Although Locke wasn't versed in Alchemy or Enchantment Studies, he had picked up some basic concepts from Sassari during general courses like the All Things Class.
Take the berserk rhinoceros leather armor as an example. The approach of an enchanter would be to overlay various Enchanting Inscriptions on the leather armor, even incorporating the Enchantment School's masterpiece technique—Rune Word Carving.
They would use external enchantment magic to enhance the armor's properties, thereby creating magic-resistant leather armor.
The advantage was simplicity and speed, while the drawback was that such magic-resistant armor would have low durability.
A proper Alchemist's approach, however, would likely involve first using an Alchemy Array to restore the berserk rhinoceros hide to its most primitive state, preserving its optimal properties. Then they would synthesize the leather with various substances to find the best magic-resistant material, ultimately creating magic-resistant armor through material composition.
The advantage was higher potential and durability, while the drawbacks included lower baseline performance, higher costs, and longer production time.
This was also the primary reason enchanters and alchemists often clashed.
Locke didn't bring up the somewhat inappropriate topic of how low-level apprentices using Enchantment Studies to create Enchanted Items might be more fitting for their status when speaking to the dwarf Tyne. Instead, he said, "Alchemist Tyne, I need to purchase some Magic Metal."
"It's for use in a close-combat oriented plant magic. I need it to enhance the combat performance of my Magic Plant."
Tyne's eyes lit up, the dwarf craftsman clearly delighted. He was evidently well-experienced. "I love a good challenge. I see—you want to attach Magic Metal to a Magic Plant, correct?"
"I didn't expect someone as young as you to have already reached this stage."
Creating new types of Magic Alloys was the forte of alchemists, which explained Tyne's enthusiasm.
Tyne pondered. "If it's for a combat-oriented plant magic, the primary consideration should be the compatibility between the Magic Alloy and the Magic Plant."
"Some Magic Alloys are excellent—Adamantine, for instance—but Adamantine would harm the Magic Plant, so it can't be used for this purpose."
"Beyond compatibility, elemental balance must also be considered. The Magic Metal might disrupt the elemental equilibrium, affecting the Rune Formula of your plant magic. Only after accounting for these two factors should you consider combat-specific properties like hardness and sharpness."
Locke smiled. "Seems I came to the right place."
The dwarf clearly had experience crafting Magic Alloys for plant-focused wizards.
Tyne said, "Then I'd recommend two Magic Alloys. If your Magic Stones allow, you could purchase the Orichalcum Magic Alloy crafted by my mentor—a full-fledged Alchemist."
"The Orichalcum Magic Alloy has no compatibility issues with Magic Plants and won't cause elemental imbalance."
"It boasts exceptional hardness and sharpness, can absorb certain magical damage, and has the unique property of temporarily increasing its hardness."
"So it forms an indirect spell-breaking characteristic," Tyne said seriously. "Additionally, orichalcum alloy has self-repairing properties and can temporarily enhance a wizard's mana activity, increasing the damage output of their spells."
"However, it's quite expensive—nearly ten thousand magic stones per portion."
Locke immediately shook his head upon hearing this. There was no way he could invest so many magic stones into a single spell. As a first-class wizard apprentice, he didn't need to use high-grade magic alloys crafted by alchemists of formal wizard caliber.
That would simply be too extravagant.
Tyne smiled and suggested, "Then I recommend purchasing my work—Cold-Vein Meteorite Iron."
"It also has no compatibility or elemental balance issues. When attached to your magic plant, it will automatically hide within the leaf veins, becoming virtually invisible—only leaving faint gray patterns on the surface."
"It boasts exceptional hardness and sharpness, remaining unmelted even under temperatures exceeding ten thousand degrees. It can significantly enhance your magic plant. Here's the certification data for my magic alloy—you can review its properties in detail."
"Wounds inflicted by it will instantly be coated with a thin layer of frost, creating the peculiar phenomenon of a blade killing without drawing blood."
"One portion costs two hundred magic stones."
Locke took the document and examined it carefully, confirming that this magic alloy was exactly what he needed.
It offered both concealment and enhancement without interfering with his ability to cast All Plants as Soldiers.
Applying a layer of this alloy to his Clivia would at least elevate All Plants as Soldiers to the level of a 0.8-ring spell.
Nodding, Locke said, "Alright, I'll take one portion of Cold-Vein Meteorite Iron."
Tyne's face lit up with a pleased smile. "You have excellent taste, first-class wizard apprentice."
"Kentrey Furnace Workshop provides free private rooms where you can equip your magic plant with the alloy. No surveillance—absolute confidentiality."
Locke followed the dwarf's gesture and noticed a row of small individual rooms next door. Presumably, many customers at Kentrey Furnace Workshop tested their purchased alchemical items there before finalizing payment.
Beside Kentrey Furnace Workshop, Locke spotted a shop with a white fingerbone-shaped signboard that read "House of Historical Scholars."
Locke sensed a deep concentration of negative energy magic particles emanating from that shop and paused in surprise. Chimera Market was a major wizard bazaar under the White Wizards—how could a shop specializing in necromancy be operating here?
"House of Historical Scholars?"
The dwarf Tyne followed Locke's gaze and nodded. "Ah, that's run by the old archaeologist. Archaeology is an extremely niche field within the White Wizard Association—it's normal you wouldn't know. If not for that shop opening next to mine, I wouldn't have known such a bizarre magic category even existed in this world."
"But don't underestimate it—his shop has been attracting more and more visitors lately. That old archaeologist knows things only corpses and the ancient underground world would remember. He calls himself a historian, and many wizards consult him when they encounter unsolvable mysteries."
"Even a handful of formal wizards have sought his advice."
"He is also a very rare necromancer within the White Wizard Association, though he doesn't seem to have joined any school, being a wandering First Class Wizard Apprentice. It was only in recent years that he settled down in this Chimera Market, acquiring a rather small shop."
Locke nodded in understanding.
The Wizard World was vast beyond measure. Sassari's All Things Class was far from sufficient to cover all knowledge comprehensively.
Just the contents of the Southeast Corner Domain alone could never be fully explained.
Locke headed toward the private room, planning to first equip the Magic Alloy before visiting the so-called House of Historical Scholars.
He hadn't forgotten the instructions given by the Augustine family before his departure. The ring left by his birth mother might yield some answers through these so-called historians.
Additionally, during his research into Ancient Bloodlines, he had encountered many vague descriptions in books. As Sophia the Witch specialized in botanical magic, she naturally wouldn't possess knowledge about Ancient Creature Bloodlines.
Perhaps this shop could provide more information about the Ancient Creature Bloodline [Three-Eyed Tiger Eye Cat].
Moreover, since he also practiced necromancy spells, it would be worthwhile to visit this necromancer he'd fortuitously encountered at Lilith's Cottage.