Chapter 785: The Great Jade Winter Green Plum, and Magic Is Not Above the Law!

The winter magical plant synthesized by the synthesis magic cube was completed very quickly. The winter plum had six branches and twelve blossoms in total, every flower a shade of pale green.

Each branch represented a unique winter spirituality. Six winter spiritualities blended together, forming the power of winter to seal and store all things.

The power of snow-sealing.

Locke looked at this special winter plum in his hand. Upon it was an entry: Grand Jade Winter Green Plum.

[A Tier 10 synthesized item formed from the combination of three ordinary winter plum trees, possessing the sealing and storing power formed by six winter spiritualities. An aquatic magical plant, its true roots are aquatic roots that require seawater for cultivation. It possesses a special spirituality that guides the surrounding energy into dormancy during specific seasons. It can only bloom at low temperatures, its floral fragrance disperses multiple types of natural magical force structural components, and it possesses the characteristic of causing energy to become quiescent...]

Locke read through this lengthy entry and saw that it continued with various entries relating to cultivation methods.

Locke examined the magical plant. Unlike the Second Circle Climbing Fern, this plant was no longer a wild magical plant. It was a properly half-designed Second Circle magical plant.

But it still could not be compared to the Pinellia, which had been iteratively developed over many years.

Locke looked at the winter green plum and read a great deal of information from its entry. Much of the information seemed to be mentioned in only a single line, but behind that single line there was very likely the equivalent of an entire magical text's worth of information.

"This winter green plum has already reached the level of a Second Circle magical plant at the standard of an initial cultivation by a Second Circle breeder."

"By continuing to research this magical plant going forward, it may be possible to rapidly advance my level in breeding studies."

Locke reflected, "Setting aside everything else, just the energy-locking structure and natural magical force structural components of this magical plant could perhaps yield a number of articles."

The key point was that he no longer needed First Circle-level articles, or at least did not need them nearly as urgently.

First Circle contribution points could not be exchanged for anything needed at the Second Circle.

The articles and trophies he had accumulated during the First Circle period were already more than enough.

This portion of value he could not absorb himself. Perhaps he could transfer some of it to his own students, which would make it easier for them to work for him.

He could also distribute some to Witch Mason and the others.

The key point was that he was short of people.

Trustworthy and reliable individuals could only be cultivated or befriended through the accumulation of time.

The winter green plum in Locke's hand resembled a jade flower, extraordinarily beautiful. Although it leaned overall toward a pale green, because the plum tree possessed multiple unique frost-resistant natural magical force components, its bark surface presented a semi-transparent quality.

This gave the magical plant the appearance of pale green jade.

Locke held this magical plant in his hand and swiftly completed the magical force grafting relationship. He gave it a slight turn, and in an instant the magical plant released its winter-sealing spirituality, causing all the surrounding energy to enter a state of dormancy.

Locke watched the planar force flowing slowly through the air.

"So that is it. The winter-sealing power possessed by a winter magical plant still falls within the scope of life magic. It is a special evolution of life magic."

"It is not the same as frost magic, ice magic, or the winter magic within meteorological studies. The winter-sealing power of a winter magical plant is the result of life magic being incorporated into it."

"This is one form of winter magical power, and it represents a understanding of winter."

Under the winter-sealing power, the flow of planar force slowed, and the amplitude of energy fluctuations diminished.

All things settled into calm.

It was evident that this placed a plane into an energy-conserving state.

In other words, what Locke grasped upon using this magical plant was that winter possessed multiple spiritualities, one of which was the winter of dormancy and sealing.

Winter was the state in which the flow of all things' energy slowed and its amplitude diminished.

Locke instantly understood one thing: he needed a First Circle wizard student to help him conduct research into the characteristics of the winter green plum.

Perhaps this could follow the path through his alma mater.

He had just saved them in this battle. If he also contributed some money and established a fund, he should be able to find some people.

Of course, the research level of Lilith’s Cottage's formal wizards might be limited.

"Still short of people, short of foundation."

Locke prepared to try the magical plant himself first. He deployed the Second Circle universal botanical magic Lone Tree Cannot Form a Forest to ride the Grand Jade Winter Green Plum. In an instant the magical plant seized the residual death winter energy and absorbed large quantities of water vapor from the air. Ice crystals appeared from within its canopy and then spread outward from that center in vast quantities.

All the energy of the entire world entered a state of dormancy.

An energy-conserving state.

In this way, every last remnant of available energy could be directed entirely to his own forest, while he drew on the surplus life energy within the Forest Sanctuary and took out every piece of high-grade nutrient soil from within his half-plane, channeling it all into this plane's forest areas.

Approximately a week later, the forest here had finally covered approximately one-fifth of this world's surface area.

Although it was all a rapidly cultivated woodland that would likely experience some shrinkage after he withdrew his magical force, it had at least established a solid footing.

His Moon of Evolution hung above this forest.

Watching this scene, Locke gave a slight nod. He had attested his Second Circle using a leaf from the World Tree of the boundless void. Even without the Root Fields to lift his Moon of Evolution, his Grand Magic was already, simply by nature, one world level above other Grand Magics.

This meant his Moon of Evolution could actually be suspended directly within other worlds.

"Other people's Grand Magics, unless the world in which the Grand Magic resides can swallow other worlds entirely, could never accomplish this."

Locke reflected, "A Grand Magic built from a World Tree leaf possesses very significant advantages. And moreover, the world in which the Grand Magic resides cannot be too large in scale, otherwise it would turn against its wielder."

"And so other wizards' Grand Magics are naturally incapable of expanding the way mine can. This is precisely the aspect I should be researching in the near future."

Items like the non-Second Circle-level natural magical force structure and energy-locking structure of the Grand Jade Winter Green Plum, along with the characteristics of winter magical power's influence on energy, should in truth be given to his First Circle wizard and wizard apprentice subordinates to research.

And he himself needed to place his attention on more meaningful matters, such as researching how many worlds a Grand Magic attested through a World Tree leaf could be placed within.

Could it be suspended directly within someone else's colonial world?

At present he was primarily without anyone to deploy.

All things required accumulation.

Locke confirmed that he had completed the expansion of the Forest Sanctuary's branch forest and departed this world.

The development of this world would require time. At present he had already obtained a new and impressive Second Circle magical plant here, as well as a branch forest.

Further gains would require the investment of his own time, his own talent, and his own resources.

The moment Locke departed the Louis Plane and returned to the present world, he saw that on the ruins of Virdantia University, the white wizards were encircling and eliminating the black wizards.

The black wizard alliance had fallen into absolute disadvantage.

Especially after witnessing the death of their alliance lord Berbel Morgan, his body reduced to ash and nothingness.

Locke spotted many familiar faces here. The people of Lilith’s Cottage, Albert, Dean Earl, Teacher Halen Vera, and Lady Morgana, Witch Sophia's teacher.

Since they were in the middle of fighting the black wizards, Locke did not go over to greet them.

Albert came before Locke. "Lord Augustine..."

Wizard Albert's expression was complex. He thought back to the first time he had ever seen Locke. At that time he had been a first-class wizard apprentice with a magic pressure of 800, while Locke had only just become a first-class wizard apprentice, his magic pressure then only two or three hundred.

But now, Locke had already become a Second Circle wizard, while Albert had become a First Circle wizard with Locke's help.

Locke said casually, "Albert, no need for formalities. Just keep calling me Locke."

"What is the current situation?"

Wizard Albert immediately summarized Chairman Justin's plan and explained that the White Wizard Association was currently mounting a counteroffensive, hoping to eliminate these evil black wizards in one stroke and cause the southeastern quadrant's black wizard alliance to disappear entirely.

Wizard Albert said, "Teacher Halen Vera asked me to convey his greetings. He said it is his great honor to have once taught you. Having a student as outstanding as you is the pride of his life."

"The most glorious entry on his entire career record."

Locke coughed once.

"Wizard Barzel is also a Second Circle wizard. Teacher Halen is not without Second Circle wizard students."

"He is being too kind."

Wizard Albert smiled and said, "But you became a Second Circle wizard at a far younger age than Lord Barzel."

"Teacher Halen, once the war is over, would like to have a proper exchange with you. He hopes you will attend the alumni gathering. You have not come in a very long time. This time you must definitely attend."

Locke gave a slight nod.

"Of course."

"Only the war will likely not end so easily. The forces behind the black wizard alliance are not simple."

Locke looked toward the direction of the Forbidden Forest, because the edict Wizard Berbel had used in his dying moments had been directed toward the Forbidden Forest. Other wizards might not have noticed, but through his tiger's eye Locke had seen the edict transform into a stream of light and enter the Forbidden Forest, disappearing without a trace.

He also looked toward Hussein and Isaac.

In the battle between Hussein and Isaac, it was not Hussein who had fallen into a disadvantaged position, but Isaac.

This was something that even Isaac himself, who had assumed he had Hussein completely cornered, had not anticipated.

In addition to the ancestor wizard's inheritance, Hussein also possessed the magic of the Mithril Law Firm.

Hussein deliberately allowed himself to be struck squarely in the chest by the blood clan demon god that Isaac had transformed into, and in the next instant a chain of argent silver bound itself around Isaac's body.

Then a soul flame seared into Isaac's body.

Isaac let out an anguished cry.

Hussein said, "Magic is not above the law, and arcane power must ultimately be governed by the code. Intentional bodily harm resulting in a second-degree minor injury: six months' imprisonment in the wizard jail, with corresponding medical expenses to be compensated, and subject to soul flame scorching."

Hussein's chest had two broken ribs at this point, which indeed met the criteria for injury classification.

Locke swept a glance at him and saw that Hussein was borrowing a Grand Magic from the Mithril Law Firm, the Mithril Silver Code of Mithril Silver Counsel.

'Right. The Mithril Law Firm is a Throne wizard's personal law firm, which is why it is one of the Cloud Marsh Wetlands' top firms. As a partner of the firm, a Second Circle wizard apparently enjoys certain special benefits, including the ability to draw upon a portion of the Mithril Silver Throne wizard's Grand Magic, the Mithril Silver Law Code,' Locke reflected.

"Based on what I have read in the materials, in the wizard world, high-circle contract wizards are unlikely to be without institutional backing. Because the Grand Magics of high-circle contract wizards all require a certain authorization from the White Wizard Association and a deep level of cooperation with the sacred wizards."

After all, legislative power, judicial power, and enforcement power do not reside with the contract wizards.

They reside with the White Wizard Association, which was the Supreme Council of Truth, and the Sacred Wizard Tribunal.

And so for a contract wizard to reach a high level, they must cooperate deeply with the White Wizard Association and would find it very difficult to remain independent.

Take that Mithril Silver Law Code, for instance. Locke did not know how it was constructed, but being able to draw upon the power of legal sanction was inherently a matter of drawing upon an important core asset of the White Wizard Association, specifically certain special artificially-created faith divine realms.

An ordinary contract wizard simply did not possess this capability.

Wizard Isaac used a curse to destroy a magical artifact shield in Hussein's hand. His eyelid twitched sharply.

This was bad.

Sure enough, a chain of argent silver entered his body, and a stream of silver wind blew from the chain, attacking his permanent defensive force field shell.

The law code above Hussein's head turned its pages. "Charge of intentional destruction of property. In the wizard law, the consequence of this charge is even more severe than that of intentional bodily harm. My magical artifact was worth one million magic stones. That is more than enough to keep you imprisoned for a very long time."

"You shall receive the wind punishment."

"I estimate you are already nearly out of money to compensate me."

Wizard Isaac said, "Get out of here with your nonsense. You were once a black wizard yourself, and yet you have been possessed by the white wizards' laws. Do you still have any black wizard honor left?"

Hussein let out a cold laugh and raised his head to look at the Mithril Silver Code. He could only use the Mithril Silver Code for ten minutes.

Blood curses were the black wizards' curse magic, built upon curses directed at bloodline relationships.

Now he also had to contend with the effects of the black wizards' Claim Ancestral Authority curse magic, especially from the ancestor wizard's various descendants.

But the Mithril Silver Code was the white wizards' curse magic.

He had long known that the Second Circle black wizards in the southeastern quadrant very likely were not descendants of the ancestor wizard. But he had still set his trap and waited.

Because his target was not to kill the ancestor wizard's descendants.

His target was to seize everything belonging to this Second Circle black wizard.

'By making him my debt slave, I am legally entitled to everything he possesses,' Hussein reflected.

'The ancestor wizard's descendants, including himself, if they ever want to use Claim Ancestral Authority on me, I can use the blood clan under my debt slavery's superior bloodline as a shield to block it for a time.'

'Perhaps it can buy me time.'

'Claim Ancestral Authority is a high-rank blood curse, but debt slavery is also a form of curse. I can use the Mithril Silver Code to confuse the bloodline curse. This will be very difficult, but it is worth attempting.'

Hussein looked toward Wizard Isaac, worried he might figure things out. He could only draw on the law code for ten minutes. If the other party did not manage to bankrupt himself within those ten minutes, then he would fail.

He would simply become prey at the mercy of the ancestor wizard's descendants.

The ancestor wizard had not yet awakened, but his descendants were still moving across various locations.

This was the stratagem he had devised after discovering he had fallen into the ancestor wizard's scheme, a scheme to prevent himself from becoming a slave to the ancestor wizard's descendants.

And it was a dangerous stratagem.

He had modified and fine-tuned the spell model to deploy this against a black wizard. Technically speaking, black wizards were not considered people and so should not be eligible to become debt slaves.

He had consulted a great many laws and cited multiple statutes before managing to barely deceive the Mithril Silver Code.

Part of the reason it worked at all was that he was a covenant-breaker wizard and capable of deploying a confounding curse.

At this moment, Locke saw an edict rise from the depths of the Forbidden Forest, and a star ring-level magic pressure emerged from within it.

Locke immediately gave a slight shake of his head. It seemed that eliminating all the black wizards here was no longer possible.

This battle could only end here.

So that was it. The edict Berbel had used in his final moments had been deployed for this person. He did not know what this person's purpose in entering the Forbidden Forest had been, or whether his emergence now meant he had already completed his objective within it.

At the same time, from deep within the Forbidden Forest came the sound of chains scraping against something and heavy, silent footsteps.

Then a furious roar erupted.

"Come back! Black wizard, you promised to free me from this place."

The star ring wizard let out a cry. "My lord, there is a Third Circle wizard standing guard within the Forbidden Forest. I truly cannot free you. But I have completed the Grand Sovereign's plan and retrieved what I came for. The Grand Sovereign will certainly send aid in due course. Please be at ease."

That voice was filled with fury.

"Liar. Go to your death."

"The magical tide grows stronger with each passing day. I will be able to emerge sooner or later. And on the day I emerge, every person of the Pale Pilgrimage shall die."