weathervane bluegrass is both a learning material for Miracles and a casting material, though each casting only requires a diluted solution of plant extract.
"This plant went extinct on the Old Continent centuries ago. Chemistry College has a nursery for cultivating it, but the next harvest won't be for another two years. You're quite lucky," Professor Garcia said.
"Lucky? So, a whole season takes..." Xia De's thoughts returned from the Psychologist's matter, and he looked at the Professor.
"About thirty years. You just happened to catch the twenty-eighth year. Your luck is truly quite good. The growth cycle of this peculiar plant isn't very long. You might not realize it, but usually, the plant materials Ring術士 use don't flower and bear fruit every year."
Xia De somehow thought of the story of the monkey and the peaches. He shook his head to refocus his scattered thoughts, and the Professor smiled:
"No more jokes. Although the plant is extinct on the Old Continent, the New World has this peculiar plant. The College has already arranged to retrieve it, and it should be delivered to you next month."
"Alright then."
Although Xia De was a bit disappointed, he accepted the fact. He could wait for a month.
Since he had chosen the Miracle, he wanted to return the Library catalog, but the Professor told him to keep it for a week and return it with Ms. Annette. This way, he wouldn't have to think too long when choosing next time.
The above was the College's reward for Xia De. As the instructor guiding Xia De's studies, Professor Garcia was very satisfied with the young Detective, believing he had a bright future.
Therefore, Professor Garcia personally offered to help with his studies:
"In August, I will be teaching an elective course, 'Folding Space,' primarily covering large ritual Mystic Locks and rare Miracle Mystic Locks. Although these rituals are very complex and impossible for anyone below the Tenth Ring to use, listening to it will be very helpful for your future studies. The specific time for the course hasn't been set yet, but you will be notified."
This was equivalent to opening an elective course to Xia De for free. Xia De immediately wanted to express his gratitude, but Professor Garcia stopped him:
"I value your talent, Mr. Hamilton. You've only just begun on the path of a Ring術士. I hope to see you in the College one day. I believe that day will come."
"Speaking of which, Professor Garcia, may I apply to view the College's the codex of sublime in advance?" Xia De cautiously asked. Professor Garcia wasn't surprised; instead, he stroked his chin and asked:
"Reason? Why apply in advance?"
"Because I believe my progress might be relatively fast."
"Hmm... You can. Go back and write an application report, submitting it directly on that poetry manuscript page of yours. If the application is approved, you'll get the result next Saturday. Although the advancement of ordinary Ring術士 is slow, some people are just gifted. But be careful, promotion doesn't mean you've mastered power. The study of Miracles takes time."
Professor Garcia offered a warning, and Xia De immediately stated that he understood.
Besides these matters, Professor Garcia also inquired on behalf of the Student Affairs Office about Psychologist Schneider's performance in the Lakeview Manor incident.
The Psychologist had not misrepresented his experience in the report, so Xia De had nothing to add. As for the suspected sulfur smell he detected, he did not mention it.
In fact, even Professor Garcia didn't care about this matter; he wasn't from the Student Affairs Office. He even quietly told Xia De not to take this task so seriously, emphasizing that his Ring術士 studies were paramount, and if he encountered danger, he should just run. Professor Sanchez's task could be handled by regularly writing a report stating that everything was fine.
It seemed that Saint Byron's Comprehensive College, both students and professors, were very adept at writing reports to deal with things.
Before Professor Garcia left, Xia De did not forget to ask about the three wishes. The story was resolved; he now needed to solve growth and power:
"Professor, is there a way for an ordinary person, perhaps a child, to suddenly gain power without paying too great a price?"
"Did you encounter something strange?" Professor Garcia asked, but didn't press further. Letter-based Ring術士 always encountered many things; this was part of growing up:
"No, power comes with a price. The price Ring術士 pay is the 'other self' that accompanies them for life and the risk of losing control at any time. If you really encounter something strange, let the Ring術士 in your group handle it. Perhaps it's a strange relic that's gone out of control."
Xia De nodded and asked again:
"Then, is there a way to make a child suddenly grow up?"
"Of course, but if there are no side effects, then it can only achieve short-term physical growth. Many potions can achieve similar effects."
The Professor thought for a moment:
"Take a pen and write this down. This is the potion's formula."
Xia De took out his portable notebook from his pocket, and the pointy-eared Professor dictated:
"5 ounces of nine-star needleleaf flower stamens, nine drops of red-footed fire ape genetic material, 2 jills each of adult fire-tongue sheep feces and saliva, two live star-hopping worms juiced and preserved at constant temperature, any amount of earwax, eye discharge, hair, and blood from three ordinary people of different genders and ages, 3 jills of green phlegm from a horse-donkey hybrid. Prepare the magic potion with spoiled, sour milk, adding the ingredients in the order I tell you, stirring clockwise 3 times after each addition—no more, no less. Do not prepare in temperatures below freezing, or it will explode... Oh, don't forget to add some honey."
"Honey?" Xia De, who was writing, asked in surprise, feeling uncomfortable in his stomach.
"Yes, the magic potion is called 'The Price of Growth.' If you prepare it in the quantities I described, it will be effective for about ten minutes. If you don't add honey, just think about these ingredients, then think about the taste..."
Professor Garcia shrugged:
"You wouldn't want to know. These materials are all relatively common. You can ask Priest Augustus to help you make it. Isn't he from Chemistry College?"
"Yes. Actually, I feel like adding honey would make the taste even stranger."
Xia De nodded, but he didn't know if magic potions or their raw materials could be brought into the past. It was difficult to define whether these things belonged to "extraordinary items." But asking Priest Augustus to help prepare and provide extra materials was very simple. He could try to carry raw materials and finished potions. Even if neither worked, perhaps the Saint could also provide the materials.
"I have high hopes for you, Mr. Hamilton. If you want to undertake another time exploration, remember to report it to the College first."
Professor Garcia was about to leave. His warning reminded Xia De that although the fifth epoch-1068 time key in his hand hadn't been completed yet, there might be other ways to obtain a time key.
He could take the opportunity to go to another point in the past to test whether the mission from the Ancient God he encountered was a low-probability event or if he truly would be watched by the Ancient God of Time every time.
However, the History Academy recommended that the frequency of time exploration should not exceed once a month, so Xia De currently could not obtain new keys from the College.
After thoughtfully seeing off Professor Garcia, Xia De went to the reception room on the second floor to continue his conversation.
While Xia De was talking with Professor Garcia, Psychologist Schneider, who had been wearing pajamas, had already changed his clothes. He now looked quite energetic, showing no signs of having been on the verge of death just a few hours earlier.
As soon as Xia De pushed open the door, he heard the Psychologist enthusiastically delivering his "speech" about the use of the 1000 pounds. Whether it was the College's magic potion or the 1000 pounds, the Psychologist was now extremely excited:
"Xia De, are you done with your business? Come sit down."
The blue-eyed Psychologist greeted Xia De with a smile and then asked if Xia De needed to purchase any items or Knowledge from Saint Byron's Library recently. After receiving a negative answer, the Psychologist slapped his thigh:
"Look, none of us need to buy anything right now, and this money is valid until the end of this year. No one will be paying tuition fees either, so we need to withdraw all of this money."
"Can that be done?" Xia De asked curiously, sitting beside Priest Augustus.
"Of course, it can," Priest Augustus said, stroking his chin, his eyes slightly narrowed:
"But it requires some skill."
"There will also be some loss," Ms. Louisa added. It seemed they weren't doing this for the first time.
"How much of the 1000 pounds can be withdrawn?" Xia De asked again, planning his expenses in his mind.
This time, Ms. Annette provided the answer. The Sorceress was skilled at divining the future but also short on money:
"Different methods have different speeds and reliability. We prefer to be more cautious, withdrawing around 200 pounds per month over half a year. This way, we should get about 910 pounds from the 1000 pounds."
Although there was a loss of one-tenth, this amount was still quite impressive. Compared to the high expenses at the College, withdrawing the money, even with a loss, was worthwhile.
"You really have a way," Xia De couldn't help but feel admiration. The Old Priest patted Xia De's shoulder, looking 感慨:
"Young man, sooner or later, you'll have your own ways too."
The withdrawal of the 1000 pounds would be handled by the Psychologist, completed in about four installments. Accordingly, after each receipt of money, Xia De, Ms. Annette, Psychologist Schneider, Ms. Louisa, and Priest Augustus would split it according to the ratio of 2.5:2.5:2:1.5:1.5.
Xia De and Ms. Annette received more because the former dealt with Mrs. Lasoya, and the latter destroyed the ritual node for the evil god's descent. The Psychologist received an extra 0.5 because he handled the money.
Everyone agreed to this distribution method, and the Psychologist stated that the first sum of money would likely be available in the latter half of this month.
Thinking about it, Xia De would probably benefit around 220 pounds from this 1000 pounds. Adding that to the reward he received from Ms. Jialinna and Sparrow Detective's wallet, in just two weeks, Xia De had steadily moved from needing to collect relief food when he first arrived in this world to becoming middle-class... provided he won the card game on Sunday and got the job Ms. Jialinna introduced that didn't require any work.
