Francis glanced through several documents—rejection notices for Locke's application for a medium-sized botanical garden and the Magic Stone Loan contract for the Advanced Meditation Technique—and frowned in dissatisfaction. "I've mentioned this repeatedly in high-level meetings—we must consider how students develop emotional ties to the academy. Such blatant loan contracts will only alienate them."
"It should be handled more subtly," Francis mused. "If the academy were to grant Locke a medium-sized botanical garden now, he would surely feel immense gratitude toward us. But..."
"Never mind." Francis reconsidered.
The last available slot for establishing a medium-sized botanical garden within the next three years had already been claimed by the only Formal Wizard in the academy specializing in the Beast Taming Magic subfield of the Summoning School. He was fighting for this opportunity for his son.
"Locke's talent isn't the absolute best," Francis reasoned. "Among his peers, there's already a Child of Elements who performs slightly better. Moreover, the Child of Elements' potential is stable and predictable, whereas Locke's progress might not maintain its current pace. I've seen too many fallen geniuses."
"He simply can't compare to the son of a Formal Wizard."
"It took great effort to bring a Beast Taming Magic Formal Wizard to our academy, allowing Lilith's Cottage to establish a full curriculum in that Magic category and construct the public facility—Bloodhowl Arena."
"I can't jeopardize my overall plans for the Beast Taming Magic curriculum just for the sake of one student." Francis raised his gaze to a map hanging on his wall—a depiction of the Southeast Corner Domain.
The entire Southeast Corner Domain stretched along a lengthy coastline, resembling the edge of a pond without extending inland. The Atlas Dragon Mountain Range loomed like an impassable chasm, dividing the Southeast Corner Domain from the mainland on the map.
Yet, despite this, the Southeast Corner Domain was vast enough, its area countless times larger than the Eurasian continent.
Francis stared at the surrounding wizard organizations near Lilith's Cottage on the map, his expression darkening. "These neighboring factions are always competing with us for students—utterly irritating."
"Lately, they've even been collaborating with the Blood Curse Court, stirring up trouble nearby and poaching several promising new talents."
"Hmph. Once my Beast Taming Magic curriculum succeeds, I'll at least steal most of the student base from that ridiculous little White Wizard organization, the Beast Bone Concord, and force them to relocate far from this region."
Francis glared disdainfully at the spot on the map marking the Beast Bone Concord's location.
...
After leaving Francis's office, Locke exhaled heavily.
Seated in the hired carriage, he sighed quietly, murmuring to himself, "For some reason, being around that Lord Francis puts immense pressure on me. My instincts tell me he's extremely dangerous, yet his attitude toward me is nothing but kind."
"And... the Omen Mandrake Vine didn't react at all."
"Of course, it's uncertain whether the Omen Mandrake Vine can affect a Formal Wizard. Formal Wizards possess a Permanent Defense Field around their bodies, equivalent to ultra-high magic resistance. Ordinary Spell effects can hardly take effect on them."
Locke shook his head. "Never mind. Apart from possibly meeting him when collecting the Advanced Meditation Technique, I basically have no chance to see him anyway."
"My teacher is the Witch Sophia, so it doesn't matter."
Locke quickly returned to his wooden house. After giving some instructions to the Gray Dwarves and cat-maid servants, he entered his meditation chamber.
Locke swiftly recalled the contents of the newly obtained Meditation Method.
These contents didn't appear as written words in his mind but transformed into an instinct, as if they were something he was born knowing.
Just like how mice are born to burrow, birds to fly, and fish to swim, he only needed to practice and refine these innate abilities through training.
Crossing his legs and closing his eyes, Locke's consciousness seemed to transcend time and space, revealing a beautiful scene.
In a sky filled with Rainbow Jade Curtains, there stood an enormous forest filled with ancient trees - thousand-year-old Treants, the Ancient Tree of Life, Ancient Tree of Knowledge, Ancient Tree of War...
And at the center of this forest stood a magnificent World Tree.
This forest brimmed with vitality, hosting countless Magic Plants and Magical Creatures. The immense natural energy was powerful enough to distort physical laws, rendering external forces ineffective here.
At this moment, a wizard in Wizard robes with indistinct features suddenly walked into this forest, like a thunderclap shattering silence or a stone disturbing calm waters.
"So this is the World Tree? By emulating its Mana form, perhaps I too can draw such powerful strength from nature..." The wizard raised his head, and his features suddenly became clear - transforming into Locke's face.
The next moment, Locke's Mana fluctuations began to change. His breathing became imperceptibly faint, and his Mana developed a peculiar rhythm.
It was an imitation of the World Tree's Mana.
In his trance, Locke saw a void, and within this void, he glimpsed a distant world plane. From this plane, natural energy continuously poured forth, strengthening his Mana and enhancing his mental power.
Thus, the Mana that had been stagnant for months without progress was nourished again, rapidly advancing once more.
"So this is the Advanced Meditation Technique. It can directly draw energy from other planes to enhance a wizard's Mana. This explains why wizards who had plateaued with basic meditation can progress rapidly within their lifetime."
"The Advanced Meditation Technique... seems to have seven levels in total. By mastering this Nature Plane Advanced Meditation Technique to the fourth level, I can become a Formal Wizard. Each subsequent level appears to further elevate a Formal Wizard's rank." Locke finally understood.
Currently, he was at the first level of the Advanced Meditation Technique, so he was extremely far from the Nature Plane. He could only absorb a tiny amount of energy radiating from the Nature Plane through the endless void.
Even so, it was enough to propel his Mana to progress rapidly.
After meditating for three hours, Locke was panting heavily. "The Advanced Meditation Technique is different from ordinary meditation methods. Since it involves drawing energy radiating from other planes through the void, the process of capturing this energy continuously drains my stamina. I can meditate for a maximum of three hours at a time unless I purchase [Energy Potion]."
"I remember one bottle of Energy Potion costs two hundred Magic Stones! No wonder it's so expensive—it turns out to be a supporting potion for the Advanced Meditation Technique."
"Secondly, I also need to buy [Four Seasons Fruit Kernel Incense], which can harmonize my Mana and improve the efficiency of absorbing energy radiating from the Nature Plane. Of course, it's optional."
"I recall the production method of Four Seasons Fruit Kernel Incense is special—it's a processed magical resource," Locke pondered. "The monthly consumption should be around 300 grams, and this stuff costs about 50 Magic Stones per 10 grams."
Locke's expression shifted slightly. "That means a monthly expense of fifteen hundred Magic Stones."
"Of course, I don't need to use Energy Potion and Four Seasons Fruit Kernel Incense every night during meditation."
"But if I aim for the fastest advancement, just these two materials for meditation alone would cost me over five thousand Magic Stones per month. And that's not even counting my expenses on Bleeding Dragon Nightshade and Tears of Stars Potions."
Locke felt his head was about to split. "This doesn't even include my other research expenses. If I truly went all out without any restrictions, the monthly cost would exceed eight thousand."
"Most First Class Wizard Apprentices wouldn't be able to afford this."
Locke reasoned, "Without using additional materials, the Advanced Meditation Technique only allows three hours of meditation per day, with an efficiency of about fifty percent."
"But I suspect most First Class Wizard Apprentices wouldn't spend money on extra materials. Or perhaps they'd have to sign harsh agreements to secure massive magical resource investments just to afford them."
"So, I still need to earn money," Locke thought. "No wonder Teacher Sophia didn't directly become a Formal Wizard but instead pursued dual roles as a First Circle Breeder and First Circle Potion Master."
"Without a side profession, how can one continue learning? In this world, studying is the most expensive thing there is."
(End of Chapter)