The former Whomping Willow—now the Willow Immortal—was clearly delighted with its new name.
Its branches swayed around Theodore like living ribbons.
Theodore's eyes brightened.
From the moment of its rebirth, he had sensed sword qi within those branches. Now that he was closer, he could feel it even more clearly.
The Willow Immortal truly had astonishing talent for the sword.
The aura within its branches was still faint, but it already resembled the Dao of Slaughter.
It had only just transformed. Given time, once its sword intent was tempered and refined, it might truly grasp the Dao of Slaughter.
Combined with its phoenix-fire rebirth and its faint resemblance to the Heaven-Piercing Jianmu, calling it a future demon immortal might even be underestimating it.
If this were the Primordial World, and the Willow Immortal had the chance to grow, its future would be limitless.
For Theodore, this was a tremendous gain.
At the very least, he would no longer need to personally handle every matter involving corrupted beings and ancient entities.
Once the Willow Immortal grew a little stronger, many lesser evils could be left to it.
Both Phoenix-Resting Parasol Flame and the Dao of Slaughter were effective weapons against those things.
And besides the Willow Immortal's transformation, there was another pleasant surprise.
Thirty-two ancient seeds had fully matured.
That alone would more than double the size of Theodore's herb garden.
Correspondingly, the expansion speed of his Essence Sea would also increase slightly.
This was an outrageous profit.
A bright smile appeared on Theodore's face as he slowly landed.
The herbology masters were still standing there with their mouths open, unable to recover from what they had just witnessed.
The scene of those ancient seeds rapidly blooming and maturing remained vivid in their minds.
It was as though decades had passed in the blink of an eye.
No one doubted anymore whether Theodore had faked the ancient plants with Transfiguration.
Every detail had been too real.
It was as if the records in ancient herbology texts had descended into reality—only clearer, more magnificent, and more shocking.
The field these masters thought they had studied to its limit had just been kicked open by Theodore, revealing a new door.
A door leading back to the age of myth.
And that was not even mentioning the Willow's transformation.
There had never been any record of such a thing in the history of magical herbology.
What a magnificent sight.
After the shock passed, the masters looked at Flynna with strange expressions.
Master Flynna had probably never dreamed that she would fall so miserably before a first-year wizard.
At this moment, Flynna stood there in a daze, as if trapped in a nightmare.
How?
How was this possible?
She staggered backward, unable to accept reality.
She had gambled everything to become the first herbologist in the magical world to cultivate an ancient plant.
Reputation.
Wealth.
Status.
She had staked it all.
And now, she had lost everything?
Thirty-two ancient seeds alone were worth more than everything she owned.
Worse still, she had signed contracts with Gringotts and taken on enormous leverage.
She had planned to repay everything easily once she gained the fame and profit of being the first to cultivate an ancient plant.
But now, all of that had turned into a bubble.
Fear swallowed her heart.
A terrible realization struck her.
She was finished.
Meanwhile, the herbology masters finally reacted and crowded around Theodore.
"Master Theodore?"
"Are you accepting students?"
"I have a small villa with beautiful scenery. Would Master Theodore like to visit sometime?"
"I still have two storefronts in Diagon Alley. After seeing such a miracle today, I only wish to offer them to you."
"Master, I have a daughter. She's single, and she's quite beautiful…"
"Wait, isn't your daughter already married?"
"She's divorced. Divorced counts as single, doesn't it?"
"She's so much older than Master Theodore. How can you even say that?"
"What do you know? My daughter still has charm!"
Professor Sprout's alarm bells immediately rang.
She stepped forward and shielded Theodore behind her, staring warily at her colleagues.
Just then, a chilling gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on Theodore like a nail.
Professor Sprout saw Flynna's face twisted with resentment, and her heart tightened.
Back then, when Flynna had lost the competition for the Herbology professor position after being exposed for academic fraud, she had walked out of this same hall with that exact look.
Only now, it was far more venomous.
Far more insane.
But after a moment, Professor Sprout showed no fear.
She tightened her grip on her wand, guarding against Flynna losing control, and glared right back.
Theodore is my student.
Whatever you're planning, you wretched woman, if you dare touch him, I'll smash a Chomping Cabbage over your head.
Perhaps Professor Sprout's killing intent was too obvious.
Perhaps Flynna remembered this was Hogwarts, where Dumbledore still stood guard.
Even though her hatred for Theodore had reached the point where she wanted to cut him into pieces, she still suppressed the urge.
Without saying a word, she turned and left Hogwarts.
Professor Sprout relaxed slightly, though her expression remained cautious.
Flynna's character was awful, but her herbology skills were real.
A herbology master might not be able to create all kinds of terrifying potions like a Potions master, but strange plants alone could kill silently.
With Flynna's vindictive personality, she would definitely seek revenge at any cost.
Professor Sprout lowered her voice and warned Theodore.
"From now on, don't leave Hogwarts. And don't eat or drink anything with an unknown origin."
Theodore's eyes flickered.
He understood her concern.
With his current recovery ability, comparable to the fourth turn of the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, he could regenerate from a drop of blood. As long as the true bodies of the corrupted ancient beings did not descend, there was likely nothing in the magical world that could truly kill him.
Still, he nodded to Professor Sprout, showing he would be careful.
At the same time, his gaze fell on the system screen.
A new notification appeared.
His relationship with "Jade Cauldron Zhenren" had risen to life-and-death friendship.
The reward that followed was—
The refinement method for the Immortal-Slaying Sword.
Seeing those words, Theodore's heart quickened.
Each of the Twelve Golden Immortals possessed the cultivation of a Great Zenith Immortal. Jade Cauldron Zhenren might not have been the strongest among them, but he was definitely one of the more outstanding.
After all, he had been personally chosen by Primordial Heavenly Lord to retrieve one of the swords from the Immortal-Slaughtering Sword Formation.
How could someone like that be ordinary?
Yet even Jade Cauldron Zhenren, with the cultivation of a Great Zenith Immortal, had spent countless years refining the Immortal-Slaying Sword and still had not fully completed it by the time of the Investiture of the Gods.
Unless absolutely necessary, that sword remained sheathed and would never be drawn lightly.
In a sense, that proved the sword's terrifying grade.
It was a treasure even a Great Zenith Immortal struggled to complete.
As the system description stated, if the Immortal-Slaying Sword were refined to completion, it might not be weaker than one of the Four Swords of Immortal Slaughter.
At the same time, Theodore thought of the Abhi Hellscape Sword in his possession.
That sword carried the Dao of Slaughter and had been enlightened by merit. It possessed unparalleled killing power and the trait of killing without incurring karma.
But until now, Theodore had not inscribed any restrictions into it.
It was not because he lacked the ability.
Rather, the sword had the potential to become an instrument of enlightenment. It was a peerless uncarved jade.
If he carelessly inscribed restrictions into it, even restrictions from the Heavenly Demon Treasure Refinement Art might fail to bring out its full potential.
They might even ruin its flawless foundation.
But now, with the Immortal-Slaying Sword refinement method, Theodore instinctively knew this was the perfect restriction system for the Abhi Hellscape Sword.
Moreover, the Abhi Hellscape Sword's Dao of Slaughter made it perhaps even more suited for "slaying immortals" than Jade Cauldron Zhenren's sword from the Investiture era.
Forging an Immortal-Slaying Sword with a future Dao of Slaughter enlightenment treasure—such a combination had never appeared even in the Primordial World.
If it succeeded, Theodore's Abhi Hellscape Sword might surpass even Patriarch Styx's Yuan Tu and Abi swords.
Perhaps…
Theodore thought of another reward he had yet to obtain.
If he reached close friendship with Nicolas Flamel, he could receive the refinement method for Lu Ya Daoist's Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife.
That method could gather a wisp of killing qi from the opening of heaven.
If that method were merged into the Abhi Hellscape Sword as well…
A sword combining the Dao of Slaughter, the Immortal-Slaying Sword, and the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife—
What level would that reach?
At its peak, this sword might become famous among the great powers of the Primordial World.
Perhaps it could even rival the God-Slaying Spear that once belonged to Demon Ancestor Rahu.
Even saints would bleed.
Only after taking a deep breath did Theodore calm the excitement in his heart.
His gaze moved further down the system screen, where pale red text appeared.
[You humiliated Qingfeng, Daoist child under Zhen Yuanzi, during a Dao debate.]
[Through a wager, you also caused Qingfeng's many years of cultivation resources to vanish.]
[Obstructing one's Dao is like killing one's parents. Your hostile relationship with Qingfeng has reached irreconcilable enmity.]
Theodore did not care much about his irreconcilable enmity with Flynna.
But the following rewards made his eyes brighten.
[Lightly injure Qingfeng to obtain the reward: Cloud-Raising Rain-Summoning Art. This is a secret art of Wuzhuang Temple. It regulates clouds and rain, allowing spiritual plants to flourish and strengthening their effects.]
[Heavily injure Qingfeng to obtain the reward: Wuzhuang Temple Talisman Arts. This is a secret inheritance of Wuzhuang Temple, passed down by Zhen Yuanzi after comprehending the Dao. Though created casually, its depth is rare even in the Primordial World.]
Theodore was very interested in both rewards.
He had just created an herb garden, so the Cloud-Raising Rain-Summoning Art came at exactly the right time.
If used on the Essence Sea Divine Peak, the ancient plants there would grow even better, and their effects for pill refinement would improve.
As for Wuzhuang Temple's talisman arts, they might not be some famous divine ability, but their utility was unmatched.
Even many quasi-saints used talismans as support.
Learning them would never be a loss.
Then Theodore saw the final reward.
[Kill Qingfeng to obtain the talent reward: Voice That Halts the Clouds. While serving in Wuzhuang Temple, Qingfeng often tuned and played music for Zhen Yuanzi. When Zhen Yuanzi's friends visited, Qingfeng would often perform immortal music at banquets and received guidance from many masters. Thus, Qingfeng is highly proficient in the Dao of Music. Even Golden Immortals would find his playing pleasing.]
[After obtaining this talent, the host's understanding of the Dao of Music will advance rapidly. Entering the Dao through music and becoming an immortal will only be a matter of time.]
Joy appeared on Theodore's face.
Flynna was truly a treasure-giving child.
Although the rewards she offered were not especially high in grade, they were exactly what he needed.
He already possessed a top-tier musical divine ability: Fuxi's Divine Heavenly Melody.
However, that divine ability demanded extremely high attainment in music. Theodore had planned to use the All-Seeing Heavenly Eye to study music when he had time.
But if he obtained Voice That Halts the Clouds, his progress in cultivating Fuxi's Divine Heavenly Melody would accelerate greatly.
This was a top-tier divine ability whose offensive power approached some great divine abilities.
If mastered, even the combined power of Wutu Divine Light and Yi Wood Divine Light might not withstand one note of the Divine Heavenly Melody.
Theodore would never pass up a shortcut to mastering it.
Looking at the blood-red irreconcilable enmity with "Qingfeng," Theodore's eyes turned cold.
…
At the same time, Flynna, having left Hogwarts, pulled on a black hood and headed straight for Knockturn Alley.
Her eyes were filled with insane killing intent.
She had lost everything.
Reputation, wealth, status—all of it was about to leave her.
But she refused to accept total defeat.
At the very least, the people she hated had to pay.
In the past, the person Flynna hated most was undoubtedly Professor Sprout.
But now, Theodore's hatred value in her heart had already soared to the peak.
She was an herbologist and was not especially good at killing.
But that did not matter.
Knockturn Alley was full of Dark wizards.
There were plenty of vicious ones among them.
Flynna believed that asking them to find a chance to kill a first-year wizard should not be difficult.
At that thought, her heart stirred.
If Theodore could be captured alive during the holidays, and she could force out the secret of how he cultivated ancient plants, then everything she had lost could return.
As long as it was done secretly, as long as no one discovered it, and as long as Theodore disappeared forever…
With her teacher protecting her, who would suspect her?
Flynna was like a gambler clinging to the last hope of turning the tables, ready to stake every remaining chip.
She walked through Knockturn Alley and entered a bar deep within.
The Dark wizards inside seemed to smell the crazed killing intent on her. Their eyes lit up, and they gathered around with low chuckles.
"Looking to kill someone, are you?"
"Then you've come to the right place."
"Not to boast, but the number of people who've died by my hand can't be counted on both hands."
"As long as you pay enough, wizard or Muggle, I can kill them. You can even choose how they die."
Flynna looked at them, her eyes venomous and filled with twisted satisfaction.
She had already begun imagining Theodore being dragged before her in terror, tortured until he revealed every secret, and then killed by her own hand.
She took out a money pouch and shook it.
The crisp sound of Galleons immediately made the Dark wizards' gazes even greedier.
A big job.
Flynna gritted her teeth.
"I want you to find a chance to kill a wizard."
"Don't worry. He's only a little wizard. Very easy to kill."
To Flynna's surprise, when the Dark wizards heard that the target was a young wizard, they exchanged glances and hesitated.
Flynna frowned.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"You don't want the job?"
The Dark wizards rubbed their hands and gave dry laughs.
"It's not that we don't want it. But we need to ask clearly before accepting a commission."
"You want us to kill a little wizard? One studying at Hogwarts?"
"Ahem. What year?"
Flynna's frown deepened.
"Dark wizards are supposed to be greedy and willing to do anything, aren't they?"
"Why are you asking so many questions now?"
Seeing their behavior, she said viciously, "First year."
"He has been at Hogwarts for less than one school year."
"Is that enough?"
"A little brat who barely knows any magic. Don't tell me even that scares you."
"Or have Dark wizards started pitying children?"
But to Flynna's surprise, after she said the target was a first-year student, the Dark wizards quietly took a few steps away from her.
It was as if they were afraid of something.
Only a few unwilling to give up still asked with faint hope.
"Name? Surname?"
Flynna took a deep breath.
If she could beat these Dark wizards, she would already be cursing them.
But now, she could only say with mockery, "What, are you afraid I'm asking you to kill the heir of a pure-blood family?"
"Don't worry. The one I want dead is a Muggle-born little wizard."
"Snow. His name is Theodore Snow…"
Flynna had assumed these Dark wizards were afraid of pure-blood retaliation, so they had to confirm the target was not the heir of some pure-blood family before accepting.
Theodore Snow.
Just by the name, one could tell he was likely a Muggle orphan.
Surely they would have no more concerns now.
But the next second, the surrounding Dark wizards let out startled cries and scattered in fear, staring at Flynna as if she were a plague.
They still remembered.
The last time someone placed a bounty on Theodore, the manor he stayed in had Scrimgeour, Mad-Eye Moody, and a whole group of big shots hiding there.
Even Dumbledore himself had been guarding from behind Theodore.
Fenrir Greyback had been terrifying enough, hadn't he?
He had even brought a pack of werewolves.
And what happened?
The infamous Fenrir was probably lying under half a meter of grass by now.
After that, the Dark wizards of Britain had trembled for a long time.
They shook whenever they heard Theodore's name.
And now someone had come again, opening her mouth to place a bounty on Theodore?
Damn it.
Wasn't this woman a walking disaster?
If not for the insane killing intent she carried, they might have suspected she was an undercover agent sent by the Ministry to bait them.
But asking them to kill Theodore?
Wasn't that giving them too much credit?
Kill Theodore?
Were they even worthy?
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