Lucas grinned. "Tony, I'll give you a discount. Other energy in double the amount."
Tony's expression subtly shifted.
This was a genuine, honest discount.
There was a difference between energies.
For sorcerers, often what limited their practice was not the quantity of energy but their own capacity to bear it. And those that could extend lifespan and enhance physique were generally dark magic, with very significant side effects.
It wasn't that White magic couldn't do it. It was that the founder of White magic, the Vishanti, wouldn't allow it.
The Vishanti passed down White magic with the intention that sorcerers would use it to fight against dark magic and protect the real world from magical intrusion.
Not for sorcerers to become the source of disruption in the real world.
Tony asked suspiciously, "Are there no other costs?"
"Other costs?"
Lucas pretended to ponder, then said, "How about this? Tony, after you become the Sorcerer Supreme, you'll look out for me."
The key was becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.
The female Ancient One, watching this scene, couldn't help but smile.
To persuade Lucas to agree to succeed as the Sorcerer Supreme, she had promised most of her wealth—a total of over a billion points in various energies.
And now Lucas, with five thousand points, wanted to trick Tony into becoming the Sorcerer Supreme.
But then again, scarcity makes things valuable.
Not considering Lucas reneging on his word, his points were indeed better than most other energies.
"Tony, you becoming the Sorcerer Supreme would be the best return for Lucas."
Tony looked at the female Ancient One in confusion. "Ancient One, didn't you want Lucas to succeed as Sorcerer Supreme?"
The female Ancient One's desire for Lucas to become Sorcerer Supreme was well-known in Kamar-Taj.
However, Lucas's performance was indeed fierce. Other sorcerers had no objections.
The female Ancient One explained with a smile, "Sorcerer Supreme usually refers to the most powerful sorcerer."
"Either possessing more powerful magic skills than others or possessing more energy than others."
"Or both."
"Typically, a world will only have one, at most two, Sorcerer Supremes."
"But ultimately, Sorcerer Supreme lies in strength, not in an empty title or definition."
"As long as one is strong enough to subdue others, even if a world has three, four, or even more Sorcerer Supremes, it doesn't matter. In the end, it's just an empty title."
The male Ancient One added at this point, "However, if one passes the Vishanti's trial, it would be different."
"A Sorcerer Supreme who passes the trial can borrow even greater power from the Vishanti."
Wanda, who had been listening, asked in confusion, "What's the difference between the two?"
She was also one of Lucas's favored Sorcerer Supreme candidates and was quite interested in this topic.
The male Ancient One stroked his beard, hesitating, "Different titles? One has the Vishanti's certification, one doesn't."
The female Ancient One explained with a smile, "Don't mind that. Except for the 616 Universe, Sorcerer Supremes in other Universes don't need to pass the Vishanti's trial. They all fought their way to the top."
Upon hearing this, the male Ancient One was displeased. "My Sorcerer Supreme title was also earned through fighting. Only Stephen's wasn't."
"My Sorcerer Supreme is the Sorcerer Supreme among all sorcerers."
"Not the Vishanti's Sorcerer Supreme."
After the explanation, Wanda understood.
"I see."
"The difference between a Sorcerer Supreme and a Vishanti-certified Sorcerer Supreme."
"One is acknowledged by strength."
"One gains strength through recognition."
"And one's own strength is the most important thing."
The male Ancient One's expression froze, then he nodded meaningfully.
Wanda's words reminded him of Lucas. Both were a bit reckless.
Are such words to be spoken casually?
Aren't they afraid that the Vishanti will hear it and silence them, not allowing them to use White magic?
But Lucas and Wanda didn't seem to be afraid.
Lucas used his pirated magic, which only looked like the original.
Wanda mainly used Chaos Magic. Other magic was merely supplementary.
However, Tony had a different understanding of the male Ancient One's words.
Although his energy accumulation was not yet sufficient, his understanding of magic was already profound.
In his opinion, the Vishanti certification was equivalent to patent authorization and financial support.
If needed, he could, like Lucas, research and develop his own pirated versions of most spells.
As for insufficient energy, preventing him from using highly destructive spells, he could compensate for this deficiency with technology.
Leaving other things aside, the meteor technique's destructive power wasn't achievable by ordinary sorcerers purely through magic.
After clarifying these points, Tony bid farewell.
"I'll go back and continue my experiments. I expect to have results in a few days."
"We're counting on you, Tony/Mr. Stark."
After watching Tony leave through the portal, Wanda looked at Lucas.
Lucas: "?"
Wanda said with some anticipation and embarrassment, "Can my parents also use your special energy, Lucas?"
If possible, she naturally wanted to resurrect her parents quickly, rather than waiting three to five years but constantly troubling Lucas made her quite shy.
"Of course." Lucas readily agreed.
"Thank you so much, Lucas." x2
Wanda and Pietro both thanked Lucas repeatedly.
After thanking him, a large ball of crimson energy slowly appeared in Wanda's palm.
"Lucas, this is my payment, Chaos Energy."
Wanda had just heard that Lucas's asking price for Tony was double the energy. She wasn't sure what her discount was, so she released all the awakened Chaos Energy from her body.
Seeing this, Lucas smiled wryly and refused Wanda, "Wanda, take it back. You're not like Tony. Tony's energy is absorbed externally, it's an external substance."
"Your Chaos Magic is innate, it's a part of your life. Without it, your life will gradually come to an end."
"But..."
Wanda hesitated.
Unlike Tony, a billionaire and genius scientist, she had nothing else to offer as payment besides Chaos Magic.
Slightly modifying the female Ancient One's words, Lucas used them to persuade Wanda, "Wanda, if you can become the Sorcerer Supreme, that would be the best reward for me."
Feeling the male Ancient One's sudden gaze, Lucas thought for a moment and continued, "However, Wanda, don't feel pressured. Just practice with a calm mind, and as your Chaos Magic awakens, you will become stronger and stronger."
"Tell her what she can do for you now." The male Ancient One's voice echoed in Lucas's mind.
Lucas sighed inwardly. "Master, I don't need Wanda to do anything right now."
The male Ancient One replied, "Anything will do."
Lucas said, "Wanda, I need your help with something later. I'll trouble you then."
Wanda nodded, her voice cheerful. "Okay, Lucas."
Lucas's finger traced through the void, and golden sparks flashed. A portal slowly appeared, leading to the seventh floor of his bookstore in New York.
"George, this is my house in New York. For now, you and Gwen can stay here. After Helen is resurrected, you can go back with her."
As he spoke, Lucas handed Helen's soul to George. "Helen should wake up in another day or two. In her soul state, only you can see her. And she won't be able to touch physical objects. Remember to comfort her then."
"Okay. Thank you, Lucas."
George excitedly reached out for Helen's soul.
He didn't catch it.
Gwen said, "Let me do it, dad."
Focusing her mental power on her hand, Gwen took Helen's soul.