The pill and tonics method is not the fastest method to prepare one's existence either. The fastest method is to receive a boon from a god.
A boon from a god will help him reach the limit in a day or less. This means he won't have to suffer the side effects of using the pillars at all. But this method will require gaining the favor of a god, and it usually comes with its hidden costs, which can make it the most expensive method.
So using pills and tonics is still the best method. It is even better for those whose talents are mediocre because people with poor talents won't need to spend much on raising their existence to the limit.
It is an ironic situation. Usually, people with poor talents need to try harder and do more to achieve the same thing as talented people, but that is not the case with preparing one's existence for divine flesh.
If the existence of humans is likened to a bottle, then the limit of what humans are capable of is the volume of that bottle.
