Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 353 Rising Prices

Inside the research institute in the Forbidden Forest Swamp, Locke used the Druid Ring to open a magic door in front of him, instantly revealing a demiplane hidden behind it.

The demiplane was vast and boundless, with many thin, misty spatial fogs at its edges.

Although Locke hadn't studied spatial science much, he had read about that kind of mist in the course on everything and some articles; it was a spatial mist unique to demiplanes.

Because a demiplane is a nascent form of a plane, but too small to generate plane power, it cannot form a plane barrier and can only wrap itself in spatial mist.

The spatial fog is extremely dangerous; avoid contact with it if possible.

Outside the spatial mist lies an even greater danger: the void. Even a second-ring wizard cannot survive in the void with their physical body.

Locke stepped through the magic door and entered, while the magic door behind him remained in the open position.

This is the Druid's Ring solidifying the magic gate.

When using the Druid's Ring to open the demiplane portal, the magic gate cannot be closed; it remains open for an extended period until the user returns to the prime plane, at which point it can be closed.

Locke surveyed the area and found that this demiplane was about 1 square kilometer in size, and its interior was all fertile plains that could be turned into magical fields, which was equivalent to 1500 acres of farmland.

1500 mu of land is equivalent to the area of ​​a large plantation.

In other words, carrying this ring is like carrying a large, portable plantation with you wherever you go.

There was a sun in the sky above the demiplane. Locke observed it and found that it was merely refracting the sunlight from the Prime Material Plane, using the sunlight from the Prime Material Plane.

In addition, there are water and energy circulation systems created by alchemists, which can simulate the real world to the greatest extent possible.

Locke nodded in satisfaction. "As expected of a botanical wizard and a breeding wizard, the rare treasure I've always dreamed of, the Druid's Ring. Not bad."

Locke turned around and ordered the golems in the research institute's temperature-controlled room to begin moving his Forest Sanctuary inside.

For safety reasons, this process will take about a week.

A week later, the Forest Sanctuary and the remaining four Banana Forests had all been moved into the Druid's Ring.

Banana forests are composed of perennial herbaceous plants, which can provide green manure particles. Therefore, combining them with the Forest Sanctuary is not only a way to make use of waste, but also a way to further strengthen the Forest Sanctuary.

In this way, his own forest sanctuary now covers an area of ​​30 acres, and the total biomass has accumulated to a considerable level.

“The Forest Sanctuary can now be transplanted with three more 1-ring tree-like magical plants, and another permanent defensive spell can be inscribed upon it,” Locke pondered. “In addition, I need to inject magical resources into the Druid Ring to maintain its internal nutrient cycle.”

"I did a rough calculation, and I currently need about 5000 magic stones per month."

The reason I didn't need to buy nutrient soil resources before was because there were still some resources left in the research institute, and the basic facilities were still operational, with the internal circulation systems still running well. However, the resources left over from before have now been used up.

Locke thought for a moment and then began to direct the golems to dismantle the still usable facilities inside the research institute and to move the ten dwarf-shaped golems into the Druid's Ring.

I want to pack it up and take it with me.

These ten golems would cost tens of thousands of magic stones if purchased from the alchemy workshop.

After all, the dwarven alchemist Tyne had been prepared to sell him a clay golem for 1200 magic stones last time.

Locke pondered, "Besides that, I also need to purchase enough Swarm Consciousness Potions as soon as possible. I remember Swarm Consciousness Potions are a specialty of the Southeast Corner Region. You can't buy them anywhere else."

……

Chimera Market, Lijin's Secret.

Locke frowned. "What? You don't have any first-level magical plants in your shop anymore?"

Store Manager Yuri has now regained her youth, with bright eyes and white teeth. After regaining her youth, she actually looks quite good, even pretty.

Shopkeeper Yuri nodded to Locke and said, "I'm sorry, Senior Locke, that's true."

"The few treasures that Lijin Secrets has won have all been bought by the academy's higher-ups. Not only that, the prices of all of Lijin Secrets' combat magical plants have increased by 30%, but the prices of magical plants unrelated to combat have all decreased."

"Moreover, many combat magical plants, even those at the apprentice level, are already sold out. Including your Augustus series magical plants."

Locke frowned, surprised that prices had risen to this extent in just over six months. Although he shouldn't say much about it.

After all, he himself had made a fortune from the war in the southeastern corner region by cooperating with Lady Irina.

Yuri whispered to Locke, "Senior Locke, it's not just Lijin's Secret Words; Lady Irina's shop is basically like this too. Even if you want to buy a first-level magic plant, the price is already more than double the usual price."

Locke nodded slightly. "I understand, thank you, Yuri."

Shopkeeper Yuri smiled softly and said, "I should thank you, Senior Locke. Thank you for giving me a second life."

"I will cherish it."

Locke nodded, said a few casual words, and turned to leave Lijin Secret Language.

……

In the germplasm bank of Lilith's Hut, the wood elf Ruby said apologetically to Locke, "I'm sorry, Lord Locke, even if you wanted to use magic stones to purchase a first-ring tree-type magical plant, it's impossible now. The academy has prohibited all external transactions."

"The germplasm bank has now been completely sealed off."

Ruby said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Lord Locke."

Locke nodded. "It's not your fault."

Locke left the seed vault without heading to the library, assuming that the library was probably the same.

Over the past six months, the war in the southeastern corner of the region has intensified, and prices have continued to rise.

Lilith's Hut also began restricting wizards from exchanging rare resources from the academy's reserves, and instead began preparing for war.

I really should leave; if I stay here, I'll inevitably get caught up in the war sooner or later.

During a previous gathering of fellow students, I even heard the Green Witch Christine say that the White Wizarding Association was considering recruiting wizards from some small wizarding organizations.

This is a right that the White Wizarding Association has not used for hundreds of years in the southeastern corner region.

I'd better leave quickly and avoid getting involved in this war.

……

During another small gathering of fellow disciples, Locke, in the living room where the gathering was taking place, spoke to the fellow disciples or their phantoms who had come to attend: "That's about it. I need to trade three Cloud Sea Mist Pine Trees, and as many Swarm Consciousness Potions as possible."

"If anyone has it, I hope we can complete the transaction as soon as possible; I'm in a bit of a hurry."

Among his fellow disciples, a formal wizard smiled and said, "Locke, fellow disciples should indeed help each other out. But the Swarm Consciousness Potion is a specialty of the Southeast Corner Region."

"Prices in the southeast corner region are skyrocketing right now, so I reckon you'll have a hard time getting the Swarm Consciousness Potion. Some people are waiting for prices to rise a bit more before they make a move."

The phantom of Wizard Anthony took a sip of tomato juice and said, "Yes, I heard that the rapid rise in prices of this batch of goods is due to some formal wizards working together to manipulate prices. Special products like the Swarm Consciousness Potion are definitely the focus of speculation. Locke, I advise you to give up."

Locke's expression was not good. He hadn't expected to encounter a group of people who were even better at profiting from war than he was.

Sure enough, the bizarre rate of price increases was indeed highly unusual.

However, I do really need the Swarm Consciousness Potion. I want to expand my Forest Sanctuary, and I need to use the Swarm Consciousness Potion to increase my psionic energy pool.

The Green Witch Christine suddenly spoke up. "Locke, I happen to have a batch of Swarm Consciousness Potions."

"It's a set of Swarm Consciousness Potions I acquired before, but how many do you want?"

Locke nodded to Christine the Witch and smiled, "The more the better."

Christine the Witch looked thoughtful. "I see."

"Sure, but in exchange, you have to do me a favor."

(End of this chapter)