Pierre was caught in a dilemma. Of course, he knew the dangers of becoming Angron's experimental subject, but a hundred Magic Stones per month was a fortune to him.
In the end, Pierre made his decision and said to Locke and Raun, "Forget it, survival comes first. I've heard that the Wizard Seedlings who took Senior Angron's potions in Dwarf Street didn't end well."
"If I die, what's the point of having more Magic Stones?"
"I'd rather wait until a reliable First Class Wizard Apprentice needs me before becoming a test subject."
Locke coughed a few times, then went inside with the two of them to talk for a while before bidding them farewell and heading into his own laboratory.
During this time, aside from mastering the Mayfly Firecracker, Locke had also learned All Plants as Soldiers. Unfortunately, even in the Chimera Market at Lilith's Cottage, there were no second Clivia flowers for sale, so Locke had to give up on synthesis for now and simply transplanted the Clivia into his Mana.
As forty Ogham Tree Runes sank into the surface of the Clivia, Locke poured the Modification Fluid over the plant, completing the final transformation.
Then, under the effect of the All Plants as Soldiers cantrip model, the Clivia shrank in size, shedding unnecessary roots, stems, and leaves, leaving only its core form to wrap around his left arm—just like the three Level 7 Omen Mandrake Vines coiled around his right arm.
Over the past month, Locke had synthesized two more Omen Mandrake Vines and used Multiple Manipulation to connect them to his Mana, turning them into his appendages.
Locke observed as the Clivia transformed into a crescent-shaped Moon Blade on his left arm. The roots tightly wrapped around his forearm while the stems and leaves adhered to his skin like tattoos. The multiple Leaf Swords of the Clivia overlapped to form a flexible Leaf Blade—like a Crescent Grass Scythe.
The multiple stems of the Clivia deftly controlled the Crescent Grass Scythe, allowing the razor-sharp blade to spin along his arm.
A cold glint flashed, and the iron cage holding mice on the operating table before him was instantly split in two.
All Plants as Soldiers was a 0.7-ring spell. As long as one had a compatible Clivia, they could attempt to use this magic.
This spell created a deadly melee weapon—if an enemy got too close, the Crescent Grass Scythe could deliver a fatal strike.
Moreover, the Clivia's ability to sense air currents to counter enemy attacks or defend itself was enhanced by All Plants as Soldiers.
The spell also restructured the Clivia, making it even more formidable. Mana reinforced its durability, allowing it to cut through materials that wild Clivia could not.
These rare Magic Plants, manipulated by wizards with specific spells, only grew more powerful in combat.
However, the spell was not yet fully perfected.
The cantrip model "All Plants as Soldiers" inherently left room for enhancement through the use of alchemical creations.
Locke set off for the Chimera Market, riding in a centaur-drawn carriage with a clear destination in mind—the Kentrey Furnace Workshop, an alchemical foundry within the market.
The shop's sign above the door was shaped like a furnace, continuously spewing scorching steam while the rhythmic clanging of hammers and the pungent smell of sweat emanated from within.
As a Breeder, Locke raised an eyebrow in resignation. 'Alchemists really have it rough. Do they need to push themselves this hard?'
'Thank goodness I started with Potionology and breeding studies first...'
A dwarf apprentice emerged from the workshop's interior, where deep crimson steam swirled around what appeared to be a massive furnace refining something within.
This dwarf apprentice was also a First Class Wizard Apprentice, wiping sweat from his brow with a thoroughly drenched towel around his neck.
He glanced at Locke with mild surprise. "A new face. Judging by your Lilith's Cottage insignia as a First Class Wizard Apprentice, you must have just been promoted."
"I'm Tane Kentrey, First Class Wizard Apprentice of the Ouroboros Ring."
"Young First Class Apprentice, what brings you to the Kentrey Furnace Workshop today?"
Tane kept glancing back at the furnace deep inside the workshop, seemingly observing something as he explained to Locke: "I've been swamped lately. The Flame Furnace Refining Array hasn't stopped operating for who knows how many days."
"Recently landed a big order from your Lilith's Cottage—they need quite a few mid-to-high grade defensive Enchanted Items."
Locke raised an eyebrow. "Are all Alchemists... this overworked?"
Tane thumped his chest with a laugh. "Not necessarily. I just happen to love crafting Enchanted Items. That's primarily what this workshop produces."
"Mass-producing Enchanted Items requires using the Flame Furnace Refining Array."
"As for those half-baked alchemy apprentices at the market stalls—pah! At best they use crude refining arrays to churn out dubious imitation Enchanted Items."
"Some even employ Enchantment School methods to make them. Absolute nonsense cutting corners, just fooling the uninformed."
Locke had some vague awareness that wizards from the Alchemy and Enchantment Schools frequently clashed.
The root cause: both schools tended to view the other as a subordinate Magic category.
The Alchemy School considered the Enchantment School merely an oversized branch of their own discipline, while the Enchantment School saw alchemy as nothing more than a preparatory step—a subsidiary field handling matter-energy conversion prior to actual enchantment.
Yet at the low-level apprentice stage—before even obtaining assistant Alchemist certification—the boundaries between these fields remained blurred.
Most apprentices would freely use enchantment techniques to supplement their fledgling Alchemical Craft when producing Enchanted Items.
The Berserk Rhino Magic Resistance Leather Armor that Locke had previously lost in battle was crudely crafted by an alchemy apprentice at a small stall, using a blend of enchantment techniques and alchemy.
Though unorthodox,
this was essentially the standard production level for most medium-grade or lower-quality Enchanted Items.
(End of Chapter)