Wizard Kelt said to Locke, "Your timing is quite good. There are three opportunities per year to apply for Origin Academy project funding at Golden Crown Mountain: January 1st to 7th, May 1st to 7th, and September 1st to 7th."

"It's currently May 3rd. If you had finished writing your project application a few days later, you would have had to wait until September 1st to submit it. Time is life. You can only stay at the Origin Academy for a total of five years, which is equivalent to only being able to stay at Golden Crown Mountain for five years. These five years are extremely precious to you."

This was also the significance of Witch Yekaterina requiring him to join the team half a year early.

Locke understood that this action had essentially allowed him to freeload off the Origin Academy for most of half a year, since he still enjoyed various benefits during this time.

Wizard Kelt asked Locke, "You should be clear about the four-tier Origin Academy funding project system, right?"

Locke nodded and said, "I know, Teacher Kelt. The All Things Course specifically covered this point. Origin Academy funding projects are divided into four tiers, from the lowest Tier 4 Origin Academy funding projects to Tier 3, Tier 2, and the highest Tier 1 Origin Academy funding projects."

"Generally, when we talk about Origin Academy funding projects, we're referring to Tier 3 and Tier 4. Projects at these levels can be applied for by almost every researcher."

Locke said, "Each tier of Origin Academy funding project can only be applied for once. So this time, I'm applying for a Tier 3 Origin Academy funding project." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Tier 2 and Tier 1 Origin Academy funding projects couldn't be directly applied for. One could only apply for these after successfully obtaining a Tier 3 Origin Academy funding project, then after receiving approval and submitting project materials, producing research results beyond the fund committee's expectations and achieving unexpected outcomes. Only then could one proceed to apply for Tier 2 and Tier 1 Origin Academy funding projects.

This was also why most researchers spent their entire five years working on a single Origin Academy funding project.

Because if their project went well, they could continue to deepen it, expand their results, and apply for higher-level Origin Academy funding projects.

If Tier 3 went well, they could move to Tier 2. If Tier 2 went well, they could apply for Tier 1.

And if they could obtain Tier 1 funding and still exceed their task requirements... then they might be able to apply for... special funding.

And that was the very purpose for which many young First Circle wizards, super geniuses, came to this Origin Academy.

Director Morrison of the Cloud Marsh Cup Competition Committee had once told him that to fully utilize the Origin Academy, one needed to obtain all the projects available here, which meant the three major projects.

But actually, after Locke entered the Origin Academy, he discovered that most researchers reaching Tier 2 Origin Academy funding projects was already quite difficult, let alone Tier 1.

As for special funding and subtopics of key individual programs, those were another matter entirely.

Special funding required competing for resources with super genius First Circle wizards throughout the entire Origin Academy.

Because there were only one or two spots that could be allocated to this Origin Academy per year.

And as for subtopics of key individual programs, that depended on the mood of Yekaterina's Throne. This was completely decided by that Third Circle wizard herself.

But who could understand the thoughts of a Third Circle wizard?

So this became even more difficult.

Having no standards conversely meant standards could be infinitely high.

Wizard Kelt stamped the magical seal on Locke's project application and said, "Then go apply."

Locke said, "Thank you, Lord Kelt."

Wizard Kelt gave no response, only watching Locke's departing back with a slight frown.

...

One day later, at Dragon Fern Garden on Golden Crown Mountain, in Witch Yekaterina's office on the highest floor of the Origin Academy castle, Wizard Kelt cautiously bowed to Witch Yekaterina and reported on his work.

Witch Yekaterina casually flipped through the magical book in her hands. "Your work is acceptable. Kelt, you need to speed up."

Wizard Kelt knew what Witch Yekaterina was referring to, and immediately his forehead was covered in sweat.

Witch Yekaterina asked, "Kelt, let's not talk about your own matters for now. Tell me, how is the new young wizard performing? What's your view of him?"

"I want to ask you about his personality."

The golden dragon behind the wall behind Witch Yekaterina suddenly opened its sleeping dragon eyes, then closed them again and fell back into dragon sleep.

In the office.

Wizard Kelt wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Lord Throne, I believe that young wizard named Locke Augustine does indeed have some talent."

Although Witch Yekaterina didn't say it aloud, how could she not know about Wizard Kelt's pickiness?

This immediately piqued her interest, and she raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Your view of him is somewhat beyond my expectations. Elaborate."

Wizard Kelt said, "He spent two months and the research startup funds to produce quite good preliminary experimental data."

"The quality of the data is very high. He possesses keen observation and insight abilities."

"However, his personality is quite problematic." Wizard Kelt said, "I kindly offered him suggestions several times, but he ignored them all."

"He disregarded Group Six's research progress and only focused on what was in front of him. Moreover, he's too impatient. He wants to do many topics at once. I highly doubt whether he can actually finish them all."

"After all, whether he can complete the project determines whether he can advance from a Tier 3 Origin Academy funding project to a Tier 2 Origin Academy funding project."

Wizard Kelt said, "I plan to wait until he hits a wall, then try to offer him suggestions once more. Whether he listens or not will be up to him."

Witch Yekaterina smiled slightly, then said, "I see. It sounds like these newly joined young wizards are indeed somewhat unruly, actually refusing to follow our Wizard Kelt's instructions."

"You may go, Kelt."

"Kelt, do things beautifully. I don't like crude things, and I don't like unaesthetic things. You know what I want."

"Also, you can arrange students for Locke now."

Wizard Kelt bowed to Witch Yekaterina, then turned and left respectfully.

He stole a reverent glance at Witch Yekaterina, who was reading a magical book.

Every time he communicated with Witch Yekaterina, he felt trembling with fear.

Just as he could never sense Witch Yekaterina's magical pressure, he could never discern Witch Yekaterina's specific thoughts either.

After Wizard Kelt left, Witch Yekaterina put down the magical book in her hands. The wall behind her suddenly disappeared completely. It turned out that from beginning to end, it had been a wall created by illusion magic.

The golden dragon Fafnir raised its dragon head, sneezed, and said, "Looks somewhat ominous, Yekaterina."

"That little dragon whelp's superior wizard doesn't have a very high evaluation of him."

"This confirms a viewpoint I had before. No matter how excellent wizards from the outside are, their shortcomings are really too great, and what determines a wizard's ultimate achievement is precisely their shortcomings."

Witch Yekaterina shook her head slightly. "That's just Kelt's one-sided view."

"Understanding a person only through others' partial evaluations is a very dangerous thing."

"Fafnir."

Witch Yekaterina said, "Let's see the results of his first project at the Origin Academy."

Fafnir sneezed, then fell back into slumber.

...

In his study, Locke placed his palm on the red crystal matrix, and immediately a number jumped up: 8900.

Locke said, "Getting closer and closer to First Circle crystallization."

"Just 100 more. I estimate that in the near future, I'll be able to advance to the First Circle crystallization stage wizard. Part of the reason for such rapid progress is that Golden Crown Mountain's magical tide concentration gradient is very high."

"Next, I'll probably have to wait half a month to a month before I know whether my project application can pass."

Locke summoned the gray stone tablet and used the video call function to contact Albert, who could use the gray stone tablet through special methods.

At this moment, Locke saw the familiar yet strange alchemical cabin of Lilith's Cottage.

He had lived in this type of cabin for four years and studied magic for four years, but it had been more than two years since he had last seen Lilith's Cottage.

The scruffy, aging-looking man before him almost made it impossible for Locke to connect him with the once cheerful and talkative Wizard King Albert.

At this moment, Albert had drooping eyes, black hair mixed with white hair all over his head, and eyes like those of a person in their twilight years.

After seeing Locke, Albert's pupils contracted slightly, then he immediately stood up and bowed to Locke. "Lord Augustine."

"Hello."

Locke frowned slightly. "It's only been a little over two years since we last met. Why be so distant? Albert, just as you once said to me, we each call each other by our own names. So you and I are still friends. You don't need to call me Lord. Just call me by my name."

More reaction appeared in Albert's eyes.

The current Locke seemed so powerful and dignified in his eyes, speaking steadily and maturely, his words easily affecting his emotional changes.

In Albert's mind appeared the memory of when he first met Locke at the dock of Lilith's Cottage's port city. Locke's slightly immature appearance then, and then he looked at the present Locke, wearing a formal wizard's white wizard robe, adorned with numerous prestigious identity badges.

Today, the status and position of the two had become vastly different.

They could not be mentioned in the same breath.

He was a first-class wizard apprentice with almost no prospects, while Locke was no longer that ordinary first-class wizard apprentice who had just joined the wizard world from the mundane world, but a senior Origin Academy researcher of the Three Marsh Lands.

High position and great authority.

Locke frowned slightly. He thought of the experience of fighting side by side with Albert in the curse spell research institute of Rashid Tariel, and his tone gained more concern. "Albert, don't give up hope. You still have one last chance."

Some color appeared in Albert's eyes, then he suddenly spoke. "Locke, can you give me some Iborg Pepper Water?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

The barrier that had risen between them immediately melted away invisibly in this joke.

Back then, when they boarded a mundane ship disguised as smuggling noble merchants, they had sat below the ship's deck, enduring the dirty, chaotic, cramped space.

And Albert had asked Locke for a serving of hallucinogenic Iborg Pepper Water to deceive his own senses, making him mistakenly believe he was in a clean and tidy place.

Shared experiences now became poignant memories, drawing the two closer together.

Albert looked at Locke, as if truly thinking now, and said, "Lord Halen Vera told me, Locke, that you're already a First Circle liquefaction stage wizard and also a senior Origin Academy researcher."

"Locke, like Sophia, you've already gone too far ahead compared to us."

"And Andy will never advance again. He's stayed in the past, while I'm very likely to stay in the present."

Locke didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Albert, when did you learn to speak like you're reciting lyrical poetry, and the saddest kind at that? This isn't the you I know."

Locke became serious. "Failure is a very normal thing. Success is always built on the foundation of countless failures."

"And you still have one more chance that might succeed. The principle of Nature Force Field, this permanent defensive field, is quite different from ordinary permanent defensive fields."

"I've looked at your information." Locke said, "After all, I'm not taking thirty thousand magic stones per month for nothing. Every time you're about to advance to official wizard, does magical power disorder occur, causing your advancement to fail?"

Albert nodded and said, "Yes, Locke. Lady Morgana believes there may be a problem with my soul, so I'll never be able to become an official wizard in this lifetime."

"At most, I'll be a first-class wizard apprentice."

"And no one in the southeastern quadrant can cure me."

Locke thought for a moment. "The southeastern quadrant does indeed have very little research on souls. The most abundant soul studies materials are still in the Ghost Sacred Order within the Black Wizard Alliance."

"But in Cloud Marsh Wetland, I can access more abundant materials. Send me another copy of the specific data about your soul. What I saw before was just others' records of you. I'm also guessing that there might be some problem with your soul."

Locke's eyes emitted azure blue magical radiance. "But with just a cursory examination, I haven't found any morphological changes in your soul."

"Nature Force Field is, after all, a special permanent defensive field, so perhaps you can use this special permanent defensive field to advance to official wizard."

"After all, each time you reach the critical moment of advancement, your magical power suddenly conflicts with the spell model of the permanent defensive field inscribed on the surface of your soul."

"Fortunately, you didn't inscribe many permanent defensive field spell models on your soul before, so you can still inscribe Forest Sanctuary."

A flash of hope appeared in Albert's eyes. "Previously, as soon as I inscribed even slightly, my magical power would become extremely chaotic."

"I don't know what the reason is either. It seems others never encounter this kind of problem."

Locke had also only understood after reading Albert's information why Lilith's Cottage wanted Albert to be the first first-class wizard apprentice in the project he was cooperating on at the Nature Force Field Research Institute.

'Forest Sanctuary is indeed very special. The main runes of its defensive field aren't on one's own soul, but in the forest.'

'If inscribing defensive magic causes Albert's soul to experience abnormalities, perhaps having Albert inscribe Forest Sanctuary won't trigger this kind of magical power disorder. But why exactly does this phenomenon occur?'

'This point is quite attractive to me as a potion master.'