Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 583 The Thousand-Layer Bronze Furnace and the Custom-Made Wand

Locke flipped through the list of types of magic furnaces, and there were eleven basic bronze magic furnaces that met his requirements.

Locke sensed the magical pressure reaction above and looked at the three bronze furnaces that were responding to his magic power: the Thousand-Layer Bronze Furnace, the Crystal Core Bronze Furnace, and the Emotional Bronze Furnace.

These three styles correspond to different bronze magical artifacts.

This is a specialty from the Fission Rift, the ancestral home of bronze magical artifacts. It possesses the world's best bronze magical artifacts and is also the origin of the world's first soul magical artifact and bronze magical artifact.

Following Locke's gaze, the trader immediately explained, "Sir, the Crystal Core Bronze Furnace requires a Dragon Crystal as its energy source. It can enhance your soul strength through a special metallic substance called Soul Bronze."

Soul Bronze is the foundation of the bronze artifacts in the Fission Mausoleum.

This material comes from the mining areas of the Fission Mausoleum, and is not even available in other wizarding lands.

Its materials and specific components are still unknown and have been hidden by the White Wizards' Guild of Fission Plains.

The trader pointed to the second magic furnace in the catalog and said, "This is the Thousand-Layer Magic Furnace. It is forged using more than a dozen special magical alloys together with Soul Bronze. It uses the [Hundred Forging Method] to repeatedly forge a piece of Soul Bronze, making it perfect. It can naturally enhance your soul strength and increase your upper limit."

"This is the Emotional Bronze Furnace, which can be used as an energy core by burning negative emotions."

The trader said, "These three are basic bronze magic furnaces. You won't see the true function of our bronze magic artifacts. They can only increase your soul limit by about 10%. The price is only 500,000 magic stones."

"Soul Bronze is a very expensive material."

"That's something only a special alchemy workshop in the Fission Plains can produce," the trader said proudly. "That alchemy workshop is called the Fission Alchemy Workshop. If that workshop suddenly disappeared, the entire bronze artifact industry would collapse instantly. Because only the Fission Alchemy Workshop can produce Soul Bronze!"

Locke glanced at him and knew he was telling the truth.

That is why bronze magical artifacts are so expensive.

Locke nodded and said, "Then I want this Thousand-Layered Magic Furnace."

The side effects of the Emotional Furnace are too great. It requires constantly burning one's own negative emotions, which sounds good, but in fact, it requires one to generate negative emotions at all times.

The difference between the Thousand-Layer Magic Furnace and the Dragon Crystal Magic Furnace is not significant, so either one can be chosen. Locke chose the Thousand-Layer Magic Furnace.

For some reason, I instinctively resisted, and a dragon crystal entered my soul in an unusual way.

When I heard this statement, I even felt physically nauseous.

The trader promptly produced the contract and said, "Okay, you pay a deposit of 10,000 magic stones first, and then we can forge the magic furnace."

"We need you to leave behind a trace of your soul. Simply place your palm inside this crystal ball. Rest assured, this is a top-level contract worth 30,000 magic stones. This trace of your soul is a one-time use item; we can only use it to forge the Thousand-Layer Magic Furnace for you."

Locke asked, "Can you do it as soon as possible?"

I need to increase my current magical pressure as soon as possible to improve my strength before the sports festival and the exploration of the abyss ruins.

The trader glanced at Locke and asked, "How quickly do you need it?"

Locke said in a low voice, "The sooner the better."

The trader looked thoughtful. "Our Rex Alchemy Workshop is actually a medium-sized wizarding organization called [Thunderfire Iron Hammer]."

"Alright, I'll try to get you in line. Some customers who ordered the Bronze Magic Furnace aren't in such a rush."

"Therefore, I can have a senior brother at the second ring level help you forge it at some time. However, it will take at least a month. If you can't wait that long, then I won't be able to sign a contract with you."

"The trader said regretfully."

Locke frowned, regretting that he should have come earlier to buy the magic furnace, but on the other hand, he didn't have any money before.

Locke nodded. "Okay. One month it is then."

He signed his name on the contract, then placed his palm on the crystal ball, leaving a portion of his soul within it.

Colin Morgan took the crystal ball, attached a note with Locke's name on it, and then carefully placed the crystal ball into a translucent Time Crystal Magic Box for safekeeping.

To prevent the crystal ball from coming into contact with too many things, which could affect the soul energy temporarily stored within it.

Soul artifacts have extremely high requirements for the compatibility of the soul; if the soul aura is even slightly off, it will be unable to coexist with the wizard's soul.

If that happens, it's a problem with their alchemy workshop, and they'll need to be completely rebuilt.

After paying the deposit, signing the contract, and safely storing the crystal ball, the trader looked at Locke and asked, "Sir, is there anything else you need?"

Locke asked, "I need a wand that suits me."

Wands are a distinctive feature of the Three Swamps, which boast a well-developed wand system and are used by many wizards.

I don't usually use my wand because since arriving in Yunze Wetlands, I've basically had no opportunity to fight with anyone.

But in fact, almost all the local wizards here are equipped with a wand. Even those local wizards who don't have the money to buy a wand will buy one through a loan.

In a magical combat tournament, all of one's opponents will possess a wand suitable for them. To participate without a wand is like participating empty-handed in a competition where one can wield weapons.

That would be too unfair.

It is said that a wand can amplify a wizard's magical power, unleash the wizard's potential, and reduce the cost of casting spells.

Because of these three core functions, a wand is essentially both a weapon and a wizard's soul artifact in another sense. Carrying a wand can increase one's combat power, and because it can unleash some of one's hidden abilities, it can also increase the wizard's growth rate.

Upon hearing Locke's words, the Morgan trader fell into deep thought. "A 'suitable' wand? Actually, our shops—all the alchemy shops in Cloudswamp—have three types of wands. One is a general-purpose wand."

"These wands have all been made. They have the three basic wand functions, and can also store some spells or amplify certain spells. But they are all general-purpose models."

"The price is relatively low, usually between 30,000 and 50,000 magic stones."

"The second type is semi-customized, and the third type is fully customized."

"A wand consists of a shaft and a core. A semi-custom wand has its shaft and core already made separately, but they are not yet paired, so you can choose the pair yourself. This type of wand costs around 100,000." "The third type is a wand that is made specifically for you. This type of wand is much more expensive; even a practical one should cost between 300,000 and 500,000."

Locke nodded. Both bronze magical artifacts and wands were considered like houses and vehicles in wizarding society.

A wizard who possesses these two items is essentially someone who owned a car and a house in their previous life.

You don't care what level a wizard's soul artifacts and wands are, but as long as they have them, you can say that they are considered middle class.

Locke considered for a moment, "I'm going to participate in a magic combat tournament, what kind of wand should I buy?"

The trader paused for a moment, then looked at the badge Locke was wearing on his chest and laughed, "It's the magic combat tournament at the Golden Crown Mountain Sports Festival! That's a really big day. You've come to the right person."

Colin Morgan said, “We in the Alchemy Workshop do this kind of business all the time. A good wand is definitely needed to participate in a spell-fighting tournament. It’s practically impossible to increase your magic power in a short time, but buying a good wand can improve it immediately.”

"Therefore, many contestants in magic combat tournaments will come to various alchemy workshops to buy wands before the competition."

"However... if this is for a magic combat tournament, I can only tell you that all the other guests have purchased custom-made models."

Locke raised an eyebrow.

The Morgan trader thought for a moment. "Just this morning, I struck a deal with a wizard from the Power School who was going to participate in a magical combat tournament. He bought a wand for a million magic stones."

Locke frowned as he saw the trading records the Morgan trader had shown him.

"He directly bought the million-series?"

The Morgan trader shook his head slightly. "It's not the million-dollar series. The million-dollar series is a luxury item, not something actually used for combat. The basic model of the wand he bought only costs half a million, but the reason he was charged a million is because he added a whole bunch of features to the basic model."

"His magic pressure is 9999. But that's nothing to him."

Locke frowned. A million magic stones was no small sum for a first-ring wizard!
"He's the great-grandson of a third-circle wizard from the Golden Crown Mountain School of Power, and also from the Higher School of Knowledge," the Morgan trader whispered.

"This amount of money is of course a small matter for him."

Locke glanced at the transaction slip and saw that the name on it was "Antoine Fisher".

He frowned. Clearly, this wizard Antoine Fisher was someone of great importance, and his goal was very clear: to win the sole spot to represent Mount Golden Crown in the Silent Holy Grail Tournament through the magical combat competition.

"The other party is a descendant of a third-ring wizard, naturally possessing immense resources and a magical pressure of 9999," Locke pondered. "But in a narrow encounter, the brave prevail. Status and position are nothing; the only one who can truly decide whether or not one receives a spot is oneself."

The Morgan trader looked at Locke and said, "Well, sir, would you also like to order a wand for a million magic stones?"

Locke took the thick list of wand information from him, and after reading it, he shook his head slightly. "No, no need. I've already looked at the information you gave me; the difference between a 500,000 wand and a million-dollar wand isn't that significant."

"It's called a million-dollar wand, but in reality, it's just a wand with a few insignificant minor functions added to it."

I'm not some rich tycoon; every penny I have is hard-earned, so naturally I need to consider the cost-effectiveness.

After careful consideration, Locke felt there was no need to follow others and buy a million-dollar wand.

On the contrary, based on what the trader told him and the information he had read, he concluded that a custom-made wand worth 500,000 was sufficient for his needs.

'I don't need to follow other people's standards; what suits me best is the best.' Locke looked at a wand design in the catalog. Custom wands don't mean buying a ready-made wand; the catalog only allows you to choose the shape.

Custom wands require a branch of alchemists called wand makers to personally craft a wand tailored to one's own magical, spiritual, and soul characteristics.

The booklet simply explains to myself what functions a first-level custom wand would have, basically enhancing my spells in every way.

Moreover, it can also unlock its untapped potential during use.

In short, it is very powerful, far more so than the standard one-ring wand shown in the booklet; it is a comprehensive and powerful tool.

Locke looked at the catalog and selected the design that he liked best, then asked the Morgan trader, "How long will it take to make a custom wand for me?"

The Morgan trader frankly stated, "Making a wand is not only not simpler than making bronze magic objects, it is actually more difficult."

"It will take at least two months."

The Morgan trader looked at Locke and said with a wry smile, "You are the most determined customer I have ever met. While your opponent is buying a million-dollar wand, you still insist on buying a basic custom wand."

Locke nodded slightly. "There's no need to follow other people's lead. Buying a million-dollar wand might not be the right thing to do. I just need what suits me best."

The Morgan trader nodded, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Locke. "But you'd better hurry. Making a wand takes a long time, so if you decide to place an order, it's best to sign the contract now."

"I will immediately find my senior brother from the Second Ring to make a wand for you. Many of the craftsmanship techniques for making a wand require time to develop."

Locke nodded slightly.

Two months... I hope I can make it in time for the magic combat tournament, otherwise I'll have to go up empty-handed.

In the magic combat tournament, it seems that in addition to super geniuses, there are also wizards with powerful backgrounds participating.

Then, perhaps there will be a wizard with a powerful background, connections, and who is also a super genius, who will join me in the spell fighting tournament to compete for the spot to represent Mount Golden Crown in the Silent Holy Grail!
Locke's eyes were resolute. 'But I will not lose.'

Locke followed the trader to a secret room, where he left behind a copy of his soul characteristics and had the trader use some equipment to measure his magical, spiritual, and soul traits.

He paid two deposits of ten thousand each, signed the contract, and then left the alchemy workshop, walked out of the castle, boarded the cloud whale, and headed to the True Knowledge Institute Castle to participate in his own defense.

On the Narwal, Locke was speechless. He had signed two contracts, both of which were worth millions.

As a result, he cannot obtain either the wand or the soul artifact at present.

"There's no way around it, custom-made magical artifacts are high-end products, so we definitely have to wait."

“I didn’t have much money before. So now when I need it, of course I can’t buy it right away.”

(End of this chapter)