The moment Theodore said those words, Professor Sprout froze.
The papers floating around her scattered across the office.
The rustle of falling pages filled the room, but she no longer cared.
Only one sentence echoed in her mind.
It sprouted?
The Desert Thorn Tree sprouted?!
For a moment, Professor Sprout wondered if someone had hit her with a hallucination charm.
She knew exactly what kind of seed she had given Theodore. She had kept it for years. Did she not know how difficult it was to cultivate?
She had handed it to him because she wanted him to understand that Herbology was not a shallow subject.
Getting lucky with the Whomping Willow branch was already the kind of miracle many herbologists could chase for a lifetime and never meet.
Luck was not supposed to become routine.
Failure was the constant companion of every herbologist.
That was what she had wanted Theodore to learn.
Yet now?
Who could tell her what had happened to the world?
Countless herbologists had spent their lives trying and failing, yet Theodore had achieved two impossible results in almost no time.
And he had done it as easily as eating and drinking.
How could something so unreasonable exist?
"This is a joke, right?"
"Theodore, this kind of joke is not funny."
Professor Sprout forced out a smile.
At that moment, she almost hoped it really was a prank.
But Theodore blinked, stepped outside, and brought in a flowerpot.
Inside it was a newly sprouted Desert Thorn Tree.
Professor Sprout's smile froze.
She had never personally seen a Desert Thorn Tree sprout before, but the old Herbology texts had described it in great detail.
This young shoot matched the records perfectly.
In fact, it looked healthier than the descriptions.
Theodore had truly done it.
He had lightly stepped over the lifelong efforts of countless herbologists.
Professor Sprout's emotions became impossibly tangled.
She was thrilled to witness a legendary plant return to life.
But she also felt a deep, bitter sense of loss.
Was the gap between talent and mediocrity really this vast?
Had her lifelong study of Herbology become meaningless in front of true genius?
A line of crimson text appeared on Theodore's system screen.
Jade Tripod True Person's Dao heart has been damaged. Risk of cultivation deviation detected.
Host, flee immediately.
Theodore froze.
Dao heart damaged?
Cultivation deviation?
He looked hesitantly at Professor Sprout, whose expression was changing again and again.
"Professor, are you all right?"
"Is there something wrong with the Desert Thorn Tree I cultivated?"
Professor Sprout suddenly came back to her senses.
A flicker of shame crossed her heart.
She had never considered herself a genius. Everything she had achieved had come from effort.
When she was young, she had seen true talents grasp magic with terrifying ease, while she could only climb the mountain step by step.
Yet without realizing it, she had surpassed those brilliant students and become the Herbology professor of Hogwarts, a respected master of the field.
After coming this far, how could she doubt her entire life because of one shock?
Do not underestimate the resilience of a herbologist.
Soon, Professor Sprout steadied herself.
Her voice was full of sincere admiration.
"Theodore, perhaps you still do not understand what you have accomplished."
"You possess a talent for Herbology rarely seen in any age. Perhaps you could even be compared to Lady Hufflepuff herself, or to the ancient goddess of abundance in the myths of Olympus."
"If you continue on this path, Herbology may reach a height it has never reached before."
Then her tone became serious.
"Precisely because of that, as your Herbology professor, I must guide you properly."
"What matters most now is for you to absorb the experience gained from cultivating the Whomping Willow and the Desert Thorn Tree."
"Move steadily. Build your foundation well. Only then can you support greater achievements in the future."
Her words were sincere.
Theodore's expression turned respectful.
Among the professors of Hogwarts, Professor Sprout was often one of the students' favorites. Sometimes she even ranked first.
There was a reason for that.
She truly was knowledgeable, responsible, and deeply skilled at teaching.
Unfortunately, Theodore's plant cultivation methods came entirely from the Primordial World.
They had almost nothing to do with wizarding Herbology.
He also had no real interest in deeply researching Herbology as a field.
He wanted these rare plants for future pill refinement.
So he could only politely refuse Professor Sprout's kindness.
"Professor, I completely understand what you mean. I also think what you said is very reasonable."
"But I still want to ask for a few more seeds."
"What if I can cultivate those too?"
Professor Sprout paused.
Seeing Theodore's firm expression, she sighed and said nothing more.
Then she took out a small pouch. Inside were several carefully separated seeds.
"Kingflash Flower. The main ingredient of the legendary youth-preserving potion."
"Blood Crown. It can be used in a potion said to be poisonous enough to kill even gods."
"And this one, Devil's Dung. It can be used to brew a potion with a terrifying attraction to dark wizards."
One by one, Professor Sprout introduced the seeds. Each was so rare that even money could hardly measure its value.
Finally, she handed the pouch to Theodore.
"I originally planned to give these to you much later, after you had accumulated more knowledge in Herbology."
"But young people always have their own ideas. I understand that."
"Since you want to try, I will entrust these seeds to you."
"If you run into any problems, come to me at any time."
Theodore's eyes lit up.
These seeds were priceless.
They were the collection of a Herbology master.
If he could cultivate them, they would be useful materials even in the age of myths.
Placed into the Primordial framework, they would at least count as natural treasures.
They would be very useful for pill refinement.
Theodore carefully accepted the pouch, thanked Professor Sprout, and left.
Once outside, he immediately sent the seeds into the divine peak of his Yuan Sea, letting them be nourished by Yuan Sea power.
After Theodore left, Professor Sprout's expression became helpless.
She had tried to persuade him.
But she also understood that proud young geniuses rarely slowed down simply because someone told them to.
Rather than stop him and risk pushing him away, it was better to let him try.
Once he hit a wall, he would naturally understand the importance of building a foundation.
At that time, she could teach him properly.
With that thought, Professor Sprout rubbed her tired eyes and gathered the scattered papers on Whomping Willow and Desert Thorn Tree cultivation.
Then she waved her wand.
Books and papers on the Kingflash Flower, Blood Crown, and Devil's Dung flew down from the shelves, landing neatly in the material she was preparing for Theodore.
As she sorted them, she also added notes to her large, thick research journal.
This was Professor Sprout's daily life as a Herbology master.
The next day, when Theodore came to her office again, Professor Sprout smiled gently.
"Theodore, you're here again."
"How did it go?"
Theodore sighed.
"Professor, the cultivation process wasn't very smooth."
Professor Sprout smiled and shook her head.
"It has only been one night. Even plants with strong vitality usually only sprout in a day, let alone rare ancient seeds."
Theodore nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense. It seems I was too impatient."
Professor Sprout pointed to the desk opposite her. A collection of excerpts was already placed there.
"Come, read this. Perhaps it will help."
Theodore opened the compiled papers and soon became interested.
They recorded many herbologists' attempts to cultivate difficult plants. The content gradually advanced from basic methods to specialized magic and potion formulas used for rare magical plants.
He read with genuine interest.
Before long, he turned the final page.
Professor Sprout looked at him expectantly.
"Well?"
Theodore sighed sincerely.
"Herbology really is vast and profound. Every magical plant's cultivation method has been optimized over many generations."
"It's remarkable."
Professor Sprout's face brightened.
"And the professional knowledge inside? Did you understand it?"
Theodore nodded, then shook his head.
"I understood most of it, but one part confused me."
Professor Sprout's eyes lit up.
Finally.
She could teach him.
"What part?"
Theodore said, "The material on cultivating Blood Crown mostly focuses on getting the seed to sprout."
"Professor, isn't there any technique for accelerating its maturity after sprouting?"
Professor Sprout froze.
"Well…"
"Of course not. The magical world has never successfully made Blood Crown sprout. Naturally, all research focuses on germination. Why would anyone research what comes after?"
Then she suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
"Why are you asking that?"
Theodore answered matter-of-factly, "Because the Blood Crown sprouted."
Professor Sprout shot to her feet.
"What?"
"It sprouted?!"
Then she stammered, "But didn't you just say the cultivation wasn't smooth?"
Theodore looked enlightened.
"Oh, that."
"Professor, you gave me so many seeds yesterday, but less than a third sprouted by today. Of course that isn't smooth."
"At this rate, it might take several more days for all of them to sprout. The Kingflash Flower might even need a whole week."
A dull thud sounded in the office.
Theodore jumped.
"Professor?!"
Professor Sprout sat blankly on the floor.
Her expression was distant, as if her soul had briefly left the world.
Why was the difference between people greater than the difference between people and dogs?
Her lifelong research problem had become something Theodore could finish in one casual night.
What was the point of effort?
Study?
Study what?
So the greatest meaning of a mediocre scholar's lifetime of research was merely to save a genius one afternoon?
Theodore's system screen flashed with bright red warnings.
Jade Tripod True Person's Dao heart has been damaged again.
Jade Tripod True Person's Dao heart is on the verge of collapse.
Jade Tripip True Person's Dao heart has collapsed. Cultivation deviation imminent.
Host, flee immediately.
Theodore looked at Professor Sprout's expression and felt his heart skip.
This was bad.
Had the shock been too much?
"Professor, your face looks terrible. Should I call Madam Pomfrey?"
"No?"
"Then please rest. Sleep properly. I'll ask Headmaster Dumbledore to excuse you from class."
"Hm? You want to know why I came?"
"Well… I originally wanted to ask whether you had more rare seeds, but now isn't the time. Professor, maybe I should leave first…"
Professor Sprout, still dazed, instinctively shook her head when she heard him ask for more seeds.
"I really don't have any more rare seeds here. I already gave you every type I had."
"As for other varieties, some Herbology masters outside Hogwarts should have collections…"
Then she suddenly sat upright.
"Hm?!"
A strange flush appeared on her face.
She immediately pulled out a thick stack of parchment, envelopes, and her personal seal.
"I'll write to them now!"
Theodore looked worried.
"Professor, shouldn't you rest first?"
"This isn't that urgent. It can wait a few days…"
But Professor Sprout's tone was firm.
"No!"
"How can Hogwarts's Herbology genius be limited by poor teaching resources?"
"Don't worry. I still have some reputation in Herbology circles."
"I must get those seeds for you immediately."
"I'll send the letters tonight. If they are quick, the seeds may arrive tomorrow. At worst, the day after. We should get at least a dozen more varieties."
"Theodore, do whatever you can. If there is any progress, tell me immediately."
"I must share my excitement with my old friends right away!"
Theodore's eyes filled with emotion.
What a wonderful professor.
He nodded firmly.
"Professor, don't worry. I'll do my best."
After Theodore left, Professor Sprout gritted her teeth and began writing furiously.
Between the lines of every letter, she seemed to see only three words.
They must kneel.
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