Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems - Chapter 921

Chapter 916 Super Planet Type Dimensions and Special Funding

Locke used Golden Wheat to absorb Douglas’s magical radiance, then placed his body into his Astral Ring before quickly leaving.

Meanwhile, his Ancient Tree Fruit clone encountered Antoine at the Feathered Serpent Pavilion.

Inside the quiet room of the Feathered Serpent Pavilion, Antoine said to Locke, “That’s roughly the situation. We need eight Name Potions to carry special names and enter a special area within the World Ruins located in the Siming Waters.”

Locke nodded and casually asked, “What do you want to do in that special area of the wizarding ruins?”

Antoine bluntly replied, “In the World Ruins in the Siming Waters, we encountered a special set of fluctuations. After analysis, it’s likely a power energy fluctuation signal from a special plane. Do you know about planetary-type planes?” “

Some special planetary-type planes radiate energy outwards in the form of specific fluctuations; otherwise, the plane’s energy would be too high due to its special size. Therefore, many special power energy fluctuations are themselves studied from planetary-type planes. We now suspect that a unique planetary-type plane is hidden behind that World Ruins.”

Locke only half understood.

“Isn’t this what astronomical wizards are supposed to study? Perhaps you could cooperate with the wizards of Storm Tower.”

Antoine smiled and said, “Forget about Storm Tower. Who knows if their wizard Smith is still alive from the black market of the Twin Demon Realms? It would be laughable if he were sold to a colony plane.”

“The Endless Void is so vast; finding someone is both easy and difficult.”

“Finding astronomical wizards would indeed be helpful. But having so many wizards from the Golden Crown Mountain’s Institute of Truth working together to explore that plane and search for that potentially existing superplanet plane is more than enough.”

Locke asked doubtfully, “A superplanet?”

Antoine nodded and said, “Yes. Based on the waveforms we’ve captured, it’s almost certain to be a planetary plane, but it doesn’t belong to the scale or magnitude of any planetary planes the wizards have discovered before. However, so far, everything we know is deduced from the Queen’s Chessboard.”

“But if our operation this time yields crucial discoveries within that world’s ruins, then just studying that superplanet’s plane will certainly be enough to support some of us in obtaining the top-tier funding program.”

Locke paused for a moment.

Then, Antoine laughed, “You didn’t expect that, did you? Most wizards at Golden Crown Mountain now believe that only those who follow the magic plant crystallization technology route can obtain this year’s top-tier funding program belonging to Golden Crown Mountain.”

“But they certainly didn’t expect that we would make such a significant discovery in the Siming Waters. However, the premise is that these discoveries are genuine; if they are fake, then they are useless.”

Locke nodded. While Antoine was speaking, he used the Magic Potion Cyclone Extraction Method to extract the spiritual essence from the ruins fragments Antoine had brought him, and simultaneously refined eight bottles of Name Potion.

“Here you go, these are eight bottles of Name Potion. And this is the bottle of Doppelganger Potion I promised you before.”

Antoine’s face showed surprise.

“Hmm? That’s fast.”

“In just half an hour, you managed to concoct eight bottles of second-circle potions using such rudimentary conditions.”

Locke was taken aback for a moment, then realized that Antoine was an amateur, which was why he thought Name Potions were second-circle potions. Potions masters like him wouldn’t think such a thing was a second-circle potion.

With his current innate knowledge, he could easily concoct something like this, but it was also because his potion-making skills had indeed improved rapidly since he started studying potions with the Sea Queen.

Locke’s innate knowledge was almost exhausted at this moment, but the reason he was able to concoct eight bottles of Name Potions in half an hour was because he used a technique that the Sea Queen had taught him: colliding the two spirit macros he extracted from the relic stone, turning two spirit macros into four.

In any case, Name Potions were essentially just potion versions of spirit macros, just another manifestation of spirit macros, and didn’t need to be very precise.

Locke nodded and said, “It’s alright. As agreed, you need to give me five million magic stones.”

Antoine nodded and handed him five hundred magic crystal cards.

Locke smiled. As expected of a reincarnated third-ring wizard, he was so generous, giving him five million magic stones without batting an eye.

After all, something as cheap as Name Potion wasn’t worth that much.

Selling it for ten thousand magic stones wouldn’t be reasonable.

It was just liquid spirit potion.

However, he wasn’t exactly ripping him off, since Antoine’s request involved confidentiality and quality.

If he asked someone else, there was a risk of the secret being leaked.

Antoine smiled at Locke and said, “With these, we won’t be attacked by the guards in the ruins. But after knowing all this, aren’t you a little worried? You know, there’s only one special-grade funding project a year.”

Locke poured himself a cup of bluefish tea and took a sip.

“What do I have to be nervous about?”

“Your superplanet hasn’t even been seen yet. It’s not easy to convince the judges with something that’s just a rumor. Besides, even without the discovery of your superplanet—and if it were even possible, there would be a magical plant crystallization technology route.”

Antoine asked in surprise, “You haven’t even entered that technology route yet? Why? Is it because you don’t have the resources? If you don’t have the resources, I can introduce you to some. In my past foolish days, I knew some cronies, and they have a lot of connections.”

Locke shook his head.

“It’s just that my energy is limited.”

Antoine smiled, revealing a surprised expression.

“It’s because of interesting guys like you that I feel like I’m truly alive in this world.”

“That’s great. This is the first time I’ve met such a confident wizard.”

Locke said, “Not confident, but self-aware, knowing that I don’t have the energy to be distracted.”

Antoine said in a low voice, “Alright. Now that you can brew the Doppelganger Potion, I want you to brew another potion for me, the Double Doppelganger Potion.”

Locke said, “I don’t know what that is, I’ve never heard of it.”

Antoine said, “It’s true that most second-circle wizards might not have heard of it. It’s a variant of the Doppelganger Potion. I don’t need it right now. I didn’t want to say it, but it doesn’t matter now. If you can brew it, I can pay a high price for a bottle of Double Doppelganger Potion.”

Locke nodded after hearing this, and he stood up.

“Alright. Antoine, good luck.”

Antoine raised his wizard’s teacup, making a toasting gesture.

“Then I wish you good luck too. I hope your research yields results.”

“Let’s have another showdown over the top-tier grant. If I can confirm the existence of that superplanet through that special fluctuation, then you should know that it means I’ll definitely get the top-tier grant.”

“Moreover, this will also greatly benefit our Golden Crown Mountain and our Senate faction.”

Locke nodded.

Antoine’s position in the Senate was clearly higher than his own in the Academic Committee, so he knew many of the Senate’s development directions.

‘Indeed, I was too concerned about the conflict between the Rose School and my own. I forgot that the world itself is dynamic; whoever is a step behind will fall behind in every step. The Senate is definitely trying to regain the power it lost after the Three Rivers Tournament and the Silent Grail.’

Locke left the Feathered Serpent Pavilion and headed to the Witch’s Kitchen.

He had arranged to meet Warwick Wizard there today.

…

In the Witch’s Kitchen, in private room number one, the witch Droma met with a Moon Ring witch from the Rose Council. Droma sat opposite him, seemingly very excited.

“My lord,” the Moon Ring witch said, “if you entrust this project to me, I will certainly complete it perfectly according to Master Patrick Finch’s vision.”

Dressed in a bright red and purple rose witch’s robe, she smiled and said to Droma, “This project I have is prepared by Master Patrick Finch for outstanding young people like you. The project materials are very complete, and the preliminary experimental data is all available. With a little organization, I can write a special grant application in a week at most, and I’m certain we’ll secure the special grant.”

“But why should we help you?”

Droma immediately calmed down, somewhat embarrassed. “I’m just a lowly witch on Golden Crown Mountain. I really don’t have much to offer Master Patrick Finch.”

The Moon Ring witch chuckled.

“What are you thinking? Our Master Patrick Finch isn’t part of the Rose School, so there’s no conflict with the school behind you. The Rose Council and Mount Golden Crown aren’t enemies; in fact, they can be allies on many occasions.”

“The seven top wizarding universities in Cloudze Wetlands are constantly fluctuating; who among them is a permanent enemy? What do I need you for? I’m not a dark wizard.”

Wizard Zhuoma realized she’d misunderstood and immediately offered an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I overthought things. But I’m hardworking and resilient; whatever I want to do, I will do.”

The Moon Ring Witch stood up and said, “That’s all for now.”

Wizard Zhuoma paused, looking up and asking, “Huh?”

“My lady…”

the Moon Ring Witch said, “Today’s meeting was just a brief one. I still need to meet with some other wizards. I need to find the best young wizard for Master Patrick Finch, not waste his hard work.”

“If you have anything to say later, you can come to me again.”

The Moon Ring Witch left Room 1.

Droma the Wizard immediately followed, wanting to speak, but at that moment, she unexpectedly saw Locke.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Could the best wizard the Rose Council wizard had spoken of be Locke Augustine?

Droma was relieved to see Locke brush past the Moon Ring Witch, merely nodding politely to her, expressing the respect due to a wizard of higher magical rank. The

Moon Ring Witch of the Rose Council, however, gave Locke a curious look.

The Moon Ring Witch turned to Droma and asked, “That wizard must be Locke Augustine, right?”

Droma nodded stiffly, somewhat guilty.

The Moon Ring Witch smiled and said, “I’ve heard of him in the Rose Council. He once gave a test to a wizard in a key laboratory at our Rose Council’s Breeder Academy. Later, one of our Sun Ring Witches revealed the true nature of that test that stumped so many of us after he left.”

“It seems to be a special kind of spiritual energy.”

“I have a deep impression of him.”

“I remember him as an excellent breeder.”

Droma immediately whispered, “But…but…I heard that this wizard hasn’t done any research on magical plant crystallization. Although everyone has only started for a month or two, the current situation is that whoever starts a month first has the advantage. By the time this wizard starts his research, the relevant equipment in his laboratory might only just be fully equipped.” “

And I heard that he himself isn’t very interested in magical plant crystallization technology.”

The Moon Ring Witch’s face immediately lost its expression, and she nodded.

“That’s a pity. It seems he’s out of luck with the top-tier grant this year. Well, the difficulty has inexplicably increased; it’s harder than a typical second-ring grant.”

Wizard Zhuoma knew she was referring to how a second-ring wizard’s first application for a second-ring grant would be grouped into a weaker category, avoiding the same group of applications from sun-ring and moon-ring wizards.

This significantly increases the chances of success.

Many wizarding academies prefer recruiting newly-minted second-ring wizards for this very reason—to capitalize on the easier path to a second-ring grant on the first application.

The number of grants a wizard in an academy can secure is also a reflection of that academy’s overall strength.

The Moon Ring Wizard said, “Indeed, he’s young after all. He’s ambitious, but after hitting a few walls, he’ll realize that following the crowd is the easiest path.”

“These days, who cares about traditional breeding and magical plant research? Only by pursuing magical plant crystallization research can you embrace the times. Anyone who doesn’t follow this path will be abandoned by the times. It’s like in the mortal world, before the invention of farming tools, people had to use their hands to grow crops, but after the invention of tools, mortal farmers use them to grow crops.”

The Moon Ring Wizard chuckled.

“But many wizards still believe that growing crops with tools lacks soul. The magical plant crystallization technology route is also encountering these problems, and many wizards have publicly expressed their opinions on this research direction.”

The Wizard of Droma listened, her mind reeling.

“Crystallized magical plants are indeed the future. If crystallized magical plants can be successfully researched, even Master Patrick Finch could potentially become a fourth-ring wizard,”

said the Moon Ring Witch. “Currently, the crystallization technology improves every six months. Based on this pattern, the technology is developing rapidly, with virtually no upper limit.”

A smile appeared on Droma’s face.

“It’s truly a pity that Locke isn’t pursuing this technological path. I hope he’ll come to his senses in the future.”

The Moon Ring Witch glanced at Droma and suddenly spoke abruptly, “If you don’t enter now, you’ll fall behind later. In the wizarding world, falling behind even once means falling behind every step of the way.”

“Everyone else is embracing the times; if you don’t, you’ll be abandoned by the times.”

Droma felt as if something had been stuffed into his head, and he became agitated. He desperately wanted the project the Moon Ring Witch possessed.

Even just obtaining a top-tier funded project would be extremely helpful to him.

What made his expression change drastically was seeing the Brandy Wizard approaching the door. The Brandy Wizard had clearly made eye contact with the Moon Ring Witch of the Rose Council.

It was obvious the Moon Ring Witch was waiting for the Brandy Wizard.

The Brandy Wizard glanced at the Droma Wizard, his eyes also showing seriousness.

The Moon Ring Witch glanced at Droma Wizard and continued, “As a senior, I must tell you something. Only those who are the first to eat can benefit the most.”

“If you don’t rush ahead of others, you’ll miss your chance, and there will be no chance to make up for it later…”

Both the Brandy Wizard and Droma Wizard tensed up.

A clear anxiety shone in their eyes.

…

Inside Room 3, Locke met Warwick. Warwick was extremely anxious, looking at Locke with a fawning smile, “Locke, it’s been a long time.”

“Now you’ve become a Second Ring Archmage.”

Warwick still looked like a silver-cast werewolf, a silver, naturally born demonic eye on his forehead.

“Let me see that travelogue you mentioned.”

Locke placed the travelogue on the table, and Warwick, after glancing at it, immediately scanned it with his innate magical eye, then said, “Is this the travelogue? It is indeed shrouded in powerful archaeological magic.”

“But I can bypass it using the magic of the Abyss side.”

The Eye of Wisdom on his forehead suddenly released a dazzling silver light, and Locke looked at him as if he saw an endless spiral vortex in his eyes.

The silver spirituality seemed to connect to nowhere, endless and infinitely overlapping.

The wizard Warwick took a half step back. “There’s a clue.”

“This person has been to the Endless Abyss.”

Warwick seemed somewhat delirious. “He has entered the depths of the Endless Abyss, and he has left many traces in the Endless Abyss.”

Locke looked at the spirituality on him and immediately realized that his belief in the essence of the Abyss as chaos during his first-ring stage was probably a superficial and erroneous understanding.

Because the Abyssal power on the wizard Warwick before him did not seem to be chaos, so why did it possess a feeling of infinite possibilities?

Could it be that this was infinity?

No.

Locke immediately realized that this was because he had been contemplating the spell model of the Tree of Prosperity, thus viewing the power of the Abyss from the perspective of the Four Seasons.

“The power of the Abyss seems to possess some kind of multi-layered nature,”

Locke murmured. “I thought that after becoming a second-circle wizard, I would completely sever ties with this power, but unexpectedly, I’ve discovered new possibilities within it.”

At this moment, Warwick stepped forward, his Eye of Wisdom observing the past and present of the travelogue, discerning its true nature.

“This man possesses the rank of Abyss Baron; he once walked in the Abyss, leaving his mark there. He is… Maxwell.”

Locke immediately looked at Warwick, his gaze serious.

Warwick sat down, panting, and looked up at Locke with great anticipation.

“How was it? Did it help you?”

Locke began to use the Water Gourd System to access information, but found no works by this wizard.

Maxwell…

wasn’t that the name of the legendary archaeologist who left a message in the fake tomb of the Loom Princess, pointing out the Black Sun Tower’s alteration of history?

Was it a coincidence?

No, it shouldn’t be.

But if this travelogue records the historical war five hundred years ago, then Archaeologist Maxwell was a figure from this era.

Locke also sat down and began to ponder.

Warwick didn’t disturb Locke’s deep thought.

After half an hour, he couldn’t help but speak up: “It’s possible that when he published his work, he didn’t use his real name, but another name. If someone uses a pseudonym the moment they enter wizarding university, then all their subsequent publications will also use a pseudonym. If you use special magic to find their real name, you can’t pinpoint them through their academic works.”

Locke said, “Is that possible?”

Warwick looked surprised.

“This is fundamental for archaeologists. I just didn’t have a good background, so I didn’t pay attention to this aspect at first, and now it’s too late even if I wanted to. But Locke, you’re the last person who has the right to say that. Is your real name really Locke Augustine?”

Locke looked at the wizard Warwick and asked in surprise, “Isn’t it?”

The wizard Warwick spread his hands and said, “Your real name is protected by magic, and I can’t know it. Isn’t the only one who can know it?”

Locke fell silent again.

The information the wizard Warwick had given him left him somewhat bewildered.

What did he mean by saying my real name wasn’t Locke Augustine?

The key was that if the other party was referring to his name from his previous life, that name couldn’t possibly be protected by magic, and a name protected by magic could only be…

Could it be…

his original name in this body?

Locke’s heart sank. He originally thought there was no need to go back to Corfu, but now it seemed that he still needed to go back to Corfu.

Locke asked old Warwick, “Knowing his name is useless. Is there any way to know more about him?”

Old Warwick spread his hands.

“Well… I don’t have any better ideas either.”

(End of Chapter)