Chapter 149: Garden Exchange
Chapter 149: Garden Exchange
At David's enthusiastic invitation, Liam also tried a Flame Snake Fruit. Biting into it, a tangy and sweet juice filled his mouth. While the taste was good, Liam felt that the Flame Snake Fruit didn't quite live up to its reputation of being precious.
As he was thinking, the juice that had slipped down his throat seemed to suddenly ignite, like a line of fire from his throat to his stomach. Liam could feel this warm current spread through his body, dispelling all the damp heat within. It cleared away many of the discomforts he had experienced since arriving here. Then, a breeze blew by, and Liam felt a long-missed coolness.
"This is a good thing. It can remove the discomfort caused by the damp heat in the environment and probably prevent heatstroke, so you should try some too." Liam, having recovered, said to Hermione and the second-year Hufflepuff student beside him.
"Amazing." David gave Liam a thumbs-up. "For our age, it's rare to feel the special effects of the Flame Snake Fruit so accurately on the first try. You must be quite good at Herbology."
"Indeed, Liam is sometimes called by our school nurse, Madam Pomfrey, to assist her", Hermione said after taking a deep breath, looking more energetic than before. She responded after hearing David's comment.
Using this topic as a starting point, both sides began discussing Herbology. Castrobrusso, known for its expertise in Herbology and magical creatures, even the younger students could propose views not found in Herbology textbooks.
Fortunately, Liam had gained Dave's lifetime knowledge in plant research and had gained valuable practical experience while raising Little Qing. This allowed him to hold his own in the discussion with David and the others, without feeling out of his depth. However, for the others, the content of their discussion was still quite advanced. Liam tried hard to explain the current issues about magical plants to the two people beside him, but they still looked puzzled.
After all, what Liam and the others were discussing were practical details and various techniques. This was indeed challenging for the Hogwarts younger students, who lacked practical experience in Herbology. Many of these small techniques were not found in books and could only be understood through hands-on practice.
However, as top students at Hogwarts, they at least had the good habit of asking questions when they didn't understand. Liam noticed that Hermione and the Hufflepuff student had taken out their notebooks and started recording the knowledge points discussed by Liam and the others. To ensure smooth communication, they used Spanish, so Liam had to spend some effort translating the content into English for his classmates to understand.
By the time the discussion was halfway through the afternoon, Liam felt a burning sensation in his throat. Fortunately, this was Castrobrusso, and while other things might be scarce, various herbs were certainly not. Liam thought about using simple natural sensing to find herbs from the surroundings and took some medicinal fruits from the table. He then borrowed a cauldron from the fireplace and began brewing elixirs.
When Liam started setting up the pot to brew the medicine, his actions quickly drew the attention of many people. After all, due to the current environment and the fruits served, most students naturally chose Herbology as the topic of their exchange.
As everyone knew, the Castrobrusso Academy had a significant advantage in the study of magical creatures and magical plants. This led to the Hogwarts students being at a disadvantage during the discussion. Seeing the smug looks of the two Castrobrusso professors on the Stone Platform, everyone quickly realized that this was a setup to show off their strength.
However, the Hogwarts students were now in a difficult position. Changing the topic would make them appear not only academically weak but also unable to accept defeat. So for the rest of the afternoon, they could only watch unhappily as the Castrobrusso students flaunted their knowledge in front of them.
However, Liam's group had been so engrossed in their lively discussion with the students from the opposite school, thanks to Liam's secret advantage, that they hadn't noticed the awkward situation the other students were in.
Now, when Liam suddenly started brewing Elixirs, the Hogwarts students finally breathed a sigh of relief, finding an excuse to escape their current predicament.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Liam handled the ingredients with fluid, practiced movements and skillfully controlled the heat. This display left the young Wizards watching in awe. While they had seen similar scenes before, they were usually performed by Elixir Masters with over a decade of experience. Seeing Liam, who had only been exposed to Potion Brewing for two years, perform with such proficiency, the word "genius" began to form in the minds of the onlookers. After all, they couldn't think of any other explanation for his smooth and precise operations.
However, Liam knew he wasn't a genius. He had simply inherited knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Multiverse General Store. Although that knowledge was only of moderate to high quality, he had learned from a Divine Doctor for several decades, and during those years, he spent most of his time helping his master gather and boil herbs.
Fortunately, the process of preparing and making Potions shared many similarities with Traditional Chinese Medicine. After absorbing this inheritance, Liam made a few adjustments and quickly mastered a series of techniques and tricks for brewing Potions.
Of course, this inheritance wasn't perfect. Even in school, Snape had criticized Liam for being too rigid in his movements, lacking the crucial Spiritual Qi needed in Potion making. As a result, it was difficult for him to brew perfect Elixirs.
However, for the young Wizards watching, being able to brew a pot of excellent Elixirs with such proficiency was already a remarkable achievement. So, Liam ended up distributing the potion to everyone amidst a sea of admiring gazes. Thankfully, he had anticipated this situation and brewed a large pot, ensuring that everyone who needed it received a portion.
After drinking the Elixir that reduced swelling and relieved heat, the Hogwarts students naturally shifted the conversation to Potion studies, a subject where they held an advantage over the Castrobrusso students. After all, having a young Potion Master as a professor was a luxury, and under the dedicated guidance of a Potion Master who used the pressure of handling various unpleasant Potion materials, the students naturally achieved a high level of proficiency in Potions.
In the Wizarding world, Potion Masters were always in high demand, with a supply far less than the demand. Young Potion Masters often chose to use their time to enhance their skills and acquire resources, while only older Potion Masters, with little hope of further breakthroughs, would choose to return to teaching. However, their age usually meant they lacked the energy to fully engage in nurturing young talent.
Professor Snape of Hogwarts was an exception. Due to certain circumstances, he chose to stay and teach, which significantly boosted the overall Potion skills of the Hogwarts students. Consider that even Neville, who had a significant disadvantage in Potions, managed to pass the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination (O.W.L.). This was a clear testament to Professor Snape's abilities.
Indeed, in the subsequent Potion discussions, the Hogwarts students took the upper hand, somewhat salvaging their pride.
After the final bonfire and barbecue party ended and they returned to their compartments, Professor Sprout praised Liam for bringing glory to Hogwarts. Although Liam felt it was just a matter of fortunate circumstances and didn't deserve the praise.
(End of Chapter)
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