Ch: 26-37
Chapter 26: Body Modification Project
The day after the Troll incident, Hogwarts was still filled with noise.
In the corridors, students whispered, almost everyone talking about the "Professor who knocked down the Troll in the bathroom."
Lin An had become a legend, but he personally paid no attention to it.
He knew it was just a minor interlude in the timeline—his true goal had never changed.
Lin An stood by the window of the tower study, gazing at the Forbidden Forest shrouded in mist in the distance.
His thoughts returned to his core research of many years—the Body Modification Project.
The "Ancient Magic" he discussed with Hermione last night was not a casual remark, but the most important breakthrough in his research.
Ancient Magic, so-called, was not a specific spell, but a "special structure of life and nature."
Certain creatures inherently possessed this power—the Troll's defense, the Dragon's scales, the Phoenix's resurrection—these were not results of magic application, but natural laws at the physiological level.
Lin An concluded after years of research:
magic was not an external force, but a form of "will affecting reality."
If he could control the source of this will, the human body could become the most perfect magiccontainer.
He once tried to imitate the methods of Ancient Wizards—injecting the bloodline of Magical Creatures into the human body.
That history was referred to as the "Bloodline Alchemy Art" in the scrolls of the Restricted Section.
Those experimenters had attempted to merge the traits of Dragons, Werewolves, and Goblins, but the results were horrific.
Most died within days, and the few survivors were consumed by the foreign will, their skin growing scales and their eyes turning crimson, completely losing their minds.
Lin An reproduced some of these experiments, only replacing human subjects with experimental rats.
He found that the root cause of failure was not a magic Power Overload, but "will conflict" within the bloodline.
The blood of every species carried its own spiritual imprint; when foreign power was injected into a new life form, this "will" would backlash against the host.
This explained why bloodline transplanters gradually transformed—it wasn't the granting of power, but the erosion by a foreign will.
He wrote in his experimental log:
"Any foreign bloodline will rebel against the host, unless the host can define its laws of existence."
At that moment, he realized he had been heading in the wrong direction.
Power could not be seized; it could only be edited and rewritten.
So he abandoned bloodline fusion and turned to researching the feasibility of "Self-Evolution."
He proposed an entirely new approach—not relying on foreign species, but using Runes and Alchemy,
to abstract the characteristics of Magical Creatures into "magic Algorithms" and then reconstruct them into his own life system.
In other words, he no longer "merged" external power, but rationally replicated nature.
This was the highest form of Alchemy—allowing humanity to simulate divine creation through knowledge.
Over the next few months, he delved deeply into various Magical Creatures.
Dragon scales provided the algorithm for defense, and Giant muscles revealed the coupling relationship between magic power and strength.
Phoenix tears proved the existence of a reversible energy flow between soul and matter.
He worked almost sleeplessly, traveling back and forth between the laboratory and the Forbidden Forest.
The candlelight at night reflected on the silver test tubes, where blue-silver liquid flowed—these were refined "Life Energy Samples."
Lin An named them "magic Carriers."
While analyzing Werewolf blood, he accidentally discovered a special phenomenon.
It was not a virus in the true sense, but a Magical Medium capable of actively rewriting life code.
It allowed the host to rearrange genes and the magic core under moonlight, temporarily gaining a physical form beyond the norm.
He gazed at the magic particles under the microscopic array, and a thought flashed through his mind—
If he could remove its uncontrollable characteristics and recompile that "rewrite instruction,"
this virus would become humanity's most perfect life editing tool.
He began to attempt it.
Using Rune Arrays instead of DNA chains, and magic Wave Frequency to simulate biological signals,
he used Alchemy devices to stabilize the virus's energy structure, making it obey external instructions.
The process was fraught with risk.
The mortality rate for the experimental rats was as high as eighty percent, and occasional survivors exhibited extreme magical reactions.
Once, the experimental chamber was destroyed by an energy wave, and the entire room was annihilated into ash.
Lin An merely calmly wrote down a line:
"Failure number eighty-three. Energy diffusion rate exceeded the bearing threshold. Need to increase the Rune Suppression Layer."
There was no complaint, no fear.
His rationality was almost cold.
Three weeks later, he finally obtained the first batch of stable samples.
It was a suspended silver-blue luminous body that seemed to have a heartbeat.
He called it the "magic Rewrite Seed."
He knew that as long as this seed fused with his own life code, he could gradually reshape his body.
This meant he would become the first human to Self-Evolve using magic.
The night was quiet, and he sat in front of his desk.
The quill before him slid across the parchment, writing down a new title—
The Self-Bloodline Modification Project, Phase One.
He raised his hand, gazing at the drop of faintly glowing blood flowing in his palm.
It was his own blood, purified by the Alchemy Array, shimmering with a gentle yet cold blue light.
He said softly, "From now on, the experiment will use me as the sample."
The moonlight outside the window shone on his face, illuminating his terrifyingly calm eyes.
Beneath that calmness lay a fanaticism for the unknown and an absolute belief in order.
He did not wish to become a god.
He only wanted to prove—
that the boundary between god and man had never existed.
He closed the notebook and looked up at the night sky.
The clouds were torn apart by the wind, and the moonlight poured down, sharp as cold iron.
Lin An whispered:
"Evolution is not a betrayal of humanity, but the continuation of human existence."
The candlelight flickered slightly, reflecting on the side of his face.
Deep within the Alchemy device, the orb of light slowly pulsed, like another heart awakening.
Chapter 27: Christmas
Time slowly passed, and Hogwarts returned to peace.
The Troll incident became the talk of the students, and the name Lin An Alvin Bones was quietly added to the list of "Most Mysterious Professors."
He continued to teach, revise materials, and record experiments as usual. Time flowed by in busyness and contemplation, and suddenly it was Christmas Eve.
For Lin An, this holiday was not a celebration, but a node of order.
He always believed that the meaning of a holiday lay in reset and balance.
Therefore, even if his current research was incomplete, he would suspend all experiments during these few days and dedicate time to socializing.
Over the past few months, while ensuring the timeline progressed correctly, he also completed interventions at several key nodes—
Harry's first victory in the Quidditch match, Quirrell's secret probing, and Snape's "rescue" operation.
Everything was consistent with the original timeline.
Snape now had a new obsession—resurrecting Lily.
Driven by that obsession, his actions to protect Harry became increasingly resolute.
Lin An knew that as long as this psychological structure was maintained, most future variables would be locked down.
He put down his quill and took out a list. It was a gift list.
"In this world, every relationship needs maintenance," he murmured to himself.
He prepared dozens of gifts:
For Dumbledore, it was a box of candies he had personally refined through Alchemy—perfectly sweet, with a hint of magic shimmer upon consumption.
He had originally planned to send wool socks, but after consideration, he felt candy better represented the symbols of "peace" and "innocence."
For Professor Flitwick, it was an Alchemy ornament refined using a lost technique from Gringotts.
It was the Metal Resonance Method, long forgotten by the Goblins, which allowed an item to gain "self-repair" capabilities by adjusting its magic frequency.
When Flitwick opened the gift box, he might hear a trace of that familiar magical sound.
What Professor McGonagall received was a Flying Broomstick—which he had made himself.
The magical streamlines of this broom exceeded all models on the market, and its speed was extremely stable.
He wrote in the letter: "If you give this to the Gryffindor Quidditch team, I will make an even faster one for Ravenclaw."
He knew McGonagall's way of smiling—a slight tightening of the lips, eyes filled with amusement, yet never uttering thanks.
As for the other Professors, they also received gifts, though they were not prepared with the same level of effort.
The essence of the gifts was not the objects themselves, but the "Social Order" he deliberately maintained.
He did not neglect the family section either.
What he sent to his cousin Susan was an Alchemy notebook he had compiled, documenting the relationship between magic flow and natural elements.
The accompanying candy was from the same batch as Dumbledore's, only slightly less sweet.
As for Aunt Amelia, he personally crafted a silver-white necklace.
Its surface was engraved with a Rune Array, which allowed the wearer's magic to remain in a state of constant flow, making spellcasting smoother and more powerful.
A more hidden function was emergency protection—when the wearer encountered a fatal threat, the necklace would automatically initiate a Blink Transfer, taking them away from danger.
If the enemy continued the pursuit, the magic array would also activate the "Life Delay Spell," maintaining vitality until rescue arrived.
He only wrote two sentences in the letter:
"May strength be with you. Do not let fate dictate your choices."
Even Helena received a gift.
It was an extremely ancient-looking necklace, fitting the style of a tenth-century noble.
While outwardly just an elegant ornament, it actually served two purposes—
First, it could change according to Helena's form: whether she was in Ghost or physical form, it would naturally blend in without attracting attention;
Second, it allowed her to materialize a physical body at will, without needing Lin An's spell.
When he fastened the necklace around her neck, Helena's smile held a long-absent warmth.
That night, they spent time in the quiet Astronomy Tower.
The candlelight flickered, and snowflakes drifted outside the window. She whispered, "This is the best gift I have ever received."
He did not reply, only stroked her hair.
A few days later, on Christmas morning.
The Great Hall was dazzlingly decorated, and flames danced in the fireplaces.
Students' laughter echoed beneath the stone vault, and the air was thick with the scent of cinnamon and honey.
Lin An did not appear in the center of the feast.
He preferred the quietness from a distance—sitting by the window, watching the snow fall on the courtyard, and listening to the distant bells.
He felt that balance—time, fate, and order were all running on the correct track.
In the afternoon, he walked along the Castle corridor, a faint smile on his lips.
Helena from last night had put him in a good mood.
But that cheerful feeling did not last long.
Suddenly, a faint fluctuation in the air caught his attention.
It was not magic, but a gaze.
He stopped, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze slightly averted.
magic Vision, Thermal Detection, Echo Location—he activated three senses simultaneously.
Wind swept up from the corner, and he lightly flicked his sleeve, causing a sudden gust of air.
Dust scattered, and a small figure was swept out by the sudden wind.
"Professor Lin An!"
Harry Potter tumbled to the floor, looking flustered.
Lin An looked at him, his tone calm: "Wandering alone late at night is not a good habit."
Harry stammered an explanation: "I'm sorry, Professor, I thought... no one would notice."
"In that case, Mr. Potter, is the place you are going... also somewhere 'no one notices'?"
Lin An's voice was smooth, yet carried a power that made lying impossible.
After a moment of silence, Harry lowered his head.
"I just... wanted to look at that mirror again."
"The Mirror of Erised." Lin An nodded, "Come, I'll accompany you."
The boy looked up in surprise, but saw understanding in those eyes.
They walked one after the other toward the abandoned classroom.
Lin An pushed open the door, and the mirror reflected their figures—
Harry saw the gentle smiles of his parents;
And Lin An, in the mirror, saw the starlight of countless worlds and the runes of order—that was the future he sought.
He said softly: "Mr. Potter, the mirror doesn't show reality, but desire.
If a person drowns in it, they will lose their direction forward."
Harry looked up: "What did you see?"
Lin An smiled: "The answer is too complex, and it is too early."
He turned and left, his steps steady, his figure swallowed by the light.
In the mirror, that retreating figure gradually blurred, leaving only a silver streak of light.
—That light seemed to transcend time.
Chapter 28: death (Part 1)
Led by Harry, Lin An Alvin Bones walked into the dusty, sealed classroom once more.
The room was eerily silent. Silver-gray light filtered in through the broken windowpanes, illuminating the ancient mirror standing in the center—the Mirror of Erised.
The golden frame was covered in carved runes, and the inverted inscription at the top shimmered under the moonlight: "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
Lin An silently recited its true meaning in his heart: "I show not your face but your heart's deepest desire."
"Professor," Harry whispered, "it always shows me my parents."
He looked up, an uneasy light flickering in his eyes.
Lin An took a few steps closer and gazed at the mirror surface.
The reflection in the mirror showed two figures—a young boy with a look of apprehension, and another man whose gaze was as calm as the deep sea.
He said softly, "This mirror is ancient, predating Hogwarts itself by centuries.
Its creator was not an ordinary Wizard, but an Alchemist—they attempted to make the mirror a 'Gate of souls,' allowing people to look directly into their hearts through it."
Harry looked up in confusion. "Gate of souls?"
Lin An nodded. "Human desire is the reflection of the soul. The more you desire something, the deeper it is hidden in the subconscious.
This mirror does not show the future or reveal the truth; it only reflects the shape of desire.
If you look too long, you will be consumed by it."
He stretched out his hand, and his fingertip traced the mirror frame.
Purple magic flickered in his eyes—that was his unique 'Eye of Alchemy,' capable of analyzing the structure of any magical item.
The mirror surface trembled slightly, and runes flowed. He saw layers of energy circuits circulating within the mirror—emotions, memories, magic, and soul fluctuations interwoven into a complex formation.
Ancient runes were sealed within the mirror: Desiderium et Mortem (Desire and death).
"Professor, what did you see?" Harry couldn't help but ask.
Lin An replied calmly, "I saw... countless worlds."
A fleeting image flashed in the mirror—towers, a sea of stars, machinery, runes, flames, civilization, and collapse.
That was his heart's true desire: knowledge, order, eternity.
He turned to look at Harry, his gaze gentle. "Do you know why this mirror is dangerous?"
"Because it makes people obsessed?"
"Correct. But the deeper danger is that it makes you believe 'desire' is 'truth.'
Once a person mistakes their longing for reality, they lose the ability to judge."
He slowly raised his wand, and the mirror surface vibrated in response, scattering golden light.
"It uses the soul as a medium, absorbing the emotional energy of the observer to sustain its operation.
In other words, it is not simply a magical object, but a 'Resonant Life Form.'"
Harry gasped. "It... is alive?"
"In a sense, yes," Lin An said softly. "And it is related to death."
The boy's eyes widened. "death?"
Lin An stared at the mirror for a long time before finally speaking slowly, "Harry, have you heard the legend of the Peverell Brothers?"
Harry shook his head.
"That is an ancient story—three Wizards who tried to cheat death. They created three powerful magical artifacts.
One could recall the departed, one could grant invincibility, and one could hide the wearer from the gaze of death.
Yet, in the end, they all died."
His tone was calm, as if he were recounting a destiny long predetermined.
"So, it's just a fable?"
"No." Lin An turned his head, his eyes deep. "death is real."
The air suddenly solidified.
The boy stared blankly at him, unsure how to respond.
Lin An continued, "Twelve years ago, I stared 'death' in the face during an experiment.
It was neither an illusion nor a spell gone awry.
It is a consciousness, a principle that does not rely on a physical form.
We call it death, but it is more like—the world's self-correction mechanism.
When life violates order, death appears to readjust the balance."
He raised his hand, and the reflection in the mirror changed—it was a boundless black river, with souls floating within it like fireflies.
Harry held his breath, seeming to feel a chill spreading from his feet.
"Professor, you saw it with your own eyes?"
"Yes." Lin An whispered, "At that time, I had just completed my first soul experiment.
I was attempting to recast the consciousness of the deceased, but in the final step, I saw a hand—a hand composed of shadows, reaching out from the void.
It did not attack me; it merely touched my chest lightly.
In that moment, I heard it say: 'He who seeks to control death must first coexist with death.'"
He paused, his expression so calm it was almost detached.
"From that day on, I began to understand a truth—death is not an enemy, but a principle.
If you wish to surpass it, you must first understand it."
Harry murmured, "Then... are you afraid?"
Lin An smiled faintly. "Fear is part of human nature, but I fear ignorance more.
death is not an ending, but a transformation.
Isn't the foundation of magic allowing will to overcome form?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the mirror surface suddenly emitted a strange light.
The reflections of the two overlapped in the light, and Lin An's shadow suddenly split into a third outline—
It was blurry and distorted, yet it wore a smile.
It was a face he recognized.
Lin An narrowed his eyes, raised his wand, and whispered, "...So that's how it is."
The light vanished instantly. The mirror surface returned to stillness.
He gently patted Harry's shoulder. "Remember this, Potter. Don't come here again.
This mirror doesn't just reflect desire—it responds to the gaze."
Harry nodded hesitantly.
Lin An turned and left, his footsteps echoing in the corridor.
Behind him, the blurry shadow in the mirror was still faintly swaying,
as if silently watching his retreating figure.
—death is never absent.
Chapter 29: death (Part II)
Three years ago.
Lin An had recently graduated from Hogwarts and returned from Egypt with stolen ancient texts and runes. Those scrolls came from the secret collections of Wizard noble families, and their content was almost entirely related to the "World after death."
He had repeatedly pondered: if he wanted his family and Lily Potter to return, he had to find the destination of the soul.
Judging by the fact that Harry Potter was killed by Lord Voldemort and then resurrected, there truly existed some sort of "Other Side" behind death.
Therefore, he decided to verify it himself.
First, he concocted an extremely rare potion—the "Suspended Animation Potion." After drinking it, his heart and magic almost completely ceased, entering a state similar to death.
Next, he took out an Egyptian Scarab Beetle—a symbol of resurrection, regarded by the ancients as a guide to the Realm of death.
He used an Alchemy Array to bind a portion of his soul to the Scarab Beetle, not to create a Horcrux, but to establish a "Recall Pathway."
When his soul drifted toward the World after death, the Scarab Beetle would become an anchor, pulling him back to reality.
Late in the night, he ordered the House-elf to stand guard and, if he hadn't woken after three hours, to immediately inject the antidote.
Lin An drank the potion. The world immediately plunged into a sheet of white light.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast, empty white room—
The four walls were boundless, the floor was smooth as a mirror, and familiar sensations floated in the air: magic, consciousness, and the echoes of souls.
Unlike the King's Cross Station Harry had seen back then, this place resembled his laboratory.
A chill swept over him.
A tall, blurry figure appeared from the void, cloaked in pitch black, faceless, with a voice like a biting wind.
"An interesting Wizard. You dared to willingly step into this place?"
Lin An answered calmly, "It seems you are—death."
"People often call me that." The figure slowly looked down at him. "Are you not afraid?"
"Afraid?" Lin An smiled slightly. "Fear comes from ignorance. I merely wish to understand."
"Understand death?" The voice sounded amused yet not amused. "Wizards throughout the ages have tried; some craved eternal life, others delusionally sought to conquer me. But upon seeing me, they all became terrified."
"They fear you because you control life and death," Lin An's tone was steady. "But in reality, you are merely the embodiment of the Law. death does not dominate life; it only maintains balance."
The dark figure trembled slightly, falling silent for a moment.
"How do you know?"
"It's simple." Lin An raised his head, his tone carrying a degree of composure. "If you could truly take life at will, why would you need to use the 'Three Hallows' to lure and kill the Peverell Brothers?
That proves—you must abide by certain rules. You cannot actively interfere with the living; you can only shepherd souls after their death."
The air instantly turned cold.
The dark figure's cloak billowed, like a silent storm.
"Do you dare mock me?"
"Not mockery," Lin An said calmly. "Merely logical deduction. Furthermore, you just admitted it yourself."
death's aura suddenly stagnated, and its voice was low: "You are certainly more interesting than those foolish mortals."
Then its tone shifted, "But do you think I am helpless? I cannot touch you, but I can touch them."
As the words fell, the white space abruptly transformed.
Two familiar figures appeared before Lin An—his parents.
They floated quietly in the air, their eyes closed, their expressions peaceful.
death waved its hand, and the pure white world turned into a deep crimson sea of fire.
Countless souls shrieked in the flames, and the two figures were slowly pushed toward the depths of the fire.
"As the Gatekeeper of the Realm of the Dead, I can decide their fate.
Your choice will determine whether they sleep in peace or burn eternally in Hell."
The flames reflected in Lin An's pupils, yet his expression remained unperturbed.
"You wish to threaten me with emotion?"
He said mildly, "This confirms my judgment—you are not omnipotent.
If you were truly the absolute 'Law,' why would you need to torture others to gain a negotiating advantage?"
The dark figure's aura stalled, and the flames wavered in response.
"You..."
Lin An stepped forward, his voice as cold as metal scraping: "You are merely a system maintaining Order, like Time, Gravity, or Destiny.
I have no intention of challenging the Law; I only wish to understand it. Once understood, I shall rewrite it."
The sea of fire suddenly subsided. White light reappeared.
death watched him for a long time, then suddenly let out a low laugh: "Rewrite the Law? That is precisely the most dangerous desire of you humans.
Remember, Wizard. The more you understand, the closer you get to me."
As the voice faded, the world shattered.
Lin An suddenly opened his eyes, finding himself lying on the experimental bench.
The antidote vial in the House-elf's hand was already empty; his chest rose slightly, and his heart began beating again.
The Scarab Beetle on the table had crumbled to ash.
A trace of coldness still lingered in the air, as if that presence had never left.
He slowly sat up and wrote down the final sentence of his experimental report:
"death truly exists.
It is not a god, but the mask of Order.
And I shall use reason to strip away that mask."
The ink was not yet dry when he put down the quill, his expression serene.
At that moment, he no longer feared death.
Because he had seen it—and returned from it.
Chapter 30: death (Part 2)
Facing the threat of death, Lin An's expression remained calm.
That composure was almost inhuman. Even death itself showed a hint of doubt—this Wizard, seeing his parents consumed by flames, could still maintain his rationality.
"If you continue this," Lin An's tone remained unchanged, "you will regret it."
A low laugh came from the darkness: "Mortal, you dare to threaten me? Do you truly believe you can harm death?"
"Of course not." Lin An replied indifferently, "I'm not foolish enough to oppose the laws. But I can do something you absolutely do not wish to see—
I can make all my research on death public, allowing all Wizards to learn how to interfere with souls, and cause the order of life and death in the entire world to collapse."
The voice suddenly stopped, and the darkness seemed to solidify.
Lin An continued: "Over the years, I have repeatedly tried to recall the souls of the deceased, whether my parents or Lily Potter, but they were ultimately prevented by some force.
I know, that was you interfering.
You are watching me, and secretly hindering Snape and my research.
But if I obtain the resurrection stone, you will no longer be able to interfere."
He looked up, his gaze sharp: "Imagine, if all the Wizards in the world knew that 'the dead can return,' and would try to resurrect their loved ones and delay death,
At that time, the soul cycle will be completely chaotic.
The law of death will be unbalanced, and life and death will no longer be distinct. You—the embodiment of this law—will never have peace."
A long silence.
death looked down at him, black mist swirling, but said nothing more.
Lin An smiled faintly: "This is not a threat, but a fact. If order collapses, you too will cease to exist."
After a long while, a cold snort came from the depths of the shadow.
"...Foolish humans. You will never understand what fire you are playing with."
Before the words finished, the surrounding white light suddenly dispersed, and the flames and shadows vanished together.
The figures of Lin An's parents gradually faded in the light, no longer consumed by flames.
He heard the voice echo one last time: "I will watch over them. And you, will remain silent."
A violent tremor struck. The world shattered... When Lin An opened his eyes again, he found himself still in the Hogwarts classroom, facing the familiar mirror.
Reflected in the Mirror of Erised were his and Harry Potter's figures.
"Professor, do you mean... death really exists? And he controls the afterlife?"
Harry's voice was slightly trembling.
Lin An nodded: "Precisely."
"Then my parents, are they there too?"
"Since mine are, I presume theirs are too," he replied calmly.
The boy was silent for a moment, then asked softly: "Then... what is death like?"
Lin An recalled for a moment, his tone slow: "In appearance, it resembles a tall Dementor.
As for the experience—Dumbledore once told me, 'death is but the next great adventure.'
I once thought that was comfort, but now it seems he was right."
"A Dementor?" Harry repeated in confusion.
"You will encounter such creatures later," Lin An smiled indifferently, "They are extremely terrifying, yet extremely interesting beings."
They silently gazed at the mirror together. Time flowed slowly between them.
A few minutes later, Lin An suddenly spoke: "Mr. Potter, if you don't mind, lend me that invisibility cloakfor a while."
"No problem, Professor... but is there something wrong with that cloak?"
"No. It's just that from an Alchemist's perspective, I can feel its structure is different from an ordinary invisibility cloak. I want to study it; I'll return it to you soon."
Harry hesitantly took off the cloak and handed it over. Lin An took it, his fingertips brushing the fabric, feeling the profound magical texture—
It was exactly consistent with the runes in his memory: one of the deathly hallows, the invisibility cloak.
He pondered, deep in thought for a moment, then took out another cloak from his In my arms—
It was an improved invisibility cloak he had personally made, inlaid with rune arrays and extension charms, capable of infinite range extension.
"You use this one for now," he smiled, "Consider it a Christmas gift."
Harry was flattered: "This... this is too valuable!"
"It's not a gift, but an exchange. True knowledge always requires an equivalent price."
The boy finally nodded, taking the silver-grey cloak with both hands, and turned to leave.
Lin An watched his back disappear out the door, and whispered: "deathly hallows, two of the three have appeared... everything is proceeding as planned."
He lowered his gaze, looking at his reflection in the mirror.
The same face was still in the mirror—death.
Silent, formless, yet still watching him.
Lin An smiled slightly.
"Don't worry, I will keep my promise. But when I complete the 'gate of the world,' you will no longer be the only other shore."
The wind swept past the window frame, and the candlelight flickered.
The shadow in the mirror swayed gently, as if responding, or perhaps sneering.
Lin An turned and left, his footsteps echoing down the long corridor.
Night enveloped Hogwarts, and snowflakes fell.
Distant bells chimed, and a new year was approaching.
—And he had embarked on a path that even death could not bind.
Chapter 31: The Visitor
The next day, after Lin An met Harry at Hogwarts, they headed to The Three Broomsticks Inn in Hogsmeade to wait for an important guest. Although the bar was filled with laughter and chatter, Lin An maintained a sense of calm. His eyes swept over the familiar faces, knowing that every person here was filled with different stories, but his gaze remained fixed in the distance, waiting for the person who had once appeared in his life.
The atmosphere inside the bar remained lively. The Three Broomsticks Inn was one of the most popular places in Hogsmeade, especially during winter. The flow of people was endless during the annual Christmas season. Fine snowflakes drifted outside the window, and a fragrant warmth emanated from the fireplace inside. Lin An sat alone in the corner, unhurried, his gaze calm. Occasionally, he exchanged a few words with nearby patrons, but he never delved into deep conversation. His thoughts had already moved beyond his immediate surroundings.
Soon, the bar door was pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in—Madam Rosmerta, the bar's owner. As always, she was wearing her red dress, her hair neatly styled into a bun, and she approached Lin An with a smile.
"Now that you've graduated from Hogwarts, suddenly you don't need me anymore, Lin An."
Lin An looked up, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes, but he maintained his gentle smile. "Rosmerta, my dear, I really have been terribly busy lately. Didn't you receive the gifts I sent you over the past five years?"
"If it weren't for those Youth Potions you sent me, I wouldn't even want to talk to you right now." She said coldly, a trace of subtle playfulness mixed in her voice.
"Don't say that. I actually have some free time during the holidays. How about we spend some happy time together?" Lin An replied with a smile, standing up, intending to give her a light hug.
However, the Boss Lady did not reciprocate his affection. Instead, she stepped back slightly and waved her hand, saying, "You're too much, Lin An. Can't you just be normal with me? You've sent enough gifts over the years; let me catch my breath."
Her attitude seemed cold, but Lin An knew that Rosmerta was the typical strong woman—calm on the outside, yet not lacking in emotion internally. During his years at Hogwarts, they had shared some brief but profound exchanges, and this interaction was enough for him to let go of those complex feelings.
"Alright, I understand." Lin An smiled, sat back down at the table, and watched her turn and leave. However, his eyes unconsciously followed her figure until she disappeared at the other end of the bar.
Just as he was about to look down again to check the documents on the table, the bar door opened once more, and a tall young woman with long blonde hair walked in. She was wearing a dark blue robe and exuded an elegant demeanor. She didn't walk directly toward Lin An; instead, she stood at the entrance surveying the surroundings, her eyes holding a unique sharpness.
That was Tonks—the young Wizard who excelled in Auror training, and one of Lin An's former students.
"Tonks, you finally arrived." Lin An stood up to greet her, his tone relaxed. "What, is Auror training still keeping you so busy?"
"Sorry, Lin An, the missions have been heavy lately, so I had to be a bit late." Tonks sighed softly as she sat down. "You know, things outside are getting more complicated; we have to speed up our pace."
Lin An nodded, sat back down, and his gaze became serious: "I know your missions are increasingly important. Death Eater activity is becoming more frequent, and the Ministry of Magic needs you to act quickly. But you must be careful, Tonks, and absolutely do not expose yourself."
Tonks remained silent for a moment, her expression growing even more solemn: "We have some new intelligence. The Death Eaters seem to be plotting a larger conspiracy. I suspect their goal is not just revenge; it seems to involve deeper Dark Arts power."
"You are right," Lin An's voice was low. "The threat posed by the Death Eaters cannot be ignored, but we cannot easily expose our targets. Now is not the time for rashness." He paused, his eyes sharpening. "Are you ready to take on this mission?"
Tonks nodded, a resolute light shining in her eyes: "I am ready, Lin An. No matter what challenge I face, I will give it my all."
Lin An nodded, a rare expression of approval on his face. "That's good. You are my capable assistant. Remember, protecting yourself is always the most important thing. We are not just fighting; we are striving for a glimmer of hope for the entire magic world."
The two continued discussing the Death Eaters' movements and countermeasures until darkness completely enveloped Hogsmeade. As they parted, Lin An watched her retreating figure, feeling a wave of complex emotions. Although he was long prepared for the approaching storm, he knew that he and his friends in the Wizarding World would forever be caught in this endless vortex.
As night fell, the commotion at The Three Broomsticks Inn gradually subsided. Lin An sat alone in the corner, contemplating his future plans. The threat of the Death Eaters could not be ignored, and the turmoil in the magic world made him realize that the goals he pursued were no longer just personal interests and explorations. Everything in the future would become a pawn in this game against the dark forces.
He stood up, paid his bill, and walked out of the bar, stepping into the snowy night sky. The cold wind outside was biting, but he paid it no mind. At this moment, he was ready to face the imminent challenges.
"A new year, a new beginning." Lin An murmured to himself, looking forward with a resolute gaze and determined steps.
Chapter 32: Bloodline Curse
Lin An came to see Soleil today to deal with the Bloodline Curse afflicting her second daughter, Astoria Greengrass.
Over the past few months, Lin An, through his deep understanding of the Code of Life and research using Astoria's blood sample, not only found the cause of this Bloodline Curse but also discovered a way to lift it.
According to Lin An's research, the so-called Bloodline Curse is actually a powerful curse deeply rooted in the "Bloodline Segment" of the Code of Life. This curse is passed down through generations and will eventually erupt in a certain generation as time passes.
Although this curse sounds extremely powerful, and even appears almost incurable, that is not the case. At least, within the Greengrass Family, this curse is not as potent as people imagine.
This curse had been dormant for the past few centuries, only resurfacing in Astoria's generation. Lin An's research revealed that the curse required countless years to gradually absorb the magic from various members of the Greengrass Family before it could finally manifest.
However, it was this characteristic of "long-term accumulation" that piqued Lin An's interest. He was extremely curious about the ability to cast a curse using the bloodline as a medium. More importantly, the fact that the curse could survive for so long was truly astonishing.
Lin An stood by Astoria's bed, with Soleil quietly standing beside him. Lin An first gave Astoria a potion he had personally brewed. The purpose of this potion was to isolate the curse within her body from her Code of Life.
Then, Lin An pointed at Astoria and softly chanted the spell: "Resero Codexvita." Immediately, Astoria's Code of Life appeared before Lin An's eyes. He began to observe carefully.
He saw the potion begin to fight the curse inside her body. Although the curse initially showed strong resistance, its power quickly began to wane.
The formula for this potion was based on the Unicorn, which is an extremely pure creature and highly averse to the Dark Arts and curses. Therefore, after a brief resistance, the potion began to take effect, isolating the curse from Astoria's body.
Lin An immediately waved his wand and chanted a new spell, and the curse began to be removed from her body. However, the process was not as smooth as he had anticipated.
Astoria's body began to tremble violently, and her face showed an expression of pain. Suddenly, a black image emerged from her body—it was a Goat-Headed Monster, radiating intense killing intent in the darkness.
This Goat-Headed Monster seemed to sense the threat of magic coming from Lin An, and it struggled desperately, trying to return to Astoria's body. But Lin An did not stop his actions. He knew that this goat head was the physical manifestation of the Greengrass Family's Bloodline Curse.
"This is the Avatar of the Greengrass Family's Bloodline Curse," Lin An whispered, frowning, a complex look flashing in his eyes.
The Goat-Headed Monster resisted with all its might, letting out a low roar. However, Lin An had no intention of letting it go. Since this was the Core of the curse, he had to completely remove it and prevent it from continuing to affect Astoria's body.
Finally, after a fierce struggle, the Goat-Headed Monster was completely removed. Lin An placed it inside a specially made Alchemy container. He had developed a strong interest in this type of curse, especially how closely it was connected to the bloodline.
"Will she be alright?" Soleil asked, her face full of worry.
"She will be weak for a few days, but she will recover quickly," Lin An said, his gaze calm. "However, you must carefully monitor her condition and report any abnormalities to me immediately."
Soleil nodded, sat down by Astoria's bed, and gently stroked her hair.
"How do you plan to tell your husband?" Lin An suddenly asked.
"Tell him what?" Soleil seemed confused.
"About the curse on her being lifted."
"He probably won't notice," Soleil said, a hint of helplessness in her tone. "He might not even have realized she ever had such a curse."
However, Soleil clearly underestimated the influence of this curse.
When Lin An completely removed the curse from Astoria, the patriarch of the Greengrass Family, Jamison Greengrass, immediately sensed the change. After all, the curse was intimately tied to the Greengrass Family bloodline. As a direct descendant of the family, Jamison had also carried this curse, but fortunately, it had not been activated in his generation, instead erupting in Astoria's.
This meant that there would definitely be a serious conversation between Jamison and Soleil tonight. None of this concerned Lin An, and he did not intend to get involved in this family dispute.
Even if Jamison found out about him, Lin An would not be afraid. After all, not only was his own magical strength sufficient, but the political and economic power of the Bones Family throughout Europe also prevented anyone from easily challenging him.
After returning home, Lin An entered a huge room with a world map hanging in the center. He picked up his wand, pointed it at the massive map, and whispered: "Quirinus Quirrell."
Chapter 33: The Meeting
Lin An gazed at the map before him.
It was a product he had redesigned based on the "Marauder's Map," but its functions far surpassed the original.
Unlike the original map, which was limited to Hogwarts' magical range, this map could track the location of any Wizard in the world. As long as he possessed the target's blood, hair, nails, saliva, or personal items with strong magical resonance, Lin An could locate them with a "Tracking Charm."
Of course, the stronger the power, the more restrictions.
To make a name appear on the map, a connection must be established with the target's magic, and maintaining this connection requires a continuous supply of energy. To prevent energy depletion, he also created a copy to carry with him, linked to the main map, which could synchronize and display the movements of every target.
At this moment, a flickering name on the map caught his attention—Quirinus Quirrell.
Lin An stared at the string of light points, his expression calm.
He saw Quirrell's location suddenly disappear from the Hogwarts main building, reappearing in the distant Albanian forest.
"Have you finally made your move?" Lin An murmured.
The corner of his mouth curved slightly, and in the next second, his figure vanished into thin air.
Deep in the dense Albanian forest, cold mist pervaded.
Quirrell was wrapped in a cloak, his face hidden by a turban, his eyes flickering uneasily. He kept glancing around, seemingly waiting for someone.
The air was damp, and dry leaves rustled as they were swept by the wind.
"Quirrell, to what extent have you fallen?" A calm voice sounded behind him.
Quirrell spun around abruptly, and his heart tightened when he saw the approaching figure—it was Lin An Bones.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Quirrell's voice became low and hoarse, with a deliberately suppressed tremor, "You've got the wrong person."
Lin An smiled faintly: "Stop pretending. I'm the one who sent you that 'secret letter.'"
He paused for a moment, his tone turning calm yet sharp, "I'm not looking for you; I want to talk to 'that gentleman' hidden behind your head."
Quirrell's pupils suddenly constricted, and in the next moment, his wand flashed green.
He struck first.
A spell flew out but was dissolved by a gentle wave from Lin An.
The ground swelled under the shock of the spell, and the soil burst open. Dozens of sharp earthen spikes spread from beneath Lin An's feet, rushing straight towards Quirrell.
Quirrell quickly cast a Shield Charm, and his magic erupted, shattering the earthen spikes.
But when he looked up again, Lin An's wand was already pointed at him.
The air suddenly twisted, and a violent storm swept in.
The gale lifted the ground, swirling up gravel and fallen leaves, rushing straight at Quirrell.
Quirrell roared and quickly cast Protego.
A curtain of light expanded before him, forcefully resisting the impact.
However, trees within a few meters were all uprooted and fell to the ground.
Lin An did not stop.
The nearby gravel suddenly deformed, turning into a giant stone tail that whipped towards Quirrell's abdomen with terrifying force.
"Bang—!"
Quirrell was heavily struck, his body flying back dozens of meters, crashing hard against a tree trunk, blood gushing from the corner of his lips.
"Let me." A chilling voice sounded from behind Quirrell's head.
"But, Master... your power is still too weak—"
"If you don't act, you will be killed. Do you want to personally destroy my plan?"
"No, my Master."
Quirrell's body suddenly stiffened. A moment later, his movements became steady again, and his entire aura abruptly changed—becoming cold, eerie, and carrying the scent of death.
Lin An sensed the change, his tone calm: "So... is Tom Riddle speaking with me now?"
His response was a fierce green light.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The wand in Quirrell's hand released terrifying spell power, and the green light shot towards Lin Anlike lightning.
Lin An's figure vanished instantly, reappearing behind Quirrell the next second.
He waved his hand, and a ball of scorching red flames erupted, rushing towards Quirrell.
"Fire Charm? Ridiculous." Quirrell sneered, his figure flashing as he Apparated to Lin An's side.
He opened his mouth and spat out a serpentine flame—that was Fiendfyre.
Lin An's flames were instantly swallowed, and the entire forest was scorched into an inferno.
"It seems I need to get serious." Lin An murmured, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
He raised his wand and drew a complex rune in the air.
"Restriction—Apparition!"
magic fluctuations spread, and the surrounding space was immediately sealed.
All Apparition pathways were completely blocked at this moment.
Immediately after, he clenched his hand, and the air suddenly cooled.
A bone-chilling cold erupted from within him, rapidly spreading throughout the entire forest.
It was not ordinary cold, but an icy breath that could freeze even the soul.
It stripped the world of its color, leaving only gray and white. The wind stopped, the chirping of insects disappeared, and even the shadows of the trees seemed to solidify in place.
The serpentine flames devoured by Fiendfyre froze into transparent crystals under this cold, transforming into an ice sculpture.
Quirrell's body trembled violently, and Lord Voldemort's soul consciousness also let out a painful shriek at this moment.
"What kind of magic is this?!" The ghostly voice roared.
Lin An's expression was indifferent: "A 'soul Freezing Spell' modeled after Dementors.
It's not just a cold in temperature, but one that can strip away all joy and hope from the world. Even ghosts can be frozen by it—do you think you can escape?"
As the last sentence fell, Quirrell knelt to the ground, his body completely suppressed.
Lord Voldemort's soul tried to separate, turning into a black mist escaping from behind his head, but that black mist also rapidly solidified in the cold, letting out sharp screams.
He was all too familiar with this pain—it was the feeling of a soul being torn apart.
Every time he created a Horcrux, Lord Voldemort had experienced this tearing. And now, Lin An's magic was directly acting upon his soul.
"Enough—!" Lord Voldemort roared, his wand falling from his hand. He knelt on one knee, clutching his head with both hands, letting out a low growl.
Lin An watched silently, not applying any more pressure.
He knew Lord Voldemort wouldn't die easily—he had too many Horcruxes out there.
A moment later, Lord Voldemort looked up, his voice hoarse: "What do you want, Lin An Alvin Bones?"
Lin An's expression remained calm: "What I want? Just understanding. Understanding the truth behind the power of the Philosopher's Stone."
Chapter 34: The Deal (Part One)
Quirrell stood up. Under Lord Voldemort's control, he carefully removed his Wizard's hat, revealing the terrifying face hidden beneath—Lord Voldemort's face. Quirrell's face and Lord Voldemort's face alternated, seemingly indistinguishable from each other.
"Since you brought us here, there must be a reason. So, what is it?" Quirrell asked in a low voice.
"Tom, I'm here to make a deal with you," Lin An said calmly, without a trace of panic in his eyes.
"Don't call me that cursed name again," Lord Voldemort hissed coldly.
"Oh, Tom, do you think I'm not worthy of calling you by that name?" Lin An replied nonchalantly. "Don't forget, even if you return to your peak state, I can still contend with you."
Lord Voldemort was silent for a few seconds before he spoke coldly, "State your purpose."
"I'm here to make a deal with you," Lin An replied indifferently. After speaking, he didn't wait for Lord Voldemort's reaction but took out a parchment from his clothes and threw it towards Lord Voldemort.
Lord Voldemort did not take the parchment directly with his hand. Instead, he waved his hand, summoning Quirrell's wand that had fallen to the ground, and used the wand to catch the parchment. After confirming that no curses had been cast on the paper, he began to examine its contents.
The four corners of the parchment had an exquisite design, and several lines of text were written on it. More precisely, it was a magic contract.
The contract stated that Lin An would reveal the details of Dumbledore's Philosopher's Stoneprotection mechanisms at Hogwarts to Lord Voldemort. In exchange, Lord Voldemort would impart all his magic knowledge to Lin An, including his magic research, understanding, experiments, and all his skills and experience in using magic—whether practical operations or combat experience.
Lord Voldemort looked at the contract and said angrily, "Why should I sign something like this?"
"Do you think you have a choice?" Lin An said dismissively. "If you don't sign, I'll eliminate you right here. You might have escaped death, but your current state still poses no threat."
Lord Voldemort was silent for a moment, then suddenly revealed a strange smile.
"Lin An Bones, you and I are very similar in many ways. We both have an insatiable desire for power. Why don't we join forces and rule the Wizarding World together? I can teach you my method of immortality, and with our combined strength, we can rule the entire world forever."
Lin An listened to Lord Voldemort's words expressionlessly. Lord Voldemort trying to recruit him was something Lin An had long anticipated. After all, he was talented and came from a pure-blood family, exactly the kind of person Lord Voldemort most wished to recruit.
"Tom, you're right, we do have similarities in many aspects," Lin An replied calmly. "However, there's one point where I differ from you—I am more arrogant than you."
Upon hearing this, Lord Voldemort immediately fell silent. His face instantly turned gloomy. Lin An's words hit his deepest pain point. For Lord Voldemort, his past 'resurrection from death' made him unable to tolerate anyone surpassing him. Yet, this Wizard before him was clearly even more conceited, daring to challenge his authority.
"If you can find a way to escape death, do you think I cannot? And I can do it by my own power," Lin Ansaid indifferently, with undisguised confidence in his tone.
Lord Voldemort was stunned, a flicker of unease passing through his heart. Lin An's words were not baseless. As a genius of the Wizarding World, if Lin An dedicated himself to studying death, with his intelligence, he would surely find his own method of immortality.
Lord Voldemort lowered his head, looking at the contract. If it were up to him, he would naturally be unwilling to sign such a contract. This would mean losing all his magic knowledge and achievements, including the 'Horcrux creation method' which he considered vital. It was a secret he had never told anyone, not even his most loyal subordinate, Bellatrix Lestrange.
However, Lord Voldemort knew very well that if he did not sign this contract, his situation would be even more dangerous. He would not be able to escape this place, and the opportunity for the Philosopher's Stone would be lost forever.
More importantly, if Wizards worldwide knew he was alive but in such a pathetic state, he would face endless pursuit. Those Wizards who had once been his enemies would certainly hunt him down with all their might.
As for his followers, Lord Voldemort no longer trusted them. Without his powerful suppression, they were bound not to continue their allegiance to him.
Although Lord Voldemort was not afraid of death, he did not want to continue living in this ugly form.
After some deliberation, a thought suddenly flashed through Lord Voldemort's mind. If he could successfully execute this plan, he could get everything without paying too high a price.
Chapter 35: The Transaction (Part 2)
Lord Voldemort waved his wand, adding several more clauses to the contract.
The main points were that Lin An must not disclose the fact that he was still alive and his hiding place to anyone—especially Dumbledore.
These clauses would remain in effect until Lord Voldemort personally announced his return to the Wizarding World.
If Lin An violated the contract, he would lose all his magical abilities.
However, these extra clauses were merely smoke and mirrors.
The real purpose was for Lord Voldemort to create a loophole for himself.
The core of the loophole lay in the fact that, strictly speaking, he was not a "living" entity.
Therefore, this contract was not effective against him personally.
The one who would truly bear the cost of the contract would be the body he was parasitizing—Quirrell.
In other words, once the contract was signed, the knowledge and memories Lin An gained would not come from Tom Riddle, but everything belonging to Quirrell himself.
After completing the modifications, Lord Voldemort did not sign immediately, but pretended nonchalantly to send the contract back to Lin An.
He did not want to appear too eager, lest he arouse suspicion.
Lin An took the modified contract and read it carefully.
In just a few seconds, he spotted the loophole Lord Voldemort had hidden.
The corner of his mouth curled slightly; his expression was calm, and he said nothing, only sneering inwardly.
This contract was the pinnacle of his research in magic and Alchemy.
It incorporated an extremely complex system of magic and runic structures:
It contained the structures of the "Unbreakable Vow" and the "Blood Pact," making it impossible to violate;
It was also embedded with the principles of soul magic, Memory magic, Legilimency, and Occlumency, along with the understanding he had gained from years of studying the Pensieve.
More importantly, Lin An had learned new knowledge during his five-year voyage.
Among the ancient texts he had stolen from a secret vault in the Vatican, there was a demonology book titled *The Lesser Key of Solomon*.
That book taught him how to summon demons, how to bind them with contracts, and how to counter the contract upon signing.
The patterns in every corner of that contract were not decorative, but ancient Demonic Script.
It allowed him to conceal countless additional clauses and backlash mechanisms on the parchment.
Therefore, the loophole Lord Voldemort thought he had cleverly designed was mere child's play in Lin An's eyes.
He didn't even bother pointing it out, allowing it to remain—because he had already buried his own "trap" in the deeper layers of the contract.
Time passed slowly.
The two probed each other in silence.
Lin An sat quietly composed, while Lord Voldemort feigned composure.
Finally, Quirrell tremblingly reached out, gripped his wand, pretended to review the contract carefully for a long time, and then signed his name on it.
A moment later, he handed the contract back.
Lin An took it and signed his own name at the bottom without hesitation.
A white light flashed. The contract took effect.
However, Lord Voldemort realized something was wrong almost instantly.
Countless white threads of light surged out of his body, like fragments of a soul, being extracted by a powerful, invisible force.
Within those threads of light were carried all his magical knowledge, understanding, and experience—
every thought during spellcasting, every detail of a curse, every sensation of magical flow.
They all left his soul and flew toward Lin An.
Lord Voldemort was shocked and enraged, and immediately tried to stop it.
He used Legilimency and soul Defense techniques, exerting all his strength to block the loss of memories, especially those related to the Horcruxes.
But the power of this contract far exceeded his imagination.
A massive will awakened from the contract, suppressing his resistance.
Excruciating pain came from the depths of his soul, as if he were being flayed.
He clearly felt that if he continued to resist, he would die completely, and not even his Horcruxes could save him.
A few minutes later, countless white lines of light were floating around Lin An.
They were the physical manifestation of Lord Voldemort's memories, experience, and magical insights.
Lin An took out an Alchemical Artifact that looked quite similar to Dumbledore's "Deluminator."
He waved his hand gently, and the lines of light were sucked into it one by one, securely sealed.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Lord Voldemort, meanwhile, was practically grinding his teeth.
He wanted to strike out and kill Lin An immediately, but he knew he could barely control Quirrell's body at the moment.
He could only suppress the fury deep within his heart.
"Lin An Bones, don't forget, you are also bound by the contract," Lord Voldemort warned in a low, hoarse voice filled with hatred.
"That is true," Lin An replied with a light chuckle.
He waved his wand and sent another piece of parchment over.
"Your reward for fulfilling the contract is here."
Before Lord Voldemort could respond, Lin An performed Apparition and vanished into the woods.
Lord Voldemort took the parchment, his eyes dark and gloomy.
He unfolded the paper, his gaze sweeping over the few words written on it, and his expression instantly turned ferocious.
The words read—
"The Mirror of Erised."
"That damned bastard—!!!"
The roar exploded in the dark forest, scattering dead leaves and startling flocks of birds.
Lin An was already thousands of miles away at this moment.
He put away the Alchemical Artifact, the faint smile still on his face.
"You thought you could scheme against me, Tom."
"Too bad—you were on my chessboard from the very beginning."
Chapter 36: The Limit of magic Power
After completing the contract with Lord Voldemort and absorbing all his magical knowledge and memories, Lin An went into seclusion for several days.
He digested and absorbed that massive flood of memories bit by bit, allowing it to fully integrate into his own consciousness.
Lord Voldemort had conducted countless Dark Arts experiments throughout his life; the cruelty and distortion within them were enough to cause any ordinary Wizard to suffer a mental breakdown.
Therefore, Lin An frequently had to use the Patronus Charm to regulate his emotions, using the magicof happiness to neutralize those cold and violent memories.
The cost was immense, but the gains were equally astonishing.
Relying on his extraordinary memory and logical thinking, Lin An absorbed all this complex knowledge in just a few weeks.
He worked almost forgetting to eat and sleep, only remembering his appointment with Madam Rosmerta when his assistant Momo reminded him.
The moment all the memories were fully integrated into his mind, Lin An had mastered almost all of Lord Voldemort's magical skills from his lifetime.
He learned Wandless Levitation, advanced applications of Legilimency, and the natural transition to Parseltongue.
He had already dabbled in these abilities, but now he had reached the standard of Lord Voldemort at his peak.
More importantly, he gained the truly terrifying part of Lord Voldemort—his combat experience.
Throughout the long years, Lord Voldemort had fought Dumbledore multiple times.
The details, rhythm, and psychological warfare of every battle were completely engraved in Lin An's mind.
This kind of experience could not be provided by any book or simulation.
"I am now one of the most knowledgeable Wizards of this era."
Lin An wrote in his notes, "If one excludes Alchemy Grandmasters like Nicolas Flamel, I am unmatched in the fields of Spellcraft and the Dark Arts."
The only shortcoming was magic power.
Although his knowledge was infinite, his own magic power remained at the limit of twenty-five times that of an ordinary Wizard.
This was the maximum capacity that the "magic Core" inside every Wizard could withstand.
However, Lord Voldemort's memories gave him the answer.
Lord Voldemort had used an extreme method to break through this limit—Horcruxes.
Whenever he tore his soul and created a Horcrux, the soul fracture would generate immense magical fluctuations.
Lord Voldemort used the magic Core to absorb this overflowing energy, forcefully expanding his own magic power capacity.
The process was extremely painful, but highly effective.
According to Lin An's analysis, Lord Voldemort's magic power intensity at his peak was sixty times that of an ordinary Wizard.
"This explains why Dumbledore, even holding the elder wand, could only fight him to a standstill."
Lin An closed his eyes and murmured, "Fundamentally, Lord Voldemort was stronger than anyone."
But he did not intend to replicate that path.
Lin An already had profound attainments in soul research and knew that splitting the soul would cause irreversible damage.
Even modifying the soul segment of the Life Code could not repair that fracture.
He gently flipped open the research notes left by Lord Voldemort, his thoughts profound.
"If I can replicate that energy wave without splitting the soul, I can safely break through the limit."
This was his next research direction.
However, Lin An was not satisfied with this.
Even after absorbing all of Lord Voldemort's knowledge, he still felt a void.
"I'm still missing two people." He wrote down two names on the paper—Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald.
In Lord Voldemort's memory, Dumbledore's casting philosophy was unique; his nearly perfect "Harmonic magic" philosophy was the pinnacle of Light magic.
Grindelwald, on the other hand, represented another extreme—the "Spiritual magic" system centered on belief and will.
If he could acquire all the knowledge of these two people, Lin An's magical system would truly reach perfection.
"At that time, I will transcend the limitations of all Dimension Wizards," he thought.
However, he also knew that this was not easy.
Both of them were Wizards with unbreakable wills, impossible to threaten or coerce into submission.
They would choose death rather than violate their beliefs and sign a contract.
Lin An sat down by the fireplace, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.
"Grindelwald..."
He pondered for a moment, and his pen tip dropped: "Perhaps I should wait until next summer—after I acquire the Philosopher's Stone—to meet him."
As for Dumbledore, he still didn't know where to start.
"Perhaps," he whispered, "I can use the chaos caused by the Chamber of Secrets Incident next year to find an opportunity."
The firelight flickered, reflecting the hint of deep-seated amusement in his eyes.
Chapter 37: The deathly hallows
After absorbing all of Lord Voldemort's magical knowledge and research findings, Lin An finally turned his attention to the invisibility cloak he had borrowed from Harry Potter. It was one of the three legendary deathly hallows.
He activated his "Alchemy Eye," attempting to analyze the structure of this mysterious magical item. However, he found nothing, neither on a material level nor a magical rune level. The cloak's material could not be identified, its woven symbols were irregular, and even its magical resonance showed up as blank.
"This is no ordinary magical object," Lin An murmured.
He closed his eyes, sensing the power within—an extremely profound energy, neither magic nor beyond magic. This power was like a still river, flowing between reality and the soul, cold and silent, yet possessing a chilling "sense of order."
"The Power of Law?" Lin An muttered.
At this moment, he suddenly recalled another Hallow—the Gaunt family ring, the one Lord Voldemorthad turned into a Horcrux. The black gem on the ring was precisely the legendary "resurrection stone."
He immediately used Apparition, arriving at an abandoned cabin hidden in the Albanian mountains. It was a defensive stronghold Lord Voldemort had once established. Lin An skillfully deactivated the protective spell array and curse seals, then pushed open the old wooden door.
The room was silent, dust motes floating in the air.
He walked to the dilapidated table and retrieved the ring Lord Voldemort had hidden in a secret compartment. With the knowledge gained from the contract, Lin An easily broke Lord Voldemort's curse.
As the ring was removed, a faint black smoke flashed in the air, then dissipated. Lin An disassembled the ring and took out the black gem.
He gazed at the stone, activating his Alchemy Eye. The result was the same as with the invisibility cloak; the analysis yielded nothing.
The material of the stone was just ordinary rock.
What truly gave it power was not its substance, but the "Law" contained within.
An ancient legend surfaced in Lin An's mind—"The Tale of the Three Brothers."
According to that story, the resurrection stone was a stone death picked up by the river; the elder wandwas a branch taken from a tree by the roadside; only the invisibility cloak was different from the others—it was a part of "death itself."
At this thought, Lin An's heart stirred slightly.
He had personally seen death. That encounter confirmed to him that the legend was not entirely fictitious. If this reasoning held true, the power of these three Hallows all originated from the "Law of death" itself.
He gazed at the invisibility cloak and the resurrection stone in his hands, muttering to himself, "The power of death... is indeed not a level mortals can touch."
However, understanding does not equate to control. Even knowing the truth, Lin An still couldn't replicate that power. He hadn't reached the level where he could command "Laws."
But he was not impatient.
"In this world, the strongest power is always hidden behind understanding," he said with a faint smile.
He placed the two Hallows side by side on the table, took a deep breath, and raised his wand.
"Activate—Law Resonance."
A low hum echoed in the air. The invisibility cloak and the resurrection stone floated, subtle lines of light flashing between them, like two stars communicating.
The energy was extremely faint, yet it struck directly at the soul. Lin An could feel his magic slowly being drawn away, flowing into the two Hallows.
"As expected, it requires magic," he said, cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he did not stop his actions.
Suddenly, a flash of black light appeared.
His vision darkened, and he was swept into the void by an invisible force.
When his vision returned, he was standing in a pure white space.
Silent, endless, empty.
And before him appeared a tall, hooded figure—it was death.
The being's aura was like a chilling mist pressing upon the soul, indifferent and ancient.
Lin An looked up slightly, his tone calm: "It seems my conjecture was correct."
death slowly spoke, its voice a whisper echoing in the void: "Wizard, why do you summon me again? Our contract ended long ago."
"This time, I've come to discuss a new transaction," Lin An said calmly.
"A transaction?" death tilted its head slightly, seemingly showing a hint of interest. "What do you want?"
"Knowledge of the soul, death, time, and space."
death chuckled deeply, its laugh like wind rustling through dry bones. It took a step forward, its figure towering over Lin An.
"What you ask for should not belong to mortals."
"I can pay the price," Lin An's voice was firm.
"The price?" death's voice grew profound. "What can you offer?"
Lin An looked directly into the empty hood and replied, "Lord Voldemort's soul."
The air fell silent.
A moment later, death chuckled softly: "Absurd. What value does a soul destined to die possess?"
"Indeed, he will die," Lin An replied. "But you will never obtain his soul. Because he created Horcruxes, his soul is split and scattered. Even if he dies, he cannot return to you. He is an existence that 'cannot be harvested.'"
death looked up slightly. Lin An continued:
"I can retrieve those fragments for you and deliver his soul to you intact."
After a long silence, the pure white space began to tremble slightly. death's voice resonated again, carrying a deep echo:
"Your proposal... is interesting."
"However, I have conditions."
"Please state them," Lin An responded gravely.
"I will not grant you all knowledge concerning the soul and death."
Lin An frowned: "Why?"
"Because I myself am the embodiment of the Law of death. My understanding transcends the mundane. If this knowledge were to fall into mortal hands, the order of the universe would be destroyed."
Lin An was silent for a moment, understanding its meaning.
death's level of knowledge was too high; no Wizard could directly bear it.
He took a deep breath: "Then, what can you give me?"
death leaned down, its voice like a whisper echoing at the end of the world—
"I can give you the opportunity to glimpse the 'Law.'"