Inside the research institute within the Forbidden Forest swamp, Locke used the Druid's Ring to open a magical door before him. Immediately, the magical door revealed a demiplane hidden behind it.

He could see that this demiplane occupied an extremely vast area with boundless edges. At its periphery, there was much pale mist-like spatial fog.

Although Locke hadn't studied much spatial magic, he had still read about this kind of mist in the class and some articles. This was the spatial fog unique to demiplanes.

Because demiplanes were essentially planar prototypes, but their scale was far too small to generate planar force, they couldn't form planar barriers. Therefore, they could only envelop themselves with spatial fog.

Spatial fog was extremely dangerous. If one could avoid contact with it, one should not touch it and outside the spatial fog was even more dangerous, that was the void. Even Second Circle wizards couldn't survive in the void with their physical bodies.

Locke stepped through the magical door and walked inside, while the magical door behind him remained in a constantly open position.

This was the Druid's Ring's solidified magical door.

During the process of using the Druid's Ring to open the demiplane's spatial gate, the magical door couldn't be closed. It could only remain open for extended periods until he returned to the main plane, at which point he could close it.

Locke surveyed the area and discovered this demiplane was approximately one square kilometer in size. The interior was entirely fertile plains that could be converted into magical fields, so it equaled about 1,500 acres of farmland.

And 1,500 acres of farmland was equivalent to the area of a large-scale botanical field.

In other words, by holding this ring, he was carrying a portable large-scale botanical field wherever he went.

There was a sun in the demiplane's sky. Locke observed for a moment and discovered it merely refracted the sunlight from the main material plane, borrowing the sunlight from the main material plane. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Besides this, there were also water circulation and energy circulation systems created by alchemists here, which could simulate the real world to the greatest extent possible.

Locke nodded with satisfaction, "Truly worthy of being the treasure that plant magic wizards and breeding wizards dream of, the Druid's Ring. Excellent."

Locke turned around and commanded the several golems in the research institute's temperature-controlled chamber to begin moving his Forest Sanctuary inside.

For safety reasons, this process would take approximately one week.

One week later, the Forest Sanctuary and the remaining four Large Green Owl Banana forests had all been moved into the Druid's Ring.

The Large Green Owl Banana forests were all perennial herbaceous plants, so they were also green fertilizer-type plants that could provide ether elemental particles. Therefore, combining them with the Forest Sanctuary not only made use of waste but could also strengthen his Forest Sanctuary once again.

This way, his Forest Sanctuary's area had already reached 30 acres, and the total biomass had accumulated to a considerable degree.

"The Forest Sanctuary can now transplant three more First Circle tree-type magical plants and inscribe another permanent defensive magic," Locke thought. "Additionally, I need to inject magical resources into the Druid's Ring to maintain the internal nutrient circulation."

"After rough calculations, it currently requires about 5,000 magic stones per month."

The reason he didn't need to purchase nutrient soil resources before was because the research institute still had some remaining resources, and the basic facilities could still operate. The several major circulation systems inside were still running well, but the resources left behind previously had now all been spent.

Locke thought for a moment, then began directing the golems to dismantle some facilities inside this research institute that could still be used, as well as move the ten dwarf-shaped golems into the Druid's Ring.

He was going to pack up and take them away.

These ten golems, if purchased at an alchemy workshop, would definitely cost over ten thousand magic stones.

After all, the dwarf alchemist Tyne had previously prepared to sell him clay golems at 1,200 magic stones each.

Locke thought, "Besides this, I also need to purchase enough Hive Mind Potion as soon as possible. I remember Hive Mind Potion is a specialty product of the southeastern quadrant. I can't purchase it anywhere else."

...

At Chimera Trading Market, Lijin Secret Language Plant Shop.

Locke frowned, "What, your shop doesn't have any First Circle magical plants?"

Manager Yuri had now regained her youth, with bright eyes and white teeth. After regaining her youth, her appearance was actually quite good, quite beautiful.

Manager Yuri nodded to Locke and said, "I'm very sorry, Senior Locke, that is indeed the case."

"The several treasured items of Lijin Secret Language have all been purchased by the academy's upper management. Not only that, the prices of all combat magical plants at Lijin Secret Language have all increased by 30%, while the prices of magical plants unrelated to combat have all decreased."

"Moreover, many combat magical plants, even if they're only apprentice-level, have already sold out. Including your Augustine series magical plants."

Locke frowned. He hadn't expected that in just over half a year, prices would rise to this extent.

Although he shouldn't say much about this matter.

After all, he was also someone who had made a fortune from the war in the southeastern quadrant through cooperation with Lady Irina.

Yuri whispered quietly to Locke, "Senior Locke, it's not just Lijin Secret Language. Lady Irina's shops are basically all like this. Even if you want to purchase First Circle magical plants, the price of First Circle magical plants is already more than twice the usual price."

Locke nodded slightly, "I understand. Thank you, Yuri."

Manager Yuri smiled softly and said, "I should be the one thanking you, Senior Locke. Thank you for giving me a second life."

"I will cherish it well."

Locke nodded, casually said a few words, turned around, and left Lijin Secret Language.

...

In Lilith's Cottage's germplasm repository, the wood elf Ruby said to Locke with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry, Lord Locke. Even if you want to use magic stones to purchase First Circle tree-type magical plants, it's impossible now. The academy has prohibited all external transactions."

"The germplasm repository has now been completely sealed."

Ruby said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Lord Locke."

Locke nodded, "I can't blame you for this."

Locke left the seed repository without going to the library, since presumably the library would be the same.

Over these past six months, the war in the southeastern quadrant had intensified increasingly, with prices continuously rising.

Lilith's Cottage had also begun restricting wizards from exchanging rare resources from the academy's inventory, instead beginning war preparations.

He really should leave. If he continued staying here, he would be drawn into the flames of war sooner or later.

During the previous gathering of fellow students, he had even heard the Witch Christine say that the White Wizard Association was considering conducting wizard conscription for some small wizard organizations.

This was a right that the White Wizard Association hadn't used in hundreds of years in the southeastern quadrant.

He should leave quickly and not get involved in this war.

...

At another small-scale gathering of fellow students, in the living room where the gathering was held, Locke spoke to the fellow students who came to participate or their phantoms, "That's roughly the situation. I need to trade for three Cloud Sea Mist Pines, as well as as much Hive Mind Potion as possible."

"If everyone has them, I hope we can complete the transaction as soon as possible. I'm quite urgent."

Among the fellow students, a formal wizard smiled and said, "Locke, we fellow students should indeed help each other more. But Hive Mind Potion is a specialty product of the southeastern quadrant."

"Now prices in the southeastern quadrant are soaring crazily. I estimate you'll have a hard time obtaining Hive Mind Potion. Some people are still waiting for prices to rise a bit more before selling."

Wizard Anthony's phantom drank a sip of tomato juice and said, "That's right. I heard that this batch of rapid price increases is because some formal wizards joined hands to manipulate prices. Hive Mind Potion, being a specialty product, is definitely a key item being manipulated. Locke, I advise you to give up."

Locke's expression wasn't very good. He hadn't expected to encounter a group of people who were even better at profiting from war than he was.

Indeed, that abnormally rapid price increase was truly very unusual but he really needed Hive Mind Potion. His Forest Sanctuary wanted to expand, and he still needed to use Hive Mind Potion to expand his psionic pool.

The Witch Christine suddenly spoke, "Locke, I do have a batch of Hive Mind Potion on hand."

"It's a set of Hive Mind Potion I acquired previously. But how much exactly do you need?"

Locke nodded to Witch Christine and smiled, "The more the better."

Witch Christine showed a thoughtful expression, "I see."

"That's fine, but as a trade, you need to help me with something."