Chapter 421

Musa's situation once again confirmed a principle Ian had once summed up.

Imagination was a wizard's greatest weapon, the source of their ability to do anything.

Of course.

That did not mean Musa was much more powerful, gifted, or intelligent than Ian and Albus Dumbledore. Musa's madness was the main reason.

Meanwhile.

Research into alchemy was like materials science. The direction of one's ideas was important, but luck was even more important. Some things could not be discovered through exceptional talent and brilliance alone.

Otherwise.

Alchemy would not be a field that many people could spend their entire lives unable to even enter. Of course, Musa had achieved this not merely because he had a little more luck and inspiration than Ian and Dumbledore.

Ian calmly analyzed the reasons.

First, there was naturally the difference in time invested. Musa had devoted nearly all the decades of his later life to an all-or-nothing study of time magic. With no distractions, every spark of inspiration, every failure, and every pain became fuel driving his research forward.

Ian and Dumbledore, on the other hand, bore far too many responsibilities. They had to deal with Voldemort's threat, balance the powers of the wizarding world, teach students, and explore the mysteries of every branch of magic... Time was a scarce resource to them. They could not focus all their energy on a single point as Musa had.

This was a very important reason.

In fact, in terms of overall attainment in alchemy, even under such circumstances, Ian and Albus Dumbledore far surpassed Musa.

This showed that.

Musa truly was not more talented than they were.

The old man was the sort of alchemist with a severe imbalance in his abilities, as well as an obsession. Beyond that, the second—and more important—reason was the difference in