Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems-Chapter 158: Rigorous Examination

Half an hour later, Locke completed the industry standards handbook assessment and theoretical examination papers, and along with the other four candidates, submitted their answer sheets.
While doing this theoretical examination paper, Locke was surprised to discover that the difficulty of this theoretical exam was indeed far beyond that of the potion master assistant examination.
It contained many very detailed but important knowledge points. If he hadn't used Memory Ointment for long-term study, he probably would have been very likely to fail the first round of the breeder theoretical examination.
Lady Morgana frowned and criticized Martin, the candidate before Locke, who was also a first-class wizard apprentice from Lilith's Cottage. "Your foundation is far too weak."
"You have great room for improvement. You didn't even understand the main function of cutting cultivation method clearly."
Lady Morgana looked at the first-class wizard apprentice before her with some incomprehension.
Martin's face turned red with embarrassment, and he lowered his head, not daring to answer.
A look of understanding flowed through Locke's eyes. The main function of cutting cultivation method was to cultivate substrates of magical plant mother bodies on a large scale, but this function needed to be built on having an independent botanical garden and requiring large-scale improvement experiments.
Ordinary first-class wizard apprentices hadn't reached the level of establishing their own botanical gardens, so naturally they would be quite unfamiliar with this area.
The cultivation methods they most commonly used should be grafting cultivation method and hybridization cultivation method.
After all, breeding was a quite practice-oriented discipline.
Many first-class wizard apprentices didn't have their own botanical gardens and lacked much practical experience, so naturally it was difficult for them to pass the breeder examination.
Lady Morgana looked at him coldly. "Your understanding of breeder industry standards is also full of errors and omissions. Martin, I suggest you strengthen your abilities in this area. Registering for a breeder examination once costs five hundred magic stones. Don't waste money next time."
Lady Morgana then examined the three students from outside small wizard organizations, frowning as she and the other two formal wizards together gave these three candidates their theoretical scores.
Actually, looking comprehensively, these candidates' theoretical scores weren't even as good as Martin's answer sheet, but Lady Morgana didn't say anything.
She had no high expectations for external candidates from small wizard organizations.
Students from small wizard organizations had even more error-riddled theoretical knowledge systems and limited channels for acquiring knowledge.
They often knew the what but not the why about things, and their knowledge was all pieced together, usable as long as it worked.
Lady Morgana and the two examiners came before Locke. She picked up Locke's answer sheet and scanned through it.
Then, Lady Morgana's brow furrowed. She hadn't expected that Locke could answer all questions about breeder industry standards without missing a single word, leaving her unable to find any place to pick faults.
Locke's theoretical system was also quite solid, with only some minor errors.
Due to the Memory Ointment, his theoretical examination score this time was much better than his previous potion master assistant examination.
Lady Morgana lingered at Locke's side noticeably longer.
Lady Morgana frowned, glanced at Locke, then said, "Theoretical foundation is acceptable."
"Much better than the previous few. And shows some cleverness, knowing to memorize the breeder industry standards handbook in advance."
"Did Sophia have you memorize it?"
Locke bowed to Lady Morgana, then replied politely, "Yes, Lady Morgana, it was my teacher who had me memorize it."
"Teacher said that only by learning to revere power can I master power."
Lady Morgana's mouth curved slightly. "I was the one who said that to your teacher."
Lady Morgana was about to smile, but as if remembering something, her expression became serious. "Alright, the second round of examination is testing your mastery of the Mana Co-frequency Cultivation Method. This is the foundation of breeders."
"What will be placed before you are five pots of magical plants near death. I want you to demonstrate your abilities as breeders, using the Mana Co-frequency Cultivation Method to revive these five pots of magical plants."
"Time limit is one and a half hours."
In the examination hall, second-class wizard apprentice helpers brought over five pots of basic magical plants, Nine Snake Flowers.
This was a basic magical plant with no special abilities. One plant generally had nine flower buds that would bloom at the same time, with an extremely long flowering period. The shape resembled nine snake heads, hence called Nine Snake Flower.
The flowers of Nine Snake Flower could be used to prepare simple potions for calming fragrance.
At this moment, Locke looked at the pot of Nine Snake Flower placed before him, as well as the Nine Snake Flowers before the others, and immediately understood what this examination was testing.
Nine Snake Flower was a very fragile magical plant. It easily died from lack of water, easily withered from high temperatures, would get sick from lack of key nutrients, and had a whole host of harmful insects and fungi.
The pot of Nine Snake Flower before him was obviously in a state of long-term water shortage, therefore listless. At the same time, the edges of the Nine Snake Flower's leaves were curled and had blackened coloration, indicating that the Nine Snake Flower's roots had already been damaged, otherwise this phenomenon wouldn't occur.
Additionally, the surface of the Nine Snake Flower's leaves were covered with dense tiny pink insect eggs, which were pests called [Pink Aphids].
As a breeder, a solution to this Nine Snake Flower's problems immediately appeared in Locke's mind. First and foremost, using a 10:1 ratio, mix clean water with basic nutrient solution to irrigate the Nine Snake Flower, while also applying rooting powder to nourish the Nine Snake Flower's root system. When necessary, he could partially remove its rotted roots.
He could even have its roots temporarily leave the soil and use hydroponic methods to clean its root damage thoroughly.
At the same time, use targeted insecticide solution against the Pink Aphid eggs. This simple potion was something he could casually prepare as a potion master assistant.
However, under normal circumstances, a mere Nine Snake Flower wouldn't require him to go to such great lengths.
Nine Snake Flowers were too cheap. Rather than saving it, he might as well buy another one directly, which would cost fewer resources.
"But if I can only use the Mana Co-frequency Cultivation Method..." Locke thought, "then I need to solve this problem using directional radiation."
"I can use the breeder's universal optimal resonance frequency for invigorating magical plants to achieve this."
"While using the insect-repelling resonance frequency to destroy those eggs."
In other words, this test was examining how well these breeders understood, were familiar with, and could operate the Mana Co-frequency Cultivation Method.
After all, this cultivation method was different from magical flames and didn't need to test switching speed. Judgment, experience, and control level were more important than switching speed.
"The universal enhancement frequency that can stimulate magical plants is 822HZ, while the insect-repelling frequency is 200HZ..." Locke hesitated in thought.
On the other side, the other candidates were also deep in thought, especially the three breeding assistant candidates from small wizard organizations. They hadn't expected that Lilith's Cottage's breeder examination would be so rigorous, so each was racking their brains, some even sweating on their foreheads.
All just to think of a solution.
Martin beside Locke, however, gained confidence. "Great, my teacher guessed the exam question correctly earlier. I've practiced this. I previously used universal resonance frequency to save a nearly dead Centipede Grass."
As soon as Martin said this, Locke's pupils suddenly constricted. He turned to look at the chief examiner who was the main question setter this time, Lady Morgana.
At this moment, Lady Morgana was looking at Martin with a slight curve to her mouth.
Right, no wonder he felt something was off. This was actually a trap question.
Only then did Locke remember another detailed knowledge point. Centipede Grass and Nine Snake Flower were different. Nine Snake Flower had nine heads... Centipede Grass only had one head.
If the universal enhancement frequency of the Mana Co-frequency Cultivation Method was used on a nine-headed magical plant, then it would...
'Lady Morgana is actually testing this meticulously.'
'Right, as a formal breeder, no longer a breeding assistant, how could such small mistakes still be made.'
Lady Morgana sensed Locke looking at her and turned to look at Locke.