Alchemy Schools, Dual Cultivation of Formations!

After parting ways with the Weasley twins, Linley returned to the Slytherin common room to continue studying the three books on Ancient Runes. Yet no matter how much he wanted to forget what had happened at The Three Broomsticks, Professor Green's appearance remained vivid in his mind.

Another Saturday arrived. Over the past six days, Linley had thoroughly mastered all the key points from the first three books on the reading list. He had even memorized most of the introductory material on alchemy in the fourth book.

Standing outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office, Linley felt both nervous and excited. A week ago, Professor Green had clearly told him that as long as he finished the first three books, he could be brought across the threshold of alchemy ahead of time.

The door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office opened. Professor Green looked as composed as usual, no different from when he taught Defense Against the Dark Arts.

He invited Linley into the office.

"Professor, I've finished the first three books on the reading list you gave me. I've also read through most of the fourth one."

Before Professor Green could speak, Linley took the initiative to report.

Professor Green was immediately somewhat surprised.

Even when he had studied alchemy back then, it had taken him two and a half weeks to digest the knowledge in those three books!

"What does this Alchemy Rune mean?"

Professor Green raised his Wand and traced a combination of Ancient Runes and an Alchemy Rune in the air, testing Linley.

The third book on the reading list recorded several special runes created by combining Ancient Runes with Alchemy Runes. These were essential runes for certain advanced alchemical techniques. Alchemists could even simply engrave these Alchemy Runes onto alchemical products and make them take effect.

Under normal circumstances, Alchemy Runes needed to be activated by special materials or magic power before they could exert their proper effects. But these special Alchemy Runes were different—they could take effect directly!

That was why Professor Green had said Linley could step directly into the field of alchemy once he mastered them.

After all, even if Linley understood no other alchemical knowledge, merely engraving these special Alchemy Runes onto certain objects would allow those objects to possess special abilities.

"This Alchemy Rune means 'enhancement.' It can strengthen the original effect of a magical item to a certain extent, while the degree of enhancement depends on the item's original magical strength." Linley answered swiftly after just one glance at the Alchemy Rune in the air.

Professor Green traced another Alchemy Rune. "What about this one?"

Linley answered without hesitation. "This Alchemy Rune means 'detonation.' It can cause an object engraved with it to explode, but its activation condition is magic power."

Professor Green then traced an Alchemy Rune that looked like a rectangle.

Linley drew inferences from it. "This Alchemy Rune means 'obstruction.' It can hinder the flow of magic power. If this Alchemy Rune is linked with the one meaning 'detonation' from earlier, they can form a special rune for delayed explosions. It can cause an object engraved with these two runes to explode after a delay once magic power is injected into it."

Professor Green nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good. It seems there's no need to continue testing you," Professor Green said. "Your thinking is highly flexible. Even without systematically studying alchemy, you've already inferred parts of its field. Next, I'll lead you into the true realm of alchemy."

Linley looked at Professor Green expectantly.

Professor Green said, "Generally speaking, alchemists are divided into two schools. The first is the Elemental Alchemist, which focuses on refining alchemical materials and creating alchemical products from nothing. The second is the Rune Alchemist, which focuses on engraving Alchemy Runes and linking them together to form Alchemy Formations, performing secondary enchantments on existing objects and turning them into alchemical products. Among them, the representative alchemical product of Elemental Alchemists is the Philosopher's Stone made by Nicolas Flamel, while the representative alchemical product of Rune Alchemists is Hogwarts Castle. The countless defensive formations in Hogwarts Castle were added by generations of Rune Alchemists."

After explaining the two schools of alchemists, Professor Green asked, "So, Linley, which school do you intend to join?"

Linley hesitated. Both schools of alchemy described by Professor Green were especially appealing. Whether it was the Philosopher's Stone crafted by Nicolas Flamel or the defensive formations of Hogwarts Castle that had passed through the hands of countless alchemists, both were highly persuasive examples.

"Professor, which school of alchemist are you?" Linley asked.

As the teacher who would be instructing Linley in alchemy, Professor Green's choice held great reference value.

Professor Green smiled at that. He patted Linley on the shoulder and said, "Me? I practice Dual Cultivation of Formations. As the name suggests, I study the knowledge of both alchemical schools at once. My Mana Stone is the product of combining the two schools. Not only is it an alchemical product made by refining all kinds of alchemical materials, but I also engraved a great number of Alchemy Formations upon it, vastly increasing its power. Of course, if we're only talking about the weakened Mana Stone I released publicly, which is sought after by Ministries of Magic everywhere, then that is a product of Elemental Alchemy. After all, the weakened Mana Stone has no Alchemy Formations engraved on it."

"However, not just anyone can practice Dual Cultivation of Formations like I do. The alchemical knowledge of each school alone is enough to consume all of an alchemist's energy. Not everyone has enough time, energy, and talent to study the alchemy of two different schools at the same time."

As Professor Green spoke, he turned his gaze toward Linley.

After learning of Professor Green's choice back then, Linley said without hesitation, "In that case, Professor Green, I want to practice Dual Cultivation of Formations too!"

Time, energy, and talent—Linley possessed all of those things at present. Since he had the ability, why not study both schools of alchemy together?!

Hearing Linley's choice, Professor Green seemed to let out a sigh of relief. He said with satisfaction, "Very good. As expected of the student I chose. Since you've chosen to practice Dual Cultivation of Formations like me, I'll teach you as much as I can and help you go farther down the path of alchemy! Linley, are you willing to take me as your master and learn my alchemy?"

What Professor Green meant by taking him as a master was not the ordinary teacher-student relationship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but the inheritance of a master's lineage.

If Linley agreed, he would become Professor Green's direct disciple!

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