Dimensional Strike from Alchemy

His voice was gentle and clear, devoid of any emotion, as if responding to the most ordinary classroom question.

This composed demeanor, impervious to any influence, caused a flicker of deeper displeasure in Snape's eyes.

He detested these pretentious brats who feigned profundity.

"Very well," Snape's voice grew colder. "Then, let's begin with the first question. Daffodil bulbs, powdered, and wormwood infusion, what do they produce?"

This question was simple for Hermione, who had done her pre-reading. But what Snape wanted was clearly more than just an answer.

"When the powdered daffodil bulbs are added to the wormwood infusion and brewed correctly, a highly potent sleeping draught can be obtained, known as the 'Living Hell Potion'," Lin Yuan replied fluently and precisely, as if reading from a manual.

Snape showed no surprise on his face; instead, his cold sneer deepened.

"Oh? Is that all? It seems you're just a bookworm who can only memorize by rote," he taunted. "Then, tell me, why? Why these two ingredients? What roles do they play in the potion? How do their properties interact?"

This question far exceeded the scope of 'Beginner Potions'.

The entire classroom fell into dead silence. Even Hermione wore a bewildered expression.

However, Lin Yuan remained calm, as if the answer was already etched into his mind.

"Professor, this question requires an analysis of the inherent properties of the two ingredients," he began slowly, his tone resembling an academic report.

"Daffodil bulbs, in terms of their Potions Mastery essence, release magical particles that deeply inhibit mental activity. It is the primary ingredient responsible for the 'sleep' effect in the 'Living Hell Potion'."

"Wormwood infusion, while mild in its own properties, contains a special alkaloid. This alkaloid, when heated, acts as a 'catalyst' and 'guide', moderating the wild paralyzing particles from the daffodil bulbs and directing them to act precisely on the mind, rather than crudely destroying nerves. It is the auxiliary ingredient and stabilizer in the 'Living Hell Potion'."

He paused, glancing at Snape, whose mouth had slightly opened in shock, and then dropped the final bombshell.

"In fact, 'Advanced Potion Making' mentions that adding a trace amount of 'Sluggish Brain Slime' during brewing can enhance the guiding effect of the wormwood, increasing the final potion's efficacy by at least fifteen percent and reducing the risk of 'memory confusion' as a side effect."

"..."

The entire dungeon fell into a deathly silence.

If Lin Yuan's earlier answer of "Living Hell Potion" could be dismissed as mere rote memorization, then this perfect explanation, akin to a doctoral defense, had completely shut down all avenues Snape could use to attack him.

Ron and Harry were stunned, feeling as though they weren't in Potions class but attending an incomprehensible lecture on advanced magical theory.

Hermione looked at Lin Yuan with the eyes of someone beholding a god. Her proud "pre-reading" seemed insignificant in the face of Lin Yuan's "insight into the essence."

In Snape's dark eyes, a true, violent ripple finally stirred.

Shock, confusion, and... a hint of shame and anger, which he himself was unwilling to admit, at being publicly "taught a lesson" in his most proficient field by a first-year student.

But he was Snape, after all.

"It seems you have indeed read a few books," his voice became hoarse. "Then, the second question. Bezoar. What is its detoxification principle? How does it compare to the antidotes we meticulously brewed?"

This was another tricky question.

Lin Yuan continued to answer fluently.

"Professor, a bezoar is essentially a 'physical filter'. Its microscopic structure is a natural 'molecular sieve' that captures toxin molecules in the blood through powerful physical adsorption, and then expels them from the body."

"Its advantages are 'broad-spectrum' and 'high-efficiency'. It acts immediately on common toxins, making it an emergency item."

"Its disadvantages are equally obvious. First, it is ineffective against 'magical' toxins like curses. Second, its adsorption is non-selective; it will also remove beneficial magical elements, leading to Magic Power decline with long-term use. Therefore, a bezoar is a 'symptomatic' first-aid measure, while an antidote is 'targeted therapy', a 'prescription drug' that solves the problem from the root. Their uses are different, and their merits cannot be simply judged."

As Lin Yuan concluded his brilliant explanation with the analogy of "emergency item versus prescription drug,"

Professor Snape was utterly speechless.

For the first time, an extremely complex expression appeared on his sallow face.

This boy... he wasn't reciting.

He was redefining Potions Mastery with his own complete and self-consistent logic, even more profound than existing magical potion theories.

What was the origin of this eleven-year-old monster?!

Snape glared at Lin Yuan for a full ten seconds before abruptly turning his head and addressing the entire class in an even colder voice:

"It seems at least one person in our class is not a complete idiot."

The words sounded like praise, but his tone conveyed not a shred of warmth.

"Now, take out your cauldrons and ingredients! Follow the instructions on the blackboard and begin brewing your first potion!"

"You have one hour. Begin!"

The classroom was instantly drowned out by a cacophony of clanging noises.

The lesson entered its practical phase. Snape vented the anger stirred by Lin Yuan onto the other unfortunate Gryffindor students.

The classroom was filled with a constant barrage of reprimands, the sounds of falling ingredients, and the "plop-plop" of cauldrons, resembling a chaotic battlefield.

"Weasley! Is your brain used for kicking by trolls? I said add the porcupine quills first!"

"Longbottom! I swear, if your cauldron explodes, I'll turn the rest of you into a failed potion!"

"Potter! Stop staring at your cauldron with that foolish look; it won't get better just because you're watching it!"

Amidst this backdrop of widespread misery, Lin Yuan's corner stood as a world unto itself.

And Lin Yuan, in this chaos, remained a solitary island.

He calmly looked at the few lines on the blackboard, which could be described as a "novice's fool-proof tutorial," and then quickly scanned the materials in front of him with his Spiritual Sense.

[Dried Nettle]: Contains weak wood-element Spiritual Energy, inferior quality.

[Snake Fangs]: Residual weak poison-element energy, crudely processed.

[Horned Slug]: Contains water-element Spiritual Energy, too many impurities.

[Porcupine Quills]: Nature is fierce, fire-element, acts as a catalyst.

In his mind, this information was automatically translated into the language of alchemy.

And this so-called "brewing a Potion" before him, in his opinion, couldn't even be called "refining."

It was a complete and utter... chaotic stew.