The golden System prompt made Theo's heart kick.
He and Hermione had already reached Close Friend a while back; he'd been wondering when they'd cross into Life-and-Death. After living through the Gringotts incident together—boom—there it was.
And the reward did not disappoint.
Deng Chanyu's Five-Colour Stone Method. In the Investiture era it was practically a causality weapon: if thrown, it hit. Nezha, Huang Tianhua—top disciples of the Chan sect—were all pelted into black eyes and bruises by that little stone and forced to flee. Even Kong Xuan, "first under the Saints," master of the Five-Coloured Divine Radiance that "sweeps all things," took more than one rock to the face.
It wasn't a one-shot kill tool, true—but with feats like repeatedly injuring Kong Xuan, it easily ranked among the top three hidden weapons of that age.
And now the cultivation method for that weapon sat in Theo's hands.
He tried to keep it together; joy still leaked out at the corners.
If I master this, even Dumbledore's nose is getting re-broken by a pebble.
Compared to that, the other alert—one that should have been nerve-wracking—felt almost tame.
You accidentally disrupted Daoist Duobao's scheme in Zhaoge. He has memorised your face.
Your relationship with Daoist Duobao is now: TO-THE-DEATH.
Duobao is proud and disdains weak roots. Your foundations are ordinary; he feels no pity.
Duobao is narrow-minded; without pity he shows no quarter. To offend him is to court death.
Theo blinked… then snorted. Fair, actually. In the wizarding world, who else but Voldemort fits "Daoist Duobao"—the Treasure-Monger?
Founders' relics: he's meddled with three of the four.
Deathly Hallows: he's handled two of the three.
No one hoards more artefacts than him; "Duobao" suits him to the ground.
He eyed the blood-red To-the-Death tag and shook his head.
Come on, Old Voldy—you're that petty?
Eh. Fine. He was in a good mood; he'd let the label sit. Besides, "to the death" with Voldemort wasn't exactly… bad.
Because right under that line, the Duobao track rewards opened—and Theo's eyes went incandescent.
Destroy one of Duobao's natal treasures → Reward: Fortune's Mantle. Your luck is blessed, as if aided by heaven—subtle, profound, wondrous.
Destroy all of Duobao's natal treasures → Reward: Innate Foundation. Your root advances from acquired to innate; you gain access to grand Divine Art, and countless acquired things can no longer restrain you.
Slay Duobao and deny his reincarnation → Reward: Zhu-Xian Array Map. When paired with the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, it can reset earth-fire-wind-water; none but four Saints together may break it.
Deep breath. Another. Even Seven-Apertures Heart creaked under the glee.
The Five-Colour Stone Method he'd just earned from Hermione's Life-and-Death bond was already absurd—but Deng Chanyu and Duobao aren't the same league. Senior Brother of the Intercepting Sect isn't a title for nothing. These prizes? Chef's kiss.
Even the "easy" one—Fortune's Mantle—was no joke. Luck is the hottest commodity in the Honghuang. Luck that touches Duobao? That's not "thick"—that's mountain-range. In Britain it'd outclass protagonist aura: disaster becomes windfall; danger, narrow escape. Crafting with 0.01% success becomes one-and-done under that shine.
Permanent, super-charged Felix Felicis, basically.
Innate Foundation? That's top-tier household registration—capital-city exam curve. With it, grand arts come easier; realm climbs faster; "acquired" restraints slide off.
Harder to earn, though. Reading between the lines, that meant destroy all Horcruxes. Even with spoilers, that's time and grind—not a coffee break.
Worth every drop.
And the capstone… the Zhu-Xian Array Map. The Immortal-Slaughtering formation. Canon says "four Saints or bust." World-ender class. If Theo ever got that working—well, Earth might need insurance.
No wonder his hands shook.
Best part? This wasn't the actual Honghuang, and "Daoist Duobao" was not truly Duobao. Here, "Duobao" wore a snake-face and spoke Parseltongue.
Voldemort was a courier of gifts. And Theo meant to sign for every package.
While he grinned like an idiot, the girl in his arms turned crimson.
"H-hey… Theo… Theo?" Hermione had whispered his name several times; he'd just kept smiling at some private bliss. Her heart thudded. A scandalous thought flitted by: maybe Mum had been right about packing a couple of pretty dresses after all. What if Hogwarts really does hold a ball…?
Her daydreams scattered as the shaken Aurors pushed into the ruined shop.
Head of the Auror Office Rufus Scrimgeour looked as grim as a cliff in winter. Seeing the children alive loosened something in his face.
"It's over. You're safe."
He forced a smile, then fixed on Theo and Hermione.
"Tell me what happened."
Hermione glanced at Theo; he nodded. She recounted everything up to Fortescue attacking—her voice tight with pity when she reached his name.
"He was Imperiused. He didn't even know."
Scrimgeour cut in, cool. "Whether the Imperius was involved is for the Ministry to determine. We'll note your statement. And then? The Inferi?"
Hermione hesitated. Theo picked up smoothly.
"She was duelling Mr Fortescue. I was fighting my way in. The street was thick with Inferi—I used Incendio on a couple, but there were too many. I thought I was done for—and then I heard a spell. A powerful fire-path swept them all away."
Scrimgeour's eyes narrowed. "What spell did you hear?"
"Fire-God's Path," Theo said without blinking. "I'm sure of it."
Scrimgeour's jaw bunched. Dumbledore? You cast—and let the culprit walk? Did the sugar rot your brain, old bee?
Theo squeezed Hermione's shoulder. "Sir, may I take her home? This isn't a good place for her to stay."
He wasn't wrong. The scene reeked of char and blood. A fallen Auror lay near the door—green-lit, unmoving. Others groaned where Fiendfyre had licked them. Children cried in hitching waves.
At "home," Hermione's composure cracked; tears welled and spilled. Scrimgeour's sternness softened.
"You both did well. Hogwarts is getting two fine students. If, after graduation, you fancy the Aurors… you've got the makings." He nodded. "Go. If we need more, we'll find you."
Theo inclined his head and led Hermione away.
After seeing her to the Grangers' and assuring her mother she was safe, Theo returned to his townhouse. He clenched his fist.
"System—claim the Five-Colour Stone Method."
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