Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 657 Zaran Bailey's Environmental Transformation Plan

On the ferry, Locke divided the historical projection into more than three hundred details, then carefully observed them, and finally confirmed that this magical plant was indeed a man-made object.

'This isn't a plant at all.' Locke pondered, 'Let's go back and plant it with my blood. King Otto warned me before that the seeds of this demonic plant can only grow using the blood of the Tower of the Black Sun.'

"We'll conduct further research once it's successfully grown."

Locke realized that he had been away from Group 2 for some time and wondered how Mason Witch and the others were doing in Group 2, and whether they had adapted to the environment.

Locke put away the seeds.

Warwick and the others breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the dock appear on the surface of the Abyss River. "Sailing on the Abyss River is quite dangerous, but thankfully we haven't been swept away and have found our Ash Cult's dock."

At this moment, a group of dark wizards stood on the dock, seemingly preparing to receive them.

Furthermore, there was a second-ring necromancer dressed in black robes, with a badge on his chest representing his honors and achievements in the field of necromancy.

It was a special gold skull-shaped badge, seemingly representing the creation of a new high-level second-ring skeleton undead in the second ring realm.

Shirley the witch tensed up immediately. "Warwick, what do you mean by this?"

Warwick and McKinley also looked puzzled.

On the dock, the second-ring dark wizard chuckled. "Holy Wizard? No need to be nervous. Since joining the White Wizard Association, the Ash Cult has gained some influence. Many of our businesses have already been laundered into white wizarding status."

"Besides, our academy welcomes every archaeology wizard to visit. I just heard from a student that Wizard Warwick invited some friends, so I came to see for myself. Warwick, how was your exploration of the Abyss ruins?"

Wizard Warwick immediately said, "Lord Baroque, we have made a great discovery this time. Currently, the four of us are planning to collaborate on a major article and submit it to a top-tier journal in the first ring of the Starfield Sea."

"Once it's launched, it will greatly benefit the reputation of our academy. After all, archaeology is a discipline that our academy can openly discuss. It will be very useful for the development of archaeology in our academy, and our academy's status in archaeology should be greatly enhanced. This exploration is largely thanks to Locke and the witch Shirley, both of whom are good friends of mine and wizards I trust."

"I will need their help in the future."

The Baroque wizard nodded slightly, glanced at the witch Shirley and Locke, and his gaze lingered on Locke for a moment.

At the same time, a necromancy spell was released from his left eye under his wizard's hat, and in his eye, he saw the natural power surrounding Locke.

The Baroque wizard frowned, seemingly feeling uncomfortable with the intense natural power emanating from Locke.

"I see."

The Baroque wizard glanced at Locke. “I am truly delighted to meet so many new friends who have come to our Ash Cult today. Since you all get along so well, Warwick wizard, please help the Ash Cult to properly entertain these friends.”

"Don't be impolite in any way."

Locke bowed respectfully to the Baroque wizard and said, "Warlock has indeed been very hospitable to us. Thank you, Dean Baroque."

Dean Baroque glanced at Locke, then let out a chilling laugh. "Young wizard, you're quite amusing. I hope you have a good time in the Enclave of Jade."

The Baroque wizard turned and left with his first-ring wizard students.

After they left, the four of them went ashore, and the witch Shirley silently put away her wizard's sword.

Warwick was clearly startled by the sudden appearance of the Baroque wizard on the dock.

He glared at Wizard McKinley. "What's going on? Why is Dean Baroque suddenly at the docks?"

Wizard McKinley sounded a little guilty. "I was worried we might be blown off course by a tributary of the River Abyss, so I told my friends at the docks beforehand that we were coming back. That way, if we encountered any danger, someone could come and get us. That's probably why Dean Baroque found out and stopped by to take a look."

Warwick glared at him. "The more people you bring into this, the more trouble you'll cause. My friend Locke and his friends are, after all, white wizards."

Wizard McKinley immediately apologized, saying, "Alright, alright. I know I did something stupid. Locke, Shirley, I'm sorry."

Locke and the witch Shirley exchanged a glance.

I'm afraid things aren't that simple.

If it weren't for the fact that the two of them had such a harmonious relationship with Warwick's team, and that their interests were intertwined, the other party probably wouldn't have come over to say a few polite words.

The Ash Cult is, after all, a dark wizarding academy, and he and the witch Shirley shouldn't linger here.

Warwick apologized to Locke and Shirley, but neither of them said anything about it.

After all, it's on someone else's turf, so it's perfectly normal for the dean to come and take a look.

Moreover, these eighteen dungeon levels are the core secret of the Ashes Cult.

Unlike Mount Golden Crown, Ash Cult has a much larger and more powerful organization, while Ash Cult's core assets and secrets are relatively few compared to Mount Golden Crown.

The four emerged from the dark and bloody dungeon. Warwick first arranged for two of them to stay in a relatively remote castle belonging to the Ash Cult. Then, the four found an unused classroom in the castle and began discussing how to write a major article.

Warwick and McKinley summoned their seventeen first-class wizarding apprentices into the classroom.

Locke glanced at these first-class wizard apprentices and black wizards and found that most of them had magic pressure between 200 and 400.

These first-class wizard apprentices all had some physical defects, as if they were injured or had suffered some kind of magical backlash.

At this moment, the students, with eyes full of curiosity and fear, secretly glanced at their two mentors, Locke, and the witch Shirley.

Warwick the Wizard laughed and said, "Alright, now we have someone to help us with the work."

The witch Shirley suggested, "We need to finish writing the article as soon as possible."

Warwick Wizard said, “Of course. If necessary, we can also leave Ashes Cult Academy and work elsewhere. It’s always possible if you two are willing.”

……

Mount Jinmian, located in the dune plane where Group 2 is situated.

Thirty levels underground, in the office of a Sith wizard, Zaran Bailey held up a plan in his hand. "This is a plan to solve our current water shortage problem. The Storm Tower and the two research groups of the Rose Council have joined forces. I've tried some methods before, and perhaps there's a chance to persuade the Storm Tower to lift the restrictions on us."

“But even if it’s deactivated, we should still have our own independent water source. The Storm Tower’s special equipment is their core secret, and we can’t obtain it. So, Professor Sith, I think we can obtain water directly from this plane.”

The Sith wizard raised an eyebrow. "Obtain water? There's practically no water element left in the air of this plane."

How can you squeeze water out of a dry sponge?

Zaran Bailey said, "No. In the process of constructing this great magic, I have come to understand the meaning of ecological transformation."

"This plane actually still has water; it's impossible for it to be without water elements. If a plane doesn't have water elements, it can't be stably formed."

The Sith wizard's thoughts stirred slightly. "What do you mean?"

Zaran Bailey nodded and said, "I've been reviewing data for a long time, and I also have prior experience in this area. So I've come up with two solutions. One is to extract the magma from the Earth's core and extract usable water from it."

"The magma in the subduction zone contains a large amount of water."

"After extracting it and detoxifying it, it can be used to improve the soil and water."

"Another solution is to build some... conversion plants to convert sand and natural gas into clean water."

"This is the plan I proposed."

The Sith wizard raised an eyebrow. "To extract water from sand?"

He quickly glanced at the key technical points in the plan. "I had considered this direction before, but I didn't implement it due to various factors."

Zaran Bailey the wizard said, "My great magic, the seabuckthorn ecology, was originally designed with this in mind. Seabuckthorn itself can extract water from inorganic matter."

With a wave of his hand, the wizard Zaran Bailey conjured two illusionary projections on the Sith wizard's desk: one of sand and the other of natural gas.

"The number of composite element particles that make up sand is numerous, but they are mostly soil element composite particles and wind element composite particles, while the composite element particles that make up natural gas are generally wind element composite particles and water element composite particles."

"Give me enough funds, and with my great magic [Seabuckthorn Ecology], I can extract gaseous elements from the sand, and then use the gaseous element particles to react with water element composite particles to purify the water."

Zaran Bailey said, "According to my plan, once it is completed, our two groups will be able to get rid of the water shortage crisis and can also sell water to other research institutes in the Dune Plane."

"Not only that, our successful experience may go even further and make that Storm Tower research group pay the price."

The Sith wizard raised his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Perhaps this is indeed a good plan. At least it can solve the short-term water shortage problem."

How many resources do you need?

Zaran Bailey said, “This matter is of great importance. My plan should obtain most of the current resources from Group 2. Therefore, I need 60% of the resources from Group 2.”

The Sith wizard frowned. "You want preliminary experimental data for the Special Funding Program?"

Zaran Bailey said, "Yes, my plan is also for the Special Grant Fund." "I plan to mine tens of thousands of natural gas deposits and build three thousand conversion plants, and hire a large number of first-class wizard apprentices to work in our Group 2. It would be best if researchers from Group 2 were also involved, so that my project can be completed in a short time."

Zaran Bailey the wizard said, "Teachers, I need your help."

The Sith wizard said, "However, extracting sand and natural gas directly from this plane will greatly deplete the plane's own power. Furthermore, the waste and environmental pollution generated by this process will be very serious."

"The Dune Plane itself is already on the verge of collapse, like a building about to crumble. I fear... our actions will cause this building to collapse suddenly and completely."

The wizard Zaran Bailey said in bewilderment, "Originally, this Dune Plane would have fallen into the Sun Plane long ago and become its raw material."

"It only exists barely because of our modifications. If left unattended, this world would have long since degenerated to the point of falling below the level of a life plane, the world power of the entire plane would have continued to decline, and the magical tides would have completely disappeared..."

"Until the plane continuously degenerates into a demiplane..."

“So ignoring everything is the real problem.” Wizard Zaran Bailey argued for himself, “Teacher, some of the pollution generated by my plan can be thrown out of the plane and into the void.”

"Some of them can be buried on the spot into the sand dunes."

“Another portion could be used to build environmental protection businesses,” said Zhalan Bailey. “I know some wizard friends who work in the environmental protection industry. With their help, I think we should be able to solve the problem.”

The Sith wizard's eyes lit up when he heard the environmental company's expression and he nodded slightly. "If that's the case, then it's worth a try. However, this project will be extremely expensive and require major construction work on this plane. Zhalan, you need to be careful."

A look of joy flashed across the face of the wizard Zaran Bailey.

This project does require a huge investment of resources, and at the same time, he also has his own selfish motives.

He can conduct some of his own experiments from this project, obtain some preliminary experimental data, and then use this data to apply for a special grant.

That was his real goal.

That was originally a project that only researchers at the Advanced Institute of Truth could access.

But now, he, an ordinary researcher at the Institute of True Knowledge, has become a second-circle wizard and is eligible to apply.

In contrast, some of the researchers at the Advanced Institute of Knowledge within Group 2 are not even second-circle wizards yet.

Zaran Bailey pondered, 'But before applying for the top-tier grant, I need to prepare a first-tier grant.'

'However, I'm a second-circle wizard now. That's easy.'

"As long as this project gets the team leader's approval and receives sufficient resources, I can easily pass the first-class project grant by simply conducting research on the energy-locking structures of a few related magical plants' drought-resistance mechanisms."

"Once this project is completed, I might even be able to directly perform ecological transformation on this plane, utilizing the technological expertise accumulated by Group 2 to carry out large-scale ecological restoration. Transforming this sand dune plane into an oasis! That way, my top-tier grant project might finally be completed."

The Sith wizard looked thoughtful. He thought of Locke Augustine and, after a moment's consideration, said, "Zaran Bailey, you are currently my best student in Group 2."

"Also a cooperating wizard."

"So I support your plan, but you want 60% of the team's resources right now... that won't do."

The Sith wizard said, "I'll give you at most ten percent of the resources to try and run it."

Zaran Bailey frowned, and at the same time guessed the reason why the Sith wizard had suddenly refused.

"Is it because of that researcher from the Advanced Institute of Truth?"

“Teacher, I think my plan is quite comprehensive. As long as it can be implemented, it will immediately solve our water shortage problem and make the Storm Tower research group reap what they sow.”

The Sith wizard said, "It's not just about the wizard Locke Augustine. It's that I can't possibly pool all the resources of two groups for just one plan. Even if you're a second-circle wizard, that's still the case."

"While I admit that this might be a good solution, I support you in doing it."

Seeing the Sith wizard's insistence, Zaran Bailey could only sigh and say, "Alright, teacher, I will make you realize as soon as possible that my plan can solve the problems that our two groups are currently facing."

The Sith wizard nodded. "Yes. Of course I believe you. You are one of my best students. If you can help me with this problem, it will be a great help."

"Let's try to avoid this matter escalating to the Third Ring Wizards. If it does, it will be a blow to me as well," the Sith Wizard said in a low voice. "I might be dismissed from my post by His Majesty the Throne."

The Sith wizard patted him on the shoulder and said, "Therefore, if your project performs exceptionally well, I will consider prioritizing you with the majority of the team's resources."

Wizard Zaran Bailey smiled. "That's good, teacher. Status and rank really don't matter. Everything should be based on facts."

"I have always firmly believed that both of our groups speak with facts."

The Sith wizard laughed and said, "Of course. That's always been the case on Mount Golden Crown."

"Alright, Zhalan, I can give you priority access to all the laboratory equipment in advance. You shouldn't have any complaints now."

Wizard Zaran Bailey smiled immediately. "Thank you, teacher."

After Zaran Bailey left his office.

The Sith wizard sat in his chair, lost in thought. "To convert sand and natural gas into water..."

“That is one way. I didn’t expect that Zaran Bailey could come up with this idea. His great magic does have such potential, which can be considered as a solution to my urgent problem.”

The Sith wizard pondered, "But there's another wizard in Group 2 who might give me a different answer. So, I won't rush to agree to Zaran's request."

"He and I are both second-circle wizards at the moment. Although he is just an ordinary second-circle wizard, once I have promised him something, it is not easy to take it back."

“So, I might as well wait a little longer,” the Sith wizard pondered.

Anyway, he has temporarily obtained enough water by various methods, but this has increased the cost of water and indirectly increased all the expenses of the experiment.

The Sith wizard, feeling rather irritated, used the Ganoderma lucidum plant to open the Water Hyacinth system. In the chat interface, he saw a message from a second-ring wizard: "I have results. Boss Sith, I used my connections and made numerous inquiries."

'I even got several second-ring wizards drunk with wizard's wine while I was eating, and finally found out why the Rose Council was suppressing us.'

'The Rose Council's actions against your two groups are not simple; it's definitely not just about the small market of Desert Roses.'

"According to my inquiries, it turns out that several third-ring wizards from the Rose Council, especially the team led by Throne Wizard Carol Carlisle, have achieved their goal after years of research. It's a project combining rose-like magical plants, flower language magic, and the alchemy of magical rings to create magical wedding rings."

'They actually managed to get it done.'

This is tantamount to creating a new subcategory of magical artifacts.

"But one type of desert rose is absolutely essential. They estimate it represents a future market worth billions of magic stones. The Rose Council takes this very seriously and is therefore making early preparations to consolidate the related industrial chain."

'The involvement of Storm Tower can be explained; it's part of a high-level arrangement by the Rose Council. They've already paid a significant price to have Storm Tower impose a separate technological blockade on your research group.'

"Boss Sith, you should thank me. If it weren't for my eloquence and numerous friends, an ordinary second-circle wizard wouldn't have been able to obtain such confidential information for you."

The Sith wizard frowned, not expecting things to be so complicated.

He sent a message: "Really?"

A message immediately came back: 'Absolutely true. Unless those people are all lying to me. I paid a fortune in wizard's wine to find out this information. By the way, can I get reimbursed?'

The Sith wizard shut down the water hyacinth system directly.

Then, he fell into deep thought.

If that's the case, then the idea that Wizard Zaran had hoped to lift the Storm Tower's technological blockade on Group 2 through negotiations would be impossible.

This is because it involves the future industrial development plan of the Rose Council.

This industrial plan has nothing to do with Golden Crown Mountain, so Golden Crown Mountain would never fight with the Rose Council over such a thing.

White wizarding academies of the size of Mount Golden Crown and the Rose Council would never argue over something that doesn't generate profit.

'A future market worth billions of magic stones?' The Sith Wizard sighed. 'The plans of the Third Ring Wizards could bankrupt us Second Ring Wizards. I never imagined that my decision twenty years ago to develop the Desert Rose industry to subsidize Group 2's research expenses would seem so foolish now.'

"Unwittingly, I got caught up in the business conflict of the Third Ring Wizards."

"If I had known this earlier, I would never have touched the desert rose industry in the slightest. But now that this has happened, there is absolutely no other way to solve the problem."

The Sith wizard pondered, "If we want water resources, it seems we either have to listen to Zhalan and build a complete system of sand-to-water conversion equipment here, or we have to see if anyone in Group 2 has come up with a new plan."

"Of course, I also need to think of a way myself."

"Only by pooling our wisdom can we overcome the heavy pressure from the Rose Council."

(End of this chapter)