980: Can the Greatest Breeder Be Appointed by the World?
Witch Rose led everyone into the entrance of the Wizard Secret Realm she had established, which was the Spider Paradise.
[Author's Note: At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name, twkan.com, for a smooth reading experience.]
The wizards of the tour group visiting the Rose Building looked around and discovered that this was an area filled with spider silk. Cobwebs were everywhere, and the entire space was composed of webs suspended in mid-air. Many spiders lived on this network, spinning silk and weaving webs, seemingly perfecting them.
Below these spider webs was an ocean, and in the sea stood a hydraulic spinning wheel. The wheel was rotating slowly, with spiders crawling all over its various components.
From a massive web above Witch Rose's head, a huge spider suddenly dropped down. This spider was composed entirely of energy and some thin, thread-like substance. It was enormous, resembling a ball of yarn. The spider seemed extremely furious with Witch Rose, raising its legs to slash at her.
Before it could even get close, Wizard Joshua, who stood beside Witch Rose holding a black-covered magic book and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, waved his hand, instantly splitting the Yarn-ball Spider in two.
Witch Rose said calmly, "Please, everyone, follow me."
Locke walked past the Ball of Yarn Spider, looked down at it, and suddenly understood something.
"The Yarn-ball Spider is a product of the Magic Pressure dissipation of Witch Rose's Great Magic. This massive Spider Paradise seems to generate a higher degree of dissipation than an average wizard's Great Magic at every moment. Did something go wrong during the Star Forging?"
"So Rose took a different path, turning her Great Magic into a first-ring Wizard Secret Realm. She intends to use the many First-Ring Wizards along the Sky River coast to help her reduce the Magic Pressure dissipation, which is the primary factor of the Golden Triangle Index for Great Magic. It's certainly an ingenious idea. She actually thought of this... She wants to turn all the wizards along the Sky River into her free weavers."
Locke recalled that Wizard Trajan had once praised Witch Rose as a genius who flourished in various fields. Her methods now were indeed more fierce than those of the opponents he had faced before. The attack she launched against him and the Silver-clad Peach Garden was chained and comprehensive. She might not have failed to notice that he wanted to use her to dismantle the Silver-clad Peach Garden for asset restructuring and to retain core high-quality assets, yet she still cooperated with him, all for this moment.
At this moment, Locke and Witch Rose locked eyes, both understanding what the other was thinking.
Witch Rose's gaze was full of provocation. What she wanted was not just for Olaye to replace the Silver-clad Peach Garden or become the new Silver-clad Peach Garden; she wanted Olaye to surpass it entirely and become the new leader.
This was the decision she had made as the core figure of this generation of the Rose academic lineage.
She wanted to lead the Magic Plant retail business here, enter all retail shop industries, completely overhaul the ecosystem, and gather massive resources to serve as a stepping stone for her breakthrough to the Moon Ring.
At this point, the representative wizards from the other six top wizard academies along the Sky River, excluding the Tide Great Wizard Tower, were all impatient to negotiate more cooperation with her. Even the Official Wizards from the White Ice Tower wanted more promises from Witch Rose, as none of them had expected her ambition to be so vast.
Witch Rose noticed Locke's calm expression and frowned momentarily, then, with her usual composure, led the various wizard representatives to the next exhibition area.
There, three Rose Dart Branches were planted on a spider silk web.
The wizard representatives from [Surging Crocodile], [Tide Great Wizard Tower], [Solar Umbrella Pavilion], [Joseph Reed Hall], [Dalton Woodland], and [White Ice Tower], as well as those from [Hundred Magic Scrolls], [Angela Golem Shop Alliance], the delegation from Silver-clad Peach Garden, and representatives from other scattered small wizard academies, all looked up at the spider web.
Since most of the wizards present were local to the Sky River wizard lands, they had never seen Magic Plants that could be grown on spider webs.
Locke looked up and scanned the spider web, instantly perceiving what it was.
These spider webs acted like spongy nutrient soil, with all nutrients and moisture transported through silk threads thinner than a strand of hair. This allowed every cell of the Magic Plant to receive its allotted nutrients evenly, or even distributed as needed. It was as if she were a Puppeteer, using spider silk to provide the Magic Plant with the energy it required.
This enabled a Magic Plant to grow to its ultimate state, even reaching a Magic Pressure that exceeded its natural limits.
Senior Brother Trajan's assessment of Witch Rose was quite objective; she was a top-tier genius in both Breeding Science and Textile Studies.
Witch Rose was undoubtedly the most powerful wizard opponent of his generation he had encountered so far. Compared to her, Wizard Brandy was a joke, and Wizard Zhuoma was not even worth mentioning; his previous rivals of the same age paled in comparison. Of course, wizards like Antoine, Haishan, and Edgar, and even Witch Georgina and Witch Diana were very strong, but the issue was that their fields didn't overlap so significantly with his.
Thus, although they were powerful, they didn't exert such immense pressure on him.
And now, the relationship between Witch Rose and himself was gradually evolving into something like that between the Rose Witch and the Red Dragon Witch.
The wizards all looked up at the spider web where the Magic Plants were growing, marveling at the shocking sight. It showed them the boundless realm of magic and the limitless exploration of truth; they had never before imagined that a Magic Plant could be grown in something other than soil.
One representative from Joseph Reed Hall, a Second-Ring Wizard, even bowed to Witch Rose. In a tone as if he were addressing a deity of his own field, he asked, "Lord Tacitus, is this an advanced technique from the Yunze Wetlands? Please forgive my ignorance, but why use spider silk as soil? I mean, we know of common alternative growth media like coco coir, peat, rock wool, and hydroponics. But this is the first time I've seen a spider silk growth medium. What are the benefits?"
Witch Rose looked at him and said, "You've had too little contact with colonial worlds. You don't realize that in the Endless Void, worlds with soil compositions like the Wizard World are actually in the minority."
"While exploring the 65th layer of the Bottomless Abyss, the Spider Valley, I saw terrain maintained by spider silk, with webs everywhere. A few Magic Plants could grow there as well. The world is vast and full of wonders. By studying such strange phenomena, finding their root causes, and discovering the mechanisms behind them, we can find parts that are useful to us. Using spider silk as a growth medium isn't just about reducing costs or special research..."
Locke said, "It's to achieve cell-level precision in controlling spirit breath and nutrient distribution, isn't it?"
A faint smile appeared on Witch Rose's face. She nodded and said, "Exactly. That is the greatest value of my unique Spongy Spider Silk Cultivation Method."
Locke looked up at the three Magic Plants. "You're basically saying the rest of us don't understand."
Everyone immediately looked at Locke.
Witch Rose gave Locke a puzzled look, then turned her head toward him and said, "Hmm? Mr. Augustine, what are you talking about?"
Locke said, "Your silk cultivation method has two primary values. First, it allows for the precise distribution of resources at a cellular level. Second... it allows specialized spider silk to enter the surface of the Magic Plant, forming certain special structures. I can't say for sure what they are."
Witch Rose said, "Magic Plant Exoskeletons."
A look of wariness appeared in Witch Rose's eyes. She hadn't expected Locke to discern the contents of a journal article she was about to publish in the Cloud Marsh but hadn't yet released. Although Locke had only perceived the concept and didn't know the specific technical details.
Witch Rose said, "These spider silks can serve as a special alchemical material that attaches to the surface of specific Magic Plants during growth, forming a special film substance. This layer of spider silk film can enhance the Magic Plant's defensive capabilities, hardness, and performance in terms of physical traits."
"It's a comprehensive improvement."
"It allows the Magic Plant's overall trait performance to be elevated and enables the effective application of enchanted toxins."
Having said this, Witch Rose frowned slightly. She had originally intended to keep a card up her sleeve; she didn't want to explicitly state the greatest advantage of the silk cultivation method, intending only to introduce the Magic Plant's traits. She hadn't expected Locke to see right through it. This fellow Locke's insight... was indeed not weak.
"My Rose Dart Branch and the Peach Dart Branch previously created by the Red Dragon Throne are both rose-type Magic Plants, with almost no difference in their basic traits. However, I have made two critical breakthroughs in Magic Plant Exoskeletons and dual enchanted toxins for Magic Plant Exoskeletons. Consequently, the trait performance of this Magic Plant will be enhanced, making it surpass the original Peach Dart Branch in both cost and effectiveness."
"This is the result of my integration of alchemy and Breeding Science. Everyone... a new era has arrived. From now on, the best Magic Plant weapon along the Sky River will not be the Peach Dart Branch, but our Three-Colored Rose Dart Branch. Whether some people want to see it or not, this is the grand trend of the future, and it cannot be changed."
Amidst the dialogue between Locke and Witch Rose, the group of wizards understood the power of Witch Rose's Magic Plants and cultivation techniques.
The Second-Ring Wizard representative from Joseph Reed Hall was now filled with constant amazement. He prided himself on having immersed himself in Breeding Science for over five hundred years, making him a veteran wizard here. Although he couldn't match geniuses like Locke and Witch Rose in magic level, he had an advantage in accumulated experience.
Yet at this moment, facing the exchange between Locke and Witch Rose, he felt as if every sentence was shattering his worldview.
What is the future?
This is the future.
Looking at the two young people pitted against each other, he suddenly felt a sense of regret. In his youth, he also had a chance to go to a higher-level wizard land; at that time, the Golden Dynasty of the Hui-Ming Boundary had sent him an invitation. He might have had a slim chance at that teaching position, but he chose to stay at Joseph Reed Hall for the sake of stability. By the time he realized it again, he no longer had any intention of leaving. He had invested too much in Joseph Reed Hall, with disciples and grand-disciples everywhere. How could he be willing to give up his power, status, and the resources he had gained to act submissively in a higher-level wizard land? The wizard representatives from Dalton Woodland also looked solemn; they were Breeders too, but they felt a conceptual shock in the face of Witch Rose's Magic Plants.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
Dalton Woodland follows the most traditional breeding route, using only old methods and old techniques. They dare not pursue new, cutting-edge routes, fearing rejection when applying for funds, and even more afraid that rash changes would lead to their own elimination. Therefore, the wizards of Dalton Woodland have been hit even harder than those of Joseph Reed Hall.
Witch Rose said, "Joshua."
Joshua immediately flipped through the magic book in his hands. As he turned a page, a dragon's roar suddenly echoed across the sky of the entire Spider Paradise. As ripples spread through the sky, a giant dragon suddenly appeared overhead.
It was a second-ring Copper-Hammer Tail Dragon. Its tail possessed a special magical copper metal called Hot Copper, which had excellent magic conduction properties. By swinging its dragon tail, it could conduct fire magic to form the special Fire-Plow Hot Blade magic, completely destroying its enemies. It was a powerful draconic creature, commonly found in the Dragon Mountains.
On the Tianjiang Coast, this Copper-Hammer Tail Dragon was already considered an irresistible and powerful enemy in the eyes of wizards. It possessed natural armor made of dragon scales capable of immunizing against magic, as well as the incredibly powerful Fire-Plow Hot Blade. It could be said to be incomparably powerful; those who saw it were as good as dead.
Yet at this moment, facing the roar of the massive dragon in the sky, Witch Rose's expression remained unchanged.
"Ultimately, the beastly nature remains."
"A beast is a beast."
Witch Rose waved her hand, and spell models instantly appeared at the tops of the three Rose Dart Branch Magic Plants located on the spider silk web. Immediately afterward, these Rose Dart Branches turned around and automatically flew toward the dragon in the sky.
They were incredibly fast, and instead of following a straight trajectory, they circled once in the sky and, with lightning speed, struck the dragon three consecutive times.
The dragon's impenetrable scales, the hallmark of its defensive prowess, were pierced in an instant. Following this, the dragon received three consecutive, significant second-ring level blows.
The dragon spiraled in the sky like a kite with a broken string.
The Official Wizard mentor of Joseph Reed Hall immediately looked up at the dragon.
"It seems to have been severely injured. Impressive, truly impressive. All three attacks occurred in a single instant, almost as if they were one single attack. It was simply unavoidable. Even a dragon like the Copper-Hammer Tail Dragon, with its monstrously high defense, had its defense broken in an instant." "The level of this Magic Plant can certainly compete for the top three on our Tianjiang Coast."
Dalton Woodland and Joseph Reed Hall had always been at odds, but their wizard mentor also sighed.
"Indeed. It is just a pity that the dragon has not died yet. It seems the attack power of this Magic Plant weapon... is still... somewhat..."
The next moment, the Copper-Hammer Tail Dragon in the sky let out a mournful cry, then fell from the sky, its corpse rapidly turning purple-black.
Its dragon body quickly fell into an imbalance of three elements: fire, ice, and wind. This was the true power of the Three-Color Rose Dart Branch. The triple elemental imbalance, strengthened by the spider toxin, would instantly trigger a chain reaction in a target hit three times in succession. After a series of complex magical changes, it resulted in the current state.
It could be said that Witch Rose had linked her Textile Studies magic with Breeding Science through her spider-silk cultivation method, and thus, by using this method, she surpassed the Peach Dart Branch designed by Witch Yekaterina in the same period.
The Breeders from Dalton Woodland and Joseph Reed Hall watched as the dragon fell from the sky and died upon hitting the ground, and they immediately exclaimed. "Incredible, to be able to do such a thing with a Magic Plant. This Magic Plant..."
"It's not simple. Its attack power is already above that of the Peach Dart Branch. Witch Rose... she is simply too powerful."
The wizards of the Sun-Ray Umbrella Court whispered among themselves.
"If this spider silk could be incorporated into our umbrella shafts and canopies, I wonder if it would improve the performance of our magic umbrellas. It looks like a very promising direction."
The wizards from White Ice Tower and Tide Great Wizard Tower all looked at the three Magic Plants with great enthusiasm. For them, deeply embroiled in war, this scene was incredibly attractive. If they could purchase this type of Magic Plant weapon, they could begin designing ways to hunt down the other side's Second-Ring Wizards.
It should be known that after fighting for so long, neither of the two major wizard factions had seen the death of a Second-Ring Wizard, only the deaths of some First-Ring Wizards. As long as no Second-Ring Wizard had died, there was no possibility of forcing one side to stop the war in the short term. But at this moment, both sides saw in this Magic Plant weapon the possibility of swaying the war on the Tianjiang Coast.
The wizards of the Surging Crocodile were relatively calm. Their situation was similar to that of the Hundred Magic Scroll and Angela; they had no major conflicts with other wizard factions, so their demand for this Magic Plant was not great. However, they were interested in the Rose Building itself, because this Rose Building would very likely become the largest commercial center on the Tianjiang Coast in the future.
Meanwhile, President Fura saw the hope of new weapons for use in plane wars.
Wizard Abram walked to Locke's side, wearing a friendly expression, and then whispered: "Lord Locke, look at that arrogant expression on Rose. She simply does not take us, the old-established Shop Alliance on the Tianjiang Coast, seriously. Now that she has made such a big splash, has she ever considered your face or mine, or the face of the Silver-clad Peach Garden and the Red Dragon Throne? She is so rude; if we let her continue like this, I fear there will be no place for you or me on the Tianjiang Coast."
Locke nodded.
"Rose's offensive is indeed continuous."
Wizard Abram said: "If she really succeeds in building this commercial building, the economic advantage that Golden Crown Mountain worked so hard to gain by winning the Three Kings Tournament will vanish completely."
"She is challenging tradition."
Locke laughed: "Isn't there still the ten-year enrollment advantage?"
"The geniuses appearing in some of the ownerless mortal nations on the Tianjiang Coast can all be sent to our Golden Crown Mountain."
This was an agreement reached in the past between the three parties: the Yunze Wetlands, the Starry Sea, and the Tianjiang Coast. The Tianjiang Coast would designate certain regions to provide talent from these areas for enrollment in the Yunze Wetlands' wizard factions, in exchange for economic and technical aid from the Yunze Wetlands to the Tianjiang Coast. This was a mutually beneficial act, although it was mainly because the Starry Sea wanted more reliable maintenance of the Tianhan River waterway.
Wizard Abram was taken aback by Locke's retort, and then he changed his tone: "Hmm, that's true. But I think this witch likes to subvert tradition, and that is not good. She is simply too arrogant. She thinks that she is the only one in the whole world who is capable. She ignores tradition and looks down on others. I do not think highly of her. I think more highly of you, Wizard Augustine."
Wizard Abram flashed a smile at Locke.
"I believe we are the same; we are both wizards who love tradition. The Silver-clad Peach Garden has always been the monopoly Magic Plant Shop Alliance on the Tianjiang Coast. This is the tradition here, the rules of this wizard society."
Locke looked at him strangely and retorted: "Then, since the Silver-clad Peach Garden has always held a monopoly position here, why has the Silver-clad Peach Garden been losing money all this time?"
Wizard Abram said: "This..."
Locke said: "It seems that your so-called monopoly and your so-called tradition are useless. Wizard Abram, I am not your... investment bank. I don't have that much money, so perhaps I value money a bit too much. For me and the Silver-clad Peach Garden, whether there is a monopoly or not seems meaningless; being able to make money is the real truth. If, for the sake of a monopoly title, one continues to lose money for ten years, and neither law firms nor audits can uncover the problem, what do you think is the significance of such a monopoly?"
Wizard Abram wore a fawning expression. As a member of a secret investment bank, he naturally would never get angry or cause a scene in front of others. At this moment, he instinctively wore a fawning expression and retorted: "That is not the way to put it. Money can never be fully earned, but whether one can enter the circle and gain a reputation is more important. There are plenty of people in this world who pay out of their own pockets to gain a name. Whether you have money is not very important, and whether you have actually made a contribution is also not important; what is important is that you have this name."
"With this name, you and I can report back to our superiors." Wizard Abram hinted meaningfully, and then he walked away.
Locke understood what he meant. The implication was that if he cooperated with them, they would help him eliminate Olaye, which meant that after he returned, he could report back to his teacher. Looking only at the results, it would indeed be eliminating Olaye, with no changes, perhaps even faster and more thoroughly. This was probably the "name" that Wizard Abram was talking about. It was what they called having no contribution but still having great merit and good performance metrics.
A look of disapproval flashed in Locke's eyes, but for him, this kind of performance victory was meaningless. If he were to win, he wanted to win in a way that made Witch Rose concede, and he wanted to win by securing substantial economic benefits to pave the way for his Moon Ring path. After all, for someone like him who valued practical benefits so much, if a thing could not bring him actual benefits and could only bring some empty fame, then there was no need to do it in the first place.
Wizard Abram fell into deep thought: "The new administrative head of the Silver-clad Peach Garden actually hasn't had much of a reaction at this time. Is it because he has already given up? Or does he have a way to transfer out of here and push the responsibility onto others to explain his failure to his academic lineage? What is he relying on to be so fearless?" Many wizards present were also secretly observing Locke's reaction. President Fura, the White Ice Tower, the Tide Great Wizard Tower, and others—for these representatives of wizard factions with complex interests, Locke's attitude and reaction were very important.
But what they found strange was that Locke, as the representative of the Red Dragon Lineage in this wizard land, appeared so calm and unbothered at this moment, as if he didn't take everything happening before him seriously at all.
Witch Rose looked back at the path they had taken to this secret realm. The reason for setting the exhibition hall here was to showcase to the outside world this Spider Paradise, which was currently still a semi-finished product but already operational. This was also a secret inheritance she had realized from the Rose Codex. She glanced at Locke; using this method could quickly compensate for the flaws produced when she broke through to the Star Ring. But this still required time.
Although she didn't want to admit it, Locke had indeed surpassed her in terms of magic level. Although both currently had the same Magic Pressure, the forging degree of their Great Magic was completely different. However, by using this trick, she could reduce the gap as quickly as possible, and since she liked to invest in multiple fields, even so, she still had an advantage over Locke in many areas.
Many wizards present had already begun to endlessly praise Witch Rose, repeating the general idea that Witch Rose was a heaven-sent genius and a powerful, insightful wizard, and that no one could surpass her in the field of Breeding Science.
Witch Rose showed no expression at all to these praises.
AI Model: gemini-3.0-flash
Joshua stood beside Witch Rose and said, "Lord Rose, it seems that after today, our Olaye can completely wash away our label as second-rate and become an important Shop Alliance along the Sky River, perhaps even the largest one. And in their eyes, Lord Rose, you are also a very great Breeder. But why aren't you happy at all?"
Witch Rose looked at Joshua, a cold sneer suddenly appearing on her solemn face. "It's nothing. I just suddenly thought of something. Famous people in this world don't necessarily have the substance, and those with substance don't necessarily gain the corresponding fame. These wizards say I am the most powerful Breeder along the Sky River, but am I really the most powerful? Is being the 'most powerful Breeder' something bestowed by the world? The standards of the public... can the standards of laymen really distinguish between what is good and what is bad?"
"I find their words of flattery laughable. Whether I am currently the most powerful Breeder along the Sky River... I do not know yet. I very much want to have a showdown with that wizard to truly understand if I am the most powerful."
"No..."
Witch Rose glanced in Locke's direction.
"Whether I am the most powerful Breeder, or what kind of person I am, is not decided by others, but by myself."
"Joshua, I am truly tired of these people's flattery."
Wizard Joshua coughed and whispered, "Keep your voice down, don't let them hear you."
"You are the focus now. Don't let anyone catch you off guard because of your words or actions."
Witch Rose sneered disdainfully, "I have never feared such things."
She lowered her head in thought. "Although I really want to have a true showdown with Locke in the field of Breeding Science to compare our levels, the academic lineage task is more important. Therefore, I can only win against you this way. Next time, I will definitely defeat you completely from the front using breeding methods in a fair and square manner, Locke Augustine."
Witch Rose Tacitus pondered.
Meanwhile, Wizard Joshua looked at Locke thoughtfully.
"Lord Tacitus actually cares so much about that wizard. I'm not from their circle, so I don't know what happened in the Cloud Marsh, but it seems Lord Tacitus always cares about his evaluation of her."
"It seems Lord Tacitus regards this wizard as her true rival."
Wizard Joshua had followed Witch Rose for a long time and knew her methods were cruel, but he rarely saw her show any emotion. The only few times she showed obvious emotion were all related to Locke Augustine.
Witch Rose announced to the crowd, "I am now going to transfer my Tricolor Rose Dart Branches to my Rose Building for exhibition. I welcome the various Breeder Shop Alliances invited earlier to join me in the Magic Plant exhibition. I hope everyone can bring out the best Magic Plants from their shops to participate in this event and bring us a grand Magic Plant exhibition gala."
"Wizards are also welcome not to be stingy with the magic stones in their hands during this exhibition. If you see something good or something that moves you, you can buy it directly. Don't be stingy with your money."
Many wizards present showed knowing smiles.
Everyone followed Witch Rose out of this Wizard Secret Realm and returned to the 100th floor of the Rose Building. By now, the exhibition hall on the 100th floor was ready.
There were exhibition booths throughout the hall. Each shop on the 100th floor was an exhibit. These shops already had simple tables, equipment, and various types of flower pots to facilitate the Shop Alliances in transferring their Magic Plants. At this time, the Magic Plant retail Shop Alliances, regardless of size, all began to search for the exhibition booths Witch Rose had prepared for them and started displaying the Magic Plants they had brought.
Almost all the Magic Plant retail-related Shop Alliances along the Sky River had gathered here.
Along the Sky River, any Official Wizard could establish a Shop Alliance, which was quite different from the Cloud Marsh.
Many of these Shop Alliances were opened by wizards from Dalton Woodland and Joseph Reed Hall, but even more were opened by wizards from small to medium wizard academies, or even rogue wizards. These rogue wizards did not join any wizard organization but wandered through the mortal worlds along the Sky River. Yet, somehow, Witch Rose had used some means to find these people from the nooks and crannies of mortal nations and invited them here to open Shop Alliances.
Thus, the Rose Building appeared exceptionally prosperous.
The crowd was bustling and very lively.
However, most eyes were focused on four directions. One was the direct-sale booth of the Rose Building, where one could purchase various Magic Plant weapons from Olaye, including the Tricolor Rose Dart Branches.
The other two were Joseph Reed Hall and Dalton Woodland.
These two wizard academies both primarily focused on Breeding Science and were top local academies, so everyone paid close attention to their direct-sale shops in the Rose Building.
And the final focus was the Silver-clad Peach Garden.
After all, the Silver-clad Peach Garden was an old and once the largest Magic Plant retail Shop Alliance in the Sky River wizard lands. Although it had declined, it could still easily gain the attention of others.
Some were mocking, some were expectant, some were curious, and some suspected that the Silver-clad Peach Garden couldn't have lost all its foundation. However, Locke, Terence, and the others were still slowly modifying their shop's display booths to make them more suitable for the Great Green-Leaf Dragon Sparrow series and Da Ming Li Dragon Sparrow series Magic Plants they brought. Consequently, many wizards were confused, not knowing what Locke and his team were doing. A rogue Gasification Wizard whispered to his Gasification Wizard friend, "What is the Silver-clad Peach Garden doing? Why are they just moving things and adjusting equipment without bringing out any Magic Plants? Have they really declined that much?"
The other Gasification Wizard shook his head slightly.
"It's truly a pity to see a noble Shop Alliance fall. I still remember when the best Magic Plant retail shop along the entire Sky River was the Silver-clad Peach Garden. Back then, no Shop Alliance could rival them. Every month, we would send our students to read the articles published by Silver-clad Peach Garden, look at their technical development manuals, and check their new products."
The rogue wizard who spoke first also laughed.
"Isn't that the truth? When I was still a Wizard Apprentice, I relied on those to copy one of their leftover Magic Plants and then made my first pot of gold. After that, I had the resources to develop my talent and achieve my current status, becoming an Honorary Wizard Tutor in various academies. Sigh, I really miss those times. The Silver-clad Peach Garden was a product of our youth, a former noble Shop Alliance. Seeing it get worse day by day, it really makes me feel bad."
His wizard friend also nodded.
Then, they strangely watched as Locke personally went to other Shop Alliance exhibition counters to buy some Magic Plants.
This left them completely bewildered.
Why was this new Administrative Director of the Silver-clad Peach Garden's style so different from past directors? Wasn't this just boosting others' prestige? You're the leader of the noble Silver-clad Peach Garden, yet you're buying Magic Plants from other families yourself. How will others look at you?"
At this moment, Locke walked through these Shop Alliances. He scanned the exhibition booths and found that the overall quality of the Magic Plants here was two or three levels lower than in the Cloud Marsh. However, in a few specific fields of Magic Plant breeding, they could rival or even surpass the Cloud Marsh. This was especially true for reconnaissance Magic Plants, water magic defense plants, and moisture-based Magic Plants unique to the Sky River. Locke stopped in front of Joseph Reed Hall. He saw a complete defense system called [No. 3 Reed Thicket] that this Shop Alliance was primarily promoting, mainly composed of Sentry Reeds and Water-Arrow Reeds.
Sentry Reeds could sense abnormal Magic Pressure nearby and emit a piercing cry to warn of approaching enemies. Simultaneously, through Allelopathy, they would trigger the Water-Arrow Reeds to attack in a certain direction—a complete Magic Plant garden combining reconnaissance and automated attack.
Among them, the Sentry Reed was a second-ring Magic Plant, while the Water-Arrow Reed was a first-ring Magic Plant.
This system was primarily for reconnaissance. It was evident that along the Sky River, due to the mist, humidity, and rain, many wizards indeed had a demand for reconnaissance.
Locke directly spent 1.5 million magic stones to buy a single-user standard version of the No. 3 Reed Thicket system, which consisted of one Sentry Reed and five Water-Arrow Reeds.
Although when he bought it, the wizards of Joseph Reed Hall clearly had complex expressions because they couldn't figure out what the person in charge of the Silver-clad Peach Garden was up to.
On the other side, the eyes of the wizards from Dalton Woodland lit up upon seeing this.
"Lord Locke, we have good things here too. Our developed [Premium Edition: Whomping Willow Thicket System] is not inferior to theirs. We use Whomping Willows and Bubble Willows to form an automated reconnaissance and counter-attack system."
"Bubble Willows can release special bubbles upon sensing hostility, and after the Whomping Willows absorb these bubbles, they will automatically activate and launch attacks at the enemy."
"Our system has higher precision and stronger reconnaissance capabilities, and a set costs only 1.3 million. Would you like to buy one?" Locke looked at the wizard from Dalton Woodland and thought for a moment.
"Is this your main featured Magic Plant this time?"
The Crystallized Wizard from Dalton Woodland thought for a moment and then said with certainty, "Yes, respected Lord Augustine, this is our main featured Magic Plant package."
Locke smiled and said, "Alright. Then give me a set."
Seeing this, the Breeders began to frantically call out to Locke. In their eyes, Locke was now a God of Wealth. After all, anyone would be all smiles when seeing a God of Wealth these days.
Although they didn't understand what Locke was doing, it didn't stop them from promoting their products to him.
At this time, Witch Rose stood in the Olaye shop, looking out toward where Locke was.
"He is buying his rivals' signature Magic Plants. Why? What does he want to do?"