[Cultivating a blood emerald to maturity grants rewards: a slight increase in blood production ability (Silver-grade), extremely weak bloodline purification (Bronze-grade), and Dragon Fire (Bronze-grade).]
[Cultivating a mutated blood emerald to maturity grants rewards: a slight increase in blood production ability (Silver-grade), extremely weak bloodline purification (Bronze-grade), and Poison (Bronze-grade).]
Two sets of reward information appeared before Char's eyes. His breathing quickened slightly. The rewards were even more generous than he had anticipated. Normally, a blood emerald would only grant a Silver-grade increase in blood production and a Bronze-grade bloodline purification. But now, the two sets of blood emeralds—cultivated using dragon blood and Acromantula blood—had additional rewards: Bronze-grade Dragon Fire and Bronze-grade Poison, respectively.
Char's mind raced.
"Dragon Fire, Poison… these must be the signature abilities of Dragons and Acromantulas," he murmured. "Could using different types of blood to cultivate blood emeralds produce abilities related to the blood source?"
The possibility made his grip on the table tighten. If this was true, he could obtain a wide range of abilities by cultivating blood emeralds. Considering that the rewards provided by blood emeralds were already rare, this was an extraordinary advantage. Even a slight improvement in blood production could be linked to enhancing Legendary Power or Legendary Life. Bloodline purification, even at Bronze-grade, was priceless. After all, the root of a wizard's talent was their bloodline. Purifying it—even marginally—could enhance magical potential.
For Char, even small increases in talent could significantly reduce the diminishing effect of reward orbs. Abilities that originally required five rounds of rewards might only need three, saving enormous time and resources. Just these two new rewards alone made him feel that the requirement of 5X-grade magical animal blood for catalysis was manageable.
His thoughts swirled with excitement. "I'm going to be insanely rich!"
After calming himself, Char's gaze shifted to the third set of Luminous Mushrooms. The first two sets had successfully transformed into blood emeralds, but the third showed no signs of transformation. The mycelium had lost its vibrancy; the edges were cloudy. A flash of disappointment crossed Char's face, but he reminded himself not to expect too much from such an impulsive experiment. Failure was likely.
Still, he did not remove the third set of mycelia immediately. He had invested two precious types of blood, and observation might yield unexpected results.
Char then turned his attention to the little silver bucket on the workbench in the Little Greenhouse. Previously, he had used it simply to place seeds and plants inside, hoping to stimulate their vitality. But tonight, Dumbledore's explanation had changed everything. Char finally understood the true purpose of the legendary Demeter's Silver Cup: soil.
The myths claimed that the original Demeter's Silver Cup could magically turn thousands of miles of land fertile. While no one knew if such a spectacle had ever truly occurred, Hogwarts had its own closest replica—Hufflepuff's Golden Cup—which could brew nectar that enhanced soil fertility. This was how Hogwarts' Greenhouse had become unparalleled, allowing even the Whomping Willow to grow.
Even if Char's little silver bucket was not the historical Demeter's Silver Cup, he had been using it all wrong. It was like trying to stew beef in a hot water kettle. There was some effect, but it was far from ideal. Without Dumbledore's guidance, Char might have left it unused forever.
Now, with newfound understanding, he filled the bucket with soil from the Little Greenhouse and lifted his wand. Performing the Demeter ritual he had learned from Dumbledore, he tapped the rim of the bucket. Immediately, a pleasant, resonant ringing filled the air.
Char chanted the ritual incantation:
"Proscindite glaciem, vomere fulgente!"
("Ring the silver cup once, break the frozen earth, and the plowshare shines!")
A unique magical fluctuation emerged from the silver bucket, different from anything he had felt before. It was as if the cup itself was awakening. Char's heart raced. He tapped the rim again, producing an even clearer, harmonious chime, and repeated another line of the ancient incantation:
"Spargite grana auri, paleasque territe!"
("Ring the silver cup twice, scatter golden grains, and grind the chaff!")
This time, the bucket emitted a subtle, ethereal glow. Unfortunately, some areas were too damaged, leaving the glow uneven, but where the patterns remained, light shone brightly. Anticipation coursed through Char as he tapped the bucket a third time. It was as if an ancient bell had been struck, its solemn resonance filling the greenhouse.
Char's mind was momentarily entranced. He imagined countless people celebrating abundance, singing and dancing in harmony. The glow from the bucket intensified, flowing over the soil like liquid light. Then, just as suddenly, it vanished.
Peering into the bucket, the soil appeared unchanged—still dark and fertile—but Char sensed something different: ancient magic lingered within. Before he could investigate further, the Shadow Thorns hidden in the greenhouse stirred. They had been quietly drawing the last remaining nutrients from the soil, prolonging their maturation indefinitely. But now, they writhed urgently, sending messages in intertwined shadows:
"Father."
"Hungry."
"So hungry."
Char's eyes widened. The Shadow Thorns were not ordinary; they had mastered Ancient Shadow Magic. The soil they had been using lacked essential nutrients. But the ritual had transformed the silver-bucket soil, satisfying their needs.
Nodding, Char scattered the magical soil across the ground. The Shadow Thorns surged forward, eagerly rooting into it. Above them, the previously slow-growing reward orb now expanded rapidly, visible even to Char's eyes.
Char allowed himself a satisfied smile. He had not only discovered a way to cultivate powerful blood emeralds but also learned how to activate the little silver bucket to nourish even the most ancient and demanding magical plants.
The possibilities seemed endless. Dragon Fire, Poison, enhanced blood production, bloodline purification, and now, magical soil capable of accelerating plant growth—all within his grasp. Char's thoughts raced as he envisioned the countless combinations of blood, soil, and ritual magic he could experiment with.
The success of the first two blood emeralds had already hinted at the untapped potential of combining magical ingredients with personal ingenuity. The additional rewards tied to the blood source suggested that with careful planning, he could cultivate abilities once thought unattainable. And with the little silver bucket, even the most ancient magical flora could thrive, opening doors to even greater treasures and rewards.
As he looked around the Little Greenhouse, Char felt a surge of anticipation and determination. Every detail mattered—the type of blood, the cultivation method, the timing of rituals, the soil used. Everything could influence the outcome.
Even the failed third set of Luminous Mushrooms reminded him that experimentation required patience. Failure was merely part of the process, a lesson for refining techniques. With the knowledge he had gained, Char knew his next attempt would be more precise and likely more rewarding.
For Char, the path forward was clear. By combining alchemy, magical rituals, and careful cultivation, he could unlock abilities, enhance bloodlines, and produce rare treasures with unprecedented efficiency. Every minute invested in experimentation, every carefully applied ritual, could yield exponential results.
Char's heart thumped with excitement as he surveyed the thriving Shadow Thorns. He had turned theory into practice, learning firsthand how the legendary Demeter's Silver Cup could be activated, how magical soil could nurture even the most ancient plants, and how blood emerald cultivation could be fine-tuned for maximum gain.
He leaned back, considering his next steps. The first two blood emeralds were maturing, their rewards guaranteed. The Shadow Thorns were thriving, fueled by the newly enchanted soil. And the third set of Luminous Mushrooms, though failing this time, could serve as a baseline for future experiments.
Char realized that he was not just experimenting—he was pioneering a new approach to magic, one that combined cultivation, alchemy, and ancient rituals. The rewards were not merely material; they were knowledge, experience, and the ability to manipulate magical forces in ways few had ever attempted.
A smile spread across his face. The potential for wealth, power, and magical advancement was limitless. Char knew that with careful planning, relentless experimentation, and the lessons of past failures, he could achieve extraordinary results.
The Little Greenhouse, bathed in the soft glow of magical soil and thriving plants, felt alive. Char could almost hear the pulse of magic, subtle but undeniable, resonating in every corner. The combination of Dragon Fire, Poison, and ritual-enchanted soil promised a future rich with discovery, growth, and untold rewards.
Char's mind swirled with possibilities. Every experiment, every new blood emerald, every ritual performed with the little silver bucket could lead to unprecedented breakthroughs. And as he watched the Shadow Thorns root themselves in the enchanted soil, he understood that the first steps on this path of innovation had already been taken.
The Little Greenhouse had become a laboratory, a testing ground for magic at its most fundamental and transformative level. Char's journey had entered a new phase, one where ambition, knowledge, and careful experimentation could yield results limited only by imagination—and the rarest of magical ingredients.
And Char was ready.
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