Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 749 Two Wedding Rings and Key Sub-projects
The witch Catherine glanced at Locke and said, "Now that you've become a second-circle wizard, you can apply for special funding. The journal publications and project applications at the second-circle level are decisively different from those at the first level."

"Because of the White Wizard Association's first-ring wizard protection strategy, there is something that has been deliberately ignored within the four major levels of the first-ring wizard stage—the originality of verification research."

"For first-ring wizards, their vision is mostly limited to a wizarding land, or even a small academy within a wizarding land. A wizarding land may be the whole world in their eyes. In addition, the White Wizarding Association's grant applications and journal requirements do not require verification of the originality of the research."

"But for second-circle wizards, all their articles, documents and research projects need to prove one thing—originality."

"Without originality, it is impossible to apply for grants or publish articles. Because of this, it is difficult for second-ring wizards to easily publish projects and journals."

Ekaterina the witch said, "Let's put it this way: all the achievements of a first-level wizard, across four magic levels, are more like an atmosphere group to the White Wizard Association than things that can be used directly."

"As a proverb in Yunze Wetland goes—if you want one genius, you need a hundred mediocre ones. So, for the White Wizard Association, the greatest value of a first-ring wizard is the very fact that they exist."

"Therefore, what is extremely simple for first-ring wizards is extremely difficult for second-ring wizards."

Locke nodded slightly. The reason why the seven old men on the Silent Grail Tournament Committee immediately rejected his suggestion was probably because of this.

For second-ring wizards, the value of projects and journals is even higher than that of first-ring wizards!

Upon closer examination, the intensity of competition actually varies.

Which second-ring wizard isn't a relative genius?

Publishing articles and applying for projects at the second stage means competing with a group of geniuses at the first stage!
Wait a moment.

Locke realized what was going on. "Teacher, so the Special Funding and Key Sub-Projects of the Academy of Truth are benefits for new second-circle wizards. And not everyone can get these benefits."

"This is a benefit that only researchers at the Golden Crown Mountain Advanced Institute of Truth can receive!"

"Because this is a project application that is valuable to second-ring wizards, but the application difficulty is reduced in a roundabout way."

Catherine the Witch glanced at Locke with interest.

"You can understand that."

"That's interesting. It's understandable that you're interested in the top-tier funding. But do you know what it means that you want to focus on a specific sub-project within the program?"

Locke thought for a moment and then understood.

"This means that I will be deeply involved in your academic dispute with the Rose Witch."

Catherine the Witch nodded, a satisfied smile on her face.

"clever."

Locke immediately said, "Teacher, I am your student, so even if I didn't want to get involved, I already have."

Locke was relatively clear-headed; he had some experience dealing with the Rose Council.

He knew that given the personalities of the wizards in the Rose Council, he had already been labeled in their eyes, and nothing he did would make a difference.

Moreover, they are business competitors.

The witch Catherine said, “Good. As expected of my student. Your judgment is correct. The weak will only lose their own interests, while only those who can assert their rights can obtain what they want.”

“In that case, I can indeed consider giving you a sub-project. But then…”

Catherine the Witch hesitated for a moment, then said, "I didn't want to tell you too much about my relationship with the Rose Witch. But perhaps I can try to tell you a little."

"Although not too much."

As Catherine the Witch finished speaking, she gave Locke a meaningful look.

“Anna is so similar to me in many ways. Apart from our personalities, we often have similar ideas. Moreover, we are both botanical wizards, we are both breeders, and we are both skilled in rose magic plants, because peach trees are also in the Rosaceae family.”

Locke thought of the Red Demon God he had seen in Catherine the Witch's office; wasn't that a two-ringed rose magic plant?

The witch Catherine said, "And this time, Anna plotted against my second and third groups for this reason..."

The witch Catherine took out a magic ring, which was a wooden ring.

Locke immediately recognized it as a ring made of peach wood.

The witch Catherine tossed the ring to Locke. "A half-finished product."

As Locke held the ring, he immediately sensed that he was connecting with a powerful being that had existed since time immemorial. His spirituality, magic, and even his immense magic were all connected to that powerful being.

That existence is so high, so far away.

Yet it is as powerful and dazzling as the sun.

The connection broke the next moment, and the ring turned into flames and burst into flames.

Locke saw that the wooden ring on Catherine the Witch's left little finger had also caught fire and turned into ashes.

Locke asked, "Teacher, was that magic ring just now connecting me to your great magic?"

Catherine the Witch nodded and said, "Your judgment is correct. Your insight is excellent."

“Celtic once wore the magic ring I gave him, but he didn’t realize it.”

"A wedding ring is something like this."

"Tell me about the origin of the wedding ring. It's a principle mentioned in an article published by a fourth-ring truth wizard from the Starfield Sea—ancient wizards could use ritual magic and peach tree sacrifices to create a magical connection between male and female wizards, forming a special identity."

"That was the earliest wizard couple relationship."

"Many wizards have read that article, but probably only Anna and I, along with a few other wizards, thought of using the laws established by modern holy wizards, the framework of marital relationships, the development of modern botany, and the development of alchemy to create a special magical ring with magical plants at its core—a wedding ring."

"Currently, the definition of wedding rings is very mixed and unclear."

The witch Catherine raised her index finger and said, "Apart from me and the Rose Witch, who have concrete results and are about to produce finished products, there is no hope of completion for the other witches."

"That's the problem. Definition." "The first person to complete a wedding ring and then promote it can define what a wedding ring is."

The witch Catherine said, "Anna and I have different ideas. Our shared view, which is also the only feasible one at present, is that the wedding ring should be different from ordinary magical rings and based on botany."

"Then we need to do one thing."

"Wearing a wedding ring requires connection to the immense magic of both male and female wizards!"

Locke's eyelids twitched. He knew that this was almost the most cutting-edge research in Yunze Wetland at present, and if successful, the results would be unimaginable.

It was a completely new market, a completely new category of magical equipment, and it could even become a specialty of Yunze Wetland.

The witch Catherine said, "In the ancient past, witch couples were not only a legal status, but also a special relationship on a spiritual level."

"The specific principles are too complex to discuss here."

“Anna and I both believe that for the wedding rings to be successful, the male and female wizards must be able to share their immense magical power, which would make them a true wizard couple.”

"But my focus is different from hers. I believe that a wedding ring is a ring of identity, a ring of responsibility, and a ring of contract. Therefore, a wedding ring must first and foremost be a magical artifact of the soul, and can only have one owner in a lifetime."

"The wearers of the two wedding rings will have their ultimate magic linked together, providing an opportunity to create a third ultimate magic. At the same time, each of them can forge this third shared ultimate magic by forging their own ultimate magic."

"In other words, the two wizards wearing the wedding rings already have an extra slot for constructing a great magic spell. And because of the support of the two wizards, plus my clever setup, the construction of this third great magic spell will not consume too much of their energy."

"A wizard couple can easily have one more major spell than others without wasting too many extra resources on that major spell."

“The witch Anna has a different view from mine. She believes that wedding rings are rings of love, rings of art, rings of spirituality, and rings of romance. Therefore, her view on wedding rings is that the two ring owners should share the great magic of each other and be able to use each other’s great magic together.”

"In this way, either of the two wizards can directly call upon the other's ultimate magic when fighting an enemy, and use two ultimate magics at the same time."

"Her view is that wedding rings can change owners, and there's no need to form a stable relationship. You can change your spouse at will as true love changes. Because her ring is essentially just a lover's ring."

Catherine the Witch hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have no problem with her lover's ring; I think it's fine. As long as it doesn't taint the concept of a wedding ring that I initially proposed."

"The wedding ring was prepared for the 'Ten-Person Project'. It can help me complete the project faster and bring me huge financial benefits. Not only that, since I created the concept for the wedding ring, I don't want anyone else to publish their work first and replace my definition with theirs."

Locke asked curiously, "Teacher, did the Rose Throne's idea for the wedding ring copy yours?"

Catherine the Witch hesitated for a moment.

“I’m not sure. I’m sure it’s something I came up with on my own. I was also surprised when Anna published her article defining wedding rings.”

"Apart from the different focus, everything else, whether it is the craftsmanship, the spell model, or the core concept and basic principles, is almost exactly the same."

"I've been in court with her over twenty times regarding this. It's not about winning, because everyone knows these kinds of things are hard to clarify. It's just about letting the people of Yunze Wetland know that we made our discovery independently. The best way to end the academic disputes related to wedding rings is for me to be the first to release qualified wedding ring products and to definitively define wedding rings in this market."

"As for Anna's ring? She can change its name to anything, like 'love ring,' it's none of my business. As long as it doesn't taint my concept of a wedding ring."

Locke nodded slightly.

Catherine the Great's definition of a wedding ring should be similar to two wizards cultivating a single ultimate spell, reducing the resources required for a wizard to develop an additional ultimate spell.

Of course, while a wizard can theoretically unlock countless levels of ultimate magic, in reality, a wizard can generally only have one ultimate magic.

Because of his dragon bloodline, he possesses two extremely powerful spells.

At this moment, Catherine the Witch's wedding ring would grant ordinary wizards an extra, extremely powerful magic slot with little burden or pressure.

It's safe to say that if successful, it would likely lead many second-ring wizards to choose to get married.

Of course, many wizards wouldn't casually enter into a marriage with someone that involves complicated interpersonal relationships just to gain an extra Great Magical Slot.

After all, it likely involves ancient ritual magic.

The Rose Witch's wedding ring, on the other hand, is designed to allow multiple wizards to freely use each other's powerful magic, essentially allowing for arbitrary matching of powerful spells.

Actually, both concepts are excellent.

But it seems to involve the issue of discourse power.

This is what the two Third Ring Throne wizards care about.

It is clear that for high-ring wizards, the benefits are no longer just tangible gains.

The witch Catherine said, "My primary focus is to serve the ten-person plan. And my primary focus is the manufacture and design of the wedding rings."

"If you want sub-projects, that's fine."

"However, we need to be fair. You need to do things for me, and if you do well, I'll give you this sub-project. As for the special grant, you'll have to compete with the other second-circle wizards in the Academy of Truth."

"This sub-project... you're the only candidate right now. As long as you complete my two tasks, it's yours."

Two wooden rings appeared in his palm.

Locke looked at the two wooden rings.

Ekaterina the witch raised a finger. "First, I want you to quickly create several popular second-ring level wizard shoes, at least three, and make your shop alliance at least a second-rate wizard shoe shop alliance in Cloudze Wetlands."

"Secondly, these are the prototypes for two wedding rings. I promised you before that I would come up with a way to solve the bloodline defects of the dragon bloodline in the modern magical age. What I was referring to was actually the [Wedding Ring Project]."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not telling you to marry a second-circle witch. Do you remember the Heart Charm? I planted it on your forehead before."

"I have an experiment I'd like you to work with. If it succeeds, then in the future you'll only need to forge one Great Magic spell, which is equivalent to forging two Great Magic spells at the same time."

"You possess two extremely powerful spells, which is not a disadvantage, but an advantage."

Locke nodded immediately. "Teacher, I'm willing to cooperate."

(End of this chapter)