Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2716: Treasures 3

Emery knew at once—he had to acquire this painting. Not only did it resonate with spatial law, but it also carried within it the essence of gravity, a force that had remained stagnant in his cultivation for far too long. Added to that, the artifact was of medium grade quality—a superior treasure.

When compared to the other tier 7 items displayed, the price of 1.4 billion spirit stones struck him as suspiciously low. Most tier 7 medium-grade items could easily double that amount low-grade ones in the open market.

His eyes narrowed. ”If it’s cheaper, then why?”

”Is there something broken with the artifact?” Emery asked at last.

The female attendant, kept her professional composure. ”There is nothing broken with the artifact, sir.”

Emery frowned slightly. He knew the truth: these cybernetic attendants were bound by law and programming. They could not misinform a customer. Which meant...

”If it is not broken,” he pressed, ”then there must be something wrong that makes the price lower.”

The woman’s lips curved into a faint, courteous smile. ”Dear sir, there is nothing wrong with the product. The reason for the price reduction is simple: we have yet to fully evaluate the extent of its capability. Spatial artifacts are notoriously difficult to analyze. Few experts exist who specialize in the field, and fewer buyers are willing to gamble on an expensive item whose function is not entirely understood.”

Emery’s brows eased, his suspicions satisfied. The answer made sense. With the rising tension of war, most buyers wanted artifacts they could wield immediately—swords, shields, weapons of raw force. Collectors were rare in such times, and even rarer still were spatial cultivators.

This only increased his conviction.

”It may be overlooked by others, but it is perfect for me.”

He leaned back, folding his arms. ”I am interested,” he said. ”Give me a better price.”

The attendant shook her head gently. ”My apologies, sir. The price listed is already a fair valuation for a medium-grade artifact.”

Emery did not relent. A spark of amusement lit his eyes as he began to weave his counteroffer. He had heard earlier that the Imperium store offered a VIP membership, granting a ten percent discount on purchases exceeding one billion. But that alone wasn’t enough for him.

”Then I’ll take more than one,” he said smoothly. ”Another tier 7 artifact.”

His decision was swift. He already had a tier 7 mobility treasure—the incomplete [Icarus Wings]—and his soul power was strong enough for him to purchase the [Soulchime Bell]. What he lacked was a true protective artifact. Thus, his choice settled on the [Fourfold Dawn], the mirror shield that cost 950 million spirit stones.

Together with the [Seven Myriad Mountains Painting], the total came to 2.35 billion.

Such high-end spending was rare, and even the mechanical attendant betrayed a hint of surprise. Her smile widened, her tone warmer as she responded. Yet Emery wasn’t done.

”The membership discount,” he continued, ”brings it down by more than two hundred million. I want that balance paid out in tier 6 artifacts.”

The request caused her pupils to flicker as Emery named all four items he wanted:

[Chromacircle Rings] — [Stormrazor Staff] — [Wyrmheart Teeth] — [Iron Will Puppet]

Together, they were priced at 730 million spirit stones and the total came to 3.08 billion.

Clearly, even for a manager model, this was pushing boundaries. She refused, protocols warring with profit.

Yet Emery noticed that she was committed to closing this sale. He pressed harder, weighing each artifact’s usefulness against his current strength. In the end, he made a calculated concession: he removed the [Iron Will Puppet] from his request. With his present power, such a construct was little more than a trinket, of little help in true battle. The [Chromacircle Rings], however, were different. Their versatility aligned perfectly with his multiple-element affinity, making them valuable to discard.

That left five items in total, amounting to 2.9 billion spirit stones. With the store’s premium membership discount of ten percent, the final sum came to 2.61 billion. Emery had only 2.4 billion on hand, yet he offered it all, showing no hesitation.

The attendant processed the request, sending it to higher approval. The wait was tense, but brief. When the answer returned, her voice was crisp and final.

”It is a deal. Thank you for your purchase.”

Emery exhaled softly. He had just poured out the entirety of his fortune, yet a strange satisfaction filled him. Spirit stones were dead weight compared to true power. Besides, he still possessed other treasures, materials, and crafts he could trade if dire need arose.

With the transaction sealed, Emery left the Emporium behind. The glow of the city’s endless lights reflected off the glass domes as he walked, his thoughts already turning forward. Knowledge was his next pursuit. He intended to visit the tome sellers, searching for ancient techniques and apothecary recipes.

Yet before he could lose himself in the archives, his bracelet pulsed. A message blinked across its surface:

[Authorization complete: Mister Linnaeus is ready to meet you.]

Emery’s lips curved. This was the meeting he had been waiting for. Without delay, he rose into the air, leaving the middle deck behind for the highest level of Alfa Station.

The environment shifted from steel corridors to open sky. A vast expanse of blue stretched overhead, broken by drifting clouds. Beneath, white sands shimmered like powdered pearls, while rolling waves chased one another along a coastline that should not exist inside a station. Birds sang in the distance, their cries carried on a gentle sea breeze. It was a crafted paradise—so real, Emery could almost forget he was aboard a structure drifting in the void.

He crossed winding paths, gardens blooming with radiant flora, and clusters of luxurious estates. At last, he arrived at his destination: a massive glass dome nestled at the edge of a dense forest.

The Spectrum Garden.

Waiting at the entrance was a humanoid plant-being, its leafy form bearing an uncanny resemblance to Twik. Its eyes glowed with soft green luminescence as it bowed respectfully and guided Emery within.

And then a familiar voice reached him, deep yet kind, resonating with memory.

”Is that you, my young friend?”