Locke opened his eyes and found himself lying on a bed covered with soft velvet sheets. The bed frame was made of precious magical gold, carved with snakes and lions, while four golden pillars were covered with climbing laurel vines.

A half-dragon servant dependent saw Locke rise and immediately curtsied to him, "You're awake, Lord Augustine."

Locke rubbed his brow and looked at the bright sunlight streaming through the gilded window, casting on the floor and forming colorful, brilliant light.

Magical gold was an alchemists' masterpiece. Different crafted magical gold had special functions and effects, but all shared a common characteristic: immutable gold nature, difficult to be changed by external forces. Therefore, it was always the preferred magical material for expensive furniture favored by high-circle wizards.

It was an advanced luxury that First Circle wizards couldn't afford.

Locke's fingertips stroked the bed frame's magical gold. "Where is this? How long have I been sleeping?"

The half-dragon servant said to Locke, "Respected Lord Augustine, this is Lady Yekaterina's guest rest room. You've been sleeping here for a week."

Locke frowned slightly. It seemed the Emerald Dream's time flow and the wizard world's time flow weren't the same. He only felt half a day passed in the Emerald Dream, but a week had passed in the wizard world.

No wonder wizards who fell into Emerald Sleep couldn't control how long they slept.

Locke even suspected that the time flow ratio between the Emerald Dream and the wizard world wasn't fixed. After all, the Emerald Dream was an idealistic world.

Then, each time falling into Emerald Sleep was indeed a relatively dangerous behavior.

Ritual magic was always very dangerous.

Locke spread open his right hand. In his palm floated a strange hexagonal seed, like a crystal, like a godhead from fairy tales in the wizard world, or a dragon crystal storing dragon souls that giant dragons possessed.

This was the Ancient Life Tree's seed.

At the same time, Locke spread open his left hand. Here contained a large amount of spirit, that was part of Isisdar's spirit. At this moment, this portion of spirit returned to the Emerald Dream through the dream gate in his consciousness sea.

After all, if not in the Emerald Dream, this portion of spirit would be obliterated by the wizard world's physical rules over time.

In the main material plane, souls/spirits without body or shell protection were extremely fragile.

But as long as Locke summoned this portion of spirit, it would automatically inject into whichever magical plant Locke wanted to inject it into. Although there would be loss, it could be used for a very long time.

Moreover, Locke could sense that his summoning Isisdar's spirit power to enhance his magical plants didn't count as using ritual magic.

"This is Isisdar's own gift, not the Emerald Dream's gift to me. Therefore, this can't be counted in the transaction."

"Only when I use ritual magic to summon spirit power do I need to pay a price."

Locke thought. At this moment, he discovered some mysterious knowledge appeared in his mind—creating the sacred space specific to all ritual magic, the magic circle.

Ritual magic was a completely enclosed domain magic. Therefore, the construction foundation of its runic formation was a circle. This was the sacred circle.

It came from the Summoning School's creation and was deeply embedded into wizards' power system. Locke sensed that the Summoning School wizard who created the sacred circle, if still alive now, should have a high status in the wizard world. He just didn't know if it was a Third Circle wizard, Fourth Circle wizard, or even higher.

But the sacred space he invented—the magic circle had already permeated wizards' ritual magic.

And in his consciousness, Locke also obtained the complete runic formation diagram for constructing ritual magic to summon Emerald Dream power.

At the same time, he also knew that he had passed the trial, helped the Emerald Dream, and preemptively purified Isisdar, preventing Isisdar from becoming a Second Circle or even Third Circle level nightmare. This was thanks and gifts from the Emerald Dream.

That was a special privilege of Emerald Dream power—magical plant gigantification!

Locke asked the half-dragon maid, "Where's my teacher?"

The half-dragon maid lowered her head to Locke and said respectfully, "Master has already left the castle. She said if you awoke, you're free to do as you please."

"Just don't walk into the corridor in front of the round table conference room. That corridor has many Second Circle magical plants, even Third Circle magical plants. It's very dangerous for you to approach."

The half-dragon maid looked at Locke with admiring eyes. "Master usually places a Red Demon God at the outermost part of that corridor to prevent others from entering."

"Just to warn people."

"Master always likes dangerous and powerful things and views them as beautiful. However, you possess Immortal Dragon Scales, so you're actually very difficult to kill."

The half-dragon maid said, "Legend says Immortal Dragon Scales possess special power."

Locke certainly knew that true dragons' Immortal Dragon Scales had the power to prevent death from arriving, but he had no intention of testing the Immortal Dragon Scales' limit.

If a wizard possessed Immortal Dragon Scales, they could try using Immortal Dragon Scales to prevent death from arriving. That is, after reaching the 500-year formal wizard lifespan limit, still using Immortal Dragon Scales to maintain their lifespan. According to Locke's calculations, possessing Immortal Dragon Scales at least doubled his lifespan.

Moreover, even after a thousand years, he could more easily find ways to extend his life using Immortal Dragon Scales.

But he didn't want to actively test the Immortal Dragon Scales' limit like an old birthday star hanging himself.

His mysterious dragon bloodline was, after all, only First Circle vaporization stage level.

Locke said to the maid, "May I borrow a laurel leaf, an oak leaf?"

"And a cup of clear water?"

The half-dragon maid froze for a moment, then said, "Of course."

"Moreover, Yekaterina's Throne said I would follow and serve you from now on. You may deploy me as you wish."

Locke looked at the half-dragon maid with confusion. This was equivalent to Witch Yekaterina assigning him a formal wizard level guard, like how Senior Brother Anthony had once ordered Witch Claudia to obey his commands.

Later, Witch Claudia left the Land of Six Towers with him and returned to the Philaid family.

It was just that the relationship between himself and Anthony was special, but he was only an ordinary researcher in Witch Yekaterina's research group. He hadn't heard that Witch Yekaterina would assign serving wizards to other Origin Academy researchers.

Locke nodded slightly. "I understand. What's your name?"

The half-dragon maid said respectfully, "I am a red dragon half-dragon, Ginny of the Flamesong clan."

"I am Master's dependent race."

Locke looked at her with confusion. "My teacher isn't a bloodline studies wizard, right? How would she have a dependent race?"

Dependent races were something produced due to the special nature of bloodline studies wizards' major magic. According to logic, plant-type wizards' major magic wouldn't produce dependent races, but would have other functions and powers.

Ginny bowed to Locke, "Lord Augustine, Master possesses true dragon level bloodline power. With this bloodline power alone, she equals a Third Circle level bloodline studies wizard."

Locke suddenly understood.

That meant Witch Yekaterina was simultaneously both a Third Circle plant-type wizard and a Third Circle bloodline wizard.

Locke was just very curious about plant-type wizards having dependent races. He didn't know if these dependent races belonged to part of Witch Yekaterina's major magic.

Like permanent defensive fields and major magic, both would advance as wizards advanced, belonging to trump cards all wizards would have. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

According to logic, Witch Yekaterina's major magic should also reach heights that Second Circle wizards' major magic couldn't possibly reach.

Ginny brought a laurel leaf, an oak leaf, a wooden cup filled halfway with clear water, and a magic chalk.

There was no helping it. Having just learned ritual magic, he naturally wasn't as skilled as those wizards who had stayed at the First Circle crystallization stage for years, who could construct ritual magic formations in mid-air with magic without needing magic chalk and such.

Locke drew two concentric circles on the floor with white magic chalk according to his memory. He rapidly wrote a line of runic text in the concentric circles. As he finished writing, this Sacred Space, the magic circle, began glowing with magical radiance.

This magic circle could isolate inside and outside, creating an uninterrupted magical domain.

At the same time, Locke drew more complex magic rune formations inside the magic circle, placing a laurel leaf on the left, an oak leaf on the right, and a cup of clear water in the middle.

Then Locke recited the incantation. Finally, he said, "Memory is plants' spirits. Every root growing downward seeks the dream homeland of the past."

The next moment, a world power not belonging to the wizard world descended.

Locke took out Glittering Sea Gold Sand from his astral ring. Immediately this magical plant was infused with countless Emerald Dream plant spirits. Glittering Sea Gold Sand rapidly enlarged, becoming twice as large.

This was the special privilege the Emerald Dream gave him.

Ordinary plant-type wizards using ritual magic could only summon plant spirits to strengthen their magical plants. But the Emerald Dream granted him the possibility of using Emerald Dream's world power more deeply in the main material plane.

That was using ritual magic to summon world power to bless magical plants, forming that special phenomenon in the Emerald Dream where plants became gigantic when blessed by world power.

That is, enlarging a magical plant's power by two times out of nowhere.

But because this wasn't the Emerald Dream after all, but the wizard world, at most it could only enlarge twice, and there was a time limit of one minute.

Locke looked at the Glittering Sea Gold Sand in his hand, which had become as tall as two people and very thick, extremely satisfied. This Sea Gold Sand was already like a pagoda.

The original Sea Gold Sand had already been strengthened by him to heights it originally couldn't reach.

In a sense, his development of the Sea Gold Sand magical plant was already very deep, beyond what ordinary plant-type wizards could achieve.

Locke snapped his right hand fingers. Immediately this enormous tree fern Sea Gold Sand automatically transformed into a gold-green spiral spear, every detail displaying its terror.

Locke summoned Cold Ice Sea Gold Sand again. Within this one minute, whatever magical plant he used would be gigantified to twice its size.

Locke also had Cold Ice Sea Gold Sand transform into a spiral spear.

Two enormous spiral spears formed from tree ferns floated in mid-air, radiating oppressive, dangerous magical pressure in all directions.

Ginny looked at Locke with admiring eyes. "So impressive, Lord Augustine. Is this First Circle crystallization stage ritual magic?"

"It actually has such terrifying magical pressure."

Locke took out the Griffin Cube and pressed his thumb on the cube's center. The Griffin Cube automatically rotated. Countless small cubes tumbled, then these small cubes transformed into pieces of permanent defensive fields simulated by alchemists, covering the spiral spear transformed from Glittering Sea Gold Sand.

This was the Griffin Cube that Director Morrison gave him to silence him.

Using the Griffin Cube could slightly break the law that only wizards had permanent defensive fields, letting one of his magical plants also possess a quasi-permanent defensive field.

At this moment, Locke waved his hand and blessed Myst's Power onto both spiral spears. Various magics stacked together had already elevated the two spiral spears to an incredible degree.

Magical lightning bolts coiled around the two spiral spears.

The magical pressure on Locke's body also transformed into dragon might, which blessed the two spears. At the same time, the abyss energy equivalent to 1,500 contained in Locke's eyes also blessed these two spears.

Then, at the moment when the two tree fern Sea Gold Sand spears' magical pressure reached an incredible degree, Locke suddenly recited an incantation. A spell model simultaneously struck both spiral spears—Same Qi Connected Branch!

That was magic using Diamond Succulent.

But now, he had a flash of inspiration and used it directly on both spiral spears. The two spiral spears connected in same qi, their mechanisms mutually connecting.

Then the two spiral spears suddenly combined together, intertwining with each other, transforming into a spiral spear about as tall as four people.

Its magical pressure reached an incredible degree.

It seemed to reach a degree that individual magical pressure couldn't achieve.

Under this magical pressure, Maid Ginny couldn't even stand steady. She could only lean against the wall, sweat constantly flowing down her forehead.

"Is this really magic a First Circle wizard can release?"

Locke looked at this scene with satisfaction. Under his skillful use of ritual magic and combinations of various existing magic, he had finally made up for his current greatest deficiency: insufficient conventional magical output.

Although this magic was combined from various magics and he hadn't modified the Flowing Gold Fern Spear spell model.

Innovation itself had many types. Principled innovation and structural innovation were innovations. Combination use innovation was also innovation, and moreover was more important application-level innovation.

It could also be given a new separate spell name.

Locke thought for a moment. "Let's call it Radiant Fern Spear."

"Created by ritual magic, the Emerald Dream's magical plant gigantification special privilege, Myst's Power, Same Qi Connected Branch, plus dragon might and abyss energy, plus the two special tree-type Sea Gold Sands I bred, a combination-type new magic."

"This is my most powerful attack magic so far."

Locke's power system could currently be divided into four types—plant-type spells, abyss energy, bloodline studies power centered on the Scorpion Woman Ring plus true blood and dragon bloodlines, and archaeological spells based on identifying Modo language.

Among them, in attack magic, Radiant Fern Spear was currently the limit of stacked attack magic. His defensive magic relied on Golden Eye Grass and photosynthesis, plus Myst's Power and Immortal Dragon Scales.

Consumables were Diamond Succulent. Movement was Large Green Leaf Dragon Sparrow and Plant Mimicry: Green Dragon. Reconnaissance was Shadow Eye Grass.

At the same time, he could also use Beast Body, two berserk charges, and Boiling Blood to strengthen his body.

And he had Blood Flame, Bloodline Harmony, Blood Flame Enchantment, various archaeological magic, and other auxiliary means.

In short, currently his spell library was already very rich, possessing various abilities sufficient to handle various emergency situations.

At the same time, his stats were already quite exaggerated. He already had 9,045 magical pressure. Adding abyss energy and the Fierce Beast panel, it could be said that if he faced Grand Wizard Sulla now, if the opponent didn't use the White Dragon Tower, he no longer feared him.

Even though Grand Wizard Sulla possessed Cave Scorpion Woman and bloodlines of over a hundred types of First Circle magical creatures.

Locke now, because he came to Cloud Marsh Wetland for four and a half months, had elevated his power to a degree that he six months ago couldn't contend with.

One minute passed. Locke felt the world power that entered his body rapidly leaving. His Radiant Fern Spear, like a house whose foundation was extracted, rapidly self-collapsed.

Locke raised his hand. Both tree ferns returned to his astral ring. At the same time, he sighed slightly in his heart.

When he just obtained world power, he actually had an illusion of when heaven and earth align with one's strength, one's overwhelming power can oppose the entire world.

That was a very strange state.

Blessed with world power, you fell into an illusion. Behind you stood not just yourself, but an entire world.

Locke fell into contemplation. "Ritual magic is indeed the youth version of major magic. According to my observation of Grand Wizard Sulla advancing to Second Circle, at the Second Circle stage, creating major magic and obtaining one's own magical source can keep oneself constantly in a state where heaven and earth align, making heights originally impossible for individuals possible, thereby achieving the second racial soul limit transcendence."

"But ritual magic, through borrowing power, briefly reached this state. In other words, a wizard using ritual magic can temporarily experience a Second Circle trial card."

Because Locke had watched major magic in advance and the entire process of two First Circle crystallization wizards advancing to Second Circle and failing, he now had an essential view of major magic and ritual magic.

Locke looked at Ginny and asked, "Ginny, did major magic appear first, or ritual magic first?"

Ginny froze, then said respectfully to Locke, "Lord Augustine, major magic came first, then ritual magic appeared."

"Different from most wizards' understanding. Originally major magic appeared first, then high-circle wizards developed ritual magic specifically for us to strengthen us young First Circle wizards."

"That was a high-circle wizard of the Summoning School, a great figure from the Star Domain Sea."

"Later, another high-circle wizard from the Star Domain Sea added the Ritual Book for ritual magic. Then another high-circle wizard added the sacred space—magic circle—for ritual magic's safety."

"I don't understand it very well, but wizards who could deeply participate in wizards' magic levels had already transcended Third Circle wizards, even Fourth Circle wizards' level." Ginny said, "This is what I heard my master say."

"For specific details, if you have the chance, you can ask my master, Witch Yekaterina."

Star Domain Sea, still the Star Domain Sea!

Locke realized that the Star Domain Sea was the peak of magical civilization, the most core place of the wizard world.

The Star Domain Sea hung high above the fifty-three wizard lands of the Eastern boundary region, constantly exploring magic's limits and broadening the magic system.

Locke said, "Then my guess wasn't wrong."

Locke said, "Ritual magic couldn't just be something Star Domain Sea's high-circle wizards developed to increase First Circle crystallization wizards' combat power. They shouldn't be so bored. Such small matters also aren't what they should do."

"Ritual magic is major magic's trial card."

"Ritual magic was probably created by those high-circle wizards to make it easier for First Circle wizards to advance to Second Circle wizards. Because when I used ritual magic, my understanding and use of major magic deepened further."

Locke said in a low voice, "Using ritual magic is the best opportunity for First Circle wizards to observe the window of world power, something absolutely unique."

"Most First Circle wizards simply viewing ritual magic as their trump card and ultimate move is definitely a mistake."

"Ritual magic's greatest use isn't for combat, but... for learning."

Speaking of which, those special planes with particularly active world wills in the endless void were collectively tricked once by the wizard world's high-circle wizards.

And among the three major choices Witch Yekaterina provided him, he chose the Emerald Dream with the lowest price. That could be called wise.

Because if ritual magic mainly wasn't for combat but for learning, then choosing the Emerald Dream with the lowest price was wisest.

Locke dispelled the ritual magic.

Immediately, the formation on the floor disappeared.

That laurel leaf and oak leaf, as offerings to the Emerald Dream, also disappeared. What also disappeared was a cup of clear water.

Locke said, "But my current understanding also isn't necessarily correct. I always feel something's still missing a step."

"From First Circle to Second Circle requires breaking through limits a second time. This is the second time. Very special. The previous limit breakthrough was the first limit breakthrough. Once I break through limits a second time, it means I'll become a multiple transcender."

"Possessing plural transcendence experiences."

"But wizard civilization itself is transcendent civilization. We view transcending our own limits as normal, view breaking through destiny's restrictions as work."

"Let's continue exploring."

Locke suddenly thought that he had been sleeping here for a week. "Oh no! Doesn't that mean I haven't gone to the laboratory to clock in for a week?"

Locke's expression changed. "Did my teacher request leave for me?"

Ginny looked at Locke with confused eyes.

Locke's heart sank.