Yuli massaged her temples with a helpless expression. "Locke, you really shouldn't discuss a lady's age."
Her face turned serious as she answered earnestly: "This is the Aging Curse. You'll soon understand the vast gap between a Formal Wizard and a First Class Wizard Apprentice..."
A deep terror surfaced on Yuli's aged face, as if recalling something indescribably horrifying. "You won't understand why the gap is so immense. Then you'll discover that within that already enormous chasm, improving your spiritual power becomes extremely difficult."
"Even the Meditation Method becomes highly unreliable."
"Amidst year after year of stagnant progress, under the relentless pressure of my Wizard Mentor Harun Vera's repeated disappointed gazes until he finally gave up on me completely—I chose to pursue dangerous research. I was experimenting with casting the Aging Curse on my own soul, then attempting to lift it as a means to enhance my spiritual power."
"Subjecting my soul to repeated cycles of being cursed—then released from the curse."
Locke frowned. Even without witnessing Yuli's actual experiments, just hearing this description made it sound extremely perilous.
This was walking a tightrope.
The slightest loss of control would mean the curse destroying one's own soul.
It was no different from consuming lethal poison daily.
Yuli Burns lowered her head with a sigh. "But my talent ultimately proved insufficient. My experiment spiraled out of control—the Aging Curse rebounded on my soul. I barely managed to preserve my life, but my future prospects were completely ruined."
"I transformed from a woman passionately pursued by many male wizards into this hideous old crone."
"And that wasn't all. I became embroiled in ongoing investigations by the White Wizard Association's Ethical review mechanism, as certain aspects of my experiments violated ethical guidelines."
"This made finding regular employment nearly impossible. Only Madam Irina took me in."
Yuli Burns laughed bitterly. "Locke, it's almost funny—before the accident, I used to complain about all the White Wizard Association's rules and restrictions hampering my progress."
"But after the disaster struck, I finally realized—the Association's ethical requirements exist to protect us from ourselves."
"Those obsessed with their own power easily lose themselves in it, until that power ultimately consumes them."
Locke hadn't imagined the path of advancement for a First Class Wizard Apprentice could be so arduous. He offered some consolation. "Yuli, anyone who becomes a First Class Apprentice must have considerable talent."
"I believe you'll find a way to escape this predicament. As long as one lives, there's always a path to redemption."
"And there must be Magic Potions that could lift your curse."
Yuli chuckled hoarsely. "Locke, you're truly kind-hearted."
"Thank you, but we're different—you couldn't possibly understand. Someone like you, a genius, will never comprehend the suffering of people like us."
Yuli whispered, "I'm a Potionology apprentice myself, so I know exactly what's wrong with me. I've been casting curses on my own soul for too long. For at least five years, I drank a bottle of Aging Potion every day, followed by even more Counter-curse Potions. The Aging Curse has become deeply entwined with my soul..."
"Most First Circle Potion Masters would steer clear of someone like me."
"They're afraid I'll ruin their reputations."
A flash of resentment appeared in Yuli's eyes—directed at her Wizard Mentor. "If my mentor, Harun Vera, had stopped me back then, everything would be different. But he didn't."
"He's always been like that."
"His eyes only see those glamorous students."
Yuli quickly suppressed her anger and nodded apologetically at Locke. "I'm sorry, Locke. I shouldn't have lost my composure in front of you."
"I've been talking too much today."
"Please," Yuli pleaded, "it's ultimately my own failure. Please don't repeat what I just said... alright..."
Locke nodded and waved his hand. "I didn't hear anything."
"Well then, Shopkeeper Yuli, good luck to you. Let's have a pleasant collaboration."
Locke stood up and headed toward the door.
He had plenty of his own matters to attend to. Applying to expand the Botanical Garden would require going through the White Wizard Association's Ethical Review Mechanism again—another round of hassle.
Moreover, if he wanted to expand the garden this time, he'd have to upgrade it to medium size.
It was unlikely that Sophia the White Wizard would help him fast-track the approval. The White Wizard Association wasn't overly strict with Second-Class Wizard Apprentices' botanical gardens, but they would be extremely cautious when reviewing a First-Class Wizard Apprentice's application.
The Abyssal Plant Cataclysm caused by the Azure Ring Society in the southeastern region had occurred barely fifty years ago.
Shopkeeper Yuli stood to see him out.
After leaving Lijin Secret Language, Locke returned to the slave warehouses in the Chimera Market and found Benny, the dark elf attendant from last time, intending to purchase another batch of Minotaur slaves.
He needed at least five more.
In the street where the slave warehouses were located, the dark elf Benny cautiously said to Locke, "Respected Master Locke, the price of Minotaur Noble Slaves has now returned to 10 Magic Stones each."
"But our shop's quality remains unchanged. Every Minotaur Noble Slave undergoes rigorous re-education through Enchantment Spells—they will never betray their masters, and their intelligence remains unaffected."
Locke frowned in dissatisfaction. "Wasn't it 5 Magic Stones before?"
Under the unintentional Magic Pressure emanating from Locke, the dark elf Benny grew nervous, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Respected guest, that's correct. Nine months ago, a large number of high-quality beastman slaves flooded the market, driving prices down. But now they've returned to normal."
"Our slaves may be more expensive, but their quality is absolutely guaranteed."
Locke nodded slightly. That made sense—after all, his Botanical Garden couldn't use slaves who lacked mental clarity. Most of the work in his garden required a certain level of intelligence and comprehension.
"Fine," Locke said. "Here's fifty Magic Stones. I'll take five Minotaur Noble Slaves."
The dark elf Benny let out a sigh of relief. "Honored guest, last time you purchased two slaves with Ancient Creature Bloodlines. Are you interested in researching this field?"
"We currently have another slave in our shop—a mermaid with an Ancient Creature Bloodline."
Locke replied, "Not for now."
He hadn't even finished studying the two catgirls from last time. There was no need to buy a mermaid now—money shouldn't be spent so recklessly.
Funds should be used where they matter most.
He still had plenty of places to spend Magic Stones in the future.