Chapter 787: Too Many Projects to Handle, and the Type III Nature Guardian, Spirit Shepherd

In the Second Circle library section of Golden Crown Mountain, Locke, Alex, and Wizard Gakula walked out of the Second Circle zone.

Alex and Wizard Gakula had evidently not published any Second Circle journals or written any notable Second Circle magical texts, and so neither had any meaningful Second Circle contribution points to speak of. All three were browsing within the free section.

Before leaving, Locke asked Wizard Gakula, "Earlier, Wizard Alex mentioned that Wizard Gakula's special grant fund application this year was not approved, and that one of the reviewers cited some connection to me. Precisely which aspect of it overlapped?"

Locke asked with a pleasant smile.

Wizard Gakula's expression went cold. He appeared somewhat provoked by Locke's question, his pupils turning ice-blue.

On the other side, the generalist scholar Second Circle wizard, old Blue-Head Akman, quietly coughed once, started to say something, then stopped himself. Being a generalist scholar, he actually had a very good understanding of what these Second Circle wizards were each researching.

But he thought for a moment and said nothing.

Wizard Alex broke the icy atmosphere. "Wizard Augustine, Wizard Gakula, like you, is rather obsessed with evolutionary theory. You were both sent by your teacher to the Dune Plane at some point."

That single statement from Wizard Alex reminded Locke.

Locke looked at Wizard Gakula and said, "So it is related to accelerated plant evolution?"

He felt a slight jolt internally. His magical force entered the astral ring on his right index finger, establishing a connection with the Ganoderma magical plant, and he quickly and discreetly called up the relevant articles Wizard Gakula had published.

He had been studying the water hyacinth system interface quite a bit recently and had discovered that through this system it was possible to call up many wizards' published articles and check their representative works.

Although some paid articles required purchase to read in full, one could at least view the title, abstract, and introduction.

Locke searched Wizard Gakula's name and wizard academy and found that he had published a considerable number of First Circle-level journals. But his Second Circle journals amounted to only three, and the journals in which those three papers appeared looked rather ordinary.

Not a single Tier 1 article among them.

It seemed that Second Circle journals were indeed extremely difficult to publish in.

Locke also confirmed that none of Wizard Gakula's current published articles mentioned the special phenomenon from the Dune Plane.

'Right. Without the Zero Potion, even if one discovered that phenomenon, one could neither convert it into an application nor use the Zero Potion to amplify the phenomenon and capture critical evidence.'

'Moreover, the reason I was able to fully lock onto the spirit gem's spirituality was that the Zero Potion had amplified the evolution. Without the Zero Potion's amplifying effect, I likely would have found it very difficult to analyze the spirit gem's true function.'

Locke's expression became thoughtful.

'My teacher once gave me indirect support during my participation in the Silent Chalice, which was likely a concession made under some kind of agreement.'

'But she guided me to discover the Dune Plane's special spirit gems. However, her students and students' students are numerous, and we used similar materials, equipment, had the same collaborative mentor, and were placed through similar cultivation approaches.'

'In these circumstances, it is entirely natural that Wizard Gakula could discover the same special magical plant rapid evolution in the Dune Plane that I did. But he may not have confirmed that this rapid evolution came from the spirit gems.'

At this moment, Locke grew somewhat anxious.

He had still intended to use this rapid evolution to attempt publishing a Second Circle journal article.

He had not expected to run into a competitor right here.

Wizard Gakula heard Locke mention rapid plant evolution, and his expression shifted. The frost-like expression finally began to change, as though sunlight were melting a layer of ice.

"So as I thought, your Leaping Evolution was also inspired by the Dune Plane."

Wizard Gakula gave a cold snort.

"Earlier this year, Zalan Bailey swore up and down that all of Group Two's resources were under his control, and that Team Leader Cis was supporting him unconditionally."

"Looking back now, it was all bluster."

Locke continued smiling pleasantly.

"That was Teacher Yekaterina's arrangement for me. I found my inspiration through that arrangement."

Wizard Gakula kept his expression frosty.

"The same, the same. Only mine would probably have been better."

"But you discovered it first and used it to complete your Grand Magic."

Locke neither agreed nor disagreed. He understood the other party was merely talking tough, and guessed that Gakula had intended to use the accelerated magical plant evolution from the Dune Plane as the basis for his special grant application, only to have the reviewers conclude that something similar had already been demonstrated through him, deciding his entry lacked sufficient innovation and no unique methodology had been proposed.

Of course, Locke ran a quick mental calculation of the other party's experimental progress and concluded that even without him in the picture, the other party would in all likelihood have been unable to pass the fund application regardless.

However, Locke did notice something else. The majority of the articles Wizard Gakula had published during the First Circle period were related to elemental evolution. And all three of his Second Circle journals were also related to elemental evolution.

Among them, one article published in the Tier 3 Second Circle journal Elements and Plants mentioned that plants could absorb the elemental pollution of a region, and that this could cause a magical plant's capacity for variation to rise exponentially.

The reason it had only been accepted by a Tier 3 rather than a Tier 2 journal appeared to be a lack of sufficient evidence.

Locke looked at Wizard Gakula and asked, "Wizard Gakula, are you quite skilled at handling elemental pollution? Hmm... you appear to have conducted very in-depth research into elemental evolution. On that point, I would very much like to exchange thoughts with you."

"I have a Pinellia, and also..."

Wizard Gakula gave a cold snort.

"The Number Two Royal Element, is it?"

"I know about it. But I am not interested, because neither of those are related to elemental evolution. Your research into evolutionary theory is still too superficial."

Locke maintained his smile.

On the side, Wizard Akman was watching with a very puzzled expression.

'Strange. From my interactions with Locke, I know that the outside world calls him the Eye Demon Wizard, says he is ruthless and fierce, more ferocious than a black wizard. It is a well-earned reputation. So how is it that today he is being so courteous toward this Wizard Gakula?'

Akman found it puzzling.

'This is not like Locke at all.'

'Has Locke had a change of heart today? Or is he scheming something?'

A smile played at the corners of Locke's mouth, as though he was quite satisfied with Wizard Gakula's response.

"I wonder, does Wizard Gakula have any views on elemental evolution?"

Wizard Gakula appeared to still be preoccupied with experiments in his laboratory and said, "I am very busy. And furthermore, elemental evolution is not the same as the convergent evolution intrinsic to Pinellia."

"I have no interest in talking further with you. Conversation with the wrong person is a waste of words."

"Alex, let us go."

Wizard Alex gave Locke a nod, conveying his goodwill. After their brief exchange, he had formed quite a positive impression of Locke.

...

In the Forbidden Forest, the Forbidden Forest King turned and walked back into the jungle.

Locke looked at the Forbidden Forest King. He was like a great mountain, or a stormcloud. Wherever he appeared, his presence exerted an immense pressure on those nearby, and he had been mistaken by many wizards over the years for the embodiment of death itself.

The Forbidden Forest King had barely turned when something beneath his robe became extremely restless. In an instant, his black robe billowed as though in a great wind, and something like putty seemed to be trying to push its way out from beneath the robe. Like some kind of slime creature, a distorted face appeared within his sleeve.

That face let out a roar, looking toward Locke and trying to say something.

In the next instant, the World Tree leaf stored within Locke's astral ring left the ring on its own and flew like a dart toward the creature, piercing through it. The slime creature's face deflated like a punctured balloon.

The thing retreated back into the Forbidden Forest King's sleeve.

Locke recalled his World Tree leaf, frowning. His greatest foundation, the World Tree leaf, had apparently been triggered by a trace of sinister energy leaking from the Forbidden Forest King, automatically attacking that evil presence.

So this was what the Forbidden Forest King looked like...

This was the existence hidden within the Forbidden Forest, the one that wizards regarded as death itself...

But what was the thing struggling within his sleeve, trying to escape?

Why had it provoked such a violent reaction from his World Tree?

Locke wore a contemplative expression.

Given that this World Tree leaf was deeply connected to his Grand Magic, and given considerations of his own safety, he should continue exploring the ancient creature bloodline, World Tree, Nature Guardian connection more deeply.

The Forbidden Forest King turned and looked back at Locke in astonishment.

"A World Tree leaf. As expected of a fierce beast. Every Nature Guardian has their own unique World Tree leaf."

"Thank you. Your World Tree leaf combined with mine was just enough to suppress them."

"The magical tide has been growing stronger and stronger lately."

"Troubled times."

"Whenever great changes occur in the outside world, various complications arise within the Forbidden Forest as well."

Locke was taken aback. Was the Forbidden Forest King also a Nature Guardian?

He also had a World Tree leaf?

Then was the Forbidden Forest part of the World Tree's lineage?

What exactly was the Forbidden Forest?

At this moment Locke suddenly realized that, despite now being a Second Circle wizard, the southeastern quadrant had become even harder for him to read clearly.

Wizards had merely settled within the southeastern quadrant, but the southeastern quadrant concealed much greater secrets.

Locke gave chase.

"Wait, Forbidden Forest King. If you are also a Nature Guardian, what is your role? Are you also a fierce beast? Could you tell me what the Forbidden Forest's true duty actually is?"

He had once speculated that the Forbidden Forest was very likely a vast Grand Magic, possibly even a Grand Magic that had already been star-forged at the Third Circle level.

But looking at things now, that view was also wrong.

It was a product of low-circle thinking.

Locke was just moving to follow when the Forbidden Forest King vanished from his sight in the next instant, reappearing fifty meters away within the forest.

Every step he took seemed like a flicker of teleportation, placing him farther and farther away.

'Spatial traversal?'

The tiger's eye appeared on Locke's forehead.

Both the Forbidden Forest King and the Silent Bee glanced at the tiger's eye on his forehead.

'No. That is not the spell school's magic of cutting through space. It is a form of natural magic.'

Locke realized.

'The Forbidden Forest King does not appear to be a wizard.'

'Hmm? What is that?'

Locke's eyes went wide. He was looking at the strangest thing he had ever seen in his life.

For the Forbidden Forest King, who was at least a Third Circle-level individual, did not have various magical forces covering his body. Instead he had dozens of... Root Fields.

'They are not his Root Fields. They appear to be other people's Root Fields, all appearing on his body. And there are also certain things resembling Root Fields that are special and different. Does the Forbidden Forest King's entire body imprison various monsters?'

'Then he certainly cannot be a Type I guardian. He must be a different type of guardian.'

The Silent Bee positioned itself in front of Locke. This mischievous fairy spirit bobbed up and down in the air before him.

"Hello, fierce beast. I am a fairy who serves the Nature Guardians. In the distant past, we fairies were all subordinates to you Nature Guardians. But now our fairy clan has very few of us remaining."

"The Fairy Queen, who was responsible for creating fairies, disappeared a very long time ago for reasons unknown."

"At present, fairies still exist only in the depths of the Forbidden Forest."

Locke looked at this special ink-green bee with an expression of surprise.

"A native magical intelligent being of the wizard world with a unique form and a special power enveloping it?"

"A new race?"

The Silent Bee was left speechless. "I am not a magical being. I am a fairy. Good heavens, in this age, there should be fewer than ten wizards who can even see us."

"Only Nature Guardians can command us."

"We are the guides of the forest, the words breathed out by nature. Those fragments of speech became the spirits of all things, and that is what we are: the fairy clan. I am the honeybee fairy, Silent Bee."

The Silent Bee flew around behind Locke, flying upside down, pressing its wings and striped rear end against Locke's back.

"Do not worry about the Forbidden Forest King. He is in rather bad shape. And their Type III Nature Guardians are called Spirit Shepherds. They have many thoughts, few words, and distinct personalities. Our Forbidden Forest King, for instance, has a heart just like this Forbidden Forest. No one can ever read the Forbidden Forest's temperament."

"As for the Forbidden Forest itself, well, you are a fierce beast, but I am not a fairy specifically assigned to serve you, so I cannot tell you the Forbidden Forest's true purpose."

The Silent Bee let out a sigh. "The Forbidden Forest King said that many Nature Guardians have also become traitors."

"The Forbidden Forest King himself is not in a good state. He has walked the wrong path. Nothing to be done about it. We have been cut off from the World Tree for a very long time now. It has still not been restored."

Locke thought this over, because he did have a connection to the World Tree.

But he quickly realized that his connection to the World Tree had been established through the various meditation methods of the wizard system.

That was a core element of wizard civilization's framework.

This was absolutely something the Forbidden Forest side had never come into contact with.

And so they might have no way of establishing a connection with the World Tree.

The Silent Bee fairy danced before Locke. "Look, every blade of grass and every tree in this forest is a living being. Everyone here welcomes you."

"Of course, fierce beast, you also cannot harm them. Otherwise everyone will still be angry."

"And will be even angrier."

The Silent Bee fairy said, "The Forbidden Forest King is also quite troubled."

"Earlier, when that wizard entered the Forbidden Forest, he spread a special kind of energy throughout it, causing our Forbidden Forest's plants to mutate. The Forbidden Forest King is still thinking about how to deal with it."

Locke fell into thought.

Evidently the Pale Pilgrimage's target was something within the Forbidden Forest, and the target of his teacher's rival, the Rose Council, was also here.

And because of his status as a Nature Guardian, he appeared to be at least a half-insider within the Forbidden Forest, or at minimum regarded as a guest.

'It would be best to first converse with this creature who calls itself a fairy, and learn more about the Forbidden Forest it speaks of.'

Locke made the judgment that best served his own interests.

Locke looked at the Silent Bee. "What kind of energy pollution is it? Perhaps I will have a solution."

The Silent Bee, recalling that Locke was also a wizard, immediately grew excited and led Locke through the Forbidden Forest. "Fierce beast, let me take you to see it."

"In the distant past, fierce beasts were the most powerful fighters among our guardians. Perhaps you really will have a solution."

Locke followed the Silent Bee through the forest and saw an area within the Forbidden Forest where the soil had turned white, with large swaths of the plants having transformed into albino magical plants.

The albino magical plants appeared to be a form of special plague, and were very likely a plant plague created specifically targeting the Forbidden Forest by the Pale Pilgrimage.

"This soil carries very powerful death magical force."

A note of caution flashed through Locke's eyes. He wisely chose not to approach. Seeing that Locke did not advance, the Silent Bee also held back.

"What do you think? What do you think?" the Silent Bee bobbed up and down before Locke.

It flew very quickly.

Locke said, "Based on my current understanding, it appears that the soil was first contaminated with undead magical force, which then utilized the mechanism between plants and soil to cause the magical plants to be invaded by undead magic, producing some kind of special evolutionary pathway toward becoming undead. I must say, this is a first."

The Silent Bee looked at Locke with anxious eyes and asked, "So what do we do? Is there a way to resolve it quickly?"

"Many tribes within the Forbidden Forest have been affected. If things continue like this, many tribes will disappear."

The thought of it was enough to make the kind-hearted Silent Bee want to cry.

Locke understood why this was happening.

The Forbidden Forest was unlike other forests. It was a place where all magical plants had undergone extreme specialization.

The specialization of magical plants here was severe, and the specialization of magical creatures even more so. When one type of magical plant went extinct, it often triggered the extinction of a whole range of magical plants and magical creatures.

The Forbidden Forest was immensely powerful, yet also immensely fragile.

Locke reflected, "This falls under the category of elemental evolutionary theory, which I have no research foundation in. And moreover, I have a great deal of things to deal with lately. I simply do not have time for this."

The Silent Bee grew despondent.

And it was indeed true. The most important things for him right now were using the agreement he had reached with Hussein to conduct plane exploration, completing the testing of the wedding ring test band, and finding a way to reduce virtual root costs.

Apart from these three things, nothing else was more pressing.

After all, these were tied to whether his two major fund applications could pass review.

Locke had no time for anything else.

Just the research on the Stygian iron tree that he had gathered from this trip was already more than enough to occupy his full attention.

He was even beginning to feel that he had too few people he could deploy.

Locke thought of something. 'Wait. The Forbidden Forest is a place I cannot handle directly, but I can find someone to handle it for me.'

'Teacher Yekaterina has so many students and students' students. Just the large project groups she has on hand are numerous. I can certainly find a Second Circle wizard among them who has an interest in this situation.'

'I can bring them here to complete this project.'

Locke reflected, 'And it seems that only I, by virtue of my status as a fierce beast, can converse with the fairies of the Forbidden Forest. For other wizards, this would appear to be nothing more than a special undead catastrophe causing pollution.'

Locke looked at the Silent Bee and said, "Silent Bee, if I can help your Nature Guardian resolve this problem, what benefit would I receive?"

The Silent Bee's eyes went wide. "Benefit? Guarding nature requires a reward?"

Locke coughed once and said, "There is none?"

The Silent Bee thought for a moment. "There is. Fierce beast, when you were fighting outside earlier, I saw you summon tree-men. I can use Fairy Enlightenment on you once."

Locke asked with puzzlement, "What is that?"

The Silent Bee smiled and said, "It is quite impressive. Fairy Enlightenment can greatly enhance a tree-man's intelligence, allowing the tree-man to speak."

A light gleamed in Locke's eyes.

Was that not similar to his teacher's Dragon Observing Peach, which could grant magical creatures human sentience?

The Silent Bee said, "In the distant past, we fairies could awaken speech-capable trees. The tree-men of those days were different from the tree-men awakened by your wizards. The tree-men of those days could speak, could enjoy things, had preferences. They were a true living race."

"Truly alive. I can help you awaken a tree-man. What I have is fairy dust."

Locke looked at the Silent Bee with a degree of skepticism. Was this real? Unlimited uses?

No, it was very likely limited in use.

But even if only one of his tree-men could become a speech-capable tree, that would still be worthwhile.

He could take the opportunity to see what the so-called truly alive tree-man was like.

Locke said to the Silent Bee, "Deal."

The Silent Bee opened its mouth wide. "You actually have a solution? Fierce beast!"

...

Locke's main body looked at Wizard Gakula. As Wizard Gakula was about to reach the door, Locke called out, "Wait, Wizard Gakula. There is something I would like you to see."

Wizard Gakula turned with a note of impatience.

And immediately froze.

Locke had deployed History Replication, capturing the scene of that area of land.

The moment Wizard Gakula saw it, his eyes blazed with excitement. "This is a rather special death element magical plant evolution... ahem, ahem..."

Locke smiled and said, "I wonder if this is sufficient to interest Wizard Gakula in a more in-depth conversation."

Wizard Gakula, seeing this scene, was practically drooling.

For a wizard, discovering an unknown phenomenon or an unknown form of harm meant the potential for an enormous discovery, major awards, articles, projects, and titles.

Wizard Gakula wore an expression of surprise.

"Such a precious phenomenon, and you are willing to share it with me?"

Locke said, "I have too many things on my plate and am too busy to research all of them. And I do not have any capable students. Wizard Gakula, are you interested? I have read your articles, and you appear to be something of an expert in magical plant elemental evolution." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"I would like to cooperate with you."

The distance in Wizard Gakula's eyes toward Locke vanished entirely. In that instant his gaze filled with an intense warmth, like looking at one's patron.

Wizard Gakula broke into a smile. "How could there possibly be too many projects to handle? Locke, you seem gifted at finding projects and research targets."

Wizard Alex blinked.

Senior, you change expressions rather fast, do you not?

Wizard Gakula let out a sigh.

"Now that I think about it, I believe my application failing this year has everything to do with my own insufficient ability. It has nothing to do with you, Locke. I should not have taken out my frustration on you. How shameful."

"Locke, we are all the teacher's students. We should cooperate, not be at odds."

"After all, we share a common rival, the Rose Throne's students."

Wizard Gakula's gaze had even become clear and bright.