Chapter 429 Hibiscus Wins the Championship, The Biggest Battleground
There's also a history of conflict between Ginny and Cassandra.
Last year, when Ginny came to Hogwarts for an exchange, she defeated Cassandra in a dueling class as a first-year student. Although she won by a lot of luck, the outcome of a match is not determined by various excuses or factors.
Even after that, when Tom started playing with Cassandra, the two still didn't get along and hardly communicated.
Back in North America, Cassandra didn't forget that defeat, saying that Ginny was both a spur and a driving force for continuous improvement.
Tom wasn't the driving force; who would even consider chasing that monster? Anyway, Cassandra learned her lesson after being beaten up and no longer considered him a target.
"Remember, you can go all out, but all spells with aftereffects are forbidden, otherwise Dumbledore has the right to terminate the match at any time."
Professor McGonagall reminded the two players that Dumbledore had appeared at the edge of the field.
With Professor McGonagall as the head referee, the three deans as assistant referees, and Dumbledore in charge of everything, this configuration naturally gives them the confidence to say they will go all out.
Ginny and Cassandra both nodded to her, then bowed simultaneously after Professor McGonagall announced the start, completing the ritual, and almost simultaneously pointed their wands at each other, casting the Silent Charm at the same time.
The blinding beams of light did not dissipate after colliding; instead, they connected to form an electric arc.
The audience in the stands gasped in surprise, not expecting the two to start so excitingly right from the beginning, beginning the simplest and most brutal magic competition.
Tom sighed inwardly, his gaze toward Cassandra now tinged with pity.
Silly child, you're standing on the left... Don't you know that historically, the left side loses in a match?
The point where the spells collided remained locked in place for a moment before slowly shifting towards Cassandra.
The girl's expression changed slightly, and her hand holding the wand trembled due to the pressure of the magic. She decisively severed the connection, but the impact still knocked her back a few steps, and her breathing became disordered.
Ginny, seizing the advantage, immediately unleashed her most powerful bat spell. Cassandra had anticipated this move and had been chanting a counter-spell in her mind. In the end, the giant bat flew out from the tip of Ginny's staff, rather than from her nostril.
Seeing that her attack had been neutralized, Ginny began to command the weeds on the ground, and more than a dozen small grass snakes darted out, flicking their tongues at Cassandra and surrounding her from all sides.
This scene left both Gryffindor and Slytherin speechless.
The little lion was starting to have doubts about life. Was Ginny Weasley really a student at their college? How come her methods were so similar to Slytherin's?
The little snakes were also upset; one of the Gryffindors looked even more like a Slytherin than they did. Was this...being bullied?
"it's over."
When Tom saw Cassandra continuously using her wand to unleash flames to drive away and burn the grass snakes, he shook his head and prematurely concluded the match.
Ginny's style is to launch a relentless offensive. Once she starts to defend, the various spells she has mastered can keep opponents of similar skill levels busy and overwhelmed, eventually revealing their weaknesses.
Moreover... Ginny's strength was already superior to Cassandra's.
As the only girl around her who had personally dealt with an enemy, Ginny's mentality had undergone a transformation. Her decisiveness and confidence in casting spells surpassed even that of many adult wizards.
In addition, the advanced development brought about by six or seven bottles of strengthening potions resulted in his magic power and physical fitness being among the best of geniuses.
According to Tom's own standards, Ginny is now one of the best among the outstanding individuals of her generation.
As expected, Cassandra was on the defensive the whole time, either casting shields on herself or using magic to neutralize Ginny's magic. Her frantic efforts exposed her weaknesses, and Ginny used a Voldemort spell to pin her to the ground, after which her wand flew out of her hand.
The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, many with expressions of amazement.
That's outrageous! She mastered dozens of dueling spells in second grade? Did she start learning magic after the magic surge?
Diagon Alley.
"It's my daughter! This is my daughter!"
Lady Weasley stood excitedly at the entrance of the Wizarding Guild, shouting to the other spectators, her round face beaming like a sunflower: "Ginny Weasley! My little daughter, she's even better than her six brothers!"
In an instant, countless envious and jealous glances were cast upon them.
It wasn't just directed at Ginny, but also at Mrs. Weasley herself, out of envy and jealousy.
Six older brothers and one daughter?
Does that mean a family has at least seven children?
Isn't that something to be envious of?
Returning to Hogwarts, Cassandra had already returned to her seat with a frown, sighing inwardly.
She had anticipated this defeat, but she hadn't expected it to be so decisive. So, who can't she challenge next?
Hermione?
No, I can't afford to lose face by challenging someone lower up, so it can only be that boy from Hogwarts in his fifth year.
As the winner, Ginny can choose to continue the challenge or go down to rest and return to the stage in the next round.
Ginny chose to leave the stage, handing it over to Hermione.
Hermione considered that Cassandra had just lost a match, and challenging her again would seem like bullying her, so she chose Cedric.
Unfortunately, Hermione didn't perform as well. Cedric was one of Professor McGonagall's favorite students and was proficient in Transfiguration. [He] protected himself and used various small animals to occupy the area.
Hermione's shapeshifting was equally excellent, but she was far inferior in its flexible application and control over shapeshifting creatures. One was a group of scattered soldiers, while the other was a trained army, so she was naturally no match for them.
Hermione quickly lost her first challenge when a Border Collie bit her wand.
Hermione was very frustrated after losing the match. She felt that she had made a tactical mistake and should not have competed with Cedric in Transfiguration [she should have used the wide-range spells that Tom taught her].
But it was too late to say anything. The defeated Hermione stopped challenging, and Cassandra became the new challenger. Cassandra unceremoniously chose Cedric again, but ultimately failed once more.
The little wizard from Hufflepuff clapped his hands until they were swollen, and Mrs. Sprout, the assistant referee, laughed so hard her eyes narrowed into slits.
0. Requesting flowers...
Badger Yard really stole the show this time, even more so than Christmas.
But their joy was short-lived. Cedric chose to challenge Fleur, but was easily subdued by her mental magic. He stood there dumbfounded, his consciousness already entering an illusion.
Fleur was indeed stronger than Cedric, but this time it was a case of being caught off guard. Fleur had never used any mental attack magic in previous matches, and Cedric had never even considered it. Cedric was caught off guard and immediately fell for it, making his defeat quite frustrating.
Cedric, now fully conscious, gave a wry smile. Uninjured, he chose to continue challenging seventh-grader Dula Thiago.
This time, Thiago showcased a new Druid transformation—the jaguar.
While jaguars are not as strong as brown bears, they are faster and can get close, making them more afraid of these agile animals.
But what happened next made the audience, both in the studio and in front of the mirror, burst into laughter.
Cedric conjured a small mound of earth to surround himself, and then used Transfiguration to turn the outer layer of soil into an iron plate, creating a defensive fortress of the worst quality.
But the claws were enough to deal with the cheetah, and he even left a gap around the edge so he could shoot arrows from inside.
Ultimately, Thiago had no choice but to revert to human form, and the match returned to a proper wizard duel.
His professor, Isabella, sighed. This was the downside of druidic polymorph; it could only be used as a last resort until the wizard could transform into a magical creature. Given enough space, dealing with wild beasts was actually quite simple.
Despite some injuries, Cedric ultimately won the match.
Next was Furong's performance. She challenged all the contestants from bottom to top and won every single one.
Ginny, having gleaned insights into the weaknesses of Druid Polymorph from the battle between Cedric and Thiago, challenged Thiago amidst gasps of surprise. She immediately distanced herself from Thiago, finding weaknesses in both of Thiago's transformed animals, and ultimately, she actually won.
The fact that the second graders beat the seventh graders made Mrs. Weasley in Diagon Alley ecstatic.
After the competition, there was a brief awards ceremony. Under Daphne's murderous glare, Fleur pulled Tom onto the stage and held his arm tightly the whole time, the two of them pressed close together.
She handed the prize of one thousand Galleons to a Beauxbatons student without even looking at it, and then gave a loud and clear speech about his victory.
"Thank you to Professor Beauxbatons for his unreserved teaching, and thank you to Mrs. Maxim for her trust, but I am most grateful to you, my dear, meeting you is my greatest fortune."
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Furong boldly kissed the boy's cheek, her eyes practically drooling.
Now all the girls looked at her differently, with intense hostility.
With Furong's publicity, does that mean the whole world should think she's Tom's real girlfriend?
Tom's smile froze, clearly indicating that he had also considered this possibility.
So the biggest battleground is waiting for him here, Chuan!
Chapter 430 the Silent Battle Between Two Generations of Dark Lords, Major Mission Completed
"Mr. Riddle, you are welcome to visit Beauxbatons sometime. It's a completely different place from Hogwarts, and you'll definitely be satisfied."
Before leaving, Maxim extended an invitation to Tom.
The boy smiled awkwardly and nodded, promising to visit again if he had the chance, while vigorously rubbing his face to wipe away the lipstick mark.
Using magic on a lip print? Hibiscus's move is too ruthless; she's afraid he'll have an easy time later.
Tom turned his head and met the half-Veele's emerald green eyes, which were suppressing a laugh. He rolled his eyes at her, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Mrs. Maxim, and then hurriedly went to find Cassandra.
Despite being his carefully cultivated North American agent, Cassandra suffered a crushing defeat this time, becoming the worst performer among everyone. Tom thought for a moment but decided against taking out the strengthening potion, instead offering a few of his modified spells as consolation.
There's nothing I can do; the relationship isn't right yet.
He'd never seen her legs, never tasted her mouth. It was clearly just a thin veil between them, but if he hadn't broken through, he wouldn't have. He just liked to be passive.
However, receiving Tom's "consolation prize" somewhat eased Cassandra's low spirits.
Are you planning a trip to North America for the holidays?
"I haven't made any arrangements yet," Tom said honestly. "But I probably won't go. Next year... you know, this summer will be very busy too."
"However, if you can get the Magical Congress of North America to agree to let me open the Wizarding Guild there, then I will definitely go."
The girl pouted upon hearing this, "Do you think I'm the student council president? Right now... never mind."
Cassandra didn't finish her sentence; some things don't need to be said too clearly.
Tom's strained relationship with North America is just one arrest warrant away from being issued.
It's unclear whether he doesn't want to completely sever ties or is afraid to issue one, but the Wizarding Guild is currently expanding mainly in Europe, while North America is giving absolutely no response and has been consistently refusing to allow the guild to set up shop there.
Tom was somewhat disappointed that Cassandra and her father were too capable, and they even knew how to gather a group of people to act as a protective umbrella for his business. Although they had to share some of the profits, at least no one dared to target them.
Tom was hoping that things wouldn't go wrong in North America and affect his business. Don't forget that Dumbledore had promised him that these 'trivial matters' wouldn't affect his mood and life.
"If you're not coming, then forget it."
Seeing that Tom didn't speak, the girl's eyes dimmed slightly. Just as she turned to leave, she heard Tom's voice.
"Come watch the World Cup in August. If you have enough time, you can also stay at my house for a while."
Cassandra didn't turn around, she just waved her hand, but what Tom didn't see was that the girl's smile was harder to suppress than a magic wand.
His gaze fell upon the Iphamoni delegation, which was already fully prepared and ready to depart, his eyes flashing with an inexplicable light.
Yesterday, the vice principal took a few photos with the other principals after the awards ceremony and then left in a hurry, not even giving him a chance to make a move. He was as slippery as an eel.
With the departure of several schools, Hogwarts returned to normal, and the students began their final Easter holiday of the school year.
The pit that Hibiscus dug before she left made Tom's week miserable, as he had to put out fires everywhere.
It's a pity he can't use his looks yet, otherwise he could win her over much faster than with sweet talk and dates.
Unlike now, when Grindelwald calls him to pick up Barty Jr., he doesn't even have time to go. Compared to Barty Jr., it's more important to spend afternoon tea with Cho by the Black Lake.
Southwest London, Wandsworth, Clapham neighborhood.
This is the heart of old London, witnessing the Industrial Revolution and the last vestiges of the Victorian era, where a large number of Georgian and Victorian buildings have been preserved.
Crouch's house is located next to a lush park and is under a Muggle expulsion charm and a spatial concealment charm [similar to the Black family's Twelve Turns of Gerry Square].
Once Grindelwald was certain that Dumbledore had calmed down, or rather, was temporarily not going to hold a grudge against him, he quietly returned to England to fulfill his promise to Crouch—to take away young Tee Crouch.
The house-elf Sparky brought out Barty Crouch, who was like a walking corpse. It glanced furtively at the world-famous Dark Lord, Grindelwald, and when he looked at it, it hurriedly lowered its head, but still stood firmly in front of Barty.
Grindelwald didn't pay much attention to the house-elf. He looked at Barty, whose eyes were unfocused and who didn't seem to care about his arrival, and a playful smile appeared on his face.
Crouch.
"Hmm?" Crouch looked at him in confusion.
"Your Soul-Stealing Spell isn't very good, and your eyes need some treatment. Didn't you realize that your son could..."
Before Grindelwald could finish speaking, Barty's unfocused gaze instantly sharpened, filled with hatred. He pounced on Crouch like a cheetah, his target the wand in Crouch's hand.
Crouch was completely taken aback and stood there dumbfounded. Just as Barty's face lit up with joy and his finger was about to touch the wand, the air suddenly condensed into an invisible hammer that slammed into his chest. He crashed into the wall and coughed painfully.
"Well, as you can see, he can break free at any time."
Grindelwald's outstretched hand made a grasping motion, and the coffee table and table in the living room became as soft as noodles, binding up the still coughing Barty.
With two master wandless spellcasters by his side, Grindelwald's wandless spellcasting ability was greatly enhanced. Moreover, influenced by Tom, he increasingly preferred to use this understated and overwhelming method to deal with novices, proving that the two sides were not on the same level.
"Master!" The house-elf finally realized what was happening, screamed, and fell to the ground.
"Shut up!" Crouch snapped. "This is none of your business. Now go and prepare a sumptuous dinner for Mr. Grindelwald!"
Flash left the living room, glancing back every few steps. Crouch looked at Barty, who was still struggling, with a complicated expression.
"Mr. Grindelwald, you must be laughing at me. My dark magic skills are indeed quite poor; I even forgot the fact that casting a spell multiple times reduces its effectiveness..."
"Just let me handle it." Grindelwald interrupted Crouch's self-reflection with a smile. Barty the Younger was staring at him with a wolf-like, menacing gaze, which only piqued his interest.
"Do you need time for you and your son to catch up? If not, I'll take him away today."
Without a doubt, Barty Jr. was one of Voldemort's most loyal followers, his adoration perhaps only rivaled by Bella. The attempt to win over Barty Jr. became a silent battle between Grindelwald and Voldemort.
"There's nothing more to say." Crouch shook his head. "You can take him away tonight."
"Very well, Crouch. I assure you in Grindelwald's name that the next time we meet, you will see a completely different Barty Crouch."
Having missed the lavish meal prepared by Grindelwald, he seemed eager to train Barty and soon left London with his men.
The following day, Tom also published his final biography.
The Guardians of the Far East, the Crimson Sky Liu Family—who slay the White Serpent and seize the Dragon Vein!
In the West, pure-blooded lineages spanning millennia are few and far between. On that mystical land, thousand-year-old families are commonplace, and two-thousand-year-old clans are not uncommon [many surnames even originate from more ancient, primitive times].
Although the Liu family of Chixiao has a history of "only" a little over two thousand years, they are truly deserving of the title of guardians.
In the past, Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang awakened the bloodline of the Crimson Dragon by slaying a white serpent, and used the "Song of Chu on All Sides" formation to force Xiang Yu to commit suicide at Wujiang, thus converging the energies of the North and South to condense the dragon vein of the Central Plains.
From then on, the dragon vein and the Liu family became inextricably linked. When the Western Han Dynasty declined, the great mage Liu Xiu emerged and rebuilt the Eastern Han Dynasty with his unparalleled meteorite summoning technique and the Heavenly Fortune Pill (Eastern Blessing Elixir).
They are the only family that can openly participate in Muggle royal succession as wizards. During times of chaos, you'll always see someone surnamed Liu easily gather a large group of people by claiming descent from Emperor Gaozu of Han, only to inexplicably disappear once the chaos ends.
[Liu Yu, Liu Yao, Liu Heita, Liu Yuanjin, Liu Ji...]
In modern times, Mr. Liu Tao was just one step away from being elected president of the International Federation of Wizards (as an aside, who came up with the absurd idea of using a Qilin to elect the president? Do they know that such a thing is considered silly and foolish in their culture?)
Compared to many fantastical legendary figures in Europe, such as the Peverell brothers, the Liu family was a real, legendary family, deserving its place as the tenth in this chronicle.
.....2.1....
Two days after the article was published, Tom finally received a system notification.
[Congratulations, host! The major mission 'My Word is Truth' has achieved 100% approval. You have become a pinnacle in the history of magic. [You have absolute authority in the field of historical lineage.]
[Task rewards are being distributed... Distribution complete. The host has received 1,000 achievement points, 5,000 academic credits, and one special lottery draw opportunity.]
Tom, who was fast asleep in his history of magic class, suddenly looked up, casually wiped away the glistening tears from Daphne's lips, and his eyes were full of joy.
It wasn't easy... He's received three major tasks since enrolling, and after all this time, he's finally completed one.
It's been a while since we've had a Grand Prize draw. Last time, he got Kel'Thuzad's Lich Notes. What will he get this time?
Tom pondered in his mind, summarizing his own abilities and characteristics.
If he had to choose, he felt he needed Antonidas's experience and the final arcane reforging inscription method most, and hoped he could get those...
Tom glanced at the old ghost still babbling on the podium, but his mind was already elsewhere, itching to take the plunge.
Chapter 431 Hakuna Matata: Don't Worry
Even the Dark Lord's boss wouldn't dare skip Professor McGonagall's class.
Tom was eagerly anticipating the lottery, but the next lesson in History of Magic was Transfiguration. If it were Potions, he would have run away immediately, but Professor McGonagall...
Never mind, this is the one person you absolutely shouldn't mess with in school.
So even if he was in a hurry, he had to patiently wait until noon before he could use the harvest.
Finally, the school bell rang, and Tom turned the weasel on the table back into a pen holder almost as fast as he could. He told Daphne, "Don't wait for me to eat," and ran out of the castle.
Nobody knows what the lottery will give away, so as usual, let's go to the Forbidden Forest first, then the Small World.
[Host: Tom Riddle]
Identity: Third-year student at Hogwarts
Credits: 11,330
Achievement Points: 2,829
Rewards to be used: One Legendary draw chance and two Intermediate draw chances.
The legendary lottery is the reward you just received, while the intermediate lottery is a progress reward for becoming a 'New World Creator'.
With the diligent work of the little Lubans every day and the stable supply of raw materials, 'I Talk' no longer faces the predicament of insufficient production capacity.
However, the growth rate of its influence has begun to slow down.
It was not until the appearance of the Flowing Mirror that it broke through the 40 mark and gave Tom 11 achievement points and a chance to draw prizes.
One top-level achievement, two intermediate-level achievements.
Tom felt he couldn't be so hasty with this lottery draw; he had to take it seriously.
Half an hour later.
In the living room of the Little World Villa, Tom solemnly placed three lit cigars—Cohiba cigars—on the table and respectfully bowed three times.
The portrait being worshipped... was none other than himself!
Tom felt that... there were almost no people in this world who were qualified to receive his three bows.
Nico was qualified, after all, he was his teacher, who had taught him all his alchemy knowledge.
He had originally planned to retire and wait for death, but he had been busy with his affairs.
Bowing to him was no problem.
But the old man isn't very helpful... he can't be protected in this regard.
As for the others, Merlin? He'll definitely surpass him in the future; the two are rivals.
The legendary god?
Worshipping things that don't even exist might not be effective, so... after thinking it over, worshipping yourself is the safest option.
Of course, not him now, but him sometime in the future.
"Tom... if you have a spirit in heaven, oops, if you can capture my thoughts in the river of time, please bless me so that I get what I want this time..."
Tom watched quietly as the three sticks burned out, then immediately lit two more, using up his two intermediate lottery draws as quickly as possible, wanting to see if his future self would be any better.
Um?
Upon seeing two identical prizes, the boy fell into deep thought.
Is this thing... any good?
[High-level Item Scroll Fragment (1/3): Collect three fragments to exchange for any high-level item, including but not limited to real-world items, pets, and upgrades to learning space buildings.]
.]
Both rewards are the same, so now all you need is one more fragment to redeem any high-level reward.
The high-level rewards also include many things he can use now, such as Antonidas's arcane magic circuits, or upgrading the Meditation Room again.
Oh well... let's just say it's my future self using some kind of magic.
With a slightly complicated mindset, Tom used today's main event—the Grand Prize Lottery Ticket.
A flash of blue light caused his consciousness to waver for a moment. Suddenly, the magic in the room became active. No, to be precise, the entire small world, and even the outside world isolated by the suitcase, changed accordingly.
The magical creatures were more sensitive to magic than the wizards, and the Forbidden Forest was soon filled with chaos. Birds took flight, beasts roared, and even Hagrid, who was helping the professors gather herbs, was startled and frantically searched for the source of the disturbance.
Inside the miniature world, Tom, regaining his senses, saw the prize he had won.
A stick that gleams with gold and has a smiling sun on top.
The system provided timely instructions.
[Hakuna Matata: Do not worry (sealed) — My friend, may your future life be carefree and without worries.]
[Note: Originally a Primordial Grade staff, it has been automatically sealed due to a mismatch between the host's strength and the item's grade. There are no conditions for unsealing; it will automatically unseal to the corresponding state as the host's strength improves.]
You idiot, you pig-headed fool, get back to work in the fields!
For some reason, Tom had already heard the voice in his mind.
He reached out his hand, and 'Hakuna Matata: Mo Fanyou,' which was floating in the air, sensed his call and happily drew a circle in the air before falling down.
It was clearly a stick that looked a bit strange, but it somehow exuded a lively and carefree vibe. Looking at the smiling sun on top, Tom was also infected by it and couldn't help but smile.
As he gripped the wand, his magical activity increased countless times, and some of the functions of 'Hakuna Matata: Mo Fan You' also entered his mind.
Each time you use magic, it will trigger some unexpected effects.
First, the power of magic will be increased by a random amount; as for the exact extent of the increase, Tom will have to try it to find out.
Secondly, there are some random effects, such as increasing reaction speed, obtaining healing effects, and forming a powerful protective shield.
Most importantly... as the host of 'Hakuna Matata: Mo Fanyou', his luck will be enhanced to a certain extent, which is practically a blessing at the level of the rules.
"What a wonderful baby..."
Tom looked at the wand in his hand and sighed. The wand then trembled twice, showing its liveliness.
"This design is too eye-catching, let's make a slight change."
After rubbing it back and forth a few times, the smiling sun at the top 'shrank' to the staff, turning into a mark, and Mu nodded in satisfaction.
This looks much better.
Although it wasn't the Antonidas magical insights he needed most, his wand was another problem he urgently needed to solve. His original wand couldn't withstand the enormous magical power he now possessed, and it had basically become a mere decoration, only used when casting precise spells.
Tom had originally planned to find materials to have Ollivander forge him a stronger wand, but now he doesn't need to.
He is now unworthy of 'Hakuna Matata: Mo Fanyou', and his wand is in a semi-sealed state.
In the beginning...
In that place where apostles roamed freely, and it was countless times more dangerous than this world, the Primordial Rank was also a supreme existence, and had a great connection with the Creator.
The fact that such a high-level treasure could be obtained from a special skill lottery ticket... could it be that he's finally unleashing his full potential from the future?
Tom thought about it for a long time but still couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.
One of his great virtues is that he never engages in internal strife. Since it's not like he's the one who suffers a loss, why bother with all that?
The most urgent task now is, of course, to find someone to test the power of 'Hakuna Matata: No Worries'.
"Rowena! Taste the power of my brand new, massive 813!"
Amidst the sea of flowers, a woman reading a book frowned slightly, and the entire flower field seemed to dim because of her furrowed brow.
"Has this kid lost his mind?"
Tom's true colors... Aside from Joan of Arc, who was fooled and lacked any morals, who in the learning space doesn't know?
He never tried to hide it, and Grindelwald and Andros knew this all too well. Of course, everyone knew he was joking.
He used to only dare to tease her occasionally, but today he's being so arrogant. What has he gained this time to embolden himself?
Driven by curiosity, Ravenclaw floated up to Tom.
The boy immediately looked disgusted: "Why are you wearing a cheongsam? Go change your clothes, so you don't blame me for your attire if you lose to me later. I'll wait for you at the arena."
Ravenclaw was so angry he laughed, and without saying a word, he went back to the villa to change his clothes.
A few minutes later, when they arrived at the arena, Tom had already called over Grindelwald, Andros, Joan of Arc, and Ariana.
"Don't blame me for making you lose face in front of that little fool," Ravenclaw said mockingly, glancing at Joan of Arc.
Joan of Arc shook her head earnestly, "The Divine Child is only fourteen years old. The fact that he can challenge you already proves that he has unparalleled talent in the world. How can it be considered shameful?"
"At least at your age, you were far inferior to the Divine Child."
Ravenclaw's smile froze.
Is this country girl deliberately trying to bring her bad luck? Can't she even tell when she's joking?
"It's still uncertain who will lose."
Holding Mo Fanyou tightly, Tom felt himself swell up, and his wand was raised high like a drawn sword.
To everyone's astonishment, a blazing sun slammed down on the somewhat dumbfounded Ravenclaw!
Chapter 432 Fighting Beyond One's Rank? Nicolas Flamel Returns Home
How big is the gap between a legend and a king of the century?
Grindelwald has no right to comment on this issue, because his strength is not among the strongest of the Kings of the Century.
But Andros definitely has it.
This disparity is unlike that between students and adult wizards, or even elite Aurors, where a surprise attack or numerical superiority can reverse the situation.
What makes legendary wizards so enigmatic is their understanding of the essence of magic. They have transcended the level of chanting spells and casting magic, and instead sought to understand the structure of the world and the operation of its rules.
The King of the Century's methods of imbuing magic with his willpower, which amplified its power, were laughably childish in their eyes. They could easily erase those enhancements, turning the raging spells into docile kittens, and then dispel them with a wave of their hand.
But this ironclad rule seems to have failed today, as Ravenclaw has become unusually serious in the face of Tom's world-shaking offensive.
She took out her magic wand for the first time.
Or rather... he took out a book.
Who says a wand has to be a stick?
Ravenclaw transformed her wand into a book, a book containing all her wisdom and painstaking effort.
Countless spells flew out from it, some rushing towards Tom, some soaring into the sky and stirring up the wind and clouds. The battlefield rapidly expanded, and before anyone knew it, the arena had become a pile of ruins.
Grindelwald and the others retreated again and again. The hazy, scattered light spots shrouded the battlefield, making it impossible for them to see what was happening inside. Andros tried to tear a small gap, but it required a lot of force before he was blown out by the raging energy storm.
Finally, fifteen minutes later.
The light dimmed, and the storm dissipated.
Tom lay on the ground panting, while Ravenclaw reclined leisurely on a deck chair. The difference between them seemed stark, with Ravenclaw only having a slightly dirty hem.
But only Tom had just seen the voluptuous figure revealed after the clothes had been torn to shreds.
"Rowena, I'll definitely win next time." Even though he was lying on the ground, Tom was still defiant and shouted in front of the others.
Ravenclaw ignored him and only looked at the wand in the boy's hand.
Where did this thing come from?
She could naturally tell that the hard-won victory today was not due to Tom's significant improvement, but purely to the wand.
The power of the spells it unleashed was extremely unstable, making it very difficult for her to deal with.
Sometimes, when she was on high alert, the result was just a gentle breeze, and just when she relaxed her vigilance, it would suddenly erupt, catching her off guard.
"It was sent back by my future self," Tom said earnestly.
Ravenclaw rolled his eyes speechlessly, but in his heart... there was actually a slight wavering.
Could it really be a wonderful gift that Tom will send back in the future?
She would have dismissed such talk as nonsense if it came from anyone else, but Tom had displayed so many amazing qualities that it wouldn't be surprising if even the most unbelievable things happened to him.
The others, overhearing the conversation, understood why Tom was being so arrogant today. Their eyes fell on 'Hakuna Matata: Mo Fanyou', but after looking at it for a long time, they couldn't see anything special about it.
Even the Elder Wand couldn't make the King of the Century cause trouble for a legend, could it?
Tom offered no explanation, sprang to his feet, and with a wave of his hand, restored the now-ruined arena. He then uttered a harsh remark to Ravenclaw before slipping away from Joan of Arc and Ariana's hands.
Grindelwald and Andros looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Ms. Ravenclaw, is that wand really that powerful?" Grindelwald asked politely.
Ravenclaw pondered for a moment, nodded, then shook his head: "It's not about how powerful it is... I can't really say. Tom's magic was transformed after passing through that wand. I reckon you could challenge Andros with it."
Grindelwald's expression changed instantly, his eyes filled with fervor.
So strong?
If they can even challenge Andros, wouldn't that guarantee a win against Dumbledore?
Grindelwald's mind started racing. It wasn't that he coveted the treasure; he just wanted to borrow it to suppress Dumbledore and give him a good beating.
Unfortunately, Grindelwald didn't know that treasures from the Arad continent are all non-tradeable. The Happy Stick can only be used by Tom; even if he agreed to lend it to someone else, that person wouldn't be able to use it.
Over the next few days, Tom worked hard to adjust to the changes brought about by the new wand.
The biggest gain is that he has been able to control the random amplification and prevent it from fluctuating during regular training. He has successfully turned a passive approach into an active one.
Secondly, there's the effect of his 'strong luck'.
These days, he's finally starting to look like a lucky one.
He can find money on the street, he won the grand prize for being a lucky viewer three times in a row by subscribing to the Daily Prophet, and he can read the newspaper for free for three years.
He also got several rare Chocolate Frog cards, which he then gave to Sabini, who collects these things.
"Can the effect of strong luck be reflected in the lottery?"
The thought flashed through Tom's mind, but unfortunately he didn't have any more chances to try it out.
On Friday evening, Tom took Astoria and quietly left school after class, arriving at Zuckerberg's house.
"Hello, Grandpa Nico. Hello, Grandma Perena."
Astoria's obedience brought a kind smile to the old couple's faces. They nodded slightly to the girl, and the house-elf immediately brought over exquisite tea and snacks.
Tom didn't receive that treatment; the old man didn't even glance at him after he came in, but he didn't mind, and casually sat down next to Mrs. Perenall to chat with her. [After a few minutes...]
The lady was overjoyed.
Tom Riddle was quite the charmer when it came to women, especially older women. He really knew his stuff; Voldemort used this trick to swindle the Golden Cup from Hepzigba.
It wasn't until dinner that evening that Nico revealed the reason he had called Tom over that day.
"Perez and I are getting ready to go back to France."
Tom, who was eating snails, was taken aback and looked up in surprise: "Why are you suddenly going back?"
"It's all because of what you've been doing lately. We've had a lot of material wastage, so I contacted a friend in France to get more stock this time. But because the quantity is large, it will take some time."
Nico glanced at the silver-haired girl discreetly. There were some things that were inconvenient to say in front of Astoria, so he could only say them subtly, since Tom would understand anyway.
Tom suddenly realized that he hadn't paid attention to the Golden Apple Tree during this time, but he had heard Newt complain about the severe damage.
If the farming tools used inside are not replaced regularly, they will gradually turn into corpses due to the influence of the environment.
Tom and Nico didn't care, but they couldn't ignore Newt's thoughts, so they had to find alternative farm tools.
These transferred farm tools aren't simply turned into experimental materials. They can be kept in a place for a while, given some magic potions, and reused several times.
"Then you should finish your work as soon as possible and come back soon.
Things aren't peaceful outside,"
Tom reminded him.
He had seen some things through the power of time.
He already knew that Bella and Voldemort had met up, and he wanted to go and arrest them directly, but that was something that would happen in the future.
He didn't know the exact time or the exact location.
Nicolas Flamel's gaze sharpened, but he said nothing, only nodding slightly.
He knew Tom wouldn't speak without reason, and besides, Grindelwald was still wandering around outside, so things weren't exactly peaceful.
After the dinner, Tom gave Nico a magic rune that was entirely made of magic.
After being crushed, the runes not only form a powerful protective shield, but also allow him to receive information instantly; it is the latest research result of the Mind Avatar.
Nico didn't refuse and put it away with great interest, seemingly intending to study it.
The next day, when Tom woke up, the two old people had already left.
He first sent Astoria back to Greengrass Manor before heading to the Masters Guild headquarters in Diagon Alley.
"Tom, you've finally arrived!" Sirius was waiting at the door. He greeted him with a big hug and a smile. "The others arrived early this morning and are waiting for you in the conference room."
Where is Crouch?
"He arrived earlier, and I haven't even asked yet, how did you convince that rigid guy to work for you?"
"It's very simple."
Tom walked into the guild with a smile, "and talked to him about dreams and the future, and Crouch was moved by my sincerity."
"Your level of lying is nothing like Slytherin's," Sirius retorted.
Sirius left after dropping him off at the conference room door. He had no interest in the power struggles between businessmen and naturally wouldn't waste his time there.
Tom pushed open the door and entered.
The dozens of wizards in the room immediately stood up, their faces beaming with warm smiles as they greeted them. These people were all dressed in suits and ties, and they looked more like white-collar elites from the Muggle world than wizards.
Tom gave a perfunctory response, nodded to Crouch, and sat down in the main seat.
The people present today are either managers of professional Quidditch clubs or heads of merchandise companies.
They came here for one purpose only—
Use gliders to promote your products or competitions.
"Everyone here is very busy, and I also have many guests to attend to. Let's skip the unnecessary pleasantries and get straight to the point."
Tom snapped his fingers, and the light in the room instantly dimmed, while the mirror behind him lit up.
"My goal isn't just to have the Mirror of Light appear in the center of the commercial district or in the halls of the Ministry of Magic (Zhao Wang's), but rather to appear in every wizard's home, just like I've described. You all know what Muggle television is like, right?"
Everyone present nodded in agreement. Merchants are the most sensitive to changes in the world. Many of them understand the Muggle world, constantly drawing inspiration from it, packaging suitable products, and taking them to the magical world to make money.
For example, Sirius Black's old flying motorcycle now belongs to Hagrid, who said it cost him 20,000 Galleons.
It was precisely because they understood the transformative impact of television on the advertising industry that they approached Tom for cooperation like sharks smelling fish. If they could seize this opportunity, they could potentially crush their competitors, or even bankrupt them.
"Let's start with Quidditch." Tom looked around. "Which one of you represents a Quidditch League team?"
Ooooo! Ooooo!
Seven or eight people immediately raised their hands, and one of the chubby men couldn't wait to introduce himself: "Mr. Riddle, I am William Tathill, the owner and manager of the Tathill Tornadoes."
Tom's eyes lit up when he saw him.
Tathill Tornadoes? That's Qiu's favorite team.
"Mr. Tathill, do you have any plans to sell the team?"
Tarthill: "???"
..
I was so busy I forgot to post it. This counts as yesterday, and I won't forget to post it today either.
Chapter 433 the Russians' Incessant Internal Strife: Pulling People Onto the Pirate Ship
Tathill was stunned.
Wasn't he here to discuss broadcasting rights for the matches? How did it suddenly turn into talking about selling the team?
"My girlfriend is a huge fan of your team," Tom explained with a smile.
Tathill blurted out, "The French watch British games?"
Tom: "..."
Now Tom is speechless. Now the whole world knows that Fleur is his girlfriend. Does that mean he'll have to bring other girls out to make his presence known again?
Tom felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of all the gossip and rumors that might ensue.
He didn't want his love life to become the subject of wizards' idle gossip.
Seeing Tom's face suddenly darken, Tathill's heart jumped, and he said with a wry smile, "Mr. Riddle, I really have no intention of selling the team. This is my family's ancestral property. Even if the results are bad, the team can still be managed to keep going."
He thought Tom was angry because he refused, but even if he was angry, he couldn't sell it.
No one wants to be a spendthrift who sells off their family property unless they are forced to.
"It's alright." Tom's expression softened. "My girlfriend, Qiu Zhang, is a big fan of your club. The club bought the property as a birthday gift for her. Since it's family property, then forget about it."
"Give me a set of autographed photos of players from all eras, is that alright?"
Tathill nodded repeatedly, promising to deliver it the next day.
"Let's get back to the main topic..."
Tom stopped dwelling on it and steered the conversation back on track, explaining his plan.
It was actually quite simple: acquire the broadcasting rights to Quidditch League matches, with no connection to the teams generating revenue, and he wouldn't have to pay any broadcasting fees. "Ten years." 733
It sounds like an unfair contract, but in reality, the league doesn't lose out either.
Many Quidditch teams are currently operating at a loss or barely breaking even, as their income comes solely from ticket sales and meager sponsorships on their team uniforms.
Although we won't get paid this year, broadcasting the games can increase the buzz and indirectly boost attendance at the venue.
Once the revenue sharing ratio is renegotiated a year later, the income will surge.
The Quidditch team managers present had no objections, but this matter required the consent of all teams. They did not rush to agree, but instead contacted those who were not present, as well as league staff.
Unfortunately, not everyone is reasonable. Out of the twenty teams, three disagreed with Tom's terms and wanted to receive the money this year.
This put Tatehill and the others in an awkward position.
Tom waved his hand dismissively, "Just stop broadcasting their games. If the league wants money, you can start your own league. The power is in my hands now, not yours or theirs."
He doesn't like to eat alone, but he insists on having the final say on how the cake is divided. If someone disagrees, he'll flip the table and make a new cake.
The managers exchanged glances, discussed the matter with the other teams for a moment, and finally agreed to Tom's arrangement.
After the deal was settled, they left. What followed was Tom's collaboration with the advertisers. Don't listen to how much it costs; the bigger the amount, the more painful it will be if you don't get it.
Since this was the first time 'television commercials' had appeared, they didn't know the specific effects or how much each ad slot should cost. Tom didn't know either, so they decided to hold a small auction [to auction off the ad slots according to time slots].
He might suffer losses at first, but as the market matures, the price will definitely gradually come to a reasonable level.
Advertisers also agreed to this approach.
Half an hour later, several advertising spaces were won by Light Wheel, Bibi Duoweidou, and Extraordinary Clothing Store respectively.
Several companies are satisfied with the price, and now they are just waiting to see how the results are after the league starts.
Soon after signing the contract, these people left, but Tom did not leave the Wizarding Guild; instead, he waited for the next group of guests.
He didn't have to wait long before people from several radio stations arrived.
The Mirror of Light can't just have Quidditch as its channel. Radio programs can be shown on the big screen. He doesn't care what the content is, as long as it's rich enough to give wizards more choices and more reasons to buy.
It wasn't until 6 p.m. that Tom finally met with everyone he was supposed to see that day, and he leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.
"This is such a hassle..."
Tom was fed up with the tedious and boring backstabbing and scheming, and he preferred to spend his time studying rather than dealing with those businessmen.
But there's no way around it; promoting the Flowing Light Mirror is for the sake of the mission, and completing the mission is also for becoming stronger.
"Crouch, I'll leave these remaining details to you.
My requirements are simple: don't relinquish any profits you're entitled to, and don't try to monopolize profits if possible.
On that basis, promote the use of the Mirror of Light as much as possible, striving to ensure that every wizarding family has at least one, just like the one I mentioned."
Crouch nodded silently.
He really wanted to say... this had nothing to do with the work of the Wizarding Guild, but he was too embarrassed to refuse the task assigned by his boss.
Especially recently, Barty's condition has improved. The last time he communicated with Grindelwald, he could hear his son's loud screams and curses, which was much better than his previous zombie-like state.
Tom is already impatient dealing with domestic merchants today, but he has to face all the other countries... No, he needs to find some helpers.
Crouch pondered who else he could drag into this mess, when suddenly Ludo Bagman's cheerful face flashed into his mind.
Although Crouch didn't think highly of Ludo Bagman's office skills, he appreciated his social skills and his fluency in several languages, which could help alleviate some of the pressure.
While preoccupied with other things, Crouch didn't forget to have Sparkle bring over the prepared dinner.
Tom was also hungry, so the two of them used the conference room as a restaurant and started eating.
"How's the championship going?" Tom asked.
"In addition to the original five schools, I am also in contact with Kostoris, Vagado, and the Magic Institute. Currently, Kostoris has explicitly refused, but the other two schools are considering it, so there shouldn't be any major problems."
"Refuse?" The boy raised an eyebrow. "What's the reason for the refusal? Are those Russians scared?"
Kostoris is a magic school located in the land of the Russian bear, and its students are mostly Slavs and some Central Asians.
"They have some internal problems," Crouch said. "The major events of the past two years haven't fully stabilized yet.
People who were originally from the same country are now not only divided, but new conflicts and hatreds have emerged.
The external turmoil has spread to the school, and there have reportedly been bloodshed."
Tom nodded knowingly. The infighting among Russians was indeed fierce, and not entirely incomprehensible.
Back at the university, after obtaining permission from the professors, Tom installed a mirror in each college and gave each professor a small mirror so they could hang it in their office or study.
Professor McGonagall was probably the happiest of them all. She was a huge Quidditch fanatic, but due to the many things she did at school, she rarely had the chance to watch a game live.
McGonagall initially didn't want to accept it, as it would make her feel awkward if a professor always accepted gifts from students.
But when she heard that she could watch the game next weekend, and it was her favorite Cammer Falcons against Mudpool United, she reluctantly accepted it.
Tom's smile finally broke as he stepped out of Professor McGonagall's office.
He clearly distinguished between the big and small figures within the school. Dumbledore's agreement was useless; only Professor McGonagall's consent could allow the Mirror of Light to remain in the lounge.
Um?
When the topic of the two kings came up, Tom suddenly remembered that he hadn't given Dumbledore a gift yet, so he immediately turned around and headed upstairs.
The young wizards were filled with curiosity about the appearance of the Mirror of Light.
They already knew from the newspapers that the last Quidditch match and the final of the Duel Tournament had been broadcast, and tens of thousands of wizards around the world watched the matches.
They had also become part of the audience.
This time, instead of being the ones receiving the broadcast, they became the viewers, watching Quidditch matches. Many people are already eagerly waiting for the weekend to experience the magic of the Mirror of Light.
This mentality also affected the atmosphere inside the castle. Many people became restless and irritable, did not pay attention in class, and often daydreamed. With the school year coming to an end, the students were still so undisciplined. The professors were furious and began to crack down hard.
The sudden increase in workload made the young wizards miserable, but the more tired they were, the faster time seemed to pass.
Before I knew it, another week had passed, and finally it was Saturday afternoon.
After lunch, everyone returned to their respective rest rooms as quickly as possible without any delay, waiting for the match to start at 2 p.m.
Tom didn't make any special arrangements, and he secured a prime spot with Big Furny and Astoria.
He didn't have any expectations for the competition; he just liked the feeling, which reminded him of the weekly movie-watching class in his junior high school days, which was second only to the free physical education class in popularity.
Unfortunately... the PE teacher isn't in good health, and the math and English teachers are too helpful, so they only teach a few classes a semester.
"Tom."
A gentle female voice echoed in his mind, startling Tom, who was telling Daphne lame jokes. He instinctively asked himself:
"Rowena, what's wrong?"
Ravenclaw rarely contacts him first, but each time it's for something significant.
"There has been some progress in the research on Horcruxes, and I need your assistance."
Chapter 434 Rowena, Where Are You Touching?! A Miraculous Method
Tom breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that it was related to Horcruxes.
As long as this woman doesn't cause me trouble, that's fine.
Tom often wanted to drag out those people in history books who praised Ravenclaw for being dignified, beautiful, elegant, and graceful, and give them a good beating.
Don't you feel any remorse when you write these comments? This woman is completely faking it!
In Tom's mind, Ravenclaw was a witch, and a petty one at that. She had suffered a small loss in their last sparring match and had been looking for an opportunity to get revenge.
The woman also said that excessive reliance on external things would affect one's mindset and hinder progress, and she wouldn't allow him to use the "happy stick."
They make it sound so noble, but all they really think is that using a "happy stick" is troublesome to clean up and makes it easy to expose their true intentions.
"No problem, I'll come find you later," Tom readily agreed.
Ravenclaw fell silent, and as the light mirror lit up, the students were instantly alerted.
The tracing mirror is not only a playback device; with slight modifications and the addition of a control device, it can also be used for recording and broadcasting without requiring any knowledge of communication protocols.
After a few commercials, the competition began. The young wizards contributed their snacks, and some even had their house-elves buy drinks from the Three Broomsticks, turning the lounge into a bar.
Even people who aren't particularly interested in Quidditch are easily caught up in the game, their emotions fluctuating with the progress of the match. Supporters of both teams even started arguing, which Tom watched with a quiet nod of approval.
In the magical world, where entertainment is scarce, simply appearing on a few shows is enough to satisfy the wizards.
He doesn't create content, he only works on platforms and devices, and he doesn't know to what extent he needs to develop to complete the task.
The first game ended with the Mudpool United Seeker catching the Golden Snitch. In the Gryffindor lounge, Wood jumped around excitedly like a gorilla because he had received an offer from the Mudpool United and would become a member of their team after graduating this year.
"I wonder how much those 'flowing mirrors' cost," Harry said curiously, snapping out of his reverie during the exciting match. "If we could buy one for the house, it would be great to watch the game with Little Wolf."
Ronald squinted, not responding to Harry's words.
He certainly wanted to buy it, but Weasley's family circumstances made Ronald realize that it was simply impossible.
"The next game is the Charlie Cannons," Ronald said. "I dream of going to see them play."
"You'd better not go, Ronnie."
Fred, who was not far away, heard his brother's words and mocked, "They've only won two games this season. Going to the stadium to watch them lose will only make you feel worse."
"Are they really my brothers?" Ronald looked at Harry in disbelief. Harry smiled sheepishly. "Watching the game, watching the game."
Fred made a sarcastic remark but didn't continue the conversation. Instead, he whispered with George, discussing how to get Tom to give them an advertising space.
If they could advertise during such a competition, their joke products would definitely sell like hotcakes.
Tom didn't watch the second game; he just wanted to experience the atmosphere. Quidditch wasn't very entertaining, so he preferred watching the NBA in North America. The NBA these days is all about fighting and dribbling the ball, a far cry from the soft sport it is decades later.
With Ravenclaw still on his mind, Tom returned to the small world and his consciousness entered the learning space, where he found Ravenclaw.
"I have some ideas that I need to test with real objects. Would you lend me your body?"
Horcruxes are unique; they can be considered part of Voldemort. Tom can materialize other objects, even magical items, within the learning space, but Horcruxes cannot.
Tom readily agreed after hearing this.
He took out the crown and then activated the "Physical Action Mode," granting Ravenclaw control over it.
With his strength now reaching the level of the King of the Century, and his personal safety fully guaranteed, Tom hasn't used this method for a long time.
Ravenclaw quickly took control of the body.
A smile appeared on Tom's handsome face. He still looked good enough to dazzle countless girls, but there was something... a little... ashamed?
"What an amazing method! It feels completely natural, as if this were my own body all along. It's incredible magic... Tom, are you even human?"
Ravenclaw didn't rush to deal with the Horcruxes; instead, he first studied Tom.
Without even consciously trying, the vitality of this body was impacting her soul, and the vibrant magic that could overflow at any moment made even Ravenclaw feel inferior.
Neither in terms of activity nor quantity did she live as abnormally as Tom when she was alive.
"I need to hurry up and bully this little guy, or I'll miss my chance if he gets a bit stronger," Ravenclaw thought to himself, a rare sense of urgency rising within him.
With such exaggerated talent... even without that powerful wand, once Tom becomes a legend, she would have absolutely no chance of winning, not even Helga. Perhaps Godric or Salazar would have a chance.
But this only applies to the period right after Tom's promotion. Once he adapts to the "new world," he will probably be invincible.
Ravenclaw never shied away from admitting that her combat abilities were inferior to the other two founders. She was a scholar-wizard, focused on researching magic, not on how to send people to hell.
"Hiss—! You damned Rowena! Where are you reaching for me?!"
Tom jolted awake, almost managing to 'take over' and regain control.
"I've never been a man before, isn't this just curiosity?"
Ravenclaw pursed her lips. Of course, she was using Tom's body, but even so, she still moved her hand away from below.
"I'm still a child."
Tom angrily warned, "Stop touching it! Horcrux! Horcrux!"
"How stingy! Hey? Where's your wand?"
Ravenclaw sighed, then suddenly realized that the wand that Tom had been holding was gone—no, it had disappeared the moment she appeared.
"Don't bother looking anymore. That wand is only for me. You can use my old one; I've already prepared it for you."
Ravenclaw then noticed the wand placed next to the crown, and his curiosity about the Happy Wand grew even stronger. The Old Man's Wand would abandon its defeated master and embrace the victor, but Tom's wand was the opposite, being extremely loyal to its master.
...Please give me flowers...…
But this time, in order to study Horcruxes, she had to suppress her curiosity, pick up her wand, and whisper to the crown.
Tom is now considered a master of ancient languages. After studying with Ravenclaw for so long, he immediately recognized that she was reciting the Ogan inscription from the Celts.
As Ravenclaw chanted, the magic within Tom surged, forming points of starlight. The light gathered in the air, coalescing into an ice-blue band of light that continuously washed over the crown.
Soon the crown floated up from the table, trembling violently, and green mist drifted out from it, forming a hideous and terrifying skull.
"How did you do that?" Tom couldn't help but ask.
This scene was too unbelievable. He knew all too well how troublesome Horcruxes were. Only a few spells could destroy Horcruxes, but extracting the soul from them was ten or even a hundred times more difficult than destroying them.
Dumbledore hasn't destroyed the Slytherin locket yet because he's researching ways to separate the two, but he hasn't made any progress.
0...
Ravenclaw did it.
Even though Tom listened to her chanting the spell the whole time, and she was using her own magic, he still couldn't figure out what methods Ravenclaw had used.
"Hmm... Don't be fooled by how easy this step seems; a complete separation is quite troublesome."
While manipulating magic to continuously wash over the crown, Ravenclaw answered Tom's question: "Usurping the crown, I used the will carried in the magic to create the illusion of making a Horcrux. The surge of will naturally provokes the Voldemort soul fragment's counterattack."
"If you want to destroy this soul, you can do it now. Of course, there will be residue inside the crown. Repeat it a few more times to completely remove it and keep the crown intact."
She then explained in detail the secret hidden in the spell. Tom listened very attentively, asking questions whenever he didn't understand something. Even though Ravenclaw explained it several times, he didn't feel embarrassed at all.
Everyone thinks differently. Before finding a common ground, even the simplest truths can be confusing.
Ravenclaw was not impatient; instead, he patiently explained in different ways.
She didn't think Tom was stupid at all; on the contrary, she believed that this was a characteristic of intelligent people, because intelligent people always think more than ordinary people.
"Alright." Ravenclaw suddenly stopped what he was doing, and the magical cleansing also stopped.
She pointed the tip of her wand at the green skull in the air. A strange ripple appeared in the air, and the skull twisted slightly. Tom paused for a moment... and said uncertainly:
"Confusion Spell?"
"That's right." Ravenclaw was in a good mood and nodded with a smile. "It's the Confusion Charm."
"I'm trying to confuse this soul's perception. As long as it believes it's your Horcrux, then my plan will have succeeded."
"That sounds so unreliable!"
Even the unconventional Tom was skeptical of Ravenclaw's ideas. You can distort the soul's perception, but that doesn't mean you can distort its essence.