivation, bloodline, and status would command immense authority anywhere else in the Magus Universe.

Yet before the Serpent Supreme, they behaved with the same unquestioning deference.

Not one of them dared ask why an outsider had suddenly been granted access.

Not one of them questioned Ronan’s decision.

With the Supreme personally accompanying him, every restricted area opened without resistance, granting Emery the most comprehensive tour the facility could possibly offer.

Their first destination was naturally the heart of the entire complex.

The Supreme Gene Project.

Emery’s own Utopia Gene Center had pursued the same objective for decades. Even under Kayelin’s leadership, the project had only reached fifty-nine percent completion, and the final four percent alone had demanded nearly an entire decade of painstaking research.

The number displayed before him stopped Emery in his tracks.

[Supreme Gene Project — Current Completion: 72%]

He stared at it in silence.

He had expected this facility to be ahead. After all, it represented the combined efforts of all twelve halfblood races. Every breakthrough and every discovery made by the other eleven races had ultimately been pooled into this single project. With Master Bob having been transferred here as well, it was no surprise that the research Emery had pioneered at the Utopia Gene Center had also become part of its foundation.

Even so...

...seventy-two percent was far beyond what he had imagined.

Below it, another report displayed the project’s latest achievement.

[Superior Gene Elixir]

Compiled from over 1,000 bloodline subjects

[Average 116% increase in Legendary-grade bloodline potency]

[Average 64% increase in Mythical-grade bloodline potency]

Emery slowly let out a breath.

"...This is incredible."

The improvement nearly doubled what Utopia’s latest formula could achieve. A breakthrough on this level would transform the future of the Halfblood Alliance, especially for cultivators who had already reached the limits imposed by their bloodlines.

Cultivators...

Like Emery himself.

Emery studied the display a little longer, his eyes scanning the research logs. The core formula itself remained locked behind a level of authorization he didn’t possess, but one detail still stood out.

The development of the Superior Gene Elixir had barely advanced over the past one or two years.

For a project of this scale, that kind of stagnation was unusual.

It meant the facility’s researchers had shifted their attention elsewhere.

"Hah... you noticed." Ronan chuckled, though there was a trace of bitterness beneath the smile. "That’s exactly what the Collective wanted. A bunch of stubborn fools."

Before Emery could ask what he meant, Ronan simply gestured for him to follow.

They left the main research hall and entered another section of the facility. Unlike the older laboratories, this wing looked almost brand new. The walls still carried the polished sheen of recent construction, while researchers hurried through the corridors with obvious urgency, far busier than those working on the Supreme Gene Project.

Emery glanced around.

"What is this place?"

Ronan didn’t answer.

Instead, he pushed open the laboratory doors.

The sight beyond immediately spoke for itself.

Dozens of massive cultivation tubes stretched across the chamber in perfectly ordered rows. Suspended within each was a fully formed humanoid body—male and female, tall and short, broad and slender. None of them possessed a soul or consciousness. They were nothing more than empty vessels waiting to be claimed.

Even so, each body radiated the unmistakable aura of Cosmic Energy. The pressure was stable, complete, and unmistakably at the Grand Magus Realm, despite these vessels having never cultivated a single day in their existence.

Emery stepped toward the nearest console, his eyes scanning the information displayed across it.

Only a few lines were enough for everything to fall into place.

Once the Supreme Gene Project had surpassed seventy percent completion, the researchers had unlocked an entirely new possibility.

Universal Grand Magus clone bodies.

Clone vessels compatible with any halfblood, regardless of race or bloodline.

Emery’s eyes narrowed.

Universal.

That single word carried enormous significance.

For countless generations, halfblood cultivators had lived with a fundamental weakness. Once a Grand Magus lost their physical body, rebuilding it demanded unimaginable resources, extraordinary talent, and often decades of effort

Each of the twelve halfblood races had pursued the same problem independently, pouring unimaginable resources into separate research programs. Progress had always been painfully slow because every race had to start from scratch.

This project changed everything.

Instead of twelve races struggling alone, they were now pooling their knowledge into a single foundation. Every breakthrough, every improvement, every perfected formula would immediately benefit the entire Halfblood Alliance.

This was the true objective behind the Alliance’s unprecedented cooperation.

If this project truly succeeded...

Every Grand Magus within the Halfblood Alliance would possess a reliable path to a replacement body.

It would completely transform the balance of power, elevating the standing of the Halfblood Alliance within the greater Magus Alliance.

Emery turned toward Ronan, unable to hide the curiosity in his eyes.

"Would these clone bodies help in my situation?"

"These clones are great," Ronan said after a moment’s thought. "They would work exceptionally well for your true soul. But for a split soul.." He paused, considering it carefully. "I’d estimate you would only be able to draw out around sixty percent of your true strength. On top of that, the body would still need a few years of nurturing before it could reach a Two Cosmos realm."

Ronan shrugged casually.

"If you’re satisfied with that, then yes... it’s certainly an option."

Emery immediately understood the implication hidden beneath the Supreme’s words.

"Of course," he said with a faint smile. "It’s nowhere close to Senior’s true clone technique."

He inclined his head respectfully.

"Whatever arrangement Senior believes is best, I’ll gladly follow."

"Good."

Ronan smiled, clearly pleased by the answer.

What happened next completely caught Emery by surprise.

Ronan immediately ordered a formal meeting.

Not merely with the four Grand Magus currently overseeing the facility...

...but with the entire governing council.

The four Grand Magus present exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions betraying obvious nervousness under the Serpent Supreme’s command.

After a brief hesitation, one of them finally stepped forward and bowed.

"Senior... may I ask the purpose of this meeting?" he asked carefully.

Ronan didn’t hesitate for even a heartbeat.

He simply pointed at Emery.

"This," he said with a broad grin, "He is the founder of the Gene Project."

Ronan continued as though he were announcing something perfectly ordinary.

"He has finally returned from a long mission."

His smile widened.

"And I’m here to make sure he receives a proper compensation"