Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 106 Academy Procurement
Locke placed his palm on the amethyst matrix he had borrowed from the witch Sophia, which displayed a mental energy level of 224.

He nodded, a look of joy on his face. "When I broke through to become a first-class wizard apprentice, my mental strength was 220. After these two months of improvement using ordinary meditation and a large amount of magical resources, I only increased my mana by 1 point."

"But tonight I used advanced meditation and meditated for three hours, which increased my mana by 3 points."

Locke said, "When everyone first starts using the advanced meditation method, there will be a beginner's bonus period. During this month, you can even meditate for the entire month without having to take ten days to sleep and rest. However, after a month, the rate of improvement will slow down."

"No matter what, I'll focus on accumulating resources during this month so I can fully utilize the newbie bonus period and maximize the use of advanced meditation techniques to increase my mana growth rate."

Locke is currently 18 years old, and he has 22 years until he turns 40.

If I want to become a formal wizard, I need to maintain an increase of at least thirty points of magic power every year to have a chance.

40 years old is a threshold.

Although Locke didn't know the specific reason, it seemed that after the age of 40, the academy's higher-ups believed that the probability of this first-class wizard apprentice becoming a formal wizard would drop significantly, and his benefits and resources would also drop significantly.

Locke focused his newly recovered energy into a meditative state. Then, he once again sensed the natural plane deep in the void and transformed the power radiating from the natural plane into his own magic power, replenishing it.

“A first-class wizard apprentice who has mastered advanced meditation not only gains the possibility of rapid progress again,” Locke said, “but also can meditate from time to time during battle to increase the speed of mana recovery.”

"Moreover, the quality, purity, stability, and other aspects of the mana refined using advanced meditation are a level higher than my previous mana."

“No wonder the White Wizard Association is unwilling to release the advanced meditation method,” Locke pondered. “As long as they monopolize this knowledge, the White Wizard Association can almost monopolize a large part of the path to becoming a formal wizard in the southeastern corner of the region.”

"Furthermore, first-class wizard apprentices are forced to sign magic stone loan agreements with major wizarding organizations for amounts as high as 50,000."

"Let's rest first. Tomorrow we'll go to the Chimera Market to sell the third magical plant. Hopefully, we can make some money." Locke quickly changed his clothes and then slept for the night.

The next day, early morning.

Locke instructed three gray dwarves and two catwomen to push two carts covered with gray cloths to the Chimera Market.

At the entrance to the Chimera Market, two second-class wizard apprentices on duty bowed to Locke, their eyes falling on the badges Locke wore on his chest.

"Hello, senior."

"Good morning, Senior Augustine."

Locke nodded slightly to them and then went inside, with his cat-woman servant and gray dwarf servant quickly following their master.

They were pushing a cart, so they naturally walked a little slower.

Locke entered the Lijin Secrets Plant Shop, where Yuri Burns had just finished serving a first-class wizard apprentice. She looked at Locke with a slight gleam in her eyes. "Dear Locke, my dear friend, your Super Mandrake and Elephantweed have been selling very well this month."

"Many people have wanted to ask me which excellent breeder created these new varieties of magical plants. I told them your name, Locke. You don't mind, do you?"

Locke shook his head slightly. "It's alright."

It doesn't matter; you can't stop it anyway. His reputation will eventually spread, and besides, as a first-class wizard apprentice, having some prestige is actually better. The first-class wizard apprentice who was about to leave the shop turned to look at Locke upon hearing this, nodded to him, greeted him, and then left the shop.

Yuri looked at Locke's cart and said, "Is this month's Iron Wire Goosegrass and Super Mandragora? Why are there two carts?"

Locke nodded. "Yes. One of the carts contains two old magical plants that were sold to your Lijin Secrets this month. We had a very pleasant collaboration before, so I'd like to work on a third magical plant."

"This is the certificate issued by my teacher, the witch Sophia, a senior breeder. Take a look."

Locke gave the certificate of the Crystal Palm Fire Lotus to Yuri Burns.

Yuri Burns paused for a moment, then looked on in astonishment. "So fast? It's only been a little over two months since you last sold a new magical plant. You've already developed a new variety?"

Locke nodded slightly, appearing quite calm. "Yes. I recently learned about the magic resonance cultivation method, so I've had some new insights, and this cultivation method allows for targeted mutations."

"The speed of breeding new varieties is even faster than before. I also plan to take this one out to participate in the White Wizard Association's breeder competition. It's more than enough to get into the preliminary rounds."

After reviewing the test certificate, Yuri's expression became slightly complicated. "Another excellent work, and unlike the previous two, the Palm Fire Lotus has a very unique positioning."

"Your Crystal Palm Fire Lotus can completely replace it. Those wizard apprentices who have mastered the magic tricks [Scorched Earth Bomb], [Fingertip Fire Breath], and [Secondary Plant Fire Tongue] will probably all buy your Crystal Palm Fire Lotus directly."

Yuri exclaimed, "It seems that Augustine, your talent in the field of breeding is truly exceptional. Sometimes it happens that geniuses like you can produce several revolutionary magical plant products in a row."

“The Palm Fire Lotus has a very special role. Many botanical wizarding organizations purchase this magical plant as part of their war stockpiles.” Yuri looked at Locke and said, “Especially since Lilith House is currently in the midst of a wizarding war.”

Yuri thought for a moment and said, "The Palm Fire Lotus is priced at 5 magic stones in our shop, and I can buy it at that price."

"But I suggest you try the academy's procurement route, Locke. If you agree, I can try to recommend this magical plant to the procurement department of Lilith Hut Academy."

Locke asked in confusion, "Collective procurement by the academy?"

"what is that?"

Yuri paused for a moment, then coughed at Locke and smiled, "It's normal that you don't know. Breeders usually don't have direct contact with the academy's procurement department."

"The academy's centralized procurement is a process where the academy purchases a large quantity of your magical plants within a certain period. A large amount of magical stones will be paid in one lump sum through a contract. All you need to do is deliver the goods on time."

"The Palm Fire Lotus is a war resource. I think the academy might buy up a large quantity of your magical plants at once, allowing you to expand the seed scale of the Palm Fire Lotus in a short time and grow your plantation in a very short period of time."

"This afternoon, first-class wizard apprentices sent by the academy entered Lijin Secret Language to conduct centralized procurement."

Yuri smiled at Locke and said, "I'll give it a try for you. If it works, you shouldn't be short of magic stones for a while."

Yuri looked at Locke with a hint of envy.

(End of this chapter)