Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems-Chapter 104: Academy Procurement

Locke placed his palm on the amethyst matrix borrowed from Witch Sophia, which displayed his mental strength as 224.
He nodded, his face showing delight. "When I broke through to first-class wizard apprentice, my mental strength was 220. Over these two months of improvement using ordinary meditation methods and large amounts of magical resources, I only increased my mana by 1 point."
"But tonight, using the advanced meditation method for three hours of meditation, I improved by 3 points of mana."
Locke said, "Everyone has a beginner's benefit period when they first start using advanced meditation methods. During this one month period, you can even meditate for an entire month without needing to reserve ten days for sleep and rest. However, after one month, the improvement speed becomes more gradual."
"Regardless, I'll first pile resources into this one month to fully develop the beginner's benefit period, maximizing my use of the advanced meditation method to increase my mana improvement speed."
Locke was currently 18 years old, with 22 years remaining until he turned 40.
For him to become a formal wizard, he would need to maintain at least thirty-plus points of mana improvement per year to have a chance.
Age 40 was a threshold.
Although Locke didn't know the specific reasons, after reaching 40, the academy's upper echelons seemed to believe that a first-class wizard apprentice's probability of becoming a formal wizard would decline significantly, and their benefits and resources would correspondingly decrease dramatically.
With a thought, Locke invested his slightly recovered energy into a meditative state. Once again, he sensed the natural plane in the depths of the void through mystical perception, then converted the power radiation from the natural plane into his own mana, replenishing his mana.
"First-class wizard apprentices who learn advanced meditation methods don't just gain the possibility of rapid progress again," Locke said. "Moreover, during battle, they can even meditate from time to time, achieving faster mana recovery speed."
"Furthermore, the mana quality, purity, stability, and other aspects purified through advanced meditation methods are all a tier higher than my previous mana."
"No wonder the White Wizard Association is unwilling to publish advanced meditation methods," Locke pondered. "By monopolizing this knowledge, the White Wizard Association can almost monopolize a large portion of the paths to becoming formal wizards in the southeastern quadrant."
"And they force first-class wizard apprentices to sign loan agreements with various wizard organizations for amounts as high as fifty thousand magic stones."
"Let me rest first. Tomorrow I'll go to Chimera Trading Market to sell the third type of magical plant. I hope to earn some money." Locke simply changed into clean clothes and slept through the night.
The next day, at dawn.
Locke instructed three gray dwarves and two cat women to push two carts covered with gray cloth toward Chimera Trading Market.
At the entrance to Chimera Trading Market, two second-class wizard apprentices responsible for guarding bowed respectfully to Locke, their gazes falling on the several badges worn on Locke's chest.
"Senior, hello."
"Senior Augustine, good morning."
Locke nodded slightly to them, then walked inside. The cat woman servants and gray dwarf servants behind him hurried to follow their master.
They pushed the carts, so naturally they moved somewhat slowly.
Locke entered the Lijin Secret Language Plant Shop, where Yuri Burns happened to have just finished serving a first-class wizard apprentice customer. She looked at Locke with slightly brightened eyes. "Dear Locke, my dear friend, this month your Super Mandrake Vines and Wiregrass Bull Sinew have sold very well."
"Many people want to inquire about which excellent breeder created these new varieties of magical plants. I told them your name, Locke. You don't mind, do you?"
Locke shook his head slightly. "It doesn't matter."
This kind of thing was inconsequential, and couldn't be prevented anyway. His reputation would gradually spread regardless, and besides, having some recognition as a first-class wizard apprentice would actually be better.
The first-class wizard apprentice who had just been about to leave the shop, upon hearing this, also turned to look at Locke, nodded to him, greeted him, and then left the shop.
Yuri looked at Locke's carts and said, "Are these this month's Wiregrass Bull Sinew and Super Mandrake Vines? Why are there two carts?"
Locke nodded. "Yes. One cart contains this month's two old magical plants for sale to your Lijin Secret Language. Our previous cooperation has been very pleasant, so I want to cooperate on a third magical plant."
"This is a certification document from my teacher, Witch Sophia, a senior breeder. Please take a look."
Locke gave Yuri Burns the certification document for the Crystal Palm Fire Lotus.
Yuri Burns was slightly stunned, then somewhat astonished. "So quickly? Your last sale of new magical plants was just over two months ago, and you've already developed new varieties of magical plants again?"
Locke nodded slightly, appearing very calm. "Yes. I recently learned the Mana Co-frequency Cultivation Method, so I've gained some new insights, and this cultivation method allows for targeted mutation."
"The speed of breeding new varieties is somewhat faster than before. I'm also planning to take this work to participate in the White Wizard Association's breeder competition. At least entering the preliminary round should be more than sufficient."
After Yuri read the test certification document, her expression became slightly complex. "Another excellent work, and different from the previous two, the Palm Fire Lotus has a very special positioning."
"Your Crystal Palm Fire Lotus can completely replace it. Those wizard apprentices who master the cantrip models [Scorched Earth Bomb], [Fingertip Fire Spray], and [Minor Plant Fire Tongue] will probably directly purchase your Crystal Palm Fire Lotus."
Yuri sighed, "It seems that your talent in the field of breeding, Augustine, is indeed very outstanding. Sometimes this situation occurs, where geniuses like you will consecutively produce several such revolutionary magical plant products."
"The Palm Fire Lotus has a very special positioning. Many plant-focused wizard organizations will purchase this magical plant for war stockpiles," Yuri looked at Locke and said. "Especially since Lilith's Cottage is currently in the midst of wizard warfare."
After thinking for a moment, Yuri said, "Our shop sells Palm Fire Lotus for 5 magic stones, and I can also purchase at this price."
"But I suggest that you, Locke, go through the academy procurement route. If you agree, I can try to recommend this magical plant to Lilith's Cottage Academy's procurement department."
Locke asked puzzledly, "Academy procurement?"
"What is that?"
Yuri was stunned for a moment, then coughed and smiled at Locke, "It's normal that you don't know. Ordinary breeders don't directly contact the academy's procurement department."
"Academy procurement is when the academy purchases large quantities of your magical plants during a certain period. Through contract form, they pay a large amount of magic stones all at once, and then you just need to provide the goods at the delivery deadline."
"Palm Fire Lotus is war material. I think the academy might make a large-scale bulk purchase of your magical plants, allowing you to expand the seed scale of Palm Fire Lotus in a short time and expand your plantation in an extremely short period."
"This afternoon, first-class wizard apprentices dispatched from the academy will enter Lijin Secret Language for procurement purchases."
Yuri smiled at Locke, "I'll try to help you then. If successful, you shouldn't lack magic stones in the short term."
Yuri looked at Locke with some envy.