Chapter 946

Chapter 940 The defense begins!

Five days later, at dawn, in his dormitory at Golden Crown Mountain, Locke’s main body sat in his room.

His clone was reading materials and handling other matters in the library, while Locke’s main body was recuperating in this dormitory.

In the past five days, Locke had recovered to his best condition using the second-circle potion [Primal Breath Potion] that Douglas had ordered for him.

Locke looked at the materials he had prepared for the defense on his desk and let out a sigh of relief. There were less than six hours left before the defense.

His clone had already submitted the relevant information on the [Great Spring Breeze Dragon Sparrow Spell] that he had compiled to the Wind Harvester Holy Land. This was a spell model that he had independently developed, and of course, he couldn’t provide it for free.

Therefore, his clone needed to discuss a deal with them, whether it was a one-time purchase or he could find an enchanter to make a professional enchanted spell scroll, and then the Wind Harvester Holy Land would cooperate with him on this spell model by purchasing the [Great Spring Breeze Dragon Sparrow Spell] scroll.

Of course, this would require lengthy business negotiations.

Because the issues involved are extremely complex, firstly, the Wind Chaser Holy Land might not approve of this spell; they might have other ideas.

Although the probability of this is relatively small, it’s not impossible.

Secondly, the Great Spring Breeze Dragon Sparrow Spell was designed based on a miniaturized Great Roaring Dragon Sparrow, and no one knows what kind of reaction it will produce on the super-giant Great Azure Leaf Dragon Sparrow.

Therefore, there should still be room for negotiation with the Wind Chaser Holy Land.

Locke plans to have a serious discussion with them after the special funding selection is completed and he has the energy, since it involves the business of several of his shops in Aladdin and Silver Peach Garden, and it’s also his first time getting involved in large-scale aircraft. He really doesn’t want to be humiliated on his first attempt.

He also hopes that this will allow him to launch two or more weapon platform series for the Great Azure Leaf Dragon Sparrow at Silver Peach Garden, shifting Silver Peach Garden from producing individual magical plants to selling weapon platform systems.

But he needs to send at least one clone to carefully monitor these matters; otherwise, even the best things will be lost if entrusted to someone who isn’t attentive.

Locke opened his eyes and glanced at the clock. In less than six hours, he would be attending his dissertation defense. But unusually, he felt no tension, anxiety, or other emotions; only a profound calm.

Locke watched the morning sun gradually rise above the horizon.

“I’ve been so busy lately, rarely have I had the chance to sit down and watch the sunrise like this. This isn’t good; it makes me feel unreal. I can’t let myself become a research robot.”

There was a knock at the dormitory door. Locke crossed the living room and opened the door. It was Trajan, the wizard.

Trajan smelled faintly of blood, but his wizard’s robes were relatively clean.

He pushed open the door and entered, saying to Locke, “Sorry, I just came back from the battlefield, I have some blood on me. The Five Great Wars have begun, and I just killed a few ordinary second-circle wizards from the Twin Demon Realms. Everyone says the Twin Demon Realms are becoming increasingly difficult to deal with, but I don’t think it makes much of a difference.”

“Some people are just too nervous.”

Locke looked at Wizard Trajan and said, “Senior brother, why did you come to see me at this time? Is there something you need my help with? Do you need me to brew a potion?”

Wizard Trajan said, “No. I’ve come to bring you some help.”

Wizard Trajan took out a stack of documents from his astral ring.

“Because my position at Mount Golden Crown is the head of an office on the Academic Committee, and my office happens to be organizing some materials from your special grant applications. So, I can take advantage of my position to bring you these materials.”

“Hmm, there are still more than five hours left. Time is a bit tight, but if it’s you, you can read them several times.”

Locke looked at Wizard Trajan strangely and asked, “Isn’t this against the rules?”

Wizard Trajan pointed to the clock behind Locke.

“It won’t affect anything, because today is the day you’re going to start your defenses, so the materials have already been opened. It’s a procedural issue, so it’s allowed according to the rules. You know, when an organization grows bigger and has more people, there are more rules, and all sorts of rules combined will inevitably create some loopholes.” “

My office is a position specifically set up to follow procedures. So, there are some rather peculiar rules that no one notices.”

“However, although I’m a little speechless myself, it’s work after all, and since it’s work, I can only take it seriously. In short, it’s in accordance with the regulations. Take a look now, and you’ll have a general idea, and you can formulate some strategies on the spot.”

Locke first quickly scanned all the materials. There were eleven documents submitted in total, seven of which, including his own, were from Catherine the Witch’s collaborating wizards. This meant that Catherine the Witch was already the most influential collaborating wizard mentor in this year’s Golden Crown Mountain True Knowledge Academy. Of

course, this might not necessarily be a good thing for him.

Because there would definitely be wizards from other schools or factions on the judging panel.

Locke glanced at the applications submitted by Catherine the Witch’s students, which had passed the review and been approved for defense. Of the six applications besides his own, all were research on magical plant crystallization technology.

This was unsurprising.

Locke paused, looking at Zeno’s research, because it actually used crystallized magical plants as raw materials for repairing the Golden Channel.

In other words, Zeno’s research didn’t treat crystallized magical plants as some kind of special living magical plant, but rather believed that crystallized magical plants could be directly transformed into materials to fill the increasingly dilapidated Golden Channel.

Locke vaguely sensed that this was fundamentally different from the other five applications on magical plant crystallization technology.

He then looked at Brandy’s application.

“Hmm? The crystallization of the imaginary root of the magic plant has actually achieved significant preliminary results? The initial crystallization of the imaginary root of the second-ring magic plant has been successfully completed, proving its initial feasibility. However, its functionality still needs further development.”

“Brandy believes that given another year or two, he can truly complete the functional crystallization of the imaginary root.”

Locke pondered for a moment.

“Since this is just a defense of the application, whether it can actually be done isn’t important. What’s important is that the judges and experts are convinced, through the application and the presentation, that these things are indeed achievable.”

“As long as they believe it, it’s a pass.”

Locke pondered, “Zenor and Brandy have the same problem. One is focusing on the current issue of the Golden Route’s lack of maintenance, which is of great concern to wizards, while the other is focusing on a major breakthrough in a hot topic: the crystallization of Imaginary Roots. Both topics are significant and attract attention. Therefore, for them, the key to success lies in whether they can convince the judges that Imaginary Roots can indeed be crystallized with sufficient funding, or that the Golden Route can truly be repaired using crystallized magical plants.”

Their top-tier grant projects are focused on two major areas in the wizarding worlds: one is a current hot topic, and the other is infrastructure development. Both are adept at choosing topics.

As the saying goes, a good topic can lead to twice the result with half the effort.

Locke suddenly paused.

“Wait a minute, the Golden Route has been constantly attacked by void energy, so the root materials of the Golden Route cannot be made from living materials, right?”

Locke’s expression became complicated.

“If his top-tier grant is approved, it will put pressure on the judges, because it would be tantamount to saying that the magical plant crystallization technology is flawed. Brother Zeno, why does he have to go against the grain…”

Wizard Trajan nodded in agreement.

“That’s just his personality. People who meet him for the first time usually don’t like him. But they quickly realize they’ve misunderstood him, because he treats everyone the same way, which is why he’s ostracized. I gave him some pointers before, but I still didn’t like his personality.”

“This guy just doesn’t have the luck to attract benefactors.”

“If things go well, he’ll say it’s because he’s incredibly talented, as if our help didn’t exist. If things don’t go well, it’ll be our fault. Zeno has too high an opinion of himself. Although the teacher likes him, I’m not so fond of him.”

“Junior Brother, you’re so kind. I feel very comfortable around you.”

Locke smiled, and the two exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

“Senior brother, you are a very kind person. I feel very comfortable with you,”

said the wizard Trajan. “You can also take a look at Antoine’s application. However, it’s about to begin, and he is the first candidate for the special-funded dissertation defense. He hasn’t even returned to Mount Golden Crown yet; neither his clone nor his main body is inside Mount Golden Crown. I wonder what he’s doing.”

Locke nodded, glancing at Antoine’s application, which he already knew.

If the applications he had seen before, regardless of who passed, meant that Catherine the Witch had won, then the remaining four applications represented competitors within their academic lineage and even the academic committee faction.

Antoine was a strong contender among them.

However, his problem was more obvious: it was too far-fetched. If he didn’t directly obtain the coordinates of that so-called super-planet, he wouldn’t even be able to convince the judges that he had actually developed a research plan, and not just a science fiction novel.

The remaining three applications all came from the Deacon Group. Two were in other areas: one was from the Evocation School, focusing on wind magic. This application researched the optimization of a relatively new second-circle wind magic spell model, “Wall of Sighs,” involving twelve sets of wind magic spell models. It was extremely complex and required research into magical winds around the world, thus needing funding and relevant data from key laboratories.

Each key laboratory possessed some kind of data meaningful to the wizarding world.

The other application seemed to be similar research; both applicants were students of the same Throne Wizard from the Evocation School within the Deacon Group, so they were both researching the supposedly absolute defensive second-circle wind magic spell model, “Wall of Sighs.”

The only difference was some innovative aspects.

The third application focused on optimizing a fire magic model from the Evocation School, but frankly, its quality was very mediocre. Even assuming it passed the internal review, it would likely be squeezed out by applications from other smaller wizarding academies and rejected, which would be rather laughable.

The Special Grant is something that every eligible wizarding university’s School of Truth can apply for once a year, submitting one application.

So while the chances of rejection are slim, it’s not uncommon for Golden Crown Mountain’s School of Truth’s Special Grant application to be rejected this year by a dark horse that appeared out of nowhere.

Locke pondered, “But the Wall of Sighs is indeed a big name for wizards of the Evocation school, but outside of it, not many wizards have heard of it.”

Locke’s expression was strange.

“Research related to the Wall of Sighs is relatively weak in terms of topic selection, since it has basically nothing to do with the basic construction or hot topics of the wizarding world. They must have their own confidence to submit applications at this time, but under the impact of the Magic Plant Crystallization technology, their biggest difficulty is to tell the review committee that the significance of their research surpasses that of a single Magic Plant Crystallization technology research route.”

“Of course, this is also my biggest difficulty. This is a disadvantage of competing with technologies in key and popular research directions.”

Locke carefully examined the documents, using them to analyze the strategies of his main rivals, predicting how they would attack his research, and identifying their respective research challenges, strengths, and weaknesses.

Locke said to the wizard Trajan, “Senior brother, but this gives me a feeling of cheating.”

Trajan replied, “Cheating? That’s because your morals are too high. There’s a tradition of gathering intelligence before the annual special grant. Some people have probably already started using all their methods.” Trajan added

, “Oh, right. There’s something I need to tell you. Never mind, the teacher told me to wait until you finish the special grant before telling you, afraid it might affect your mood. Never mind.” Trajan thought

for a moment but didn’t say anything.

“I just think you have the right to know this.”

Locke glanced at his senior brother but didn’t ask. After all, since it was the teacher’s instruction, there must be a reason.

He didn’t need to go against their wishes.

Trajan checked the time and said, “There’s only one hour left. Come on, I’ll personally take you to the Institute of True Knowledge.”

“I’m afraid someone might block your way and spoil your mood.”

Locke stepped outside, jumped onto Trajan’s cloud whale, and the two flew towards Mount Golden Crown.

Locke asked Trajan, “Block my way?”

Trajan smiled.

“It’s not just special grants; some important funds, especially those involving significant sums of money, the operation of the world, or the development of a small area within the wizarding world, are where everyone uses their own methods. Some people love to be obstacles, because whether a grant is approved depends on performance.”

“So those who want to be obstacles will deliberately appear on your way to the defense, using various methods to hinder you, ruin your mindset, and prevent you from fully demonstrating your abilities.”

“Some of these obstacles are intentional, while others are even more terrifying—unintentional. They just want to dampen your spirits and deflate your morale.”

Trajan smiled.

“My first special grant was stolen in this way. So, this time I’ll accompany you. See, here comes the obstacle!”

On Mount Golden Crown, Master Patrick Finch, accompanied by an ordinary second-circle wizard student, appeared before them riding a flying magical creature, a disc-shaped flying fish.

Master Patrick Finch held a black apple in his right hand, cradling it as if it were a precious jewel.

Master Patrick Finch seemed quite surprised to encounter Locke here.

Wizard Trajan looked at Master Patrick Finch with a forced smile, “Finch. How come you’ve become so bold lately, actually appearing right in front of me?”

Master Patrick Finch’s eye twitched, because he hadn’t expected Locke to have such a formidable killer as Trajan by his side.

Master Patrick Finch said, “Hello, Wizard Trajan.”

“Following the fine tradition of your Red Dragon lineage, I’m having a bit of fun with my wizard friends. I’ve posed a difficult problem to the ordinary second-circle breeders at Golden Crown Mountain. I think it’s a difficult problem, but not that hard. Therefore, I’ve come to your esteemed school, thinking that with the abilities of your wizards, they should be able to solve it quickly.”

“Golden Crown Mountain is a renowned academy of breeders.”

“Unfortunately, I’ve tested many second-circle wizards at Golden Crown Mountain, and not a single one has been able to solve my problem.”

Master Patrick Finch smiled at Locke.

“Locke Augustine, you’re hailed as a genius breeder of our Cloud Marsh Wetlands, one of the potential future leaders. Some even suspect you’re one of the so-called chosen ones of the wizarding world proposed by the Star Sea. I’m also very interested in you. So, can you solve the problem I’m presenting?”

Locke looked at the black apple in his right hand.

Master Patrick Finch said, “Look, here is a golden apple, but it’s parasitized by the juvenile form of a second-ring creature called the Black Hawk Moth. It’s a black worm-like creature that’s adept at absorbing the life force of magical plant fruits, and once it successfully parasitizes, it mixes its own spiritual energy with that of the golden apple. How can this be resolved?”

Wizard Trajan immediately became impatient.

“Patrick Finch, don’t make me lose face in front of your student. I’ve already given you face.”

“If you dare to talk nonsense again, you can try.”

Locke glanced at Wizard Trajan; his senior brother was just as irritable.

Master Patrick Finch coughed awkwardly.

He then looked at Locke.

Locke looked at the blackened golden apple in Master Patrick Finch’s hand and then laughed.

“How can a master’s question be so simple? It’s rather pointless to ask others about such a question.”

Master Patrick Finch raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

The next moment, a full moon fell behind Locke, followed by a golden tree appearing in the moonlight.

The golden apple suddenly changed, and a black worm was forced to crawl out.

The next moment, the worm exploded and died, and the golden apple returned to its normal color.

Master Patrick Finch’s eyes narrowed.

In an instant, Locke had solved the puzzle he had set.

Locke’s solution was simple. The reason why the larval form of the Black Hawk Moth could parasitize magical plants, something breeders feared, was because this magical creature would try to blend its spiritual energy with that of the magical plant. This meant that most potions could kill both the Black Hawk Moth larvae and the magical plant.

But for someone like him, possessing the strength of a second-ring breeder and a second-ring potion master, it was far too easy.

First, use the Moon of Evolution to evolve the golden apple, changing its spiritual energy, forcing the larva to emerge from its dormant state.

Second, simply eliminate the worm.

It was that simple.

Master Patrick Finch might have presented a difficult problem for all the ordinary second-ring breeders at Golden Crown Mountain.

And the black hawk moth larvae might indeed be a troublesome pest.

But… this was certainly not a problem for him.

Locke looked at Master Patrick Finch with a half-smile.

“Master, do you think this is a solution?”

“Master, you will be the judge later, and I am the applicant standing below. Please be lenient.”

Trajan immediately rode away on his cloud whale, leaving behind a mocking glance.

Master Patrick Finch looked in Locke’s direction. “Terrifying, this rate of progress is truly terrifying. When I saw him half a year ago, he didn’t even have this kind of strength.”

The second-ring wizard beside Master Patrick Finch smiled bitterly. “Compared to him, teacher, these ten years I’ve followed you feel like a waste, every day has been a waste of time. Because I don’t seem to have improved at all. Last time I was with you, I saw him once in the wizarding town near the Rose Council. He wasn’t this terrifying then.”

“Those two ultimate spells… are too perfect.”

Master Patrick Finch glanced at his student.

“Ottila, to be my student and become a second-ring wizard, you are already a genius among geniuses.”

“But the wizard you just saw is a genius among geniuses among geniuses. He should be able to become a sun-ring wizard in the future.”

Master Patrick Finch crushed the golden apple in his hand, and shook his head slightly as he looked at Locke.

“Unfortunately, I’ve already achieved my goal. Tura has misunderstood me. I’m not here to be an obstacle. I just wanted to confirm one thing: I wanted to see Locke Augustine’s ultimate magic.”

“Just like when I saw Edgar’s ultimate magic. Right now, the best second-circle wizards in Yunze Wetlands’ breeding field are just a few people. It’s just a pity…”

Master Patrick Finch remained calm.

“Having seen Locke Augustine’s ultimate magic, I’m relieved.”

“Hopefully, that Brandy guy will be of some use, not completely useless. I’ve helped him as much as I can. I even gave him some research materials directly.”

A student behind Master Patrick Finch whispered, “What about Zeno’s matter…”

Patrick Finch said, “I’ve also seen Zeno’s ultimate magic, and there’s even less to say about it. It’s just a construction of that level. I’ll break his spine at this defense! I’ll make sure he never dares to write to Yunze to report me again, and I’ll make Yunze’s editorial board retract my published articles.”

A fierce glint flashed in Patrick Finch’s eyes.

(End of Chapter)