Chapter 586: Eight Tier 1, Twenty-Eight Tier 2 |
One week later, Locke received thank-you letters from "Green Grass Cloud Marsh" and "Life and Reproduction," along with two copies of the journals sent over.
Also included were eight Water Jade Peaches and 28 White Dew Peaches.
Unfortunately, the synthesis levels of the Water Jade Peaches and White Dew Peaches were too high. They were both classified as level 9 synthesis items, and Locke surprisingly couldn't synthesize them.
This was probably because Golden Crown Mountain's Twelve Peaches were cultivated by Golden Crown Mountain's high-circle wizards.
In his dormitory, Locke looked at the thank-you letters he received, then flipped through both journals from this issue.
This issue of "Life and Reproduction" had almost completely become his solo publication.
As for "Green Grass Cloud Marsh," half the articles in this issue were his, and the journal's front page was actually his Type 2 Tyrant Element article.
Previously, he had consulted Witch Yekaterina, and she indicated that for now, he shouldn't sign any licensing agreements privately with any wizards. She would arrange for someone to handle this for him.
After all, once Type 2 Tyrant Element appeared, it really did knock down the stock prices of several small shop alliances that made their living around Type 1 Tyrant Element and the Tyrant cultivation method.
Now encountering his situation was like adding insult to injury.
So, to prevent certain shop alliances from going bankrupt and becoming extreme as a result, this matter required Witch Yekaterina's intervention to coordinate.
Locke quickly read through both journals with relish. With this, he had somewhat of a reputation at Golden Crown Mountain and had temporarily gained a firm foothold.
Locke put down the journals in his hands and looked at Gregor and Williams. "There's something I have to tell you both. I forgot about it before. Because I needed to publish in Tier 2 journals to get contribution points, I gave you, Gregor, first authorship on 14 Tier 2 journal articles, and gave you, Williams, first authorship on 14 Tier 2 journal articles."
Williams and Gregor swallowed hard.
Gregor was completely dumbfounded. Williams was even somewhat terrified.
Williams tilted her head, showing Locke an incredulous, cute expression. "But... teacher... we're not even First Circle wizards..."
Locke said, "When the corresponding author is a First Circle wizard, it's actually possible to submit. After all, there are no journals at the apprentice stage."
"Don't worry about the ethics review committee. For the experimental portions of these 28 articles, you two indeed did work with me to varying degrees."
"You have merit even without credit. So there's no problem with this matter."
Williams hadn't expected that after working tirelessly for Locke day and night, Locke would directly give her 14 Tier 2 journal articles.
And all as first author!
Although the combination of an apprentice as first author and a First Circle crystallization stage wizard as corresponding author made it obvious to discerning eyes who actually wrote these articles.
But these 14 Tier 2 articles were indeed an enormous credential for an ordinary wizard apprentice like them!
This huge surprise falling from the sky even left Williams somewhat dazed.
She couldn't believe that before entering the door, she was just an ordinary first-class wizard apprentice whose magical pressure was about to reach 800, but after leaving today, she would be a first-class wizard apprentice who had published 14 Tier 2 journal articles.
Williams pursed her lips. "Teacher, those people who published many articles during their apprentice stage, they weren't all like this, were they?"
Locke said, "I'm not very clear. I'm not a local wizard from Cloud Marsh Wetland, so I haven't grasped these details very well. I think there should still be a small number of wizards who are truly geniuses."
"Because I needed to find first authors and didn't want to be the first author myself, I could only distribute the articles to you."
This was an extremely special situation.
So special that this kind of situation was very rare. He needed Tier 2 articles but didn't need the title of first author.
Moreover, he only had these two direct students under him.
If he had over ten students, giving one article to each person wouldn't amount to much per person.
It was just that he currently had few students, so he had them each take on 14 articles.
Gregor belatedly realized. He had a sense of unreality. "Thank you, teacher."
"You've been so good to us."
Locke said, "Your magical pressure growth rates have both been good recently, and now you have so many articles. Also, congratulations. Your final competition results from the apprentice stage are out."
"Gregor, your ranking is 22. Happy? When you gave it your all, you were quite strong. My tutoring wasn't in vain."
"As for Williams... you're seventh place." Locke looked deeply at Williams. Even with his help, achieving seventh place was not to be underestimated.
Because the top six were all 'old repeaters' who had participated in competitions for many years.
Especially the top three, each calling themselves X-time champions.
Essentially, they were all repeat competitors, old first-class wizard apprentices.
For Williams to kill her way into seventh place in all of Cloud Marsh Wetland with his help was already a very impressive achievement.
Locke said, "Since that's the case, you should both strive for this year's Golden Crown Mountain wizard seed candidacy."
Williams's eyes lit up. "Thank you, teacher."
Gregor had an expression of 'am I worthy?' "But teacher, wizard seed candidacy requires at least 800 magical power..."
Locke looked at him. "The average contribution point exchange for Golden Crown Mountain's apprentice-level wizard secret realms is around 1500. I just published 28 Tier 2 journal articles and 8 Tier 1 journal articles. I have a lot of contribution points. I was originally planning to exchange them for a colonization permit."
In fact, according to his original plan, he could now scrape together 34,400 contribution points, then use these 28 Tier 2 journal articles and 8 Tier 1 journal articles to exchange for a colonization permit and immediately go to a plane to attempt creating Grand Magic.
But ever since wizard Hayes told him that colonization permits could only be exchanged for planes that had been repeatedly used by other wizards, Locke's desire for this wasn't very strong anymore.
In the future, when he had extra contribution points, he could indeed exchange for one. After all, each First Circle wizard was limited to exchanging once.
If he didn't exchange it, it would be a waste. Even using it for practice would be good.
But now this matter was no longer the most urgent. He could first use these contribution points to exchange for some potion studies materials, complete the fourth round of the ladder test, and also find some materials to strengthen his combat power.
With so many contribution points, he could exchange for some good materials.
At the same time, Locke planned to exchange for an apprentice-level secret realm for each of them.
As a wizard mentor, he had the authority to share apprentice-level secret realms in his possession with these two apprentices.
Since he currently had abundant funds and contribution points, in order to let them quickly become official wizards, there was no need to save money in this area.
Locke said, "I'm planning to exchange for an apprentice-level wizard secret realm for each of you!"
Williams and Gregor's eyes showed excitement.
Williams immediately realized how lucky she was to have followed such a powerful wizard mentor.
If she had been like her best friend and followed that wizard mentor named Daniel, that would truly be miserable.
No resources at all, and even having to borrow money from her...
Locke said, "But there's one thing I need to ask you. You're both planning to use botany defensive magic as your permanent defensive field to advance to becoming official wizards, right?"
"If that's the case, then what permanent defensive field are you planning to choose? You two have reached the point where you need to start considering this question."
Seeing their confused expressions, Locke immediately realized these two were still clueless about permanent defensive fields, so he explained it briefly.
Only then did Williams have a sudden realization. "Thank you for teaching us about permanent defensive field knowledge, teacher."
Locke said, "You could also learn about it by reading books in the library yourselves."
"So this question relates to your future development... I want to know what defensive magic you actually want to choose. Gregor, do you have one in mind?"