Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 55 Super Mandela Vine

Inside Sophia the Witch's office.

The Witch Sophia conducted some simple performance tests on the Level 4 Super Mandragora.

After completing the test, a hint of interest appeared in Sophia's eyes. "It's hard to believe that such a work could be made by a second-rate wizard apprentice like you."

"The basic properties of your Mandragora vine are already comparable to those of a regular quality Tiffany root vine."

"No, it even surpasses ordinary quality Tiffany vines in terms of strength and speed attributes."

"It's about 15% stronger."

"It has almost reached the point of replacing the common variety of tiffroot vine, but it is still not as good as the premium tiffroot vine."

As she spoke, Sophia dipped a quill in ink and wrote down the results of her test on a document.

Locke felt slightly disappointed after hearing what the witch Sophia said.

Sophia the Witch is a first-level breeder, and her certification opinions are very important, making it difficult for her to make mistakes with such low-level magical plants.

Locke said, "Teacher, so you're saying that my Super Mandela Vine still can't replace the Tiffany Root Vine?"

Locke was greeted by Sophia, who gently tapped his forehead with a file. Sophia shook her head and laughed, "What are you talking about?"

"Silly boy."

“Premium Tiffany root vines require the use of high-grade growth hormone gel, high-grade nutrient soil, and expert breeders for careful cultivation. They are very expensive and are custom-made for individuals, not products that can be mass-produced.”

"How can you compare them?"

The witch Sofia pointed to the Super Mandragora vine and said, "This brand-new variety of yours hasn't undergone the 'premium customization' process. If it were cultivated using a breeder's methods, it could also become a premium Super Mandragora vine."

"All basic performance aspects will also be greatly improved."

"In other words, Locke Augustine, the magical vine you have cultivated is likely to change the common magical plants used by most wizards studying the Vine Hands series at Lilith Hut, and will gradually spread beyond the academy over time."

Locke then realized what was happening. "I'm sorry, teacher, I didn't realize it for a moment."

Sophia the Witch looked at Locke seriously and said, "Locke, although it's unnecessary, I certainly believe you, but I need your specific ideas on the grafting method."

Locke nodded. "Yes, teacher."

Now I understand why it took me an extra three months to complete the breeding course before I could produce the Super Mandragora.

Locke slowly recounted his thought process for grafting the Super Mandela vine.

These are obviously made up.

However, he had a foundation in grafting and cultivation methods, so he wrote it in a very professional manner.

In theory, this is indeed feasible.

Only if you can find the specific traits of the Mandragora vine that can only be found under ideal conditions can you find the right one.

Ideally, this special mandragora vine should be cultivated without dying along the way.

These situations are all based on ideal conditions.

But after Locke obtained this result, by working backwards and combining it with his own grafting and cultivation methods, he was able to create a very detailed and well-structured account.

As long as the witch Sophia doesn't delve into every single detail and instead asks Locke to directly repeat the entire grafting and cultivation process, then there shouldn't be much of a problem.

As a first-ring wizard, even though her Super Mandragora is indeed a revolutionary thing, it is too low in rank and can only affect the apprentice stage. Therefore, it is unlikely that she would really waste her time to carefully explore every process of her cultivation.

Based on Locke's understanding of the Sophia Witch over this period of time, this is impossible.

Sophia the Witch doesn't really care about the type of magical vines used in the Vine Hands trick.

I knew this from day one; for a formal wizard, it really doesn't matter.

Compared to the increased spell power brought by the powerful magical vines, formal wizards value more the improvement in knowledge and mental strength gained from learning the Vine Hand technique.

That's a perspective built on a higher level of understanding.

Sure enough, after listening to Locke's explanation, the witch Sophia nodded and stopped scrutinizing the details, commenting, "It seems that you were able to cultivate this mandrake vine, which suggests that luck played a part."

"But this cannot be explained by luck alone."

The witch Sophia looked at Locke seriously and said, "Your ability to discern is excellent. Without this, it would be impossible to find the vines that perfectly match your needs among so many ordinary mandrake vines."

“You are even more talented in this area than I thought.” The witch Sophia pointed to the text she was writing down and said, “This is the ability test assessment and certification data I conducted on your magical vines as a first-ring breeder.”

"With this certification, your Mandragora vine can fetch a very good price in the Chimera market."

"Few apprentices can achieve such great results at your stage. Congratulations, Locke. You should have no shortage of magic stones for the foreseeable future."

The witch Sophia pondered for a moment and said, "Since you have talent in this field, you should work even harder."

“You haven’t learned the grafting method in enough depth yet. Next, I will teach you more carefully and increase your daily study time with me from one hour to one and a half hours.”

"I will continue to teach you the grafting and cultivation method, delving into more complex aspects of cultivation; in the other half hour, I will teach you the follow-up spells of the Vine Hand."

Locke looked up at the witch Sophia. In Lilith's hut, there should be very few second-class wizard apprentices who could receive this treatment.

It seems that the Witch Sophia is taking herself even more seriously now.

Locke said, "Thank you, teacher."

Sophia the Witch said, "I hope you can prove your talent and show that this wasn't just a stroke of luck. I hope you can cultivate even more excellent varieties in the future."

Locke nodded and said, "Okay, teacher."

He thought to himself that he did indeed have a bunch of synthesized plants he wanted to sell.

Now that he has the certification of the Sophia Witch, he can slowly take out those synthesized magical plants, sell them little by little, and create the image of himself as a breeding genius to increase his status and the academy's attention to him.

Sophia the Witch said, "Locke, what do you want to call this species? You can even call it by your own name. You have the right to name it now, for example, you can call it Augustine Vine or something like that."

Locke thought for a moment and said, "Let's not, teacher. I'm just a second-class wizard apprentice. That would be too high-profile."

"Let's call it Super Mandela Vine."

The witch Sophia nodded and said, "Your considerations are correct."

Locke hesitated for a moment, then said, "Teacher, I have a suggestion, I wonder if you can agree to it. When you report to the higher-ups of the academy, could you please add your own name to the Super Mandela Vine cultivation team?"

"Just say that it was you who guided me to complete the cultivation of the new Super Mandela vine variety."

My main purpose in doing this is to further reduce unnecessary prying from others.

All I want is to be able to sell Super Mandragora Vines to others in order to earn magic stones.

At most, it will make the academy's higher-ups think that they are geniuses in the field of training instructors, and increase their attention to them a little.

That would be enough to participate in the breeding of new varieties of Super Mandela vine.

It would attract too much attention if it were cultivated entirely independently.

Lilith's Hut is currently embroiled in a wizarding war with the Blood Curse Court. If I were to attract too much attention during this period, it could easily bring unnecessary danger.

Even worse, the Blood Curse Court sent people specifically to eliminate him in order to demoralize Lilith's Hut.

This is absolutely possible.

Secondly, doing this was also a way of repaying the witch Sophia.

Locke knew that the Sophia Witch actually needed this title; she needed to pass the teaching qualification examination of the Starfield Sea Wizarding Organization.

Sophia the Witch has only recently become a full-fledged witch, and she lacks experience, so she needs these titles to enhance her resume.

Upon hearing this, the witch Sophia looked up at Locke and exclaimed in surprise, "Locke, do you know what you're saying?"

"In that case, others will think that I was the one who cultivated the Super Mandela Vine."

"While I will still acknowledge your talent in this field, my evaluation of you will be much lower."

Locke nodded and said, "Teacher, but I am only a second-class wizard apprentice."

"Besides, you know my talents, that's good enough. You are my wizarding mentor."

Sophia the Witch paused for a moment, then crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “I can’t deny that I do need to add something to my resume to enhance it for certain reasons.”

“Locke, your Super Mandela Vine is exactly the kind of thing that can enhance something. I can’t deny that I am… considering it.”

Sophia the Witch pondered for a moment and said, "But I can't take advantage of you for nothing."

(End of this chapter)