916: Super planet-type planes and special grants
Locke used the golden ear wheat to absorb Douglas's magical radiance, then placed his body into his astral ring before quickly departing.
Meanwhile, his ancient tree fruit clone encountered Antoine at the Feathered Serpent Ancient Pavilion.
Inside a quiet room at the Feathered Serpent Ancient Pavilion, Antoine said to Locke, "The situation is roughly like this: we need eight bottles of Name Potion to carry specific names so we can enter a special area within the world ruins located in the Siming Waters."
Locke nodded and asked nonchalantly, "What do you intend to do in that special area of the wizard ruins?"
Antoine spoke candidly, "In that world ruins in the Siming Waters, we encountered a set of unusual fluctuations. After analysis, it's very likely a force energy fluctuation signal from a special plane. Are you familiar with planet-type planes?"
"Some special planet-type planes radiate energy outward in specific wave patterns; otherwise, the plane's energy would become excessively high due to its unique physical size. Therefore, many specific force energy fluctuations were originally researched from planet-type planes. We now suspect that a unique planet-type plane is hidden behind that world ruins."
Locke only half-understood what he was hearing.
"Isn't that something for astronomical wizards to research? Perhaps you could collaborate with the wizards of the Storm Tower."
Antoine chuckled and said, "Forget the Storm Tower. I don't even know if their Wizard Smith has made it out of the black markets of the Twin Demon Realm yet. It would be laughable if he's been sold to some colonial plane."
"The Endless Void is so vast; finding a single person is both easy and difficult."
"Finding an astronomical wizard would indeed be helpful. However, with so many of us wizards from the True Knowledge Institute of Golden Crown Mountain traveling in a group, it's enough for us to explore that plane together and search for that potentially existing super planet."
Locke asked doubtfully, "super planet?"
Antoine nodded and said, "Yes. Based on the waveform data we intercepted, it's almost certain to be a planet plane, yet its scale and magnitude don't match any planet plane previously discovered by wizards. However, so far, everything we know has been deduced within the Queen's Chessboard."
"But if our current operation yields key discoveries within those world ruins, then researching that super planet alone will surely be enough to support some of us in obtaining the special grant program."
Locke was momentarily stunned.
Antoine then smiled and said, "You didn't expect that, did you? Most wizards at Golden Crown Mountain currently believe that only those following the Magic Plant Crystallization Technology route can obtain this year's special grant program allocated to Golden Crown Mountain."
"But they certainly haven't considered that we could make such a significant discovery by entering the Siming Waters. Of course, this is provided that these findings are genuine; if they are false, they'll be useless."
Locke nodded. While Antoine was speaking, he used the Potion Cyclic Extraction Method to extract the spirit macro from the ruin fragments Antoine had brought him, while simultaneously refining eight bottles of Name Potion.
"Here, these are the eight bottles of Name Potion. Also, here is the bottle of clone potion I promised you earlier."
A look of surprise appeared on Antoine's face.
"Hmm? That was fast."
"In just half an hour, you actually managed to refine eight bottles of Second-Ring Potions using such rudimentary conditions."
Locke was briefly taken aback, then realized Antoine was a layman, which was why he considered the Name Potion to be a Second-Ring Potion. As Potion Masters, they wouldn't consider such a thing to be a Second-Ring Potion.
Something like this could be concocted at will with his current Spiritual Cognition. However, since he began studying Potionology under the Sea Queen Throne, his level in Potionology had indeed improved rapidly.
Locke's Spiritual Cognition was nearly exhausted at this moment. The reason he could refine eight bottles of Name Potion in half an hour was due to a technique taught to him by the Sea Queen Throne: colliding the two spirit macros he extracted from the ruin stone together, turning two spirit macros into four.
Regardless, something like a Name Potion was essentially just a potion version of a spirit macro—merely another form of spirit macro. It didn't require much precision at all.
Locke nodded and said, "It was alright. According to our previous agreement, you need to give me five million magic stones."
Antoine nodded and handed him five hundred magic crystal cards.
Locke smiled. As expected of a reincarnated Third Ring Wizard, he was generous; he didn't even blink when giving away five million magic stones.
After all, how could something as cheap as a Name Potion be worth that much?
It wouldn't even be reasonable to sell it for ten thousand magic stones.
It was just liquid spirit macro.
However, he wasn't exactly scamming him. After all, Antoine's request involved a need for confidentiality and quality.
If he went to someone else, he would risk leaking the secret.
Antoine looked at Locke with a smile and said, "With these, we won't be attacked by the guardians in the ruins. But after knowing all this, aren't you worried at all? You should know there's only one special grant project per year."
Locke poured himself a cup of green fish tea and took a sip.
"What do I have to be nervous about?"
"There isn't even a shadow of your super planet yet. It won't be easy to convince the judges with something based on rumors. Moreover, even without the discovery of your super planet—assuming it can actually be found—there is still the Magic Plant Crystallization Technology route."
Antoine asked in surprise, "You still haven't entered that technology route? Why? Is it a lack of resources? If you lack resources, I can introduce you to some people. Back when I was more reckless, I knew some fair-weather friends who have many connections."
Locke shook his head.
"It's just that my energy is limited."
Antoine smiled, a look of astonishment appearing on his face.
"It's because of interesting fellows like you in this world that I can truly feel like I'm living in it."
"It's wonderful. This is the first time I've met such a confident wizard."
Locke said, "It's not confidence, but self-awareness—knowing that I don't have the energy to be distracted."
Antoine said in a low voice, "Very well. Since you already know how to refine clone potions, I also want you to help me refine another potion: the Double Clone Potion."
Locke said, "I don't know what that is. I've never heard of it."
Antoine said, "It's true that an ordinary Second Ring Wizard might not have heard of it. It's a variant of the clone potion. I don't need it right this moment, either. I didn't intend to mention it, but it doesn't matter now. If you can refine it, I'm willing to pay a high price for a bottle of Double Clone Potion."
After hearing this, Locke nodded and stood up.
"Understood. Antoine, I wish you luck."
Antoine raised his wizard tea in a toasting gesture.
"Then I wish you luck as well. I hope your research yields results."
"Let's settle the score through the special grant. If I can confirm the existence of that super planet through those special fluctuations, then you should know—it means I will certainly obtain the special grant project."
"Furthermore, this will also bring great benefits to our Golden Crown Mountain and our Senate faction."
Locke nodded.
Antoine's status in the Senate was clearly higher than Locke's status in the Academic Committee, so he was privy to many of the Senate's development directions.
'Indeed, I was previously too preoccupied with the conflict between the Rose Lineage and my own. I forgot that this world itself is dynamic; anyone who falls behind by one step will fall behind in every subsequent step. The Senate must be looking to reclaim the power they lost after the Three Rivers Competition and the Silent Grail.'
Locke left the Feathered Serpent Ancient Pavilion and headed to the Witch's Kitchen.
Because he had an appointment to meet Wizard Warwick at the Witch's Kitchen today... Inside Private Room 1 of the Witch's Kitchen, Wizard Droma was meeting with a Moon Ring Witch from the Rose Council. Droma, sitting opposite her, seemed very excited.
"My Lady, as long as you entrust this project to me, I will definitely complete it perfectly according to Master Patrick Finch's vision."
This Moon Ring Witch wore a rose wizard robe of deep red and purple. She curled her lips and said to Wizard Droma, "This project in my hands was prepared by Master Patrick Finch for outstanding young people like you. The project materials are very comprehensive, and the pre-experimental data is all there. With just a bit of organization, you could write a proposal for a special grant in at most a week—and it would certainly be approved for the special grant fund."
"But why should we help you?"
Wizard Droma immediately calmed down and said somewhat awkwardly, "I am but a wizard of little importance at Golden Crown Mountain. There really isn't much I can do to help Master Patrick Finch."
The Moon Ring Witch chuckled softly.
"What are you thinking? Our Master Patrick Finch is not from the Rose Lineage, so there is no conflict with the lineage behind you. The Rose Council and Golden Crown Mountain are not inherently hostile; in fact, they can become allies on many occasions."
"The seven top-tier wizard universities of the Yunze Wetland are constantly forming and breaking alliances; who is a permanent enemy? What do I need you to do? I'm not a Black Wizard."
Wizard Droma realized he had been mistaken, and a conciliatory smile appeared on his face.
"My apologies, My Lady. I overthought it. But I have drive and resilience; whatever I set my mind to, I will certainly do."
The Moon Ring Witch stood up and said, "Let's leave it at that for now."
Wizard Droma was stunned and looked up, asking, "Huh?"
"My Lady..."
The Moon Ring Witch said, "Meeting you today was just to see you in person. Next, I have to meet some other wizards. I must select the best young wizard for Master Patrick Finch, rather than letting the Master's hard work go to waste."
"If you have anything else to say later, you can continue to look for me."
The Moon Ring Witch left Private Room 1.
Wizard Droma immediately followed, wanting to speak, but at that moment, he unexpectedly saw Locke.
His heart skipped a beat.
The "best wizard" that the Rose Council wizard had mentioned... couldn't be Locke Augustine, could it?
What put Wizard Droma's mind at ease was that Locke simply passed by the Moon Ring Witch, nodding politely to her to express the respect due to a higher-level wizard.
The Moon Ring Witch from the Rose Council, however, glanced at Locke with curiosity.
Turning to Droma, the Moon Ring Witch asked, "That wizard should be Locke Augustine, right?"
Wizard Droma nodded stiffly, feeling a bit guilty.
The Moon Ring Witch smiled and said, "I've heard of him back at the Rose Council. He once gave a test to a wizard in a key laboratory at our Breeder Academy. Later, one of our Sun Ring Wizards only revealed the true nature of that test—which had stumped a whole group of us—after he had left."
"It seemed to be a special Spirit Breath."
"He left a deep impression on me."
"I remember him being an excellent Breeder."
Wizard Droma immediately lowered his voice and said, "But... but... I heard that this wizard hasn't conducted any Magical Plant Crystallization research at all. Although everyone only started a month or two ago, in the current situation, whoever starts even a month earlier holds the advantage. By the time he begins his research, the relevant equipment in his lab might only just be fully installed."
"And I heard he himself isn't very interested in Magic Plant Crystallization Technology."
The Moon Ring Witch's expression went blank for a moment, and she nodded.
"That's a pity then. It seems he'll have no chance with the special grant fund this year. Indeed, the difficulty has increased inexplicably now, making it harder than even a typical second ring fund."
Wizard Droma knew she was referring to the fact that when a Second Ring Wizard applies for a second ring fund for the first time, their application is bundled into a 'weak group' rather than appearing in the same pool as the Sun Ring Wizards' and Moon Ring Wizards' proposals in a judge's hands.
This way, the chances of the application being approved are greatly increased.
Many Wizard Academies like to recruit wizards who have just become Second Ring Wizards for this very reason; they are simply plotting to take advantage of someone else's easier chance of passing their first second ring fund application.
The number of funds a wizard within an academy can secure is also part of that wizard university's strength.
The Moon Ring Wizard said, "True, he is a young man after all. He's very arrogant, but after he runs into a few walls, he'll realize that the path is easier to walk if you follow the crowd."
"In this day and age, why stick to the traditional Magic Plant breeding research route? Only by following the Magical Plant Crystallization research route can one embrace the era. Anyone who doesn't follow this path will be abandoned by the times. It's just like in the Mortal world; before farm tools were invented, everyone had to plant crops with their bare hands, but after they were invented, Mortal farmers used tools to plant their crops."
The Moon Ring Witch let out a light chuckle.
"Yet there are still many wizards who believe that planting crops with tools lacks soul. The Magic Plant Crystallization Technology route is currently facing these same issues, with many wizards publicly expressing numerous opinions against this research direction."
Wizard Droma's mind wavered as he listened.
"Crystallized Magic Plants are indeed the future. As long as the research on crystallized Magic Plants passes, Master Patrick Finch might even become a Fourth Ring Wizard in the future."
The Moon Ring Witch said, "Currently, Magic Plant Crystallization Technology improves every six months. Based on this pattern, the technology is developing so rapidly that there seems to be no ceiling in sight."
A smile appeared on Wizard Droma's face.
"Then it's indeed a pity that Locke isn't pursuing this technical route. I hope he can see reason in the future."
The Moon Ring Witch glanced at Wizard Droma and suddenly said coldly, "If you don't enter now, you'll be behind later. In the Wizarding World, being one step behind means being behind at every step."
"When everyone else is embracing the era and you don't, you will be abandoned by it."
Suddenly, Wizard Droma felt as though his head had been stuffed with something, and he became restless. He desperately wanted to obtain the project held by this Moon Ring Witch.
Regardless of anything else, even just obtaining a special grant project would be of immense help to him.
However, his expression changed drastically when he saw Wizard Brandy walking to the door; Brandy clearly made eye contact with the Moon Ring Witch from the Rose Council.
Evidently, this Moon Ring Witch had been waiting for Wizard Brandy.
And as Wizard Brandy glanced at Wizard Droma, a look of caution appeared in his eyes as well.
The Moon Ring Witch looked at Wizard Droma and continued, "As a senior, I want to tell you one thing. In any matter, only those who get the first bite benefit the most."
"If you don't rush to the front, once you miss the chance, it's gone. There will be no opportunity to make up for it later..."
Wizard Brandy and Wizard Droma both grew tense.
A clear sense of anxiety was visible in their eyes... Inside Private Room 3, Locke met Warwick. Warwick was as anxious as if his heart were on fire. He looked at Locke with a flattering smile and said, "Locke, it's been a long time."
"You've become a Second Ring Great Wizard now."
Warwick still looked like a silver-cast werewolf, with an innate magic eye in the center of his forehead.
"Quick, let me see that travelogue you mentioned."
Locke placed the travelogue on the table. After Warwick looked it over, he immediately scanned it with his innate magic eye and said, "Is it this travelogue? It is indeed entwined with powerful Archaeology magic."
"But I can use Abyss-side mana to bypass it."
The Eye of Wisdom on his forehead suddenly released a brilliant silver light. As Locke looked at him, he seemed to see an endless spiral vortex within his eye.
The silver spirituality connected to some unknown place, boundless and infinitely overlapping.
Wizard Warwick took half a step back. "There's a clue."
"This person has been to the Endless Abyss."
Warwick seemed somewhat delirious. "He entered the deep layers of the Endless Abyss; he left many footprints there."
Locke looked at the spirituality on him and suddenly realized that his perception during his First Ring period—that the essence of the Abyss was chaos—was likely a shallow and mistaken understanding.
Because the Abyss power on Wizard Warwick before him didn't seem like a form of chaos; why did it possess a feeling of infinite possibilities?
Could it be that this is a form of infinity?
No.
Locke immediately realized this was because he had been contemplating the Spell Model of the tree of prosperity recently, so he was viewing the Abyss power from the perspective of the Four Seasons study.
"Abyss power seems to have a certain multi-layered nature."
Locke whispered, "I thought that after becoming a Second Ring Wizard, I would completely sever ties with this power, yet I didn't expect to discover new possibilities from Abyss power at this moment."
At this time, Wizard Warwick took a step forward. His Eye of Wisdom observed the past and present of the travelogue, seeing through its secrets.
"This person possesses the rank of an Abyss Baron. He once walked within the Abyss and left his mark there. He is... Maxwell."
Locke immediately looked at Wizard Warwick with a serious expression.
Wizard Warwick sat down and began to pant, looking up at Locke with great anticipation.
"How is it? Is it of help to you?"
Locke began to retrieve data using the water gourd system, but found that he couldn't find any works by this wizard.
Maxwell... wasn't that the name of the legendary Archaeologist who had once left a line of text in the Weaving Princess's fake tomb, pointing out the Black Sun Tower's act of altering history?
Was it a coincidence?
No, it shouldn't be.
But if this travelogue recorded the historical wars from five hundred years ago, then the Archaeologist Maxwell was a figure from that very era.
Locke also sat there and began to think.
Warwick did not disturb Locke as he fell into deep thought.
After half an hour had passed, he couldn't help but speak up. "It's possible that when he published his works, he didn't use his real name but another one. If someone uses a pseudonym from the very moment they enter a Wizard Academy, then all the articles they publish afterward will use that pseudonym. If one uses special magic to seek his True Name, it's impossible to trace him through his academic works."
Locke said, "That's possible?"
Wizard Warwick looked surprised.
"For an Archaeologist, this is basic. It's just that I came from a humble background, so I didn't pay attention to this aspect at first, and now it's too late even if I wanted to. But Locke, you're the one with the least right to say that. Is your True Name really Locke Augustine?"
Locke looked at Wizard Warwick and asked in surprise, "Is it not?"
Wizard Warwick spread his hands. "Your True Name is protected by magic, so I can't know it. Aren't you the only person who can know?"
Locke fell into silence once more.
The information Wizard Warwick told him was again somewhat difficult to process.
What does he mean, my True Name isn't Locke Augustine?
The key point was that if the other party was referring to his name from his previous life, that name couldn't possibly be protected by magic. A name protected by magic could only be... could it be... the original name of this body?
Locke's heart sank. He had originally thought there was no need to return to Corfu Island, but now it seemed he really did need to make a trip back there.
Locke asked Old Warwick, "Knowing just one name is useless. Is there a way to find out more information about him?"
Old Warwick spread his hands.
"Well... I don't have any better ideas either."