Wizard Kelt led Locke to a document area in the laboratory. The tables here were covered everywhere with specially marked file materials.

Wizard Kelt said, "These materials are all made by our Group Six researchers and research assistants, and have been compiled for over a hundred years. We may possess Cloud Marsh Wetland's largest-scale compilation of research materials on the relationship between key natural magic structural components of magical plants and the reproductive capacity of magical creatures."

"Each packaged file here corresponds to research and analysis of one magical plant's effect on a magical creature's reproductive capacity."

Wizard Kelt said confidently, "I dare say that previously, you completely underestimated the degree to which plants influence biological reproductive capacity. But all of this can be traced."

Wizard Kelt said, "In the long process of natural evolution, plants and animals chose two completely different evolutionary paths, staying immobile and migrating everywhere."

"Without discussing which of the two evolutionary paths is right or wrong, superior or inferior, that's the research direction of other project groups. The key point is that plants and animals learned to help each other during the evolutionary process, mutually compensating for each other's weaknesses."

Although Wizard Kelt had many dissatisfactions with Locke, because Witch Yekaterina had chosen him to enter the project group, in order to avoid being found at fault, he could only follow the procedures and introduce Locke to Group Six's research field and help the newly joined researcher quickly get up to speed with the work process.

Otherwise, with Witch Yekaterina's personality, he absolutely couldn't afford the consequences.

Among the six large project groups under Witch Yekaterina, even if they tried their utmost, they might not satisfy Witch Yekaterina, let alone cause trouble within.

This was absolutely impossible.

Wizard Kelt was merely dissatisfied that Locke was only a First Circle liquefaction stage wizard.

Wizard Kelt continued, "There's a very simple common sense fact. The higher a magical creature's magic level, the weaker its reproductive ability."

"Then, logically speaking, First Circle stage magical creatures should have absolutely no possibility of natural reproduction in the natural environment."

Wizard Kelt said, "But the situation isn't like this. First Circle magical creatures borrowed the convenience of those First Circle magical plants. Through forming symbiotic relationships with some magical plants in the natural environment, they gained the possibility of increased reproductive capacity."

"This is a beautiful natural co-evolutionary history. The reason plants so favor magical creatures is also very simple. Because plants cannot move, they need magical creatures to carry seeds and pollen everywhere for them, need magical creatures to bring special resources from distant places that aren't locally available, and so on. Therefore, many magical plants in nature will nurture fruits that, when consumed, have great benefits for biological bodies, in order to attract those magical creatures to approach them."

"This is a little trick plants play."

Locke immediately thought of Golden Crown Mountain's twelve types of special peaches, and that coveted Water Jade Peach.

Clearly, the Water Jade Peach also utilized this plant-animal coexistence mechanism in nature to cultivate special effects that even rare magic potions couldn't achieve, and with almost no side effects.

This was outright enticement, deliberately attracting certain creatures in nature to swallow those fruits.

Wizard Kelt said, "Our Group Six is responsible for finding out which magical plants form special symbiotic relationships with specific biological species."

"First roughly select the species, then begin verifying whether the magical plant has an enhancing or weakening effect on a certain magical creature's reproductive capacity, and find one to several key natural magic structural components involved. Over the past hundred years, countless Origin Academy researchers have completed their Origin Academy fund projects by discovering a magical plant's effect on a specific species' reproductive capacity."

"And successfully obtained their exit certification."

Wizard Kelt pointed at this pile of tables, pointing at the documents on specific tables, saying, "That pile of documents is materials on magical plants that first-grade wizard apprentices at Golden Crown Mountain found in Cloud Marsh Wetland and Cloud Marsh Wetland's various colonial planes that might have an effect on the reproductive capacity of specific magical creature species."

"Of course, with those apprentices' meager abilities, they only made some preliminary observations. They're full of fallacies and incorrect observations, so the real research must be completed by us official wizards."

Wizard Kelt said, "To write a fund project application, you need to do preliminary experiments, using experimental results to prove that a magical plant indeed has a correlation with a specific species' reproductive capacity."

"Moreover, it's best to roughly determine this component. Only then will the project application you write possibly be approved."

"Your current work is to collect inspiration from this pile of experimental reports written by apprentices, find the truly useful parts, lock onto a definite magical plant to magical creature correspondence, and through the natural magic structural component comparison device, as well as your own analytical ability, confirm exactly which natural magic structural component plays the key role."

"Or multiple components."

Wizard Kelt muttered to himself, "Most discoveries are actually just discovering natural magic structural components that have already been thoroughly researched. After all, this experiment has been going on for a hundred years. Previously, every year there were large numbers of newly enrolled researchers joining our project."

"If you have a discerning eye, you might discover new uses for old natural magic structural components. That would be even better."

Wizard Kelt said, "Of course, if you're even luckier and discover a new natural magic structural component..."

"Forget it, there's no need to mention it." Wizard Kelt shook his head slightly, saying, "If you really could discover such a thing, never mind a small Origin Academy fund. You could directly publish an article in a Zone One journal."

"But this really tests your luck and discernment too much."

"You should be more down-to-earth."

Wizard Kelt tossed Locke a manual for the [Natural Magic Structural Component Comparison Device].

Locke flipped through it and found this was a super-large device.

Its main function was that an official wizard could operate this super-expensive, ultra-large breeding equipment to use magic force fields to cut a magical plant and extract all components from the mixed liquid.

Then, these components would be placed into a large column single-substance separation device.

Because natural magic structural components were composed of composite element particles, their natural density, weight, and so on were different. Thus, through the column single-substance separation device, they could be separated one by one according to different properties and recorded, then compared one by one with the natural magic structural component materials in the database. Whichever material matched would allow them to find out roughly what natural magic structural components were inside this magical plant.

Overall, this set of equipment worth over ten million was equipment that ordinary wizards couldn't afford.

Its main function was to analyze the quantity and types of natural magic structural components within magical plants.

At the same time, Wizard Kelt also tossed Locke another device manual, the Ice Magic Mirror.

This was even more advanced large-scale breeder equipment.

The minimum price was also thirty million magic stones.

Using matching visualization potions placed on slices of magical plants, one could carefully observe and obtain the rough structure of the natural magic structural components a wizard wanted.

Just these two pieces of equipment were things Locke absolutely couldn't access in the Land of Six Towers.

All along the way here, with a brief observation in this public laboratory, Locke could see large amounts of advanced breeding experimental equipment.

All were things that ordinary wizards outside couldn't even access if they wanted to.

It wasn't just a matter of money, but also purchasing channels, maintenance channels, repair costs, consumable costs, and other issues.

These were things that breeder laboratories in other wizard lands truly couldn't afford.

Wizard Kelt looked at Locke, saying, "Using the structural comparison machine doesn't require queuing. In our laboratory, there are a total of five such devices."

"Whoever wants to use them can use them directly."

"You just need to limit daily usage to within two times, and each time must not be continuous use, unless no one wants to share the device with you that day."

"As for the Ice Magic Mirror, that's advanced breeder equipment. Wizards from other groups also need to use it, so there are many people queuing."

A flash of displeasure crossed Wizard Kelt's eyes. "Those ordinary Origin Academy researchers need to apply to me to use this kind of advanced breeder equipment, and visualization potions are also very expensive."

"Basically, being able to use it once a month is already pretty good luck."

"But you're an Advanced Origin Academy researcher, so according to the contract agreement, you have priority usage rights for the Ice Magic Mirror equipment. You can use it once a week and get one free use of visualization potion."

Wizard Kelt glanced at Locke. "I hope you're worthy of this treatment."

Locke directly ignored this statement. Although he could see that Wizard Kelt seemed to have opinions about him, the problem was this laboratory wasn't his, it was his mentor Witch Yekaterina's.

So it didn't matter.

Anyway, no matter how displeased Wizard Kelt was, he still had to arrange work for him, because this was Witch Yekaterina's arrangement.

Moreover, a wizard's only moat was whether they could produce results.

As long as he produced good results, Wizard Kelt's current opinions about him would naturally vanish into thin air.

In Locke's view, Wizard Kelt simply minded that the Advanced Origin Academy researcher expert who should have been assigned to his Group Six had become him, a First Circle liquefaction stage wizard from outside.

That's why he minded so much.

Wizard Kelt handed a separate document to Locke, saying, "Our Group Six has recently been researching the symbiotic relationship between ant-type magical creatures and madder-type magical plants. Eleven ordinary Origin Academy researchers are all researching the relationship between one ant-type magical creature and one madder-type magical plant. They're all on this project."

"If you join in, the difficulty will be much lower. Moreover, the data these projects produce can be shared, mutually referenced, mutually accumulated. This is of great significance to our Group Six."

"So, prioritize looking at these materials." Wizard Kelt said, "I've selected two very suitable research directions for you."

"One is a project done by an Origin Academy researcher who just completed their term. He's already found that Robuttas Grass can secrete a type of mating pheromone similar to Steel Cart Carpenter Ants, deceiving Steel Cart Carpenter Ants and making them quickly complete their reproductive cycle."

"But near where Robuttas Grass grows, Steel Cart Carpenter Ants not only have increased mating frequency, but also show greatly enhanced fertility. So Robuttas Grass still has potential to be explored."

"Therefore, you could completely research the relationship between Robuttas Grass and Steel Cart Carpenter Ants."

Wizard Kelt said, "The second project is our Group Six's trump card project. Brolara Grass can help eleven currently discovered ant-type magical creatures reproduce."

"If you do this project, it's also very easy to apply for fund projects. You just need to discover a new ant creature whose reproductive capacity is enhanced by Brolara Grass, analyze the mechanism involved, and you can complete the project within half a year."

Wizard Kelt spoke at length. He had arranged everything for Locke.

Even the project directions available for choice had been limited to just two, and both were related to ants and madder-type magical plants.

Clearly, Wizard Kelt hoped more that Locke, as a member of Group Six, would sacrifice part of his own interests to maintain Group Six's larger interests.

After all, researchers left in batches every five years, but he as group leader had to stay long-term in Group Six. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

So Wizard Kelt's interests weren't aligned with his own. He valued more what could bring benefits to Group Six.

Therefore, he hoped more that Locke, this newly joined wizard, could cooperate with their project group's work.

Locke frowned slightly. As an Advanced Origin Academy researcher receiving high welfare treatment, if he took an ordinary Origin Academy exit project, even if he met the requirements and could complete his term, it seemed that special funding project would have nothing to do with him.

This didn't align with his interests.

Locke took the materials and didn't refute him face-to-face. Anyway, he came here to work, not as a student. What he wanted to do, the Wizard Kelt before him couldn't interfere with.

Learning to refuse, and reasonably and smoothly refusing others, was also a skill an official wizard should practice.

Locke answered vaguely, "Mm, I'll look at it, Teacher Kelt."

Would look at it didn't mean he would only choose from these two projects, or even that he would only determine his research topic from materials on the symbiotic relationship between madder-type magical plants and ant-type magical creatures.

He at least needed to briefly scan through all the materials here to see if he could pick out a good direction from them before deciding on his topic.

Moreover, in his contract, he had independent personnel authority and funding allocation authority. Therefore, regarding funding and recruiting personnel, he wasn't constrained by the Second Circle wizard group leader before him.

He only needed to get Witch Yekaterina's signature.

Wizard Kelt frowned. Smart as he was, he naturally detected the hidden meaning behind Locke's vague answer.

The little patience in Wizard Kelt's eyes completely disappeared. "That's roughly it."

"I hope you can make the correct choice. If you make the correct choice, within Group Six, there are at least many past materials that can provide you reference. Last year's wizard who was eliminated at the bottom was also a breeder, also from outside. I never expected his comprehensive ability to be so poor, and once separated from his mentor, his research ability greatly declined."

Wizard Kelt said, "The reason many wizards can make many achievements during the First Circle stage isn't necessarily their own ability. It might also be that their original project group had an excellent official wizard who designed the research framework for that project group and secured relatively good research conditions."

Wizard Kelt looked without much patience at a chubby wizard behind the materials table. "Panno, you're relatively idle anyway, so you can introduce this newly arrived wizard to how to use the structural comparison machine and Ice Magic Mirror."

With that said, Wizard Kelt turned and left this document area, heading to the other end of the public laboratory, an area with large magical fields.

After Wizard Kelt walked far away, Wizard Panno finally stood up from behind the document table, looked at Locke curiously, then scratched his head. "You don't need to think that guy is fierce. Actually, besides being particularly concerned about Group Six's experimental progress, he doesn't have any bad intentions."

Locke smiled, "Of course. If he truly had ill intentions toward me, he wouldn't show his dissatisfaction to my face. I know Wizard Kelt is just addressing the issue, not the person."

Panno laughed heartily, "Then you're much more perceptive than me. Actually, Wizard Kelt wasn't like this a few years ago. He just failed repeatedly..."

"Failed when advancing to Second Circle initial forging stage, then failed to be selected as a Young Cadre, then failed to be selected for the Three Marsh Lands Thousand Talents Plan. After continuous failures, he began to become strange."

"For example, sometimes he'll stand at the door holding that broken pocket watch of his, watching to see which unlucky wizard will be a few minutes late..."

Wizard Panno said, "Oh right, hello. I'm Panno. I heard you're an Advanced Origin Academy researcher? Called Locke? Let me first teach you how to use those two large devices."

"Besides that, I can also explain how to use various other equipment here."

"I really envy you. I heard you're the Cloud Marsh Cup champion, an Advanced Origin Academy researcher. Not useless like me."

Although Panno was a First Circle crystallization wizard, and not very old, looking only in his thirties approaching forty, at this moment he was completely lacking in spirit.

He said dejectedly, "Although I'm a local from Cloud Marsh Wetland, and also a student from this school who chose to stay at the school's Origin Academy after graduation, this is already the second year, and my Origin Academy fund project application still hasn't been approved."

"Sigh, I'm worried to death."

Locke asked puzzledly, "Why? Isn't this fund project application very basic, something everyone can apply for?"

Wizard Panno shook his head, "I thought so at first too. But my luck is really too bad. It was approved once last year, but after working on it for a year, I discovered I'd gone in the wrong direction."

"So this year I could only reapply for a direction. But that way, I could only return the funds and reapply. That's Golden Crown Mountain Origin Academy's rule."

"Then I worked for another three months, cultivated some Snake Heart Grass and purchased some Sky Bow Ants. The framework was all set up, just about to continue research, when a damned Triangle Black Goat ate all my Snake Heart Grass."

Panno covered his face. "Snake Heart Grass is extremely rare, only found in a few places. It not only ate all my grass but also ate all the seed seedlings and all seeds I'd saved."

"I'm really too miserable."

"Now I'm looking for a direction again."

Panno raised the materials in his hand.

Locke followed him to a huge instrument. This instrument was composed of large amounts of hollow tubes and crystal matrices.

Clearly, this was that structural comparison machine.

Locke asked oddly, "Then why don't you ask Wizard Kelt to provide you with some projects? He just suggested I do those two projects."

Panno said guiltily, "He doesn't trust me. I also heard about those two projects just now, but the ants and magical plants needed for experiments are all precious assets left by successive generations of our Group Six."

"You're the Cloud Marsh Cup champion, and an Advanced Origin Academy researcher. Even if he has any opinions about you, he still acknowledges you have ability."

"That's why he'll directly give you those two projects' related precious resources to use, if you're truly willing to use them. I'm different. I asked him before, but he's worried... worried that my Snake Heart Grass misfortune would similarly befall Robuttas Grass and Brolara Grass."

Anger flashed in Panno's eyes. "When it comes down to it, it's all that damned Triangle Black Goat's fault. What's hateful is that it's the pet of a Second Circle wizard from Group Three."

"I can only swallow my anger."

Locke looked at him wordlessly. This was truly too miserable.

Panno explained to Locke the specific usage methods for the two large devices. The structural comparison machine was fine, the two of them directly practiced hands-on.

But regarding the Ice Magic Mirror, there were really too many wizards queuing. Panno himself hadn't used it many times, reportedly only once in total.

So Panno could only laboriously use words to carefully describe how to use the Ice Magic Mirror.

"Mm, it's like this, then like that, and finally just..." Panno and Locke stood in front of the Ice Magic Mirror area in a corner of the public laboratory.

They could see quite a few official wizard students queuing in that area.

As soon as the magic mirror became available, immediately a student would use magic to summon their mentor over, and their mentor would use magic to fly over immediately.

Wizard Panno looked at the Ice Magic Mirror, saying, "In short, that's roughly it. There's a mirror spirit inside the magic mirror. You just need to know the general usage method. The mirror spirit will help you. Using the Ice Magic Mirror to observe natural magic structural components tests your eyesight and proficiency with the usage method."

"However, because we can all use the Ice Magic Mirror very few times, everyone isn't very proficient with the usage method."