Chapter 697

Chapter 694 Purchasing the World Stone!

Locke left the dissertation defense and immediately saw Mason and her two companions. They surrounded him, asking if he had passed.

After Locke nodded in confirmation, the three breathed a sigh of relief.

After a month and a half of hard work, using up the million-dollar fund and the five million magic stones Locke had provided, they had finally completed this first-class fund project.

Locke celebrated with the three, then left the Institute of True Knowledge with a somber face, riding his Rainbow Sparrow to the Dragonblood Market. Locke found Scarlett Witch and, in her kitchen, handed her the design blueprints for the fifth wizard’s shoes, magic plant seeds, and the No. 2 Overlord Essence and its cell conjugate. Scarlett Witch

didn’t seem to be doing well either; recently, more and more wizards wanted to terminate their contracts with her, which was indeed due to his involvement.

If this continued, it might even threaten her job in Arthas.

After saying goodbye to Scarlett Witch, Locke thought for a moment and contacted the Celtic leader, who had provided the most financial support and had previously lent him money.

Recently, Leader Celt was transferred to the Longevity Peach Garden. He wondered if he could contact him.

Speaking of which, he hadn’t yet repaid the 30,000 magic stones he owed him.

It had been so long, and Leader

Celt hadn’t urged him to do so. Locke flew high above Golden Crown Mountain on his Rainbow Sparrow and used the Ganoderma lucidum plant to make a voice call to Leader Celt.

Leader Celt answered the call immediately.

At that moment, behind Leader Celt was a scene of raging waves, a massive waterspout descending from the sky and rapidly circling him.

Leader Celt held the Ganoderma lucidum plant in his right hand while continuously casting spells with his left, suppressing the group of merman priests before him.

“Locke, what’s the matter? I’m currently engaged in planar conquest.”

“The Silent Holy Grail should begin in about a week. It’s a pity I can’t make it back to watch your match,” Leader Celt said regretfully.

At that moment, the waterspout attempted to engulf him.

Locke then noticed that the waterspout contained an army of tens of thousands of merfolk. Simultaneously, the Celtic leader possessed an Eye of Truth behind him, proving that the Eye of Truth had noticed the large-scale battle taking place in the lower world and had actively recorded Civilization Credits.

Locke noted that the Celtic leader had 998 Civilization Credits, meaning that these merfolk natives had likely violated wizarding laws, thus suppressing them didn’t consume many Civilization Credits.

However, frankly, in planar conquest, even if the opponent violated wizarding laws, killing too many would still continuously deplete Civilization Credits.

The Celtic leader seemed amused by the tens of thousands of merfolk. “I traded the essence of water with the native inhabitants of this plane using materials, who knew that the empire of this world would suddenly declare war on me. Since it’s a declaration of war, it’s equivalent to declaring war on the wizarding world, and since it’s a declaration of war, there’s nothing more to say.”

Celtic Team Leader complained to Locke, “This civilization’s level is too low. The strongest, the emperor, is only equivalent to a first-class wizard apprentice. They only have the special ability to combine their army’s power and transform it into a sea tornado.”

“I’m thinking about how to fight. I originally wanted to end it quickly with a powerful spell, but I’m afraid that if I use a powerful spell, ninety-nine percent of this world’s civilization will be killed or wounded, and my civilization credit points will be deducted by more than half.”

“If I use other spells, the magical pressure released will be too high for them.” Celtic Team Leader pondered, “It is indeed difficult to handle. This kind of low-level world should actually be handled by a first-ring wizard. Their magical pressure is not that high, so they are not so restricted.”

Locke smiled and said, “Can’t we even use apprentice-level spells?”

Celtic Team Leader coughed. “The magical pressure of a second-ring wizard is too high. Even using only apprentice-level magic, the aftershocks alone could cause widespread death among the mortals of this world. Due to the special nature of ultimate magic, before reaching the Star Ring level, I couldn’t control my magical pressure at will.”

“Aren’t you about to start the Ultimate Magic Modeling Competition?”

“That competition also has another name: the Plane Conquest Competition. Sigh, my current weakness is what you’re about to encounter.”

Leader Celt grinned mischievously.

He impatiently waved his hand, and a leaf fell, causing the massive waterspout to collapse abruptly beneath it.

Leader Celt kept checking his civilization credit points. Although the other side had declared war on the wizarding civilization, the difference between the two was too great.

It was like a lower-dimensional being fighting a higher-dimensional being, so the Eye of Truth would have a certain bias.

If he killed too many, he would still lose civilization credit points, just not much.

But even losing a little would hurt Leader Celt, so he was restraining himself, preparing to slowly eliminate this group of merfolk.

And, there was one more thing.

These merfolk legions are adept at extracting the essence of water from the depths of the ocean in this shallow sea plane. If he kills too many, it might affect the workforce.

A decrease in the workforce will reduce the production of water essence.

He doesn’t care whether the water essence is obtained through commercial trade or direct military conquest through taxation, but regardless, water essence is a necessary resource for building the Hanging Gardens.

This is a task directly ordered by the Throne Lord.

If he affects the Throne Lord’s plans, he will be in serious trouble and may be dismissed.

Therefore, Team Leader Celt is fighting very cautiously. He is basically operating in idle mode. Since he has nothing to do, he asked Locke, “Dear Locke, is there anything I can help you with?”

Locke nodded. “Yes, Team Leader Celt, I want to trade a World Stone with the Academy. I heard before that there are special channels, but I checked the information and didn’t find any public application channels.”

“Therefore, I wanted to ask you if you could help me apply.”

Team Leader Celt was taken aback. “World Stone? You’re in such a hurry? Wouldn’t it be more relaxed to consider this after you pass the Great Magic Modeling Competition? Why rush?”

Locke nodded, recalling Nina the Witch’s inexplicable remark. “Team Leader, I really need it. Do you know if I have a channel to trade it?”

Team Leader Celt rubbed his chin with his left thumb, pondering, “That requires a special talent channel, and the conditions are very high. There are requirements for the journals, specifically Zone 1 and top-tier journals. You need to publish at least fifteen Zone 1 journal articles within Golden Crown Mountain during the first stage, and win a top-tier first-stage award before you’ll have a chance to exchange it.”

“These conditions are quite high. After all, the hard requirements are 15 Zone 1 articles, a top-tier first-stage award, and at least one renowned wizard’s level competition championship.”

“Especially that top prize. In the ordinary first-tier area, you can climb the ranks by accumulating time and seniority, but obtaining that prize, I think, is even more difficult than obtaining a World Stone. The competition itself is also incredibly difficult.”

“The overall conditions give me the illusion that wizards who need this channel don’t actually need to go through it to get World Stones. And first-tier wizards who truly need this channel simply don’t have the conditions or ability to go through it.”

Locke blinked. “The Istoria Archaeology Award, isn’t that a top-tier first-tier award? It’s a first-tier archaeology award from the Starfield Sea, and the academy even rewarded me with a Golden Cloud Peach.”

The Celtic wizard paused, and the next moment, a wave crashed towards him, only to be automatically blocked by his Perpetual Defensive Force Field, the Water Cloud Barrier, and bounced back, causing another large number of casualties.

The Civilization Credits displayed by the Eye of Truth became 997.

The Celtic wizard looked at the countless dead and wounded merfolk legion and was speechless. “Damn the Divine Empire, even in this state, they still come to their deaths.”

“Damn it, another bunch of valuable laborers have died.”

“That’s money. We can’t keep fighting like this.” The Celtic wizard’s face was grim. “It’s too difficult to crush ants without killing them.”

“If I had known, I should have sent a first-ring wizard. No, two first-class wizard apprentices would have been enough.”

“It’s easier for a low-ring wizard to handle this kind of thing. If I came directly, I could just slightly increase the magic pressure and seize the plane’s power from this small world, causing the extinction of a large number of creatures.”

The Celtic wizard looked at Locke and said, “The Istoria Archaeology Award? I’ve heard of that. It’s very famous, the most prestigious archaeology award at the first-ring stage, right? What did you do to deserve such an award?”

“For many years, the Istoria Archaeology Award has rarely been awarded to first-ring wizards from overseas star systems.”

“Unless you have very important results, or even results that can fill research gaps, you absolutely cannot win this award!”

He probably hadn’t been back to the prime material plane for too long, so he was indeed not very familiar with Locke’s current situation.

“Then you’ll have the Spellfighting Tournament championship and the Istria Archaeology Award. All that’s left is to meet the requirement of fifteen Zone 1 journal articles.”

Locke did a quick mental calculation; he currently had sixteen Zone 1 journal articles published.

Furthermore, his research on glandular root sacs could be published in *Green Grass and Clouds*.

That would be seventeen Zone 1 journal articles.

He was surprised by the sheer number of Zone 1 articles he had. He

even had dozens in Zone 2, thanks to the help of his general studies wizard apprentice and his continuous achievements in pineapple-type magical plants. After organizing his work, he published many Zone 2 articles to earn contribution points.

A careful count brought his total to 35.

This was only because after joining Group 2, he hadn’t had much time to produce articles due to a trip to the Abyss for archaeology and preparations for the Silent Holy Grail Tournament.

Otherwise, the number would be even higher.

Locke said, “Now I have sixteen World Stones.”

The Celtic group leader was also taken aback. “So many? You actually have so many? Then you can apply. You definitely meet the requirements. I’ll find someone to submit the application form for you; I estimate someone will come to you soon to fill out the relevant materials.”

“If you need it, I can get it done for you right now.”

“But even through this welfare-based channel, you’ll need to pay five million magic stones.”

Locke’s brow furrowed.

World Stones are truly expensive.

Five million magic stones could fund a large project for a first-ring wizard.

After all, this isn’t a purchase channel, but a welfare-based channel provided by Golden Crown Mountain.

‘It’s probably to prevent wizards from taking advantage of the system to get World Stones for free.’ These five million magic stones are likely to cover the costs required to obtain them.

Locke pondered, “A World Stone needs to be extracted from a world using special methods. Even disregarding its intrinsic value, just getting it out requires a massive amount of resources. Five million magic stones probably wouldn’t cover the costs.” “Thinking about it carefully, this is indeed a benefit. After all, the cost of doing things yourself versus hiring someone is completely different. Although I doubt that Grand Wizard Sura conquered the Mage Plane for five million magic stones.” Locke

said

to the Celtic group leader, “Okay, group leader, please exchange it for me. Thank you.”

This way, he would soon have a World Stone.

With that, combined with his Evolution Moon, he could become a second-circle wizard at any time; it was simply a matter of choice.

Of course, becoming a second-circle wizard in this way would compromise the completion of his ultimate magic, so he wouldn’t do it unless absolutely necessary.

After thanking the Celtic group leader, Locke hung up the phone.

Now he could go back and review the materials for the Ultimate Magic Modeling Competition, wait a week, and then directly participate in the competition.

Locke sat atop the Rainbow Sparrow, pondering why Nina the Witch had suddenly given him such a hint. Had she overheard something at the Rose Council?

Locke sensed an unusual disturbance in the magical tides. He looked up at the sky and saw that the distant sky seemed to have been torn apart by a giant black hand. The hand had entered this world, unleashing a demonic storm upon a certain region of the earth.

It was the power of the Twin Demon Realms.

A bell tolled from Mount Golden Crown—’The Gates of Hell have opened! The Demon War has officially begun!’

‘Wizards participating in the war, please immediately respond to the Demon War and enter the Gates of Hell.’

‘Wizards remaining behind, please restrain the Demon Beasts. Before the Demon War is resolved, any plundering of the Cloud Marsh by the Demon Beasts is illegal.’

At the same time, directly below the Demon Beasts was the City of the Demon Pivot.

The wizarding leader of the City of the Demon Pivot, a third-circle wizard, looked up at the terrifying Demon Beasts, a look of astonishment flashing across his face. “How is this possible? The Twin Demon Realms dare to attack our Nexus City? Was that demon storm coming for us? Could it be that they want to…”

“No.” The Nexus City Lord suddenly sneered. “Don’t try to play mind games with me. How could the Twin Demon Realms’ target be our Nexus City…”

“All wizards, forbid pursuit. This matter has nothing to do with us.”

Suddenly, the demon behemoth changed direction and attacked a small to medium-sized wizarding organization, [Rose Paradise], a thousand kilometers north of Nexus City.

All the magical tides near Rose Paradise were swallowed up by the demon behemoth, and the entire environment instantly became magic-free.

The full-fledged wizards and wizarding apprentices in Rose Paradise all fought desperately, unable to believe why the demon behemoth had suddenly turned around and attacked them, catching them completely off guard.

The master wizard of Rose Paradise, a second-ring Moon Ring wizard, immediately looked at the magical fields hidden in the core area of Rose Paradise. “So, you couldn’t hide it after all?”

The cold voice of the master wizard echoed above Rose Paradise, saying, “All wizards without contracts may automatically leave Rose Paradise. Those wizards with contracts and who owe Rose Paradise money, please stay and fight to the death to protect Rose Paradise.”

She chanted a spell, and instantly, the wizarding town where Rose Paradise was located was covered in blooming magical roses of every color.

(End of Chapter)