Chapter Summaries

After Locke left with Howard, Pierre urged Lorne to use their connection to become one of Locke’s potion test subjects, and Lorne agreed. At his laboratory, Locke tested the captive Howard and compiled a report.

• Locke comforted Pierre and Lorne, warned them against taking dangerous missions, and left with the sealed Howard.
• Pierre told Lorne that serving as one of Locke’s test subjects was safer and more profitable than taking missions, and Lorne agreed to apply for the Memory Ointment experiment.
• Gabi learned that Locke had his own Potion Laboratory and considered applying to test the Memory Ointment, though she doubted the laboratory would accept a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice.
• Locke imprisoned the injured Howard in a Binding Cage and tested him with basic alchemical equipment as Howard cursed, begged for mercy, and threatened him.
• Locke completed a round of tests on Howard and produced a test report.

Locke documented the strengths and weaknesses of the Vampire Baron Howard and decided to keep him as a valuable experimental subject. Witch Sophia agreed to help secure Howard and share him for her research on a new potion for undead creatures.

• Locke’s experiments showed that Howard could survive most injuries but would die if his head were severed, and Locke recorded the Vampire Baron’s weaknesses in a report for Lilith’s Cottage’s public library.
• Locke considered using Howard for potion research and decided not to sell him, noting that his rarity and the war between Lilith’s Cottage and the Blood Curse Court made him especially valuable.
• Locke chose to move Howard from his laboratory to his teacher’s magical creature breeding room for safekeeping.
• Locke told Witch Sophia about Howard, and she agreed to keep him and share the experimental subject because she needed material for a new undead potion formula.

Locke assessed how slowly his Mental Power was growing despite spending heavily on cultivation resources and decided he needed to find new sources of income to progress faster. He planned to check the grade of his report at the library, pursue Breeder rewards, and settle on a profitable research direction for his Personal Potion Laboratory.

• Locke calculated that his Mental Power would take five to six years to reach 600 even with his current resources and cultivation methods.
• Locke recognized that his Plantation earned 3,500 Magic Stones monthly while his basic cultivation expenses alone reached 8,000, with additional costs for his laboratories and Vampire experiments.
• Locke considered buying more magical resources at Chimera Market but concluded that he needed to increase his income first.
• Locke planned to visit the library the next day to learn the grade of his report and hoped to exchange it for magical resources.
• Locke planned to earn more resources through the Breeder examination and competition, choose a profitable Potion research direction, and decide how to use his unclaimed Wizard Secret Realm resources.

Locke visited the Central Academy Library and learned that his article about Vampires had earned a B-Class rating and 50 contribution points. He realized that publishing research could earn points faster than other work, though most Wizard Apprentices could not produce articles good enough to receive rewards.

• Locke asked Scholar Aul about the article he had submitted six days earlier.
• Aul told Locke that three General Studies doctors had rated his article 71, classed it B-Class, and awarded him 50 contribution points.
• Aul suggested Locke could publish more articles based on his high-ranking Vampire prisoner, and Locke said he had placed the Vampire in his Wizard mentor's breeding room.
• Locke read the library's congratulations and compared his 50 points with the smaller amounts Yuli, Headmaster Tungus, Patti, and Kode had earned.
• Locke concluded that publishing articles was a fast way to gain contribution points, but most people could not write articles that scored high enough to earn rewards.

Locke learned how Wizard Sophia’s academic network had helped her publish many papers and discovered that Lady Morgana had published 2,143 papers, including forty-six S-Class papers. He declined to spend his contribution points on paper access, then considered buying research materials to investigate the strange bloodline within himself.

• Locke asked Dwarf scholar Aul to check Wizard Sophia’s publication record and learned she had published 211 papers, including five S-Class papers.
• Aul explained that Sophia’s mentor, Lady Morgana, had provided access to resources and teams that helped her produce research.
• Locke learned Lady Morgana had published 2,143 papers, but she had concealed their grades except for her forty-six S-Class papers.
• Aul explained the contribution-point and Magic Stone costs for accessing papers, while S-Class papers remained unavailable to Locke.
• Locke decided not to spend his contribution points on papers and considered purchasing materials to investigate his strange bloodline.

Locke bought two articles on Ancient Creature Bloodlines and reflected on his earnings and work at the Healing Hand Clinic. At the clinic, he learned that Anglong had cured the Mother-Child Giant Corpse Blood Curse using another apprentice’s research, securing a chance to compete for Potions Rising Star.

• Locke asked Aul for research on Metal Element bloodlines and resonance between different Ancient Creature Bloodlines, then bought two relevant articles for one hundred Magic Stones.
• Locke went to the Healing Hand Clinic and reviewed his income, his early mistakes treating patients, and how brewing Lesser Emerald Potions could increase his workload and earnings.
• Locke found Aixi and Anglu at a celebration for the cure of the patient in Room One, who had been afflicted with the Mother-Child Giant Corpse Blood Curse.
• Anglu told Locke that Anglong had used another apprentice’s curse-potion research to cure the patient and improve his performance in the Potions Rising Star competition.
• Aixi and Anglu criticized Anglong’s victory as dishonorable, while Anglu explained that Mentor Harlan Vela had used his network to help Anglong compete for the title.

Anglong announced his plans to establish a special clinic at the Healing Hand Clinic and sought votes for the Starlight Apprentice title. Locke noticed Anglong seemed wary of him, though he could not identify why, and turned his attention back to his own goals.

• Anglong announced that his workshop would treat difficult curses and asked First-Class Wizard Apprentices to vote for him as Starlight Apprentice.
• Anglu explained that the clinic would reward Outstanding and Distinguished Healers with valuable potions, while Aixi dismissed Anglong's efforts to pursue rewards and titles.
• Locke reflected on the different circles among First-Class Wizard Apprentices and his rising standing through his Plantation and Potion Laboratory.
• Anglong approached Locke, offered him guidance, and acted unusually wary; Locke said he had never dealt with Anglong before.
• Anglu warned Locke to limit contact with Anglong, while Locke resolved to focus on the Breeder examination and raising his Mental Power to 600.

Locke studied two papers on Ancient Creature Bloodlines and their Mythological Factors, connecting the research to his own hidden bloodline and unusual golden force field. As he considered studying Archaeology and Golden Magic, another cursed Magic Plant case arrived at the treatment center.

• Locke read a paper proposing that Mythological Factors from divine ancestors were the source of Ancient Creatures’ power and wondered whether his bloodlines contained them.
• Locke examined a second paper listing 245 Ancient Creature Bloodlines and noted its examples of Metal-affinity creatures, including the Golden Griffin, Deep Sea Golden Mother, and Golden Dragon.
• Locke connected the research to his hidden bloodline, his mother’s ring, and the golden force field he had once produced, and decided Archaeology might help him investigate.
• A Second-Class Wizard Apprentice summoned Locke, Aixi, and Anglu to treat another person whose Magic Plant had been afflicted by a curse.

Locke and his team struggled to treat a wizard apprentice whose arm and heart had fused with a mutated Lightning Bamboo planted by Saflin Sagamore. After the Lesser Emerald Potion cleared the curse energy but failed to stop the plant from producing more, Locke began seeking a way to prevent magic plant backlash by raising magic resistance or using curse-resistant plants.

• Locke, Aixi, and Anglu examined the patient and realized the Lightning Bamboo had fused with his arm and connected to his heart, making removal dangerous.
• Kali Ackerman declined to help and quickly left when Locke offered to hand the patient over to her workshop.
• Locke and Anglu administered Lesser Emerald Potion and Bear Spirit Bile Potion, clearing most of the curse energy but not reversing the mutated plant or stopping it from producing more.
• Anglu became unsettled by Saflin Sagamore's curse, and Locke calmed him before considering how to prevent plant backlash at its source.
• Locke told Aixi and Anglu to keep the patient alive while he considered strengthening magic resistance and using Curse-Dispelling Lilies against future Magic Plant Curses.

Locke met Zack to discuss a second bulk-purchase contract for Crystal Palmfire Lotus, while Anglu and Aixi learned that Locke was a gifted Breeder. Zack asked Locke to keep a hundred mu of production capacity running without guaranteed orders, but Locke refused and insisted the Academy purchase what it wanted; Zack then offered a ten-thousand-Magic-Stone contract.

• Zack met Locke at dusk and invited him to the Witch's Kitchen to discuss another Crystal Palmfire Lotus bulk-purchase contract.
• Anglu and Aixi realized Locke was a successful Breeder and wondered why he still worked at the Healing Hand Clinic.
• Zack told Locke that the Academy wanted to buy two thousand Crystal Palmfire Lotuses and have him maintain a hundred mu of production capacity for future needs.
• Locke refused to maintain the extra fields without orders, explaining the costs of operating them and saying he would keep only twenty mu for the Chimera Market.
• Zack reassured Locke that refusing would not hurt future cooperation and offered him a ten-thousand-Magic-Stone contract.

Locke finalized a second bulk-purchase contract with Zack and learned about Lilith's Cottage's wartime Magic Plant competition. He then unveiled Emerald Iris Lichen, a new Magic Plant with adaptive magic resistance, and considered its uses and large-scale cultivation.

• Locke refused to restore one hundred mu of Magic Fields at his own expense, and Zack paid him ten thousand Magic Stones for a second bulk-purchase contract due within three months.
• Zack told Locke about a Combat Department competition seeking a close-range defensive Magic Plant to protect plant-type wizards from Vampires, but Locke said he would think about entering.
• Locke inspected his Crystal Palmfire Lotus Plantation, guided the Minotaur slaves, and checked the other Plantation, where ten mu had been planted with Ironwire Ox-Tendon Grass.
• Locke revealed Emerald Iris Lichen, synthesized from Emerald Lichen and Iris Licorice, which combined surface magic resistance and vitality with the ability to adapt to repeated magical attacks.
• Locke considered replacing Emerald Lichen in Bear Spirit Bile Potion, practicing the Mana Resonance Cultivation Method, and growing Emerald Iris Lichen for Potion Masters.

Locke cultivated Emerald Iris Lichen and used grafting experiments to create a new variety that could resist a curse affecting Tifro Rootvine. He planned to stabilize and expand the experiment by exposing offspring to other Magic Plant Curses.

• Locke cultivated ten mu of Emerald Iris Lichen and explained its low costs as his savings reached 10,700 Magic Stones.
• Locke continued improving his Mana Resonance Cultivation Method while preparing for the Breeder examination.
• Locke grafted deteriorated Tifro Rootvine onto Emerald Iris Lichen using [Lesser Grafting Healing Spell] and Advanced Rapid-Growth Gel.
• Locke successfully created a shield-shaped Emerald Iris Lichen variant that adapted to the vine’s curse and helped improve the vine’s condition.
• Locke tested mucus from the new lichen on another deteriorated vine and observed beneficial changes.
• Locke planned to propagate the unstable variant and graft other Magic Plant Curses onto its offspring to develop resistance to different curses.

Locke realized that Saflin Sagamore’s Magic Plant Curses could help him develop curse-resistant Emerald Iris Lichen and saw an opportunity to advance his research and win lucrative contracts. He left the Plantation for his Potion Laboratory, where Teri presented completed Memory Ointment data and confirmed the Advanced Rapid-Growth Gel production line was ready.

• Locke concluded that he could exploit Magic Plant Curses to breed Emerald Iris Lichen with broad curse resistance and develop more variant strains.
• Locke decided he needed more Magic Plant Curses from Seflin and planned to hire an Enchanter to prevent his new lichen variety from being replicated by cuttings.
• Locke instructed the Minotaur noble slaves, set up a True-Seeing Orb in the Plantation, and traveled to his Potion Laboratory.
• Teri gave Locke the completed Memory Ointment report, which included animal experiments and a mortal trial, and Locke approved it for use in applying for a sales license.
• Teri told Locke that the Advanced Rapid-Growth Gel production line had been installed and calibrated and was ready to operate.

Locke assessed the low returns from mass-producing Advanced Rapid-Growth Gel and decided to make it only when convenient, while preparing to sell Memory Ointment as the Potion Laboratory’s main product. He projected that its income could bring his monthly finances close to balance, though becoming a Formal Wizard still required far more resources.

• Teri reported that the Advanced Rapid-Growth Gel production line was ready, and Locke calculated that its profits did not justify the time and labor required.
• Locke decided to use the gel line mainly to supply his own Plantation and treated the investment as useful experience for his Potion Laboratory.
• Teri confirmed that the Memory Ointment production line was calibrated, and Locke planned to spend one hour a day making twelve jars.
• Locke estimated that Memory Ointment could earn roughly 3,750 Magic Stones per month once he opened the market and gained customers’ trust.
• Locke calculated that his monthly income would reach about 8,500 Magic Stones against 8,000 in meditation expenses, while recognizing that he remained far from having the resources to become a Formal Wizard.

Locke submitted his potion research to Aul and sought articles to support his work against curse magic and his stalled Mental Power growth. Aul agreed to send him six articles and offered to advise him on suitable resources.

• Locke gave Aul his potion data report, and Aul estimated it could earn around seventy points if its findings were genuine.
• Aul urged Locke to disclose the potion formula for a higher-rated article, but Locke declined and prioritized profit over fame.
• Locke asked to borrow research on curses and magic resistance and curses and Magic Plants, then selected six B-rated articles for three hundred Magic Stones.
• Aul arranged to send Locke copies of the six articles and shared that his parents had suffered under Black Wizards.
• Locke asked about resources that could increase Mental Power, and Aul offered to recommend suitable options from his extensive knowledge.

Aul advised Locke on three magical resources that could accelerate meditation and increase mana, warning him about their costs and dangers. After receiving a production license for Memory Ointment, Locke planned to use his friends’ Potion Shop connections to sell it and prepared to take the Breeder examination.

• Aul explained that Black King Truffle rapidly increased Mental Power but caused irreversible mutations, then recommended Tartarus Cave Worm Spinal Fluid, Beholder Potion, and Fission Potion with their prices and risks.
• Locke thanked Aul and submitted the Memory Ointment experimental data to the potion review department at Lilith's Cottage.
• Three days later, Locke received the Memory Ointment production license and learned that his previous article had earned seventy points and a B-grade rating.
• Locke decided to approach Aixi and Anglu, who managed a medium-sized Potion Shop at Chimera Market, to establish a sales channel for Memory Ointment.
• Locke told his two Cat-girl slaves to clean the house while he went to take the Breeder examination.

Locke attended the Formal Breeder assessment at Lilith's Cottage, where Lady Morgana unexpectedly added the Breeder Industry Standards Handbook as an examination item. The other candidates were unsettled, but Locke realized his teacher had prepared him for Morgana's change.

• Locke joined four other Assistant Breeders before the three Formal Wizards overseeing the assessment, including Lady Morgana, Jonas Cortes, and Malcolm.
• Jonas Cortes described Breeding Science and transformed the stone room into a vibrant garden before announcing the assessment.
• Lady Morgana interrupted Jonas and proposed adding the Breeder Industry Standards Handbook to the examination.
• Jonas and Malcolm agreed to make the handbook round count only toward bonus or lost points rather than disqualifying candidates.
• Locke felt relieved because his teacher had made him memorize the handbook before the assessment.

Locke passed the written portion of the Breeder examination with a strong score, then faced a practical test that required saving five dying Nine-Snake Flowers using the Mana Resonance Cultivation Method. He recognized that the test contained a trap involving the universal strengthening frequency, while Lady Morgana watched his reaction.

• Lady Morgana criticized Martin's weak knowledge of breeding methods and industry standards, while Locke recognized why practical experience mattered.
• Lady Morgana found Locke's written answers nearly flawless and learned that Sophia had told him to memorize the Breeder Industry Standards Handbook.
• Lady Morgana announced a practical test in which the candidates had an hour and a half to save five dying Nine-Snake Flowers using Mana Resonance.
• Locke identified dehydration, root damage, and Pink Aphid eggs on his plant and considered treating them through resonance frequencies.
• Martin said he had practiced using the universal strengthening frequency on Centipede Grass, prompting Locke to realize that applying it to a nine-headed Nine-Snake Flower could be a trap.

Locke passed the second round of the Formal Breeder examination by reviving a Nine-Snake Flower without triggering its self-destructive behavior, while Martin’s attempt failed. The final round tested directed mutation of Tifro Rootvine, Locke’s strongest field, and he felt confident about his chances.

• Martin used the Mana Resonance Cultivation Method on a Nine-Snake Flower, but its nine blooms attacked one another and destroyed the plant.
• Locke used a mixed frequency to revive his Nine-Snake Flower, remove its pests, and restore its roots without touching it.
• Lady Morgana and the Formal Wizards praised Locke’s practical skill, though Lady Morgana criticized his failure to use the Nine-Snake Flower’s optimal resonance frequency.
• Lady Morgana ended the second round and announced that the examinees had to graft two of two hundred Tifro Rootvines into a plant that outperformed them all.
• Locke recognized that directed mutation of Tifro Rootvine suited his expertise and felt confident about the final round.

Locke completed the final Breeder examination by cultivating an exceptionally high-quality Tifro Rootvine, demonstrating skill beyond an ordinary Formal Breeder. The examiners praised his work and recognized him as a leading talent in Magic Vine research.

• Locke finished grafting a Tifro Rootvine using the materials prepared at the examination site.
• Jonas Cortes and Lady Morgana criticized Martin's flawed cultivation approach and identified weaknesses he needed to correct.
• Lady Morgana examined Locke's Tifro Rootvine and judged it nearly perfect, proving he had the ability of a Formal Breeder and more.
• Jonas Cortes praised Locke's achievement, noting that he had produced exceptional results without advanced methods.
• A Formal Wizard connected Locke to the Super Mandrake Vine sold by Golden Secret, and Locke confirmed it was his creation.
• Lady Morgana and the other candidates praised or admired Locke for his Magic Vine research and examination performance.