Surging malice spread, as though it came from the entire world.
Those Old Ones hidden in the long history of the wizarding world, enraged by the theft of bloodline, cursed everything connected to Theodore.
They cursed Hongjun.
They cursed Primordial Heaven.
They cursed South Pole Immortal.
They cursed the Chan Sect.
They cursed the Jade Void Palace.
Every name Theodore had spoken was dragged into the curses of the Old Ones.
At first, Theodore looked stunned.
Then his expression turned strange, almost amused.
He dared to invoke the names of Primordial Heaven, South Pole Immortal, and Kunlun's Jade Void Palace because, after calculating it carefully, he really did have countless threads connecting him to them.
At the very least, the many talents and divine abilities related to the Chan Sect's Golden Immortals were real.
No matter how one looked at it, he could count as half a Chan Sect disciple.
But them?
He dared to report those names, and they actually dared to curse them?
Tiny evil gods of the wizarding world, cursing the Heavenly Dao of the primordial world and multiple Saints and quasi-saints…
Theodore truly admired their courage.
He was also rather curious to see what would happen next.
The Old Ones continued whispering. Terrible malice filled the void.
Then, in the next moment, their malice vanished like a clay ox entering the sea, failing to stir even the slightest ripple.
Their cursed whispers slowly weakened.
Little by little, they fell silent.
An unspeakable fear descended upon them.
It was as though if they continued cursing, annihilation would not be far away.
In an instant, thread after thread of madness withdrew at astonishing speed.
The whispers vanished completely.
Heaven and earth became peaceful.
Theodore's face filled with playful mockery.
"Curse then. Keep cursing."
"Why stop?"
"Why are you all hiding again?"
The maddened auras remained completely silent, as if they had never existed in the wizarding world at all.
If not for the sealed blood of Dagon still floating before him, Theodore might have thought everything that had just happened was an illusion.
He spoke coldly.
"If it is not yet time for you to appear, then learn your lesson. Stop crawling out whenever you please."
"Otherwise, next time, it will not be as simple as taking a little blood."
"And this sea—are you still not dispersing it?"
"Do I need to invite you personally?"
The moment his words fell, the ancient and vicious sea before him immediately faded away.
What appeared in its place was the scenery outside the Longbottom family estate.
Lines of text appeared on the System screen.
[After causing the residual force of the Golden Crow Heavenly Court's Grand Celestial Constellation Formation to descend and destroy a Saint's avatar…]
[The sound of the Eastern Emperor Bell echoes from chaos.]
[In an instant, the Great Dao trembles, Heavenly Dao roars, and chaos itself freezes. Even Saints feel their hearts shake.]
[How can a mortal speck stir the residual force of the Grand Celestial Constellation Formation, and even cause the Eastern Emperor Bell to ring?]
[For a time, the Saints withdraw, returning above the nine heavens.]
[Yet you raise your head to the sky with a mocking smile.]
[Is this all the dignity of Saints amounts to?]
[Since you dare not descend from the nine heavens again, then today I shall issue this decree.]
[By my command—before the tribulation opens, there shall be no Saints beneath heaven!]
Time passed slowly.
Harry and the others finally opened their eyes.
What entered their vision was the ceiling of the infirmary.
Confusion appeared on their faces.
Their memories still stopped at the moment they had used Floo powder to return to the Longbottom estate. Everything after that was blurred.
No matter how hard they tried to recall it, they only remembered encountering an extremely powerful and terrifying dark wizard. They had fallen unconscious during the battle, and Theodore had saved them.
Just as they tried to dig deeper into the details, a voice sounded beside them.
"Do not try to remember."
"I modified that part of your memory."
Harry and the others focused their eyes and saw Theodore standing in the ward.
Theodore said calmly, "For your current selves, getting involved with those matters would bring no benefit."
"Even remembering them too many times could damage your minds."
"When you are strong enough, those memories will naturally unlock. For now, do not force it. Focus on what is in front of you."
Hearing his words, the discomfort caused by their fragmented memories slowly settled.
But unwillingness began to rise in their hearts.
They had encountered danger like that again.
And once again, they could only rely on Theodore to save them.
Which meant that once again, they had not helped Theodore. They had become his burden.
Theodore seemed to understand and said,
"You already did well enough."
"Facing that sort of horror, there are not many people in the wizarding world who would have the courage and will to resist."
"Many Aurors might not have done as well as you."
"You fought beautifully."
Hermione bit her lip.
"But it still wasn't enough, was it?"
"Theodore, my goal is to stand beside you, not to drag you down every time and need your protection."
"If that is still the case, then it means what I've done is nowhere near enough."
Harry and Ron wore the same expression.
Theodore looked at them and could not help but smile wryly.
As expected of the future brightest witch of her age. She really was stubborn.
And Harry and Ron also had strong pride. None of them wanted to be protected baggage.
He exhaled softly, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Good.
Was that not exactly what he wanted?
To follow the world is mortal.
To defy it is immortal.
The difference between immortal and mortal exists in a single thought.
Without that kind of heart, Theodore would not have passed on this method at all.
He brought Harry, Ron, and Hermione into the Room of Requirement.
With a wave of his hand, the Grand Celestial Constellation Formation Flag appeared. Its ancient surface fluttered gently, and in an instant, all traces of heavenly secret in the area became chaotic.
Even Theodore's own Heaven-Calculating talent would likely find it difficult to pierce through the formation flag and determine what was happening inside its range.
Theodore's expression turned solemn.
"You have built enough foundation for now."
"Today, I will teach you a new kind of magic."
"A magic above magic."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione widened their eyes.
"Magic above magic?"
To first-year students, magic was already mysterious and profound.
A magic above magic was almost beyond imagination.
Was this the reason Theodore was so powerful?
Theodore suddenly gave a low shout.
"Focus!"
All distracting thoughts vanished from their minds.
Then a cultivation method entered their ears.
It was the simplified cultivation method contained within the Flying Tiger Military Scripture.
As he transmitted the method, Theodore waved his hand. Origin Sea force transformed into the purest spiritual energy and entered their bodies, guiding it along the meridians involved in the scripture.
With Theodore's guidance, the three of them unconsciously sat cross-legged. Their breathing gained a steady rhythm as they began to circulate spiritual energy according to the method.
Satisfaction appeared in Theodore's eyes.
As expected of the original protagonist group.
Their comprehension was not poor at all, and their fortune was even more remarkable.
With his pure spiritual energy guiding them, all three had actually entered the rare state of sudden enlightenment during their first cultivation session.
Once this state ended, they would likely gain no small benefit.
Theodore's gaze lingered on Ron for a moment, and surprise flashed through his eyes.
When they had practiced magic before, Hermione and Harry had already confirmed the spells that suited them best: the Shield Charm and the Disarming Charm.
Only Ron had seemed uncertain, unable to find a spell that resonated with him.
But now, in this moment of cultivation enlightenment, Ron was actually emitting a faint aura of entering the Dao through chess.
His talent in chess might truly be extraordinary.
Perhaps one day, walking the path of chess could lead him to real achievement in the wizarding world.
After that thought flashed through his mind, Theodore returned his attention to himself.
He recalled the battle with Dagon's projection.
Though the final result had been an overwhelming harvest, the process had been dangerous.
If not for obtaining the Wu Earth Divine Light from Neville, and if he had not already refined the Grand Celestial Constellation Formation Flag, the outcome might have been uncertain.
Moreover, Theodore could feel that Dagon was likely not one of the especially powerful Old Ones.
The madness wrapped around Godric Gryffindor was similar to Dagon's and also seemed to belong to water-aligned horrors, yet it was clearly much stronger than Dagon.
The Old One behind werewolf bloodlines and the one in the underworld were also stronger than Dagon.
Thinking of that, Theodore felt a sense of urgency.
His cultivation was still not enough.
He was still far away from being able to directly face the true bodies of the Old Ones.
Even the Grand Celestial Constellation Formation Flag could nearly drain him dry if he shook it a few more times.
He still had to increase his cultivation.
His Origin Sea had already expanded considerably. Every moment, it absorbed large amounts of spiritual energy on its own and converted it into pure Origin Sea force.
Since that was a talent originating from a quasi-saint-level being, this speed of accumulation would be astonishing even in the primordial world.
But time in the primordial world was vast. A hundred years of cultivation was only a flick of the fingers.
Great Luo Golden Immortals and quasi-saints often entered seclusion for thousands of years at a time, and cultivating for an entire era was not unusual.
But in the wizarding world, Theodore did not have that kind of time.
He still needed pills and other external forces to improve faster.
At this thought, Theodore's gaze turned toward the Myriad Demon Golden Pill formula and the sealed blood of Dagon. His eyes filled with contemplation.
He had expected to receive only the bloodline of a great demon descendant, something like Marcus Flint.
Instead, he had obtained the flesh and blood of a great demon like Dagon.
And after the intimidation just now, it was unlikely that another Old One projection would appear in the wizarding world for a long time.
This level of demonic flesh was unique.
He had to maximize its value.
According to the experience he had gained from improving the Demon-Refining Pill formula, the Myriad Demon Golden Pill formula could also be refined through a similar method.
He could use plant demons and mineral demons close to the demon level to harmonize Dagon's blood, elevating its effects and refining a stronger Myriad Demon Golden Pill.
The problem was clear.
Plant demons and mineral demons close to that level would not be easy to find in the wizarding world, even if Theodore could use spiritual energy to catalyze them.
The biting cabbage he had used before, no matter how much spiritual energy he poured into it, had its limits. It could not harmonize Dagon's blood.
But biting cabbages were already classified by the Ministry of Magic as extremely dangerous plants forbidden for private cultivation.
Were there even plants in the wizarding world more ferocious and powerful than biting cabbages?
With that thought in mind, Theodore went to Professor Sprout's greenhouse.
Although he was widely read, when it came to magical plants and herbs, his accumulation was still far below Professor Sprout's.
Perhaps she would know of a plant stronger than biting cabbage.
At that moment, Professor Sprout was working in the greenhouse. When she saw Theodore arrive, her eyes lit up.
News of Neville's parents had already traveled from St. Mungo's back to Hogwarts.
Professor Sprout greatly appreciated Neville and deeply sympathized with his parents. Years ago, she had even fought alongside them several times.
Hearing that Neville's parents had awakened had made her happier than almost anyone.
So when she looked at Theodore now, her gaze was even warmer and kinder than before.
At least, until Theodore, after a few polite words, asked with a face full of expectation whether there were any plants more vicious than biting cabbages.
Professor Sprout's smile froze at once.
Ah.
So he was still a Gryffindor after all.
Her affection had been misplaced.
The cautionary notes left behind by generations of Herbology professors were right.
One must always stay vigilant around Gryffindor students.
Students from that house had practically no resistance to dangerous magical plants and creatures.
Theodore noticed her sudden wariness and inwardly tensed. He quickly put on an innocent expression.
"Professor, I only happened to think of this point of knowledge and became very eager to learn more about it."
"You understand a young wizard's thirst for knowledge, don't you?"
Professor Sprout forced a smile.
"Of course I understand."
"A little Gryffindor coming to the greenhouse late at night to ask about an extremely dangerous and vicious magical plant must surely be preparing for the first-year final exam ten weeks from now."
"I truly understand Gryffindor curiosity very well."
But after a moment, Professor Sprout revealed a peculiar smile.
"So as your professor, I must naturally satisfy that curiosity."
Theodore froze.
A bad feeling rose in his heart.
"Professor, what plant are you referring to?"
Professor Sprout took out a flowerpot with a willow branch planted in it and handed it to Theodore.
"There are very few plants in the wizarding world more vicious than biting cabbages. Many of them grow only in extremely remote, dangerous, or Ministry-sealed regions."
"But as luck would have it, Hogwarts happens to have one."
A bolt of realization flashed through Theodore's mind.
"The Whomping Willow?"
Professor Sprout smiled and nodded.
"Correct."
"The Whomping Willow is an extremely powerful, dangerous, and ancient plant. The one at Hogwarts was planted in the era of the four founders and has survived until now."
"At the same time, it is also a very rare plant. Many herbologists have tried all kinds of methods to cultivate Whomping Willows and help this ancient species spread its branches. I am one of them."
"Unfortunately, this plant seems to have extremely special requirements for the magical quality of the soil. So far, no method has been found to cultivate a Whomping Willow outside that patch of land at Hogwarts."
"But since you are so interested in Whomping Willows, Theodore, this potted branch will be entrusted to you from now on."
"Your Herbology final paper will use this as its topic. Write it carefully. I will review every single word."
Theodore opened his mouth, but under Professor Sprout's smiling gaze, he could only helplessly hold the potted Whomping Willow branch and leave the greenhouse with the expression of someone who had stepped into a trap.
After he left, Professor Sprout could not help laughing.
Let this teach little Gryffindors not to come asking for biting cabbages and other dangerous plants again.
As for whether Theodore could cultivate the Whomping Willow?
Professor Sprout had no expectations at all.
After all, this was a problem that had troubled countless herbologists throughout the entire wizarding world for many years. Even her own research had not produced a breakthrough.
But if Theodore gained anything during the process of caring for the Whomping Willow, it would still be of enormous benefit to his Herbology foundation.
With her guidance, writing a substantial Herbology paper by the end of the year would not be difficult.
That, too, could count as a small repayment for helping Neville.
Meanwhile, Theodore's bitter expression slowly faded after he left the greenhouse.
In its place appeared a strange smile.
Professor Sprout really was thoughtful.
Not only had she told him the answer he needed, she had directly given him a potted Whomping Willow branch.
That made things much easier.
After all, unless absolutely necessary, Theodore did not want to touch the Whomping Willow on Hogwarts grounds.
There was only one such tree in the entire wizarding world, and it was also Professor Sprout's treasure.
In the original timeline, when Harry and Ron crashed the flying car into it during second year, the car was beaten half to scrap.
The Whomping Willow only lost a few branches in the process, yet Professor Sprout was distressed enough to bandage the tree.
If Theodore used that tree to refine pills and Professor Sprout found out, she would fight him to the death.
But this transplanted Whomping Willow branch?
There was no such concern.
As for Professor Sprout's claim that Whomping Willows had extreme requirements for soil…
Perhaps in the wizarding world, that was indeed a problem.
But in the primordial world, there were countless strange herbs and divine trees.
Even the thirty-six-petaled Chaos Green Lotus had once rooted itself in chaos.
Could the Whomping Willow's environmental requirements possibly compare to that?
If it merely required special soil, then that would not trouble Theodore.
His eyes lit up.
He possessed one of the strongest earth-element divine abilities—
the Wu Earth Divine Light.
Used in battle, the Wu Earth Divine Light was unmatched in suppression and strength.
But few knew that when used to nurture soil, it could transform ordinary earth into spiritual soil rare even in the primordial world.
Even many great beings' medicinal gardens would long for such soil.
After all, the Wu Earth Divine Light was a rare divine ability even in the primordial world. Only a handful knew it, and who would be extravagant enough to use it merely to nourish a herb garden?
Perhaps only the Earth Immortal Ancestor Zhen Yuanzi, whose ginseng fruit garden rooted itself in the primordial earth veins and who held the Book of Earth, possessed a garden constantly nourished by the earth veins.
Only that kind of place could cultivate a treasure like the ginseng fruit tree.
But now, Theodore had the Wu Earth Divine Light.
He could attempt the same extravagance.
He formed a seal.
Strands of Wu Earth Divine Light fell into the flowerpot.
At once, the soil inside began to glow with a yellow-brown radiance.
The small flowerpot became hundreds, perhaps thousands of pounds heavier in the blink of an eye.
If Theodore had not been holding it, the pot falling to the ground might have shaken the corridor floor.
At that moment, the soil had already been catalyzed by the Wu Earth Divine Light into spiritual soil rare even in the primordial world.
The Whomping Willow branch, which had been nearly devoid of life, began turning tender green at a visible speed, brimming with vitality.
Moments later, the branch actually took root in the spiritual soil.
A problem that had troubled Professor Sprout and countless herbologists for years was solved beneath the Wu Earth Divine Light.
At that exact moment, Theodore felt something stir in his heart. His gaze passed through the window into the night and landed on the Whomping Willow inside Hogwarts grounds.
Under the night sky, the tree's countless branches began dancing.
It radiated something almost like wild joy.
Lines of text appeared on the System screen.
[In the eastern heavens stands Jianmu, one of the supreme divine trees of the primordial world. It connects earth and sky, and its power is immeasurable.]
[In ancient times, phoenixes once perched upon this tree. Zhulong once used it as a Dao field. Fuxi once took Jianmu as a zither, and its music moved heaven and earth. This alone shows how wondrous this tree is.]
[Unfortunately, such an extraordinary species can scarcely produce descendants. Beneath heaven, there was only one. Many great beings once tried to propagate Jianmu, but all failed.]
[Unexpectedly, you obtained a branch of Jianmu from Perfected Yuding and casually planted it. It has revived from death and taken root.]
[Your relationship with Jianmu has reached: Casual Acquaintance.]
[You have obtained the talent reward: Phoenix-Perched Wutong Fire.]
[Jianmu was once home to phoenixes in the ancient primordial age. It is also known as the Wutong Jianmu. It carries the aura of the phoenix, and a strange flame burns upon it, called Phoenix-Perched Wutong Fire. Those who obtain this flame receive great aid in alchemy and artifact refinement. It can also burn away evil and heal the body through rebirth in fire.]
[Your relationship with Jianmu has reached: Close Friend.]
[You have obtained the music-path great divine ability once performed by Fuxi, a melody that shook heaven and earth.]
[Fuxi once took Jianmu as his zither and created this melody by comprehending heaven and earth. Because of this, he owed Jianmu a karmic debt. After the melody was completed, Jianmu was the first being in the primordial world to hear it.]
[This melody is called—]
[Fuxi's Divine Heavenly Resonance!]
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