[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining an S-rank character template — Yin-Yang Generates the Five Elements, and the Five Elements Give Birth to All Things — Zou Yan!]
[Zou Yan, 4th century BC, the greatest alchemist of the Warring States period, founder of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, and pioneer in applying it to alchemy and potion-making.]
[Character: Zou Yan
Magic Power: A+
Spells: S
Defense Against the Dark Arts: A+
Dark Magic: B
Transfiguration: S-
Potions: SS-
Alchemy: SS
Special Talents: Elemental Affinity — increases the power of elemental magic; Master's Inspiration — may trigger during alchemy or potion-making, improving potion quality, refining formulas, or even creating brand new works.
Overall Rating: S]
(System's overall rating focuses mainly on direct combat power; support fields like Potions and Alchemy have lower weight in the score.)
[Note: When the Host fuses multiple templates, talents will not stack — lower-tier talents will be directly overridden by higher-tier ones.]
Wayne's eyebrows practically flew off his face.
Without the slightest hesitation, he fused the Zou Yan template card.
His original A-tier Potions and Alchemy talents already made him a genius among students.
But compared to true prodigies like Snape, he could only be called slow-witted — every tutoring session ended with the bat sneering at him more than once.
Zou Yan's other talents weren't of much use to him right now, but just Potions and Alchemy alone were worth an SS-tier template.
In any world, those who refine pills or forge artifacts might not always be the strongest, but their status was always among the highest.
Besides, his other talents were already high-level — only these two were holding him back.
Fusing the template card caused no strange visions, nor did Wayne's body feel any different.
But the moment he recalled Snape's lecture last week on Purification Potions, a flood of new ideas appeared in his mind. He also instantly noticed countless detail issues in his previous brewing process.
To test the effect of the new talent, he skipped sleeping altogether.
He left the dorm and headed straight for the Room of Requirement.
During repeated experiments, every flaw Snape had once pointed out vanished entirely — and he even managed to improve two potion formulas, reducing their cost.
SS-tier talent really was terrifying.
As for alchemy, looking back at the little trinkets he had made before, he could now see plenty of mistakes.
These inspirations and ideas weren't popping out of thin air — they were entirely the result of knowledge and experience being recombined.
He realized one thing: he still had to study diligently if he wanted to make the most of his talents.
The system gave him infinite possibilities and some shortcuts — but the path was still under his feet. If he didn't walk it, not even the system could save him.
Wayne understood this clearly. He knew exactly what he wanted.
By the time he left the Room of Requirement, he hadn't slept all night, and it was already 8 a.m.
Remembering that he was supposed to go to Hagrid's hut with Harry later, he abandoned the thought of catching up on sleep. He pulled out a bottle of Invigoration Draught and downed it.
Instantly, he felt wide awake.
This stuff hit harder than Red Bull.
"Lawrence?" a female voice came from behind him.
Turning around, Wayne smiled and greeted her. "Good morning, Senior Penelope."
"Why are you coming down from upstairs?" The blonde, wavy-haired senior fell into step beside him, puzzled.
"Oh, I went to find George and Fred," Wayne lied without batting an eye. "Turns out they're not up yet, so I just came down by myself."
"The prankster twins?" Penelope nodded. Recently, Percy, Gryffindor's prefect, had been pursuing her.
But she hadn't gotten to know the twins because of Percy — it was because of Wayne's Shop.
She had bought quite a few handy quills from them.
A little envious, she said, "Got another one of your crazy ideas?"
"I am planning some new products," Wayne said frankly, "but considering everyone's wallets are running dry, I'll wait until after Christmas."
"Pfft!"
Penelope covered her mouth and laughed. "You really are blunt, aren't you?"
Wayne blinked. "Of course, I'm an upstanding Hufflepuff."
Penelope laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.
This senior's figure was far more developed than the flat-chested Hermione or Cho. Even though she wasn't yet an adult, she radiated her own unique charm.
The two of them walked toward the Great Hall together, and Penelope sighed.
"If only I were as talented as you—able to casually create gadgets and exchange them for a tidy sum of Galleons."
Wayne caught the implication. "Penelope, are you short on money?"
"Not exactly." Penelope shook her head. "Like you, I'm a Muggle-born. The amount of Galleons I get each year is fixed.
"I'm not worried about daily living, but a lot of the robes I like and the books I'm interested in—I have to think carefully before buying."
Penelope's words were practical and straightforward, but Wayne didn't think there was anything wrong with them.
Most people are like that—once their material needs are met, they pursue enjoyment on the spiritual level.
Money is always a topic you can't avoid.
"I might be able to help you." The young man's tone was warm and polite, with his usual faint smile. "But I believe you wouldn't accept my help for free.
"If you ever have an idea that needs funding, or if there's something you can do for me, come find me."
After saying this, they arrived at the Great Hall entrance. Wayne gave a polite nod in farewell and headed toward the Hufflepuff table.
Penelope stared blankly at his departing back.
That remark… really was rather Slytherin.
Inside the Great Hall, Wayne's arrival drew attention.
Gryffindors greeted him with smiles, Ravenclaws looked on with curiosity, and Hufflepuffs welcomed him warmly.
"Wayne, where were you so early? Here, have a sausage."
"I've got a soft-boiled egg for you."
The moment he sat down, several badgers piled his plate high.
After thanking them for their hospitality, Wayne glanced sidelong at the Slytherin table—and couldn't help but laugh.
It was almost empty, with only a dozen girls present. Not a single boy in sight.
Seeing Wayne laugh, the other badgers joined in.
Their laughter reached Slytherin ears like sharp knives, cutting into their wounded pride.
One Slytherin girl angrily sawed at her sausage, the grating scrape of knife and fork against the plate sounding almost violent—
As if she weren't cutting sausage at all, but Wayne himself.
This girl was Pansy Parkinson, one of Malfoy's hangers-on and the younger sister of Robert Parkinson.
Sensing the hateful gaze on him, Wayne glanced once to see who it was, then looked away.
He actually found it a pity about Pansy.
In the movie world, early-film Pansy had been quite pretty—nothing like the books described.
But here, in the real world… Wayne could only say the books had been charitable.
One extra look, and he'd lose his appetite for the whole morning.
Unexpectedly, that brief glance was noticed by Pansy—who took it as a sign of fear.
"Just you wait, Lawrence!
"The Parkinson family and the other pure-blood families won't let you off!"
The ugly witch vowed silently to herself.
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Any readers out there? please leave a comment/review if you wish for me to continue this fan-fic. I paused it as it wasn't getting much readers