Alchemy and Magic Combined

Over the next week, Linley followed Nicholas every day to learn Spell Alchemy, while also trying to craft a few small trinkets with it.

Unlike Formation Alchemy, Spell Alchemy did not require the aid of an engraving knife. Instead, it required the assistance of flames. This was why, when Linley had first sought Professor Green's guidance, Professor Green had advised him to practice Incendio more.

The alchemical process of Spell Alchemy placed enormous demands on flames. A large part of an Elemental Alchemist's training was spent practicing control over fire. Linley's powerful affinity for flames happened to meet this requirement, allowing him to skip this step and enter a more advanced level ahead of others.

Thus, after merely one week of study, Linley's knowledge of Spell Alchemy was already no less than that of other Elemental Alchemists who had trained for two or three years.

After all, most Elemental Alchemists needed one or two years just to build a foundation in controlling flames.

On the sixth day of Linley's Spell Alchemy studies, Professor Green also paid a visit to Nicolas's Cottage. After confirming that Linley's theoretical knowledge of alchemy had met the standard, he taught Linley how to craft Mana Stones.

After obtaining the method for crafting Mana Stones, Linley spent an entire day fully mastering it. Under Nicholas's guidance, he completed his first Mana Stone.

This Mana Stone was not very large, only the size of a fingernail. After using Formation Alchemy to engrave an Alchemy Formation onto it, Linley embedded it into a bracelet and copied the process to complete a Mana Suppression Bracelet.

Over the following three days, Linley continued refining his knowledge of Spell Alchemy while crafting more Mana Stones to improve his practical Spell Alchemy skills.

At this point, there were still five days left before Linley returned to England.

Nicholas came before Linley and gestured for him to stop his alchemy. There was a hint of mystery in the old man's voice. "Linley, you don't need to continue learning more alchemical knowledge over the next few days. Put your practical work aside for now as well. You can practice these things on your own after returning to Hogwarts."

"Come with me. Our next lesson will not be held here!"

Nicholas tottered toward the outside of the cottage. Linley quickly supported the old man, ensuring he would not be blown over by the wind.

After leaving the cottage, Nicholas drew his Wand and tapped a metal cube on the ground ahead of them.

In the blink of an eye, Linley and Nicholas appeared in a square training ground over two hundred meters long on each side. It was so large that one could even play Quidditch inside it.

Linley was somewhat surprised. The metal cube he had seen earlier was actually a manually activated Portkey. Clearly, it was an alchemical product modified by Nicholas, capable of repeatedly transporting the wizard who activated it to a designated location.

Nicholas pointed his Wand at himself. His lips moved slightly, as though he had cast some kind of spell.

A flash of light appeared, and Nicholas seemed to stand a little straighter, no longer as frail as before.

"Linley, do you think magic is stronger, or alchemy?"

Nicholas looked at Linley inscrutably and asked.

Linley hesitated. He looked at the old man before him, then thought of Dumbledore, known as the White Lord. He shook his head and said, "Grandmaster, I don't know."

Nicholas said, "To be honest, neither do I. Both magic and alchemy have their own strengths, but in the end, we are wizards, not Pure Alchemists. Linley, I intend to teach you a secret art that combines alchemy and magic. It can even make alchemy exist solely to assist magic. Are you willing to learn it?"

"I developed this secret art two hundred years ago. I never even taught it to that fellow Valison. Of course, that was only because his talent for magic was insufficient to match his Alchemy talent, so he could not use this secret art. But you are different. As a mere first-year, you can already cast one spell silently and wandlessly. Your talent for magic is absolutely no weaker than your talent for alchemy!"

Nicholas spoke solemnly, and his eyes seemed to brighten.

Hearing this, Linley quickly said, "Grandmaster, I am willing to learn!"

Nicholas slowly nodded. "Combining alchemy and magic requires not only knowledge of both Formation Alchemy and Spell Alchemy, but also the ability to cast magic silently and wandlessly. I think that fellow Valison must have told you that, if you wish to Conjure Alchemy Formation out of thin air, your magical reserves are nowhere near sufficient, right?"

Linley nodded.

After Linley and Professor Green had joined forces to defeat the dark wizard Cassirachi on Halloween night, Linley had wanted to learn Professor Green's method of Conjuring Alchemy Formation for combat. However, Professor Green had refused him for this very reason.

Nicholas continued, "Alchemy without a medium is indeed beyond your ability, but what if you use your magic as the medium for alchemy?!"

Nicholas's words seemed to push open the door to a new world for Linley.

Could magic also serve as a medium for alchemy?!

Linley was somewhat doubtful.

"Of course, pure magic cannot serve as a medium for alchemy. But what if you transform the product of Spell Alchemy into magical form and merge it into a spell? Just as you can craft an Alchemy Formation onto a Mana Stone, you can also craft your own Alchemy Formation onto magic fused with Spell Alchemy!"

So said Nicolas Flamel.

With a wave of his Wand, dozens of different substances condensed out of thin air beneath the scorching flames. Under the refinement of Spell Alchemy, they ultimately transformed into a mass of magical power.

"Aguamenti!"

Nicholas cast the spell, summoning a stream of water from the tip of his Wand. The mass of magical power from before was then guided by the Wand into the stream.

Next, Nicholas waved his Wand again. One Alchemy Rune after another condensed upon the surface of the water, then merged into it.

Through the union of alchemy and magic, the stream became a special alchemical current that could change its softness and hardness according to Nicholas's will, transforming at any moment into a water blade capable of slicing through iron like mud!

Nicholas raised his Wand and drew the water back into it. "If it were you, you would probably need an engraving knife to perform alchemy on magic. Also, products created by combining alchemy and magic can be retrieved and stored within your Wand. In other words, so long as the power contained within such a product has not been completely exhausted, you can use it repeatedly without needing to repeat the alchemical process."

The special stream of water from earlier continually appeared and vanished according to Nicholas's will.

The alchemy arc should be wrapping up in the next couple of days, and then the story will enter its main plot. There will not be much more alchemy afterward, and even if there is, it will serve Linley's flame magic. The next part of the story will be The Ice and Fire Archons!

Actually, when I first planned this book, I had not intended to write about alchemy. But Linley appeared a year before the female lead, and that year could not be completely devoid of plot, so I created Professor Green and had Linley study alchemy. As I kept writing, things got a little out of hand, and alchemy became an inseparable part of Linley.

But don't worry, everyone. The later story will focus on the main plot, and it will not go off track again.

After all, I have written two books with 1.4 million words each, so I do have a little experience.

Lastly, please give me some recommendation votes, tips, and monthly votes. Thank you all for your support!