A Pilgrimage with Ulterior Motives / Shattered-the Blood-Red Transmutation Circle

With a hissing roar, Harry unleashed a spell that instantly stunned the man before him.

He cast Memory Charm, and a very powerful one at that, powerful enough to turn someone into someone like Gilderoy Lockhart with a single spell.

But that wasn't enough, Harry immediately followed up with an even stronger shot.

The powerful spell seemed to transform into a steel pestle, instantly turning the opponent's mind into a complete mess, making him forget everything.

At this moment, Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt, who was originally quite shrewd, now looked like a fool, and if you weren't careful, he might even drool from the corner of his mouth.

Harry erased all his memories... truly all of them!

The kid can't speak, can't do anything, and doesn't recognize anyone. The only thing he remembers is a sentence Harry just emphasized.

"Dumbledore betrayed me!!!"

That's right, just this sentence~

This memory was enhanced by Harry's full power of Legilimency, which even utilized the power of the Sorcerer's Stone, essentially forging the memory directly into the other person's mind.

He was certain that Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt couldn't possibly modify it, and only Albus Dumbledore himself could do it.

But Albus Dumbledore couldn't touch this memory.

Do you remember how Gilderoy Lockhart slowly recovered? Now, Harry's last words are Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt's only chance of recovery.

If he remains in his current state, there might be a slight chance of him recovering over time; but if this only clue is erased or altered, then Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt's nephew will be stuck as an idiot forever!

He could certainly consider sending the person to St Mungo's's for treatment, but unfortunately, the permanent curse damage ward is currently located in Harry's retirement home.

So, when dealing with an enemy, why kill them when you can defeat them psychologically?

Guys like that should be put to good use; let Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt take him home and cause him his own troubles.

Harry wanted Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt to face his nephew every day, to hear the kid shouting out repeatedly...

'Dumbledore betrayed me!!!'

Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt's expression at that time will surely be quite amusing.

Chapter 720 A 'Pilgrimage' with Impure Purposes

Leaving his nephew Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt, who had already been turned into a mentally challenged man, behind, Harry ignored the crooked-mouthed, squinting fellow and began inspecting the things in his room.

After some searching, Harry discovered that besides being a recluse, he was basically penniless.

This is understandable, though. After all, they were refugees, and hiding in such a remote and impoverished place, having more assets would only attract more attention, so it's better to keep a simple lifestyle.

Harry found the wand the guy was using; it was clearly a top-quality product in Ollivander's eyes, but it held no appeal for Harry, who simply snapped it off and tossed it at the guy's feet.

Besides these, there were some robes, spellbooks, and coins like Gallonnath, none of which were worth looting, so Harry just tossed them aside.

However, he did find quite a few Armenia drams and ruma, which were undoubtedly useful. After all, for Harry, if he wanted to travel in such a foreign land, the local legal tender was much more useful than Galleon.

The last useful things Harry found were books about Armenia customs—mostly religious ones, written in Russian—along with an English-Russian dictionary... Clearly, this guy was trying to integrate into the country.

These books were a welcome relief for Harry's immediate needs. The official language of Armenia is Armenia, and Russian is another widely spoken language, but Harry only knew the first one, 'Karashho'...

It would be almost impossible for Harry to quickly master a new language in a short period of time, even with his memory. However, he still had the genius witch Rowena living in his mind. As long as he read through the English-Russian dictionary from beginning to end, although Harry still wouldn't be able to speak a word of Russian, Rowena could at least help him translate the other travel guidebooks into a rough version.

"That's about right." After confirming that nothing was missed, Harry bypassed the foolish guy standing there, cast a simple Locking Spell on the door from the outside, and then Apparition away quietly.

He believed that Albus Dumbledore and Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt would at least send someone to investigate, and then they could simply have the guy moved away; Harry didn't need to carry him around.

And if no one comes...

That only shows that in their hearts, family ties are nothing compared to the so-called bigger picture.

If that's the case, even if Harry forced the person back, it wouldn't stir the slightest emotion in them, so he might as well give up on this whole thing.

The magical ripples from Apparition had barely dissipated when the ripples from the Portkey landing on the ground quietly appeared. The cottage was destined to be bustling with activity today, and in a very short time, it welcomed a second group of guests.

A bewildered Kingsley Shacklebolt Shacklebolt, and... Dumbledore.

To be honest, Albus Dumbledore didn't want to come, because he was the one who leaked the information, and now he had to act with Kingsley Shacklebolt. No matter what, he felt awkward about it.

But he was worried. He didn't know if the Portkey he made would allow Kingsley Shacklebolt to get it before Harry, and he was even more unsure if this was another of Harry's schemes.

What if Kingsley Shacklebolt, or the rest of the Order of the Phoenix, arrives at the scene only to be ambushed and killed by Harry?

He was even starting to regret telling Kingsley Shacklebolt about it so soon. He should have just given up completely and told him the truth later, which would have at least avoided future trouble.

However, none of Albus Dumbledore's worries came true, because they soon discovered... they were too late.

The room was fairly tidy, not like it had been through a major battle, but the broken wand on the floor and the dazed look on someone's face indicated that he was definitely not out of the woods unscathed!

"Are you alright?!" Kingsley Shacklebolt rushed forward anxiously, wanting to check on his nephew.

But unexpectedly, the latter suddenly roared loudly!

"Dumbledore betrayed me!!!"

"This..." Kingsley Shacklebolt suddenly froze on the spot.

Dumbledore, standing behind him, also had a sudden change in expression!

After the desperate howl, the atmosphere in the room became extremely oppressive. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Albus Dumbledore stared at each other, both seemingly mute, unable to utter a single word...

Meanwhile, Harry was leisurely strolling through an ancient valley, referring to the Russian translation in his notebook and the information in the 'traveler's guidebook'.

Located 40 kilometers Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, the Azat Valley is a sacred place with extremely beautiful natural scenery. Especially at this time of year, the lush green trees contrast with the rock walls that look as if they were carved by a knife and axe, and a sense of ancient and majestic atmosphere immediately comes to mind.

Of course, Harry's purpose for this trip was not sightseeing, but to visit the Geghard Monastery located at the entrance of the valley.

This ancient building, said to have been constructed in the 4th century BC, boasts a uniquely designed cave church and tomb, representing the pinnacle of medieval Armenia architecture and art, and serving as a holy site for countless believers...

The problem is, Harry knows absolutely nothing about these things.

As a native China, Harry would definitely be quite interested in Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, and Mohism if you talked to him about them, but his understanding of things outside of China would be practically zero.

So he's in a very awkward position now, because he has absolutely no sense of belonging to this place, and the only etiquette he can abide by is "a quiet place, please do not make noise," making it completely impossible for him to wholeheartedly engage in pilgrimage.

After walking around the entire monastery and Upper Azat Valley, all Harry gained was a brain riddled with holes from Rowena's needles and the thought, "This place is really beautiful."

"Oh, okay, okay, I'll leave, alright? Sister, could you please stop poking me?"

Harry's head was buzzing from Rowena's poking, and he shook his notebook in exasperation.

"Hurry up and leave, there's nothing to see here! That old man sent you here with ulterior motives!"

"No... what did my teacher do to offend you this time?" Feeling that Rowena was being a bit unreasonable, Harry gradually felt a little displeased. "Even if you and my teacher aren't alchemists from the same school, you can't slander him for no reason!"

"What do you know!" Rowena scribbled a line of illegible cursive on her notebook. "He told you to bring the Philosopher's Stone, clearly to make you walk the pilgrimage route! Do you know that everything you're going through now, he's done before!"

"The pilgrimage route... does that mean visiting monasteries and churches?" Harry sighed softly, calmly asking Rowena in his mind, "So, can't I bring the Sorcerer's Stone to these places?"

"Are you genuinely ignorant or just pretending? Haven't you ever questioned why the Philosopher's Stone, which is hundreds of years old, still possesses such powerful magic? Equivalent exchange, conservation of mass-energy, the impossibility of a perpetual motion machine of the first kind... Are all those ancient alchemy techniques and so-called sciences you've studied just empty shells?!"

However, Harry remained calm in the face of Rowena's questioning.

"Rowena, I still have the same question... Is it absolutely forbidden for me to bring the Sorcerer's Stone to these places?"

Chapter 721 Shattering, the Crimson Refining Array

The so-called principle of equivalent exchange means that when using alchemy, the constituent particles of the substance to be refined must be completely identical to the constituent particles of the raw materials, and then be recombined through alchemical decomposition.

This premise may sound a bit out of place, but it is indeed the core principle followed by ancient alchemy.

This principle, when replaced with a scientific concept, is actually the law of conservation of mass.

The process of using alchemy is equivalent to the transformation of matter in an isolated system. Matter does not disappear or appear; it is simply transformed from one substance into another, while the total mass remains unchanged.

However, just like the condition for the conservation of mass, the principle of equivalent exchange is only a concept under an ideal state.

In ancient alchemy, it is impossible for materials to be without loss, including the inscription of transmutation circles and the input of magical power; these are all part of the loss.

However, the appearance of the Sorcerer's Stone broke this principle.

It made the originally complex art of ancient alchemy incredibly simple; any substance could be transformed at will, without any need to consider conservation laws.

For example, converting equal weights of stone into equal masses of gold... seemingly a matter of conservation of mass, but what if this process required almost no magic input and involved virtually no loss?

Turning stone into gold, creating Elixir of Life, and refining any substance at will... all of these can be accomplished with this red stone, without even requiring a high level of alchemical skill.

Harry had certainly considered the various anomalies of the Sorcerer's Stone, and he also knew that the Sorcerer's Stone must consume something as energy each time it participated in a transmutation.

After all... a perpetual motion machine of the first kind cannot exist.

He now knows that Rowena was so angry because she felt Nicolas Flamel was guiding Harry to find new power for the Sorcerer's Stone, but she didn't want Harry to follow in his footsteps.

But for Harry, Nicolas Flamel will always be a teacher he can trust. Whether it's Flamel's unreserved dedication or his own character, Harry feels that Nicolas Flamel absolutely deserves to be described as 'great'.

Therefore, the teacher's purpose in sending him to Armenia to explore the pilgrimage route was definitely not as simple as Rowena thought!

However, Harry didn't need to argue with Rowena now. This wise witch had always insisted that the Church and its ilk were not the orthodox wizarding order, and besides, she was in a bad mood. Arguing now might only backfire.

But no matter what, he was determined to complete the trip as his teacher had instructed!

After leaving the valley, Harry went to another church site, Etchmiadzin Cathedral.

This church and the Zvartnots Archaeological Site where it is located are also historically significant and have a simple, ancient style. Having undergone continuous expansion over more than a dozen centuries, they represent a host of titles, including Armenia architectural aesthetics and religious history.

But after walking around the area, Harry also found nothing.

During this time, he also encountered some... he wasn't sure whether to call them monks or priests, but among those people, Harry sensed the presence of several wizards.

I wonder what the Fat Friar would think if he saw this scene.

Harry didn't linger here long, quickly choosing the last place on his trip, which was also the farthest scenic spot from here.

Since he was on a so-called pilgrimage route, Harry wasn't in a hurry. He decided to take advantage of the Easter holiday to hike in this unfamiliar country... well, it wasn't really a long hike, since it was only about 100 kilometers.

He wandered around for only two days, stopping at churches whenever he came across one, and otherwise just sightseeing and using the money he'd swindled from some idiot to sample the local cuisine... and before he knew it, he'd crossed most of the country's borders!

The Haghpat Monastery Complex, Harry's final destination, seems to be associated with many church legends, but these are not what Harry came to explore.

However, just as he realized he had come up empty-handed and was about to use his Portkey to go home, he suddenly remembered that the complex seemed to contain another monastery.

Sanahin Monastery, built on a nearby hillside, is a small monastery that is said to have been built on the ruins of a church around the fourth century AD.

Since we're already here, let's go take a look.

Compared to the grand complex of buildings they had seen before, this monastery seemed deserted. The small chapel was almost deserted, and even with the Invisibility Cloak on, Harry could clearly hear the echo of his shoes hitting the stone pavement.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the very center of the monastery, in an empty chapel.

The surrounding walls were covered with murals, but Harry couldn't make out the stories they told. The only one he recognized was the huge cross in the center of the room.

Sunlight slanted through the window, casting a shadow from the cross over Harry, making him feel slightly oppressed.

"Hmm... what is that?"

But at that moment, he suddenly noticed that in the center of the shadow of the cross, there seemed to be a very faint mark, like a coil drawn by someone.

"A transmutation circle... No! This isn't carved on a stone slab, it's underground!"

Harry quickly realized that the mark he saw was not something that actually existed on the chapel slab, but rather a projection of magic emanating from below in a special way!

Click!

Suddenly, the stone slab in front of Harry shattered inch by inch, and a dazzling red light instantly surged out from the ground!

The crimson light gradually converged in front of Harry into a huge transmutation circle consisting of nested circles and hexagons, interspersed with many other complex patterns. At the center of the transmutation circle was a pattern composed of an ellipse and a circle, resembling a strange eye.

Harry's pocket bulged slightly, and the Sorcerer's Stone, seemingly drawn by some unknown force, slowly flew out of the pocket and eventually landed in the center of the transmutation circle.

Suddenly, it seemed as if that eye had opened!

At the same time, all the blood-like light rushed towards the Sorcerer's Stone at the center of the transmutation circle and poured into it continuously!

Harry's eyes were tinged with red, and he seemed to see something extremely distorted in that light. Although there was silence around him, he felt as if his ears were filled with shrill screams.

Although there were only a few sounds, they were exceptionally clear...

At the same time, a strange sense of guilt rose in his heart again... just like every time he used the Sorcerer's Stone for transmutation.

Soon, everything returned to calm.

All the crimson light vanished, the eerie transmutation circle disappeared, and the Sorcerer's Stone lay quietly on the ground...

If it weren't for the rubble and debris scattered around, Harry would have thought that nothing had just happened.