After completing the combat data testing for Perseus' Eye, Locke immediately spent eight hours rapidly drafting four articles.
One was a Magic Plant data report submitted to the combat department of Lilith's Cottage for competition purposes; another was a research report on Magic Plants defending against specific magic—Curse Magic; the third detailed practical operational methods for cultivating defensive Magic Plants with counterattack capabilities through grafting techniques using magic vines, along with various tips to improve the success rate of this method.
The final article analyzed the purification ability of Perseus' Eye when reflecting Curse Magic and its specific mechanism for harming Vampires.
In short, a single experiment and one product could yield a pile of high-value articles. Locke could even delegate some less important sections to the three students he mentored, allowing them to co-author lower-scoring papers.
Locke had already examined the unconscious Howard, confirming that the purification energy of this plant magic harmed Vampires through two damage mechanisms.
One resembled the structure of Holy Magic, while the other was similar to Dispelling Magic.
After carefully refining his wording, Locke concluded the article with: 'The purification energy of Perseus' Eye more closely resembles the suppression of Vampires—an undead creature—by life magic. It is a natural evolution that occurs after life adapts to the concept of the Vampire Curse.'
'This purification energy can inflict burns and other damage on Vampires, much like Holy Magic, though the effects are gentler. Additionally, it possesses a dispelling property absent in Holy Magic—the ability to disperse the Blood Curse Energy entwined within a Vampire's blood, restoring it to its original state.'
'That is, reverting to a state closer to human blood.'
'I believe the emergence of Perseus' Eye proves that after enduring prolonged devastation from negative energy magic, the natural environment will automatically adapt to such magic and develop corresponding countermeasures. This is part of the natural ecological chain. Perseus' Eye Lichen itself serves as evidence of this possibility.'
Locke's final paragraph aimed to propose a future research direction in the article: building upon Perseus' Eye Lichen, further studies might develop a specialized Magic Plant system—or even an entire ecosystem—designed to counter Curse Magic, potentially giving rise to a series of plant magics specifically tailored to suppress curses.
Of course, this direction was far too ambitious for his current capabilities—achieving it alone was impossible.
Nor did Locke intend to pursue it immediately. He merely sought to elevate the significance of his Perseus' Eye Lichen in the article's conclusion.
After all, there were no limits to visionary thinking.
But such ideas could enhance the perceived value of Perseus' Eye Lichen among Omniscience Scholars and other readers of the article.
They might also help boost his article's evaluation score.
The difference between a B-grade and an A-grade was substantial.
Many people have published numerous B-grade papers but don't even have a single A-grade article to their name.
Moreover, this idea was merely a simple spark of inspiration. Perhaps in the future, someone reading this article might share similar interests or have the necessary foundation to fully develop this concept.
This is precisely the significance of the publication system in White Wizard society.
After finishing these four articles, Locke stood up and stretched his limbs. Just as he was about to sleep, he looked up and noticed that dawn had already broken outside, accompanied by the crowing of roosters.
"I actually worked until so late—it's already the next morning." Locke rubbed his temples. Although wizards possess formidable mental strength and can endure months without sleep, the Meditation Method explicitly warns that during its practice, it's best to sleep for ten days each month. Otherwise, there's a risk of mutation into a [Sleep Ghoul].
Having written four articles straight through to the next day, Locke no longer felt like sleeping. After all, missing one day of sleep in a month—sleeping only nine days instead of ten—wouldn't have a significant impact. One shouldn't obsess over such minor details.
"But sleep is still important," Locke murmured, rubbing his forehead. "In that case, I'll finish brewing the Bear Spirit Bile Potion first."
"This potion is probably the most complex one I've worked on, aside from the Lesser Emerald Potion."
"And it'll give me material for a few more articles."
Locke was currently in a phase of rapid academic output. The half-year's worth of accumulated research would soon yield numerous results, which could then be transformed into high-scoring articles.
First, Locke headed to the Plantation to gather a stalk of Emerald Iris Lichen and a stalk of Perseus' Eye before returning to his makeshift laboratory.
The lab was equipped with a basic set of Potionology brewing tools provided by the academy as a benefit for First Class Wizard Apprentices. Though not the most convenient, they were sufficient for experiments.
Inside the lab, Locke skillfully chopped and juiced the two stalks of Emerald Iris Lichen (one of which was a variant), then used the Layered Column Element Separation Equipment to isolate the primary active magical components from the mixed liquid, further refining the extraction quality.
This step wasn't strictly necessary. Brewing the Bear Spirit Bile Potion didn't require separating the active components from the Emerald Iris Lichen juice. However, the Reeves family had once gifted him this separation equipment, so Locke used it anyway. This minor optimization slightly improved the potion's quality, similar to how Robert had enhanced the Worm Regeneration Potion's process.
Locke set up the Cauldron and snapped his fingers, summoning a green Wood Element Flame beneath it. Methodically, he added the various ingredients for the Bear Spirit Bile Potion while silently reciting the key steps of the brewing process in his mind.
First and foremost, this potion requires switching between three types of magical flames that all assistants must master: Wood Element Magic Flame, Fire Element Magic Flame, and Earth Element Magical Flame. Additionally, it necessitates the use of a rarely employed magical flame—the Air Element Magic Flame.
The Wood Element Magic Flame is the most commonly used magical flame. The Fire Element Magic Flame is employed to extract the magical structural components from various materials, while the Earth Element Magical Flame is used to eliminate as much of the inherent toxicity in the potion ingredients as possible.
However, the most unique aspect of the Bear Spirit Bile Potion lies in the need to blend two primary ingredients: the sap of Emerald Lichen and bear bile. By combining these two components, they transform into a new substance, which becomes the primary active ingredient of this potion.
This is where the Air Element Magic Flame comes into play.
(End of Chapter)