Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems - Chapter 845

Chapter 841 Tree Ring Theory and Edgar and the First Batch at the End of the World

In the True Knowledge Institute, in Laboratory Group 3, there were all sorts of trees standing tall. Most striking were the massive magical tree-like plants in the center of the laboratory, their canopies bearing objects resembling rings.

Locke glanced at the magical plants with surprise.

‘These are all test rings, but much more primitive than the two test rings I have. It seems that the main research of Group 3 is closely related to wedding rings.’

‘And, there’s tree ring theory.’

Locke scanned the trees, noticing that many showed signs of forced growth, and there were many Time Crystal isolation plates.

These transparent glass-like isolation plates, combined with a large device called a tree ring table, allowed magical tree-like plants to be planted on the table. Then, by using a Time Crystal isolation plate to cut into the middle of a tree, it was possible to split a tree in two, yet the two sections remained connected.

It was as if a piece of glass was placed in the middle of a magical plant.

This allows for the slicing of living tree-like magical plants.

By observing the growth rings of these living plants, their age can be determined.

Locke scanned the plants; tree-ring analysis can increase the total magical pressure of a tree-like magical plant.

Tree-like magical plants are characterized by high growth potential; by increasing the number of growth rings, the total magical pressure and intensity can be enhanced.

Speaking of which, if he were to work on the Tree of Life with his second ultimate spell, he’d better learn about tree-ring analysis.

Inside the three laboratories, people were walking back and forth.

Many first-ring wizards nodded to Locke upon seeing him, gave him a simple bow, and then quickly went to work with their experimental supplies.

Locke unexpectedly encountered someone here: Edgar David, or rather, his alter ego.

The wizard Edgar was walking with a star-ring wizard, asking him questions while reading documents behind him. When he sensed the star-ring wizard in front of him stop, he looked up and was surprised to see Locke.

This Star Ring Wizard, chosen by the witch Catherine, was a newly appointed group leader. Upon seeing Locke, he paused for a moment, then smiled.

“Wizard Locke, is there anything you need from our Group Three?”

Although he was a contracted wizarding instructor at Golden Crown Mountain and the acting group leader, his position was still unstable; he was newly appointed.

Everyone knew that Locke Augustine was currently a core student of the Red Dragon Throne.

In terms of status within the academy, this group leader was certainly higher than Locke, but within the Red Dragon Throne’s academic lineage, their positions were reversed.

Of course, the Star Ring Wizard shouldn’t underestimate himself.

The wizarding world placed great emphasis on magical levels.

The difference between a Star Ring Wizard and an ordinary second-ring wizard was enormous—

as vast as the difference in strength between a teenager and a child.

Locke bowed to the group leader and said, “I am here on my teacher’s orders to summon a wizard named Douglas.”

The Star Ring Wizard considered for a moment.

“Douglas? There’s no one like him in Group Three’s lab. He’s probably a temporary worker.”

“Since it’s His Majesty’s order, Locke, please proceed. Let me know if you need anything.”

“This is Wizard Edgar, you should know him. Quinnjoll University and the Red Dragon Witch have a small collaboration going on recently, and Edgar is handling the handover with us.”

Wizard Edgar said modestly, “Actually, I’m just here to learn. The knowledge about tree rings at Mount Golden Crown is truly vast.”

Acting Group Leader Ansel Chandler smiled with satisfaction.

“But you learn very quickly.”

Locke glanced at Edgar in surprise.

He hadn’t expected this guy to be so eloquent when learning something.

Edgar said to Locke, “I’ve recently come to your Golden Crown Mountain to study tree ring science, and I’m making great progress. Locke, we can exchange ideas sometime.”

“Sure,”

Locke said, looking at Edgar. “Your clone is quite impressive.”

Wizard Edgar smiled and said, “Is it impressive? This is the Divine Tree Clone Magic from Quinnjoll University. If you’re interested, I can teach you.”

“Your clone is also quite impressive. Can you teach me?”

Locke said, “It’s just a clone of the Ancient Tree Fruit. It’s free content; if you want to learn, I can teach you. But I remember that the Divine Tree Clone Magic is unique to Quinnjoll University. How about we exchange it like this?”

Wizard Edgar smiled confidently.

“The Red Dragon Throne has been incredibly generous this time, transferring advanced techniques in tree ring science to us for free to complete a project. So, naturally, we won’t hold back. Besides, it’s fine to exchange them with you.”

“Because these things aren’t important. What’s important is continuous and rapid progress. If exchanging ideas with you allows me to gain more insights and improve quickly, then what does it matter if I exchange the unique clone magic of Quinnjoll University for a clone magic from an Ancient Tree Fruit?”

“The value of these things isn’t in the items themselves, but in myself. If I think it’s worth it, then it’s worth it. The previous transaction with you allowed me to complete [Return of All Things to the Tree], which yielded a very good result.”

Locke fell silent; the wizard Edgar was always so confident.

The wizard Edgar coughed and said, “By the way, Locke, I heard the Golden Cup is going to be held soon.”

Locke said, “Yes, I heard about it too, and I even signed up.”

The wizard Edgar’s eyebrows twitched.

“Hmm? You’ve signed up? Which competition?”

Locke asked. “The Flying Magic Plant Competition.”

Edgar’s lips seemed to curve into a smile, but he quickly suppressed it.

“Oh. I signed up for the Golden Cup’s Golden Magic Plant Breeding Competition.”

“What a pity. I was hoping to have a showdown with you on the field, to avenge my two previous losses. But it seems that opportunity will have to wait.”

Edgar looked regretful, seven parts genuine, three parts a mix of relief.

“By the way, Georgina the Witch also participated in the Golden Cup. However, she participated in the Golden Magic Spell Model Competition.”

Locke showed slight surprise.

“Spell Model Competition? Is she skilled in Golden Magic?”

At this moment, the Star Ring Wizard acting as the group leader had already left, seemingly to handle other work.

Wizard Edgar said, “I asked her that question too. Her answer was that she didn’t know gold magic. But the characteristic of the new textile science is that it can use the [Celestial Garment Hunting Spell] to weave and simulate the enemy’s weaknesses. At the same time, that spell model can be combined with other spell models to even imitate the opponent’s spells.”

“Moreover, the spell model competition of the Golden Cup is different from what we understand. Because of the continued decline of the Boundary Between Light and Darkness, there are very few wizards who specialize in the gold school. Most wizards study it as a side job, so many wizards who participate in that competition, like the witch Georgina, are forced into it.”

“Or rather, this is one of the interesting things about the Golden Cup. Every famous competition has its own philosophy. For example, the Golden Cup believes that the best contestant is not a full-time wizard, but an ‘amateur’ wizard who has nothing to do with the gold school, but who has learned about gold magic before participating in the Golden Cup competition. They believe that this is the meaning of the ancient competition.”

“However, in my opinion, this is mainly because the Golden School wizards can no longer support any decent competitions.”

Locke frowned. Had the Boundary Between Light and Darkness really declined to this extent?

There was a problem: the Golden Path in the wizarding world was built with Golden Magic. If the Boundary Between Light and Darkness and the Golden School had declined like this, who would repair the Golden Path?

Would the White Wizarding Association (headquarters) just stand by and watch this continue?

Wizard Edgar said to Locke, “Then let’s see the top three of our Silent Grail each win one of the three Golden Cup matches. That would be quite an interesting affair.”

Locke asked, “How is Diana the Witch doing lately?”

Wizard Edgar paused.

“I don’t know. It seems she hasn’t broken through to become a second-circle wizard yet. I’m not interested in those who fall behind. If she continues like this, she’ll fall off our current path.”

Locke knew what he was talking about.

The top-tier talent cultivation route in the wizarding world is a highly secretive one. If it weren’t for the information from Golden Crown Mountain and the Red Dragon Witch, as well as the data sent back by Sophia from the Star Sea, he wouldn’t have been entirely certain of its existence.

Because in many ways, it seemed more like a fantasy about the recruitment of talent by wizarding universities in upper-level and leader-level wizarding lands.

But Locke was now certain that a hidden top-tier talent cultivation route did exist in the wizarding world; however, even discovering this route required a wizard with sufficient strength and insight, or perhaps a bit of luck.

Clearly, Edgar was a true fellow traveler.

He also wanted to follow this path.

Wizard Edgar said to Locke, “Since we can’t determine a winner in the Golden Cup, I think we might have a chance to clash at [The Ends of the Earth] in the future.”

Locke glanced at Wizard Edgar; indeed, he also knew about [The Ends of the Earth].

After all, [The Ends of the Earth] was a dream wizarding land for every breeder.

The number of wizards that Tianya Haijiao (End of the Earth) can host each time is limited, and there are batches. The first batch receives the best resources, while later batches receive less.

Therefore, the number of wizards vying to be among the first to reach Tianya Haijiao is exceptionally high.

Of course, this requires prior knowledge of Tianya Haijiao’s trajectory and landing locations,

as the first batch of landing opportunities are quickly snapped up.

“I’m leaving now, Edgar. We’ll talk again later.”

Locke nodded to him; he still needed to find Douglas as soon as possible.

Locke inquired with a researcher and, following the information, found the Brandy Wizard’s laboratory. This small laboratory, located within the three sets of laboratories, contained thirty tree-ring tables.

On each of the thirty tree-ring tables, a magical tree-like plant was transplanted. Strangely, due to the tree-ring tables, vertical internal sections of these magical trees could be seen, but half of these trees resembled a dense vascular system.

Clearly, this was the research the Brandy Wizard had mentioned to him before; it seemed he hadn’t been just making things up.

Locke glanced at it sideways; the tables and equipment alone cost nearly a hundred million, a price no individual wizard could afford, likely funded by the resources of the three labs.

After Esther’s betrayal and departure from the three labs, the Brandy Wizard received a significant allocation of public resources.

Locke stood outside the lab, which was protected by a barrier—a flimsy one he could easily break.

But this was, after all, someone else’s private lab.

Therefore, Locke first surveyed the interior.

Inside the relatively small lab were only three wizards: two crystallized wizards, seemingly researchers from the True Knowledge Institute of Golden Crown Mountain, and Douglas.

Douglas was unshaven, appearing to be under immense mental pressure, and the other two crystallized wizards also seemed unwell.

Locke immediately noticed why: the special magical trees growing on these thirty tree-ring tables seemed to be constantly emitting some kind of polluting radiation.

Even standing outside the barrier, Locke could sense a strange magical power wafting towards him—

a pungent, fishy stench.

‘It seems to be some kind of alchemical flesh magic. Those trees must emit some kind of natural magical structure.’

‘This guy. I understand now why he couldn’t get the top-tier grant at Golden Crown Mountain.’

Locke was stunned by the Brandy Wizard’s absurd ideas.

Why?

Even during his time as a first-ring wizard, he knew that different wizarding communities had their own mainstream aesthetics.

The wizards of Cloud Marsh Wetlands were practical and capable, valuing exquisite things, preferring skill over numbers, and appreciating so-called small and beautiful things.

Golden Crown Mountain, as a wizarding university with strong disciplines in bloodline studies, breeding, and wave energy, was actually quite hostile to flesh magic within the alchemical school. And

the Brandy Wizard, for some reason, perhaps due to his own aesthetic sense, had actually locked his research in this direction.

Wouldn’t that be counterproductive?

It wasn’t that this direction was bad, just that it required much more effort.

And clearly, for a wizard to make such a wrong judgment was enough to show that he lacked the ability to break the rules.

Locke was almost speechless.

‘If he really applies for the top-tier grant with something like this, even if he had another five years, he wouldn’t be able to convince the wizards of Golden Crown Mountain to let him participate in the top-tier grant application,’

Locke shook his head slightly.

Oh well, it’s none of my business. After all, he’s someone who starts with underhanded tactics on our first meeting; if I remind him, he might even resent me.

At this moment, Douglas, one of the three wizards, seemed to be bearing not only the radiation pressure from the thirty flesh-and-blood magical plants, but also considerable mental pressure.

In fact, Douglas had wanted to retreat for a long time.

He initially wanted to get close to Locke and use Locke’s power to retrieve the Lagma Gate’s treasure, but after finding it impossible to get close to Locke, he settled for contacting the other second-circle wizards in Golden Crown Mountain. He encountered

setbacks everywhere.

Later, he met the very enthusiastic Brandy Wizard, who treated him very well from the beginning and invited him to join the third group’s laboratory as an assistant.

He had initially thought the Brandy Wizard was a very helpful wizard, but later he gradually realized that the Brandy Wizard seemed to be subtly aware of the presence of the Lagmamon Wizard King within him and was constantly testing him.

The initial tests were simply assigning him tasks that were difficult for him to complete.

The Brandy Wizard himself didn’t offer any punishment for failing to complete the tasks, but the tasks themselves were inherently dangerous.

He managed to avoid danger several times through his quick thinking, but later, the Brandy Wizard’s tests became increasingly blatant, seemingly convinced that he had a problem.

Now, the Brandy Wizard was even deliberately assigning him obviously dangerous work, while he was also required to perform extremely dangerous experiments for the Brandy Wizard.

These were tasks that the wizards of Golden Crown Mountain would only do if the Brandy Wizard offered them high compensation, and even then, they wouldn’t do them often.

But now, the Brandy Wizard seemed certain that he had no one backing him, not even one of the wizards of Golden Crown Mountain, and therefore placed him in his laboratory, using him to the extreme.

Douglas realized then that he had no way to leave.

He tried many methods, such as asking for help or trying to contact the witch Catherine, but they all seemed to ignore him completely.

Catherine wasn’t even at Golden Crown Mountain; she was supposedly at the Genesis Conference.

After Catherine left Golden Crown Mountain, he could clearly sense that the Brandy Wizard’s behavior had become increasingly unrestrained and brazen, often staring at him with greedy and malicious eyes.

He was almost about to reveal his hand.

Just last night, the Brandy Wizard had directly demanded that he hand over his treasures.

Douglas was now measuring the amount of moisture evaporating from the flesh-and-blood tree before him last night, recalling the Brandy Wizard’s revelation of his handover.

Right here in this laboratory.

The Brandy Wizard stood at the laboratory door and said to him, “I discovered the Flesh Tree in the medium-sized Forbes plane of the colonized world. This magical plant has medium to high levels of toxicity for low-level wizards like you. And I’ve already cut off your antidote for a month.”

“Douglas, let’s be frank. With your talent, there’s no way you could ever advance to become a Crystallization Wizard. I knew this when I saw your resume when you first joined my lab.”

“You must have had a fortuitous encounter. At first, I didn’t care; I don’t care about fortuitous encounters for low-level wizards. But later, I assigned you some extremely difficult tasks, and you managed to complete them all. This gradually made me start to pay attention. After my testing, I believe your fortuitous encounter is very likely a Sun-level encounter. This is astonishing.”

“A stroke of luck, who wouldn’t want that? Douglas, if you can give me that luck, I’ll let you leave Group Three. Otherwise, you’ll die here. Given your status, even if something goes wrong, I won’t be investigated by the ethics committee. At most, I’ll just be fined for violating lab regulations.”

The Brandy Wizard stood at the lab door, smiling mockingly at him. “Ansel Chandler, acting group leader, is new here and needs me to manage the lab. So maybe I won’t even be considered to have violated lab regulations.”

“Douglas, now you’re trapped. I advise you to hand over your luck. You can’t handle it.”

Douglas was dazed. He truly regretted it now. If he had known this would happen, he shouldn’t have agreed to let the Brandy Wizard transfer him to Group Three.

He was like a lamb to the slaughter.

But that man had been too kind.

He had helped him in every way when others treated him coldly, leading him to seriously misjudge the Brandy Wizard.

At this moment, Douglas realized that the sorcerer’s supposed help was nothing more than verbal encouragement.

There wasn’t a single tangible gift.

It was something that cost absolutely nothing.

Thinking of this, Douglas couldn’t help but worry about his future.

Just then, the voice of the Witch-King Lagmamon suddenly appeared in his ears.

‘Douglas, don’t give up. Everyone who achieves great things has encountered seemingly insurmountable difficulties. You can definitely overcome them.’

‘At least he hasn’t discovered my existence yet. He’s only confirmed that you’ve had a miraculous encounter, but he doesn’t know what that encounter is. I will reduce my opportunities to speak with you. Believe me, as long as you don’t hand me over to him, he will absolutely not harm you.’

“This is, after all, the society of white wizards. He’ll either secretly kill you or scheme against you like this. He wouldn’t dare do anything else.”

Wizard Douglas was overjoyed. Hearing King Lagmamon’s reminder again, he felt like he’d found a pillar of support.

For the past six months, King Lagmamon had rarely appeared to avoid being detected by the Brandy Wizard.

He also wore a first-ring magical artifact called the “Necklace of a Thousand Shadows” to conceal his teacher’s soul aura and prevent the second-ring wizard from discovering it.

Douglas whispered, “Teacher, you’ve finally spoken. I think I should take advantage of this opportunity to leave the wilderness and see if I can escape from Mount Golden Crown.”

King Lagmamon didn’t answer. Wizard Douglas

‘s heart sank. He looked up and discovered that two second-ring wizards were standing outside the laboratory.

One of the second-ring wizards was that despicable Brandy Wizard.

He was dressed in a pure white wizard’s robe, with a swan-feather-like wing on his right shoulder, while the other second-circle wizard was…

Douglas Wizard’s pupils suddenly contracted, his face filled with shock and surprise.

Because the other wizard was Locke Augustine.

This lord had actually come to find him.

Outside the laboratory, Brandy Wizard looked at Locke with a smile and said, “Wizard Augustine, I knew you would be interested in my experiments. You came this time because you thought my suggestion last time was good and wanted to study with me?”

“I’ve noticed you’ve been staying home a lot lately, not going out much. That’s not good; always working in isolation won’t lead to good ideas. How about we study the Flesh and Blood Tree of the Forbes Plane together?”

Locke pursed his lips, feeling somewhat speechless.

He didn’t even think the wizard in front of him was serious.

Study this pointless direction with me? If

I were an alchemist, I might consider it, but of course, I couldn’t do this kind of research in the Cloud Marsh Wetlands; I could go to the Southern Wizarding Capital.

Some judges in the Southern Wizarding Capital might like this approach.

It makes it easier to apply for funding.

Locke said, “No. I’m here to transfer Douglas away.”

The Brandy Wizard’s smile froze instantly. He glanced at Douglas with a strange, ambiguous smile, making Douglas feel uneasy, as if a demon with a fake smile was staring at him.

The Brandy Wizard said, “Did Douglas contact you first, Wizard Augustine?”

Locke said, “This person was originally assigned to my group by my teacher. It’s just that you transferred him over when I wasn’t paying attention. However, I have some articles to write recently and need help. I’m short-handed.”

“Brandy Wizard, you’re an old second-ring wizard. You don’t lack people under you, but I do.”

Locke said using logic the other party could understand, “You poached a Crystallized Wizard from my team without telling me anything.”

Sure enough, the Brandy Wizard agreed with this logic. After thinking about it carefully, he also felt that it was indeed inappropriate to poach a Crystallized Wizard from Locke at will.

Following his profit-driven logic, he would have immediately turned against that person.

Therefore, the Brandy Wizard spoke to Locke in a gentler tone, even somewhat guilty, saying, “It’s just that this person was responsible for some crucial data work with me. Without him, I can’t conduct my experiments.”

Locke directly attacked his logic, exposing his lie.

“A Crystallized Wizard can be responsible for the crucial experimental data work of a second-ring wizard genius? Brandy Wizard, you must be joking.”

The Brandy Wizard paused, immediately realizing that this reason was indeed absurd, illogical, and laughable.

His momentum weakened further, and he felt even more guilty. However,

the thought of the possible encounter with a Sun-ring wizard made him frown, unwilling to give up this lucrative opportunity he was about to seize.

Brandy the Wizard said, “Wizard Locke, I do indeed greatly admire this wizard. I appreciate his talent, and besides, he came to me himself. If he has offended you in any way, I can apologize and offer appropriate compensation.” “

However, he has been here with me for quite some time. Douglas, I ask you, would you rather return to Group Two, or stay in my Group Three?”

At this moment, the other two crystallization wizards in the laboratory quickly lowered their heads. They weren’t fools; they had already sensed the tension between Locke and Brandy the Wizard.

Locke looked at Douglas and dusted himself off.

Douglas’s answer was irrelevant; he would take him away today no matter what.

However, if Douglas answered that he was willing to go with him, it would save him the risk of a fight later.

After all, Brandy was also a second-circle wizard genius from the Advanced True Knowledge Institute.

He had been a second-circle wizard longer than Locke himself.

Before the fight, Locke truly didn’t know who was stronger between them.

It was hard to say.

(End of Chapter)