Chapter 128: Legendary, Awards, Q&A

Professor Sprout stared blankly at Ciel. It took her quite a while to react. Her whole person was somewhat disheveled. What? A subject like Shadow Thorns... all herbologists had to obediently use the Disillusionment Charm to cultivate it. Yet Ciel had quietly developed a new method? If Professor Sprout didn't have absolute trust in Ciel, if someone else had said this to her, she would have suspected it was some "folk herbologist" trying to scam funding. Immediately after, Professor Sprout, having come to her senses, became as energetic as if she'd been injected with adrenaline. Her previous gloom was swept away completely. Her whole person became excited. "Let's go. Take me to the little greenhouse to see!" When Professor Sprout arrived at the little greenhouse, her gaze immediately fell on Shadow. With her herbology master's discernment, she could naturally see that Shadow had successfully cultivated Shadow Thorns. Even these characteristics were obviously much superior to ordinary Shadow Thorns. "This could already be called a superior Shadow Thorns variety, couldn't it?" Professor Sprout suddenly felt like she was dreaming. For ordinary herbologists, being able to optimize one magical plant in their lifetime and create a new subspecies would be considered a life without regrets. Yet Ciel had only attended school for just over a semester. How many new varieties had emerged through his hands? Blood Jade, Piranha Algae. Adding the Shadow Thorns before her, that made three! If this continued... Just thinking about it, Professor Sprout couldn't help but smile. This made her happier than achieving top results herself! After Professor Sprout finally regained her composure, her curiosity as a herbologist made her immediately ask with interest. "Ciel. How did you do it? Is there some special method?" Ciel shook his head at this. "Nothing special. I just thought that the Disillusionment Charm provides invisibility. Invisibility Cloaks also provide invisibility. So perhaps an Invisibility Cloak could replace the Disillusionment Charm." Professor Sprout frowned. "Just like that? Herbologists thought of this idea long ago. Historical herbologists used the best Invisibility Cloaks they could find. But none seemed to work." Ciel said quietly, "Perhaps the Invisibility Cloaks they used weren't good enough. For instance, they didn't use the one that's been passed down in the Potter family for nearly a thousand years, still maintaining super strong magic, almost undetectable by any countermeasures." As he spoke, Ciel demonstrated for Professor Sprout. When she saw a section of Shadow Thorns root actually pass through the most difficult cultivation threshold under the Invisibility Cloak, Professor Sprout gasped. It could be done like this? So the reason the plan that had been rejected by the herbology world was unfeasible was because the Invisibility Cloaks used had never been high-grade enough? Ciel felt somewhat embarrassed at this point. "So actually this method doesn't have much practical value..." But before he could finish speaking, Professor Sprout interrupted him with a serious expression. "Genius. Ciel, you truly are a genius in herbology. Only a genius would have such extraordinary ideas. Only a genius would dare challenge accepted common sense and create new possibilities. Practical value? That's something only the vulgar need to consider. Geniuses only need to create... this is undoubtedly a groundbreaking achievement!" Ciel was somewhat surprised. "But as long as someone else can borrow this Invisibility Cloak, they could actually replicate it too." Professor Sprout's face was full of pride. "Then why don't they borrow it? Don't they want to? Connections are also a kind of strength. Only a genius like you, Ciel, could borrow this Invisibility Cloak and think to use it for Shadow Thorns cultivation." Her eyes lit up, and then she clapped her hands. "I've got it. I've already thought of the new paper's title. 'A Revolutionary Method to Bypass Disillusionment Charm Requirements in Shadow Thorns Cultivation.' Another top journal publication guaranteed!" Ciel felt a bit dizzy. Was this the power of his herbology master aunt? Publishing in top journals like it was nothing. If he'd had such an aunt in his past life, would he have needed to work so hard farming? In his past life, he envied academic elites. In this life, I am the academic elite! At this time, Professor Sprout also sighed. "Too bad Christmas has long passed; even New Year's is over. All awards from the Herbology Association were given out last year. Otherwise, if your Shadow Thorns achievement had also been published last year, you might have had a chance to compete for the herbology world's Youth Award." Mentioning this, Professor Sprout felt somewhat regretful. Missing this award seemed quite unfortunate to her. Ciel didn't know much about these things. He asked with some confusion. "But I already received a Second-Class Medal from the Herbology Association. Is the Youth Award very important?" Professor Sprout shook her head and said seriously. "These can't be compared. The Second-Class Herbology Medal is very rare, but it's mainly honorary. But the herbology world's Youth Award has actual benefits. Since long ago, to encourage young herbologists, the association gives each year's winners some of the association's treasures." "For instance, alchemical items helpful to herbology, rare potions needed for cultivating precious herbs. Moreover, if achievements are outstanding enough, the association might even give seeds of certain ancient plants as incentives. Some seeds are even as ancient as the Whomping Willow!" Hearing this, Ciel's eyes immediately lit up. The Whomping Willow... this was a plant that could provide Epic-tier rewards when mature. Besides the World Tree root, it was arguably the highest-level plant he currently possessed. Without Professor Sprout's gift, Ciel didn't know when he'd be able to obtain such a plant. Therefore, if there was a chance to get more items of a similar level, he certainly couldn't give up. However, Professor Sprout said somewhat regretfully, "I thought you were still some distance from this award, so I didn't plan for it. If I'd known, it would have been better to publish both papers in the same year. Many herbologists hoping to win the Youth Award operate this way... generally you need at least two top journal publications in the same year to have a chance at competing for the award." Professor Sprout's face was full of shame, regretting how she'd forgotten this detail. But after pondering for a moment, Ciel pointed to the already planted Devil's Snare. "Aunt. Do you think this Devil's Snare could also result in a top journal publication?" Professor Sprout suddenly paused. "Ah? Devil's Snare?" She reflexively turned to look. When she'd first entered the little greenhouse, her mind had been full of the Shadow Thorns Ciel mentioned. She'd overlooked the Devil's Snare. Now looking carefully, Professor Sprout was suddenly stunned. "This, this is?" The Devil's Snare, in her view, though still in the elementary stage of cultivation, Professor Sprout could tell at a glance that this was also an improved subspecies. She looked at Ciel in shock. "Ciel. Don't tell me this is also your original method?" After hesitating for a moment, Ciel gently nodded. "Sort of. 'Devil's Snare Improvement Method Based on Sectumsempra'... does this paper title work, Aunt?" Professor Sprout took a deep breath. Before she could speak, Ciel mentioned Blood Jade. "Before long, perhaps Blood Jade can also be mass-cultivated. Publish another paper then? Three papers... would that be enough to compete for this year's Herbology Youth Award, Aunt?" Professor Sprout hadn't finished that breath she'd just taken. Now she took another deep breath. Then suddenly her face flushed red. Without a word, she turned and left. In less than a moment, she returned with a large bundle of Shadow Thorns roots, shoving them into Ciel's hands. Then with her face still flushed, she quickly left again. Ciel was stunned and was about to follow. Then he heard laughter from outside the little greenhouse that didn't quite match Professor Sprout's usual image. Accompanied by some excited words. "My Ciel has legendary potential! Who stands at herbology's peak? All become nothing upon seeing Ciel! Since my boy has emerged, he shall suppress all enemies in the herbology world! Hehehe!" Ciel gulped down some saliva. His eyes also showed worry. "Aunt's mental state... is there really no problem?" Not long after, seeing Professor Sprout kick open the door to her office, the same thought appeared in Dumbledore's mind. "Pomona... Did you eat some strange herb? Are you sure you're alright?" Professor Sprout showed a brilliant smile. "Fine, how could I not be fine? I feel excellent. Better than ever before." Dumbledore was even more worried. When the meeting had just ended this morning, Professor Sprout had clearly been the angriest. How long had it been? How had the clouds cleared and she become so happy? "Pomona." Dumbledore wiped cold sweat. "Like this, calm down a bit. About Ciel's usage rights to the little greenhouse, I definitely won't let any so-called review committee..." Before he finished speaking, Professor Sprout laughed coldly. "Review. Let them review. They can examine however they want. I didn't come here to talk about that, Dumbledore." Dumbledore was completely puzzled. Then he saw Professor Sprout take out a section of Devil's Snare. Just as he was wondering, Professor Sprout pointed her wand. This Devil's Snare section seemed to wake up, wrapping around the corner of Dumbledore's desk and twisting hard. The next moment, Dumbledore's walnut desk had a corner directly twisted off. He stared blankly at this scene. What? He'd also seen the Devil's Snare Professor Sprout had arranged in the second obstacle protecting the Philosopher's Stone. It hadn't been this frighteningly powerful. Then he heard Professor Sprout say coldly, "Dumbledore, I plan to replace all the Devil's Snare in my obstacle with this variety. Not only that, I want to coat them with fire-resistant juice. And poison too." Dumbledore's heart trembled. "Pomona. Wouldn't doing this be a bit excessive..." The next moment, Professor Sprout pulled out a pot of Fanged Geraniums and smashed it on Dumbledore's desk. She roared angrily, "Ciel is the brilliant star of our Sprout family. Some people are causing trouble for my boy? Then I need to let them know that doing so will anger me. Making me angry... that's the real trouble!" Dumbledore shuddered. He groaned inwardly. So this was why you shouldn't provoke Hufflepuffs! When Hufflepuffs got desperate, when they went crazy, no one could bear the consequences! No, this was too frightening. "Alright, Pomona. Let's do as you say. Just control the intensity a bit... don't kill people in the second obstacle." At this time, Ciel recovered from his worry. He felt that with Professor Sprout's knowledge as a herbology master, she wouldn't develop mental problems over something like this. Then he looked at the large bundle of Shadow Thorns roots in his hands. His eyes also showed fervent heat. Planting all these Shadow Thorns, as long as he didn't trigger their Ancient Shadow Magic, with the superior conditions in the little greenhouse, he might be able to harvest them before his second year. Dozens of Gold-tier reward orbs! Just imagining it made his heart race. He almost couldn't wait to plant them all immediately. But even with the Invisibility Cloak, processing so many Shadow Thorns roots would be a major project. It would probably take quite a while to do slowly. Just then, Ciel checked the time. "Class is starting soon. What class is this?" He thought for a moment, his eyes lighting up slightly. "Transfiguration?" Thinking of his previous insights about Transfiguration, with many unclear points that urgently needed answers, Ciel completely dismissed the idea of skipping class to plant Shadow Thorns roots. Being early by one class wouldn't affect Shadow Thorns root planting. He'd have to wait over half a year to harvest rewards anyway. But if he could quickly advance his Transfiguration mastery, the benefits would be immediate. Then Ciel, his face full of anticipation and carrying countless questions, quickly headed toward the Transfiguration classroom. Coincidentally, another figure was also heading early toward the Transfiguration classroom. It was Hermione. Her eyes were full of fighting spirit. Since discovering in the last Transfiguration class that her mastery had been far surpassed by Ciel, Hermione had even reduced the time discussing the Philosopher's Stone with the trio. She studied Transfiguration more diligently than ever. She had only one goal... Hermione Granger never came second in any exam subject. She would defend her position as first in Transfiguration! Carrying the dense notes she'd made during this period, Hermione was confident. She was just waiting for the class bell to ring, and then she'd reclaim her first-place position. Five minutes later, the bell rang. Professor McGonagall also cleared her throat. "Good. Last time I assigned you some homework. Now it's the routine Q&A time. Does anyone have questions about previous Transfiguration lessons?" Hermione and Ciel almost simultaneously raised their hands. But he was slightly faster. Professor McGonagall indicated Ciel could ask his question. He immediately asked with curiosity, "Professor, I suddenly observed a phenomenon where different types of magic with different properties collided at the microscopic level, producing some kind of reaction, then generating a new type of magic with different properties. Regarding this phenomenon, I'd like to ask some questions." As Ciel's voice rang out, the Transfiguration classroom suddenly became very quiet. The little Gryffindors and little Hufflepuffs looked at each other. Trembling with fear. The academic pressure was terrifyingly strong. Hermione opened her mouth. Her expression became incredibly bewildered. Obviously, this hit her knowledge blind spot. Last time when Ciel talked with Professor McGonagall, she at least knew roughly what they were discussing. But this time, why couldn't she understand at all? And the instant Professor McGonagall heard Ciel ask his question, she suddenly stared intently at him. Her eyes burst with burning light. "Hmm?!" [Chapter Complete] *** Want more? Check out my Patreon for: ✓ Advanced chapters of all my stories ✓ Exclusive novels & fanfics ✓ Early access content [email protected]/meowthtl ???? Community Goal: 500 Power Stones unlocks a bonus chapter! Thanks for reading and supporting the story!