Blue-purple spores, as large as cannonballs, were launched and landed in an iron cage at the corner of the workbench. The white rat inside was instantly parasitized by countless spell fungi.
It let out a shrill scream at first, then suddenly fell silent. After that, it seemed to see something and began spinning in place, running endlessly in circles.
Locke nodded in satisfaction. "The Level 7 Rot Soil Konjac King combined with the Mayfly Firecracker works quite well—it can disrupt the enemy's perception."
"Originally, the Mayfly Firecracker spell was just about modifying the Rot Soil Konjac to make its spores attack the enemy and damage their nerves."
"But this effect is even better." With a wave of his hand, the Mayfly Firecracker floated automatically into his palm. Now, like his Level 7 Mandala Vine, this Rot Soil Konjac King had become an extension of his own body.
Locke stored it inside the Astral Ring. This way, he wouldn't have to carry such a heavy Magic Plant when going out, and he could also conceal his spells.
"The Mayfly Firecracker is complete, but my Mana has barely increased this month," Locke muttered.
Over the past month, his Mana had only risen by a measly 2 points. The Advanced Meditation Technique still hadn't arrived—apparently, it was still stuck in bureaucratic procedures.
Locke had inquired earlier and found out that the process had just been completed on Lilith's Cottage's end. Now, it was stuck in the White Wizard Association's paperwork.
There was nothing he could do. As an ordinary First-Class Wizard Apprentice, all he could do was wait. Pushing for it wouldn't make much difference.
Mentor Sophia had already done her best to expedite things for him.
Locke drank a bottle of the bright red Bleeding Dragon Nightshade—his tenth bottle this month. Since his innate talent was only Level 3, this potion forcibly elevated it to Level 4—but only while he kept consuming it.
The trade-off was an additional cost of 900 Magic Stones every month.
After drinking the potion, Locke felt his entire body grow warm, a comfortable heat spreading through him as the Bleeding Dragon Nightshade's energy refined his physique.
Locke sighed. "Not only is the Advanced Meditation Technique stuck in red tape, but even the application for a small and medium-sized Botanical Garden is still being processed."
"Thankfully, Mentor Sophia allocated me ten acres of land in her own Botanical Garden to grow Wire Tendon Grass. Otherwise, I'd be losing money just from buying five more minotaurs."
"If I were a Black Wizard, I could probably plant whatever I wanted, and no one would care how big my Botanical Garden was, whether my experiments went out of control, or if they caused massive disasters." Locke quickly dismissed that naive thought. "Then again, if I were a Black Wizard, the moment I set up a Botanical Garden, thieves and robbers would come knocking the very next day."
"Not to mention, Black Wizard Mentors basically treat their apprentices like slaves. If I were a Black Wizard, I'd probably be some Formal Wizard's serf by now."
"Regulations have their benefits, and lawlessness has its own perks. But overall, as a Breeder, staying in White Wizard society is far better for my development."
Locke heard a knock on the laboratory door, and his expression immediately turned cold. It wasn't Sophia the Witch, nor was it any of the three Wizard Seedlings he had brought with him.
The presence outside carried an unfamiliar Mana signature.
And it wasn't just one person.
The knocker spoke in an aged voice, softly saying, "Is Locke Augustine the Breeder present? I am Domenico Reeves of the Reeves family."
The person outside paused, his tone carrying an air of self-importance, as if he were some notable figure Locke ought to recognize.
Domenico Reeves continued from beyond the door, "I've brought my little granddaughter—the wizard apprentice you've met before—to apologize and clarify some misunderstandings between us."
"Recently, there have been far too many misunderstandings between our family and you."
Domenico Reeves then said coldly, "Chrisel, you must quickly admit your wrongdoing to Lord Augustine. Your previous reckless actions, slandering Lord Augustine, were a grave mistake. You must seek his forgiveness."
Finally, Locke remembered who these two troublemakers outside were.
So, they were from the Reeves family—one of the seventy-two local wizard families under Lilith's Cottage.
The only reason Locke hadn't remembered them before was simply because they weren't important.
The seventy-two local wizard families had long been in decline. Moreover, suppressing them in the shadows was likely an unspoken rule among Lilith's Cottage's higher-ups.
Otherwise, if they all practiced inbreeding, how could Lilith's Cottage possibly progress?
For Lilith's Cottage to advance further, it needed to attract talent broadly, not remain stagnant.
Locke walked over and opened the laboratory door, his expression far from welcoming.
He saw an elderly wizard dressed in a robe as ornate as noble attire, and beside him stood a slender witch in a Violet Wizard Robe—Chrisel.
But unlike last time, Chrisel's face was deathly pale, as if she had been severely reprimanded by her elders. The moment she saw Locke, her eyes flickered with nervousness. Bowing her head in fear, she said, "Breeder Augustine, the previous incident was entirely my fault."
"I was shortsighted, which led to the spread of misunderstandings. I've already clarified the truth publicly..."
"And made sure everyone knows it was my ignorance that caused others to misunderstand you. I truly apologize."
Locke's eyes showed impatience. "Hmm."
This kind of belated damage control held no interest for him.
Chrisel grew even more anxious, recalling the warnings from her family elders—a man who had become a First-Class Wizard Apprentice within two years, earned the title of Breeder Assistant, and was rumored to have developed two new species of Magic Plants consecutively.
Such a person was absolutely not someone their family could afford to provoke.
Even if it might take Locke decades to become a Formal Wizard, within just the next ten years, if he attained the rank of Breeder, his influence would be immense.
So, offending him while he was still a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice was best resolved now—before Locke had the chance to build the network of connections befitting a Breeder.
Otherwise, resolving it later would come at a much greater cost, and it might no longer be something that could be settled by merely paying a price.
Domenico smiled at Locke and said, "Breeder Augustine, I truly wasn't aware of what happened before. Had I known, I would never have allowed her to do something so foolish."
"As an apology, the Reeves family would like to offer you some gifts to clear up this misunderstanding."
Only then did Locke show interest, lifting his eyes to look at Domenico. "Mr. Reeves, then what are you prepared to offer to resolve your previous actions of defaming me?"
An awkward expression appeared on Chrisel's face.
She never imagined that her momentary act of willfulness back then would cause such trouble.
Even her grandfather had rarely scolded her and immediately brought her here to apologize.
If she had known it would come to this, back then...
A deep sense of regret welled up in Chrisel's heart.
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