The next day, as expected, the hired workers from the Reeves family delivered a set of medium-quality seed screening equipment and a layered column element separation device.
A middle-aged Second-Class Wizard Apprentice also arrived with a complex expression, carrying a distinctive Alchemy Cabin from Lilith's Cottage, which he placed next to Locke's three-piece wooden cabin and the small Botanical Garden Alchemy Cabin.
Locke inspected this Alchemy Cabin and confirmed that this medium-small-scale plantation contained a hundred-acre Magical Field inside.
The Magical Field was somewhat barren, showing signs of overplanting and soil degradation due to excessive cultivation. However, considering that this plantation had been rented out for a long time, such issues were entirely normal.
After all, renters wouldn't cherish the Botanical Garden as much as its true owner would.
Fortunately, this problem was easy to solve. By spreading large amounts of Nutrient Soil and Nutrient Solution across the hundred-acre Magical Field, the issue of magical soil degradation could be resolved within a few days.
The only downside was the high cost. The Nutrient Soil and Nutrient Solution required for five acres of Magical Field for half a year cost a hundred Magic Stones. For a hundred acres, the expense would likely reach two thousand Magic Stones.
That was a staggering sum.
Of course, for now, Locke only needed to cultivate a few dozen acres, so he wouldn't need to spend that many Magic Stones immediately.
Locke pondered. "Purchasing Bleeding Dragon Nightshade and Tears of Stars already costs 2,100 Magic Stones per month. Add to that the rental fee for the Radiation Cauldron, which is an extra 500 Magic Stones per month."
"Not to mention all the miscellaneous expenses that will inevitably pile up in the future. When I start learning the Advanced Meditation Technique, I'll definitely need to spend even more on expensive resources tailored for it."
"In the world of a First-Class Wizard Apprentice, without money, you can't take a single step forward."
"At least I don't have to rent the Focusing Monocle anymore," Locke thought. "To pass the Apothecary Assistant exam, I'll also need to buy a full set of Apothecary Assistant-level equipment."
"Then there's the 500 Magic Stones I'll have to spend on the Contemplation Balm refining course at the public lectures."
"Calculating carefully, my monthly expenses are already approaching 3,000 Magic Stones, and they'll surely increase in the near future. As long as I want to keep progressing, I'll need to spend even more Magic Stones."
Locke's current savings, after all his recent miscellaneous expenses, had dwindled to just 2,800 Magic Stones.
His main source of income was the five-acre Super Mandrake Vine Magical Field, which earned him roughly a thousand Magic Stones per month.
The recently established ten-acre Wire Tendon Grass field would likely bring in 2,500 Magic Stones per month in the future.
Combined, that would be 3,500 Magic Stones—barely enough to break even. But this income could only sustain his current lifestyle, making it difficult to advance further.
Fortunately, because both the Super Mandrake Vine and Wire Tendon Grass were groundbreaking new varieties of Magic Plants, they were always in demand.
For now, the output could be fully absorbed by the Lijin Secret Language, ensuring a relatively stable income.
Later on, when the demand decreases or when some wizards crack his magic and obtain the seeds of the two Magic Plants to start selling pirated versions, he should be able to develop more new varieties of Magic Plants by then.
So there's no need to worry about this issue.
After inspecting, Locke nodded at the middle-aged Second-Class Wizard Apprentice from the Reeves family. "It's fine, I've checked."
The Second-Class Wizard Apprentice bowed slightly to Locke. "Master Augustine, then I shall take my leave."
"The Reeves family will always be your friend."
"Our family deeply cherishes your friendship."
Considering how much they had offered, Locke nodded. "Understood."
After all members of the Reeves family had left, Locke once again entered this small-to-medium-sized plantation to carefully inspect it, ensuring no tricks had been played.
Next, Locke began planning in his mind how to proceed with planting. First, he would transplant his ten acres of Wire Tendon Grass from his mentor's Botanical Garden.
Then, he would start considering his third 'creation.'
After all, only by expanding the scale of the plantation could he earn more Magic Stones—but he couldn't expand recklessly.
If production became too high, causing wizard apprentices across the Southeast Corner Domain to be unable to absorb the supply, leading to unsold stock, the situation would turn dire.
Fortunately, with the Synthetic Magic Cube in his possession, he could continuously develop new varieties of Magic Plants.
"I could research the Palm Fire Lotus," Locke mused. "The Palm Fire Lotus is only the size of a palm, a mid-to-low-tier common Magic Plant, but it has synergistic effects with many Spells."
"For example, in the plant-based category, there's [Fingertip Fire], [Minor Plant Fire Tongue Spell], [Minor Plant Heating Spell], and the most classic 0.5-ring [Scorched Earth Bomb]!"
The Scorched Earth Bomb is a Spell many Second-Class and First-Class Wizard Apprentices learn.
This Spell is very unique—it exists as an exclusive complementary Spell for the Palm Fire Lotus and is generally not used with other Magic Plants.
The energy level of this Spell is quite high, requiring the sacrifice of one Palm Fire Lotus to create an explosion.
The casting speed is extremely fast, almost requiring no additional incantations, making it nearly instantaneous. With high damage, quick activation, and difficulty to dodge, it is the most popular cantrip model for combat-oriented Plant-based Wizards.
For Second-Class Wizard Apprentices, it is enough to serve as a trump card.
For First-Class Wizard Apprentices, the Palm Fire Lotus is relatively cheap for them, making it an excellent tool for wearing down opponents or testing their capabilities.
In the Southeast Corner Domain, this thing is positioned as a magical bomb that can be mass-produced.
It's relatively low-level and simple, but absolutely effective.
Locke made up his mind. "A single Palm Fire Lotus costs only 5 Magic Stones, but synthesizing them will require at least several hundred for testing the synthesis formula."
"That's another few thousand Magic Stones, but this expense is worth it."
"I can use the newly upgraded Palm Fire Lotus to participate in the White Wizard Association's Breeder Competition, and it can also serve as another trump card to better deal with potential assassinations by the Blood Curse Court."
Locke pondered, "Moreover, the Palm Fire Lotus is a Magical Flower, so I should use the Magic Resonance Breeding Method and the Hybridization Breeding Method to cultivate it."
"Wait a minute." Locke's eyes lit up. "If I use the Palm Fire Lotus whose Plant Essence has been altered by my Magic Resonance Breeding Method for synthesis, would the synthesized Palm Fire Lotus's item description include the optimal magic resonance frequency since I've directed its synthesis path?"
"If this speculation is correct, then I can solve my learning speed issue with the Magic Resonance Breeding Method." Locke's eyes burned with fervor. "My progress with the three major breeding methods hasn't been fast, even with maximum resources allocated."
"After all, even after using the Bleeding Dragon Nightshade to improve my Wizard Talent, it's only at level 4."
"But if my idea works, it would mean I could use the Synthetic Magic Cube to obtain the optimal magic resonance frequencies for various synthesized plants. It would be like learning programming by observing top programmers' code every day."
"My learning speed could increase tenfold!"
"My progress with the Magic Resonance Breeding Method might surpass that of the three major methods."
Having determined the development direction for his third Magic Plant, Locke stepped out of the Small to Medium-sized Botanical Garden.
At the same time, he unexpectedly spotted two third-class wizard apprentices standing outside his alchemy cabin cluster.
His old friends.
Raun and Pierre.
The two stood at the edge of the cabin cluster, appearing somewhat timid, barely daring to raise their heads.
When they saw Locke emerge, their eyes immediately brightened.
Locke asked curiously, "Raun, Pierre, what brings you here? How come you're still third-class wizard apprentices?"
The light in Pierre and Raun's eyes instantly dimmed.
Their expressions cracked.
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!