214: A Century of Peace (I)

Wizard Green had become famous!

The entire Mist Coast now knew of Wizard Green's formidable reputation!

He had fought four Formal Wizards alone, creating such a massive commotion that it was felt for dozens of miles around!

He had slain two Formal Wizards, both of whom were veterans!

He had repelled two Black Wizards and remained unscathed!

This record was even more brutal and glorious than the battle that made Lord Joyce famous on the Mist Coast back in the day!

(Back then, Lord Joyce had fought three Formal Wizards from the Blood Fortress Wizard Academy alone, resulting in one death, one severe injury, and one desertion—a glorious achievement that secured a century of peaceful development for the Plant Heart Academy.)

When news of Wizard Green's battle results spread throughout the Mist Coast...

...meddlesome wizards even bestowed upon him the title of "The Number One Formal Wizard."

The turmoil facing the Plant Heart Academy quickly vanished:

Some withdrawn investments returned;

Some departed wizards rejoined the ranks of the workers;

Some wizards who had harbored ulterior motives quickly abandoned their inappropriate thoughts, the academy's security rating increased by two stars, and the probability of academy wizards encountering Black Wizards outside dropped by over 90%...

All of this seemed to happen quite naturally.

"This is the real Wizard World!"

"Beneath the veneer of warmth and harmony, the law of the jungle—the survival of the fittest—still prevails. Whoever has the bigger fist has the right to speak."

Standing on the top floor of the Plant Heart Academy's Wizard Tower, Green summarized to Ellie:

"If you want more benefits, you have to risk your life and fight for them. If you don't fight, others will. The cake on the plate is only so big; if you take an extra bite, someone else gets one less."

Ellie was as serene as a fairy untainted by the mundane world.

"Why must there be fighting and killing?"

"Can't we just close our doors and focus on our research?"

"Besides, there are many ways to distribute benefits. Since we are White Wizards, why must we engage in bloody struggles like Black Wizards? Can't we use gentler methods?"

"Haha..."

"Ellie, you're thinking a bit too simply."

"Whether White Wizard or Black Wizard, we are all wizards, people who wield extraordinary power!"

"In this world where great power belongs to oneself, only strength is the foundation of all wealth and power."

"Ellie, do you know why I am so hated?"

"There are fewer than 50 Formal Wizards on the entire Mist Coast now, and there were 4 in this ambush against me, with at least 10 Formal Wizards involved in total. Why do so many want me dead?"

"Benefits?"

"Correct, it's benefits."

Green paused, looking at the magnificent clouds in the distance. The bright sunlight shone through, gilding the entire Wizard Tower in gold, and his mood improved.

"Over the past decade, relying on Teacher Joyce's prestige, I've scoured almost half the resources of the Mist Coast, although most of them were taken to the Middle-earth Continent by Teacher Joyce and the others."

"However, our Plant Heart Academy has also gained a great deal. We've built 6 Auxiliary Wizard Towers, and the number of wizards in the academy has tripled. Anyone with eyes can see that our academy has benefited immensely."

"Furthermore, after Teacher Joyce left, I didn't intend to give up these benefits. I want to continue to develop and strengthen our Plant Heart Academy. Now is the best time to re-divide the landscape of benefits on the Mist Coast. Those Formal Wizards who are as ambitious as I am naturally want to eliminate as many opponents as possible during this period."

"So, they organized people to kill you?"

"Hehe..."

"This was just a test..."

Green said nonchalantly. He had long since figured out the tricks of the Mist Coast and was not surprised at all.

"If I had been defeated in this ambush or even lost my life, our Plant Heart Academy would have faced a pack of hungry wolves, ready to carve up the academy completely..."

"Unfortunately, I won, and I achieved a glorious victory, while also establishing the formidable reputation of the Bio-Steel Battle Suit. As long as I, Green, am here, and as long as I have this Bio-Steel Battle Suit, I am the Number One Formal Wizard of the Mist Coast."

"With this golden signboard, our Plant Heart Academy can continue to expand and develop at high speed. This is beneficial for you, for me, and for the Plant Heart Academy..."

"Green, why are you so obsessed with fighting for benefits? I don't quite understand. Isn't it enough to have enough? The greater the benefits, the greater the risks, and the greater the pressure on you."

"Besides, your obsession with fighting for benefits, won't that affect your cultivation and your exploration of the wizard's path?"

"Hehe..."

Green couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"If it weren't for the fact that my Golden Finger requires a huge amount of World Contribution Points, would I be exhausting myself worrying about these things? Wouldn't it be better to take some time off and rest?"

"However, in terms of cost-effectiveness, with the aid of the Hundredfold Harvest Golden Finger, this is much faster than me struggling alone. With a path to the heavens, how could I not take it? I'm not stupid enough to challenge myself and look for trouble by trying some so-called narrow path."

"Although this path to the heavens is a bit expensive, requiring World Contribution Points as a price, it's a Golden Finger—as long as it works, that's all that matters!"

"Ellie, you don't know the cost of living until you're the one managing the household."

"If you want to cultivate quickly, you can't do without resources!"

"And where do resources come from? Aren't we relying on the support of the tens of thousands of wizards in the Plant Heart Academy?"

"Without the hard work of these Wizard Apprentices, what would we eat? What would we drink? What would we use?"

"Who would cultivate the Demonized Plants we need for refining potions?"

"Aren't the various materials we need for our experiments and research found by the Wizard Apprentices all over the world?"

"Ellie, we Formal Wizards and the Plant Heart Academy share a relationship where if one prospers, the other prospers, and if one suffers, the other suffers. If I want to progress faster on the wizard's path, I need to consume more resources. That is why I must help our Plant Heart Academy grow strong. Only when the Plant Heart Academy is strong can it provide enough nourishment back to me. Do you understand now?"

"Fine, I understand."

Ellie got up and left.

"I don't understand these academy matters, and I don't want to manage them. I'll leave the Plant Heart Academy to you, Green. I'm going back to honestly focus on my research."

"Green, if there is anything you need my help with, just say the word. I am also a part of the Plant Heart Academy."