Soon, Voldemort and Quirrell used a crystal ball to record a short passage of the Harp of the Underworld's melody and hid it within a piece from the age of myth.
"As long as Theodore Ashbourne hears the passage I played, he will die. Even his soul will perish."
The Harp of the Underworld was full of confidence.
Hope also rose once again in Voldemort and Quirrell's hearts.
Perhaps this time, they really could kill Theodore.
No—even if they could not kill him, severely injuring him or forcing him into a coma for half a month or a month would be enough.
As long as Theodore was not interfering, the obstacles guarding the Philosopher's Stone might block Voldemort for a while, but if he gave up on rushing and prepared properly, breaking through all the defenses would only be a matter of time.
If the Harp of the Underworld truly worked, the Philosopher's Stone would soon be within reach.
The greatest problem now was whether the crystal ball could be delivered into Theodore's hands smoothly.
Thinking of his terrible luck recently, Voldemort and Quirrell had no confidence at all.
Still, they could only steel themselves and send the crystal ball containing a short passage of the Prelude of the Dead to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
At this moment, outside the Pavilion, besides the line of customers waiting to buy talismans, there was also another line of people holding crystal balls or sheet music.
These were wizards hoping to exchange music scores for Galleons.
Of course, if they could exchange them for talismans—especially Lesser Vajra Talismans—that would be even better.
After all, Lesser Vajra Talismans were now priceless and nearly impossible to obtain!
Voldemort and Quirrell relaxed slightly.
With so many people here, it should be easy for them to slip the Prelude of the Dead into the pile.
And the tune used to disguise the Prelude was also genuinely from the age of myth.
According to the Harp of the Underworld, it was a melody once played at banquets of the gods. It had the effect of calming the mind and soothing the spirit.
In this era, it was likely also a lost treasure.
Even for potion masters and alchemists, it would provide some assistance.
If Theodore truly was the one collecting these melodies, then he would definitely listen to this banquet song of the gods.
And when he was most absorbed in it—
the Prelude of the Dead would send him to his grave.
With that thought, Voldemort and Quirrell joined the end of the line and slowly moved forward with the crowd.
Meanwhile, inside the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Theodore was frowning as he listened to the performance of the so-called street musician applying for a staff position.
At his current level, Theodore had thought there were very few things in the magical world capable of shaking his state of mind.
But he had to admit, this "musician's" performance had already reached a level somewhat comparable to the whispers of the Old Ones he had heard before.
After a moment, Theodore finally could not endure it anymore and interrupted him.
"That's enough. We'll stop here."
"Go home and wait for news. If you don't receive a letter within three days, it means you probably aren't suitable for the position."
But the "musician" looked perfectly confident.
"I understand. I understand."
"There are still many applicants, so the process must be followed."
"But honestly, three days is unnecessary. I know that the moment you heard my music, you were already conquered. Other than me, who else can appreciate so many ancient melodies?"
"I'll go back and prepare first. See you in three days."
Theodore stared blankly at the man's elegant departure.
After several seconds, he turned toward Fred and George.
"Where did you find this genius?"
Fred and George stared blankly back at Theodore.
Then they seemed to suddenly remember something and hurriedly removed the cotton stuffed in their ears.
"Oh!"
"The world is quiet again!"
"All right, I know you must want to ask where we found that brilliant mind, but all I can say is—this is the musical standard of the magical world."
"Please, you don't actually think our magical world has good musical taste, do you? You should have understood that from the moment Hogwarts made us sing the school song."
"Appreciating and performing music, especially ancient melodies, is basically something pure-blood families play around with. And by pure-blood, we mean those aristocratic pure-blood families—not pure-blood commoners like the Weasleys."
"And someone from an aristocratic pure-blood family wouldn't come to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to apply for work unless they were desperate. I mean, there are so many Squibs here, and two Weasleys are running the place…"
Fred and George shrugged helplessly.
Theodore sighed.
There was nothing he could do.
His Fuxi's Heavenly Sound was still a step away from entry. The more melodies he heard, the more helpful it would be.
Once he entered the threshold, this divine ability would become his strongest method aside from the Cosmic Star Banner Formation.
Naturally, the sooner he mastered it, the better.
But trying to pick out valuable pieces from the melodies sent by wizards was truly like searching for gold in a pile of filth.
Theodore could not spend all his time on this. If he did, he might as well focus entirely on comprehension instead, and perhaps he would enter the threshold even faster.
If he wanted to truly improve efficiency, he needed someone who understood music to help identify and filter the pieces.
He shook his head helplessly.
"Are there any more applicants?"
Fred and George checked the list.
"One more."
"Ms. J. F.?"
"Looks like another stage name or alias. Honestly, I don't know why these street musicians insist on being so flashy."
Theodore took a deep breath.
"Fine. Let her in."
"No matter what, she can't be more ridiculous than the last one."
Then, an unexpected figure appeared before Theodore.
It was the Slytherin female prefect he had once met—Gemma Farley.
The system had judged her to correspond to Gao Lanying from the Investiture of the Gods.
Theodore had never expected the final applicant for the Pavilion to be her.
"Senior Gemma?"
Gemma Farley froze when she saw Theodore, then smiled bitterly with a look that said she had expected this.
"I was wondering who opened the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. I guessed it probably had something to do with you, Theodore. Turns out I was right."
"Well, as you can see, I saw the Pavilion's recruitment notice and came to apply for part-time work."
"As for musical skill, you don't need to worry. Although the Farley family has declined, our aristocratic education never stopped. I studied music and dance from a young age."
Theodore shook his head.
"That isn't what I'm doubting."
The Farley family was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, far above ordinary pure-blood aristocrats.
According to Fred and George, the chance of a pure-blood noble coming to apply at a place run by Weasleys and filled with Squibs was extremely low.
Moreover, Theodore and the Weasley twins were Gryffindors, while Gemma was a Slytherin prefect.
No matter how he looked at it, taking this part-time job would bring her no benefit. It might even cause gossip.
Theodore asked about it tactfully.
Gemma Farley gave a bitter smile.
"You don't need to be so tactful, Theodore. I know what you mean."
"It's nothing more than what the other Slytherin students might say, and what some noble families might think…"
"I can't care about those things anymore."
Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she quickly wiped them.
"Something happened at home. I need money. The wage here is high, so I came to apply."
At that moment, Theodore's system interface displayed new information.
[The young girl Gao Lanying, whom you met once before, has suffered a change in her family and has no choice but to sell her talents in exchange for cultivation resources. She has come to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion seeking help.]
If that were all, Theodore would not have cared much.
But immediately afterward, a line of chaotic text appeared.
[This matter faintly involves another Saint's arrangement. The host has already become the target of many forces. At this critical moment, it is recommended that you do not create additional complications.]
[System recommendation: Drive her out to avoid increasing karmic entanglement.]
Theodore frowned.
Another Saint?
In other words, Gemma Farley's family problem was connected to the Old Ones?
The Farley family had already declined to this point. Their last prominent figure had been a Minister for Magic nearly a century ago. How had they become connected to the Old Ones?
But after a moment, Theodore thought of Gemma Farley's fate in the original story.
Namely—
there was none.
After graduation, Gemma Farley vanished from the magical world.
Even the Farley family never appeared in any major event again.
They neither joined the Death Eaters nor stood with the Order of the Phoenix. It was as if they had disappeared from the magical world altogether.
But Gemma Farley had been a Slytherin prefect, one of the finest students in Slytherin.
And the Farley family was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
Logically speaking, they should not have faded into silence so completely.
Could it be that in the original timeline, the Farley family had also encountered some incident related to the Old Ones?
Only this time, because of Theodore's influence, the return of the ancient era had accelerated, so this hidden disaster had begun to reveal itself earlier?
Just like Marcus Flint, who had been controlled by the Dagon statue and transformed into an evil creature to attack him.
Judging from the system's warning, the situation was not yet that serious.
Thinking of Marcus Flint's attack, Theodore's eyes brightened.
That incident had given him a drop of Dagon's blood. It had been a huge gain.
If something like that happened again, he would profit immensely.
Old Ones were treasures from head to toe.
With that thought, Theodore looked at Gemma Farley with a meaningful gaze.
The system's Gao Lanying still had two rewards he had yet to obtain from her.
The talent Divine Eyes Like Lightning was not especially useful to Theodore, who already possessed the Insightful Heavenly Eye.
But perhaps it could be further fused with the Insightful Heavenly Eye to gradually push it to a higher level.
As for the final reward, it was the refinement method of the Solar Divine Needles.
In the original Investiture story, Gao Lanying had achieved notable battle merits using the Solar Divine Needles.
Of course, hidden weapons were not Theodore's preference.
Moreover, Theodore might still obtain the refinement method of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife from Nicolas Flamel.
The Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife was the greatest hidden weapon in the Investiture story, incomparably sharp and lethal. The Solar Divine Needles were far inferior.
But what Theodore cared about was the method by which the Solar Divine Needles gathered solar power.
Among the secrets of the Golden Crow Demon Court that Theodore had obtained, he had still not begun cultivating the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique.
It was not that Theodore did not want to cultivate it. Rather, after studying it, he could only set it aside.
The reason was simple.
Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation could only be used by those with Golden Crow bloodline.
At the very least, one needed solar power to barely activate its might.
Although Theodore's Origin Sea energy could reverse-evolve all kinds of primordial energies, solar power was transformed from the Golden Crow. Even the Five Elements Reversal Origin Sea from Dipamkara could not absorb it.
Thus, if he could obtain the Solar Divine Needle refinement method from Gemma Farley, Theodore might finally be able to use the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation, a top-tier movement technique of the Primordial World.
At this moment, Gemma Farley's eyes grew redder. Her heart became increasingly uneasy, uncertain of Theodore's attitude.
After a moment, Theodore nodded to her.
"Then welcome aboard, Senior."
In an instant, tears glimmered at the corners of Gemma Farley's eyes.
Her mind returned to that day in the corridor, when the pressure had almost crushed her, when she had once thought of jumping from the tower.
It had been Theodore who spoke and guided her then.
And this time, when she had once again reached the end of her rope, it was Theodore again.
Before Theodore's eyes, a system prompt appeared.
[You ignored the karma entangled with young girl Gao Lanying and insisted on helping her.]
[You have stepped into the scheme set by the Saint behind young girl Gao Lanying. The consequences are difficult to predict.]
[Young girl Gao Lanying has developed intense gratitude toward you. Your relationship has reached close friendship.]
[You have received talent reward: Divine Eyes Like Lightning.]
In Theodore's eyes, a flash of lightning seemed to leap.
For a single instant, the entire Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was illuminated.
Gemma Farley, Fred, George, and the others all narrowed their eyes. Their vision turned white, as if they could see nothing at all.
Fortunately, the feeling lasted only for a moment, making it seem almost like an illusion.
Only Gemma Farley looked at Theodore with some surprise.
She seemed to notice that the corners of Theodore's lips had curved slightly, as though his mood had improved.
Was it because she had joined?
For some reason, Gemma Farley's heartbeat suddenly quickened, and a faint blush appeared on her face.
Theodore did not notice this.
He was pleasantly surprised by the talent Divine Eyes Like Lightning.
Its effect of enhancing vision and perception was indeed useless to him.
But one inconspicuous effect surprised him.
It could use one's gaze to intimidate opponents, involving a certain application of spiritual power—or divine sense.
At Theodore's current level, a single glance would be enough to empty an ordinary enemy's mind.
If he continued studying it, especially if he could obtain Fred's final reward—Wisdom Cuts Through Confusion—he might be able to form a heart-sword and kill enemies directly with his gaze.
One glance, and all things withered.
A heart-sword without trace.
That feeling—
very stylish.
But after a moment, Theodore suppressed the urge to study the "heart-sword."
Even if he developed it, its power would not compare to even a fraction of Fuxi's Heavenly Sound after entry.
He could study it later when he had time.
For now, the key was entering the threshold of Fuxi's Heavenly Sound.
Theodore turned and returned to his temporary room inside the Pavilion to continue comprehending the divine ability.
"I'll leave the collection of music scores to you, Senior."
Theodore's voice sounded.
Gemma Farley's expression became serious.
No matter what, she had to do this well for Theodore.
Soon, with a wave of her wand, the scores already delivered to the Pavilion began flipping through the air before her.
"This one won't do. It isn't original at all. It was copied, and it only has a history of a dozen years."
"This one won't do either. It looks ancient, but it's full of clumsy imitation. It's basically a modern person pretending to write ancient poetry. Obviously made last week."
"…"
"Hmm?"
"This one is interesting. It really is an ancient score."
Outside the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Voldemort and Quirrell had already delivered the crystal ball containing the Prelude of the Dead and were waiting anxiously.
In Quirrell's hand was a shrunken harp.
It was the Harp of the Underworld.
"Why is there still no reaction?"
"Could it be that the so-called Banquet Music of the Gods you used to disguise the Prelude of the Dead wasn't even selected?"
Facing Quirrell's doubt, the harp's voice was full of disdain.
"A rustic fool who has never attended a banquet of the gods."
"The Banquet Music of the Gods is far more effective than your era's calming potions. Any living person who hears it will immediately know how wondrous it is. How could it possibly be discarded?"
Quirrell asked nervously,
"Then could someone else have heard it first, heard the Prelude of the Dead, and died?"
"Then Theodore definitely wouldn't listen to it afterward."
The Harp of the Underworld grew even more impatient.
"Do you think I'm a fool?"
"In that crystal ball, the first listen only plays the Banquet Music of the Gods. Only the second listen reveals the Prelude of the Dead."
"Why are wizards of this era so impatient? Theodore will die tonight. What does waiting a little longer matter?"
At that moment, Gemma Farley, who was sorting through the music, suddenly picked up a crystal ball.
The moment she heard the melody within, shock and intoxication appeared in her eyes.
It was a beautiful melody she had never heard before.
Just listening to it made her feel as if she were soaking in a warm spring, her spirit soothed beyond description.
When she came back to her senses, Gemma immediately understood that this was an extraordinary piece.
Perhaps it even came from the age of myth.
She quickly brought the crystal ball to Theodore.
"Theodore, listen to this melody!"
Theodore looked at the crystal ball, and surprise appeared in his eyes.
He could sense it.
The crystal ball contained dense killing intent.
The system interface also displayed a warning.
[Be careful!]
[This is caused by Rahu's power. It contains the might of the Dao of Slaughter. Those struck by it will die instantly!]
At the same time, Theodore felt something strange.
Inside this crystal ball might be exactly what he needed to help Fuxi's Heavenly Sound reach entry.
A mocking smile curved his lips.
If it were a true treasure of Rahu, even with Blood Rebirth, he would immediately flee.
But this?
"What can the magical world's Rahu do to me?"
Theodore casually tapped the crystal ball, and the melody inside began to play.
Outside the Pavilion, the Harp of the Underworld suddenly paused while mocking Quirrell.
Then it let out a high-pitched sound.
"The crystal ball I left behind has been triggered for the second time in such a short span."
"It's Theodore. It must be Theodore. He has obtained the crystal ball and begun listening to the melody."
The Harp of the Underworld rang noisily.
"Then come!"
"Listen to the funeral bell of death!"
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