At that moment, Theodore casually waved his hand, and the crystal ball lit up.
A bright, cheerful melody flowed from within, refreshing the mind and spirit. It was none other than the Banquet Music of the Gods.
A strange look appeared in Theodore's eyes.
"It is indeed an ancient melody from the age of myth. And it seems to have a magical effect that soothes and activates the mind?"
"The magic is stirring… This feeling—is it casting a spell?"
After a moment, realization dawned on his face.
This melody seemed to function like the incantation of a spell, drawing on magic to produce a magical effect.
Only, compared with the precision and deliberate structure of modern spell incantations, this melody was far more natural and primal. It was a more ancient way of guiding magic.
In technology, "primitive" often meant weak.
But in a field like magic, which relied on bloodline, primitive often meant powerful.
Modern wizards needed wands and incantations to perform all kinds of magic.
But the wizards of the age of myth did not need such things at all. To those who had inherited dense traces of the Old Ones' bloodline, many forms of magic were as natural as breathing.
Even the music they created could stir magic and produce strange magical effects.
Modern wizards, whose bloodlines had thinned, could hardly replicate such methods.
Even if they refined and specialized magic in various branches, playing with countless variations, in terms of raw magical intensity, they could not surpass the wizards of the mythic age.
Theodore quietly listened to the Banquet Music of the Gods, deepening his understanding of the age of myth, the era closest to the ancient past.
At the same time, this ancient melody gave Theodore further insight into Fuxi's Heavenly Sound, bringing him one step closer to entry.
But then he raised an eyebrow, a peculiar expression appearing on his face.
"Voldemort and Quirrell shouldn't have prepared only this much, right?"
"This has nothing to do with the system's so-called treasure of Rahu or the power of the Dao of Slaughter."
At that moment, the Banquet Music of the Gods abruptly stopped.
Theodore looked at the crystal ball with great interest.
"Oh?"
"Is the real killing move finally coming?"
In the next instant, the previously cheerful melody suddenly became solemn and grave.
It felt as if a silent, deathly land had appeared before his eyes.
That was the kingdom of the dead.
Anyone who heard this melody would have their life and soul buried deep within the underworld, where they would utterly perish.
This was the Prelude of the Dead, which the Harp of the Underworld had been so confident in.
Yet when Theodore heard it, he froze for a moment, then could not help laughing.
So that was it.
They had mixed into the crystal ball a melody capable of borrowing the power of the underworld to bury life and soul.
He had to admit, the idea was creative.
The courage was also commendable.
After all, Theodore possessed the talent Underworld Protection. To him, entering the underworld was no different from going home.
He also possessed the Judge's Brush, a magical treasure with immeasurable power in the underworld. Even the laws of underworld judgment had been brought about by the Judge's Brush.
Using the underworld to bury Theodore's life and soul?
Who below dares accuse this official?
Of course, even without Underworld Protection, the Judge's Brush, and his other methods, the Prelude of the Dead could not shake Theodore at all.
With so many treasures and talents suppressing his foundation, the mere underworld of the magical world did not have the qualifications to bury him.
Theodore now understood why Heaven's Secret Divination had sensed no danger from Voldemort's current scheme. Instead, it had told him this was an opportunity.
If it had been some other method from the age of myth, Theodore would have treated it with some seriousness.
But this melody?
There was no need for him to spare even the slightest thought to resist it.
It was purely here to help him accelerate his entry into Fuxi's Heavenly Sound.
Thus, Theodore relaxed completely.
He even closed his eyes and listened carefully to the Prelude of the Dead.
Beneath his closed eyelids, however, mysterious light flickered within his Insightful Heavenly Eye as it analyzed the secrets contained within the melody.
Gradually, the mysteries of how the melody guided the powers of the underworld and death surfaced in Theodore's mind.
These insights then became nourishment for his study of Fuxi's Heavenly Sound.
His comprehension of the divine ability rose steadily, pushing closer and closer to the threshold of true entry.
Yet just as Theodore was entering the proper state, the Prelude of the Dead suddenly stopped.
Theodore opened his eyes abruptly and frowned in dissatisfaction.
"Hmm? That's it?"
"That melody was clearly only the opening. It ended right after it began?"
Frowning, Theodore fiddled with the crystal ball.
"Again."
"Voldemort and the others went through all this trouble. Surely they wouldn't be so stingy as to give me only this little bit of music. Who could that possibly kill?"
"Is the rest hidden somewhere?"
As Theodore triggered the crystal ball again, outside the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, the Harp of the Underworld, which had just been declaring that Theodore was doomed after hearing the Prelude of the Dead, suddenly froze and fell silent.
Voldemort and Quirrell's hearts sank.
"What happened?"
The Harp of the Underworld's voice was filled with disbelief.
"The crystal ball has been triggered a third time. In other words…"
"Theodore Ashbourne listened to the Prelude of the Dead, but he did not die."
In an instant, Quirrell panicked. His voice rose sharply.
"What?!"
"Didn't you say even ordinary gods would fall after hearing the Prelude of the Dead?"
"Why isn't Theodore dead?!"
"It's over. It's over. Based on experience, every time we try to scheme against Theodore and fail, we're the ones who suffer afterward."
Voldemort's consciousness also frowned.
"I already said that little wizard is strange. He cannot be judged by common sense."
"If you had helped me obtain the Philosopher's Stone first, everything would have been foolproof. Now something unexpected may happen again."
The Harp of the Underworld snorted coldly.
Although surprised, it did not panic.
"What are you panicking for?"
"Theodore Ashbourne is, after all, someone watched by the great rulers. Although he was born in this mundane age, I had already considered that he might be extraordinary."
"So I added insurance."
"If he hears the Prelude of the Dead and does not die, the crystal ball will play the Prelude again. This time, it will include an additional section, almost reaching the limit of what a medium like the crystal ball can carry."
"After hearing this version of the Prelude of the Dead, Theodore Ashbourne, already heavily wounded, will certainly die!"
"So there is nothing to panic about. Let the melody play a little longer."
Hearing this, Voldemort and Quirrell finally relaxed somewhat. They looked at the Harp of the Underworld with some surprise.
Ever since this thing had awakened, it had constantly spoken of how glorious the age of myth had been and how weak this mundane era was. It acted as if it looked down on everything.
Even Voldemort felt that he had never been this arrogant, even at his most prideful.
Yet unexpectedly, arrogant as it was, this harp had still prepared a backup plan.
Surely this time there was a chance to kill Theodore?
Even if it could not kill him, injuring him or forcing him into a coma for some time would be enough.
At that same moment, Theodore looked at the crystal ball as it began playing music again. His disappointed eyes lit up with surprise.
This time, the melody actually contained an additional section?
"Tsk. You had something good and still insisted on hiding it. If I hadn't replayed it, you wouldn't even have brought it out?"
Theodore shook his head.
"Stingy. Far too stingy."
Then he immersed himself in the melody again, turning it into nourishment for his comprehension of Fuxi's Heavenly Sound.
With every minute and second, Theodore felt himself moving closer to entering the threshold of Fuxi's Heavenly Sound.
Compared with comprehending it alone, listening to music truly accelerated the process greatly.
If this Prelude of the Dead were complete, Theodore felt that he might be able to cross the final distance directly.
But after a short while, the Prelude of the Dead once again stopped abruptly, leaving Theodore looking utterly unsatisfied.
"Will replaying it again reveal more of the melody?"
Holding onto that thought, Theodore waved his hand.
The crystal ball began to flash back and replay at an unprecedented frequency, repeating the Prelude of the Dead over and over.
Outside the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, the Harp of the Underworld, which had just been extremely calm, suddenly lost control and released a sharp twang.
"?!"
Quirrell was full of expectation.
"Did it work?!"
The Harp of the Underworld sounded dazed.
"No… no, it didn't…"
"The crystal ball is still replaying."
"I can sense it. The Prelude of the Dead has been repeated hundreds, even thousands of times in an extremely short span…"
It nearly went mad, its strings buzzing violently.
"How is this possible?"
"Even if it isn't the complete Prelude of the Dead, it can still draw upon the power of the underworld. After hearing it this many times, even the soul of a god would be buried by the underworld."
"How can someone listen to it hundreds or thousands of times in such a short period and still not die?"
"What? Is the underworld your home or something? You can't die there?!"
Quirrell and Voldemort's expressions turned numb.
They had experienced this kind of reaction from the Harp of the Underworld many times already.
Voldemort considered his words, then said,
"Why don't we… forget it?"
"Let's stop targeting Theodore for now. Abandon the plan and help me obtain the Philosopher's Stone."
"Once I recover my full strength, there will always be a chance to kill Theodore."
But before the Harp of the Underworld could respond, the display window of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion presented a crystal ball that was already smoking and cracking. A notice was posted beside it.
"Buying the continuation of this melody for a heavy price!"
In an instant, if the Harp of the Underworld had eyes, they would have turned bloodshot.
"Provocation!"
"This is a provocation against me and against the crown of Hades!"
"Theodore Ashbourne, what do you take the Prelude of the Dead for?!"
"If I cannot kill you, wouldn't the reputation of the Harp of the Underworld from the age of myth be utterly disgraced?!"
Voldemort and Quirrell's hearts sank again.
Quirrell hurriedly tried to persuade it.
"Perhaps you should be more cautious. Since you know this may be a provocation, don't fall for it."
"First help Master obtain the Philosopher's Stone, and then we can plan slowly…"
But what answered him was the furious twanging of the Harp of the Underworld.
"Plan your mother's head!"
"Send me in there right now! Doesn't he want to hear the complete Prelude of the Dead? I will personally play it for him!"
"I will turn this place into a silent land of death!"
"Do not try to persuade me. This concerns the dignity of the age of myth. There is no room for compromise!"
Quirrell still wanted to persuade it, but Voldemort stopped him.
Voldemort whispered in Quirrell's mind,
"Forget it. If it wants to be sent in, let it go."
"It is still a product of the age of myth. Even if it cannot kill Theodore, it should at least cause him some trouble. Surely it won't strengthen the enemy instead."
"As long as it can injure Theodore even slightly, we can use that time to obtain the Philosopher's Stone."
Quirrell's heart moved.
"Then Master, the resources we need…"
Voldemort gestured with his chin, and Quirrell saw the words "buying for a heavy price" posted by the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
With the wealth the Pavilion had gathered, "a heavy price" would surely be an amount that satisfied them.
Adding what they had looted from the previous wizarding family, it should be enough to obtain the alchemical items and potions they required.
After a moment, Quirrell nodded and sent the Harp of the Underworld into the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
"The melody you want was played by this harp."
"This is a harp passed down from the age of myth. It is perfectly preserved and can play music by itself. It is a treasured heirloom of our family…"
"Borrow? Ah, no, no, no. I mean sell. It must be sold. But—the price must be increased!"
Soon, Quirrell left the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion carrying a bulging money bag, perfectly satisfied.
The Harp of the Underworld also realized that Quirrell and Voldemort had no confidence in its action at all. They had clearly decided to give it up in exchange for resources.
It sneered inwardly.
"Foolish! Mortal wisdom!"
"They actually don't believe in me?"
"Modern wizards are far too distant from the age of myth. They rely on broken sticks and strange little spells to cast magic. They have long forgotten what power the earliest generations of wizards possessed after stealing the bloodline of the rulers."
"Even if the mythic age has ended, even if I exist in this mundane era, I am still a divine artifact touched by a trace of Hades' divine power. In this age, I am invincible!"
"Without those two fools as helpers, all the better. At least they won't keep buzzing in my ears. Theodore? Watch me kill him alone!"
At that moment, the Harp of the Underworld was delivered before Theodore.
The system prompt appeared before Theodore's eyes.
[This is a treasure left behind by Demon Ancestor Rahu. It contains a trace of the Dao of Slaughter's might, enough to destroy heaven and earth and kill Great Principle Golden Immortals or even quasi-saints.]
[Host, flee immediately!]
Theodore, however, examined the Harp of the Underworld with great interest.
"A product of the age of myth? Interesting."
"Judging from its appearance, it should possess some consciousness and can unleash power on its own."
"In other words, I should be able to ask it about the age of myth…"
At the same time, the Harp of the Underworld also grew curious. A faint, strange magical power spread out from it, trying to probe Theodore's background.
It wanted to see exactly what kind of mundane little wizard this was—someone who had drawn the attention of the great rulers and caused it to awaken early to kill him.
The Harp of the Underworld was quite confident in its probing.
This was a magical method from the age of myth that could directly inspect the opponent's level of power.
Even the gods had used this method to probe unknown enemies.
In this mundane age, such a method should be utterly beyond mortals' understanding.
Even Voldemort had been partially seen through by this method earlier. The harp had even immediately identified the twisted and shattered nature of his soul.
The Harp of the Underworld believed that everything Theodore possessed would be exposed under this magic.
But the moment that strand of magic touched Theodore—
a layer of sacred golden light appeared over Theodore's body.
The magical power emitted by the Harp of the Underworld instantly vanished.
Yet the previously still harp suddenly rang with a sharp twang, as though it had been terrified beyond measure.
In that single instant, it had glimpsed Theodore's level of power.
And that one glimpse nearly scared it to death.
Impossible to understand.
Indescribable.
Such a nature of power did not exist even in the age of myth!
If it had to describe what it saw, then it had witnessed a scene.
Heaven and earth were chaos.
A world tree reached into the heavens.
An unimaginably vast being casually seized the sun and moon and overturned heaven and earth.
One indescribable ruler after another wailed before that figure, and some were even turned into food.
"What… what is this?!"
"How can such an existence exist?!"
The Harp of the Underworld screamed in terror.
It did not even know whether what it had seen was truth or illusion.
On Theodore's system interface, lines of information appeared.
[Rahu's leftover treasure attempted to peer into you, but it saw a corner of the future upon your body.]
[A Saint falls, and heaven and earth bleed.]
[It has gone mad from fright!]
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