"Boom~"
Locke's expression shifted slightly as the calf on the operating table in his makeshift laboratory exploded like a bomb after consuming drinking water mixed with a single drop of the Fission Potion.
Through the Focusing Monocle over his left eye, Locke recorded the magical changes in the calf after ingesting the potion. He observed how all the elemental particles in the calf's body underwent violent reactions in an instant, transforming predominantly into light and fire elements.
Then the calf's body tore apart violently.
Locke was momentarily stunned. "This potion is actually meant to be ingested by Wizards to enhance mental power."
"It seems thorough safety dosage experiments are indeed necessary before consumption."
"Moreover, I must strengthen my physical body significantly. Otherwise, during the elemental fission when massive amounts of light and fire elemental particles are generated, my body would be torn apart just like that calf."
"Yet if my body could withstand this tremendous energy, it might indeed allow for rapid advancement of Mana in a short period."
"Regardless, this method is somewhat radical."
Locke considered archaeology. Perhaps studying archaeology to enhance his constitution before taking the Fission Potion would be wiser.
He ordered the Catgirl Servants to clean the laboratory and used syringes to draw a tube of blood from each of them. Recently, Locke had been frequently extracting blood from the two Catwomen, attempting to isolate their special Bloodline using the Blood Purification Device and specific Bloodline separation potion through Potionology.
Of course, this was a massive undertaking that might require more advanced equipment.
But if he could successfully extract the Ancient Three-Eyed Tiger-Eyed Cat Bloodline, it would significantly enhance his physical constitution!
This was precisely what he needed for rapid mental power growth.
Leaving the laboratory, Locke entered his second medium-sized Plantation. Yesterday, he had instructed the Minotaur slaves to erect the Differential Magic Mirror before an acre of Magical Field.
Simultaneously, using the Grafting Breeding Method, Locke grafted a stalk of Deteriorated Lightning Bamboo onto the rootstock of an Emerald Iris Lichen (mutant variant) offspring.
He immediately cast the Minor Grafting Healing Spell on their wounds.
Where the Lightning Bamboo and Emerald Iris Lichen made contact, festering wounds continuously formed, secreting a peculiar blackish mucus that emitted a foul odor.
Through the Differential Magic Mirror, Locke observed severe conflicts between many magical components of the Deteriorated Lightning Bamboo and Emerald Iris Lichen. Though the Minor Grafting Healing Spell temporarily fused them together, the healed sections would tear apart moments later.
'If I can identify exactly which magical components are conflicting, I can attempt to mitigate these conflicts using specific magical resonance frequencies.'
Locke whispered, "This way, an experiment that would normally take over half a month to complete could likely be finished in just half a day."
"Of course, it requires me to be more precise in my execution of the Magic Resonance Breeding Method and have a deeper understanding of the theoretical knowledge. Otherwise, it would be impossible to achieve."
Locke adjusted the Radiation Cauldron beside him to a specific frequency. Instantly, in the reflection of the Differential Magic Mirror, the conflict between the components of the two Magic Plants began to ease.
About half a day later, Locke observed that the degraded Electro-light Bamboo had begun to show clear signs of positive transformation, while the Emerald Iris Lichen Variant had also undergone some changes.
Evidently, the offspring of this Emerald Iris Lichen Variant had already memorized the characteristics of the Curse on the Electro-light Bamboo and developed corresponding changes in Magic Resistance.
Carefully, Locke used a shovel to dig out the variant offspring and transplanted it into another Magical Field for preservation.
Emerald Iris Lichen is a fungal-type Magic Plant, and fungal Magic Plants have a unique trait—they communicate with each other.
Thus, once an offspring develops a memory of Magic Resistance Antibodies against a specific Curse, over time, it will transmit this memory to other Emerald Iris Lichen.
Of course, this first requires cultivating a variant of Emerald Iris Lichen to enable the exchange of these Magic Resistance Antibodies.
The original Emerald Iris Lichen does not possess a natural, specific Magic Resistance against Curses. Instead, it primarily has the ability to naturally enhance Magic Resistance and retain memories of Magic Resistance.
The specific Magic Resistance Antibodies within it will fade over time, gradually returning to their original state.
This has an advantage: when subjected to other magical attacks, such as elemental magic outside of Curse Magic, it can develop special Magic Resistance against those elemental spells.
Later, using the Grafting Breeding Method, Locke cultivated a Round Shield-Shaped Emerald Iris Lichen Variant, which developed a specific resistance solely against Curse Magic.
The benefit of this is that this variant of Emerald Iris Lichen has significantly improved resistance to Curse Magic.
It has even gained active defensive capabilities, gradually evolving into a combat-oriented Magic Plant.
And Locke aims to develop a Super Defensive Magic Plant specifically against Curse Magic based on this variant.
Locke checked the time. "Another grafting experiment completed. The Emerald Iris Lichen Variant has already adapted to the second Magic Plant Curse."
"Still haven't found a broad-spectrum Magic Resistance against Curses."
"I need more Magic Plant Curses."
"I'll have to visit the Healing Hand Clinic this afternoon."
Locke pondered, "Perhaps I should provoke Seflin a little."
...
In the afternoon, at the Healing Hand Clinic, Locke deliberately greeted many Potionology Assistants as he entered.
Since Seflin had previously obtained firsthand treatment data about Ruixing from him, he figured he could also convey a message to her within the clinic.
Locke had long suspected that there were many individuals within White Wizard society who were being exploited by Black Wizards.
The two articles he had purchased earlier in the library clearly used a significant amount of Black Wizard data, suggesting that the author likely had some questionable affiliations.
The wizard apprentices of Lilith's Cottage might indeed have the motivation to trade information with Black Wizards in order to publish more articles.
Moreover, the White Wizards would also directly pay for certain services from Black Wizards.
Take the historian McCarthy, for example—his teacher was likely a Black Wizard.
Yet McCarthy himself, for some reason, defected to the White Wizards.
Archaeologists hold an exceptionally high and unique status within Black Wizard Society.
Even so, McCarthy still chose to run a small shop in the Chimera Market, suggesting there must be a special reason behind it.
At their core, both White and Black Wizards are still Wizards, so they aren't entirely isolated from each other.
Carrie Ackerman, with her red-painted lips and dressed in her usual style, the First Class Wizard Apprentice assistant from Angron's workshop, greeted Locke at the entrance corridor of the treatment center.
With a hint of schadenfreude and amusement, she said, "Good morning, Potionology Master Augustine."
"Oh, by the way, have you figured out a treatment plan for those two patients suffering from the Magic Plant Curse?"
Locke feigned indifference. "Yes, I already have a solution."
"A Magic Plant Curse is just a minor curse, nothing compared to my Lesser Emerald Potion."
"I'm quite confident about this."
Carrie Ackerman was taken aback, staring at Locke in surprise. For a moment, she couldn't understand why he was so self-assured.
Even their workshop wouldn't dare touch such a curse, yet Locke acted as if it were no big deal, completely unfazed.
Carrie forced a smile. "Potionology Master Augustine must be joking."
"Well, as long as you're confident."
Around them, many Potionology Assistants exchanged thoughtful glances at Locke's words.
Seeing that his goal was achieved, Locke quickly excused himself and headed toward his office.
'Given Seflin's personality—she's extremely arrogant. If she realizes I'm belittling her Magic Plant Curse, she'll likely try to create more of them in a short time.'
'But that's exactly what I want to happen.'
'I hope this works. Black Wizards… should be easy to provoke, right?'
(End of Chapter)