Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems-Chapter 176: Outstanding Apprentice Quota

In the public library, dwarf scholar Orr looked at Locke with some astonishment. "You want to publish six articles at once this time?"
Locke nodded to confirm. Four of them were about Perseus Eye Lichen.
The other two included one preliminary detection effect on Bear Spirit Jade Bile Potion brewed with Jade Iris Lichen as raw material, and one specific principle analysis of Bear Spirit Jade Bile Potion's dispelling of curse magic.
In the subsequent data collection for Bear Spirit Jade Bile Potion, he should be able to publish several more high-value articles.
Dwarven scholar Orr quickly flipped through the six articles, and after confirming there were no problems, he showed more respect toward Locke and said, "Potion Master Augustine, your last article on Memory Ointment experimental data has now been rated as B-level, with a score of 72 points, higher than I previously expected."
"But the quality of these articles you're publishing today is all very good. They're estimated to all start at B-level, and several of them have A-level potential."
When dwarf scholar Orr said this, he himself felt somewhat dazed. Locke had just been promoted to first-class wizard apprentice and had only published his first article in life a few months ago.
Yet now he was publishing six articles consecutively, each starting at B-level.
Speaking of which, dwarf scholar Orr suddenly realized at this moment that Locke's very first published article was B-level.
For a first-class wizard apprentice, this was already a good achievement. Many first-class wizard apprentices who came to publish articles daily were still at D-level and C-level, dreaming of producing a few more C-level articles.
But Locke seemed to have never looked favorably upon articles below B-level.
Dwarven scholar Orr secretly sighed in his heart. 'I thought this person was an ordinary first-class wizard apprentice, since he didn't have any academic faction mentor arrange for him to start publishing articles from third-class wizard apprentice stage for practice.'
'Who knew it was different from what I thought, another expert who's particularly good at publishing articles.'
Dwarven scholar Orr was quite satisfied in his heart. 'That's good, I can read several more high-value articles recently.'
Dwarven scholar Orr nodded at Locke and smiled, "I really envy you, Breeder Augustine. You have so much research material on hand, vampires, first-class wizard apprentices, and special magical plants."
"These things are enough to write dozens of B-level articles."
"It seems you might very well obtain the Outstanding Apprentice title."
Locke looked at Orr with confusion. "Outstanding Apprentice?"
Dwarven scholar Orr was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Someone as outstanding as you indeed doesn't need to understand so many academy policies. As long as you develop normally and publish articles normally, you'll receive various academy rewards."
"Unlike certain first-class wizard apprentices who spend every day studying the academy's various rewards and titles."
Orr explained, "Outstanding Apprentice means publishing 5 B-level articles and 1 A-level article within one year of becoming a first-class wizard apprentice, then you can be awarded that year's Outstanding Apprentice title and receive corresponding additional academy rewards."
"So normally, wizard mentors will have their promising wizard apprentices start accumulating article publishing experience from third-class wizard apprentice stage, so they can obtain that year's Outstanding Apprentice quota when they become first-class wizard apprentices."
Locke nodded. So initially, Teacher Sophia didn't think he was qualified for this quota at all?
No, that's not right...
At that time in Witch Sophia's eyes, it would have been good if he could become a second-class wizard apprentice within four years. Who knew there would be subsequent developments.
By the time she wanted to cultivate his abilities in this area, it was already too late.
However, given his current efficiency in publishing articles, he would most likely be able to secure this Outstanding Apprentice quota this year.
Just these six articles alone would basically all be no lower than B-level, and several of them even had the potential to reach A-level.
Of course, he wasn't yet familiar with the unwritten rules in article publishing, so he might not necessarily be able to reach that level but he still had plenty of material on hand. As long as he wanted to publish A-level articles, he would definitely be able to produce them this year.
Locke nodded, "I understand. Then please trouble Scholar Orr to send these articles to the general scholars responsible for evaluation."
Dwarven scholar Orr smiled at Locke, "Of course, this is my responsibility."
"Breeder Locke, please publish more articles related to vampires. That's one of my hobbies."
"It's such a pity that there's too little vampire-related research within the academy." Orr looked at Locke with some envy. "If only I had a vampire in my hands."
After hearing this, Locke quickly greeted him and hurriedly left the library, afraid that Orr would ask to borrow his vampire test subject.
He definitely couldn't agree to such a thing, but refusing would also be quite troublesome.
After leaving the public library, Locke immediately went to Chimera Trading Market and came to the House of Historical Scholars shop again.
Tyne, the assistant from the nearby Kentree Forge Workshop, immediately brightened up when he saw Locke arrive, wanting to promote his works to Locke, who in his eyes was a major customer with super strong purchasing power.
Tyne said, "Locke, I've created a new alchemical product this month, which could be called a low-luxury item among first-class wizard apprentices, a Magic Ring."
"Are you interested in learning about magic rings? This is a major category of alchemical items. I recently crafted the first magic ring of my life. If you're interested, I can give you a 20% discount..."
Locke waved him off, indicating he wasn't here to buy alchemical items but to enter the House of Historical Scholars, then stepped into the shop.
Immediately, Tyne's eyes quickly dimmed. He was extremely dejected and muttered to himself, "This guy Locke is way too stingy. They're both breeder geniuses, but why does that Mary buy a bunch of luxury magical items from my shop every time she passes by."
After Locke entered the House of Historical Scholars shop, he discovered there was a customer inside.
The customer wore gray wizard robes, had wrapped his face with cloth strips, and handed a fragment of a damaged antique porcelain piece to old McCarthy.
This first-class wizard apprentice who had hidden his identity and appearance said in an obviously magically altered hoarse voice, "Old McCarthy, tell me what this thing is."
McCarthy got up from the ground, reluctantly moved his gaze from an antique bronze artifact in his hands, then focused on the porcelain fragment, "Two hundred fifty magic stones. This isn't an ordinary first-class wizard apprentice level question."
The gray-robed first-class wizard apprentice immediately took out two hundred fifty magic stones from his astral ring and handed them to old McCarthy. "Fine."
"But the origin of this porcelain fragment is very important to me. It's related to one of my experiments. I'm an arcanist, you know. This has a direct relationship with whether I can advance to formal wizard."
Locke's eyes immediately showed subtle changes. An arcanist... those were a very dangerous group of people.
According to knowledge he had acquired in Universal Studies class, arcanists were all a group pursuing forbidden knowledge and secret powers, wizards with mysterious inheritances.
Ordinary wizards found it difficult to contact them, and this group also operated on the fringes of White Wizard Association.
They were very mysterious, and the spells they used seemed very special. They claimed to be the only forbidden school.
Of course, they weren't black wizards either.
Even Universal Studies class didn't have much record about them. In short, everything about arcanists seemed very mysterious.
After old McCarthy received the magic stones, he immediately activated an enchantment school soundproofing barrier nearby to ensure absolute confidentiality in his conversation with the customer.
Locke could only see old McCarthy cast a special spell on the porcelain fragment, which seemed able to activate negative energy particles attached to the fragment and awaken special information hidden within.
Ten minutes later, the gray-robed wizard was obviously in a good mood. He turned to leave the shop, but before leaving, he paused, turned back to old McCarthy and said, "McCarthy, your skills are quite good. If you were in black wizard society, your status would definitely be higher than being a small shopkeeper here."
In black wizard society, archaeologists held very prestigious positions because many black wizard organizations almost entirely relied on archaeologists to excavate ancient technology and provide ancient magical power.
McCarthy lifted the soundproofing barrier. After hearing about black wizards, his expression turned ugly and he angrily said, "Arcanist, you'd better not speak carelessly. I have no relationship with black wizards whatsoever."
"You can leave. You're not welcome here. Don't come back in the future."
The arcanist glanced at Locke standing by the door, shrugged his shoulders, and left the shop.
After he left, McCarthy showed Locke a welcoming expression. "Old friend, you haven't visited my shop in a long time."
"I've been missing you recently. I was just thinking about you this morning, and here you are. Haha... what fate."
"Hmm? The ancient bloodline aura on you has become more concentrated, and there's been some mutation."
Locke looked at him. "You noticed? Do you know what ancient creature's bloodline this is?"