Earth's Greatest Magus

From a distance, the village looked unremarkable, its silhouette blending with the dense forest surrounding it. But as the magical carriage sailed closer, Emery sensed an unusually rich concentration of spirit energy emanating from the area. The carriage came to a halt at a small dock by the edge of the village. A graceful figure hovered toward them before Emery or anyone else could disembark. It was a member of the fairy race—a female, her form slender and slightly smaller than an average human. Her delicate, translucent wings shimmered faintly under the morning sunlight as she smiled warmly.

“Welcome to the Whispering Willows,” she said, her voice as melodious as a song.

As the fairy spoke, Emery noted her demeanor. Like much of the information he had read, most fairies were known to be hospitable, and her greeting seemed to confirm that reputation.

Around the dock, the group observed more signs of life. Several humans dressed in plain, naturally woven clothing moved about, carrying baskets of fruit or tending to various chores. Interspersed among them were elves—wooden elves, their attire made of bark and leaves, blending seamlessly with their environment.

The fairies wasted no time in welcoming Emery and his group, guiding them through the village with an unspoken charm. The pathways were lined with glowing moss, and tiny orbs of light flitted about like fireflies. Despite their otherworldly beauty, the fairies seemed casual, their focus on making their guests feel at home.

One fairy said cheerfully. “The Whispering Spring will open in three days. Until then, “You can stay here with us.”

Emery raised a curious brow. “The Whispering Spring?”

The fairy nodded, her wings fluttering as she explained. “It’s our village’s most cherished landmark. A magical hot spring, it refreshes the body and mind. It’s especially beneficial for those of the Magus realm and below.”

Hearing this, Shinta’s eyes lit up with excitement. She practically bounced with enthusiasm as she grabbed Emery’s arm. “Father, we have to stay! Please! I want to try it!”

Emery sighed, but a smile crept across his face. Though he doubted that any landmark that was open to the public would have any significant effect on him, he couldn’t deny his daughter’s joy. “Alright,” he relented. “We’ll stay for three days.”

The fairies led them to a quaint lodge made from intertwining tree roots and flowers. It was a serene place, and the group quickly settled into the peaceful rhythm of the village.

Shinta spent her time marveling at the fairy architecture and befriending the locals, while the two boys helped with small tasks, earning smiles from the villagers. Emery, however, spent most of his time observing, understanding the fairies way of life.

The tranquility of the Whispering Willows was infectious. For two days, they lived among the fairies, sharing meals, listening to their songs, and experiencing moments of rare peace.

Finally, the third day arrived, and with it, the much-anticipated opening of the Whispering Spring. Shinta was practically glowing with excitement, dragging Ha Ron and Kingrig along despite their reluctance. Emery, ever curious, decided to join them, if only to see what made this spring so special.

The group followed the fairies to the spring, which was nestled within a grove of ancient, glowing trees. The spring itself was vast, its waters shimmering with an ethereal light. Magical flowers grew along the edges, their petals emitting a soft, colorful glow that danced across the surface of the water.

To their surprise, there was no separation between male and female areas. Shinta, only wearing her undergarments, claimed a spot on the far side of the spring, leaving Emery with the boys.

As they settled into the warm, inviting waters, Emery allowed himself to relax. The spring was soothing, its energy gently caressing his senses. He could see why the fairies cherished this place—it was truly a haven of rejuvenation.

However, minutes into their soak, Emery’s expression changed. He realized he had been gravely mistaken. The spring wasn’t just soothing; it was teeming with an extremely potent concentration of spirit energy, far higher than he had anticipated. In fact, the energy here was not much less vigorous than the revered Myriad Spring of Life, a treasured site within the Magus Academy.

Amazement filled Emery as he felt the natural energy flowing into his body. Soon, a familiar notification resonated in his mind.

[Soul force has increased]

The sheer potency of the spring left Emery awestruck. It almost made him forget about the acolytes around him. If this place could provide him with such benefits, he could only imagine how much more it could do for them.

Ha Ron’s trembling voice was heard. “Master… What is going on… I….”

Emery turned toward him and saw the same thing happening to Kingrig. Sparks of lightning crackled faintly around Kingrig’s body, while Ha Ron’s breathing grew shallow as he absorbed the overwhelming energy like a sponge. The spirit energy wasn’t just seeping into their bodies; it was surging with a force that could easily overwhelm them if left unchecked.

Two choices immediately came to mind: he could either block the energy flow and pull them out of the spring or help them guide the energy into their spirit cores.

Emery chose the latter

After a quick glance across the spring, confirming that there was no immediate concern for his daughter, Emery swiftly turned his focus back to the boys.

Both acolytes’ bodies began to glow faintly as the energy surged through them. Their spirit energy rose at an alarming rate.

“Follow my instruction!!” Emery guided them and watched intently as Ha Ron’s nine spirit pillars flared brightly. Then, with a brilliant burst of energy, they merged into a single, unified pillar.

Ha Ron was the first to break through and step into the Magus realm.

Before Emery could process this triumph, Kingrig let out a shout. Lightning erupted around him, arcing wildly across the surface of the spring. His spirit pillars followed suit, condensing and merging into a single pillar of pure power.

Two Magus realms breakthrough, one after another.