McCarthy said, "Even if you could extract ancient creature bloodlines from those catgirls, they're far too mutated. Unless you're like me and can find ancient fossils, extract the pheromones carried by negative energy particles from them, and then use that information to further modify the purified ancient creature bloodlines..."
McCarthy boasted, "But ancient bloodlines are indeed powerful, possessing many abilities that modern magical creatures lack—some so bizarre that wizards have never even encountered them before."
"For example, the Archaeopteryx bloodline I possess grants me formidable Archaeopteryx bone claws with spell-breaking abilities."
"From my limited understanding, this world once experienced a major mass extinction event. After that extinction, the so-called modern magical creatures that emerged lacked certain special ancient creature bloodline factors compared to their ancient counterparts. These special factors are precisely what made those ancient creatures so extraordinarily powerful."
McCarthy speculated, "Of course, this is just my personal theory. I'm no Potion Master—I don't actually understand this field deeply. Those special factors... I'm not very familiar with them."
"Anyway, I believe ancient magical creatures, even ancient magical flora and fauna, suddenly went through collective extinction at some stage. Their surviving descendants underwent multiple waves of collective degeneration. So I suspect ancient magical creatures might have been enhanced by some external interference—that some special bloodline factor emerged in the natural environment, causing them to be collectively strengthened..."
"Later, when the environment changed, that category of special factors suddenly disappeared..." McCarthy chuckled. "But for people like us who haven't even lived two hundred years to discuss events millions of years ago—or even older—is rather presumptuous. I'm just sharing thoughts with you."
Locke nodded in understanding. He hadn't realized how rare the ancient bloodlines he'd created through synthesis actually were.
To properly utilize ancient bloodlines would likely require extensive interdisciplinary knowledge, which explained why so few wizards could harness them effectively.
Moreover, the fusion of ancient bloodlines in old man McCarthy's body was surprisingly crude, leaving many physical mutations that he himself hadn't noticed.
It seemed that without Potionology knowledge—possessing only archaeological expertise—he could obtain relatively authentic ancient creature bloodlines but lacked the means to refine them properly.
'If I could obtain genuine ancient creature bloodlines and then synthesize them, what would happen?' Locke pondered. 'Could I create even more powerful bloodlines?'
'And what about that mass extinction event old man McCarthy mentioned? Those special ancient bloodline factors—what exactly are they? Through synthesis, could I increase the concentration of these so-called special factors beyond what ordinary ancient magical creatures could achieve?'
Locke snapped back to reality. This time, he had only come out to purchase the Magic Metal for All Plants as Soldiers, but unexpectedly, he had encountered Old Man McCarthy and gained some archaeological knowledge.
He himself had an affinity for Negative Energy Particles and knew Necromancy Spells, so he could actually study archaeology as well. Moreover, with his experience in Ancient Bloodline research and the Synthetic Magic Cube, he could further upgrade himself.
Lost in thought, Locke considered that once his financial situation improved in the future, he might delve deeper into the so-called Ancient Creature Bloodline.
After all, archaeology was genuinely appealing to him now—he had already benefited from the advantages of Ancient Creature Bloodline.
And what Old Man McCarthy mentioned about the extinct ancient plants was also fascinating. Continuing down this path might even help him revive Ancient Magic Plants.
This field seemed largely unexplored so far.
It would require expertise in both archaeology and breeding—a cross-disciplinary study—to make any breakthroughs.
But none of this was a priority at the moment. Locke's primary goal right now was still to strive to become a Formal Wizard.
Locke said, "I really enjoyed our conversation today, but I need to complete my faction mission and head to the Super Giant Botanical Garden at Lilith's Cottage. Let's talk again next time, Shopkeeper McCarthy."
McCarthy smiled warmly. "We should exchange ideas more often. It's rare for me to meet a wizard researching Ancient Creature Bloodline."
"Feel free to visit again."
He glanced at the signature Locke had left on the confidentiality contract. "Dear Locke, from now on, when you come to ask me questions, the fee for regular inquiries will be halved in Magic Stones. If it's related to Ancient Creature Bloodline, it'll be entirely free."
Locke expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Shopkeeper McCarthy."
"I won't hold back then."
As Locke left the shop, he suddenly understood why there were even fewer researchers of Ancient Magic Plants than those studying Ancient Creature Bloodline.
First, Breeders rarely entertained such unconventional ideas—they hardly ever considered Ancient Magic Plants.
Generally, the level of Magic Plants was always advancing. Who would propose the hypothesis that, at some point in history, Ancient Magic Plants possessed Special Bloodline Factors, making them exceptionally powerful?
Second, Plant Essence was likely far more difficult to preserve than the Bloodline Essence of creatures, naturally leaving much fewer materials available for study.
But having encountered Ancient Creature Bloodline, Locke was struck by a realization—what McCarthy observed through archaeology might not be the absolute truth, but it was certainly a plausible possibility.
If so, then because he had exposure to both archaeology and breeding, he might uncover a field that no wizard in the Southeast Corner Domain had ever explored—Ancient Magic Botany!
That would be a groundbreaking discipline.
Suppressing his excitement, Locke refocused on the present. He needed to solve his current financial issues first, then address the problem of his slow Mana growth rate, before considering anything else.
Everything else was just icing on the cake. Only by becoming a Formal Wizard would he achieve the true foundation.
"Perhaps it wouldn't be bad to explore archaeology in the future," Locke thought as he entered Lijin Secret Language. Using his Platinum Star membership, he rented a Radiation Cauldron for five hundred Magic Stones per month. He then spent eight hundred Magic Stones to purchase one hundred sixty Palm Fire Lotuses, followed by another three hundred Magic Stones on Nutrient Soil, Nutrient Solution, and Growth Element Gel.
This left Locke with only 1,500 Magic Stones remaining in his savings.
After storing the Radiation Cauldron and other items in his Astral Ring, he headed to the faction's public Super Giant Botanical Garden to complete this year's mandatory faction assignment.
Since the approval process for his Advanced Meditation Technique hadn't been completed yet and his meditation efficiency was currently low, he figured this would be the perfect time to use this otherwise unproductive period to fulfill his academy obligations.
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