Chapter 361: Chapter 361

I opened the small wooden box before me and peered inside.

As the lid of the ring box-sized container opened, a refreshing, invigorating scent filled the room.

The pleasant aroma, emanating from a round object wrapped in paper, was strangely uplifting.

‘So, this is the famous Shaolin Temple’s Small Return Pill?’

I couldn't help but inhale deeply, savoring the scent.

Just that simple act seemed to cleanse my body of impurities, filling me with a renewed sense of vitality.

I closed the lid, a satisfied smile on my face, and smacked my lips slightly.

Harley had received this Small Return Pill as a gift from the Shaolin Abbot, a token of gratitude for his assistance during the Demonic Cult’s attack.

Of course, in the past, such a feat would have earned him a Great Return Pill, a much more valuable elixir… but times had changed.

The effectiveness of naturally occurring elixirs had decreased significantly over the past twenty years, severely impacting the art of alchemy.

Great Return Pills, and other high-grade elixirs, were now impossible to create.

To create a Small Return Pill now required the same amount of effort and materials that were once needed for a Great Return Pill, so it was arguably the most valuable elixir the Shaolin Temple could offer.

‘They must have gone through a lot of trouble to give this to him.’

They had also promised him various other benefits and favors, so it was clear they were trying their best to earn his goodwill.

They valued Harley’s support, considering his impressive performance against the Heavenly Demon.

‘Well, I appreciate the thought, but…’

It wasn’t enough to satisfy me.

I set down the box containing the Small Return Pill and picked up another one next to it, its surface adorned with elegant carvings.

…the scenery around me shifted.

From a modern, almost sterile interior to a warm, sunny spring day, beneath the shade of a large tree.

Or perhaps… a field of ripening crops? Or a cool, refreshing valley with a cascading waterfall?

‘Wow, this is impressive.’

But 「Clear Mind」 quickly activated, and I realized it was just a momentary illusion, a trick of the senses.

Like an exaggerated reaction in a cartoon, where a character sees the universe after eating something delicious, the energy contained within the elixir was so potent that it had momentarily overwhelmed my senses.

‘So this is the real Great Return Pill…’

A legendary elixir, a priceless treasure, the pinnacle of Murim alchemy, now practically a myth even within the Shaolin Temple.

He didn’t know how many they had left, but they were no longer being produced, so their value was immeasurable.

‘Now this is a proper elixir.’

It was something you couldn't buy with money or power, a treasure beyond price.

And how did he acquire such a valuable item?

That’s right. He just bought it.

After all, he had the Karma Shop’s 『Item Purchase』, which could provide him with almost anything.

As long as it wasn't a unique item, bound to a specific individual or location, he could buy anything with Karma points. Acquiring elixirs was child’s play.

He had mostly been using the elixirs Harris had gathered, as Hugo, with his 「Heavenly Ki Body」, didn’t need alchemically refined pills…

‘…but I have to be more careful with the elixirs I use myself.’

His avatars were different. They had various traits and abilities, and he could always find a way to deal with any problems that arose.

But his main body was just an ordinary young man, albeit one with enhanced physical abilities, wealth, good looks, and a pleasant personality.

He had to eliminate even the slightest possibility of complications.

‘It’s not easy to find good elixirs outside of Auterica and Ganghwange.’

There were other elixirs on the table as well.

Ganghwange’s best, like the Wudang Sect’s Great Clarity Pill and the Mount Hua Sect’s Purple Cloud Divine Pill.

Elixirs from Auterica, alchemically refined from Dragon Hearts and other magic stones.

And elixirs from various other worlds, acquired through various channels.

He had a reason for collecting them.

‘Energy is essential for using magic. But for me, who controls multiple avatars, it’s not good for the balance to be too skewed towards one type.’

Harris, the High Elf, and Harley, the Mad Demon, who had both transcended their limits, were different.

They could adapt and modify any martial art they learned, but his main body, a blank slate, would inevitably influence the future development of his avatars.

He couldn't afford to limit his options, not knowing what kind of situations he would face or what kind of avatars he would create in the future.

So, he had chosen this method.

‘To gather as much energy as possible without disrupting the balance, and then convert it into a pure, versatile energy source.’

Others would scoff at his ambition, calling it a pipe dream.

It was, after all, an impossible task according to common sense.

Each world had its own unique laws and energy systems.

Even within the same world, a warrior’s aura couldn't replace a mage’s mana, and a martial artist’s internal energy couldn't be used for sorcery. And the difference between worlds was even greater.

‘But I know. There’s a power that transcends all energy systems, a force that’s universal.’

And he wasn’t just aware of its existence.

He had experienced it firsthand, and he understood its principles and structure better than anyone.

A power he was currently borrowing, a power he had meticulously analyzed to counter his enemies, a power he had finally managed to cultivate within himself.

A power with limitless potential.

I closed my eyes, focusing on my inner self.

Several of his avatars already possessed a nascent divine spark.

Hans, the Immortal King, Heinz the Second, the Vampire King, and Harley, the Fighting King.

And even Heinrich, who channeled the Main God’s power, and Harris, blessed by the World Tree, were showing signs of potential divinity.

So, that was the situation.

And he, their master, couldn't possibly be unaffected.

‘Even though they’re separate entities, they’re still a part of me. The power derived from their levels is influenced by their physical bodies, but…’

His soul had already grown to match their level.

Of course, it wasn’t noticeable, as he had to divide and distribute his power among his ten avatars, more than half of whom were transcendent beings…

I opened my eyes and looked at the elixirs on the table.

Most of his avatars were in a dormant state, having retreated to safe locations.

I, finally able to focus solely on my main body, picked up one of the elixirs.

‘I’ll start with this.’

The Small Return Pill from the Shaolin Temple.

…without hesitation, I popped it into my mouth and activated 「Power of Gluttony」.

A white mist, like a breath, escaped my lips and dissipated into the air.

The entire room was filled with a shimmering heat haze, emanating from my body.

I opened my eyes and looked down at myself.

The impurities that had initially been expelled with sweat were now completely gone.

‘Well, I consumed a ridiculous amount of elixirs. It would be strange if there were any impurities left.’

The table, which had been covered in elixirs, was now empty, only the empty containers remaining.

Thanks to 「Power of Gluttony」, it hadn’t taken long to consume them all.

And the most important thing.

The result of consuming all those precious elixirs…

I smacked my lips and flexed my fingers, a frown creasing my brow.

The reason for the failure was simple.

He had intended to create a stable, three-way balance by combining the energies of Ganghwange and Auterica, then merging the other energies into a single, versatile source…

‘…But I didn’t expect it to be this insufficient.’

The quality of the elixirs from other worlds was too low compared to those from Ganghwange and Auterica.

He had underestimated the power of high-grade elixirs acquired through Karma points. Even with similar quantities, the difference in quality was insurmountable.

‘But I can’t compromise on quality for proper divinization. That was the bare minimum…’

He hadn’t been able to completely convert the energy into divine power due to the lack of stability, but it was still a half-success.

An ethereal energy, like a heat haze, flickered around his hand.

Aura, refined and amplified by mana.

It shifted and changed, transforming into internal energy, refined and honed Ki, then into magic power, Taoist energy, natural energy… a versatile and adaptable force.

It wasn’t particularly impressive in itself.

He could already access various energies through the passive effect of 「Individual Projection」.

The important thing was that he could now draw upon his own internal energy reserves, dramatically increasing the amount of energy he could utilize.

‘It’s still a significant improvement. There were limits to how much I could draw upon before.’

Of course, it wasn’t as powerful as 「Individual Projection」, which allowed him to fully utilize his avatars’ abilities.

But his current power, no longer restricted by energy limitations, was far greater than before.

‘This should be enough to deal with Master Realm experts, even if I can’t reach transcendence.’

He had seen the potential, the possibility of true divinity, and he wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less.

‘If I can complete this…’

He unconsciously placed his hand on his chest.

His heart, beating rapidly, its rhythm strong and steady.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the ‘something’ within.

An undefined potential, a formless energy, devoid of any specific characteristics or properties.

A power that could become anything, a force that could achieve anything.

That was the divine power he would awaken.

“I need more elixirs from other worlds.”

And not just quantity, but quality as well.

He needed at least Small Return Pill level elixirs…

‘But those aren’t easy to find.’

It was common knowledge that elixirs were ineffective on Earth.

Even the awakened individuals who were transported to other worlds knew that.

So, even if they found a valuable elixir, they would consume it before returning to Earth.

‘Should I have Hans explore new dimensions?’

It wasn't a bad idea.

He would have to visit several dimensions to maintain balance and acquire a diverse range of energies… but Hans had grown stronger, and the enhanced 「Dimensional Barrier Weakening」 would make the process easier.

‘But I can’t just send him out randomly. I have to capture a transcendent being first…’

And he couldn't target holy power users or those from dimensions without elixirs.

And the biggest problem was the preparation time. He needed to synchronize with the new dimension before sending Hans there.

‘…I’ll deal with that later. I’ll try other methods first.’

Fortunately, he had another option.

A more efficient, large-scale, and versatile method.

His gaze shifted towards the magic tools he had recently acquired.

They were priceless artifacts, impossible to obtain on Earth, even with money and power.

‘I’ve been thinking about the need for a globally influential organization. This is perfect.’

Acquiring rare items wasn't just about money. It was also about connections, the necessary infrastructure.

And even if he found a seller, it wasn't easy to convince them to part with their treasures.

They would already be wealthy, after all.

‘Then I’ll just have to offer them something they can’t refuse.’

Those who valued elixirs would naturally be ambitious and eager to improve themselves.

He would satisfy their desires.

Not with a risky gamble on elixirs, but with a guaranteed path to power.

Unlike elixirs, magic tools weren't restricted on Earth.

What if he offered them as rewards?

Not just ordinary magic tools, but high-quality artifacts, the kind they couldn't even dream of acquiring in their own worlds?

‘If I use this properly, I can even gather a force to oppose Heaven’s Turn Society on Earth. And if I even offer custom-made magic tools…’

It would be game over.

And he had the resources to create such items.

He had Howard, the dwarven craftsman, Horus, the dragon enchanter, Hans, the Demon King and master of dark magic, Heinrich, the Saint, Heinz the Second, the Divine Blood vampire, and Harris, the High Elf spirit summoner.

‘I’ll bring the magic tool trade into the light and expand its scale. And then, I’ll use special artifacts as bait to lure in the Awakened.’

Humans were motivated by self-interest.

And as long as they continued to benefit, they wouldn't betray him easily.

‘I’ll leave the tedious work to Jin So-ran and the Blood Alliance. They’ve been handling the magic tool distribution smoothly. And in Europe, I’ll have Thermidor, Gomorrah, and Dracul handle it…’

An interdimensional magic tool corporation.

‘Howard Industry’ was born.