526: Applying for the True Knowledge Institute Project Fund
Wizard Daniel looked at Locke's left hand. "What's wrong? What are you looking at?"
Locke shook his head slightly. "Actually, it's nothing."
It seemed that Sophia the Witch had become a Second Ring Wizard in the Star Domain Sea and had completely established herself; he only had two opportunities left to contact her over such a long distance.
The Star Domain Sea was different from other Wizard Lands; the difficulty of trying to establish contact was extremely high.
Therefore, Locke was considering whether he should contact Sophia the Witch to directly ask her for some details regarding the advancement to a Second Ring Wizard. However, since he hadn't even reached the First Ring Crystallization Stage yet, there was no need to waste a contact opportunity for now.
In the hot spring, Locke had just relaxed and his muscles were loose when suddenly, the grey mist slate automatically materialized in front of him. A video dialogue request from Witch Yekaterina appeared on the grey mist slate.
Locke paused for a moment, thinking to himself that this was troublesome. He was still in the hot spring, yet his collaborating mentor was forcibly calling him.
Locke hurriedly rose from the wizard hot spring, used a minor spell to clean his body, changed into a set of clean undergarments, and then put on the Golden Crown Mountain benefit—the set of Magic-Breaking Clothes.
Next, Locke carefully pinned several of his badges to his chest: the four honorary certification badges from the Southeast Corner Region, the researcher identity badge from Golden Crown Mountain, the external consultant badge of the Plutarch Family from the Six Towers Land, and the external consultant badge from Liliths Cottage.
Beside him, Daniel was about to die laughing, but his amusement didn't last long. His collaborating mentor, Mentor Fyodor, also directly and forcibly summoned his Brass Iron Book to establish contact with him.
Wizard Daniel quickly left the hot spring, changed into a new set of clothes, and muttered to himself, "Why are both these mentors looking for us at this time? It's almost midnight; can't they let people rest? It's so busy on the very first day of joining."
At this moment, the projection cast by the Brass Iron Book, Wizard Fyodor, frowned. "What did you say? Daniel?"
Wizard Daniel's face instantly turned pale.
He hadn't expected Wizard Fyodor to bypass the permissions of his Brass Iron Book and initiate a video dialogue directly without his consent.
As a result, his complaints were heard by the Third Ring Throne Wizard, Wizard Fyodor.
That was a Third Ring Wizard.
A figure standing at the pinnacle of all Weather Masters!
He had actually just mouthed off right to the man's face.
The color drained from Wizard Daniel's face. "No, Mentor, I was saying... it is truly my honor to be able to listen to your wisdom at this time."
Fyodor glanced at him, having no leisure to bicker over such a trivial matter. In his eyes, a wizard at the First Ring stage was not much different from a young cub.
If Wizard Apprentices were just seeds or objects, then in the eyes of these High-Ring Wizards, a First Ring Wizard was finally considered a person whose feelings needed to be slightly considered; they could no longer be treated so casually.
Fyodor gave a cold snort. "Don't let it happen again. If you truly find it forced, I won't bother forcing you."
"There are plenty of excellent wizards waiting outside the True Knowledge Institute; I can always find another researcher."
Wizard Daniel waved his hands frantically. "No, no, no, Throne Fyodor, that's not what I meant."
Wizard Fyodor said, "I want to discuss the True Knowledge Institute project fund with you. Quickly finish this small project for me..."
On the other side, Locke gave Wizard Daniel a sympathetic look. Fortunately, Witch Yekaterina didn't have the habit of forcing him to pick up the call. Once Locke had finished tidying his clothes and ensured his appearance was fine, he walked to the resting area of the hot spring and pressed the answer button.
Immediately, Witch Yekaterina, located within a volcanic crater, appeared before his eyes. Behind Witch Yekaterina was a terrifying Golden Dragon that was currently slumbering. At this moment, the Golden Dragon's eyelids twitched slightly, but it soon closed them again and stopped moving.
Witch Yekaterina swept a glance over Locke and was slightly taken aback. "Are you bathing?"
"That is indeed unfortunate, but my time is limited, so I could only find this time."
Locke said, "This has no impact on me, Mentor."
Witch Yekaterina said, "That's good. I'm calling you to discuss your True Knowledge Institute fund project application plan and your arrangements on my side."
"I have six groups within the True Knowledge Institute; you should join Group Six first. Group Six has a leader and a deputy leader. Just go to Group Six after six o'clock tomorrow morning, and the group leader will arrange a position for you."
"But that's not the point. You are a researcher of the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge; you don't need to have too much interaction with the ordinary True Knowledge Institute. Let's first talk about the scope of the topic for your True Knowledge Institute fund project application."
Witch Yekaterina said, "Currently, all six of my groups are working hard on one of my projects. It's just that the project is too massive, so it was split into six groups. Group Six is specifically responsible for 'High-Throughput Observation of Natural Magic Structural Component Products of magic plants Closely Related to Animal Reproductive Power'."
"This is relatively simple, so it would be best if you could intervene and participate in research from this aspect."
Locke nodded and said, "Very well, Mentor."
At the same time, Locke was guessing in his heart what kind of research topic Witch Yekaterina, as a Throne Wizard, was actually studying.
However, since it had been split into six groups, what the low-ring wizards within each group were doing was actually just a small part of Witch Yekaterina's entire study. Only when the research contents of countless low-ring wizards like them were aggregated together would it be truly useful to Witch Yekaterina.
Because of this, as long as Witch Yekaterina didn't say what she was actually doing, it would be very difficult for the wizards working on these small details and directions of the project to guess the specific content.
Witch Yekaterina said, "You can consult some materials yourself or find some materials within Group Six to see which magic plant and magic creature's reproductive-related magic mechanism pathway you want to analyze."
"As long as it's in this direction, it's fine. As for the specific content, that will be up to your own decision. This was the content agreed upon in the contract we signed at the beginning."
Witch Yekaterina added, "However, there's one more thing: you also have to take three classes."
Locke said in surprise, "Classes? Mentor, I still have to take classes?"
Witch Yekaterina said, "Yes, it's a benefit of our Golden Crown Mountain. For the first class, you need to complete seventy-two hours of teaching courses. This will allow you to know the specific framework, rules, and style of teaching Wizard Apprentices at Golden Crown Mountain, as well as some methods."
"Only after taking these courses can you perform teaching tasks."
"The second course is the all things class of Cloud Marsh. This will take some time, which is why I wanted you to enter the institute half a year early."
"If you don't take the all things class of Cloud Marsh, you won't be able to keep up with much of the common knowledge."
"The third course is also the most important." Witch Yekaterina's eyes became serious. "It's the Habit Correction Course. This course is specially prepared for external wizards who have newly joined Golden Crown Mountain. No matter how excellent you are yourselves, you have already been tainted with too much short-sighted thinking in the outside Wizard Lands."
"So, in order to make you fully comply with the high standards required by our Golden Crown Mountain Academy, you must relearn—relearn how to explore magic."
Witch Yekaterina sent over a piece of information. "This is the class schedule, and it also has the class locations. Don't miss too many classes. Although these three courses may seem useless..."
Witch Yekaterina herself seemed somewhat uncertain. "Perhaps they really are useless for you, but rules are rules. If you don't attend class, your points will be deducted. You can obtain three hundred points for each course you complete."
"This is the fastest way for you newcomers to obtain points before getting a specific project."
"During this half-year period, you will still be relatively relaxed. Just work on the True Knowledge Institute fund project while completing these three courses."
Locke bowed to her. "Very well, Mentor."
Witch Yekaterina looked Locke up and down. "Are you almost at the Crystallization Stage?"
Locke bowed again. "Yes, Mentor. My current mana has reached 8700."
Witch Yekaterina nodded. "Have you thought about which special Plane in the Endless Void you will choose to form a contract with after becoming a First Ring Crystallization Stage wizard?"
Witch Yekaterina said, "If you haven't thought about it or don't know what to choose, come find me after you reach the First Ring Crystallization Stage."
"I have a special Plane that is very suitable for you."
"Alright, I'm going to be busy. Oh, right, the Habit Correction Course is about to start."
Locke looked at Witch Yekaterina in confusion and said, "Mentor, it's the middle of the night."
The atmosphere suddenly became silent because, not far away, Wizard Daniel was also saying in astonishment, 'It's the middle of the night!'
Witch Yekaterina looked at him with a face full of confusion. "Yes. It's precisely because it's the middle of the night that you can go to class."
"The Formal Wizards and Second Ring Wizards of Cloud Marsh are very busy; they have to do their own projects during the day and only have time to teach classes at night. This is true for teachers, and even more so for students."
"Therefore, our classes are generally at night."
Locke swallowed his saliva.
The corner of the Golden Dragon's eye behind the video dialogue seemed to twitch.
Locke gave a bitter smile. "Very well, Mentor. I'll go immediately."
The wizards of Cloud Marsh... are truly too diligent.
He should have realized it long ago. Back then, Witch Diana's group from Cloud Marsh in the competition were all workaholics.
They would go for several months without sleeping, doing experiments over there.
After the video dialogue was interrupted, Locke pondered whether he should prepare some energy potions for himself. Looking at this situation, the working atmosphere in Cloud Marsh was extremely competitive.
He exchanged glances with the dejected Wizard Daniel. Wizard Daniel had an expression of utter despair. "Wizard Matthew said we still had one last period of free time. He was wrong; our free time didn't even last until the sun rose tomorrow morning."
"I was even planning to go out for another stroll tonight. Cloud Marsh is quite fun."
Locke nodded slightly. "It's alright. Anyway, even if there was nothing to do, I would find something for myself to do. And since I've just arrived in Cloud Marsh, I haven't finalized my own plans yet."
Daniel blinked, wanting to say something but hesitating. Finally, he couldn't help but say, "Locke, in a way, you actually fit the atmosphere here quite well."
Locke gave him a puzzled look.
...
One o'clock in the morning, the silver moon shone high.
Locke and Wizard Daniel were both in the classroom for the Habit Correction Course, which was located on the first floor of the True Knowledge Institute castle.
Although they had to attend class, Locke and Daniel were, after all, no longer students. So, in reality, even if they didn't come to class, absolutely no one would come to urge them.
The most serious consequence would be having insufficient points, which might lead to being eliminated from the True Knowledge Institute.
It all depended on personal choice.
In the Habit Correction Course, it wasn't just Locke and Daniel; there were also five other wizards. Among them, three wizards seemed to come from small to medium-sized external wizard organizations. They had specifically saved up ten thousand magic stones to pay for the class, essentially piggybacking on his and Daniel's course.
The other two wizards were external wizards from the ordinary True Knowledge Institute.
Daniel whispered in Locke's ear, "Is Golden Crown Mountain's Habit Correction Course that famous? Why are there wizards paying money just to come and attend?"
Locke shook his head slightly.
At that moment, at the classroom lectern, a Second Ring Wizard who looked like an old man scanned the seven Formal Wizards attending the lecture. He took a sip of wizard tea, and both his eyes had dark circles.
Locke didn't even know what could have happened to make a Second Ring Wizard have dark circles.
This was truly... terrifying.
The Second Ring Wizard said with satisfaction, "Everyone is here. On the first day of class, no one is absent. This course has a total of seven lectures, each lasting one hour."
"I hope that in every subsequent session, there will be no instances of absence."
This old Second Ring Wizard mainly focused his attention on Locke and Wizard Daniel. To be honest, the entire course was essentially prepared for the two researchers of the Hall of Advanced True Knowledge; these two were the academy's important assets.
The remaining three external wizards, needless to say, were just there to piggyback on the class after paying.
As for the two wizards from the ordinary True Knowledge Institute, they were just being taught along the way.
The Second Ring Wizard coughed and said, "I am Wizard Thomassen, a Breeder and also a Weather Master."
Locke's eyes moved slightly. From this Second Ring Wizard's profession, he immediately understood that this class was entirely prepared for himself and Wizard Daniel.
Otherwise, there would be no need for this Second Ring Wizard to be both a Weather Master and a Breeder at the same time.
Wizard Thomassen said, "Since you all were able to enter our Golden Crown Mountain Academy, you must all be leaders in your respective fields, perhaps even called geniuses by others outside."
"So, I won't say much else. I'll just ask you one thing: what exactly are the doctrines of meteorology and Botany studying?"
Wizard Thomassen looked at Daniel and said, "I ask you, is meteorology a doctrine of controlling the climate to make a region have favorable weather or violent storms?"
Wizard Thomassen looked at Locke and said, "I ask you, Little Augustine. Is a Breeder's study a doctrine of manufacturing powerful weapons, or some kind of powerful energy, or a high-quality magic potion material?"
Wizard Daniel was dumbfounded. "Ah? Lord Thomassen, if meteorology isn't the doctrine of controlling the weather, then what is it?"
He glanced at the Expert-level Weather Master badge worn on Wizard Thomassen's chest and had already fallen into a state of bewilderment. "Has the meteorology of Cloud Marsh already reached this level of research?"
Wizard Daniel's voice was a bit shaky. "Then... then what does current meteorology study?"
Wizard Thomassen gave him a look of disappointment. "Little Daniel, your comprehension is lacking!"