Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 541 You will surely become a second-circle wizard!

The wizards present blinked, and several second-ring wizards exchanged glances with strange expressions.

The Celtic team leader had a strange expression. He wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, he decided to keep quiet.

The second-circle wizard from Boniface University looked surprised, then stared at Locke with a peculiar gaze and said, "You mean, in order to discover a natural magical structural component, you simply cultivated a new variant of the giant rubber duck pineapple?"

"Is that a correct understanding?"

Locke pondered for a moment and said, "That's certainly one way to understand it."

He humbly said, "But it's not about discovering new natural magical structural components to cultivate a new variant of the Giant Yellow Duck Pineapple. Rather, I have a habit and hobby of cultivating variant magical plants and have special insights into this area."

"Then, I was very lucky and happened to cultivate a variant of the Rubber Duck Pineapple containing a completely new natural magical component structure," Locke said. "I was just too lucky."

Several second-ring wizards looked at each other, raised their eyebrows, and revealed strange expressions.

Hao, a third-circle wizard from Quinnjoll University, nodded. "You have a talent for breeding."

"I have indeed met some wizards who are very talented in breeding. They always manage to create things in the field of breeding that are beyond the comprehension of other wizards."

Unlike second-circle wizards, third-circle wizards like Hao live longer and see more people. When a wizard lives a long time, he sees many geniuses of all kinds.

Or rather, every third-ring wizard was, in their youth, a super genius.

Therefore, in the eyes of the third-ring wizard, Hao, Locke's level was considered quite good and not beyond his comprehension.

He is too old, and has seen too many geniuses. In his youth, he himself was a genius who often did things that were beyond the comprehension of others.

Wizard Hao said gently to Locke, "The project you are currently working on complements your interests and strengths very well. The quality of your project's completion is extremely high, and you have passed. I don't think any wizard would have any objections."

“You could even continue working in this direction. Since you have a talent for it, you should seize the opportunity. Besides, this direction has been around for almost a hundred years.”

"It has considerable development potential."

This effectively confirms that Locke has successfully completed the funding for the Third-Class True Knowledge Institute project.

The judging panel confirmed that Locke had completed his project, achieved the predetermined goals, and even exceeded expectations.

Wizard Hao even indicated that as long as Locke continued in this direction, he could obtain a second-class fund, or even a higher one.

The second-circle wizard from Bonifacius University said to Locke, "You're incredibly lucky."

"Incredibly, while cultivating new mutant varieties, we happened to discover a completely new natural magical structure."

"Many wizards have racked their brains trying to find new natural magical components, but after many years of effort, they have found nothing."

He looked at a second-circle wizard specializing in lightning standing beside him and said, "This way, you lightning wizards can have a few more spell models."

The second-circle wizard specializing in lightning paused for a moment, then thought, "Hmm... indeed, given a little time for my project team, it's only a matter of course to come up with a few brand-new lightning spell models."

"Although it is only a new substance at the first level, and it will be of limited help to me, Locke's article published in Qingcao Yunze should be very tempting to many first-level lightning wizards."

He added, "After all, it's a natural magical structure that hasn't been discovered before. Based on this, we can develop a whole bunch of things, but that's a story for another time."

This is the benefit of doing basic research.

Locke doesn't really have a good way to utilize this natural magical structure, but many wizards can get inspiration from reading his articles, and perhaps some wizards will need this knowledge.

Locke submitted his application for a second-class grant.

The wizards on the judging panel read through Locke's next project plan. A second-circle wizard from Boniface University looked up in surprise at Locke and said, "Your next step is to explore the symbiotic relationship between twenty-three pineapple magical plants and the reproductive capacity of specific magical creatures?"

"Isn't this quantity a bit too much?"

"Four new natural magical structural components were also discovered?"

Yes, with the help of Newt's five students and Gregor, Locke added six more pineapple magic plant preliminary experimental data within half a month.

At the same time, they also synthesized two new subspecies of air plants containing unknown natural magical structural components.

The second-circle wizard from Boniface University, acting as a judge, looked at Locke with a puzzled expression and said, "Didn't you say that you were just lucky and happened to cultivate a pineapple-type magical plant with unknown natural magical structural components?"

"Why does your project proposal mention in the preliminary experimental data that you also want to verify four new natural magical structural components?"

Locke nodded, bowed to him, and said, "Yes, sir second-circle wizard, I have indeed been quite lucky. So, in the newly cultivated air plant subspecies, I have once again discovered four potentially unknown natural magical structural components."

"But I'm not sure, so I need funding to use the three magic mirrors to determine whether these four natural magical structural components might be ones that have never been discovered before."

Looking at the preliminary experimental data in the Locke Project application, Wizard Hao thought for a moment and said, "From my experience, based on the current data, it is highly likely that there are four completely new natural magical structural components."

“You are indeed very talented in this area.”

"If you delve deeply into this direction, you will achieve something, and it might even guarantee you becoming a second-circle wizard," commented Wizard Hao.

Although he was somewhat surprised by Locke's efficiency in this research direction, he wasn't too surprised. As the saying goes, third-ring wizards have lived for far too long and have seen far too many geniuses.

And in the wizarding world, there is never a shortage of geniuses who will spontaneously appear before them.

Therefore, while the wizard Hawthorne admired Locke to some extent, he didn't go too far.

In response to the praise from Wizard Hao, Locke bowed and said, "Thank you, Wizard Hao."

The second-circle wizard from Boniface University glanced at Wizard Hao with surprise. Wizard Hao, a third-circle wizard who was also a breeder and a prophet, said that as long as Locke continued in this direction, he could definitely guarantee that he would become a second-circle wizard.

This assessment might have been just a casual remark to the wizard Hao, but it held a different meaning for the second-ring wizards listening nearby.

The second-circle wizard of Bonifacius University was deeply troubled.

"The risk of a first-ring wizard advancing to a second-ring wizard is extremely high. Countless geniuses have fallen at this step, destined to remain mediocre for life."

"That champion of the 10th Yunze Cup at Golden Crown Mountain actually received such high praise from Master Hao. He's truly a talent. It's a pity. When my dean asked for my opinion, I should have said a few more kind words to this kid instead of choosing to say nothing."

'If that were the case, wouldn't that kid be under my control right now?' The second-circle wizard from Bonifacius University narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. Back then, when Director Morrison approached Dean Valentine of their True Knowledge Institute to negotiate terms, Dean Valentine had consulted several of the second-circle wizards from the True Knowledge Institute, but at the time he chose to let things take their course.

To be honest, he was somewhat skeptical at the time about the overall skill level of the wizards from outside Yunze Wetland.

Little did he know, this would cause him to lose a talented individual.

'If this kid came to Boniface University and joined my team, and I let him develop in this direction, I could easily create a highly sophisticated project pipeline in a short time,' the second-circle wizard mused. 'My students could set up a new laboratory pipeline for publishing papers.'

'Our breeding science's presence within the Zhenzhi Institute can also be increased.'

The second-circle wizard thought regretfully.

It should be noted that since Dean Valentinian took office, a large amount of the True Knowledge Institute's resources have been allocated to their alchemy school's textile science, and their breeding science's status in the True Knowledge Institute has been declining every day.

After a brief discussion, the judging panel decided that Wizard Hao would voluntarily write his name on Locke's project application. "After our discussion, our judging panel unanimously agrees that your application for the Second-Class True Knowledge Institute Project Fund is approved."

“In fact, I think there is no application that is more deserving of a second-class project grant than yours.” Wizard Hao looked at Locke more seriously and smiled at him. “In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that the True Knowledge Institute’s grants are applied for one by one, I think your project could also try to apply for a first-class project grant.”

"Congratulations, young first-ring wizard."

The wizard Hao's voice was melodious and authoritative. "I hope you will continue your efforts and contribute to our breeding science."

The other second-ring wizards on the judging panel also nodded to Locke, unlike the wizard Hao who seemed unsurprised.

These second-ring wizards all gained a new level of understanding of Locke's talent, realizing that Locke might truly be a rare talent.

The Celtic wizard stared at Locke with wide, innocent eyes. He wanted to speak, but realizing the inappropriateness of the occasion, he could only remain silent.

Locke left the round table conference room with the approved project application, thus completing his third-class True Knowledge Academy project fund perfectly. The 50 magic stones from the second-class True Knowledge Academy project fund he received would be distributed within a week.

Locke has already invested another 260,000 magic stones in it to collect preliminary experimental data.

As a result, although a month had passed and he had received a month's salary from the True Knowledge Institute, 60,000 magic stones from Lady Irina, 30,000 from Lilith's Cottage, and 50,000 from the Magic Potions Shop in the Tower Land, his savings did not increase but decreased instead.

I currently only have 200,000 yuan left in savings.

But it's all worth it.

All of this was in order to secure the final top-tier funding project, as well as the key sub-project of the Catherine the Great project, and also to continuously publish articles and enhance my resume.

I've spent 360,000 magic stones in total for the preliminary experimental data of the second batch of 23 types of air plant magic plants and four new natural magic structural components.

I'm spending my own money.

Paying for research out of my own pocket is one of the reasons I was able to obtain so much high-quality data.

After all, wizards who know how to make money have many advantages when it comes to research.

Locke walked out of the round table conference room and exhaled a breath of stale air. With the 50 magic stones distributed by the second-class project fund, he had indeed solved his immediate problem.

Locke leaned against the wall of the round table conference room, watching Wizard Daniel walk in and greet him. Then he leaned back against the wall. "For the third-tier project, I paid 100,000 of my own money. So, in total, I've spent 460,000 magic stones on this."

"But it was definitely worth it."

For an ordinary first-level wizard, a common magical artifact costs around 10,000 magic stones, while a common magical plant generally costs between several thousand and 10,000 magic stones.

However, for wizards at the first crystallization stage, the magical artifacts they can use are generally around 100,000, and magical plants are in the range of 50,000 to 100,000.

However, it is unlikely that one can quickly invest 460,000 yuan in oneself to improve oneself rapidly.

Moreover, scientific research is inherently a very expensive endeavor.

Trying to use one's own money to achieve quick results is like trying to put out a fire with a drop in the ocean; it's like trying to fill a gap in the collective effort with one's own efforts.

Otherwise, most wizards wouldn't rely on the White Wizarding Association's project funds for research.

However, in doing so, he has already obtained two papers in first-tier journals and received a second-class True Knowledge Institute project fund. At the same time, he has also discovered a brand-new natural magical structural component.

This might attract the attention of some store alliances, which could benefit them, but it's also possible it won't.

"I need to find students to write articles about the mechanisms of those magical plants that I discovered, and publish them to earn some contribution points in the library," Locke said. "I have a lot of literature that I want to subscribe to, and they all require contribution points. The fastest way to get contribution points is to publish articles myself."

"However, the students in the Academy of True Knowledge are all excellent students who can do the work. It seems I will have to find a first-class wizard apprentice from another place to help me write articles."

Locke thought of Dragonblood Market, where there were shops that offered first-class wizard apprenticeships for work.

There seem to be many first-class wizard apprentices living in poverty, surviving and obtaining learning resources by doing odd jobs for their first-ring wizard mentors.

I'll give them the raw data and the materials I've prepared, and they can help me write a few articles that can be published in Zone 2. That should be fine.

After all, they had already completed the experiments and collected the data themselves.

They only need to synthesize the information to write the article.

All I lack are people to write articles for me.

The time I spend with my students is far too precious to waste on such trivial matters; it would be unwise.

Gregor ran over with a cup of hawk's tooth tea, cold-brewed, and handed it to Locke. "Teacher, did you succeed?"

Locke nodded slightly.

Gregor exclaimed excitedly, "That's wonderful!"

Locke took a satisfied sip of the cold brew wizard tea. "Not bad, Gregor. You remembered my preferences. You brewed this wizard tea quite well."

Locke saw a wizard from the Shop Alliance approaching him; he appeared to be a professional manager from the Arthas Plantation Shop Alliance.

Locke said to Gregor, “Come on, we have collaborators coming.”

(End of this chapter)