Chapter 54: Chapter 54

In Witch Sophia's office.

Witch Sophia conducted some simple performance tests on the Level 4 Super Mandrake Vine.

After completing the tests, Witch Sophia's eyes showed a hint of interest. "It's truly unbelievable that such work could be produced by a second-class wizard apprentice like you."

"The basic performance of this Mandrake Vine can already rival ordinary quality Tiflo Root Vines."

"No, it even surpasses ordinary quality Tiflo Root Vines in terms of vine strength and speed attributes."

"About 15% stronger."

"This almost reaches the level of replacing ordinary varieties of Tiflo Root Vines, though it's still not as good as premium Tiflo Root Vines."

Witch Sophia spoke while dipping her quill in ink, writing her test results on a document.

After hearing Witch Sophia's words, Locke felt slightly disappointed.

Locke said, "Teacher, so my Super Mandrake Vine still cannot replace Tiflo Root Vines?"

What greeted Locke was Witch Sophia gently tapping his forehead with the document. Witch Sophia shook her head and laughed, "What are you talking about?"

"Premium Tiflo Root Vines require advanced Growth Gel, premium nutrient soil, and careful cultivation by breeders. They're expensive, belong to personal custom orders, and are not mass-producible finished products."

"How can you compare them?"

Witch Sophia pointed at the pot of Super Mandrake Vine, saying, "This new variety of yours hasn't undergone [premium customization] processes. If cultivated using breeder techniques with targeted breeding, it could also become premium Super Mandrake Vines."

"All basic performance parameters would be greatly enhanced."

"In other words, Locke Augustine, this magical vine you've cultivated could very likely change the commonly used magical plants for most wizards at Lilith's Cottage who study the Vine Hand series, and will gradually spread outside the academy over time."

Only then did Locke understand. "Sorry, teacher, I didn't react immediately."

Witch Sophia looked seriously at Locke, saying, "Locke, although it's unnecessary, I naturally trust you, but I need the specific thought process of your grafting method."

Locke nodded, "Alright, teacher."

This was exactly why he had spent an extra three months learning the complete breeding course before bringing out the Super Mandrake Vine. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novęlfire.net

Locke slowly described his thought process for grafting the Super Mandrake Vine.

This was naturally fabricated.

But he had the foundation of grafting cultivation, so he could make it convincing.

Theoretically, this was indeed feasible.

As long as you could find some Mandrake Vines with special characteristics that could only be found under ideal conditions.

At the same time, under ideal circumstances, such special Mandrake Vines could complete cultivation without dying midway, among other things.

These situations were completely built on ideal circumstances.

But with Locke having this result, he could work backwards through the process, and combined with his foundation in grafting cultivation, he could fabricate convincingly with great detail.

As long as Witch Sophia didn't investigate every detail bit by bit or require Locke to directly repeat the entire grafting cultivation process, there would be no major problems.

As a First Circle wizard, even though his Super Mandrake Vine was indeed revolutionary, because its grade was too low and could only affect the apprentice stage, Witch Sophia was unlikely to actually waste her time carefully investigating every process of his cultivation.

From Locke's understanding of Witch Sophia during this period, this was impossible.

Witch Sophia herself didn't really care about the types of magical vines used by the Vine Hand series cantrips.

He knew this from his first day, when he learned that for formal wizards, this really wasn't important.

Compared to the spell power improvement brought by powerful magical vines, formal wizards valued more the knowledge and mental strength improvement gained from learning Vine Hand.

That was a perspective based on higher insights.

Sure enough, after hearing Locke's explanation, Witch Sophia nodded and didn't investigate further, instead commenting, "Your ability to cultivate this kind of Mandrake Vine seems to have some luck factors."

"But this cannot be explained by luck alone."

Witch Sophia looked seriously at Locke, saying, "Your discrimination ability is very good. Without this, it would be impossible to find exactly the vines you needed among many ordinary Mandrake Vines."

"You have more talent in this area than I thought."

Witch Sophia pointed to the text she was recording, saying, "This is the ability assessment and certification document I'm giving your magical vine as a First Circle breeder."

"With this certification document, this variety of your Mandrake Vine can sell for a very good price in the Chimera Market."

"Very few apprentices can achieve such great results at your stage. Congratulations, Locke. You shouldn't lack magic stones for some time to come."

Witch Sophia thought for a moment, saying, "Since you have talent in this field, you should work even harder."

"You haven't learned grafting methods deeply enough yet. Next, I will teach you more seriously and increase your daily study time here from one hour to one and a half hours."

"One hour will continue to be used for learning grafting cultivation, going deeper into more complex situations of cultivation methods. The other half hour, I will teach you the subsequent spells of the Vine Hand series."

Locke looked up at Witch Sophia. Very few second-class wizard apprentices at Lilith's Cottage should receive such treatment.

It seemed Witch Sophia's regard for him had risen another level.

Locke said, "Thank you, teacher."

Witch Sophia said, "I hope you can prove your talent, that this time wasn't just simple luck. That you can continue to cultivate more good varieties."

Locke nodded, saying, "Alright, teacher."

He thought to himself that he indeed had a pile of synthesized plants he wanted to bring out and sell.

Now that he had Witch Sophia's certification, he could gradually bring out those synthesized magical plants, sell them bit by bit, and build his reputation as a breeding genius, increasing his status and the academy's regard for him.

Witch Sophia said, "Locke, what do you want to call this variety? You could even use your own name if you want. You now have naming rights, like calling it Augustine Vine or something."

Locke thought for a moment, saying, "Let's forget it, teacher. I'm just a second-class wizard apprentice. That would be too high-profile."

"Let's just call it Super Mandrake Vine."

Witch Sophia nodded, saying, "Your consideration is also correct."

Locke hesitated, then said, "Teacher, I have a suggestion. I wonder if you could agree. When you report to the academy's upper levels, could you add your own name to the Super Mandrake Vine cultivation team?"

"You could say that under your guidance, I completed the cultivation work for the new Super Mandrake Vine variety."

His main purpose for doing this was to further reduce unnecessary prying from others.

Anyway, all he wanted was to be able to sell Super Mandrake Vines externally to earn magic stones.

At most, he wanted the academy's upper levels to consider him a genius in the breeding field and slightly increase their regard for him.

Just participating in the cultivation work of the new Super Mandrake Vine variety would be sufficient.

Complete independent cultivation would be too attention-grabbing.

Lilith's Cottage was still in wizard war with the Blood Curse Court. If he drew too much attention during this period, it could invite unnecessary dangers.

It might even cause the Blood Curse Court to specifically send people to eliminate him to strike at Lilith's Cottage's morale.

This was absolutely possible.

Secondly, doing this was also a form of repayment to Witch Sophia.

Locke knew that Witch Sophia actually needed this title. She needed to pass the teaching assessment from wizard organizations in the Star Domain Sea.

Witch Sophia had just become a formal wizard. She lacked foundation and needed these titles to add to her resume.

Upon hearing this, Witch Sophia raised her head to look at Locke, saying in surprise, "Locke, do you know what you're saying?"

"That way, others would think the main person who cultivated the Super Mandrake Vine was me."

"Although they would still acknowledge your talent in this field, their evaluation of you would be much lower."

Locke nodded, saying, "Teacher, but I'm just a second-class wizard apprentice."

"Besides, as long as you know my talent, that's enough. You are my wizard mentor."

Witch Sophia showed a flash of contemplation. She crossed her hands and leaned back in her chair. "I can't deny that recently, due to certain reasons, I do need to add something that could be the icing on the cake to my resume."

"Locke, your Super Mandrake Vine is exactly this kind of icing on the cake. I can't deny that I am indeed somewhat... considering it."

Witch Sophia pondered, saying, "But I can't just take advantage of you for nothing."