When the two forces collided, Locke's five permanent defensive fields had a larger total energy amount, while Witch Diana's Full Moon Boundary had higher quality.

When the two collided, the collapse of Diana's permanent defensive field that Locke had anticipated didn't occur. Instead, his five permanent defensive fields actually began experiencing chain collapse.

"This is..."

The Large Green Leaf Dragon Sparrow appeared behind Locke. Using Plant Mimicry: Green Dragon, he quickly flew toward the sky. He saw that the ground where he had originally stood was enveloped by moonlight. The moonlight seemed to pour down from the sky, and the entire ground was covered in moonlight cold ice, condensing into an ice abyss.

Ice skates appeared again beneath Witch Diana's feet, and the Luna Laurel Treant appeared behind her. However, this treant was more robust and much more powerful than half a year ago.

Witch Diana, wearing ice skates, glided elegantly through the sky, catching up to Locke. Her permanent defensive field collided with Locke's five-layer permanent defensive field again, causing Locke's permanent defensive field to scatter.

Locke frowned and could only use Plant Mimicry: Green Dragon to quickly dodge the opponent's continuous slashes.

Each time the opponent swung the laurel leaf scimitar, she could summon massive amounts of ice magic power.

This was because Witch Diana had possessed Second Circle characteristics half a year ago. Now, she had become even more powerful.

For the third time, Locke saw his five-layer permanent defensive field collide with her Full Moon Boundary. The result was that his five stacked permanent defensive fields collapsed against each other, while the opponent's single permanent defensive field remained intact.

A flash of interest passed through Locke's eyes. 'Worthy of being a breeder genius famous even in Cloud Marsh Wetland. In just half a year, she found a method to counter my multiple permanent defensive fields.'

'This efficiency is really too high.'

'However, I also need to thank her. If not for her, I wouldn't have discovered the flaws in multiple permanent defensive fields.'

Witch Diana laughed heartily, not out of pride, nor because she was currently chasing and attacking Locke to vent the frustration from the Cloud Marsh Cup.

Rather, it was because after half a year of hard overtime work, using all her scattered personal time, what she had researched was indeed verified.

Today, she found Locke and successfully verified her speculation about multiple permanent defensive fields. Tomorrow, she would also go find Edgar to verify her speculation about the Nature Avatar of the Ancient Life Tree Treant.

After half a year of hard work, today she finally received her reward!

Witch Diana said, "As I guessed. The reason your multiple permanent defensive fields are powerful isn't because this approach is particularly impressive, but because you have Second Circle characteristics."

"What makes your multiple permanent defensive fields powerful is that Second Circle characteristic."

"That Second Circle characteristic allows you to gather multiple people's power on one person. But this doesn't mean that mindlessly stacking the number of permanent defensive fields is the correct path."

Another full moon rose behind Witch Diana. That was the botany First Circle permanent defensive field, Full Moon Boundary.

The Full Moon Boundary enveloped Locke. The Full Moon Boundary was connected to the osmanthus fragrance of the Luna Laurel Treant behind it, and that osmanthus fragrance continuously provided magical energy to the Full Moon Boundary, so much so that the Full Moon Boundary also gained Second Circle characteristics.

Thus, Locke's five-layer First Circle permanent defensive field collided with the Full Moon Boundary that had been amplified by osmanthus fragrance and gained Second Circle characteristics.

This caused both parties' permanent defensive fields to be evenly matched, with Witch Diana even slightly superior.

Essentially, this was a battle between quality and quantity.

Locke looked at Witch Diana chasing behind him, wearing ice skates, constantly pursuing him on ice tracks in midair.

Fighting with her indeed made him feel something different, that pressure from a fellow traveler that other wizards couldn't give him.

The last time he felt this kind of pressure was during his battle with Hussein.

"She noticed that multiple permanent defensive fields are essentially nested and stacked together. If hit by sufficient force, the multiple permanent defensive fields on my body will collide with each other, forming some energy loss, like turbulence appearing in flowing water."

"That is, multiple permanent defensive fields have the turbulence phenomenon of mutual interference, so they absolutely won't be a match for a powerful permanent defensive field of roughly the same level."

Locke looked back at the Full Moon Boundary that Witch Diana was enveloping toward him.

However, only a super genius like Witch Diana could come up with this method.

Why would he pursue multiple permanent defensive fields?

Because a wizard could only possess one permanent defensive field. Even with his Forest Sanctuary, originally he could only use one permanent defensive field at a time. It was only by using the Five-Headed Hydra magical plant that he could use multiple permanent defensive fields simultaneously.

And the strength of a wizard's permanent defensive field had an upper limit, so this meant that multiple permanent defensive fields must be more powerful than a single permanent defensive field.

But Witch Diana, relying on the osmanthus fragrance from the Luna Laurel Treant behind her that could rival the Ancient Life Tree, gained powerful magical energy amplification and obtained Second Circle characteristics. Using this method, she amplified her permanent defensive field's original strength by at least four times, thus breaking through the strength limit of a single permanent defensive field, forming the current situation.

But generally speaking, ritual magic would only strengthen one's certain power by about three times. This was already an enhancement limit. Enhancing further was both unlikely and very dangerous.

Nidhogg was a precedent.

But Witch Diana, through the Luna Laurel Treant, used a special method to enhance her permanent defensive field by at least four times its power.

In a certain sense, the special ability of the Luna Osmanthus Treant she bred was indeed amazing. Who knew what the specific principle was.

Locke suddenly stopped moving, his right hand gripping the air. "You're right. Witch Diana, whether it's my multiple permanent defensive field approach or your approach of doubling and strengthening your permanent defensive field, they're actually the same."

"In the end, they're both the results of our thinking about Second Circle characteristics."

"Neither quantity nor quality matter. How to break through limits and obtain Second Circle characteristics is most important." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Three force fields in Locke's hand merged, transforming into the Nature Force Field. Myst's Power transformed into a highly compressed emerald green axe, then Locke suddenly swung down at the Full Moon Boundary in front of Witch Diana.

'Boom~'

Myst's Power transformed into a giant axe, directly splitting open the full moon before Diana. That round moon transformed into faint fragrance, actually composed of laurel fragrance.

Currently, both Locke and Diana were First Circle crystallization stage wizards. Under the premise of not using ritual magic to fight desperately, the gap between them wasn't that large anymore.

And Myst's Power also possessed Second Circle characteristics and had a special characteristic for breaking permanent defensive fields. Therefore, with one strike, it actually directly split open Diana's permanent defensive field.

While the laurel leaf scimitar in Diana's hand traced an ice mark and fell on Locke, but was blocked by the Life Heavy Armor that Locke summoned.

Witch Diana was stunned. "How is this possible? Not multiple permanent defensive fields, but a special permanent defensive field completely fused together?"

This meant that Locke's two special permanent defensive fields had no turbulence problem.

At this moment, Witch Diana exchanged blows several times with Locke holding the Myst's Power giant axe in direct confrontation. However, her leaf blades were all blocked by Locke's Life Heavy Armor, while Locke's Myst's Power could cut through her Full Moon Boundary every time.

Thus, Diana could only turn around and start fleeing, beginning to think about how to break the situation while being chased by Locke.

Sweat flowed down Witch Diana's forehead. "That axe condensed from special power actually has such powerful strength. It can instantly break through my defensive field. I didn't see him use it during the competition half a year ago."

"Is this power newly acquired in the last half year?"

Witch Diana said, "Looks like I'm not the only one who has progressed."

"If so, that Edgar fellow should have also made enormous progress. Earlier, I thought that by amplifying my permanent defensive field and all magic to four times while only borrowing the Luna Laurel Treant, I would be invincible, the best among my peers. Now it seems I was somewhat arrogant."

"I'm still far from being able to say I'm invincible. I need to work even harder!"

Diana converted waves of osmanthus fragrance into her own magical power.

"In that case, I'll compete with him in endurance. I have the flower fragrance provided by this Luna Osmanthus Treant to supplement my magical power. I'll drag on until his power declines, then look for a way to break his new permanent defensive field."

Half an hour later, Diana suddenly stopped fleeing and smiled bitterly. "I'm not fighting anymore. I admit defeat."

Witch Diana withdrew all her magical plants, and Locke accordingly released his Myst's Power and Life Heavy Armor.

Witch Diana shook her head with a bitter smile. "You're still better. I thought that by spending half a year finding the weakness of multiple permanent defensive fields, I could defeat you and clear my name. But who could have thought you'd gain new power."

Locke nodded and said, "Diana, your method of quadrupling your permanent defensive field amplification is also very ingenious."

Diana said, "But it's still not enough. I need to work even harder. Fighting you has corrected my mindset. Thank you."

Locke nodded slightly.

His battle with Diana also let him discover the weakness of multiple permanent defensive fields and witness a special amplification method.

It could be considered a worthwhile trip.

Exchanging and verifying with these geniuses could indeed greatly improve himself.

Locke said, "Then, I'll leave first. I need to hurry to the library to check the book list my cooperative mentor gave me."

Witch Diana said, "Yes, I also have to get busy. We'll communicate again when there's an opportunity in the future."

After the two parted, Locke left Joseph's Golem Shop and headed to the library. He currently had 3,000 contribution points total at Cloud Marsh Wetland's public library. Because he had published two articles that made it into Grass Cloud Marsh journal, each was rewarded with 1,500 contribution points.

This was three times more than directly publishing an Association S-level article at the association, which could earn 500 contribution points.

And borrowing the three magic books related to Peach Bow Thorn Arrow cost Locke a total of three hundred contribution points. Currently, he had 2,700 contribution points remaining.

Locke also borrowed some related Association S-level and Association A-level articles, spending another 1,000 contribution points, leaving only 1,700 contribution points.

Precisely because contribution points were so important, Locke had previously wanted to find apprentices to publish some Tier 2 journal articles for him to farm some contribution points.

After all, with enough contribution points, they could also be used to exchange wizard secret realm entry opportunities for himself and his students.

"Peach Bow Thorn Arrow is an ancient yet new magic of Cloud Marsh Wetland..." Locke sat in a library chair, flipping through books. "So there are many related works. For a long time, it was very popular among the botany wizard groups in Cloud Marsh Wetland."

"Later, as more and more new plant magic emerged, Peach Bow Thorn Arrow magic received less attention. But even today, Peach Bow Thorn Arrow magic is still one of the most classic First Circle magics in Cloud Marsh Wetland."

"Moreover, research on it continues, with some small innovations every year."

Locke read the content in the book. "Peach Bow Thorn Arrow requires a matching peach tree-type magical plant, as well as a matching jujube tree-type magical plant. It's a First Circle attack magic with very powerful attack power, known as having the top-tier attack power at the First Circle level."

"And it has special restraint effects on necromancy magic and other negative energy magic."

"Correspondingly, when constructing the Peach Bow Thorn Arrow spell model, the difficulty is quite high. The biggest difficulty lies in concentration. Constructing this spell model requires incomparable concentration. The construction process is long and cannot have the slightest distraction. One must remain in an absolutely focused state at all times."

Locke read the related introduction to Peach Bow Thorn Arrow. "Constructing the Peach Bow Thorn Arrow spell model requires establishing a transcendent connection with some kind of spiritual existence, therefore requiring no emotional fluctuations whatsoever, with a completely blank mind. The slightest violation may lead to magic backlash."

Locke flipped through an article that actually recorded in full detail various wizards who, due to using Peach Bow Thorn Arrow while their thoughts were chaotic, suffered magic backlash, resulting in casualties.

"This is a very dangerous magic. Precisely because of this, as time passes, fewer and fewer wizards learn or even understand such powerful magic."

Locke thought, "Teacher Yekaterina wants me to learn this magic before learning the advanced meditation method to train my absolute concentration."

"It's just that constructing this spell requires spending money to purchase peach tree-type magical plants and jujube tree-type magical plants."

"The key is I have no money now..." Locke thought with a headache.

No choice, he could only learn the theoretical knowledge first. The practical part would have to wait until later when he had money to purchase the two tree-type magical plants.

Locke flipped through a pile of magic books and began learning. At the same time, he indeed felt that the learning difficulty of this ancient spell model was much higher than the learning difficulty of various current mainstream botany magic.

Moreover, during the learning process, he seemed to be in deep communication with some kind of spiritual existence.

Locke studied hard in the library.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

September 1st, True Love Festival, arrived as scheduled.

And on this day, while Locke was learning Peach Bow Thorn Arrow in the library, taking notes, he also opened the Wish Lingzhi to observe the major sales rankings of Arthas products.