The wizards present blinked. Several Second Circle wizards made eye contact and showed strange expressions.

Wizard Kelt's expression was very strange. He wanted to say something, but ultimately thought about it and kept silent.

The Second Circle wizard from Bonifacius University showed a surprised expression, then looked at Locke with a peculiar gaze and said, "Are you saying that to discover a natural magic structure component, you simply cultivated a Big Yellow Duck Bromeliad variant?"

"Can I understand it this way?"

Locke thought for a moment and said, "Indeed, you can understand it that way."

He said modestly, "But it wasn't to discover a new natural magic structure component that I cultivated a Big Yellow Duck Bromeliad variant. Rather, I originally have the habit and hobby of cultivating variant magical plants, and have special insights in this area."

"Then I was very lucky to coincidentally cultivate a Big Yellow Duck Bromeliad variant containing a completely new natural magic component structure." Locke said, "My luck was really too good."

Several Second Circle wizards looked at each other, raising their eyebrows and showing strange expressions.

Third Circle Wizard Hao from Quinn Jol University nodded. "You're very talented in breeding studies."

"I have indeed seen some wizards very talented in breeding studies. They can always create things in the breeding studies field that exceed other wizards' understanding."

Unlike those Second Circle wizards, Third Circle Wizard Hao had lived longer and seen more people. When a wizard lives long enough, they see all kinds of geniuses.

Or rather, every Third Circle wizard was themselves a super genius when young.

Therefore, in Third Circle Wizard Hao's eyes, Locke's level belonged to pretty good, not exceeding his understanding.

He was already too old, had seen too many geniuses, and when young, he himself was a genius who often did things exceeding others' understanding.

Wizard Hao said warmly to Locke, "The project you're currently working on forms a strong complementarity with your interests and strengths. Your project closing quality is very high. You passed. I think no wizard would have objections."

"Moreover, you can continue doing research in this direction. Since you're very talented in this direction, you should seize the opportunity. And this direction has been pursued for nearly a hundred years."

"It has relatively good development potential."

This announced that Locke passed the Tier 3 Origin Academy project funding closing.

The review panel confirmed that Locke completed the project at hand, achieved the predetermined goals, and even exceeded expectations.

Wizard Hao even indicated that as long as Locke continued research in this direction, he could obtain Tier 2 funding, or even higher funding.

The Second Circle wizard from Bonifacius University said to Locke, "Your luck is really too good."

"To coincidentally discover a completely new natural magic structure while cultivating new variant varieties."

"Many wizards rack their brains trying to find new natural magic structure components, spending many years with nothing to show."

He looked at a Second Circle lightning studies wizard standing beside him and said, "This way, your lightning studies can have several more spell models."

The Second Circle lightning studies wizard was stunned, then thought, "Hmm... indeed. As long as my project team gets some time, creating several completely new lightning studies spell models is naturally expected."

"Although it's only a First Circle level new substance with limited help for me, Locke's article published in Green Grass Cloud Marsh should be very attractive to many First Circle lightning studies wizards."

He added, "After all, it's a previously undiscovered natural magic structure component. Using it as a foundation, a whole bunch of things can be developed, but that's for later."

This was the benefit of doing basic research.

Locke indeed had no good methods to utilize this natural magic structure component, but plenty of wizards looking at his article could gain inspiration from it. Perhaps some wizards would just happen to need this knowledge.

Locke submitted his project application for Tier 2 funding.

The review seat wizards all read Locke's next project plan. The Second Circle wizard from Bonifacius University looked up at Locke in surprise. "Your next step is to explore the symbiotic relationships of reproductive abilities between twenty-three bromeliad magical plants and specific magical creatures?"

"Isn't this number too many?"

"And four new natural magic structure component discoveries?"

Yes, with help from Newt's five students and Gregor, Locke had added preliminary experimental data for six more bromeliad magical plants within half a month.

At the same time, he had synthesized two new air bromeliad magical plant subspecies containing unknown natural magic structure components.

The Second Circle wizard from Bonifacius University, as a reviewer, looked at Locke puzzled. "Didn't you say you were just lucky and coincidentally cultivated one bromeliad magical plant with unknown natural magic structure components?"

"Why would your project application's preliminary experimental data mention you still need to verify four completely new natural magic structure components?"

Locke nodded and bowed to him. "Yes, Second Circle Wizard sir. My luck is indeed quite good. So among the newly cultivated air bromeliad magical plant subspecies, I again discovered four possibly unknown natural magic structure components."

"But I can't be certain, so I need funding to allow me to use the three great mirrors to determine whether these four natural magic structure components might possibly be previously undiscovered."

Wizard Hao looked at the preliminary experimental data in Locke's project application and thought seriously. "From my experience, based on current data, there's an eighty to ninety percent chance these are four completely new natural magic structure components."

"You're indeed very talented in this direction."

Wizard Hao commented, "If you cultivate deeply in this direction, you'll have achievements, and might even guarantee becoming a Second Circle wizard."

Although he was somewhat surprised by Locke's research efficiency in this direction, he wasn't too shocked. As mentioned, Third Circle wizards lived too long and had seen far too many kinds of geniuses.

And the wizard world never lacked geniuses emerging before them.

Therefore, although Wizard Hao appreciated Locke somewhat, he wasn't excessive about it.

Facing Wizard Hao's praise, Locke bowed to him. "Thank you, Wizard Hao sir."

The Second Circle wizard from Bonifacius University looked at Wizard Hao with surprise. As a Third Circle wizard who was both a breeder and diviner, Wizard Hao said that as long as Locke continued research in this direction, he could definitely guarantee becoming a Second Circle wizard.

This evaluation might just be casual words for Wizard Hao, but for these Second Circle wizards listening, it had different significance.

The Bonifacius University Second Circle wizard's heart surged with waves.

'First Circle wizards advancing to Second Circle wizards face enormous risk. How many geniuses fall at this step, becoming mediocre for life.'

'That Golden Crown Mountain's tenth Cloud Marsh Cup champion can actually receive such high evaluation from Master Hao. He's truly a talent. What a pity. When my dean asked my opinion back then, I should have said something good for this young man instead of choosing to say nothing.'

'If so, wouldn't that young man be under me now?' The Bonifacius University Second Circle wizard narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

Back then, when Director Morrison sought their Origin Academy's Dean Valentinian to negotiate terms, Dean Valentinian asked the opinions of several sun ring Second Circle wizards in their Origin Academy, but at that time he chose to let things take their course.

Honestly, he didn't quite trust the comprehensive level of wizards from outside Cloud Marsh Wetland back then.

Who knew it would cause him to lose talent?

'If this young man came to Bonifacius University and entered my team, having him develop in this direction could completely establish a highly perfected project assembly line in a short time.' This Second Circle wizard thought, 'My students could open a new laboratory assembly line for publishing articles.'

'Our breeding studies' presence in the Origin Academy could also rise somewhat.'

This Second Circle wizard thought regretfully.

You should know that since Dean Valentinian took office, he allocated massive amounts of Origin Academy resources to their Alchemy School's textile studies side. Their breeding studies' status in the Origin Academy declined daily.

After brief discussion, the review panel and Wizard Hao voluntarily wrote his name on Locke's project application. "After discussion, our review panel unanimously believes your project application for Tier 2 Origin Academy project funding passed."

"In fact, I believe there's no project application more deserving of Tier 2 project funding than yours." Wizard Hao gave Locke somewhat more serious attention and smiled at him. "Actually, if not for Origin Academy funding needing to be applied for one by one, I think your project could also try being evaluated for Tier 1 project funding."

"Congratulations, young First Circle wizard."

Wizard Hao's voice was cadenced and full of authority. "I hope you continue advancing in the future, continuing to contribute to our breeding studies."

The other Second Circle wizards at the review seats all nodded to Locke. Unlike Wizard Hao's unsurprised attitude.

These Second Circle wizards all raised their understanding of Locke's talent by several levels, recognizing that Locke might truly be a rare talent.

Kelt looked at Locke with widened eyes full of innocence. He wanted to speak but noticed the occasion was inappropriate, so could only stop himself.

Locke left the round table conference room with his approved project application. This way, his Tier 3 Origin Academy project funding was perfectly closed, and the 500,000 magic stones from the Tier 2 Origin Academy project funding he obtained would be issued within a week.

Locke had already invested another 260,000 magic stones for preliminary experimental data.

This way, although a month passed and he received a month's Origin Academy salary, 60,000 magic stones shared from Lady Irina's side, 30,000 Lilith's Cottage salary, and 50,000 magic stones distributed from the Land of Six Towers potion shop, his savings didn't increase but decreased.

He currently only had 200,000 in savings left.

But all this was worth it.

This was all to obtain the final special funding project, and the key individual project sub-topic from Witch Yekaterina's side, also to continuously publish articles and enhance his credentials.

He had essentially spent a total of 360,000 magic stones for the second batch of preliminary experimental data on 23 air bromeliad magical plants and four completely new natural magic structure components.

Spending his own money.

Paying out of pocket for research was one reason he could obtain so much high-quality data.

After all, wizards who could make money had many more advantages when doing research.

Locke walked out of the round table conference room and exhaled turbid air. With the 500,000 magic stones issued from Tier 2 project funding, he indeed resolved his urgent need. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Locke leaned against the wall of the round table conference room, watching Daniel enter, who also greeted him. Then he leaned against the wall. "For the Tier 3 project, I contributed 100,000 myself. Combined, I've thrown 460,000 magic stones of my own money into this."

"But this is indeed worth it."

For ordinary First Circle wizards, one ordinary magic artifact was around 10,000 magic stones, one ordinary magical plant generally ranged from several thousand to 10,000 magic stones.

But for First Circle crystallization stage wizards, basically magic artifacts sufficient for their use were around 100,000, and magical plants were also in the 50,000 to 100,000 range.

Wanting to quickly invest 460,000 in oneself for rapid improvement was quite impossible.

And research was originally an extremely money-consuming endeavor.

Wanting to use one's own money to help oneself quickly produce results was like a drop in the bucket, using individual power to fill collective gaps.

Otherwise, most wizards wouldn't rely on White Wizard Association project funding to do research.

But this way, he had already obtained two tier-one journal publications and obtained Tier 2 Origin Academy project funding. At the same time, he had discovered a completely new natural magic structure component.

This might attract some Shop Alliance attention, perhaps benefiting him, but also possibly not.

"I need to find students to write articles about those magical plants' mechanism pathways I discovered and publish them to exchange for some contribution points at the library." Locke said, "I previously had quite a few documents I wanted to subscribe to that all require contribution points. The fastest way to obtain contribution points is publishing articles yourself."

"However, students in the Origin Academy are all quality students who can work. It seems I need to find First Circle wizard apprentices elsewhere to help me write articles."

Locke thought of Dragon Blood Market. There were shops providing working First Circle wizard apprentices there.

There seemed to be many financially struggling First Circle wizard apprentices there who survived by doing odd jobs for various First Circle wizard mentors and obtaining learning resources.

He could give them raw data and materials he prepared, have them help write several articles publishable in tier-two journals. That should be no problem.

After all, he had already completed the experiments and data.

They just needed to synthesize and write articles.

He only lacked people to write articles.

His and his student's time was truly too precious. Wasting time on such small matters would be unwise.

Gregor carried a cup of cold-brewed Hawktooth Tea and ran over, handing it to Locke. "Teacher, did you succeed?"

Locke nodded slightly.

Gregor said excitedly, "That's wonderful."

Locke took a satisfied sip of the cold-brewed wizard tea. "Not bad, Gregor. You remembered my preferences. You brewed this cup of wizard tea well."

Locke saw a Shop Alliance wizard walking toward him, seemingly a professional manager from the Arthas Plantation Shop Alliance.

Locke said to Gregor, "Come, we have a collaborator arriving."