Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems - Chapter 676

Chapter 673: The Collective Rage of the Wizard Shoe Store Alliance and the Ten Million Magic Stone Revenue

Locke said to Daniel, “Daniel, if you have any results, could you please share them with me? I will pay you the corresponding licensing fees.”

Wizard Daniel was stunned for a moment. He sat on the Cloud Whale and said, “Of course, we are friends.”

“Currently, Senior Sister Julian has helped me secure an alliance with a medium-sized energy company that’s interested in this. As long as someone invests, I have hope of completing it. If there are any interim results, I’ll proactively share them with you.”

Locke nodded and said, “Then I wish you success soon.”

Daniel smiled and said, “In the Fission Mausoleum Wizard Land, there’s a saying: If you can’t tell the specific strength of a wizard of your level, then look at their qualifications and the level of their friends.”

“The level of a person’s friends determines his height.”

Wizard Daniel said, “After entering Golden Crown Mountain, I really feel that this statement makes a lot of sense. Surrounded by powerful wizard friends like you and Witch Julian, this has invisibly raised my ceiling.”

Locke nodded slightly. “Although it’s biased, there’s some truth to it. Everyone has their own opinion. A person’s social connections are equivalent to the resources they can call upon. As long as one person communicates with another, they can potentially mobilize these resources. At least there’s that possibility.”

“Of course, it depends on how it’s used. In this world, anyone is willing to do something that adds icing on the cake. But there are very few people who are willing to do something that is like providing timely help.”

Wizard Daniel nodded in agreement and was deeply touched by Locke’s words.

Wizard Daniel was in a good mood and snapped his fingers in Locke’s direction. “Well, I’ll get busy. My Yunze Cup champion roommate.”

He summoned the cloud whale, ordered it to land, and then headed towards the peach garden on the top of Xiaotao Mountain, the peach gate that led to the [Gray Mist Plane].

Locke also rode on the Rainbow Bird and entered the Dune Plane. At that time, the sky of the Dune Plane was covered with a thin layer of gray fog.

The polluted air of heavy element particles, like the prototype of the new atmosphere of this plane, enveloped the sky above the plane.

The temperature of the entire plane dropped by at least 2 degrees Celsius.

Moreover, as the amount of heavy particle pollution increases, the temperature may continue to drop.

The mountain-sized sun in the sky is surrounded by circles of rainbows. Those are rainbows caused by the refraction of sunlight by heavy particle pollution gases.

Locke flew directly in the sky of this plane on the Rainbow Bird, across the desert, and saw the locations of two groups of research institutes surrounded by conversion plants and natural gas mines.

At this time, some magic fields have appeared outside the ecological membrane of the 2nd group of research institutes.

Of course, these magic fields were basically planted, but because of temperature differences and magic tides, they were submerged by the desert again.

Many golems are being planted here.

These agricultural golems are of high value and huge cost. Without the allocation of resources from two groups, it would be impossible to conduct magic field experiments on this scale.

As the desert repeatedly engulfs the magic field, the amount of humus and organisms on the surface of the sand dunes will increase, and a new magic field will be completed.

Locke let Rainbow Bird drop to the ground and walked towards the second research facility. “It seems to be quite effective. But he’s too impatient. It would be safer if he took it slow.”

“Yes, he’s about to leave. If he uses a safe approach, he won’t gain any benefits, so he has to be aggressive. Besides, if Zalan Bailey wants to get more resources and a large amount of capital investment, he must see results in a short time.”

“And there’s also the cost paradox,” Locke said. “In ecology, overall transformation is likely cheaper than localized transformation. Maintaining a local ecosystem requires constant resource injection. If overall transformation is truly possible, there’s no need to expend enormous resources just to maintain a small, local ecosystem.”

“Taking all these factors into account, the only way for Zalan Bailey to obtain special funding and have a chance to complete a first-class project fund is to act radically.”

Locke sighed. “He’s different from me. I still have five years. And Jinman Mountain only allows a researcher to delay his release for a maximum of two times, each time for about a year. That means even if Zalan Bailey uses his connections to delay his release, he only has two years left.”

“Without connections, it would be difficult for him to stay here even though he has already met the requirements for leaving the station. This is essentially a competition for the resources that the White Wizard Association provides to young first-ring wizards.”

“But even if he stays, two years is too short for him. As for me, I have five years and two years. So, he can’t be as steady and cautious as me.”

Locke frowned. He had accumulated a lot of knowledge since he started studying ecology.

So, certain insights have been formed.

The other party’s transformation was so large-scale and their actions were quite extreme. The ecological transformation of a plane involved dozens of theories and was basically a chaotic system.

The other party is disregarding the laws of nature and making random changes. I wonder if there is a foolproof solution.

Locke pondered: “For me, ecological transformation is more about long-term benefits than short-term benefits.”

“We must not risk future ecological collapse for the sake of short-term gains. The most confusing thing about ecology is that short-term prosperity is not necessarily true prosperity.”

Locke recalled many ecological cases. ‘Many ecological booms are just the last gasp before a major collapse, or the reaction to the stimulation of using a large amount of resources and exhausting the resources.’

Locke remembered that when he was reading the magic book of the Moon Goddess’ Blessing Spell, he had read that the most terrifying thing about ecological experiments is that the collapse of your experiment has already occurred, and the irreversible period of time occurs when the wizard’s ecological experiment is at its peak and most prosperous.

Ecological complexity is also here.

Locke said, “So, for me, whether it’s Group 2’s research or my ultimate magic, we must adhere to the principle of minimal modification. We must follow the original laws of nature and utilize its original laws, rather than arbitrarily adding or modifying them, which would complicate the problem. However, if we follow this principle, everything we do will become very slow.”

“Is there a way to have both?”

“My principle of minimal modification has speed bottlenecks, lacks flexibility, and is difficult to deal with explosive dangers, which is also a shortcoming.”

Locke pondered, a hint of a key point emerging. “If I want to further enhance my Grand Magic, to make the Grand Magic centered around the Moon Mirror even more remarkable, perhaps this is the breakthrough point.”

He fell into deep thought, feeling as if he had grasped a key point, but due to insufficient accumulation or the lack of a breakthrough, he had a splitting headache from thinking about it, but still couldn’t think any further.

“I always feel so tired,” Locke sighed. “It’s making my brain a little confused. Of course, my strength is now more than double my normal magic pressure of 9999.”

“After entering the Soul Decline period, due to the cracks in my soul, my magic pressure has essentially exceeded the limit of a first-ring creature. It’s stuck between the second and first rings.”

“If I don’t get into this state, I can’t participate in the competition.”

“This is a gamble. If I don’t achieve the expected results in the Silent Holy Grail Tournament, my losses will be enormous.”

When Locke thought that the consequences would outweigh the gains, he immediately fell into an inexplicable fear.

The next moment, a peach-bow thorn arrow appeared in his sea of consciousness. Blessed by the Holy Dragon Star, the peach-bow thorn arrow shot towards his sea of consciousness, completely eliminating the uneasiness and unreasonable anxiety.

“Damn it! This kind of weak mentality of worrying about gains and losses actually appeared in me.”

Locke’s eyes were firm. “No regrets after making this move. Now that I’ve made this move, why bother wondering whether it was worth it or not?”

“The example of the Great Wizard Sura stands before me. What happened in the past, whether right or wrong, is a foregone conclusion. If I had even the slightest hesitation or doubt about my past choices, they would have killed me the moment I reached the second ring.”

“Without the past, there would be no me now. I have great confidence in myself, so naturally I have no doubts about my past.”

In the common office of Group 2, Locke heard the three Mason witches arguing with the laboratory manager.

When Mason Witch saw Locke, her eyes lit up immediately and she said to Locke, “Team Leader, you’re here.”

Locke looked at Witch Mason and an ordinary first-ring wizard staff member of Golden Crown Mountain who was the laboratory manager.

Jinmianshan has some non-staff employees who do miscellaneous work. The relationship between these people and Jinmianshan is not a teaching relationship, but a relationship similar to that between a store alliance and its own employees.

What was signed was a labor contract.

Naturally, the qualifications required for these wizards become very low, although even so, the requirements are still very high.

Anyway, before the age of forty, anyone who has not become a formal wizard will not be able to enter the Golden Crown Mountain.

The laboratory manager in the first liquefaction stage looked embarrassed when he saw Locke coming over.

Freya the Witch said to Locke, “Team Leader, you’re finally here. We’ve already applied to Team Leader Sith for permission to use the metal telescope equipment. But this administrator keeps delaying it, saying every day that someone else is using it.”

Witch Freya crossed her arms and said fiercely, “What’s wrong? Are you discriminating against us?”

Wizard Barrett murmured, “That’s really excessive. We’re all researchers in the same group. There’s no need to resort to such shady tactics.”

The laboratory manager’s forehead was covered with sweat. He quickly said to Locke, “Boss Augustine, please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not targeting you. I’m just an ordinary staff member.”

“No one can afford to offend.”

“It’s just that recently Wizard Zaran Bailey’s research team has been borrowing the seven large metal telescopes from Group 2. If you don’t mind, I can arrange for a medium-sized metal telescope for you right away.”

Freya the Witch raised her brows and immediately pointed at his nose and scolded, “We requested a large metal telescope, and you gave us a medium-sized metal telescope!”

“A medium-sized metal telescope that anyone can afford!”

The lab manager spread his hands to Locke and said distressedly, “Boss Augustine, it’s really because Wizard Zalan Bailey’s team has used the metal telescope too many times. We can’t arrange it all at once.”

“I’ve tried my best to prioritize the use of the equipment for you and your friends. Right now, the other researchers in Group 2 won’t even get to use the metal telescope.”

Locke raised his left hand and signaled the angry witch Freya to calm down first.

Locke glanced at the lab manager and said to Freya the Witch, “It seems that Zalan Bailey’s recent first-class project fund is also studying the energy-locking structure of magic plants.”

“A large metal telescope is the best equipment for discovering the specific structure and characteristics of the magic plant lock energy structure.”

“Our group simply ran into Zaran Bailey’s group.”

The lab manager was about to respond when Locke glanced past him. “It’s just that Wizard Zaran Bailey’s research is important, but so is our team’s research.”

“Can you spare a large metal telescope for Mason Witch and the others to use, or can I use it myself?”

The lab manager swallowed.

Locke is the champion of this year’s spell fighting competition. In the eyes of the administrator, although he is not a second-ring wizard, he is not far behind.

If possible, he really doesn’t want to offend anyone.

After all, in his eyes, Locke was only one step away from becoming a second-ring wizard, and was basically a future second-ring wizard.

For someone like Locke, whether he can become a three-ring wizard is the real unresolved question.

The lab manager whispered, “I’ll talk to my colleagues and see if I can spare some for you…”

Freya cursed, “You’re a cunning and treacherous person who flatters the powerful and bullies the weak. I knew you had a way. It’s no use telling you. Our boss has to intervene.”

The lab manager immediately apologized and quickly left the public office.

And Locke also coughed, “Freya, there are many outsiders here.”

Witch Freya glanced around and saw the two groups of researchers who looked like they were waiting for a good show, and their faces suddenly turned red.

Of course, she and Locke were already familiar with each other at this point, so she naturally understood that Locke reminded her just now not for his own face, but for her image.

After all, Witch Freya has always cared about her image in the eyes of others.

The four of them returned to their workstations. Witch Freya whispered, “That administrator really flatters the powerful and bullies the weak. Before Zalan Bailey returned to Group 2, he was always polite to me and never dared to offend me.”

“I didn’t expect him to be so stubborn after Zalan Bailey came back.”

Wizard Barrett said, “It’s actually not that bad. He’s telling the truth. Wizard Zaran Bailey’s group has squeezed everyone’s resources. We still have a few resources left, but the rest of Group 2 is already seriously short of resources.”

Witch Mason said, “Group 2’s research resources are all moving towards Wizard Zalan Bailey. It seems that Group 2’s water shortage crisis is indeed very serious.”

“I didn’t expect that just a lack of water would cause Team Leader Xisi so much pressure.”

Freya the Witch took out her lipstick and painted her lips, using a small magic lens to adjust her makeup. “I really lost my composure just now. Luckily the team leader reminded me, otherwise this would have been too embarrassing.”

Witch Freya said, “According to my gossip, our group’s problem isn’t a water shortage. It’s the Rose Council’s blockade of their supply chain. I heard the Rose Council has a 10 billion market plan, and our group’s previous research path has touched upon their interests.”

Witch Mason couldn’t help but say, “Freya, gossip is the most unreliable thing. How can you believe this? Research on a colonized, half-destroyed plane involves the Rose Council’s multi-billion dollar market?”

Locke asked, “How’s the combination of my ancient flower root and pineapple going?”

Mason Witch said, “Oh, the three of us used the finite element method, combined with grafting, to successfully create a [glandular root sac] structure in the large pink diamond pineapple.”

“We currently have one acre of large pink diamond pineapple planted in this institute.”

Witch Freya said, “We just need to use a large metal telescope to observe the internal structure of the [Glandular Root Sac].”

“And the mechanism of action.”

“While the three magic mirrors can be helpful, the most suitable equipment is still the metal telescope. The three magic mirrors + the metal telescope, plus some other small equipment, can assist in analyzing the key natural magic structural components. Only then can we possibly obtain the complete mechanism of action of the [Glandular Root Sac].”

Locke nodded. “Excellent work. The First-Class Project Fund has one hundred Magic Crystal Cards, so feel free to use them. You’ll be responsible for these other parts. I’ll be analyzing the Queen’s chessboard.”

Mason Witch and the others nodded as a matter of course.

After all, Locke is about to participate in the Silent Grail, and there are less than three months left.

So everyone can accept it and now they have to pay more.

When Locke is free later, he will be able to help them.

After a few more discussions, the witch Freya said, “By the way, Team Leader, I didn’t expect that there are still indigenous people in this dune plane.”

Locke’s face showed surprise. “Indigenous people? Are there intelligent life forms in this plane?”

Witch Mason and Barrett also looked at her in disbelief.

Witch Freya said, “Well, I heard it while chatting with the researchers from Group 2 while having lunch.”

“It is said that the Dune Plane was originally a developed life plane with a highly advanced civilization called the Dune Civilization. The intelligent life forms of the Dune Civilization—the Dunes—were naturally gifted with powerful psychic abilities, but lacked the magical talents of other schools. Therefore, they adopted a hybrid development model combining psychic and technological approaches.”

“Every Dune Man has a bulge on the inside of their palm. Inside the bulge is nerve tissue. They have a well-developed psychic nervous system and are natural lie detectors and telepaths.”

“I heard that during the height of Dune civilization’s development, it was a civilization where prison culture reigned supreme. This was because Dune people could easily sense the sins within others and observe their actions. Furthermore, due to their psychic gifts, Dune people were easily contaminated by sin through psychic contact, which is why there were many criminals.”

“The Dune People imprisoned those criminals and asked those Dune People who were best at telepathy to serve as prison guards to guard these criminals.”

Witch Freya said, “Of course, this all happened in the past. In the past, the Dune Plane was a life-rich plane. However, it was later captured by the gravity of the Sun Plane and entered the Sun Plane’s void orbit.”

“When the entire plane was threatened with being swallowed by the sun, the Dune people’s advanced prison civilization was destroyed in an instant. The telepathic masters failed to help them, and instead conveyed their suffering to the Dune people. Their civilization degenerated into a cave dwelling, but they still survived.”

Mason Witch said in surprise, “How can this survive? The highest temperature in the desert outside is almost 100 degrees Celsius.”

“How did they do that?”

Witch Freya said, “I don’t know about that. The sea of sand is so vast, it’s not easy to find these dune people. But don’t doubt the resilience of life.”

“Perhaps they were lucky and found some areas in this plane where people can survive.”

Locke thought more, ‘How can the Dune people still survive in this situation? Did they master some special technology, or did something special happen?’

“I’m currently doing some ecological research. Perhaps I should talk to some of the dune people.”

Locke’s heart leaped with joy. “Logically speaking, since those lower-level plants and animals have already become extinct, the Dune People shouldn’t still be alive. What happened that prevented them from being wiped out by drought and heat?”

Locke sensed a call and pulled out the Ganoderma Lucidum Magic Plant. Scarlett Witch congratulated him directly with a message. “Locke, congratulations! This year, Golden Crown Mountain announced the winning bidder for the first-level Wizard Shoes in the Demon World War Set. This year, the Augustus Wizard Shoes brand has been awarded the centralized purchase.”

“They’ve placed orders with us for over 450 pairs of wizard shoes. This is a 20 million magic stone deal. Based on our previous profit-sharing ratio, you’ll get… 10 million magic stones!”

“All the leaders of Alsace have inquired about this matter.” Scarlett Witch sent a message, “Locke, from now on you are a wealthy wizard!”

“Even some second-ring wizards are not as rich as you.”

“Furthermore, you are a breeder who, in the collective bidding for the Five Great Wars, used pure magic plant wizard shoes to compete with the wizard shoe store alliance of those magic weavers.”

…

At that time, at the technical seminar on the Meloch Magic Steps, a Moon Ring Wizard Supervisor slammed the information on the table and angrily asked, “Where did this Augustus Wizard Shoe come from?”

“Who is this?!”

“Isn’t this a sub-brand of some wizard shoe brand?”

(End of this chapter)